Carpenters
Contract
with the
State of Maryland
1792


Scaffold
Be for the general use of all the contractors in finishing
these repairs, but must be taken care of, and returned
to the State on the Completion of the repairs.
 
Carpenter
Apex of dome.  To procure and fix an Iron Staple, in
order to suspend an iron pendant, in the center of the
dome, it must go through the two horizontal beams
that terminate the internal Dome, and have screw
made with washer at top, and shoulder (?) at bottom [drawing]
to each shank, about 3/4 of an inch diameter in
its substance.

Hemispherical part of the dome.  To fill in with pine
scantling (?) of 6 inches by 3 inches , the right flanks,
the superfice (?) of each will measure about 130 feet,
the scantling (?) to be fixed horizontally, as portions, and
not succeeding 12 inches apart; each flank with its appro-
prite (?) to form a semicircle, there is a model presented
for this work, in the present dome; The portion (?) (?)
each be sufficiently nailed to the present angular
timber ribs, and sufficiently staid between each other
in the center, with (?) of the various sizes.

Batter down with 5/4 plank for the center ornamental
apex, which will be about fifty-two inches diameter.

Anta.  To batter out with 5/4 plank for the sight
acute angular domical antae, they will spring from the
top of the caryatic cornice, and terminate at the periphery
of the center ornament, they will each be about 19 feet
long, taper of about 20 inches wide in the center, the
Bottoms about four inches wide, and fixed horizontally at
the portion in the flanks.

To bracket for the cariatic cornice
above the cartouches, which will be set fair, at back, with the
wall; the bracketting will measure will measure on the fair about
130 feet taper.
 
To bracket for the cavitte (?), soffet, and torus, that
support the cartouches, it will measure on the face about 30 feet taper.
Bracketing.  all the bracketing for the plaister
-cornices and mouldings, to be completed with Brackets of
plaister 3/4 of an inch thick, not more than 12 inches apart,
and as many nails of inch plank, nailed to the brackets,
as is necessary to keep them together; In every plancere (?)
the nails to be as wide as it will (?), of 5/4 plank, in order to
drive therein, the (?) of the medillions or cartouches.
To bracket for the mouldings that supports the
Frieze & the cariatic entablature, it will measure on
the face about 30 feet taper.
Carpentry of Dome from the top of the cariatic
entablature down to the cap of the cornice of arc.
The vacancies to be filled in with scantling (?), of 6 inches by
3 inches, it may be secured either by plaining or with nails
at the discretion of the contractor, except at the 16 windows, where
the scantling (?) is to be framed round their apertures; this work
will measure on the face, including the 16 apertures, about
2400 feet taper.
All Batters (?), or parts that shall be fixed in this repair
either in facade, or partitions, are not to exceed in the beat- (?)
=ings for the lathe, or otherwise, 15 inches from middle to middle.
To batter out for sight caryatic plaister, about
20 feet long each, and this average, width, each about 18 inches.

To make and fix eight elliptical sashes, of 8 thickness of
plank, first a pannel 5/4 thick glued up the dimension of
each sash or aperture, wrought and cut, in form of the pannel (?)
elliptical sashes, showing a square barr of one inch, on it to
be glued and nailed a cavetto with fillets (?), on the reverse
side, to be glued, and nailed on, a square barr, forming a
rabbet for the glass, observing to break the grain of the wood,
the form [drawing] the elliptical aperture may be formed with 6/4
plank, on ot to which the sash is to be one side, and the
plaistering on the reverse side, [drawing] the dimension of the
aperture about 4ft6" by 3 feet.

Circular headed sashes.  To make and fix eight circular head
sashes in two heights about 4ft6 inches by ten feet with an ovolo
moulding, double planked (?), with 20 square and 11 circular lights
in each; the circular heads to be fixed, in the apertures, in the
elliptical sashes, as above described, the square part of these
sashes to be fixed in 5/4 pulley pieces, with a square slot (?), (?)
to the circular one, with invide beads (?), and p(?) (?), [drawing]
The sashes are to rest on a sill of 5/4 plank, quite
plane, flush with the stop in front, and with
the bead at the back.

