USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 63
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Which was ordered to be given him, but he was told that the In- dians must take Care not to drink or stave the Rum if they should find any in their Towns; they are only to secure it, which when they have done, they are to acquaint this Government with their Proceedings, and wait till Orders are sent from hence how to pro- ceed further.
This he said he would fully explain to the Indian's.
The Board having Ordered the following Goods to be gott ready, they were delivered to the Indians, to witt : One half barrel of Powder, Six Knives,
One hundred weight of Lead,
Six Tobacco tongs,
Four Strouds,
Two pair of Scissors.
Four Shirts,
with some Bread, Rum, Tobacco and Pipes.
VOL. III .- 25
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The Governor gave Hetaquantagechty a laced Hatt, in return to the few Strings of Wampum he had presented, with his Compliment of Condolence.
The Indians having thanked the Proprietaries, Governor, and Council for what had been given them, and drank a friendly Glass, departed. E.
October 17th.
The following Address was this day presented to the Elder of the Honourable the Proprietaries.
"To the Honourable John Penn, Esquire, One of the Proprietors " of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c.
" The Address of the Representatives of the Freemen of the said " Province, in General Assembly met.
" May it please the Proprietor :
" Excited by Affection and Gratitude, we chearfully Embrace this " Opportunity of Congratulating Thee on thy safe Arrival to the " place of thy Nativity. When we commemorate the many Benefits " bestowed on the Inhabitants of this Colony, the Religious and " Civil Liberties we possess, and to whom these valuable Priviledges, " under God and King, are owing, we should be wanting to ourselves "and them we represent, did we not do Justice to the Memory of " thy worthy Ancestor, a Man of Principles truly humane, an Ad- " vocate for Religion and Liberty.
" What may we not hope for from a Son of so great a Man, edu- "' cated under his Care and influence, by his Example ? May his " Descendants inherit his Virtues as well as his Estate, and long con- " tinue a Blessing to Pennsylvania.
"Signed by Order of the House,
" A. HAMILTON, Speaker."
The Proprietor's Answer.
" GENTLEMEN :
" I return you my hearty Thanks for this affectionate Address ; " the kind Regard you express for the Memory of My Father is "most agreeable to me, and as it was always his Desire so it is "strongly my Inclination, to do every thing in my Power that can " promote the Happiness and Prosperity of this Province." E.
October 18th.
The following Address was this day brought up to the Governor : " To the Honourable Patrick Gordon, Esqr., Lieutenant Gover- "nor of the Province of Pennsylvania :
" The Address of the Representatives of the Freemen of the said "Province, in General Assembly met.
" May it please the Governor :
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
"The happy Arrival of the Eldest of our Proprietors into this " their Province gave us sensible Satisfaction and Pleasure, which " with Chearfulness and Unanimity, we have endeavoured to demon- " strate in a congratulatory Address presented him on that Occasion. " We gratefully acknowledge the Governor's hearty Inclinations " to promote the Interest of this Colony, and his affectionate Regard " to the Inhabitants thereof, apparent not only in his kind Expres- " sions but in his good Conduct, which has so much contributed to "our Ease and Happiness. And we take it as a fresh Instance of " his Care for our Welfare, that he has been pleased to communicate " to us the Purport of the Letter he lately received from the Lords " of Trade and Plantations, the Subject of which is of great Impor- " tance to the People of this Province, and might justly require our " further Deliberation ; but as the Governor is under a Necessity of " returning a speedy Answer in that Affair, we think it a Duty in- " cumbent on us now to say, that we humbly conceive Hemp, Pigg "and Bar Iron, being Commodities generally purchased with Money, " by the Subjects of Great Britain from the Northern Kingdoms, " might on a Bounty given by the Government at home, be had from " some Parts of this and other Colonies equally good, in Exchange " for the Manufactures and Produce of our Mother Country much " wanted and with difficulty paid for, amongst us.
" The frequent assurances the Governor has been pleased to give " us of Contributing the utmost in his Power for our Interest, leave " us no Room to doubt but that he will represent these Matters in " the strongest and most advantageous Light, and will thereby ren- " der it a Duty incumbent on us, to repeat our Acknowledgements " for this Favour, added to the many received of him by the Inhabi- " tants of this Province.
Sign'd by order of the House, " A HAMILTON, Speaker."
The Governor's Answer.
