USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XI > Part 34
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The Council met.
LANCASTER, Tuesday January 27, 1778. 1 PRESENT : His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President. . Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt, John Hambright,
Thomas Urie, &
Thomas Scott. Esq'rs.
Council taking into consideration a Letter laid before them by Capt. Lang, addressed to him from Colo. Francis Johnson, Wherein among other things, he says that he " still continues so unwell and infirm that he cannot undertake the duties of his Office,"
Speaking of the Office of Clothier General, &ca ; Whereupon,
. Ordered, That Jacob S. Howell, be appointed Receiver General of Clothing, in the room of Colo. Francis Johnson, whose indis- position of body renders him incapable of performing the duties of the said Office required by Law.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday January 28, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y, THO'S WHARTON, Jun'r, Esq'r, President. Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt, ---
Jacob Morgan,
Thomas Scott, &
John Hambright,
James Edgar,
Esq'rs.
Thomas Urie,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Tho's Dorsey, Esq'r, Paymaster of Militia, for the Sum of Five thousand Pounds, for which he is to account.
An order was also drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble Jacob Morgan, Esq'r, for the Sum of Seven hundred & fifty Pounds, to be charged to Colo. Isaac Melchior, Barrack Master.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Thursday January 29, 1778. PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r Esq'r, President. Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt,
Jacob Morgan, Thomas Scott, &
John Hambright, Thomas Urie,
James Edgar,
Esq'rs.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer'in favor of Mr. Jos. Brad- ford, for the Sum of One thousand & five hundred Pounds, to be charged to Will'm Crispin, Esq'r, Commissary of Provisions for the Navy, & to be delivered to him by Mr. Bradford.
An order was also drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Will'm Cris- pin, Esq'r, for the further Sum of One Thousand & five hundred Pounds, to be charged to his account.
The Council taking into consideration the extravagant price of Spirituous Liquors, & the extreme difficulty, if not impossibility, of procuring a supply for our Navy,
Ordered, That the Men of the Navy be allowed One shilling ,each Man P Diem, in lieu of their Rations of Rum, until the General Assembly shall otherwise order herein.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Tyler, Armourer, for the Sum of Two hundred Pounds, to be charged to his account.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
A Petition of a number of respectable Germans, praying for some assistance in establishing & Circulating a German Newspaper, being now read & considered ; thereupon,
Ordered, That Council do take & distribute five hundred Ger- man Newspapers Weekly, at the same price at which they now pay to Mr. John Dunlap for the English Paper, and that Mr. Bayley, printer of this Borough, be informed thereof.
The Council met. LANCASTER, Friday January 30, 1778. PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President. Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt, ?
Jacob Morgan, Thomas Scott, &
John Hambright,
James Edgar,
Esq'rs.
Thomas Urie,
An order was drawn on the 'Treasurer in favor of Ebenezer Co- well, for the sum of Three hundred Pounds, on account of repair- ing Muskets, &ca., to be charged to his account.
Application being made by Letter from Colo. Lutterlish, for Two hundred & Eighty Waggons, for the immediate service of the Army, thereupon,
Ordered, That the same be furnished by the following Counties, Viz :
Philadelphia County, 30
Dr. Gardner,
Chester do. 60
Bucks do. 50
By Mr. Anderson, (Assemblyman)
Lancaster do. €0
Order sent by Colo. Weitzel,
Berks do. 50
Northampton do. 30
- 280 Waggons.
John Gottlieb Metscher, a suspected person, was brought before the Council, & Committed by the Hon'ble George Bryan, Esq'r.
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The Council met.
LANCASTER, Saturday January 31, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON jun'r, Esq'r, President. Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt, ? Esq'rs.
Jacob Morgan,
Thomas Scott, &
John Hambright, Thomas Urie,
James Edgar,
A Petition of a respectable number of Militia of the fifth bat- talion of Cumberland County, representing their exposed situation & danger from the incursion of the Indians, & praying (in effect,) / that the Classes now ordered into service may be permitted to go against the Indians, was now read & considered, & thereupon,
Ordered, That agreeable to the order of the 9th of December last, in the case of the Counties of Bedford & Westmoreland, the fifth & sixth Classes of the fifth Battalion of Militia of the said County of Cumberland, now under orders to march to Camp, be em- ployed in the immediate defence of the inhabitants of the frontiers of that and the neighboring Counties against the Indians; and that the Lieutenant of the said County be empowered to call out from time to time, such part of the Seventh & Eighth Classes of the Militia of the said County as shall be absolutely necessary for the defence of the Frontiers. And it is recommended to the Lieut. of the County of Cumberland to Correspond with the Lieut's of Bedford, Westmoreland, & Northumberland, so as to act in con- junction, as much as may be, for the public safety, and give this Council the earliest intelligence of his proceedings herein.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Monday January 2, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar, Thomas Urie, &
Jacob Morgan, Thomas Scott,
Esq'rs. John Hambright, .
