Bladen, at or near Peter Lord’s, as well as in several other places in the Province; also that there is a large quantity of lead ore in the lower part of Johnston County, at or near the plantation of Captain Nathan Williams, and that lead may be procured at Chiswell’s Mines, in the Colony of Virginia. Your Committee therefore recommend that George Miller, John Sasser, and Benjamin Exum, of Dobbs County, and James Council, Thomas Robinson, and Joseph Cain, of Bladen County, be empowered to contract with persons to pro cure and purify, at the publick expense, such sulphur as may be had or found within this Province, which contract to be obligatory on the Province; and that the said George Miller, John Sasser, Benjamin Evum, James Council, Thomas Robinson, and Joseph Cain, or any three of them, draw on the Treasurers, or either of them, for such sums of money as may be necessary for the above purposes, so that the same does not exceed one thousand Pounds. And as lead ore cannot be procured and purified as soon as it may be wanted, your Committee further recommend that Hugh Montgomery and Matthew Locke, Esquires, be empowered to treat as soon as possible with any person or persons in this Province, or the Colony of Virginia, for any quantity of lead, not exceeding twenty tons; and having so contracted, to provide ways and means for the transporting the same to the following places, to wit: Two tons to Salisbury, two tons to Hillsborough, and the remainder to Johnston Court-House; and that the Treasurers, or either of them, be empowered to draw on the Continental Treasury for such sums of money as may be necessary for purchasing the said lead; and that the said Hugh Montgomery and Matthew Locke be allowed a reasonable sum for their trouble and expense, to be paid by the publick.

The House taking the same into consideration, concurred therewith.

It appearing to the Congress that Thomas Jones, Esquire, rendered this country very important and essential services in prosecuting Suits in behalf of the Crown; therefore,

Resolved, That the said Thomas Jones, Esquire, be al lowed seventy-five Pounds for prosecuting divers Criminals in behalf of the Crown, at three Courts of Oyer and Ter miner, held at Edenton, to wit: One in July, 1774, one in January, 1775, and another in July, 1775; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the publick.

Resolved, That William Amis be appointed Commissary to the Third Regiment of the American Army, to be raised in this Province, in the room of John Webb, resigned.

Resolved, That Mr. Miller, Mr. William Johnston, and Mr. Simpson, be added to the Committee of Civil Accounts.

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

Tuesday, May 7, 1776.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Whereas the Commanding Officers in the late expedition against the Tories, thought proper, for the benefit of the service, to cause to be cut down and destroyed sundry Bridges in the Counties of Duplin and Bladen, and it appearing to the House that it will be burdensome to the inhabitants of those Counties to be at the sole expense of rebuilding such Bridges;

Therefore, Resolved, That when it shall appear to be necessary and expedient to rebuild such Bridges, the expense thereof shall be paid by the publick.

Mr. James Williams exhibited his Account for acting as Attorney for the Crown at five Courts of Oyer and Terminer, held in this Province, from the 10th of June, 1774, to the 10th of June, 1775.

Resolved, That the said James Williams be allowed the sum of fifty Pounds, for prosecuting in behalf of the Crown in the said Courts of Oyer and Terminer; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the publick.

Resolved, That Mr. Ebenezer Folsome be allowed one hundred Pounds for his vigilance, and the important services rendered this country in the late insurrection, the Congress considering the said sum not as an adequate reward for his spirit and activity, but as a mark of his country’s confidence and approbation; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same.

Resolved, That Mr. Nash, Mr. Burke, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Wliitmell Hill, and Mr. Coor, be a Committee to inquire of ways and means the most probable to prevent the desertion of Slaves.

Resolved, That one hundred Light Cavalry, and two hundred Infantry, be ordered immediately to Cross-Creek, to be under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Folsome, until further orders.

That the said Horsemen be immediately raised from the Militia in Cumberland, and the adjacent Counties, who will voluntarily serve; and the Footmen be drafted from the Brigades of Salisbury and Hillsborough, by equal proportions from each Regiment, unless a sufficient number will immediately enter the service as volunteers.

Ordered, That two sets of blank Commissions issue for the Companies of Light-Horse, to be filled up by Colonel Folsome.

Resolved, That two thousand Pounds be paid into the hands of the Delegates for the County of Bladen, and by them paid to the Officers and Soldiers of the Militia of said County, now in service of the Province, in part of their pay, who have not had time to lay their Accounts before the publick; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the publick and that the said Delegates give bond and security to ac count for the same.

Resolved, That one thousand five hundred Pounds be paid into the hands of the Delegates for the County of Duplin, and by them paid to the Officers and Soldiers of the Militia of said County, now in service of the Province, in part of their wages for their services on the late expedition to Cape Fear; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay the same, and be allowed in their accounts; and that the said Dele gates give bond with security to account for the same.

Resolved, That eight hundred and fifty weight of Powder be sent to the District of Salisbury, to the care of the Brigadier-General of that District.

Resolved, That four hundred weight of Powder be sent to the District of Hillsborough, to the care of the Brigadier-General of that District.

Resolved, That the Field-Officers in every Battalion of the Continental Troops be empowered to employ an Armourer for such Battalion, and that such Armourer be allowed the pay of one Dollar and a quarter of a Dollar per day, and one ration.

Resolved, That Ebenezer Folsome be appointed Colonel of the Militia in the County of Cumberland, in the room of Alexander McAlister, resigned; David Smith, Lieutenant Colonel; Philip Alston, First Major; and John Armstrong, Second Major, in the same County.

Resolved, That Mr. Burke, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Penn, be a Committee to report on Mr. Cooper’s Petition.

Resolved, That William Rand take into his possession, wherever they may be found, all the Records and Papers belonging and appertaining to the Clerk and Register’s Offices in the County of Cumberland.

Ordered, That Colonel Long deliver to William Jones, who lately came express to this Congress, one of the Tory Horses in his possession.

Resolved, That the Managers of the Furnace directed to be hired in Chatham County, or purchased in Guilford County, for the publick use, take under care for that service the whole of the Negroes lately brought by order of the Congress from the Counties of Pasquotank and Currituck, belonging to the Estates of Thomas Macknight, James Parker, and Robert Gilmore, and make the best of them in that employment for the benefit of the publick; and that the Commissioners render to the next Congress a disposition of such Slaves, with an account of expenditures, upon oath; and that the Commissioners give a receipt for such Negroes.

Resolved, That William Glover be appointed Captain in the Sixth Regiment of Foot, of the American Army, to be raised in this Province, in the room of Jesse Sounders, resigned; and John Owens, First Lieutenant, in the room of William Glover, advanced; John Hart, Second Lieutenant, in the room of Pleasant Henderson, resigned; and Kedar Parker in the room of Thomas Grant, resigned; all of the Sixth Regiment, in Captain William Glover’s Company