USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. X > Part 27
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7 to the House, & Disburs'ts, - . - 25 9
To Henry Miller for printing Votes, &ca., as $ Account 317 12
6
2 2 8 To Hugh & George Roberts, as p'r Acco't, -
To Israel Pemberton, his Acco't for Indian Expences, 10 10 9 To the Committee appointed to view the River Schuyl-
kill, 20 Days @, 8s. p'r Diem, & Expences, - 90 0 To Joseph Ogden, as $ Acco't for Committee for viewing Schuylkill, - -
1 0 5
To Samuel Taylor, for Bookbinding, - - 50 12 0 0
To the Overseers of the Poor of Philad'a for the Neu- trals, -
- 100 0 0
To Arthur Donaldson, for a Machine for cleaning Docks, &cª, - - 100 0 0
To John Reed, for his Map of the City & Liberties of Philad'a, - - 25 :00
To Richard Mason, for unspiking Cannon, -
- 16 7 6
To William Thompson, Esq'r, for the Payment of the Troops employed by Government for defending the Frontiers, - - 759 1 . 60 0 0 .7% To Do. for his Service as Paymaster, &cª., -
To William Dewees, Esquire, as # Acco't, -
To John Palmers, Acco't for Expences for the Com- missioners appointed to view the River Schuyl-
8 7 7 To Caleb Parry, for ditto, - .- -
4 1
0
To Shutes' Acco't for repairing the State House, -
16 9 0 kill, - - -
34 15 41 To John Reed, as # Acco't, - - . - 15 1 6 To George and Hugh Roberts, as + Acco't, -
- 4 17 9
To Jacob Myers, for Draughts of Bridges, &ca., - - 15 0
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MINUTES OF THE
To John Morton, Esq'r, for Postage of Letters, - 7 6 To Thomas Dewees, for apprehending Andrew Stewart, 30 0 0 To the Committee of Assembly appointed to settle the Acco't for raising and paying the Rangers, &cª., - 20 0 0 To Michael Hillegas, Esq'r, for Extra Services, - 75 0 .0 To Joseph Galloway, Esq'r, for his Certificate of last
year, not paid, - 75 0 0 To the Honorable John Penn, Esq'r, for Indian Ex- pences, - 100 0 0
The Board then resumed the Consideration of the Bill for the Support of the Government and payment of the public Debts, and there appearing no Objection to it, The Governor returned it to the Assembly by the Secretary with his Assent.
Two Members of Assembly immediately afterwards waited on the Governor, and requested to know at what Time His Honor would be pleased to receive the House, in order to pass the Bill which had received his Assent; to which the Governor answered, that he would be in the Council Chamber in a Quarter of an Hour for that purpose.
Eodem die, 12 o'Clock.
The Governor being in the Council Chamber, sent a Message to the Assembly by the Secretary, to acquaint them that he required their Attendance there, in order to enact into a Law the Bill to which he had given his Assent. The whole House immediately attended, and the Speaker presented to the Governor the following Bill, which His Honor enacted into a Law, and signed a Warrant for affixing the Great Seal thereto. The Law was afterwards sealed and deposited in the Rolls Office, and is entituled as follows, Viz" :
"An Act for the Support of the Government of this Province, and Payment of the Public Debts."
The Speaker then, in behalf of the House, presented the Gover- nor with a Certificate for five hundred Pounds towards his Support, for which His Honor returned the House his Thanks.
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MEMORANDUM, 5th October, 1775.
