USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIII > Part 18
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
Ordered, That the same be granted.
The Council resumed the consideration of the Philadelphia county election ; and thereupon,
Mr. Lewis closed the arguments in support of the petition against the said election ; then the Council postponed the further conside- ration of the said election till the 26th of February, 1782.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, February 22nd, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Bayard, Mr. Hayes,
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Pentecoast,
Mr. Van Campen, Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Ewing, The Honorable Vice President. Mr. Piper,
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the following persons, vizt :
In favor of Colonel Jacob Morgan, late Superintendant of the Commissioners of Purchases, for the sum of one hundred and sixty- nine pounds nineteen shillings and eight pence specie, for paying for supplies purchased for the use of the army, for which he is to account.
In favor of the Honorable Joseph Montgomery, for one hundred and thirty eight pounds specie, in full for his pay as a member of Congress for this State to the twenty-first instant.
In favor of Henry Taylor, Esquire, for the sum of twelve pounds ten shillings specie, to be by him paid to Andrew Hood, as a re- ward for taking an Indian scalp in the county of Westmoreland, agreeably to Proclamation of this Board.
202
MINUTES OF THE
In favor of James Stevenson and John Nicholson, for the sum of twelve hundred and five pounds, State money of the seventh of April, 1781, for paying to officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line one third of their depreciation certificates, for which the said Auditors are to account.
A petition from Rachel White, praying permission to go to New York with her son, a boy of fourteen years of age, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That permission be granted to the said Rachel White to go to New York not to return again, and that so much of the said petition as respects her said son be rejected.
A letter from bis Excellency General Washington of this day's date, respecting the recruiting the Pennsylvania line, recommend- ing to the State to adopt a mode that shall be more effectual and expeditious than the present, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the same be laid before the General Assembly.
The following list, pointing out the vacancies in the Pennsylvania line, with the time of such vacancies happening, and the officers next entitled to receive promotion, was presented and read; and thereupon,
Ordered, 'That the promotions do take place accordingly ; that the said list be transmitted to the Secretary at War, with a request that commissions be issued.
Promotions in the first Pennsylvania regiment :
Captain-Lieutenant William McCurdy promoted to a Captain, 18th May 1781, vice Captain Ebenezer Carson, resigned.
Second Pennsylvania Regiment :
Captain-Lieutenant Vanhorn (Isaac) promoted to a Captain, 10th June, 1781, vice Captain Joseph McClelland, resigned.
Third Pennsylvania regiment :
Captain-Lieutenant John Bush promoted to a Captain, 11th Dec'r, 1781, vice Captain John Henderson, resigned.
Fourth Pennsylvania regiment :
Captain-Lieutenant Stephen Stephenson promoted to a Captain, 11th July, 1781, vice Captain John Alexander, resigned.
Ensign Andrew Henderson promoted to a Lieutenancy, 29th Jan'y, 1781, vice Lieutenant George Boss, transferred to the In- valids.
Ensign Jobn Rose promoted to a Lieutenancy, April 1, 1781, vice Lieutenant Peter Summers, resigned.
Ensign Ebenezer Denny promoted to a Lieutenancy, 23d of May, 1781, vice Garret Steddiford, resigned.
Sixth Pennsylvania regiment :
Second Lieutenant Edward Spear promoted to a first Lieutenancy, 16th May, 1781, vice Lieutenant James Gibbons, resigned.
203
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Lieutenant John Crawford, late of the 8th, to receive his com- mission in the second Pennsylvania regiment, dated 18th of April, 1777.
Certified and signed 22d February, 1782.
WILLIAM IRVINE, B. Gen'l.
In Council.
4
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, February 23d, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Hayes,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Pentecoast, and
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers.
On consideration,
Resolved, That Major William Armstrong be appointed Commis- sary to the Commissioners for running the boundary line between this State and the State of Virginia, and that he be allowed at the rate of fifteen shillings specie per diem during the time he shall be engaged in the said business.
