1776.] HISTORY OP DELAWARE COUNTY, 295 



hand-s."' On the 1st of August there had been 397 men in 

 this battalion umler j)ay. 



General VV^ashiiigton was obliged to retreat across New 

 Jersey, and was closely followed by the British army. The 

 Roebuck was again in the Bay. Every effort was now made 

 for the defence of Philadelphia, the situation of which had be- 

 come imminently perilous. Troops were mustered into ser- 

 vice, defences were erected, munitions of war were provided, 

 and army supplies were collected from every available quarter. 

 Chester County contributed her full share towards providing 

 for this emergency. 



From a few of the minutes and resolves of the Council 

 of Safety, relating more particularly to Chester County, a 

 good idea may be formed of all the defensive and other mea- 

 sures adopted at this time. 



On the 4th of October, it was resolved '' that Mr. William 

 Evans be desired to purchase all the coarse cloths, blankets, 

 and stockings in Chester County." 



November 14th, " Intelligence was received by express that 

 several hundred transports had sailed ffom New York, & 

 steered their course to the southward k expected to be intended 

 for this city; whereupon the council wrote a circular letter to 

 the commanding officers of the Battalions of Militia, earnestly 

 requesting them to march their respective Battalions to this 

 city immediately." 



'' Ordered, That the owners of cattle and other stock near the 

 river side, make the necessary preparations for removing the 

 same, at least five miles from the river, on the shortest notice, 

 as it is Probable that this board may be under the disagreeable 

 necessity of giving the most preremtory orders for their re- 

 moval, and to see that the same be punctually and suddenly 

 complied with." 



November, 23rd, " Resolved, That the salt now in the posses- 

 sion of the Council of Sufety, be immediately sent to the 

 Committee of the several Counties in the following proportions, 

 to wit: * * * * *" 



The share of Chester County was eighty bushels. 



" The Committees are to sell it to the people at the rate of 

 15s. pr. Bushel, and in no greater quantity than half a bushell 

 to any one family; they are to make as equal distribution as 

 they can, according to the necessities of the people, for which 

 purpose they are to require a declaration of what quantity they 

 are possessed of more than their just proportion of this necessary 

 article, at a time of such very great scarcity of it." 



Dec. 4th. "An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbit in favour of 



' Peuna. Archives, v. 27. 



