USA > Georgia > The Revolutionary records of the State of Georgia, Volume II Pt 1 > Part 4
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ORDERED That Colonel Andrew Elton Wells of Effingham County do appear before this board on Monday next and shew cause why the order of the day of last directed to him respecting the Cattle and other Stock of certain persons
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
who are said to be in the Florida Scout hath not been carried into execution.
M' Fulton a member having informed the board that Thomas Little who was appointed a Magistrate by the house of Assem- bly for the County of Burke had declined acting it is therefore ordered upon the recommendation of the said M' Fulton that John McNeilly be appointed in the room of the said Thomas Little.
Wednesday March 18, 1778.
The Board met
Present
His honor the Governor
Richard Wylly John Fulton
Jenkin Davis John Lindsay.
The following proposition and recommendation to the Com- missioners of forfeited Estates in the County of Chatham was agreed to and sent to the said Commissioners ( Viz')
The Governor in Council proposes and recommends to the Gentlemen Commissioners of forfeited Estates for the County of Chatham the following matters
First That one of the plantations adjoining the Town of Sa- vannah which belonged to Sir James Wright be set aside and reserved for public use until the next ineeting of Assembly and that the same be delivered Over to the Commissary General.
Second That forty or fifty of the best Horses which can be got from the forfeited Estates together with all the Waggons-
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
Carts and Harness and also the Saddles and bridles on the Same be also delivered over to the Commissary General for public use until the next meeting of Assembly.
Third. That two hundred Barrels of clean and Some rough rice- also a quantity in the Straw together with what Indian Corn there may be on the three plantations adjoining the town and also from fifty to one hundred Steers to be brought from any . of the forfeited Estates be also delivered over to the Commis- sary General for public Use.
The Governor in Council thinks the foregoing Articles abso- lutely necessary to be reserved for public use, and if there should be any other Small articles which will be of service to the pub- lic and which perhaps cannot be conveniently bought he thinks the Commissioners ought to reserve them till the next meeting of the Assembly and they will determine whether they shall be Sold or not. The Governor in Council will give orders to the Commissary to consider the plantation reserved as a Magasine and to remove whatever the Commissioners may chuse to reserve there, Subject to his order until the meeting of the Assembly. He will also place a Guard there for the Security of what may be left and suggests to the Commissioners whether it may not also be necessary to reserve two or three Sensible boys to take care of the Horses, Cattle & on the Plantation. No incon- venience can arise from these reserves as the Commissary will give his receipt for what lie receives, and the Assembly may still have the articles (or such of them as remain) sold if they chuse when they next meet. The Governor in Council also recommend that one of the Plantations late belonging to Sir James Wright on Ogeechee be also reserved for the same pur- pose as the one near Savannah, or at least that the Sale of the Said Plantation on Ogeechee be postponed until the next meet- ing of the Assembly when if it appears that the said Plantation will be necessary to be reserved for public use, the Same may be done, if otherwise it may then be Sold.
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
ORDERED That the Officer commanding the party of Captain Moores men Stationed at the Magazine in Ebenezer do for the present and until a Commissary for that purpose shall be ap- pointed supply the said party of Men with rations agreeable to the rates allowed by the Assembly.
Colonel Wells having attended the Board agreeable to the order of the thirteenth instant and acquainted them that he had issued his orders to Major Bonnell for carrying the order of the 19. of last Month into execution by the first opportunity after he had received the Same: it is ordered That Major Bonnel do attend this Board on Monday Seven night next being the thirtieth day of this Instant March to shew Cause why he hath net carried the said order from Colonel Wells into execu- tion -- and Whereas it hath been represented to this Board that the said Major Bonnel did in a late pursuit against the Florida Scout, to wit, on or about the fifth day of January last lehave in a Cowardly or disaffected manner: It is ordered That the said Major Bonnell do on the said day answer for the Same before this Board and if he can justify himself And fur- ther that Colonel Wells Captain Jenkin Davis Archibald Patter- son and Thomas Oxford do attend. on the said day to Support the said Charges against the said Major Bonnel and if there are any Witnesses in behalf of the said Major Bonnell he is required to have them before this Board on the day aforesaid --
It being represented to this Board that Rhuben Roberts late an Inhabitant of this State who was enlisted and Serving in the Florida Scout and who being taken prisoner lately broke Goal and made his escape from Sunbury is now lurking about the County of Effingham it is Ordered that all Officers of the Militia Justices of the peace, and Constables and all others the well affected Inhabitants of this State do Use their utmost endeavors to apprehend and Secure the said Rhuben Roberts and commit him to safe Custody so that he may be brought to condign punishment.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
.
