Ordinance for Striking the Sum of Fifty Thousand Rounds

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An Ordinance for striking the sum of Fifty Thousand Pounds five Shillings, in Bills of Credit, for the purposes therein mentioned, and directing the manner of sinking the same.

Whereas, it is prudent, not only to make provision for putting the Province into such state of defence as the present situation thereof seems to require, but, also, to have such sum of money in the Treasury as may probably be sufficient to answer future exigencies and contingent charges: And whereas, the sum of thirty thousand Pounds, directed to be issued by an Ordinance passed at the last sitting of this Congress, hath not, as yet, been printed; and as the same may not be sufficient to answer the purposes aforesaid,

It is, therefore, Resolved, That the said Ordinance be null, void, and vacated, to all intents and purposes whatsoever; and, in lieu thereof,

It is Resolved, Ordained, and Directed, That the sum of fifty thousand Pounds five Shillings, in Bills of Credit of this Province, be, as soon as possible, prepared, printed, and made as follows, viz: nine thousand five hundred Bills, each of the value of three Pounds; ten thousand Bills, each of the value of one Pound ten Shillings; six thousand six hundred and sixty-seven Bills, each of the value of fifteen Shillings; and five thousand Bills, each of the value of six Shillings; which Bills shall be in the form following, to wit:

"This Bill, by an Ordinance of the Provincial Congress, shall pass current in all payments within the Colony of New Jersey, for — Proclamation money,

"Dated the 20th day of February, 1776."

And shall be impressed with such devices as the inspectors of the press, hereinafter appointed, shall direct; and, when printed, shall be delivered to Hendrick Fisher and Azariah Dunham, Esquires, of the Eastern Division, and to John Hart and Samuel Howe, Esquires, of the Western Division, four of the signers thereof, in equal moieties; one moiety to be signed by the Treasurer, and signers of the Eastern Division; and the other moiety, by the Treasurer and signers of the Western Division. And the said signers

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"I, A˙ B˙, do declare, that from the time the letters were, set, and fit to be put into the press, for the printing the Bills of Credit now by me delivered, until the same Bills were printed, and the letters unset and put into the boxes again, I went at no time out of the room in which the said letters were, without locking them up, so that they could not be come at without violence, a false key, or other art then unknown to me; and therefore, to the best of my knowledge, no copies were printed off but in my presence; and that all the blotters and other papers whatsoever, printed by the said letter, while set for printing the said Bills, to the best of my knowledge, are here delivered, together with the stamps for the indents and devices; and that I have not at any time been privy, or consenting to any other or more Bills being struck than I now deliver; and that, in all things relating to this affair, I have demeaned myself according to the true intent and meaning of the Ordinance, by virtue whereof this money is printed, to the best of my knowledge and understanding."

Which Printer, at the time he is ordered to print the said Bills, shall have a copy of this oath or affirmation, that he may govern himself accordingly; Provided, always, that if any accident has happened, he may have the liberty of making an exception thereof in his oath or affirmation, he declaring fully how it was.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That the Bills made current by this Ordinance, shall be nearly the size and likeness of the Bills now current in this Colony, and shall be signed and numbered by the respective persons herein before appointed signers thereof; and in case of their, or either of their deaths, or other disability, then Joseph Hugg, of the Western Division, and John Covenhoven, of the Eastern Division, are hereby appointed signers of said Bills.

And in order that the said Bills may be numbered and signed with the less charge and risk, and with the most ease and expedition, the said signers are to observe the directions following, to wit:

First: Before the said signers do receive any of the said Bills, they shall each of them take an oath, (or affirmation, if Quakers,) before a Justice of the Peace, for the true signing of the said Bills of Credit; and that they will sign no more, or no other Bills, than by this Ordinance is directed; and that, to the best of their skill, they will perform what, by this Ordinance, they are enjoined as their duty. A certificate of which oath, or affirmation, is to be signed by the Justice, and by the deponents and affirmants, to be delivered to the Treasurers with the Bills, when signed by them.

