| PA State Archives | Hours, Directions, & Fees | Research Topics | Online Catalog | Land Records |
Pennsylvania Historical
and Museum Commission
Bureau of Archives and History
Pennsylvania State Archives
County Officer's Accounts,
1782-1809
(17 boxes)
Digitized Rolls #5487-5509
{series #4.12} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by county and thereunder by surname of county officer.
Account records of payments authorized by the Comptroller General's office for services rendered by such county officers as sheriffs, prothonotaries, and clerks of court or by orders of the county court of quarter sessions or other courts. Among these are lists of fines and forfeitures imposed upon defendants in the court of quarter sessions for the peace in the county or other county courts. Information generally provided in the account precords is the date the payment was authorized by the county commissioners, amount of payment, name and office held by person receiving payment, signatures of the commisioners authorizing payment, signature of the State Treasurer, and date payment was recorded in the Register General's Office. The lists of the fines and forfeitures incurred generaly give the name of the county sheriff, names of the persons fined, nature of the offense, when offense occurred, amount of fine, and remarks. Also found are account papers for payment of expenses incurred for transporting election return results.
County Tax Accounts,
1781-1808.
(12 boxes)
{series #4.13} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by county.
Counties are indexed within a separate ledger with page numbers, corresponding
to a larger account book, listed to right of each county.
A record of county tax accounts. Information about each county includes detailed
quotas of taxes owed by each county, listing of effective supplies and the amount
of taxes paid in each county. Also documented within the county records are
the names of various taxpayers, the amount of land they held and the taxes paid
upon it, the date taxes were received and the amount still owed. Records document
carriage, land, funding, excise, and supply taxes paid by each county.
Court of Admiralty Accounts,
1779-1786.
(1 folder)
{series #4.14} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
This series contains account sheets filed with the Comptroller General, which
record fees received by the Court of Admiralty in Philadelphia. Included in
these records are the names of ships, their port of origin, and the names of
their commanders. The reasons for the fees imposed, the amount of the fees,
and the date which they were collected are also listed. Each account sheet is
arranged chronologically by the date which fees were collected.
Day Book of General Benedict Arnold,
1777-1779.
(1 volume)
{series #4.15} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by year of expenditure.
A day book kept by General Benedict Arnold for expenditures incurred during
several of his campaigns. Entries provide the names of officers who spent money,
to whom money was given, and the amount of money spent. Most persons who received
or spent money were officers under Arnold's command. Money spent for supply
and repair is also accounted for various ships.
Pages one, two, five and six of the day book are missing.
Delaware River Fortification Accounts,
1775-1798.
(1 box)
{series #4.16} [Holdings]
Accounts are arranged by specific fortification, although not alphabetically.
This series contains information about the following Delaware Rive fortifications:
Fort Miflin, Billingsport and Redbank, and Mud Island. Information about each
fortification includes an account of wages paid to laborers, the names of the
laborers, and the dates on which the labor was performed. The receipt books
of payments to laborers are arranged chronologically by the date of payment.
Also included in this series are detailed receipts for goods bought to supply
of the fortifications.
Depreciation Certificate Accounts,
1781-1792.
(16 boxes, 9 volumes)
{series #4.17} [Holdings]
Grouped by military unit, and thereunder arranged alphabetically by surname
of soldier.
Contained within the accounts files are dated Depreciation Interest Certificates,
1782-1787, which normally list the name and rank of the soldier, the military
organization to which he was attached, and the amount of the interest. A published
account of this record appears in "Pennsylvania Archives," Fifth Series, Volume
IV.
Forfeited Estate Accounts,
1777-1809.
(3 boxes)
{series #4.19} [Holdings]
Grouped according to volumes: General accounts, alphabetically by county, and
alphabetically by the surname of person whose land was forfeit.
A record of persons whose estates were seized because of their allegiance to
the British crown during the Revolutionary War, and for other sundry reasons.
Data provided by this series about each forfeited estate includes date of seizure
by the state, name of the owner, and appraisal of the goods on the estate. Names
of purchasers of seized goods and the prices they paid at auction are listed,
as well as the date of sale. Additionally, the series contains records from
the justices of the peace and the supreme court for fees imposed for administering
the oath of allegiance, and court orders for payment of funds to sundry persons
from the various forfeited estates. Names of the agents of forfeiture for each
county are also included along with their receipts for expenditures, and the
amount of money they delivered to the treasury from the seized estates.
