USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 49
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And that all vessels going on mercantile voyages, the Master and Mate do undersign their clearances in the presence of the Naval
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Officer, who in like manner is to endorse on said clearance a minute description of the persons of the Master and Mate, with their age, stature, complexion, &ca., respectively, and certify the same under his signature and seal of office, to which all persons concerned are required to conform, and govern themselves accordingly.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Friday, Nov'r 17th, 1780. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Whitehill,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Van Campen, &
Mr. Read,
Colonel Piper.
Colonel John Piper, Councillor elect for the county of Bedford, appeared in Council, and took the oath of allegiance, and oath of office required by the Constitution, and thereupon took his seat ac- cordingly.
A return of the general election of the county of Bedford, was received and read, by which it appears that the following gentle- men were duly elected, vizt :
Councillor-John Piper, Esq.
Representatives-John Burd and Joseph Powell, Esq'rs.
Sheriffs-John Cessna and John Bennett, Esq'rs.
Coroners-John Wilt and Samuel Graves, Esq'r.
Commissioner-Cornelius McCauly.
Assessors-Robert Moore, Thomas Furguson, Robert Galbraith, Peter Smith, Frederick Ambrose, and John Todd.
On consideration,
Ordered, That John Cessna, Esq'r, be appointed and commis- sioned to be Sheriff of the county of Bedford, and that John Wilt, Esq'r, be appointed Coroner of the said county.
John Cessna, Esquire, Sheriff elect for the county of Bedford, now offers Charles Cessna and Samuel Moore, of said county, as sureties for the faithfull performance of the duties of his office of Sheriff ; which this Council approve.
A resolution of the House of Assembly of the sixteenth instant was received and read, appointing a committee to confer with this Council upon that part of the message from the Council to the Gen- eral Assembly which respects the State money. The members chosen, Mr. Galbraith, Mr. J. Harris, Mr. Hoge and Mr. Mont- gomery. Thereupon, agreed that this Board will meet the said
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
committee at six o'clock this evening, in the Council Chamber, on the said business.
A letter was received from his Excellency General Washington, dated the 10th instant, requesting this State to procure cloathing for its troops, without delay. Also, a letter from Colonel Picker- ing, requesting provision may be made for quartering a regiment of cavalry in this State; both which were sent to the House of Assembly, with the following, vizt :
Message from the President & Supreme Executive Council to the Representatives of the freemen of Pennsylvania, in General As- sembly met.
Gentlemen :- His Excellency General Washington has made an earnest representation on the subject of cloathing for the army, which, with a letter from Colonel Pickering, the Quarter Master General, on the provision for a regiment of cavalry, to be quartered in this State this winter, we lay before you.
The State store is exhausted, & the money in the Treasurer's hands not being current, we have no means of compliance with these requisitions 'till we shall be enabled by your Hon'ble House.
The subjects are so important, that we cannot doubt they will have your immediate attention.
JOSEPH REED,. President.
Council Chamber, Philad'a, Nov'r 17th, 1780.
Resolutions of the Hon'ble House of Assembly of the 10th in- stant, were read, appointing a committee of three, to wit : Mr. Steinmetz, Mr. Mifflin and Mr. Montgomery, to inquire what ex- pences have been incurred during the last year on account of the civil Government of this State, and to report a compleat list of all officers now in the pay of this Government, with their respective salaries, and authorising the said committee to request from this council a list of all persons employed by the Council during the last year, with an account of the pay, fees, perquisites or salaries, annexed to the offices of the said persons respectively, so far as the same can be ascertained, and also an account of all monies received by Government in the last year, and of the application thereof, so far as the same may have come under the order of this Council.
Ordered, That the same be filed.
It appearing to this Board by a certificate from General St. Clair, that the following gentlemen are entitled to promotion in the fourth Pennsylvania regiment, vizt :- Captain Lieutenant Sproat to be Captain ; Captain Tudor, promoted to be Major, April 17th, 1780; Lieutenant Campbell to be Captain Lieutenant; Captain Lieuten- ant Sproat promoted ; Ensign Pratt to be Lieutenant, Lieutenant
VOL. XII .- 35.
