USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 51
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Resolved, That their fines be remitted.
A petition from Henry Bedskin, Captain of a company of light dragoons in Colonel Armand's Legion, praying to be furnished with cloathing from the State, was read ; thereupon,
Resolved, That the same be dismissed, and the petitioner directed to comply with the regulation of the fifteenth of March last.
A petition from George Palmer, praying remission of the for- feiture of his recognizance for the appearance of a certain Robert Land at the last court of Oyer and Terminer held in the said county, was read ; and the same was dismissed.
A petition from Joseph Stansbury, praying to be permitted to retire within the lines of the enemy, was read, and the same was rejected, so far as it respects his going to New York.
A petition from William Hammill, praying a pass from this Board to Elizabethtown, in the State of New Jersey, in order that he may endeavour to send some relief to his son, who is a prisoner with the enemy, was read ; and thereupon,
Resolved, That the prayer of the said petition be granted.
A petition from Andrew Darcus, now confined in the old goal, was read, praying to be discharged.
Ordered, That the said Andrew Darcus be discharged from con- finement, on condition that he leave this State immediately, and not return again, on pain of being re-committed.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Thursday, Dec'r 14th, 1780.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'ble the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Lacey, Mr. Read,
Mr. Potter, and Mr. Piper.
A letter from the Hon'ble Frederick Agustus Muhlenberg,' Es- quire, Speaker of the General Assembly, of this day, was read, inclosing a copy of a resolution of the House of Assembly of the eighth instant, appointing a committee to procure a state of the treasury, &c. ; the said letter informing that no order has issued
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from the House prohibiting the Treasurer from issuing Continental money.
A petition from Ann Hervey, praying a pass to the city cf New York, was read; and on consideration,
Ordered, That a pass be granted, on condition that she do not return again during the continuance of the present war.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Friday, Decem'r 15th, 1780.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Hon'be the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper.
Mr. Reed,
Thomas Armor, Jun'r, presented to the Council an account of his expenses in conducting to camp the second company of the York county volunteers, amounting to the sum of £2,605, Continental money ; & the same being considered,
Resolved, That William Scott, Esq'r, Lieutenant of the county of York, be directed to pay the same out of the monies arising from militia fines. -
Major Alexander Boyd, appointed by this Board to be Auctioneer for the Northern Liberties, now offers Robert Smith and Samuel Curry, of the city of Philadelphia, hatters, as sureties for the faith- full performance of the duties of the said office, which the Council approve.
A letter from his Excellency Samuel Huntingdon, Esquire, President of Congress, of the 14th instant, was received and read, inclosing a resolution of the Hon'ble Congress, of the 12th instant, directing that the Commander-in-Chief relieve (if he shall judge that post necessary) the garrison of Wyoming as soon as may be, by troops from the Continental army, not belonging to the line of Pennsylvania or Connecticutt, or citizens of either of the said States; and that the present and future garrison continue to be supplied by the Commissary from the magazines of the con- tinent by purchase, or out of the quota of provisions raised by any State for the use of the Continent ; and that the State of Penn- sylvania be informed of the steps Congress have taken to remove every subject of jealousy or discontent ; and that they be requested to order the supplies which were stopped by Lieutenant Hunter on their progress to Wyoming, to be immediately forwarded to that garrison, to relieve its present urgent distresses.
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The following letters were received and read, vizt :
From William Henry, Esq'r, and Christian Wertz, Commiss'r of Purchases in Lancaster county, both dated the 12th instant, on the subject of supplying Colonel Myland's regiment of dragoons, now quartered in that county.
From Hon'ble John Van Campen, recommending Lieutenant Colonel John Chambers as a proper person to be appointed to set- tle and pay off the seven months men raised in that county.
