The Leivt. Governor being Informed that some persons had been brought before some of the Justices of the peace for Robbing & stealing, which Crimes, by the 104th & 105th Laws of this province, wer formerlie punisht with restituon & 21 strypes, And which two Laws wer designed by the Last assemblie to have been Continoued in force in their petion of right to his excellie, and tho' these two Laws be in the minuts of the Councill, & also in the assemblie book, amongst the List of those Laws presented to his Excellie & Councill to be Continoued, yet they were through haste omitted to be putt by the assemblie in the roll of Laws by ym requested to be continoued, By reason yrof, the Justices are doubtfull how to proceed in the punishment of such Criminalls. It was resolved, That his Excellie be Humblie requested to give his determinaon in this matter. [16th Janry, 1693-4. Att a Councill Held att philadelphia the 16th of Janry, 1693-4. Att a Councill Held att philadelphia the 23d January, 1693-4. PRESENT. WM. MARKHAM, Esqr., Leivt. Governor. Robert Turner, Esqr., pat. Robinson, Secry. The Leivt. Governor signified to the Councill, That hee had a Lettr from his Excellie, Containing a matter of moment, which wold require a full Councill; did therfor acquaint the members present not to fail to be here the 30th instant, and ordered the Secrie to write to Jon Cann & George forman, Esqrs., to be then also present, which the secrie accordinglie did. 30th Janry, 1693-4. Att a Councill Held att philadelphia the 30th of January, 1693--4. PRESENT: WM. MARKHAM, Esqr., Leivt Governor. Robt Turner, Esqrs. Geo. Forman, Esqr. pat. Robinson, Secry, The Leivt Governor acquainted the Councill that hee had sent for Jno Cann, Esqr., the 22d instant; That the Secrie had writ to him from Geo. forman, Esqr. his house, to be present att a full Councill this day to advise about a matter of moment. Mr Cann not having come, The Livet. read a part of his Excelle's Lettr to himself of the yth instant, in these words, viz: "You doe not ansr mine relating "to assemblie which I incline to hold att New-Castle, but will com"plie to the Councill's opinion." After some debate about this matter, The further debate therof was deferred to the Sixt of Febrie next; and it was ordered that Mr Cann should have fresh notice to be then present. Joseph pidgeon having exhibited to the Leivt Governor and Councill an accot of tenn pounds two Shills., for sundrie presents delivered the Indians by his Excelle's ordr, when here at a treatie wt ym, And desiring paymt. Ordered that Robt Turner, Esqr, treasurer, pay the said sum outt of the pennie per pound tax raised for the support of the govern ment. Ordered that the Secrie issue outt a warrt directed to the Messinger of the Councill, To Sumons Ann Letort, Capt. Jno dubrois, peter Bisalion, mounce yokum, Lewis, the French Canada prisonr, Benjn Clift & Thomas graves, to be here present the Sixt of Febuarie next. [6th Febry, 1693-4. Att a Councill Held att philadelphia the Sixt of February, 1693--4. WM. MARKHAM, Leivt. Governor. Robert Turner, Wm. Salway, Esqrs. Lacey Cock, Esqr. The Informaon of Thomas Jenner and polycarpus Rose, exhibited to this board the 19th of Decembr, 2693, agt Ann Le Tort, &c. was again read, and by peter Reverdie interpreted to her & her husband from the English into French. Shakhuppo, an Indian king, being examined by Capt Cock, interpreter, saith That hee knows nothing of anie Letters sent to strange Indians by Ann Le Tort, nor by anie others, but that hee hath seen some strange Indians come to trade with her, but that hee neither knew ym, nor understood their Language. Kayantarras' wife, by the sd Capt. Cock, interpreter, being examined, saith that shee has sometimes seen strange Indians come to Le Tort's plantaon to buy goods. The said Ann Le Tort, by peter Reverdie, Interpreter, saith, that what those Informants by mistake call a packett of Letters, was onlie a book of accot of what the Indians owed them, wrapt up in a blue Linnen Cloath to preserve it from the weather. To the 5th article, about Le Tort's whipping polycarpus Rose, & calling the English and Sweeds rogues, Shee saith, That the Indians are much indebted to her & Little to peter yokum, and that hee came befor her hous with Rum, & therwith enticed the Indians from her; wherupon shee in her anger, might call him & the sd polycarpus Rose names. To the 1st article, The said Ann