The Secretary having, by the Governor's Direction, prepared a Draft of a Proclamation, offering a Reward of fifty Pounds for ap- prehending and securing in some Gaol of this Province a certain Fleming Elliot, who stands charged with the Murder of John Faughnar, late of Chester County, Pedlar, pursuant to a Resolve of the House of the 30th of September last, requesting His Honor to
269
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
issue one for that Purpose, the Governor this day issued the same accordingly, and ordered it to be published in the several News Papers. The said Proclamation follows in these words, vizt:
"By the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Governor and Com- mander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware:
"A PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, I have received Information that on the Sixteenth day of last Month, a certain John Faughnar was robbed and inhu- manly murdered on the Highway near the Red Lion, in Uwchland Township, in Chester County ; And Whereas, a certain Fleming Elliot stands charged on Oath, with the perpetration of the said Robbery and Murder, and it is necessary for the safety and well being of His Majesty's Subjects, that the authors of such atro- cious and inhuman Crimes should be brought to condign and exem- plary punishment, I have thought fit, by and with the advice of the Council, to issue this, my Proclamation, hereby strictly enjoining and requiring all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables, and other Officers, as well as all other His Majesty's Subjects within this Province, to make diligent Search and enquiry after the said Flem- ing Elliot, and to use all possible Means for apprehending and secu- ring him, that he may be proceeded against according to Law.
" And I do hereby promise and engage that the Public Reward of Fifty Pounds shall be paid to any Person or Persons who shall ap- prehend and secure the said Fleming Elliot in one of His Majesty's Gaols of this Province, so that he be prosecuted to Conviction.
" Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the fifth day of October, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, and in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth.
"JOHN PENN.
" By His Honour's Command.
" JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Jun"., Secretary. GOD SAVE THE KING."
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MINUTES OF THE
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday 5th October, 1775.
PRESENT :
The Honorable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Governor.
William Logan, James Tilghman,
Benjamin Chew,
Edward Shippen, jun"", Esquires.
The Returns of Sheriffs and Coroners for the Counties of Philadel- phia, Chester, Bucks, Berks, and New Castle, being made, were laid before the Board and duly considered, and the following Persons were Commissionated as Sheriffs and Coroners for their respctive Counties, Viz“ :
Names of Counties.
Offices.
Names of Officers.
Sheriffs' Sureties.
City & County of Philadelphia.
Sheriff, Coroner,
William Dewees, Robert Jewell.
Chester.
Sheriff,
Nathaniel Vernon, Joh Bryan,
Robert Shannon, Joseph Potts, William Coates. Robert Pennell, Nicholas Fairlamb. Gilbert Hicks, Amos Strickland.
Bucks.
Coroner, George Fell,
Berks.
Coroner, Peter Brecht,
John Bishop.
New Castle.
Sheriff,
John Clarke,
Coroner,
Joseph Stedham.
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MEMORANDUM, October 6th, 1775.
The Returns of Sheriffs and Coroners for the Counties of Lan- caster, Northampton, and Kent, being made, the Governor appointed and commissionated the following Persons as Sheriffs and Coroners for their respective Counties, Viz" :
Names of Counties.
Offices.
Names of Officers.
Sheriffs' Sureties.
Lancaster,
Sheriff,
John Ferree,
Coroner,/Samuel Boyd,
Sheriff,
Henry Fullert,
Isaac Ferree, Peter Ferree. Peter Kachlein,
Northampton,
Coroner,
Jonas Hartzell,
Harman Schnyder.
Kent,
Sheriff,
Philip Barret,
Coroner, Jonathan Sipple.
Coroner,
Sheriff,
Samuel Biles,
Sheriff,
Henry Vanderslice, Adam Whitman,
1
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
271
MEMORANDUM, 9th of October, 1775.
The Returns of Sheriffs and Coroners for the County of Cumber- land being now made, the Governor was pleased to commissionate the following Persons as Sheriff and Coroner of the said County, Vizt:
Offices.
Names of Officers.
Sheriffs' Sureties.
Cumberland 2 County. 5
Sheriff,
|Robert Semple,
Coroner, James Pollock,
Robert Gibson, William Moore.
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MEMORANDUM, 10th October, 1775.
The Return of Sheriffs and Coroners for York County being now .made, the Governor was this Day pleased to Commissionate the following Persons as Sheriff and Coroner for that County, Vizt .:
Offices.
