March 9, 1776

It is agreed between Joseph Simons & William Henry of Lancaster merchants, on the one part & Robert Treat Paine James Wilson Samuel Huntington Francis Lightfoot Lee & Lewis Morris Esqrs. a committee appointed by Congress to contract for the making musketts & bayonetts in behalf & for the use of the united Colonies on the other part; that the said Joseph Simons & William Henry shall sett up & carry on the manufacture of musketts & bayonetts of the following dimensions vizt. the barrells forty 1 inches long, the bore full large enough for an ounce ball, the bayonet to be steeled & 2 inches long in the blade, the ramrod steel, the lower pipe trumpet mouthed & a spring in it, black Walnut stocks, or any other wood equally proper, brass mounted; double bridled sufficient locks; & swivels for slings; and procure as many such musketts to be made at or near said Lancaster, from time to time as they are made, for the use of the united Colonies. And the said Robert Treat Paine James Wilson Samuel Huntington Francis Lightfoot Lee & Lewis Morris in behalf of said Congress agree with the said Joseph Simons & William Henry that they shall be paid by Congress for each & every such muskett as shall be made & delivered as aforsaid the sum of eleven dollars & one third of a dollar, & also five per cent commissions for their care & trouble in setting up & carrying on said manufacture.

Dft. , unsigned.

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Philada. March 9th 1776 Sr.,

The Congress have appointed a Cmttee. to Contract for the making Musketts & bayonetts, in persuance of wch. they have agreed with Ebenezer Cowel to carry on the manufacture of gunlocks for the use of 178the united Colonies & have advanced him 267 Dollars & he is to be paid Weekly for all the good substantial double bridled gunlocks he shall make & deliver. This makes it necessary that there should be some person in Trenton who will recieve the said gunlocks as they are made & pay Mr. Cowell the money due for them; upon Enquiry it was strongly recomended to us to make application to you to undertake this business. You will please to let us know as soon as may be your inclination in the matter that we may supply you with a Sum of money for the said purpose. I am yr. hble. Servt.

RTP by order of sd. Cmttee.

Dft. ; internal address: “To Abraham Hunt Esqr. at Trenton”; endorsed.