USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIII > Part 30
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Passes to Boston, with permission to return again, were granted to Daniel Parker, Jun'r, and John Young, Nicholas Reidner, Henry Boyer and Samuel Willey.
The following deeds were examined and signed by his Excellency the President, for divers lots of ground in the city of Philadel- phia, marked in the general plan of city lots as follow, and sold agreeably to law for the redemption of credit of this State, of the twenty-ninth day of April, 1780, viz :
To William Bonham, for lot No. 304. Consideration twenty- five pounds.
To John Hood, for lots numbered from 1275 to 1278. Consid- eration two hundred and twenty-four pounds.
To Benjamin Harbeson, for lot No. 1600. Consideration two hundred and six pounds.
To James Pearson, for lots No. 1477 and 1478. Consideration fifty-five pounds.
All which sums the persons above mentioned have paid to the Treasurer of the State, as appears by his receipts. Deeds dated the eighth instant.
A deed was examined and signed by His Excellency the Presi- dent, to Jane Cannon, Samuel Wetherill, John Lile, Christopher Marshall, and John M'Culloh, executors of the last will and tes- tament of James Cannon, deceased, for lots No. 286, 287, and 288, in the city of Philadelphia, sold agreeably to law, for the re- demption of the bills of credit of this State of the twenty-ninth of April, 1780. Consideration one hundred and thirty-one pounds. Deed dated the eighth instant.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent to Gershon Johnston, for two lots of land situate in Middle- ton township, in the county of Bucks, containing forty perches and two hundred and nine feet, late part of the estate of Gilbert Hicks : Seized and sold agreeably to law, for the sum of eleven thousand two hundred pounds, Continental money. Deed dated the eighth instant.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, August 10, 1782. PRESENT.
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Levan,
Mr. Byers, General Ewing, and General Lacey.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Major William Armstrong, for the sum of six pounds ten shillings specie, amount of his account of expence in surveying a piece of cripple at one corner of the State Island.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, August 12, 1782.
PRESENT : 1
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Levan.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Colonel Rich- ard Humpton, for the sum of one thousand pounds, for the purpose of recruiting the Pennsylvania line, for which he is to account.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, August 13, 1782. 1
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President. The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers, and Mr. Levan.
The Council took into consideration a resolve of Congress of the eighth instant, recommending to the States of Pennsylvania and
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MINUTES OF THE
Virginia immediately to draw out and order to Fort Pitt, each State one hundred and fifty men, properly officered and accoutred, to be under the orders of the commanding officer of that post, to enable the said officer more effectually to cover and protect the country. That the Secretary at War and Superintendent of Fi- nance take order that proper magazines be laid up in the said fort, which may enable the commanding officer, in case the said post should be invested by the enemy, to render it tenable until relieved ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of York, and the Lieutenant of the county of Cumberland, do immediately furnish seventy-five men from each of the said counties, according to law, and send them forthwith to Fort Pitt.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, August 14, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Levan.
Mr. Johnston and Mr. Duncan, a committee of the General As- sembly, attended in Council, and informed " that the House was now met, and request a copy of the act of the Council by which the House is convened, and are ready to receive any business they may have to lay before them."
Ordered, That the Secretary be directed to lay before the House the order of Council by which the House is convened, and the fol- lowing message, vizt :
A message from the President and Council to the Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met.
GENTLEMEN :- It has been with great reluctance that we have called you together at an earlier day than that to which you stand adjourned ; but the state of the treasury rendered it in our opinion indispensably necessary. The sum which we have been able to procure on loan, in consequence of the act of Assembly passed the last session, entitled " An Act to enable the Supreme Executive Council to negotiate such loans as may be necessary to procure a sufficient sum of money for the defence of the frontiers of this State, and the support of civil Government," has been so very
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
trifling, as to leave us no room to hope for a supply of money by that means; and we had great reason to apprehend a severe blow would be aimed at the frontiers by the Indians. Our fears in this respect have been but too well justified by events which have since happened, and there is reason to believe that the blow has fallen with redoubled force in consequence of killing the Moravian In- dians at Muskingham, an act which never had our approbation or countenance in any manner whatever.
The monies becoming due on contracts for supplying the men on the frontiers will be very considerable; and as the continuance of the supplies will depend on the payment thereof with punctuality, this object becomes of very great importance, and requires imme- diate attention.