Secondly: On receiving the Bills from the Printer, the said signers shall burn and destroy the blotters, and they shall divide the fair Bills so received into two equal parts; and to avoid confusion, shall agree betwixt themselves how the parts of each shall be numbered; and the signers for the Eastern Division shall take the stamps for the escutcheons, and the signers for the Western Division shall take the stamps for the ornaments.

Thirdly: Each of the signers may then carry his part to his own house, there to be numbered and signed by him with all possible expedition; which, or such part as is then necessary, being done, they shall meet at a day and place by them to be appointed, and agreed on, and each deliver the part numbered and signed by him to the other, in order for him to sign the same; and they shall then together burn and destroy the Bills, if any be over and above the number hereby appointed to be issued, and, in like manner, shall do from time to time, until all are signed and exchanged.

Fourthly: Each of the said signers may then carry the part of the Bills aforesaid, so delivered to them by the other to their respective houses, to be signed with all possible expedition; and when signed, in any sums, from time to time to be delivered to the Treasurer of the division where the signers live, and the stamps for the escutcheons, and ornaments, taking receipts of the respective Treasurers, for the sums so delivered; which, when produced, shall be sufficient to discharge the said signers, respectively, their heirs,

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And it is further Resolved and Directed, That the said Treasurers shall, respectively, sign the said Bills to them delivered; and, under the obligation of their oaths, or affirmations, for the due execution of their offices, pay them out accordingly, as they shall be directed, by this or any future order of the Provincial Congress, or Committee of Safety of this Colony, and no otherwise.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That the Bills of Credit to be made and issued by virtue of this Ordinance, shall pass current, until the 21st day of December, which will be in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and shall be received in the said Treasuries, until the expiration of six months after the time last mentioned.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That Samuel Tucker, Hendrick Fisher, Richard Smith, John Pope, and James Starling, Esquires, or any two of them, are hereby authorized and directed to agree with the Printer for the price to be paid him for printing the Bills according to the directions of this Ordinance, and shall be, and are hereby appointed Inspectors of the Press, to take care that the Printer of the Bills of Credit doth duly perform the duty hereby enjoined him.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That there shall be paid to the Printer of the said Bills of Credit, such sum or sums of money for printing them, as the said Inspectors, or any two of them, shall certify under their hands, they had agreed to pay him for that service; and there shall be paid to the Treasurers, Inspectors, and Signers, such reward for their trouble, as the Congress or Committee of Safety for this Colony, shall deem reasonable. All which sums of money shall be paid by the Treasurers, or either of them, out of the money made current by virtue of this Ordinance, and shall take proper receipts for the same; which receipts, when laid before, and approved by the Provincial Congress, or Committee of Safety, shall discharge the said Treasurers, their heirs, executors, and administrators, for all sums by them paid pursuant to this Ordinance.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That the said sum of fifty thousand Pounds five Shillings, when printed and signed as aforesaid, shall be delivered, one-half thereof to the Treasurer appointed by the Congress of New Jersey, for the Eastern Division, and the other half to the Treasurer appointed as aforesaid, for the Western Division of this Colony; and each of the said Treasurers is hereby directed immediately after receiving said Bills, to sign as many of them as shall amount unto the sum of one thousand Pounds; and the said Treasurers, shall, respectively, from time to time, proceed to sign such further part of the said sum of fifty thousand Pounds five Shillings, as shall be sufficient to answer the publick uses of this Colony, ready to be issued as aforesaid; Provided, that not more than one thousand Pounds shall, after the issuing the above sums, be, at any one time, remaining in the hands of either of said Treasurers, signed by them as aforesaid.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That Messrs˙ William Tucker, Abraham Hunt, Joseph Ellis, and Alexander Chambers be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners for the Western Division; and that Hendrick Fisher, Azariah Dunham, Abraham Clark, and Caleb Camp be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners for the Eastern Division of this Colony; which said Commissioners, or the major part of them, are hereby authorized and directed to receive of the Treasurers of this Colony for the time being, appointed by this Congress, or either of them, all such sum or sums of money as they shall, from time to time, find necessary to expend for the use of this Colony, pursuant to the Resolutions hereinafter mentioned.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That the said Commissioners be, and they are hereby authorized and directed, to contract with Artificers for, or otherwise purchase, three thousand stand of Arms, on the most reasonable terms they possibly can; and, also, to purchase ten tons of Gunpowder, twenty tons of Lead, one thousand Cartouch-Boxes, at any price, not exceeding nine Shillings each; a quantity of Flints, Brushes, Priming-Wire, and Cartridge Paper, not exceeding one hundred Pounds in value; two

