USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIV > Part 20
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John Neville, John Boyd,
Richard McCallister,
Charles Biddle, Stephen Balliot, John Neville.
Upon the petition of Thomas Knight, convicted of horse steal- ing in the city of Philadelphia, it was
Ordered, That the cutting off his ears, which is a part of the . punishment to which he was sentenced by the Court, be remitted.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, November 1st, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Hon'ble James Irvine, Charles Biddle,
John McDowell, John Boyd,
Daniel Hiester, Richard McCallister, and Esq'rs. Stephen Balliot, John Neville,
John Richards, Esquire, was appointed and commissioned to be a Justice of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Montgomery.
The following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of the Honorable John Boyd, Esquire, for fifty-three pounds seven shillings and six pence ; and
. In favor of the Honorable John McDowell, Esquire, for the sum of twenty-eight pounds ten shillings specie, being in full for their attendance in Council, respectively, until the thirty first day of Oc- tober, 1784, inclusively.
The return of the general election held in the county of Bed. ford was received and read, by which it appears that the following gentlemen were duly elected, vizt :
Representatives in the General Assembly-George Woods and Robert Cluggage.
Sheriffs-Abraham Miley and Benjamin Elliott.
Coroners-Cornelius McAulay and Anthony Nagel.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Abraham Miley, Esquire, be appointed and com- missioned to be Sheriff of the county of Bedford, and that Corne- lius McAulay be appointed and commissioned to be Coroner of the said county.
Abraham Miley offered James Patterson and John Friend, of Bedford, as sureties for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office of Sheriff of the said county, according to law, which the Council approved.
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honor- -able Stephen Balliot, Esquire, for the sum of twenty-six pounds five shillings specie, in full for his attendance in Council until the thirty-first day of October, 1784, inclusively.
The return of the general election held in the county of Wash- ington was received and read, by which it appears that the follow- ing gentlemen were duly elected, vizt :
Representatives in the General Assembly-Matthew Ritchie and .John Stevenson.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Sheriffs-James Marshall, Daniel Leet.
Coroners- William McCoombs and Robert Benson.
Commissioner-James Allison.
On consideration,
Ordered, That James Marshall, Esquire. be appointed and com- missioned to be Sheriff of the said county of Washington, and that William McCoombs be appointed and commissioned to be Coroner of the said county.
James Marshall, Esquire, offered John Hoge and John Steven- son, Esquires, as sureties for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office of Sheriff for the said county, according to law, which the Council approved.
James Marshall's resignation of his offices of Register and Re- corder of Deeds in and for the county of Washington was read.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, November 2nd, 1784. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable James Irvine, Daniel Heister,
John McDowell, Richard M'Callister,
Stephen Balliot, Jobn Neville, and Esquires.
Charles Biddle, John Boyd,
An order was drawn upon the 'Treasurer in favor of Frederick Sneider, for the sum of fifteen pounds twelve shillings and six pence specie, in full for his wages as Doorkeeper until the thirty- first day of October, 1784, inclusively, and cash paid for newspa- pers.
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of Captain Thomas Stokely, of the company of Rangers in Westmoreland county, for the sum of nineteen pounds seven shillings and eleven pence specie, for retained rations from the first of May until the first day of December, 1780.
The account of the said Captain Thomas Stokely, for a horse said to be taken by the enemy, was read, and rejected, for want of sufficient proof that the same was taken by the enemy.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met. PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, November 3d, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Honorable James Irvine,
Richard McAllister,
John McDowell, John Neville,
Stephen Balliot,
John Boyd,
Charles Biddle,
George Wall.
Daniel Heister,
Jonathan Hoge, Esquire, Councillor elect for the county of Cum- berland, attended in Council, and having taken the oaths required by the Constitution to qualify him to act as Councillor, took his seat at the Board.
Mr. Pettit and Mr. Moore, a committee from the General As- sembly, attended in Council, and informed the Board that the House was now met, and ready to receive such business as the Council may have to lay before them ; whereupon,
The President informed the committee that a message from Council was preparing, and should be transmitted immediately.
A draft of a message from Council to the General Assembly was laid before the Board, and the same being read and considered was adopted, as follows, vizt :
A Message from the President and the Supreme Executive Coun- cil to the General Assembly :
GENTLEMEN :- It is with pleasure we inform you that the dan- gerous obstructions caused in the navigation of the river Delaware by the chevaux de frize, are now entirely removed.
