USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XI > Part 35
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" Sir :-
" Capt. , of the Pennsylvania Regi- ment, is appointed to recruit in your County for the Continental Army. He is ordered to call on you for money. You will please to Pay him the Sum of Six hundred Dollars, with which he is to enter upon this Duty. Council have directed him to apply to you from time to time, for such further Sums as the service shall re- quire, & at the same time he is to lay before you a Certificate of
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. the time of enlistment & qualification, & a description of the person of each Recruit which he shall enlist, signed by the justice before whom he shall have been attested. He is to pay to each Recruit, on his being attested, the Twenty Dollars bounty ordered by Con- gress, & Forty Dollars, part of the One hundred Dollars ordered by this State. The remainder is to be paid on their passing Muster, at such place as shall be appointed by G'l Washington or this Council. From this you will be enabled to judge of the necessity of further sup- plies of Money, from time to time, which be in some degree left to your judgment & prudence, not exceeding the Sum above mentioned at any one time. If any assistance from the Militia shall be wanted to prevent the ill consequences of any disturbances which may happen in the prosecution of this business, you are to give him every countenance which is consistant with the rights & liberties of the People, taking care at same time that no insult or injury is offered to any person. The great importance of filling up the Continental Army with all possible expedition, we hope, will induce you to exert yourself, so as that the Recruiting Service may not be at a Stand for want of Money. The General Assembly have depended upon the collecting of the Substitution Money for this purpose. This you know must rest on your dilligence & attention, & you will be accountable for the Consequences of a deficiency or delay.
" The Delegates of Pennsylvania having forwarded to Council by Will'm Rowan, Esq'r, a Sum of Money for the purchase of Provi- sions, Forage, &ca, & The same being counted by the Secretary, there appears to be the Sum of One hundred & Thirty-nine Thou- sand Dollars, agreeably to the Sum mentioned in their Letters.
" Capt. Sam'l Dean, of the 11th P. B., to go to Bucks County, and an order was drawn on the Treasurer, in his favor, for one Hundred & Fifty Dollars, as entered the 20th ins."
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Thursday Feb'ry 19, 1792.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Jacob Morgan, James Edgar, John Hambright,
Jacob Arndt,
Thomas Urie, & Esq'rs.
Thomas Scott,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of James Bick- ham, Lieu't of the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment, to be charged to Colo. Walter Stewart, for Three hundred Dollars, Recruiting Service.
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Ordered, That the Sum of Eighteen Thousand Dollars be delivered to the Hon'ble Jacob Arndt, Esq'r, to be by him delivered to John Arndt & Dav'd Deshler, Esq'rs, Commissioners appointed by Law to purchase Provisions, & that a Receipt for the same be taken as of David Rittenhouse, Esq'r, Treasurer.
The Petition of the Elders & Trustees of the Lutheran Reformed German Congregation at Easton, in the County of Northampton, setting forth that they are indebted near the Sum of Four hundred Pounds more than has been raised for the building the Church be- longing to the said Congregation, & Praying this Council "to grant a Licence to Mr. Philip Hellick to ask the Charitable contribution of the well disposed, within this State, towards the discharge of the said Debt, was now read. The Council taking the said Petition into consideration, and being disposed to countenance the same,
Ordered, That the Secretary do Certify that the said application has been made to this Council.
An order was drawn on the 'Treasurer in favor of Will'm Rowan, Esq'r, for his service, with that of his servant, in bringing 139,000 Dollars from York Town to this Borough, for the Sum of Nine Pounds & Ten Shillings.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. Peter Dehaven, for the sum of Five hundred Pounds, for which he is to account.
Ordered, That Rob't Traill, Esq'r, be appointed Storekeeper to inspect, receive, store & take care of the Provisions collected in the County of Northampton, and to issue the same upon the or- ders of the Board of War.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Friday February 20, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Jacob Morgan, Jacob Arndt, r James Edgar, 'Thomas Urie, (Esq'rs.
John Hambright, Thomas Scott,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Jacob S. Howell, for the Sum of Two hundred Pounds, for which he is to account.
