USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
The imperfect collection of taxes and deficiency of the Treasury, have oblig'd us to adopt various plans of creditt ; but experience obliges us to acknowledge that they have generally proved insuffi- cient, and that our officers in every department find very great diffi- culties in procuring supplies in any mode of credit yet essayed. Every necessary article is within our reach, if the means of procu- ring it were provided. We therefore, esteem it our duty to recom- VOL. XII .- 40.
626
MINUTES OF THE
mend it as the most important object of the wisdom and attention of the House, to make a discriminate and adequate provision for the current year, formed on a reasonable estimate of its demands and services, and to facilitate this duty we have made an essay of such estimate, which is ready to be laid before you.
In our present situation we apprehend the militia must be con- sidered as a necessary and important substitute untill the line can be collected in respectable force; nor can we think that in any cir- cumstance policy or interest will not warrant innovations which may enfeeble it, while our enemies seem so determined on the prose- cution of the war.
We must also recommend some domestick regulations, and par- ticularly the erecting the new counties in the western parts of this State, which we apprehend will be necessary for the accommoda- tion of the settlers in those parts, and conciliate them to the juris- diction of this State; the alterations which have been in the currency, also require some attention to the convenience of trade, by providing some lesser denominations of bills of credit for change.
We shall on our parts cheerfully give any assistance to advance the publick business and cultivate that harmony which is usefull and honourable to government at all times, but at present indispen- sibly necessary.
The Secretary will deliver sundry papers proper for the informa- tion and consideration of the House, on such matters as have occurred during your recess.
JOSEPH REED, President.
Council Chamber, Philad'a, February 13th, 1781.
General Potter having certified that the following named eigh- teen men of Captain Corens' company have been discharged,
Ordered, That the Secretary write to the agents and request them to pay to each of them a month's pay, and to Colonel Farmer to deliver them a pair of overalls, a shirt and a pair of shoes, if they have not receiv'd the same, to wit :
Abraham IIambright,
Andrew Bearstricker,
Sergeants.
John Wall,
Michael Lower,
William Cowan, John Wolfe, Corporals.
James Wallace,
Elijah Bowman, S Bombadiers.
Samuel Hastings,
James Buker, Gunners.
627
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Godfrey Critzmer, Peter Whitner, Henry Brown, Christian Aile, Henry Miller, William Cummings, George Benedict, Andrew Crawford,
Matrosses.
Captain Boys and Doctor Hutchinson, in the name of the officers of the State navy, expressed to Council their willingness of being discharged, with the reservation of the priviledges allowed to offi- cers by the laws of this State.
On consideration,
Ordered, That the officers and men of the State navy be dis- charged, except only Captain Boys, and such of the men who, hav- ing been disabled in the State service, are by the laws State intitled to support ; and that the thanks of the Council be given to the said officers for their faithfull services.
Ordered, 'That Captain Boys be directed to take charge of the Gallies and the Forts at Mud Island and Billingsport, untill the further order of Council.
An application from the Board of War for the upper rooms of the western wing of the State House being read and considered,
Ordered, That the Secretary be desired to deliver to the Board of War the keys of the said.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, February 14th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Read, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Piper.
Resolved, In case the commanding officer of any regiment shall be of opinion that the recruiting service will be forwarded by ad- vancing money for that purpose to any recruiting officer, that such commanding officer of a regiment be authorized to call on the Civil Magistrate, or other person appointed by the President or Vice President in Council, to pay the bounty money to recruits, and re- ceive from time to time such sums of money as shall be necessary for the aforesaid purpose : Such commanding officer first engaging
. 628
MINUTES OF THE
to account for the same to the person from whom he shall have receiv'd it, before he leaves the place of his regimental rendezvous, in which account no other charge whatever shall be allowed but the actual payment of bounty.
A representation from divers inhabitants of the town of Carlisle was read; and
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Ordered, That Colonel Adam Hubley be appointed and commis- sioned to be Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster, in the stead of Colonel Samuel J. Atlee, advanced to be a delegate; and that William Kelly be appointed and commissioned to be a Sub-Lieu- tenant of the said county in the stead of the Hon'ble James Cun- ningham, Esquire, advanced to be a member of this Council.
