USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIV > Part 14
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MINUTES OF THE
Resolved, That the Honorable John Boyd and Lieutenant Colo- nel John Armstrong be appointed Commissioners for carrying into execution such measures as shall be judged necessary and expe- dient for the support of the civil authority, by establishing peace and good order in the county of Northumberland.
Resolved, That John Van Campen, Esquire, be appointed Com- missary to furnish provisions to the said troops.
Resolved, That copies of the act aforesaid and of the foregoing resolves be immediately sent to the said Lieutenants, and copies of the said resolves to the Sheriff of Northumberland county.
Resolved, That the Commissioners before mentioned be autho- rized to call upon Commissary Stiles for such quantity of flints and ammunition as they may think proper, to forward to the Lieu- tenant of Northampton county, for the purposes of the preceding resolutions, and that they be instructed to procure some means for immediately conveying it thither.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer for the sum of ten pounds specie, in favor of Lieutenant John Armstrong, for defraying his expenses as an express from Wioming to Philadelphia and return- ing.
In favor of Colonel Francis Johnston, for twelve pounds two shillings, for an iron chest for the office of the Receiver General.
Note .- That Mr. Van Campen consents to furnish the ration in consequence of the preceeding resolves, at ten pence half penny per ration.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, July 30th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable James Irvine, Stephen Balliott, and Esquires. John McDowell, John Boyd,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Van Campen, Esquire, for one hundred pounds specie, for purchasing provisions for the troops to be sent to Wioming, for which he is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable John Boyd and Lieutenant Colonel John Armstrong, for fifty pounds, for defraying their expences as Commissioners for suppress- ing the tumults, &ca., at Wioming, for which they are to account.
The Comptroller's report upon the account of the Honorable Judge Evans, deceased, was read and approved.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, July 31st, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable James Irvine, Stephen Balliott, and Esquires. John M'Dowell, John Boyd,
The Comptroller General's reports upon the following accounts · were read and approved, vizt :
Of Ephraim Douglass, for fees received for tavern liconses in the county of Fayette.
Of Ensign James Scoby of Captain Vanetten's company of Vol- unteers for the pay of his company ; and
Of a company of Rangers raised in the county of Bedford, for their pay.
Mr .. Maclay and Mr. Long, a Committee from the General As .. sembly, attended and informed Council that the General Assembly . was now met and ready to receive any business Council may have to lay before them.
The resignation of Frederick Antes, as President of the County Court of Common Pleas, the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and of the Orphans' Court for the county of North- umberland, and also as a Justice in each of the said Courts; was read and accepted.
The resignation of George Ashman, Esquire, as Lieutenant of the county of Bedford, was read and accepted.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, August 2nd, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable James Irvine, Stephen Balliott, John McDowell, and § Esquires. No Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, August 3rd, 1784. Present as on Monday.
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The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, August 4th, 1784.
PRESENT : His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. And the Hon'ble JAMES EWING, Esq'r, Vice President.
Stephen Balliot, and
The Hon'ble James Irvine, John M'Dowell, Samuel J. Atlee, Esquires.
Valentine Eckart, Henry Christ and John Ludwig, Esquires, were appointed and commissioned to be Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Berks, upon returns made according to law for the district of the town of Reading, and the district of the townships of T pehoccon and Bethel.
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, to wit :
In favor of Samuel Kinsey, for the sum of fifteen pounds ten shillings specie, in full for his attendance as Messenger to the Council of Censors 'till 31st of July, 1784, inclusively.
In favor of the Honorable David Espy, Esquire, and Samuel Davidson, Esquire, for the sum of twenty-seven pounds two shil- lings and six pence specie each, in full for their attendance respec- tively in the Council of Censors 'till the thirty-first day of July, 1784, inclusively.
In favor of the Hon'ble William Findley, Esquire, for fifty-two pounds ten shillings specie, in full for his attendance in said Coun- . cil of Censors 'till the 30th of July, 1784, inclusively, which sev- eral sums are to be paid out of the fund appropriated by resolution of Assembly, dated the twenty second day of November, 1784.