To Bracket for the architrave, of the 8 elliptical
windows, about 90 feet super on the face.
To Bracket for the circular heads of the 8 lower
windows, about 50 feet super on the face, including the key blocks
Ti Bracket for the straight part, blocks
and (?) of the 8 lower window (?ings, about 160 feet
super on the face.
The 24 sashes to be glazed with amelong (?)
both window glaze, and well sprigged, and fitted inside and
outside

Arc

The vacancies in the eight planks to be filled in
with scantling (?), 6 inches by 3 inches, the parts may be ship
lapped and nailed at each end, into the present timber; [drawing]
This work will measure about, 100 feet super.
To Bracket cuts for the cornice, architrave, and
Base of the arch this will measure on the face, about 240 feet super.

Saloon.  Each & West Arch

To fix two pine beams across, directly
above the soffet of each arch, each beam about 32 feet long &
12 inches square, suspended by the north and south walls; To
fill in the vacancies, with scantling 6 by 8, from the curves
of the arches in the vestibule and general court, to their
ceilings.  The scantling capped, and nailed to the beams,
projecting 3 1/4 inches from the beams, 6 by 3, about 30 feet
long each, which are to be capped, and nailed on to the
ceiling (?) of the vestibule and general court; this
work will measure about 900 feet super.
The vacancies above the arches to the east and
west facing each other in the saloon, to be filled in with
scantling, 6 by 3, up to the base of the arc from the curve of the
arches, the scantling may be shiplapped, and nailed above
to the present beams and lapped, and nailed below to the
two new beams, projecting before the beams 3/2 inches
below and flush with the beams above, which will make the
soffet of the arches 19 inches wide; This work will measure
about 1100 feet super.
To form the soffet of the east and west
arches; pieces of scantling, 19 inches long, 3 inches square,
may be lapped; and nailed to the ends of every two pieces of
scantling, that forms the curve of the arches.

To Bracket out to form the north and south arches, with
scantling 3 inches square; the soffets to be formed as before
described: This work will measure, including the
soffets, about 1800 feet super.

