USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 55
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An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Frederick Sneider, door-keeper, for the sum of nineteen pounds seven shil- lings and six pence, State money, amount of his account for his wages, from the first to the thirty-first day of January last, inclu- sive, thirty-one days, at twelve shillings and six pence per day.
A letter from his Excellency the President of Congress, was read, inclosing a resolve of this day's date, recommending " to the Supreme Executive of this State of Pensylvania, the calling into service for thirty days, if not sooner discharged, one hundred rank and file of the militia, properly officered."
A return of the election of justices for the township of Hunt- ingdon, in the county of Bedford, was receiv'd and read, by which it appears that John Cannon and John Cryder were duly elected Justices for the said township; whereupon,
Resolved, That John Cannon, Esq'r, be appointed a Justice of the Peace for the county of Bedford, and that he be commissioned accordingly.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to James Lacaze and Michael Mallet, of the city of Philadel- phia, gentlemen, conveying a three-story brick messuage, kitchen, stores and lott of ground, situated on the east side of Water street, between Sasafrass and Mulberry streets, in the said city of Phila- delphia ; containing in breadth on Water street aforesaid, thirty- one feet eleven inches, (including an alley of nine feet eight inches
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wide on the south side thereof,) and continuing that breadth ninety-two feet, then widening on the south side thereof thirteen feet six inches, and continuing that breadth ninety-four feet, into the river Delaware, as far as low water mark : Bounded southward by ground now or late of John Coxe; eastward by the river Dela- ware aforesaid; northward by a messuage and lott late of Benja- min Shoemaker, deceased ; and westward by Water street aforesaid: Also, one other brick tenement, stable, coach house and bank lott, opposite to the above mentioned messuage and lott, containing in breadth north and south twenty-six feet four inches, (including an alley of eight feet wide on the north side thereof,) and containing in depth from Front street to Water street aforesaid forty-five feet: Bounded southward by ground of Benjaman Morgan; westward by Front street aforesaid ; northward by ground of the said Benja- man Shoemaker, deceased; and eastward by Water street afore- said : Seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate of the late Samuel Shoemaker, an attainted traytor, to the said James Lacaze and Michael Mallet, for the sum of one hundred and eighty-six thousand pounds, Continental money, which sum they have paid into the hands of the Agents of Confiscated Estates in the city of Philadelphia. Deed dated the fourth day of February instant.
In Council.
Monday, February 5th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Read, Mr. Cunningham and
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper.
The Board taking into consideration that this is the season of recruiting, and that in various other respects the publick service requires that the officers shou'd go to their several places of regi- mental rendezvous with all convenient expedition, do request the commanding officer of the Pensylvania line to give the necessary orders for that purpose forthwith ; and in order to accommodate the several officers with money for travelling charges, the Auditors of Accounts do pay to each field officer, if required, the additional sum of ten pounds, and to each Captain and subaltern six pounds, on account of his depreciation. That the commanding officer be also requested to return to Council the names of those officers who have special permission to remain in town, either on important private business, or the necessary duty of their respective regi- ments.