Le Tort saith, That shee never had anie such discourse with Hicquoquean, nor has shee seen him these three years past. Benjn Clift being Lame and not able to travell, sent to the Leivt Governor a paper, wherin hee saith, That two of or Indian kings told him that ther have been Severall Lettrs & powders sent to Canada by peter Bisalion, & that Lewis, the french Canada prisoner that lives at Le Tort's told our Indians that they should see in a short time that all our English wold be cutt off by the French, and that if the English wer from amongt us you & wee should Live bravelie. Capt. Cock saith, that hee believes our Indians are onlie afraid that the strange Indians will come and Surprize them. Wherupon the Leivt. Governor ask't and desired the Councill's opinion, Whether from the abovesaid examinations & proffs, ther wer sufficient grounds wherupon to bring the sd Ann Le Tort to a tryall. They wer Unanimouslie of Opinion that there wer not. The petion of some of the Inhabitants of philadelphia & of some other parts of the province, was read, setting forth their Jealousies relating to the French in generll amongst them, and more speciallie referring to those trading in remote & obscure places with the nativs, without securitie or approbaon: And therfore, Requesting that the French may be called from those places, where they still Continou their Commerce with the Nativs, and that if they be permitted to retail trade, that it be in places of this or other towns in the province, and that neither they, nor anie others, be permitted to freedom of trade with the natives, but such as are approved of, and upon securitie of acquainting the government with all the matters they can hear or observe concerning the natives and the enemies of the Countrie. It was hereupon Resolved, That Capt. Jaques Le Tort give to the Leivt. Governor sureties that hee shall acquaint the governmt with all matters hee can hear of or observe concerning the Natives & the enemies of the countrie, and that he take the oaths appointed by act of parliamt to be taken in stead of the oaths of allegiance and supre macie. Ordered, That Capt Le Tort, or his wife, bring before the Leivt. Governor and Councill Lewis, the Frenchman that Lives att his house, the 13th instant. Ordered that Robert turner, treasurer, give to Shakhuppo and kyantarra's wife two match coats, and two shillings sixpence in monie. His Excellies Letter to the Leivt. Governor and Councill, dated "the 25th of January, 1693-4, was read, Wherin Hee sayes: "I "find it needfull for their Maties' service to call a generall Assem"blie in the spring; doe therfor ask your advice of the time & place "of meeting, Which I will order accordinglie. I shall be readie to "meet you the Later end of March, or beginning of Aprill, Unless I "be called to the fronteers. You are sensible of the weaknes of "governmt without support. I hope you will use yor endeavors to "gett such to assist me who are best qualified for that service." After some debate, it was the unanimous opinion of the Leivt. Governor & Council!, That the most Convenient time for the sitting of the next generall assemblie wold be about the tenth day of Aprill next, and the most Convenient place the town of philadelphia, But Humblie submitted both time and place to his excellies pleasure; And desired the Leivt. Governor to return their heartie thanks to his excellie for his care of them, assuring his excellie that they should not be wanting in anie degree of their dutie to, and assistance of his excellie, according to their power and abilitie. [7th Febry, 1693-4. Att a Councill Held att philadelphia y 7th of February, 1693-4. PRESENT: WM. MARKHAM, Esqr., Leivt. Governor. Robt Turner, John Cann, Esqrs. Lacey Cock, Esqr. The petion of Thomas Lacey agt John Swift, having been read, Ordered that the Secrie write to Jno Swift to be here the 13th instant, to make ansr to the sd petition. The petion of philip England having been read, setting forth that hee hath been Lawfullie Impowred and authorized to keep an Ordinarie and ferrie att Skuillkill, first by an order from the proprietor, dated the 16th of 8ber. 1683, under his hand and Seal, therin strictlie Charging that no person presume to transport anie passengers for monie or reward, over the said river, neer the sd ferrie: secondlie, by an order from Governor Fletcher, dated the 29th of Aprill Last, fullie Confirming the proprietor's grant