Since the time of your adjournment, a great quantity of British merchandize has been imported into this State from the city of New York, and paid for in specie. This has occasioned a consid- erable deficiency in our circulating medium, and justly alarmed every good citizen with apprehensions of the most fatal consequences if that destructive trade is not immediately and effectually re- strained. The intercourse between the disaffected of the State and the enemy at New York is so easy and unrestrained, as to become extremely injurious and really dangerous ; and it is, in our opinion, become absolutely necessary to restrain it. We are sensible that a sameness of language and similarity of dress and manners render it difficult to devise effectual means for this purpose ; but those dif- ficulties, far from preventing, ought to redouble our diligence and efforts in a case on which so much depends.
The insults and robberies committed within the State by several parties of armed men, some of whom have talked of open defiance, have induced us to offer public rewards for apprehending and bring- ing them to justice, and a number of them have been arrested and are now in confinement.
A state of the taxes of last year, with other papers of public concern, will be herewith laid before you.
WILLIAM MOORE, President.
Council Chamber, Philadelphia, August 14, 1782.
The Secretary having returned, reports that he obeyed the fore- going order,
Ordered, That the Lieutenants of the respective counties of Cumberland, Berks, Northampton, Northumberland, York, Bed- ford, Westmoreland, and Washington, respectively, be directed to make out and return to this Board, pay rolls of monies due to the militia of the said counties respectively, with the proper vouchers for the same.
Ordered, That the execution of the sentence of death on Jesse Vickars be respited until the fourteenth day of September next.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, August 15, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Levan.
The Council now receiving information that the Indians had in- vaded the county of Berks,
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Berks do imme- diately call into service a Lieutenant and an Ensign and twenty-five men, for the defence of the frontiers of that county.
A letter from Henry Osborne, Esquire, Escheator General, in- closing a writ of enquiry concerning the estate of Charles Wer- keiser, executed for murder in the county of Northampton, and the same being considered,
Ordered, That the part of the said Charles Werkeiser's estate forfeited to the Commonwealth be remitted, and divided between his children equally, his just debts, maintenance in prison, and the charges of prosecution, trial, and execution, being first paid and satisfied.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Joseph Gardner, for the sum of one hundred pounds, in part of his pay as a member of this Board, for which he is to account.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, August 16, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Ewing, and
Mr. Levan.
Mr. Byers.
A letter from his Excellency George Clinton, Esquire, inclosing resolutions of the Legislature of the State of New York, over which he presides, dated July 20, 1782; and the same being read, it was
Ordered, That the same be immediately laid before the General Assembly.
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 351
Mr. Delany, Mr. Hill, Mr. Montgomery, and Mr. Long, a com- mittee from the General Assembly, waited upon the Council, and requested a conference with the Council on the subject of obtaining a loan to answer the present exigencies of the State; and a free conference was thereupon had, when the Council expressed to the committee their sentiments pretty fully in the subject, and gave it as their opinion, that a loan to answer the immediate demands upon the State is not practicable.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, August 17, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
'T'he Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers, and Mr. Levan.
A petition from Alexander Barr, of the eleventh battalion of Lancaster county, praying remission of a militia fine, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Adam Hubley, Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster.
-
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, August 19, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Byers, and Mr. Levan.
A return of an election of Justices for the township of Pitts- burgh, was read, together with several papers accompanying the same ; and on consideration,
Ordered, That the said return be rejected, the same not being held according to law.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, August 20, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Levan,
Mr. Ewing, and
Mr. Byers.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable the Vice President, for the sum of fifty pounds, in part of his salary as Vice President, for which sum he is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of his Excellency, for the sum of two hundred pounds specie, in part of his salary, for which he is to account.
A letter from the Honorable Frederick A. Muhlenberg, Esquire, Speaker of the General Assembly, of the nineteenth instant, inclos- ing a resolution of the House of Assembly of the same day, re- questing from Council an estimate of the supplies wanting until the first day of November next, was received & read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the same be referred for further consideration.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, August 21, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Byers.
The Council took into consideration the order of the General Assembly of the nineteenth instant, requesting the Council to lay before the House an estimate of the supplies wanting until the first day of November next; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the General Assembly be informed that in addi- tion to the estimate already before the House, there have arisen the two following demands, vizt :- The payment of a judgment of court in favor of James Smith, against the Commissioners of Pur- chases in Cumberland county, for provisions purchased, amounting to two thousand seven hundred and sixty three pounds, and inter-
353
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
est thereon : And a debt due to David Duncan, Esquire, Commis- sioner of Westmoreland, also for provisions, the amount of which the Council cannot ascertain; besides those demands which are more immediately under the present notice of the General Assem- bly; and that it be further suggested to the House, that should a call of militia be made, it will involve a considerable expense, per- haps to the amount of five thousand pounds. How far the expences of defending the frontiers may increase, in consequence of the depredations of the savages, cannot be ascertained, but will most probably be very considerable.
