USA > Connecticut > The public records of the state of Connecticut, for the years 1783-1784 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
The Quarter Master General of this State is hereby directed to apply to his Excellency the Governor and Council for their Orders for such Quantities of Powder Ball and other Warlike Stores belong- ing to this State as the Law requires in his Department And his Excel- lency the Governor and Council are hereby Authorized and desired to give Orders accordingly as also to give Orders for the Disposal of all such surplus of Warlike Stores and Salt Petre belonging to this State as may remain on Hand after the Definitive Treaty of Peace with
124
PUBLIC RECORDS
May,
Great Britain shall be concluded in such manner as the Governor and Council shall Judge most for the Benefit of the State.
Upon the Memorial of James Gibson Shewing to this Assembly that he was convicted before the Superior Court holden at Hartford in March last for being Guilty of a Rape in consequence of which he is now under Sentence of Death, which is Soon to be executed, that he is a Stranger in the Country &c Praying for a Commutation of his Punishment &c as Per Memorial on File.
Resolved by this Assembly that the aforesaid Sentence of Death past by said Superior Court against said James be and the Same is hereby reversed and set aside, and that he the said James be and he is hereby Ordered to be Castrated And the Sheriff of Hartford County is hereby directed at Some convenient Time not exceeding One Month from the rising of this Assembly to Cause this Sentence to be Carried into Execution accordingly.
Whereas it becomes necessary to Close the Accounts with the Line of the Army of this State agreeably to an Act of Congress for that purpose so that the Account of all Supplies furnished the Officers and Privates of said Line which have not been rendered to the Committee of Pay Table and Adjusted be immediately done.
Resolved by this Assembly that the Several Towns and the Clothier General of this State, and all others who by Law have been directed to furnish said Officers and Privates or their Families with any Supplies, with which such Officers and Privates ought to be Charged, immediately and before the first Day of July next transmit all Accounts thereof which have not been rendered and adjusted to the Committee of Pay Table, and in Failure thereof every such Town or other Person as aforesaid, shall not thereafter have his or their Accounts received or allowed; And the several Towns Clothier and others under the Orders of this State to furnish Supplies to said Line are directed upon the publication of this Resolution to discontinue the Same as it is necessary to Compleat the Settlement of those Accounts. And Mr Elijah Hubbard Clothier of this State is directed immediately to proceed under the direction of the Committee of Pay Table, and exhibit to the Pay Master general or Such other Person as shall be Impowered to Settle the Accounts of said Line, all Accounts of this State not already allowed and Charged against said Line. And the said M' Hubbard is to Observe all Such Directions as he shall receive from the Committee of Pay Table in negotiating the Settlement of said Accounts and return to them such Certificates or Vouchers thereof as he shall receive from the Committee of Pay Table in Negotiating the Settlement of said Accounts, and Return to them Such Certificates or Vouchers thereof, as he shall receive from the Pay Master General or other proper Officer respecting their Allowance. And the Representatives in the General Assembly now Convened are directed Seasonably to inform their respec-
125
OF CONNECTICUT
1783.
tive Towns of the passing of this resolution And the Printers within this State are directed as soon as it can be done to publish the Same in their respective News Papers.
Whereas it appears to this Assembly that the Listers in sundry of the Towns in this State by meer mistake of the Law, have laid a four- fold Assesment on several Parcels of Land belonging to this State, and made their Returns accordingly, by which Warrants and Rate Bills have been Issued and made out to the respective Collectors to Collect Taxes, arising thereon which must involve great Inconvenience and Impropriety, which to releive & prevent,
It is Resolved by this Assembly, That in every Instance where the Listers of any of the respective Towns in this State have laid a four- fold Assesment on any of the Lands belonging to this State, The Committee appointed to receive the Additions to the List of the Polls and rateable Estate in this State are hereby Ordered and directed to expunge such fourfold Assesment or Assesments out of the Returns of Assesment made by such Listers to this Assembly, and all Taxes made on such fourfold Assesment so far as it is laid on the Lands belonging to this State, are hereby Abated, And the Treasurer is hereby directed to allow the Same to the respective Collectors accordingly. And the Listers in the respective Towns in this State are hereby directed for the future to omit laying any assesment on the Lands belonging to this State.
