USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 7
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Grote, Ezekiel Youmans, John Ackerson, - Ste- phenson, Philip Ackerson, Thomas Goldtrap, H. Trum- per, jr., William Smith, John Cummings, Joseph Hunt, Cornelius Smith, Benjamin Holstead, Joseph Johnston, Albard Cooper, Stephen Girnee, Abraham Onderdonk, William Rider, Jacob Mall, Andrew Abrantes, M. Van- dervoort, David Babcock, James Lame, Francis Gurnee, Jacob Cooper, Samuel Knapp, John Suffern, Abraham Reynolds, Abr'm Stephenson, John Stogg, Stephen Ste- phenson, Mod Hull Tenure, Lamberd Smith, Peter Smith, Stephen Stephenson, Stephen Smith, Cornelius Ackerson, John Cuyper, Aurt Amorman, William Ste- phens, John Slott, Jacob Blawvelt, Daniel Smith, John Smith (Daniel's son), Petrus Blawvelt, Williamn Trumper. Johannes De Gray, Joseph D. Clark, Paul Ruttan, Har- manus Snyder, Philip Keselor, Reynard Gerow, Johan- nes Blawvelt, John Lorillard, John George Lorald, Rob- ert Allison, Rolef Van Houten, Jacob Bartholomew, Derick Ackerson. John Springsteel, Joseph Jones, jr., Powlas Vandervoort, Francis Girnee, jr., Isaac Girnee, Isaac Girnee, jr., Francis Girnee (Isaac's son), Johannes Meyer, Daniel Coe, Nathaniel Odle, jr., John Graham, John Mead, John Vandervoort, John Hetcock, Henry Mackrel, Jonnas Dele, Paul Persale, Gasham Huff, Wil- liam Crum, Samuel Coe, Edward Holstead, John Os- born, John Vandervoort, Jacob Jones, William Hause, Isaac Coe, Peter Burges, David Halstead, Ezekiel Ward, John Seacor, John Smith, jr., William Kempe, Abraham Snyder, Henry Snyder, sr., William Snyder, Henry Sny- der, jr., Rev. Robert Burns, Philip Sarvant, Elly Smith, John Jersey, Reuben Hunt, Cornelius Hunson, Jeremiah Vorhes, Pawlas Keselar, Peter Kesalar, Jobais Derunde, Jacob Jones, Jacob Coles, Siba Banta, John Noblet, Da- vid Seacor, jr., Art Ramson, Theodorus Polhemus, Jo- hannes Polhemus, Hendrick Polhemus, Thunis H. Tal- lema, Philip Sarvent, Adrian Sarvent, John Cuiper, jr., John D. Tallman.
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GENERAL, HISTORY.
own, as above. We therefore leave the matter unto your wise consideration, whether or no it be right. By order | Joshua Brown, jr., Hezekiah Watkins, Ziba Owen, of the Committee.
JOHN COLEMAN, "Chairman."
" A list of the persons' names who have neglected or re- fused to sign the Association:
"Roger Osburn, James Babcock, Nathaniel Oddle, Tompkins Oddle, Gilbert Johnston, Guysbert Johnston, Abraham Smith, William Babcock, John Springsteel, Benjamin Osburn, Thomas Ackerman, Abraham Conck- lin, Richard Osborn, Lewis Concklin, Lewis Concklin, jr., John Concklin, Joseph Concklin, L. Van Buskirk, Ja- cobus Van Buskirk, Henry Wanaker, Peter Frederick, Samuel Banta, Johannes Rush, James R. Osburn, John R. Osburn, Haulbrey Bucker, John George, Abraham Babcock, Samuel Matthews, Benjamin Osburn, Nathaniel Osburn, Jost Short, John Secore, jr., John Secore, Peter Stephens, John Weaver, Coon Fridrick, Henry Assler, Claus Corlosh, Adam Deter, John Dobbs, Peter Vander- vort, Ezekiel Conkling, Isaac Conklin, Jacob Sarvant, Henry Sarvant, Isaac Berea, Samuel Seacor, James Berea, William Concklin, Nicholas Concklin, John G. Johnston, Jacob Tenick, Isaac J. Seacor, Lodowick Shumaker, William Winter, Andris Pallass, Peter Wana- maker, Benjamin Ackerson, S. Heyman, Frederick Post, Isaac Post, Abraham Post, Johannes Johnston, Abraham Johnston, David Ackerson, Jonas Lodwick, John Post, jr., Ezekiel Ferguson, Andrew Haldrom, Peter Jersey, Moses Van Nostrant, G. Van Nostrant, Daniel D. Clark, jr., Samuel Bird, Henry Tenyck, James Lamb, sen., Cor- nelius Crum, Lawrance Johnson, John Johnson, Reynard House, sen., William Dobbs, A. Montgomery, Jacob Ackerson, John Post, Philip Sarvant, John Sarvant, John Crum, Henry Tenick, jr., Joseph Heston, Joseph Knapp, Henry Holsted, John Rider, Joseph Rider, John Toun, jr., Derick Ackerson, Jost Buskirk, Thomas Ackerson, Jacob Waldron, Esq., John Armstrong, Edward Wal- dron, Henry Holsted, sen., Matthew Ellison, John Barton, Benjamin Quackenbush, William White, James Pollan, Thomas Smith, John Town, Henry Warden, Scoldfield, Thomas Porter, Jacob Vanduzer. Andris Bellis.