" Gertlemen :
" I thank you for this obliging Address, and you may be assured " I will not be so far wanting to myself, as to neglect any Occasion " that may be improved for the Service of this Province."
The House adjourned with the Governor's Concurrence, to the thirtieth day of January next. E.
October 31st.
On the subject matter of the Governor's Speech to the House, he wrote this day to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for Trade & Plantations, in the following Terms :
" My Lords :
" The Regard your Lordships have shewn for the Welfare of His " Majesties Colonies on this Continent, by giving them an Opportu- " nity of representing what may be further Necessary for the En- " couragement in raising Naval Stores, and other Commodities fit
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" for Britain, deserves very particular Acknowledgements, & I am, " in behalf of this Province, to make them to your Lordships on " this Occasion.
" Your Secretary's Letter on this Subject, with its Duplicate, did " not reach my hands till the latter end of last Month, and before I " proceed to Answer it by this first Conveyance that has since offered " for London, I must beg Leave to observe to your Lordships, that it " is the whole study of the Merchants here, to contrive ways for " making Returns to Britain to pay for those great Quantities of their " Manufactures that are daily brought hither, and it is not without " the utmost Difficulty that they are able to accomplish it. What- " ever Encouragements therefore are given for such Commodities as " this Country is capable of producing, fit for Returns directly to "Britain, will manifestly tend to increase our Importations from " thence.
" Of Naval Stores, my Lords, this Province produces those two " valuable Commodities, Hemp and Iron.
"The first has not as yet been raised in any great Quantities, the " price of Labour being high, tho' many are going upon it; but as " there are large tracts of Land fit for that Produce, it is to be hoped " that a Continuance of the same Bounty now given, may in time, " when Wages are lowered by the Number of Inhabitants, enable " us to make considerable Returns in it.
" As to Iron, it is generally allowed that what is produced here " is as fine and good as any whatsoever, but the great Expence that " attends Works of that kind, in a Country where Labour is so dear, " has given no small Damp to these Undertakings. On a suitable " Encouragement I am perswaded that this Province, and some of " the adjacent Colonies, may be able to import such Quantities of " Pig Metal and Bar Iron, as may very greatly abate the necessity " Britain has hitherto lain under, of supplying itself therewith on " disadvantageous terms, from foreign Nations.
" Flax is likewise found to agree so well with our Soil, that it is " not to be .doubted but a very considerable Progress may soon be " made in this Commodity, of which great Quantities are imported " from other Nations into Britain, and your Lordships are so sensi- " ble of the constant Demand there is for it, that if large Supplies " can be furnished by His Majesty's Colonies, no Manufacture may " better deserve an Encouragement or contribute more to discharge " the Debt incurred by the Importation of British Goods.
" The Mulberry Tree is likewise so natural to our Soil, growing " wild in the rich Lands ; and the Silk Worm thrives so well, that " there is a distant Prospect of some advances towards a Silk Manu- " facture, which, as it afords Employment for the weakest hands, " would be of the utmost advantage. Some amongst us have shewn " how practicable a Design of this kind is, by making some small " Quantities, not inferior as I am informed, in Goodness & Fineness, " to the best from France or Italy ; but Persons are wanting to lead "us into the way of winding it from the Balls, which I understand " to be the most difficult part of the Work. But as in time this
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" difficulty may be surmounted, I cannot but recommend likewise a " Manufacture of this kind as deserving the greatest Encouragement, " since by the promoting it a valuable addition may be made to the "Trade of Great Britain.
" There have been likewise some small Essays towards making " Potashes, & from what I have both heard & seen, there is Reason " to conclude that a Design of this kind may with Industry, if en- " couraged, be considerably advanced.
" What may be proper to be proposed as Encouragements on all " or any of those Commodities I have mentioned, must be left en- " tirely to your Lordships, whose great Knowledge of the general " trading Interest of Britain, and of the ballance of Trade between " that Kingdom and those Nations from whence such Merchandizes "are brought, enables your Lordships to judge in this particular " more clearly, what may best conduce to the Benefit of Great "Britain, and to the good of its Colonies.
" I beg leave to acquaint your Lordships that the Circumstances " of this Province are so little varied from what they were in the "year 1731, when I returned an Answer to the Queries then sent " me, that any alteration in that Answer appears at this time unne- " cessary. I am with Esteem,
" My Lords, "Your Lordships' " Most Obedient, humble Servt. "P. GORDON."
E.
At a Council held at Philada., Novemr. 30th, 1734.