Thursday March 19th 1778-
The Board met
Present
His Honor the Governor
Richard Wylly. John Fulton
Jenkin Davis John Lindsay
The Governor and council having appointed Luke Mann Es- quire Commissary of Supplies for the five independent Compa- nies of Foot under Major Wilder the said Luke Mann agrees to find them upon the following Terms for the Space of Six Months. -
First, The said Luke Mann engages to have a Supply of Provisions to wit junked or dried Beef and clean rice sufficient to last for one month always on hand for the Said Troops on his Plantation on Ogeechee- he will also constantly keep Some Steers ready for them at the Said place to be killed as shall be requisite and will likewise use his utmost endeavors to pro- cure Corn flower and also Pork for the Said Troops so as at times to vary their diet
Second That the said Luke Mann will always deliver out to the Men upon the Major's Certificate of order either live Cattle or Dried Beef and rice or Corn Flower and Pork if to be had sufficient to last for one Month or such Shorter time as shall be directed at his said Plantation on Ogeechee that is to say he will deliver such a Number of Rations as shall be ordered for the said Space of time or live Cattle Sufficient to meet the same with Rice or flower and will keep a fair and regular account thereof So that no company draw more rations than they are entitled to.
Third The said Luke Mann will furnish or procure Live
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Cattle hogs, rice and also Corn flower if to be had at as cheap a rate as he possibly can and will have the same conveyed to his Plantation aforesaid without any expence to the Public-a quan- tity of beef and also Pork if to be had sufficient to enable him to comply with the foregoing clauses, lie will immediately or from time to time have killed, cured and dried or junked at his own trouble and expence.
Fourth That the said Luke Mann will charge the public exactly what the beef pork rice and flower cost him and no other Commission or advance whatever except his Wages as herein after mentioned. And in case it shall at any time be necessary for any party or detachment of Men to carry a trav- elling Commissary with them, the said Luke Mann will find one at the public charge who shall procure and furnish upon the same footing as before mentioned the public paying the Charge or driving the Cattle And in case any unavoidable accident of loss. to the provision or Horses carried out by such travelling Com- missary, the same shall fall on the public.
In Consideration of the foregoing Agreement the public shall pay the said Luke Mann at and after the rate of thirty pounds Georgia Currency per Month for his trouble in procuring and supplying as before mentioned1 and shall furnish him with Cash monthly if desire 1 to enable him to purchase on public account the Articles beforementioned- The Public Shall also find Salt for curing the said Beef and Pork.
ORDERED That the Treasurers advance to Luke Mann Es- quire five hundred pounds to enable him to provide the Articles before mentioned, And the Commissary General furnish him with fifty bushels Salt out of the Store at Ogeechee on public account. The said Treasurers & Commissary respectively taking the said Luke Mann's receipt to be accountable for the expendi- ture of the said Money and Salt.
ORDERED That the Commissary General do furnish the said
.
:
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
Luke Mann with a pair of Quern Stones fit for grinding Corn into flower for the Use of the five independent Companies taking lis receipt to be accountable for the Same.
ORDERED That the said Commissary General be directed to Reserve one hundred bushels Salt out of the quantity now in the Store at Ogeechee (over and above what has lately been ordered to be reserved) for the use of the said five independent Compa- nies That he cause the Same to be barrell'd up and put in some Secure place at Ogeechee but not to be delivered out but by order of the Governor in Council.