The Council taking into consideration the necessity there is of supplying the Citizens of the County of Bedford with Arms to defend themselves against the Indians,
Ordered, That Will'm Henry, Esq'r, be directed to supply the Hon'ble Tho's Urie, Esq'r, with One hundred Riffles, to be by him
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sent to the Lieut. of the County of Bedford, for the purpose of · arming the people of the said County.
Ordered, That the sum of Eighteen Thousand Dollars be sent to Mr. Tho's Edwards, one of the Commissioners for the purchase of Provisions in the County of Laneaster, & the same was accor- dingly sent by Mr. Christ'r Tren of this Borough.
Ordered, That Mr. John Mitchell be appointed Storekeeper to inspect, receive, store and take care of the Provisions to be stored at Pottsgrove by order of Congress, & to issue the same by order of the Board of War; and also the following Gentlemen for the like service, in the place against their names respectively mentioned, Vizt :
Colo. Will'm Will, at Borough of Lancaster; Colo. Jos. Cop- perthwaite, at Reading; Capt. Elijah Weed, at Downings Town.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Capt. Sam'l Dean, of the 11th Pennsylvania Reg't, for the Recruiting service, to be charged accordingly.
Ordered, That the Sum of Twenty four Thousand Dollars be sent by Hon'ble Jacob Morgan, Esq'r, to Mr. John Lesher & Val- entine Eckhart, Esq'r, Commissioners for purchasing of Provisions in the County of Berks.
Ordered, That the Sum of Four thousand Dollars be sent to Will'm Gray & John Little, to purchase Provisions within the County of Northumberland, and that the same be sent by the hands of Capt. John Grant.
Ordered, That the Sum of Eighteen Thousand Dollars be sent to Dav'd Watson of this County, one of the Commissioners for purchasing Provisions, the same to be sealed up and directed to him, and forwarded by Mr. John Burke.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Saturday Feb'ry 21, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
James Edgar, Thomas Urie, &
John Hambright, Jacob Arndt,
Thomas Scott, Esq'rs.
The Hon'ble John Hambright, Esq'r, reports, That he had com" mitted the Sum of Four thousand Dollars ordered to be sent to the County of Northumberland, to purchase Provisions with, sealed up & directed to Will'm Gray & John Little, Commissioners of the said County, to the care of Capt. Will'm Wilson & Capt. John Grant.
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And Mr. John Burke attended the Council, & received, Sealed up, & directed to Dav'd Watson, Esq'r, Commissioner for the purcha- sing of Provisions in the County of Lancaster, the Sum of Eighteen Thousand Dollars, as ordered yesterday.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Capt. Tho's Dorsey, Paymaster of Militia, for the Sum of Six Thousand Dollars, for which he is to account.
Lieu't John Cobeas of the 2d Pennsylvania Regiment, attended the Council & represented that he was appointed by the Colo. of this Regiment to recruit in the room of Capt. Stoy, who was absent, & Capt. Tolbert being present, represented that he was the oldest first Lieutenant of the said Regiment.
On consideration,
Ordered, That an order be drawn on the Treasurer in his favor, for the Sum of One hundred & fifty Dollars, & that he be furnished with an order on the Lieu't of the County of Berks for Money, in the like manner as hath been done in the case of other Recruiting Officers ; and that the order drawn in favor of Capt. Stoy, on the 18th instant, be retained.
Ordered, That the Sum of Six thousand Dollars be sent to Tho's Heslip & Sam'l Culbertson, Esq'rs, Commissioners for the purchasing of Provisions in the County of Chester, and that the same be Sealed up, directed to them, & forwarded by Capt. Stephen Cochran ; which was done accordingly.
James M'Lenc and James Reed, Esq'rs, a Committee from the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, attended in Council & in- formed the Council that the House was now met, & desired to know if the Council had any business to lay before the House. The Council informed the Committee of their having appointed Jacob S. Howell to be Receiver General of Cloathing in the room of Colo. Francis Johnson, and delivered to them a Copy of his said appointment.
