USA > Connecticut > The public records of the State of Connecticut, from October 1776 to Ferbruary 1778, inclusive > Part 19
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AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY JANUARY 25TH, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Jabez Huntington, Jedh Elderkin,
Wm. Williams, Wm. Hillhouse,
Titus Hosmer,
Nath11 Wales jun",
Esq's.
Benj. Huntington, 7
Consulted on the affairs of the tory convicts &c.
Gave a letter of credit to Col. Stewart for ordnance stores &c. to the Massachusetts &c.
Sent letters to the captains appointed to serve in Rhode Island, to repair here and take orders &c.
l'oted. To suffer John Betts, Nathan Fitch, Stephen Keeler, John Hus- ted, Jacob Scovil, Josiah Seeley, Isaac Hubbard, James Smith and Benj. James, convict tories confined in Lebanon and Coventry, to return to their respective homes on giving sufficient bonds for their good behaviour, not to give any intelligence or do or say anything against the rights and interest of the United States of America.
Orders were given to the sheriff of New London County in the words following, viz: Sir : You are directed with the assistance of Capt. Ephraim Bill, to collect all the bills of expences of condemnation, storage and sales arisen on the prize ship Sally and prize schooner Hannah and Elizabeth and their cargoes and see them duly and reasonably adjusted and paid, and state the accounts of those prizes, counting on the prices of articles sold at vendue, articles taken by apprizal, and articles taken at the legal prices for publick use, and after deducting for the commander in chief one twentieth part of the neat proceeds of each of said prizes according to the resolve of Congress, pay one third of the remainder of each of those prizes to the agents of the
VOL. XVI .- 11
162
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[January ,
crews of their respective captors, viz : the crews of the brig Defence and the schooner Spy, upon the agents producing proper powers of attorney to receive the same; taking proper receipts therefor. And you are to make out your accounts for settlement with the Governor and Council of Safety as soon as may be.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY AT LEBANON, MONDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Elipht Dyer, Esq", Benj. Huntington,
Wm. Williams, Esq", Jedh Elderkin
Titus Hosmer, Esq", Wm. Hillhouse Nath! Wale
Esq's.
Many persons present and applications about sundry matters.
A certificate and letter from Thads Burr, Esq", that Lt. George Burr, who was by the Assembly in Decr last appointed lieutenant of the company of 20 at Fairfield, declines the service &c., and thereupon this Board do appoint Mr. Isaac Burr to be Lieutenant of said company. And commission given.
It being represented by said Lt. Burr, that the No. of 20 men allowed by the Assembly at Fairfield is too small for the many services they have to do, that their cannon are double fortified 12-pounders, too heavy to be managed by them, and that they have reason to expect a visit from the enemy &c. : On consideration of all the circumstances, and that no deputies for that town was present when the Assembly acted upon that matter, and the apparent need &c., this Board consider and allow five men more to be added to the number of 20 to be stationed at the battery in said town, for the term of 1 year from the Ist of January instant.
Eben' Holly, Elliot Green, Jonathan Husted, Josiah Seely, Benj. Jaines, Isaac Hubbard and Jacob Scofield of Stamford, and Nathan Fitch, James Smith, Gold Hoit, Stephen Keeler, Gold Hoit and John Betts of Norwalk, convict tories, are permitted to return home upon their giving bond of £1000 each to the Treasurer for their good behaviour, and not to give any intelligence nor do or say anything against the interest of the United States of America; and a letter was written to Col. Abm Davenport informing him of the conditions of their returning home.
Dr. Benjamin Ellis is appointed Surgeon to the brig Defence, his pay to begin the 20th of Decr, 1776, when his service began.
STATE OF CONNECTICUT. By the Governor.
To Captain Ebenezer Mosley, Esquire : Greeting.
Whereas the General Assembly of said State, in their sessions at Middle- town by adjournment on the 19th day of December last. did resolve that 1092 men should be raised in this State and sent to join the army at Provi- dence under the command of Major General Spencer, as the quota of this State in the same, and did desire and impower the Governor and Committee of Safety to carry said resolve into execution : And whereas the Governor and Committee of Safety have resolved, in pursuance of said resolve of Assembly, to raise three companies of militia to serve untill the first day of April next by voluntary inlistment, and that they shall have and receive the
1
163
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
same wages and allowance as the continental troops do receive, and also a bounty of twenty shillings to each non-commission'd officer and soldier, and a premium of four shillings for arms and accoutrements and three shillings for a blanket, and have appointed you, the said Ebenezer Mosely, Esq", Captain of one of said companies : These are, therefore, to authorize and command you to inlist a company of able-bodied effective men for the service afore- said, consisting of four serjeants, four corporals, one drummer and one fifer, and seventy-six privates, as soon as may be by beat of drum or otherwise. And I do hereby, on behalf of this State, promise and engage that they shall have and receive the encouragements above mentioned.
