Committee to purchase twenty-eight tons of Cannon Ball

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Thursday, August 3, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present —

Robert Morris, President of the Day; Daniel Roberdeau, Anthony Wayne, Francis Johnson, John Cadwallader, Robert White, Richard Reiley, Benjamin Bartholomew, George Gray, Andrew Allen, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, Jun.:

Resolved, That Colonel Roberdeau and Mr. Owen Biddle purchase twenty-eight tons of Cannon Ball, of the following sizes: thirty-two pounders, twenty-four pounders, eighteen pounders.

On motion of Col. Wayne, that any Member who may have any thing to offer to this Board should address the Chair; which motion was agreed to, and ordered to be minuted.

Major Bayard and Major Johnson delivered in a Memorial from a number of the Committee of the City, Liberties, and County of Philadelphia, and the body of Officers of the several Battalions in the said City, Liberties, and County; and, on debate, it is agreed, that the objects recommended in said Memorial do come properly under the notice of this Board, and will be taken into consideration.

Upon motion, Resolved, That Doctor Franklin, Andrew Allen, Colonel Cadwallader, Colonel Wayne, Colonel Ross, Colonel Roberdeau, and Major Johnson, be a Committee to prepare a draught of Rules and Regulations for the good government of the Associators of this Province; and the said Committee are desired to form a draught of a recommendation from this Board to such persons as have not associated, and who come within the description of the Resolves of the Congress of the eighteenth of July, to join the Associators without further loss of time.

Upon application of Mr. Robert Erwin for six pounds of Gunpowder, for the use of the Hospital and Jail, it is agreed that he should have an order on Robert Towers for the same; which order was accordingly drawn and delivered.

Mr. Owen Biddle produced two Letters from Bucks County, one from three of the Assessors and one Commissioner of said County, informing this Board that at a meeting of Commissioners and Assessors, there appeared a majority for not carrying the Resolution of Assembly, for providing three hundred stand of Arms, into execution. A

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debate arising in consequence of these Letters, it was, after deliberation,

Resolved, That the Board of Commissioners and Assessors for the County of Bucks be summoned to appear before this Board on Wednesday, the ninth instant, at ten o' clock, A.M., at the Lodge in the City of Philadelphia, and that each Commissioner and Assessor be served as soon as possible with a copy of this minute.

Resolved, That the Committee for providing Powder, Arms, &c., be desired to procure from the French or Spanish West-Indies, two thousand stand of good Fire-Arms.

Committee to purchase twenty-eight tons of Cannon Ball, Memorial from the Committee for the County of Philadelphia, and the Officers of the several Battalions, presented, read, and agreed to be considered, Committee to prepare Rules and Regulations for the government of the Associators of this Province, Two letters presented, stating the Board of Commissioners and Assessors, of Bucks County, had refused to raise the three hundred stand of Arms required of them, Board of Commissioners and Assessors required to appear before the Council on Wednesday, the 9th instant. [1775-08-03] Pennsylvania, Committee of Safety. [S4-V3-p0495] [Document Details][Complete Volume]