Ordered, That Colonel Hubley and William Kelly do take the oaths required to qualify them for their respective offices, before William Henry and Paul Zantzinger, Esquires, and give bonds for the faithfull discharge of their respective offices, according to law, with such surities as the said William Henry and Paul Zantzinger shall judge to be sufficient.
Ordered, That General Potter and Colonel Cunningham be ap- pointed to hear and determine in the case of such invalid corps belonging to the State of Pensylvania, as may claim their dis- charge.
A letter from Captain David Zeigler of this day was read; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the Secretary direct Captain Zeigler to apply to Colonel Farmer for account books, and to the Continental Quarter Masters for the pay of the waggon hire.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Captain Nathan Boys, for the sum of eight hundred and seventy-one pounds two shillings and six pence, State money, amount of pay due to the officers and men of the gallies, from the first of August, 1780, to the first of February, 1781.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Captain Nathan Boys, for the sum of thirty-seven pounds one shilling, State money, amount of money due to the officers and men of the gallies in lieu of their rations and refreshments, from the thirteenth of January last to the tenth instant.
1
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. V 629
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, Feb'y 15th, 1781. PRESENT : His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Read,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Potter, and Mr. Piper.
A petition from Mrs. Elizabeth Pettit, praying a pass to the city of New York, was read; and thereupon,
Resolved, 'That a pass be granted, on condition that she do not return again during the continuance of the present war.
A petition from John Davis, convicted of larceny, and of an assault and battery, at a Court of General Quarter Sessions held for the county of Philadelphia, praying remission of his fines, was read; and on consideration,
Resolved, That the fines adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by the said John Davis, be remitted.
Resolved, That the several Lieutenants and sub-Lieutenants, except of Bedford, Northumberland, and Westmoreland, directed by this Board to receive the recruits to be raised by the act of As- sembly, passed the last session, intitled "An act to complete the quota of the Federal army assigned to this State," do deliver the recruits furnished by the several classes to the commanding officer of the several regiments, stationed as follows, vizt :
The regiment of Artillery at Newtown.
The First regiment of Infantry at Yorktown.
The Second do.
at Yellow Springs.
Third do. at Easton.
Fourth do. at Carlisle.
Fifth do. at Reading.
Sixth do. at Lebanon.
And that care be taken that such recruits be duly attested, and the receipt of their bounty acknowledged, before some civil magis- trate, agreeable to the third article of the recruiting instructions, given out by this Board on the twenty-second of January last.
630
MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Friday, February 16th, 1781. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Piper.
Mr. Cunningham,
On consideration,
Ordered, That John Ralston, Esquire, be appointed Paymaster of the militia of the county of Northampton.
Resolved, That Colonel George Smith, Agent for Confiscated Estates in the county of Philadelphia, be directed to attend at the survey of the part of Hogg Island purchased by James Mease, Hugh Shiell, and Samuel Caldwell, late the estate of Joseph Gallo- way.
The following message being read and considered, vizt :
Message from the President and Supreme Executive Council, to the representatives of the freemen of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met.
Gentlemen :- To facilitate the business of the House, and enable the members to form a judgment of the probable expences of the year, we have made an essay of an estimate, framed upon a Conti- nental estimate. We find ourselves often very critically situated for want of due appropriation of the publick monies, and the money being greatly insufficient for the whole service, we are oblig'd to apportion it in the best manner we can, but it frequently happens to be inadequate to the end proposed.
JOSEPH REED, President.
Council Chamber, Philadelphia, February 16th, 1781.
Ordered, That the said message be presented to the Honourable House of Assembly.
631
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILADELP'A, Saturday, February 17th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Read,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Cunningham, and
Mr. Van Campen, Mr. Piper.
Christopher Hayes, Esquire, Councillor elect for the county of Westmoreland, attended in Council and took the oaths required by the Constitution of this State; and thereupon took his seat at the Board.