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A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to James Budden, Jobn Dunlap and Thomas Lawrence, con- veying one full, equal and even moiety, or undivided half part of a tract of land, situate, lying and being in the township of Block- ley, and bounded as follows, that is to say : Beginning at a post or stone set for a corner in the line of Thomas Paschall's land, in a small run of water, a branch of Cobb's creek, near two winding maple saplings ; thence extending along the same line north thirty degrees west one hundred and twenty-five perches to a post ; thence by land now or late of Daniel Hibberd, south forty-seven degrees and a half west one hundred and thirty-six perches and three- fourths of a perch to a stone, near a laurel bush by the side of Cobb's creek aforesaid ; thence down the said creek about sixty- eight perches to a marked ashe tree at a corner of a small piece of meadow ground of the said Daniel Hibberd; thence by the same north forty-two degrees east twenty perches and a half to a post, and south seventy-one degrees east thirty-nine perches to the place of beginning; containing about forty-seven and a half, be the same more or less : Seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of Joel Evans, an attainted traitor, to the said James Budden, John Dunlap and Thomas Lawrence, for the sum of fifteen thousand pounds, Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent of seven bushells and a half of good merchantable wheat, payable to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, and to their suc- cessors and assigns; three-fourth parts of which sum they have paid into the hands of the Agents for Confiscated Estates in the county of Philadelphia. the remaining one-fourth being reserved for the purpose aforesaid. Deed dated the fourth day of February instant.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to James Budden, John Dunlap and Thomas Lawrence, con- veying a certain tract of land situate in the township of the Northern Liberties, in the county of Philadelphia, and according to a late survey thereof, bounded and being as follows, that is to say : Be- ginning at a stone or corner of Henry Ciss's land ; thence by land late of Isaac Norris north twenty-seven degrees west one hundred and thirty-eight perches and seven-tenths of a perch to a stone, or corner of Thomas Bond's land ; thence by the same south fifty-one. degrees and a half west fifty-three perches to a stake or corner ; thence south sixty-eight and a half degrees east thirteen perches to a stake; thence still by the said Thomas Bond's land south twenty-nine degrees and a half east seventy-nine perches to a stake or corner of the said Henry Ciss's land ; thence by the same south seventy-two degrees and a half east fifty-six perches and a half to the place of beginning ; about thirty acres, be the same more or less : Seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of Joseph Grieswold, an attainted traitor, to the said James Budden, John Dunlap and Thomas Lawrence, for the sum of twenty-seven theu-
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sand pounds, Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent of thirteen bushels and a half of good merchantable wheat, paya- ble to the Trustees of the University of the State of Pensylvania, and to their successors and assigns; three-fourths of which sum they have paid into the hands of the Agents of Confiscated Estates in the county of Philadelphia, the remaining one-fourth part to be · reserved for the purpose aforesaid. Deed dated the fourth day of February instant.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Colonel Proctor be desired to attend this Board to morrow morning at twelve o'clock.
Ordered, That the Attorney General of the State be directed to issue a writt, in the name of the Commonwealth, against Lieuten- ant John Bigham, of the fifth Pensylvania regiment, and mark the same eight thousand dollars bail.
The petition of John Becker, convicted of felony in the Quar- ter Sessions of the county of Cumberland, praying that his fine may be remitted, was read ; and on consideration,
Ordered, That the fine of the said John Becker be remitted, upon his enlisting in the fourth Pensylvania Regiment, to serve during the war.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Auditors of Accounts for the sum of one thousand pounds, State money, or new Continental money, for the purpose of advancing to the offi- cers of the Pensylvania line, and to be charged to them in the settlement of their accounts of depreciation.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Tuesday, February 6th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Cunningham,
Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Piper.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to Joseph Dean, Esquire, conveying a certain three story brick messuage or tenement and lott of ground, situate on the east side of Second street, between Walnut and Spruce streets, in the city of Philadelphia, containing in breadth twenty feet, and extend- ing in depth from Second street aforesaid to Dock street; being on the north side one hundred and eleven feet, and on the south side ninety-seven feet; bounded northward by ground of George Doug- lass, eastward by Dock street aforesaid, southward by ground of
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Sellwood Griffin, and westward by Second street aforesaid : Seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of John Henderson, an attainted traytor, to the said Joseph Dean, for the sum of forty- nine thousand pounds, Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent, payable to the Trustees of the University of the State of Pensylvania, and to their successors and assigns, of twenty- four bushells and a half of merchantable wheat, three-fourths of which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Agents for Confis- cated Estates in the county of Philadelphia, the remaining one- fourth to be reserved for the purpose aforesaid. Deed dated the thirty-first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and eighty- one.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency, to George Benner, of Bristol township, in the county of Philadelphia, con- veying a certain tract of land, situate in the manor of Mooreland, in the said county, and, according to the late survey thereof, bounded as follows, to wit :- Beginning at a corner of Richard Morpoole's land and the township line; thence south fifty degrees east one hundred and fifty-one perches to a corner of Derrick Krewson's land; thence north thirty-nine degrees east one hundred and thirty-one perches and five-tenths of a perch to a corner of William Tyller's land; thence north fifty degrees west one hundred and seventy-two perches to a corner of William Roberts's land ; thence by the same south forty degrees west twenty-seven perches to a corner ; thence south fifty degrees east twenty-seven perches to a corner; thence south forty degrees west sixty-six perches to a corner ; thence south fifty degrees east four perches ; thence south four degrees west four perches ; thence north fifty degrees west four perches; thence south forty degrees west twenty perches and five-tenths of a perch to the place of beginning; containing one hundred and twenty-six acres and one hundred and fifty-four perches, be the same more or less : Seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of John Lough- borough, an attainted traytor, to the said George Benner, for the sum of twenty thousand four hundred pounds, Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent of ten bushells and one-fifth part of a bushell of good merchantable wheat, payable to the Trustees of the University of the State of Pensylvania, and their succes- sors and assigns: Three-fourths of which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Agents for Confiscated Estates in the county of Philadelphia, the remaining one-fourth to be reserved for the pur- pose aforesaid. Deed dated the fourth day of February instant.
