USA > New Jersey > Minutes of the Council of Safety of the state of New Jersey > Part 5
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person too dangerous to the Liberties of the State to be dis- charged, they were unanimously of Opinion that he ought to continue in Confinement, and was remanded accordingly.
Ordered that the sum of fifteen shillings be paid to John Hendry for the Service of himself and horse, bringing a Letter Express from Burlington to Haddonfield.
The Council adjd till tomorrow afternoon.
·
The Council met pursuant to adjournment
June 6th
Present His Excellency the Governor
Mr Symmes Mr Manning
M' Condict
M' Combs
Mr Scudder MY Camp
Ordered, That a Warrant of Commitment directed to the Sheriff of the County of Gloucester do issue against Thomas Woodward, Son of Anthony, charged before the Governor and Council of Safety for the State of New Jersey, with maliciously and advisedly saying and doing Things encouraging Disaffec- tion and manifestly tending towards Tumults & Disorders in the State aforesaid, and with maliciously & advisedly spreading such false Rumours concerning the American Forces, and the Forces of the Enemy as tend to alienate the Affections of the peo- ple from the Government, and to terrify & discourage the good subjects of this State, and to dispose them to favour the Pre- tensions of the Enemies of the State.
The Council adjourned till Monday next.
June ninth 1.777
The Council met.
Present. his Excellency the Governor Mr Symmes M' Wetherbee M' Combs M' Elmer M' Camp. M' Scudder.
Ordered that the sum of One Pound ten Shillings be paid to
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to M' Isaac Kay for the Use of his Waggon and Horses in hauling Provisions from Philadelphia for the Guards.
Also the sum of ten Shillings for a Load of Wood for the Guard House.
And Also the sum of seven Shilling and Six pence to Mrs Phebe Wallington for House Room and Trouble with a wounded Prisoner.
His Excellency laid before the Board the draft of an Ap- pointment of Officers to grant Passports & Permissions to pass, which was approved of, & is in the words following, to wit :
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
In Council of Safety, Whereas in and by a certain Act, of the Legislature of this State, passed at Haddonfield the fourth day of this present month of June, entitled " An act for ren- dering more Effectual two certain Acts therein mentioned," it is among other things enacted, that the Governors or Com- manders-in-Chief for the time being, and Council of Safety, be Authorised and Impowered, to grant passports and Per- missions to pass through any parts of the State; and also to Authorise such and so many Persons, in every County within the same to grant such Passports and permissions, and under such Regulations as they shall think necessary, and to detain under guard all Persons Suspected of dangerous Designs, against this State, travilling without such Passports or per- missions, untill they shall satisfy the Governor and Council aforesaid or the Person's so by them Authorized, of their being well Effected to the State, or of their travelling without any designs Injurious to it ; and that every Person who shall be convicted of counterfeiting such passports, or Permissions shall suffer Six Months Imprisonment, as by the said Act, reference being thereunto had, may appear,
We do therefore, by these Presents, Authorize and appoint to Grant such passports and permissions as aforesaid, the Officers following, to wit: All the Members of the Council and of the General Assembly of this State, the Justices of the Supreme Court, the Judges of the Inferior Courts of Common Pleas, the Justices of the Peace and field Officers of the Militia of this State, that-is-to-say Such of the Justices of the Piece and field Officers as have been duly qualifyed, and taken the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance, prescribed by Law; which passports or permissions are hereby directed to be to the following Effect, to wit :
County
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County of hereof, complexion rather with to
Ls. The Bearer years
Dated at
aged about of stature eyes, a Traveller from has permission to pass to sd behaving himself civilly the day of 1.777
Which passport or permission the said Officer is to subscribe with his Name and Title of Office ;- And all ferrymen and Inn-keepers within this State are hereby prohibited to convey over any creek or River, or to entertain any Traveller, (except- ing the said Officers hereby Authorised to grant such Passports or Permissions and all Persons belonging to the Army of the United States) who shall refuse to produce such passport or permission upon being thereunto requested, which every Ferryman and Innkeeper is hereby Enjoined to do.