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Potom resigned, January 1st, 1780; Ensign Hemly to be Lieuten- ant-Lieutenant Campbell; thereupon,
Resolved, That they be recommended to the Honourable Board of War for commissions.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Saturday, Nov'r 18th, 1780. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'ble the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Potter, Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Whitehill,
Mr. Van Campen.
Mr. Read,
The Council took into consideration the act of the General As- sembly of this State, directing that one of the Justices in each re- spective county be appointed to preside in the respective Courts of Common Pleas, General Quarter Sessions and Orphans' Court ; whereupon,
Resolved, That pursuant to the powers vested in this Board by the said act of Assembly, the following gentlemen be appointed & commissioned for and during pleasure, vizt :
For the city of Philadelphia-Plunkett Fleeson, Esq'r.
County of Philadelphia-
Bucks-Henry Wynkoop, Esquire.
Chester-William Clingan, Esq'r.
Lancaster-William Henry, Esq'r.
York-Richard McAllister, Esq'r.
Cumberland-
Berks-Peter Spiker, Esq'r.
Northampton-Nicholas Dupui, Esq'r.
Bedford-Barnard Dougherty, Esq'r.
Northumberland-Frederick Antis, Esq'r. Westmoreland --
A letter from his Excellency Sam'l Huntington, Esquire, Presi- dent of Congress, of the sixteenth instant, was received and read, inclosing an extract of a letter of the seventh, from his Excellency General Washington, on the subject of supplies for the army, and an act of Congress of the 14th, earnestly requesting the States of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, to forward to the army,
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
without loss of time, as great a proportion of the provisions as- signed to their quota as can be procured, while the season admits of transportation, and recommending to the respective States (where it hath not been already done) to pass laws to inflict capital pun- ishment on all persons who shall furnish the enemy with provi- sions, military or naval stores, and that the most effectual mea- sures be adopted for the vigorous execution of such laws.
On consideration,
Resolved, That Captain Dean Ziegler be appointed distributer of the enumerated articles to be issued to the officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line, agreeable to an act of Assembly, passed the first of March last, entitled "An Act for the more effectual "supply and honorable reward of the Pennsylvania troops in the "service of the United States of America ;" and also sub-clothier of this State, pursuant to a resolution of Congress of the 23d of March, 1779.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Monday, Nov'r 20th, 1780.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Read,
Mr. Whitehill,
Mr. Potter, Mr. Van Campen, and
Mr. Piper.
On representation of Doctor Cowell and Dr. Hutchinson, that Joseph Paxton, a prisoner, now confined in the new goal, is dan- gerously ill, and that the fresh air would contribute to his recovery,
Ordered, That the said Joseph Paxton be enlarged from his con- finement, on his giving bond with two sufficient sureties, each in the sum of ten thousand pounds, conditioned that he return to the new prison when called upon.
A letter of this day from David Franks was read, requesting that he may be allowed 'till Thursday next for his departure from this State, and that the pass lately granted to himself and daughter may be extended to a woman servant and the necessary baggage ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the same be granted.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Hon'ble William Moore, Esq'r, Vice President, for the sum of £11,000 Con-
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tinental money, ballance of his salary for the last year, agreeable to the following account:
Dr. The State of Pennsylvania with Hon'ble William Moore, Esq'r.
To amount of one year's salary, at £600 ₺ annum, or 1200 bushels of wheat at £20, Continental,
£24,000
Cr. 1780, May 26th. ~
£ 500
By an order on the Treasurer,
June 6th. do. do.
2,000
" 15th. do. do.
1,500
July 12th. do. do.
3,000
Aug'st 12th, do. do.
3,000
Sept'r 28th.
do.
do.
3,000
13,000
Balance,
- £11,000
The Council took into consideration the act of Assembly entitled " An Act for erecting an High Court of Errors and Appeals ;" and thereupon,
Resolved, That the Hon'ble James Smith, Esq'r, of the county of York, and the Hon'ble Henry Wynkoop, Esq'r, President of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks county, be appointed Judges of the said court, and that they be commissioned accordingly.
Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, Esq'r, Attorney General of this State, having resigned his commission,
Resolved, That the same be accepted, & the unanimous thanks of this Board be given him for his early and faithfull services to this Commonwealth in that office.