Given under my hand in Lebanon this 27th day of January, A.D. 1777.
The above is a record of the orders given and signed by his Honor the Governor. The same orders being also given to the other captains appoint- ed for said service, and the resolves of the Governor and Council of Safety referred to in the foregoing orders were passed this 27th day of January, 1777, and wholly contained in said orders.
Joseph Burgis is appointed First Lieutenant of the company to be under command of Capt. Ebr Moseley, to serve in the State of Rhode Island untill the first day of April next. Joseph Carew is appointed First Lieutenant of the company to be under command of Capt. Benajah Leffingwell, to serve in the State of Rhode Island untill the first day of April next.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY JANUARY 28TH, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor. Elipht Dyer, Wm. Hillhouse,
Jabez Huntington, Nath1I Wales junr,
Wm. Williams,
Benj. Huntington,
Esqrs.
Jedh Elderkin,
Lazarus Beach, Andrew Fairchild, Nathan Lee, Enos Lee, Abel Burr of Reading, and Thomas Allen of NewTown in the county of Fairfield, being tory convicts and sent by order of law to be confined in the town of Mans- field, to prevent any mischievous practices of theirs, having made their escape and being taken up and remanded back to his Honor the Governor and this Council to be dealt with &c .: Resolved and ordered by the Governor and his Council aforesaid, that the said Lazarus Beach, Andrew Fairchild, Nathan Lee, Enos Lee and Abel Burr be committed to the keeper of the goal in Windham within said prison to be safely kept untill they come out thence by due order of the General Assembly or the Governor and his Council of Safety, and that they pay cost of their being apprehended and being remanded &c. allowed to be £25 3 0, dinners lls. £25 14 0. Mitti- mus granted Jany 28th, 1777.
An order was given to the committee of prisoners at Mansfield to take a bond of John Sanford, (a person confined in Mansfield, an enemy to this country.) for one thousand pound, conditioned that whereas the said John Sanford is found guilty of being inimical and dangerous to this and the rest of the United States of America and ordered to be removed and sent to the Governor and Committee of Safety to have his place of residence assigned, and hath for some time resided in Mansfield according to said order, and now moving for liberty to return to Reading for the settlement of his
164
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[January,
mother's estate, and promising his good behaviour: Now if the said John Sanford shall well and truly return to said Reading, dwell and abide within and not depart out of the limits of said town, and shall do nor say nothing in prejudice of the interest or rights of this or any of the rest of the United States of America or any of the measures pursuing by them for their defence, and shall not hold any correspondence with or give any intelligence to the enemies of said States, and shall repair to any place assigned by the Gov- ernor and Committee of Safety of this State upon requisition, then the foregoing bond to be void, else to remain in full force and virtue; and upon his executing said bond to give said John Sanford a permit to return to Reading without molestation &c.
Robert Lewis is accepted and established Captain, David Wells Lieuten- ant, and Phinehas Sherman Ensign of a company of volunteers raised in Stratford to join the continental army &c., and their commissions are granted.
James Beard is established Captain, Daniel Chatfield Lieutenant, and John Humphrey Ensign of a company of volunteers raised in Derby to join the continental army, and their commissions granted.
Orders were given to Capt. Wm. Coit of the ship Oliver Cromwell to order all his officers and men on board said ship to duty and fit said ship for sailing with all possible dispatch, and to land four of the guns on board said ship and put them into the care of Mr. Nath' Shaw jun", taking his receipt, and as soon as the crew of said ship are collected to make return of them that further directions may [be] given for said ship to proceed to sea.
Voted, To draw on the Pay-Table for the sum of £25 14 0, in favour of John Slater, constable of Waterbury, it being for the expence of guarding and transporting six runaway tories taken up at Waterbury and returned here by order of authority. Order d' to John Slater Jany 28th, 1777.
Voted, To draw on the Pay-Table for £150 0 0, in favour of Capt. Wm. Coit, to enable him to proceed on his cruise. Jonth Trumbull made an order, Mr. Iluntington gone.