An application from Mary Scanlan, wife of John Scanlan, killed in the action of the seventh June last, requesting that she may have the cloathing due to her late husband, and it appearing by certificates and recommendations, that she is the wife of the said John Scanlon, and of good reputation,
Ordered, That Colonel Lewis Farmer be directed to deliver to the said Mary Scanlan stuff for a gown, petticoat, shift, and a pair stockings, in lieu of the cloathing due to her late husband.
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A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to Joseph Dean, Esquire, of the city of Philadelphia, con- veying a certain plantation or tract of land, situate in Hatfield town- ship, in the county of Philadelphia, and, according to a late survey thereof, bounded and being as follows, vizt :- Beginning at a white oak sappling in the line of - Buckhamer's land, a corner of Mar- tin Wireman's land ; thence extending along the said Wireman's land north forty-one degrees and three-quarters, east one hundred and fifteen perches to a stone, a corner of Thomas Davis's land ; thence along the same south forty-one degrees and three-quarters east one hundred and forty perches to a post, a corner of Abijab Wright's land ; thence by the same, and by land of Thomas Stilford, south forty-two degrees and a half west one hundred and fifteen perches to a post, a corner of the said Buckhamer's land ; thence by the same north forty-one degrees and three quarters west one hundred and forty-one perches to the place of beginning; con- taining one hundred and one acres, be the same more or less : Seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of Jonathan Wright, an attainted traytor, to the said Joseph Dean, for the sum of eleven thousand four hundred pounds, Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent of five bushells and seven-tenths of a bushell of good merchantable wheat, payable to the Trustees of the University of Pensylvania, and their successors and assigns: Three-fourths of which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Agents for Confis- cated Estates in the city of Philadelphia, the remaining one-fourth to be reserved for the purpose aforesaid. Deed dated the thirty- first day of January last.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Thursday, February 8th, 1781. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Cunningham, General Potter.
Mr. Van Campen,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Messrs. Wil- Tiam Forbes and Robert M'Knight, overseers of the poor, for the sum of eighteen pounds one shilling and ten pence, State money, amount of their account of the burial charges and other expences, of an aged negro man named London, late the property of John Parrock, an attainted traytor.
Resolved, That in case any officer is necessarily prevented from personally receiving the money advanced in Philadelphia by this
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Board, on account of depreciation, he be permitted to draw an order authorizing the Paymaster, or in his absence, any field officer of the same regiment, to receive the same, and that such order and the receipt thereon, be a sufficient voucher to the Auditors for the payment.