The Secretary will lay before you a letter and certificate from the Wardens of the Port upon that subject, as also the proceedings of the Supreme Court in the case of Charles Julian de Longchamps ; a letter from the Commissioners appointed to meet the Indians ; an address from the Grand Jury of the city and county of Philadel- phia, and several papers relating to the disturbances at Wioming.
The Commissioners for running the boundary line between this State and Virginia have been for some time, and still are, employed in that service.
There have been great irregularities in the late elections for the counties of Lancaster and Northumberland. As the right to a seat in Council depends upon the return made to us from the for- mer, and it is probable that the election of Representatives will be contested, respect for your Honorable House induced us to appoint a day for the attendance of the witnesses, which we judged might
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
be convenient for your examination of them. We have accordingly appointed the eighth day of November. A list of those whom we have ordered to be summoned will be herewith delivered.
The liberty, happiness, and honor of the good people of this Commonwealth, are so deeply interested in the freedom and purity of elections, that we ardently wish the present regulations respect- ing them may be taken into consideration by the Legislature. Many inconveniencies might be avoided if all the acts were reduced into one ; and we rely on your wisdom for making further improvements to guard against artifices that, by corrupting the source of our laws, must be pernicious to the public welfare.
JOHN DICKINSON. Council Chamber, Philadelphia, November 3rd, 1784.
Ordered, That the Secretary present the same to the General Assembly.
A bond was executed in Council by James Marshal, John Ste- phenson, and John Hoge, in the sum of one thousand pounds, for the said James Marshel's faithful performance of the duties of his office of Sheriff of the county of Washington, according to law.
James Marshall's resignation of his office of Lieutenant of the county of Washington was read and not accepted.
The Council met. 4
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, November 4th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Hon'ble James Irvine, Charles Biddle,
George Wall, Jonathan Hoge,
John Boyd, Richard McCallister, and ( Esq'rs.
Stephen Balliott, John Neville, Daniel Hiester,
William Moore Smith, Lawrence Erb, and Christian Shouse, were summoned to attend Council to-morrow at eleven o'clock, to give evidence concerning the late election of Sheriffs in Northamp- ton county.
Andrew Thompson and William Gilliland, Esquires, were duly appointed and Commissioned to be Justices of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of York.
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4
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, November 5th, 1784. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Hon'ble James Irvine, Jonathan Hoge,
George Wall, Richard McAlister,
Stephen Balliott, Charles Biddle, Daniel Hiester,
John Neville, and
Esquires.
John Boyd,
Mr. Moore, Mr. Wayne, Mr. Eyre, and Mr. Watt, a Committee from the General Assembly attended in Council, and a conference was had upon the time when the election of a President and Vice President of the Supreme Executive Council should take place, and the manner in which it should be conducted. Upon which it was
Ordered, That to-morrow shall be the day of election, and the usual mode of procession adopted on this occasion.
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of John Nich- olson, Esquire, Comptroller General, for twenty pounds, for de- fraying the contingent expences of his office, for which sum he is to account.
Upon considering the petition of Thomas Cheney, in behalf of himself and Samuel Price, and the opinion of the Honorable the Judges of the Supreme Court in their favor, it was
Ordered, That the said Thomas Cheyney and Samuel Price be discharged from the payment of the penalty mentioned in a recog- nizance entered into by them for the appearance of John Taylor and John Moulder at the Chester county Court of Oyer and Ter- miner.
.
Mr. Traill, Mr. Ealer, Mr. Bachman, and Mr. Craig, attended, agreeably to the order of this Board of the eighteenth of October last, when the Council proceeded to a hearing of the parties touch- ing the disputed election of Sheriffs in the county of Northampton, and after some time spent therein, the parties withdrew.
On consideration of the evidence respecting the said election, the Council were of opinion that the objections stated in the petition of William Craig are not supported ; and thereupon, it was
Orderid, That the same be dismissed.
Ordered, That Peter Ealer, Esquire, be appointed Sheriff of the county of Northampton, and that George Knouse be appointed Coroner of the same county.
