USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 59
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
Mr. Cunningham and General Potter, appointed a committee to confer with the Representatives of the county of York, on the sub- ject of the reception of the Convention troops.
A committee of the Honourable House of Assembly attended in Council, in conference upon the subject of the Convention prisoners being removed into this State ; when it was agreed, that many and great inconveniences would attend the removing so great a number of prisoners.
The Council taking into consideration the appointing a Commis- sioner of Purchases for the county of Lancaster, Paul Zantzinger and John Miller being nominated, they proceeded to vote by ballot, and the ballots being taken, there appeared to be a majority in fa- vour of John Miller; and thereupon,
Resolved, That John Miller be appointed a Commissioner of Purchases for the county of Lancaster, in the room of Christian Wirtz, superceeded.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, March 15th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Read, Mr. Piper,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Hayes.
Mr. Cunningham,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Colonel Jacob Morgan, Junior, Superintendant of the Commissioners of Purchases
661
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
in the several counties, for the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, State money, for purchasing supplies for the use of the army, for which he is to account.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to Jonas Philips, conveying a certain two story brick mes- suage or tenement and lott or piece of ground, situate on the south side of Sassafrass street, between Front and Second streets, in the city of Philadelphia aforesaid, containing in breadth fourteen feet ten inches, and in length or depth about fifty-one feet ; bounded eastward by another messuage and lott late of John Parrock ; south- ward by a three feet wide alley, running eastward; westward by an four feet wide alley, running southward from the said Sassa- frass street ; and northward by Sassafrass street; seized and sold agreeable to law, as the estate late of John Parrock, to the said Jonas Philips, for the sum of sixteen thousand one hundred and fifty pounds, Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent of eight bushels and three-fortieth parts of a bushel of good Mer- chantable wheat, payable to the Trustees of the University of this State, threc-fourth parts of which sum he hath paid into the hands of the Agents for Confiscated Estates in the city of Philadelphia. Deed dated the fifteenth day of March instant.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, March 16th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Potter,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Hayes.
Resolved, That General Lacey and Colonel Piper be a commit- tee to procure from Mr. Audibert, at the pay office, an account of monies advanced to the several regiments of the Pensylvania line, from time to time, on account of pay.
Resolutions of the General Assembly of the thirteenth and four- teenth instant, were receiv'd and read, one of them directing that the Supreme Executive Council prosecute the claims of this State to the Island in the river Delaware called Hogg Island, as part of the estate of Joseph Galloway, an attainted traitor ; one other for allowing the sum of twenty shillings per diem to each of the Comis- sioners for extending Mason and Dixon's line, &c., during the time of their being employed therein, exclusive of all necessary contin- gent expenses, which will be paid by the State; and the other ap- '
1
662
MINUTES OF THE
pointing a committee, to wit :- Mr. Laury, Mr. Moses M'Clean and Mr. Smyser, to confer with the Supreme Executive on the subject of the letter from Council, respecting the Convention pris- oners.
Petitions from Ann Sheepshanks, Dorothy Cook, and Mary Turner, praying passes to go into the city of New York, was read ; and thereupon,
Resolved, 'That passes be granted them, on condition that they do not return again.
In Council.
PHILADELP'A, Saturday, March 17th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Potter,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Cunningham,
Mr. Hayes.
Resolved, That the following gentlemen be appointed officers of the volunteer company to be raised in the county of Westmoreland for the defence of the said county, to wit : John Sherer, Captain ; Isaac Andrews, Lieutenant ; and John Gibson, Ensign.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Colonel Lewis Farmer, for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, State money, for the purpose of procuring cloathing for the army, for which he is to account.
Resolved, That Captain Joseph Stiles, Commissary of Military Stores, be directed to deliver to Hon'ble James Potter, Esquire, or his order, three hundred pounds of gun-powder, and two hundred pounds of lead, to be forwarded to Colonel Samuel Hunter, Lieu- tenant of the county of Northumberland, for the defence of the frontiers of the said county.
