USA > New Jersey > Minutes of the Council of Safety of the state of New Jersey > Part 4
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The Council adjourned to 3 O'clock P. M.
Met pursuant to Adjournment Present, as before,
Jacob Gardner another Prisoner sent down by General Heard was called before the Board, examined & remanded to Confinement ;
John Sparks Esq' appeared before the Board & altho he gave no Testimony against John Henchman Esq' founded on his own Knowledge, yet he furnished the Council with the names of a Number of Persons whose Evidence he conceived would operate against him.
Subpoenas were ordered to be issued for Joseph Hewlings, William Norton, Zachary Rozel & his wife, William Harrison, Israel Morris, James Sloan, Joseph Hugg, Thomas Denny, Samuel Harrison Esq' & Joseph Ellis Esq' to appear before the Council to give Testimony against sd John Henchman Esq'
The Council adjourned till toMorrow Morning 10 O'clock.
May 16th
The Council met, pursuant to Adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor
Mr Elmer M' Combes
M' Condict M' Manning
Mr Scudder M' Camp
The Council was informed that Capt Thomas Webb, who, on the
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the 11th day of April last, obtained the Permission of this Board for fourteen Days to settle his affairs, and then to remove to the Enemy with a Flag, had, instead of availing himself of that indulgence, spent a considerable Time beyond those Lim- its, in passing through this State and that of Pennsylvania & so to Baltimore in Maryland ; in his return from whence he was apprehended by Gen' Schuyler, and further that Gen1 Schuyler has put said Webb on his Parole, until the sense of the Governor and Council of Safety of this State would be ob- tained respecting him.
In Consequence of the above Capt" Webb, was called before the Board and being heard as to the reasons which induced him to take so extraordinary a Step, he was desired to with draw.
The Council taking the Affair into Consideration were unan- imously of Opinion that Cap'" Webb has justly forfeited all the Advantages that might have arisen from the Indulgence aforesaid, so far as relates to this state, and therefore,
Resolved, That sd Captn Thos Webb be ordered forthwith to return to Gen! Schuyler at Philadelphia and that it be left to the Gen' to determine whether he ought now to be permitted to pass over to the Enemy with a Flag, or be detained as a Pris- oner of War.
And his Excellency was requested to transmit Gen Schuyler a full and circumstantial Account of the whole Process, re- specting him, the sd Webb.
The Council adjourned to 4 O'clock P. M.
Met, pursuant to adjournment,
Present, as before,
M' Zachary Rossell, happening in Town, was called upon & attended before the Council, but as upon Examination it did not appear, that he Knew anyThing material, respecting the conduct of John Henchman Esq' his testimony was not com- mitted to Writing. And as M' Rossell declared that he really believed it was not in the Power of his Wife to communicate any Thing material, the Council concluded to dispense with her Attendance at Haddonfield.
M' Rossell informed the Council that Joseph Hewlings is missing from the Neighborhood of Mount Holly, & that he supposes he went off with the Enemy ; the subp. for him was therefore suppressed.
Thomas Denny Esq' appeared before the Council as an Evi- dence against John Henchman Esq' and after his Examination, his Testimony was committed to Writing & sworn to.
Subpoenas
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Subpoenas were ordered to be issued for M' Jacob Roberts & Captn Samuel Hugg, to appear before the Council toMorrow at ten O'clock in the Forenoon as Evidences &c.
M' Israel Morris appeared in Consequence of a Subpoena, but as nothing material appeared in his Testimony it was not reduced to Writing.
The Council adjourned till tomorrow 11 O'clock A. M.
May 17th 1.777
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor
M' Condict
MY Camp
M' Elmer
M' Manning
M' Scudder
Joseph Hugg Esq' appeared before the Council pursuant to Subpoena, and gave Testimony against John Henchman Esq which was committed to Writing and M' Hngg affirmed there- to.
A Memorial was presented to the Board in behalf of Francis Hingston, praying Permission for him the said Hingston to re- turn to his Friends in England, which was unanimously granted.
The Council adjourned to 3 O'clock P. M.
Met according to Adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor M' Condict Mr Scudder
M' Elmer M' Camp
M' Paterson,
M' Manning
James Sloan appeared pursuant to Subpoena, and was ex- amined, but his Testimony was not judged sufficiently material to be committed to Writing.
Capt" Samuel Hugg, appeared & was examined relative to the suspicious Conduct of John Henchman Esq' and his Tes- timony being committed to writing, he was affirmed thereto. Said Capt" Hugg can give some account of the said Hench- man's producing his former Commission under the Crown to some british Officers at the black Horse as a pass, & of his in- viting some british Officers to his Sisters at Mount Holly.
