USA > Georgia > The Revolutionary records of the State of Georgia, Volume II Pt 1 > Part 5
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RESOLVED That Thomas Ross Esquire as heretofore act as pay-master to the Officers and men belonging to the said Gallies and that he be directed from time to time as the pay Rolls shall be delivered in to him, after being duly examined by the Navy Board to apply to the Governor for a draft upon the Treasury for money to answer the Same- And that the Treasurers
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
charge the money paid for the use of the said Gallies to the Debit of, or as a Loan to the Continent
ORDERED That Commodore Bowen make a monthly return to the Governor of the Stations and Conditions of the Gallies under his Command also of the numbers of Men, and vacancies of the Officers to them respectively belonging And that he also from time make application to the Governor for what shall be wanting for the said Gallies and which the Navy board Shall not furnish And that he in every respect use his utmost en- dearors to put the said Gallies upon the most respectable foot- ing- And whereas it is evident that men will not be induced to enlist on board the said Gallies for the small wages which are at present allowed them and it is equally evident that the Safety of the State at this particular and alarming juncture will be in great measure dependent on the said Gallies And those reasons against enlisting men for the Land Service for a Shorter time than during the War do not hold in regard to the Sea Service It Is Therefore Ordered that in future and until the house of Assembly or this Board shall make further order to the contrary all and every able bodied man who shall be fit for the Gally Service and who shall inlist in the same shall over and above all former allowances be entitled to a bounty as herein after mentioned.
If for Six months £ 5
If for one year L. IO
If during the War. 20
WHEREAS in times of impending danger and Calamity when . the Enemy to our lives and Liberties is daily making ravages thro' our. Country, it is right and necessary that the Militia be always kept in a State of readiness to repel every Sudden and hostile invasion thereof It Is Therefore Ordered that the Colonel or other Commanding Officer of the Battalion of mi- litia belonging to Each County throughout the State be required immediately to cause elections to be held so as to fill up all
-
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
vacancies in the said regiments respectively that thereafter the Colonel cause to be had a General Muster as soon as possible and that at such general muster a draft be made of one third of the Regiment or Battalion who are to keep themselves in readi- ness to march and go out upon any scouting or other duty that may be requisite at an hours warning- And such duty shall be accordingly if necessary done by them-that at the expiration of a monthi another draft of one other third part take place, and so on to be continued throughout the Regiment until further .orders- And It Is Further Ordered that the Colonels and all other Officers of the respective Regiments use their utmost endeavors by all Lawful ways and means to compel their Men to keep themselves always properly prepared for ac- tion and furnished with a few rounds of Cartridges and other necessaries in Case of an Aların, and that this order be particu- larly attended to in regard to the Men who shall be under Draft as aforesaid.
Upon the Application of Major General Howe and by his recommendation as well as that of Colonel Elbert and Colonel White It Is Ordered that a Commission as Captain of a Company of Artillery upon the Continental Establishment for the defence of the State of Georgia in which there is a Vacancy as represented to the Board be filled up & delivered to Jean Pierre Andris Defaupeyret Esq' and that John - son be appointed Captain Lieutenant and Thomas Sutton first Lieutenant of the said Company. and that Commissions be ac- cordingly filled up and delivered to them respectively-
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
Tuesday April 7th 1778
The Board met
Present
His Honor the Governor
Richard Wylly . John Fulton
John Lindsay Charles Kent
WHEREAS there is great reason to apprehend some dangerous attempt is meditated against this State-many of the back in- habitants of South Carolina having passed over the River with a manifest intention of joining the Enemy in East Florida It is Therefore Ordered that the Militia throughout the State be immediately embodied-that a Draft of two thirds of each Battalion be immediately made and marched into Barracks or in pursuit of the Enemy as the Commanding Officer of the County from Circumstances shall judge advisable until further orders or if such Commanding Officer shall deem it necessary that he call out the whole of the said County Militia and that every measure be embraced to quell the present insurrection And it is Further Ordered that the Militia of Chatham County take the Guard in Savannah and that the Colonel or other Commanding Officer be required daily to furnish an Officer and twenty five men for that purpose.
