USA > New Jersey > Minutes of the Council of Safety of the state of New Jersey > Part 10
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Frederick Frelinghuysen,
Edward Fleming.
Haddonfield, 22 Sept 1.777
Pursuant to the power & Authority given in & by an Act of the Council & General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, entitled " An Act for Constituting a Council of Safety " the Council of Safety met.
Present. His Excellency W"" Livingston Esq"
Mr Condict
Mr Manning
M' Paterson Mr Drake
M' Hart M' Buck
M' Camp,
M' Combs. .
His Excellency was pleased to lay before the Board a letter from Mrs Catherine Rutherford, setting forth her situation. & that of her son & daughter, who are indisposed; and requesting that Mr Rutherford her husband may be released from confinement, or that he may be confined on his own farm.
Agreed That M' Rutherford be permitted to go home, and remain there for ten days, at the expiration of which he must return to his present place of confinement in Morris- town.
Thomas Hooton of the County of Gloucester, was ordered before the Board, and took & subscribed the Oaths of Ab- juration & Allegiance as by Law appointed.
Ordered that Subpoenas be issued to cite Robert Matox, Henry Thom, George Marpoll, Zechariah Royell & John Bis- ben, to appear before the Board to bear testimony against Northrop Marpoll.
The Board adjourned till tomorrow Morning 9 o'clock.
Tuesday,
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Tuesday, 23 Sept' 1.777
Met pursuant to adje.
Present. His Excellency the Governor M' Condict M' Manning
M' Paterson
M' Buck
M' Camp
His Excellency was pleased to inform the Board that the In- surgents & disaffected persons in Hunterdon, Sussex &c, are confined in the Common Gaol at Burlington, and that there are six men only to perform Guard-duty over the said Insurgents.
The Board having taken the same under consideration, ad- vised his Excellency to issue orders to the Officer of the Guard at this place, commanding him to detach a party of 15 Men, (inclusive of a Sergeant to command them) from the said Guard and that the said party repair immediately to Burling- ton, to do Guard-duty over the prisoners afsd.
Ordered That the same party take under Guard to Burling- ton, Ezekiel Beech and Northrup Marpoll, & that they be com- mitted to close custody in the Gaol of that place.
The Board being informed that Charles Suydam, was at the door & desired to appear before the Council; ordered that he be admitted.
M' Suydam laid before the Board a Copy of a Parole, signed by Daniel Bray, Chas Suydam, William Horn & Wm Flatt, Citizens of this State, who were taken off by the Enemy at the time they left this State, purporting, that the above-named persons were permitted to pass into Jersey, and to solicit an exchange for Silas Alward, Arch' Alward, Jos Alward, & Jacob Goodwin, now in confinement in Sussex.
The Board having taken the same under consideration, Agreed That Daniel Bray, Cha® Suydam, Wm Horn & Wm Flatt, being in the Civil line, & Silas Alward, Archd Alward & Jos Alward being in the Military line, cannot be considered as objects of mutual Exchange; The Board are willing to observe & act conformably to the established rule of Exchange, viz Citizen for Citizen & Soldier for Soldier. They will therefore give an equal number of Citizens (of whom they count Jacob Goodwin one) for the persons first above named; & they will exchange the 3 Alwards for any 3 persons belonging to Jersey, who have been taken in Arms ; The Board consent to Exchange Jacob Goodwin for Charles Suydam.
Burlington
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Burlington 25 Septr 1.777
Thursday
The Council met
Present, His Excellency the Governor
M' Paterson M' Mehelm
Mr Hart M Tallman
Mr Camp,
M' Drake,
James Craig of Hunterdon confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton was ordered before the Board, and being examined & his examination reduced into writing, he was ordered to withdraw.
Joseph Cox of Hunterdon confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton, was ordered before the Board, & being examined, and his examination reduced to writing, he was ordered back to prison.
Elisha Bird of Hunterdon, confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton, was ordered before the Board, and being examined, and his examination reduced to writing, he was remanded.
