USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial Records of Pennsylvania Volumes 1 > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
On consideration,
Ordered, That the Certificates of the Deputy Quarter Master be received in Payment of Militia fines, from those persons to whom such Certificates have been given, but not from any persons who may have obtained assignments of such Certificates, except only in cases where divers persons, each having such Certificate, Pay their fines by the Certificates of some one of such persons.
Colo. Boyd, one of the Sub-Lieutenants of the County of Ches- ter, representing to Council that many of the inhabitants of divers d the Townships in the South Easterly parts of that County, being dis- affected from the cause of liberty & the United States, do with force & Arms, in a riotous & seditious manner, commit Treason & felony, & oppose the execution of the Laws ;
On consideration,
Ordered, That the Lieut. of said County of Chester, do se- lect a party of seventy-five Men, including a Captain, two Lien- tenants & one Ensign, and proper Non-Commissioned Officers from the Classes of the Militia of the said County, this day ordered to be drawn out & embodied for actual service ; the said party to be employed in apprehending such offenders, & in supporting the due execution of the Laws of this State, for the space of two Months, or 'til further orders ; & that Col. Boyd do take necessary measures to victual & supply the said party in such sort as the Militia in the Continental Service & Pay are provided. And it is recommended to Colo. Boyd, to whose prudence & direction the said party is committed, to be careful to give such orders & cautions to the Of- ficers & Privates as may best prevent any irregularities or just ground of complaint from the inhabitants, so that nothing be done by them by way of Punishment, but of Arrest in order to Punish- ment, reserving the guilty for hearing & trial, in due time & place, & remembering that a contrary conduct in the Militia will reflect discredit on Council, & on the cause of Freedom.
Ordered, That the first & second Classes of the Militia of Cher- ter County be called into service, & join the Militia Camp now er'
497 .
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
late under the command of General Lacy. And it being repre- sonted to this Council, that from divers circumstances of the Mi- litia of some parts of the County of Chester, had not been duly notified to serve, agreeable to the orders of Council heretofore is- sued,
Ordered, That four Classes of such of the Militia of the Coun- ty of Chester as have not been duly notified to serve according to the orders heretofore issued, be now called into service & join the Militia Camp now or late under the Command of Gen'l Laoy: These four Classes to be next in order to those in the respective places which have been called into service & duly notified.
.An order was drawn on the 'Treasurer in favor of Will'm Henry. Esq'r, for the Sum of Forty-one pounds & fourteen Shillings, amount of Expences accrued by illuminating this Borough on the annunciation of the Treaties signed between France & the United States of America.
Two orders from the board of War, on Colo. Benja. Flower, One for " one ton of Lead & half Ton of Riffle & Musket Powder, in such proportions as this Council shall direct, to bo issued for the defence of the frontiers of this State." " A duplicate of this order is given, one of which be transmitted to you by Gen'l Ro- bourdeau in bebalf of the Council of this State, whose order is to be complied with, if you should not before that time receive the Orders of Council.
" (Signed) TIM PICKERING."
The other to " deliver to the order of the Hon'ble Council of Pennsylvania, Two thousand Flints.
" (Signed) RICH'D PETERS."
Ordered, That the said Flints be delivered to John Carothers, Esq'r, Lieutenant of the County of Cumberland, for the use of the Militia of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Northumberland Couu- Cies, each one-fourth part.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Saturday May 23d, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President. Jos. Hart, James Edgar, & Jonat'n Hoge, Jacob Arudt, Esq'rs. - Mackay,
The Petition of Sum'l Johnson, of York Town, in the County of Ork, Esq'r, (who had heretofore held Offices of trust under the VOL. XI .- 32.
498
MINUTES OF THE
authority of the King of Great Britain, & declines to take the Oath . of Allegiance required by Law,) praying leave to sell & Convey his Estate Real, agreeable to a power for that purpose mentioned in the Act of Assembly, within such time & in such manner as this Council shall think proper to permit; and also to give him leave to retire out of this State, &o, being read; on consideration,
Ordered, That a Permit be made out to Sam'l Johnson, Esq'r, to sell his Estate Real, according to his Petition and the Law in such case made and provided : And the Permit being prepared & read ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the great Seal of the State be affixed to the mid Permit, & that it be signed by the Hon'ble the Vice President, and attested by the Secretary, and the same was executed accordingly.
