USA > Connecticut > The public records of the State of Connecticut, from October 1776 to Ferbruary 1778, inclusive > Part 23
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Considered and pass'd the following Resolve, viz :
Whereas a number of blankets were collected by virtue of an order and resolve of the General Assembly of this Colony in June last, for the use of the public, and the same are now wanted for the continental soldiers,
It is therefore resolved and ordered, That the selectmen of the several towns who collected and had the care of such blankets be and they are here- by directed to deliver for the use of the continental soldiers of their respec- tive towns all such blankets to the commanding officer of the troops in this State or colonels of the battalions to which such soldiers respectively belong. or to their order, taking receipts therefor.
And the selectmen of the several towns are also ordered and directed to enquire dilligently after and immediately collect all fire-arms, accoutrements and blankets belonging to their towns or the public within such towns, which have been delivered to soldiers on short marches and tours of duty or other- wise disposed of, and cause the same to be duly apprized, where the prizes are not already duly ascertained, and have the same repaired if neces- sary, and the same deliver for the use aforesaid to such commanding officer or colonel, or their order, taking proper receipts expressing the use for which they are received, and make return of their doings to the next Gen- eral Assembly or to this Board. And the said colonels &c. are to take care in the distribution of said arms and blankets, to see that those who shall be first ready to march be first supplied. This printed und dispersed.
Voted, That B. Gen. Silliman be desired to purchase for the use of the Colony, as shall be ordered, viz : thirty tons of flax : he having sent that he can procure it &c. Sent by Mr. Betts.
Much consideration about various applications, and letter impowering and directing about defending those sea coasts &c. &c., till 9 o'clock.
196
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[ March,
AT A MEETING &C. THURSDAY, 20 MARCH. Present : His Honor the Governor. Elipt Dyer, Wm. Williams, Jz. Huntington, Titus Hosmer, Esqrs.
Nath1 Wales,
Prepared and ascertained the quotas of each town of the continental army and added them to the proclamation sending out.
Prepared letters of instruction to the field officers of 10 regiments for the draughting 2000 men to march to Peekskill, agreeable to the earnest re- quest of Gen. Washington. And appointed the field officers to command them. Determined the quotas from each of the 10 regiments &c. Appointed Brig. Gen1 Wadsworth to command them as brigadier.
The 10 regiments agreed upon and the numbers from each is as follows, viz :
Companies.
Non-com. officers and privates. 192
1 Regiment,
Wyllys, Belden's,
2
96 each, do.
144
10
do.
Th. Cook, 3
do.
288
13 do.
Moseley,
2.3
do.
240
14
do.
Burrel,
-10
do.
144
15 do. Hooker, 2
do
192
16
do. P. Cook, 2
do.
192
17
do.
O. Wolcott, 2
do
192
18
do.
Humphry, 2
do.
192
23
do.
Sage,
do.
144
10 regiments.
1920
4 commision officers to each company, 80
The said detachments are regimented as follows, viz :
6 13 do. Thos. Belden, Esq, Colonel.
18 2 do. Seth Smith, Esq, Lieutenant Colonel.
23
do. Nath. Brown, Esq, Major.
7
10 Reg. 3 companies, 1 Noadiah Hooker, Esq. Colonel.
15 do. 2 do. Epa. Sheldon, Lieutenant Colonel.
17 do. 2 do. Gad Stanly, Major.
7
13 Reg. 2} companies, ) Increase Moseley, Colonel.
14 do. 1} do. Josha Porter, Lieutenant Colonel.
17 do. 2 do. Jethro Hatch, Major.
6
The foregoing things are grounded on the orders contained and expressed in the printed copy annexed, which has been in deliberation and considera- tion 2 or three days.
[The printed copy annexed is as follows.]
By the Honourable JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esquire, Captain-General, Gov- ernor, and Commander in Chief, of the State of Connecticut, by and with the advice of the Council of Safety.
6
do.