The Revd Mr. John Sayer of Fairfield being sent here by the civil authority and selectmen of Fairfield as a person inimical and dangerous to this and the United States of America, that he might be ordered to some place for his confinement : Resolved, that said Sayer be sent to the parish or society of New Britain in Farmingtown, to be under the care of Col. Isaac Lee and not to depart out of the limits of said society of New Britain untill further orders from the General Assembly or the Governor and Council of Safety.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, JANUARY 31ST, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Eliph' Dyer, Wm. Hillhouse,
Jabez Huntington, Nath11 Wales jun",
Wm. Williams, Benj. Huntington.
Jedh Elderkin,
Consulted on the affair of cloathing the continental battalions raising in this Colony.
Sundry letters from the chairman of the Council of War in Providence, Gen' Green, Gen1 Oliver Woolcott and others, were read.
165
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Voted, To draw on Prosper Wetmore, Esq", for £383 0 73, in favour of Capt. Robert Niles, captain and commander of the schooner Spy, in settle- ment for the schooner's accounts to the 8th day of January, 1777.
Order drawn Jany 31st, 1777, £383 0 72, de to Capt. Niles.
Voted, To draw on Prosper Wetmore, Esqr, for £100 0 0, in favour of Capt. Robert Niles of the schooner Spy, and to be in account.
Order drawn and dd to Cupt. Niles Fely 8th, 1777.
The affair of the spreading of the small pox was taken into consideration, and how to prevent that infection by the hands of mischievous persons being further propagated, and advised that his Honor the Governor publish a Proclamation setting forth the dangers of spreading the same at present against law and without regulation and at this season of the year &c., with encouragement that the matter and expediency of setting up inoculation under good regulations shall be referred to the consideration of the next May session of the General Assembly.
Many persons in, and about a variety of questions. Arrangement of officers. The danger of the small pox spreading &c. &c.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY FEBRUARY 1ST, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Elipht Dyer, Wm. Hillhouse, - Jabez Huntington, Nath11 Wales jun", Wm. Williams, Benj. Huntington,
Esqrs.
Jedh Elderkin,
Mr. John Mix of Farmingtown is appointed Ensign of Capt. Wmn Judd's company in Col. Wyllys's regiment, and a certificate is sent by said Mix to the Secretary.
A letter from Gen1 Washington was received and read, pressing the necessity of a speedy filling up our quota of troops &c.
Daniel Allen is appointed Captain of a company in Col. Durkee's regi- ment, instead of Oliver Babcock deceased.
Return Jonth Meigs is appointed Major of Col. Wyllys's regiment in the continental service.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY FEBRUARY 3D, 1777. Present : His Honor the Governor. Eliph' Dyer, Wm. Hillhouse,
Jz. Huntington, Nath1 Wales jun".
Wm. Williams,
Benj. Huntington.
Jedh Elderkin,
Voted, To give Beriah Badcock an order to Dr. Elderkin to deliver out cloath enough for a great coat and receive his blanket in exchange : Bad- cock paying the odds in money. Order drawn Feb. 3ª, 1777.
Voted, To write a letter to Thaddeus Burr, Esqr, to secure ten tons of good well dressed flax for the use of this State.
Voted, That an advertisement be put into the N. London paper, notify- ing those people that design to purchase flax at the westward for their own
166
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[February,
use to apply for the same speedily, that the surplus of that article in this State may be disposed for the good of others.
Voted, To permit Charles Barret of New Ipswich to purchase eighteen hundred weight of flax in the county of Fairfield and transport the same out of this State.
Voted, To draw on the Pay-Table for £80 0 0, in favour of Capt. Jabez Perkins, for money advanced by him for the publick in transporting wheat to the mills to be floured, and to be in account. Order drawn Feby 3d, 1777.
Oliver Blood, of Ashley in the State of Massachusets, is permitted to purchase in the county of Fairfield and carry out of this State to said Ash- ley eight hundred pounds weight of flax.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR &C. TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor. Elipt Dyer, Wm. Hilhouse, Wm Williams, Jed» Elderkin, Esq"".
Nath1 Wales,
Col. Jed. Huntington present and moving to fill up and supply sundry vacancys of officers in his regiment for continental service &c., and good deal of consideration had about it, and the vacancys supplied, and the staff officers appointed &c. &c.
A memorial was yesterday presented by Ralph Isaacs, brot by Messrs. Chauncey and Ingersol, and urged by them, that he may be inlarged from the limits assigned him in Durham by the committee of inspection, complain- ing of the house as bad and shattered and his limits unreasonable &c, and praying relief, or that he may be removed to some other town. The com- mittee of inspection also sent a return and representation of their doings and the limits they had assigned him &c., by Mr. Crane, directed also to vindicate their conduct &c. And, on a large hearing and consideration, is considered and ordered, that he be removed to Wallingford under the direc- tion of the civil authority and selectmen, to be kept in some one of the societys in said town, under such regulations as were given concerning him at Eastbury by the Assembly in October last. And the proper orders, let- ters and instructions were made out and delivered to Mr. Chauncey and Crane, and they dismissed.