Col. Curtis Grubb, now representing that the Guard at Lebancs. is insufficient ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the Lieu. of the County of Lancaster do furnish a Guard, not exceeding One hundred Men, to be stationed at Le- banon, for the Security of the Continental Stores in that Town.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. Will'm Hart, or his order, for the Sum of One thousand Pounds, to pur- chase Horses with for the Continental Army, & for which Sum the said Hart is to account.
The Council being informed that His Excell'y Tho's Wharton, Jun'r, Esq'r, President of this Council, departed this life early this Morning, And James McLene & Will'm Duffield, Esq'rs, a Com- mittee from the Hon'ble House, attended the Council & proposed that one or more members of the Council be appointed to Join a Committee of the House in superintending & directing the funeral of his Excellency ;
On Consideration,
Ordered, That Colo. Hart Join a Committee of the llon'bhe House of Assembly, & with them conduct the Funeral of His Ex- cellency the President.
Sunday, May the 24, 1778.
The Council met, in order to attend the funeral of His Excell'y Tho's Wharton, Jun'r, Esq'r, President, & set out in due form.
SUPREME EXECUTIVE. COUNCIL. 400 :
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Monday May 25, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Jos. Hart, Jacob Arndt, &
Mackay, Tho's Scott, Esq'rs.
· James Edgar,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble Jacob Morgan, Esq'r, or his order, for the Sum of Three hundred and One Pounds & five Shillings, for his atttendance in Council One hundred & Eighty days, & Mileage on 56 Miles, & on 31 Miles, (42 days, @ 258., 138 days, @ 35s.)
The Hon'ble Colo. Hart reports, That the following orders was adopted, the Committee appointed to Superintend the funeral of Tho's Wharton, jun'r, Esq'r, President, To Wit :
"That the body be inclosed in a double Coffin, & intered in the Evangelical Trinity Church in this borough, the Elders & Vestry of that Church having politely requested that it might be there interred."
And that the Procession be as follows :
" The Military under the Conduct of Colo. Gibson.
" Physicians.
" The Corpse, covered with the Pall.
"The Pall supported by Six Members of the Council.
" His Excellencies Three Sons and his Brother.
" The Hon'ble Vice President, attended by the Secretary, on his left hand.
" The remaining Members of the Council.
"The State Treasurer and the Judges of the Supreme Court.
" The Delegates of the State in Congress, who may be in the Borough.
" The Hon'ble the Speaker of the House of General Assembly.
" The Clerk of the House on his left hand.
" Members of the House of General Assembly.
" Door-keeper of the Council, and of House of Assembly.
"Corporation of the Borough, and the Magistrates of the . County.
" Coroner and Prothonotary of the County.
" Gentlemen of the Law.
" Officers of the Army and of the Navy.
"Citizens."
" And that the funeral was conducted with great decorum, and that the Military in particular, had been very attentive to Pay the Honors due to His Excellencie's Character & Station."
500
MINUTES OF THE ..:
The order of the Military was as follows, To Wit :
" Two Serjeants, with Arms reversod. .
"Lieutentant and Ensign.
"Band of Music.
" Fifes and Drums.
" Soldiers in four Divisions ; 'Ten deep; Arms reversed.
"Captain of the Company."
On the Corpsc being brought out & placed on the Bier, a sig .. mal was given, & the Artillery on the Common began to fire Minute Guns, (which they continued to do during the Procession, firing 44 Guns ;) when the Grave was closed, three Volleys were fired, & the Party retired. " The attention paid by Colo. George Gibson, Lieut. Stephen Bayard, & Major James Ross, of the Continental Army, on this occasion, do them Honor; And the Gentlemen of the Borough, in their Military Character, made a very handsome appearance ; and the whole was conducted with the most exact de- corum."
Ordered, That the Funeral Procession of His Excellency, The President, be published in the English & German papers.
Daniel Levan, jun'r, Esq'r, Sheriff of the County of Berks, har- ing now made return of the Writ issued by this Council for holding an Election for the chusing a Councellor for the said County of Berks, and the same being read, it appears that James Read, Eeq'r, was elected Councellor ; And the said James Read, Esq'r, appearing & proposing to take his seat in Council, The Council proposing to take the said return into their consideration, Mr. Read withdrew. And the nineteenth Section of the second Chapter of the " Plan or Frame of Government" being read, it appears that " No member of the General Assembly or Delegate in Congress, shall be chosen a member of the Council;" Whereupon, It is unanimously the opinion of this Council, That as James Read, Esq'r, at the time of the holding the said Election was and still is a Member of the Gen- eral Assembly, the said Election & return are void, as being directly contrary to the express words of the Constitution in such case ;
On consideration,
Ordered, That a writ bo now issued to the Sheriff of the County of Berks, commanding & authorizing him to hold an Election for the chusing of a Councellor for the said County, agreeable . to the frame of Government, and to make return thereof to this Council on or before Thursday, the 25th day of June next.