2000 1 Reg. 2 companies
197
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
To Esq; Colonel, or to the commanding officer of the Regiment of Militia in said State, Greeting:
Whereas I have received a requisition from his Excellency General Washington, dated the 6th of March instant, pressing and earnestly calling for one more exertion of the public spirit of this State, by another supply of two thousand militia to be immediately sent to Peck's-Kill, there to wait further orders, and to continue in service six weeks after their arrival there: And said requisition being grounded on reasons of very great, interesting, and irresistable weight and importance, and such as will justify itself to every friend of his country, of every rank and order, though the particular reasons and design cannot with propriety be at present communicated.
And having taken said requisition into serious consideration, and by and with the advice of my Council of Safety, judge the same to be of too great and interesting a nature to be neglected or delayed - the strange and un- happy delay of filling up our quota of the Continental army, and expiration of the term of our four battalions, rendering the measure indispensibly necessary.
And although this Board are by no means unmindful of the difficulties which may be occasioned by calling off so many men at this season ; yet considering the unspeakable importance of the cause ; that the burden lies equally on all our sister States : that the contest in all probability must be short, if we are not wanting to ourselves, and might have been finished be- fore this time, if our exertions had been equal to the strength which God has given us for defence ; that the blessings we contend for, are what the great God had bestowed upon us, and which we have reason to think he will continue to our faithful endeavours ; that the present and future gen- erations will be fixed in the best and highest civil or religious liberty, or bound by the most galling yoke of wretched slavery and misery, according to our conduct and exertions for a very short time ; and that in the highest probability, were the Continental army once filled, we should have no further occasion to call for the militia, but by the blessing of God Almighty should with them be able to make an effectual stand against all the efforts of our unnatural enemies, and have the fairest prospect of a speedy and happy ter- mination of the present dispute. In these circumstances, it is most natural and reasonable to expect that no friend to his country, will grudge or think much of such and so short an exertion as is now required.
Therefore, you are commanded on sight hereof, forthwith to cause to be drawn and detached out of the regiment under your command, in pro- portion from the several companies and rolls, to the number of
in the whole, unless the said number of men or part thereof shall imme- diately, on being collected according to orders by you to be given, turn out and voluntarily offer themselves for this necessary service, which they are earnestly called upon and invited to do ; in which case you are not to de- tach, or only such number as shall be wanting of volunteers : And such men are to supply themselves, as far as possible, with arms, accoutrements, and blankets, and if any should be necessarily deficient, the Authority, or Select-men, or both, in the said towns, are called upon and required to exert their utmost efforts, by impresses or otherwise, to supply such deficiency ; and all persons holding or possessing any arms, or other necessaries, which they have not an almost certain prospect of wanting for immediate defence, before they can be returned, are called upon to turn them out freely and
-
198
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[March,
without hesitation, for this sudden, important service ; and justice will be done them in this and every respect : The said men are to be formed into companies, by the field officers of the regiments to which they belong, in the most convenient manner, to consist of each as near as may be, exclusive of commission-officers, and to march to said Peck's Kill without delay, and under the command of such present militia commission-officers as shall be selected by said field-officers, viz. one Captain, two Lieutenants, and one Ensign, for each company, and the usual number of non-commission officers, and to be in three regiments, to be formed of equal numbers of the most convenient companies, as near as may be, and under such field-officers as shall be selected and appointed by this Board : And all to have the pay, wages, and billetting allowance as the Continental army - and any of them have free liberty to inlist into said army. And least any should apprehend danger of taking the small-pox, they are hereby informed, that I have the strongest assurance from his Excellency General Washington, that should there be the least danger of their taking it, none who have not had it shall march further than Peck's Kill, where there is no danger of it.
And if any desire to have some pay advanced before they march, the several Captains may receive of the Treasury at the rate of twenty shillings for each man, for that purpose. But for expedition sake the Captains and officers or others, are desired to advance the same, and on proper evidence the same shall be repaid.