Peter Ealer, Esquire, offered Jonas Hartzell and Peter Seip, Esquires, of the county of Northampton, as sureties for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office of Sheriff for the said county, according to law, which the Council approved.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, November 6th, 1784. PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Hon'ble James Irvine, John Neville,
Stephen Balliott, Jonathan Hoge, 1
John McDowell, John Boyd, Esquires.
George Wall, Richard McCallister, &
Charles Biddle, Daniel Hiester,
John Woods, Esquire, Councillor elect for the county of Fayette, attended in Council, and having taken the oaths required by the Constitution to qualify him to act as Councillor, took his seat at this Board.
The Clerk of the Honorable House of General Assembly atten- ded in Council, and informed that the House was ready to proceed to the election of a President and Vice President. Thereupon, it was
Ordered, That the Secretary of the Council do attend the House of Assembly, and inform them that the Council is now ready to meet the General Assembly in the Assembly room, and proceed to the election of a President and Vice President of the Council.
His Excellency the President, and the other members of the Council, met the General Assembly in the Assembly room, and thereupon the Secretary of the Council and the Clerk of the House proceeded to take the votes, which were as follows, vizt :
For John Dickinson, Esquire, votes.
For John Neville, Esquire, votes.
The Council and the General Assembly then proceeded to the choice of a Vice President ; and the votes being taken were as fol- lows, vizt :
For James Irvine, Esquire, votes.
For John Neville, Esquire, votes.
And thereupon, it was declared that John Dickinson, Esquire, was then duly elected President, and that James Irvine, Esquire, was then duly elected Vice President ; and the following declara- tion of the said election being read, was signed by his Excellency John Dickinson, Esquire, President, the Honorable James Irvine, and the other members of the Council then present; and the same was signed by the Honorable John Bayard, Esquire, Speaker of the General Assembly, and by the members of the General As- sembly then present, as follows, vizt :
To all people to whom these presents shall come, or may concern,
the General Assembly and the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania send greeting :
Know ye that we the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, in the State House, at Philadelphia, together with the President and other
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MINUTES OF THE 8
members of the Supreme Executive Council of the same Common- wealth, in the same place convened, to elect a President and Vice President of the said Commonwealth, have, agreeably to the direc- tions of the nineteenth section of the Constitution of the said Com- monwealth, duly and fairly elected and chosen by ballot his Excel- lency John Dickinson, Esquire, President of the said Supreme Ex- ecutive Council, and the Honorable James Irvine, Esquire, Vice President; and to the end that due regard and obedience may be paid in the execution of their respective offices on all occasions, we do hereby make known and declare, that the said JOHN DICKIN- SON, Esquire, is the President, and the said JAMES IRVINE, Es- quire, is the Vice President of the said Supreme Executive Council: In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, the sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.
JOHN DICKINSON, President. JAMES IRVINE, Vice President.
George Wall, junior,
John Bayard, Speaker,
John McDowell,
Thomas Mowhorter,
Stephen Balliot,
Peter Burkhalter,
Charles Biddle,
Robert Brown,
Jonathan Hoge,
Charles Petit,
Richard McAlister,
William Moore,
John Neville,
Frederick Kuhl,
John Woods,
William Will,
Jobn Boyd,
Jacob Engle, Elias Boys,
Jonas Hartzeil,
James Vansant,
John Ralston,
Manuel Eyre,
Robert Cluggage,
William Coats,
Frederick Antes,
Thomas Long,
Daniel Montgomery,
John Clarke,
Samuel Dale,
Joseph Thomas,
Thomas Potts,
John Kellar,
Robert McPherson,
Arthur Erwin,
John Hay, Philip Gartner,
Anthony Wayne, Edward Jones,
Henry Tyon,
Robert Ralston,
Joseph Lilly,
Matthew Ritchie,
Frederick Watts,
Abraham Smith,
John Harris,
Robert Lollar,
William Brown,
John Stevenson,
Robert Whitehill, Nicholas Lutz,
James McCalmont,
Abraham Lincoln,
George Smith, James Johnston,
Christian Lawer, Henry Spycker, David Davis,
Peter Richards,
Benjamin Rittenhouse.
David McConaughey,
Richard Willing,
Daniel Heister,
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
And the said JOHN DICKINSON, is hereby proclaimed to be Captain General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania.
