USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XV > Part 49
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
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, December 8th, 1788. PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President.
Samuel Miles, George Woods,
James Read, Abraham Smith,
Richard Willing, John Cannon,
SEsquires.
Christopher Kucher, Nathan Dennison, and
Samuel Miles, Zebulun Potts,
An order was drawn in favor of the Honorable Samuel Edie, Esquire, upon the Treasurer, for forty-two pounds fifteen shillings, in full for his attendance in Council from the sixteenth of October until the tenth day of December, 1788, inclusively, and for one days attendance in September, omitted in the last account.
Upon consideration of the report of the committee to whom were referred the petitions from Michael Sharp and his two sons, Philip and George, who were severally convicted of assault and battery at the last Court of Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia county, and fined each in the sum of five pounds, together with the recommendation
618
MINUTES OF THE
in their favor from the Justices of the said Court, and from the person who was assaulted and beaten in favor of Philip.
Ordered, That the several fines be remitted.
Upon the report of the same committee to whom was referred the case of William Cowan, who was convicted of fornication and bastardy in the county of Bedford,
Ordered, That the fine of ten pounds imposed upon the said William Cowan, for the said offence, be remitted.
Mr. Wood's motion for appointing a Sheriff for the county of Washington, was referred to Colonel Miles, Colonel Smith, and Colonel Woods.
On motion,
Resolved, That Colonel Willing be added to the committee to whom were referred the account of William Hamilton, and Comp- troller General's report thereon.
The report of the committee to whom was referred the petition containing a complaint against the late Commissioners and Trea- surer of the county of Northampton, for not giving the necessary information concerning the assessment and collection of some of the public taxes in the said county, was read the second time; and on consideration, it was
Resolved, That Robert Traill and Peter Roads, Esquires, be au- thorized and requested to investigate the truth of the allegations contained in the said petition and make report to Council.
A letter was written by the Secretary to Richard Butler and John Gibson, Esquires, inclosing an account of the goods lately purchased for the Indians.
A petition from. Frances Hudson, wife of Jobn Vincent Hudson, who was convicted the last Court of General Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia county, of forgery, was read and referred to Colonel Miles, Colonel Smith, and Colonel Dennison.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, December 9th.
PRESENT :
The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Christopher Kucher, ?
Richard Willing,
George Woods,
James Read, Nathan Dennisen,
Esq'rs.
Amos Gregg, Zebulun Potts, and.
Samuel Edie, John Cannon,
Abraham Smith,
A memorial from Robert Leslie, of the city clock and watch maker, containing a complaint against Griffith Owen, for removing
1
a
P
r a
S
b
fr tl la li
619
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
from the State House clock, the" newly constructed hammer which the memorialist had invented and placed there by direction of the late President and Council, was read and referred to Colonel Wil- ling, Colonel Smith, and Christopher Kucher, who were instructed to make inquiry into the necessary annual expence of keeping the said clock in repair, and report to Council.
The following report was represented to Council, read and adopted, vizt :
The committee to whom was referred the remonstrance of a num- ber of the freemen of the city and county of Philadelphia, com- plaining of abuses and frauds having been committed at the gene- ral election held in the said city on the fourteenth of October last, and who were to report the names of such public officers as had acted in violation of the constitution or laws of this State, report that they have examined a number of the signers of the said re- monstrance, and two other persons pointed out by them, none of whom know of any abuses or a frauds committed by the Judges or Inspectors of said election or by any of them, nor could your com- mittee obtain the least testimony that operated against the integ- rity and upright conduct of the public officers of the said election.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, December 10th.
PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President.
The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Christopher Kucher, )
Richard Willing,
Zebulun Potts,
James Read,
Nathan Dennisen,
Samuel Edie,
John Cannon, and
Esquires.
George Woods,
Amos Gregg, .
Abraham Smith,
Jacob Abel Esquire, was appointed and commissionated a Jus- tice of the Peace in and for the county of Northampton, upon a return made according to law for the district of the township of Easton and Forks.
Upon the report of the committee to whom was referred the pe- tition of John Hudson, a prisoner in the jail of the city and county of Philadelphia, convicted of forgery, praying that the fine and punishment to which he was sentenced may be remitted, and also several recommendations in his favor.
