USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIII > Part 36
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rals, and forty five privates. Nehemiah Stokeley reports that the Westmoreland company consists of one Captain, (prisoner,) one Lieutenant, one Ensign, two Serjeants, two Corporals, and twenty privates ; that Captain Hughes's company consists of one Lieu- tenant, one ensign ; and by the report of General Potter, it appears that the six months' men, under Captain M'Grady, consisted of thirty-nine privates.
The Council took into consideration the contract for supplying the forces in Northumberland county with provisions, entered into by. Colonel Hunter, on the part of the State, and John Weitzel, Esquire, and Captain Gray ; and Council observing several mate- rial objections thereto, and more especially as to the time to which the contract is extended ; and thereupon, entered into treaty with Mr. Weitzel for altering the contract ; and it was
Agreed, That Mr. Weitzel supply the forces employed or to be employed in the county of Northumberland, with rations until the first day of July next, for which he shall be allowed ten pence per ration.
The ration to consist of
One pound of bread.
One pound of beef, or ath pound of pork.
One jill of whiskey.
One quart of salt, & - to every hundred rations.
Two quarts of vinegar, S
Eight pounds of soap, &
Three pounds of candles, to every seven hundred rations.
The rations to be delivered at Fort Rice and Captain Gray's, in Buffaloe valley, free from any cost to the State. Guards are to be furnished for conveying the provisions.
'That any provisions which shall be taken or destroyed by the enemy, shall be paid for by the State , that the sum of two hun- dred pounds be now advanced to Mr. Weitzel, to be credited by him in the account to be rendered on the first day of July next ; that payment for the provisions delivered and to be delivered be- fore the first day of March next, to be made on the first day of March next ; that payment for provisions delivered from the first. day of March next till the first day of July, to be made on the first day of July next. Mr. Weitzel agrees to take the flour pur- chased by William Maclay, Esq're, and now in Mr. Weitzel's pos- session, at thirteen shillings and six pence per hundred, consisting of eighty-four hundred weight, the amount of which he is to credit the State in the account to be first delivered. The account of ra- tions to be delivered by Mr. Weitzel, to be signed by the officer commanding at the respective posts, and countersigned by the Lieu- tenant of the county of Northumberland.
(Signed,) JNO. WEITZEL.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of John Weitzel, Esquire, for two hundred and thirty- nine pounds eighteen shillings and four pence for provisions fur- nished in October last to the forces in Northumberland county, to be paid out of the five thousand pounds appropriated to the de- fence of the frontiers.
In favor of the said John Weitzel, for two hundred pounds specie, toward the supply of the troops to be stationed in the said county, to be accounted for in his account of rations to be rendered , on the first of July next, and to be paid out of the said five thou- sand pounds.
In favor of the said John Weitzel, for eighteen pounds four shillings specie, for the service, of thirteen militia men, for eight days, in defence of the frontiers, being militia pay, and advanced by him to them.
In favor of William Smith, for twenty five pounds specie, in lieu of the emoluments arising from the land at the Pest-Houses, the same being leased by the General Assembly to another person.
It was agreed by the Council that the contract with William Smith, so far as relates to the Pest-Houses, and the lot adjoining, can no longer have effect ; therefore,
Ordered, That Mr. Smith be informed that if he continues in the care of Mud Island and Billingsport, the use of the lands an- bexed to them must be considered as the full compensation for his trouble. Since, Mr. Smith being called in and informed of this order of the Council, he agreed to the same.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, November 16, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
Mr. M'Dowell, and
The Honorable Mr. Irvine, Mr. Potter, Mr. Van Campen.
A pass to New York by the way of Dobbs' ferry, and to return again, was granted to Ann Bartholomew.
Passes were also granted to Daniel Long, John Henderson and Daniel Tillinghurst, to go to Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, and to return again.
The Honorable John Van Campen, Esq'r, presented to the Board the following account for his attendance in Council, viz :
From the 8th of October till the 16th November, 1782, 40
days, a 17s. 6 per day. -
- £35
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An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the said Mr. Van Campen, for the said sum of thirty-five pounds.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, November 18, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Potter, and
Mr. M'Dowell, Mr. Levan.
