USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. X > Part 56
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By order of the Board, an order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq'r, & others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Thomas Goucher, for thirty pounds, being so much paid him for disclosing his Art of Boreing and Grinding Gun Barrels, agreeable to his Agreement of this Day.
Upon application of Robert Morris, Esq'r, from the Marine Com- mittee, for a quantity of Lead for the use of the four Frigates build- ing for account of Congress.
Resolved, That this Board supply the said Ships with Lead for their Head pumps & Haurse Holl.
ROBERT MORRIS, Vice President.
By order of the Board, the Committee of Accounts was directed to pay Colo. Miles his order for the Amount of a Hoggshead Rum received by him at Lewis Town, for the use of the Provincial Riffle Batt'n under his Command, and charge the same to account of Con- gress.
The Conference of Committees having sent the following Resolve to this Board by Mr. Hill, Mr. Smith & Mr. Blewer, Members of that Body :
Resolved, That the same be enter'd on the Minutes of this Com- mittee.
"In Conference, June 25th, 1776.
" Resolved Unanimously, That it be Recommended to the Com .- mittee of Safety of this Province, to Confine the Command of Com- modore Davison to the Ship of War and Floating Battery belong- ing to the Province, and to Issue no orders to the Captains or other Officers of the Row Galleys, Fire Ships, or Fire Rafts, through the said Commodore, until the Convention meets, and that it be recom-
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mended to the Captains and other Officers of the Row Galleys, &c., to pay all due obedience to the Committee of Safety until that time, and until a new appointment shall take place.
" A true Copy
"Sigu'd, THO'S M'KEAN, President."
In consequence of the above Resolve, a Letter was wrote to Com- modore Davison, directing him to confine his Command to the Ship and Floating Battery; and a Letter wrote to Capt. Dougherty, in- closing him a Copy of said Resolve, with directions that he repair forthwith to this Committee, to receive such Instructions as may be judged necessary.
Resolved, That Mr. Clymer, Mr. James Biddle & Mr. Wilcocks, be a Committee to draw up a state of the Public Transactions of this Board, in order to its being laid before the Public, if thought necessary.
In Committee of Safety.
PHILAD'A, 26th June, 1776.
PRESENT :
GEORGE CLYMER, Chairman.
Joseph Parker,
'Thomas Wharton, Jun'r,
Samuel Morris, jun'r,
James Biddle,
John Nixon, Robert Whyte,
Samuel Howell,
Daniel Roberdeau.
By order of the Board, an order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq'r, and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Thomas Fitzsimons and Joseph Moulder, for five hundred pounds, to be Charged to their accounts.
Capt. David Mccutcheon being brought before this Board by a Sub-Committee of the Committee of Inspection & Observation, as a person dangerous to the safety of American Liberty, And Mr. James Steward, a Pilot, appearing at same time, Deposed, that the said McCutcheon told him if he would go aboard the Asia, at New York, there was a good offer, and that he should have two Dollars a day, & other matters, that will more fully appear by the Depo- sition of said Steward. In Consequence thereof he was ordered to be Confined in the Gaol of this City, and the following Commit- ment was Issued :
" To the Keeper of the Gaol of Philadelphia County :
" You are hereby required to receive into your Custody David Mccutcheon, and keep him in Close Confinement until discharged by this Committee.
"By order of the Committee, "Sign'd, GEO. CLYMER, Chair'n."
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By order of the Board, an order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq'r, & others, the Committee of 'Accounts, in favour of Wm. Richards & Nath'l Falconer, or either of their orders, for Three hundred pounds, to be Charged to their accounts, for Alarm signals.
By order of the Board, an order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq'r, & others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Wil- liam Richards, or his order, for four hundred pounds, to be charged to his account, towards the payment of Provincial Naval Stores.
In Committee of Safety.
PHILAD'A, 27th June, 1776.
PRESENT :
GEORGE ROSS, Chairman,
Owen Biddle,
George Clymer,
John Nixon,
'Thos. Wharton, jun'r,
Samuel Howell,
Robert Whyte,
Daniel Roberdeau,
Samuel Morris, Jun'r,
James Biddle,
George Gray.
By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq'r, in favour of Ludwick Kerker, for Fifteen hundred pounds, being so much advanced him towards the payment of Provisions supplied the Provincial Troops.
Resolved, That the Officers confined in the Gaol of this City be allowed fifteen Shillings per Week for their subsistence, from the time of their being first Confined.
