drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq'r, in favour of John Nixon & others, the Committee of accounts, for ten thousand pounds. Resolved, that Mr. Govett purchase for the use of this Committee, the following Military Books. Vizt.: Sim's Military Guide. Robins' Treatise of Gunnery. La Petit Guere. The time of the present Contractor for Supplying the men on board the Armed Boats with provisions, being nearly expired, Order'd, That the following advertisement be published in the papers of this City: "In Committee of Safety. "All persons who are willing to supply the Officers & Men employ'd in the Naval Armament & Artillery of this Province with the following Rations, Vizt: "For each Man per Week, Seven pounds of Bread, or Six pounds of flour, one-fourth at least, to be in flour if required; ten pounds of Beef, Mutton, or Pork; the Value of Six pence in Roots & Vegetables; a Sufficient proportion of Salt & Vinegar; three pints and an half of Rum, or Beer in proportion; are desired to send in their proposals to this Committee, on or before the 8th day of March instant; the Contract to commence on the 11th inst., and continue in force for three Months, if the Men are not sooner discharged." Mr. Nixon Reports, that the Bill sent Colo. Mifflin the 30th November last, is Returned, the Colo. having had an interview with Major Small, who inform'd the Bill could not be paid, as Mr. Franks of this City, had directions to furnish the Officers taken prisoners with Money; therefore, Mr. Nixon is desired to return the Bill to Mr. Symes. Morgan Bustead not having performed any part of his Contract with respect to his engagements with this Board for the Casting of Canon, Upon motion, Order'd, That his written agreement be put into the hands of a Lawyer, in order to his being prosecuted for damages. Resolved, That the Sum of £150 be lent to Jacob Lorch, to enable him to erect a powder Mill, he having given Bond with Security, for the same, to the Committee of accounts. Agreeable to the above Resolve, an order was drawn on Jno. Nixon & others, the Committee of Accounts, in favor of said Lorch, for £150. Resolved, That John Brice be appointed first Lieutenant to the Armed Boat Warren. The Committee of Correspondence of Bedford County having drawn an order on this Board for the payment of 161 lbs. powder, & 118 lbs. Lead, purchased by them, Resolved, That an order be drawn on Mr. John Nixon, & others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Miles & Wister, for £40 3 3, the amount of said Powder & Lead, and that the same be taken proper care of by the Committee of Correspondence of said County 'til the further orders of this Board. Resolved, That this Board lend 100 Firelocks to Colo. Shea, to exercise his Men. In case any of them should be damag'd, the Colo. is to have them repair'd at his own cost, and to deliver them to the order of this Board on demand; agreeable to which Resolve, an order was sent to Mr. Towers to deliver the said Firelocks. Abel Morris having Resign'd his Commission as Ensign in the 2nd Battalion of Pennsylvania Troops in the Service of the united. Colonies, Resolved, That George Ross be appointed Ensign in said Battalion, in the place of said Able Morris. Resolved, That Mr. David Rittenhouse, the Engineer to this Board, be desired to make Experiments in rifling Canon & Musket Balls, at the expence of this Board, and to this end that he be allowed to employ any person or persons under him for that purpose, and that Robert Towers, Commissary, shall deliver to the order of Mr. Rittenhouse sufficient ammunition for that purpose. Matthias Keely having engaged with Colo. Miles to make 100 Firelocks, for the use of this Province, and having deliver'd 31 Firelocks to Mr. Towers; By order of the Board an order was drawn on Messrs. John Nixon & others, the Committee of accounts, in his favour, for seventy-five pounds, towards the payment of said firelocks. Resolved, That Colo. Hockley be desired to use all the Muskets made by Matthias Keely & Comp'y, by order of this Board, proved with a weight of powder equal to the weight of the Ball, and cause the Muskets so proved to be stamp'd with the Letters P. P. By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commiss'y, was directed to deliver Matthias Keely as much powder as will prove one hundred Firelocks, making by him for the use of this Province. This day the Congress sent the following Resolve to this Committee: "In Congress, 26th Feb'ry, 1776. "Resolved, That the Committee of Safety for Pennsylvania, agreeable to the offer made by them of their service, of which the Congress have a proper sense, be authorized