Wednesday, July 12, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Wharton, Jr., Daniel Roberdeau, John Cadwalader, Samuel Morris, Jr., George Ross, George Gray:

George Ross, Esq., produced a motion from the Assembly of the 30th of June, resolving that the Committee of Safety draw an order on their Treasurer in favour of himself and James Wilson, Esq., for the sum of fifty Pounds each, being for their services in attending the Continental Congress; which was accordingly done and delivered to Mr. Ross, being the President’s Draft of this date on Michael Hillegas.

Thursday, July 13, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Roberdeau, Robert White, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, John Cadwalader, Samuel Morris, Jun., Robert Morris:

1. Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be given to Mr. Ebenezer Robinson, for his plan for stopping the channel of the River Delaware.

Friday, July 14, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Roberdeau, Robert White, Robert Morris, Thomas Wharton, Junior, Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, Jun., John Cadwalader, George Gray:

1. Resolved, That the Board will go down this morning and view the ground on which it is proposed to raise a Battery.

2. Resolved, That Mr. Robert Morris, Messrs. George Gray, Samuel Morris, Jun., and Thomas, Wharton, Jun., be a Committee to wait on the Provincial Treasurer, and know if a sum of money can be borrowed of him until the money of this Board is emitted.

3. Resolved, That Owen Biddle be directed to procure four tons of Grape-Shot.

Saturday, July 15, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Roberdeau, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Robert White, Robert Morris, John Cadwalader, George Gray, Samuel Morris, Junior:

1. Resolved, That the Committee appointed for building Boats and Machines for the defence of the River, do immediately employ all the Carpenters and other workmen that they think necessary, for collecting materials for building twelve Boats (including the two already ordered) and as many Machine as may be thought sufficient for the interruption of the navigation.

2. Resolved, That Colonel Roberdeau, Colonel Cadwalader, and Mr. Samuel Morris, Jun., be requested to go to New-Jersey and converse with such principal inhabitants as they think proper, and to know if the inhabitants would assist this Province in the defence of the River, and in what manner.

3. Resolved, That a Guard be appointed to take proper care of the Artillery and other Military Stores deposited in the State-House and yard.

Monday, July 17, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

Benjamin Franklin, Anthony Wayne, Daniel Roberdeau, Robert White, Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, Jun., Robert Morris, George Gray, John Cadwalader:

1. Resolved, That Captain Henry Daugherty be appointed to the command of one of the Boats now building, and that Captain John Rice be appointed to the command of one other of the Boats now building.

Colonel Daniel Roberdeau reports to the Board, that there are proper guards appointed, agreeable to the third Resolve of the 15th instant.

The Committee appointed by the second Resolve of the 15th instant, report, that they went to the Jerseys, and conversed with many of the inhabitants, who seem willing to give every assistance in their power; that they will immediately furnish some Logs for building the Machines for the obstruction of the navigation; and that they propose to man one or two of the Boats for the defence of the River; and that some of the gentlemen will, in a few days, attend this Board.

Captain Tench Francis and Captain-Lieut. Bache made application to this Board for thirty or forty rifle-barrel Guns, for a number of men in their Company who have not Rifles, neither can they afford to purchase them.

2. Resolved, That Mr. Robert Morris be requested to apply to Captain Tench Francis and Captain-Lieutenant Bache, to assist him in providing eighty good Rifles, for the use of the Boats now building, a part of which are to be put into the hands of such men as Captain Francis, for this County, and Colonel Wayne, of Chester County, may engage to go as Minute-men on board the Boats, when required.

Tuesday, July 18, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

Benjamin Franklin, Francis Johnson, Daniel Roberdeau, Owen Biddle, Anthony Wayne, John Cadwalader, Robert Morris, Samuel Morris, Jun., George Gray:

1. Resolved, That Colonel Roberdeau be requested to wait on the Physicians of the Hospital, and desire they would inform this Board what Medicines and necessaries there may be occasion for for the six hundred men that are to be employed on board the Boats; and that they be desired further to inform this Board if it would be necessary to procure from abroad a supply of any Medicines that may possibly be wanted in the service on land for the Associators.

2. Resolved, That Colonel Cadwalader and Owen Biddle be desired to apply to the City Committee, and acquaint them that this Board is willing to take into their care such Gunpowder as said Committee may now have in their possession; and that this Committee will repay them for the purchase of the same.

3. Resolved, That Thomas Saxage be employed to take care of the Cannon and Military Stores in the daytime, or until he is relieved by the guard to be placed for that purpose.

Wednesday, July 19, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Roberdeau, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Richard Reily, Samuel Morris, Jun., Francis Johnson, John Cadwalader, Owen Biddle, Robert White, George Gray, Anthony Wayne:

Captain Robert White reported, that he sent a person to the Jerseys to know what number of Logs the inhabitants would supply this Board with, who brought with him a list of the following gentlemen, who generously gave the number of Logs mentioned opposite their names, viz:

Benjamin Whitwill, 55 logs: John Wood, 20: Nathan Kinsey, 10: Richard Johns, 50, or more: David Paul, 20: Joseph Low, 30: James Brown, 10: Joseph Ward, 10: Joshua Hopper, 15: Isaac Hopper, 10: Levi Hopper, 15: James Wood, 10: Joseph Tatem, 1: Charles West, 40.—296 logs.

1. Resolved, That the Boat to be launched by Mr. John Wharton, be called the Experiment.

Friday, July 21, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

George Gray, President for the day; Robert White, Samuel Morris, Jun., Richard Reily, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Daniel Roberdeau, Owen Biddle:

1. Resolved, That Messrs. Thomas Wharton, Jun., and Samuel Morris, Jun., be appointed a Committee to inquire after a quantity of Saltpetre and damaged Gunpowder, said to be in the hands of the family of the late Simon Boerum, of Long Island; and should they have any quantity of either article, the said Committee are desired to procure it.

As it is necessary immediately to procure such workmen as may forward the completing the Fire-Arms that may be wanted:

2. Resolved, That Thomas Wharton, Junior, Samuel Morris, Jun., and George Gray, be a Committee for that purpose; and that they apply to James Pearson, . . . . . Tomlinson, and . . . . Wiley, and know if they can be engaged to advantage; and that they acquaint them that this Board will give them proper encouragement.

3. Resolved, That this Committee furnish the inhabitants of Gloucester County with two Teams, to assist them in bringing Logs down to the different landing places, for the use of this Committee; and that Mr. Samuel Morris be desired to procure and send them over immediately.