On consideration,
Resolved, That the execution of the sentence of the Court of Quarter Sessions upon John Rooken, for horse stealing, be respited untill the further order of this Board.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Honoura- ble Henry Wynkoop, Esquire, for the sum of fifty pounds, State money, on account of his pay as a delegate of this State in Con- gress, for which he is to account.
Agreed that the delegates of the State in Congress, be requested, when they apply for their pay, to state an account of their atten-
663
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
dance in Congress from time to time, when they apply for orders on the 'Treasurer, agreeable to the practice of the members of this Board, and all other officers of the State on a daily pay.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, March 19th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Read,
Mr. Hayes.
Mr. Cunningham,
A petition from Mary Briant, convicted of larceny, and sentenced to be publickly whipt, and pay two several fines to the use of the State, was read, praying remission of the said fines ; thereupon,
Resolved, That the said fines adjudged to be paid to the use of the State, by the said Mary Briant, be remitted, on condition that she leave this State immediately, and not return again on pain of being re-committed.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. William Turnbull, for the sum of three thousand pounds, State money, for the purpose of procuring cloathing for the use of the army, for which he is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Robert Gal- braith, Esquire, for the sum of three pounds seven shillings and six pence, State money, being a fee paid by him to George North, Esquire, on the trial of John McCallister, on a charge of fraud, instituted against him by request of Congress. The same to be charged to the United States of America.
A letter from a field officer of the Jersy Brigade, giving infor- mation of one Bamper as a person of suspected character, and probably now in the employ of the enemy, and that he is accom- panied by one Freeland, also under suspicious circumstances, was laid before the Board ; and the said persons being now apprehen- ded and attending,
Resolved, That as the extraordinary powers of this Board for apprehending and confining suspected persons have ceased, and have not been renewed, these persons be remitted to the Chief Jus- tice of the State, to be dealt with according to law, and that the letters relating to said business be also forwarded for his considera- tion.
664
MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Tuesday, March 20th, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Read,
Mr. Hayes.
Mr. Cunningham,
A resolution of the House of Assembly of this day was read, appointing a committee, to wit : Mr. Lowry, and Mr. Mitchell, to wait upon the President and Council, and obtain from them infor- mation of the number of recruits that have been procured under the act to compleate the quota of the Fooderal army, assigned to this State, and by voluntary inlistments.
Captain Stiles, Commissary of Military Stores, laid before the Council a valuation of two pieces of ordnance belonging to the State, purchased by the owners of the privateer ship called the Rising Sun, estimated at seventy pounds, State money ; and there- upon,
Ordered, That Captain Stiles be authorised and directed to re- ceive the said seventy pounds, and pay the same to the Treasurer of the State.
A petition of John Mitchell and Samuel Montgomery Browne, of the Island of St. Eustatia, praying a flagg to that Island, was read ; and on consideration, the Board are of opinion that the granting of flaggs is within the jurisdiction of Congress.
A petition of John Jones, of the county of Bucks, convicted of larceny in the said county, and sentenced to be publickly whipt, and pay a fine to the use of the State, of seven hundred and fifty pounds, was read, praying remission of the said fine; thereupon,
Resolved, That the said fine be remitted.
The Honourable John Piper, Esquire, presented to the Council an account for his attendance in Council, as follows :
Dr. The State of Pensylvania in account with John Piper.
To 151 days attendance in Council at 25s. per day, £188
To mileage, to and from Philadel'a, 400 miles, at ls. per 20 mile,
Cr. By cash at sundry times,
208
115
£ 93
665
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
And thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Honourable John Piper, Esquire, for the sum of ninety-three pounds, State money, ballance of his account for his attendance in Council as a member of this Board, to the nineteenth instant.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Honoura- ble James Potter, Esquire, for the sum of sixty pounds, State money, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to account,
On consideration,
Resolved, That Colonel Lewis Farmer be directed to make a compleat return of all cloathing delivered for the use of the Pen- sylvania line, from the first day of January, 1780, to the present time, and forward the same to this Board.
