USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIII > Part 31
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
A petition from John Downing, praying remission of a fine of thirteen pounds ten shillings specie, adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by Jack Martin, his negro slave, convicted of larceny at the last Court of Quarter Sessions held in the county of Ches- ter, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the said fine be remitted.
361
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
A letter from the Commissioners for the defence of the Bay and river Delaware, of this day's date, reporting their proceedings upon the order of this Board of the twenty-third ultimo, directing them to make sale of the ship General Washington, was read, and the same being considered, was approved ; and
Ordered, To be filed.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, September 4th, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Gardner, Mr. Byers, and
Mr. Lacey, Mr. Levan,
Mr. Van Campen.
A petition from George Wall, Junior, to the Secretary, with re- turns of the estates of Joseph Dean, Alexander Bartram, and Da- vid Burge, seized by him as forfeited estates, and mentioning his having seized the personal estate of said Dean. Whereupon,
Ordered, That the said George Wall, Jun'r, be directed to dis- pose of the said estates, real and personal, as soon as may be, ac- cording to law.
A petition from Charles Campbell, Esquire, Sub-Lieutenant of the county of Westmoreland, complaining of unwarrantable oppo- sition to the execution of the militia law.
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Lieutenant of the said county, and that he be directed to enquire into the said com- plaint, and report thereon to Council.
The Attornies appointed in the cause depending before Congress between this State and Connecticut represented that there are pro- bably divers papers relative to the said cause remaining among the records of the States of Connecticutand New York, which may be of importance on the trial, and requested that some persons might be appointed to examine the records of those States, and obtain copies of such as relate to the said cause. Whereupon,
Ordered, That Mr. Osborne be requested to examine the said records, and obtain copies of such as may tend to elucidate the cause so pending; and thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. Henry Os- borne, for the sum of seventy five pounds specie, for his expences in going to the States of Connecticut and New York, for the pur- pose aforesaid.
362
MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, September, 5th, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Bayard, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Byers,
Mr. Lacey.
Nicholas Lutz, Esquire, of the county of Berks, attended in Council, and represented that the Lieutenant of the said county was about to order out militia from the said county for the defence of the county of Northumberland, but that no person hath been em- ployed to furnish them with provisions till they shall arrive at the place of their destination, and proposed to the Council to furnish them with rations, at nine pence each.
The Council taking into consideration the said proposal, agreed to pay Col. Lutz nine pence per ration for any number of rations he may furnish to the said militia, not exceeding three hundred.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, September 6th, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Van Campen, and Mr. Levan.
A letter from his Excellency General Washington dated the second instant, respecting the proposed expedition into the Indian country, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the Council will meet this afternoon at four o'clock, upon that business specially.
-
The Council met at four o'clock in the afternoon, pursuant to ad- journment.
At a conference between the Council and a Committee of the General Assembly, respecting the expedition proposed into the In- dian country, it was the unanimous opinion that General Potter,
363
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Mr. Bayard, and Doctor Gardner, be a Committee of the Council to confer with the Minister at War, and the Committee of the Gen- eral Assembly, on the proposed expeditions, at the Council Cham- ber, to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, September 7th, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,: Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Levan.
The Council resumed the consideration of the resolve of the General Assembly of the sixth instant, empowering the Council to draw on the Bank for the sum of five thousand pounds, solely ap- propriated towards the defence of the frontiers of the State; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the House be requested to inform the Council whether it is intended that debts already contracted in the defence of the frontiers, or any part of them, shall be paid out of the said five thousand pounds. And also to request the House will re-con- sider their resolve, so far as relates to the manner of drawing on the Bank; the Couneil conceiving it will be most proper to have the sum borrowed of the Bank by the House, made payable to the Treasurer or his order. The drafts of the Council for the frontier defence may then be drawn on the Treasurer, and accepted by him, payable at the Bank. As the resolve now stands, the Council judge it will be necessary to draw on the Bank in favor of the Trea- sury for the whole, and then to draw on him for the respective sums becoming necessary, to be by him accepted in like manner, payable at the Bank; otherwise the Treasurer's books will not con- tain the public accounts, as they certainly ought to do.
