USA > Connecticut > The public records of the State of Connecticut, from October 1776 to Ferbruary 1778, inclusive > Part 21
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Also voted and resolved, That the Committee of Pay-Table receive of the Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office for this State the contents of two orders drawn on said loan office by the Continental Treasurer in favour of this State: one dated Jany 6th, 1777, for forty thousand dollars, for the use of this State, for which this State is to account; the other dated Jany 30th 1777, for 33,333} dollars, in payment of that sum advanced to Col. Sheldon at the request of Gen1 Washington; and to indorse said orders as satis- fied in behalf of this State, and that they pay the sums so by them re- ceived to the Treasurer of this State, taking duplicate receipts for the same, and that they lodge one of said receipts with the Secretary of this State and retain the other in their hands, making proper entries in their accounts of the sums by them received and paid over as aforesaid.
A motion being made to this Board by an officer appointed by this State in the new continental army, whether it is lawful and right to inlist soldiers out of any companies raised by order of this State upon particular occa- sions for the service of this or the neighbouring States for a short time or only for a few months :
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Board that any officer appointed by this State, or others who have a right to inlist soldiers for the continental service in this State, may and have right to inlist such soldiers who are de- tached or inlisted for a short time or only for a few months for a particular service into the continental service, and that such soldier so inlisted into the continental service be from that time discharged from the particular service in which he was before engaged. And that what bounty such sol- dier so inlisting into the continental service has received from the State for his encouragement to inlist in the short and particular service be deducted from the £10 0 0 bounty to be given by this State in the continental service in proportion to the time he has been engaged in the particular service, which is agreeable to the act of Assembly in such case provided.
Andrew Fitch is appointed a Captain in Col. Durkee's regiment, instead of Capt. Abraham Tyler resigned.
A permit was given to Capt. Giles Mansfield to transport six hogsheads of sugar to Peeks Kills at the desire of Gen1 Arnold, for the use of the army.
179
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, FEBRUARY 20TH, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Elipht Dyer, Jedh Elderkin,
Jabez Huntington, Wm. Hillhouse,
Wm. Williams, Benj. Huntington, Esqrs
Titus Hosmer, Nath1 Wales jun", J
Gave an order on Christopher Leffingwell and Wm. Coit to deliver one hogshead of the molasses called tory molasses to Joseph Abel, for the use of the furnace at Salisbury, taking the exact guage of the molasses and Mr. Abel's receipt, which are to be delivered to Captain Jabez Perkins and Rufus Lathrop, Esqr.
Voted, To draw on the Pay-Table for the sum of £2 0 0, in favour of his Honor the Governor, for that sum advanced by him to one Benjamin Boss of Baltimore, who has been lately redeemed from captivity, to bear his expenses homeward. Order drawn and dd to the Gour Feby 20th, 1777.
By the Governor and Council of Safety.
Application having been made to this Board by Ezekiel Howell, Daniel Howell and sundry other refugees from Long Island, friends to the country, praying for relief with respect to getting off their effects from said island to this State, as all intercourse with said island is prohibited by law &c.
Whereupon it is considered and resolved, That the civil authority and selectmen of the towns of Say Brook and Stonington, in each of their respec- tive towns, on application to them in either of said towns by any such refugees for any boats or vessells to bring off any of their effects to enquire and obtain the best knowledge they can of the integrity of the persons so apply- ing, and being satisfied thereof they are hereby authorized and impowered to allow and licence any boats or vessells and hands to assist in bringing off goods or effects from Long Island to the main and any friendly persons dis- posed to remove from thence, any restraining act or law to the contrary not- withstanding; and also to afford any such suffering refugees all reasonable relief and assistance to obtain such boats or vessells or otherwise as their cir- cumstances may require, at their own risque and expence, using their prud- ent caution that no deceit be practiced under colour of such licence by any persons concerned or who may endeavor to avail themselves of an opportunity to devise or execute any mischief to these States. This authority to con- tinue during the term of six weeks, and that due return be made to this Board of the proceedings thereon.
Jonathan Stone and Elisha Keyes are permitted to purchase and trans- port out of this State eight hundred weight of flax to Shrewsbury.
Voted, To give an order on Messrs. Elderkin and Wales, in favour of the selectmen of Hebron, for 200 76. of powder for their town stock.
Sam" Granger is appointed Captain of a company in Col. Charles Webb's regiment, instead of Abiel Peas resigned. Benj. Holcom is appointed Second Lieutenant in said company.
