January 1-December 31, 1781 35

Philip Gover Tho^s Smith & Benj^a Fleetwood was Examined by
Your Excellency they might discover some thing respecting John
Stump loading a Vessel with flour going to New York.

January 24

[Rich'd Dallam, Harford County, to Gov. Lee]

I bought of my Brother Josias Dallam about 600 Bush^ls of
wheat at 7/6 hard money which Price I know he refused & the
Cash p^d down choosing to give me the prefference the money he
wants to comply with a purchase of Land he made for which he
has no rest. Each Partie has so frequently applyd to me that I am
under the necessity of requesting Your Excellency if Possible to
send me this sum as above.

January 24

[Rich'd Dallam, Harford County, to Gov. Lee]

I am exceeding unwilling to be troublesome to your Excellency
but I am so disagreeably situated that I am obliged to give fre-
quent trouble with Letters. Detatchments of Soldiers and Wag-
gons are often passing through this County and their being no
Officers app^d either to furnish Rations or forage the Inhabitants
suffer much thereby, had the Q M^r sufficient supplies of Provisions
to Issue the passage of the Ferry is often such that no time can be
certainly ascertaind for the Journey to Baltimore the nearest Post
for them to get the supplies therefore Very frequently it happens that
a supply is absolutely necessary here & if the Inhabitants do not give
its taken from them and such Certificates left that they obtain noth-
ing for their Property which causes much murmer hav^g myself been
long engaged in the Department of Procuring Provision and almost
every day apply'd to for the payment of Officers Certificates for
Provisions or supplies for Detachment of men &c I indeed am
greatly Burthend With them, This County Labouring under these
disadvantages I can not help giving the Information & asking Your
Excellency to appoint some one to Procure If true The necessary
supplies wanting And If such an Officer is to be appointed I will
take the Liberty to mention M^r Joseph Stiles at Harford Town as
the most proper being conveniently situated & a man who will under
strict justice to the Soldier as well as to the Public.
A Detatchment of 32 Waggons with Captⁿ Browns Artilery
passed a few days agoe and experienced much the Want of Provi-
sion & the Inhabitants have also sufferd thereby I have always made
it a point to give every Assistance in my Power either by supplying
myself or prevailing on others to do it which has much add^d to my
Business & renderd it out of my Power to be as attentive as I might
to other things. The season will cause a greater convenience of
Stores by Land to and from Philadelphia and consequently produce
a greater necessity for a Post be establishd in this County Perhaps
the Issues may not be thought sufficient to justify the Appointment

January 24