In Committee of Safety, March 20, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, George Clymer, Alexander Wilcocks, Daniel Roberdeau, Samuel Howell, Owen Biddle, John Cadwallader.

Upon application of Captain Falconer for a sum of Money for the use of the Committee appointed to fix Signals, &c, in the Bay and River Delaware, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Captain Nathaniel Falconer, for three hundred Pounds.

Resolved, That Captain Leeson Simmons be joined to the Committee for fixing Signals in the Bay and River Delaware.

Resolved, That Francis Feauss be appointed First Lieutenant to the Provincial Ship-of-War.

That Edward Yorke be appointed Second Lieutenant to the said Provincial Ship.

In Committee of Safety, March 21, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, Alexander Wilcocks, George Clymer, Owen Biddle, Samuel Howell, James Mease, Samuel Morris, Jun.

Resolved, That the following mentioned Officers on board the Provincial Ship be allowed the pay as affixed to their respective stations:

Resolved, That Mr. John Mitchell be appointed Master to the Provincial Armed Ship.

That Joseph Greenway be appointed Third Lieutenant to the Provincial Armed Ship.

In Committee of Safety, March 22, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, George Clymer, Samuel Morris, Jun., Daniel Roberdeau, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Samuel Howell, Owen Biddle.

Agreeable to a Resolve of Congress, of the 13th of February last, this Board granted the following Certificate:

In Committee of Safety, March 22, 1776.

Messrs. Knight & Green having engaged with, and being empowered by this Committee, to import from North-Carolina six hundred barrels of Naval Stores for the use of this Province, this certifies that they have given the proper security required in this case by the resolution of Congress of the 13th February last.

Resolved, That Hercules Courtney be appointed Second Lieutenant to the Artillery.

In Committee of Safety, March 23, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, Owen Biddle, Alexander Wilcox, George Clymer, James Biddle, Samuel Howell, Daniel Roberdeau.

Resolved, That James Maul leave his station at the mouth of the River to attend this Board as speedily as possible, and that Captains Richards, Falconer, and Simmons, be desired to have his place supplied immediately by another Pilot of sufficient ability and industry.

Resolved, That James Morrison be appointed Lieutenant of Marines in the service of this Province.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle and Mr. Alexander Wilcocks be a Committee to agree with William Henry for making two hundred Rifles.

Resolved, That Mr. Nixon be requested to order Timber suitable for the Carriages of thirty 24-pounders and ten 32-pounders.

In Committee of Safety, March 25, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, Samuel Howell, Robert White, Samuel Miles, James Biddle, Owen Biddle, Michael Swoope, George Clymer, George Taylor, Barnard Dougherty, Samuel Morris, Junior, Samuel Hunter, John Montgomery, James Mease, Daniel Roberdeau, Thomas Wharton, Jun.

Upon requisition of the Marine Committee of Congress for thirty stand of Arms, or two Wall-Pieces and twenty-six Muskets, for the fitting out the Brigantine Lexington for the protection of the trade of this coast, by order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary; was directed to deliver said number of Arms to Captain Barry, or his order.

Upon application of Dr. Harris for a quantity of Saltpetre to manufacture into Gunpowder, agreeable to an engagement with him and this Board, by order of the Committee an Order was delivered him on Robert Towers for twenty hundred pounds of Saltpetre.

Resolved, That Mr. James Mease be empowered to take out of the hands of Mr. Smith, a Custom-House Officer, all the Fire-arms that may be found in his possession, and report his proceedings to this Board.

Resolved, That Mr. Nathaniel Donnell be appointed Second Lieutenant to the Company of Matrosses raised in this Province, and commanded by Captain Bernard Romans, in the service of the United Colonies.

By order of the Board Thomas Dewees, Jailer, was directed to discharge Henry Yelverton Price from confinement, he paying his own expenses; and Mr. Dewees to inform him that he is to leave this city within three days, and to acquaint him that he will be recommitted if found here after that time.

Resolved, That Mr. Rittenhouse, Mr. McNeal, Captain Miles, Mr. O. Biddle, and Mr. Clymer, be a Committee to fix on proper places upon the River Delaware for erecting Fortifications.

In Committee of Safety, March 26, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, Owen Biddle, John Cadwallader, Alexander Wilcocks, Daniel Roberdeau, Samuel Howell, James Biddle.

Upon application of John Pollard and Jacob Arfield for the payment of their Accounts for Bayonets, and repairing Fire-Arms, for Captains Harmer’s, Jones’s, and Le Marr’s Companies, in Colonel De Haas’s Battalion, by order of the Board two Orders were drawn on Messrs. Mease and Caldwell for the amount of the said Accounts, one in favour of John Pollard for two Pounds eleven Shillings and one Penny, and the other in favour of Jacob Arfield, for nineteen Pounds nine Shillings and six Pence.

Resolved, That William Gamble be appointed Captain to the Etna Fire-Ship.

That William Greenway be appointed Captain to one of the tier of Fire-Rafts.

Resolved, That the Provincial Ship-of-War be called the Montgomery.

Resolved, That the Letter received from the Committee of Westmoreland County, offering their services in an expedition to Detroit, be handed by Mr. Wilcocks to Mr. Wilson, in order to its being laid before Congress.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., in favour of Mr. Peter De Haven, for one hundred and fifty Pounds, being for the use of the Commissioners and Assessors of this County, for the payment of Fire-Arms making for the use of this County.

Resolved, That Mr. O. Biddle and Mr. Clymer employ Arthur Donaldson to build two Piers, to sink for fixing the Boom for obstructing the navigation of the passage at Fort-Island.

The Committee of Westmoreland County having made a requisition to this Board, for the defence of the same, this Board wrote Letters to the Committees of Bedford and Cumberland Counties, requesting them, in case the inhabitants of Westmoreland were attacked by an enemy, to spare them the necessary Powder belonging to the publick for their defence, and immediately to inform this Board of the quantity spared.

At a special meeting of the Committee of Safety, at the Coffee-House, the following Members present: John Nixon, Chairman, Daniel Roberdeau, Thomas Wharton, Jun., James Biddle, George Clymer, James Mease, John Cadwallader, Barnard Dougherty, Owen Biddle, Robert White, Samuel Howell, Samuel Morris, Jun.