Ordered, That such of the fifth & sixth Classes of the fifth Bat- talion of the County of Cumberland as are now on their March, do
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
proceed on to Camp, as it was not the intention of the order of the 31st of last Month to Stop those already on their March.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Colo. Hugh Davison, for the Sum of Two hundred Pounds, to be charged to Colo. John Piper, Lieut. of the County of Bedford, & by Colo. Davison to be delivered to Colo. Piper.
A Letter from Colo. John Piper, Lieut. of Bedford County, was read.
A Petition from divers inhabitants of that County, & a Letter from Colonel Davison were also read, the whole representing the sit- uation of that County. And Colo. Piper's Letter informed Coun- cil that he was about to enlist a number of Men for nine Months; the same being considered,
Ordered, That a Letter be written to Colo. Piper, informing him that Council were surprized at his having adopted such a measure, which he not been authorized to do by this Council, nor was it in the power of this Council to have done so.
Brig'r Gen'l Lacey having been appointed one of the Commis- sioners for Collecting of Clothing in the County of Bucks, which his duty as Brig'r Gen'l will so far interfere with the said appoint- ment as to make it necessary to appoint another Commissioner in his stead; thereupon,
Ordered, That John Kerr, of the County of Bucks, be appointed Commissioner for the Collecting of Cloathing in the said County, in the room & stead of John Lacey, Esq'r, appointed to be a Brig- adier General.
(Copy sent by Express.)
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Tuesday February 3d, 1778. PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart,
· Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar,
Thomas Urie,
Esq'rs.
Jacob Morgan, Thomas Scott, &
John Hambright, John Bailey,
A Letter from the Board of War of 31st January, with a Re- solve of Congress of the 30th, respecting the Flag, was read.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday February 4, 1778. PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar,
Thomas Urie,
Jacob Morgan,
Thomas Scott, &
John Hambright,
John Bailey,
Esq'rs.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Thursday Feb'ry 5, 1778. PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar,
Thomas Urie,
Jacob Morgan,
Thomas Scott, &
Esq'rs.
John Hambright, John Bailey,
Colo. Joshua Elder informed the Council that he had several ac- counts of Expenses incurred by divers Classes of the Militia of the County of Lancaster before the appointment of a Commissary, and the Council taking the same into consideration ; thereupon,
Ordered, That Philip Marsteller, Esq'r, Paymaster of the said County, do examine the said accounts, & pay the same, so far as they shall appear to be just & equitable.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Friday Feb'ry 6, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar, Thomas Urie, &
Esq'rs.
Jacob Morgan, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble Tho's Scott, Esq'r, for the Sum of one hundred Pounds, to be charged to his account.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
1
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Saturday Feb'ry 7, 1778.
Ordered, That the Paymasters of the several Counties examine the accounts of expences which have occurred in the supply of the Militia with Provisions, before they could have been supplied by the Commissaries, & Pay such Sums as shall appear just & equi- table.
Ordered, That Will'm Henry, Esq'r, supply Colo. Buchanan's Battalion of Militia, from Cumberland County, with 12 Axes & 12 Camp Kettles.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Monday Feb'ry 9, 1778. Present as on Saturday.
.
It being represented to Council that John Gotlieb Metscher, now confined in Goal as a Suspicious person, has given strong evidence of his being a friend to the United States; thereupon,
Ordered, That on his taking the Oath or Affirmation of Alle- giance required by Law, he be discharged.
Ordered, That fifteen coarse Coverlids, which were as Wrappers round the Cloths lately purchased of Mr. Carson, be sent to the Hospital.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer, in favor of His Excell'y Tho's Wharton, jun'r, for the Sum of Seven hundred & fifty Pounds, for half a Year's Salary as President of this Council.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Tuesday Feb'ry 10, 1778.
