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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1781
The following members attended from the State of
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Their credentials being read, Congress proceeded to the election of a President; and the ballots being taken, the honble. John Hanson was elected.
Credentials of delegates from the States of Newhampshire to Georgia inclusive (New York excepted) read in Congress November 5th, 1781.1
[Note 1: 1 Beginning with this day, the credentials were no longer spread upon the Journals, but were entered in a separate book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, Record of Credentials.
The originals of the credentials read this day are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Credentials of Delegates.]
State Of New Hampshire
In Council January 18th. 1781
Whereas by a Vote of the Council and Assembly of this State of the 27th. of June last the Honble. Majr General John Sullivan and George Atkinson Esqr were chosen Delegates to represent this State in the Continental Congress for the Term of one year from and after the first day of November then next. Since which time the said George Atkinson Esqr hath declined to accept of said trust. And it appearing Necessary that there should be two Delegates from this State at Congress as much of the time as possible.
Therefore, Voted that Samuel Livermore and Benjamin Bellows Esqrs. be, and they hereby are chosen Delegates to represent this State in Congress for the Term of one year from the date hereof unless sooner recalled or relieved by order of this State with all the powers and privileges heretofore given to any Delegates of this State at Congress. One of them as they shall agree to repair to Congress as soon as may be. And whenever General Sullivan (now at Congress) shall signify his desire of returning home, or should be recalled by
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order of this State, That then the other of said Delegates Imediately go forward and supply his place. And the said John Sullivan, Samuel Livermore and Benjamin Bellows, or either of them or any Two of them, in the absence of the other, or others, are hereby fully authorized and impowered to appear as agent, or agents for this State before Congress or any Court or Commissioners appointed by Congress, to hear and determine any or all the disputes between New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts and the Inhabitants of a certain district known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants.
Sent down for Concurrence. E. Thompson Secry
In the house of Representatives Janry 19th. 1781
The foregoing Vote was read and Concurred.
Wm. Whipple Speakr P T
Copy Examin'd by E. Thompson Secry
[Massachusetts]
Council Chamber June 25th. 1781
Sir
I am directed to Inform you of your Election on Friday last, by the joint Ballot of the Honble Senate and House of Representatives as a Delegate to serve in Congress of the United States for one Year, to commence on the first Monday of November next
I am Sir with every Sentiment of esteem Your Honors very humble Servt.
John Avery Secy
Honble James Lovell Esqr.1
[Note 1: 1 The same credentials, mutatis mutandis, to George Partridge and Samuel Osgood.]
State Of Rhode Island And Providence Plantations
I certify That at the annual Election of Officers for the State aforesaid held at Newport on the First Wednesday in May last The Hon'ble William Ellery, Ezekiel Cornell, Daniel Mowry and James Mitchel Varnum Esquires were chosen Delegates to represent the said State in the Congress of the United States of America for One Year.
Witness my Hand this Thirtieth
Day of June A. D. 1781 and in
the Fifth Year of Independence.
Henry Ward Secry
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At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut holden at Hartford in said State on the second Thursday of May A Dom 1781.
This day being appointed by the Law of this State for the Choice of Delegates to represent this State at the Congress of the Seal United States Proclamation was now made and then the Votes of the Freemen were given in to the Persons appointed by the Assembly to receive Sort and count them and declare the Names of the Persons legally Chosen to the Office aforementioned, which Persons so appointed were Abraham Davenport Esqr. Mr Chester, Capt Parsons Colo Worthington Doctr Mead Mr. Felck and Mr. Hezekiah Fitch who were sworn to a faithfull Discharge of that Trust.
And the votes of the Freemen being brought in sorted and Counted Samuel Huntington Esqr., Oliver Elsworth Esqr. Richard Law Esqr., Oliver Wolcott Esqr. Jesse Root Esqr. Benjamin Huntington Esqr., Andrew Adams Esqr. were elected and publickly declared to be Delegates, to represent this State in the Congress of the United States according to Law.