Complaint having been made to this Board that the following persons had taken forcible possession of Hog Island, the property of this State, vizt : Benjamin Rue, Francis Proctor, Joseph Ogden, William Eckhart, and Mark McCall; and the said persons being brought before this Board and examined, touching the said com- plaint, they acknowledged the taking possession of the said Island, alledging they have a sufficient title thereto ; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the said Benjamin Rue, Francis Proctor, Joseph Ogden, William Eckhart, and Mark McCall, do enter into sufficient security for their appearance at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions to be held for the county of Chester, to answer the said tresspass, which was taken in the manner following, to wit : Ben- jamin Rue in &3,000 ; William Henderson & Michael Kaner, each in &1,500. Francis Proctor in £3,000; William Henderson and William Watkins, each in &1,500. Joseph Ogden in £3,000; Elija Weed and Michael Kaner, each in &1,500. William Eck- hart in £3,000; William Watkins & Michael Kaner, each in £1,500. Mark McCall in £3,000; William Henderson and James Thompson, each in £1,500.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Saturday, Dec'r 16th, 1780. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'be the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Potter, and Mr. Piper.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Major Wil- diam Armstrong, for the sum of two hundred pounds, State money, for the purpose of paying the workmen employed at the fortifica- tions on Mud Island, and purchasing the necessary provisions, for which he is to account.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The following account being laid before the Board, vizt :
The State of Pennsylvania to Michael Ryan, Inspector of the Militia, Dr. :
1780, Dec. 15th. To 104 days certainly fixed by Council, at 10 p. per day,
£52
Cr. By cash receive of Col'l Henry,
£16 17 6
Ballance, .
- £35 2 6
And the same being considered,
Resolved, That Colonel William Henry, Lieutenant of the city of Philad'a, be directed to pay to the said Michael Ryan the sum of £35 2 6, State money, the ballance of the said account.
The Council taking into consideration a recommendation of the " Court of Quarter Sessions of Bucks county, in behalf of Josiah Baldwin, convicted at the said court of larceny, and sentenced to be publickly whipt, and pay a fine to the use of the State of the sum of £750, setting forth that the said Josiah Baldwin is willing to inlist to serve as a soldier in the Continental army ; thereupon,
Resolved, That the fine adjudged to be paid to the use of the State, and the said punishment of whipping, be remitted, on condi- tion of his inlisting to serve as a soldier in one of the regiments of this State during the present war.
A resolution of the House of Assembly of the fourteenth in- stant, was received and read, authorizing and impowering this Board to procure on loan the sum of £600, in specie, for the purpose of inlisting a number of men now at camp, whose times are near ex- piring, agreeable to a requisition of General Wayne; and that the House will provide adequate means of repayment.
WHEREAS, The Hon'be House of Assembly have resolved that this Board should borrow on the faith of the State £600, in specie, for the purpose of recruiting a number of men now at camp, whose times are near expiring :
Resolved, That a subscription paper reciting the above resolve, be put into the hands of the Auditors of Accounts, and that each of the said Auditors in rotation, do carry the same to such well-af- fected citizens as they shall think most likely to afford their assist- ance in the present emergency, and that the Treasurer of the State do give promissary certificates of repayment to all such lenders as shall be returned to him by the said Auditors, or either of them.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Hon'be Joseph Gardner, Esq'r, for the sum of £142, State money, 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 Presi- dent, to Edward Milner, of New Brittain township, in the county of Bucks, conveying two tracts of land and messuages and tene- ments thereon erected, situate in Lower Merion township, in the county of Philadelphia; one of the said tracts beginning in the
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middle of the road between this tract and Margaret Jones' land, thence extending south sixty-three degrees west three hundred perches, by land of William Lewis, by the next described tract, and by land of Owen Jones, to a corner ; thence still by the said Owen Jones' land, and by land of Benjamin Humphreys, north twenty- eight degrees and thirty minutes west 182 perches to a corner ; thence by land of Conrad Schitz and John Robinson, north sixty- five degrees east 255 perches to a corner; thence by land of John Righter, and of the aforesaid Margaret Jones, South forty-three degrees east one hundred and eighty perches to the place of be- ginning; containing three hundred acres. The other of the said tracts beginning in the first line of the above-mentioned tract ; thence extending by the said Owen Jones's land, south 37 degrees east one hundred and one perches ; thence by land of the said Wil- liam Lewis, north 73 degrees east 130 perches to a corner ; thence still by the said Lewis's land, northwest 129 perches to the above described tract; thence by the same south 63 degrees west 106 perches to the place of beginning; containing 78 acres, be the said tracts, or either of them, more or less : Seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of John Roberts, deceased, to the said Ed- ward Milner, for the sum of £271,600, (subject to the yearly rent of 135 bushells and four-fifth part of a bushel of good merchanta- ble wheat, payable to the trustees of the University,) three-fourths of which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Agents of Confis- cated Estates in the said county, the other fourth part being re- served for the purpose aforesaid.
