USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XVI > Part 39
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
The Treasurer and Register General's reports of the twenty-se- venth and twenty-eighth instant, upon the account of Andrew Hen- derson, Esquire, Prothonotary of the county of Huntingdon, for fees received for tavern licences, amounting to twenty-six pounds eight shillings, was also read and approved.
Agreeably to the Comptroller and Register General's reports, the following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of Mary Blair, guardian of the children of John Smith, deceased, late of the Militia of Cumberland county, for the sum of sixty-nine pounds five shillings, according to an act of General As-
435
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
sembly passed the twenty-seventh of March last, being the amount of a warrant of Council dated the twenty-ninth of May, 1788, which was drawn in her favor for the support of the said children, until the twenty-third of April, 1788, according to an order of Or- phans' Court of Cumberland county, in pursuance of an act of As- sembly passed March the twentieth, 1780, payable out of the mo- nies arising from militia fines in the said county, but that fund not being productive, the said warrant is now delivered up, to be can- celled.
In favor of the said Mary Blair, for the sum of fifteen pounds fifteen shillings, and according to the said act of Assembly, being the amount of a warrant of Council dated the twenty-ninth of May, 1788, which was drawn in her favor for her support during the time she remained the widow of the said John Smith, according to a decree of the Orphans' Court of Cumberland county, in pursu- ance of an act of Assembly passed the twentieth of March, 1780, payable out of the monies arising from militia fines in said county, but that fund not being productive, the said warrant is now deli- vered up, to be cancelled.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, August 31st, 1790.
PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President.
The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles, Benjamin Elliott, =
Christopher Kucher, William Findley, ..
Abraham Smith, Frederick Watts,
Zebulun Potts, William Wilson, Esq'rs.
Nathaniel Breading, James Martin,
Henry Taylor, Jonas Hartzell, and
Amos Gregg, Lord Butler,
General Watts was appointed a member of the Board of Proper- ty, for the month of September.
The report of the Committee to whom was referred the bill of costs on the enquiry into a contested election of Justices of the Peace held April the fourteenth, 1788, in the district of Oley and Colebrookdale townships, in the county of Berks, being read the . second time, was adopted, as follows, vizt :- That they have care- fully examined the said bill of costs on the enquiry into a contest- ed election, amounting to nine pounds five shillings and four pence, and find the same to be just; and thereupon, they offer the follow- ing resolution, vizt :
436
MINUTES OF THE
Resolved, That Council approve of the said bill of costs taxed at nine pounds five shillings and four pence, and that six pounds one shilling and eight pence one farthing thereof, be paid by the Over- seer of the Poor of Oley township, twenty shillings and one farth- ing thereof, by the Overseer of the Poor of Earl township, and two pounds three and seven pence one farthing thereof, by the Over- seer of the Poor of Colebrookdale township, to John Otto, Jacob Weaver and Paul Groscup, Esquires, or any of them, to be distribu- ted to and among the persons in the said bill named, to whom the same is due, agreeably to an Act of Assembly passed the fourth day of March, 1786.
On motion,
Ordered, That the Secretary be directed to lay out fourteen pounds in the purchase of gunpowder for the regiment of Artillery, to be used on the arrival of His Excellency General Washington in this city.
·
Colonel Miles informed Council that a Committee of the House of Assembly was appointed to confer with Council on that part of the message which relates to the Powder Magazine ; whereupon, Mr. Findley, Mr. Gregg and Mr. Wilson, were appointed a Com- mittee to confer with the said Committee of Assembly, respecting the said Magazine.
A draft of a Message to the General Assembly was laid before Council, and being read, was adopted, as follows, vizt:
A message from the President and the Supreme Executive Council to the General Assembly.
GENTLEMEN :- Under the authority of a resolution of Assembly of the thirty-first of March last, we appointed Timothy Matlack, John Adlum and Samuel McClay, to examine and survey the Quit- tapahilla, the Swatara and parts of the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, and assigned Frederick Antis, Reading Howell and William Dean, the business of exploring the country near the head waters of Delaware, of the East Branch of Susquehanna, and of the rivers Lehigh and Schuylkill. The commissioners set out on the duties of their respective departments in May ; but we have not received any communications from them.
