Commission to Mathew Birch, to be Collector of y Customs att New-castle. To all the people to whom these presents shall Come, Wee the Commissioners for managing & causing to be Levied & collected his Maties Customs & other duties in this kingdom of England, send Greeting: Know yee, that wee, ye sd comrs, have, by virtue of an act of parliamt made in the five and Twentieth year of the reign of king CHARLES THE SECOND, entitled, an act for encouragment of the eastland & Greenland trades, & for better securing the plantaon Trade, and in pursuance of the authoritie and direction to us given by the right honble The Lords Comrs of his Maties Treasurie, have deputed & Impowred, & do hereby depute & Impower Mathew Birch, esqr. to be Collector of all the rates, duties & Imposions arising & growing due to his Matie att Newcastle in pennsilvania, by virtue of the said act. Whereby Hee Hath power to enter into anie ship, bottom, boat, or other vessel; as also into any Shop, House, warehouse, Hostery or other place whatsoever, to make diligent search Into any trunk, pack, Casse, Truss, or anie other parcel or package whatsoever, for any goods, wares or merchandizes prohibited to be imported or exported, or whereof the Customs or other duties have not been duly paid, and the same to seize to his Matjes use; as also to putt in execuon all other Lawful powers & authorities for the better managing or collecting the sd duties, In all things proceeding as the Law directs; Hereby praying & requiring all & every his maties officers & ministers, & all others whom it may Concern, to be aiding & assisting to him in all things as becometh. Given undr our Hands and seal, at the Custom-House, London, this Twentyfirst day of November, in the eighth year of the reign of or Soveraign Lord WILLIAM THE THIRD, annoque domi, 1696. Robt. Clayton, Robert Southwell, Walter Yonge, Sam. Clark, Ja. Chadmesh. Indorsed thus province of pennsilvania, 21st March, 1697--8. The within Mathew Birch, esqr., did upon the day above written, Swear on the Holy Evangells of Almighty God, that he wold diligentlie & faithfullie execute the within Comission, in presence of mee. Locus Sigili Custum Recorded 29th March, 1698. WM. MARKHAM, Governor. Comission to John Bewley, To be Collector of the Customs att To all people to whom these presents shall come, Wee the Comrs for managing & causing to be Levied & collected his maties Customs & other duties in this kingdom of England, sends Greeting: know yee, that wee, the sd Comrs, have by virtue of an act of parliamt made in the five & Twentieth year of the reign of king CHARLES THE SECOND, entitled, an act for encouragement of the eastland and greenland trades, and for better securing the plantaon trade, & Locus Sigili Custum in pursuance of the authoritie & direction to us given by the Right Honble the Lords Comrs of his maties Treasury, Have deputed and Impowred, & do hereby depute & Impower John Bewley, esqr., to be Collector of all the rates, duties and Impositions arising and growing due to his matie att Philadelphia, in Pennsilvania, by virtue of the said act. Whereby hee hath power to enter Into anie ship, bottom, boat or other vessel, as also into any shop, house, warehouse, hostery, or other place whatsoever, To make diligent search into any trunk, pack, Casse, truss, or any other parcel or package whatsoever, for any goods, wares or merchandizes prohibited to be imported or exported, or whereof the Customs or other duties have not been duly paid, & the same to seize to his maties use; as also to putt in execution all other Lawfull powers & authorities for the better managing or collecting the said duties; In all things proceeding as the Law directs. Hereby praying & Requiring all & everie his Maties officer & ministers, & all others whom it may concern, to be aiding & assisting to him in all things as becometh. Given undr or Hands & Seal, at the Custom House, London, this twenty-first day of November, in the eight year of the reign of or Sovereign Lord, WM. THE THIRD, Annoq domi, 1696, Robt. Clayton, Robert Southwell, Walter Yonge, Sam. Clark, Ja. Chadmesh. Indorsed thus: province of pennsilvania, 21st March, 1697--8. The within John Bewley, esqr., did, upon the day above writtin, swear on the Holy Evangells of almighty God, that hee wold diligentlie & faithfully execute the within Comission, In presence of mee. Recorded 29th March, 1698. WM. MARKHAM, Governor. Commission to Mathiew Birch, To be Surveyor & Searcher of the Customs in pennsilvania. Edward Randolph, esqr., Surveyor General of His maties Customs on the Continent of America, & Ilands adjacent, To Mathew Birch, esqr. By virtue of a deputaon granted me by the Honble the Comrs. of his maties Customs in London, bearing date the 13th day of October, 1691, & in