Ordered, That Lieutenant Richard Johnston, now at Yorktown, be directed to march with his company to Bedford forthwith, and there put himself under the command of the Lieutenant of the county of Bedford, for the defence of the frontiers of the said county.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of York be directed to call out one class of the militia of the said county for the pur- pose of guarding the military prisoners in that county; that as forty men only are wanted at one time for the said purpose, the Lieutenant be directed to call out no more than that number, and that the battalions be called upon in their numerical order, begin- ning at the first, for the said one class, so far as may be necessary to furnish the said number, and when the time of service of the first forty shall expire, that he then call on the next battalion or battalions for a like number, so as to have the succeeding ready to take charge of the said prisoners when the time of the first shall expire, and so on until the said one class shall have served their tour of duty, or until further order from this Council.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable John Piper, Esquire, for the sum of sixty pounds specie, to be by him paid to Lieutenant Richard Johnston, for the purpose of pay-
204
MINUTES OF THE
ing the company of Rangers raised for the defence of the county of Bedford, for which the said Lieutenant Johnston is to account.
The following deeds were examined and signed by his Excel- lency the President, vizt :
To George Benner, conveying fifty acres of land situate in Hill- town township, in the county of Bucks : Seized as the estate late of Evan Thomas, and sold agreeably to law to the said George Ben- ner, for the sum of three hundred and thirty pounds specie, subject to a yearly ground rent payable to the Trustees of the University of this State, of one-fourth of the said sum, the remaining three- fourths being paid into the hands of the Agents of Forfeited Es- tates in the said county. Deed dated the twenty-third day of Feb- ruary, 1782.
To Jacob Benner, conveying a certain tract of land situate in Tinicum township, in Bucks county ; containing two hundred and thirty five acres and thirty-five perches : Seized as the estate late of John Overholtz, and sold agreeably to law to the said Jacob Benner, for the sum of twelve hundred pounds specie, subject to a yearly ground rent of one-fourth of the said sum, payable to the Trustees of the University of this State, the remaining three- fourths being paid as aforesaid. Deed dated the twenty-third day of February, 1782.
To Benjamin Harbeson, conveying one-third of an eighteen acre field adjoining land of Isaac Roberts, on the road to Southampton, one-third of sixteen acres of woodland, adjoining Walter Moore's mill, and one-third of forty acres adjoining Joshua Morris, all in the manor of Mooreland, Philadelphia county : Seized and sold agreeably to law, as the estate late of Daniel Jeans, an attainted traitor, for eight thousand five hundred pounds, Continental money, which sum he hath paid to the Agents of said county. Deed dated the day aforesaid.
To Samuel Burns, conveying lots No. 5, 6, and 10, containing together four hundred and forty-nine acres and one hundred and fifty-seven perches, situate in Tinicum township, Bucks county : Seized as the estate of John Reid, an attainted traitor, and sold agreeably to law to the said Samuel Burns, for the sum of five hun- dred and eight pounds three shillings and six pence specie, which sum he hath paid to the Agents of Confiscated Estates in the said county. Deed dated the twenty-third day of February, 1782.
Ordered, That Captain Robeson, now in Reading, be directed to march with his company to Northumberland forthwith, and there put himself under the command of the Lieutenant of the county of Northumberland, for the defence of the frontiers of the said county.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Berks be directed to call out a class of the militia of the said county, for the pur- pose of guarding the military prisoners in that county ; that as forty men only are wanted at one time for the said purpose, the Lieuten-
205
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
ant be directed to call out no more than that number, and that the battalious be called upon in their numerical order, beginning at the first, for the said one class, so far as may be necessary to furnish the said number ; and when the time of the first forty shall expire, that he then call on the next battalion or battalions for the like number, so as to have the succeeding number ready to take charge of the said prisoners when the time of the first shall expire, and so on until the said one class shall have served their tour of duty, or until fur- ther order from this Council.
