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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875

Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1776

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1776

A letter from Mrs. Abi. Grant was laid before Congress and read, requesting permission to return to her husband and family in London, and to take on board necessary stores for the voyage:

Resolved, That her request be granted, and that the president give her a passport to the place where she shall chuse to embark.

The Committee for superintending the treasury, to whom was referred the account and claim of Captain Herman Allen, of Lieutenant Colonel Warner's batallion, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That there be allowed to Captain Herman Allen, of Lieutenant Colonel Warner's batallion, for sundry disbursements for the use of his company, the sum of three hundred and sixty dollars, over and above the account allowed by the New York convention, amounting to two hundred and forty pounds eighteen shillings, New York money.

The committee, to whom was referred the petition of Joseph Trumbull, Esqr. commissary general, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration and agreed to; Whereupon,

Resolved, That there be allowed to the several persons under mentioned, employed in the commissary general's department, in the continental army, the wages and rations

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annexed to their names respectively, during the time they have been, and shall continue, in the service of the United Colonies:

A list of persons employed in the commissary general's department in the continental army the 20th January, 1776.

• Charles Miller, issuing store keeper, 50 dollars per month, and 4 rations per day:
• Peter Roe Dalton, first clerk, 4/8, lawful [money] per day, and 3 do.
• Ebenezer Perry, and Thomas Durant, clerks in store, ¾ do. and 2 do:
• William Brown, and Josiah Brown, clerks at scales, ¾ do. and 2 do:
• Robert Davis, clerk of weekly allowances, ¾do. and 2 do.
• Eight laborers, one cooper. and one cook, each 2/8, per day, and 1 do:

The foregoing employed in the issuing store at Cambridge, to issue to two Brigades.

• Aaron Blaney, issuing store keeper, 50 dollars per month, and 4 rations:
• James Richardson, first clerk, 4/8, a day, and 3 do.
• Two clerks in store, ¾do. and 2 do:
• Two clerks at scales, ¾do. and 2 do.
• Six labourers, one cooper and one cook, 2/8 do. and 1 do.

The above employed in issuing store at Roxbury to issue to two brigades.

• Peter Philips, Esqr. issuing store keeper, 40 dollars a month, and 4 rations:
• Griffin Green, first clerk, 4/8, per day, and 3 do:
• One clerk in store, and one at scales, ¾each per do, and 2 do:
• One cooper, and four labourers, 2/8 each per do. and 1 do.

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These employed in issuing store on Prospect Hill, to issue to one brigade.

• Moses Emerson, Esqr. issuing store keeper, at 40 dollars per month, and 4 rations:
• Israel Mead, first clerk, 4/8, per day, and 3 rations:
• One clerk in store, and one at scales, ¾ do. and 2 do.
• One cooper, and four labourers, each 2/8 do. and 1 do.

These [employed] in the issuing store at Medford to issue to one brigade.

• Samuel Gray, Reuben Stiles, and Daniel Brown, clerks and magazine keepers, each 4/8, per day, and 3 rations:
• One cooper, 2/8, do, and 1 do.
• Employed in magazine at Cambridge.
• Jabez Porter, and James Yancey Pendleton, clerks and magazine keepers, each 4/8, per day, and 3 do:
• One cooper, 2/8 do. and 1 do.
• Employed in magazine at Roxbury.
• Joseph Farnsworth, employed as commissary to Colonel Arnold's detachment, ∥£10, [lawful money] per month, and 3 rations [per day:]
• Returned from Fort Halifax.
• John Thomas, employed constantly in riding to get in stores, procure teams, &c. himself and horse, 8/, per day, and 3 rations:
• William Hoskins, Elisha Avery, principal book keepers and payers of smaller bills, &c. £10, a month, and 3 rations [per day.]

Resolved, That an addition of 40 dollars a month be made to the pay of the commissary general.¹

The committee appointed to confer with General Washington, Major General Gates, and Brigadier General

[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folios 53--57. The list of names appears to have been furnished by Trumbull.]

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Mifflin, brought in their report; which, being taken into consideration, was agreed to: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the commanding officer in Canada, be informed, that the Congress are fully convinced of the absolute necessity of keeping possession of that country, and that they expect the forces in that department will contest every foot of the ground with the enemies to these colonies; And, as the Congress have in view the cutting off all communication between the upper country and the enemy, they judge it highly necessary that the exertions of the forces be particularly made on the St. Lawrence, below the mouth of the Sorel:

That the commanding officer in Canada be directed to make exact and frequent returns of men, provisions and military stores in the Canadian department, to the general and commander in chief of the United Colonies:

That General Schuyler be desired to take care that the army in Canada be regularly and effectually supplied with necessaries:

That the troops ordered for Canada be hastened into that country so soon as provisions can be forwarded for their support:

That the commanding officer in Canada be assured of the resolution of Congress, to afford him every support, in his endearours to carry their views in execution.¹

[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Benjamin Harrison, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 169.The arrangement of the paragraphs is different from that in the printed version.]

Resolved, That Mr. R[obert] R. Livingston be added to the committee [of conference] who brought in the foregoing report; and that they be directed to confer with General Washington, Major General Gates, and Brigadier General Mifflin, touching the most proper posts, and measures to be taken for effectually preventing the enemy's

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communication with the upper country from Canada, and such other measures as shall tend to secure the frontiers.

General Washington,being arrived from New York, agreeable to order, attended in Congress, and, after some conference with him,

Resolved, That he be directed to attend again to morrow.

A letter of the 26 of April from the convention of North Carolina, with a list of prisoners by them sent to Pensylvania, being laid before Congress, and read:

Resolved, That the said letter and list be delivered to the committee of safety of Pensylvania, and that they be desired to have the said prisoners properly and safely secured and provided for, agreeable to the resolutions of Congress, at the expence of the United Colonies.¹

[Note 1: 1 A letter from the Committee of Secrecy, War and Intelligence of the Congress of North Carolina, dated April 22, with the list of prisoners, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 7.]

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,

To Jacob Hiltzheimer, for sundry expresses, the sum of £139 12 6=372.3 dollars.

To Captain Nathaniel Falconer, for his and Mr. Ashe's expences, together with the expences of two servants going to New York, with money, and returning, the sum of £36 19=98.5 dollars:

To Daniel Smith, for expences of guards, &c. at the city tavern, over Brigadier General Prescot, and Captain Chase, the sum of £44 5 7=118 dollars.

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Sundry resolutions, passed by the convention of Maryland, were laid before Congress, and read.

∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, ∥

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

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