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And it is further Resolved and Directed, That the said Commissioners do supply the Troops of this Colony, when called to action in this or any of the neighbouring Colonies, with one month' s subsistence, at one Shilling per day per man, or Provisions to that amount, if necessary: Provided, That the expense of such subsistence doth not exceed the sum of one thousand four hundred Pounds in value, and one month' s pay for the Troops of this Colony, when called into actual service: Provided, that the Continental Congress do not make provision for the same; And provided also, that the pay of such Troops doth not exceed the sum of four thousand Pounds in value.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, that the Treasurers of this Colony be, and they are hereby enjoined to pay to the said Commissioners, or to any three of them, of the Eastern, or any three of the Western Division, or their orders, respectively, all such sum or sums of money as they may find necessary to expend for the purposes aforesaid: Provided always, that no three Commissioners of either Division, shall draw out of the Treasury, any greater sura than shall be sufficient for the purchasing and providing one-half of the articles, the said Commissioners are above authorized to purchase and provide, unless a major part of the said Commissioners give them joint orders therefor: And the receipt or receipts from the said Commissioners, respectively, for moneys received by them in manner above directed, shall be sufficient vouchers and discharges to the said Treasurers, or either of them, their executors and administrators, for all moneys by them paid pursuant to this Ordinance.

And in order that the said sum of fifty thousand Pounds five Shillings, may be duly sunk, and the credit of the same thereby effectually secured,

It is Resolved, That the sum of ten thousand Pounds one Shilling, be levied and paid into the Treasury of this Colony, on the 21st day of December, in each and every of the years one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven; one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight; one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine; one thousand seven hundred and ninety; and one thousand, seven hundred and ninety-one: in order that the same may be inspected, cancelled, burnt, and destroyed by the Congress of this Colony, or, in their recess, the Committee of Safety.

And that the said sum of ten thousand Pounds one Shilling may be raised on the several inhabitants of this Colony in the most equitable manner, in each of the aforesaid years,

It is Resolved, That the same be raised in manner following:

All Householders, the tax of whose rateable estate, exclusive of certainties, does not amount to six Shillings, shall be rated at the discretion of the Assessors, not under two Shillings, nor above thirty Shillings.

All Merchants and Shopkeepers shall, be rated at the discretion of the Assessors, not under five Shillings, nor above twenty Shillings for the same.

Every Ferry shall be rated at the discretion of the Assessors, not under five Shillings, nor above five Pounds.

Every Coasting Sloop, Schooner, Shallop, Flat, Passage-Boat, Pilot-Boat, Wood-Boat, and Periaugur, shall be rated at the discretion of the Assessors, in proportion to their burden and business, not under three Shillings, nor above thirty Shillings.

Every Single Man, who works for hire, and keeps a Horse, Mare, or Gelding, shall be rated, not under four Shillings, nor above ten Shillings.

Every Single Man who works for hire, and does not keep a Horse, Mare, or Gelding, shall be rated, not under two Shillings, nor above six Shillings; Provided always, That if any Single Man, who works for hire, shall have any

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Every bought Servant and Slave, being male, of sixteen years old and upwards (except such slaves as are not able to work) shall be rated the sum of two Shillings.

Every Riding-Chair, or Kittereen, shall be rated the sum of one Shilling.

Every two-horse Chaise, or Curricle, shall be rated the sum of two Shillings.

Every four-wheel Chaise, or Phaeton, shall be rated at the sum of five Shillings.

Every Coach, or Chariot, shall be rated the sum of nine Shillings.

