Petition of James Wood, of Frederick County

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Saturday, December 23, 1775.

The President laid before the Convention two Letters, just received from the Delegates appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress; which were read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Cary Mitchell be permitted to visit his family at Hampton, upon his parole, to appear in the City of Williamsburgh on Saturday next.

A Petition of James Wood, of the County of Frederick, was presented to the Convention, and read, setting forth, that he was appointed to the command of a Company in the late expedition against the Shawanese Towns; that, in order to arm his company for the service, he was under the necessity of impressing a number of Guns, for which he passed his receipt to the proprietors, many of which guns were carried away by deserters; and others, by different accidents, were never returned to their owners; for all which the Commissioners have made your Petitioner liable, and have deducted the amount thereof out of his pay; and praying that the premises may be inquired into, and such further allowance made him as shall be thought just and reasonable.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Frederick was referred; and they are to report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

A Petition of Stephen Pierce was presented to the Convention and read, setting forth, that he is master of the sloop Industry, lately brought into Hampton, and praying that he may be allowed to proceed to St˙ Mary' s, in Maryland, with the said Vessel and her Cargo, if the same can be done with safety.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to Mr˙ Blackburn, Mr˙ Henry Lee, and Mr˙ Carrington; and they are to report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

Ordered, That the Leggings allowed to the Soldiers in the regular service do not exceed the price of four Shillings for each pair.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Harrison have leave to be absent fromthe service of this Convention till Thursday next.

The Orders of the Day, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, and on the Ordinance "For raising an additional number of Forces

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Ordered, That the same be put off till Monday next.

Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Convention are justly due to Colonel Elliott, and the Officers and Soldiers under his command, to Messrs˙ James and Richard Barron, and to the Inhabitants of Hampton, for their spirited and successful exertions in defeating the designs of our enemies; and that the President be desired to transmit the same, and to inform them the Convention will take an early opportunity of rewarding their merit.

Adjourned till Monday, half after ten o' clock.