On the Report of Noah Phelps Esq" Agent for this State appointed to Collect and State a true Account of all the Lands belonging to this State in Farmington Southington and Waterbury and lay the Same before this Assembly in which the said Agent hath represented to this Assembly that he hath discovered sundry Tracts of Land belonging to this State within the Towns aforesaid with the Circumstances attending the same as Per Report on File
Which Report is accepted and approved and thereupon Resolved by this Assembly that the said Noah Phelps Esq" be and he is hereby appointed and Impowered to make such further Enquiry as shall be needfull into the present State and Circumstances of all such Lands within said Towns of Farmington Southington and Waterbury as belong to this State by Mortgage or otherwise and to Sell and dispose of all such Parcels of said Lands as may be free and unincumbered to the best advantage in his Power and to remove in every proper and legal Way such Incumbrances as may be on any of said Lands And the same to dispose of as soon as may be for the Benefit of this State rendering his Account thereof to the Treasurer of this State, and said Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to make and Execute a Proper Deed or Deeds of such Land upon receiving a proper Certificate or Certifi- cates from said Agent of such Sale and containing a Discription of such Land by him Sold and disposed of as aforesaid. And to make
126
PUBLIC RECORDS
May,
Report of his Doings in the Premisses to the General Assembly in October next.
Resolved by this Assembly that Ezekiel Williams Esq Sheriff of the County of Hartford be and he hereby is directed and Authorized at his best Discretion as soon as may be to make Sale of two Tracts of Land lying in Hebron which belong to this State, and were by said Sheriff taken on Executions in favour of the State against Joseph Man and Asa Hutchinson. That he make Sale of said Lands for Money or good Security payable to the Treasurer in One Year with Interest or for Obligations for hard Money against the State which are now due, and the Treasurer is hereby fully Impowered and directed to Execute a Deed or Deeds of said Lands to the Purchaser or Purchasers in behalf of this State, on being Certifyed by said Sheriff the Contract and Pur- chase made for said Lands, which said Sheriff is hereby directed to do, and pay or deliver to the said Treasurer the Avails of what said Lands shall Sell for and make Report of his Doings in the Premisses to this Assembly at their next Session.
Provided nevertheless that whereas it is represented that said Lands taken from said Asa Hutchinson were given to him in and by the last Will & Testament of his Father Moses Hutchinson Decd and that there now remain sundry Debts due from the Estate of said Testator which ought to be paid out of the Avails of said Lands there being no other Estate left by said Testator to pay the same,
Therefore Resolved that the said Sheriff be and he hereby is directed to pay and satisfy out of the Avails of said Land taken from said Asa Hutchinson, all such Debts due from the Estate of said Moses Hutchinson Decd as shall be Ascertained and allowed by the Judge of Probate for the District of East Hadam with incident Charges arising in said Court on or before the first Day of Septemb" next.
Whereas it is Represented to this Assembly in behalf of those Persons in the Town of Fairfield whose Buildings and Property were burnt by the Enemy in July 1779, that they are still unable to pay their State Taxes, and that they request an Abatement of the Same for the Years 1781 and 1782
Resolved therefore by this Assembly that so much of the State Taxes of those Sufferers in said Town where Taxes have heretofore been Abated to them on the Lists of 1778 1779 and 1780 be abated on the Lists of 1781, as shall arise on the Sum of £4080 12 0 in the Year 1781, and that so much of the State Tax of Wakeman Burritt who has married the Widow of Joseph Wakeman Decd and has given in a List of the Estate of said Deceasd for the Year 1781 as arises on the Sum of £85 11 0 be abated and said Taxes are hereby abated accordingly and that the Civil Authority and Select Men of said Town apportion said Abatements to said several Sufferers excepting said Burrit as they shall Judge right considering the Circumstances of the said Sufferers.
127
OF CONNECTICUT
1783.
Upon the Report of the Committee appointed by the General Assem- bly at their Sessions in January 1783 to enquire into the Situation and Circumstances of the Inhabitants of the Town of Greenwich and to Report who ought to have their Lists in whole or in part abated on the List 1782* and who reported that there ought to be the Sum of £5150 0 0 abated on said List.
Resolved by this Assembly that the Sum of £5150 0 0 be abated on Greenwich List 1782, in proportion to the Several Persons as set down in the Report of said Committee and the same is hereby abated accordingly.