The following order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Ste- phen Cochran, Esq'r, for the Sum of Eight hundred Dollars, to pur- chase Horses with for the Continent; this Sum to be charged to Samuel Futhey, & to be delivered to him by Mr Cochran.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Andrew Kiob- Jeis, Commissioner in the County of Bucks, for purchasing Provi- sions for the Army, for the Sum of Eight Thousand Dollars, for which he is to account.
·
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. .
The Council met. 1
. LANCASTER, Tuesday May 26, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President. Jos. Hart, Jacob Arndt, &
Mackay, Tho's Scott. Esq'rs.
James Edgar,
The Clerk of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly laid be- fore the Council a Resolve of the House for continuing the officers of the State Navy in Pay until the next sitting of Assembly.
.
--
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday May 27, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President. Jos. Hart, Jona, Hoge, &
Mackay, John Hambright. Esq'rs.
James Edgar,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Peter Dehaven, for the Sum of Five hundred Pounds, for which Mr. Dehaven is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble Jacob Arndt, Esq'r, for the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, to be by him forwarded to John Arndt & Dav'd Deshler, Esq'rs, Com- missioners for purchasing Provisions in the County of Northamp- ton, & to be charged to the said John Arndt & David Deshler.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of William Guy, or his order, for the Sum of Thirty-four Pounds, for twelve days service with his Waggon, in bringing the Baggage of the Galley men from Trenton to this borough, seven days of which time he received no Rations for himself or Horses.
The' Petition of Lawrence Gremes, John Moore, James Welch & James Wallace, convicted of Felony in the County of York, setting forth that they have suffered the Capital Punishment adjudged in their case, & praying their fines may be remitted, offering to en- list in the Continental Army, being read & considered ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the said Lawrence Gremes, John More, James Welsh & James Wallace, have their fines remitted, & be discharged on their enlisting in the Continental Army, to serve during .the .present War; Such fines to be considered as their bounty Money.
--
-
502
MINUTES OF THE .
Mr. Peter Dehaven applied to the Council for an increase of bis Pay, the same being inadequate to bis service ; thereupon,
Ordered, That Peter Dehaven's Pay be put on the same footing with that of Mr. Benja. Rittenhouse.
.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Thursday May 28, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEO. BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt,
Mackay, John Hambright, &
Jonathan Hoge,
Thomas Scott.
Esq'rs.
James Edgar,
Matthew Smith, Esq'r, elected to represent in this Council the County of Lancaster, appeared, & being duly qualified, took his seat in Council accordingly.
A return of an Election for the Chusing Members of Assem- bly, Sheriffs, Coroners & Commissioners for the County of Phila- delphia, held the 14th day of October last, being now read, it up- pears that James Claypoole & John Moor were chosen & returned for the Office of Sheriff.
Robert Jewell & Christian Hawn were chosen & returned for the Office of Coroner; and that Robert Curry was chosen Commis- sioner ;
On Consideration,
Ordered, That James Claypoole be appointed and Commissioned Sheriff of the County of Philadelphia; and that Robert Jewell be appointed & Commissioned to be Coroner of the said County of Philadelphia.
The Petition of the Rev'd Alexander Murray, Missionary of the Society for the propagating of the Gospel in foreign parts, praying that he may be permitted to sell his real Estate in this State, &ca, being read, & the same being considered ;
Ordered, 'That a permit be made out to the Rev'd Alexander Murray, to sell & convey his estate real, according to bis Petition & the Law in such case made & provided: And the permit being prepared & read ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the great Seal of the State be affixed to the maid Permit, & that it be Signed by the Hon'blo the Vice President & attested by the Secretary; and the same was executed accord- ingly.
And it having been represented to this Council, that the said Alex'a Murray hath real Estate in the Counties of Philadelphie,
3
·
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
503
Berks, Bedford, & Northumberland, where his presence may be necessary in order to sell & convey his said real Estate; On Consideration,
Ordered, 'That a Pass be made out, permitting the said Alex's Murray to travel into the said Counties of Philadelphia, Berks, Northumberland, & Bedford, for the purpose of selling & Convey- ing bis Estate, agreeable to the permission Given to him by this Council.