"Other signers in Orange county:
" Alexander Smith, Phineas Rumsey, William Heard, Phineas Heard, Joseph Conkling, Benjamin Harlow, Jonathan Horton, George Duryee, Joshua Reeve, John Case, John Ketchum, jr., Obadiah Helms, William Hub- bard, Joseph Dickson, Daniel Tooker, Garrett Duryee, David Godfrey, Isaiah Smith, David Youngs, Silas Peir- son, Silas Horton, William Leslie, James Miller, William Satterby, David Rumsey, Gideon Salmon, Phineas Sal- mon, John Meeker, Joseph Browne, Joseph Drake, Samuel Haines Smith, John Brown, David Horton, In- crease Wyman, Silas Horton, Solomon Smith, Jonathan Smith, John Cravens, John King, John Barker, Ezra Keeler, Cuppe Brooks, Moses Carpenter, James Aspell, Samuel Wickham, Joshua Corey, John Corey, Zephaniah Huff, William Marshal, James Mapes, Charles Tooker, John Pain, Daniel Paine, Joseph Case, Benjamin Mc- Veagh, John Budd, William Horton, William Warne, |
Hezekiah Warne, Christopher Springsteen, Joshua Brown,
Daniel Reeve, James Manne, Jonathan Jayre, William Forbes, John Bull, Richard Bull, Caleb Coleman, Cole- man Curtis, David Rogers, David Jones, Jeremiah Butter, Jacob Aldrich, Thomas Mapes, James Pindel, John Satterby, Jonas Bellows, James Harrad, Thomas Smith, John Joe, Matthias Tyson, Silas Rey- nolds, John Arkils, Vincent Helme, John Woolly, John Earle, jr., James Arnold, Peter Stevens, Daniel Stanley. Daniel Adams, William Obadge, James Unele, Patrick Ford, John Boucke, Amos Miller, William Miller, Amos Mills, John Barton, Silas Mills, jr., Charles Field, Jonas Smith, Henry Mandeville, Jacob Mandeville, David Mil- ler, Peter Reynolds, Thomas Powel, Benjamin Pringle Zabud June, Henry Cunningham, Daniel Prindle, Enos Prindle, Francis Smith, Thomas Dearin, Henry Rey- nolds, David June, Oliver Devenport, Jeremiah Fowler, Richard Sheldon, Chester Adams, Martin Clark, John Celley, Joseph Canfield, Benjamin Canfield, John Can- field, L. Canfield, Richard Langdon, Stephen Peet, John Crouckhite, Nathan June, Thomas Lamareux, Micah Seaman, Fanton Horn, James Tuttle, Thomas Daven- port, Oliver Davenport, Robert Devenport, John Flor- ence, Francis Miller, Thomas Gilbert, Jonathan Earll, John Haman, Alexander Johnson, Samuel Earll, Gideon Florence, Alexander Galloway, Samuel Raymond, Uriah Wood, Amos Wood, Benjamin Wood, John Wood, 3d, Daniel Wood, Joseph Cupper, Joseph Canfield, jr., Fran- cis Mandeville, Francis Plamestead, Samuel Whitmore, Amos Whitmore, Andrew Southerland, James Souther- land, David Southerland, 3d, Alexander Southerland, John Southerland, David Southerland, George Everit, Andrew Sherwood, William Sherwood, Cornwell Sands, Stephen C. Clark, Joseph Plumfield, Reuben Clark, John Wood, Stephen Wood, Amos Pains, Uriah Crawford, John Samson, Francis Welton, John J. Hammond, Solo- mon Siles, William Duglas, Patrick McDonnell, Elijah
List of those that refused to sign: David Sands, Na- thaniel Sands, Benjamin Darling, Moses Clark, Langford Thorn, William Roley, Isac Bull, John Myers.
