USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 15
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In Council.
PHILAD'A, Thursday, October 28th, 1779. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. HIonourable Mr. Read, Mr. Arndt.
Mr. Lacey, and
Joba Lawrence, Junior, one of the persons who were in the house of James Wilson, Esquire, on the fourth of October instant, ap- peared, and thereupon became bound, himself in the sum of Five thousand pounds, and General James Wilkinson and John Lardner, each in the sum of Two thousand five hundred pounds, that the said John Lawrence be and appear at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Goal delivery, to be held for the city and county of Philadelphia, there to answer, &c.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Friday, October 29th, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable Mr. Moore,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Arndt, and
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Hambright.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Frederick Sneider, for the sum of six hundred and seventy-two pounds, for purchasing Fire Wood for the use of the Council, for which sum he is to account.
The Commissioners for procuring salt having represented that Captain Guion, of the Brigg Mermaid, had delivered only five hun- dred and Twenty Bushells of salt, notwithstanding he had imported one thousand Bushells, and that he has acted in this business with evident intentions to violate the regulations made by the Honoura- ble House of Assembly and this Board,
Resolved, That the Naval officer be directed to seize the said vessel and order her sails on shore untill farther order be given herein, and that in the mean time the Indulgencies granted to the said vessel be suspended.
The said Commissioners having also represented that Doctor Ro- bert Harris having imported a quantity of salt into this State, which the said Commissioners, in execution of their duty had ta- ken into possession, but Doctor Harris desiring the salt might re- main in his possession untill he shou'd apply to the Board, which he was permitted to do, upon giving his word that he wou'd not remove the salt, but had notwithstanding carried off the salt clan- destinely.
Resolved, That unless the said Salt, or an equal Quantity, be immediately restored by the said Doctor Harris, to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, this Board will direct a Prosecution against him for such a daring opposition to the authority of the State, and that the above resolves be sent to the Commissioners, that they may notify the parties of the determination of the Board thereon ..
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In Council.
PHILAD'A, Saturday, October 30th, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable Mr. Moore, Mr. Read, and Mr. Gardner, Mr. Hambrigkt.
The Board taking into consideration the state of the Publick Highways, and that by a late act of Assembly, passed the Thir- tieth of September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, the Laws on this subject are now revived, and provision made for that Purpose,
Resolved, That the several provisions of the Highways be directed to proceed immediately to the repair of the Highways, be- fore the Winter Sets in, and that in such Townships or districts where no Supervisors have been elected, agreeably to an act of Assembly, passed the Twenty-first of March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-two, three or more Justices do make an appointment, as by said Law is directed, of Supervisors. And it is enjoined and recommended to the said Justices, and others, to proceed against delinquent supervisors, as by said Law is directed.
En Council.
PHILAD'A, Monday, November 1st, 1779. PRESENT :
Mr. Moore, Mr. Read.
No Council.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Tuesday, November 2d, 1779. PRESENT .:
Mr. Moore, Mr. Read, and
Mr. Orndt.
No Council.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Wednesday, November 3d, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable Mr. Moore,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Arndt.
Mr. Lacey,
Mathew Clarkson, Esquire, Marshall of the Court of Admiralty, having represented to the Board that he had been violently opposed and insulted in the Execution of his office, by Blair McClenachan, of this City, Merchant, and Principal owner of the Privateer Hol- ker, who, aided by a Number of armed Sailors, had taken a Ship called the Gondon Rose, Captured by the said Privateer, out of the possession of the said Marshall. And, also, that Notwith- standing the Writ of assistance, issued lately by this Board, in consequence of former Complaints of the same nature, and by the same Person, the said Blair McClenachan, in a riotous and Tumul- tous manner, assaulted the said Marshall.
Resolved, That the said representation, so made by the said Marshall, be transmitted to the Chief Justice, and that he be directed, in case the same is ascertain'd by authentick proof, to issue his Warrant against the said Blair M'Ulenachan, and all others Concerned in the riot and affray aforesaid, and deal with them ac- cording to Law.