Deed dated the sixteenth instant.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Monday, Dec'r 18th, 1780. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'be the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Read,
Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Piper.
It appearing to this Board, that the following gentlemen are in- titled to promotion in the second and fourth Pennsylvania regi- ments, vizt : Second regiment, Ensign William Murrow, to be Lieu- tenant, Lieutenant John Parks, deceased ; Ensign John Bell Tildon, to be Lieutenant, Lieutenant Jacob Morris Dehart, deceased ; fourth regiment, Captain William Sproat to rank as Captain, Captain Lieutenant Thomas Campbell, entitled to rank as Captain Lieu-
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
tenant; and Lieutenant Pratt to rank as Lieutenant, from the eleventh of April, 1779; Lieutenant Henry Henly to rank as Lieutenant from the first day of January, 1780.
Resolved, That they be recommended to the Hon'be Board of war for commissions.
The Lieutenant of the city of Philadelphia having represented, that having proceeded to collect militia fines, pursuant to a resolu- tion of this Board, and John Nixon having brought suits against the Sub-Lieutenant and Collectors ; thereupon,
Resolved, That the Lieutenant do, out of the monies in his hands received on account of the militia, engage Jonathan D. Ser- geant and Jared Ingersoll to assist the Attorney General in de- fending the said suits, and also that the Lieutenants proceed with all due diligence to collect the militia fines outstanding on account of the late tour of duty.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of his Excel- lency Joseph Reed, Esquire, President, for the sum of five thou- sand pounds, Continental money, in part of his salary, for which he is to account.
A recommendation of the Justices of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, for the county of Westmoreland, in favour of William Ferguson, convicted at the said court of larceny, and sentenced to be publickly whipt, and pay a fine to the use of the State of the sum of seven pounds ten shillings, was read ; and thereupon,
Resolved, That the said corporal punishment and fine be remit- ted.
The two following orders were drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Hon'ble James Potter, Esquire, vizt :- One for the sum of 6,320 dollars, Continental money, for his services with the militia from the 10th of August to the 10th of September last, on the late tour of duty, the
And the other for the sum of 2,386 dollars and two thirds, for his services as Brigadier General, as aforesaid, & for the services of his Brigade Major.
Messrs. Smith and Campbell, from the Hon'ble House of Assem- bly, having informed this Board that a new charge had been this day presented against the Hon'ble Francis Hopkinson, Esquire, which was now under the consideration of the House, and submit- ing to the Board the propriety of deferring the tryal on the former articles,
Resolved, That the hearing be deferred untill Thursday next, at eleven o'clock, in the Council chamber.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Joseph Stransbury, with his family, be permitted to go to New York, he giving his promise upon honor to proceed im- mediately to that city, and use his utmostendeavours to have Abijah
-
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Wright and Casper Geyer, now prisoners on Long Island, released and permitted to return home, and that he will not do any thing injurious to the United States ; that his effects be restored to him & himself liberated as soon as he shall be ready to set out for New York ; that the agent for confiscated estates be directed to deliver up the keys of his property.
A letter from Francis Hopkinson, Esq'r, Judge of the Admi- ralty, stiled an answer to the charges exhibitted against him by the House of General Assembly, was read; and
Ordered, That the same be sent to the committee of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly appointed to support the said charges.
The following articles being seized on Captain John Steelman, vizt :- A silver watch, makers name Richard Ovingham, No. 38,- 981; one pair of worsted stockings; one pair of buckskin gloves ; one ivory comb; one old breast broach ; one pair of silver sleeve buttons ; one pair of gold sleeve buttons, marked S. S. ; one pocket book, containing eighty-six Continental dollars ; one leathern purse, containing twenty nine guineas.
The following articles were found upon John Shaw :- One old leathern pocket-book, containing one hundred and forty dollars, & part of a breast broach, four dollars and one sixteenth of a dollar, hard money, and five coppers.