Ordered, That the Sum of Ten thousand Dollars, to Peter Evans and Colo. John Moore, Commissioners for purchasing Provisions in Philadelphia County, & the Sum of Six thousand to And'w Kichlien & Jos Green, Commissioners for the said purpose in the County of Bucks, be sealed up, directed & forwarded by Mr. Jas Cummins, & was forwarded accordingly.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Monday February 23, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THOS. WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Urie, & 1 Esq'rs.
John Hambright, Thomas Scott,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble George Bryan, Vice President, for the Sum of Fifty Pounds on ac- count of his salary.
The Hon'ble House of General Assembly, by a Committee, ac- quainted the Council that they apprehend that the board of War had given orders to their Superintendants of Provisions, &ca., which the House conceived to be a violation of the laws of the State, & requested that the Council will join them in a free conference on this subject,
Ordered, That the Hon'ble House of General Assembly be in- formed, that the Council will confer with them in the Assembly room, at four O'Clock this Afternoon.
. His Excell'y the President & the Council having conferred with the Hon'ble House of Representatives, agreeable to the order of the day, & the House requesting to be furnished with the following pa- pers relating to the subject of conference, Vizt. :
" The instructions of the Board of War to their Superintendants of Provisions.
"The plan laid down by the Superintendants for the purchase, &ca., of Provisions.
"The instructions for the Millers, dated lith Jan'ry, 1778.
" A Letter from the Superintendants to the Board of War, dated Feb'ry 11, 1778.
" A Letter dated Feb'ry 12, 1778, Signed, R. S. Hooper, Deputy Q'r General, to the Purchasers under the Superintendants ;" there- upon,
Ordered, That a Letter be written to the Hon'ble J. B. Smith, Esq'r, requesting that he will procure Copies of the said Papers, and forward them by express to this Board immediately.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Tuesday February 24, 1778
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott, & )
John Hambright, Thomas Urie,
James Edgar, Esq'rs.
The following Address was read, to Wit :
" To the President & Council, now sitting at Lancaster :
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" These may show that We, the Subscribers, being appointed on behalf of the Westerly quarterly Meeting of the People called Quakers, in order to lay before you various deeply distressing cases & circumstances that nearly effect us as a Religious Society, request an admittance, to be heard by you for the purpose abovesaid, which favor will be acknowledged by Your real friends.
(Signed,) " WARNER MIFFLIN, " JOSEPH HUSBAND,
" JAMES JACKSON, " ABR'M GIBBONS, " W'M JACKSON, jun'r, " JACOB LINDLEY.
" Lancaster, the 23d of the 2nd Month, 1778."
Ordered, That the Subscribers of the said request be informed that the Council are willing to attend to their representation, to be made in Writing, & are disposed to hear them on such matters as may be contained therein, so far as is within the cognizance of Council.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Christ'n Zorn. for Twelve Pounds Seven Shillings & Six Pence, for riding ex- press.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Tho's Lieper, James Hunter, Will'm Hall, & John Dunlap, for the Sum of Six- teen Pounds Ten Shillings, for their expences in takeing the Paroles of John Penn, James Hamilton & Joseph Shippen, Esq'rs, by order of Council.
The following representation was read, Viz :
" LANCASTER, 24th 2 mo., 1778.
" To the President & Council, now sitting at Lancaster :
" We the Subscribers, are desirous to lay before you, 'First,' the case of a number of our Friends, now under confinement at Win- chester in Virginia, by the Authority of your body, as We apprehend,
1
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. whose release we strongly desire, or if that cannot be obtained, that three or more of them, on behalf of the rest, may be heard in their own vindication, either before Council or Congress, as you may direct. Secondly, That you would weightely consider the situation of four of our Friends, closely confined in the common Goal of this Borough. Thirdly, That you would interpose for our relief in case of exorbitant Fines, taken from us, because of our Conscience sake, we cannot yield our personal service in War. Fourthly, We desire redress of grievance in a certain Law, com- monly called the Test Law.
(Signed,) "WARNER MIFFLIN, "JOSEPH HUSBAND, " JAMES JACKSON, "AB'M GIBBONS, "WILL'M JACKSON, jun'r, "JACOB LINDLEY.
" Lancaster 24th 2 mo., 1778."