[Given under my Hand at Lebanon, in said State, the 17th Day of March, A.D. 1777
JONATHAN TRUMBULL. ]*
In this place the stating of the number or quota for each town is made, and inserted on each proclamation the number for each town, and sent out.
Letter from a large number in Farmington de their tories &c. A long answer prepared.
Order, on consideration given, delivered N. Minor Esq., to purchase or to seize 10,000 lb. cheese in Stonington, for the use of the State &c, as follows, viz :
Voted, That Capt. Nathan Palmer of Stonington be and he is directed to purchase and procure twenty thousand pounds weight of cheese for the use of this State for the supply of our troops according to the engagement of the General Assembly. and at the price not exceeding the sum set and limited by law. And in case he cannot purchase the above quantity of cheese as aforesaid, in that case if he can find any quantity of cheese in the possession of any person or persons not designed and necessary for his or their own family use he is hereby ordered and authorized to seize and take the same for the purpose aforesaid and make duplicate invoices thereof with the weight of the same and deliver one to the owner or possessor of said cheese and pay the owner thereof for the same at the price by law fixed for the same, and make report of his doings in the premises as soon as may be.
* The words within brackets are cancelled on the printed paper by having a pen drawn through them.
199
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, FRYDAY, 21 MARCH, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Elip' Dyer, Titus Hosmer,
Mr. Wales went home
Jabez Huntington, Nath' Wales jun., Esquires.
p. m. to superior court. Wm. Williams, Wm. Hillhouse,
Established officers of the alarm list.
Fill'd up a large number of commissions for alarm list officers, for Col. Danielson, Chapman, and Latimer's regiments, and dispatched orders for the selectmen of all the towns concerning encouraging raising the army &c. &c. And the orders to the colonels of 10 regiments for raising and send- ing of 2,000 militia to Peckskill &c.
Letter to Norwalk committee in answer to theirs about their situation and danger &c.
Mr Erkelens came, had been sent for, and consulted with him about ad- dressing Mr. de Capelle &c. &c.
Adjourned about 9 o'clock.
AT A MEETING &C. SATURDAY, 22D MARCH, 77. Present : His Honor the Governor. Elipt Dyer, Wm. Williams, Jz. Huntington, Titus Hosmer, Esqrs
Wm. Hilhouse,
6 regiments alarm officers had their commissions filled up and given out. Delivered Col. Belden's son p. m.
Dispatched a letter to Gen1 Washington, by Bennet, informing him of orders being given for 2000 militia according to his request, and that they are assured according [to] his directions, that they shall not be sent into Jersey if danger of small pox &c. &c.
On petition &c. released Phins Cary, Solo. Lord, Eleaz" Welch, Ely Spaf- ford. Sam' Stoddard. Hez. Abbe, Arad Simons, of Wind., and Thos. Hol- brook of Lebanon, from the Oliver Cromwell : their wages to cease from the time of their last leaving the ship by furlough.
De Mr. Jno. Winthrop's Tenants.
Upon the memorial of Jnº Winthrop, Esq', of N. London, praying that his tenants and workmen on Fishers Island may be suffered to pass and re- pass to and from the neighboring towns on the main to procure necessaries &c., as per memorial on file,
Voted and resolved, That the selectmen of N. London from [time] to time as occasion may require shall have power, and power is hereby given to them, to suffer and permit the said tenants and workmen to pass and repass to and from said island to the neighbouring towns on the main, to procure neces- saries, visit their families, or on other necessary business, at such times and for such reasons as they may think proper, under such cautions, limitations and instructions, to prevent their communicating intelligence to the enemy or otherwise prejudicing the interest of this or the rest of the United States as they shall prescribe, and that they, the tenants and workmen aforesaid, be not suffered to pass and repass without the permit of the selectmen afore- said.
Many matters considered,
Adjourned till Tuesday next, the 25th.
200
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[ March,
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR &C. TUESDAY, 25 MARCHI, 1777. Present : His Honor the Governor.