Dated at Haddonfield the ninth day of June in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven. WIL LIVINGSTON. President
Morristown 17 June 1777 P. M '
The Governor & the Members of the Council of Safety, met pursuant to Adjournment.
· [No entry of such adjournment appears.]
Present His Excellency the Governor M' Symmes M' Camp
M' Condict M' Manning
There not being a Quorum to proceed to Business, adjourned till tomorrow morning.
June 18th 1777
The Council met pursuant to adjt. Present as yesterday
There not being a Quorum to proceed to Business, the Coun- cil sent for Benjamin Halsey Esq' one of the Judges of the In- ferior Court of Common Pleass, for the county of Morris, who accordingly attended and took his seat,
Ordered,
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Ordered, That Isaac Arnot be appointed a Commissioner in the County of Essex, to inventory & dispose of all the Estate & personal Effects of certain offenders described in the act of free & general Pardon, in the room of Robert Clark who re- fuses to act.
Agreed that a Court of Oyer & Terminer be held, in the County of Essex on the first Tuesday of August next.
The Council adjourned till 3 O'clock in the afternoon.
P. M.
The Council met, pursuant to adjournment.
Present, His Excellency the Governor, Mr Condict, Mr Manning
M' Symmes M' Halsey
M' Camp
John Drummond a Prisoner committed by Cap' O'Harra was discharged upon taking the Oath of Abjuration & Allegiance, there being no Evidence against him.
Benjamin Foster of Wendham took the Oath of Abjuration & Allegiance,
The Council adjourned till 9 O'clock tomorrow Morning
The Council met, pursuant to adjournment
June 19th 1.777
Present His Excellency the Governor Members as before,
Major Gordon appeared before the Council from General Heard with a Complaint against Sundry persons for Plunder- ing a Quantity of tea ;
Referred him to the possessors of the tea where the same was plundered to bring process for the same
M' Hampton one of the Continental Quarter Masters Com- plained to Council of the Militia of Essex plundering in Middle- sex ; the Council answered him that the owners bring action against the trespassers.
Council adjourned till 3 O'clock in the afternoon.
19th
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19th of June afternoon.
Council met according to adjournment
Levi Lewis, Adam Hebler & Conrad Silpan appeared before Council and being examined were referred to a further hearing when witness may appear.
William Newman, Joseph Pierce, John Scars, Richard Margison, John Barber, Stout Havens, and Jacob Bogart were committed to the prison in. Morris County for high treason &c
The Council adjourned till 9 O'clock tomorrow Morning.
June the 20th 1.777
The Council met according to adjournment.
Present as before, His Excellency the Governor Mr Condict M' Manning
M' Symmes M' Halsey
M' Camp
Nicolas Smith, Jacob Smith, Levi Lewis, Adam Hebler and Coonrad Silback, prisoners from Sussex County were called be- fore the Council, and no Witnesses appearing against them, Nor any Crimes laid to their charge, in any Commitment, the Council thought proper to take Recognizance for their appear- ance at the next General Court of Quarter Sessions of the peace to be held in and for the County of Sussex, and Dis- charge them from Confinement, they taking the Oaths of Allegiance to the State.
Henry Smith of Sussex being very sick in the prison, The Governor and Council, thought proper to admit him to the Oathes of Abjuration and Allegiance to the State, and Release him from Confinement, No charge being laid against him in any Commitment.
The Council adjourned till 3 of clock afternoon.
20th June 3 O'clock afternoon.
The Council Met, Present, as before.
Captain Marsh appeared before the Council on the Subject of the pay due to his Company, of Light Horse, praying direc- tions in the premises; and desiring to have his Company put on a Respectable footing for the future. Col
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Co' Cortlandt waited upon the Council complaining of the township of Aquacknunk Neglecting to Chuse Essessors, whereby those of the Militia who neglect their duty in that town go Unpunished; and then
The Council adjourned to 8 O'clock tomorrow morning.