pursuance Likewise of additional articles of instructions from yr Honors, dated att the custom hous in London y Locus Sigilli sr. gul. 22d of 7br, 1697, directing mee, amongst other things, that in case of anie vacancie by y death, or want of any of the officers of ye Customs, or otherwise, To appoint some fit and able person to serve yrin; And finding no Surveyor & searcher in the province of pennsilvania & Counties annext, I do hereby depute & Impower you, the sd Mathew Birch, to be Surveyor and searcher of his maties Customs, in the sd province of pennsilvania & Counties annexed, with all the rivers, bays, Creeks & Harbours yrunto belonging, With power to enter any shipp, bottom, boat, or other vessel, as also into any Shop, house, warehouse, Hosterie or otherwise, whatsoever, to make diligent search Into any trunk, chest, Casse, truss, or anie other parcel or package whatsoever, To make diligent search for any goods, wares 536 or merchandizes prohibited to be imported or exported, qrof the Custums & duties have not been duly paid, and the same to seize for His Maties use; & also to putt in excuon all other Lawll powers & authorities for the better managing & causing to be Collected the said duties, in all things as y Law directs, following & observing all such Rules & instructions as you shall from time to time receive from y Comrs of His Maties Customs in England, or from the Comrs of His Maties Custom for the time being. Given undr my hand & seal of office, att y port of philadelphia, the 25th day of March, Annoque domini, 1698, & in the Tenth year of the reign of or Soveraign Lord king WILLIAM Y THIRD of England, &c. EDWD. RANDOLPH, Serveyor Genrll. Recorded 29th March, 1698. [19th May, 1698. Att a Council Held att philadelphia, die Jovis, 19th May, 1698. Edwd Shippen, Joseph Growdon, PRESENT: Wm. Biles, David Lloyd, Jno Simcocke, Wm. Rodeney, Upon Reading y petion of peter gronendyke, for a rehearing of a triall hee had in the year 1690-1, wherein he was Convicted of perjury, The same was rejected. Upon Reading the petion of Nicholas Skull & others, Requesting that there may be an allowed rode from the Lime-kilns, for carting of Lime to philadelphia, extending from the sd Lime kilns Into plimouth rode, neer Cressoon, where there is neither Improved Land, Hill nor water to impede, Ordered that Wm Harmer, Jno fisher, Daniel Howell, Edward Burch, Thomas Rutter and Nicholas Skull, do so Lay out the said rode, the nearest & most Convenient that may be, & to the Least prejudies of the Improvts of ye nighbourhood, and to make return yrof in a protracted figure & words, into ye Secries office, In order to & as a final Confirmaon yrof. Upon Reading the petion of Ann Baynton, Setting forth that her husband, peter Baynton, Late of Chester Countie, some years ago removed himself & most of his estate to England, & left her destitute of a Competent means of Livelyhood, promising in some short time to return, & that hee has lately sent over a Letter to her that hee has taken another wife there, & never intends to return hither, nor take anie care for her subsistence, & that hee will draw the remaining effects over to England, & Leave her wholie destitute of means of Living, And yrfor Requesting the Governor & Council to grant her an ordr to take and possess all that is Left or can be found, of her sd husband's estate within this governmt, towards her necessarie Support & alimt as to Justice & equitie does appertain, Ordered that it shall & may be Lawfull for the said Ann Baynton to take into her hands & possession all that is left or can be found of her sd husband's proper estate wtin this governmt, towards her support and aliment, as is desired; and it's further ordered, that all & every person & persons whatsoever, wtin this province & Territories, having any of the sd peter Baynton's estate, real or psonal, in their hands or possession, as attorney or otherwise, shall upon sight hereof, deliver the same to the said Ann Baynton, towards her sd support & aliment, whois receit shall be their sufficient discharge from the sd peter Baynton, his heirs, exers, admrs or assigns, and shall be accordingly deemed and taken in all Courts & before all magistrates within this government. Upon reading the petion of George Claypoole, setting forth that being one of the younger children of James Claypoole, deced, & who by his last will & Testamt give to such of his children as is yrin menoned, all his front Lott of Land, wt ye Improvments yrof, to ym & yr heirs forever, and yt yor petitionr having proposed divers ways for a division yrof, but all to no purpose, and yrfor Requesting the Gor & Council to order ye sd division. Resolved that the sd division be made by the ordinary, according to ye Laws of this province, &c. Comission. William