Names of Officers.
Sheriffs' Sureties.
York County,
Sheriff, Coroner, Joseph Adlem,
Charles Lukens,
James Dill, James Rankin.
MEMORANDUM, 12fth of October, 1775.
The Governor was this day pleased to commissionate the follow- ing Persons as Sheriffs and Coroners of their respective Counties, Vizt:
Names of Counties.
Offices.
Names of Officers.
Sheriffs' Sureties.
Bedford.
Sheriff, Coroner, Sheriff, Coroner,
James Piper, John Stilwell, William Scull, Samuel Harris,
B. Dougherty, Esq", John Piper, Esq". William Plunket, Samuel Hunter.
Sussex,
Sheriff,
Dorman Lofland,
Coroner, Samuel Draper,
-
Northumberland,
Council Chamber, October 17th, 1775.
A Committee of the Assembly waited on the Governor yesterday, and acquainted him that pursuant to the Charter and Laws of the Province, a Quorum of the Representatives had met, and pro- ceeded to chuse their Speaker, and desired to know when and where
272
MINUTES OF THE
the Governor would be pleased to receive the House, that he might be presented for his Honor's Approbation. The Governor having ap- pointed this day at ten o'Clock for that purpose, acquainted the House by the Secretary that he attended his Appointment in the Council Chamber, and was ready to receive the House with their Speaker.
The whole House waited on the Governor and presented John Morton, Esquire, as their Speaker, who, after receiving the Gov- ernor's Approbation, claimed the usual Priviledges in the Name and behalf of the House, to which the Governor replied that " they were the undoubted Rights and Priviledges of the House, in which ' they might rely on his Protection," and then the House withdrew.
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New Castle, Monday 23d October, 1775.
A Committee of Assembly waited on the Governor with a Message from the House, acquainting him that they had met pursuant to the Charter and Laws of the Government, and had chosen their Speaker, and desired to know when and where they should wait on his Honor, to present him. The Governor having answered that he should be ready to receive the House at Mrs. Clay's, they accord- ingly attended there, and presented Cœsar Rodney, Esquire, as their Speaker, who being approved by the Governor, claimed the usual Priviledges, which were allowed, and then they withdrew.
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Eodem die.
A Committee of Assembly waited on the Governor and acquainted him the House were duly qualified, and were ready to receive any Business His Honor might have to lay before them ; to which the Governor replied, he had nothing at present to recommend to them, but that if any thing should occur he would recommend the same to the House by a Message.
Saturday, 28th October, 1775.
A Committee of Assembly waited on the Governor, and presented for his Concurrence two Bills, entituled as follow, Vizt:
" An Act for the relief of John Wallace, a languishing Prisoner in the Gaol of New Castle County, with respect to the Imprison- ment of his Person."
"A Supplementary Act to the act entituled 'An Act for the more effectual ascertaining and fixing the Limits of the several
273
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Counties within this Government, and for removing some Inconve- niences that may arise by the late Establishment of the Boundaries and Divisional Lines between the same and Maryland.' " The said Bills were read and duly considered, and returned to the House by the Secretary, with a Verbal Message that the Governor gave his assent to them.
-
Eodem die, P. M.
A Committee of Assembly waited on the Governor with a Verbal Message from the House, requesting to know when and where he would be pleased to receive the House, in order to pass the Bills to which he had given his Assent. His Honor having answered that he should be ready to receive the House immediately at his Lodg- ings, the whole house accordingly attended there, and the Speaker presented the two Bills above mentioned, which the Governor en- acted into Laws, signed a Warrant for affixing the Great Seal there- to, and directed the Secretary to accompany two Members of As- sembly to see them Sealed and deposited in the Rolls office.
"PHILADELPHIA, 28th October, 1775.
The Return of Sheriffs and Coroners for the County of .West- moreland being now made. The Governor was pleased to commis- sionate the following Persons as Sheriff and Coroner for the said County, Viz':
Offices.
