Memorial of the First Company of Philadelphia Militia Artillery, 1779.

To His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esqr, President and the Honorable Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

   The Memorial and Petition of the first Company of Philadelphia Militia Artillery, Commanded by Colo. Jehu Eyre, and now stationed at Fort Mifflin.

    Humbly Sheweth,

    That your Petitioners and Memorialists, again call’d out in defence of this State, being ever willing to exert ourselves in behalf of the United States, and this in particular, and to support as much as in us lies, the Virtuous Cause of Freedom and Independency, have once more cheerfully stepped forth in obedience to the Laws of our Country, to act in a Military Capacity.3
    Nevertheless, we humbly beg leave to represent to your Excellency and his Honorable Board, the Circumstances and Grievances attending ourselves and many of our worthy fellow Countrymen, who having uniformly conducted themselves hitherto, are with us, Still determined to exert their utmost Efforts.
    In the Month of July, 1776, We were first call’d forth to Amboy, Elizabethtown, &c., to endeavor to repel the force of a formidable British and Hessian Army then landed., or landing, on Staten Island. We cheerfully attended the call, and associated to stem the Current of their violent Determinations to destroy and ravage this Country; at the same time leaving our families at every risque of distress and hardships, and at the mercy of the disaffected, Inimical, or self Interested; and, we might presume to say, the most Obnoxious part of the Community. Upon the return of most of us (for some died, were killed by accident, or taken prisoners) We found every necessary and convenience of life greatly enhanced in price, and ourselves Caluminated and despised; as having justly merited our loss of Business, &c., by being too forward in takeing an Active part, and bearing Arms. But it was at that time borne with patience, in expectation of redress.
    In the month of December following, when the British Army were attempting by crossing the Jersey State to take possession of this City, we were exhorted on the Commons (by a General at that time much in esteem) to turn out again and support the Army of his Excellency, George Washington, with the most Solemn assurance that those who turn’d out might expect to receive satisfaction & redress in the premises, and Delinquents proportionally pay for their refusal. We, with a number of virtuous Citizens and Countrymen, rushed forth, notwithstanding the Inclemency of the Season, and the Services then perform’d thro’ the Assistance of Divine Providence, and the abilities of our Excellent Commander in Chief in the Defeat of the British and Hessian forces at Trenton and Princeton, are too recent to be recapitulated, and will remain a lasting Memorial of Virtue, Prudence, and Success.
    After a Series of Hardships unusual to Citizens in private life, and not common to Soldiers in the Field, we return’d and found those persons we left behind had again taken Advantage of our Absence, and enormously advanced the prices on every thing; this was encreasing the distress of the Associators, who were treated at the same time with Indignity and Contempt. We had Arms in our hands, and knew the use of them; but instead of avenging ourselves, or retaliating on our Innate and Worse of Enemies, we patiently waited the Interference of the Legislative Authority. We were amused by the promises of Fines, Penalties, &c., on the Delinquents and that the Virtuous, Voluntary Militia would be put on a respectable Footing; but we cannot help observing, that the Militia are Viewed in the most disrespectful light, and few of the Fines then mentioned, or afterwards enacted, but what were artfully evaded so as not to comply with the true End and Intention of such Imposition.
    The Spring, and part of the Summer in the year 1777, pass’d without any Material Circumstances respecting the Militia, except the Law in that Clause provided whereby it was enacted, that Substitutes might be allow’d in Case the rightful Persons did not appear. By this Law, the Designing or disaffected Secur’d themselves by hiring Substitutes, many of whom were not worthy of the Charge as not being Citizens; others deserted, whilst their Employers, by staying behind, were reaping advantage at our Expense, and amassing Fortunes.
    Your Petitioners, apart of the Sufferers (and some of them among the foremost) were, in Septr and part of October, in the year 1777, in public Service as Militia, station’d at Billingsport, while many of our wives and families were in this City, then in possession of the Enemy. Several have lost their All; and when we return’d (as we thought) happily to the City last year, Shortly every Article of life or Convenience was rais’d upon us, Eight, ten or twelve fold at least; and many of us are at a loss to this day what Course or Station of Life to adopt to Support ourselves and Families.
    The Honorable House of Assembly during their last session, have been pleas’d to Enact a Supplement to the Militia Law impowering heavy Fines upon Delinquents not forming in Militia, or, when call’d out on service, which we are Convinced was expected to answer the purpose Intended; but when we consider that Men in these Exorbitant Times can acquire more by Monopolizeing, or by an under Trade, in one Day, than will defray all their Expenses of Fines or Penalties in a whole year. We humbly presume the Midling and poor will still bear the Burden, and either be totally ruin’d by heavy Fines, or Risque the starving of their Families, whilst themselves are fighting the Battles of those who are Avariciously intent on Amassing Wealth by the Destruction of the more virtuous part of the Community.
    These weighty Circumstances being duly considered, Your Petitioners most humbly pray your Excellency and his Honorable Board to state the Facts, and use your Interest with the Honorable House of Assembly at their next Session; either to enact a Law whereby every Delinquent, not turning out in Militia when Legally call’d forth, may be fined in proportion to his Estate; or, otherwise, take of all the Fines and Penalties, and leave it to the Militia who obey the Call to Compell every able Bodied Man to join them in some Station, lest when the Militia are call’d forth, by leaving such numbers of Disaffected in their Rear, they, by pursuing their usual Methods, render our Situation worse than making us prisoners of War.
    And your Petitioners and Memorialists, as in Duty Bound, will Ever Pray.
    Signed at Fort Mifflin, May 12th, 1779.

John McGinly, Cpt. Of Artilary,
William Thorne, Lt. Capt.,
William Robinson, first Lt.,
Samuel Powell, 2d Lieut.,
John Dean, Capt. Engineer,
Samuel Johnson, Qr Mr Serjt.,
John Robbins, 1st Serjt.,
Thos. Mitchell, 2d Serjt.,
William Clayton, 3d Serjt.,
Joseph Carmalt,   )
John Hughs,        (
Conrad Ort,         ) Corporals,
John Greble        (
              ,Drum,
John Waldrick, Fife,
Joseph Fry, Conductor,
Christian Fiss,        )
Henry Bartleson,   (
Edward Riffets,      )
Samuel Stern,        (
George Hess,         ) Bombardiers,
John Barras,          (
John Hoefflein,       )
Jacob Kliutuc, (?)  (
Jacob Baldwin,       )
John Knight, Junr,  (
Peter Grub,            )
Jacob Kinnards,     (
Joseph Govett, Clerk,
Charles Knight,          )
John Cook,               (
Jacob Stats,                ) Matross’s
William Cemp            (
            his                   )
Dedrick X Monsags,  (
          mark                  )
Jonathan Smith,          (
Jacob Sander,
         his
Jacob X Cresman,
       mark
John Doogan,
George McAllen,
Thomas Morris,
David Dickinson
          his
Griffith X Griffiths,
         mark
Archibald Stewart,
Conrad Piggeon,
Andrew Walker,
George Tell,
Josiah Coboon,
Baum Lee, (?)
Alexr. Boyd,
Morres Worrel,
Thomas Griffith,
George Felker.

Indorsement.
    1779, rec’d May 20th. Petition of the first Compy. Of Militia Artillery now at Mud Island, Philadelphia County.

(PA Archives {Colonial Records} 7:392)