Massey, to be Collector of the Customs att Lewis, in pennsilvania. To all people to whom these presents shall come, Wee thee Comissioners for managing & causing to be Levyed & collected His maties Customs, subsidies and other duties in this his kingdom of England, send greeting: Know yee, that wee the sd Comrs Have by virtue of an act of parliamt made in the five & Twentieth year of the reign of king CHARLES THE SECOND, intitled an act for encouragment of the eastland and greenland trades, & for better securing the plantaon trade, and in pursuance of the authority and direction to us given by the right Honble the Lords Comrs of his matjes Locus treasury, deputed and Impowered, and do hereby depute and Impower WILLIAM MASSEY, esqr., to be Collector of all the rates, duties & impositions arising & growing due to his matie at Lewis, in pennsilvania, by virtue of the said act, wherby hee hath power to enter into any Shipp, bottom, boat, or other vessel, as also into any Shop, house, warehouse, hostelry or other place whatsoever, to make diligent search into any trunck, chest, pack, casse, truss, or any other parcel or package whatsoever, for any goods, wares, merchandizes, prohibited to be imported or exported, or wherof the Customs or other duties have not been duly paid, & the same to seize to his maties use; as also to put in execuon all other the Lawfull powers & authorities for the better managing and Collecting the sd duties, in all things proceeding as the Law directs; Hereby praying and Requiring all & everic his Maties officers & ministers, and all others whom it may concern, to be aiding and assisting to him in all things as becometh. Given under Our hands and seal at the Custom house Loudon, the VOL. I.-23 Twenty-first day of Novembr, in the eight year of the reign of our Soveraign Lord, king WILLIAM THE THIRD, Annoque domi, 1696, so Subt. Robert Southwell, Godolphin, Walter Yonge, Sam. Clark, Ben Overton. Recorded 1st July, 1698, - Edward Randolph, esqr., Surveyor General of his maties Customs in the plantaons & Colonies on the Continent of America, and Islands adjacent, To Captain John Jewell. By virtue of a deputaon granted me by the Honble y Comrs. of his maties Customs in London, bearing date y 13th day of Octor, 1691, & in pursuance Likewise of additional articles of Instructions from their Honrs, dated at the custom house in London, y 22d day of Sept, 1697, directing mee, amongst other things, that in case of any vacancy by the death of any officer of the Customs or otherwise, to appoint some fit & able person to serve yrin, giving notice yrof for their Honrs directions yrin, and finding a present want of an officer in the province of pennsilvania, in America, I do constitute & appoint you, the sd Jno. Jewell, to be Surveyor and Searcher of his maties customs in the province of Pennsilvania & Counties annexed, & all the rivers, creeks & bays yrunto belonging, With power to enter into any Ship, bottom, boat, or other vessel, as also Into any Shop, ware-house, hostery, or other place whatsoever, to make diligent search into any trunk, chest, pack, Case, truss, or any parcel or package whatsoever, for any goods, wares or merdizes prohibited to be Imported or exported, qrof the Customs & duties have not been duly paid, and the same to seize for his maties use; and also to put in execuon all Lawful powers and anthorities for the better managing and Collecting the said duties in all things as the Law directs, following and observing all rules and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from the Comrs of his Maties Customs for the time being. Given undr my hand & seal of office, att the port of Philadelphia, this 15th day of April in the tenth year of his maties reign, annoq dui, 1698. Ed RANDOLPH, Survr genrll. I, Nicholas Hayward, Notary & Tabellion publick, dwelling in London, admitted & sworn, doe Certifie & attest unto all whom it may concern, that I have seen and perused certain Letters patents of denization, granted by our Soveraign Lord and Lady king William & Queen Mary, under the broad seal of England, dated the 15th of April, in the fifth year of their sd maties reign, wherein among others, are inserted the names of francis Bassett, Mary Magdalen his wife, Susanna Magdalen & Susannah, their daughters, who though born beyond seas, are made their majesties Leige subjects, and to be held, reputed and taken as subjects born in this kingdom of England; & may as such purchase, buy, sell, and dispose of Lands, tenements ⚫ and Hereditaments, in this kingdom or any other of their majesties dominions, as freely, peaceably & entirely as anie subject born in this kingdom; and that the sd francis Bassett, Marie Magdalen his wife, Susanna Magdalen and Susannah, their daughters, by virtue of |