Resolved, That Doctor Gardner, General Potter, and Mr. Van Campen, be a committee to confer with a committee of Assembly, touching a valuable island in the river Delaware, called Hogg Island, seized by the Agents for Confiscated Estates in the county of Philadelphia, as the property of Joseph Galloway, an attainted traytor, and which Colonel Proctor and others are attempting to take into their possession.
Resolved, That the Honourable House of Assembly be requested to appoint a committee for the above purpose.
Guilliam Aertes requesting to have a certificate of his being a citizen of the State, under the less seal of the State, laid before the Council a certificate of his having taken the oath of allegiance be- fore John Ord, Esquire, on the thirtieth of June, 1780, and a cer- tificate, signed by William Will, of his having served in the third regiment of Philadelphia militia, under his command ; on consid- eration,
Ordered, That the certificate requested be granted.
Petitions from the following named persons, referred to the Council by the General Assembly, being read, vizt : Mary Hasen- clever and Leonard Jacobi, Conrad Drum and John Grier, and Lawrence Shinney.
And the Lieutenant of the city being called upon and examined; thereupon the same were dismissed.
A petition from Walter Hall, praying to be appointed one of the Auditors for settling the depreciation of pay allowed to officers and soldiers of the Pensylvania line, by act of Assembly, was read and rejected.
A resolve of the Honourable House of Assembly of the fifteenth instant, was read, appointing a committee, to wit: Mr. Montgo- mery, Mr. Patton, Mr. J. Burd, Mr. Morgan, and Mr. Lowrey, to confer with the Council on the present state of the frontiers, and
632
MINUTES OF THE
prepare and report to the House a proper plan for defending the same ; thereupon,
Resolved, That this Board will meet the said Committee on the said business, on Monday next, at six o'clock in the evening.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, February 19th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Read,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Cunningham,
Mr. Thompson.
Mr. Van Campen,
An order was drawn in favour of Colonel Archibald Lochry, Lieutenant of the county of Westmoreland, for the sum of twelve pounds ten shillings, State money, equal to two thousand five hun- dred dollars Continental money, at the exchange of seventy-five, to be by him paid to Captain Samuel Brody, as a reward for an Indian scalp, agreeable to a late proclamation of this Board.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. Thomas Nevill, for the sum of fifty pounds, State money, for the purpose of repairing the Barracks of this city, for which he is to account.
Ensign William Murren, and Ensign John B. Tilden, of the second Pensylvania regiment, being recommended as Lieutenants of the said regiment,
Resolved, That they be appointed accordingly, and that the Board of War be requested to grant the commissions, Ensign Murren to take rank from the twenty-third of July, 1780, and Ensign Tilden from the twenty-fifth of the same month.
A petition from Mary Hamilton, of the city of Philadelphia, widow, was read, praying permission from this Board for her son, William Hamilton, to return to this State, and remain therein four or six weeks, in order to compleat the settlement of his affairs. On consideration,
Ordered, That the prayer of the said petition be granted.
A petition from Michael Hoofnagle, praying to be appointed Prothonotary of one of the counties about to be struck off on the western frontiers, was read ; and
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A resolution of the Honourable House of Assembly, of the fif- teenth instant, was receiv'd and read, appointing a Committee of the House, vizt : Mr. R. Morris, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Mifflin, Mr.
633
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
J. Harris, and Mr. Montgomery, to make enquiry into the causes of the late discontents that prevailed in the Pensylvania line, and to obtain from the Supreme Executive Council all necessary papers on this subject.
Ordered, To lie on the table.
One other resolution of the House of Assembly, of the seven- teenth instant, was read, appointing a committee, vizt: Mr. Cul- bertson and Mr. Duncan, to wait upon his Excellency the Presi- dent and Council, and obtain from them an account of all confisca- ted estates sold and appropriated, or not, as requested by a reso- lution of the eleventh of December last.