-
The Council Met.
LANCASTER, Friday May 29, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt,
Mackay, John Hambright, & Esq'rs.
Jonathan Hoge,
Thomas Scott,
James Edgar,
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble John Hambright, Esq'r, or his order; One for the Sum of One Thousand & five hundred Dollars, & one for the Sum of Two Thousand & Five hundred Dollars, which said Sums of Money are to be forwarded by him to Colo. Sam'l Hunter, Lieu't of the County of Northumberland, to purchase Provisions with for the Militia: And the said Sums are to be charged to the said Sam'l Hunter.
.
Joseph Walker laid before the Council a Receipt from Samuel Sarjant, Storekeeper to the Continent, for 4 Guns, 3 Bayonets, 2 Belts, 4 Cartouch Boxes, 1 Drum, 24 Knapsacks, & 19 Canteens, belonging to this State, which Mr. Walker brought from Philadel- phia, & laid an account of expences in carrying them, &ca, amount- ing to £15;
On Consideration,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the said Joseph Walker, for the Sum of Five Pounds, for his Trouble & expence in securing & conveying the said Arms to Carlisle.
Ordered, 'That Timothy Matlack, our Secretary, be appointed Keeper of the Register of the names of all such persons attainted, or to be attainted of High Treason, by Virtue of the Act entitled ".An Act for the attainder of divers Traitors, if they render not themselves by a certain day, & for vesting their Estates in this Common Wealth ; & for more effectually discovering the same & for ascertaining & satisfying the lawful debts & Claims thereupon," of all real & personal Estates & interest, by the said act or other-
504
MINUTES OF THE
wise vested in this State, by reason of such attsinder, & by who such Estates were respectively forfeited, and what Interest every such person had in any of the Premises on the fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord, One thousand seven hundred & seventy- siz, or at any time afterwards, & by what Tenures the same were respectively holden, & of all incumbrances to which the said Re- tates wero Subject before, & upon the same days, & other purposes expressed in the said Act.
Ordered, That the following named Persons be appointed Agents, according to An Act of General Assembly, entitled " An Act for the attainder of divers Traitors, if they render not themselves by a certain day, & for vesting their Estates in this Common-Wealth, and for effectually discovering the same, & for ascertaining & sat- isfying the lawful debts & claims ; thereupon," to Wit : For the City of Philadelphia, William Will, Jacob Shriner, Charles Wil- son Peale, Robert Smith ( Ilatter,) & Samuel Masscy. For the county of Philadelphia, William Autis, Daniel Heister, & Archi- bald Thompson. For the County of Chester, William Evans, Thomas Cheney, Thomas Levis, Patterson Bell, & John HanDum. For the County of Bucks, George Waln, Jun'r, Richard Gibbs, John Crawford, & Benjamin Soigle. For the County of Lancaster, Everhart Michael, Philip Greenwalt, George Stewart, & Francis Armstrong. For the County of York, Robert Stephenson, James Nailor, William Chesney, Tho's Stockton, & Thomas Lilly. For the County of Cumberland, George Stevenson, John Boggs, & Joseph Brady. For the County of Northampton Samuel Rey, Jacob Miller, Stephen Balliott, Rob't Levers & William McNair. For the County of Berks, Henry Haller, Thomas Parry & David Morgan. For the County of Bedford, Rob't Galbraith, Thomas Urie, & John Piper. For the County of Northumberland, John Kelly, & Thomas Hewitt. For the County of Westmorland, Col. John Proctor, d. Thomas Galbraith.
Ordered, That two hundred copies of the said Act be printed for the use of the said Commissioners. The Instruction to be given to the above mentioned Agents being drafted, was now read & approved, & are as follows, Vizt :
" Instructions to the Agents appointed by Virtue of the Act. entitled ' An Act for the attainder of divers Traitors, if they render not themselves by a certain day, & for vesting their Estates in this Common-Wealth, & for more effectually discovering the same, and for ascertaining de satisfying the lawful debts & olaims thereupon ':
First. " You are to repair to some Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice of the Common Pleas, or Justice of the Peace, in & for your County, take & subscribe, unless you have already done 00, the Oath of Allegiance &; fidelity, described by an Act of As- sembly enacted the 13th day of June last, entitled ' Am Aos obli- ging the male white inhabitants of this State to give assurances
505
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
i
of Allegiance to the same, de for other purposes therein mentioned ;" and also the oath of Office, directed in the Act of Assembly, from whence your present powers are derived : you are to procure & keep safely by you certificates under the hand & Scal of such Judge or · Justice of your having thus qualified yourself to act ; And you are to have the same entered by such Judge or Justice in his Re- cord or book. Duplicates of these certificates should be carefully sent to the Secretary of this Council, who is keeper of the Reg- ister, to be filed with him for the greater caution.