PRESENT :
The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gover- nor.
Henry Brooke,
Thomas Griffitts, Esquires.
Thomas Laurence,
Charles Read.
A Return of the Order of Council of the 10th of May last, for laying out a Publick Road from the great Swamp in the County of Bucks, to the North Wales Road, leading to Edward Farmer's Mill, was this day laid before the Board, & being read, is in these Words :
" Pursuant to an Order of the Governor and Council of Pennsyl- " vania, to us directed, bearing date the tenth day of May, Anno. " Domini, 1734. We whose Names are hereunto subscribed, with " the assistance of John Chapman, Surveyor, have surveyed and laid "out the following Road :
" Beginning at a white Oak standing near George Scabeye's Mill, "in the County of Bucks, in the Province of Pennsylvania aforesd., " running thence South thirty five Degrees, West Seventy & six per- " ches, thence South twenty four Perches, thence South West One " hundred & eight perches, thence South by West Sixty perches,
.
586
MINUTES OF THE
" thence South West three hundred & Sixty perches, thence South " fifteen Degrees East one hundred seventy two perches, thence " South two hundred & sixty perches, thence South thirty two De- " grees, West two hundred & sixty perches, thence South by West " fifty two perches, thence South West and by South twelve perches, " thence South East thirty two perches, thence South by East forty " four perches, thence South East one hundred ninety two perches, " thence South thirty Degrees, East two hundred & forty perches, " thence South One hundred fifty two perches, thence South forty " Degrees, East forty eight Perches, thence South Sixteen Perches, " thence South by West twenty eight Perches, thence South West " by South twenty Perches, to near Thomas Fletcher's Mill, thence " South fifteen Degrees, East twenty Perches, thence South one " hundred fifty two Perches, thence South thirty Degrees, East one " hundred & twelve perches, then over the Mill Creek, thence South "twenty four Degrees, East two hundred seventy two perches, " thence South seventy Degrees, East sixty perches, thence South " twenty five Degrees, East fifty two perches, thence South twenty " five Degrees, West two hundred forty four Perches, thence South " fifteen Degrees, East fifty eight Perches, thence South thirty De- " grees, East forty Perches, to near David Jenkins', thence South "five Degrees, East forty perches, thence South East twelve Per- " ches, thence South thirty five Degrees, East sixteen perches, thence "South forty perches, thence South fifteen Degrees, East Sixty four " Perches, thence South fifteen Degrees, West forty Perches, thence "South twenty five Degrees, West forty four perches, thence South " forty perches, thence South twenty five Degrees, West twenty "eight perches, thence South West Sixty eight Perches, thence "South twenty five Degrees, West fifty two Perches, thence South " by East twenty perches, thence South twenty Degrees, West " twenty four perches, thence South thirty Degrees, West eighty "perches, thence South twenty Degrees, East twenty four perches, " thence South twenty Degrees, West thirty two perches, thence "South thirty Degrees, West one hundred forty eight perches, " thence South Sixteen Degrees, West thirty two perches, thence " South five Degrees, West one hundred & eighty perches, thence " South fifteen Degrees, East one hundred thirty two perches, to " the Line between the County of Bucks and the County of Phila- " delphia, thence South five Degrees, East two hundred seventy two " perches, thence South fifty five Degrees, West thirty two perches, " thence South one hundred forty four perches, thence South East " twenty Perches, thence South forty eight perches, to the East " branch of Parkeoman, below John Mires' Mill, thence South East " sixteen perches, thence South fifteen Degrees, East twenty four "Perches, to George Hartloes, thence South forty Degrees, West " twenty eight perches, thence South thirty Degrees, East ten Chain " or forty perches, thence South fifteen Degrees, East sixteen per- " ches, thence South thirty Degrees, East forty perches, thence "South twenty five Degrees, East twenty perches, thence South fif- ' teen Degrees, East two hundred and twenty four perches, thence
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" South East two hundred & sixty perches, thence South twenty five " Degrees, East forty eight perches, thence South by East fifty six " perches, thence South East one hundred & seventy six perches, " thence South South East one hundred & twenty perches, thence "South thirty five Degrees, East twenty four perches, thence South " twenty five Degrees, East eighty perches, thence South East six- " teen perches, to the maine Branch of Skipach, thence South Sixty " perches, thence South by East two hundred perches, thence South " twenty eight perches, to the Line of the Dutch Township, thence "South two hundred & sixty four perches, thence South thirty De- " grees, East seventy six perches, thence South seventy Degrees, " East sixty eight Perches, to William Tuniss', thence South thirty "Degrees, East Eighty eight perches, thence South East two hun- " dred & twenty perches, thence East eighty porches, thence South "East one hundred & fifty two perches, thence South twenty five " Degrees, East thirty two Perches, thence South ten Degrees, East " twenty perches, thence South sixteen Degrees, East one hundred " & four perches, thence South fifty four perches or pole, to the " Road on the upper side of North Wales, leading to Edward Far- " mer's Mill.