RESOLVED-That an express be sent off to the president of South Carolina informning them of our alarming Situation and desiring their friendly assistance.
WHEREAS it appears that there is reason to apprehend an at- tempt by Sea is intended against the Town of Sunbury-Or- dered that it be left to the discretion of the Commanding Officer in Liberty County whether to march the Militia with the Continental Troops, or to keep them for the defence of Sun- bury-
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
ORDERED That the said Commanding Officer draft a de- tachment sufficient to Mann the Gallies at Sunbury and that they go on board the same as Marines and that the Commanding Officer of the Gallies act in concert with the Officers of the said Militia this order Nevertheless to be left to the discretion of the said Commanding Officer of Liberty County who being on the spot will be better enabled to judge from circumstances
ORDERED That 12 9" Cannon Shot be delivered out of the Arsenal for the use of Sunbury
Monday 13, April 1778
WHEREAS the critical and alarming Situation of affairs in this State the want of money in the Treasury, the absolute necessity of making some vigorous exertions against the Enemy in Con- sequence of the present alarm and many other reasons make it necessary that the House of Assembly should be immediately called It is Therefore Resolved that the said House of Assembly be immediately called by Proclamation to meet at Augusta in the County of Richmond on Monday the twenty Seventh day of April Instant and that notice thereof be sent to the Several Counties by Express if no other opportunity offers.
WHEREAS in the present times of danger & alarm there ap- pears to be an absolute necessity of forming two voluntier Com- panies of Militia,-the one of Horse and the other of Artillery- It is Therefore Ordered that two such Companies be imnie- diately formed out of the Battalion of Chatham County a: large without respect to persons who are inclined to enlist in the Same having been enrolled in any other Companies what- soever unless it be in the Grenadier or Light Infantry's, and that Such companies be considered as a part of the Battalion of Mili- tia of the said County and that they be Subject to the field Offi-
.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
cers of the said Battalion but be totally independent of the other Companies. And it is Further Ordered that the establishment of the said Companies be as follows. for the Company or Troop. of Horse-
I Captain I Lieutenant I Cornet & 30 Privates
For the Company of Artillery
I Captain 2 Lieutenants and thirty privates
And that such Companies continue until otherwise ordered by due authority. And be whilst they shall continue subject to the same fines and other regulations as other Militia save only that they are to be independent of the other Companies as before mentioned.
A Petition from two hundred and ninety two Inhabitants of the County of Chatham praying that the House of Assembly might be called being laid before them
RESOLVED That the House being already called the said Pe- tition do lie on the table until the meeting of Assembly and that then the same to be laid before them.
The Treasury being in great want of money and the public Drafts in consequence of the present alarm daily increasing the Board recommend and propose to, the Commissioners appointed by Assembly for the management of the State Lottery to lodge Such Monies as they have received by the Sale of Tickets in the Treasury and take out Treasury Certificates for the Same not making the least doubt but that the Treasury will be enabled to return the said money which may be so lodged whenever the Commissioners shall so require it and the Board promise to do all in their power to have this money returned whenever de- manded
ORDERED That a Copy of the above be sent to the sª Com- missioners
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Governor laid before the Board an Affidavit of Major Willer respecting Colonel Thomas's behavior upon the late alarm and also his order in Consequence thereof and likewise some other Steps and measures which he had taken when he could not convene a Council (the members being out of Town) upon the late Emergency
RESOLVED That this Board do approve of the same and would have recommended the like measures had they been present
Thursday, April 16, 1778
The Board met
Present
His Honor the Covernor
Richard Wylly Samuel Miller
John Lindsay John Fulton
In pursuance of an Act of Congress dated the 7th March 1778 It is ordered that Wednesday the twenty Second day of April Instant be observed as a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation throughout the State and a proclamation for that purpose was accordingly issued.
WHEREAS it is manifest the situation of this State is truly alarming and that without the most spirited and vigorous exer- tions the machinations of our Enemies threaten to Succeed.