It was then agreed that the declaration as recited above, be pub- licly read from the Court House steps in the city of Philadelphia, by the Sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia, and that the said Sheriff do then proclaim the President in the following words: And the said John Dickinson, Esquire, is hereby proclaimed to be the President of the said Supreme Executive Council, Captain General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Agreed that the order of Procession to the Court House be as follows, vizt :
Order of Procession.
Constables with their staves.
Sub-Sheriffs with their wands.
High Sheriff with his wand.
Coroner with his wand.
Judges of the Supreme Court, and Judges of the High Court of Errors and Appeals.
Attorney General and Prothonotary of the Supreme Court.
Marshall of the Admiralty.
Judge and Register of the Admiralty.
Naval Officer.
Treasurer and Comptroller General.
Secretary of the Land office.
Receiver General and Surveyor General.
Justices of the Peace.
Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas and Clerk of the Quarter Sessions.
Clerk of the City Court, Master of the Rolls, and Register of Wills.
Secretary of the Council.
His Excellency the President, and the Honorable the Vice Presi- dent.
Members of the Council, two and two.
Doorkeeper of the Council.
Sergeant-at-Arms with the mace.
Honorable the Speaker of the General Assembly.
Clerk of the General Assembly.
Members of the General Assembly, two and two.
Doorkeeper of the General Assembly.
Provost and Faculty of the University.
Officers of the militia.
Citizens.
The Secretary reported that the declaration of the President was read at the Court House, and there proclaimed according to the order of Council.
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MINUTES OF THE
His Excellency the President, in consequence of his election te that office; now took the affirmation of allegiance and of office re- quired by the Constitution of the State, and the Honorable James Irvine, Esquire, Vice President, elected to that office at the same time, took the oaths of Allegiance and of office required by the Constitution, as aforesaid.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, November 8th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President.
The Hon'ble JAMES IRVINE, Esq'r, Vice President.
2
John M'Dowell John Neville, r
Stephen Balliot, John Boyd,
Charles Biddle,
Richard McCallister, SEsquires.
Jonathan Hoge,
Isaac Meason,
Daniel Heister, John Woods,
The following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of Ensign John Armstrong, for thirty pounds specie, for which he is to account, being advanced to him by the State, and which is to be repaid by the United States.
In favor of James Keggin, for two pounds twelve shillings and six pence specie, in full for riding express to the Sheriff and Re- corder of the county of Chester, the Council having agreed to al. low him that sum for the above service.
Philip Stein, and James Crawford, were summoned to attend Council this day to give evidence touching the disputed election of Lancaster county.
The resignation of James Wilkinson, Esquire, of his offices of Brigadier and Adjutant General of the militia of this State, signi- fied in his letter to this Board, was read and accepted.
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of Francis Lee, for eighty-three pounds nine shillings and eleven pence specie, bal- lance of his account for the hire of two horses and a sulkey, fur- nished to the Honorable John Boyd, and Lieutenant Colonel John Armstrong, Commissioners sent to Wioming.
The Sheriff and the Judges of the several districts in the county of Lancaster attending, it was agreed that Council will meet at four o'clock in the afternoon, and proceed to the business of the disputed election of Lancaster county.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met. T 1
The same day at 4 o'clock, P. M.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES IRVINE, Esquire, Vice President.
John McDowell, John Neville,
Stephen Balliot, John Boyd,
Charles Biddle, Richard McAllister, >Esquires.
Jonathan Hoge,
Isaac Meason, and
Daniel Hiester, John Woods,
The Sheriff and Judges of the several districts in the county of Lancaster attended in Council, and the doors were opened.
The remonstrance signed Matthew McClung, Jun'r, Judge of first district, Hugh Peden, Judge of the third district, Josph Jen- kins, Judge of the fourth district, and Benjamin Moore, Judge of the fourth district, complaining of abuses and irregularities at the election held in the first district of Lancaster county, was read, and Matthew McClung, Jun'r. Hugh Peden, Joseph Jenkins, Benjamin Moore, Daniel Franks, and Jacob Bailey, witnesses adduced in sup- port of the remonstrance, being severally sworn, were examined touching the abuses and irregularities complained of.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, November 9th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES IRVINE, Esquire, Vice President.