Samuel
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Samuel Harrison Esq' appeared before the Board, and was examined, but as his Testimony consisted of nothing more than what is contained in former Evidence it was not committed to writing.
Col Joseph Ellis, being called upon, declared, that he some- Time since heard John Henchman acknowledge, that he the said Henchman had said he had wished the regular Troops would come among us.
Jacob Roberts, being called upon, gave in his Testimony, against John Henchman Esq' & was duly affirmed thereto, after its being reduced to Writing.
The Council adjourned till Monday 4 o'clock P. M.
May 19th
The Council met pursuant to adjournment
William Norton appeared before the Board & was examined respecting the Conduct of John Henchman Esq' among the Hessians at the Black Horse & Mount Holly, but his Testimony was not reduced to Writing.
Capt" William Harrison was also called upon & examined as afsd, but as his Testimony was similar to that of several other Evidences, it was judged unnecessary to commit it to Writ- ing.
A subpoena was ordered to issue for John Estaugh Hopkins, to appear tomorrow to give Evidence against John Hench- man.
The Council adjourned till toMorrow 4 o'clock P. M.
May 20th
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor
M' Paterson Mr Scudder
Mr Symmes M' Combs.
M' Elmer
Garret Rapalje & his son George Rapalje appeared before the Board & had the oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance ten- dered to them, which they declined taking, and desired Time till toMorrow Morning to consider of them, which was granted.
James Nevill a Prisoner sent by General Heard to the Council was called upon and examined, and it appearing to the
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the Board that he had been detained a long time Prisoner in New York, where he had suffered great Hardship & Abuse, and also giving the Board full Satisfaction as to the way he became possessed of a considerable Sum of Money which was the Occa- sion of his being detained by General Heard; The Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance to the State were administered to him, & subscribed by him, upon which he had his Money restored to him & was discharged.
The Council adjourned till tomorrow Morning 8 O'clock.
May 21st.
The Council met, pursuant to adjournment.
Present as before, except M' Combs, with the addition of Mr Camp & M' Dick.
Garret Rapalje appeared before the Board, & entered into Recognizance with Jacob Drake, his Surety, in £300 Each, before the Governor & Council for his Appearance at the next Court of general Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County of Sussex; & in the meanTime to be of the Peace & of the good Behaviour & was thereupon dismissed.
George Rapalje appeared before the Board, and it being proposed to him, either to take the Oaths yesterday tendered to him, or be considered as a Prisoner of War, he begged further Time to consider of the matter, & was ordered to with- draw.
. A memorial was presented from Lieut Gilbert Imlay, pray- ing, that a Number of Persons, formerly Inhabitants of this State, who have for a long while past been confined in the City of Philadelphia, and who some Time since Enlisted in the Company to which he belongs, may be released from their Confinement, & permitted to join said Company.
The Council taking the same into Consideration, determined to send for them, together with all such as were taken prisoners in Monmouth County, by Maj' Mifflin, and his Excellency was requested to issue the necessary Orders for that purpose.
Thomas Williams was ordered to be brought before the Board, & after a critical Examination was remanded to Con- finement & the Determination of his Case referred to further Consideration.
The testimony of Thomas Woodward was taken against the said Thomas Williams and committed to Writing, & said Woodward was duly, according to Law, affirmed thereto.
Thomas Woodward, son of Anthony, was called upon, who appeared before the Board, and was particularly interrogated as
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as to his Disaffection & suspicious Conduct in General, & the Cause of his late Elopement from the Guard in Haddonfield in particular. after which he was ordered to with draw, & the further Consideration of his Case deferred for the present.
The Council adjourned till 4 O'clock P.M.
Met pursuant to adjournment.
Present. His Excellency the Governor.
M' Symmes Mr Elmer M' Condict
Mr Scudder
M' Manning
A Subpoena haveing been ordered for John Estaugh Hopkins to appear before the Council on the 19th Instant, and he being out of town at that time, Ordered, That a Subpoena be issued for his Appearing before the Council tomorrow morning at ten o'clock in the forenoon to give evidence in behalf of the State against John Hincksman Esq"
The Council took up the Consideration of the Case of George Rapalje and finding, by his own Confession, that he had some- time in January last, voluntarily gone over to the Enemy at New Brunswie, where he had taken an Oath of Allegiance to the King of Great Britain, whence he went to Staten Island, New York, and Long Island, and has continued with the Enemy ever since, till within a few days, & is now come back into this State, without Flag or Passport, of any kind what- ever; The Board after mature Deliberation, Ordered, That a Warrant of Commitment directed to the Sheriff of the County of Gloucester, do issue against the s'd George Rapalje for ad- visedly & wittingly by speech, Writing, open Deed and Act, maintaining & defending the Authority, Jurisdiction & Power of the King of Great Britain as heretofore claimed within this State.
