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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn to the North Carolina Council of Safety, including account of supplies sent to the Council
Hooper, William, 1742-1790; Herritage, William, ca. 1707-1769; Penn, John, 1740 or 1-1788
August 20, 1776
Volume 10, Pages 754-757

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
Letter from the North Carolina Delegates in the Continental Congress to the North Carolina Council of Safety.

Gentlemen:

You will receive by the five Waggons which accompany this 4 tons of Gunpowder and several other articles which, in obedience to your orders, we have procured for the use of the State of North Carolina. The inclosed will show the particulars with which the Waggons go charged, & what remains still to perfect what by your last letters you gave in command to your delegates. The Catridge paper, the pamphlets upon the making of Salt are ready & will be sent off by Waggons which will follow these in a few days.

We find great difficulty in procuring Salt pans. We flatter ourselves however that we shall be able to effect that important purpose, tho' not so speedily as we could wish and the circumstances of our State seem to require. We have applied for directions as to the size, shape and quality of those made use of in Shrewsbury, and have

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obtained such information as will put it in the power of the Blacksmiths here to make agreeable to the specimen, as soon as rolled plates can be procured for them to work upon. As the mechanicks belonging to this City are chiefly in the Jersies at present, a delay will be unavoidable, tho' the Council may be assured that their delegates will use their utmost endeavours to expedite this measure and answer the wishes of the Council of Safety.

We anxiously expect to hear from you & to receive any other Commands which you may have for, Gentlemen,

Your Obet Humble Servts
WILL. HOOPER,
JOSEPH HEWES,
JOHN PENN.

Philadelphia, August 20th, 1776.

P. S.—The five Waggons & Horses are purchased on the account of the Province and are put under the direction of Henry Hinckle, Waggon Master, who is to receive wages at the rate of Five pounds Ten Shillings per Month till he returns, allowing one day for every twenty-five Miles after he is discharged in Carolina to return home. The other Waggoners are to have four pounds per month in like manner. All of them are paid up to this day. They have agreed to take the Waggons to any part of the Province that you may direct and deliver them to such persons as you may order to receive them. A guard, by order of Congress, accompanies the Waggons.—

———

An Account of Packages sent in the Five Waggons to North Carolina.

Twenty-nine Barrels & six half Barrels containing Powder as follows:

4048 ℔s
Musket
Powder
in
16
Barrels, numbered
1@16.
2916 ℔s
Cannon
ditto
in
12
ditto
17@28.
243 ℔s
Pistol
ditto
in
1
ditto
29.
794 ℔s
Fine
ditto
in
6
half barrels, No 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 31.
8001 ℔s.
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Five Boxes directed for the Honble the Council of Safety, containing as follows:

144
Setts of Simes's Military guide, 2 Vol. each.
24
New System of Military Discipline.
24
Witherspoon's Sermons.
32
Van Sweeten's & Jones's Cures for Armies.
48
Principles of the English Constitution (Pamphlet).
24
Rheams of Writing Paper.
2
Boxes weighing 311 lbs., directed for Willie Jones Esq.
3
ditto ditto 556 lbs., directed for Joseph Hewes to the care of Willie Jones, Esqr.

Philada, 20th Aug., 1776.

N. B.—A particular Invoice of the whole shall be sent as soon as the Bills can be collected for the Waggons, Horses, &c., &c.

———

This may Certify that we the Subscribers have agreed with Henry Hinckle and the other Waggoners going with him to North Carolina that they are not to be detained in the Service after the Waggons get to the place of destination unless they or any of them shall chuse to continue therein for a longer time. Given under our hands at Philadelphia the 21st of August 1776.

WILL. HOOPER,
JOSEPH HEWES,
JOHN PENN.

———

Received of William Hooper, Joseph Hewes & John Penn Esquires Twenty nine Barrels and Six half Barrels containing Powder Five Boxes directed for the Honble the Council of Safety of North Carolina, Two Boxes directed for Willie Jones Esqr and Three Boxes directed for Joseph Hewes all which articles together with Five Waggons four horses to each Waggon with all the articles thereto appertaining I Promise to deliver to the Honble the Council of Safety of North Carolina at the Town of Halifax or such other place as that board shall direct (Accidents excepted) for which I have signed Two receipts of the same tenor & date. Witness my hand in Philadelphia the 20th 1776.

HENRY HINKLE.
Witness present
Jacob Hiltzheimer.

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———

Recd at Philadia the 20th of Augt 1776 of Jacob Hiltzheimer Seventy five pounds for the use of Purchasing Provisions for the within Mentioned Waggoners & Horses from here to North Carolina for which I have signed two Receipts of the same Tenor & Date.

Witness my Hand
HENRY HINKLE.

£75