A true Copy from the public
Records of the State of Connecticut
Examind.
By George Wyllys Secrety.
State of New Jersey Novr. 2d. 1781
The Council and Assembly met in Joint Meeting at Trenton, and proceeded to the election of five Delegates to represent this State in Congress and the Votes being taken, The honorable
Abraham Clark
William Churchill Houston
Jonathan Elmer
Elias Boudinot and
Silas Condict Esquires were duly elected.
Resolved therefore That the said Abraham Clark, William Churchill Houston, Jonathan Elmer, Elias Boudinot and Silas Condict Esquires, or any two or more of them be impowered to represent and vote in behalf of this State in the Congress of the United States of North America from the fifth day of November next until the fifth day of November in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty two, unless a new Appointment shall sooner take place. It is Nevertheless expected that three of the Delegates do constantly attend in Congress unless prevented by sickness or other accident.
By Order of Joint Meeting
Jno. Stevens, Chairman.
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State Of Pennslyvania.
In General Assembly,
Thursday 23d. November 1780 A.M.
Resolved, That the number of Delegates to represent this State in Congress, for the ensuing year, be five.
The House then proceeded to the election of the Delegates aforesaid; and the ballots being taken it appeared, that the honorable Joseph Montgomery, Samuel Atlee, George Clymer, Henry Wynkoop and Thomas Smith, (of the county of Bedford) Esquires, were duly elected and chosen.
Extract from the Minutes,
Samuel Sterett, Clerk.
In the general assembly of the
Delaware State, at New Castle,
Saturday, A.M. February 10. 1781.
The Council and House of Assembly, having met in the State-House, agreeable to the Order of the Day, proceeded, by joint Ballot, to the Election of Delegates to represent this State in the Congress of the United States of America, for the ensuing year, and the Box containing the Ballots being examined, The Honorable Thomas Rodney, Thomas Mc.Kean and Nicholas Vandyke, Esquires, are declared duly elected.
Extract from the Minutes,
Jas Booth Clk of Assembly1
[Note 1: 1 Delaware is not mentioned in the Journal as attending November 5, but the credentials are entered in the Papers of the Continental Congress No. 179, Record of Credentials, as having been read on that day.]
Maryland, Annapolis 3 Feb. 1781.
We hereby certify that John Hanson, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll and Richard Potts Esquires are elected Delegates to represent this State in Congress for the Year One thousand seven hundred and Eighty one.
Ja. Maccubbin Cl. Sen.
F. Green Cl Ho Del.
Virginia to wit,
In General Assembly
Thursday the 14th. June 1781.
Resolved that James Madison, Edmund Randolph, Joseph Jones, Theodorick Bland and John Blair Esquires be appointed Delegates to represent this Commonwealth in Congress, for one Year from the first
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Monday in November next; they having been so elected by joint ballot of both Houses of Assembly.
(Signed) Archibald Cary Sp: Senate
Benjamin Harrison Sp: H. D.
A Copy,
John Beckley C. H. D.
The State of North Carolina to William Sharpe Samuel Johnston Ephraim Brevard and Benjamin Hawkins esquires
Whereas it appears on Record that you the said William Sharpe, Samuel Johnston, Ephraim Brevard and Benjamin Hawkins at a Session of the General Assembly held at Wake Court House in the said State in the Months of June and July in this present Year were each of you duly elected Delegates for one Year to represent the said State in the Congress of the United States of America: that is to say you the said William Sharpe, Samuel Johnston and Ephraim Brevard on the twelfth day of July and you the said Benjamin Hawkins on the Fourteenth day of the same month.
These are therefore to make known, that you the said William Sharpe, Samuel Johnston, Ephraim Brevard and Benjamin Hawkins or any two or more of you are fully and duly authorised as Delegates to represent the said State for one year from the date of your Election when and wheresoever the said United States shall assemble or be assembled in Congress, and to advise, confer, debate, resolve and determine for and in behalf of the said State upon all matters and things which shall come before the said United States in Congress assembled agreably to the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union made and ratified between the said United States and not inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws of the Said State of North Carolina.