Resolved, That the fine of five pounds to the Commonwealth, and the punishment of eighteen months' hard labour imposed by
620
MINUTES OF THE
the sentence of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the city and county of Philadelphia, upon the said John Hudson, for the said offence, be and the same are hereby remitted.
The petition of Ludwick Gloss, who was convicted at the last Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace of Philadelphia county, of receiving stolen goods, knowing them to be such, pray- ing a pardon, accompanied by a recommendation from the Justices of said Court, was read the second time; and on consideration, it was
Resolved, That the fine of fifteen shillings payable to the use of the Commonwealth, and the punishment of six months' hard labour to which the petitioner was sentenced for the said offence, be re- mitted.
On motion,
Resolved, That the three months' imprisonment which is a part of the sentence of the last Court of Quarter Sessions of Philadel- phia county against Philip Sharp, for an assault and battery upon Christian Hubert, be now remitted.
Upon the second reading of the letter from Charles Campbell, Esquire, Lieutenant of the county of Westmoreland, relative to a supply of arms and ammunition for the defence of the frontiers,
Resolved, That the same be referred to Mr. Dennison, Mr. Smith, Mr. Edie, and Mr. Woods.
The Committee appointed on the thirteenth day of November last to make the inquiries required by the resolution of Council of the fourteenth of November, 1787, and to whom was referred the case of Lazarus Brown McLean, Esquire, Prothonotary of Hun- tington county, now made report, which was read, and on motion, it was
Resolved, That to-morrow be appointed for the second reading and consideration of the said report.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, December 11th, 1788. PRESENT : His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Amos Gregg,
James Read, Abraham Smith,
Richard Willing, John Cannon,
Samuel Edie,
Nathan Dennison, and
Esquires.
George Woods,
Zebulun Potts,
Christopher Kucher,
Agreeably to the minute of yesterday, the report of the com- mittee appointed to make the enquiries required by the resolution
1
1
:
:
1
1 ยข
1 1
0
621
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
of Council of the fourteenth of November, 1787, was read the second time, as follows, vizt :
The committee who were appointed to make the enquiries re- quired by the resolution of Council of the fourteenth of November, 1787, report :
That several of the officers appointed by Council have neglected to settle their accounts agreeably to the requisition of the several acts of Assembly, which will appear from the returns of the Comp- troller General herewith submitted : That Doctor Barnabas Binney, one of the sureties of John Nicholson, Esquire, Comptroller Gene- gal, is dead, and that Matthew Irwin, the other, is a bankrupt: That John Craig, Esquire, who is one of the sureties of William Craig, Esquire, Prothonotary of Northampton county, has been : Jately appointed Collector of Excise of said county, and that Sam- nel Sitgreaves, the other, is a lawyer in practice. at the courts in hat county. The committee would therefore submit to Council the propriety of requiring from John Nicholson, Esquire, and William Craig, Esquire, other securities for the faithfull perform- ance of the duties of their respective offices : That many of the public officers have given securities in their respective county's, and therefore the committee have not had it their power to ascer- tain their names or circumstances. Your committee beg leave fur- her to report that they have seriously considered the complaints against the conduct of Lazarus Browne McLene, Esquire, Protho- motary and Clerk of the Sessions for the county of Huntington, and the testimony in support of the same taken by Alexander Gray- con and Joseph Hubley, Esquires, under the direction of Council, with such other information as they have obtained, and are of opin- in that the said Lazarus Brown McLene, Esquire, is not suffi- cently qualified to execute the duties of said offices.
Your committee, from a sence of their duty, have been under tle necessity of taking notice of a memorial presented to Council in December, 1787, on which they do not find any order has here- tdore been taken, stating the conduct of John Nicholson, Esquire, Comptroller General, and Frederick Phile, Esquire, Naval Officer, repecting the seizure, sale, purchase, and re-sale, &ca., of the ship Ann. If the facts stated in the aforesaid memorial can be fuly supported by testimony, your committee are of opinion they ar of such a nature as to require and demand the attention of the Executive Council. As John Nicholson, Esquire, Comptroller General, has been absent for some time, your committee did not thok proper to go into a full investigation of the subject, and therefore recommend that a special committee be appointed, with pover to make the necessary inquiry into the facts alledged in said menorial, and report thereon.
nd om motion, it was
Resolved, That the first paragraph of the said report, which re- late to the neglect of some officers in the appointment of Council
622
MINUTES OF THE
to settle their accounts agreeably to law, be re-committed and that the Committee be instructed to prepare and report to Council a draft of a resolution for obliging such delinquent officers to account.