Upon the Report of the Committee appointed by the General Assem- bly in May 1782 to enquire into the Situation and Circumstances of the Inhabitants of the Town of Greenwich, and to Report who ought to have their Lists in whole or in part Abated on the Lists 1780 & 1781+ and who reported that there [ought] to be to the amount of the Sum of £5990 1 10 abated on the List 1780 and the Sum of £9888 10 4 Abated on the List 1781.
Resolved by this Assembly that the Sum of £5990 1 10 be Abated on Greenwich List 1780 And the Sum of £4944 5 2 be abated on Green- wich List 1781 being only one half the Sum Reported for the Year 1781 in proportion to the Several Persons as set down in said Report and the Same is hereby Abated accordingly.
Resolved by this Assembly that His Excellency the Governor be desired in behalf of the Assembly to Write to his Excellency the General acknoledging the Receipt of his Favour of June 1783, and express- ing the high Sence this State entertain of his exalted Merit, disinter- ested Virtue, and unshaken Patriotism, the great Obligations we are under to him, and his Patriot Army, through the Blessing of Heaven for the establishment of Freedom Independence and Peace, and wishing him the enjoyment of every present and future Felicity, informing his
* See above, pp. 39-40.
t See Conn. State Recs., IV, 178-179.
# General Washington's circular letter to the governors of the states in anticipation of his retirement as commander in chief is printed in full in John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., Writings of George Washington (Washington, 1938), XXVI, 483-496. Governor Trumbull's reply, here author- ized, dated June 10, 1783, is printed in Trumbull Papers, II, Collections of the Mass. Hist. Soc., 5th Series, X, 280-281. The heart of Washington's message is contained in the following passage (p. 487) :
"There are four things, which I humbly conceive, are essential to the well being, I may even venture to say, to the existence of the United States as an Independent Power:
"Ist. An indissoluble Union of the States under one Federal Head.
"2dly. A Sacred regard to Public Justice.
"3dly. The adoption of a proper Peace Establishment, and
"4thly. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly Disposition, among the People of the United States, which will induce them to forget their local prejudices and policies, to make those mutual concessions which are requisite to the general prosperity, and in some instances, to sacrifice their individual advantages to the interest of the community.
"These are the Pillars on which the glorious Fabrick of our Independency and National Character must be supported; Liberty is the Basis, and whoever would dare to sap the founda- tion, or overturn the Structure, under whatever specious pretexts he may attempt it, will merit the bitterest execration, and the severest punishment which can be inflicted by his injured Country."
128
PUBLIC RECORDS
May,
Excellency, as his Letter arrived at the Time when the Assembly was upon the Point of Adjourning, the Collection of Papers not having come to Hand the further Consideration thereof is deferred to the Adjourn- ment, when the Subject of the Address will we Trust meet with that Attention and Respect, which the Interesting Importance of it demands.
Whereas Samuel Mott, Rufus Lathrop and Elias Brown Esqrs were appointed a Committee in October last to make Abatements to certain Persons in the Towns of New London and Groton who were Sufferers by the Enemy in Septembr 1781, but they have not gone through with and compleated the Same in the Town of Groton &c.
Resolved by this Assembly that the said Samuel Mott Rufus Lathrop and Elias Brown Esqrs be and they are hereby reappointed a Committee with the Same Powers and Directions as heretofore for the purpose aforesaid and to Report thereon to the next General Assembly, and in the mean Time the Collection of the Taxes of such Sufferers shall and the same are hereby suspended.
Upon the Representation of Ezekiel Williams Esq" Sheriff of Hartford County Shewing to this Assembly that Collins Gorton of New London was in March 1782 before the Honble Superior Court Sentenced to three Years Imprisonment in NewGate, and that he was afterwards upon his Memorial to this Assembly released from his Confinement with Liberty to reside in the North Parish of New London and not to depart the Limits thereof without proper Licence, and that he is now in Hartford without being able to Shew any Proper Licence and has also been Guilty of some Disorders and Misconduct upon which the said Sheriff has committed him to the Goal in said Hartford where he now holds him Praying for the Direction of this Assembly &c as Per Repre- sentation on File.