Resolved, That the Vice President and Doctor Gardner, be a committee of this Board to meet Mr. Culbertson and Mr. Duncan, a committee of the House, on their message of the seventeenth in- stant, respecting confiscated estates.
A letter from John Agnew, Esquire, of the tenth instant, was read, inclosing his commission of Sub-Lieutenant of the county of York, and praying leave to resign the same. On consideration,
Resolved, That the said resignation be not accepted.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Tuesday, February 20th, 1781. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President, Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Thompson, and
Mr. Cunningham,
Mr. Hayes.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favour of Colonel Lewis Nichola, for the sum of nineteen pounds nine shillings and eight pence, State money, amount of money due to Colonel Lewis Nichola, Captains Woelpper, Reily, McGowan, and McIlhatton, and Lieutenants Honeyman, Pugh, Boss and McClean, in lieu of their rations and refreshments, from the fourteenth of January last to the eleventh of February in- stant.
In favour of Messrs. Joseph Dean and Jacob Morris, Auditors of Publick Accounts, for the sum of one hundred pounds, for pay- ing in part, the depreciation allowed by act of Assembly to the officers and soldiers of the Pensylvania line, for which the said Auditors are to account.
634
MINUTES OF THE
In favour of Captain David Zeigler, for the sum of twenty-five pounds, State money, amount of expences in removing the State stores from the army to this city, at the time of the revolt of the Pensylvania line, for which he is to account.
In favour of Jonathan D. Sergeant, for the sum of fifteen pounds, State money, as a retaining fee in behalf of the State, in a cause depending respecting Hogg Island, in the river Delaware.
On consideration,
Resolved, Henry Osborne, Esquire, of the city of Philadelphia, be appointed and commissioned to be Escheator General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A resolution of the Honourable House of Assembly of the nineteenth instant, was read, appointing a committee of the House to meet and confer with the committee of this Board appointed the seventeenth instant, respecting the Island in the river Delaware, called Hogg Island.
A petition from George Schultz was read, setting forth that he hath been unfairly inlisted in the Pensylvania line, and praying to be discharged ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the said petition be dismissed. -
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, February 21st, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Van Campen, Mr. Potter,
Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hayes.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Mr. William Turnbull, Agent for purchasing cloathing for the Pensylvania line, be directed to pay to John Holker, Esquire, Agent for the Marine of France, the sum of six hundred and eighty pounds ten shillings, State money, being the ballance, as per account setled this day.
Resolved, That the Agents of Confiscated Estates do make a report of their proceedings in their several offices since their ap- pointment, containing a full return of all forfieted estates within their several counties, the names of the attainted persons, their real property, describing the quantity of land, the improvements, situation, and estimated value of such as remain unsold, with the incumbrances, if any ; also the names of the purchasers, and the
635
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
prices at which the several sales have been made, and under what incumbrances ; and that this return be made forthwith.
WHEREAS, The Honourable House of Assembly of this State did, on the twenty-third day of September last, authorize the Presi- dent and Council to appoint two commissioners on the part of the State, in conjunction with commissioners to be appointed by the State of Virginia, to extend the line commonly called Mason and Dixon's line, five degrees of longitude from Delaware river, and from the western termination of the line so extended, to run and mark, as soon as may be, a meridian line to the Ohio river, the re- . mainder of that line to be run as soon as the President and Coun- cil, taking into their consideration the disposition of the Indians, shall think it prudent. And the President and Council are hereby authorized to give to the said commissioners such instructions in the premises as they shall think fit; whereupon, the same being considered,
Resolved, That John Lukins, Esquire, and Archibald McClean, Esquire, of York county, be appointed Commissioners for the pur- pose aforesaid; that a draught of instructions be prepared as soon as possible, and that the President be requested to give notice of this appointment to the Governor of Virginia.
Resolved, That a copy of said appointment be forwarded to the House of Representatives, and the House be requested to fix the allowance for the Commissioners and their assistants.