ORDERED That the prohibition upon the exportation of Salt from this State be continued for three months longer unless otherwise ordered within that time by this Board
Tuesday the 24 March 1778
Present- his honor the Governor
William Maxwell John Fulton
Jenkin Davis John Lindsay
Samuel Miller
The Governor and Council having been present at the fire c11 Sunday Evening desire on behalf of the State to make their warmest acknowledgements to all the Citizens and Soldiers who were drawn together upon that occasion by their ready and great exertions in extinguishing the fire which seemed for a time to threaten the whole town with ruin- and they desire in a most particular manner to return their thanks to Captain Walker of the Light Horse, J' Wheeler Captain Bonner, M' Harrison M' Mitchelson and M' Jacques, for their most Surprising Efforts and undaunted Conduct in stopping the progress of the Hlames. To the unparrelled activity and exertions of these Gentlemen
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
may, under God, be ascribed the Salvation of the Court House and consequently of a great part if not the whole of the Town
ORDERED That a quarter Cask of Rum and a barrel of Beer be given to the Soldiers of the third and fourth Battalions for their Services in extinguishing the fire on Sunday Night
A Petition of John Jamieson Esq' being laid before the Board praying leave to return and remain for a Short time in order to Settle his private concerns in this State.
RESOLVED That the name of the said John Jamieson being inserted in the act of attainder and Confiscation passed by the last · Assembly the power of this board to interfere in regard to the Merits of the said Petition is done away. And this board do not find by any words in the said Act they have the least right, were they so disposed to grant any Indulgence whatsoever of the nature which is prayed for.
ORDERED That the following Instructions be given to the keepers of the Magazines in Savannah and Ebenezer respec- tively.
You are to be vigilent and attentive in the care of the Maga- zine and powder committed to your Charge- to have the same properly placed so as to prevent it receiving the damage from the Weather or otherwise to have it frequently turned and looked at and if at any time the Casks or Kegs want Coopering or if the powder requires 'new ones to have the same done at the public Charge. you are also to give an Eye to the Guard placed at the said Magazine and if at any time you observe any remissness or negligence in them, to make immediate report thereof to the Governor. In short you are with the utmost exactness and fidelity to do every thing which appears Necessary for preserv- ing, taking care of and Securing the said Magazine and the Powder therein contained.
And you are not to deliver out any of the said Powder to
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
any persons whatsoever without a written order from the Gover- nor or in his absence from the President of the Council.
ORDERED That the Treasurers pay Charles MCKay one hun- dred and Six pounds ten Shillings being the amount of his pay and that of his men hired for taking Care of the Magazine at Ebenezer up to the time of their being disbanded as appears by vouchers lodged in the Treasury
Tuesday March 25. 1778
The Board met
Present
His honor the Governor
Richard Wylly
William Maxwell
Charles Kent
Jenkin Davis
John Fulton
Samuel Miller
Esq™
John Lindsay
ORDERED That the Colonel of the Militia of the County of Chatham do direct the several Captains of the Companies under him to make regular returns from the Alarm lists of the men belonging to their Companies respectfully & that the said Colo- nel do furnish William. Belcher Esqre tax Collector for the said County with the Same as soon as he shall Receive it, and that this be done on or before the first day of April next.
The Governor desired the advice and opinion of the Council upon the following points.
First Whether he should proceed to the signing and passing of Grants for Lands within the district commonly called the new Ceded Lands
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council were divided in opinion; two Counties for, two against and one divided, the question was therefore postponed for the present.
Second Whether he should proceed to the signing and pass- ing of Grants for Lands within other parts of the State.
The Council were unanimously of opinion that he ought to proceed to the signing and passing of such Grants as soon as the form thereof shall be prepared by the Attorney General and approved of by this board.
ORDERED That William Belcher Esquire Commissioner for the Indian Trade do furnish four Indians whose names shall be given in to him by M' Nunes with a blanket a shirt a pair of boots and a flap to each and charge the Same to public account. And that the Commissary do furnish them with powder and ball at the rate of a pound and an half of the former and three pounds of the Latter to each-and also with provision of Rice and beef or pork whilst they shall stay in Town likewise a Gal- lon of rum and some Tobacco. the said Indians having been for four Months past upon a Scouting party with Capt Gray and having rendered some Services against the florida Scout. And It Is Further Ordered that the said Moses Nunes who is Linguist to the Said Indians do in future keep a regular account of the names of all such Indians as shall receive presents in Town and of the Articles so delivered to them. It Is Further Ordered that the said Commissary General do furnish M" Nunes with a Gun to be by him delivered to the Indian who assisted in taking Roberts and a nother of the Florida Scout lately- And that M' Nunes do inform such Indian that the Gun is given as an acknowledgement for his Services.