In favor of Adam Orth, Esquire, for thirty-eight pounds six shillings and nine pence State money, in full for principal and in- terest due upon his certificate for a horse furnished by Samuel Bradley, for public service, to be paid according to resolution of Assembly of 8th of April, 1782.
In favor of the Honorable Stephen Balliott, Esquire, and the Honorable John McDowell, Esquire, the former for the sum of twenty-seven pounds two shillings and six pence specie, and the latter for the sum of twenty-four pounds ten shillings, in full for their attendance in Council as Councillors respectively, 'till the thirty-first of July, 1784, inclusively.
In favor of Frederick Sneider, for fifteen pounds thirteen shil- lings and six pence, in full for his wages as Doorkeeper 'till the thirty-first of July inclusively, and cash paid for newspapers.
In favor of Ralph Collins, for the sum of seven pounds fifteen shillings specie, for the hire of a scow carrying mud for repairing the banks at Mud Island.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Upon the petition of Barney O'Neal and Margaret Barnet, con- victed of larceny in the city of Philadelphia ; it was
Ordered, That the corporal punishment to which they have been sentenced respectively, be remitted.
Upon the petition of Thomas Pentlin, convicted of fornication in the city of Philadelphia; it was
Ordered, That the fine to which he was sentenced by the Court, be remitted.
Valentine. Eckart, Henry Christ and John Ludwig, were ap- pointed & commissioned to be Justices of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Berks.
A resolution of Congress, dated July 26th, 1784, relating to Quarter Masters' and Commissarys' stores, cloathing, &ca., the property of the United States, which have accidentally fallen into the hands of private citizens, requesting an account of the same, . was read ; and
Ordered, To be filed.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, August 5th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Hon'ble JAMES EWING, Esq'r, Vice Presid't.
Stephen Balliott,
The Honorable James Irvine, John McDowell, Samuel John Atlec.
A petition from Edmund Milne, praying Council to allow him further time to pay the debt due to the State from Milne and Van- deren, was read ; and on consideration,
Ordered, That the Attorney General be directed to stay execu- tion against the estate of Edmund Milne, for the debt due by Milne and Vanderen for the space of six months from the date hereof, if it can be done without prejudice to the Commonwealth.
Mr. Clymer, Mr. Long and Mr. Hannum, a committee from the General Assembly attended, and a conference was had respecting the case of Charles Julian De Longchamps.
Mr. Maclay, Mr. Woods, Mr. Lutz, Mr. Holgate, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Evans, a committee from the General Assembly, attended, and a conference was had on the subject of a petition from several Connecticut settlers at Wioming, and respecting the tumults at that place.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable the Judges of the Supreme Court, for one hundred pounds specie,
172
MINUTES OF THE
being advanced to them for defraying all such expenses as shall happen in their circuit thro' any of the counties where they shall not hold courts, for which they are to be accountable.
Samuel Jones, Esquire, was appointed and commissioned to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Lancaster, upon a return made according to law for the district of the township. of Bethel.
At a conference with the committee on the Wioming business, the following papers were delivered to the said committee, vizt :
Copies of the resolutions of Council on the twenty-ninth of July last.
Instructions to the Commissioners and the Secretary's let- ters to the Lieutenants of Northampton and Northumberland coun- ties, and to the Sheriff of the latter county.
The depositions of John Armstrong and William Brink on the twenty-eighth of July, before the Chief Justice, and the deposi- tions of Lawrence Myers, Joseph Salmon and William Jennings, of the twentieth day of July; and Beniah Mundy's narrative of the twenty-seventh of July.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, August 6th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Stephen Balliott, and Esquires. John McDowell, Samuel John Atlee,
A draft of a message to the Honorable the General Assembly, was read-adopted as follows, and presented by the Secretary :
A message from the President and the Supreme Executive Council to the General Assembly.
GENTLEMEN :- We inclose acts of Congress of the twenty-third of March, and the nineteenth, twenty-seventh, and thirtieth of April last ; and as they relate to affairs of great national moment, we are persuaded they will obtain from you an early attention and a just regard.