Every Wagon, the body of which hangeth on springs, shall be rated the sum of two Shillings.

All Cattle, Horses, Mares, and Geldings, of two years old and upwards, shall be estimated at eight Shillings each head.

And the Assessors in each respective Township or District, shall, as nearly as may be, ascertain the real value of all profitable tracts of Land, held by deed, patent, or survey, including all the tenements, buildings, and other improvements thereon; and, in making the assessments thereof, the same shall be estimated at one-twentieth part of the value ascertained as aforesaid.

All unimproved tracts of Land, held by deed, patent, or survey, shall be valued and estimated as aforesaid, at the one-fortieth part of the real value thereof.

All Mortgages, Bonds, Bills, and Notes at interest, which shall be deemed recoverable and of value, and due to the inhabitants of this Colony, shall be valued at one-twentieth part of the principal thereof. Provided always, that if any inhabitant of this Colony shall pay interest for a part, or the whole of the sum he receives interest for, then, and in such case, he shall not be rated or assessed for any larger sum than the sum he receives interest for, exceeds the sum he pays interest for.

Every Hawker or Pedlar, travelling on foot, and exposing goods to sale (except such goods as are manufactured in the United Colonies) before he or she exposes any such goods to sale, shall, over and above all other taxes, pay to the County Collector, who shall give a certificate therefor, the sum of six Shillings in each County, wherein the same are exposed to sale.

Every Hawker or Pedlar, travelling with a Horse or Carriage, and exposing goods to sale as aforesaid, shall in like manner, pay the sum of twelve Shillings.

And it is further Resolved, That the said ten thousand Pounds one Shilling, directed to be assessed in each and every of the five years before mentioned, shall be collected and paid into the Treasury on or before the said 21st day of December, in each of the said years, in the proportions following, viz:

By the County of Bergen, the sum of six hundred and sixty-foor Pounds eight Shillings and two Pence.

By the County of Essex, the sum of seven hundred and forty-two Pounds eighteen Shillings and two Pence.

By the County of Middlesex, the sum of eight hundred and seventy-two Pounds six Shillings and eight Pence.

By the County of Somerset, the sum of nine hundred and four Pounds two Shillings and two Pence.

By the County of Monmouth, the sum of one thousand and sixty nine Pounds two Shillings and eight Pence.

By the County of Morris, the sum of seven hundred and twenty-three Pounds eight Shillings and two Pence.

By the County of Sussex, the sum of five hundred and ninety-three Pounds five Shillings and Four Pence.

By the County of Hunterdon, the sum of one thousand three hundred and sixty-three Pounds sixteen Shillings and eight Pence.

By the County of Burlington, the sum of one thousand and seventy-one Pounds thirteen Shillings and four Pence.

By the County of Gloucester, the sum of seven hundred and sixty-three Pounds two Shillings and eight Pence.

By the County of Salem, the sum of six hundred and seventy-nine Pounds twelve Shillings and two Pence.

By the County of Cumberland, the sum of three hundred and eighty-five Pounds six Shillings and eight Pence.

By the County of Cape May, the sum of one hundred and sixty-six Pounds eighteen Shillings and two Pence.

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And it is further Resolved, That the inhabitants of this Colony, at their Town-Meetings, to be held in each Township in this Colony, on the second Tuesday in March, annually, in each of the years the said moneys are directed to be levied, shall elect proper persons to assess and collect the aforesaid taxes; and in case the said inhabitants shall neglect to choose Assessors and Collectors as aforesaid, or, in case any such so chosen, shall decease or remove out of the Township in which he or they were chosen, or be otherwise disabled from performing the duties enjoined by this Ordinance, that then the Committee of the Township where such neglect, removal or disability may happen, shall elect others to supply such vacancy; and if any person chosen Assessor or Collector as aforesaid, shall neglect or refuse to execute the same, agreeable to the directions of this Ordinance, every person so neglecting, or refusing, shall forfeit and pay to the Committee of the Township where he resides, for the use of such Township, the sum of five Pounds for every such neglect or refusal.