Names of Officers.
Sheriff Sureties.
Westmoreland S County,
Sher iff, Coroner,
John Carnaghan, Francis Waddle,
Joseph Beeler, John M'Clellan,
MEMORANDUM, 22d November, 1775.
The Assembly having yesterday sent up to the Governor for his Concurrence, A Bill entituled " An Act for the relief of Richard Taylor, Jacob Muck, George Jacob Hausman, Richard Ray, and Francis Owens, languishing Prisoners in the Gaol of Philadelphia County, and James Mackey, a languishing Prisoner in the Gaol of Northumberland County, with respect to the Imprisonment of their Persons," and the same being duly considered, was returned to the VOL. X .- 18.
274
MINUTES OF THE
House by the Secretary, with a verbal Message that His Honor would be ready to pass the same into a law, when presented to him for that Purpose.
Eodem die.
A Committee of the Assembly waited on the Governor with a verbal Message from the House, requesting to know when His Honor would be pleased to receive the House, in order to pass the Bill to which he had given his Assent ; to which the Governor re- plied, that he would be in the Council Chamber to-morrow morn- ing at ten o'Clock for that Purpose.
Council Chamber, 23d November, 1775, 10 o'Clock, A. M.
The Governor being in the Council Chamber, sent a Message to the Assembly by the Secretary, to acquaint them that he required their Attendance there, in order to enact into a Law the Bill to which he had given his Assent. The whole House immediately attended, and the Speaker presented to the Governor the following Bill, which His Honor enacted into a Law, signed a Warrant for affixing the Great Seal thereto, and appointed the Secretary to ac- company two Members of Assembly to see the same Sealed and deposited in the Rolls Office, Vizt:
" An Act for the relief of Richard Taylor, Jacob Muck, George Jacob Hausman, Richard Ray, and Francis Owens, languishing Prisoners in the Gaol of Philadelphia County, and James Mackey, a languishing Prisoner in the Gaol of Northumberland County, with respect to the Imprisonment of their Persons."
MEMORANDUM, 25th November, 1775.
A Committee of two Members of Assembly, by Order of the House, waited on the Governor with a Letter addressed to their Speaker from Samuel Hunter and John Weitzell, Esquires, and William Scull, Esquire, Sheriff of the County of Northumberland, dated Sunbury, the 20th Instant, acquainting the House that two of the Magistrates and the Sheriff of the said County had lately had an Interview with Zebulon Butler and some others of the prin- cipal Men among the Connecticut Settlers at Wyoming, had read the late Resolves of the Assembly to them, and enquired whether they would peaceably submit themselves to the Laws of Pennsyl-
275
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
vania ; to which they answered, they despised the Laws of that Province, and never would submit to them unless compelled by Force, and that if the Government of this Province thought it ad- . visable to use such means with them, they should be ready to meet them at any Hour they pleased; That the said Magistrates and Sheriff, having received a great deal of threatning and abusive Lan- guage from the common People, returned home by another Way, apprehending that if they came back the same Road they had gone up, it must be with great Risque to their Lives. The Com- mittee, at the same Time, delivered a Verbal Message from the Assembly to the Governor, requesting His Honor will be pleased to give Orders for a due Execution of the Laws of this Province in the Counties of Northumberland and Northampton. Whereupon the Governor immediately wrote the following Letter to the Magis- trates of Northumberland County, and a similar one to those of Northampton County, which follows in these Words, Vizt. :
" PHILADELPHIA, 25th November, 1775. " Gentlemen :
" I have just now received a Message from the Assembly, found- ed on a Letter addressed to them from the County of Northumber- land, respecting the Connecticut Settlers at Wyoming, requesting me to give Orders for a due Execution of the Laws of this Pro- vince in the Counties of Northumberland and Northampton. In consequence thereof, I do most chearfully order you to use your ut- most Diligence and Activity, in putting the Laws of this Province in Execution throughout the County of Northumberland, and you may depend on the Faith of the House and my Concurrence with them, that every proper and necessary Expence that may be incur- red on the Occasion will be defrayed.