N .- Mr. Hosmer stayed in town,
was employ'd all Monday writing p.m. Elipt Dyer, Titus Hosmer, -
letters, &c. Wm. Hilhouse at- Jz. Huntington, Nath. Wales, Esqrs.
tended on Monday, filled up com-
missions for Col. Hooker's 16 reg. Wm. Williams, W. Hilhonse,
alarm officers.
Prepared and sent letters, to Col. Davenport, in answer to lim de torys, and troops for their defence, referr'd to Gen. Silliman &c.
To Cap. Isaac Miles, de 2 arm'd vessells, to cruize in the Sound.
To Cap. Squier, to supply said arm'd vessells with provisions &c.
To Gen. Silliman, de fixing said arm'd vessels, taking care of supplying" troops for Stanford.
To Mr. Gray, ordering him to deliver cloathing to Col. C. Webb, and to. make an inventory of all he has on hand.
Sent an order to Doolittle & Co. to deliver the selectmen of Stanford 600 weight of powder.
To overseers of the furnace to deliver said selectmen of Stanford 30 6 lb., 30 3 lb .. and 30 2 lb. round cannon shot.
To do., to deliver selectmen of Fairfield 1 6-pound and 1 3-pound cannon.
To do., to deliver Lt. Aaron Hawley of Stratfield one six-pound and one 3-pound cannon for defence of Stratfield Harbour, with an assortment of round shot for each.
Brig. Wadsworth declines going with the 2000 men order'd to Peekskill, being unwell &c., and orders sent Gen' E. Wolcot to go in his stead.
Mr. David Webb of Stamford, a commissary, is here, moves for instruc- tions what he shall purchase &c. And he is directed to purchase what shoes, stockings, felt hats, and home made cloth, linen and woolen, rum, cheese and spirits, he can in the county of Fairfield, and send an account from time to time to the Governor &c. And an order or writing to the Pay-Table, to supply him with two or three hundred pounds at present, and from time to time what shall be necessary, taking proper security.
Voted, That Jos. Hoit jun' and Benj. Hoit, now confined in Fairfield goal as torys, be released, paying costs. And the order written in a letter to Sheriff Burr.
Voted and resolved, That the Committee of Pay Table be and they are hereby directed to examine and adjust the accounts of bonnty, wages, billet- ing, mileage and rations, of Colo. Ely's battalion and Capt. Sanford Kings- bury's company of Colo. Enos battalion lately in service at Providence, the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and draw on the Treas- urer for the ballances they shall find respectively due to the companies on the same.
Cap. Coit came in, and much said &c. about the ship Cromwell, her state &c., and his accounts &c. &c. And adjourned.
AT A MEETING &C. WEDNESDAY, 26 MARCH, 77.
Present : His Honor the Goveror.
Col. Dyer gone to Norwich superior court.
Cloathing: a Nº of teams arrived here last evening.
Jz. Huntington, Jed. Elderkin,
Wm. Williams, Wm. Hilhouse, Esqrs.
Titus Hosmer, Nath1 Wales,
201
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Roger Fanning, who had the care of the row-galley Shark in the North River from 29 Octo. 1776 to 18 Dec. as master &c., and as keeper from 18th Dec. to 15 Feb'y, 77, laid in his account for said services and for rations, allowance, mileage &c., to amount of £22 11 1 in whole, and is allowed, and order on Pay-Table for the same, and order enter'd on the account and delivered said Fanning.
Many persons in, on various applications &c.
Voted, That Jona. Fitch, Esq', one of the commissaries appointed to purchase necessaries for the supply of the troops in the continental service, be and he is directed to purchase what shoes, stockings, felt hats, home made cloth linen and woolen, rum, cheese and spirits, he can in the county of New Haven, and to send an account of what he shall so purchase from time to time to his Honor the Governor.
Gave Jnº Tilton of Vineyard a permit to carry out 1000 lb. flax, and 200 lb. flour, he having brought in about 390 pair stockings to be delivered Col. Jona Fitch &c.