Ziba Osmun of Hunterdon confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton, was ordered before the Board, and being examined & his examination reduced to writing was remanded to Gaol.
George Myers of Hunterdon, confined in the Gaol of Bur- lington was ordered before the Board, and being examined & his examination reduced to writing, was ordered back to prison.
Imlay Drake of Hunterdon, confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton was ordered before the Board, and being examined & his examination reduced to writing, was remanded.
WVm Craig of Hunterdon confined in the Gaol of Burlington, was ordered before the Board, & his examination reduced to writing, was remanded.
Lewis Kinney of Hunterdon, confined in the Gaol of Bur- lington, was ordered before the Board, and being examined & his examination reduced to writing, was remanded to prison.
John Little of Hunterdon, confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton, was ordered before the Board, and being examined, and his Examination reduced to writing, was remanded to Prison.
Peter Hiller of Hunterdon confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton, was ordered before the Board, and, being examined, and his examination reduced to writing, was remanded to prison.
John Alias of Hunterdon, confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton, was ordered before the Board, and being examined, was remanded to Prison.
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Wm Brady of Sussex, confined in the Gaol of Burlington, was ordered before the Board, and being examined was re- manded to Prison.
Joseph Smith of Hunterdon confined in the Gaol of Burling- ton, was ordered before the Board, and being examined was remanded to Prison.
Adjd till tomorrow 8 O'clock A. M.
Friday 26th Septr 1777
Present as before,
James Craig was again ordered before the Board, & took & subscribed the Oaths prescribed by Law, & was thereupon discharged.
Joseph Cox & Elisha Bird were again brought before the Board, and having severally took & subscribed the Oaths as by Law appointed, were dismissed.
Ziba Osmun, George Myers, Imlay Drake, Wm Craig Lewis Kinney, John Little, and John Hiller, being again called before the Board, severally took & subscribed the Oaths as by Law appointed, and were thereupon dismissed.
The abovenamed persons entered into obligation for the pay- ment of £50., which the Board deemed to be the amount of the Costs & Charges, in taking them up, & conducting them to this place, and keeping them under Guard.
Ordered, That warrants be issued to bring William Smith, Daniel Ellis, Samuel Bullus, John Carty, Thompson Neal, John Neal, Royland Ellis, and Sam1 Ellis, all of the City of Burling- ton and persons suspected to be dangerous &c to the present Govt, before the Board in order, that the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance may be tendered & administered to them.
Daniel Ellis, being brought before the Board, by virtue of a warrant, and the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance being tendered to him pursuant to Law, he refused to take them; and the Council deeming him too dangerous to the State to be suffered to go at Large, upon giving security for his appearance at the next Session of the Peace, &c, Ordered, That he be com- mitted to close custody, in the Gaol of Sussex, until the next General session of the Peace for the County of Burlington.
Samuel Bullus being brought before the Board, by virtue of · a warrant, and the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance being tendered to him pursuant to Law, he refused to take them; and the Council deeming him too dangerous to the State to be suffered to go at Large upon giving security for his appearance at
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at the next Session of the Peace, &c, Ordered, That he be committed to close custody in the Gaol of Sussex, until the next Gen1 Sessions of the Peace for the County of Burlington.
John Carty being brought before the Board by virtue of a warrant, and the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance being tendered to him pursuant to Law, he refused to take them; but being willing & desirous of going with his family into the Enemy's lines, the Council agreed, That the said John Carty have leave to go, into the Enemy's lines, on Staten Island, and that he sett off Tomorrow Morning with his family.
Adjd till 3 O'clock P.M.
Met according to Adjt.
Sam1 Ellis appeared before the Board, and being examined, was dismissed for the present.
Rowland Ellis appeared before the Board in the forenoon, & requested time to consider of the Oaths which had been tendered to him; whereupon the Board gave him time till 3 O'clock in the afternoon, on plighting his word of honour that he would appear at the hour appointed.