An order was drawn on the Commissary of Military Stores, Cap- tain Joseph Stiles, for twenty stand of arms for the company of Rangers commanded by Captain Shrawder, for which the said Shraw- der is to account.
A message to the General Assembly was prepared and read, and is in the words following, vizt :
Message from the President and Council to the Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met.
GENTLEMEN :- A letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, requesting to be furnished with returns of the damage done by the enemy within this State, which having been laid before the Gen-
364
MINUTES OF THE
eral Assembly, has been returned to the Council, now coming again under our consideration, it appears to us to be necessary, in order to ascertain with that precision which so important a case requires, that an act should be past authorising Commissioners to receive evidence of such losses and judge of the value thereof .- The House will please to receive the letter, and take such order thereon as they may judge most effectual for answering the purposes which the Minister of Foreign Affairs has in view.
WILLIAM MOORE, President.
. COUNCIL CHAMBER, Philadelphia, September 7, 1782.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, September 9, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Van Campen, Mr. Gardner, and
Mr. Bayard.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Nicholson, Esquire, for the sum of five hundred pounds, State money of the seventh of April, 1781, for paying one third of depreciation cer- tificates to officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line, for which the said Nicholson is to account.
A letter from the Minister at War, dated this day, was read, acquainting the Board that on the removal of the recruits from this city, and a detachment of Colonel Hazen's regiment to Fort Pitt, one hundred and forty-five militia will be necessary to guard the- prisoners.
Captains.
Lieutenants.
Sergeants.
Corporals.
Rank & File.
0
1
1
1
15
0
1
1
1
15
2
4
8
8
100
1
1
1
Ł
15
At Philadelphia,
Yorktown, Lancaster,
Reading,
Whereupon, the Council taking the same into consideration,
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the city and liberties be di- rected to call into service forthwith, one Subaltern, one Serjeant, one Corporal, and fifteen rank and file, from the militia of the said
365
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
city and liberties next in order of duty, for the purpose of guard- ing the British prisoners in this city, to be in readiness to mount guard on the seventeenth.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of York be directed in like manner, to call into service one Subaltern, one Serjeant, one Corporal, and fifteen rank and file, of the militia of the said county next in order of duty, for the purpose of guarding the British prisoners in the said county, to be ready to mount guard on the twenty-eighth instant.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster be directed in like manner, to call into service two Captains, four Subalterns, eight Serjeants, eight Corporals, and one hundred rank and file, of the militia of the said county next in order of duty, for the purpose of guarding the British prisoners of the said county, to be in readiness to mount guard on the twenty-fifth in- stant.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Berks be di- rected in like manner, to call into service one Subaltern, one Ser- . jeant, one Corporal, and fifteen rank and file, of the militia of the said county next in order of duty, to mount guard on the nine- teenth instant, over the British prisoners in the said county.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, September 10, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Van Campen.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, September 11, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Levan,
Mr. Bayard, and Mr. Van Campen.
Mr. Meredith and Mr. Hannums, a committee of the House of General Assembly, attended, and requested to confer with Council
366
MINUTES OF THE
on the subject of Thomas Hale's confinement, late Agent of Con- fiscated Estates, which the Council agreed to, and a conference was had, in which the Council informed the Committee in what manner the said Hale had been confined in prison, and at the same time furnished them with some papers relating thereto, when the com- mittee retired.
Mr. M'Lene, Mr. Maclay, and Mr. Hiester, from the House of Assembly, attended, and requested information from the Council respecting the monies necessary to pay the expences of the Court shortly to meet in New Jersey, for the trial of the dispute subsist- ing between Pennsylvania and Connecticut, respecting boundary, when an estimate of the said expence was furnished to the Com- mittee.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable James Potter, Esquire, Vice President, or his order, for the sum of sixty pounds specie, in part of his salary, for which sum he is to account.