Together with these, you will receive letters from the chairman of the committee of the States of the second of this month; the late Minister of France of the twelfth of June; from Mr. De Mar- bois of the twenty-first of June; from General Hand of the fifteenth,
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
nineteenth, twenty-third, and thirtieth of July; and from the Chevalier Du Bouchet of the twenty-second of May, with many inclosures.
We also transmit copies of our several instructions to the Com- missioners appointed by us on Indian Affairs.
The acts for guarding the city and liberties from danger of gun- powder; for imposing duties on importations ; for making vessels liable to pay the tradesmen employed in building and fitting them ; and for enabling the Comptroller General to issue certificates for the ballances due on the accounts, require some amendments.
'The laws on the first subject have not sufficiently provided against careless and improper landing of powder.
The defects in those for imposing duties on importations will appear from a letter of the Collector, and some observations upon it.
The act for making vessels liable in the manner before men- tioned, may oblige the merchant, after payment to the person with whom alone he contracted, to pay the tradesmen employed by that person.
It does not appear that the late act for enabling the Comp- troller General to issue certificates extends to the case of creditors on account of confiscations, as a particular mode is di- rected by a former law for their payment, tho' from the reasona- bleness of such an extension, it probably was meant by the Legis- lature.
There are other persons whose demands the Comptroller was bound by law to settle in State money. The General Assembly, on the twenty-fifth of June, 1781, restrained the issuing and re- issuing of that money by their resolutions of that date. We should be glad that this matter might be taken into consideration.
Major Thomas B. Bowen and Captain Ercurius Beatty, are ap- pointed agents, as you will perceive by the papers herewith sent, to receive from the Paymaster General the certificates for the arrears of pay due to the officers and soldiers of our line, and to distribute them among the owners. Their dispersed situation, and other circumstances, convince us that all possible facilities ought to be afforded by their country for effecting the distribution. We therefore desire that you, gentlemen, will be pleased to authorize us to draw upon the treasury for a compensation to the agents in travelling to the different parts of the State for this purpose.
JOHN DICKINSON.
Council Chamber, Philadelphia, 6th August, 1784.
Upon the petitions of Nancy Butrick and Abigail McIlvane, convicted of fornication in the county of Westmoreland, it was
Odered, That the fines adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by Nancy Butrick and Abigail McIlvaine, respectively, be remitted.
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MINUTES OF THE
· An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Garret Fegan, for three pounds seven shillings and six pence, ballance of bounty due to him as a soldier inlisted in 1778, to be paid out of the money arising from the class tax.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Jane Roberts, for seventy-five pounds specie, to be paid out of the produce of the estate of John Roberts, due to her on the first day of April, 1784 according to the decree of the Honorable the Supreme Court, dated the eighth day of May, 1783.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, August 7th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, John McDowell, Samuel J. Atlee, Esquires.
Stephen Balliott, and
A resolution of the General Assembly, dated the sixth instant, respecting the non-attendance of Frederick Limbach, Esquire, a member of that House, was read; and
Ordered, That the Attorney General be directed to proceed against Frederick Limbach, Esquire, as the law directs, for his de- linquency.
Ordered, That Robert Levers, Esquire, be appointed and com- missioned to be a Justice of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Northampton.
Benjamin Depui, Lewis Stacker, and Andrew Bachman, were appointed and commissioned to be Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Northampton, upon returns made according to law, for the district of the townships of Mount Bethel, the district of the townships of Plainfield and Chesnut Hill, and the district of Heidleberg and Lowhill townships.
The Comptroller General's reports upon the accounts of his Ex- cellency the President of the State, for leaden spouts taken for public use in the year 1777, and of John Armstrong, Junior, Sec- retary, for fees received in his office from 26th of March 'till 25th of June, 1784, inclusively, were read & approved.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable James Ewing, Esquire, for one hundred and twenty-five pounds specie, being one quarter salary as Vice President, ending the sixth instant.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, August 9th, 1784. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Samuel John Atlee, and )
Stephen Balliott, John McDowell,
Bernard Dougherty, Esquires.