WHEREAS, Complaints and dissatisfactions have arisen respect- ing the sale of the State Ship General Greene, and it has been suggested that the same was conducted with some degree of neglect or unfairness on the part of Mr. Irwin, one of the Agents, and also that by reason of the time and circumstances of the said sale, the ship has been sold at a very great under value.
Resolved, That three Members of the Board, Vizt : Mr. Moore, Doctor Gardiner and General Lacey, do enquire into the Circum- stances of said sale, and that they be desired also to inquire into the Conduct of Captain Montgomery, with respect to the stripping said Vessel after the above sale, and report as soon as may be thereon.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Jonathan Dickinson Scrjant, Esquire, for the Sum of Two thousand pounds, in part of his salary as attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pensylvania, for which he is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Honoura- ble James Read, Esquire, for the sum of one thousand one hun- dred pounds, in part of his pay as a Member of this Board, for which he is to account.
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Mr. Bryan and Mr. Hollinshead, a committee of the Honourable House of General Assembly, attended in Council, with a verbal Message from the House, informing " that the House was now met, and ready to receive such business as the Council may have to lay before them."
Mr. Coates, Mr. Wynkoop, Mr. Schreiner, and Mr. Whitehill, a Committee of the Honourable House of General Assembly, at- tended in Council, and a Conference was held with the Council, on the subject of an increase of the Bounty to be paid to the Militia now called into the Field, in consideration of the great expence of the necessaries requisite for furnishing and equipping them ; and some time being spent thereon, it was agreed that the bounty to the Militia who shall serve on the expedition proposed by his Ex- cellency General Washington, in his late requisition to this State, or who shall March for the defence of the frontiers of the State, shou'd be raised, so as to amount to the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds ; Fifty pounds to be paid two days before the time of actual March. Fifty pounds to be paid by the Almoner to the Family of each Militia Man, and fifty pounds on the Expiration of the service.
It appearing that Colonel Smith, Lieutenant of the county of Chester, had expended three Bushells of salt in salting Beef for the use of the Militia now ordered in the field,
Ordered That the Agents for procuring salt do deliver to the said Colonel Smith three Bushells of salt, taking his receipt for the same.
James Jacks and John Whitehill, Esquires, elected to be repre- sentatives in General Assembly, for the county of Lancaster, atten- ded in Council, and presented a written resignation of their com- missions as Justices of the peace of the county of Lancaster, and the same was accepted.
The Petition of the Justices and Jurors of the City Court, on behalf of Catherine Rickey, convicted in the last City Court of stealing divers goods, &c., and sentenced to receive Fifteen lashes and pay a certain ffine, praying that the Infamous part of the sen- tence, together with the Fine for the use of the Commonwealth, may be pardoned, was read, and also a copy of the record of convic- tion.
On consideration,
Resolved, That the said Catherine Rickey be pardoned accord- ingly.
A certificate of the payment of four thousand and thirty pounds by Isaac Hicks, the purchase money for a confiscated Tenement and Lott of land, the Estate of Gilbert Hicks, "sold at a publick auc- tion held at the Court House in Bucks county, for the sales of for- fieted Estates (by adjournment) the twenty-fourth day of August, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, signed by George Wall, Agent," was read, together with a draft of the said
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Lott, about forty-seven acres of land, including five Lotts, as the saine is certified to be recorded in Book D, vol 2, page 59, &c., of the records of the county of Bucks, signed by John Hart, Deputy recorder, on which is endorsed a certificate that the Lotts therein mentioned are the same, which were sold at the aforesaid vendue, for the said sum of Four thousand and thirty pounds, signed by George Wall, Agent for the said county. An instrument of wri- ting, signed by the said Isaac Hicks, dated the fourth day of Octo- ber, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, purporting to be quit claim of the right derived to him from the said sale of the premises to William Goforth, his heirs and assigns, for the consideration therein mentioned, was also read ; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a Deed of Conveyance be signed according to law, granting the said five Lotts, Tenements, and Hereditaments, to the said Isaac Hicks, his heirs and assigns, and that the said Deed bear date the eighteenth day of September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, the day on which the purchase Money was paid, as appears by the said Quitt claim; and thereupon a Deed was ex- ecuted accordingly, and the Secretary directed to deliver the same to the said Goforth.