And it is further Resolved, That the Committee of each respective County in this Colony, shall annually choose a County Collector, for receiving the aforesaid quotas, and paying the same into the Treasury. And upon such County Collectors refusing or neglecting so to do, shall forfeit and pay to such County Committee for every such neglect or refusal, the sum of ten Pounds, for the use of such County.

And it is further Resolved, That each of the Assessors chosen as aforesaid, shall, before they do any thing in pursuance of this Ordinance, take the following oath or affirmation:

"That you will truly value and assess the rateable Estates of the inhabitants of the Township or Precinct of — pursuant to the directions of this Ordinance;and, also, assist the other Assessors in settling the quotas, according to the best of your skill and understanding."

And in order that the several and respective sums aforesaid, may be equitably assessed and levied:

It is further Resolved, That all and every of the inhabitants or householders of each County in this Colony, on application to them made by the Assessors of the respective Towns or Districts, chosen as aforesaid, shall forthwith give a true account of their names, and estates, real and personal, made rateable by this Ordinance, and where the same doth lie, which the Assessors shall take down in writing, with the value thereof, in order to be enabled thereby to make just and true assessments, and to render duplicates thereof to the Town or District Collectors chosen as aforesaid, by the times herein after prescribed for that purpose. And in case any of the inhabitants or householders shall at any time refuse to render a true account of their rateable estate, as aforesaid, every such person so refusing shall forfeit the sum of three Pounds, and be rated double the sum the said Assessors, in their discretion, may suppose such person, so refusing, might otherwise, in proportion to his estate, have been rated at.

And it is further Resolved, That in each of the years the said ten thousand Pounds one Shilling, is before directed to be assessed, levied and collected, the Assessors of each Town, or District, shall, on or before the 10th day of August, take an exact account of each person' s rateable estates, made rateable aforesaid, within their respective Districts; and on the 1st Monday in September, in each of the said years, the said Assessors of every Town and District in each County in this Colony, shall meet together at such places in each County as are appointed by the laws of this Colony for the like purposes, and there settle and adjust the quota each of the Townships or Districts in such Counly, are to pay that year, to make up the quota hereinbefore ascertained for such County; which quota of each Township being so fixed and ascertained, the said Assessors of each Township or District, shall then proceed to make said assessment: They shall first compute the amount of the certainties in such Township or District, and deduct the same from the quota of such Township or District, together with all such forfeitures as may be received by virtue of this Ordinance; and, after such deduction, the said Assessors shall add their own, and the Township and County Collector' s Fees to the remainder; and assess such remainder and addition of fees equally on the pound value

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And whereas, some owners of improved Lands and Tenements may not reside in the said County or Township where the same shall be situated:

It is, therefore, Resolved, That the tenant, or person occupying such Land and Tenement, or either of them, shall be assessed for the same, and may deduct such assessment out of the rent with which he is chargeable for such Land or Tenement; and where no Tenant, or person, in the County occupies such Land, the tax for the same shall be recovered of the owner thereof in like manner as herein after is directed. And every person seated on and holding Land, not having the property thereof, or paying rent for the same, shall, notwithstanding, be assessed for so much Lands and Tenements as he or they shall actually occupy.

And it is further Resolved, That the Collectors of each Township or District, shall, in some convenient time after receiving the aforesaid assessments from the Assessors, notify each particular person assessed thereof, informing him of the time the same must be paid. And in case any such assessments shall remain unpaid the 1st day of November, after such assessment, the said Collector shall make out a list of all such delinquents, with the sums in which they are severally assessed, and lay the same before the Committee of the County to which they belong; which Committee are hereby directed and required to make out a warrant of distress, directed to such person, or persons, as they shall appoint for that purpose, requiring distress to be made on all such delinquents' goods and chattles, to at least the amount of their respective assessments, with the addition of eighteen Pence for each distress; directing, that such goods and chattles be sold in five days after such distress, for paying their said assessments, and costs of distraint. And in case any person, or persons, shall think him, or themselves, aggrieved by such assessment, every such person may appeal to the Committee of the County in which he or they reside, within one month after notice of such assessment; which Committee shall proceed to hear such appeal, and give suitable redress.

