The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-08-04

W. II. HALL, ESQ.
! The following facts will let us know
how and by what rude process our ances-
tors were obliged to compound that "vllai-
nous saltpetre" without which the Decla-
ration of Independence would most proba-
| bly, have been dead letter. Also the To-
cality where the important process was
carried on.
A copy Of deed of Jacob Combest TAX
en- from the records of the Baltimore coun-
ty court, dated Goth October, 1864, con-
veys 323l acres of land to Amos Garrett.
The tract is called "Smith's Folly;" it lies
upon Rumney Creek and bounds upon
tracts of land called "Palmer's Forest"
"Thc Union" "Middlcborough" and IRA
leigh" According to memoranda upon
| the enclosure of the deed in Mr.. CARROTS
| handwriting, he had sold all this tract eX-
cept about twenty acres "And there is
also a small piece from the main road
southwark between "Middleborough" and
"Raleigh' of about one and half acres
whereon the saltpetre house is erected"
81 true state Of tile Saltpet1e 0orkS and stock
belonging thereto, in. HarJorI county, taken
| 1871 Sept, 177G.-A shed 40x20; boiling
house 30x20 cooling house 1Sx15, COW
cred with plank and earth copper ket-
tie, 70 gallons ditto, 40 gallons iron kct-
tie, go gallons; four hogsheads, twenty
half-hogsheads, four barrels, thirteen half
barrels fourteen kcelcrs a sort of shallow
tub for cooling purposes two piggins;
one ladlG; one wheelbarow one bro.
ken do; one spade; eight loads of dirt,
unworked; all the earth that hath been
drawn set in order for working over; one
barrel of nitre saltpetre] ready to be de-
livcred, weight net 207 pounds; another
parcel, thirteen pounds; not yet ready,
twenty pounds; 1000 feet of plank for
another she'd" One "Pcter Lowell and
his wife" seem to have run the establish
ment.
Report Of tie Commissioners Of Public Bull.
dings IN Hartford county, The Commits
sioners of Public Buildings seem to have
been. so far as | can learn from these pa
pers, Amos Garrett, Benedict Edward Hall,
John Paca, and Richard Dallam. This re-
port, which is probably copy taken for
the writer's convenience, bears no address
"The Commissioners appointed by law
for visiting the public buildings of the
county, being desired to make report of
the trust reposed in them, Amos Garrett
on behalf of himself and Others the COM
missioners, produces the following state,
to wit That pursuant to the law for the
division of Baltimore and Hartford coun.
ties it was ordered that the quantity of one
hundred thousand pounds of tobacco be
levied in Hartford county in the year one
thousand seven hundred and seventy four,
and to be collected in one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-five Thos. Miller,
ESQ, then sheriff of said county; that the
said tobacco was levied by the said Miller,
but law passing to postpone the authori-
ty of the commissioners from going on with
the public buildings and an order of the
Convention appointing the commissioners
to put the public money to interest, Mr..
: John Taylor applying for the same was
admitted to the loan thereof, and on the
tenth day of January, one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-seven, passed his
bond, with Thomas johnson and William
Smithson, Esqs., his securities, for as well
the sum of six hundred and twenty five
pounds, the amount of the tobacco afore-
said, as also the sum of thirty one pounds,
four shillings, which the commissioners
aforesaid adjudgcd to be the interest that
had arisen on the said sum at the time OF
passing his bond aforesaid-both the sums
amounting to six hundred and fifty -six
pounds, five shillings.
That the quantity Of one hundred thous-
and pounds of tobacco was ordered to he
levied in Hartford county at November
Court, one thousand seven hundred and
seventy-five, to be credited in one thous.
and seven hundred and seventy six,
amounting to six hundred and twenty
five pounds common current money. John
J Taylor, ESD, then sheriff, who petitioned
the Assembly to he relieved from paying
the interest expected by the commission.
ers on the said sum- which was granted fol
Il time, and Mr.. Taylor, on the seventh OF
January, one thousand seven hundred and
sevcnty-eight, compounded with said com.
!, missioners for six pounds, five shillngs
due as interest over the time he was al
lowed, and filed on the seventh of Janua.
ry, one thousand seven hundred and sew.
/. enty- eight, pass his bond with Henry Will.
f. son, Jr, and Abraham Whitaker, Esq, his
securities, payable to said commissioner
and their successors for the sum OF six hun
dred and thirty pounds, five shillings
and at the same time paid into the hands
=. of the said commissioners the sum of thir
: ty-nine pounds part of the interest on the
first bond for one year.
That the quantity 1888 pounds of to-
- bacco was by the said law ordered to BIZ
' levied in Baltimore county, November
pit 1774, payable by the 31st day of Decem
4 Der, 1775, amounting to four hundred and
a, eighty three pounds, six shillngs, sever
y; pence halfpenny, Robert Christie, Jr.