DEPOSITION RESPECTING LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1781.

City of Philadelphia, sst.

The Sixteenth Day of August, A. Dom., 1781, Before me, John Miller, one of the Justices, &c., came Michael Shubart, of the City of Philadelphia, Esq., and Frederick Hailer, of the same place. Gent", who, being Sworn according to Law, did declare and aver as follows, Viz., That in the Month of April, A. Domo., one Thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, they went to John Penn, Esq., and offered to pay him Five Hundred pounds, lawful Money of Pennsylvania, for two Lots of Ground in this City, purchased for the use of the German Lutheran Church. That Mr. Penn refused to accept of the Money, saying that in few Months that Money would be good for nothing. That Mr. Penn agreed to let them keep the sa Money for one year longer without Interest, rather than receive it

at that Time.

MICHAEL SHUBART,
FRED'K HAILER.

Sworn the Day & Year first above written, Before me, JOHN MILLER.

PROPOSALS OF THOMAS PIXLEY, 1781.

Gentlemen,

Philadelphia, August 22, 1781.

Seeing the Advertisement for an Overseer is Wanting, I Offer myself as a fit Person, being well Acquainted With the Nature of the Imploy; my terms is £90 8 Annum.

From Your Most Obedient,

Humble Servant,

THO. PIXLEY.

Att Mr. Jacob Bristol's, Fishey Court,† Market Street.
Directed,
Proposals for Mud Island.

COL. SAMUEL HUNTER TO COL. ADAM HUBLEY, 1781.

Sir,

Fort Augusta, 22d, 1781.

I am sorry to inform you that I am oblig'd to Discharge the Militia before their touer of two months is out, as we could not find them Rations in this County at any Rate, being there was no money to purchase with, and the Publick has no Credt at present, so that our Commissioner of Purchases can do nothing in that way. I am

*For Mud Island,

Lætitia Court. ?

ashamed to have it said we could not keep the militia three weeks longer, but so it is.

I muster'd Captain William Johnson's Company from Paxton, yesterday, agreeable to his muster Roll, which he will show you. He arived here the 16th July, but it was not in my Power to muster his Company at his arivel here agreeable to your Request, as the men did not come all together, nor some for several days after I had stationed Capt Johnson and what came with himself at first. Captain John Harkerider, from Hanover, árived here the 18th July he has not left his station as yet, but I think he soon will. I had hard geting those Companys Equipt, as we have no such thing as Publick Stores in this County, however we made out to Supply them with Arms and Ammunition with enough ado, Suppose Captain Jonson's Company Recd twelve Rounds man they had not a single Cartridge to Return when they came here from their Stations. I would beg it as a favour of you in case any Militia is Ordered to the frontiers from Lancaster County that they should be accoutred for their tour of Duty they have to serve, but not to Give the Ammunition to the men untill they arive here as they are Very apt to Squander it away which is Customary to the Militia. I have nothing Strange to Communicate you from here.

Directed,

I am st your Most Obed. Humb1 Servt,

Publick Service.

SAM HUNTER, L N. C.

Colonel Adam Hubley, Lieutenant of Lancaster County. fay by Capt. Wm. Johnson.

COL. DANIEL BRODHEAD TO PRES. REED, 1781.

Dear Sir,

Fort Fitt, Augt 23rd, 1781.

I take the liberty to inclose a petition which I have received from the non-commissioned officers &c., of the 8th P. Regt. I am sensible that they have suffered great hardships and I hope their wants will be speedily supplied by those who may have it in their power. Every method I could devise has been attempted and I expect a small supply of Flour but this will last but a few Days.

Yesterday morning the 7th Virga Regt came out of the Barracks with their packs made up, grounded their Arms & seemed determined to March off; But were by fair promises of supplies, prevailed on to remain a Day or two longer. The Maryland Corps is at present stationed upon the frontier of Westmoreland, but it appears by recent information, that they are determined to March to Maryland to apply for Clothing of which they are quite destitute.

An Expedition against the Sanduskies is in Contemplation and I wish to promote it, but what can be done with naked & starved men unless the Country will afford a generous supply, you will easily Determine.

My Enemies here endeavour to procrastinate my Trial and indeed every thing is in confusion.

I hope the contract advertised by Mr. Morris is closed & that the Contractor will speedily contribute to the relief of these Troops.

I have heard nothing of the Clothing expected from Philad*, I hope they are forwarded and that a speedy supply of Blankets, Hats, Coats, Jackets, Woolen Overalls, Socks & Shoes will be furnished for all the Troops serving here.

I have the Honor to be

Postscript,

with great Respect & esteem

Dear sir, your most obedt Serv,

DANIEL BRODHEAD.

1

Please to communicate these Circumstances to Congress. Directed,

His Excelly Jos. Reed, Esqr.

RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS-LEADEN SPOUTS, 1781.

By the United States in Congress Assembled, August 23, 1781. On a Report of the Board of War of 24th of July, 1779.

Resolved,

That the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania be requested to appoint proper persons to make a just appraisement of the Leaden spouts taken in the year 1777, from the houses of sundry inhabi tants of Philadelphia by order of Congress for the use of the United States & that they direct the appraisers to return to the Board of War & Ordnance such their valuation & appraisment.

Sir,

Extract from the minutes,

CHA. THOMSON, Secr.*

PRES. REED TO GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE, 1781.