The Board thinking it necessary that Capt. Henry Dougherty should have proper Instructions for his Government, the following were drawn up, approved of, and sign'd by the Chairman :
"In Committee of Safety, 27th June, 1776. "Sir :
" The Committee think it proper to give you the following In- structions to regulate your Conduct, as Eldest Captain of the thir- teen Armed Boats, or Galleys, in the service of this Province :
" You are forthwith to take upon you the Command of the said Armed Boats, and station them, at anchor, at the East side of Fort Island, and keep them at that station until otherwise ordered by this Board, or the necessity of the service shall require their re- - moval.
" You are to cause the said Armed Boats to be frequently exer- cis'd, and keep them in a compleat state of preperation to receive the Enemy; And the better to effect this immediately, take an exact survey of the present Condition of the said Armed Boats, and what- ever may be wanting in their Equipments make a Report of to Capt.
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William Richards, who is appointed and directed to supply all their defficiencies.
" The Officers must Constantly Lodge in their Respective Boats, and you are to take particular care that neither Officers or Men be absent from their respective Vessels any length of time, without your license in writing, or the leave of this Board, and you are not to suffer more than four Officers, and of that Number not more than two to be Captains, to be absent at any one time, nor any of them to be longer absent than forty-eight Hours at one time.
"You are to cause fifty Rounds of Powder to be delivered from the Ammunition Vessel on Board each of the said Boats, for which the Respective Captains are to give Receipts, and all the powder now on Board said Boats to be put on Board the said Ammunition Ves- sel, and order her up immediately to this City, to deliver the same to the Commissary.
" You are by all possible Means to establish such a proper sense of subordination in the Officers & Men of the Boats, that all the orders you think necessary to Issue be punctually and implicitly obeyed, a loose and Relaxed discipline utterly enfeebling every Military Establishment, however Respectable it may otherwise be in the Circumstances of Number & Force.
"Should any accident or Circumstance happen in the Fleet that has the least tendency to effect the service, you are to give the earliest information of it to the Committee of Safety, that they, if they have the means of Remedy, may apply such as the nature of the case may Require.
"These being the principal matters that have occurred to the Committee, they earnestly Recommend that you endeavour to pro- mote the utmost Harmony between you & the Officers of the Fleet, and between one another, on which depends so much the success of every undertaking where Men are to Act in Concert, and mutual assistance is required.
"By order of the Committee. "Sign'd, GEO. ROSS, Chairman. "To Capt. Henry Dougherty."
By order of the Board, Thomas Dewees, Gaoler, was directed to discharge from confinement Robert Saunderson, a person taken with Capt. Duncan Campbell some time past.
The Committee having Reason to believe that wicked & ill-dis- posed persons have seduced and inticed some of the Men belonging to the Boats to desert the service and go into other employ, have thought it necessary to publish the following Resolve of As- sembly :
"In Assembly, Tuesday March 26th, 1776.
" Resolved, That any person or persons, whatsoever, within this Colony, who shall harbour and Conceal any Deserter (knowing him
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to be such ) from the Continental Forces, or any other Forces raised within this or any other of the United Colonies, for the defence of America, shall forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding Fifty, nor less than Thirty Dollars, or suffer three months imprisonment for each offence, being convicted thereof by the Testimony of one or more Witnesses, before any two Justices of the Peace of the City, Bor- ough, or County, respectively, where such offence shall be Commit- ted, who are hereby authorized to hear and determine all Offences contrary to the above Resolve; which Fine shall be deposited in the Hands of the Overseers of the poor of the City, Borough, or Township, where the offence is Committed, for the use of the poor of such place."
And the Committee give this Public Notice, that they are deter- mined to prosecute with the utmost Rigour, any person who shall Harbour, Conceal, or in any manner employ any Deserter from the service of this Colony.
In Committee of Safety.
PHILAD'A, 28th June, 1776.
PRESENT :
OWEN BIDDLE, Chair'n.
Samuel Howell,
George Clymer,
Daniel Roberdeau,
Robert Whyte,
James Biddle, George Gray.
Thomas Dewees, Gaoler, was directed to discharge a Man belong- ing to Capt. Dougherty, confined agreeable to sentence of Court Martial.
Resolved, That the Pay of the Captain Lieutenant of the Artil- lery Company be 22 Dollars P Month.
That the First Lieutenant of said Company be allowed 18 dollars per Month.
That the second Lieutenant of said Company be allowed 18 Dol- lars per Month.
Resolved, That Herculeus Courtney be appointed First Lieute- nant to the Artillery Company.