Voted, To direct Elijah Backus, Esq', to make another cannon: the first he made having split in proving.
180
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[February,
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, FEBRUARY 21ST, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Elipht Dyer, Jedh Elderkin,
Jz. Huntington, Wm. Hillhouse,
Wm. Williams, Nath1 Wales jun',
Titus Hosmer, Benj. Huntington, J
Esqrs.
Whereas his Excellency Gen1 Washington, by his letter to his Honor the Governor of the 10th instant, hath signified that he finds it impossible to keep the small pox from spreading through the army, and that he has there- fore determined, upon the most mature deliberation, to inoculate all the new troops that have not had that disorder, and that he hath given directions that Brigadier Gen1 Parsons superintend the inoculation of the continental troops in this State, taking it for granted that we should have no objection to so salutary a measure, upon which depends not only the lives of all the men who have not had the small pox but also the health of the whole army: And whereas it appears to this Board that the measure proposed by his Excellency the General is salutary and necessary, and that from the advanced season of the year and the near approach of the time when the army must take the field it is of the greatest importance that the same be carried into execution without the least delay, and that the time that must necessarily be lost should the General Assembly be called to deliberate upon and regulate the same would probably expose the United States to inconvenience and danger for want of these troops seasonably in the field: Therefore, altho it would be most agreeable to this Board to refer matters of so high consequence to the determination of the General Assembly, yet from the necessity of the case and as it appears to this Board to be well within the powers vested in them by the acts of the General Assembly,
Resolved, ordered and recommended, That the new raised troops in this State for continental service be inoculated with the small pox as soon as possible.
And that the same may be done with as little danger and inconvenience to the rest of the inhabitants of this State as may be, it is further resolved, That the Honble Brig Gen1 Parsons be and he is directed to consult with the civil authority and selectmen of the several towns where he shall judge it most convenient to have said troops inoculated, and with their consent, advice and assistance, to provide suitable hospitals for that purpose, and that he pro- vide proper surgeons, nurses and attendants, and also give orders that neces- sary bedding, utensils, food, medicine and refreshments, be furnished to said soldiers in such hospitals, and that he give orders that proper guards and sentries be placed round such hospitals, to prevent any unnecessary com- munication with the persons infected from without and to prevent any in- fected soldier from wandering out of such hospital to expose the inhabitants, and also that such soldiers when convalescent be thoroughly cleansed and purified from such infection, both in their persons and clothes: all without expense to this State.
Also voted and resolved, That the selectmen of the several towns in which such hospitals shall be be and they are directed, upon the request of Gen1 Parsons, to afford him every necessary aid and assistance in the premises and to take the utmost care that the small pox be not spread from . such hospitals; and that to this purpose they make such rules and orders for the
181
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
government and regulation of such hospitals as they are enabled to do respecting the small pox or other infectious sickness by the statute of this State providing in case of sickness, under the pains and penalties in said act contained.
Also voted and resolved, That the families of such persons as shall let out their houses as hospitals for the purpose aforesaid may be inoculated therein with the soldiers aforesaid.
Also resolved and voted, That Gen' Parsons be directed to report to his Honor the Governor what progress he shall make in the business aforesaid from time to time, that any further orders may be given and measures taken to render the inoculation of said troops safe and effectual.
Erastus Wolcott jun' is appointed First Lieutenant of Capt. Parsons's company in Col. Charles Webb's regiment in continental service. Timothy White is appointed Second Lieutenant in the same company. Noah Phelps of East Windsor is appointed Ensign of the same company.
Voted, To give an order on Dr. Joshua Elderkin to deliver to Col. Wm. Douglass or his order three hundred blew coats in his hands lapell'd with ash colour ; taking receipt.
Order drawn and da Gen' Parsons Feby 21st, 1777.
Voted, That this Council desire his Honor the Governor to draw on President Hancock for twenty-five thousand dollars, in favour of Mr. Nath. Shaw jun' on the credit of this State, together with a letter of advice of what we are advancing here in cannon and other things for the continent. Said 25,000 dollars to be in account with Mr. Shaw, agreeable to his request in a letter this day received from him.
An order was drawn Feby 21st and dd to Peter Christophers for Mr. Shaw. Voted, To grant a bounty of ten pounds to each non-commission'd officer and soldier who shall be inlisted and be accepted as being of the quota of soldiers to be raised in this State to make up the sixteen battalions ordered by Congress to be raised in the United States of America in addition to the 88 battalions for three years or during the present war with Great Britain; which bounty of ten pounds is to be in addition to the continental encour- agement to be given to said troops in the same manner and for the same purpose as the bounty or premium of ten pounds which was given by the General Assembly at their session in December last to the soldiers of the 8 battalions ordered by Congress to be raised in this Colony as part of the 88 battalions aforesaid.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, FEBRUARY 22D, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor. Elipht Dyer, Titus Hosmer,
Jabez Huntington, Benj. Huntington, Esqrs.