A pass was granted to Elizabeth Lemont, to go to Dobbs' ferry on the North river, and return again.
A representation of the commissioners appointed to procure and equip an armament for guarding and defending the navigation and bay of the river Delaware, was read, praying permission to sell the ship General Washington; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the same be laid before the General Assembly.
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In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, August 22d, 1782. PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Levan,
Mr. Ewing, and Mr. Byers.
A pass was granted to Abraham Bachman and Andrew Angle- monger, to go to Boston and to return again, with two teams.
A memorial from Alexander Montgomery, Peter Harter and Henry Slottenberg, praying some allowance for their trouble in taking divers prisoners of war, was read; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the same be dismissed.
VOL. XIII .- 23.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, August 23d, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Gardner, and Mr. Byers.
The Council resumed the consideration of the representation of the commissioners for the defence of the bay and river Delaware ; and thereupon,
Resolved, That this Board do concur in opinion with the said commissioners ; and that they be directed to dispose of the ship General Washington, in such manner as they shall judge most for the interest of the State, and make report of their proceedings thereon to this Board as soon as may be.
An order was drawn on the 'Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Joseph Montgomery, for one hundred and thirty-eight pounds specie, in full for his pay as a delegate in Congress for this State, till the twenty-first of August, 1782.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Thomas Smith, Esquire, for his pay in full till the twentieth day of July last, as a delegate in Congress for this State, vizt : For one hundred and thirty-six pounds ten shillings specie.
Ordered, That the Secretary of this Board be authorised to de- liver 'to Ebenezer Hazard, Esquire, the books of Minutes of the Council under the late government of Pennsylvania, one volume at a time, taking a receipt for each volume, with a promise to return the same within seven days from the time of delivery.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, August 24, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Ewing, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Byers.
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Magoffin, Mr. Dougherty, Mr. Maclay, Mr. William Mont- gomery and Mr. William Cooke, a committee of the General As- sembly, attended in Council, deliverd an order of the House dated the twenty-third instant, which was read, by which it appears that
355
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
the said committee are directed to confer with a committee of the Supreme Executive Council, and with a committee of the Honora- ble Congress, on the present critical situation of affairs on the frontiers : Whereupon, the Vice President and Mr. Byers were appointed a committee to confer thereon accordingly, to meet this evening at five o'clock, in the Council Chamber.
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In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, August 26, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Levan,
Mr. Byers, and General Lacey.
The Honorable James Ewing, Esquire, laid before the Board the following account, vizt :
.Dr. The State of Pennsylvania to James Ewing, Esquire.
. . For attendance in Council from the twenty-fifth 'day of June till the twenty ninth day of August, 1782, 66 days, a 17s 6, - - -
£57 15 Mileage, 79 miles, coming to Philadelphia and return- ing,
-
3 19
£61 14
And thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Honor- able James Ewing, for the sum of sixty-one pounds fourteen shil- lings specie, amount of the said account.
The memorial of Joseph Mitchell, which was presented to Council on the eleventh of July last, was read, together with the report of the Surveyor General thereon, and the consideration thereof postponed.
T
d
t-
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, August 27, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Levan,
Mr. Lacey.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of James Trim- ble, for the sum of fifteen shillings specie, money paid to James B. Smith, for copying sundry confessions of robbers of the treasu- ry of the county of Bucks.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. Robert Darroch, for the sum of two pounds twelve shillings specie, for seven days service in collecting shoes and stockings in the county of Bucks, in the year 1777, for the army.
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A pass was granted to William Brown Foggon, to go to Boston and to return again ; and passes to come from New York to Phila- delphia, to Daniel Buckwater and Martha Dodds.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Colonel Samuel Hunter, Lieutenant of the coun- ty of Northumberland, be authorised and directed to contract with one or more persons in the county of Northumberland, for supply- ing the troops stationed in the said county with provisions at the most reasonable rates, not exceeding the price heretotore agreed upon with Messrs. Montgomery & Rees, provided that the said Montgomery and Rees, or either of them, neglect to furnish pro- visions agreeably to their contract.
A petition from Captain John Gensill, praying permission to re- move his effects from this State to Denmark, was read, and dis- missed.