Many letters and other matters received and considered &c.
Several transpositions and appointments of officers also considered and made &c. And adjourned to Thursday next.
AT A MEETING &C. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6TH, 1777. Present : His Honor the Governor. Honble Deputy Governor Griswold. Elipt Dyer, Jz. Huntington, Esqrs. Wm. Williams, Jed. Elderkin, Nath11 Wales,
Storm, cold, very high wind. N. W. Extreme change from yesterday rainy and warm.
Letter from Gen. Schuyler, expressing his great and almost certain ex- pectation of Tyconderoga being attacked soon as the ice permits &c., and pressing for men &c., considered and discoursed.
167
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Letters from Providence &c.
Application from D. Q. Gen1 Lovat of Providence for 1000 bushel of oats. for supply of the army there &c. On consideration permitted 400, 100 being granted before.
Appointed Thos. Grosvenor, Esq", Major of Col. Wyllys's regiment in room of Maj. Biggelow resigned.
Variety of persons and applications from and for &c.
Appointed Timo. Cleaveland Second Lieutenant in Capt. Webb's com- pany instead of Abm Wright, who was before promoted.
Many things discoursed, being moved by sundry persons.
Examined and allowed an account of Judah Alden for going express to Gen' Washington with letters about the exchange of prisoners &c. latter end of Nov. or Dec. last. at the rate of 10s. per day, considering the extra risque in the Jerseys at that time &c. 26 days, £14 7 expence, £5 horse hire, and 18s. for horse left at Hartford &c. Total £33 15 0
On a representation by Nathan Stark and Gardner that a number of men lately detatched from the 25th regiment for N. London, by order of Assembly, having refused to join, and have been forcibly taken &c. &c. praying advice : Whereupon the following resolve is passed, viz: This Board being advised that sundry persons who were detatched in the 3d, 8th 12th, 20th and 25th regiments of militia by special order and resolve of the General Assembly begun and holden at Middletown on the 18th of Decem- ber last, to be marched and placed at and about New London for the defence and safety of this State, not to be holden for more than two months, have refused ever to join their corps or to march to New London in pursuance of said order, and that on such refusal Colo. Throop the commander of said detachment has sent a file of men and by force taken and carried off to New London sundry of such persons detatched and refusing as aforesaid, which has occasioned some dispute with respect to the legality of such a proceeding, and application being made to this Board for advice therein: Whereupon it is considered, that this case being in consequence of a special act and order of the General Assembly necessary for the immediate safety and defence of the forts and garrison at New London, and does not come under the former or late acts of Assembly respecting fines and penaltys upon refusal in case of detatchment &c., and therefore the commanding officer is warranted to inforce the order of Assembly, and thereupon those properly detatched ought peaceably to submit as a special case which seldom happens. But if any person has been detatched who is not of the militia and exempt by reason of age, being more than of the age of forty five years, which by the law then in force exempted a person of more than that age from serving in the militia, that such person if then more than 45 years be excused and another person of the same company be detatched and ordered to New London in his room and stead to join the militia under the command of Lt. Col. Dyar Throop on that station. Copy given Nathan Stark.
Appointed Icha. Hinckley Captain in the room of Capt. Perrit in captiv- ity. Col. Webb's regiment.
No. of persons applying for permits for flax and rye &c. Sundry granted. Letters begun to Gen. Washington, Congress &c., and adjourned.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[February,
MET AGAIN FRYDAY, 7TH.
Present : His Honor the Governor. Hon. D. Governor Griswold.
Elipt Dyer, Wm. Williams, )
Jz. Huntington, Jed. Elderkin, Esqr.
Nath1 Wales,
Officers applying &c.
Voted and appointed David Trumbull to provide axes, augres &c. &c. requested by Col. Stewart, employed by a committee of Congress, and that an order be drawn on the Treasurer for £55 0 in his favor, to procure steel at Providence for that purpose. And 28 Feb. ordered the £55 to £100 instead, and order given 28 Feb.
Letters preparing for Congress and Gen. Washington &c., and applica- tions about sundries.
Gen1 Parsons came in, moving about cloathing &c.
Appointed Lt. Thos. Abbe (who was of Swift's regiment) to be Captain instead of Grosvenor, promoted to be major .- Wyllys's regiment.