A representation from Sarah M'Donald, respecting certain trai- torous intentions of her husband, Alexander M'Donald, was read ; & on consideration,
Ordered, That the same be referred to one of the Judges of the Supreme Court.
Mr Osborne attended in Council and informed that the Commis- sioners in the dispute between this State and that of Connecticut will meet at Trenton, the court having been opened on Tuesday last.
A committee of the Honorable House of Gen'l Assembly, vizt : Mr. Joseph Montgomery, Mr. Delany, Mr. Rush, Mr. M'Pherson, and Mr. attended in Council, and requested a conference with the Council on the subject of the letter from Briga- dier General Irvine, at Fort Pitt, mentioned in the latter part of the message from the Council to the General Assembly of the fif- teenth instant, containing intelligence that a number of people are making settlements beyond the Ohio, upon lands within this State, and of the intention of some of them to divide the State, and form a new one, and a free conference was had accordingly.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, November 19, 1782.
0
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Irvine, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. MeDowell, Mr. Wall, (now first returned.) Mr. Potter,
"The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of Isaac Anderson, for fifteen pounds, in part of his pay as Lieutenant of a company of volunteers raised in Westmoreland
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
county, pursuant to an order of Council of the 14th of March, 1781, for which he is to account.
In favor of William Ralston, for fifteen pounds specie, in part of his pay as Ensign of said company, raised as aforesaid, for which he is to account.
In favor of John Nicholson, for twenty-five pounds specie, for contingent expences of his Comptroller General's office, agreeably to resolution of General Assembly of fourteenth instant, for which, he is to account.
A pass was granted to Catharine Richards to go to New York, by way of Dobbs' Ferry, and to return.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, November 20, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Irvine, Mr. Potter, and
Mr. M'Dowell, Mr. Wall,
Mr. Levan.
Mr. Joseph Montgomery, Mr. William Montgomery and Mr. Atlee, a committee of the General Assembly, attended in Council, and requested a conference with the Council, respecting the situa- tion of the prisoners now confined in the prison ships at New York, which the Council agreed to ; and after some time spent therein, the committee was furnished with a list of cloathing and other ne- cessaries for the present relief of the said unhappy sufferers.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of James Tate, James Hanna, Patrick Hunter, Ann Strickland, Joshua Vanhorn, Stacey Taylor, Emon Scott, Thomas Morgan and Zephaniah Lott, for one hundred pounds specie, the reward for apprehending and securing John Tomlinson, late of Bucks county, agreeably to procla- mation of Council of the twenty-fifth of October, 1781.
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In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, November 21, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Wall, and
Mr. M'Dowell, Mr. Potter.
Mr. Levan,
Petitions from Frederick Mourer and Philip Klein, praying re- mission of their fines for non-performance of their tour of militia duty on a late call of militia from the county of Berks, were read ; and on consideration,
Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Lieutenant of the said county.
The Honorable Major General Lincoln, Secretary at War, laid before the Board the petition of John Fishel, representing to the Secretary at War, that the said Fishel was a native of York county, in this State, and had been inveigled into the British ser- vice in the year 1771. That he was captured with General Bur- goyne, and returned to his native place, married, and has several children, and prays that he may be restored to the rights and pri- vileges of a citizen. And the said Fishel produced a certificate of his good behaviour since his return. General Lincoln informs this Board that he is ready and willing to discharge the said Fishel, if the Council should think proper to demand him as a citizen; where- upon,
Ordered, That the Secretary at War be requested to discharge John Fishel, and permit him to return to the duties of a citizen, on his producing a certificate of his having taken the oath of alle- giance to the State required by law.
The petition of Francis Hutchinson, late of the State of New Jersey, praying a passport to New York, was read; and there- upon,
Ordered, That the petitioner, with his recommendation, be refer- red to the Executive of the State of New Jersey.
Ordered, That a pass to New Jersey be granted to the said Francis Hutchinson.