The Board then proceeded in the consideration of the other parts of the said report, and thereupon,
Resolved, That John Nicholson, E-quire, Comptrollor General, offer to Council for their approbation two sureties for the faithfull discharge of the duties of his office, in the room and stead of Bar- nabas Binney, deceased, and Matthew Irwin, a public officer. And that William Craig, Esquire, Prothonotary of Northampton county, offer in like manner two sureties for the faithfull execution of the duties of his office, in the room of John Craig, Esquire, who is also a public officer, and Samuel Sitgreaves, Esquire, an attorney in the Court ot Common Pleas in the said county.
Resolved, That the Secretary be authorized and directed to call upon the Prothonotary's and Recorders of the several counties throughout this State for returns of the names of those persons who stand as sureties for pubile officers in the appointment of this Board.
In the case of the complaint against Lazarus Brown McLene, Esquire, it was moved by Mr. Gregg, seconded by Mr. Woods, that Council come to the following resolution, vizt :
Resolved, That the said Lazarus Brown M'Lene, be and he is bereby removed from the offices of Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas and Clerk of the Court of General Quarter Ses- sions of the Peace and Jail Delivery of the county of Hunting- ton.
And on the question, to agree to the same, the yeas and nays were required by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Potts, and were as follows, vizt :
Yeas.
The President.
Yeas. Mr. Kucher,
Nay. Mr. Smith,
The Vice President,
Mr. Cannon,
Mr. Miles,
Mr. Woods,
Mr. Read,
Mr. Edie,
Mr. Willing,
Mr. Gregg, and
Mr. Dennison,
Mr. Potts.
So it was determined in the affirmative.
On consideration of that part of the aforesaid report which re- commends that a special committee be appointed to make the nece- sary enquires into the facts alledged in the memorial presented o Council in December, 1787, by Richard Wells, against the Com)- troller General and Naval Officer, and to report to Council thereor,
Resolved, That Colonel Willing, Zebulun Potts, Doctor Greg, Colonel Smith and Colonel Dennisen, be appointed a committee br the purpose aforesaid.
Council proceeded to the choice of a Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas and Clerk of the Court of General Quarter Ss-
C
1
$ 1
623
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
sions of the Peace and Jail Delivery of the county of Huntington, in the place of Lazarus Brown M'Lene, Esquire, removed, and the ballots being taken for the several candidates, it appeared that Andrew Henderson, Esquire, was duly elected to the said offices, and he was commissionated accordingly.
On motion,
Resolved, That the said Lazarus Brown M'Lene, Esquire, be re- moved from the office of Clerk of the Orphans' Court of the said county of Huntington, and that the said Andrew Henderson, Es- quire, be appointed to that office in his room and stead, and be commissionated accordingly.
Doctor John M'Dowell, of the county of Chester, and Israel Israel, Innkeeper of the city of Philadelphia, were offered and ac- cepted as sureties for the said Andrew Henderson's faithfull dis- charge of the duties of his offices aforesaid, according to law.
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of Edward Burd, Esquire, for the sum of nine pounds fifteen shillings and three pence, for the travelling expences of the Judges and Pro- thonotary of the Supreme Court and their servants, &ca., on the northern circuit, in the fall of the present year 1788, which sum the said Judges have certified to be properly chargeable to the State.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Eriday, December 12, 1788.
PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President.
The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Christopher Kucher, )
James Read, Abraham Smith,
Samuel Edie,
Zebulun Potts, and
Esquires.
George Woods, Nathan Dennisen,
Amos Gregg,
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honora- ble George Woods, Esquire, for sixty-three pounds ten shillings, in full for attendance in Council from the sixteenth of October untill the twelfth of December, 1788, inclusively, and two mileages, coming to Philadelphia and returning to Bedford.
On motion,
Resolved, That the Vice President and Mr. Woods, be a com- mittee to consider of and report to Council, names proper for the several lanes and alley's within the reserved tract opposite Pitts- burg, omitted in the last report.