" John Chapman, Sur., " John Bartholomew, " John Roberts, " John Edwards, " James Robeson, " John Lester, " George Packman."
On due Consideration hereof had, and of the Draught accompa- nying the Return, the said Road is approved and hereby confirmed, and It is ORDERED that the same be opened and cleared, as soon as the season of the year will permitt. E.
- January 16th.
The House having mett on the 13th, pursuant to their Adjourn- ment, & notified the same to the Governor, the following written Message was this day sent down to them :
" Gentlemen :
" Several Natives of Germany, now Inhabitants of this Province, " a List of whose Names will be herewith delivered to you, having " by their Petition to me prayed my Concurrence in an Act for " their Naturalization, I have made Enquiry into the Character and " Circumstances of the Petioners, and find that almost all of them " have bona fide purchased Lands, in this Province; that they have " hitherto behaved themselves well in it, and that Certificates have " been produced to me of their having qualified themselves by taking " the several Oaths & Declarations or solemn Affirmations, directed " by Law to be taken by His Majesty's liege Subjects, I have there- " fore no Objection to their being admitted to enjoy equal Rights
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MINUTES OF THE
" with His Majesty's natural born Subjects in this Province, and " shall concur with your House, in passing a Law for this Purpose. "P. GORDON."
E.
25th.
The Governor received a Verbal Message from the House, by three of the Members, acquainting him that the House having re- ceived Information that several Persons were apprehended, & now confined in the Goals of Philadelphia and Newcastle, on Suspicion of having counterfeited and altered large Quantities of Paper Bills of Credit, part in Imitation of the Currency of Pennsylvania, & part in Imitation of that of the lower Counties; the House therefore de- sired that the Governour would be pleased to give Directions for the speedy Prosecution of the said Offenders, according to Law.
Which the Governor promised he would do.
Those Members delivered likewise to the Governour, an Order for Six Hundred Pounds in part of the Support of the current year, & acquainted him that the House proposed to Adjourn to the 17th of March, if it suits his Conveniency.
His Honour thanked the House for their Care of him, & added that he had no Objection to the time proposed for their Adjourn- ment. E.
March 18th.
The House having met yesterday, pursuant to their Adjournment, and notified the same to the Governor, His Honour sent down this day, the following written Message to the House :
" Gentlemen :
" On Application of the Persons whose Names are hereunto sub- " joyned, and their having produced to me Certificates of their being " duly Qualified as the Law directs, I have consented that their "Names be inserted in the Bill of Naturalization now before your " House, and desire you will direct the same to be done accordingly. "P. GORDON."
E.
At a Council held at Philadia., March 27th, 1735.
PRESENT :
The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esgr., Lieut. Governr.
Samuel Preston, Henry Brooke, Esquires.
Clement Plumsted. $
Were read the four following Bills, sent up from the House En- tituled :
AN ACT to prevent the Damages which may happen by firing of Woods :
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
AN Acr for the better enabling divers Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania to hold Lands, & to invest them with the Privileges of natural born subjects of the said Province.
A SUPPLEMENT to the several Acts of Assembly of this Province for Relief of the Poor.
While these Bills were under Consideration, a Bill was brought up & read, Entituled,
AN Acr for confirming the Election of the Commissioners & As- sessors for the County of Bucks.
To the first, second & fourth, some small Amendments were pro- posed & ordered to be carried down with the Bills, but the third being a long Bill, & of Importance, the Consideration thereof is de- ferred till to-morrow morning, that a fuller Council can be had.
E.
At a Council held at Philadia., March 28th, 1735.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governour.
Samuel Preston,
Ralph Assheton,
Henry Brooke,
Samuel Hassel,
Esquires.
Clement Plumsted,
Charles Read.
