And as to the case of one William Wommock, referred to this Committee, it appears to your Committee that the said William Wommock was a Sergeant in the Orange Militia in the late expedition against the Tories; that on his march he was unfortunately shot with a bullet through one of his feet, and thereby rendered unfit for that service; that it does not appear to your Committee that he is at present in a state of poverty and want, nor does it appear to your Committee whether his wound be likely to be cured or not, or what expenses have been incurred to effect his cure. Your Committee therefore recommend that proper persons be appointed to inspect the said William Wommock, and to make report to the Congress.

The House, considering the same, concurred therewith.

Ordered, That Mr. Simpson and Mr. James Saunders be appointed to examine into the circumstances of the said William Wommock, and report to the next Congress accordingly.

Ordered, That Mr. Hooper, Mr. Burke, and Mr. Dickson, have leave of absence; and that Mr. Harriett has leave of absence the day after to-morrow.

Resolved, That Mr. Burke, Mr. Samuel Ashe, Mr. Caswell, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Perm, Mr. Nash, Mr. Kinchen, Mr. Thomas Jones, and Mr. Coor, be a Committee to form a temporary form of Government, until the end of the next Congress.

Resolved, That Captain —— Dennison be allowed ten Pounds as a gratuity for his care, vigilance, and the hazard he run, in performing a voyage from Newbern to the French West-Indies, and back again, to procure Ammunition for this Province; and that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts.

The Committee to form an estimate of the expense for supporting the Troops to be raised for one year, reported that the expense of one Regiment for twelve months would amount to fifty thousand Pounds.

The Committee for reconsidering the Petition of William Alston, in behalf of Solomon Alston’s Widow, reported to this House.

The House taking the same into consideration,

Resolved, That John Henderson, who intermarried with the said Solomon Alston’s Widow, enter into bond, with sufficient security, to the President of this Congress, (in behalf of the said Orphans,) that he will not remove any part of the Estate out of the Province, and faithfully account for the same.

The Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Wednesday, May 1, 1776.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Resolved, That a Resolution of this Congress, of the 22d of April, for appointing six Brigadier-Generals in the several Districts of this Province, be rescinded.

Resolved, That Brigadier-General Howe be allowed the sum of three hundred Pounds for his extraordinary expense while in the Colony of Virginia; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the publick.

Ordered, That Duncan McNeill be discharged from further attendance on this Congress, he first entering into bond, with security, in the sum of five hundred Pounds, for his appearance at a future Congress, and good behaviour.

Resolved, That Mr. John Henderson pay to Mr. James Jones five Pounds fifteen Shillings, for his expenses in citing the said Henderson to appear at Congress on the Petition of William Alston.

On motion, Resolved, That Allen Jones, Esq., be appointed Vice-President of this Congress.

Resolved, That Mr. William Fenner be appointed a Captain in the Second Regiment of the Continental Troops raised in this Province.

Ordered, That a Certificate issue accordingly.

Mr. John Taylor has leave of absence.

Resolved, That the further allowance of six hundred and sixty-six Dollars, and two-third parts of a Dollar, be paid to each of the Delegates who were appointed in September last to attend the Continental Congress in behalf of this Province, for one year; and that the Treasurers, or either of them, draw on the Continental Treasury for the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the publick.

Resolved, That William Hooper, Joseph Hewes and John Penn, Esquires, be, and are hereby, appointed Delegates, in behalf of this Province, from the determination of the present year to the end of the next Congress which shall be held in this Province, to attend the General Congress at Philadelphia, or such other place as may be appointed; and they are hereby invested with such powers as may make any acts done by them, or any of them, or consent given, in behalf of this Province (not inconsistent with such instructions as may be given by this Congress) obligatory upon every inhabitant thereof: and that they be allowed at the rate of two thousand Dollars each for performing such services, to be paid by the publick Treasurers, or either of them, who are empowered to draw on the Continental Treasury for the same, and shall be allowed in their accounts with the publick.

Mr. Sherrod and Mr. Saunders have leave of absence.

Resolved, That the Vestrymen legally elected in each and every Parish in this Province, on Easter Monday last, upon repeating and subscribing the Test recommended by the last Provincial Congress, shall be, and are hereby declared legal Vestries, and may proceed to Parochial business accordingly; and where no Vestries were then elected, the Freeholders in such Parishes shall meet at the place by law appointed for the election of Vestries, on the first Monday in July next, and then and there choose and elect a Vestry, agreeable to the directions of the Act of Assembly for appointing Vestries, and the Poll shall be taken by the Clerk of the County Committee, and return made in the same manner as the Sheriff empowered and directed by the said Act; which Vestrymen so elected shall qualify themselves, by repeating and subscribing the aforesaid Test, and shall thereafter be deemed and taken to be the legal Vestry of their respective Parishes, and invested with the same powers and authorities as if elected and qualified agreeable to the aforesaid Act. Provided, that where any Vestryman already elected for the present year has taken the Oaths, or subscribed any Tests or Declarations heretofore appointed, the election of a Vestry in such Parish shall be, and is hereby declared void, and a new election shall be made under the regulations aforesaid. And provided, also, that no Vestry shall continue longer than until next Easter Monday under any election made on last Easter Monday, or by virtue of this resolve; anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Resolved, That Commissioners be appointed in the Counties of Guilford, Cumberland, Anson, Orange, Bladen, and Chatham, to take inventories of the Estates of the Prisoners lately sent out of this Province, and of those who are out upon parole and bail, and to take all the care in their power to prevent waste and embezzlement, and to make return thereof to next Congress; but at the same time to pay particular attention to the unhappy women and children, to see that they do not want the common necessaries of life; and that all their Estates shall remain where they now are, except Arms and Ammunition, under the protection of this Congress, until some future order; and that the said Commissioners shall, by every means in their power, endeavour to get into their possession such effects as have been taken from the said Prisoners, persons on parole, and out on bail, and to be restored to the respective habitations from whence such effects were taken, and return inventories thereof to next Congress; and that the following persons be Commissioners, viz: Mr. William Bell, Richardson Owen, and Francis Harper, for Guilford County; Mr. Thomas Wade, John Cole, and William Mask, for Anson County; Mr. Peter Mallett, William Rand, and Robert Cobb, for Cumberland County; Mr. John Butler and Mr. William Tate, for Orange County; Mr. James Council and Mr. Nathaniel Richardson, for Bladen County; Mr. Jeduthun Harper, Mial Scurlock, and John Thompson, for Chatham County.

Resolved, That the Commissioners for the County of Cumberland dispose of the Estate of Archibald McArthur, deceased, late Insurgent of said County, for six months credit, the purchasers giving bond with approved security for the same; and that they make report to the next Congress.