In compliance with the resolution of your Honorable House of of the sixth of April, we have purchased a convenient lot of ground for five hundred and sixty-five pounds specie, and considerable pro- gress is made in erecting upon it a magazine for gunpowder.
It will be necessary to provide by law for payment, the price of the lot and the expence of the building, which as nearly as we can at present ascertain, will be one thousand nine hundred and seven- ty-five pounds, and we are of opinion that it will likewise be proper to give a legislative sanction to the storage of powder belonging to private citizens, as soon as that magazine will be ready to recieve it.
437
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
We have not been able to carry into effect the intention of the Legislature expressed by the act of the sixth of April, as no one has been willing to undertake to put the banks of Mud Island into good repair, for the sum appropriated by the law: We conceive that twelve hundred pound will be requisite for that purpose.
The adjustment of the claims of individuals States against the Uni- ted States, being an object of considerable moment, several States had appointed agents to attend to the settlement of their respective ac- . counts before the commissioners appointed by Congress, and there- fore, in conformity to the sentiments of our delegates, as well as the obvious utility of the measure, we have during your recess, employed Charles Pettit, Esquire, for that purpose, as an agent on behalf of the State of Pennsylvania. The letter from our Delegates and a letter from Mr. Pettit, respecting the business of his agency. we inclose, together with a letter from the Comptroller General upon the State of the public accounts.
Council being called upon to discharge the ballance due to Ro- bert Galbraith, Esquire, on his contract for opening the road from Frankstown Branch to Connemough, we lay before your Honor- able House the information we have with respect to the execution of that contract from William Findley, Esquire, member of Coun- cil, who at our request has examined the said Board, and thinks it has been laid out conformably to Mr. Galbraith's undertak. ing
We transmit a letter from the Attorney General, on account of the opinion therein expressed, "that it would be sound policy to establish a rule of reciprocity with the nations of Europe, by an act of the Legislature, declaring the subjects of those States, in which our citizens are permitted to enjoy real property, devised or de- scending to them capable of a similar privilege in Pennsylvania.
The act of the eleventh of February, 1789, which enables alains to purchase and hold lands in this Commonwealth, will soon expire by its own limitation, and we conceive that a general and perma- nent rule on this important subject, ought not to be adopted. How far that which is suggested by the Attorney General, may be pro- per, we submit to the widom of the Legislature.
The Trustees of the Hospital on State Island having represented to us that the wharf on the Delaware, for the landing of sick pas- sengers, who may be sent to the hospital, is in so ruinous a condi- tion, that unless speedily repaired it must be entirely destroyed. We enclose their memorial and recommend it to the attention of the Legislature.
We sincerely lament the occasion of laying before you the depo- sitions of several persons, from which it appears that in June last, two friendly Indians were barbarously murdered on Pine creek, Northumberland county. In order to manifest our abhorrence of the crime, and to obtain, if possible, the persons of the offenders, a
VOL. XVI .- 29.
438
MINUTES OF THE
proclamation was issued by Council, offering a reward of eight hundred dollars for apprehending them, and such other steps have taken upon this occasion as will, we hope, effectually appease the resentment of the Indians, and prevent any danger of retaliation.
A desire to promote a good understanding with the Indians who reside within the limits of this State, has likewise induced us to acquiesce in the wish which Cornplanter and other chiefs of the Six Nations have expressed to visit Philadelphia ; three of whom we have accordingly invited, and they will probably arrive in the course of a few days.
The following acts and resolutions of Congress which were re- ceived on Saturday, we transmit for your information :
An Act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States.
An Act to enable the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line, on continental establishment to obtain titles to certain lands lying northwest of the river Ohio, between the little Miami and Sciota.