Present as Yesterday.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday Feb'ry 11, 1778. PRESENT :
Jacob Morgan,
Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar, John Hambright,
Thomas Urie, & Esq'rs.
Thomas Scott,
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Thursday Feb'ry 12, 1778.
PRESENT :
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Jacob Morgan, Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar,
Thomas Urie, &
Esq'rs.
John Hambright,
Thomas Scott,
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Friday Feb'ry 13, 1778.
PRESENT : His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President. Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Jacob Morgan, Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar, Thomas Urie, & Esq'rs.
John Hambright, Thomas Scott,
The Hon'ble W. A. Atlee, Esq'r, Commissary of Prisoners, in- formed the Council that there was a number of Prisoners to be now' forwarded to York Town, & that Capt. Long, with a Company of the York County Militia, was now in the Borough on their way home, whose time of Service expired this day ; & that they were willing to take charge of the Prisoners & conduct them to York- town, on condition that they draw Rations & receive Pay during the time they shall be employed in this service ; thereupon,
Ordered, That Capt. Long & his Company, employed in con- ducting Prisoners from this Borough to York Town, be continued in Pay & receive Rations from this day until they shall have per- formed that Service.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Saturday February 14, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Jacob Morgan, Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar,
Thomas Urie, & Esq'rs.
John Hambright,
Thomas Scott,
The Resolve of Congress of February the third, 1778, was now read :
"In Congress, February 3d, 1778.
"Resolved, That every Officer who holds, or shall hereafter hold, a Commission or Office from Congress, shall take & Subscribe the following Oath or Affirmation : I, · do acknowledge the United States of America to be Free, Independent, & Sovereign States, and declare that the People thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the Third, King of Great Britain ; & I renounce, refuse, and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; & I do Swear (or affirm) that I will, to the utmost of my power, sup- port, maintain, & defend the said United States against the said King George the Third, his heirs & successors, & his & their abet- tors, assistants, & adherents, & will serve the said United States in the Office of - which I now hold, with fidelity, according to the best of my skill & understanding, So help me God.
"That all Officers of the Army shall take & subscribe the foregoing Oath or Affirmation, before the Commander-in-Chief, or any Major General, or Brigadier General; That all Officers of the Navy shall take & Subscribe, before one of the Commissioners of the Navy Boards, or before a Judge or Justice of the Peace of the State wherein they respectively reside, or shall receive their Commissions or Warrants ; That all persons holding any Civil office of trust or profit, under the Congress of these United States, shall take & sub- scribe the said Oath or Affirmation, before a Judge or Justice of the Peace of the State wherein they respectively reside; That every Officer having the disposal, or who is or shall be intrusted with the charge or distribution of Public Stores, shall, at the time of taking & Subscribing the foregoing Oath or Affirmation, also take an Oath or Affirmation of Office in the following words :
do Swear (or Affirm) that I will faithfully,
truly, & impartially execute the Office of to which I am appointed, & render a true account when thereunto required, of all Public Monies by me received or expended, & of all Stores or other effects to me intrusted, which belong to the United States, & will,
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MINUTES OF THE
in all respects, discharge the trust reposed in me with justice & in- tegrity, to the best of my skill & understanding.'
" That every Officer taking the foregoing Oaths or Affirmations, or either of them, shall obtain from the person administering the same, duplicate certificates specifying the time of his taking it or them, &also his name & rank or employment; That every Military Officer shall de- liver or transmit one of the certificates so obtained to the Com- mander-in-Chief, or the Commander of a Department, or to such person as by General Orders shall be appointed to receive the same, & the said commanding Officers shall cause the certificates so re- ceived to be sent to the Secretary of Congress, & shall keep an exact list of the names of all Officers whose certificates shall be received & forwarded, together with their several rank, & the times of their being qualified ; That every Officer in the Navy shall de- liver or send one of the certificates by him obtained to the Navy Board most convenient, who are requested to transmit the same, & also a certificate of their own qualifications to the Marine Com- mittee, as soon as conveniently may be ; That every other person employed in any civil department, or Officer as above mentioned , shall send or deliver one of the certificates by him obtained to the Secretary of the State to which he belongs, or to such other person or persons as the Governor or President of such State shall direct ; And the Governors or Presidents of the several States are hereby requested to attend to this matter, & to cause the certificates when received to be transmitted to the Secretary of Congress ; That each deponant or affirmant shall retain & keep the other certificate by him obtained, as a voucher of his having complied with what is hereby enjoined him.