The following deeds were examined by his Excellency the Presi- dent, for divers city lots, marked in the general plan of city lots remaining in the Surveyor General's office, and sold agreeably to law for the redemption of the bills of credit of this State of the twenty-ninth of April, 1780, vizt :
To the Honorable John Bayard, Esquire, for lots marked and numbered from 1322 to 1332, inclusive. Consideration four hun- dred and sixty-seven pounds.
To John Wood, for lot No. 1160. Consideration fifty-seven pounds.
To Christleib Bartling, for lots No 1337 & 1338. Considera- tion seventy-four pounds.
To John Fromberger, for lots numbered from 1266 to 1268, inclusive, from 1417 to 1422, inclusive, and from 1459 to 1462, inclusive. Consideration four hundred & one pounds.
All which sums the above named persons have paid into the hands of the Treasurer of the State, as appears by his receipts therefor. Deeds dated the tenth instant.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, September 12, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Van Campen.
Information being given to the Board by David Deshler, Esquire, that an action hath been brought by a certain Henry Gross, of the
367
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
county of Northampton, against Petor Kearn, employed by him, the said Deshler, to purchase horses in the said county for the army, under an act of Assembly, and judgment obtained thereon for twenty-four pounds specie, amount of a note given to said Gross, payable in State money. The Council considering that at the time the said horses were purchased there was no specie in circula- tion, and that there are a number of persons in like circumstances, who may be subjected to many inconveniences and hardships from such suits ; therefore,
Resolved, That the Attorney General of the State be directed to remove the said action from the Court of Common Pleas to the Supreme Court by a writ of certiorari.
Ordered, That Colonel Lewis Farmer be directed immediately to dispose of the shoes remaining on hands unfit for the Ranging companies, in the best manner he can for the interest of the State, and report his proceedings thereon to this Board as soon as may be
A pass was granted to Margaret Sherrman, to go into the city of New York and to return again.
A memorial from Major Andrew Porter, of this day, on behalf of himself and other officers of the regiment of Artillery, late Colo- nel Proctor's, setting forth that they conceive themselves intitled to promotion in the said regiment, and praying that Council will order the same to take place, agreeably to a return annexed to the said memorial, was read, and referred for further consideration.
An address from the President and others, representing the Jewish congregation in this city, praying the countenance and pro- tection of the President and Council of Pennsylvania in their de- sign of erecting a place of public worship in this city, was this day received, which being read, was
Ordered, To be filed.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, September 13, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Van Campen, and Mr. Levan.
Mr. Gardner,
A return of Justices in Sherley township, in the county of Bed- ford, was received and read, by which it appears that Robert Clug- gage and Matthew Patton were duly and fairly elected Justices for
368
MINUTES OF THE
the said township; the Council took the same into consideration ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That Robert Cluggage, Esq'r, be appointed a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Bedford, and commissioned accordingly.
A petition from Thomas Haney, confined in the old gaol, praying remission of his fine, and to be discharged from confinement, was read ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the fine adjudged to be paid to the use of the State be remitted, and that he be discharged from confinement on paying his fees, &c., provided he enter with Commodore Gilliam on board the ship South Carolina, and not return again to this State.
A petition from the following persons, now confined in the old goal, praying remission of their fines, and discharged from confine- ment, &c : John Davis, Daniel Dailey, alias Francis McCoy, Thomas Wall, James Brinkland, John Kelly, William Boyd, Lud- wick Kale, Rodger Mallet, Francis Dewalt, Gabriel Gallure, Wil- liam Miller, Jobn Caldwell, Cato Watts, and Thomas Allison, was read ; and thereupon,
Oi dered, That the said petition, so far as respects Daniel Dailey, alias Francis M'Coy, Thomas Wall, John Kelly, William Boyd, Ludwig Kale, Francis Dewalt, Gabriel Gallure, William Miller, John Caldwell, Cato Watts, and Thomas Allison, be rejected.