An Act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to finish the light house on Portland head, in the district of Maine.
An Act declaring the assent of Congress to certain acts of the States of Maryland, Georgia and Rhode Island, and Providence Plantations.
An Act for the relief of the persons therein mentioned and de- scribed.
An Act for the relief of disabled soldiers and seamen lately in the service of the United States, and for other purposes.
An Act for altering the times for holding the Circuit Courts of the United States, in the districts of South Carolina and Georgia, and providing that the District Court of Pennsylvania shall in fu- ture be held at the city of Philadelphia only.
An Act making certain appropriations therein mentioned.
An Act making provision for the reduction of the public debt ; and
A resolution directing that a return of certain surveys of lands - in the western territory be made to and perfected by the Secretary of the Treasury.
A letter from the Honorable Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Esquire, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, inclosing a resolution of the House of Representatives dated the cighteenth day of May last, respecting the terms for which the members of the present Congress were chosen, is also sent herewith.
THOMAS MIFFLIN.
Council Chamber, Philadelphia, August 31st, 1790.
439
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, September 1st, 1790.
PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President.
The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles,
Jonas Hartzell,
James Read,
James Martin,
Amos Gregg,
Henry Taylor,
Abraham Smith,
Benjamin Elliott,
William Findley,
Nathaniel Breading,
Wilson,
Lora Butler, &
Christopher Kucher,
Zebulun Potts.
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honor- able James Read, Esquire, for the sum of sixty-six, being the amount of his account for attendance as Councillor from the fifth of June to the thirty-first of August, 1790, inclusively.
An order was also drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of Frede- rick Sneider for the sum of fifteen pounds ten shillings, in full of his account for his wages as Door-keeper for the month of August, 1790.
A letter from Oliver Phelps, Esquire, with an address and a string of Wampum from the Chief Councellors and warriors of the Seneca nations of Indians, respecting the two freindly Indians who were lately murdered on the waters of Pine creek, were received and read, and an order taken that the same be transmitted to the General Assembly with a message of Council.
A letter from John Beckley, Esquire, inclosing three copies of the journals of the proceedings of the House of Representatives of the United, was also received and read ; and it was
Ordered, That the said letter and one copy of the said journal be transmitted with the said message to the House.
The committee to whom was referred the petition of Daniel Leet, Deputy Surveyor of depreciation lands, delivered in a report, which was read and adopted as follows :
That at the public sale of the depreciation lands, seven lots were struck off to Jacob Bury of the district surveyed by the said Daniel Leet, for which he has never paid, either paid the purchase money, office or Surveyor's fees. They, therefore, offer the following reso- lution :
Resolved, That the seven lots above mentioned be considered as reverting to the State, and that the Deputy Surveyor be entitled to have an order for his surveying fees on the settlement of his ao- counts.
·
440
MINUTES OF THE
A draft of a message to the General Assembly was laid before Council; and being read, was adopted as follows, vizt :
A Message from the President and Supreme Executive Council to the General Assembly :
GENTLEMEN :- In our message of the thirty-first of August, we informed your Honorable House that two friendly Indians had been barbarously murdered in June last by citizens of this State, on Pine creek, and that we had taken measures for apprehending the murderers, and for preventing retaliation.
·Mr. King, who was by order of Conncil dispatched to the In- dian country with a speech, and with copies of a proclamation issued by Council for apprehending the murderers, returned last evening. He has brought a letter from Robert Phelps, dated Canandargua, August 14th, 1790, and a speech from several Chiefs of the Seneca nation, to which the two Indians who were mur- dered on Pine creek belonged, which letter and speech we inclose.
We conceive it to be of great importance to the welfare of the good people of this State, that measures should be immediately taken for quieting the minds of the Indians. We, therefore, re- quest a conferrence with a committee of the General Assembly this morning on the subject.
We transmit a letter from the State Treasurer relative to the Loan Office, with an account of monies due to the Commonwealth on mortgages prior to the Revolution, which we recommend to the attention of your honorable House.