In the Provincial Congress, on the 2nd of August 1775, it was
"Ordered : That John Herring Esquire go up to Dobb's Ferry and see the Powder forwarded, and that Mr. Jacob Cuyler appoint an ; Albany Sloop to stop at Dobb's Ferry. *
Among the first to respond to the call for volunteers to guard the river front were Colonel Abraham Lent and Lieut. Col. Johannes Blauvelt of Orange Town. Both of these men had done creditable service in the King's mi- litia of Orange Town for some years. The commission of Col. Blauvelt as Lieutenant of the northernmost com- pany of Orangetown militia was presented by his de- scendant, the late Teunis Blauvelt, to the Rockland County Historical and Forestry Society, and it is now on file among the archives of that society. It was signed
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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.
by James De Lancey, Lieutenant Governor of the Prov- inces in 1763.
"Abraham Lent's Commission.
" In Provincial Congress for the Colony of New York, " December 22d, 1775.
"To Abraham Lent, Esq., of Orangetown in Orange County. Greeting:
" By virtue of the authority reposed in us we do here- by nominate, authorize, constitute, and appoint the said Abraham Lent, Esq., to be Colonel of the First Regi- ment of the Militia of Foot of Orangetown and Precinct of Orange in Orange County in the Colony of New York, hereby requiring you, before you enter into the exercise of your said office, to make in writing, and subscribe in presence of the Chairman of the Committee of the City, Town, District, or Precinct wherein you reside, the Dec- laration appointed and described by the eleventh section of the Seventh Resolve, contained in the Rules and Or- ders for regulating the Militia of the Colony of New York recommended by this Congress, on the 22d day of
said Rules and Orders, and the said Declaration. And we do hereby require all persons under your command to pay due obedience to you, according to the said Rules and Orders and such further rules and orders as shall be made and recommended for the Militia of this Colony by the present or any future Continental Congress or Pro- vincial Congress of this Colony.
"By order, JOHN HARING, Presd't Pro tem. "JOHN MCKESSON, Sect'y."
" Officers of Orange Township, November 17th, 1775. "The committee of Orange township have met with all speed a Cording to Recommendation of Congress to a |had recommended officers for two companies to be raised Point field offiscors and give Notis to the Committee of haverstraw to meet us and they Did Deny meeting of this committee altho we met in thire Precent at the house of John Van Dolsa, Jun.
"To the Honourable Provincial Congress of the Pro- vince of New York.
"Gentlemen: We have thought Proper to a Point our own offiscors for the precint as the committee of haver- straw will not meet, therefore we hope you will Grant them thaire Commistiones as the place is in Disturbance and this is the only way we know to settle it.
" I am, Gentlemen, your humble sarvent
" JAMES KANT, Chair Man.
" At a general Trayning of the Precent of Oringe, we have chosen field officers and others a Cording to Rec- ommendations of Congress.
Abraham Lent, Col .; Johannes David Blauvelt, Lieut. Col .; Johannes Jos. Blauvelt, Major; Jacobus De Clark, Adgitent; Isaac Perry Quarter Master.
Ist Company Johannes Jacobis Blauvelt, Capt .; James Lent Ist Lieut; James Smith 2d do; Hendrick Vander- linder Ver Brick, insine.
zd Company. Isaac Smith Capt; Johannes Isaac Blauvelt Ist Lieut; William Van Sickles 2d do; Lambert Smith insine.