.
A letter from the Honorable William Augustus Atlee, Esquire, resigning his office of second Justice of the Supreme Court of this State, was read, and the same was accepted.
The Council proceeded to fill up the office of second Justice of the Supreme Court of this State, and the ballots being taken, it appearing that the Honorable William Augustus Atlee, Esquire, was unanimously re-appointed, and a commission issued accord- ingly.
A dedimus potestatem was issued to the Honorable Jacob Rush, Esquire, for the purpose of administering the oath of office to the said William A. Atlee.
Upon the petition of James Stuart, convicted of larceny in the county of Cumberland, it was
Ordered, That the fine adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by the said James Steuart, and his corporal punishment, be remitted.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, 10th, 1784, August.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Stephen Balliott, and
John M'Dowell, Bernard Dougherty, Esquires.
Samuel John Atlee,
Upon application of Michael Huffnagle, Esquire, it was
Ordered 'That the Attorney General be directed to give such assistance to Mr. Huffnagle as may be requisite for expediting the recovering of debts due to the Commonwealth, or the sale of lands late the property of persons attainted of high treason.
176
MINUTES OF THE
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Paul Schott, for ten pounds specie, for defraying his expences as an ex- press from Wioming to Philadelphia, and returning.
A deed was examined and signed by his Excellency the Presi- dent, to Jacob Essler, for city lot number 1756. Consideration £175 0 0 of the bills of credit of this State dated the 29th of April, 1780. Deed dated this day.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, August 11th, 1784.
PRESENT : His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Samuel John Atlee, and )
John McDowell, Bernard Dougherty, Esquires.
Stephen Balliott,
The Comptroller General's reports upon the following accounts were read & approved :
Of John Patton, Francis Gurney, and William Allibone, Com- missioners for the defence of the bay and river Delaware.
Of Ephraim Blaine, for repairing arms in Northampton county. Of Matthew Irwin, late Quarter Master of the militia in the year 1777.
Of Edmund Milne, for forage, &ca., furnished as Quarter Mas- ter, his pay, &ca.
Of James Cummings, late Brigade Quarter Master to the militia in 1778, for forage, pay, &ca.
Of Conrad Foos, Collector of Excise in the county of Berks.
Of Captain John Boyd, late Captain of Bedford county Ran- gers.
Of Peden Cook, for the pay of sundry militia of Westmoreland county, called out in 1782.
Of the Hon'ble Samuel Smith and James Read, Esquires.
And orders drawn, vizt :
In favor of the former, for fifty- eight pounds twelve shillings and six pence, and in favour of the latter for forty pounds five shillings, being in full for their attendance severally as members of the Coun- cil of Censors 'till seventh instant, inclusively ; to be paid accord- ing to resolution of the General Assembly of twenty-second of November, 1783.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Joseph Dolby, for six pounds specie, for ringing the bells on the arrival of the Marquiss de la Fayette in this city.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, August 12th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Samuel John Atlee, and
John McDowell,
Bernard Dougherty, Esquires.
Stephen Balliott,
The Comptroller General's reports upon the accounts as follows, were read and approved, vizt :
Of Captain George Taylor, for rations.
Of Captain Thomas Boyd, for a gun taken from him at Fort Washington,
Of the Hon'ble John McDowell and James Edgar, Esquires.
And orders drawn on the Treasurer for the sum of thirty-three pounds five shillings each, in full for their attendance severally till 10th instant, inclusively, as members of the Council of Censors ; to be paid according to resolution of Assembly of the 22nd No- vem'r, 1783.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, 13th, 1784. PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President. The Honorable James Irvine, Stephen Balliott, and Esq'rs. John McDowell, Bernard Dougherty,
In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly intitled " An Act for furnishing from the militia of Pennsylvania the quota of troops required by Congress for the protection of the North West- ern frontiers, and for other purposes," Council having arranged the two hundred and sixty men. assigned as the quota of this State in three companies of Infantry, each consisting of seventy men, non-commissioned officers included, the remaining fifty to form part of an Artillery company, took into consideration the applica- tions for commissions, and made the following appointments, vizt :
Josiah Harmer to be Lieutenant Colonel Commandant.