The following proclamation being read and considered, vizt :
By his Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President, and the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pensyl- vania.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, The following named persons, late and heretofore in- habitants of this State, that is to say : Jonathan Adams, snuff- maker, and Susanna his wife, now or late of the township of Ger- mantown, now or late of the county of Philadelphia ; and Joseph Paxon, yeoman, now or late of the township of Middletown; John Read, now or late a military officer in the British service, now or late of the township of Tinicum ; and Samuel. Harvey, yeoman, now or late of the township of Upper Wakefield, all now or late of the county of Bucks; and Richard Buffington, the elder, yeoman, now or late of the township of East Bradford ; Henry Gordon, now or late a military officer in the British service, now or late of the town- ship Kennett; and Stephen Anderson and Benjamin Fincher, yeoman, now or late of the township of New Garden, all now or late of the county of Chester ; and Christain Vought, apothecary, now or late of the borough of Lancaster ; and Nicholas Houssecker, yeoman, now or late of the township of Lebanon, both now or late of the county of Lancaster ; and Martin Blackford, yeoman, now or late of township of Warrington, now or late of the county of York ; and Samuel Lindsay, yeoman, now or late of the township of Guilford, now or late of the county of Cumberland ; and Thomas Hughes, yeo- man, now or late of the township of Augusta, now or late of the county of Northumberland; and Alexander Ross, yeoman, nor or late of the township of Pitt, now or late of the county of West- moreland; have severally adhered to, and knowingly and willingly aided and assisted the enemies of this State and of the United
666
MINUTES OF THE
States of America, by having joined their armies within this State, or elsewhere.
We, the Supreme Executive Council aforesaid, by virtue of cer- tain powers and authorities to us given by an act of General Assembly, intitled " An Act for the attainder of divers traitors, if they render not themselves by a certain day, and for vesting their estates in this Commonwealth, and for more effectually discovering the same, and for ascertaining and satisfying the lawfull debts and claims thereupon," do hereby strictly charge and require the said Jonathan Adams and Susanna his wife, Joseph Paxton, Samuel Harvey, Richard Buffington, the elder, Stephen Anderson, Benja- min Fincher, Christian Vought, Nicholas Houssecker, Martin Black ford, Samuel Lindsay, Thomas Hughes, and Alexander Ross, to render themselves respectively to some or one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, or of the Justices of the Peace of one of the counties within this State, on or before Thursday the tenth day of May next ensuing ; and also abide their legal trial for such their treasons.
And we do in like manner require the said John Reed and Henry Gordon, to render themselves respectively to some or one of the Justices aforesaid, on or before Thursday the first day of November next ensuing, and also abide their legal trial for such their treasons, on pain that every of them, the said Jonathan Adams and Susanna his wife, Joseph Paxton, John Reid, Samuel Harvey, Richard Buf- fington, the elder, Henry Gordon, Stephen Anderson, Benjamin Fincher, Christian Vought, Nicholas Houssecker, Martin Blackford, Samuel Lindsay, Thomas Hughes, and Alexander Ross, not ren- dering himself as aforesaid, and abiding the trial aforesaid, shall, from and after the said tenth day of May and first day of Novem- ber, respectively, stand and be attainted of high treason, to all in- tents and purposes, and shall suffer such pains and penalties, and undergo all such forfietures, as persons attainted of high treason ought to do. And all the faithfull subjects of this State are to take notice of this proclamation, and govern themselves accord- ingly.
Given by order of the Council, under the hand of his Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President, and the seal of the State, at Philadelphia, this twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one.
JOSEPH REED, President.
Attest-T'Y MATLACK, Sec'ry.
GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH
667
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Wednesday, March 21st, 1781 PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey,
Mr. Potter,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Cunningham,
Mr. Hayes.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. William Armstrong, for the sum of thirteen pounds four shillings, State money, for paying the men employed at Mud Island and purchasing provisions.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Honourable Thomas Smith, for ninety pounds ten shillings, State money, in full of his pay and milage to this day, as a member of Congress for this State.
