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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Council of State
North Carolina. Council of State
March 04, 1777
Volume 22, Pages 914-917


State of North Carolina.
At a Council held at New Bern, the 4th day of March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven.

Present—His Excellency the Governor, the Honorables Cornelius Harnett, William Haywood, Edward Starkey and Joseph Leech, Esquires.

His Excellency the Governor laid before the Council a resolve of the Continental Congress of the 9th of January last, recommending to the executive powers of the States of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland immediately to appoint suitable persons to purchase and collect such quantities of beef and pork as they can obtain salt to cure, etc.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to appoint the following persons to purchase beef and pork, accordingly,

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to-wit: Francis Brice, at Wilmington; James Green, Jr., at New Bern, and James Blount, at Edenton.

The Board taking into consideration the advanced season of the year and the little probability of procuring fresh pork and beef,

Resolved, That the aforesaid Commissioners do purchase for the use of the public all the merchantable salted beef and pork they can, not exceeding seven pounds per barrel for pork, four pounds for beef and thirty-five shillings per hundredweight for fresh pork, and that they cause the same to be deposited in magazines or storehouses at Wilmington, New Bern, Edenton, the forks of Tar River, or the mouth of White Oak River, for which the said Commissioners shall be allowed a commisison of seven and a half per cent. for their trouble and expense in performing the above service.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor immediately to draw upon both or either of the Treasurers of this State for a sum not exceeding twenty thousand pounds for the purpose of carrying the above resolve into execution.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to appoint Mr. Richard Bradley Paymaster to the First Regiment of Continental troops in this State, in the room of Mr. William Lord, who resigned, and that he give bond in ten thousand pounds.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to appoint Gideon Lamb, Esq., Colonel of the Sixth Regiment of Continental troops in this State, in the room of Colonel Alexander Lillington, and Archibald Lytle, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel of the said regiment, in the room of Colonel Taylor, resigned, and that their commissions bear date the 3rd day of February last; Miles McSheely, Adjutant to the Ninth Regiment, commission to bear date the 12th of February last; John Burton, Adjutant to the Eighth Regiment, his commission to bear date 22nd February last, and Jonathan Loomiss, Surgeon to the said regiment.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to direct the Regimental Paymaster to pay the one shilling allowed by Congress for the maintenance of the recruits from the time of their enlistment until they join headquarters or are supplied by commissaries, on proper vouchers being produced.

His Excellency the Governor informed the Board that Captain John Hardy, in the service of the State of Georgia, had solicited permission to recruit forty men in this State for the service of the State of Georgia, and at the same time laid before the Board a letter

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from his Excellency President Bullock, of that State, requesting that the State would supply the said Captain Hardy with a sum of money, not exceeding three thousand five hundred dollars, and give drafts on the Delegates of Georgia at Congress for the same.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to grant permission to the said Captain Hardy to recruit that number of men in this State for the service of the State of Georgia, and as cash cannot at present be supplied, that he furnish the said Captain Hardy with bills on the Georgia Delegates for three thousand five hundred dollars, agreeable to the request of the President of Georgia aforesaid.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to direct the Treasurers to supply the prisoners in this State directed to be conveyed to headquarters with money, agreeable to the resolution of Congress.

His Excellency the Governor laid before the Board a letter from Mr. Robert Rowan, one of the Commissioners for carrying on iron works in this State, whereby it appears that the Commissioners had drawn on the Public Treasurer for the sum of £223.11.1 in favor of Montgomery, and also the sum of £4,043.2.3 in favor of Wilcox; that they had made sundry purchases at or near said works for the said State, and in order to enable them to discharge such their contracts and carry on said works to advantage, it is necessary they should be supplied with a greater sum of money than voted by Congress for that purpose.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to acquaint the Commissioners this Board approves their conduct, and also that he direct the Treasurers to pay the aforesaid draughts, and also to pay the said Commissioners or order any further sum not exceeding two thousand five hundred pounds, for the purpose of carrying on said works.

There being a number of blankets brought into this State in the prize brigantine Hanover, and the Captain and claimants having consented the same should be immediately taken for the use of the army of the United States in this State;

Resolved, That Joseph Leech, Esq., do receive the same and deliver them to such of the Colonels as are in immediate want of them for their respective regiments, and that his Excellency do give drafts on the Treasurers for the payment of the same in proportion

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to what the rest of the said brig’s cargo sells for, on an average, at vendue from the first cost.

His Excellency the Governor laid before the Board letters from General Moore and Colonel Martin, advising that Monsieur Renusson had imported into this State sundry medicines, many of which are wanting for the army in this State, requesting they may be purchased. The said Monsieur Renusson appeared before the Board and produced his invoice of said medicines.

Resolved, That General Moore be requested to direct a skilful surgeon to examine the said invoice and report to him the articles therein contained which, in his judgment, are useful and necessary for the army, and thereupon the Commissary of Stores be directed to purchase such articles at a price not exceeding one hundred and fifty per cent. upon such articles as charged in the invoice now.

CORNELIUS HARNETT, President,
W. HAYWOOD,
EDWARD STARKEY,
JOSEPH LEECH.