Examined, adjusted an account of Nath1 Wales, Esq, for hiring, paying &c. teams from Windham for transporting of cannon, on account of Col. Stewart, to Canaan on their way to Albany, being on continental account, £118 0 0, allowing him 33s. 10 commission being included.
Order given on the account to the Pay-Table.
Cap. Na. Palmer laid in an account and invoice of cheese by him seized by order of this Board, lately, being lb. 11618 @ 6d. (belonging to Church & Hakes) to amount of £294 16 6, including £4 7 6 commission @ 12 per cent., and drew an order for it on Pay-Table, delivered said Palmer. And directed said Palmer to send the cheese to Andrew Huntington at Norwich.
Said Cap. Palmer also laid in account for sundry expences about the fort at Stonington: the same examin'd, and allowed, being £15 7 6, and order drawn, delivered said Palmer on the back of the account.
Many persons on various matters &c. And adjourned till called again.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, WEDNESDAY, 2D OF APRIL, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor. Elip' Dyer, Jedh Elderkin,
Mr. Wa. went home Jabez Huntington, Nath" Wales, Esq's. at noon.
Wm. Williams, Wm. Hillhouse,
Many persons, officers &c. and expresses, are in about various things.
On application, granted an order on Elderkin and Wales for lb. 400 powder, to selectmen of Saybrook, deliver'd the order Cha. Pumroy, about one third cannon-powder and the rest musket.
Letters from Mr. Hosmer and Col. Sage enquiring whether the miners and Long Island refugees may be drafted in the present order for militia &c., and answered that they ought not &c. &c.
Col. Moseley moves to be excused from going in the present militia to Peekskill &c., and on consideration cannot excuse him.
Lt. Col. Sherman present about the arrangement of Col. C. Webb's regi- ment to which he belongs. Much to be said and done about it.
Appointed Absolom Russell Surgeon of said regiment.
Peter Robertson appointed Second Lieutenant in Cap. Hinkley's company in Col. Webb's regiment.
202
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[April,
Col. Waters, engineer at N. London, present, gives a large representation of the state of affairs there &c. &c.
And at 9 o'clock adjourned till tomorrow morning.
AT A MEETING &C. THURSDAY, 3 APRIL, 1777.
Present : His Honor the Governor.
Elipt Dyer, Jedh Elderkin, Jz. Huntington, Wm. Hilhouse, Esqrs.
Wm. Williams, Benj. Huntington,
On motion appointed Maj. Jnº Ripley, commanding the Con. troops or militia late at Providence, to take the command of the 5 companys lately sent there, as their Major Commandant.
On petition of Thos. Allen, confined at Windham, praying to have liberty to return to N. London on parole &c. and certificate from the authority &c. of N. London requesting it &c., liberty is granted him accordingly.
Hez. Tracy jun' is appointed Second Lieutenant in Col. Huntington's regiment in the room of his brother Josha Tracy deceased of the small pox.
Albigence Waldo is appointed Surgeon of Col. Jed. Huntington's regi- ment.
Thos. Gray is appointed Surgeon's Mate to Dr. Lee, in Col. Jnº Durkee's regiment.
Voted and allowed Col. Jed. Huntington 36s. for a curious gun-lock he bought by order and which was by the Governor given to Indian warriors lately here with Mr. Kirtland.
Voted and allowed Col. Jed. Elderkin 23 dollars for a fire-arm compleat, which was presented by the Governor to said warrior Indians, Saturday 15 inst.
On a representation by Jnº Shipman, Esq', of the conduct of -
- Hay- don and his examination before authority, by which he appears at least a very suspicious person : Therefore
On motion &c. appointed Capts. Jona. Huntington, Nath' Backus and Jabez Perkins of Norwich, or any two of them, to liquidate, adjust and set- tle the accounts of Messrs. Haydon and Williams for their labour and ser- vice in building and about the ship Oliver Cromwell, and make return of the state and settlement thereof as the same may be made and allowed by them, to his Honor the Governor.