The Council adjourned till tomorrow Morning 8 O'clock.
May 22nd 1.777
Met pursuant to adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor M' Elmer Mr Manning M' Camp
M' Condiet
Co' Scudder
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A Memorial was presented by Co' John Cox in behalf of his Sister Mrs Mary Allen, setting forth, that her son now in New York is dangerously ill of a Consumption, & she is anxious to see him before his Death, as well as desirous of taking Care of her Property there &c.
The Board taking the same into Consideration, Agreed, That Colonel Cox be permited to apply to General Putnam for a Flag of Truce in Behalf of his sd sister, Mary Allen, and in Case the General shall think proper to grant such Flag, that s'd Mrs Allen have leave to depart this State.
Peter Parker, of the Township of Shrewsbury, appeared be- fore the Board and took & Subscribed the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance to this State, and offered to defray all Costs that shall have accrued in Consequence of the Apprehension and Imprisonment of his Negro Man Sip, now confined in Philadelphia & in Case he may be released & return to his service, to give Bond to the full Value of the sd Negro, for the future good Behaviour of him the sd Negro.
Agreed, that sd Parker have his sd Negro, discharged, upon his complying with the foregoing Conditions.
John Estaugh Hopkins appeared pursuant to Subpoena, but as the Council could not conveniently receive his Testimony at this Time, and as he lives near, he agreed to call upon them tomorrow Morng at 8 o'clock
The Council adjourned till 6 O'clock P. M.
Met pursuant to adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor
Mr Elmer Mr Condict
M' Manning Mr Combs
M' Scudder
John Slocom, of the Township of Shrewsbury appeared before the Board, and offered to defray all Costs that shall have accrued, in Consequence of the Apprehension and Im- prisonment of his Negro now confined in Philadelphia, & in Case he may be released & return to his Service, to give Bond to the Value of the sd Negro, for the future good Behaviour of him the sd Negro.
Agreed that sd Slocum have his sd Negro discharged, upon his Complying with the foregoing Conditions.
Agreed also that Peter Parker's Negro be Valued at the sum of £100, and John Slocom's Negro at the sum of £70.
The Council adjourned till toMorrow 8 O'clock.
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May 23ªd
Met pursuant to adjournment.
Present. His Excellency the Governor.
M' Symmes
M' Camp
M' Condict
M' Combs
M' Elmer
M' Manning
Mr Scudder
Mr Dick
John Estaugh Hopkins appeared before the Board & gave Testimony against John Henchman Esq" which was reduced to writing and affirmed to according to Law.
A Summons was ordered to issue for s'd John Henchman Esq' to appear before the Governor and Council of Safety at their Chamber in Haddonfield on the 5th day of May next at 8 O'clock A.M.
John Kite, William Parker, John Allen, John Sears, William Thompson, Jonathan Burge, James Cumpton, & Stout Havens prisoners taken by a Detachment commanded by Major Miff- lin in Monmouth County about the Beginning of January last, & since confined in Philadelphia were yesterday brought up under Guard, from that City, and this Day appeared before this Board, and being severally examined were willing to enter into the continental Service during the War, to serve in Capt John Burrowe's Company of Col David Forman's Regiment agreeable to a former Engagement with Lieut - Patterson, and upon the Condition that they may obtain a full & free pardon for all past treasonable Offences, against the State of New Jersey.
William Newman another Prisoner in the same Predicament, with the former, being called in & examined & not being dis- posed to enter the service was remanded to the guard House to be reserved for future Trial.
Richard Margison another Prisoner taken with the former, but who has not entered into any previous Engagement with regard to sd Company, being also examined, expressed his Wil- lingness to enter the Service of the United States upon Condi- dition of obtaining a Pardon as above, & chose to engage in Capte Burrowe's said Company.
The Council adjourned till half past two O'clock P. M.
Met
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Met pursuant to adjournment.
Present. His Excellency the Governor.
M' Paterson M' Manning
M' Condict M' Scudder
Mª Camp
Aaron Cumpton another of the Prisoners taken by Major Mifflin was called before the Board, & examined, and it ap- pearing from his own Confession that he had previously to his Engagement, with Colonel Morris' Party, deserted Capt Thomas Patterson's Company in Co' Dayton's Battalion he was remanded to Confinement.