Resolved, That the tenth of May next be proposed to the State of Virginia, to proceed in the said business, if that time shall be convenient to the said State ; and that in case of the death, sick- ness, or other inability of either of the above Commissioners, Alexander McClean, Esquire, of Westmoreland, be appointed a Commissioner on the part of this State.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Honourable Joseph Montgomery, for the sum of fifty pounds, State money, in part of his pay as a member of Congress for the State of Pensyl- vania, for which sum he is to account.
On consideration,
Resolved, That John McFalane, now confined in the old goal, be now discharged from his confinement, on condition that he give sufficient security in the sum of five hundred pounds, specie, to appear at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Goal Delivery, and in the meantime to be of good behaviour.
A resolution of the Honourable House of the twentieth instant, was receiv'd and read, removing Jacob Weaver, Esquire, from his office of Justice of the Peace for the county of Berks, he having been convicted of adultery with a certain Margaret Lesher, the wife of John Lesher, of the said county.
A resolution of the Honourable House of Assembly of the fif- teenth instant, was receiv'd and read, appointing a committee, vizt :
636
MINUTES OF THE
Mr. R. Morris, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Mifflin, Mr. J. Harris and Mr. Montgomery, to confer with the President and Council, and the general officers of the Pensylvania line, now in town, on the sub- ject of recruiting the said line. To request the Supreme Execu- tive Council to furnish the House with an estimate of the expences of the current year, and report the same to the House, together with some mode of satisfying the officers and soldiers still remain- ing in the Pensylvania line.
Also, to make inquiry into the causes of the late discontents that . prevailed therein, and to obtain from the Supreme Executive all necessary papers on this subject.
Resolved, That this Board will meet the said committee at six o'clock this evening, in the Council chamber.
-
The Council met pursuant to adjournment, and the committee also attending, a conference was had respecting the causes of the late discontents in the Pensylvania line, when the committee with- drew.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Thursday, February 22nd, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr Gardner,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Read, Mr. Cunningham, and
Mr. Van Campen, Mr. Potter,
Mr. Hayes.
A letter from Isaac Snowden, Treasurer of the city and county of Philadelphia, of the 21st instant, was read, setting forth that himself, Charles Pryor and Adam Sticker, have acted as Collectors of the publick taxes in the said city and county ; that they have been called upon by the Lieutenant of the city for their fines for not performing their tour of militia duty, and praying the aid of this Board therein ; whereupon,
Resolved, That the Lieutenant of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, be directed to forbear prosecution for the above fines 'till further inquiry and order of this Board.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Major William Armstrong be allowed two dollars per day for his services in superintending the workmen employed at the fortifications on the forts of Mud Island and Billingsport.
637
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, February 23, 1781. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Van Campen, ยท
Mr. Hayes.
Mr. Cunningham,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Joseph Dean and Jacob Morris, Auditors of Accounts, for the sum of fifty pounds, State money, for the purpose of paying in part the depreciation allowed by act of Assembly to the officers and soldiers of the Pen- sylvania line, for which the said Auditors are to account.
The following message being read and considered,
Ordered, That the same be presented to the Honourable House of Assembly.
Message from the President and Council, to the Representatives of the Council of the freemen of Pensylvania, in General Assem- bly met :
GENTLEMEN :- At your last sessions the sum of six hundred pounds, specie, was borrowed to engage those of the seven months' men as might be inclined to continue in the service. A small part was expended before the mutiny, and the residue paid into the Treasury.
We shou'd be glad your Honourable House wou'd appoint a committee to settle the account, and give directions for the dispo- sition of the money, under this change of circumstances.
JOSEPH REED, President. .
Council Chamber, Philad'a, February 23d, 1781.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, February 24th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Hayes.
Mr. Cunningham,
A resolution of the Honourable House of Assembly of twenty- third of February instant, submitting to his Excellency the Presi-
638
MINUTES OF THE
dent and Council, the defence of the frontiers of this State, was read ; and
Ordered, To lie on the table.
The Board taking into consideration, that the circumstances of the city will now admit the discharge of the militia, and that the time for which they were required by Congress is nearly ex- pired :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.