And the Subscribers of the said representation having requested to be heard in Council on the several subjects mentioned therein, were accordingly admitted & heard. The Council in the course of · a conference with these People, which continued several hours, in- formed them That the Council had it in contemplation to represent the case of the said Prisoners at Winchester to the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, & that they judged it was probable the House would take the same into their consideration ; That the Arrest of the said Prisoners, & their removal to Virginia, was at the request & under the direction of Congress, before whom that matter at present wholly lies ; That as to the other matters con- tained therein, they are not any of them within the power or au- thority of the Council ; They appear to be cases wherein the law is executed ; & that Council are not vested with any authority to alter them in any case whatever; That if any person be confined contrary to Law, their case may be laid before the Judges, or one of them, whose duty it is to hear them; And that if it is appre- hended that the Law in any instance is grievous or oppressive, the Legislative authority may be applied to for alteration or amend- ments in such instance.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Capt. Marshall, for the Sum of Three hundred Dollars, for the recruiting service, for which he is to account. . Order dated yesterday.
.
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The Council met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday February 25, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S. WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart,
Thomas Scott,
John Hambright,
James Edgar, & Esq'rs.
Thomas Urie,
Jacob Morgan,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Capt. Willis, for the Sum of eight Dollars, in part of his expences in forwarding dispatches to the Commissioners for purchasing of Provisions, and to the Waggon Masters, of the Counties of Bucks & Philadelphia.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Colo. Is'c Mel- chior, Barrack Master, for the Sum or Two Thousand Dollars, for which he is to account.
Leonard Reed, appointed to be Waggon Master of the County of Berks, having resigned ; thereupon,
Ordered, That Colo. Henry Haller be appointed Waggon Mas- ter of the County of Berks, in the room of Leonard Reed, who has resigned.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Jacob S. Howell, for the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, for which he is to account.
And an order was drawn on Jacob S. Howell for the Sum of One thousand Pounds, in favor of Jas Dundas, Paymaster of the People employed at Billingsport, for which he is to acco't.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Thursday Feb'ry 26, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S. WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & & Esq'rs.
Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
His Excell'y Gen'l Washington having enclosed to His Excell'y the President, an Address to the inhabitants of New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia, requesting that the same may be published, & submiting to the consideration of Council whether it may not serve to encrease its effects, if it were ushered into the Papers of this State with a recommendation from His Excell'y the President.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
On consideration,
Ordered, That the following Proclamation be published, with His Excell'y Gen'l Washington's address above said :
" By the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
"A PROCLAMATION :
" WHEREAS, His Excell'y Gen'l Washington hath thought proper to address the inhabitants of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia, recommending it to them to put up & feed immediately as many of their Stock Cattle as they can spare for the supply of the Army, in the Months of May, June & July next, as in the said address hereunto subjoined doth more at large ap- pear :
" We, the Supreme Executive Council, being desirous to promote a measure so essentially necessary at this time, do earnestly recom- mend it to the good people of this State, to exert themselves in an- swering the purposes of His Excell'ys address, as all circumstances seem happily to conspire in rendering the approaching Campaign decisive, & the fruit of our toil is not only in view, but even within reach ; we hope all those who wish well to their Country, & have it in their power to contribute anything to the support of our Army, in the way recommended by the General, will exert them- selves on this occasion. We can have no doubt of the virtuous in- tentions of the good people of this State, in a cause so righteous as the present contest with Great Britain most certainly is, & there- fore. firmly rely on their exertions to afford the relief required in due time.
" By Order of the Council, "(Signed) THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President. " (Attest)-T. MATLACK, Secretary.
" LANCASTER, Feb'ry 27, 1778."