Saturday 21 June 1.177
The Council met, according to Adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor, M' Condict Mr Manning
M' Symmes Mr Halsey
M' Camp
Isaac Ogden one of the Prisoners in Morris Gaol appeared before the governor & Council and professed himself to be a subject to the King of Great Britain &c, Whereupon the Board ordered the sd Isaac Ogden, to be committed to the Gaol of Morris County.
Thomas Philips and Hendrick Bross, two Prisoners in Morris Gaol, appeared before Governor & Council, & nothing appear- ing against them, ordered that they enter into Recognizance £300 Each to appear at the next Court at Essex, and that at present they be discharged from confinement, they taking the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance.
Ordered That Mr . Camp do advance Twenty Dollars to Hiram Howard a Wounded Soldier of Morris County.
Benjamin Morgan Esq' a Prisoner in Morris County (com- mitted by order of his Excellency General Washington) Pe- titioned to be removed from Prison to some private house.
Ordered that the said Benjamin Morgan be removed to the house of the Widdow Jemima Lum, in Morristown, and there to Remain or within One hundred yards thereof untill further order of the Governor & Council of Safety or otherways dis- charged by due course of Law; on his giving bond of two thousand pounds to remain there till discharged as above, which Bond was executed accordingly.
Peter Fell one of the Commissioners appointed in an Act en- titled an " Act of free and General pardon and other purposes therein Mentioned," for the County of Bergen appeared before the Council and declined accepting of the said appointment &e,
Adjourned to Monday 23 June, 3 o'clock afternoon.
Monday,
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Monday, June 23d 1.777
The Council met according to Adjournment
Present His Excellency the Governor.
Mr Condict M' Camp
M' Symmes
M' Halsey
There not being a Quorum to proceed upon Business ;---
Tuesday, June 24 1.777
The Council Met, according to adjournment
Present His Excellency the Governor
M' Symmes M' Halsey
M' Condict
M' Manning
M' Camp
Agreed, That Major Hayes or the Commanding Officer of the Militia stationed at Newark be ordered to remove from the County of Essex to the South side of Hackensack River in Ber- gen County in order to go into the Enemy's lines :-
The following Women, (with their children) being the Wives & children of persons, lately residing within this State who have gone over to the Enemy, to wit : Mary Longworth, Catharine Longworth, Elizabeth Wheeler, Phobe Banks, Mary Wood, Hannah Ward, Elizabeth Betty, & Anne Clarke, and make return thereof to the Governor and Council of Safety.
Agreed, that Joseph Hodden Jun' Esq be appointed a Com- missioner for the County of Essex for signing & inventorying the Estates & Effects of persons gone over to the Enemy, &c., in the room of Isaac Dodd who refuses to act.
Isaac & Cornelius Van Saen two Prisoners in Morris Jail appeared before the Council and nothing appearing against them, they were discharged upon taking the Oaths & entering into Recognizance to appear at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for Bergen County. ·
Cornelius Van Saen declared that he sold to one Capt Camp- bell, four Bags of Flour & five Bushels of Rye which he threatened him into the sale of, & for which he never paid him any.
Isaac Van Saen says that the said Campbell compelled him to sell to him ten Bushels of wheat for which he paid him nothing, and also took from him two horses which have never been returned. MF
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Mr Chief Justice Morris happening to come into the Council of Safety gave them such Information, concerning the above Isaac & Cornelius Van Saen as induced the Council to remand them to Prison.
The Council adjourned to 3 O'clock in the afternoon.
3 O'clock P. M.
The Council met, according to adjournment.
Present-as before.
M' Peter Mackie being Summoned before the Governor and Council as suspected of being disaffected to the State, & was offered the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance & refusing the same, & appearing to be too dangerous to be suffered to go at large, was ordered to be committed to Gaol.
Ordered that Isaac Ogden now in the Gaol of Morris County be removed for trial to the County of Essex in which he resides.
Peter Mackie offering to take the Oaths after the warrant of commitment was made out, was sworn accordingly & dis- charged.