WVm Smith, Thompson Neal, & John Neal, persons ordered to be apprehended, could not be found. Whereupon ordered, That a warrant be issued to bring Wm Smith Thompson Neal, John Neal & Rowland Ellis before the Board, in order that the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance may be tendered & administered to them.
Adjourned to meet at Princeton.
Princeton, 30 Septr 1.777
Tuesday
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The Council met
Present His Excellency the Governor
M' Condict M' Combs
M' Elmer M' Camp
Mr Paterson Mr Manning
M' Hart
M' Drake
Agreed, That Dr Jon" I. Dayton, Ephraim Mash, and James Morris be ordered before the Board for Examination.
Agreed, That John. DeHart Esq', and John Ross Esqr of Elizabeth Town, be summoned to be before the Board on Friday
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Friday next at 10 O'clock A. M. in order that the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance May be tendered & administered to them.
Daniel Ellis & Samuel Bullus having made application to the Board, that they may be admitted to take the Oaths, and it appearing to the Board, on their being called before them & examined, that they can take them freely & sincerely, and with design religiously to act up to them, their Prayer was granted ; and having taken the Oaths prescribed by Law, were dismissed.
Captn Arnold laid before the Board, An Acct in the follow- ing Words ;
The Council of Safety to Jacob Arnold Dr
June ) For riding Express from Morris Town to Gen1 New- 1777 § comb, six days c $3.00 p day 18 00 dollars.
Ordered that the above acct be paid to Capt" Arnold.
John Harry of Salem Co, was ordered before the Board & examined ; The decision of his case was deferred until the arrival of the Salem members, with whom (he says) he is acquainted.
A letter from Gen' Dickinson was recd read & answered.
Adjd till 4 O'clock P. M.
Met pursuant to adj"
Present as before,
Agreed That Anna Rapelyie, the wife of Richard Rapelyie, who is now on Long Island, be permitted to pass to Staten Island in order to go to her said husband; and that she have 10 days for that purpose from the date hereof.
James Freeman was ordered before the Board, & being ex- amined, was remanded to prison.
Thomas Shoemaker, one of the Insurgents taken on his way to join the Enemy, was ordered before the Board, and ex- amined, and then remanded to prison.
Mathew Camp one of the insurgents, taken on his way to join the enemy, was ordered before the Board, examined and re-committed.
Isaac Ammerman, one of the Insurgents afsd, being examined was ordered back to prison.
John Smith one of the Insurgents af», taken in like manner, being examined was ordered back to prison.
William
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William Paulson & John Kitchen, two of the Insurgents aforesaid, being taken on their way to Join the enemy on Staten Island, were ordered before the Board & examined, and then remanded to prison.
Joseph Smith, one of the Insurgents aforesaid, having been taken in like circumstances, with the above mentioned persons, being ordered before the Board, was examined & then remanded to prison.
Adjourned till tomorrow Morning 8. O'clock.
October, 1st 1.777
The Council met pursuant to Adjournment.
Present as before and M' Mehelm.
Jonathan Palmer appeared before the Board, and gave Evi- dence against Elisha Bird, George Myers, William Cragg, Lewis Kinney, Peter Hillier & Emily Drake, which was com- mitted to writing ;
Ordered That a Warrant be issued to Co' Joseph Beavers, to apprehend and bring before the Board, the said Elisha Bird, George Myers, William Cragg, Lewis Kinney, Peter Hillier & Emily Drake,-
Adjourned to 8 O'clock tomorrow Morning.
October 2nd 1.777
The Council met pursuant to Adjournment
Present His Excellency the Governor.
Mr Mehelm
M' Camp
M' Elmer
M' Manning
Mr Drake
M' Combs
Mr Condict.
Hugh Brown one of the Insurgents taken on his Way to Staten Island, was called before the Board & examined & con- fessed he had taken a gun from M' Parks without leave & carried it along with him till he was taken ; who was remand- ed to Gaol.
Peter Snider one of the said Insurgents was also examined and confessed that he fired at the Militia before he was taken & he was then remanded back to the Guardroom.
