The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-08-03 00:00:00, page 1

An ORDINANCE for the RELIEF of
the PRISONERS in the several jails in the
STATE of PENNSYLVANIA?
WHEREAS at this time the Courts of Justice
within this Rate are surceased, and all process
and proceedings, by which suits can be legally
commenced, proceeded in, or determined, are,
by the authority of the people, jhftly and totally suppressed:
And whereas the detaining in custody debtors under execution,
who are willing to deliver up their estates for the use of their
creditors or debtors confined under mefne process, who have
to legal mode of entering bail, in order to free their persons
from imprisonment, is not only oppressive, but cam be of no
real benefit or advantage to the creditors ; and whereas a
total change of government, by the affidance of Divine Pro
vidence, has been effected within the United States, and a&s
of grace to criminals sometimes are granted or events of such
importance, „
Be it ordained and declared, by the Representatives of tne
freemen of the state of Pennsylvania in General Convention
met, That all and every person and persons imprisoned or de
tained in any jail within this Rate, by reason of any process,
writ, or commitment, for debt or any criminal offence whatso
ever (except for capital offences, or practices against the present
virtuous measures of the American states, or prisoners of war)
be forthwith released and discharged. 'Provided always, That
all and every person and persons, who fhalltake and claim the be
nefit of this ordinance, shall, beforehis her or their difcharge,ex
hibit a petition in their refpe&ive counties, where such person or
persons are confined, to the persons herein after named, set
ting forth the reasons of fitch their imprisonment, and if he
she or they, so petitioning, shall be charged in execution,
such prisoner or prisoners shall, with his her or their petition,
annex the name of his/her or their creditors, and the debts
due, as near as can be, and certify an account of his her or
their whole real and personal estate, with the securities wherein
any part of it cohfifts, and the deeds, books of accounts, notes
or bonds relating thereunto ; and upon such petitions, and
certificates delivered the persons hereinafter named, in the
refpedive counties, or any two of them may, and they are
hereby required to order such prisoners to be brought before
them, and administer or tender to such persons the oath or
affirmation heretofore required and taken in cases of insolvent
debtors, by Aft of Assembly of Pennsylvania made in the
year of our Lord 1729: And upon having taken such oath
or affirmation, such prisoner or prisoners shall make an affign
:ment of such his her or their estate in the fame manner as re
quired by the laid Ad of Assembly, and to and for the purpo
ses therein mentioned, and fubje& to the pains and penalties
declared in the said Ad ; and thereup n he she or they shall
be discharged o^t of cuft >dy, from and after which discharge
lie she or they ffiall not at any time hereafter be imprisoned
for the fame debt or debts, for which he she or they have
made such affignmen'.
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST,
Andrin cate it shall appear that the person or persons cot-
Vol. lI.J
Price Three Coffers. Published every %efay, Tburfday, and Saturday Evenings.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1776.
383
fined is or are in cufto.dy upon mefne process only, the per
sons hereafter named, or any two of them, in the refpet.ive
counties, shall, and are hereby required, by order in writing
under their hands, to discharge such prisoner or prisoners
from his her cr their confinement; Provided re ertheUQ
"That such suit or a&ion shall not cease until finally deter
mined by due course of law..
'And be it farther ordained, That George Bryan, Jimas
Young, Jacob Schryner, John Bull, Henry Hill and Peter
Knight, of the city and county of Philadelphia, or any two
of them, be and are hereby nominated, inpowered and re
quired, to hear and discharge the prisoners in the jail of the
city and county of Philadelphia; and John Wilkinfoh,
Henry Wynkoop arid James Wallace, of the county of
Bucks, or any two of them, be and are hereby nominated,
impowered and required, to hear and discharge the prisoners
in the jail of the county of Bucks; and David Cowplahd,
John Crosby and. John Sellers, of the county of Cheffer, Or
any two of themy be and are hereby nominated, impowered'.
'and required, to hear and discharge the prisoners in the jail
of the county of Chester; and William Henry, William
'Bowfman and John 'Hopfon, of the county of Lancaster, or
"any two of them, be and are hereby nominated, impowered
and required, to hear and discharge the prisoners in the jail
of the county of Lancaster; and Samuel Johnson, Martin
Eychelberger and William Leas, of the county of York, or
any two of them, be and are hereby nominated, impowered
and required, to hear and discharge the prisoners in the jail
of the county of York ; and Robert Miller, John Holmes and
Stephen Duncan, of the county of Cumberland, cr any two of
them, be and are hereby nominated, impowered and requrd,
to hear and discharge the prisoners in the jail of the county of
Cumberland ; and James Read, William Rafer and Daniel Hie
fter, of the co'unty of Berks, or any two of them, be and are here
by nominated, impowered and required, to hear and discharge
the prisoners in the jail of the county of Berks ; and Robert
Trail, Abraham Birlain and Henry Barnet, of the county of
Northampton, or any two of them, be and are hereby nomi
nated, impowered and required, to hear and discharge the
prisoners in the jail of the county of Northampton; and
William Todd, Charles Ciffna and Robert Elliott, of the
county of Bedford, or any two of them, be and are hereby
nominated, impowered and required, to bear and discharge
the prisoners in the jail of the county of Bedford; and Sa
muel Hunter, Laughlin McCartney hnd John Boyd, of the
county of Northumberland, or day two of them, be and are
hereby nominated, impowered and 'required, to hear and dis
charge the prisoners in thefeil of the county of Northumber
land; and Edward Cook/Robe; t Hanna, and David Simple, of
the county of Weftmoreland, or any two of them, be and are
hereby nominated, impowered and required, to hear and diL
charge the prisoners in the jail of the county of Weftmofe
land. And that all fheriffs and jailers, heretofore elected and
appointed, and all other persons within 'this state, give due
'obedience to the said persons, or any two of them, within
Their several counties, who have been hereby authorized and
appointed to hear and discharge the prisoners aforefaid.
Num. 240.