Martin West

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Present: James Biddle, Chairman, Samuel Miles, Daniel Roberdeau, John Cadwallader, George Clymer, Samuel Howell, Thomas Wharton, Junior, Henry Wynkoop, Owen Biddle, Robert White.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esquire, and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Timothy Shealer, for two Pounds, being the amount of his Account against some of the Prisoners taken by Captain Barry, which is directed to be charged to account of Congress.

By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver, for the use of the Block-House at Fort-Island, ten Gun-Carriages and two hundred six-pound Shot.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Robert Towers, for sixty-nine Pounds eighteen Shillings and nine Pence, being the amount of his account for Lead, Saltpetre, Arms, &c.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esquire, Treasurer, in favour of Colonel Miles, for the use of Colonel Mathias Slough, for one thousand Pounds, being for the service of the Provincial Battalions.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esquire, Treasurer, in favour of John M˙ Nesbitt, for two thousand five hundred Pounds.

John Legate, one of the prisoners taken in North-Carolina, and left sick on the road, was brought this day to the City, and by order of the Board was ordered to be confined with the others in the Jail of this County.

A Letter being received from Mr˙ Mark Bird, signifying his willingness to purchase or have made in Berks County one hundred Muskets for this Committee, provided he is supplied with a sufficient sum of Money for that purpose, and an Order on the Commissaries and Assessors of said County to deliver him all the Muskets which have been made under their direction agreeable to a Resolve of Assembly, upon paying them the first cost of the same:

Therefore, Resolved, That the said offer be accepted, and that the sum of four hundred Pounds be furnished to the said Mark Bird for the purpose of purchasing and having made one hundred Muskets with Bayonets, agreeable to the pattern sent to the said Commissioners and Assessors; and that the said Commissioners be required to deliver him all the Arms which they have procured as aforesaid, on his paying for the same, which are to be replaced by them as soon as possible by new ones, which they are to have made agreeable to said pattern.

Agreeable to the above Resolve and for the uses therein mentioned, an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq˙, in favour of Mark Bird, Esquire, for four hundred and twenty Pounds.

Resolved, That Martin West be appointed Master of the Ammunition Vessel, at five Pounds per month and two Rations.

That James Simpson be appointed Master of the Provision Vessel, at five Pounds per month and two Rations.

That Mr˙ Fitzsimmons and Captain Moulder be requested to cause the said Vessels to be immediately equipped for service, and man them with one Mate to each, at twelve Dollars per month and one Ration of Provision, who is to do the duty of Clerk and keep an exact account of all Stores received on board, and delivered out, and to whom; and five men to the Ammunition Vessel and three to the Provision Vessel, at seven Dollars per month and one Ration each, and to provide a four-oared Boat to each of the said Vessels.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on the Committee of Accounts in favour of Samuel Morris, Junior, for four Pounds ten Shillings, being for Wagon hire, in bringing

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Resolved, That Jeremiah Simmons, now Lieutenant, be and he is hereby appointed Captain-Lieutenant of the Artillery Company in the service of this Province; and that his Commission as such be dated at the time of his first entering into that service, being the 24th of February last.

Resolved, That Mr˙ Owen Biddle and Colonel Roberdeau be authorized to procure to be made 2000 Hand-Grenades, 150 Pitching-Axes, 50 Wheel-Barrows, 100 Spades, 150 Pick-Axes, 150 Hand-Barrows, 500 Shovels, 25 Grubbing-Hoes, and 200 Hatchets.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on the Committee of Accounts, in favour of John Lewis, for three Pounds seven Shillings and nine Pence, for repairing Muskets purchased for account of Congress; which sum is directed to be charged to account of Congress.

By order of the Board Robert Towers was directed to deliver Colonel Atlee the fifty-six Fire-Locks received from Northampton County, and all the Arms with Accoutrements belonging to the Province that he now has in his possession, for the use of the Provincial Musket Battalion.