.
Secondly. " You are to enquire into all such Estates, both real & personal, as are vested or intended to be vested in the State by the said Act, & make returns thereof to this Council, mentioning in the said return the quantity, quality & condition, as near as may be, of such real Estates, & in whose occupation or possession the same may be, & all incumbrances & other circumstances relating thereto. Great attention should be given to furnish to Council all the information that comes to the knowledge of the agents, con- cerning the real Estates vested by this Act in the State, such as the nature of the Estate ; whether freehold ; leasehold ; the term, whether for ever, for life or lives, or for years; the ground rents, rent charges, Chief-rents or quit-rents, & what arrears may be due ; the claims, if any, made on such Estates by persons out of posses- sion, & by Widows for dower; of the manner in which the late feoffee or Tenant becatne seized or possessed, whether by descent, will or purchase, with the date & other particulars of the Will or deed, and the recording. That early, exact & particular returns of the circumstances of each Estate be made to Council by careful messengers, in order that the keeper of the Register may be able to keep a Register of every thing, & transmit duplicates of the same to the Supreme Court & to the Sheriff, as the Act directs.
Thirdly. " You are to have all such personal Estates appraised by two freeholders, on oath or affirmation, according to law, & to make exact inventories thereof, under the hands & Seals of the appraisers, signed also by yourself, & returned to this Council; you are to be very careful not to suffer the effects of one Estate to be intermixed with those of another ; as these Estates may be subject to claims of debt, & for other reasons; you are to make the enquiry after such Estates upon Oath. This power seems to be reserved to the Council.
Fourthly. " You are to lease the real Estate, respectively, on the best terms you can obtain, for one year, taking special care that they are not injured by the Tenants or others. The personal Es- tates are to be sold after the day assigned for surrender elapses, (without such surrender,) giving ten days notice at least, in the man- her of Sheriffs, & Certificates of such sale given to each purchaser, weder band & seal, (if desired,) that he may be able to support bis title to the Goods purchased by a further Certificate, to be there- after issued by the President or Vice President & Council, when the same may be demanded.
L
MINUTES OF THE
Fifthly. "You are not to adjust the reward for discovering of forfeited Estates, but refer it to this Council."
-
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday June 3d, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, James Edgar,
Mackay, Jacob Arndt,
- Smith, John Hambright, &
Esq'rs.
Jonathan Hoge, Thomas Scott. 1
Colo. Buchanan, from the County of Cumberland, attending in the Council, & representing that the Militia of that County are in great want of Riffles for their defence against the Indians, who are now ravageing the frontiers ; and it appearing that Will'm Henry, Esq'r, has about fifty Riffles in his possession,
Ordered, That William Henry, Esq'r, be requested to deliver to Colo. Arthur Buchanan, fifty Riffles, to be by him delivered to John Caruthers, Esq'r, Lieut. of the County of Cumberland, or his order, for the defence of the Frontiers.
Ordered, That Will'm Henry, Esq'r, be requested to deliver to Colonel Arthur Buchanan, Fifty Muskets, of the Guns belonging to this State, to be by him delivered to John Caruthers, Eaq'r, Lieut. of the County of Cumberland, or his order, for the defence of the frontiers.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Thursday June 4, 1778.
PRESENT : .
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President. Joseph Hart, James Edgar,
-- Mackay, Jacob Arndt,
Smith, John Hambright, &
Esq'rs.
Jonathan Hoge, Thomas Scott.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, Vizt :'
In favor of Michael Hubley, Esq'r, for the sum of sixty-four pounds & two shillings, for Wood supplied for this Council & the House of Assembly.
1
SUPREME EXECUTIVE . COUNCIL. 507
In favor of Frederick Snyder, for the Sum of Fifty Pounds & ten shillings, for his attendance at the Door to the third instant inclusive, & sundry small expences.
A Copy of a Resolve of Congress of the 28th May last, "That all further purchases of Cloathing on account of the United States by the Clothier General, his deputies, or agents, be forth- with suspended," being laid before the Council by Jacob S. Howell, & the same being considered ; thereupon,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.