Agreed that William Manning be appointed a Commissioner for the County of Middlesex for seizing and disposing of the Goods & Effects of persons gone over to the Enemy, in the room of Thompson Stelle disabled by being taken a prisoner by the Enemy.
Ordered that His Excellency the Governor draw on the Treasurer for the use of the Council of Safety. for the sum of five hundred Pounds by Frederick King.
The Council adjourned to Fryday Morning at 9 O'clock.
Friday 27th June 1.777
The Council met, according to adjournment.
Present His Excellency the Governor
Co1 Symmes M' Mehelm
Col Scudder M' Manning
M' Paterson M' Condict
. M' Camp
M' King brought the £500 drawn for on the Treasurer by the Governor which was put into the hands of Mr Camp for the Disposition of the Council of Safety.
A Petition from sundry Persons, Inhabitants of Bergen, was read, Setting forth, That Isaac Van Saen & Cornelius Van Saan
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Saan, inhabitants of the County of Bergen, and now under Confinement in Morris Town, have not acted in Opposition to the United States, or been aiding to the Enemy, otherwise than by Compulsion, and praying That they may be released, on certain Terms therein specified ;
Ordered That the said petition lie on the Table,
Agreed That Oake Hoaghland Esq" be appointed a Com- missioner for the County of Burlington for the Purposes men- tioned in an Act Entitled " An act of free and general Pardon &c" in the Room of Nathaniel Lewis Esqr who refused to act. Whereupon the said Oake Hoaghland was commissioned ac- cordingly.
James Ackerman and William Drummond, Inhabitants of Bergen appeared before the Board, and took the Oaths of Ab- juration and allegiance as Established by the Legislature of the State.
Adja till 3. O'clock P. M.
Met pursuant to Adjt.
Lt Col Vandike made Return of the Names of the Officers Elected by the Princeton Company of Militia, pursuant to a Resolution of this Board, of Date the 24th April last.
His Excellency was pleased to lay before the Board an Acct in the following Words.
At a Court of Oyer & Terminer &c held for the County of Sussex 28 May 1.777
The Court having Occasion to detain a Number of Persons as Witnesses &c, for a longer time than usual, and Expenses being very high, do recommend His Excellency the Governor and the honorable the Council of Safety, the following Persons to have their Expenses paid in such manner as to them shall seem meet.
Josiah Quimby and George Harrison 6 days Each from Essex c 10| £6 0 0
William Bouton's Horse 6 days c 2|. & himself two
days c 5| 1
Capt" Thomas Kinney for summoning witnesses,
2 0 himself & horse 5 days 5 0 0
Captn Campbell's acct 7 0 0
Francis Miller's 1 10 0
Phillip Hoffman's Bill for the Boarding of Miller 3 17 6
£24 9 6 Mr Symmes had leave of absence. Adj" till tomorrow morns 9 O'clock. Saturday
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Saturday June 28th 1.777
Met pursuant to Adjournment
Present. His Excellency the Governor.
Mr Scudder Mr Mehelm
Mr Condict
M' Camp
M' Paterson
Mr Manning
Robert Norris appeared before the Board pursuant to Cita- tion and took the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance to the Government, as established by the Legislature of the State.
Abraham Ogden Esq' appeared before the Board, pursuant to Citation in Order to take the Oaths prescribed by an Act of the Legislature, and produced a Certificate of his having taken the Oaths before M' Justice Tuthill, whereupon he was dis- missed.
James Smith appeared before the Board, pursuant to Cita- tion, and took & Subscribed the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance agreeably to Law.
His Excellency was pleased to lay before the Board a Memo- rial from Lardner Clark, praying that this Board would recom- mend him to Major Gen' Mifflin, for some higher Appointment in the Quarter Master Department than that which he now oc- cupies, &c, Whereupon the Board took the same under Con- sideration & advised His Excellency to recommend the said Lardner Clark to. Mjr Gen' Mifflin, agreeably to the Prayer of his Memorial.