ORDERED That a Commission be filled up to Captain Benja- min Walker of the Light . Horse & John Morel Esq' as first Lieu of the said Troop to bear date and run agreeable to their appointment by the Assembly.
-
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
William Belcher Commissioner for the Indian affairs having Supplied certain Catawba Indians with Goods to the amount of one hundred and thirteen pounds Seven Shillings and eight pence for Services done to the State
It is Ordered That the said sum be allowed the said William Belcher in his public Account.
ORDERED That Samuel Stirk be appointed to Sign the money ordered by the House of Assembly to call in the recon- ciliation Money in the room of Andrew Elton Wells Deceased-
ORDERED That John Daniel Hammerer be appointed a Magistrate for the County of Chatham in the room of Isaac Young Esq' deceased.
ORDERED, That the Commissioners for the Town of Savan- nah do forthwith cause to be repaired and put in good order the public Wells in the said Town and that they do in other respects pay strict attention to their duty as Commissioners.
The following was received from the Auditors appointed by the Honorable House of Assembly for auditing the public ac- counts and requested the Advice of the Governor and Council thereon.
Auditors Office Savannah March 24. 1778
The Board of Auditors appointed by the resolve of the hon- crable the House of Assembly the first day of this Instant beg leave to lay before his Honor the Governor and Council the following query relative to some doubts which occur to the Board in Auditing divers receipts which have been delivered by Treasurers as vouchers for large Sums of money paid out of the Treasury of this State
Whether the Board can audit receipts to the Treasurers for money paid by them to any persons without the express order
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
and direction of the Legislative or executive powers of this. State?
Jos. WooD Jun" JOHN GIBBONS-
Auditors
The Board conceive the Auditors of accounts are answerable to the honorable the House of Assembly for their conduct in this business: But Nevertheless give it as their opinion that no drafts upon the Treasury of this State are regular but Such as come from the Legislative or Executive Bodies of the same or shall be derived from their order or authority.
ORDERED. That the persons appointed by resolve of Conven- tion dated the Eleventh day of December one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Six be required with the utmost expedition to complete the Battery and other public Works in Sunbury pursuant to the directions of the said resolve.
ORDERED That the Secretary of this Board do furnish Cap- tain Mann the Commissary of Supplies for the five Independent Companies of foot under Major Wilder with a particular ac- count of the Rations to which the men belonging to the said Companies are intitled being the same as the minute Men drew : And that the said Commissary in particular ceases when the men shall be So Stationed upon the Southern frontiers that they can- not conveniently fetch their provisions from his plantation that he do at public charge send the same to them, at their respective stations.
5 rr-vol 2
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
Friday the 3ª April 1778
Present
His Honor the Governor
John Fulton Jenkin Davis
William Maxwell
Richard Wylly.
John Lindsay
WHEREAS it appears to this Board that there is a body of Land lying in the fork between the River Ogeechee and the Beaver Dam Creek which was not prior to the Revolution allowed by Government to be run for fear of bringing on a dispute with the Indians the matter not being clearly ascertained whether the Same is within our Lines or not: And whereas it would be im- politic and improper at this particular juncture to suffer any act to be done which might be deemed by the Indians an infringe- ment upon their Lands And some persons have not withstanding run and marked out the lines of some Tracts within that body :- It Is Therefore Ordered that for the present and until further orders no Grant do pass to any person or persons whatso- ever for any Land lying within that Fork and that no deputy Surveyor do without leave presume to run any more of Such Land lying and being within the fork aforesaid.
ORDERED That in future when Caveats against the passing of Grants shall be entered the same Shall be under the following regulations in regard to the hearing and determining of them.
First. They Shall be heard on the day for which they stand advertised when both the parties attend either by themselves or others.
Second They shall be heard exparte and judgment Shall be awarded from what appears to the Board in nature of an en- quiry (having been duly advertised) when only one of the par-
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
ties attend unless a Sufficient excuse by Affidavit Shall be made for the other in which case the Caveat shall be postponed.
Third Where neither party shall attend they shall be post- poned, if the first time, & discharged if the Second time.