Resolved by this Assembly that the Conduct of the said Sheriff Williams in committing and holding the said Gorton in Goal be and the Same is hereby approved and the said Sheriff is hereby directed to Convey the said Gorton to the said North Parish of New London, there to remain and not at any Time to depart the Limits thereof without spe- cial Licence from the General Assembly on pain of being corporally punished by whipping, twenty Stripes on his naked Body to be inflicted by Order of any one Assistant or Justice of the Peace in this State as often as he shall be found without the Limits of said North Society destitute of such Licence as aforesaid, which punishment such Assistant or Justice is hereby Impowered and directed to Order accordingly and also to remand the said Gorton back to said North Society of New Lon- don and the said Gorton is also hereby directed to pay all reasonable Cost of his being apprehended confined and remanded as aforesaid at this present Time and also at any future Time, and upon failure thereof that he be committed to any of the Goals in this State there to remain untill he shall pay and discharge the Same.
129
OF CONNECTICUT
1783.
Whereas the Superintendent of Finance pursuant to a Resolution of Congress hath nominated Maj" William Thomson of the State of Massachusets the Commissioner for Settling the Accounts of this State with the United States-
Resolved by this Assembly that the Nomination aforementioned be and the Same is hereby approved.
Upon the Report of a Committee viz the Honble Abraham Daven- port, John Mead & Samuel Canfield Esq's appointed by His Excellency the Governor and Council of Safety to dispose and make Sale of the Fort at Stamford, all the Public Property therein or thereto belonging for Money or any Public Securities become due, that they the said Com- mittee in pursuance of said Appointment on the 25th Day of April last sold and disposed of all the Public Property aforesaid to the best Advantage for the Sum of £183 13 10 LMoney £31 1 7 of which Sum they received in Cash the remainder amounting to the Sum of £152 12 3 in public Securities, And the said thirty one Pounds one shilling & seven Pence Cash being ordered by this Assembly to be dis- counted with the said Canfield,
Resolved that the Treasurer be and he is hereby Ordered and directed to receive of said Committee the said Sum of £152 12 3 in public Securities as aforesaid, and to execute Duplicate Receipts therefor one to be lodged with the Committee aforesaid and the other with the Secretary.
Whereas there are two Executions in favour of this State in the Hands of the Sheriff of New London County against the Inhabitants of Stonington for their Deficiency in raising their Quota of Men Ordered to be raised for the Continental Army, And Whereas the General Assembly in January 1782 granted the Sum of £240 0 0 LMoney to said Stonington to enable them to keep up Guards on the Coast of said Town in the Year 1782 which Guards were duely kept up
Therefore Resolved by this Assembly that upon the Select Men of Stonington procuring an Order of Pay Table on the Treasurer for the Sum due to said Town upon said Grant, the Sums contained in said two Executions be discounted thereon in favour of the Inhabitants of said Town of Stonington and the Sheriff of New London County is hereby directed to discount the Same accordingly taking a Receipt of said Select Men of Stonington for the amount of said two Executions in part payment of said Grant, and the Treasurer of this State is hereby directed to Receive said Receipt of said Sheriff in Settlement of said two Executions.
Upon the Memorial of Peter Gilkey of Waterbury in New Haven County Shewing to this Assembly that in February last he was Con- victed before the Honble Superior Court holden at New Haven in said County for Counterfeiting Money and Sentenced to two Years Impris-
130
PUBLIC RECORDS
May,
onment in NewGate &c Praying for the Interposition of the Clemency and Grace of this Assembly
Resolved by this Assembly that the said Peter Gilkey be discharged from any further Imprisonment in Virtue of said Conviction and the Keeper of the Goal at Hartford is hereby directed to liberate the said Gilkey accordingly.
Resolved by this Assembly that General John Douglas Colo Philip Burr Bradley & Capt Israel Spencer be and they are appointed a Com- mittee to repair to the Town of Farmington for the purpose of viewing the Roads mentioned in the Memorial of Thomas Goodman and others Inhabitants of said Farmington Hartford &c and in the remonstrance of the Town of Farmington laid in against said Memorial hear all Parties on the Matter and Report make of the Facts with their opinion thereon to this Assembly in their Present Sessions.