" Resolved, That every Officer, civil or military, now in Office, shall take & subscribe the qualification above mentioned, within Twenty days after notice hereof; & every person hereafter appointed to any office, by or under the authority of the Congress of the United States of America, shall take & subscribe the same previous to his acting in such Office ; And every Officer who shall continue or, presume to exercise any Commission, civil or military, under the authority of the Congress of the United States of America, without taking the qualification in time and manner above directed, shall be cashiered & forfeit two Months' Pay to the use of the United States of America, & be rendered incapable of serving in the Army of the said States, & of executing thereafter any Office under Congress.
" AND WHEREAS, many persons employed as Deputy or Assis- tant Commissaries, or Quarter Masters, or in other civil departments, are dispersed in various parts of the continent, over whom neither Congress nor the head of their respective departments can have the immediate inspection :
" Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legislature & Execu- tive authority of every State to take effectual measures for prevent-
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
ing any person within their State from exerciseing any Office in the civil department of the Army, or in any other civil department under Congress, who shall not, when thereunto required by any Magistrate, produce a legal appointment to that office, & a certifi- cate of his having taking the foregoing Oaths or affirmations, or who shall neglect or refuse to take & Subscribe the said oaths or affirmations within the time above limited. -
" Resolved, That the resolutions passed the 21st day of October, 1776, prescribing the form of an oath or affirmation, & directing the same to be subscribed by Officers holding Commissions or Offices from Congress, be & they are hereby repealed.
"Extract from the Minutes.
" CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary."
'Thereupon,
Ordered, That said Resolution be published in the News Papers; and all persons whom they do or may concern, are to take notice of the same & act accordingly.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer, in favor of Jacob Hoster- man, for the Sum of Eighteen Pounds, for riding express.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Monday February 16, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President. Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Jacob Morgan, Jacob Arndt,
James Edgar, Thomas Urie, &
John Hambright, Thomas Scott, 1 Esq'rs.
Philip Marsteller, Esq'r, having represented that the Guards at Lebanon were in a condition that required augmentation ; there- upon,
Ordered, That the first Class of Colo. Greenawalt's battalion of Militia be called out to serve as guards at Lebanon.
VOL. XI .- 27.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Tuesday February 17, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Jacob Morgan, Jacob Arndt, -
James Edgar, Thomas Urie, &
John Hambright, Thomas Scott, L
Esq'rs.
Council having written to His Excell'y Gen'l Washington & re- quested him to recommend some proper persons to recruit the Bat- talion of this State in the Continental Army, & a list being accord- ingly recommended by him,
Ordered, That they be sent to the Counties as follows, Viz't. : York County 150, Lieu. Campbell.
Cumberland County 150, Capt. Matt'w Scott, (13 Batt'n ;) 150 Lieu't Wm. Brown; 150 Lieu't Gab'l Peterson ; 150 Adjutant Crawford ; 156 Lieu't Ja's Williamson.
Capt. Will'm Alexander's Instructions dated 23d April.) Northumberland County 150, Lieutenant Hooper; 150 Capt. Alexa. Patterson ; 150 Capt. Oldham.
Lancaster County 150, Lieu. Benja. Carpenter ; 150 Lieu. David Ziegler ; 150 Capt. Bull.
Chester County 150, Lieu. Ja's Armstrong; 15 Lieu. John Marshall, (13th ;) 150 Lieu. Wm. Henderson.
Bucks County 150, Lieu. John Stoy ; 150' Lieu. Ch's McHenry ; 150 Captain Sam'l Tolbert.
Berks County 150, Capt. Edw'd Scull.
Northampton County 150, Lieu. John Boyd; 600 Capt. John Grant; 600 Capt. Will'm Wilson.
Mr. Jacob S. Howell, receiver General of Cloathing, reports that he had delivered to the Clothier General of the United States, the following Articles of Cloathing, Viz't .:
322 Coats, 322 Vests, 198 P'r Bucksin Breeches, 48 pair of Overalls, 62 P'r of Stockings, 413 P'r of Shoes, 136 Wool Hats.
