The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-07 00:00:00, page 2

Balzer Gear, John Patton, Thomas Dundas, Chris
topher Witman, Richard Tea, and Bastian Levan,
of the County of Berks, Esquires, are hereby made,
constituted and appointed Justices of the Peace for
the County of Berks.
^nd that Robert Trail, Jacob Moory, Christo
pher Wagoner, Henry Kooken, John Weitzell,
Peter Traxler, senior, Nicholas Dupui, Evan
Morgan, Robert Forgeman, and Henry Barnet, of
the County of Northampton, Esquires, are hereby
made, constituted and appointed Justices of the
Peace for the County of Northampton.
And that Bernard Dougherty, William Prodor,
George Wood, Abraham Cable, Thomas Smith,
Thomas Coulter, Henry Lloyd, John Piper, Sa
muel Qavidfon, William Latta, John Wilkins,
William Tod, Benjamin Elliot, William Parker,
Evan Shelby, David Jones, Henry Rhoads, William
Johnson, William M'Leavy, Gideon Ritchey, John
Mellott, Edward Coomb, Hugh Davis, Matthew
Patton, Robert Ramsey, Benjamin Bird, John Sha
ver, Samuel Thompson, William Phillips, William
Holliday the younger, Charles Ceffiia, John Mitchell,
and Richard Brown, of the County of Bedford, Es
quires, are hereby made, constituted and appointed
Justices of the Peace for the County of Bedford.
And that Samuel Hunter, James Potter, William
M'Clay, Robert Moody, John Lowden, Benjamin
Weiler, John Fleming, Henry Antis, and John
Simpson, of the County of Northumberland, Efqrs.
are hereby made, constituted and appointed Justices
of the Peace for the County of Northumberland.
And that Robert Hanna, William Lockra, Alex
ander M'Lean, Providence Mounts, Andrew Mac-
Farlin, James Pollock, James Caval, Samuel Sloane,
Thomas Scott, Michael Hufnagle, James Willfon,
David Allen, Benjamin Davis, Phillip Rogers,
Joseph Caldwell, James Wilkins, William Elliot,
George Latimore, and Samuel Burns, of the Coun
ty of Wellmoreland, are hereby made, constituted
and appointed Judices of the Peace for the County
of Wedmoreland,
And be it further ordained and declared, That the
said Justices, and every of them, shall haye full
power and authority to take acknowledgements of
deeds, and cognizance of criminal offences, and
breaches of the peace; and in cases of a petty lar
ceny under Five Shillings to proceed to punilhment.
And be it further ordained and declared, That the
laws which were in use before the dissolution of the
late government shall be the rule of their proceed^
ings, so fir as the fame may not be inconsistent
with the oath or affirmation herein after direded
to be taken and fubferibed, and that the stile of
their precepts all be in the name of the State of
Pennsylvania.
And be it further ordained and declared, That the
said Justices and every of them, before they respec
tively enter upon their office, do take and fubferibe
the following oath or affirmation:
Ido fibear or affirm, that I do not hold myfelf bound
to bear allegiance to George the Third, King of Great
Britain, and that I mill feadily and firmly, at all
times, promote the mos effectual means, according to
my fill and knowledge, to oppose the tyrannical pro
ceedings of the King and Parliament of Great- Bri
tain, against the United American States, and to
fcpport a Government in this State on the Authority
of the People only ; and that as a Justice of the Peace,
I mill do ever, thing in that office to the bes of my
knowledge and abilities, confident mith the Freedom,
and Independence of this State.
And be it further ordained and declared, That the
Members of the Council of Safety above-named do
take and fubferibe the said oath or affirmation before
their President for the time being, and that the
Justices appointed for the City and County of Phi
ladelphia do take and fubferibe the fame oath or
affirmation before Benjamin Franklin, John Dick
inson, Samuel Morris, Samuel Afhmead, and Alex
ander Edwards, Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Justices appointed for the County
of Bucks do take and fubferibe the said oath or
affirmation before Joseph Hart, Joseph Kirkbride,
and John Kidd, Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Justices appointed for the County
of Chester do take and fubferibe the said oath or
affirmation before Richard Baker, and John Sellers,
Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Justices appointed for the County of
Lancaster do take and fubferibe the said oath or af
firmation before William Henry, John Hubley, John
Thome, and Moses Erwin, Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Judices appointed for the County
of York do take and fubferibe the said oath or af
firmation before Martin Eichelberger, Samuel Edie,
and William Smith, Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Justices appointed for the County
of Cumberland do take and fubferibe the said oath
or affirmation before Jonathan Hoge, John Holmes,
John Alison, and Samuel Lyon, Esquires, or one
of them.