Wm Shoemaker & Thomas Anderson, two of the said Insur- gents, were examined & confessed that they had deserted from Captn Henry Lewis' Company in Col Shrewer's Battalion.
Ordered, That the said W" Shoemaker & Thos Anderson be delivered
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delivered to Lieut George Reynolds, who was present, to be returned to their Battalion ; the said deserters to be Kept un- der Guard until Lieut Reynolds' return from Morristown when was on Command, after other deserters then to be delivered to him or his order.
James Norris, pursuant to citation appeared before the Board, to Give Evidence against Jonathan J. Dayton & others which was committed to writing.
Mr Scudder & M' Paterson attended.
Jon" J. Dayton, and Ephraim Marsh, entd into recognizance separately in the sum of £300 Each, for their appearance at the next Court of Oyer & Terminer & General Gaol Deliv- ery, for the Co of Essex, to answer such things as shall be then & there objected agts them, and in the meantime to be of the Good behaviour.
Jon" J. Dayton took and subscribed the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance as by Law appointed.
Jas Norris entd into Recognizance in the sum of £300, to be and appear at the next Court of Oyer & Terminer & General Gaol delivery, for the Co of Essex, to bear testimony against Jon" J. Dayton & Ephraim Marsh.
Agreed That Maria Elizabeth Leston, have leave to go to the City of New York, with her children, and Effects, She be- ing a subject of the States of Holland.
Adjd till Saturday the 4th Inst. 10 o'clock A. M.
Met, pursuant to Adjt
Saturday, 4th October 1.777
Present His Excellency, Wm Livingston, M' Condict Mr Paterson
M' Scudder M' Camp
Mr Elmer.
His Excellency was pleased to lay before the Board, a letter from M' Parker, inclosing a letter to M' Cort Skinner, soliciting an exchange, which was permitted to be sent,
M' Parker also requested permission to return home for 10 days, which was unanimously denied.
Petition of Mary Williams the wife of Nathaniel Williams, who has gone over to the Enemy's Lines, praying that she & her children may not be sent into the Enemy's lines, but that she
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she may be suffered to continue among her friends, upon such surety as may be deemed proper, was read & ordered to lie on the table for consideration.
Agreed That the President draw upon The Treasurer for the sum of £500 in part of the sum of £2.000 which he is by Law empowered to call for by the Advice of the Council of Safety.
It being represented to the President & Council of Safety, That the late Govr Penn of Pennsylvania & Benjm Chew Esq" late C. Justice of the same State, have been permitted by the Honble Board of War, to reside at or near the Union in the Co of IIunterdon ; Agreed, That a letter be written to the Honble Congress, informing them of the impropriety of suffer- ing disaffected persons to remain on parole in this State, as it is nearly encircled by the Enemy, or if it be suffered, That the above persons be removed from their present situation to some more secure & better affected part of the State ; and that the Executive Departit of this State, have the disposal of them so far as respects the place of their residence.
Adjd till 3 o'clock P. M.
Met pursuant to adjt
Present His Excellency the Governor M' Condict Mr Paterson Mr Scudder Mª Mehelm
M' Elmer
Mrs Leonard, wife of Thos Leonard, who acted as a Major in the British Service, & is now a prisoner of war to the United States, Was sent over to New York Sometime ago by order of Brigdr Gen' Forman and, hath lately returned to this State. She complains of indisposition, & requests that she may be permitted to tarry in Monmouth Co until she be reinstated in her health, and that she be suffered to pass to Easton, to see her Husband, and from thence to return to the said Co there to abide.
Agreed, That Mrs Leonard be permitted to pass to Easton, or to any other place in which her Husband may be fixed; and to remain with him ; and that she go thither without delay.
Agreed That a letter be written to the officers of the Guard at Morris, directing him, in case of Necessity, to remove the Prisoners under his care to New Town in Sussex.
Adj'd till tomorrow 10 O'clock A.M.