Wm. Williams,
Voted, To draw on Prosper Wetmore, Esq", in favour of Capt. Seth Harding for the sum of £1000 15 63, in full settlement of said Harding's accounts and said Harding's receipt for that sum said Witmore to be com- puted in his favour in a settlement of his accounts with this State.
Order drawn and de to Capt. Harding Feby 22d, 1777. Sundry letters to N. London committee, to Capt. Tracey, Messrs. Trumbull
182
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[February,
and Livington &c. Others were prepared and sent which took up the greater part of the forenoon.
Voted, To permit John L. C. Rome, Esq", of New York, now confined in Norwich as a person disaffected and dangerous to the interest of the United States of America, to return to New York on his giving his parole not to do or say anything contrary to the measures adopted by the said States to preserve their rights and liberties as free and independent States, and that he will return back and resign himself up to the care and custody of the sheriff of N. London county where he now is when thereto requested by the Governor and Council of Safety, or by the same authority that first ordered him here for confinement. And Rufus Lathrop and Christopher Leffing- well, Esq's, are hereby authorized and desired to take his parole in the man- ner and for the purpose aforesaid; which being done and properly certified by them he, the said Rome, is hereby permitted to pass into New York without molestation. (He behaving as becometh on the way.) Copy given.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, LEBANON, FEB- RUARY 24TH, 1777, MONDAY.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
A N. Ely snow
A.M. not much.
Elipt Dyer, Wm. Williams,
Increased to an exceeding
heavy wind and storm
Titus Hosmer, Esqrs.
tho not a vast deal of Jed. Elderkin,
snow fell &c.
Nath' Wales,
Various applications &c.
On request of Mr. Andrew Huntington for a draft of 6 or 8 pounds for purchasing articles of cloathing &c., alledging that so much is due to him to ballance in that account, and moving for an order of Mr. Wetmore, marshall of the admiralty court &c. Voted, that an order be drawn on Prosper Wetmore, Esq', marshall of the admiralty court. and who has public moneys in his hands on account of sales of prize goods &c., in favour of Mr. Andrew Huntington for the sum of six hundred pounds : he to be accountable, on his commissary service for purchasing cloathing.
Applications about matters &c.
Large number of tories present, being allowed to come this day &c., and permission was voted and granted Job Barnlock, Enoch Warren, Jos. Olmstead, and Richard Partrick, of Norwalk, residing at Coventry, and Frederic Dibble and Step" Wilson of Stamford, residing at Lebanon, to return home and remain untill recalled or sent back, on their having signed a full and ample declaration of the justice and the American cause, [with] profession of their friendship to it and readiness to take up arms in defence of it &c. &c.
A number of letters and copys prepared for Gen1 Washington &c.
AT A MEETING &C. TUESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY, 1777. Present : His Honor the Governor. Eliph. Dyer, Titus Hosmer, -
Wm. Williams, Jedh Elderkin, Esq's. Nath' Wales,
Three more torys, viz: Gardner Olmsted of Norwalk, Nath" Munday and Sam" Crissy of Stamford. came in and signed the same declaration
183
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
as those of yesterday above mentioned, and were permitted in the same manner to return home.
Letters preparing and copying for Gen1 W. &c.
Gen1 Spencer came in from Providence &c., and moves, if practicable, to have some further relief and assistance of men &c. to enable him to carry into execution the proposed plan of making an attack upon the island of Rhode Island, with a view to dislodge the enemy's troops posted there &c. &c., they having made great preparation for that purpose and fear they shall not be able to make the attempt for want of men.
The matter talked, considered and consulted.
Maj. Wyllys came in having been lately to solicit an exchange of him- self &c. and not able, has liberty if he can send Cap. Luke a prisoner in this State &c.