The gentlemen appointed to lay out a road from Darby road to the middle ferry, made a return of the said road, and the same was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
On consideration,
Resolved, That the Sheriff of the city and county of Philadel- phia be directed to proceed in the execution of the sentence of the Court of Quarter Sessions upon John Rookin, for horse stealing, on Saturday next, at the hour mentioned in the said sentence.
A return of an election for Justices for the township of Mont- gomery, in the county of Cumberland, was read, by which it ap- pears that James Maxwell and James Cross were duly elected Justices for the said township : On consideration,
Resolved, That James Maxwell, Esquire, be appointed a Justice of the Peace for the county of Cumberland, and that he be com- missioned accordingly.
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 As- sembly met.
Gentlemen :- The tenant of the State Island having resigned his lease, it is the opinion of this Board that it will conduce greatly to the support of the publick credit to divide it into small lotts, and dispose of them at publick auction, pursuant to the law entitled "An Act for striking the sum of one hundred thousand pound in bills of credit, for the present support of the army, and for establishing a fund for the certain redemption of the same, and for other pur-
668
MINUTES OF THE
poses therein mentioned." The powers of the Council are by law sufficient for that purpose, but if the House have any objections to the measure, we are not inclined to precipitate it. A proportion of the city lotts was also sett off and sold for the same purpose, the purchasers being vested with an absolute title, and any future · claimant of a particular lott referred to location elsewhere, we are of opinion it wou'd also have a good effect on the declining credit of our paper, and contribute to the support of future emissions.
Colonel Morgan has made a communication to us which we think proper to lay before you ; our experience of coercive methods of supply has made them as disagreeable to us as they are odious to the country, nor can we think of adopting them in any necessity, but under the special sanction of a law for that purpose.
JOSEPH REED, President.
Council Chamber, Philad'a, March 21st, 1781.
Ordered, That the said message be presented to the Honourable the Speaker of the General Assembly.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to Captain John Eve, conveying a certain messuage or tene- ment, powder mill and plantation, or two tracts of land, situate on Frankford Creek, in the township of Oxford, in the county of Philadelphia, and according to a late survey thereof, bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at Frankford creek; thence extend-
ing by land of south forty six degrees east twenty-two perches and eight-tenths of a perch; thence by Frankford lotts north thirty-nine degrees thirty minutes east two hundred and sev- enteen perches ; thence by land of Thomas Peart, north forty-nine degrees west one hundred and sixty-two perches; thence north forty degrees west one hundred and seventy-nine perches; and thence down the several courses of the said creek to the place of beginning, containing two hundred and two acres, be the same more or less; and the other of the said tracts (being a small piece of ground contiguous to the above described tract) beginning by the side of Frankford creek, aforesaid; thence extending by land late of William Ashbridge, deceased, south twenty-eight degrees west eight perches to a hickory sapling; thence extending by land of Robert Harper, north fifty three degrees west sixteen perches to a white oak by the side of Frankford creek, aforesaid ; thence up the said creek the several courses thereof to the place of beginning ; containing sixty-eight acres, be the same more or less : Seized and sold as the estate late of Oswald Eves, an attainted traytor, to the said Captain John Eves, for the sum of one hundred and eight thousand pounds, Continental money, subject to a yearly ground rent of fifty-four bushels of good merchantable wheat, payable to the Trustees of the University, three-fourth 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 part being
669
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
reserved for the purpose aforesaid. Deed dated the twenty-first day of March instant.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to James Lang, conveying a certain messuage or tenement and lott of ground situate on the north side of High street, be- tween Fifth and Sixth, in the said city; containing in breadth east and west eighteen feet, and in depth north and south, one hundred and ten feet, bounded eastward by a messuage and lott of Charles Chamberlaine; northward by ground in tenure of Abraham Peters ; westward by ground of Benjamin Sweet and wife; and southward by High street, aforesaid ; and also a yearly rent charge amounting to fourteen Spanish silver milled pieces of eight, or dollars and one- half of a dollar per annum, issuing out of a lott of ground in ten- ure of Abraham Peters, adjoining the north end of the above de- scribed lott, (whereof it was formerly a part,) and which lott Henry Welfling and Margaret his wife, by indenture bearing date the twenty-fifth day of April, 1765, granted unto the said Abraham Peters, subject unto the said yearly rent charge : Seized and sold as the estate late of Henry Welfling, an attainted traytor, to Cap- tain James Lang, for the sum of sixteen thousand nine hundred pounds, Continental money, which sum he hath paid into the hands of Agents for Confiscated Estates in the city of Philadelphia. Deed dated the twenty-first day of March, Anno Domini 1781.