Ordered, That Colonel Lewis Farmer be directed to deliver to Captain David Zeiglar, Sub-Clothier, all the blankets in his pos- session, taking his receipt therefor, to be divided and forwarded to the regiments of the Pensylvania line, agreeable to the directions of General Sinclair.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to Joseph Dean, Esquire, of the city of Philadelphia, con- veying a certain messuage and plantation or tract of land situate in Blockley township, in the county of Philadelphia, and according to a late survey thereof, bounded and being as follows, that is to say : Beginning by the side of the river Schuylkill ; thence extending along the widow Peters' land, north seventy-three degrees west three hundred and five perches to a corner ; thence by - George's land, south eighteen degrees west twenty-five perches and nine tenths of a perch to a corner; thence by land of John Penn, Es- quire, south seventy-one degrees forty-five minutes east three hun- dred and twelve perches to the river Schuykill aforesaid; thence up the said river to the place of beginning; containing fifty-six acres, be the same more or less, seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of John Butcher, to the said Joseph Dean, for the sum of fourteen thousand eight hundred pounds, Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent of seven bushells and four tenths of a bushell of good merchantable wheat, payable to the trustees of the University of the State of Pensylvania, and to their succes- sors and assigns ; three-fourths parts of which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Agents for Confiscated Estates, in the county of Philadelphia, the remaining one-fourth to be reserved for the pur- pose aforesaid. Deed dated the thirty-first day of January last.
On application,
Ordered, That John Lukens, Esquire, late Surveyor General of the Province of Pensylvania, be directed to make search among the publick papers in his possession, in the name of Jonathan Wood- land, for a return of the survey of a tract of land situate in Red Lyon Hundred in the county of Newcastle, part of a large tract called Cox's Neck.
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In Council.
PHILAD'A, Friday, February 9th, 1781. PRESENT :
As yesterday, and Mr. Read.
On consideration,
Resolved, That every sergeant who shall deliver to Colonel Lewis Nichola at the Barracks of this city, or to any officer appointed by this Board to recruit at any of the places of rendezvous within this State, an able bodied recruit, shall be entitled to receive for every such recruit, when attested, the sum of seven shillings and six pence, exclusive of the two dollars to be paid to the officer.
. Ordered, That Mr. William Turnbull be directed to purchase in behalf of the State, a quantity of red cloth and trimmings for the facing six hundred suits of cloathes, to be delivered to Colonel Lewis Farmer as soon as possible.
. An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Joseph Dean and Jacob Morris, Auditors of Accounts, for the sum of five hun- dred pounds, State money, for the purpose of advancing to the offi- cers of the Pensylvania line, to be charged to them in the settle- ment of their accounts of depreciation.
A petition from Reading Beatty, was read, praying to be appoint- ed Surgeon of the Pensylvania regiment of Artillery, commanded by Colonel Thomas Proctor, in the room of Doctor Adams, resign- ed. On consideration,
Resolved, That the said Reading Beatty be appointed Surgeon of the said regiment, and the Honourable Board is hereby requested to grant him a commission accordingly.
In Council.
Saturday, February 10th, 1781.
PRESENT :
Honourable WILLIAM MOORE, Esquire, Vice President.
Mr. Read, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Potter,
Mr. Van Campen, and
Mr. Piper.
The Council taking into consideration the appointing officers for the four companies of Rangers, to be raised in this State, for the defence of the frontiers ; on consideration,
Resolved, That the following gentlemen be appointed & com- missioned accordingly, vizt :- Thomas Robinson, Captain; Moses Van! Camp, Lieutenant ; and Ensign, of the company to be raised in the county of Northumberland.
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Thomas Stokely, Captain ; John Cummins, Lieutenant ; and Ensign, of the company to be raised in the county of Westmoreland.
Phillip Shrawder, Captain ; Jacob Kreamer, Lieutenant ; and Ensign, of the company to be raised in the county of Northampton.
John Boyd, Captain, Richard Johnston, Lieutenant ; and Ensign, of the company to be raised in the county of Bedford.
And following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favour of Captain Thomas Robinson, for the sum of two hun- dred and fifty pounds, new Continental money, for the purpose of raising a company of Rangers in this State, for the defence of the Frontiers, for which sum he is to be accountable.
In favour of Captain John Boyd, for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, new Continental or State money, for the purpose aforesaid, for which he is to be accountable.
In favour of the Honourable James Potter, Esquire, for the sum of one hundred pounds, new Continental or State money, to be by him forwarded to Colonel Samuel Hunter, Lieutenant of the coun- ty of Northumberland, for the purpose aforesaid, for which sum he, the said Lieutenant, is to account.
In favour of the Honourable John Van Campen, Esquire, for the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, new Continental or State money, for the purpose aforesaid; to be by him forwarded to Colo- nel Samuel Rea, Lieutenant of the county of Northampton, and for which he, the said Lieutenant, is to account.