James Peirce and John Barber two more of the same Pris- oners were next ordered in and examined, and were content to enter into the American Service in the same Company and on the same Conditions as those examined in the Forenoon.
The Council adjourned till tomorrow Morning 8 o'clock.
Met pursuant to adjournment.
May 24th
. Present, His Excellency the Governor M' Condict M' Manning
M' Scudder. M' Combes
M' Camp,
Joseph Pierce one of the Prisoners taken by Major Mifflin, was called in and examined, but not being disposed to enter sd service : was remanded.
Joseph Throckmorton Esq' who some time since presented a Memorial to the Governor and Council on Behalf of his son, John Throckmorton, then & still in Confinement in the City of Philadelphia, appeared before the Board & prayed that he might be indulged so far as to have his sd son removed into this State & confined at his own House at Colts neck in Mon- mouth County, offering to enter into Bond for £2.000 or £3.000, if required, for his future Good Behavior, & for his Appearance before this Board when & wherever required.
The Council taking the affair into Consideration, were of Opinion that they could not form any Conclusion respecting a Prisoner without having him first before them, and therefore as they cannot redeem Time sufficient for the Purpose at present, they deferred the Determination to some future Time,
Jacob
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Jacob Cooper a Prisoner taken by Major Mifflin appeared before the Board and was examined, and as it appeared that he had joined the Enemy & was inlisted with them, before the Publication of the Act for punishing Traitors &c, he was con- sidered as a Prisoner of War.
John Sears, Stout Havens, Richard Margison & John Barber four of the Eleven Prisoners who had consented to Enlist into the continental Service, being called upon to enroll themselves, declared they had altered their minds, and did refuse to comply with their former Engagements; wherefore they were remanded to the Guard House ; the other seven took and subscribed the Oaths to the State, enrolled themselves, and were delivered to Lieut Gilbert Imlay-
Adjourned till Monday next
May 26th
The Council met pursuant to Adjournment. Gershom Ayres was discharged on taking the Oaths. Adjourned till Wednesday next.
28th
The Council met. James Cornelius sworn &c, Walter Curtis & Peter Brewer examined and remanded to Confinement.
Adjourned till toMorrow.
May 29th
. The Council Met.
Present His Excellency the Governor M' Elmer, M' Camp
M' Condict
M' Manning
M' Combs
Jacob Cooper being considered as a Prisoner of War, was put on his Parole, & Thomas Curtis of Shrewsbury became Se- curity in £100 for his keeping it.
Ordered, That Walter Curtis be discharged upon taking the Oaths, and entering into Recognizanee with Thomas Curtis, in £100 for his appearance at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held for Monmouth County, & giv- ing
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ing his note for £16. 16. 10. payable the 1st July next (with the said Thomas Curtis for security) being his proportion of the Expense occasioned by bringing him & Williams to Had- donfield.
Ordered that Peter Brewer be discharged on his taking the Oaths.
The Council Adjourned till tomorrow morning nine O'clock.
Friday, May 30th 1.777
Met pursuant to adjournment.
Present. His Excellency the Governor. M' Condict M' Combe M' Camp
M' Elmer
M' Manning.
Walter Curtis having complied with the above order of yes- terday, and this morning discharged his note given for said expence, is at liberty to return home ;
Richard Stanton late of Essex County on takeing the Oaths to Government and entering into Recognizance with Thomas Dey Esq of Bergen County Each in the sum of One Hundred Pounds for his Appearance at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions of the peace to be held in and for the County of Essex, then and there to answer the said Court to such things as shall be objected against him in behalf of the State, and in the meantime to keep the peace and be of the Good behaviour towards the liege subjects of this State, was dis- charged.
The Council adjourned till three O'clock in the afternoon.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment,
Present His Excellency the Governor M' Condict
Mr Elmer M' Combs
Mr Camp M' Manning
John Ederson called in and examined, and on taking the Oaths to the Government of the State, and entering into Re- cognizance with Richard Stanton for Security each in the Sum of one hundred pounds to Appear at the next Court of General Quarter
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Quarter Sessions of the peace to be holden in & for the County of Essex then and there to answer the said Court to such things as shall be objected against him in behalfe of the State, and in the meantime to keep the peace and be of Good be- haviour towards all the Liege subjects of this State, was Dis- charged.
Adjourned till toMorrow 12 O'clock.