A pass was granted to Philip Newcomer, to go to the State of North Carolina and to return again, with a waggon and four horses.
Two deeds were examined and signed by his Excellency the President, to Joseph Dean, for divers city lots, sold for the redemp- tion of the bills of credit of this State of the twenty-ninth day of April, 1780, marked in the general plan of city lots remaining in the Surveyor General's office, vizt :
C 0 d
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
One of them for lots numbered from 1281 to 1286.' Considera- tion one hundred and' eighty-four pounds.
One other numbered from 1429 to 1434. Consideration one hundred and eighty-one pounds.
Both which sums the said Joseph Dean hath paid to the Trea- surer of the State, as appears by his receipts. Deeds dated the twenty- first instant.
The President laid before the Board the draft of a proclamation," which being read, was agreed to, and is in the words following, vizt :
By the President, and the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A PROCLAMATION.
As the greatest and best of Beings commanded mankind into existence, with a capacity for happiness, bestowing upon him un- derstanding and many good gifts, so when they by an abuse of the blessings thus intrusted, had involved themselves in guilt and misery, his compassion was extended towards them, and in "his tender mercies," not only seed time, and harvest, and cold, and heat; and summer, and winter, and day, and night, were continued unto them, but the "eternal purposes" were revealed, and the hea- venly treasuries opened to restore the human race to the transcen- dent privileges from which by transgression they were fallen ; and in "this marvellous work," the laws of righteousness have been with such infinite wisdom adjusted and united in the obligations of nature, that while they jointly tend to promote the filicity of men in a future state, they evidently co-operate to advance their welfare in the present, and to offend against the sanctions of revolution or the dictates of reason and conscience, is assuredly to betray the joys of this life as well as those of another : Wherefore, we are entirely persuaded that just impressions of the Deity are the great supports of morality ; and as the experience of ages demonstrates that regu- larity of manners is essential to the tranquility and prosperity of societies, and the assistance of the Almighty, on which we rely to - establish the estimable blessings our afflicted country is contending for, cannot be expected without an observance of his holy laws.
We esteem it our principal and indispensable duty to endeavour, as much as we can, that a sense of these interesting truths may prevail in the hearts and appear in the lives of the inhabitants of this State, and therefore have thought proper to issue this procla- mation, sincerely desiring that they, seriously meditating on the many signal and unmeritted benefits of public and private import, conferred upon them, the affecting invitations and munificent promises of Divine goodness, and the terrors set in array against the disobe- dient, may be urged to exert themselves in avoiding, discounte- VOL. XIII .- 28.
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MINUTES OF THE
nancing, and suppressing all vice, prophaneness, and immorality ; and feeling a due gratitude, love, and veneration, for their most gracious, all-wise, and omnipotent Benefactor, Sovereign, and Judge, and a ' correspondent temper of resignation to the dispensations of his Su- preme Government, may become a people " trusting in Him in whom they live and move," and doing good : And to the intent that these desirable ends may be forwarded, all persons are hereby ex- horted to observe the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, and thercon constantly to attend the worship of God, as a service pleas- ing to Him " who is a hearer of prayer," and condescends to in- babit the praises of his people, and profitably to themselves-a neglect of which duty has, in a multitude of instances, been the beginning of a deviation into the ways of presumption, that at length have led into the deepest distresses and severest sorrows.