The following articles were found upon William Blake, vizt :-- Seven hundred and twenty-one dollars & one sixth of a dollar, Con- tinental ; one dollar and five-sixteenths of a dollar, hard money ; two pistreens, two silver English shillings & one copper ; one set ring & broach ; two pair of set stone buttons ; one set stock-buckle, old ; two old buttons ; one pair of silver shoe-buckles ; one old knife, and brass ink horn.
On consideration,
Ordered, That the money above mentioned be delivered by the Secretary to the Treasurer; that the silver watch be hung up in the Council chamber, and the remainder of the goods be delivered to Robert Smith, Agent for Confiscated Estates, in order that they may be sold. Note-This money was paid accordingly, and the receipt filed in the office, dated 27th December, 1780.
T. M., Sec'y.
A letter from his Excellency Gen'l Washington, dated New Wind- sor, December 10th, 1780, was read, in which his Excellency pro- poses that the supplies of provisions to be furnished, be deposited as follows, vizt :
At Fort Pitt, 2,400 barrels of flour, 1,000 ditto of salt meat, or salt equivalent to put up that quantity, 7,000 gallons of spirits ; Carlisle, 800 barrels of flour, 3,000 gallons of spirits, 250 barrels of salt meat, or salt equivalent to put to that quantity on the spot ; Wyoming, 200 barrels of flour, 1,000 gallons of spirits, 100 bushels of salt; Lancaster, 1,000 barrels of flour, 3,000 gallons of spirits,
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500 bushels of salt; Easton, 10,000 barrels of flour; Philadelphia, all the remainder of salt, salt meat, flour and rum. And he adds, that "the Commissary General, as he is directed, will inform you from time to time of the quantities of live cattle which will be ne- cessary, and when they are to be delivered."
The following message being read and considered, was approved and signed, vizt :
Message from the President & Council to the Representatives of the freemen of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met.
Gentlemen :- We lay before you a letter just received from Gen- eral Washington, from which you will see the dependence he places on this State for supplies, pursuant to the resolution of the 4th of November last.
The magazines at the different posts are nearly exhausted, and we are utterly unprovided with the means of making new purchases. The consequences to the good people of the State, as well as to the general cause, are too obvious to need enumeration or observation.
JOSEPH REED, President.
Council Chamber, Philad'a, Decem'r, 18th, 1780.
A petition from Peter Maguire was read, setting forth that he hath been convicted of larceny at the last Court of General Quarter Sessions, & sentenced to be publickly whipt, and pay a fine to the use of the State of the sum of £500, and praying remission of the said fine : On consideration,
Resolved, That the said fine be remitted, on condition that he enter on board one of the Continental frigates, to serve during the present war.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Tuesday, Dec'r 19th, 1780.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Hon'ble the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Potter, and Mr. Piper.
Colonel Piper, member of this Board, Bedford county, having re- presented that Major John Cessna, in consequence of orders from a committee, dated 14th July, 1776, signed by Messieurs Woods, Smith, Galbreath, Espy, Dougherty, Nagel and Davidson, and also upon a like direction from Colonel Woods, dated the sixth of Jan- uary, 1777, had taken the arms of persons who did not go them-
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selves into service; and that for the execution of said orders, he is now prosecuted at common law;
Resolved, That all officers not abusing their powers, ought to be indemnified by the publick; that, therefore, this Board direct the Attorney General, or his Deputy, to defend said suits at the charge of this Commonwealth, if on inquiry he shall find that Major Cessna is prosecuted for the performance of such public service, and has not acted oppressively therein; and that in case of the absence of the Attorney General, or his Deputy, the Court of Common Pleas appoint some gentleman of the law to defend said suits at the publick expence.
Mr. Smith, Mr. Wynkoop, Mr. Lowry and Mr. Slough, being a committee from the House of Assembly appointed to confer with this Board respecting the quartering of Colonel Moylan's regiment of dragoons, in the county of Lancaster, attended in Council, and a conference was accordingly had thereupon.
