Minute Companies in Dorchester, Queen Anne, and Kent, ordered to march immediately to Accomack and Northampton Counties

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Monday, January 15, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday. The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Richard Ridgely qualify himself as Clerk Assistant to the Convention, by taking the oath of office and secrecy, as directed to be taken by the Clerk.

A Certificate of said Ridgely' s qualification was produced and filed.

Resolved, That this Convention is willing and desirous to contribute all the assistance in their power to the relief of their sister Colonies; and as this Convention is informed that the Counties of Accomack and Northampton are in need of assistance,

Resolved, That the Minute Company in Dorchester County, commanded by Captain Joseph Robson, and the Minute Company in Queen Anne' s County, commanded by Captain James Kent, and the Minute Company in Kent County, commanded by Captain William Henry, immediately march to Accomack and Northampton Counties, in Virginia, to the assistance of the inhabitants there; and that if any of the men belonging to either of the said companies cannot go on this occasion, then the full number to be made up by such volunteers as may offer for this particular service.

That each private be allowed for his subsistence on his march, one-sixth part of a dollar per day, and the officers in proportion.

That Yelverton Peyton Probart be appointed Commissary, to provide subsistence for the said companies whilst on their station, and that seven hundred Pounds, common money be paid into his hands by the Treasurer of the Eastern Shore, to be applied for that purpose, he giving bond, payable to the President, in the penalty of twelve hundred pounds, current money, conditioned for the faithful expenditure of the same, and rendering an account and payment of the balance, if any, thereof.

That the Committee of Observation for Kent County, furnish such of the publick arms in their possession as may be necessary to arm such men of the said. Minute Companies

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That the said companies be relieved at the end of eight weeks, at furthest, from their arrival at their station, and be entitled to the same pay and rations as troops in the Continental Army.

That one hundred Pounds be advanced to the Captain of each of the said companies, out of the Treasury on the Eastern Shore, to be applied to defray the necessary expenses of the march of their companies, and that exact accounts be rendered of the expenditure of all moneys by the Captains and Commissary.

That the said Commissary, for his trouble, be entitled to the pay of forty dollars per calendar month.

On motion, Resolved, That the Captains of the Independent Companies, or other officers commanding such Independent Companies, or any part thereof, respectively, do, as occasions may require, apply to some adjacent Surgeon or Physician, to attend any sick or wounded soldier under his command; and that such Surgeon' s or Physician' s reasonable account for such attendance, and for medicines found and administered by him, be allowed and paid by the publick.

That necessary fuel be found for the said forces in the service of this Province, at the expense thereof, as may be ordered by the Council of Safety.

Adjourned till three o' clock.

Post Meridiem. —Convention met. Mr˙ Tyler and Mr˙ Sim appeared in the House.

On motion, Resolved, That the powers and authorities of the Deputies of this Province in Congress, have continuance until the end of the next session of Convention, and no longer, unless otherwise resolved, in this or the said next session of Convention, any thing in the Resolves of this or the last Convention, or any of them, to the contrary notwithstanding.

Resolved, That the Officers of the Militia rank in the following manner to wit: Brigadiers-General, Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, First Majors, Second Majors, Captains, First Lieutenants, Second Lieutenants, Ensigns; the Brigadiers-General as to each other, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth, according to their numbers; the other Officers as to others holding like Commissions, according to the number of the Battalion to which they belong; and if they should not belong to any Battalion, then next after the Officers holding in Battalions the like Commissions as themselves, and, as to each other, according to the number of the first Battalion in their respective County. But after the places in the Militia now enrolled shall have been once filled up, and the Officers shall have accepted their Commissions, on the filling up any places that may again become vacant, such Officers, as shall be thereafter appointed to such places, shall hold rank, amongst others of the same degree as themselves, according to the dates of their respective Commissions only; and all Battalions to be hereafter formed, shall be numbered by the successive numbers following the last number of those already formed, or allowed, by this Convention, according to the time of issuing the Commission to the respective Colonel.

That the Officers of the Militia hold no rank with those of the Regular Forces, unless at, and during such times as they act together, and that when they do act together, they rank in the following order: Field-Officers of the Regular Troops Brigadiers-General and First Colonels of the Militia; Captains of the Regular Troops, Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors of Militia; Lieutenants of the Regular Troops, Captains and Lieutenants of Militia; Ensigns of Regular Troops, Ensigns of Militia. The Officers of Minute-Men

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That any part of the Militia in actual service, during the time of their actual service only, shall be subject to the Rules made by this Convention, for regulating and governing the Forces to be raised and employed in the service of this Province, and shall be entitled to the same pay and rations as the Regular Forces, and no more; but General and Inferior Court-Martials shall be composed of Militia Officers only, and the punishment of whipping shall not be adjudged against, or inflicted on, any man serving in the Militia.

Mr˙ Joseph Dashiell has leave of absence.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, half after nine o' clock.