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In Council.
PHILAD'A, Monday, February 12th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Van Campen, and
Mr. Read,
Mr. Piper.
Mr. Cunningham,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Colonel Ar- chibald Lochry, for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, new Continental or State money, for the recruiting service, for which sum he is to be accountable.
Frederick Phyle, Esquire, Naval Officer, attended in Council, and represented that the ship from Cadiz, had arrived here, and that the Captain had applied to him to enter the
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ship, representing that he had it not in his power to render the val- uation of his cargo, as required by law; that thereupon, he had de- clined to enter her, and requests the advice of Council on the case.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Tuesday, February 13th, 1781. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Cunningham, and
Mr. Read,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Piper.
Mr. Boyd and Mr. Duncan, a Committee of the Honourable House of Assembly, attended, and informed the Council that a House were formed and ready to receive such business as the Coun- cil may have to lay before them.
The following Message being read and considered ; was
Ordered, To be presented to the Hon'ble House of Assembly.
Message from the President and Supreme Executive Council to the Representatives of the Freemen of Pensylvania, in General Assembly met :
Gentlemen :- Your recess has been distinguished by an event which, in a country less free, and a cause less glorious, wou'd (so far as regards this State) have been deemed an irreparable misfortune ; we mean the partial dissolution of the Pensylvania line. The character our troops have ever supported in the field, the well- grounded expectations formed upon their discipline and courage, must induce every patriotic mind to lament even a partial disa- pointment as no inconsiderable evil ; but we see nothing in it which can raise a doubt, and much less despondency, in a firm and deter- mined mind. The history of the present war, illustrated by recent successes, must convince the most prejudiced, that the spirit and vir- tue of America, on many occasions, has supplied the place of profes- sional knowledge; and tho' we think every duty of policy and in- terest shou'd prompt us to keep a regular and well appointed force in the field, we ought never to doubt of final success, while as free- men, we have arms in our hands, and courage to use them; and that we have both, we trust our ene mies will now be honorable, tho' reluctant witnesses. It wou'd neither consist with the limits of a message, or with propriety, to enter into a particular detail of the circumstances of this event; we shall only say, that under unfa- vourable appearances, this Board wat ; requested to send a committee
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to treat with the discontented troops, that they executed the trust reposed in them, not only with the approbation of a committee of Congress appointed on the same occasion, but general satisfaction at the time, and that the several papers which relate to the trans- action are ready to be communicated to your Honourable House, if you shall judge it necessary.
Finding that many of the discharged soldiers expressed strong desires to re-inlist, we thought it our duty to avail ourselves of this disposition without delay, and, therefore, opened the recruiting ser- vice immediately, which has been attended with considerable suc- cess. This necessary service, as well as a proper attention to the remaining officers and troops, will call for the particular aid of your Honourable House, in whom the constitutional powers of raising supplies is alone vested. Upon this, as well as many other late occa- sions, we have found ourselves placed in a state of responsibility for demands, as well of a general as special nature, in no small degree unfurnished with the means of answering them; and what is per- haps the most to be regretted in the late event is, that large accu- mulated expence will be necessarily incurred when our situation will least admit. Conscious of having to the best of our abilities, paid the strictest attention to economy and propriety in the expen- diture of the publick money intrusted to us, we shall be glad to see the former practice of annual inspection and publication of the publick accounts by the Representatives of the people revived and continued, which, with respect to recent expenditures, may, we think, be effected while your auditors are employed in the adjustment of former accounts which have grown upon us amidst the confusion of war, and the unsettled state of publick affairs. We have thought it our duty to offer these suggestions to obviate some mistakes which have prevailed on this subject, and shall readily concurr in any measures you Honourable House shall judge proper to answer this salutary end. From present appearances, we must expect a vigor- ous and active campaign, and as this is the season of preparation, we most earnestly entreat you to devise some means to enable us to answer the expectations which Congress and the army will reasona- bly form, in consequence of the general arrangements which have been made. The frontiers have also their just claims of attention, as it may be feared that without some force for their protection, many extensive and valuable settlements will be abandoned.
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