to distribute the officers, prisoners in Lancaster, in such places within the province of Pennsylvania as to that Committee shall seem most proper, taking their parole, which if they refuse to give, the said Committee are empowered and directed to confine them, and that in executing this Resolve, the said Committee have a regard to the Resolutions heretofore made by the Congress with respect to prisoners & their Residence. Extract from the Minutes. "Sign'd CHAS. THOMSON, Sec'y.' Upon application of the Commisssioners of Northampton County for a sum of Money for the payment of Firelocks, &ca., making in that County for the use of this Province; By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq'r, in favour of Peter Kacheline, Esq'r, for three hundred pounds, for the use aforesaid. Upon application of Oswell Eve, for the payment of his acc't of Powder, deliver'd to Mr. Towers, Commissary; By order of the Board an order was drawn on Mr. Jno. Nixon & others, The Committee of accounts for £79 12 6, being the amount of the same. Upon application of Jacob Baldwin & Thomas Palmer for the payment of their accounts for repairing Firelocks belonging to Capt. Le Marr & Capt. Jenkins' Company in the 1st Batt'n of Penn'a Troops in the service of the United Colonies; By order of the Board, two orders were drawn on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, one in favour of Jacob Baldwin for £4 12, the other in favour of Thomas Palmer for £25 19 3. Upon application of Colo. Slough for the payment of George Eberly's account for subsisting John Brooks in the Gaol of Lancaster County, confined there by order of this Board; an Order was drawn on Mr. John Nixon & others, the Committee of accounts, for £8, being the amount of said account, & in favour of said Slough, which sum is directed to be charged to the Continental Congress. Lieu't Thompson & Webb appear'd before the Committee and gave information that a certain Henry Yelverton Price had frequented the places of Rendevous of the Crews belonging to the armed Boats, that by words he endeavour'd to discourage the service, That he had declared himself a Tory, & inimical to the American cause; That he Damned the Congress and wished that the waggons carrying Powder for the Continental Service were blown up; and the said Henry Yelverton Price appearing before the Committee and having the said Charge made known to him, did not deny the same. Resolved, That it would be unsafe to permit the said Henry Yelverton Price to go at large; therefore, Resolved, That he be Committed to the Gaol of the City and County of Philad'a; agreeable thereto, Thomas Dewees, Gaoler of this County, was commanded to receive him into his Custody, and to keep him safely confined 'til he is discharged by this Board. Upon Motion, the following order was drawn and signed by the Chairman : "Gent'n : "In Committee of Safety, 4th March, 1776. "Please to deliver to Peter DeHaven any number of Gunlocks he may find necessary for the use of Lewis Prahl, Gunsmith, Mr. De Haven to be answerable for the same, and to deduct the price of the Locks out of the moneys that may become due to the said Lewis for his work. "By Order of the Committee, "Sign'd, GEO. ROSS, Chairman. "To Major Meredith, Capt. Wilcocks & Capt. Peters." Upon application of Robert Towers for the payment of 8 Firelocks purchased by him for the use of this Province, & for the payment of his Bill for sundry Expenditures on acc't of this Board, By order of the Board, two orders were drawn in his favour on Mr. John Nixon & others, the Committee of accounts, one for £24 1, the other for £13 9 8, being the amount of said two accounts. Robert Towers, Commissary, makes the following Report; That he deliver'd to Sam'l Parker order of this Board, 100lbs Brass. That he deliver'd to Capt. Procter 169 Canon Cartridges, 73 firelocks, 1 four pound Canon, 1 Rammer & Sponge, 1 Wad Hook & Ladel. That he deliver'd in Exchange of 1 lbs Salt Peter, 6 oz. Gunpowder, & 57 in Cash. That he deliver'd to Tho's Aflick, 100 lbs Brass, order of the Board. to Mathias Keely, 6 lbs Gunpowder. That he receiv'd from Jacob Scoggin 11 lbs Salt petre. That he receiv'd from Oswell Eve 8 Casks Battle Powder, wt 1871 lbs, 9 do Common do, wt 225 lbs. Resolved, That Mr. John Mitchell be appointed Muster Master to the Naval Armaments and to the Artillery of this Province, he having offer'd to do the business Gratis. Thomas Apty produced his acc't for subsisting Soldiers in Gaol, confined by order of Congress, which was Certified to be just, by the Chairman. William Brown, Captain of Marines, receiv'd his Commission this day, and dated the 16th Feb'y last. |