Ordered, That the fines adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by John Davis, James Brinkland, and Rodger Mallet, be re- mitted, and that they be discharged from confinement on paying their fees, &c., provided they enter with Commodore Gilliam on board the ship South Carolina, and serve during the present war.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Srturday, September 14, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Van Campen.
The Council resumed the consideration of the expeditions into the Indian country ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Berks be directed to call into service immediately, one hundred and twenty-five men of the militia of the said county, (in addition to the militia already ordered out,) to be marched to the county of Northumberland, for
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 369
the defence of the frontiers of this State, to rendezvous at Muncy on the fourth day of October next, at farthest, as a longer delay may frustrate the good purposes expected from this expedition ; and that the said militia be properly armed and accoutred.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the, county of Cumberland be directed, in like manner, to call into service twenty horsemen and one hundred and seventy-five Infantry of the militia of the said county, properly armed and accoutred, to be marched to the county of Northumberland, and rendezvous at Muncy on the fourth day of October next, as aforesaid.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Northampton, be directed in like manner to call into service immediately, twenty horsemen of the militia proper of said county, properly armed and accoutred, to be marched and rendezvous at Muncy, on the fourth of October next, as aforesaid.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster, be directed to call into service immediately, fifty men of the militia of the said county, properly armed and accoutred, to be marched and rendezvous at Muncy, on the fourth of October next, as aforesaid.
Mr. Gray, Mr. Whitehill, and Mr. Brown, a committee of As- sembly, attended and requested a conference with Council on the subject of obtaining a return and valuation of the property of the citizens of this State that hath been destroyed by the enemy, and also respecting the debts due from confiscated estates, which the Council agreed to; and a conference was had accordingly.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, September, 16, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bayard,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Van Campen.
Pass to Woodbridge was granted to Jedediah Snowden, and Sarah Snowden, and to return again.
A pass was also granted to Eve Sharp, to go to New York in the flag ship now returning, she agreeing not to return again.
A petition from James Britain, convicted of a misdemeanor in the county of York, was read, praying a remission of his fine ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the said fine be remitted.
VOL. XIII .- 24.
1
370
MINUTES OF THE
Ordered, That Major General James Potter, Esq'r, Vice Presi- dent of the State, be appointed to command the troops going on an expedition into the Indian country, against the Janisee towns.
A letter from Daniel Montgomery, and Daniel Rees, of the thir- teenth instant, resigning their contractorship for supplying the troops stationed in the county of Northumberland, was read, and thereupon,
Ordered, That the said resignation be accepted.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, September 17, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President ..
Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Van Campen.
The Council taking into consideration a report of the Committee of Ways and Means and a resolution of the General Assembly thereupon, empowering this Council to draw upon the bank for the sum of five thousand pounds, and to apply the same as to them seems most proper towards the defence of the frontiers of the State ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That David Rittenhouse, Esquire, be authorised and empowered to draw from time to time on the National Bank of North America, for the amount of such drafts as shall be ordered by this Board from time to time, to be paid towards the expence of the frontier defence.
The Council being informed that there is a sum of money be- longing to the State, in the hands of the late Marshall of the Ad- miralty, and the State being in great distress from the want of money,
Ordered, That the said late Marshall do pay all monies in his hands, belonging to the State, into the hands of the State Treasu- rer forthwith.
Ordered, That the present Marshall of the Admiralty be di- rected in like manner to pay to the State Treasurer all monies that may be in his hands, forthwith.
A petition signed by Thomas Fitzsimmons, and others, merchants of Philadelphia, stating the case of a Mr. Levins, who has ab- sconded with a design, as they apprehend, to defraud his creditors, and praying leave that some person may be permitted to go into New York to endeavour to secure the money carried off by him ; whereupon, James Delap being named,
a to h of
371
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Ordered, That a recommendation directed to his Excellency Go- vernor Livingston, be given to the same James Delap, recommend- ing that he be permitted to go into New York on special business.