A letter from William Roberts, of Bucks county, dated the 17th instant, inclosing his commission appointing him Lieutenant Colonel of the third battalion of militia of the said county, and praying leave to resign the same, was read ; and thereupon,
Resolved, That the said resignation be accepted.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Tuesday, Novem'r 21st, 1780: PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'ble the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Whitehill,
Mr. Piper, and
General Potter.
A letter from General Smallwood to the Hon'ble the Chief Jus- tice, being laid before this Board, respecting the good conduct of
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
William Kerlin, of the borough of Chester, while the enemy were in possession of this city, and the same being confirmed by General Potter ; thereupon,
Resolved, That such part of the resolution of this Board of the 10th instant, as supercedes the said William Kerlin's licence as a publick house keeper for twelve months, be rescinded.
Colonel John Piper, elected to represent the county of Bedford in this Council, having resigned his office of Lieutenant of the said county, & Colonel George Ashman being recommended as a proper person to be appointed to the said office : On consideration,
Resolved, That Colonel George Ashman be appointed and com- missioned to be Lieutenant of the said county.
A petition from William Hamilton, praying to be permitted to continue in this State, or if that cannot be granted, to retire into one of the other States, and also to be allowed six weeks to settle his affairs, was read ; and thereupon,
Resolved, That he be permitted to retire forthwith into a neigh- bouring State, not nearer to the enemy at New York than the State of Pennsylvania, and that he give security, himself and two suffi- cient sureties, in the sum of £100,000, not to return again without permission of this Board, or to hold any correspondence with the enemy during the present war.
A petition from Ralph Merden, now under sentence of death for high treason, at Easton, in the county of Northampton, was read & dismissed.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Captain Na- than Boys, for the sum of £4,970, Continental money, amount of money due to the officers and private men of the Gallies, in lieu of their rations & refreshments from the 21st of October last to the 18th instant.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Captain Jo- seph Stiles, Commissary of Military Stores, for the sum of £1,000, Continental money, for the use of his department, for which he is to account.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Wednesday, Nov'r 22d, 1780.
PRESENT :
Mr. Read, Mr. Van Campen, Mr. Piper,
Mr. Potter, & Mr. Whitehill.
No Council.
I
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Thursday, Novem'r 23d, 1780. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'ble the Vice President.
Mr. Whitehill, Mr. Read, Mr. Gardner,
.
Mr. Piper, and
General Potter.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Frederick Sneider, for the sum of £1,300, Continental money, for purchas- ing fire wood for the use of the Council, for which he is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Captain Joel, for the sum of 6,000 dollars, Continental money, for secret ser- vices.
A letter from Captain Owen Ferris, of the troop of militia horse, of the county of Philadelphia, inclosing his commission and re- questing to be permitted to resign the same, was read ; and on con- sideration,
Resolved, That the said resignation be accepted.
On consideration,
Resolved, That William Bradford, Junior, Esq'r, be appointed & commissioned to be Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the room of Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, Esq'r, resigned.
It appearing to this Board by a certificate from General Wayne, that the following gentlemen are entitled to promotion in the third and ninth Pennsylvania regiments, vizt : Ninth regiment, Ensign Nathaniel Smith, to be Lieutenant, vice Vanleer promoted, October 10th, 1779, commission to bear date July 23d 1780.
Ensign David McKnight, to be Lieutenant, vice Stevenson pro- moted, October 10th, 1779; commission to bear date October 14th, 1779.
Third regiment, Lieutenant John Marshall, to be Captain Lieu- ten't, vice Capt'n Lieut't Henderson promoted; commission to bear date the 12th of May, 1779.
Ensign Richard Fullerton, to be Lieutenant, vice Lieuten't Mar- shall promoted; commiss'n to bear date 12th of May, 1779 : There- upon,
Resolved, That they be recommended to the Hon'ble the Board of war, for commissions.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Colonel Lewis Nichola, or his order, for the sum of 240 dollars, for sundry re- pairs done to the barracks.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Friday, Novem'r 24th, 1780.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'be the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Whitehill, Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Read,
Mr. Piper.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Honb'e John Lacey, jun'r, for the sum of £375, Continental money, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to account.
A petition from Alexander Kidd, confined in the new prison, praying to be enlarged from his confinement to solicit the charity of his friends in this city before his departure from this State, was read ; and
Ordered, That the said petition be dismissed.