1
624
MINUTES OF THE
Upon consideration of the report of the committe respecting such officers in the appointment of Council, as have neglected to settle their accounts, agreeably to law,
Resolved, That all public officers in the appointment of Council, who have neglected to render their accounts into the Comptroller General's office, agreeably to law, be aud they are hereby required to render the same for settlement.
Resolved, That Council will, on the first Monday in May next, take into consideration the propriety of superceeding all public officers who do not comply with the foregoing resolution.
Upon the report of the committee to whom were referred the petition and recommendation in favor of Thomas Canby, of Bucks county, praying that he may be released from payment, of fifty pounds on his forfeited recognizance, for the appearance of a cer- tain John Taylor, who was charged with larceny and absconded,
Resolved. That the prayer of the said petition be granted.
A dedimus potestatum was issued, directed to Robert Galbraith, Esquire, President of the Court of Common Pleas, &ca., of the county of Huntington, and to Andrew Henderson, Esquire, Recor- der and Prothouotary of the said county.
On motion,
Resolved, That Tuesday next be appointed for the consideration of the case of Jacob Dryer.
Mr. Cannan, member of this Board, was proposed and accepted as surety for Andrew Henderson, Esquire, Prothonotary of Hun- tington county, in the place of Doctor John M'Dowell, who is not. in town.
The committee appointed to consider of names proper for the several lanes dividing the out lots in the reserved tract of land opposite Fort Pitt, omitted in the former report, now reported the following, which were agreed to, vizt :
No. 1 to be called Bank lane,
2 do. Strawberry lane,
3 do. Island lane,
4 do. Ohio lane,
5 do. Water lane,
6 do. Ferry lane,
7
do. Spring lane, continued.
8 to be called Chesnut lane,
9 do. Huccleberry lane,
10 do.
Long lane,
11 do. East lane,
12 do Sassafras lane,
13
do. Pasture lane.
And No. 14
Sandusky lane.
Upon consideration of a petition and recommendation in favor of Sarah Butler, of the county of Chester, who was convicted at the last Court of Oyer and Terminer held in that county of a misde-
625
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
meanor in harbouring certain persons charged with capital offences, knowing them to be so charged, praying a pardon of the said of- fence,
Resolved, That the said Sarah Butler be, and she is hereby par- doned.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, December 13th, 1788.
PRESENT : His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President.
Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Richard Willing,
James Read, Amos Gregg,
Zebulun Potts,
Abraham Smith, and
Esquires.
Mr. Dennison,
John Cannon,
Christopher Kucher, j
Upon consideration of the report of the committee who were in- structed to consult the Judges of the Supreme Court in the case of Darius Parks, who was convicted at the Court of Oyer and Ter- miner and General Jail Delivery held in Luzerne county the fourth of November last, of a riot, in assaulting and carrying off Timothy Pickering, Esquire, Prothonotary of that county,
Resolved, That the fine of fifty dollars imposed upon the said Darius Parks, for the said offence, be and the same is hereby re- mitted.
The committee to whom were referred the several petitions of Daniel Stephens, Peter Hains, Thomas Keys, and Daniel McFar- lane, confined in the jail of the city and county of Philadelphia, for larceny ; and of Margaret Dyer, and Sarah Wilson, confined in the workhouse of the said city for the like offence, made a report, which was read, and on consideration,
Resolved, That the said Daniel Stephens, Peter Hains, Thomas Keys, and Daniel McFarlane, be, and they are hereby pardoned ; and that the petitions of Margaret Dyer and Sarah Wilson be dis- missed.
626
MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, December 15th, 1788.
PRESENT :
The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Richard Willing,
James Read, Nathan Dennison,
Christopher Kucher,
Abraham Smith, and
Esquires.
Amos Gregg, John Cannon, J
On motion,
Resolved, That Mr. Kucher be added to the committee to whom were referred the letter from Colonel Melcher, and a map of the northern parts of this State, accompanying the said letter on the fourteenth of November last.
On motion,
Resolved, That Thursday next be appointed for the consideration of the report of the commissioners appointed by act of Assembly of the twenty-ninth day of Seytember, 1787, to survey and regu- late the district of Southwark, and that Friday following, Council will take into consideration the propriety of appointing a Health Officer for the Port of Philadelphia.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, December 16th, 1788.