AND WHEREAS in such times of danger it may happen that every thing may depend upon instantanious measures being em- braced which cannot be done should the Governor wait for call- ing a Council-And whereas it is not clear whether there is at
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
any time an absolute necessity for the Governor to act in Conjunction with the Council in Militia matters-the Constitution seeming to allude only to matters altogether of a Civil nature, but in such times as these it is evi- dent that if the Constitution will warrant it (which by the thirty third clause the Board think it will) the whole rather to be expected than from many. The Council therefore executive power ought to be lodged in a Single person with respect to Military matters from whose decision and dispatch are impressed with a Sense of the Calamitous situation of this State and apprehending it as an unavoidable expedient, do request that his honor the Governor will be pleased to take upon himself to act in such manner as to him shall seem most elegible, and to exercise all the executive powers of Government appertaining to the Militia or the defence of the State against the present danger which threatens it or in annoyance of the Enemy independent of the executive Council and without calling Consulting or advising with them, unless where and when he shall find it convenient and shall Chuse so to do. And they pledge themselves to support and uphold him in so doing and to adopt as their own the meas- ures which he shall embrace And that this shall continue during the present emergency or until the honorable house of Assembly shall make an order or give their opinion to the Contrary.
The Governor having considered of the foregoing Requisition answered that he was exceedingly unwilling to do any act with- out the approbation of the Council but that as he had found by experience during the present alarm the impossibility of at all times getting them together when too, much perhaps depended upon a minute And further that as the Council had given it as their Opinion that the proceedings was justifiable under the Con- stitution and as the meeting of the Assembly was so near at hand and alarms and dangers seem'd to thicken en all Sides he agreed to act in the manner the Council requested during the present emergency or until the honorable House of Assembly shall make an order or give their opinion to the contrary.
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
RESOLVED, As the opinion of this Board that an Alarm as pointed out by the act of Assembly ought to be immediately fired throughout the State and the consequences thereof take place,
ORDERED That the Treasurers pay to John Fulton Esq' fifty pounds in part of his account for his attendance in Council : Also to John Lindsay Esq' forty pounds in full for his attendance in Council
The Council adjourned to meet at Augusta on Monday the twenty seventh day of April Instant agreeable to the governor's Proclamation for that purpose.
Savannah June 26 1778
The Board met
Present
His Honor the President
Charles Kent William Maxwell
John Fulton. J-
WHEREAS by a resolution of the honorable House of Assembly pass'd the fourth day of May last his honor the Governor is em- power'd to draught or cause to be draughted from the Confis- cated and Sequestered Estates a number not exceeding two hun- dred able male Slaves for the use of the Continental Ariny now employed or that may hereafter be employed on the expedition against East Florida to act as pioneers And also to draught one hundred able male Slaves for the use of the Militia and other forces belonging to this State and employed on an expedition now carrying on Against East Florida to do fatigue duty on the said Expedition And Whereas the Trustees appointed by
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
an act of Assembly to take Charge of the above mentioned Estates and who are directed to furnish the said Slaves find it impracticable to collect from the different Estates the number ordered owing to the Sickness of the Negroes their unwillingness to go on the said Expedition and as it is supposed the pains taken by the Overseers to keep them out of the Way when applied for.
RESOLVED That the President do issue orders to Capt" Gwinn of the Cherokee Hill Company or to the Captains of any Com- pany of Malitia in whose district any of the Confiscated or sequestered estates may be directing them to draught such a num- ber of their Company. as they may think sufficient to apprehend and bring to Savannah the negroes wanted.
'AND WHEREAS it has been represented to this Board by Colo- nel Williamson who is on his march to join the Governor with a Body of Troops from the State of South Carolina and from the best information he can collect the Roads between Great Ogeechee and the Alatamaha are impassible for his Waggons in many places and whereas it is absolutely necessary that his 'Troops should join those of the Governor as soon as possible and as it may occasion a considerable delay should they be ob- liged to wait until the Negroes be sent from this County reach him.
RESOLVED That Colonel Williamson be empowered and directed to hire such a number of Negroes as he may find neces- sary from the owners of the Plantations which lie most contigu- ous to the roads which are out of order, to repair the Same, and in case of the refusal of the said owners to hire their Negroes the said Colonel Williamson is hereby authorized and empowered to press the number he may want and to give the owners Cer- tificates of the number of Negroes and of the time which they may be employed by him-Provided Nevertheless that none of the Negroes so hired or impressed be carried out of the district to which they belong nor be detained more than four days.