The Council took into consideration a certificate from Mons'e Os- ter, Vice Consul of France, representing that the vessel called the Hope, Captain Job Pray, Master, is chartered for the purpose of lading one thousand barrells of flour, to be shipped for Rhode Is- land, for the sole account and risk of his Most Christian Majesty, and for the use of the royal navy ; thereupon,
Resolved, That the Naval Officer be directed to permit the said vessel to receive the said lading, and clear her out accordingly.
A recommendation from the Justices of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the county of Bedford, in favour of Thomas Moorhead, convicted at the said court of stealing twenty bushels of Indian corn, and sentenced to be publickly whipt, &ca., praying that this Council would remit the said punishment, was read ; whereupon, the same being considered,
Resolved, That the said punishment be remitted.
A letter of the 23d instant from Thomas Smith, Esq'r, Commis- sioner of the Continental Loan office for this State, was read, ac- quainting this Board that he has received from Michael Hillegas, Esquire, Continental Treasurer, part of the money prepared agree- able to the resolution of Congress of the 18th of March last, which waits the order of this State.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council
PHILAD'A, Saturday, Nov'r 25th, 1780.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'be the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Reed,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Whitehill,
Mr. Piper, & Mr. Van Campen.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Captain Joel, for the sum of four thousand dollars, Continental money, for secret services.
A petition from the sisters & relations of David Dawson, to be ex- ecuted this day, praying that the Council would extend mercy to him, was read, & the same was dismissed.
Resolved, That David Rittenhouse, Esq'r, Treasurer of this State, be directed not to issue any of the State money otherwise than at the rate of 75 for one.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble William Moore, Esq'r, Vice Presid't, for the sum of 160 dollars, Continental money, cash paid by him to Capt'n Joel, for secret services performed by him.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Hon'ble John Piper, for the sum of 2,000 dollars, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to account.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the President, to James Crawford, of the borough of Lancaster, conveying a tract of land situate in Earle township in the county of Lancaster, bounded as follows, vizt: beginning at a poplar tree on the brink of Mill creek ; and thence extending by other lands of Jacob Eaby south sixty-seven degrees east twenty-six perches and a half to a white oak, and south eighty-three degrees east one hundred and 41 perches to a post; and thence by lands of Jacob Bare & Mi- chael Grable respectively, north two degrees west ninety-nine perches to a post ; thence by the said Michael Grable's land south eighty-eight degrees west twenty-four perches to a post, and north twelve degrees west sixty-eight perches to a white oak; thence by Martin Hoover's land south eighty-eight degrees east seven perches to a post in the middle of said creek ; and thence up the river of gaid creek about 15 perches; and thence by the same ten perches to the place of beginning; containing 150 acres and the usual allowance of six per cent. for roads : Seized and sold as the estate late of George Reine, an attainted traitor, for the sum of £30,000, to the said James Crawford, which sum he hath paid to the Agents of Confiscated Estates, in the said county. Deed dated the 25th instant.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
John Shaw, William Blake & James Steelman, inhabitants of the State of New Jersey, and lately come out of New York, hav- ing been brought before this Board and examined, and it appearing by sundry papers found upon them that a correspondence & intercourse has been carried on with the enemy at New York, injurious to the welfare of this State and of the United States of America ; there- fore,
Resolved, That the said John Shaw, William Blake & James Steelman, be committed to the common goal of the city and county of Philadelphia, there to remain untill delivered in due course of law, and the Goaler is hereby directed to receive and keep them accordingly
A petition from Michael Lapp, setting forth that he has been fined in the sum of £965, for not performing his tour of duty on the late call of militia, and praying some relief from this Board, was read; and thereupon,
Resolved, That the same be dismissed.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the President to Francis Lee, of the city of Philadelphia, conveying a certain three story Messuage, bake-house, stable and lott of ground, situate on the west side of Front street, between Sassafrass and Mulberry streets, in the said city of Philadelphia ; containing in breadth nineteen feet, and in depth 162 feet and nine inches, bounded south- ward by ground of Edward Brookes, westward by the back ends of Second street lots, northward by a messuage and lot of Jonathan Richards, and eastward by Front street aforesaid ; seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of George Knapper, to the said Francis Lee, for the sum of £44,000, Continental money, (subject to the yearly rent of 22 bushels of good merchantable wheat, paya- ble to the trustees of the University,) three-fourths of which sum the said Francis Lee hath paid to the Agents of Confiscated Es- tates in the city of Philadelphia, the one-fourth part to be and remain in the hands of the said Francis Lee, for the purpose afore- said. Deed dated. the 25th instant.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent to Jacob Geiger, of the city of Philadelphia, conveying three yearly rent charges or sums, to wit: The sum of sixty-nine Span- ish silver milled pieces of eight or dollars, and one-third part of a dollar, issuing out of a lot of ground in tenure of. Henry Keppele ; the sum of ten Spanish silver milled pieces of eight, or dollars and one half a dollar, issuing out of a lott of ground in tenure of George Knorr ; and the like sum of ten Spanish milled pieces of eight, or dollars and one-half of a dollar, issuing out of a lott of ground in the tenure of William Warner ; seized and sold agreea- ble to law, as the estate late of Samuel Shoemaker, to the said Jacob Geiger, for and during the term of the natural life of the said Samuel Shoemaker, for the sum of £4,050, which sum he hath
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paid into the hands of the Agents of Confiscated Estates in the said city. Deed dated the twenty-fifth day of November instant.