Resolved by this Assembly that William Williams and Nathaniel Wales Esqrs be and they are hereby appointed Overseers of the Mohe- gan Tribe of Indians in addition to the Overseers formerly appointed.
Upon a Representation made to this Assembly that the Abatements upon the Public Taxes which have been laid since the Commencement of the late War with Great Britain amount at an Average to about one fourth part of said Taxes
Resolved by this Assembly that William Pitkin Esq" Messrs Samuel Lyman Ebenezer Plummer & Ralph Pomeroy or either two of them who are appointed to Audit the Public Accounts of this State with the Treasurer be and they are hereby appointed a Committee to enquire into the true State of such Abatements, to Ascertain the Amount thereof upon the List of each Year from the List for the Year 1778 to the List for the Year 1782 inclusive for each Town respectively compared with the whole Amount of the Tax upon which such Abatements are made State the Principles upon which they are Abated and lay the same before the General Assembly at their next Sessions.
Resolved by this Assembly that the Polls of the Non Commissioned Officers and Soldiers now in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army who engaged during the War be and hereby are exempted from being included in the next August List, And the Listers are directed to regulate their Conduct accordingly, And the Secretary is directed to publish this Resolve in the respective News Papers in this State.
Resolved by this Assembly that the Secretary be directed to Cause the Act in addition to the Act laying an Excise on certain enumerated Articles and passed the Present Session* to be published in the Con-
* See above, p. 116.
131
OF CONNECTICUT
1783.
necticut Courant and in the other News Papers in the State as soon as may be.
Resolved by this Assembly That 600 Copies of the Address and Recommendation to the States by the United States in Congress Assem- bled be Printed and distributed to the Several Towns in this State according to their List as soon as may be with an Appendix containing an Account of the Debt due from this State, the Taxes which have been Granted since the Year 1775 the Monies Issued what remains unpaid and from what Towns as appears by Reports to this Assembly, And the Printer is directed to send to the Sheriffs of their respective Coun- ties their respective Proportions thereof, that they may be distributed to the several Towns accordingly.
This Assembly do appoint John Sedgwick Esqr to be Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the 14th Regiment of Militia in this State in the room of Lieut Colº Ebenezer Gay resigned.
This Assembly do appoint Maj" John Strong, Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the 17th Regiment of Militia in this State in the room of Lieut Colonel Bozaleel Beebe resigned.
This Assembly do appoint Capt Miles Beach Major of the 17th Regiment of Militia of this State in the room of Major John Strong promoted.
This Assembly do establish Benjamin Chaplin Jun" to be Captain of the 14th Company or Trainband in the fifth Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Matthew Warner to be Lieutenant of the 14th Company or Trainband in the fifth Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Nathaniel Mosely to be Ensign of the 14th Company or Trainband in the 5th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Zephaniah Swift to be Captain of the second Company or Trainband in the 5th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Asher Allen to be Lieutenant of the second Company or Trainband in the 5th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Samuel Southworth to be Ensign of the second Company or Trainband in the 5th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Cornelius Storrs to be Captain of the 10th Company or Trainband in the 5th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Jabez Barrows to be Lieutenant of the 10th Company or Trainband in the 5th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Silas Hanks to be Ensign of the 10th Company or Trainband in the 5th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Medad Strong to be Captain of the 6th Company or Trainband in the 10th Regiment in this State.
132
PUBLIC RECORDS
May,
This Assembly do establish James Hickcox to be Ensign of the 6th Company or Trainband in the 10th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish David Brainerd to be Captain of the sixth Company or Trainband in the 7th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Amos Churchill to be Captain of the 5th Company or Trainband in the 23ª Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Butler Gilbert to be Ensign of the 5th Company or Trainband in the 23ª Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Jeremiah Hubbard to be Captain of the third Company or Trainband in the 23ª Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish John Crowell to be Lieutenant of the 3d Company or Trainband in the 23ª Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Joseph Collins to be Lieutenant of the 1 st Company or Trainband in the 22ª Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish John Ford to be Ensign of the first Company or Trainband in the 22ª Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Moses Goodall to be Ensign of the Sth Company or Trainband in the 21st Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Joash Seymour to be Captain of the 2ª Company or Trainband in the 27th Regiment in this State.
This Assembly do establish Elijah Walton to be Lieutenant of the 2d Company or Trainband in the 27th Regiment in this State.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.