And in order to prevent dissensions in the several Townships in this Colony, respecting settling their quotas, from a suspicion that the Assessors of some one Town have valued the Estates therein less than the Assessors of another Town in the same County:

It is, therefore, Resolved, That in settling the quotas of each Township, the Assessors shall produce an exact account of the quantity of Land in that Township, with the number of Cattle and Horses of two years old and upwards, Money at interest, and the beforementioned certainties; which certainties shall be first deducted from the quota of the Counly, as heretofore hath been practised in like cases, and then divide the remainder to each Township upon the Land, and Money at interest; in which division the Land shall be valued between the sums limited for each County, by the last act of Assembly of this Colony, for settling the quotas in the several Counties: And the Cattle and Horses shall be valued at eight Shillings each head, and the Money at interest at the one-twentieth part of the real amount thereof, and divide the same upon the pound value of such Estates; which said valuation, is only to regulate the division of the quotas of each Township. But, in making the assessments, the said Land, Tenements, and real Estate of each individual is to be valued at the one-twentieth part of the real intrinsick value thereof, except tracts of land whereon no improvement is made, which is to be valued at the one-fortieth part of the value thereof, as is before directed.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That if any person, or persons, shall, in this Colony, refuse to accept in payment any of the Bills of Credit emitted in virtue of this

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And in order that the mode of recovery of the said sums so forfeited as aforesaid, may be ascertained and established:

It is further Directed, That on complaint against any person refusing said Bills as aforesaid, being made to the Committee of the Township where the same shall happen, the said Committee shall give notice to said delinquent, that he be and appear before them at a day and place to be ascertained in such notice, to answer to the charge also to be specified therein; and if it shall appear to the said Committees, by the oath or affirmation of two good and lawful witnesses, that the said delinquent hath made such refusal, and that he had, previous thereto, been informed of the penalty to be incurred thereby, in virtue of this Ordinance, then, and in such case, the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of said Committee shall, by an order in writing, under his hand, directed to some proper person to be appointed by said Committee, authorize said persons to make distress and sale of the goods, chattels and effects of the delinquent, to the amount of the forfeitures incurred as aforesaid, together with costs and expenses, that shall accrue by reason of said refusal, to be taxed by said Committee; and the said person appointed to distrain as aforesaid, shall proceed thereon in like manner and form, as the distrainer is herein before directed for collecting the assessments made in virtue of this Ordinance; and shall and may retain in his hands, one Shilling and six Pence, if the sum levied as aforesaid be under ten Pounds; and if the same exceed ten Pounds, then the addition of three Pence the Pound for each distress and sale; and the residue of the moneys that shall arise from said sale, he shall deliver to the owner of the goods and chattels distrained as aforesaid. And in case any such delinquent shall think himself aggrieved by the determination of the said Committee, he shall and may, within five days after such determination, appeal to the Committee of the County; he previously giving sufficient security to the Chairman of said Township Committee, to prosecute said appeal the next meeting of said County Committee; and also for payment of all such sums, costs, and charges as shall be adjudged against him by the said County Committee; and in case he shall think himself aggrieved by the determination of the said County Committee, he may, within five days thereafter, appeal therefrom to the Congress or Committee of Safety of this Province, giving security to the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the said County Committee, to prosecute said appeal at their next meeting, and also for payment of all such sums, costs and charges, as shall be adjudged against him by the Congress or Committee of Safety as aforesaid; which appeals, the several Chairmen or Deputy Chairmen of the several Committees aforesaid, are hereby required to grant on the above conditions.

And it is further Resolved and Directed, That all the forfeitures adjudged, recovered, and collected as aforesaid, shall be paid by the person collecting the same, to the Collector of the County where the delinquency happens, to be by him, as soon as may be thereafter, paid into the hands of the Treasurers aforesaid, to be appropriated and applied for the publick uses of this Colony, as the Provincial Congress shall order and direct.