Pennsylvania Committee of Safety

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Friday, February 9, 1776.

In Committee of Safety: Present —

Samuel Howell, Chairman, George Gray, Anthony Wayne, Robert White, Owen Biddle, Daniel Roberdeau, Thomas Wharton, Jun˙, Samuel Morris, Jun˙, Joseph Reed, George Clymer, James Biddle.

Resolved, That John Harper be appointed Quartermaster to the Fourth Battalion of Troops to be raised in this Province for the service of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That Richard Collier be appointed Quartermaster to the Fifth Battalion of Troops to be raised in this Province for the service of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That Garait Stedafort be appointed Quartermaster to the Third Battalion of Troops to be raised in this Province for the service of the United Colonies.

Mr˙ Blith, a gentleman recommended by the Committee of Cumberland County to be instructed in the manufacture of Saltpetre, having produced the account of his expenses, amounting to three Pounds twelve Shillings and six Pence, by order of the Board the Committee of Accounts was desired to pay the same.

Upon application of Joseph Collier for the payment of fifty Cartridge-Boxes, Bayonet-Belts, and Scabbards, delivered to the Commissioners and Assessors of Berks County, agreeable to their Certificate by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esquire, for thirty Pounds, being the amount of said Bill.

Upon application of Jacob Baldwin for the payment of

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Resolved, That Mr˙ Nixon, Mr˙ Wharton, and Mr˙ White, be a Committee to superintend the Armed Boats, and to furnish them with what necessaries they want, and to give orders for any necessary repairs.

Agreeable to a Resolve of Congress, this Board went into the choice of a proper person to be appointed as Captain-Lieutenant of the Company of Matrosses, to be raised for the service of the United Colonies, when Gibbs Jones was made choice of.

Therefore, Resolved, That the said Gibbs Jones be appointed Captain-Lieutenant of the said Company, for the service of Canada.

Upon application of Andrew Caldwell, Esquire, Commodore to the Fleet, for a sum of money for the recruiting service, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Mr˙ John M˙ Nesbitt, Paymaster to the Fleet, for one hundred and twenty Pounds, for that purpose.

Resolved, That the Officers that shall be employed to recruit in the country, for the service of the Fleet, shall be allowed twenty Shillings per week, each, for their travelling charges, and ten Shillings per man, for each man they shall inlist, in lieu of all recruiting expenses; and also, ten Shillings per week for the subsistence of each of their recruits, while they continue in the country recruiting, and until they join the corps at the Barracks.

Resolved, That Captain Campbell shall have access to Sergeant Morrison, now confined in the Jail of this City, at reasonable hours, to settle his private affairs, but that no other of the prisoners, confined for inimical practices, shall be present.

Upon application of Captain Richard Willing, for the payment of seventeen Fire-locks, purhased by him for the use of Captain Jones' s Company, in the Battalion late Colonel Bull' s, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Messrs˙ Mease and Caldwell, for seventy-one Pounds fifteen Shillings, being the amount of said Account.

Resolved, That Mr˙ James Biddle furnish John Miers, of Berks County, on account of this Committee, with one hundred Pounds, taking good security for the same, which sum is lent him for the purpose of carrying on the manufacture of Saltpetre, and to be paid in that commodity in twelve months.

A Letter was wrote, and signed by the Chairman, to Benjamin Rittenhouse, of Nottingham, requesting his attendance at this Board, in order to confer with him respecting the mode and terms on which he would undertake to carry on a manufactory of Gun-Lock making in an extensive manner.