And that the Justices appointed for the County
of Berks do take and fubferibe the said oath or af
firmation before James Read, Peter Spyker, and
Jacob Morgan, Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Justices appointed for the County
of Northampton do take and fubferibe the said oath
or affirmation before Robert Trail, and Henry
Kooken, Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Justices appointed for the County
of Bedford do take and fubferibe the said oath or
affirmation before George Wood, and David Espy,
Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Justices appointed for the County
of Northumberland do take and fubferibe the laid
oath or affirmation before Samuel Hunter, and
James Potter, Esquires, or one of them.
And that the Judices appointed for the County
of Weftmoreland do take and fubferibe the said
oath or affirmation before Robert Hanna, and
Alexander M'Lean, Esquires, or one of them.
And be it further ordained and declared, That
the Justices of the refpedive counties shall have full
power and authority, from time to time, when they
shall think it necessary, to appoint goalers to take
care of the several goals and prilons, and of the
prisoners committed to them.
And be it further ordained and declared, That all
Coroners, Constables, Overseers of the Poor and
Supervisors of the highways, who were lawfully in
office at the time of or immediately before the dis
solution of the late government of this State, shall
continue to exercise the powers, and perform the
duties of their refpe&ive offices until a new appoint
ment or future provision be made in such case.
And be it further ordained and declared, That
this Ordinance shall continue and remain in force,
until altered or repealed by the future Legislature
of this State,, or by this Convention.
Puffed in Convention September 3, 1776,
undfgned by their Order,
Attef, B. FRANKLIN, Prefdent.
John Morris, jun. Secretary.
< ^s^>+^+<6>4^4S / ^srf,S^ < ^^4fy^s,^< B> ,|,e>
In CONGRESS, Auguf 28, 1776.
Resolved, 1 hat there be an Infpecfor or Inspec
tors luHiciently qualified to judge the goodness of
gun-powder, who shall examine every calk of gun
powder manufactured, or to be purchased on ac
count of tlie United States, by the most approved
metliod of ascertaining the quality of gun-powder,
the said Inspector or Infpe&ors to receive one eighth
part of a dollar for every hundred weight of pow
der he or they shall so examine.
That no gun-powder be received into the public
magazine, for the use of the United States of Ame
rica, or delivered for the powder mills for that pur
pose, but fucli as liave been approved of by the
public InfpeCfors, as to its qnicknefs in firing,
Strength, dryness, and other necessary qualities.
1 hat the Inipeftor mark each cask approved with
the letters U. S. A. ond fucli other marks as are
necessary to dirtinguifh the several forts of gun
powder.
That every maker of gun-powder, mark every
cask in which he Shall pack his gun powder witli
the firfl letters of his name.
That gun-powder be put into no cask, but such
as are well seasoned and dry.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legi
slatures of the Several States of America, to cause
Suitable Infpe&ors to be appointed to examine and
determine the quality of all gun powder manufactu
red within their jurisdiction, and that 110 person
be allowed to vend any gun-powder manufadured^
in any of the States of America, unlels the Same,
in the judgment of such Infpedor, shall be of Suffi
cient quality; and to make such laws for executing
this, or any other regulations for promoting the
manufacture of good gun-powder, as to them may
seem molt convenient.
That'the Continental Agents be impowered and
required to imped or appoint Some suitable person
or persons to inspect all gun-powder, manufactured
or purchased in, or imported into the relpedive
States wherein they reside, on account us the Uni
ted States, except in those States where an Inspec
tor is appointed by Congress.
B, Order of Congress,
John Hancock Prefdent.
" Sir, Augufa, July 3 1776.
" I take the liberty of inclofing your Encelhncy
the copies of two depositions which came by express
from Major Williamson yesterday, likewise a copy
of an intercepted letter from Henry Stuart, to
the frontier inhabitants of North-Carolina and
Virginia.
" I am afraid the emifTaries of government have
at last accomplished their hellish designs with the
Cherokees, yet I believe they may have mil-timed
matters, as I hope we shall be able to give them a
good drubbing before they can get affiilance from
the King's troops or any other nation.
" Last night Major Williamson had upwards of
a thousand men embodied, and in a few days ex
ped to have five, when they intend marching im
mediately into their nation. Should this happen,
your Excellency will doubtless See the neceflity of
having some force on the frontiers of this province.
I shall order the draught that has been made of this
regiment to Broad River and Ogechee as soon as
possible, but not to go over the line till I receive
your Excellency's orders, which I shall wait for
with impatience. I shall likewise be glad to know
how far we are to ad in concert with the Carolini
ans, or if we are only to guard our own frontiers.
I have not heard from the Creeks for Some time past.
The last accounts were favourable. I mentioned
to your Excellency some time ago our intention of
To his Excellency A. Bullock, Ffq;
" South-Carolina, Ninety-fix diftrick
Personally appeared Aaron Smith, son of Capt.