Sunday,
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Sunday, 5 Oct' 1.777
Met pursuant to adj"
Present His Excellency the Governor
M' Condict, M' Camp
Mr Paterson
M' Combs
Mr Mehelm,
M' Drake.
Agreed That Aaron Furman, James Ilif, John Mee, John Ink, Hugh Brown, Isaac Lambert, Imlay Drake, George Archer, Thomas Rees, John Alias, & Isaac Ammerman, certain insur- gents taken in Arms on their way to join the enemy at Staten Island, be sent from this place to Morristown, and there be committed to close custody.
Adja till tomorrow 10 O'clock A.M.
Monday, 6th Oct 1.777
Met pursuant to adjt
Present. His Excellency the Governor.
Mr Condict Mr Mehelm
Mr Paterson
M' Manning
M' Elmer
M' Drake.
His Excellency was pleased to lay before the Board a letter from M' Hooper D. Q. M. G. at Easton, informing, that there are several disaffected persons belonging to Jersey confined in the Gaol at Easton, and requesting, that as the prison is crowded, they may be removed into some part of this State ;- Whereupon agreed, That a letter be written to M' Hooper in- forming him, that the Council of Safety will sit at Pitts town some time in the coming week, when his request will be com- plied with.
At a Council of Safety at Princeton, 7th Oct' 1.777.
Present. His Excellency the Governor M' Elmer Mr Condict · M' Scudder
M' Buck Mr Manning M' Combs
M' Drake
Ordered
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Ordered that a warrant do issue to apprehend Isaac Thorn & Jacob Thorn, upon the affidavit of Jesse Brooks & Abraham Van Camp.
Adjd till tomorrow 2 O'clock P.M.
Met pursuant at adj"
Present His Excellency the Governor
Mr Elmer,
Mr Combs
M' Scudder,
M' Camp
Mr Paterson,
M' Drake.
Richard Waln (one of the people called Quakers) being convened before the Board, and Affirmations, to the Effect of the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance, being tendered to him pursuant to Law, he refused to take them ; but being willing to go with his family into the Enemy's lines, and he appearing to the Board too dangerous, to remain in the State, The Coun- cil agreed, That the said Richard Waln have leave to Go, with his family, into the Enemy's lines, on Staten-Island, in five days from the date hereof.
Adjourned till Saturday Morning 8 O'clock.
Saturday, October 11th 1.777
Met pursuant to adjt.
Present His Excellency the Governor. M' Paterson Mr Mehelm
M' Elmer,
M' Drake
Mr Scudder,
Mr Combs
M' Condict
Capt John Blanchard made application to the Board, & in- formed them that nine pipes of Wine the property of M' Ham- ilton Young, & four Hogsheads of Rum, the property of Mr John Livingston, which by the said persons were committed to his custody, have been, some time since by sundry other persons, removed from the place where he had Stored them, and Either sold or used; and that he the sª Blanchard, has not received any consideration whatever for the said liquors; and therefore prays, That the Board will issue orders to the per- sons who have removed & sold or used the sd liquors, to ac- count for the whole with him the sd Blanchard, he at the same time
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time proffering ample security that the whole proceeds of the sd liquors shall at any time hereafter be forthcoming to the State, if called for.
The Council maturely considering the above application ; Ordered That all persons who have removed, vended or used any of the above mentioned Liquors be required to account for the same with the said John Blanchard, and that the said Blan- chard do give bond with security, if required, That the whole proceeds of the sd Liquors which shall come into his hands, shall be forthcoming to this State whenever called for.
Adjª to 3 O'clock P. M.
Met pursuant to adjt
Present. His Excellency the Governor.
Mr Paterson M' Scudder
M' Elmer
M' Camp
M' Condict
M' Drake.
Application having been made to the Board, on the part of Richard Waln, who had leave to go into the Enemy's lines in five days from the date of his permission, that he could not possibly transact the necessary business relative to his family & private affairs in the time limited for his departure ; the Council agreed, that he should be indulged with further time, and that he should have seven days for the purposes aforesaid, to be computed from the date hereof.