The Petition of Ann Shroudy, praying permission for herself and her Niece, Jane Lourey, to go into the city of New York, was read and considered; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the Prayer of the said Petition be not granted.
The Petition of John Saxton, of Bristol Township, in the county of Bucks, praying permission to go into the city of New York, was read and considered; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the prayer of the said Petition be not granted.
The two following receipts, dated October the Twenty-first, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, signed by Stephen Bal- licott, Agent for the county of Northampton, for money paid by William Smith, of the city of Philadelphia, were read, vizt :- One for the sum of seventeen thousand and fifty-six pounds, being the full consideration Money for the one-half of an undivided Tract of land, situate on Bushkill Creek, in Forks Township, Northamp- ton county, containing in the whole Eight hundred and thirty-two acres, late the property of John Young, confiscated and sold to the said William Smith by Public Vendue, at Easton, the twenty-third day of September last.
The other receipt, for the sum of six thousand four hundred and fifty-five pounds and fifteen shillings, being the full consideration Money for the one-half of an undivided tract of land situate on Monakasy Creek, in Bethlehem Township, Northampton county, containing in the whole, four hundred and sixteen and an half acres, late the property of the said John Young, confiscated and sold to the said William Smith, at Easton, on the said Twenty-third of September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine; and drafts of the said two tracts of Land, signed by George Palmer, and certified by the said Ballicott, being read,
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MINUTES OF THE
Ordered, That a Deed of Conveyance, granting the one-half of each of the said two tracts of Land to the said William Smith, be executed according to Law, and that the said Deed bear date the said Twenty-first day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and the same was done accordingly.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Thursday, November 4th, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable Mr. Moore, Mr. Read,
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Arndt, and
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Hambright.
The Inhabitants of Reams Town having, in support of their Pe- tition, sent in sundry affidavits against the Deputy Quarter Masters at that place,
Resolved, That the same be transmitted to the Assistant Quarter Master General, and that he be also informed that, from enquiry made, it is the opinion of this Board that a Post at Reams Town is not necessary for the Publick service, but that if it is to be con- tinued, a change shou'd be made in the officers, and enquiry had as to the Buildings, and other expenses had there, which are repre- sented as enormous and unnecessary.
The application of Mr. Nixon, in behalf of the owners of the Brigg Active, having been read and considered,
Resolved, That the extending the allowance of salt farther than to the Vessel importing, wou'd be attended with many inconve- niences, and wou'd be contrary to the rule laid down by the Board ; But that the Commissioners of salt be authorized to deliver Mr. Nixon or his order, or permit him to reserve Thirty Bushells of the salt which came in the sloop Active.
Joseph Fox having given information to the Council that he has in his possession part of two Nests of Brass Kettles, weighing three hundred and fifty-two pounds Weight, remaining of a Number pur- chased by him for the Publick,
Ordered, That the said Kettles be delivered to George Henry, who is desired to call therefor.
Petition of divers officers of the ship General Greene, praying to know whether or not they are considered as the officers of the Navy of this Commonwealth, under the resolution of the General As- sembly of the Twenty-fourth of March last, was read ; and on Con- sideration,
Resolved, That they are not within the said resolve, the said ship not being at that time in Commission.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Petition of Ann Winters, convicted of stealing, and having suffered Corporal Punishment, praying that the Fines adjudged to. be paid by her to the use of the State be remitted ; being read and considered,
Ordered, That the said fines be remitted.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. William Crispin, Commissary, for the sum of Fifteen thousand pounds, for purchasing the enumerated articles for the use of the State Fleet, for which he is to account ..
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. John Mease, for the sum of Fourteen thousand nine hundred and forty pounds, for four hundred and ninety-eight bushells of salt, at thirty pounds por Bushell, delivered agreeable to order of the President, to Captain Pickering and Company.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Colonel John Bull for the sum of Three thousand pounds, for paying the Work- men employed at the President's House, and for the necessary Ma- terials, for which he is to account.