On motion about Hubbard and Jnº Wilson of Stamford, tory prisoners residing in this town &c. voted,
Whereas Hubbard and Jnº Wilson of Stamford in this State, who have been adjudged inimical to the rights and liberties of America and by order of law sent to reside and are now residing in the town of Lebanon, have frequently visited houses and persons infected with the small pox, and returned to and among other persons, houses and company not infected, so as to expose them, and thereby and by other conduct given fear, uneasiness and disquiet to many of the inhabitants of said town lest they have or sho'd communicate the infection of said disease, and having taken other libertys of travelling out of said town where they were to be confined &c. &c. : It is resolved and ordered by this Board, that the said Hubbard and Wilson, and all others sent to this town in like circumstances, be and they are hereby subjected to the advice, direction and government of the selectmen of said town as to their residence, conduct and behavior, so long as they remain in said town and untill he or they shall be removed or otherwise disposed, on pain of imprisonment or such other punishment as may be ordered and directed by this Board.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR &C. WEDNESDAY, 26 FEBRUARY, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Elpt Dyer, Titus Hosmer,
A clear thawy
Jz. Huntington, Jed. Elderkin, Esqrs.
day.
Wm. Williams, Nath1 Wales,
Dispatched Wm. Torry jun" an express to Gen1 Washington with Nº. let- ters, and to Commissary Mease &c. &c.
Maj' Wyllys moving to be exchanged for Cap. Luke &c. is referred till an answer be received from the General, to whom we now have wrote for his approbation of the proposal &c.
Mr. Elsworth of the Pay-Table moving for instructions about paying the £10 bounty to our proportion of the 16 new proposed battalions &c., and the following prepared and passed, viz :
This Board having voted and resolved that a bounty of ten pounds be paid by this State to so many of the non-commission officers and soldiers that shall inlist in this State into the 16 battalions ordered by Congress the 27th December last to be raised in addition to the 88 before ordered, as our
184
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[February,
proportion of the same shall amount to at the rate of one to eleven, being the proportion of the 88 battalions assigned ns by Congress,
It is now voted and resolved, That our proportion of said 16 battalions at the rate aforesaid is one thousand men.
Also voted and ordered, That the aforesaid bounty be distributed as fol- lows, viz: to non-commission officers and soldiers belonging to this State who shall inlist into the battalion under the command of Col. Sam1 B. Webb to the number of five hundred ; to the non-commission officers and soldiers of this State who shall inlist into the battalion of which Return Jona. Meigs, Esq. is appointed lieutenant colonel to the number of 250, and to the non-commission officers and soldiers of this State who shall inlist into the battalion of which Thos. Dyer, Esq", is appointed lieutenant colonel to the number of two hundred and fifty.
And the Committee of Pay-Table are directed to draw on the Treasurer for said bounty to be advanced to the captains in said battalions that are or may be appointed in this State out of the same funds and under the same restrictions and regulations that they draw for the bounty granted by the General Assembly to the eight battalions before ordered to be raised in this State for continental service.
Consultation about ways and means of furnishing succours to Gen1 Spen- cer, according to his application and motion yesterday, and about many things.
AT A MEETING &C. THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Elipt Dyer, Titus Hosmer, Jz. Huntington, Jed. Elderkin, Esqrs.
Wm. Williams, Nath1 Wales,
Consultation about the alarming accounts coming of the extortion and evasion of dealers in all West India goods especially, and the great difficul- ties bro't upon people by means thereof &c.
And frequently interrupted by applications from others, letters coming in &c.
And on Cap. Colt's motion &c. &c. and other recommendations &c. Jnº Harris is appointed First Lieutenant in Cap. Nat. Webb's company.
Gen. Spencer came in again.
Wm. Nichols is appointed Pay-Master of Col. Swift's regiment.
Gen1 Spencer being disappointed of the troops he had been encouraged from B. Gen. Parsons seems doubtful whether he can possibly obtain men enow for his proposed expedition at New Port &c., and goes back to Provi- dence to learn what can [be] had from Massachusetts &c, and if he shall be like to succeed, he is authorized to call upon a number of officers at the eastern part of this State, to raise and bring on such numbers of men as they can, and this Board engage they shall be paid &c., and the General is to write immediately what his prospects are and goes off on his return to Providence.
185
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Mr. David Trumbull presented his account as follows, viz : Lebanon, 1776.
Dr. State of Connecticut in account with David Trumbull,
Cr.
To 174 Guns @ 52s. S
1775. Sep. 8, By Cash £100. 0.0
To 12 do. 66s. 6 39 18 0
per gun £459 4 0 1776. Jan. 29, By old horse, sold Jona. Trumbull jr 2. 0. 0 Ap. 12 By cash 150. 0 0
To 2 do. bo't by order of Gov. and Council of Safety 7 2 0
Feb. 12, To pª Sim" Waterman for loss of saddle with Frenchman, 1 10
By 84 gun-locks rec of Col.Sears (@. 12s. per L 50. 8. 0
0 Ballance due, 212. 16. 10
Oct. 16, To pd Sam' Hunt, express to Boston, 3 18 6
29, To pd Asa Ed- gerton, express to Haddam and N. London, 2 0 0
1777.