On consideration,
Resolved, That Mr. James Patterson, teacher in the University of this State, be appointed one of the Commissioners for running the boundary line between this State and the State of Virginia, and that he be desired to proceed with the other Commissioners with all convenient dispatch.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, February 25th, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Hayes,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Pentecoast.
Mr. Piper,
An order to Mr. Thomas Nevill, for forty-five pounds nineteen shillings and ten pence specie, for repairing the clock room and guard-house.
"An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Colonel Rich- ard Humpton, for the sum of fifteen hundred pounds specie, for the purpose of recruiting the Pennsylvania line, for which he is to account.
In favor of Mr. George Honey, Jun'r, for the sum of seven pounds specie, for services as Clerk to the Wardens of the city and sundry expences.
206
MINUTES OF THE
P
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, February 26, 1782. 1.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Hayes,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Penticoast, and
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers.
A representation from the inhabitants of the western parts of this State respecting the defence of the frontiers.
A letter from the Commissioners of the Taxes of the county of Westmoreland, of the sixth instant. And one other letter from the Commissioners of the Taxes of the county of Washington, of the eighth, respecting the collection of the taxes in the said counties, were received and read ; and on consideration,
Ordered, That the same be transmitted to the General Assembly of this State.
Adjourned till 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
The Council met, pursuant to adjournment.
3 o'clock, Tuesday, February 26, 1782.
PRESENT :
As in the morning, except Mr. Bayard.
The Council resumed the consideration of the election of a Coun- cillor for the county of Philadelphia ; and it was
Agreed to consider the specification of charges separately, in order to determine which of them are supported by evidence ; and thereupon,
The first charge was read and considered ; and the question being put : Is this charge well.founded ? Was carried in the negative.
'The second charge was read ; and the question being put, was carried in the negative.
The third charge was read ; and the question being put, was car- ried in the negative. 1
Agreed, that the further consideration of the said election be postponed till the second day of March next.
1
207
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, February 27, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Hayes, and
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Pentecoast.
Mr. Van Campen,
A certificate from John Moore, Esquire, of the city of Philadel- phia, was laid before the Board and read, by which it appears that a certain Nicholas Burkhart hath discovered that there is due from him to Christopher Sower the sum of fifty pounds specie, the balance of a bond of one hundred and fifty pounds, payable to the said Sower, and the said balance being now forfeited to the use of the State by the attainder of the said Sower,
Resolved, That the Agents of Forfeited Estates in the county of Philadelphia, be directed to receive from the said Nicholas Burk- hart, the said sum of fifty pounds specie, balance of the aforesaid bond, without charging interest thereon, since the eighteenth day of November, 1778.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, February 28, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Hayes,
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Pentecoast.
Mr. George Smith and Mr. Hahn, a committee of the Honorable House of Assembly, attended in Council, and requested a confer- ence with the Council on the subject of recruiting the Pennsylva- nia line, and wished to be informed whether there are any defects in the laws now in force for that purpose ; and thereupon, a free conference was accordingly.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. Samuel Denny, for the sum of one pound ten shillings specie, amount of
208
MINUTES OF THE
his account for riding express to the Lieutenant of the county of Chester, in September, 1781.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Colonel Jacob Morgan, late Superintendant of the Commissioners of Purchase in the several counties, for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, State money of the seventh of April, 1781, for paying for cattle, horses. &c., for the use of the army, for which he is to account.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, March 1, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Piper,
Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Hayes,
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Pentecoast.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Frederick Sneider, for the sum of fifteen pounds five shillings and three pence specie, amount of his account for his wages to the twenty- eighth of February, 1782, and cash paid for sundry articles.
A return of Justices for the district of Warrington and Mana- han townships, in the county of York, was received and read, by which it appears that William Mitchell and John Nesbitt were duly elected justices for the said district, to wit :
William Mitchell, twenty-nine votes, and John Nesbitt, eighteen votes.