Voted, That John Shipman, Esq', be and he is hereby appointed Lieu- tenant and Commandant of the fort at Say-Brook, in the room of Lt. Lee Lay resigned.
Voted, That this Council do approve of his Honor the Governor's sending one thousand pounds of the continental dollars to Gen1 Spencer.
Voted, To desire his Honor the Governor to give order for £800 0 0, in favour of Mr. Andrew Huntington, to be in advance out of the continental money in the hands of Mr. David Trumbull, and to be laid out by said Huntington in cloathing for the army.
Voted, To refer the account of Capt. Richard Deshon, for making sails &c. for the ship Oliver Cromwell, to Nath' Shaw jun. to adjust and allow and pay what is just and reasonable thereon and charge the Colony for the same. Order dd to Capt. Deshon April 3d, 1777.
203
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Voted, To permit John Murray jun to purchase a horse and sugar in this State to amount of £200 0 0, and transport the same to Long Island, he having a quantity of linen and checks and flax, brought from Long Island to the value of said sum and disposed of the same here.
Josialı Waters, jun', Esqr's, account for service as engineer at N. London was by him exhibited and examined, and £180 13 2 allowed, and voted to draw on the Treasurer for the same. Order given by the Governor, dated Ond April, 1777.
James Whelpley is appointed Quarter Master of Col. Bradley's regiment.
Voted, To draw on Dr. Joshua Elderkin for one hundred pair shoes and one hundred pair stockings, in favour of Col. Durkee for the use of his regiment. Order dª to Col. Durkey April 3d, 1777.
[ Henry] Ten Eyck is appointed Adjutant to Col. Charles Webb's regiment.
Voted, To give an order on Sam' Gray. Esq', to deliver to Col. John Durkee one dozen of white shirts for the use of the officers of his regiment and take receipt. Order dª to Col. Durkee April 3d, 1777.
AT A MEETING &C. FRYDAY, 4 APRIL, 1777. Present : His Honor the Governor.
Col. Dyer not present. Jabez Huntington, . Benja. Huntington, Wm. Williams, Nath1 Wales, Esqrs.
Jed. Elderkin, Wm. Hilhouse,
Nath. Chipman is appointed Second Lieutenant in Capt. David Parsons' company in Col. Charles Webb's regiment, in the room of Timothy White.
Charles Stewart is appointed Ensign in Capt. Mills's company in Col. C. Webb's regiment.
David Barber is appointed Ensign in Capt. Manning's company instead of Brownson in Col. C. Webb's regiment.
Voted, That Capt. Jabez Perkins be and he is hereby appointed to receive three hundred bushells of salt belonging to this State now in the care of Mr. Andrew Huntington at Norwich Landing, who is directed to deliver the same; which salt said Perkins is directed to sell to the inhabit- ants of this State in small quantities. not exceeding half a bushell to a family or in such less proportion as he shall judge reasonable, and at the lawful price; and when the same is accomplished to make report to the Governor thereof. And upon the arrival of any further quantity of salt at Norwich, belonging to this State, he is directed to receive such salt into his store to be disposed of as he shall from time to time receive orders from this Board, and to ren- der his account accordingly.
Voted, That Dr. Joshua Elderkin be and he is hereby ordered to deliver unto Nath' Durkee jun', quarter-master of Col. Swift's battalion, two hun- dred and twenty-three pair of men's shoes, the same number of pairs of men's stockings, the same number of felt hats, and as many pair of breeches if you have them, if not, what you have, for the use of said battalion, and take his receipt. Copy given.
Voted, That Col. Jonth Fitch be and he is hereby directed to deliver unto James Whelpley, quarter-master to Col. Bradley's regiment, one hundred and seventy one felt hats, the same number of pairs of men's shoes, and the same number of pairs of men's stockings, for the use of said regiment, and take his receipt. Copy given.
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