The Petition of Ann Nicholson, praying a pass to New York for herself and daughter, was read and rejected.
The Committee appointed to enquire into the circumstances of the sale of the ship General Greene, Reported, that they had been attended by the Agents and by Captain Montgomery, and that an affidavit, made by Colonel Bradford, who acted as auctioneer, had been laid before them, and that it appeared that the Sale, so far as regarded the Purchasers, was fair; But that it had been attended with circumstances of haste and precipitation, both in the short- ness of time in advertising, and also of the sale, the same being had in the absence of one of the Agents, who protested against it, as soon as he knew thereof; That the sale was had sooner than was generally expected, in consequence whereof, many bidders were disappointed, and the State has suffered materially in Interest, the Price being Generally deemed inadequate to the Value.
Resolved, That the said report be accepted, and the propriety of Communicating the same to the Honorable House of Assembly, be farther considered to Morrow Morning.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Friday, November 5th, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable Mr. Moore, Mr. Hambright, and
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Reed.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Hon- ourable George Bryan, Esquire, late Vice President, for the sum
,
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MINUTES OF THE
of Two thousand pounds, in part of his salary, to be charged to his account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Honour- able John Hambright, Esquire, for the sum of one thousand pounds, in part of his pay as a Member of this Board, for which he is to account.
Mr. Bryan, Mr. Peale, and Mr. Schreiner, a Committee of the Honourable House of Assembly, attended in Council, and pro- posed to the Consideration of the Council, Wednesday next as the day for Electing a President and Vice President.
WHEREAS, Complaints have been made to us by Captain Wil- liam Heysham, one of the Commissioners for procuring salt, that he hath been grossly insulted by Ludwig Kuhn, of this City, on that account ; And the said Complaint having been supported by sundry affidavits,
Resolved, That the said Ludwig Kuhn attend this Board on Mon- day next at twelve O'clock, to answer the said Complaint, or in failure thereof, this Board will issue process against him; And that a copy of the above be served on Ludwig Kuhn.
Resolved, That the Secretary write to Captain Heysham to ad- vise him of the above.
Application having been made to this Board by the Managers of the House of employment, for fifty Barrells of Flour and ten Bush- ells of salt, untill the Taxes are collected,
Resolved, That the same be farther considered.
A Letter from the President of Congress was read, enclosing a resolve against opening Land offices.
Resolved, That the same be transmitted to the House of As- sembly.
WHEREAS, The Salt Works belonging to this State, in New Jer- sey, have been attended with great expence, and no advantage to the Publick, and the manager being dead,
Resolved, That the said Works be sold at Publick Vendue, un- der the direction of Colonel Hagner, who is also directed to apply to George Clymer, Esquire, in whose Name the conveyance was executed for the Premisses, in order that a Deed may be made by him to the President of the State. That Colonel Hagner do wait on the Board for instructions before he proceed to the sale.
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In Council.
PHILAD'A, Saturday, November 6th, 1779. PRESENT :
Mr. Moore, Mr. Reed,
Mr. Arndt, and Doctor Gardner.
No Council.
.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Monday, November 8th, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Mr. Moore, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Read, and Mr, Hambright.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Messieurs Wil- liam Will, Mathew Irwin, George Henry, and other commissioners, for procuring salt in the city and Liberties of Philadelphia, for the sum of one hundred thousand pounds, for the purpose of pay- ing for the salt by them procured, for which they are to ac- count.
Ludwig Kuhn, agreeable to the order of Council of the Sixth Instant, attended, and being called in, and the charge against him by Captain Heysham being mentioned to him, He acknowledged that he had used very gross and insulting' language to the said Heysham, and threatened to throw him into the Dock; and in the course of his Examination on this subject, he, the said Kuhn, be- haved himself in a contemptuous manner to this Board.
On consideration,
Ordered, That he be committed to the Goal of the county, and there confined untill he be delivered in due course of Law.
On application,
Resolved, That Samuel Morris and company be permitted to ex- port a Quantity of codfish, taken by the privateer General Mercer, and brought into this Port.
