Part 3

May 1690 £300 "for the support of wool, butter, their Majesties' Indian corn, rye interest against and pork. the French and Indian enemies."

July 1695 2d. in the pound. Same as last.

Oct. 1695 1d. in the pound. Agent, and, if surplus, to pay the colony's debts.

May 1696 2d. in the pound. July 1696

Aug. 1698 £800 "pay the Colony's debts, and putting monies in bank, for sending an agent for England."

Oct. 1699 £600 "for sending agent for England"

March 1700/1 £400 "current "for paying the money of this Collony's debts and Colony" defraying of the publick Charge."

March 1701/2 £200 "in money" "for the use and benefit" of the colony according to the direction of the governor and council.

May 1702 £300 "in money or Same as last. Money, indian corn, good pay oats, barley, rye. equivalent."

Feb. 1702/3 £500 £200 for fort £150 money, indian corn, for jail £150 for barley, wheat, rye, debts oats, wool.

Jan. 1703/4 £500 "for the support of "money or pay the government." equivalent, according to the Collony's acts heretofore made."

May 1704 £700 in "money or money, wool, Indian pay equivalent." corn, barley, oats, rice, wheat.

Feb. 1704/5 £500 in "current "for defraying the See "Amount." money of New Collony's debts." England in pay in like species as the last £700 rate."

June 1705 £500, same as last Same as last Same as last.

Aug. 1705 £1000, same as £300 for agent; Same as last. last remainder not specified.

May 1706 £700 £400 for fort £100 Same as last. for magazine, £200 for debts.

July 1706 £300 Same as last.

Feb. 1706/7 £500 £400 for the expenses of a cruise, £100 for debts.

May 1707 £1500

Feb. 1707/8 £500

Aug. 1708 £800 "in money, or £100 for colony Indian corn, specie answerable house, £100 for barley, rye, oats, at the usual agent, remainder wool, wheat. rates." for debts and general expenses.

March 1708/9 £500 Same as last. Same as last.

May 1709 £1000, same as Same as last. last.

Aug. 1709 £1000 for debts.

Feb. 1709/10 £1200 same as last.

There were two wars against the French during this period; "King William's War" from 1689-1697, and "Queen Anne's War" from 1702-1713. In the first Rhode Island took little part. She sent no men to aid the other colonies but confined herself to strengthening her own defences and repelling the French privateers which occasionally appeared in her waters, particularly off Block Island. The same is true of the early years of the Second War, although in this case the danger was greater and really considerable amounts were expended in putting the colony in a condition of defence, especially in strengthening and supplying the fort at Newport. A regular garrison was maintained at Block Island. The colony took part in the expedition against Port Royal in 1707, and in 1709 sent to Boston and maintained for five months two hundred men to assist in the proposed expedition against Canada which did not take place. The useless expenditure necessitated by this failure fell heavily on the colony and when, in the following year, one hundred and fifty-five men were sent to take part in the expedition against Port Royal bills of credit were issued to meet the expense.

During the earlier years expenses did not increase much and seem to have been principally for the completion of the colony house, begun under Andros, and for the expedition to repel the French from Block Island. Beginning with 1695 there is a change. The payment of public officers becomes a considerable charge. The expenses of the Agent increase. Then comes the war expenditure, at first the maintenance of the fort and the Block Island garrison and then the expeditions against Canada.

The receipts are now almost entirely from taxes, other sources having become comparatively insignificant with the increasing revenue. The burden of taxation showed a constant tendency to increase. The average annual tax from July 1695 to February 1709-10 was about £1000, from August 1698 to the same date over £1200, from January 1703-4 nearly £1900, from May 1706 £2300, from February 1707-8 £2500, and during the last year £3700 was raised. A census of the colony in December 1708 showed a total population of 7181 of whom 482 were servants, black and white. This would show a great increase in the per capita taxation over the earlier period. During the last year the per capita rate was over half a pound. The taxes collected during this single year amounted to as much or more than all the taxes collected during the first forty years of the colonial government. There is no doubt that the burden was a heavy one and, following the example of others, the colony sought relief in issues of paper money. With the adoption of this new source of revenue colonial taxation practically ceased and was revived only under the pressure of another and greater war thirty-five years later.