Ropes, and what other articles that may be thought necessary for carrying on the publick works at that Island.

Upon application of James Jones, Mate, John Orkney, Second Mate, John Clerk, Charles Keyes, George Simpson, and George Stewart, Mariners, belonging to the Rebecca & Francis, Transport, George Hastings, Master, lately stranded on Brigantine Beach, on the Jersey Shore, a Certificate was given them that they had been examined by this Committee, discharged, and permitted to go at large.

Resolved, That Isaac Rotch be appointed Second Lieutenant of one of the Armed Boats.

The Board taking into consideration the application from Captain William Davis and others, offering their service to act as volunteers in the Battery to be erected at Fort–Island, are of opinion, that the thanks of this Board are due to these gentlemen for their generous offer to serve the publick without reward, which Mr. Nixon is desired by the Board to present to them. It is recommended to the said gentlemen to qualify themselves in such exercise of great Guns as will be useful in the department in which they offer to serve; and this Board do resolve to call upon them to act as volunteers, under the Officers appointed by this Board, whenever the publick service shall require.

Saturday, October 28, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Bernard Dougherty, Anthony Wayne, John Cadwallader, George Clymer, Owen Biddle, Daniel Roberdeau, Francis Johnson, James Mease, Samuel Howell, Samuel Morris, Jun., Andrew Allen.

Upon application of Anthony Martin, John Price, Larie McNeil, Thomas Pratt, Thomas Clough, John Smith, John Blackland, Simon Easterwood, and James Bachelor, Seamen, belonging to the Rebecca & Francis, Transport, George Hastings, Master, lately stranded on Brigantine Beach, on the Jersey Shore, a Certificate was given them that they had been examined by this Committee, discharged, and permitted to go at large.

By order of the Board, an Order was delivered Mr. Owen Biddle, drawn agreeable to a Resolve of the 26th September, and dated the 29th, on Michael Hillegas, Esquire, in favour of the Commissioners and Assessors of Lancaster County, for six hundred Pounds.

Monday, October 30, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Robert Morris,Thomas Wharton, Junior, Bernard Dougherty, Samuel Howell, John Montgomery, Owen Biddle, Alexander Wilcocks, John Nixon, Andrew Allen, George Ross, George Clymer, James Mease, James Biddle.

On the Information of Mr. Owen Biddle, that the person sent down by the Committee of York County to instruct the Committee for the manufacture of Saltpetre in his mode of carrying on that process, is now ready to undertake the said business, but cannot proceed for want of a supply of Money, and Mr. Biddle offering to advance him fifty Pounds, for the forwarding this necessary work, provided this Board will secure to him the repayment of the same,

Resolved, That this Board, to forward so useful a work, will be security to Mr. Owen Biddle for the repayment of the said sum of fifty Pounds.

A Petition from Hannah Shee, for relief for herself and children, was read, her husband having been drowned in the service of this Province.

After consideration, she was recommended by this Board to the Overseers of the Poor of the District where the deceased was settled, for such provision as the case may require.

A Letter, dated the 24th instant, was received the 28th, from the Committee of Lancaster County, informing that Captain Markoe had safely lodged in the Jail of that County the bodies of Dr. John Kearsley and J. Brooks, and that Dr. Kearsley would be forwarded to Yorktown next day, under a proper guard, and that J. Brooks would continue in his confinement, and dealt with agreeable to the sentence and direction of this Committee.

Captain Dougherty attended this day, and acquainted the Board that, agreeable to a Resolve of the 9th instant, the Captains had agreed to allow each good and able Seaman fifteen Shillings, as a bounty for their entering into the service on board the Armed Boats, which bounty is to be paid them one month after having been in the service.

By direction of this Board, an Order was this day drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, in favour of Messrs. Thomas Wharton, John Nixon, and James Mease, Committee of Accounts, for the sum of one thousand Pounds.

Resolved, That Alexander Wilcocks, Andrew Allen, James Biddle, and Owen Biddle, be a Committee to revise and correct the Minutes of this Board, in order to their being transcribed fairly in the Minute–Book.

Resolved, That Messrs. Robert White and Samuel Morris be a Committee to direct the building of a Shed on Fort–Island, agreeable to the Resolve of the 25th instant, and to repair such Buildings as may be already erected on the Island, that may be made suitable to the accommodation of the Soldiers and Sailors.

George Ross, Esquire, sent to this Board the following Resolve of Congress, which is directed to be put on the Minutes of this Committee, viz:

“In Congress, October 26, 1775.

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Provincial Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils of Safety, of the United Colonies, to export to the foreign West–Indies, on account and risk of their respective Colonies, as much Provision, or any other Produce, except Horned Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, and Poultry, as they may deem necessary for the importation of Arms, Ammunition, Sulphur, and Saltpetre.

“A copy from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

Captain Duncan Campbell, Lieutenant Symes, and twenty–three private Soldiers, part of a Regiment about to be raised in the Ministerial service, on their voyage from Boston to New–York, on board the Ship Rebecca & Francis, Captain Hastings, (by the said Ship being stranded on Brigantine Beach, on the New–Jersey Shore,) were taken prisoners by the people of Jersey, and brought to this City, and after having separately examined the said Officers and many of the Privates, it appears to this Board that they have acted, and intended further to act a part inimical to the liberties of America. Therefore it was thought proper by this Board to transmit the said Examination to the honourable the Continental Congress, and request they would determine thereon; in consequence of which requisition, George Ross, Esq., produced from the Congress, the following Resolve:

“In Congress, October 28, 1775.

“Resolved, That Captain Duncan Campbell and Lieutenant Symes, and the men who came with them in the Transport Rebecca & Francis, be confined in such Jails in this Colony as the Committee of Safety of said Colony think proper; and that the said Captain Campbell and Lieutenant Symes be allowed, for their subsistence, one and one–third Dollar each per week, and the men one Dollar per week each, to be paid out of the Continental Treasury.

“A true copy from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

Agreeable to the above determination of Congress, it is

Resolved, That the said Captain Campbell and Lieutenant Symes be confined in the Jail of the City and County of Philadelphia, and that they be kept apart from the rest of the prisoners; that they be not permitted to have the use of Pen, Ink, or Paper, and that no person whatever be permitted to speak to them, or either of them, but in the presence of some Member of this Committee, or some other person authorized by a Member of this Committee in writing.

The following Commitment, being drawn up and signed by the Vice–President, was delivered to Mr. Cadwallader and Mr. Nixon, who were desired to acquaint the Officers of the determination of Congress, and to deliver the said Commitment to the Officer of the Guard over the Prisoners, and desire him to deliver them into the custody of the Jailer of this County:

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