The Council assumed the consideration of the sale of the ship General Greene ; and thereupon,
Resolved, That the same be laid before the Honourable House of General Assembly, for their advice thereupon.
On consideration,
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Council, that some in- conveniences will attend the Election of President and Vice Presi- dent on Wednesday next, and therefore propose that the said Elec- tion be held on Thursday next, of which Notice is to be given to the committee of the Honourable House of Assembly.
The Council resumed the consideration of the return for sheriffs and coroners of the county of York ; and thereupon,
Resolved, That William Rowan be appointed and commissioned to be sheriff of the County of York, and Joseph Adlem be ap- pointed and commissioned to be coroner of the said County.
VOL. XII .- 11.
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MINUTES OF THE
William Rowan, Esquire, appointed to be sheriff of the County of York, now proposing Mathew McCall and William Dougherty, of Chanceford Township, in the said County of York, to be his sureties for the faithfull performance of his office as sheriff of the said County of York ; and the same were approved of.
Captain Samuel Williams, Master of the Brigg Polly, having applied to this Board for permission to sail to Count D'Estaing's Fleet, with the following cargo, vizt : Forty-nine Tierces of Beef, fifty-two Barrells of Pork, one hundred Barrells of Flour, Fifty Barrells of Beer, four hundred and eighty-one barrells of Bread, and Nine hundred and forty-four ropes of Onions. And Monsieur Oster, Vice Consul of France, having certified the destination of the said Vessel, and requested permission therefor,
Resolved, That upon Captain Williams making oath before the Naval officer of the court, that the above is a true account of the cargo on Board his vessel, and that he will not take on Board his vessel any provisions other than as above expressed, without per- mission from the authority of this State; therefor, He be cleared out in the Usual form.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, November 9th, 1779.
PRESENT :
Honourable Mr. Moore, Doctor Gardiner, and
Mr. Read, Captain Hambright.
No Council.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, November 10th, 1779. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable Mr. Moore, Mr. Gardner, and Mr. Reed.
Mr. Hambright, Mr. Lacey,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. William Armstrong, paymaster, for the sum of eight thousand pounds, for paying the Workmen late employed at Mud Island and Billings- port, for which he is to account.
An application from General Roberdeau, for payment of one thousand weight of Lead, was read.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Ordered, That the Secretary do acquaint General Roberdeau, that an order will issue for payment, upon producing the receipt by the officer authorised by the Board, and that the same will be paid for at a reasonable price, having respect to the place and time of delivery ; But that this Board have never had any information be- fore how far their orders were complied with or accepted.
The Petition of Elizabeth Rapp, praying a Pass to New York, was read and rejected.
The Committee of Council, appointed to confer with a Com- mittee of the Honourable House of General Assembly upon the time and place of Electing, by the Joint Ballot of the Members of the House and of Councill, a President and Vice President of this Council, Report :
That having conferred with the Committee of the House upon the subject Committed to them, it is agreed that the Honourable House of Assembly will meet in the Council Chamber to Morrow Morning at Eleven O'clock, and proceed to the Election of a Pre- sident and Vice President, agreeable to the Constitution ; That after the said Election is finished, the Council and Assembly pro- ceed to the Court House, and there make Proclamation of the Pre- sident and Vice President so chosen; And the Committee submit to the Council the order of Procession.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, November 11th, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable Mr. Read, Mr. Moore,
Mr. Arndt,
Mr. Gardiner, and
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Hambright.
The Clerke of the Honourable House of General Assembly at- tended in Council, and informed that the House was now ready to proceed to the Election of a President and Vice President; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the Secretary of the Council do attend the Hon- ourable House, and inform the House that the Council is now ready to receive the House in the Council Chamber, and to Pro- ceed to the Election of a President and Vice President of the Council.
The Honourable the Speaker of the House and the General As- sembly attended in Council, and thereupon the Secretary of the Council and the Clerke of the House, proceeded to take the votes for President; And the Votes were as follows, vizt :
For Joseph Reed, Esquire.
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