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Thursday, March 22nd, 1781.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Read, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Potter,
Mr. Piper, and
Mr. Cunningham.
A letter from his Excellency the President of Congress, of the twenty-first instant, was read, inclosing a resolution of Congress of the nineteenth instant, recommending to the Supreme Executive Council of this State, to forward the march of their line, in detach- ments, with all possible expedition, to join the southern army :
Ordered, That they be filed.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. Jonathan Paschall, for the sum of thirty-three pounds nine shillings, State money, ballance of his account for five cattle delivered to Algernon Roberts, Commissioner for purchasing cattle for the use of the army, agreeable to act of Assembly past the first day of June last.
1
670
MINUTES OF THE
Petition from Alice Brothers, praying a pass to the city of New York, was read; and thereupon,
Ordered, That a pass be granted her, on condition that she do not return again.'
-
In Council.
PHILAD'A, Friday, March 23d, 1781. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President. Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Read,
Mr. Hayes.
WHEREAS, By the instructions of this Board dated the second day of January last, the several Commissioners of Taxes were di- rected to cause reports of their proceedings on the law entitled "An Act to compleat the quota of the Federal army assigned to this State," to be made to the Council on or before the first day of April next.
Resolved, That the said Commissioners be informed that a strict and punctual compliance is expected to the said instructions, and that the several Justices of the Peace, Lieutenants, and Sub-Lieu- tenants, who have been employed in the execution of said law, do forthwith make return to the Commissioners, and deliver the seve- ral recruits by them engaged, to the commanding officer at the several places of rendezvous of the Pensylvania line, taking re- ceipts from such officer for every such recruit, which are also to be forwarded to this Board, with the duplicates of the inlistments.
Colonel William Henry, Lieutenant of the city of Philadelphia, attended in Council and presented to the Board twenty-three inlist- ments, duplicates of which have been forwarded to the command- ing officers of regiments, at the several places of rendezvous.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of Mr. Francis Baily, for the sum of two hundred and seventy-five pounds five shillings, State money, amount of his account for printing for the Council to the twentieth instant.
WHEREAS, The General Assembly of this State, by a law passed the twenty-fifth day of March, 1780, entitled " An Act for striking the sum of one hundred thousand pounds in bills of credit, for the present support of the army, and for establishing a fund for the certain redemption of the same, and for other purposes therein mentioned," did authorize and empower the President, in Council, to expose to sale the tract of land belonging to this Commonwealth,
671
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
in the township of Kingsessing, and county of Philadelphia, com- monly called the Province or State Island, for the purpose of an honourable and just redemption of the said one hundred thousand pounds, or so much thereof as the sale of the said lands shall pro- duce ; wherefore,
Resolved, That the present trustees of the said island, or any two of them, be authorized and requested to cause the same to be divided into suitable lotts so as to accommodate purchasers; and after giving publick notice of the time and place of sale, proceed to the sale of said island at publick auction ; and that in the pay- ment of said lotts, the bills of credit usually called State money, issued the twenty-fifth of March, 1780, or Spanish milled dollars, or an equal sum of gold or silver, and no other money whatever, be received in payment; such gold or silver, if receiv'd, to be applied to redeem so much of the bills of creditt before mentioned : And the said trustees, in all cases, reserving so much of said Island ap- purtenant to the pest houses, as they shall think necessary for pub- lic use, not exceeding twelve acres; a plott of said island and the division thereof, to be prepared and laid before the Council as soon as possible, and the time of sale not to exceed the tenth day of May next.
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.