William Sutton was ordered before the Board, and took & subscribed the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance as by Law appointed, and was therefore dismissed.
Adjourned till tomorrow 8 O'clock A.M.
Sunday, 12th October 1.777
Met pursuant to Adjt.
Present His Excellency the Governor M' Elmer M' Hart
M' Paterson
Mr Bowen
M' Mehelm Mr Buck
Whereas, Joseph Barton, Patrick Hagerthy, and Thomas Russell, who were lately residents in this State, have gone over to the Enemy, & notwithstanding have left their families behind
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behind them: It is therefore agreed & resolved, That Anna Barton wife of the said Joseph Barton, and her children under age, (except Henry & John) & Sarah Hagerthy wife of the said Patrick Hagerthy, & her children, and - Russel wife of the said Thomas Russel, be removed to Staten Island, on the South East side of Hackinsack River, in order that they may go into the Enemies lines,-
Agreed that the officer who shall remove the above persons, be directed to make return to this Board, of his proceedings, and the Expense thereon arising.
John Harry was again called before the Board, and took & subscribed the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance, was there- upon dismissed.
The above John Harry gave bill for the payment of £5. on demand, which the Board deemed to be the amount of the Costs & charges in taking him up, conducting him to this place, & keeping him under Guard.
Whereas Benjamin Barton did enter into Bond, with Richard Edsall of Orange County, and Richard Edsall the 3d of Sussex, his sureties, to remain at his house, or within two miles of it, until leave be obtained to the contrary; and did also enter into recognizance to appear at the next Court of Oyer & Terminer for the Co of Sussex; And whereas application hath been made, in behalf of the said Benjamin Barton, that he may be released from so much of his obligation, as relates to his remaining at his own house, or within 2 miles thereof. The Board having taken the same under consideration agreed and resolved, That the said Benjamin Barton be released from his obligation, So far only as relates to his remaining at his own house, or within two miles of it.
Agreed, That Col Sidney Berry, be paid the sum of £55. 18. 5, being the amount of the Charges & Expenses of himself and party of 21 Men, in apprehending and securing disaffected per- sons in sundry parts of the States.
Agreed That his Excellency the Governor be advised to write Meeker of Sussex, directing him to raise a party of 20 men, & 2 Sergeants & 2 Corporals, to do Guard- duty over the prisoners, disaffected persons &e, at New Town, in Sussex.
Adjd till 8 O'clock A. M. tomorrow.
Monday, Octr 13th, 1.777
The Council met pursuant to adjt
Present
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Present His Excellency the Governor, M' Elmer M' IIart M'Bowen M' Buck
M' Mehelm.
Isaac Thorn was called before the Board and Examined.
Ordered That he enter into recognizance with Security to appear at the next Court of Oyer & Terminer, to be held at Morristown.
Jacob Thorn was brought before the Board and examined.
Ordered that the said Jacob Thorn be committed to the Mor- ris Jail for High Treason, and his commitment was made out accordingly.
Upon the recommendation of Col Sam1 Forman, & I.t Co! Elisha Lawrence of Monmouth, W" Montgomery Esq' was by the Board appointed first Major & John Cook Esq' second Major of the 2nd Regt of Monmonth Militia,
Upon the affidavit of Aaron Dean, against Marmaduke Ab- bot, charging him with asking a greater price in Continental money than Hard money for Salt ;
Ordered that the said Marmaduke Abbot be immediately apprehended and brought before the President & Council of Safety, and a warrant was accordingly made out and directed to Chas Saxton who is to make return the next Thursday at Pittstown.
Ordered that £1. 2. 6. be paid to John Hart Esq' for hiring Express to send to Judge Smith.
Agreed that the President Apply to M' Condict to procure & send to Princeton, to Major Kelsy, by the return of the wagon who take the prisoners in the care of Capt" Stout, about 150 weight of powder, in order that M' Kelsy may have the same with the lead now here made up into Cartridges.
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