3d Company-Johannes Bell, Capt; John Fitcher Ist Lieut; William Graham 2d do; Dannial Van der dunck, insine.
Commissions Issued Dec. 22d, 1775.
The following extracts, letters, and statements of the substance of proceedings, etc., are taken from the " Am- erican Archives," known as "The Force papers," and they comprise everything relating to Rockland county, that is to be found in those archives, of a date previous to the end of 1776. The records 'bearing dates subse- quent to that year are unassorted manuscripts in the library of Congress and are not available. These ex- tracts, which are here quoted without comment, con- stitute the best Revolutionary history of Rockland county, during that period, that can be given.
" New York Congress, February 18th, 1776. " Members from Orange County; "Col. Hay and Col. Allison;
"Colonel Hay, from the committee appointed to ap- portion the different quotas of men and officers under
August 1775, and authorizing you fully to execute all the rank of Field Officers to be raised in the different powers belonging to your said office, by virtue of the Counties of this Colony delivered in their Report, which was read a second time, and filed, is in the words follow- ing, to wit: * * *
"Orange two companies. * *
" A. HAWKES HAY, Chairman." "New York Provincial Congress, Feb'y 24th, 1776.
" A letter from David Pye, Esq., Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Orange County, to the Congress, and two letters from E. W. Kiers, one to Jesse Woodhull, Esq., and the other to Thomas Smith, Esq., were read.
"They thereby state their difficulties arising from the following matter, to wit: That their County Committee on the South side of the Mountains in Orange County; that each of those officers had been at expense in pre- paring for the service, and engaging men for a company, that only one company being allotted by Congress to be raised in that part of the County, each sett of officers claimed the preference, and that to rid themselves of jealousies and creating divisions, they had returned the warrants and submitted to Congress to determine and fill up the warrants. Congress determined the said war- rants be filled up in manner following, to wit:
"For Amos Hutchins, Captain."
" New York Provincial Congress, Feb'y 26th, 1776.
"Colonel Hay produced a return of officers for a Com- pany of Minute-men in the Southern part of Orange County, signed by Johannes I. Blauvelt, Chairman, whereby it appears that, on the 16th of December, the following named officers were elected officers of that Company, to wit: Benjamin Coe, Captain; Abraham Onderdonk, First Lieutenant; Paulus M. Vandervoort, Second Lieutenant; and Daniel Coe, jr., Ensign; and that they were chosen, withcut opposition, in the pres- ence of John Smith and Rynier Quackenboss, two of the Committee, as Inspectors."
"Orangetown, March 12th, 1776. " To the Honorable Provincial Congress of the Colony
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GENERAL HISTORY.
of New York, or the Committee of Safety at New York, of the 13th instant, ordering sixty-five privates to be draft- "Sirs: Agreeable to your order I have the desired ed out of my Regiment and sent to New York, I have called the Regiment together for the purpose. officers under my command to hold their respective com- panies in readiness at a moments warning, and now en- close to you a return of the regiment under my command. The fourth men are in readiness, and are returned to the Major of Minute-men out of my regiment.
"I am with respect, sirs, " Your most obedient servant, · " ABRAHAM LENT."
" New York Committee of Safety., "New York, March 18th, 1776.
" A letter from Abraham Lent, Esq., Colonel of the Orangetown Regiment, bearing date the 17th inst., was read and filed. He thereby informs that he has received the Resolutions and Order of the Provincial Congress of of the 13th instant, for sending a number of men from his Regiment to New York. He thereby proposes to send a Captain and sett of officers for a Minute Company, and requests an explanation of the Order, which he ap- pears to have misunderstood.
"A draft of an Answer to Colonel Lent was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:
" In Committee of Safety, New York, March 18th 1777.
"Sir: We received yours of yesterday, and have only to observe that only a Lieutenant's party was to be taken from your Regiment, and as for your Minute-men, we would remind you that there can be no such thing, un- less a Company is regularly formed; therefore advise you to send down, with all convenient speed, the thirty-five men wrote for, with a First Lieutenant and Ensign, with Non Commissioned Officers in the same proportion.
"We are, respectively sir, your very humble servant. " By Order of the Committee, " Col. Abraham Lent, Orange.'