May 31st 1.777
Met pursuant to adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor
Mª Condict M' Manning
Mr Elmer
M' Combs
M' Scudder
Richard Snowdon attended before the Board, in consequence of a Citation from the President, but refused Either to take the Oaths or Affirmations to the State, or to be bound with sufficient Sureties, for his Appearance at the next Court of general Quarter Sessions of the Peace in and for the County of Gloucester;
Ordered, therefore, That a Warrant of Commitment do issue against the sd Richard Snowdon, directed to the Sheriff of the sd County or to his Deputy, for his refusal as aforesaid.
Adjourned till Wednesday next,
June 4th.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor,
M' Elmer Mr Cramp
M' Condict Mr Mehelm
Mr Scudder
M' Manning
Mr Combs
Stout Havens, one of the Prisoners taken by Mjr Mifflin, having petitioned for another Ilearing before the Board, was called in, and after hearing the Proposals of some of his Friends in his Favor, and a further Examination, he was ordered to return to the Guard-House,
John
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John Barber, Joseph Pearce, John Sears, Richard Margison, & William Newman five other Prisoners taken by Mj' Mifflin, having also petitioned for another Hearing, were called before the Board, and after further Examination were remanded to the Guard house.
The Council having taken the case of the above named Prisoners into Consideration, and finding by their Confession, which was taken in writing & subscribed by them, that they were taken in Arms in the Service of the King of Great Britain on the second day of January last, in which they had none of them been engaged more than a Fortnight, they were of Opinion that the Prisoners can neither be considered as Prisoners of War, nor be admitted to Bail, and therefore ought to be continued in Confinement.
Adjourned till tomorrow morning 7 O'clock.
June 5th
The Council met, pursuant to adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor,
M' Condict Mr Hart
M' Symmes
M' Camp
Mr Scudder
Mr Mehelm
M' Elmer
Mr Manning
M' Combs
John Henchman Esq' appeared before the Board pursuant to Citation, & the charges agst him, being read he was per- mitted to offer any Thing in his Power by way of Palliation, and after being heard, was ordered to withdraw.
The Council taking M' Henchman's Case into their con- sideration and being of Opinion that the charges agst him did not fully indicate a malicious Intention but that the sd Charges did fix him, under a strong Suspicion of Disaffection to the United States,
Agreed, therefore, That M' Henchman be again called into Council, & that the Oaths of Abjuration and of Allegiance be tendered to him according to Law.
M' Henchman appeared accordingly, and the sd Oaths were tendered to him in Council, which he refused to take and subscribe, but was willing to be bound with surety for his Appearance
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Appearance at the next Court of gen1 Quarter Sessions, of the Peace &c, and the s' John Henchman did accordingly enter into Recognizance with Jacob Clement in the sum of £300 Each, before the Governor and Council of Safety, for his Appearance at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions, of the Peace for the County of Gloucester, there to answer to such Charges as shall be exhibited against him on Behalf of the State, and in the mean Time be of the Peace & of the good Behaviour & was thereupon dismissed.
The Council adjourned to meet again at 11 O'clock. A. M.
At 11 O'clock A'MI Met pursuant to adjournment.
Jacob Bogart of the County of Bergen, one of the Prisoners sent down by Gen1 Heard, was called before the Board & ex- amined, and it appearing that he had been enlisted & had joined the Enemy and been actually in Arms with them, since the Publication of the Act, for punishing Traitors & disaffected Persons, the Council were of Opinion-[ The determination of Council is not given. ]
Giles Williams a Prisoner sent down by Colonel Briarley was called before the Board and examined; but as it appeared that he had been persuaded away by Elisha Laurence and others, and that he had not either enlisted or taken up Arms with the Enemy, but had returned, the first opportunity, to his own Neighbourhood, tho he had imprudently neglected to give himself up, it was agreed to tender him the Oaths to the State, which he took & subscribed according to Law, and was there- upon discharged.
Thomas Woodward having petitioned for another Hearing, was called before the Board, and after a further Examination was ordered to withdraw.
· Adjourned till 3 O'clock P.M.
Met pursuant to Adjournment.
Peter Young & Henry Mourison having petitioned for another hearing were called in and again examined and as they appeared very penitent, and some Circumstances considerably in their Favour were discovered, the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance to the State were tendered to them, which they cheerfull took and subscribed & were dismissed.
Jacob Gardner having also requested a Rehearing, was ad- mitted examined & heard in his own Behalf, but as it clearly appeared to the Council from Gen' Heard's letter, his own Confession, and a Variety of Circumstances, that he was a
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