Aaron Smith of Little River, in the said diftrid,
planter, who being duly sworn maketh oath, that;
this morning about daybreak, a number of Indians,
about eight or ten in number, came to his father's
house, and killed him and Lorick Smith his son,
and fired upon him and his brother who made their
escape, and that he believes all the rest of the family
are killed. (Signed.) AARON SMITH."
Smorn before me this sirs day of July, 1776, 8
o clock in the morning.
(Copy.) John Purves, J. P.
N. B. 1 his Little River is in South-Carolina, fix
miles from the Indian Land.
South-Carolina, Ninety-fix difriC.
" Before me, John Purves, one of the Juflices of
the Peace for laid diftrid, personally appeared David
Shettroe, of Keowee, who being duly sworn, maketh
oath that yesterday morning, about a quarter of an
hour before the firft cock crew, two Indians came
to his houie on the river Bank, near fort Prince
George, and called to him to get up which he did
and opened the door, when they came in and asked
for water, which he gave them. The youngest of
the two, named the Glass, desired them to make
some fire that they might fee; the other named the
Farapin; as he went to the chimney to blow up the
file, tlie Glass laid liold of him, and told liim lie
was his slave, that it was very bad times, the white
people were going to break out, and he should not
run away from him; then the Tarapin stepped up
to an old man named William M'Teer, who was
lying on the floor, and told him he was his slave,
and must go along witli him. They drove this de
ponent and Mr. M'Teer before them until they came
to the house of Mr. James Holmes in Keowee, where
he saw a great number of the Lower Towns Che
rokee Indians, where they had taken Mr. Holmes
and his wife, and a white child prisoners; also
Thomas Holmes, John Lammas and his wife, and
two of their children (boys) and a man that had
gone to Enrokee on business. That while he staid
there they alto brought one Garrick, and a man
that came from Rocky run, prisoners. That the
Indians took all Mr Holmes's effeds, drank as much
rum as they chose, and then stove a hogshead, and
let the rum that was in it run out; that about dawn
of day the Indians drove all the white people out of
the house, and sent a party up the river with them
to guard them, except this deponent, who staid and
saw them plunder Mr. Holmes's houie. The fellow
who took this deponent prisoner gave him two deer
skins, told him to make shoes for himlelf, to walk
over the hills to Mr. Cameron, for he must go with
him there; that during his confinement one Rat
cliffe, a white man, kept riding about among the
Indians, laughing and Icoffing at the prisoners; that
an Indian fellow told him, that George Parris, a lialf
breed, was gone down to acquaint the King's peo
ple over Saluda, to come to join the Indians, to help
and to fight for the King; that the Indian, who
pretended to be this deponent's matter, fending him
to h^nt a horse for him to ride, about two hours
before sunset yesterday, he made his escape from
them; farther that he law them bring several guns,
pipe hatchets, and sundry other effeds, the property
of Edward Wilkinson, Esq; to the house where he
was taken, and that he was in the employ of Ed
ward Wilkinlon, Elq 5 and that he cannot write.
Signed. his
David 1 Shettroe.
Sworn before me this 30th mark
day °f June, 1776.
John Purvey, J. P.
" Gentlemen,
" Some time ago Mr. Cameron and myfelf wrote
you a letter by Mr. Thomas and inclofed you a talk
we had with the Indians re peating the purchase
which is reported you lately made of them on the
river Wataga, Nolachuky, &c. We are since in
formed that you are under great apprehensions of
the Indians doing milchief immediately; but it is
not the desire of his Majesty to let his friends and
allies the Indians on his liege lubje&s, therefore,
whoever you are, that are willing to join his Ma
jesty, forces, ac soon as they arrive at the Cherokee
nation, by repairing to the King's Ibndard, shall
find protection, and their families, and be tree from
all danger whatever yet, that his Majesty's officer's
may be certain which of you are willing to take up
arms in his Majefty'sjutt right, I have thought fit
to recommend it to you, and every one that is de
sirous of preventing inevitable ruin to themselves
and families, immediately to fubferibe a written pa
per, acknowledging their allegiance to his Majesty
King George, and that they are ready and willing,
whenever called on, to appear in arms in defence
of the British rights in America, which paper, as
soon as it is signed, fend to me by tome fafe hand.
Should any of the inhabitants be desirous of know
ing how they are to be kept free from every kind of
inlult or danger, inform them that his Majesty will
immediately land an army in Weil-Florida, march
carrying two Indians to Ninety-Six, which I did;
they saw a poor fellow fuffer death, and we have
since sent them off to their nation, perfectly fatisfi
cd. I am, with due refpedyour Excellency's ve
ry humble servant, R. R A E."