Ordered, That William Maclay, Esq'r, be appointed Commis- sary for purchasing the flour and spirits necessary for the expedi- tion into the Indian country under the command of Major General . Potter, and forward the same to the fort at Muncy.
Ordered, That William Montgomery, Esquire, be appointed Commissary for purchasing the beef and pork necessary for the ex- pedition into the Indian country, the command of Major General Potter, and forward the same to the fort at Muncy creek.
Ordered, That William Brown, Esquire, be appointed to hire fifty-five pack-horses, with a driver to every six horses, for the ex- pedition into the Indian country, under the command of Major General Potter, each horse to be accoutred at the expense of the owner, with a pack-saddle, halter, and bell, and to be allowed three shillings per day ; and the driver to be allowed three shillings and nine pence per day, and rations. The horses are to be appraised by two respectable freeholders, on oath, and the hire to be paid on their return. They are to rendezvous at the town of Northumber- land, on the fourth day of October next.
Ordered, That Philip Martseller, Esquire, of Lebanon, be ap- . pointed to hire fifty-five pack-horses for the expedition into the In- dian country, under the command of Major General Potter, each horse to be accoutred with a pack-saddle, halter, and bells, at the expence of the owner, and to be allowed three shillings per day, with a driver to every six horses, who shall be allowed three shil- lings and nine pence per day, and be allowed rations. The horses to be appraised by two respectable freeholders, on oath, and the hire to be paid on their return ; to rendezvous at the town of North- umberland, on the fourth day of October next.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of William Maclay, Esquire, for the sum of three hun- dred and fifty pounds, for purchasing and forwarding to Muncy flour for the expedition into the Indian country, for which he is to account.
In favor of William Montgomery, Esquire, for five hundred and fifty pounds, for purchasing and forwarding to Muncy the beef and pork for the expedition into the Indian country, for which he is to account.
In favor of William Brown, Esquire, for fifty pounds specie, towards the hire of horses for the said expedition, for which sum he is to account.
In favor of Philip Marsteller, for fifty pounds, towards the hire of horses for the expedition aforesaid, for which sum he is to account.
372
MINUTES OF THE
In favor of the Honorable James Potter, Esquire, for the sum of forty pounds specie, in part of his salary as Vice President, for which he is to account.
In favor of Captain James Christre, for seventeen pounds sev- enteen shillings and six pence specie, balance of his account for subsistence while employed in receiving recruits in the county of Northampton.
Ordered, That the Secretary at War be requested to lend to the State three hundred stand of arms and forty rifles, one hundred shot pouches and powder horns, four hundred wires and brushes, and two hundred sets of horse shoes and nails, and that the same may be forwarded with the other stores to the town of Northum- berland.
Sundry depositions were laid before the Board against Colonel Valentine Eckhart, for malpractices in the execution of his office as Lieutenant of the county of Berks, which being read,
Ordered, That copies of the same be transmitted to the said Lieutenant ; 'and that he be directed to report thereon to the Coun- cil as soon as may be.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, September 18, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President."
Mr. Bayard, Mr. Gardner,
Mr. Levan, and Mr. Van Campen.
Ordered, That a copy of the estimate of the expence of the proposed expedition to Sandusky, be transmitted to Brigadier Gen- eral Irvine at Fort Pitt, for his information.
Ordered, That Major General James Potter, Esquire, be autho- rized to appoint a Committee of Issues, a Quarter Master, and such other staff officers as he may think necessary for the well conduct- ing of the expedition into the Indian country under his com- mand.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Carna- han, Esquire, tor fifteen hundred pounds specie, to be paid by him to Brigadier General Irvine at Fort Pitt, for providing provisions, pack horses, stores, &c., for the expedition carrying on against San- dusky towns.
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.