"I am Gentlemen, " Your most Obedient, " Humble Servant,
" JOHN PENN.
" To William Plunket, Esq"., & his Associates, Justices of the Peace for the County of Northumberland." ·
The above mentioned Committee also acquainted the Governor that the House had agreed to adjourn to Monday the twelfth day of February next, if he had no objection thereto, to which His Honor replied that he had none.
MEMORANDUM, 9th December, 1775.
The Governor was this Day pleased, on the Recommendation of some of the Magistrates of New Castle County, to issue a Special Commission, appointing John Thompson and Abraham Robinson,
276
MINUTES OF THE
Esquires, Justices of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace and of the County Court of Common Pleas for the said County of New Castle.
The Governor having received Information that a Commission is wanted in the County of New Castle, for the trial of negroes, as Evan Rice, Esquire, one of the Gentlemen named in the last Negroe Commission for that County has been some time dead, His Honor was this Day pleased to issue one, appointing John Jones and David Finney, Esquires, Justices for holding Courts in that County for the Trial of Negroe and Mulatto Slaves, according to Law.
MINUTES OF THE
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
OF THE
PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
TTOLLE VO ATIFYOU
* MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
IN ASSEMBLY.
June 30th, 1775.
Philadelphia, ss :
1. Resolved, That this House approves the Association entered into by the good People of this colony for the Defence of their Lives, Liberties, and Property.
2. Resolved, That if any Invasion or Landing of British Troops, or others, shall be made in this or the adjacent Colonies, during the present controversy, or any Armed Ships or Vessels shall sail up the River Delaware in an Hostile manner, and such Circumstances shall render it expedient, in the Judgment of the Committee here- after to be appointed, for any number of the Officers and Private Men of the Association within this Colony, to enter into actual Ser- vice for repelling such Hostile attempts, this House will provide for the pay and necessary Expences of such Officers and Soldiers per- forming such military Duty while in such actual Service.
3. Resolved, That the Pay of the Officers and Privates while in such actual Service, shall not exceed that of the Army raised by the Congress of the United Colonies for the Defence of the Liberties of America.
4. Resolved, That this House do earnestly recommend to the said Board of Commissioners and Assessors of the City and County of Philadelphia, and of each County in this Province, that have not already made the Provision hereinafter mention'd, and they are hereby enjoined, as they regard the Freedom, Welfare, & Safety of their Country, immediately to provide a proper number of good, new Firelocks, with Bayonets fitted to them; Cartridge Boxes, with twenty three Rounds of Cartridge in every Box, and Knapsacks, not less than 1500 of each article for the City and County of Philadel- phia; 300 for the County of Bucks ; 500 for the County of Chester ; 600 for the County of Lancaster ; 300 for the County of York ; 300 for the County of Cumberland; 400 for the County of Berks ; 300 for the County of Northampton ; 100 for the County of Bed- ford ; 100 for the County of Northumberland ; & 100 for the County of Westmoreland ; to be under the care of the Commanding Officers of the Battalions of the said Counties, for the immediate use of such Officers and Soldiers as shall be drafted from the Battalions from time to time, for actual service. And the said Commissioners and Assessors shall produce their Accounts for furnishing the arms and accoutrements aforesaid to the Committee hereinafter appointed,
* NOTE,-See votes of Assembly, Vol. VI., page 593.
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MINUTES OF THE
which being approved of by the said Committee, they shall draw Orders on the Treasurer for the payment thereof ; And he is hereby enjoined to pay the same out of the Bills of Credit to be emitted by the resolution of this House.
5. Resolved, That this House do earnestly recommend to, and enjoin the Officers and Committees of each County in this Province, to select a Number of Minute Men, equal to the Arms, &c., provided for the same, to be in readiness upon the shortest notice, to March to any Quarter in case of emergency.