Thereupon,
Resolved, That William Mitchell, Esquire, be appointed a Jus- tice of the Peace for the county of York, and that he be commis- sioned accordingly.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Major William Armstrong, for the sum of six pounds fifteen shillings specie, in full for his services as Steward to the commissioners for running the boundary line between this State and Virginia.
A petition from Sarah Whitebread, praying permission to go to New York, and to return again, was read ; and thereupon,
Resolved, 'That the prayer of the said petition be granted.
A petition from Mrs. Elizabeth Sower, praying permission for her son Luke Thomas to come from the city of New York to this city, was read ; and thereupon,
209
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
1
Resolved, That the prayer of the said petition be granted, on his giving security in the sum of five hundred pounds specie, for his good behaviour during the present war.
A committee of the General Assembly attended in Council, to confer on the propriety and necessity of running the line between this State and that of Virginia, by astronomical observations, the expense being very considerable, and the utmost abilities and exer- tions of the State being required to resist the enemy ; and on con- sideration,
It is the unanimous opinion of the Council and committee, that it is not advisable to run the said line by astronomical observation at present. -
General Irvine attended in Council, and represented that there was too much reason to fear a revolt of the troops stationed at Fort Pitt from the want of pay, that application had been made to the Superintendant of Finance, for the purpose of obtaining money for paying the said troops, and that he had returned for answer, "he could not think of making a partial pay of the troops."
The Council considering the great importance of preserving a force of the frontiers for the protection of the inhabitants, were of opinion that measures should be immediately taken for satisfying the said troops ; and thereupon,
Ordered, 'That Mr. Vice President, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Pentecoast and Doctor Gardner, be a committee for conferring with a com- mittee of the General Assembly, on the situation of the frontier defence, if the Honorable House shall think proper to appoint such a committee.
The return of William Rush and Benjamin Harbeson, appointed by order of the Council of the tenth of January last, to view and make return of the value of a house and lot of ground, late the estate of Matthias Aspden, an attainted traitor, situate between Market and Mulberry streets, Water street and the river Delaware, in order that the same may be assigned to the University of this State, was read, by which return it appears that the said lot is bounded north by a house and stores of Thomas Say, west by Wa- ter street, southward by ground of and eastward by Dela- ware river, on which a messuage, kitchen and range of brick stores are erected, now in the tenure of Joseph Shewell, and that the said estate is of the value of fourteen hundred pounds, lawful money of Pennsylvania, exclusive of the ground rent payable thercon ; thereupon,
Resolved, That the said estate be assigned to the University of the State of Pennsylvania ; that the same be now delivered to the Trustees ; and that the said institution be charged therewith, ac- cording to the valuation in the estimation of estates so assigned, agreeably to the act of General Assembly directing the same.
VOL. XIII .- 14.
-
210
MINUTES OF THE
A letter from the Honorable R. Livingston, Esquire, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, inclosing several resolves of Congress, and also a circular letter from the said Minister, were read ; and
Ordered, To be filed.
On consideration,
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Cumberland be directed to call out one company of militia, for the defence of the frontiers of the county of Bedford, so as to be on duty by the first of next month.
Mr. Philip Moore applied to the Council and requested the loan of two pieces of brass artillery, in order to arm a boat designed to act against the enemy in the Delaware Bay.
Ordered, That the Commissary of Military Stores be directed to supply Mr. Moore with two pieces of artillery, to be returned by him if they shall not be taken by the enemy.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, March 2nd, 1782.
PRESENT :"
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Byers,
Mr. Ewing, Mr. Hayes, and
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Pontecoast.
Mr. Piper,
Ordered, That the letters received yesterday from the Honora- ble.the Minister of Foreign Affairs, one of the eighteenth of Feb- ruary, 1782, and the other circular without any date, inclosing sundry resolutions of Congress of the twenty-third of November, 1781, January the twenty-fifth and February the eleventh and eighteenth, 1782, be laid before the General Assembly.
The Council resumed the consideration of the election of a Councillor for the county of Philadelphia ; and
The fourth charge being read and considered, and the question being put, was carried in the negative.