A letter from John Beckley, Esquire, Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States, and a copy of the journals of the proceedings of that House accompanying this message.
THOMAS MIFFLIN.
Council Chamber, Philadelphia, September 1st, 1790.
A committee of the honorable House of Assembly, consisting of Messieurs Rawle, Neville, Hoge, Marshall and Wynkoop, met Coun- cil in conferrence on the subject of the murder of the two freindly Indians on the waters of Pine creek, in Northumberland county. Mr. King also attended to give information.
It was unanimously agreed in Conferrence, that the sum of one hundred pounds shall be given to the families of the deceased In- dians as presents, and that the sum of fifty pounds in addition to the reward offered by proclamation for apprehending the mur- derers, should be paid to any person who shall apprehend and se- cure them in Lancaster jail; that the Pre. of this State be in- structed to take such steps as he shall think proper for carrying the intentions of Council into execution ; and that Colonel Wil- son, member of Council, and Mr. Spalding, of Luzerne county, be requested to carry the presents to the Indians.
441
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, September 2nd, 1790.
PRESENT :
The Honorable GEORGE ROSS, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles,
Henry Taylor,
Christopher Kucher,
Frederick Watts,
Abraham Smith,
William Wilson,
Nathaniel Breading,
Samuel Edie, (now
Esquires.
Zebulun Potts, returned.)
William Findley,
Benjamin Elliott,
Jonas Hartzell,
James Martin,
Amos Gregg, and Lord Butler,
A letter from the chairman of the committee of arrangement of . the convention requesting Council will attend the procession at the proclamation of the constitution this day at noon, and inclosed a copy of the order of procession, be read, it was agreed to attend the said procession.
Upon the second reading of a petition from Sarah Roney of the county of Washington, praying remission of a fine of ten pounds to which she was sentenced by the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace of the said county, for fornication, it was
Resolved, To grant the prayer of the petitioner.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, September 3rd, 1790.
PRESENT : His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President. The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice President.
Samuel Miles,
Henry Taylor. 7
Christopher Kucher,
Frederick Watts,
Abraham Smith,
William Wilson,'
Nathaniel Breading, Samuel Edie,
Esq'rs.
Zebulun Potts, Benjamin Elliott,
William Findley, Amos Gregg,
Jonas Hartzell,
James Martin,
John Wilkins, and Lord Butler,
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of the Honora- ble Nathaniel Breading, Esquire, for fifty-three pounds two shil- lings, in full, for his attendance in Council from the sixteenth un- til the twenty-second of March, and from the twenty-second of July
442
MINUTES OF THE
until the third of September, 1790, including his mileage for con- ing to Philadelphia and going home.
The report of the committee to whom was referred the applica- tion of Robert Galbraith, Esquire, for payment of the ballance due to him for opening a road from Frankstown to Conemaugb, being read the second time, was adopted as follows, vizt :
The committee to whom was referred the letter from Robert Gal- braith, requesting Council for his pay for opening the road from Frankstown to Conemaugh, report :
That they have examined the contract entered into by the Exec- utive Council with Robert Galbraith, and are of opinion that he should be directed to compleat the opening the said road from Con- emaugh to Loyal hanning, and such part of the said road as is al- ready opened to be completed for the easy passing of carriages, and that an order be drawn in favor of Robert Galbraith, for one hundred pounds, he to account for the same.
A resolution of the House of Assembly on the subject of the murder of the Indians on Pine creek, authorizing Council to draw for one hundred pounds and contingent expences, &ca., was received and read.
The Council met.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, September 4th, 1790.
PRESENT :
His Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, Esquire, President.
The Honorable GEORGE Ross, Esquire, Vice Presient.
Samuel Miles, Samuel Edie,
Amos Gregg,
William Wilson,
James Read,
Benjamin Elliott,
Christopher Kucher, Jonas Hartzell,
Abraham Smith, William Findley, Esquires.