That John Martin Strohbogh be appointed second Lieutenant to the Artillery Company.
Resolved, That Colo. Roberdeau, Mr. Clymer, Mr. Rittenhouse, Mr. James Biddle, & Mr. Owen Biddle, be a Committee to employ proper Engineers to make a draft of Fortifications proper to be erected at Billingsport, and Report what works are necessary to be Erected there.
That the said Committee be Authorized to purchase the whole or part of a Plantation at Billingsport, on which said Fortifications are to be Erected, at the Expence of Congress.
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By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Jno. Nixon, Esq'r, & others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour Mr. Randolph, for £26, for Firelocks purchased for account of Congress.
Resolved, That Mr. John Emmes be appointed Lieutenant on Board the Fire Brig't; that his pay be 17 Dollars P month.
By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Jno. Nixon, Esq'r, in favour of Mr. Cham, for Carriage of 64 Firelocks & Riffles, & 1 Firelock, purchased by him, the whole amounting to £8 4 6, to be charged to Arms bought for acc't of Congress.
In Committee of Safety, ,
PHILAD'A, 29th June, 1776.
PRESENT : .
James Biddle, George Gray,
Sam'l Howell, Jun'r,
Robert Whyte,
Thomas Wharton, Jun'r,
Michael Hillegas.
Owen Biddle,
By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Rob't Towers, Commiss'y, to deliver John M. Nesbitt, Esq., or his order, 50 Mus- ket Ball, 100 1b. Grape Shot, 250 Swivel Shot, & 8 Short Spears, which he is to be accountable for.
Resolved, That Francis Procter, Jun'r, be appointed Lieutenant Fire worker to the Artillery Company of this Province, and that his pay be 133 dollars per month.
This day Henry Fisher's Receipt for the Guard Boat sent down to Lewis Town, and the sundry Articles hereafter mentioned, was deliver'd this Board, Vizt :
Armed Boat Eagle.
1 four pound Canon & 40 Rounds of Cartridge.
2 Swivels 60 do.
4 priming wires & 2 Belts.
2 priming Horns & 1 Bunch of Match.
1 former for the Guns.
2 sponges & rammers for 4 pounder.
1 Worm & Ladle for do.
2 spunges & Rammers for swivels, & 1 large Worm for do.
2 Lint Stocks, 1 Lanthorn, 1 half Hour Glass.
2 platers, 1 Mug, 1 Can, 1 tinder Box, 1 Mop, 1 Pot.
6 Lances, 1 Compass, 2 Tents.
1 Tea-Kettle.
Rec'd the above articles of Capt. Charles Lawrence, June 6, 1776.
Sign'd HENRY FISHER.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
In Committee of Safety.
PHILAD'A, Ist July, 1776,
PRESENT :
JAMES MEASE, Chair'n.
George Clymer,
Samuel Howell,
Owen Biddle,
David Rittenhouse,
John Nixon,
Sanı'l Morris, jun'r,
Alex'r Wilcocks,
Thomas Wharton, jun'r,
George Gray,
Robert Whyte.
Dan'l Roberdeau,
Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver to Doct'r Harris two Tons of Salt Petre, to be manufactured into Gun Powder.
The President of the Continental Congress sent the following Resolves to this Committee, which is directed to be enter'd on the Minutes :
" Resolved, 'That four companies of Germans be raised in Penn- sylvania, and four Companies in Maryland, to compose the German Battalion.
" That it be recommended to the Committee of Safety of Penn- sylvania, immediately to appoint proper officers for, and direct the inlistment of the four Companies to be Raised in that Colony.
" That it be Recommended to the Convention, or in their Recess, to the Committee or Council of Safety of Maryland, immediately to appoint proper officers for and direct the Inlistment of the four Companies to be Raised in that Colony.
" That the said Companies be inlisted to serve for three years unless sooner discharged, and Receive Bounty, pay, rations, and all other allowances, equal to any of the Continental Troops.
"That the said Companies be intitled to pay and subsistance . from the time of Inlistment.
" That the said Companies when raised, be formed into a Bat- talion, under the Command of such Field Officers as the Congress shall direct.
" That the Rank of the Captains in the said Companies be Re- gulated as the Congress shall hereafter direct.
" That five thousand Dollars be sent to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, & 5000 Dollars to the Convention, or in their . Recess, to the Committee of Safety of Maryland, to defray the ex- pence of Raising the German Companies.
" Extract from the Minutes. "Sign'd CHA'S THOMSON, Sect'y,
" By order of Congress.