The fifth charge being read, and the question put, was carried in the negative.
The sixth charge being read, it was moved & agreed that this charge be divided, and the question being put on the following words, viz : " That upon the eighth day of October a part of the "militia marched under the command of Colonel Bisting for " Wentz's tavern, and the remainder of them under Colonel
211
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
" M'Veaugh for Germantown, at which places the said elections " were held, and before their arrival there the said tickets were de- " livered them by the said Colonels and by their orders," was car- ried in the affirmative.
And the question being put on the following words, vizt : "And "altho' most of the officers shewed a disposition favorable to lib- " erty and to the rights of the people, yet being under military law " and rigid military orders, they had it not in their power, without " disobedience of orders and the danger of subjecting themselves " to military punishments, to allow the men time, opportunity, or " the necessary conveniences of detecting the said imposition by "consulting with their friends, or of learning what ticket had been " agreed upon by them at Neff's, or who were proposed as candi- " dates;" was carried in the negative.
And the question being put on the following words : "or of " acting and judging like freemen, as of right they ought to have " done ;" was carried in the affirmative.
Moved that the several parts of the seventh charge, being in- cluded in the foregoing charges already determined, and the same being seconded, and the question put, was carried in the affirma- tive.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, March 4, 1782.
PRESENT : 1
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Byers,
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Hayes, and
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Pentecoast.
Mr. Piper,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Captain Thomas Robinson, for the sum of one hundred pounds specie, for paying the company of Rangers under his command, for which he is to account.
A letter from the Honorable Robert Morris, Esquire, Superin- tendant of Finance of the first instant, inclosing a copy of a letter of the twenty-eighth day of February last, from his Excellency General Washington, respecting Captain Van Heer's corps of Maresschasse, was read ; and
Ordered, To be filed.
212
MINUTES OF THE
The Council resumed the consideration of the election of a Councillor for the county of Philadelphia; and
The eighth charge being read, it was agreed, that this charge to the words "to alter them," is included in the determination already given; and
The question being put upon the following words, vizt: "that " they marched to the election ground, and after drawing up be- " fore the door left their ranks man by man to give in their said " tickets," was carried in the affirmative.
The ninth charge being read; it was agreed that this charge had been given up by the Counsel for the petitioners.
The tenth charge was read, and it was agreed that this charge is included in the determination already given.
The eleventh charge was read ; and it was agreed that this charge was given up by the counsel for the petitioners.
The twelfth charge was read ; and the question thereupon being put, was carried in the affirmative.
The thirteenth charge was rcad; and the question being put, was carried in the negative.
The fourteenth charge was read ; and it was agreed that the facts arc as they stand stated, but from the circumstance in which the tickets were torn there was no criminality.
The fifteenth charge was read ; and the question thereupon being put, was carried in the negative.
The sixteenth charge being read, it was agreed that Major Bethel, Captain Ashmead, and Captain Nice, did act as Inspectors.
The seventeenth charge was read; and the question being put, was carried in the affirmative.
The eighteenth charge was read ; and it was agreed that the elec- tion was opened after two o'clock in the afternoon.
The nineteenth charge was read ; and agreed, that the facts stated in the nineteenth charge are supported by evidence, except only that it appears that Andrew Knox, Esquire, who went out of the room in which the tickets were counting, remaining out. but a very short time, and that he did not return before the business was ended.
The twentieth charge was read ; and the question being put, was carried in the negative.
The twenty-first charge was read ; and it was agreed that John Ashton, an Inspector, received a ticket from Joseph Dolony, an ap- prentice.
The twenty-second charge was read ; and it was agreed that at the election at Wentz's, Colonel Bitting reprimanded a man for alteriug a ticket, and tore it.
The twenty-third charge was read ; and the question being put, was carried in the negative. It was then moved that Thursday next, at three o'clock in the afternoon, be appointed for finally determin- ing upon the election of a Councillor for the county of Philadel- phia, and agreed to unanimously.
213
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, March 5th, 1782.
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.