Agreed That Captn Gifford Dakey have leave to remove Gertrude Tillford wife of Tillford & her Children to Staten Island in the State of New York; which said Tillford formerly resided in this State, and hath lately gone over to the Enemy.
Adj'd till Monday Morns 9 O'clock.
Monday June 30th 1.777
Met pursuant to Adjt
Present. His Excellency the Governor M' Scudder M' Paterson M' Condict M' Mchelm
There not being a sufficient number to make a Quorum, adjd to 3 O'clock in the afternoon.
Met
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Met pursuant to Adjt.
Present His Excellency the Governor
Mr Scudder M' Condict M' Paterson M' Mehelm M' Camp.
Agreed That Isaac Van Saan & Cornelius Van Saan, now in Confinement at Morristown, be exchanged for John & David Demarest, now in Confinement in New York, and that Co1 Boudinot, Commissary Gen1 of Prisoners, negotiate the Ex- change.
Richard Kemble appeared before the Board pursuant to Citation, and took & subscribed the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance agreeably to Law.
Elisha Beach appeared before the Board pursuant to Citation and took and subscribed the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegi- ance agreeably to Law.
Samuel Wells appeared before the board, pursuant to Cita- tion and took and subscribed Affirmations to the Effect of the Oaths to the State.
Hartshorne FitzRandolph appeared before the Board pursu- ant to Citation, & took & subscribed Affirmations to the Effect of the Oaths to the State.
Pursuant to order, Major Hayes made Return of the Re- moval of the following Persons, into the Enemy's lines; to wit: Catharine Longworth, Mary Longworth, Elizabeth Batey, Hannah Ward & Mary Wood; that Phoebe Banks had gone to New York by the Way of Hackensack, before the Order of Removal reached his Hands; and that Elizabeth Wheeler was in such Circumstances that it was judged her Removal would Endanger her Life,
Adj'd to 9 O'clock To Mw Morng.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
Volume II.
11 umeloY
Haddonfield, Sept' 12. 1.777
The Council met
Present His Excellency the Governor M' Paterson M' Combs Mr Symmes M' Condit MY Camp
Whereas John Ogden, Smith Hetfield & John Willis of Essex County have gone over to the Enemy & left their families behind them,
Agreed that Co1 F. Frelinghuysen cause the wives of the sd John Ogden, Smith Hetfield & Johh Willis and such of their children as are under age to be removed within the Enemies lines, or some place within their possession.
Morristown July 1st 1.777
The Council met, pursuant to adj"
Present His Excellency the Governor. M' Scudder M' Mehelm M' Condict Mr Camp
Mr Paterson
Samuel Ogden appeared before the Board, pursuant to cita- tion, and took & subscribed the Oaths of Abjuration & Alle- giance, agreeably to Law.
Letter from Joseph Hedden Esq' respecting the removal of the prisoners, Confined in the Gaol at New Ark, read & answered.
Letter from M' Symmes, setting forth the propriety & Necessity of the Board's sitting for some short time in Sussex, was read and answered.
Adjd to 3 o'clock P. M.
The
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The Council met, pursuant to adjt
Present. His Excellency the Governor. M' Scudder M' Mehelm
M' Camp
There not being a sufficient number of members to proceed to business, adjourned till tomorrow Morning 8 O'Clock.
July 2nd 1.777
The Council met pursuant to adjt
Present. His Excellency the Governor. Mr Condiet M' Camp M' Mehelm
Mr Sendder
M' Paterson
Whereas Peter Dubois, John Robinson, Eliphelet Johnson, Thomas Codmus J & James Nnttman, Stand Committed in the Common Gaol at New Ark, in the County of Essex, for the space of Six Months, by the order & Judgment of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the said county, for refusing to take the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance agreeably to Law, and whereas John McGinness and John Haveris were by order of the Same Court imprisoned for nine Months on being duly convicted of a Misdemesnor for attempting to go over to the Enemy ; & whereas Isaac Ogden, George Watts, & John Edison, are committed to the Gaol aforesd charged with High Treason; and Also, whereas, Aaron Kingsland, Morris Hetfield, & Baker Hendricks are con- fined the first in the Gaol afsd, and the two latter in the Gaol at Elizabeth Town, being charged with Felony for uttering & passing Bills of Credit, Knowing them to be counterfeited, and altered; And it being represented to this Board, that the vicinity of New Ark & Elizabeth Town to Staten Island, and other places in possession of the Enemy, and the exposure to Incursions, render it necessary that the persons abovenamed, should be removed to some more distant & secure place in the State, -- The Board having taken the premises under consider- ation, do resolve & agree, that the Persons afd be confined in the Common Gaol at Morristown, and that orders of removal be immediately made out & executed.