" Sign'd JNO. HANCOCK, Pres'dt."
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Capt. Loxley is requested to View the Furnace and other Works belonging to Morgan Bustead, And Report to this Board his opin- ion of their fitness to cast Brass Canon.
By order of the Board, Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Capt. Nath'l Falconer, for account of Congress, 12 Cut- lases & 28 1b Musket Ball.
By order of the Board, Robert Towers was directed to deliver Mr. Moulder 4 pieces of Russia Sheeting, for awnings for the Shallop for accommodating the Fire Raft Men.
Resolved, That two Quarter Casks of Gun powder be Issued to each Battalion of Musketeers of associators in the City of Philadel- phia, and the Counties of Chester, Philadelphia & Bucks, for the purpose of Firing in the Exercises of these Battalions, the better to Qualify them for actual Service, and that it be Recommended to the Commanding Officers of said Battalion to direct very small Cartridges to be made up, about 80 to the pound.
By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Jno. Nixon, Esq'r and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favor of Mr. John Wil- liams, for £100, towards the payment of a Gondola he is building.
The Committee taking into consideration the Resolution of Con- gress for Raising a Battalion of Germans, and being of opinion that the Public Service requires that it be carried into Execution with- out any delay, and the Recruiting Service be entered on as soon as possible,
Resolved, That this Board will on Friday the 5th inst., appoint Captains, and on Friday the 12th inst., Lieutenants & Ensigns for the four Companies of Germans directed to be Raised in this Pro- vince by order of Congress, & that it is the opinion of this Board, that consistent with the Resolve of Congress, no Persons but such as are Germans born, or the sons of Germans, should hold any Of- fice in said Companies.
All such Gentlemen who fall under the above Description, And are desirous to enter into the Service, are requested to send in their applications as early as may be.
Resolved, That Mr. Towers be directed to deliver to the orders of the Committees of the Countics of Philadelphia, Bucks and Ches- ter, two Quarter Casks of Powder for each Battalion of Musketeers of Associators in said Counties, for the purposes as mention'd in a Resolve of this day.
Resolved, That the Commanding officer of Colo. Atlees' Battal- ion at the Barracks in this City, be desired to appoint a Lieutenant to Escort Lieut. Boger & Ball now at Germantown, to York Town, and that he attend this Board tomorrow Morning, 10 o'Clock, for his Instructions.
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In Committee of Safety, July 2nd, 1776.
.
PRESENT :
GEORGE ROSS, Chairman.
Owen Biddle, David Rittenhouse,
Samuel Howell, John Nixon,
Samuel Morris,
George Clymer,
James Mease,
Alex'r Wilcocks,
James Biddle,
Thos. Wharton, jun'r,
George Gray,
Sam'l Miles.
Joseph Parker,
Resolved, that Captain Loxley be directed to put Morgan Bus- tead's Air Furnace in proper order for Casting Brass Artillery, & that this Board will account to said Bustead for the use of his Works.
Upon application of William Tucker, one of the Commissioners of New Jersey, appointed to procure necessaries for the Troops of that Province, for One Ton of Lead, By order of the Board, Rob- ert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver him twenty hun- dred pounds of Lead.
George Ross, Esq'r, & George Ege, having Contracted to supply this Board with One hundred Ton of Canon Ball, at the same price that others have Contracted for, And applying for a sum of money to be advanced him, By order of the Board, an order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq'r, and others, the Committee of Accounts, in fa- vour of the said George Ege, for Three hundred Pounds.
The Committee appointed to prepare an Address to the Public, Reported an Essay, which, being Read, amended, and approved, was ordered to be inserted upon the Minutes, and to be publish'd in the News Papers of this City, and is as follows :
"TO THE INHABITANTS OF PENNSYLVANIA :
" This Committee, too much occupied in the various & multi- plied business of the department in which they are placed, have seldom troubled the public with addresses' and indeed little occasion has been afforded for them, especially in Justification of their own Conduct, while general acquiescence in their Authority prevailed, and entire confidence in their integrity and abilities remained, but they are not so blinded by Self Love, or so lost in their own impor- tance, as not to perceive lately that both Confidence and Authority are considerably shaken and impaired ; not resting on a foundation altogether popular, their existence has been beheld with Jealousy, & by an opposition formed on mistaken or unworthy principles, their Conduct in almost every branch of the public service has been traduced & Vilified. In the Honest discharge of duty they
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have been obliged to stand the unmerited reproaches of many indi- viduals, as well as of some public bodies. After accumulated mor- tifications, why they still continue to keep their seats, ought to be accounted for, lest they justly be supposed insensible to the feel- ings of Men of Honour, but it is necessary first to state the trans- actions which has principally given rise to this Address.
