The friendship of Governor Belcher kept Waldron in his office of Secretary until the end of the Belcher administration, but Governor Wentworth suspended him from the council, and removed him from the offices of Secretary and Judge of Probate. In 1749 he was elected Speaker of the House, which the Governor refused to allow, and a controversy was created which lasted three years. He died soon after, August 23, 1753.
The original manuscript of his “Scrub Poetry” is on file with the Governors’ messages in the archives in the office of the Secretary of State at Concord, N. H.
On the second day of January, 1733–4, the governor thus addressed the Council and House of Representatives:
Gent of the Council & House of Representatives.
By the last ships from London I have received an account of the French King’s Declaring War against the Emper of Germany with whome his Brittanick Majtie is in alliance & how far this unhappy Rupture may lead to a Genll War in Europe is uncertaine, however I think it a faire Alarm to all his Majties Dominions to put themselves in a Posture of defence & you cannot but be sensible how naked & Exposed this Province is both by Sea and Land. Fort William & Mary at the Entrance of this River (the only Fortifications his Majtie has in this Province) you know Lyes in a miserable condition nor are you ignorant how often I have prest the Repaire of this Fortress upon the Assembly here altho it has forty Guns yet it has for a long time had only a Capt a Gunner and two Centinels belonging to it. I hope your own Safety as well as his Majties Honr (at this Critical juncture) will put you upon doing what is absolutely necessary in this Important affaire.
I have Gent frequent Complaints of the ruinous condition of the Gaole of the Province which will Require a large Repaire or Rather Rebuilding as soone as may be their being Continual Hazards of Escapes thro’ its present Deficiency.
Gent of the House of Representative.
you very well know there has been no money in the Treasury of the Province for neare three years past which has greatly Exposed and dishond the Kings Govermt and has been a Publick Injustice & oppression—this with the threatening Aspect abroad (I have no doubt) will lead you to make Ample Provision for what I have now mentioned as well as for all the other Exigencies of the Govermt.
Gent of the Council, & House of Representatives.
Upon my meeting of the Assm of the Massts Bay in April last I earnestly recommended to them the passing an Order (agreeable to what had been done in this Province) for putting a stop (at present) to any process in the Law agt the Borderers on the disputed Lines of the two Provinces. But the Publick Prints have long Since told you it had not the desired Success.