"Committee of Safety, New York, March 19th, 1776.
" Captain Blauvelt, from Orangetown attending, re- quested the sense of the Committee whether the thirty- five men ordered to this City out of Col. Lent's Regiment may not come down under the command of a Captain and an Ensign.
"The Committee are of opinion that the thirty-five privates ordered from Orangetown may be commanded by Captain Blauvelt and his Ensign."
"Committee of Safety, New York, March 25th, 1776.
"Captain Johannes Jacobus Blauvelt attending inform ed the Committee that he was come down with a party of Minute Men from Orangetown, that his and his Lieu- tenant's Commissions are for the Militia, and prayed that a Commission be made out for hini as a Minute Captain and another for his Lieutenant as an Ensign of the same nature, his Lieutenant having agreed to accept of Ensign's pay.
"Ordered, That Commissions issue to Johannes Jaco- bus Blauvelt as Captain, and Jacobus Smith as Ensign of himslf slandered by those from whom he expected assis- the Orangetown Company of Minute-men. tance.
"And they were issued accordingly."
"Haverstraw, March 24th, 1776.
"Sir: In compliance with the resolution of Congress
" Lieutenant Col. Cooper, of the Minute Regiment at- tended, and insisted on drafting every fourth man to complete his regiment. This created great uneasiness in in my regiment, and rendered it impossible for me to send down the detachment required without greatly dis- tressing the inhabitants, which made it necessary for me to postpone the business until Wednesday next, which day the regiment is again ordered to attend.
"I am of the opinion that the public service will be greatly promoted if the Committee of Safety would order to New York the Minute Regiment, or sixty-five of that corps, instead of the detachment from my regiment. The public, by this means, will be furnished with the young men, well accoutred.
"I should be happy to have the sentiments of the Committee of Safety on this subject by the bearer hereof. If the Committee of Safety should agree in opinion with me, be pleased to forward their order to Col. Cooper by the bearer of this, so that I may have it by Wednesday next.
"I am, sir, with great esteem, your most obedient and humble servant,
"A. HAWKES HAY."
" An answer to Col. Hay was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:
"In Committee of Safety, New York, March 25th, 1776. "Sir: In answer to yours of yesterday we would just inform you that we shall give orders to Colonel Cooper, who is now in town, to send down a company of Minute- men, in lieu of those ordered by the Congress to be draf- ted out of your regiment. At the same time, as the en- emy have quitted Boston, and we know not how soon they will be here, we would urge it upon you with great- est earnestness to use your utmost endeavors to have your regiment in all possible readiness to march upon the shortest notice.
"We are respectfully, sir, your very humble servants." " To Col. A. Hawkes Hay." * * * Ordered, That Lieutenant-Colonel Cuyper, of the Orange County Regiment of Minute-men, send down to New York, as soon as possible, one full Company of the Orange County Regiment of Minute-men, completely armed, acoutred, and appointed in the best manner, and each with his blanket. That this Company be sent down to New York instead of the Company which Colonel Hay was desired to despatch from his Regiment."
"Orangetown, March 28th, 1776.
"Sir: Colonel Lent was with me the evening before last, and appeared to be much out of humor on account of the late behavior of part of his Regiment. He says that his orders have been treated with contempt, and
" The Colonel has, for a number of years last past, been a militia officer, and I believe we never had one who was inore punctual in obeying and performing the orders of
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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY,
his superiors, and he consequently expected that those under his command should also obey him; but by ex- perience he finds that he cannot get the orders of Con- gress (which from time to time issue) properly expedited, and he is apprehensive that, if he continues in office he will be censnred by his superiors as well as blanied by his inferiors.
" The Orangetown Regiment is chiefly composed of tion the Resolutions of Continental Congress of the 15th such as know but little of the English language, and nothing of military affairs, wherefore I must impute their backwardness and delays to ignorance and ill-founded "Col. Allison took the general oath of secrecy. jealousies of being imposed upon by their commanders, and not to disaffection.