Í duly received your Favour of the 8th & 16th Ult., & am much obliged to you for the Detail of Occurrences of the Army & the Condition of the Troops under your Command. We have made every possible Exertion of Supply for the Troops, & to equip the Recruits, amounting to about 500, so that Capt. Zeigler is now in Possession *See Col. Rec., Vol. XIII., p. 41, 42.

† See p. 293.

of a considerable Quantity of Shirts, Overalls, Shoes, &c., which he has orders to forward as soon as possible. It has been a Complaint too general, & I fear too just, that when the Troops have been at a Distance, they have been neglected; but you may depend upon it this will not be the Case with you. We daily expect to know from General Washington whether the Recruits now in the State are to march Southward or to his own Army.. It would be most convenient to the State & otherwise beneficial, that all the Line should be together. At the General's Request, we have attempted to raise a Corps of Rifle Men, to consist of 300; we tried with hard Money, & engaged Six of the retired Captains in the Service, allowing them 10s. Specie Day, besides Pay, &c. But it has proved very unsuccessful, as we have not got 20 Men after two Months' Trial. As I suppose your other Correspondents furnish you with the publick Intelligence, I shall not trouble you with a Repetition. The two great Events now in Expectancy, & of which we seem to have the fairest Prospects, are the Revival of publick Credit, Paper Money appreciating fast, & the Arrival of a French Fleet of superiour Strength to any the Enemy can send after them-as Rodney has gone to England with a Part of his Squadron. Should it fortunately arrive in the Chesapeake before Detachments take Place for Green's Army, I think it highly probable you will strike a capital Stroke on the British Forces of the South, whose Laurels are already much withered by Green's Successes in Carolina. I am, &c.

P. S. Since writing the above, we learn that Mr Searle is on the Point of leaving Holland about the 1st May, having so far succeeded in his Mission as to procure military Supplies to a considerable Amount, the Benefits of which will, I hope, be experienced by both Officers & Soldiers early in the Fall. We cannot but think the Attention shown to the Troops by the Authority of the State, & the superiour Appearance they have & will hereafter make over the Troops of the other States, will sooner or later harmonize the component Parts of the Commonwealth, & strengthen & support the common Cause. We are sorry to inform you, that Marquis de Fayette, laden with Cloathing for the Army-the last ship expected on that Account-was taken by the Fleet bound to the West Indies. Gen. Wayne.

Indorsed,-August 25, 1781.

Sir,

PRES. REED TO COL. JAMES MARSHAL, 1781.

Your Letter of the 8th Augt* has been duly received & laid before the Council, who are well satisfied with your Endeavours to organize the Militia of Washington County, tho' they have not had all the Success to be wished. As General Clark's Proceedings have been the Occasion of so much Dissatisfaction in the Country, & it is given: * See page 343.

out that he has extraordinary Countenance from us, we think it necessary to state our Sentiments & the Facts respecting his Command. We were informed early last Spring, that a Plan of an Expedition under Gen. Clark against the Western Indians was approved by Gen. Washington. Our Opinion of the Gentleman, from his former Successes & acknowledged Abilities, as well as our Belief that his Expedition would be beneficial to our Frontier, led us to give it our Countenance so far as to write to the Gentlemen of Westmoreland County, with a View that it should be communicated to you, that it was our Wish that Gen. Clark might be assisted so far as to encourage Volunteers to go with him, & to supply him with Provisions if he should have Occasion to apply for them, he paying their Value. We also wrote to General Clark himself, a Copy whereof is inclosed, by which you will see the Extent of the Countenance & Support he has derived from us. But, while we utterly disapprove the Irregularities & Hardships which have been exercised by him towards the Inhabitants; we cannot help fearing that too many, in Consequence of the unsettled State of Boundaries, avail themselves of a Pretence to withhhold their Services from the publick at a Time they are most wanted, & when an Exertion would not only serve the Country, but promote their own Security. We cannot help also observing, that by Letters received from the prin cipal Gentlemen in Westmoreland, it seems evident they approve of Gen. Clark's Expedition, & that the Lieutenants of both States/ united in the Plan of raising 300 Men for that Service; as the State of publick Affairs had not admitted your forming the Militia sufficiently to concur in these Measures, we concluded that these Reso lutions would also include your County, & even now are at a Loss to account for the different Opinions entertained on the Point by the People of Westmoreland & Washington Counties. Before this gets to Hand, you will have received the Letters informing you of the Agreement to run a temporary Line untill the Season will permit the Astronomical Observations to be made to ascertain it with more Accuracy. We hope that by this time Mr McClean is actively engaged in the Service, &, we doubt not, he will receive every Assistance therein from the good People of both States.

No Complaint whatever has been made against you to us, & you may rest assured, that as we shall not take up Prejudices hastily, so if any real Cause of Dissatisfaction is suggested, we shall give you a good Opp of stating your Conduct before any Steps are taken to your Disadvantage. We send you by this Opp' the Commissions requested, but would have you make a Return to us of the Names of all the Officers to whom Commissions shall be given. We sometime ago sent up to Westmoreland, to the Care of Col. Hayes, our Member, a considerable Quantity of Ammunition, part of which was designed for your County. On applying to that Gentleman, you will receive farther Satisfaction on this Point.

* See pp. 23, 137, 189, 301.