Nathaniel Breading,
Richard Willing,
James Martin,
John Wilkins, and
Henry Taylor,
Lord Butler,
1
Frederick Watts,
.
An order was drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of Charles Bid- dle, Esquire, for the sum of seventy five, for the purpose of paying the expences of Robert King, who was imployed to carry a message to the Senaca Nation of Indians, and to bring an answer to Coun- cil respecting the murder of two friendly Indians on Pine Creek, in Northumberland county, and for his services in the said business, for which sum the said Charles Biddle is to account.
1
1
443
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Comptroller and Register General's reports upon the ac- count of John Henry, for his services as Quarter Master of the militia of Bedford county, was read and approved.
It.having been determined at a Conferrence of members of the General Assembly, the members of the Supreme Executive Coun- cil, the Judges of the Supreme Court, Judges Shippen and Wilson, the Attorney General of the State, and Alexander Wilcocks and Jered Ingersoll, Esquires, Attorneys at Law, that the powers of the Legislature of the present year expired on Thursday the second in- stant, and that the office of State Treasurer and Register General of the accounts of this Commonwealth, and of Register of Wills, and a Recorder of Deeds in each county of this State, in like man- ner expired on the said day ; therefore,
Resolved, That by virtue of the powers vested in this Board by the Constitution of this State,
Christian Febiger, Esquire, be and hereby re-appointed Treasurer of the State.
John Donaldson, Esquire, Register General of the accounts of this Commonwealth.
George Campbell, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration in and for the city and county of Philadelphia.
Matthew Irwin, Esquire, Recorder of Deeds in and for the city and county of Philadelphia.
James Hanna, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county of Bucks.
Percifer Frazier, Esquire, Recorder of Decds and Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration in and for the county of Chester.
James Jacks, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration, and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Lancaster.
John Christ, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration, and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Berks.
John Arndt, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Northampton.
John Simpson, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration, and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Northumberland.
Jacob Barnitz, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration, and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of York.
William Lyon, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administrators, and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Cumberland.
1
444
MINUTES OF THE
David Espy, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administrators and Recorder of Deeds in and for, the county of Bedford.
James Hamilton, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and regising Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Westmoreland.
Thomas Stockley, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Washington.
. Alexander McLene, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration, and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Fayette.
Robert Lollar, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration, and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Montgomery.
Edward Crawford, junior, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county of Franklin.
Joseph Montgomery, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administrators and Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county of Dauphine.
Andrew Henderson, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county of Huntingdon.
Timothy Pickering, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county of Luzerne.
Samuel Jones, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county of Allegany. .
Samuel Edmiston, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county of Mifflin.
William Richardson Atlec, Esquire, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration and Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county of Delaware.
And that the said gentlemen be commissionated accordingly.
The following named gentlemen were offered and accepted as sureties, vizt :
James McWright and John Carson for Joseph Montgomery, Esquire, Register and Recorder of the county of Dauphine.
Thomas Lilly and Jacob Smyser for Jacob Barnitz, Esquire, Register and Recorder of the county of York.
Daniel Leimback and Nicholas Lutz for John Christ, Esquire, Register and Recorder of the county of Berks.
Peter Ealer and Stephen Balliett for John Arndt, Esquire, Register and Recorder of the county of Northampton ; and
James Marshall and David Stewart for Andrew Henderson, Es- quire, Register and Recorder of the county of Huntingdon.
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
445
Two accounts, certified by Richard Peters, Esquire, late Speaker of the late House of Assembly, the first for the pay of the Mem- bers of Assembly during their last sitting, amounting to seven . hundred and seventy-three pounds thirteen shillings, and the second for the pay of Peter Zachary Loyd and Jacob Shallus as Clerks, and James Martin Sergeant at Arms, and Joseph Fry Doorkeeper, for their services during the said sitting, amounting to thirty pounds, were laid before Council, and read ; whereupon orders for the said sums were drawn upon the Treasurer in favor of Peter Zachary Loyd, Esquire, for which he is to be accountable.
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.