Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
Resolved, That Mr. Paine be added to the committee on General Schuyler’s letters.1
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the letter from the committee of safety of New York, and to confer with Mr. Romans,2 and report to Congress.
The members chosen, Mr. Paine, Mr. Dyer, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Wythe, and Mr. W Livingston.3
Resolved, That a committee of 5 be appointed to make an estimate of the number of cannon, that may be wanted for the defence of the United Colonies, and to devise ways and means for procuring them, and that it be an instruction to the said committee to enquire how large cannon can be cast in this country.4
The members chosen, Mr. Wisner,5 Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Rogers,6 Mr. Allen,7 and Mr. Paine.
Information being given to Congress by the delegates of South Carolina, that their colony, being in want of seamen, had given orders to offer high wages to such as would engage in their service, but least this should cause 131uneasiness among the seamen employed in the service of the colonies, they thought it proper to inform Congress the thereof, and take their opinion and direction thereon:8
Resolved, That this be referred to a committee of 5.
The members chosen, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Huntington, Mr. Paine, Mr. Morris,9 and Mr. Floyd.10
Journals of the Continental Congress, 4:35, 53, 55, 59–60
This probably refers to the committee (John Dickinson, Thomas McKean, George Wythe, William Hooper, Thomas Jefferson, and John Langdon) appointed on Dec. 26, 1775, to consider the reports of the committee sent to Ticonderoga as well as the committee (William Hooper, Thomas McKean, and Thomas Jefferson) appointed on Dec. 18, 1775, to consider Schuyler’s letters of Nov. 19, 20, 24, and Dec. 8. On Jan. 8, the committee reported to Congress, which adopted a number of resolutions concerning the provisioning and transport of Schuyler’s troops (Journals of the Continental Congress, 3:436, 459
Bernard Romans (c. 1720–c. 1784), a Dutch-born engineer, came to North America in the employ of the British government as a surveyor. In 1775 Romans became a member of the Connecticut committee to taken Ticonderoga and its outposts and singlehandedly captured Fort George on May 12. He was commissioned to build fortifications on the Hudson River opposite West Point, and in February 1776 was commissioned captain of a company of Pennsylvania artillery (
DAB
).
Oliver Wolcott was added to the committee on Jan. 17 (Journals of the Continental Congress, 4:63).
RTP chaired this standing committee of the Continental Congress, and its activities are documented by a number of the following letters. Several others were added to the committee later in the year: on Feb. 20:William Livingston; on Apr. 11: George Clinton and William Whipple; on July 18:Samuel Chase and Thomas Heyward; and on Dec. 24:Francis Lewis.
Henry Wisner (1720–1790) was a delegate from New York to the Continental Congress. He participated in the debates on the Declaration of Independence but was absent for its signing. Near Goshen, Orange Co., N.Y., he erected three powder mills from which he supplied the Continental Army. He served in the New York legislature both before and after the Revolution (
DAB
).
John Rogers (1723–1789), a Maryland lawyer, was a member of the provincial conventions in 1774, 1775, and 1776, and of the Continental Congress in 1775 and 1776. Rogers was chancellor of Maryland from 1778 until his death (
Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
).
Andrew Allen (1740–1825) became attorney general of Pennsylvania in 1769, was elected to the Committee of Safety in 1775, and to the Continental Congress. He opposed the Declaration of Independence and resigned his seat in December 1776 and sought Lord Howe’s protection at Trenton. He was attainted for his loyalism. Although he was pardoned in 1792 and briefly returned to Pennsylvania, Allen spent most of his latter years in England (
DAB
).
The committee brought in its report on Jan. 17, and it was read. Congress considered the report on the Jan. 19 and resolved to recommend to Capt. Robert Cochran that he offer each abled-bodied seaman the wages of eight dollars per month, an enlisting bounty of nine dollars, and a further bounty of five dollars upon their arrival in South Carolina. Furthermore, Congress suggested that Cochran consult with General Washington to ensure that his enlistments of seamen “will be the least prejudicial to the continental service” (Journals of the Continental Congress, 4:64, 67–68).
Lewis Morris (1726–1798), a 1746 Yale graduate, was a member of a great land-owning family of Westchester County, N.Y., and spent much of his time managing the estate. He represented New York in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence (
DAB
).
William Floyd (1734–1821) was a member of the Continental Congress from New York (1774–1777 and 1778–1783) and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Later he also served in the First Federal Congress (1789–1791) (
DAB
).
Taunton
I have receivd. a letter from you of Jan. 81 & 20 Dollar Bill but that you Sent by Mr. Cushing is not yet come to hand. I long to See it to know how & all about your Journey. I am Glad to hear of your Safe arivel at Philada. & your helth. Your taking Such a Journey so soon after your ill turn you had fill’d me with a thousand fears. I was as the Irish man Said afraid youll come home dead. I rejoice to hear that you grow fat & if you think your horses wont be able to bring you home I will Send my young gay horse to your asistants. As to Linnen their is not any to be had neither course nor fine nor nothing. I should be Glad if you would buy Linnen for you one Dozen of Shirts & one peace of Course for the Children & one peace of Cambrick for ruffles & necks & pins. Your Staying So much Longer then I expected I am afraid your Linnen is much worn. As to hay we have 3 tuns & I am to have 1 tun of James hall which will be as much as we Shall want. Debts I have not been able to collect any worth mentioning. I have call’d on Brother Jonathan for this month past our Salt petre bank increases fast. I hope by Spring to make Some quantity. I should have made Some this winter but had no convennant place for my Leaches. It would have been fine work for Seth. The doctor has made Some quantity. Your Trunk that you mentiond. in one of your Letters is not come. Mrs. Greenleaf Schools our children this winter. They learn finly & behave very well. Charles grows finly & is a Sweet fellow. I have been unwell this 3 weaks but am better so that I have been out to day. The rest of our family well but we should injoy our Selves much better if your Ware here which I hope will be Soon. I Long for your return almost five Long months Sence you left home they are very Long to me. In hast your ever affectinate,
Not located.