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" To the Inhabitants of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia :
" Friends, Countrymen and Fellow Citizens :
"After three Campaigns, during which the brave Subjects of these States have contended, not unsuccessfully, with one of the most powerful kingdoms upon earth, we now find ourselves at least upon a level with our opponents ; & there is the best reason to believe that efforts adequate to the abilities of this Country would enable us speedily to conclude the War, & to secure the invaluable bless- ings of Peace, Liberty & Safety. With this view, it is in contem-
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plation at the opening of the next Campaign, to assemble a force , sufficient not barely to cover the Country from a repetition of those depredations which it hath already suffered, but also to operate of- fensively, & strike some decisive blow. In the prosecution of this object, it is to be feared, that so large an Army must suffer for want of Provisions. The distance between this & the Eastern States, whence considerable supplies of Flesh have been hitherto drawn, will necessarily render those supplies extremely precarious ; And unless the virtucus Yeomanry of the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia, will exert them- selves to prepare Cattle for the use of the Army during the Months of May, June & July next, great difficulties may arise in the course of the Campaign. It is therefore recommended to the inhabitants of those States, to put up & feed immediately as many of their Stock Cattle as they can spare, so as they may be driven to this Army within that period. A bountiful price will be given, and the pro- prietors may assure themselves that they will render a most essen- tial service to the illustrious cause of their Country, & contribute in a great degree to shorten this bloody contest. But should there be any so insensible to the common interest as not to exert them- selves upon these generous principles, the private interest of those whose situation makes them liable to become immediate Sub- jects to the enemy's incursions, should prompt them at least to a a measure which is calculated to save their property from plunder, their families from insult, & their own persons from abuse, hopeless confinement, or perhaps a violent death.
(Signed) "G. WASHINGTON.
" HEAD QUARTERS, Valley Forge,
" February 28, 1778." S
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Friday February 27, 1778. PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott, r Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & Esq'rs.
The Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County of Westmoreland having recommended Archibald Lochry, Esq'r, to be a person qualified to act as Clerk of the said Court ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the said Archibald Lochry, Esq'r, be appointed Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the said County of Westmoreland.
i
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The following representation to the Hon'ble House of Repre- sentatives having been now read and considered, Vizt :
"LANCASTER, February 26th, 1778.
" To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Freemen of the State of Pennsylvania :
" The Supreme Executive Council of the said State represent:
" That from the excessive price of all the necessaries of life, and other circumstances attending the present situation of this State, the salaries and fees heretofore established, or allowed to the re- spective Civil Officers of this State, is found not to be now a reasonable compensation for the duties of such Officers, whereby the execution of the laws hath been greatly impeded, and in some cases rendered impracticable to be executed, and, therefore, claims the serious attention of the Legislature; That after having made enquiry for proper persons to engage in the recruiting service, upon the encouragement given by your Honourable House, the Council was obliged to apply to His Excellency General Washington, to recommend Officers of the Army for this purpose. The gentlemen named by him have entered upon the business under great disad- vantages, confiding that their case will be considered by the Gene- ral Assembly, and such further compensation allowed them as the House, in their wisdom, shall judge to be reasonable and adequate to the expense of this duty; And we have assured them that Council would endeavour to obtain the attention of the Honorable House to this matter; That it appears to Council to be worthy of the consideration of your Honorable House, whether the exempting from militia duty for a certain time each man who shall take up a Deserter from the Continental Army and deliver him to some proper officer, may not be attended with considerable success in fill- ing up a Quota of Troops in the Army, and preventing of de- sertion ; That the case of those Prisoners arrested as dangerous and disaffected persons, agreeable to the recommendation, and under this authority sent into the State of Virginia as a place of more security than this State was at that time supposed to be, appears to require your serious attention ; not only as it relates to these gen- tlemen in particular, but also to a great number of others who have refused or neglected to give the assurance of allegiance to the State which is required by law; And that there are several persons con- fined in the Goals of this State for refusing to give assurance of allegiance, who cannot, as the law now stands, be sent into the State to which they belong, although they may be able and willing to give security for their immediate return there, and to submit themselves to the Laws of such State.
N. B .- A Memorial from these people addressed to the Council, is sent herewith.
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Ordered, The same be presented to the Hon'ble House of Gen- eral Assembly, together with the remonstrance received from the Prisoners sent from this State into the State of Virginia, under the authority of Congress.
The Council taking into consideration the return of Justices from the several Townships in the County of Bedford,
Ordered, That Henry Rhodes, Will'm Tyshur, James Wells, Francis More & David Jones, be appointed Justices of the Peace for the said County of Bedford, & that they be Commissioned accord- ingly.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Saturday February 28, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
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