And as the education of youth is of so much moment to them- selves and to the Commonwealth, which cannot flourish unless that important point be diligently regarded, the sentiments, dispositions, and habits, being then generally formed that pervade the rest of their , lives, all parents, guardians, masters, and tutors, are hereby strenu- ously called upon to discharge the high trust committed to them, and for which they must account by a faithful attention, that those under their care may be nurtured in piety, filial reverence, submis- sion to superiors in age or station, modesty, sincerity, benevolence, temperance, industry, consistency of behaviour, and a frugality regulated by an humble reliance on Providence, and a kind respect for others, that their inexperienced minds may be, by wholesome in- structions, fully convinced that whatsoever employment they are de- signed for, virtue will be a chief promotor of success, and irregularity of conduct the greatest obstacle to it; that the intellectual faculties are aided by moral improvement, but weakened by illicit courses ; and in brief, that religion is the friend of their peace, health, and happiness ; and that to displease their Maker, or to trespass against their neighbours, is inevitably to injure themselves ; and we expect, and hereby require, that all well-disposed persons, and especially those in place of authority, will, by their conversation and de- meanor, encourage and promote piety and virtue, and to contribute to the rendering these qualities truly laudable and honorable, and the contrary practices justly shameful and contemptible; that thus the influence of good men and the dignity of the laws may be com- bined in suppressing the insolencies of scorners and profligates, in directing the weak and thoughtless, and in preserving them from the pernicious contagion of evil examples.
· And for further promoting such reformation, it is hereby enjoined that all Magistrates, and others whom it may concern, be very vigi- lant and exact in discovering, prosecuting, and punishing ail per- sons who are guilty of prophanation of the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, blasphemy, prophane swearing or cursing, drunken- ness, lewdness, or other dissolute or immoral practices; that they
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
suppress all gaming houses and other disorderly houses ; that they put in execution the act of General Assembly entitled "An Act for the suppression of vice and immorality," and all other laws now in force for the punishing vice, prophaneness, and immorality : And for the more effectual proceeding herein, all Judges and Jus- tices having cognizance in the premises, are directed to give strict charges at their courts and sessions for the due prosecution and punishment of all who shall presume to offend in any of the kinds aforesaid, and also all such as, contrary to their duty, shall be re- miss or negligent in putting the laws in execution ; and that they do, at their respective courts and sessions, cause this proclamation to be publicly read immediately before the charge is given. And every Minister of the Gospel is requested strongly to inculcate in the respective congregations where they officiate, a love of piety and virtue, and an abhorrence of vice, prophaneness, and immo- rality.
Given in Council, under the hand of the President and the seal of the State, at Philadelphia, this twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty- two.
JOIIN DICKINSON.
Attest-TIMOTHY MATLACK, Secretary.
GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH.
Ordered, That the said proclamation be published.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, November 22, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Irvine, Mr. McDowell,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Potter.
On consideration,
Ordered, That David Kennedy, Esquire, Secretary of the Land Office, be authorised and directed to wait on Benjamin Chew and Joseph Turner, Esquires, and demand and receive from them, or either of them, in the name of the State, divers deeds and papers in their possession, or one of them, belonging to the Land Office of the late Province, now State of Pennsylvania, pursuant to act of General Assembly passed the twenty seventh of November, 1779, entituled " An Act for vesting the estates of the late Proprie- taries of Pennsylvania in the Commonwealth."
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MINUTES OF THE
Sundry resolutions of the General Assembly of the twenty-first instant, were received and read, on the message from Council of the fifteenth, vizt : directing the Comptroller General to settle with . the Superintendant of Finance the quantities of specific supplies for which this State is to obtain credit, referring the accounts of the State Treasurer for the current year, together with the Comp- troller General's report thereon, to the Committee of Accounts. That the House approve the order of Council for enlisting the eighteen months' men during the war, and authorising Council to apply sundry balances of accounts respecting the defence of the frontiers to the payment of such accounts as to them shall seem expedient.
Ordered, That the said resolutions be filed.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of Henry Osborne, Esquire, for fifty-one pounds six shillings and six pence, for expences in going to New York and Connecticut States, to procure documents relative to the dispute between the States of Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
In favor of Major General Potter, for eighty-two pounds five shilling's and three pence specie, in full of his service as Major General of the militia from the sixteenth of September till tenth of October, 1782, inclusive.
In favor of the Honorable James Potter, Esquire, for seventy- six pounds seventeen shillings and two pence specie, in full for his salary as Vice President for the last year, and his mileage.
In favor of Messrs. Daniel Montgomery and Daniel) Rees, for four hundred pounds five shillings and ten pence, for rations furnished to Captain Robinson's company and others stationed in Northumberland county, in July, Au- gust, and September last.
