52 Journal and Correspondence

August 16
Red Book
No. 26

Letter
No. 73

Ab^t the time I received the publick arms it was thought more safe
to deliver a proportion of them to each of the militia Captains than
to deposit them in a magazine, but as every appearance of danger
with which we were then threatened from the disaffected of this
county appears to be removed. I am of oppinion that it would be
better to collect them together, and hire some person to have them
kept clean and fit for use. I had occasion to order A detachment of
the militia on duty last week, and found the Arms which was repaired
and cleaned a few months pass'd rendered useless by the rust, no
attention is paid to keeping them by the officers who have the care
of them by which means should their be the most pressing call for
them they will be useless and in a short time intirely ruined; I shall
be much oblige to your Excellency to advise me of the propriety of
employing A trusty person to take charge of the magazine, and keep
the Armes cleaned and in order. Ive inclosed the enlistments of
the five men recruited in this County and sent the men up by Cap^t
Dashiell, and inclosed a list of their names. Except Mitchel and
Case which has Deserted

August 17
Red Book
No. 26
Letter
No. 74

[George Dashiell, Som't County, to Gov. Lee]

Sir Since writing you yesterday I am informed by Charles Revel
one of the recruits That Mess^rs John Jones & John Wilkins have
refused to pay him the mony which they contracted with him to
enlist for. This lad was brought before me to pass muster for to
exempt a class of the militia from being ordered on Actual service,
but as the class was composed of a number of reputable persons who
seemed ansious to procure a recruit, I refused him sundry times in
hopes that some person better able than himself would have been
enlisted, but when that could not be Done I pass'd him for that
purpose. The two persons who had contracted with the lad to enlist
contended for a power of Disposing of him to one of the classes
which had not furnished a recruit, which I rejected, and applied
him to the benefit of the class above mentioned, this so exasperated
them that they have refused the payment of the mony which they
agreed to give him, And M^r Wilkins has since his enlistment (he
informs) me taken from him a coat which he gave the lad to enlist,
and a Shirt which he Purchased for one hundred and fifty Dollars
received from M^r Wilkins (in part) Revel is a minor which I appre-
hend renders him incapable of proceeding in a legal manner to
recover agreeable to his contract. The lad was an appretice but a
Discharge was procured from his master before his enlistment, Com-
passion to his tender years, and a sense of Duty to the common
wealth, obliges me to represent the infamous treatment which he
has received.
P. S. As my Brother has promised to write you relative to the
late insurrection in Sussex. I have omited to mention any thing of