MARYLAND CONVENTION.

At a Convention of Delegates, chosen by the several Counties of the Province of Maryland, at the City of Annapolis, on Wednesday, the 8th of May, 1776. Present:

FOR ST. MARY’S COUNTY.—Richard Barnes, John Reider, Athanasius Ford.

FOR CHARLES.—Josias Hawkins, Robert T. Hooe, William Harrison, Joseph H. Harrison.

FOR CALVERT.—Edward Gantt, Patrick Smith, William Allein.

FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S.—Thomas Contee, Robert Tyler.

FOR ANNE ARUNDEL.— Charles Carroll, Barrister, Thomas Johnson, Jr.

FOR FREDERICK, LOWER DISTRICT.—Henry Griffith.
MIDDLE.—Charles Beatty, Baker Johnson.
UPPER.— William Baird.

FOR BALTIMORE.—Benjamin Nicholson, Walter Tolley, Jr.

FOR HARFORD.—Thomas Bond.

FOR CECIL.—John Veazcy, Jun., Joseph Gilpin, John D. Thompson, Patrick Ewing, William Currer.

FOR KENT.—Peregrine. Letherbury, William Sluby, Thomas Ringgold.

FOR QUEEN ANNE’S.—James Hollyday, Turbutt Wright, Thomas Wright, Richard T. Earle, James Tilghman.

FOR TALBOT.—James Lloyd Chamberlaine, Nicholas Thomas, Pollard Edmondson.

FOR DORCHESTER.—Robert Goldsborough, Henry Hooper, James Murray, John Ennals.

FOR CAROLINE.—Nathaniel Potter, William Richardson, Henry Dickinson, Richard Mason.

FOR SOMERSET.—George Dashiell, Gustavus Scott, Peter Waters.

FOR WORCESTER.—Peter Chaille, Samuel Handy, John Done, Joseph Dashiell.

The Honourable Charles Carroll, Esquire, Barrister, was chosen President.

Ordered, That Gabriel Duvall be continued Clerk to the Convention, and that he qualify himself as such by taking oath that he will faithfully, diligently, and honestly discharge the office of Clerk to the Convention of Maryland, and that he will not disclose or reveal the secrets thereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Allen Quynn be continued Messenger, and Mr. Robert Reynolds Doorkeeper to the Convention; and that they severally qualify themselves as such by taking the oath of office and secrecy, as above directed to be taken by the Clerk.

Ordered, That the resolve of Secrecy entered into at the last session of Convention be observed this session.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Thursday, May 9, 1776.

Convention met. All the Members present as on yesterday.

The Proceedings of yesterday were read. Col. George Plater, a Member for St. Mary’s County, appeared and took his seat in the House. Mr. Sudler appeared in the House.

A Remonstrance from the Committee of Observation for the Lower District of Frederick County, relating to the payment of Publick Taxes; a Petition from the Lieutenants of the Second Independent Company of Regular Troops, praying to be removed from said Company; a Petition from William Faris, of the City of Annapolis; and the Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Talbot County against Alexander Wickham, were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Certificates of the qualification of the Clerk, Messenger, and Doorkeeper, were produced and filed.

The Proceedings of the Council of Safety, in consequence of intercepted Letters from Lord George Germaine to Robert Eden, Esquire, Deputy Governour of Maryland, were laid before the Convention, read, and ordered to lie on the table.

On reading a second time the Representation of the Committee of Talbot County, of the case of Alexander Wickham,

Ordered, That the said Alexander Wickham be committed to the custody of a guard, to be appointed by Colonel William Smallwood, until the Convention shall take order in the premises, and that the guard from the Independent Company commanded by Captain Hindman be discharged of the said Alexander Wickham.

Adjourned till three o’clock.

Post Meridiem. Convention met. Mr. Rumsey, Mr. Hall, Mr. Paca, Mr. Love, Mr. Lloyd, and Mr. J. T. Chase, appeared in the House.

A Memorial from Francis Baker, of Talbot County, praying a remission of that part of the sentence pronounced against him at the last session of Convention which forbids him to offer himself for any office of trust, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

On reading a second time the Petition of Lieutenants Uriah Forrest, William Bowie, and Benjamin Brooks, of the Second Independent Company of Regular Troops,

Ordered, That Captain John Gunby appear before this Convention, or, in the recess thereof, before the Council of Safety, on Monday, the 20th instant, to answer the charge exhibited against him in said Petition.

Ordered, That summonses issue to Henry Jackson and Lieutenants William Bowie and Benjamin Brooks, of Somerset County, Captain James Handy, of Worcester County, and Mr. Robert Cummins, of Baltimore County, to appear before this Convention, or, in the recess thereof, before the Council of Safety, on Monday, the 20th instant.

On reading a second time the Petition of William Faris, Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to examine into the facts set forth in the said Petition, and report thereon to the Convention; and that Mr. Griffith, Mr. Joseph Dashiell, and Mr. Hawkins, be a Committee for that purpose.

Ordered, That Alexander Wickham be allowed the sum of three Shillings and six Pence per day during his confinement, for subsistence.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Friday, May 10, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday. The Proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Beall appeared in the House.

Mr. Griffith brings in and delivers to Mr. President a Report from the Committee appointed to examine into the facts set forth in the Petition of William Faris; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A Petition from Robert Wood, of Frederick County, relating to the erecting a Sheeting and Slitting Mill; tlie Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Prince George’s County, on the 6th instant; a Petition from James Hutchings, of Queen Anne’s County, against the conduct of Samuel Purviance; a Petition from the Pomonkey Company of Militia, in Charles County; Proposals from Henry Hollingsworth, of Cecil County, to manufacture Gun-barrels; a Petition from John Brewer, of the City of Annapolis; and a Petition from the inhabitants of Prince George’s County, on Potomack River, were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Jordan appeared in the House.

The Convention being informed that Mr. Samuel Purviance, Junior, was attending, agreeable to his recognisance, entered into by order of the Council of Safety on the 26th day of April last,

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to examine the papers laid before the Convention by the Council of Safety relative to the conduct of the said Samuel Purviance, Jun., and report the charge arising therefrom; and Mr. Hollyday, Mr. Goldsborough, and Mr. T. Johnson, were elected by ballot a Committee for that purpose.

Adjourned till three o’clock.

Post Meridiem, Convention met.

A Petition from the Committee and inhabitants of the Upper District of Frederick County; a Petition from the