Witness Thomas Burke esquire, Governor, Captain General and Commander in Chief of the Said State under his Hand and the Great Seal of the Said State at Williamsborough in the County of Granville the thirteenth day of August Anno Dom 1781, and in the Sixth Year of our Independence.
Thos Burke
[With the Great Seal appendant]
By His Excellency's Command
Jno. Huske, Secretary.
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South Carolina.
By his Excellency John Rutledge, Esquire, Governor and Commander in chief of the said State.
To the Honorable Henry Laurens, Arthur Middleton, John Mathewes, Thomas Bee, Francis Kinloch, Isaac Motte and Nicholas Eveleigh Esquires, Greeting,
Know ye, that by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council and by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, by the Constitution of this State, and by an Ordinance entitled "an Ordinance for the better Security and Defence of this State during the recess of the General Assembly," I have Constituted and Appointed, and, by these presents, do Constitute and Appoint, you the said Henry Laurens, Arthur Middleton, John Mathewes, Thomas Bee, Francis Kinloch, Isaac Metre and Nicholas Eveleigh, Delegates of this State to the Honorable Continental Congress, to meet in Congress on the first Monday in November next--hereby authorizing and empowering You, or any Two of You, to represent this State, in the said Congress, for One Year next ensuing the Day abovementioned, unless you, or any of you, shall be recalled, and Others nominated, in the room of such of you as shall be recalled, within that time, by the Legislative or Executive Authority of this State--In which case, this Nomination shall thereupon Cease, as to Such of You as shall be so recalled.--And I do hereby Grant to You, or any Two of You, as Delegates aforesaid, every Power and Authority, which it may be requisite or necessary, for a Member in Congress to Have or Exercise, as fully to all intents and purposes, as if the same was herein specially and particularly set forth.
Given under my Hand, and the Great Seal, at the High hills of Santee, this fourth day of October, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty One, and in the Sixth Year of American Independence.
J. Rutledge. Seal
State of Georgia.
[Signed]
Nathan Brownson,
[with the great seal appendant,]
The People of the State of Georgia, by the Grace of God Free and Independent To all to whom these presents shall come, send Greeting
Whereas the General Assembly did at their last Meeting held at Augusta in the County of Richmond in the said State on the Seventeenth
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day of August Instant, nominate and appoint the Honorable Edward Telfair, Noble Wimberly Jones, William Few and Samuel Stirk Esqrs. to represent the same in the Assembly of the United States of America in General Congress, to continue in Office until the first Tuesday in January Next, and from thence until others shall be legally appointed. Now therefore know ye that in pursuance of such nomination and appointment, We do by these presents, Commissionate the said Edward Telfair, Noble Wimberly Jones, William Few, and Samuel Stirk Esqrs. Delegates to represent this our State, in the said General Assembly of the United States of America in Congress assembled, and do hereby authorize them, and each of them, to hold, and exercise, all the powers and Authorities to the Office, or place of Delegate belonging, by virtue of the Constitution of this State, the Confederation of the United States, and the Nomination and Appointment aforesaid, In Testimony whereof we have caused the Great Seal of this our State to be hereunto affixed. Witness Nathan Brownson Esq. Captain general Governor and Commander in Chief of the said State at Augusta the Twenty Seventh day of August in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Eighty one, and in the Sixth Year of our Independence.
A letter, of 27 October, from General Washington, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, X, folio 309. It is printed in The Writings of Washington (Ford), IX, 393.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the delegates of Georgia.
A letter, of August 9th, from J. de Neuville & Sons, was read, with sundry papers enclosed:
Ordered, That they be referred to the secretary of foreign affairs.
A letter, of 19 October, from the Count de Grasse, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 A letter of November 1st from Major General Heath was read, the indorsement states. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 157, folio 375.
The Journal no longer records the fact of adjournment, or of committee appointments. Beginning with this date, the committee appointments are entered in a book kept for that purpose: Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 186, Committee Book.]
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