And Sylvanus Perry, who was second lieutenant in Chandler's regiment, to be First Lieutenant instead of said Abbe now in Wyllys's, which said Perry was in Chandler's regiment, to be First Lieutenant instead of Abner Robinson in Wyllys's, resigned.
Charles Mill First Lieutenant, instead of Lt. Abby promoted, in Swift's regiment, Elderkin's company.
Phins Grover, who was ensign of said company, to be Second Lieutenant therein and Richard Abbe Ensign of the same.
And Josiah Child to be Captain in Bradley's regiment in room of Capt. Ben. Cutler resigned in Bradley's regiment, and Edwd Palmer Ensign of the same.
This Board do appoint Lt. Samuel Smedley to be Captain of the brig Defence belonging to this State for the present cruise on which she is bound instead of Cap. Seth Harding who is unwell and is to be considered as disen- gaged from and unconnected with said brig, or anything relative thereto, for this present voyage or cruise.
And appointed James Angel Third Lieutenant of the abovesaid brig Defence, for the present voyage or cruise.
Pass'd the following resolve &c., on motion of Gov. Griswold, viz :
Voted in Council, That the guard of fifteen men ordered to be kept near the mouth of Connecticut River in Lyme under the command of Ens. Jnº Griswold be removed to attend duty at Black Point in Lyme, unless the selectmen and authority in Lyme shall judge it expedient a part of them should attend at some place between Black Point and the mouth of Connec- ticut River, in which case said selectmen and authority are hereby direct- ed to give orders to said ensign relative thereto, who is ordered to attend the same accordingly. Said guard are to be careful and vigilant to prevent all communication between Long Island and the main, and to seize and hold in custody all boats and other water-craft attempted to be used for that purpose (without a legal permit) and to arrest all such persons in whose possession such water-craft is found, and carry such person before proper authority to be examined and dealt with accordingly.
Copy given the D. Governor.
Many things discoursed &c.
f 169
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
AT A MEETING &C. SATURDAY, STH FEBRUARY, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
D. Gov. gone to Litchfield
Elipt Dyer, Jz. Huntington, Wm. Williams, Esqrs.
superior court.
Jed. Elderkin, Nath1 Wales,
Several letters in answer to Woodbury committee, who sent a prisoner to apply for exchange &c., and sundry others.
Granted permit to Dan1 Payn for 6 oxen to Rehoboth.
Nath Child 6 do. to Roxbury. for 100 bus. rye.
Preserved Abel 100 c. pork, of and for Rehoboth &c. Letters to Congress, Gen. Washington, Gen. Heath, Gen. Green, &c. &c. dispatched by a Congress post, now returning, who has waited two days by order &c.
Brown, post, now returned from Congress with a number of letters and resolves from Congress, from Delegates &c. &c., having left Baltimore last Thursday week. Set from Hartford 3 weeks since.
An application for arms &c. by Cap. Keenee ordered to raise a company for Providence.
Resolved, That the selectmen of the respective towns to which the com- pany raised by Cap. Asa Keenee belong, be and they are hereby directed to provide necessary arms and blankets for said company in the respective towns to which they belong, and have them apprized by indifferent men under oath, and the same deliver to said Cap. Keenee or his order for the use of said company, and take his receipt for the same.
Copy given Lt. Brown of said company.
On resignation of Lt. Billings of the brig Defence, pass'd an order empowering Nat. Shaw, Esq", to appoint a proper person to be second lieu- tenant in his room.
Gave order on Sheriff Wetmore to pay out of the money in his hands belonging to this State as marshall of the admiralty court, to pay Cap. Asa Keenee £80, toward paying his company &c., computing what he has already lent said Keenee as part of said £80, taking receipt.
Order dd Lt. Brown of said company.
Col. Sam11 Wyllys is present, moving for cloathing and arms for his battalion : Whereupon, on consideration,
Resolved and ordered, That Mr. Chauncey Whittelsey, commissary &c., deliver to Col. Sam1 Wyllys of one of the continental battalions raising in this State or his order, cloathing made up or such quantity of cloth and other articles in his hands purchased for soldiers' cloathing and other neces- saries for making them as he, said Colo. Wyllys, shall from time to time stand in need of for cloathing the soldiers inlisted or to be inlisted into his battalion, keeping a true and proper account of the quantity, description and value of the articles so delivered, and taking proper receipt therefor; he, said Wyllys, to be accountable. And Mr. Whittelsey is directed to make up soldiers' coats and trim the same for uniform agreeable to the desire of Col. Wyllys. and to send to this Board a full account of all the articles he hath provided.
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