John McDowell, Richard McAllister,
Stephen Balliot, Isaac Meason,
Charles Biddle,
John Neville,
Jonathan Hoge,
Esquires. John Boyd,
John Woods, and
Daniel Hiester,
The examination of the witnesses in support of the remonstrance against the late election in the first district of Lancaster county, was continued : Philip Stine, John Jordan, George McGlaughlin, William Montgomery, James Crawford, and John Jago, being seve- rally sworn.
The examination of the witnesses in support of the remonstrance against the said election; the Sheriff and Judges of the first district
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MINUTES OF THE
were informed that Council was ready to hear any evidence they might have to offer in their behalf, who having none to offer, the parties were desired to withdraw, and the Council adjourned.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, November 10th, 1784. PRESENT : His Excellency JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, President. The Honorable JAMES IRVINE, Esquire, Vice President.
1
John McDowell, John Boyd,
Stephen Balliot, Isaac Meason,
Charles Biddle, John Neville, Esquires.
Jonathan Hoge, John Woods, and
Richard McAlister, Daniel Hiester,
ยท
The Comptroller General's report upon the account of Casper Huntzecker, for the ballance of his surplus certificate, was read and approved.
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of Captain John Armstrong, for fifteen pounds ten shillings, for his services and ex- pences in riding as an express from the Lieutenant of Northum- land county to Northampton county, with dispatches for the Wio. ming Commissioners, and from thence to Wioming, according to the Comptroller General's report.
Agreed that Council will meet at four o'clock in the afternoon, to take into consideration the petition complaining of irregularities at the elections in the second, fifth, and sixth districts, in the county of Lancaster, signed by Jacob Reigart, Abraham Dehuff, and others, and that the petitioners and the Judges of the said dis- tricts be directed to attend.
Upon the petition of John Edgsworth, convicted of receiving stolen goods, knowing them to be such, in the county of Philadel- phia, and the recommendation of the Justices in his favor, it was
Ordered, That the fine adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by the said John Edgsworth, and the remainder of his im- prisonment, be remitted.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
1
The same day at 4 o'clock, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honorable JAMES IRVINE, Esquire, Vice President.
John McDowell,
John Boyd,
Stephen Balliot,
Isaac Meason,
Charles Biddle,
John Neville,
Jonathan Hoge,
John Woods, and
Richard McAlister,
Daniel Hiester,
The Comptroller General's report upon the account of Colonel James Marshall, Lieutenant of the county of Washington, by which it appears that a ballance of eight hundred and twenty-six pounds eighteen shillings and three pence specie, is due to him, was read and approved, and an order drawn in his favor for the sum of fifty pounds specie, in part of the said ballance, to be paid out of the militia fines of the county of Lancaster.
The petition of Abraham Dehuff, Jacob Reigart, and others, in behalf of themselves and many other inhabitants of Lancaster county, complaining of irregularities at the late elections in the second, fifth, and sixth districts of said county, and praying Coun- cil to allow them a reasonable time to adduce witnesses to prove the several allegations stated in the said petition, was read, and the parties not attending, it was
Ordered, That copies of the said petition be furnished to George McGlaughlin, Judge of the second district, Benjamin Moore, Judge of the fifth district, and William Montgomery, Judge of the sixth district.
The Council met. "
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, November 11th, 1784.
PRESENT :
His Excellency the President.
The Honorable the Vice President.
The Honorable John M'Dowell, Jonathan Hoge,
Stephen Balliot, Richard M'Allister,
John Neville, John Boyd,
Esquires.
John Woods, Isaac Meason, and Charles Biddle, Daniel Hiester.
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7
Peter Wolf, Esquire, was appointed and commissioned to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of York, upon a return
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MINUTES OF THE
made according to law, for the district of the township of Man- chester.
Peter Wolf and Thomas Fisher, Esquires, were appointed and commissioned to be Justices of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of York.
Upon consideration of the evidence transmitted to this Board by Jacob Rudisill and David Beaty, according to the resolution of Council of the seventeenth day of September last, it was
Ordered, That Thomas Fisher, Esquire, be appointed and com. missioned to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of York, upon a return made according to law, for the district of Ger- many and Mount Joy townships ; and that the petition against the said election of Justices in the said district be dismissed.
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