Ordered, That the Clothier General be requested to forward the said Clothing to his Excell'y Gen'l Washington, for the use of the 3d, 6th, 9th, & 12th Pennsylvania Battalions, in such proportion as his Excell'y shall order.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday Feb'ry 18, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Jacob Morgan, Jacob Arndt
James Edgar,
Thomas Urie, & Esq'rs.
John Hambright, Thomas Scott,
Colo. Coats, Lieu't of the County of Philadelphia, being now & Prisoner with the Enemy,
Ordered, That Colo. Arch'd Thompson, Sub-Lieu't of the County of Philadelphia, be authorized & empowered to act in the behalf of the said Colo Coats as Lieutenant, & to exert himself in recover- ing the Substitution Money in that County, which greatly is wanted for the Recruiting Service.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer for the Re- cruiting Service, to be accounted for by the respective gentlemen, Viz't. :
In favor of Capt. Wm. Wilson, for the Sum of Six hundred Dol- lars.
Of Capt. John Grant, for the Sum of Six hundred Dollars.
Of Lieu. Boyd, for the Sum of Six hundred Dollars.
Of the following Officers for the Sum of One hundred & fifty Dollars each, Viz't. :
Lieu. Campbell, Lieu. Will'm Brown, Lieu. Gab'l Peterson, Ad- jutant Crawford, Lieu. Ja's Williamson, Lieu. Rob't Hooper, Capt. Alexa. Patterson, Capt. Oldham, Lieu. Benja. Carpenter, Lieu. Dav'd Zigler, Lieu. Ja's Armstrong, Lieu. Will'm Henderson, Lieu. John Stoy, (see 21st ins. ) Lieu. Cha's McHenry, Capt. Sam'l Tolbert, Capt. Edw'd Scull, Lieu. John Marshall, (13,) Capt. Matt'w Scott, Capt. Bull, and that the following orders be given them :
"In Council, Lancaster Feb'ry 14, 1778, “ Sir :-
" You being appointed to Recruit in the County of , in order to fill up the Quota of this State in the Continental Army, You will proceed immediately to that place & use the utmost diligence in & attention to this great & important duty, in the discharge of which you are to attend to the regulations established by Congress : Among which it is ordered that every recruit shall have the liberty of chusing in what Battalion, Troop, or Company he will serve; & if the Company he shall chuse to serve in be full, he shall serve in such other Company as he shall chuse. To each Recruit, on his taking the Oath or Affirmation directed to be taken by Con- gress, that he will serve for three Years, or during the War, you.
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are to Pay down Sixty Dollars, & Forty Dollars, part of the bounty of One hundred dollars Ordered by the General Assembly of this State, taking a Receipt for the same, expressing the Payment of the Twenty Dollars ordered by Congress ; the remaining Sixty Dol- lars is to be paid on the Recruit passing muster, at such place shall be appointed by His Excell'y Gen'l Washington, or by this Council. You are to apply to - - Lieu't of the said County, who will advance to you hundred Dollars, and on the expenditure of this Sum, you are to apply to him again for such further Sum as may from time to time be necessary, & deliver to him Certificates, signed by the Justice before whom the Recruits which you shall have enlisted shall have been qualified, containing a description of each such Recruit, & the time of his enlistment, oz retaining a du- plicate of such Certificates in your own hands. Instructions will be given to the Lieutenant of the County on this subject, as well as orders to him to give you such assistance as may be necessary from the Militia on any occasion. It will probably be in your power to secure a number of Deserters, & you will be allowed five Dollars for each Deserter which you shall apprehend, & for this end you are to make dilligent search after them, & deliver to the persons appointed to receive the Recruits. You must be particularly careful not to advance any bounty Money to Deserters, if they should offer to en- list again. You are also to be careful not to enlist any person who is by any means rendered incapable of doing Millitary duty. Eight Dollars will be paid you for every Recruit you shall enlist. You will see the propriety & necessity of transmitting to this Council a Monthly return of your proceedings, or oftner if necessary ; & also to transmit to His Excell'y Gen'l Washington an account of your proceedings from time to time, as often as may be necessary, in order that the Recruits may be sent for by proper Officers. It would be unnecessary to remind you that the people of the State have a right to be treated with decency & respect, but that it can- not be doubted that more success in a free Country is to be ex- pected in the business you are engaged in from a strict propriety of behaviour, than from any unfair or indirect practices."
-
"In Council, Lancaster Feb'ry 14, 1778.
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