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
ORDERED That the Secretary do transmit a Copy of the said resolution to Colonel Williamson and write to Captain Gwinn on the Subject of the first resolution
Tuesday the 7th July 1778
The Board met
Present
His Honor the President
William Maxwell John Keebler
Charles Kent John Fulton
Robert Henderson and Ezekiel Bromfield Prisoners on their Parole in Savannah taken up on Suspicion of being Enemies to the State having this day presented a petition to the Board requesting that they may be permitted to Return to their respec- tives Homes upon giving Sufficient Security for their appearance to stand their Trial.
ORDERED That the said Robert Henderson and Ezekiel Brom- field be discharged from their parole upon giving good and Sufficient Security to his Honor the Governor that they will at- tend and stand their Trials at the Superiour Court to be holden in Burke County on the third Tuesday in October next.
WHEREAS the exportation of Provisions from the united States of America has tended considerably to the Supplying the Enemies thereof by the Capture of Vessels concerned in such exportation. And whereas it is recommended in the strongest Terms by the Honorable the Continental Congress that a Gen- eral Embargo should be laid on the exportation of Provisions It is Therefore Ordered that a Proclamation do immediately
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
issue prohibiting the exportation of Wheat Flower, Rye, Indian Corn, Rice, Bread, Beef, Pork, Bacon, live Stock, and other provisions from this State, from the date hereof until the fifteenth day of November next unless sooner revoked Provided that this Embargo shall not be constru'd to prevent the taking on Board such provisions as shall be necessary for the Stores of any Ships or Vessels of War or others Trading to and from this State.
ORDERED That the President do draw upon the Treasurers in favor of Ferick & Gray for the Sum of thirty pounds each i part of their Salary.
ORDERED That the Embargo on the exportation of Salt from this State be continued for the Space of three months
WHEREAS by a resolution of the honorable House of Assembly passed the I' March last the Auditor General was directed to examine and Lequidate the Accounts of the Commissaries of the Minute Battalions and after having so done to lay the same be- fore his Honor the Governor and Council, and empowering his Honor to draw on the Treasurers of this State for such Sums as might appear due. And Whereas an account has this day been presented to the Board by Benjamin Few Commissary for one of the said Battalions upon which it appears by the Certificates of Joseph Wood Jun' Auditor that there is a Ballance due to hir of three thousand, three hundred and Eighty three pounds four- teen Shillings.
ORDERED That the president do draw on the Treasurers in favor of the said Few.for the said Sum of three thousand three hundred and Eighty three pounds fourteen Shillings
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Thursday the 23 July 1778-
The Board met
Present
His Honor the President
John Lindsay John Fulton
Holman Freeman John Keebler
WHEREAS it appears to this Board, that many Probates for Land have been improperly executed one Justice of the Peace having Signed them in his own name and in that of some other Justices of the Peace And Whereas this Board is unwilling to suppose that this has proceded from a design to impose upon or injure the
It is therefore resolved That Letters be wrote to the Several Justices of the peace requiring them to be more cautious in future, and directing them hereafter the Probates particularly set forth the Family rights of persons applying for Lands and of their having said rights in the State at the time of applying.
Read the Petition of Colonel John Thomas of Burke county Setting forth that on or about the tenth day of April last he was put under an arrest and that he hath agreeable to his Parole remained within the Limits of the ever since and Praying that he May be permitted to return to his House upon giving Bail for his appearing and standing his trial at the next Superiour Court.