Resolutions of the Hon'ble the General Assembly of the twenty- third & twenty-fourth instant, were received and read, by which it appears that the following gentlemen are appointed to the several offices annexed to their names, vizt : David Rittenhouse, Esquire, Treasurer of the State; William Crispin, Collector of Excise for the city and county of Philadelphia; John Hart, for the county of Bucks ; Samuel Cunningham, for the county of Chester; William Hay, for the county of Lancaster; Thomas Armor, senior, for the county of York ; Matthew Henderson, for the county of Cumber- land ; John Whitman, for the county of Berks ; George Groff, for the county of Northampton ; John Cessna, for the county of Bed- ford ; Daniel Montgomery, for the county of Northumberland ; and John Allen, for the county of Westmoreland ; John Linnington, officer for inspecting, culling and counting all staves and heading, and for the inspecting and measuring all boards, plank and timber, shipped from this State; John Jones, Health Officer.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Nov'r 27th, 1780, Monday.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'ble the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Piper, &
Mr. Whitehill,
Mr. Van Campen.
Ordered, That Robert Smith, Esq'r, Agent for Estates, do make out an inventory of the goods and effects in his possession, now or late the property of Joseph Stansbury, and make return thereof to this Board immediately.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILA'D, Tuesday, Nov'r, 28th, 1780.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'ble the Vice President.
Mr. Read, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Whitehill,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Van Campen.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Hon'ble James Read, Esquire, for the sum of £2,000, Continental money, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Colonel Lewis Nichola, for the sum of ££1,440, Continental money, amount of mo- ney due to Colonel Lewis Nichola, Captains Woelpper, Reily, & McIlhatton, and Lieutenants Honeyman, Wood, & Pugh, in lieu of their rations and refreshments from the 23d of October last to the nineteenth instant.
The following message was read and approved; and
Ordered, To be presented to the Hon'ble House of General As- ·sembly.
1
Message from the President and Council to the Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met :
Gentlemen,
The inclosed letter will shew the expectation of the Quarter Mas- ter General from this State. The condition of the publick Trea- sury by the deficiencies of the taxes, and the want of credit of the State money, utterly disables the Executive powers of the State from performing the important duties requested.
The supply of the army rests with the House, who are equally interested with us in supporting it in such a condition as to render it effective.
JOSEPH REED, President.
Council Chamber, Novem'r 28th, 1780.
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In Council.
PHILAD'A, Wednesday, Nov'r 29th, 1780. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'be the Vice President.
Mr. Read,
General Potter, and
Mr. Whitehill,
Mr. Piper.
Mr. Van Campen,
An account was laid before the Board of Mr. Dehaven, for ser- vices performed by him in the absence of Colonel Bull on his pri- vate business, amounting to the sum of £39 3 9.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of Council that the same ought not to be allowed, but as the Assembly seemed to be of opinion that the compensation of the Commissioners was inadequate, and directed this Board to raise it, in their discretion; it is, therefore, agreed that Colonel Bull be allowed ££35 on this account.
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