To bracket for the architraves &
key blocks, to the two great arches: which will measure
on the face about 200 feet super.
To Bracket for the cove cornice,
which terminates the saloon: which will measure on the
face about 300 feet super.
To Batter with scantling 3 inches
square, the four acute triangular branches of the arches, with
their (?); which reduce the square of the Saloon-to the
octagon of the dome; this work will measure on the
face about 300 feet super.
To Bracket for the entablature of the
highest columns; which will measure on its face about 170 ft super.
To Bracket for four whole and sight
dome columns; the diameter of the columns at their neck is
about 20 inches, (this bracketing is only for the capitals.)
To Bracket for the architrave of
the two Arches; north and south; about 95 ft super on the face.
To Bracket for the entablature
of the frontispiece, to north & south entrances to the wall holes
about 90 feet super on the face.
To Bracket for the Capitals, and
Bases of four 3/4 Columns, and four 1/4 pilasters, for the frontis/s,
to the north & south entrances to the wall hole; the Columns
about 16 inches diameter, at this neck.
To Bracket for the Architrave
Blocks, and key blocks of the north and south entrances;
about 50 feet super.
To Batter out with 5/4 plank the north
and south breaks (?) of entrances; about 250 ft super.
To run two needles through each of the
north and south brick walls, supported with props from the
floor of the saloon and gallery floors in order to put in each
wall a piece of timber, about 16 feet long 14 inches by 12 inches,
directly above the soffet of the arch in the Galleries, which
are to be cut to 12 feet diameter; when the needles are
drawn, the holes must be (?), with Bricks and mortar,
which are to be cut through the walls, to let in the
needles.
To make six ribs, each of two thickness
of inch plank nailed together; 3 of them to be fixed to form each
arch, in the galleries, the ribs to be laid together, by nailing them
every 15 inches in their soffets, to pieces of scanting 3 inches
square.
To take down with care all the
present columns and demi columns, and the partitions
that form the Vestibule, Saloon, and General Court,
and all the other present work in the Saloon.
To select, alter, repair, and fix
of the present columns, pedestals, and mouldings,
four 3/4 columns, with their pedestals, and mouldings, for the
north and south Frontispieces; the pedestals are
to be panneled ovolo raised.
To select, repair, and fix, of the
present Base, import and plinth (?), about 60ft (?)
to form the dado, on north and south walls.
To prepare and fix the shafts of four whole, and sight dome
columns, about 21 feet long, 24 inches diameter at their base,  they are
to be solid of pine, or poplar, bored through 4 inches diameter,
They are to be wrought with planes, taper, and swelled.
To cut wider the present north and south
entrances to the wall holes, about 8 inches on each limb(?)
To batter up, the two present apertures, that
look (?) from the saloon into the wall holes, on both sides with
scantling. 6/3
To fix four whole and eight dome Locks, Plinths
and Bases, to the four whole and eight dome tallest Columns; The
whole (?) about 28 inches square, 12 inches high, got out of 3 inch pine (?)
miter(?) dovetailed together; The Plinths about 27 inches square, 4 inches high,
got out of the pine scantling "6/4", miter (?) dovetailed together; supported by bridg=
=ings formed into the (?); The Bases about 27 inches diameters,
turned out of solid pine timber, bored through the center about 4 inches
aperture, ground on their upper side, one inch wide, and one inch
deep, for the columns to lean (?) into, supported by bridgings formed
into the Plinths.
All the repairs shall be done in a masterly man=
=ner, to the full satisfaction of His Excellency the Governor, and the
Honourable Council, agreeable with the Design and their par=
=ticulars, and under the Direction of Mr Joseph Clark, the
supervisor or any other Supervisor that may be approved by the Governor and the Council and exactly with such reduced
drawings, and directions as he shall make, consistent
with the particulars; the Contractor copying all drawings
And particulars for their own use
for the consideration of Five Hundred
Pounds current money, to be paid by
the State of Maryland
In such weekly sales (?) as the Supervisor shall judge due
in proportion to the execution of the whole work; and his
Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Council also shall
advance at any time to the person contracting such sums
of money part of the aforesaid Five Hundred
Pounds, as the Supervisor may deem necessary for the
purchase of Materials for the execution of the said work.
Should there be any alterations, either by additions
or subtractions, from the work as is herein recited; they shall
have no effect in any manner to later this agreement, But to
be paid for in proportion in additions, or deducted from in
subtractions, from the aforesaid agreed for sum of Five
Hundred Pounds
Such a number of hands as may be thought necessary for carrying on and executing the said work as Mr. Joseph Clark or any other Supervisor appointed by the Governor and the
Council shall deem necessary and expedient shall from time to time be employed and kept at work and the work kept in such forward (?) so as not to delay or in any way impede the plaisterers work.  That if the person contracting
shall at any time refuse or neglect to comply with the intent and hearing (?) of the aforesaid articles every part thereof that from there forward the Governor and the Council shall be at liberty to discharge him from their employ.
Mr. William Gilmour the contractor, and John Shaw the Security
Carpenter of the City of Annapolis hereby acknowledge ourselve bound unto the
State of Maryland in the full sum of Five Hundred Pounds to fulfill
and comply with this Contract, and in Testimony thereof we
have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seal this 24th
day of July Seventeen Hundred and ninety two.

Sealed and delivered in                             [signed] Wm Gilmour
presence of

[signed]                                                   [signed] John Shaw
T. Johnson, Jr.
 

Done in Council this 24th day of July 1792.
On behalf of the State of Maryland
By order of the Council,
[signed] T. Johnson, Jr.