A Number of Affidavits much in favor of the said Thomas having been also read-
ORDERED That Colonel John Thomas be discharged from his Parole and be permitted to return home on his giving good 6r 7-Tol 2
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
Security in the Sum of two thousand pounds that he will appear and stand his trial at the Superior Court to be holden in Burke County on the third Tuesday in October next
WHEREAS by a letter laid before the Board from Charles MCKay and from other information Received it appears that the Magazine at Ebenezer in which there is near Seven thousand w* of Gun Powder is at this alarming time very Weakly guarded and that the Militia who Keep Guard there are very remiss in their duty
ORDERED That Charles M'Kay do hire Sixteen men for the purpose of guarding the said Magazine and to be under the Com- mand of the said M'Kay and to be continued on pay (at the rate of five pounds per Month for each Man to include rations) until relieved by the Continental or Some other Troops-And that the said MCKay have two Centry Boxes built at the expence of the public for the use of the said Guard and upon having so done that he make a report thereof to this Board, that the Militia who are now on duty may be discharged.
Wednesday 5th Aug: 1778.
Present his Honor the Governor
Richard Wylly John Lindsay John Keebler
John Fulton
Jenkin Davis
WHEREAS, there is at present a great number of persons most of them notorious offenders against the State confined in the Jail in Burke County, and they having many friends and abettors in and amongst the Florida Scout there is the greatest reason to apprehend an attempt may be made to effect their rescue and
83
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
release -- It is therefore necessary that a strict guard be kept on the said Jail, more especially as the place where it stands is remote from the inhabitants, and the Militia having been upon hard duty lately it is unreasonable to expect or require them at present to guard the same-Therefore
RESOLVED that a Company of one Captain, one Lieutenant and twenty privates be immediately raised as a guard to the said Jail -- that Lemuel Lanier Esq. be that Captain, and that he appoint his Lieutenant and raise the said twenty men-that the pay of the privates be one dollar per day besides rations-And that the pay of the Captain & Lieutenant be in proportion-that the said Company continue untill the end of the next Court to be held in Barke County and then be discharged unless it shall be thought necessary by the Justices of said Court to continue them for one month longer ---
RESOLVED That Lemuel Lanier Esq' be allowed one hundred pounds over and above his pay as a gratuity for his ready and essential services done to the State during the late expedition-
WHEREAS it manifestly appears that the five independent Com- panies directed to be raised out of the Minute battalions have by no Means answered the intention of the Legislature, and so far from compensating for their expenses they have only served as a name without rendering the service of Troops-their whole number which ought to have been two hundred and fifty not amounting to seventy men on the expedition and the most of even that number having since deserted insomuch that the Gov- ernor informed the Board that out of the five Companies he did not know of above six men he could at present order on duty -therefore
RESOLVED That the said five Companies be discharged from henceforth-And that the Clerk of this Board do signify the same to such of the Officers as he can hear of.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS
WHEREAS on the thirteenth day of April last past it was judged expedient to order a Company of Artillery to be raised out of the Militia of the County of Chatham. And Whereas, the reasons for the same hold more strong now than then, and the - said Company hath in some measure fallen into decay.
RESOLVED That the said Company of Artillery be continued. that they be augmented to forty privates; under the following Officers (to wit) a Captain, two Lieutenants, two Sergeants and two Corporals. That the Governor do appoint the said Com- missioned Officers and that they remain upon the establishment mentioned in the said resolve of this Board of the thirteenth day of April last, and take charge of the Artillery belonging to the State.
And it is further ordered, That the said Companies of Ar- tillery be also a fire Company for the Town of Savannah and that the Governor do appoint two reputable inhabitants of the said Town as Directors of fires; And that the said Company be furnished with proper implements for their use. And whereas the small number of inhabitants in this County will not admit of exemptions
It is therefore ordered, That nothing in the foregoing resolve shall exempt any person engaged in the said Company from patrol or other duty in common with the other inhabitants save only that they are to do duty as a company of themselves when called upon.
.
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MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
:
Saturday 15th August 1778.
· The Board met
Present his Honor the Governor.
Richard Wylly Charles Kent
John Fulton John Lindsay
·
ORDERED That a copy of the information of Hannah Noble, this day laid before the Board, respecting some cattle of hers said to be drove off by Colo. Howell some time ago, be trans- mitted to Major Ravot of Effingham County; and that he be directed if he shall find the said information true to cause the said cattle to be returned to her, but if otherwise that he do at- tend this Board with a state of the matter before he shall deliver the said cattle up.
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