WHEREAS from the representation of Colonel Elliott and other Gentlemen of Liberty County it appears that an Indian commonly called Indian Johny hath been for a long time un- justly imprisoned and that the said fellow hath always acted as a friend to us and hath Several times gone out in the Service of this Country: And Whereas it also appears that during the said Fellows Imprisonment he lost all his Cattle & Horses consisting in all of near twenty head besides a number of other articles It Is Therefore Resolved That the said Indian Johny be Allowed fifty pounds in lieu of and in full for 1.is Cattle and other things which he lost; And also as a Com- pensation for his false imprisonment that the Treasurers do pay the Same to M' Nunes to be by him delivered to the said In- dian.
ORDERED That the powder receiver in Savannah deliver to William Belcher Esq' Agent for Indian Supplies one hundred W' of Lead and fifty W"' of powder- the same to be returned by the said William Belcher or otherwise accounted for with the public-
Edward Davies Esq' having informed the Board that he had in his hands a quantity of Gun powder (to wit above five hun- dred pounds) belonging to a person in Charles Town for Sale.
RESOLVED That the Same be purchased for public use if it can be got upon reasonable terms- That Major Wylly & John Fulton Esq" be a Committee to make the said purchase and that the Governor (if the same shall be made) do give an order on the treasury for the amount thereof agreeable to the report of the said Committee.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
ORDERED That John Storr Esq' be appointed a Commissioner of Trade in the room of Andrew Elton Wells Esq' dec'd for the port of Savannah.
ORDERED That Sheraud de Longig be appointed Second Lieu- tenant of the Congress Galley there being a Vacancy of the said place and that this resolve Serve as a Commission for the present
WHEREAS it appears to this Board that Joseph Pannill Esq' hath ever since the Seventeenth day of September last past acted Major to the Second Regiment of foot within this State but hath not as yet received his Commission- And Whereas this board approving of the conduct of the said Joseph pan- nill do direct that a Continental Commission be filled up to him bearing date on the Said Seventeenth day of September last past be having ever since that time done the duty of a Major.
ORDERED, That M' Nunes do procure from WVm Belcher Esq' and the Commissary General the Several Articles men- tioned in a list which has been agreed to, by this Board-and that he do deliver the same to the King of the Tocabatichers and the rest of the Indians who are now down as presents from the State -- A talk was delivered in Council to the said Indians and Copies thereof sent up to M' Galphin and Colonel MeMurphey
ORDERED, That the Treasurers pay to John Oneal thirty five pounds in Lieu of that Sum by him lost in a fire he having made Affidavit thereof & lodged the same in the Treasury-pursuant · tc a Resolve of the house of Assembly dated September the Elev- enth 1777
The Board taking into Consideration the Situation of the Gallies and the bad provision of pay and necessaries that has hither to been made for them- A question was propounded "Upon what establishment are the said Gallies and to whose authority are they Subject."
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
IT WAS RESOLVED. First .- That the said Gallies were orig- inally undertaken and intended to be kept up on the es- tablishment of this State for the express purpose of protecting and defending the Rivers inlets and Plantations within the Same. Secondly. That afterwards Congress for a variety of rea- sons adopted them upon the Continental Establishment but did not in the least vary or alter the Intention or design of the said original undertaking, and therefore in the opinion of Council they must be Considered. as a General Charge for a particular purpose- Consequently they ought to be directed in their cp- erations by those for whose benefit they were raised, to wit- the Inhabitants of this State. Under this view and more espe- cially as the Commodore and all the Officers of the said Gallies hold their appointments, and are removeable, by this State the Council are clearly of .opinion that altho' the whole charge of the said Gallies will go as a part of the quota of this State to the General cause, yet that the Commodore and all the cther Officers of the said Gallies are absolutely Subject to the orders of the Executive authority of this State and not to those of any Continental Officer whatsoever of the Land forces within the same.
ORDERED That a copy of the foregoing resolution be deliv- ered to Commodore Bowen and that he be required to issue the Same out in orders to the Captains or other Commanding Offi- cers of the Several Gallies under him and if the said Commodore or any of the said Officers have any objection to the said reso- lution they are immediately to make the same known to this Board.
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