"The commission of the Colonel, together with his business that shall be moved, proposed, agitated, consid-
resignation, you have enclosed. He brought the com- mission to me, and would not be prevailed upon to take it home again, so that I thought it my duty to send it to you by the first opportunity.
ered, or determined in this Congress this day, and eve- rything relating thereto, until leave shall be given from the Chair, by order of this Congress, to reveal the same. And I do further, in the same manner, solemnly swear " The command of the above said Regiment now de- all such matters and things as shall at any time be given volves upon Lieutenant Col. Blauvelt. I am fearful that |in charge from the Chair, by order of this Congress, to Lent's resignation will be followed by others, but I shall do all in my power to prevent it. I am, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,
" JOHN HARING."
" A letter from John Haring, Esq., dated Orangetown, March 28th, 1776, enclosing Col. Lent's commission and resignation, was read and filed.
"To all to whom these presents shall come, or may concern:
"Whereas I, the subscriber, have sometime since been commissioned by the honorable Provincial Congress of the Colony of New York to be a Colonel of the Regi- ment of Militia Foot in Orangetown, and Whereas, I have been much blamed and slandered (by some officers and others in said Regiment) for giving orders in pursu- ance of a late resolve and order of said Congress, I have thought proper to resign my said commission, and ac- cordingly do resign the same, choosing rather to serve as a private than command people who are prejudiced against me.
" Given under my hand, the 26th day of March, A. D., 1776.
"ABRAHAM LENT."
"New York Provincial Congress. *
*
* * *
" A Certificate from the County Committee, held on the South side of the Mountain in Orange County, on the 16th day of May instant, subscribed by Johannes Isa Blauvelt, Chairman pro tempore, and John Coleman, Clerk, was read and filed. It thereby appears that at elections held for that purpose in the several precincts of Orangetown and Haverstraw, on the third Tuesday in April last (according to a determination of the County Committee) John Herring, Esq., in Orangetown, and David Pye, Esq., and Mr. Roloff Van Houten in the Precinct of Haverstraw, were duly elected Deputies from Orange County to this Congress for the space of twelve months."
" May 24th, 1776.
"The Congress then proceeded to nominate a Com- mittee * * *
* to take into consideration the Reso- lutions of Continental Congress of the 15th May instant, and report thereon with all convenient speed.
" Thereupon Resolved: That Mr. Scott, Mr. Haring, Colonel Remsen be a committee to take into considera- of May instant, and that the said Committee report thereon with all convenient speed."
'I do solemnly swear, on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that I will keep secret the matters and
be kept secret until leave shall be given from the Chair, by order of this or a future Congress of this Colony, to reveal the same.'
" New Provincial Congress, June 27, 1776. * * "Ordered. That Col. Allison and Mr. Pye be a Committee to inquire into the conduct of Captain Blauvelt's Company of Militia, on the south side of the Mountains in Orange County, who have not drafted their quota of men to reinforce the Continental Army at New York.
"Resolved, That Colonel Allison be and he is hereby, authorized and requested to cause all the Salpetre, which he hath or shall purchase on account of the Colony, pur- suant to a Resolve of the Congress of this Colony, to be manufactured into or exchanged for good Gunpowder, and that he deliver any quantity thereof, not exceeding five hundred weight, to the General Committee of Ulster County, to be disposed of by the said Committee in such manner as they shall think proper for the defence of the said County."
" William Allison to John Haring.
"Goshen, June 27th, 1776.
"Sir: After my respects, must inform you that I was somewhat nonplussed, on my return home, to find I was appointed, with yourself, a Committee for superintending saltpetre works, and purchasing any saltpetre manufac- tured within this colony. How it happened that I never heard a word said about it while in town, I can hardly conceive, and am ready to conclude you must have been in the same predicament, as you never mentioned it to me. If it is a duty actually incumbent on us to erect or set on foot any works, I think no time ought to be lost. Besides, people are bringing in saltpetre to me, and ex- pect their cash. I am not prepared for purchasing much. I have reason to think there will be a considerable quan - tity, in this end of the County, by private families. Have bought fifty weight of one man who has niade seventy weight in the whole, and who made fourteen pounds out of three bushels of earth. I have heard of several con-
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GENERAL HISTORY.
siderable quantities, and expect them in every day. I wish, if it could be so ordered, you would send me some cash without my coming down, as I would not choose one person should go away without his money; for with- out the experience, you can hardly conceive the injury it will do the cause among some people.
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