The following return of the officers & privates in the fourth re- giment of light dragoons, entitled to draw stores from the State of Pennsylvania, being laid before the Board, vizt; Colonel, Stephen Moylan ; John Craig, Captain ; John Sullivan, Lieutenant ; Thomas McCalla, Surgeon ; William Thompson, Riding Master. Privates, William Darling, Jesse Grammer, Robert Shepherd, David Crider, John McFarland, John King, Thomas Roberts, Christian Kuhn, John Saylor, John Morris, James Quarrel, David Shannon, George Grace, John Le George, Jeremiah Scott, Jacob Speder.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Colonel Lewis Farmer be directed to furnish one month's supplies, agreeable to the said return.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Captain Na- than Boys, for the sum of four thousand four hundred and ninety pounds, Continental money, amount of cash due to the officers and men of the gallies, from the 18th of November to the 16th instant.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of John Miller, Esquire, for the sum of £26 13, State money, for administering the oath of allegiance & fidelity to 553 soldiers, belonging to the Pennsylvania line, at shilling each.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to Jonathan Potts, Esquire, conveying a certain messuage or tenement, plantation and tract or piece of land, situate in Douglass township, in the county of Philadelphia, beginning at a birch tree, a corner by Schuylkill river; thence by Samuel Potts' land north twenty-three degrees east 62 perches and five-tenths to the middle of the Reading road ; thence along the same north 62 degrees west 66 perches; thence north 82 degrees west 35 perches; tbence by Thomas Potts' land north nine degrees west 120 perches to a white oak, and south 76 degrees west 40 perches and five-tenths; thence by John Fritz's land south 37 degrees west 144 perches, and south
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
three degrees west 38 perches and five-tenths to the middle of the Reading road aforesaid ; thence along the middle of the same south 70 degrees west 52 perches, & south fifty-nine degrees west 28 perches ; thence by Jonas Yocum and Jacob Light's land south 25 degrees and a half east 103 perches to Schuylkill river; thence down the same the several courses thereof to the place of beginning; containing two hundred & thirty-five acres : Seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of John Potts, an attainted traitor, to the said Jonathan Potts, Esquire, for the sum of £20,- 100, Continental money, which sum he hath paid into the hands of the agents of the said county. Deed dated the 30th day of March last.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to James Smith & Jasper Yeates, Esquires, conveying four tracts, pieces or parcels of land, situate, lying and being as follows. to wit: One of them situate in York township, in the county of York, containing about 313 acres and the usual allowance of six acres per cent , bounded by lands of Henry Yissler, Peter Diehl, John Rodte, Catherine Weaverlin, and Jacob Blauzer, and by Co- dorus creek. One other of the said tracts, situate in Newberry town- ship, in the said county, containing about 184 acres and the usual allowance of six acres per cent., bounded by lands of Joseph Pass- mon and Ann Noblett, by a vacant stony hill, and by the next de- scribed tract. One other of the said tracts, situate in Newberry township aforesaid, containing about 145 acres & a half, and the usual allowance of six acres per cent., bounded by the last described tract, and by lands of William Passmon's heirs, Ellis Lewis, and Anne Noblett. And the other of the said tracts, situate in New- berry township aforesaid, containing about 251 acres, & the usual allowance of six acres per cent., bounded by lands of Arthur Er- win, Charles West, Abraham Thaley, George Mash, and of the heirs of Hedges Vanes, and by vacant hills : Seized and sold, agreeable to law, as the estate late of James Rankin, an attainted traitor, to the said James Smith and Jasper Yeates, Esquires, for the sum of £15,738 15 6, Continental money, which sum they have paid into the hands of the Agents of Confiscated Estates in the siad county. Deed dated the 16th instant.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Hon'be John Lacey, Junior, Esquire, for the sum of fifty pounds, State money, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to account.
A petition from William Erskine, praying permission to go to Ireland, by way of France, was read and rejected.
A petition from Martha Wilson, praying a pass to Elizabeth town, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the same be granted.
VOL. XII .- 37.
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In Council.
PHILAD'A, Wednesday, Dec'r 20th, 1780.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Hon'be the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Piper.
Mr. Galbraith, from the Hon'be House of Assembly, laid before the Board a further article of impeachment against Francis Hop- kinson, Esq'r, Judge of the Court of Admiralty, for exacting and receiving illegal fees ; which being read,
Resolved, That the said Francis Hopkinson, Esq'r, be furnished with a copy thereof, & that he be desired to give in his answer thereto as soon as possible.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Hon'ble John Piper, Esq'r, for the sum of thirty pounds, State money, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to ac- count.
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