About the beginning of last month the Committee appointed Captain Sam'l Davison Commodore, and Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Armament, equipped for the defence of the River Dela- ware. The Motives to this appointment, at a Board of thirteen Members, when there was not one dissenting voice, were such as these :
Ist. That during his Continuance in the Service as Captain of one of the Armed. Boats, he was Conspicuous among the Officers for care and attention to his duty, and, while he maintained a strict discipline, he had the address to concilate the regard & affections of his Crew, and always kept his Boat well manned.
2nd. That having, on the Return of Capt. Davison from a short Voyage, in which he was spared from the service of their Province to go into that of the Congress, and while perfect harmony yet ex- isted between this Board and all its Officers, & on a deliberate estimate of the comparative merits of each, given him, though a Younger Officer, the more important Command of the Floating Battery, in which the same superior good Conduct was observable, the Committee acted but consistently with themselves in elevating him to a still higher Rank.
3rd. A Clamour having been formerly excited against a superior Officer, because, as was said, he had not been of the Fleet, & some of the Officers have since declared they would Yield Ready obedience to any Commodore, if taken from their own Establish- ment, even though he should be the youngest among them, the present appointment, as it prevented the necessity of going out of the Fleet, was considered rather as Conciliatory than as administer- ing cause of uneasiness and discontent ; they were well aware of the obvious Military Maxim, to which they had Run Counter, of Advancing Men according to Seniority, but this Maxim, though perhaps proper in old establishments, where a long course of service in the lower classes are supposed to confer the necessary Qualifica- tions for the higher, may and ought occasionally to be dispensed with in the formation of new ones, where there can be but a slender pretext for Qualifications ; from this cause merit is to be sought out and prefer'd wherever to be found, though ambition should be disapointed, or delicacy offended. In many Instances have the Congress departed from this fundamental maxim, and their Coun- try has been benefited by it. The Resistance of the Officers of the Armed Boats to this appointment, and their Indecent remonstran- ces are well known-they were countenanced and supported by Men whose decision on Publick questions influence in some degree the
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public Opinion. Mutiny was justified and abetted, and disobedience triumphed over Authority. The Committee thought it their duty to adhere to the appointment they had made, the Conference of Committees interposed by the following resolution, agreed to imme- diately before their dissolution.
"That it be recommended to the Committee of Safety of this province, to confine the Command of Commodore Davison to the ship-of-war and floating Battery belonging to the Province, and to Issue no orders to the Captains or other officers of the Row Gallies, Fireships or Fire Rafts, through the said Commodore, until the Convention meets, and that it be recommended to the Captain and other Officers of the Row Gallies, &c., to pay all due obedience to the Committee of Safety, until that time, and until a New appoint- ment shall take place."
The Board, astonished and surprised, would have remonstrated against it, not without Hope that on a fair and impartial state of the Question, those who, from the nature of their appointment, could have nothing in View but the publick hapiness, and who could not have been insensible of the benefit of good order and discipline, would have recalled this hasty determination, which may be so fatal to both, but the dissolution would not allow the neces- sary time.
The Committee doubt not the purity of the intention which pro- duced this Resolution, and by which their power in so important a Branch is so greatly mutilated, if not altogether destroyed; They well know the regard due to the Representatives of the People, & are disposed to submit to the recommendation, tho' wounded and dishonoured by it, But they would have it understood that the Con- tinuance of many of their Board under such circumstances is of necessity, as no Body of Men can at present be appointed to sup- ply their places, and as they perhaps may, fettered in their Au- thority as they are, still render some small services to their Coun- try; they however think it incumbent on them to declare that many bad Consequences may probably proceed from a divided Command. Military Authority is not of a nature to be participated, and when attempted, the greatest mischiefs commonly flow from it. Should this unfortunately prove so in our case, the Committee are not re- sponsible ; they have performed theirDuty, and look forward with pleasure to the short period of a few weeks, which is to deprive them of the seats they have held, of late so much to the disatisfac- tion of some Men, and uneasiness to themselves.
Resolved, That the Title for the Land purchased at Billingsport to erect Fortifications, by order of Congress, be made out in the names of George Clymer & Michael Hillegas, Esq'r, Continental Treasurers.
Resolved, That Colo. Miles be requested to order a Battalion of the Pennsylvania Forces to New Jersey, to encamp at Billingsport,
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