Jan. 12, To pd Moses Hydeforhorse hire from Leb. to go to Col. Ward, Guil- ford, 40 miles @@ 2₺ per mile, 15, To pd Darius Waterman ex- press to Col. Champion, di- recting him to go to Provi- dence, 0 9 0
0 8 4
28, To pd Thos. Mar. shal, express to Col. Gallup's, 0. 15. 0
£515. 4.10
£515. 4.10
Said account allowed, and voted an order to be drawn in favour of said Mr. Trumbull for the ballance £212. 16. 10.
On motion the following is advised and voted, viz :
Whereas sixty thousand dollars have been lately transmitted to me, the Governor of the State of Connecticut, by order of his Excellency Gen1 Washington, from Mr. Palfrey, pay-master general of the continental army, toward the premium granted by Congress to the continental troops raising in this State, to be delivered out to the colonels of the said several bat- talions, I do, by and with the advice of the Council of Safety, hereby ap- point and authorize Mr. David Trumbull to receive said sum, and the same pay out and deliver to said several colonels, taking and keeping proper re- ceipts and accounts thereof : saving that twenty thousand dollars, part
1
186
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[February,
thereof, is by express request of Gen1 Washington already sent to Gen1 Knox of the artillery.
Done at Lebanon in said State the 27th February, A.D. 1777.
Signed JONA TRUMBULL.
A copy of the above motion and vote taken by the Committee of Accounts, Dec. 27, 1786.
Many other incidental matters consulted and no votes about them.
And adjourned 9 o'clock at night, the steady time.
AT A MEETING &C. FRYDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1777. Present : His Honor the Governor.
Extreme cold and windy. Elipt Dyer, Jed. Elderkin,
Much changed from yesterday. Jz. Huntington, Nath1 Wales, Esqrs.
Mr. Hosmer gone home. Wm. Williams,
Benja. Brown, of Fishers Island, is moving for pay for the stock taken from thence last July, and the matter considered and compared &c., and is allowed, and the following order and state is drawn on the Pay-Table, viz :
To the Committee of P. T., Hartford,
Gent: The amount and value of the stock taken from Fishers Island in July last by order of Gov' and C. of Safety and direction of Gen' Wash- ington, to save it from the enemy, is and was by the apprizement of Messrs. Eb. Ledyard, Eb. Avery jun" and R. Mumford, £570 3. Part of which, to the value of £272 6 0, was sold Col. Champion, for which he is to account to this State. Cash sent by the committee to the Governor, and by him paid to the Treasurer £239 3 0, - £511 9. The ballance of loss, in sales and expences, which ought to be charged to the debit of the United States of America, £58 14. 570 3.
Mr. Jno. Winthrop, administrator on the estate of Jno. Still Winthrop, Esq. decd., certifies, 26 Feb. 1777, that Mr. Benj. Brown is under bond for the performance of his lease and accountable to the heirs of said deceased for the use and improvement of Fishers Island, the stock &c.
You are therefore directed to draw on the Treasurer in favour of said Mr. Benja. Brown, for the payment of the abovementioned sum of five hun- dred and seventy pounds three shillings, in discharge of said account for the Fishers Island stock, and make entry of the several accounts accord- ingly, and call upon Col. Champion for the amount of stock by him pur- chased as aforesaid, and lodge with and charge the Treasurer.
Consultations about how and what can be done to check the extortion of the times &c. &c.
Appointed Neh. Rice First Lieutenant in Cap. Davd Smith's company in Col. Chandler's regiment, and transposed Lt. Baldwin from that co. to Cap. Botsford's company in Col. Swift's regiment.
On application from Mr. Griffith from Guilford &c. advised the Gover- nor to grant him a permit to go out with a vessell, with stores &c. and 5 barrels pork and beef including vessell's stores, in order to bring in salt.
Voted, That Mr. Andrew Huntington, of Norwich, be and he is directed to purchase and procure fifty hogsheads of rum, West Indian or N. Eng- land, for the use of this State for supply of our troops according to the en- gagement of the General Assembly, and at a price not exceeding the sum set and limited by law, and make report immediately whether he can obtain
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