Mr. Maclay and Mr. Montgomery, a committee from the General Assembly, laid before the Board a proposition of sending a member of the House and one of the Council to go to head quarters, to confer with his Excellency General Washington, upon the subject of expeditions into the Indian country, and with him to adopt such measures therein as may appear to be effectual for restraining the savages from making incursions in this State.,
On consideration, the Council fully approving of the proposition of expeditions into the Indian country, as shall be found practi- cable,
. Ordered, That the Vice President be appointed on the part of the Council to join with the conference on that subject with his Excellency and the delegates from the House of Assembly.
357
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
A letter from Henry Wynkoop, Esquire, respecting a horse, which is said to have died in the public service, and for which an ac- tion is brought by a certain George Walter against Mr. Barr, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the same be transmitted to the Attorney General, and that he be directed to appear on the part of the State in the defence of Mr. Barr in the said action.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Berks do order out fifty militia men for the defence of the frontiers; that they be sent from the parts adjacent to the county of Northumberland ; and that they march as soon as may be to Sunbury, and put them- selves under the command of Colonel Samuel Hunter, Lieutenant of the county of Northumberland.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, August 28, 1782. .
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Ewing, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Byers, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Bayard.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, August 29, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Byers, Mr. Levan, and No Council. »
General Lacey.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, August 30, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Gardner, Mr. Byers,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Lacey.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of General Lacey, for the sum of fifty-six pounds three shillings specie, for sundry articles furnished to the company of State troops under his com- mand in the year 1776.
On consideration,
Ordered, That the Quarter Master General of this State, Colo- nel Clement Biddle, do provide a sufficient number of boats to transport the French army under Count Rochambeau, over the river Delaware; and owners of the several ferries on the said river, and all other persons, are required to give every necessary assis- tance on the above occasion. 1
In Council.
· PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, August 31, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Gardner, Mr. Byers, Mr. Lacey.
Mr. Levan, and
A pass was granted .to Casper Wm. Haines, to go to Boston and to return.
Also, a pass to Joseph Green, to go to Albany, in the State of New York, and to return again.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. .
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, September 2nd, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Gardner, Mr. Byers,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Lacey.
. This being the day assigned for the meeting of the Board of Property, his Excellency the President and Doct'r Gardner agreed to meet the other members of the said Board at four o'clock in the afternoon of this day.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Frederick Snei- der, for the sum of fifteen pounds sixteen shillings and four pence specie, amount of his account for his wages in full till the thirty- first day of August last, and sundry small expences.
On consideration of the proposals of Bernard Dougherty, Es- quire, for supplying the Ranging company and militia which may be employed in the county of Bedford for the defence of the fron- tiers ;
Ordered, That twelve pence per ration be allowed for the first day of March last, so long as the said troops shall keep the field. The ration to consist of
One pound of bread.
One pound of beef, or alb of pork.
One jill of whiskey per day, and
One quart of salt, and 2
to every hundred rations.
Two quarts of vinegar, S
Eight pounds of soap, and 2
Three pounds of candles, S
to every seven hundred rations.
The rations to be delivered at such places as the said troops may from time to time be stationed within the county of Bedford.
Ordered, That the said contractor do furnish rations to Captain Boyd's company, and others actually employed, and bearing arms for the defence of the frontiers, agreeably to a muster roll, signed by Captain Boyd and countersigned by the Lieutenant, or any one of the Sub-Lieutenants of the said county, monthly, and to no other persons whatever ; that he furnish no back rations of any kind or to any persons.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, September 3, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Gardner, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Byers, Mr. Van Campen, (now first
Mŕ. Lacey, returned from his family .. The Honorable Mr. Byers laid before the Board an account for his attendance in Council, vizt :
Dr. The State of Pennsylvania, to John Byers, Esquire.
For attendance in Council from the ninth till the 15th of March, 1782, 6 days, a 17s. 6, - - -
£ 5 5 Do. from the 21st June till 5th Sept'r, 1782, 77 days,
a 17s. 6, - 67 7 6
£72 12 6
Mileage, 120 miles, at 1s., - -
6 50
£78 17 6:
And thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honora- ble John Byers, for the sum of seventy-eight pounds seventeen shillings and six pence specie, amount of the said account.
A petition from Ebenezer 'Tracey Pennington, convicted of lar- ceny in the county of Chester, praying remission of his fine and corporal punishment, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the fine adjudged to be paid to the use of the State, and his corporal punishment, be remitted, on condition that he enlist in the Pennsylvania line, to serve therein during the present war without bounty.
A petition from Adam Boyling, convicted in the county of Philadelphia of fornication with a certain Mary M'Farland, and having begotten a bastard child on the body of the said Mary, praying remission of the fine of ten pounds, adjudged to be paid by him to the use of the State, was read; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the said fine be remitted.
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