Walter Finney, David Zeigler,
Captains Infantry.
William McCurdy, J
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178
MINUTES OF THE
Stewart Herbert, r Lieutenants.
Ercurius Beatty,
Thomas Doyle,
John Armstrong,
Andrew Henderson,
Ensigns.
Ebenezer Denny,
John McDowell, Surgeon.
Richard Allison, Surgeon's Mate.
Artillery-Captain, Thomas Douglass ; Lieutenant, Joseph Ash- ton.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Thomas Boyd, for three pounds ten shillings, for a gun taken at Fort Washington by the British ; to be paid out of the militia fines of the county of Chester.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Nichol- son, Esquire, Comptrollor General, for the sum of five hundred pounds, State money, for paying one-third of depreciation to the Pennsylvania line, agreeably to act of the General Assembly passed the thirteenth day of April, 1782.
The Comptroller General's report upon the account of Matthew Hart, for a riflle gun taken from him by the enemy, was read and approved.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, August 14th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Samuel John Atlee,
John McDowell, Jtephen Balliott, Esquires.
A letter from Major B. Bowen and Captain Ercurius Beatty, proposing to Council to make some alteration of the times and places for issuing certificates of final settlement, was read, & the alterations, provided timely notice of such alteration be given to those concerned, agreed to.
A letter from the Commissioners of the county of Philadelphia, requesting Council to direct the sale of a quantity of iron belong- ing to the old jail, was read ; and on consideration,
Resolved, That at this time Council cannot comply with their request.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, August 16th, 1784. PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
Stephen Balliott, and
James Irvine, John McDowell, Samuel John Atlee, Esquires.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Captains Joseph McClellan and Amos Ogden, (for apprehending and securing Aaron Doan,) for the sum of three hundred pounds specie, according to proclamation of Council dated the thirteenth day of September, 1783.
The Comptroller General's report upon the account of John Duncan, of New Jersey, for provisions furnished to the Pennsylva- Saltworks in 1777, was read and approved.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, August 17th, 1784. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
James Irvine, Stephen Balliott, ? Esquires. John McDowell, Samuel John Atlee, S
The petitions of Thomas McCulloms, Robert Hannah, and An- drew Jack, convicted of larceny in Cumberland county, was read and rejected.
The petitions of Michael Ryan, were read and rejected.
The Comptroller General's reports upon the following accounts were read and approved, vizt :
Of Bernard Dougherty, Esquire, for rations issued to the Bed- ford county Rangers, and to the troops marched to Fort Pitt in 1783.
Of ditto for rations furnished to militia of s'd county.
Of David George, for his pay as a soldier in the late Continental army; and
Of William Finley, Esquire.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the latter for the sum of fifteen pounds fifteen shillings specie, in full for his at- tendance in the Council of Censors 'till this day, inclusively, to be paid according to resolution of Assembly dated 22nd of November, 1783.
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MINUTES OF THE
A return of Justices of the Peace for West Pennsboro' district, in Cumberland county, was read and rejected ; four persons instead of two being returned.
Upon the petition of a number of freeholders and inhabitants of the township of Lebanon, John Thome, Esquire, was appointed and commissioned to be a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Lancaster.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, August 18th, 1784.
PRESENT : His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable JAMES EWING, Esquire, Vice President.
The Hon'ble James Irvine, Bernard Dougherty, & ) John McDowell, Samuel John Atlee, Stephen Balliott, Esquires.
Christopher Trueby, John Moore, and Matthew Jack, Esquires, were appointed and commissioned to be Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Westmoreland, upon a return made according to law, for the district of Hanna's Town and Hempfield township. And the said Christopher Trueby, John Moore, and Matthew Jack, were also appointed and commissioned to be Justices of the county Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county of Westmore- land.
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