Adj" till 3 O'clock P. M. Met
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Met pursuant to Adjt.
Present. His Excellency the Governor. Mr Scudder Mr Mehelm
Mr Paterson
M' Camp.
Mr Condict being obliged to attend the Court of Cominon Pleas as Prothonotary, the Board adjd, far want of a sufficient number to proceed on business, till 8 O'clock tomorrow morn5.
July 3rd 1.777 Thursday.
The Council met.
Present His Excellency the Governor. Mr Scudder Mr Mehelm M' Condict M' Camp
Mr Paterson.
The Memorial of John Clawson was read, setting forth That the Memorialist was a Sergeant & then appointed an Ensign in a Compy of Militia in the County of Sussex; That on the 9th of Jany last he was on his way under Col Martin with a de- tachment of Militia to join Col Winds at Quibble Town; That by firing off his musket it unfortunately burst, by which means the left hand of the Memorialist was so injured and shattered that it was immediately cut off a little above his wrist, that he is in low circumstances & now unable to procure his livelihood, & prays the attention of the Board to his unhappy case, & that they would grant him some relief ; A testimonial of Abia Brown Esgr in favor of the above Memorl was likewise read :-
Agreed, that this Board is not competent to decide upon the subject-matter of the said Memorial, and therefore that it be referred to the Legislature.
The petition of Benjamin Morgan, now in confinement at Morristown, was read, setting forth, That he is desirous to take the Oaths of Abjuration & Allegiance agreeably to Law, and is willing to be circumscribed in his Boundaries, & laid under such Penalties as the Board may think necessary; and praying that he may be permitted to return home.
Agreed, That as the Petitioner was apprehended by order of His Exely Gent Washington, he is to be considered as a Mili- tary prisoner, and therefore that the said petition be referred to the Gen!
Agreed,
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Agreed, That his Excellency the Governor direct Gen! Winds to detach two hundred men of the Militia of this State, to wit 100 from Morris, and the remaining 100 from Sussex & Essex, to be employed in apprehending certain disaffected per- sons in this State.
The Board adja to meet at Newtown in Sussex, on Saturday the 5th of this Instant July, at 9 O'clock in the forenoon.
The Board met pursuant to adjt,
Saturday July 5. 1.777
Present His Excellency the Governor Mr Elmer Mr Paterson
M' Camp M' Scudder
M' Condict.
A Memorial from Elijah Clark, Richard Wescott, & John Cox was read, Setting forth that the Enemy's ships of War entered little Egg harbor, Inlet, and seized two brigs lying at the Fox-barrows, just within the Inlet, & carried them off, with a considerable quantity of Stock &c, and praying that little Egg-harbour may be fortified &c, and that this Board would issue the necessary orders for that purpose.
Agreed unanimously, That this Board is not competent to decide upon the subject-matter of the said Memorial ; and therefore that it be referred to the Legislature.
Adjd to 9 O'clock Monday Morning.
Monday, July 7th 1.777
Met pursuant to adj".
Present. His Excellency the Governor
M' Scudder M' Paterson
M' Elmer Mr Camp
M' Condict
M' Symmes
Agreed that letters be written to Major Sam! Meeker, and Sam' Kirkendall, Isaac Martin, Jacob McCollom & George Allen Esqrs to appear before the Board, and give a list of per- sons in this County, who are disaffected or dangerous to the present Govt
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