1776.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 289 



Provincial troops were rapidly recruited and organized along 

 the river — so rapidly lliat, upon a representation made by (Jul. 

 Miles, " that there is not a sufficient number of houses in or 

 about the towns of Chester & Marcus Hook, to quarter the 

 troops now raising for the defence of this Province," the Com- 

 mittee of Safety on the loth of April RcHoloed^ "that Col. 

 Miles do procure for the use of the said troops, 100 good tents, 

 on the most reasonable terms in his power." 



On the 17th of April, upon the application of Caleb Davis, 

 an order for £1500 was drawn by the Committee of Safety in 

 favor of the Commissioners and Assessors of Chester County, 

 "for the payment oi firelocks, kc, made in that County for the 

 use of the Province." 



An application was made to the Committee of Safety by the 

 Chester County Committee, for 850 lbs. of powder, in addition 

 to the 400 lbs. on. hand, and lead enough for the whole, and 

 also for 1500 flints, to be distributed among the Associators, 

 "in order to supply them with 28 rounds per man." This 

 supply was to be sent to the care of Nicholas Fairlamb.' 



The Committee had judged rightly of the danger to be appre- 

 hended from armed vessels coming up the Delaware. " In con- 

 sequence of intelligence received on the 29th of April, that the 

 Roebuck Man-of-war is aground upon Brandywine [shoals], 

 Capt. Reed was ordered with the provincial Ship Montgomery, 

 to proceed down the river and Bay, and join the Commodore 

 who is already on his way, with the armed Boats, in order to 

 take or destroy her * * * " 



The Provincials had quite a fleet of armed boats and other 

 craft on the river at this time. A list with the number of men 

 on each, made up to the first of May, is as follows : 



The Roebuck was a vessel of 44 guns. She succeeded in 

 getting from her perilous situation without being captured. 

 There was also another British war vessel in the Bay — the 

 Liverpool of 28 guns — which likewise escaped, but the presence 



' Penna. Archives, iv. 730. 



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