In favor of said Montgomery and Rees, for fifty-one pounds and ten pence, for rations furnished to militia and volunteers stationed in the said county from May to June, 1782, inclusive.
In favor of Captain Joseph Greer, for ten pounds four shillings and nine pence, for pay of himself and his par- ty, employed in defence of Northumberland county, in May last. ,
the frontiers.
To be paid out of the £5,000 appropriated to the defence of
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, November 23, 1782.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Wall,
Mr. Levan.
Mr. McDowell,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of William Brown, Esquire, for two hundred and forty pounds ten and eleven pence specie, to be paid out of the five thousand pounds specie appropri- ated for the frontier defence, being the balance of his account of rations furnished to militia, and others, in Cumberland county.
Also, in favor of Lieutenant Moses Van Camp, of (Captain Thomas Robinson's company of Rangers, in Northumberland county, and lately returned from captivity,) for twenty-five pounds, in part of his pay.
A pass was granted to Rebecca Young to go to New York, by way of Dobbs' ferry, not to return again.
A pass was granted to Ester Ham to go to New York and to return again .*
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, November 25, 1782. PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable Mr. Irvine, Mr. Potter, and
Mr. Wall, Mr. McDowell.
Mr. Levan,
A letter from Joseph Reed, Esquire, one of the Agents of the State on the Connecticut claim, was read, giving an account of the state of the trial, and requesting the Indian deeds for land pur- chased by the Proprietaries within the State of Pennsylvania. The President informed the Council that the Indian deeds had been delivered up by the Honorable John Penn, Esquire, and that he had examined them, and found all the deeds which could in any wise relate to the controversy between this State and Connecticut. That he had obtained the loan of a duplicate of the charter granted by Charles the Second to William Penn, certified under the Great Seal of England, which he had engaged to return again after the . trial ;
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Ordered, That the Indian deeds be delivered to Mr. Osborne, Solicitor, and that he give his receipt for the same to the Secretary of the Land Office ; that Mr. Kennedy do also give a receipt for the same as soon as may be.
Memo. No. 37, wanting
deed of pre-
emption 1754 do
A draft of a message from Council to the General Assembly, was laid before the Board, and read, and is in the following words, vizt :
A Message from the President and Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to the General Assembly of the said Commonwealth :
GENTLEMEN :- Doubts have arisen concerning the powers of the Commissioners for the several counties of the State, to raise and levy the sum of ninety three thousand six hundred and forty pounds ten shillings, in pursuance of the supplement to the act entitled " An Act for funding and redeeming the bills of credit of the United States of America, and providing means to bring the pre- sent war to a happy conclusion," without an assessment made for that purpose. It appears to us that an act should be passed at the present sessions confirming the proceedings of Commissioners, where they have been already had without such assessment, and authorizing others who have not yet acted thereupon, to proceed on the last assess- ment made for raising and levying effective supplies for the year. To prevent future difficulties, it may be proper also to provide that the Commissioners for every county shall in their proceedings to raise and levy the annual sum before mentioned, as long as the same is by law to be raised and levied, be hereafter guided by the last pre- ceding assessment that shall have been made for levying, raising, and effecting supplies.
By the letter from the Commissioners of the twenty-second in- stant, and the inclosures, you will perceive that a matter is in agi- tation that may affect the revenue and peace of the State. We can only say that we shall heartily rejoice if the Legislature can possi- bly devise a mode of affording some kind of satisfaction to many worthy fellow citizens. in the same situation. We have repeated applications by persons who are sucd for debts contracted on the public account. We apprehend that some of them will be very severely and improperly distressed if a law is not soon made for their relief. It appears by the letter from the Treasurer for this county, now sent, that there is no fund for paying the pensions therein mentioned. We trust the peculiar circumstances of the pensioners will recommend their case in the liveliest manner to your Honorable House. The excise law seems to be deficient in
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
not directing the Justices to make any returns of their proceedings for forfeitures and offences immediately after they are had, either to the Treasurer of the county or of the State.
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