Thomas Laurence,
The Minute of Council of the 31st of July last, and of those from that time being read and approved,
The Consideration of the Supplementary Act for Relief of the Poor was resumed, to which, with other Amendments of less Note, the two following Paragraphs were drawn up, as proper to be added, & it is ordered that they be sent down to the House with the Bill :
" AND WHEREAS Complaints have been made against Over- " seers of the Poor, who have supplyed the Poor with Necessaries out " of their own Stores & Shops at exorbitant Prices, and also, Over- " seers who have paid unreasonable Accounts to their friends or De- " pendents for Services done the Poor : And Whereas the twenty- " fifth day of March appointed by the aforesaid Act for the Relief " of the Poor, is found, by Experience, not to be a sufficient Time " for Examining & settling the Accounts of the Several Overseers, " & for regulating & redressing the Abuses that may be Complained " of; Be it therefore Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, that the " Magistrates of the respective Counties within this Province, for " the said Counties, and the Mayor or Recorder, with any two Al- " dermen of the City of Philadelphia, for the said City, shall and " may at any time within one Month after the said twenty-fifth day " of March, annually examine and settle the said Overseers Accounts, " and shall have full power to allow such Accounts & Sums only as " to them shall seem just and reasonable for any goods delivered or " services done for the Poor, in the said respective Townships or City " aforesaid.
" AND WHEREAS, the Alms house built for the City of Phila- 25*
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MINUTES OF THE
" delphia, may, if well regulated, be of Service, and help to ease the " Inhabitants of the Taxes yearly assessed on them, for the Mainte- "nance of the Poor ; Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, " that the Mayor or Recorder, with any two Aldermen of the said " City of Philadelphia, shall from time to time have Power & Autho- "rity to chuse & appoint a sober & discreet Person to reside in the " said Alms house, for taking care of the Poor therein, which Per- " son, so by them appointed, shall receive into the said Alms house " such Poor only, & employ such Persons in the Service of the said " House, as the said Mayor or Recorder, with any two Aldermen " of the said City, shall from time to time direct, and further shall "observe all such Orders & Instructions as shall be by them given " for the better Regulation & good Government of the said Alms " house."
The Provincial Treasurer exhibited sundry Accounts of money by him expended on Treaties with the Indians, which Accounts are re- ferred to Clement Plumsted, Samuel Hasell & Charles Read, Esqrs. to examine & Report thereon.
A Petition of Sundry Inhabitants of the Counties of Philadia. & Bucks, living near & about Macousie, was read, setting forth the Great Want of a Publick Road from Quesohopen, where the North Wales Road Ends, to Macousie aforesaid, for the Service of the Pub- lick as well as the Accommodation of the Petitioners : Whereupon It is ordered that Lawrence Growdon, John Bartholomew, John Rob- erts, Robert Thomas, John Johnson & Hugh Evans, or any four of them, view the Place where such Road is wanted, & if they are sat- isfied that there is occasion for such Road, that they lay out the same by Course and Distance, as straight as possible, in such manner as may best suit the Publick Service, & with the least Damage to par- ticular Persons, & that with a Draught of the said Road so laid out, they make Return thereof to this Board.
The Governor received a Message from the House this evening, acquainting him that they had agreed to the Clauses proposed to be added to the foregoing Bill for the Relief of the Poor, with a small Variation, & likewise to most of the material Amendments proposed to the other Bills.
E.
March 29th.
The Speaker with the whole House attended the Governour, and the four Bills mentioned in the two preceeding Minutes were passed into Laws of this Province, & Warrants issued for affixing the Great Seal thereto.
The Speaker then acquainted the Governor, that with his Appro- bation the House intended to adjourn to the 15th of September next, to which his Honour said he had no Objection, whereupon the House withdrew.
E.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Councill held at Philadia., April 29th, 1735.
PRESENT :
The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governor.
James Logan,
Ralph Assheton,
Samuel Preston,
Samuel Hasell,
Henry Brooke,
Thomas Griffitts,
Esquires.
Clement Plumsted,
Charles Read.
The Minute of the preceeding Council being read & approved, Mr. Logan, the Chief Justice, reported that at a Court of Oyer & Terminer & General Goal Delivery, held at Philadia., for the City & County of Philadelphia, the 14th & 15th days of this instant, April, two Persons, to witt : Cornelius O'Brian & Edward Fitzgerald, were indicted & convicted of a Burglary, for which Sentence of Death had been passed against them, the time of its Execution being left to the Governor's Direction.
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