6. Resolved, That the Firelocks to be provided as aforesaid, be of one Bore, with Steel Rammers, well fitted to the same, and that Pat- terns of the said Firelocks, Rammers and Bayonets, be immediate- ly made in the city of Philadelphia, and sent to the different Counties.
7. Resolved, That Provision be made for defending this Province, and the City in particular, against the Attacks of Armed Vessels that may be sent to annoy them.
AND WHEREAS, the safety of a country greatly depends on hav- ing within itself the Means of Defence, and it appears that suffi- cient quantities of Salt Petre may be collected, not only for Defence, but for other Purposes :
8. Resolved, That the sum of twenty pounds be paid for every hundred weight of good merchantable Salt Petre that shall be made and manufactured within this Province, and delivered to the Com- mittee hereinafter named, within the space of three Months from this time, and that the sum of Fifteen pounds be paid for every hundred weight of good merchantable Salt Petre that shall be made and manufactured within this Province, & delivered to the said Com- mittee within three Months next following, and so in Proportion for any greater or lesser quantity.
9. Resolved, That John Dickinson, George Gray, Henry Wyn- koop, Anthony Wayne, Benjamin Bartholomew, George Ross, Michael Swoope, John Montgomery, Edward Biddle, William Edmunds, Bernard Daugherty, Samuel Hunter, William Thomp- son, Thomas Willing, Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Roberdeau, John Cadwalader, Andrew Allen, Owen Biddle, Francis Johnson, Rich- ard Reiley, Samuel Morris, jun., Robert Morris, Thomas Whar- ton, jun., & Robert White, Gentlemen, be a Committee of Safety for calling forth such, and so many of the Associators into actual Service when Necessity requires, as the said Committee shall judge proper. For paying and supplying them with necessaries while in actual Service. For providing for the Defence of this Province against insurrection and Invasion, and for encouraging and promot- ing the manufacture of Salt Petre ; which said Committee are here- by authorized and empowered to draw orders on the Treasurer, here- in appointed, for the several purposes above mentioned.
10. Resolved, That any seven or more of the said Committee ' shall be a Board for transacting the Business aforesaid, or any part thereof.
281
COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
And for carrying the foregoing Resolutions into Execution, it is 11. Resolved, That Bills of Credit, to the Value of Thirty-five Thousand Pounds, shall, on or before the first day of August next, be prepared and printed upon good Strong Paper, under the care and Direction of George Gray, William Rodman, Joseph Parker, and Isaac Pearson, Esqrs., or any three of them, at the Charge of the Public, to be defrayed out of the said Bills, which Bills shall be made and prepared in manner & form following, to wit:
According to the resolves of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, made on the 30th day of June, in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of His Majesty George the Third, dated at Philadelphia, the 20th day of July, 1775.
And the same Bills shall have such like Escutcheons and Devices as the said George Gray, Joseph Parker, William Rodman, & Isaac Pearson, shall think fit, each of which Bills shall be of the several and respective Denominations following, and no other, Viz :
Seven thousand of the same bills, the sum of Forty shillings in each of them ; seven thousand of the same Bills, the sum of thirty shillings in each of them; Seven thousand of the same Bills, the sum of twenty shillings in each of them ; and seven thousand of the same Bills, the sum of ten shillings in each of them.
And the said George Gray, Joseph Parker, William Rodman, and Isaac Pearson, shall use their best care, attention and Dili- gence, during the Printing the said Bills, that the Number and and amount thereof, according to their respective Denominations aforesaid, be not exceeded, nor any clandestine or fraudulent Prac- tice be used by the Printer, his servants, or other Persons concerned therein.
Resolved, That the said George Gray, Joseph Parker, William Rodman, and Isaac Pearson, or any three of them, after the said Bills are Printed, shall deliver them to the signers, to be signed and numbered by parcels, for which they shall take Receipts.
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