PRESENT : His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Nathan Dennison, Abraham Smith,
James Read,
Richard Willing, Amos Gregg, and
Esquires.
Christopher Kucher, John Cannon,
The following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer vizt :
In favor of the Honorable Francis Hopkinson, Esquire, for sev- enty-nine pounds, in full of his account for one quarter's salary as Judge of the Court of Admiralty, and for four days' services as a Judge in the High Court of Errors and Appeals of this State, to wit : on the seventh, seventeenth, and eighteenth of April, and September 20th, 1788, according to the Comptroller General's re- port.
And in favor of Jolin Hague, for the sum of one hundred pounds, payable out of any unappropriated money in the Treasury, being
627
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
the sum allowed him by act of Assembly dated the third of Octo- ber last, for introducing into this State a usefull machine for card- ing cotton.
On motion,
Resolved, That Friday next be assigned to hear Crud'r Taylor, attorney for Techarner Degrafendredt, touching the claim to lands within this State, in right of an original purchase from William Penn, first proprietor of Pennsylvania, and that the Attorney Gen- eral and Land Officers, be requested to attend.
Upon the second reading of a memorial from Jeremiah Tisher, guardian of the children of Captain William Shippen, deceased, relative to their pensions.
Resolved, That the said memorial be referred to Colonel Miles, Colonel Smith, and Mr. Read.
The several papers before Council relative to Jacob Dryer. now confined in the jail of the city and county of Philadelphia, for burglary, were read, and after some time spent in consideration of the said Jacob Dryer, it was, on motion,
Resolved, To postpone the further consideration thereof till Sat- urday next.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, December 17th, 1788.
PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President.
The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Richard Willing, Christopher Kucher, )
Samuel Mile-, Nathan Dennisen,
Amos Gregg, Abraham Smith, and
Esquires.
James Read, John Cannon,
The following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of Thomas Lloyd, for one pound fifteen shillings, in full of his account for three copies of the fourth volume of the debates of the General Assembly, as published by him, and furnished for the use of Council.
In favor of Frederick Sneider, for five pounds ten shillings and seven pence, being a ballance due upon his account for firewood purchased for the use of Council, and for cash paid for sweeping four chimneys.
Upon consideration of the report of the committee to whom was referred that part of Colonel Pickerings letter, which relates to rewards for apprehending the persons who carried off the said Colo- nel Pickering.
628
MINUTES OF THE
Resolved, That the two Sons of William Smith, Esquire, are entitled to the reward of one hundred dollars, offered by proclama- tion of Council of the eighth of July last, for apprehending and securing Zebulun Cady, and that Aaron Kilborn and Darius Parks, having been apprehended by virtue of a warrant from a Justice of the Peace, the persons who took them are therefore intitled to no reward.
-
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, December 18th, 1788.
PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Nathan Dennisen,
Richard Willing, John Cannon,
James Read.
Esquires. Amos Gregg,
Christopher Kucher,
Agreeably to the order of the day, Council proceeded to the con- sideration of the report of the Commissioners appointed by act of Assembly dated the twenty-ninth day of September, 1787, to sur- vey and regulate the district of Southwark, when it was
Resolved, That the third Tuesday in January next, be fixed for hearing the objections of such land holders, who may think them- selves aggrieved by the proceedings of the said Commissioners.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, December 19th, 1788.
PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Christopher Kucher,
James Read,
Nathan Dennisen, and,
Richard Willing, John Cannon,
Esquires.
Amos Gregg,
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honor- able John Armstrong, Junior, Esquire, for one hundred and thirty- three pounds six shillings and eight pence, in part of his pay as a delegate from this State to Congress, for which sum he is to account.
1
: 1
i
1
1
629
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Agreeably to the minute of the fifteenth instant, Council pro- ceeded to an enquiry into the propriety of appointing a Health officer to supercede the present officer ; whereupon, it was
Resolved, That in the opinion of Council, it is not proper at this time to go into the appointment of a Health officer for the Port of Philadelphia.
Resolved, That the several persons who have petitioned Coun- cil, to be appointed to the said office, in case the present officer should be removed, have leave to withdraw their petitions.
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.