to the petitioner for the sd ferrie and ordinarie: And thirdlie, by a Leass from the Leivt. Governor, in behalf of the proprietor for the sd ferrie, for a certain term of years, att the yearlie rent of seven pounds; And that the sd petitionr seatled himself and familie theron, the accot of keeping the said ferrie, and has been att great charges to fitt & accommodate the same with boats & Canoes, and in making a convevient Landing place on both sides of the river, both for horses and passingers, And is obliged to attend the publick service of the government. Notwithstanding of all which, one Wm. powell, in Contempt of the authoritie aforesaid, hath a Long time ferried over people and horses, & has for six mo. past erected a boat, as ferrieman, and ferried over severall horses and passengers, to the petitionr's great detriment, and since his being called to accot for his contempt of the authoritie aforesaid, befor the Leivt Governor & Councill, which was the 18th of July, 1693, has pretended to sell the sd boat to certain people, who doe employ one Nathaniell Mullinax to ferrie them over, in Contempt of the power and authoritie aforesaid; And yrfore, Requesting the Lievt Governor and Councill to cause the sd Wm. powell and Nathaniell Mullinax to appear befor ym to ansr the contempt aforesaid, as also for the wrong the petitionr has sustained yrby, that so yor petitionr may receive such Justice herein as you shall Judge meet. Nathaniell Mullinax hav. ing appeared, the minuts of Councill of the 27th of June & 18th of July & 19th 7br. relating hereto wer read, Wherin Wm. powell promised that hce wold desist from and Leave off ferrying over people att that place, & that none else undr him should ferrie anie people over from his Land for anie reward, and which the Lievt Governor and Councill charged him strictlie to observe att his perrill. The sd Nathaniell Mullinax being interrogated who they were that first employed & hyred him to ferrie people over, Hee ansred, That most of the people of Harford & Marion, & some of darbie, imployed and hyred him to ferrie ym over, and that they were to pay him his wages, & that he knew no reason why he might not work for his Living as well as others: And after sometime hee brought in a List of the names of some that imployed him, viz: Evan prothero, Wm. Howell, Thomas Smith, Wm. Smith, Morris Luellon, David Meredeth, Jno Rhodes, Wm. Warner, Humphrie Ellis, Ellis Ellis, Hugh Roberts, Robert Owen, Jno Apowen, Richard Haye, Adam Rhodes, Christopher Spray, Davis Lues, Lues David, David Ewer, John german, Hugh Shone, Evan Hendrie, Wm. garrett, John Blunstone, Samll Lewes. It was ordered that the sd Nathaniell Mullinax be committed to the Comon goale of his County, till hee give good and Sufficient securitie to the Leivt. Governor, that hee shall ferrie no more persons, horses or cattle over Skuilkill, att Wm. powell's, for gift, hyre or reward, directlie, nor indirectlie; And that the said boat be forthwith Seazed and secured by the Sheriff, till the owners thereof appear befor the Leivt Governor and give the like securitie. Upon reading the petition of Jno Bristow, setting forth that when hee was Ranger for Chester Countie one Richard Thompson, in 1692, brought to him an unmark't horse as a stray, which the petitionr received from him, and therafter the grand Jurie for sd Countie presented the petitionr for receiving a markt horse for a stray; Att which Court of Quarter Sessions the petitionr was discharged from the sd presentment, upon evidence that the sd horse did not appear to be arteficiellie markt when hee came to the petitioners hands; Wherupon the petitionr was ordered by the then Court to sett up a paper on the Courthouse door, to notifie that in Case anie person should come and prove the said horse to be theirs, they should have him returned; which the petitionr accordingly did, As by a Certificate undr the hands of the then Justices for the sd Countie, and undr the hands of the grand Juric therof, has appeared; Notwithsanding wherof, the Late grand Jurie for the sd Countie have of new presented the petitionr for y same thing, wherof he was formerlie cleared, tho' no person hath yet appeared to owne the sd horse, which the petitionr believes is done of purpose to stopp him from prosecuting his intended voyage for England, and to damnifie him in his good name & reputation; And therfore requesting such relief in the pre |