Forms,
1783-1784.
(1 box)
{series #4.95} [Holdings]
Unnarranged.
Two blank forms, one for a person to take out a bond in promise to complete an obligation, the other used to record a debt incurred by the State of Pennsylvania to a person with interest and term of the debt specified.
Funded and Unfunded Debt Accounts,
1790-1809.
(3 boxes)
{series #4.20} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
This series contains numerous folios, with detailed information, relating to
the debt of the Commonwealth. Contained within these records are accounts of
depreciation certificates, when they were received, and when they were redeemed;
specified interest rates and interest paid on funded depreciation, debt and
militia certificates. The names of those persons possessing funded depreciation,
debt, or militia certificates can frequently be found, and the date of purchase
of those certificates. Also included in this series are original debt certificates
which give the name of the purchaser, the date purchased, and the amount of
the certificate.
General Correspondence,
1776-1809.
(15 boxes)
{series #4.21} [Holdings]
The General Correspondence has a rather complex arrangement. For the most part,
it is arranged chronologically by the month, day and year letters were written.
If there is no date for when they were written, letters are filed by the month,
day and year they were received by the Comptroller General. Records that do
not note the day they were written or received are filed at the end of the month
and year they are dated. If only the year the record was written or received
is known, it is filed after December 31 for that year. Copies of records are
filed by the date they were copied. If there is no copy date, they are filed
under the date of they were received. Correspondence lacking dates entirely
is filed under "no date" [n.d.]. If the correspondence was addressed to a Comptroller
General, they are filed at the end of his term(s) of office. Undated records
without addresses are filed in the back of carton 15.
This series includes letters. reports, notes, drafts of letters and accounts,
and copies of taxation acts dating from 1776-1809. The majority of the correspondence
comes from county tax collectors, other county or militia officers, and state
officers asking for the reimbursement of outstanding bills or explaining why
their accounts are late or out of order. Also included is correspondence from
the U.S. Congress, the Commonwealth Assembly, and the Council of Censors. These
letters include requests for payments to various officials, bills for services
provided by laborers, and requests for account books to be audited. Extracts
from minutes of the Pennsylvania Assembly, Congress, and Council of Censors
regarding expenditures, receipts, and orders of payment affecting the Comptroller
General are also included. Miscellaneous letters from taxpayers regarding their
inability to pay and questioning the rate at which they were taxed, as well
as letters from soldier's widows who never received their husbands pay are also
contained within this series.
Index to Ledger AA,
1777-1788.
(1 volume)
{series #4.22} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter of surname of account holder.
This volume gives the names of account holders in Ledger AA {series #4.26}.
Page numbers on which their account information is given in Ledger AA is listed
to the right of each name.
Indexes to
Ledgers,
1775-[ca. 1889].
(3 volumes)
{series #4.18} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter in name of account, and thereunder
arranged chrono-numerically according to date of entry.
Three indexes to unspecified ledgers. Information provided by each entry is the account name and a page number. Accounts listed in the first volume, which covers the period 1775 through 1783, include the Auditors of Philadelphia County, York County, Lancaster County, Northampton County, Berks County, Bucks County, Bedford County, Northumberland County, Samuel Attlee, Jacob Arndt, John Agnew, the Committee of Assembly, Major General John Armstrons, and Army Subscriptions for Recruiting. The second volume, ca. 1781, indexes accounts from N through Z, such as James Neisbet, James Navil, John Nagle, Peter Nagle, William Old and Jacob Zoll. The third volume, dating ca. 1781-1789 and emblazoned on the front cover with a large letter "B", is grouped by first letter of surname, and thereunder into categories by second letter. It contains entries for accounts such as Jacob Arndt (militia fines, taxes of 1781-1789), John Agnew, William R. Attlee, the Assembly, Sub-Lieutenant Joshua Anderson, the Bank of North America, Captain Ephraim Allen, and Captain Arthur Andrew. It is doubtful that the two indices are related to each other. This series was originally part of an unascribed group of volumes known as "Unidentified Indexes". It is the descriptive staff's best estimate that this series pertains to RG-2, the Records of the Auditor General. However, due to the close relationship and related provenance of records of other early financial officials, it is conceivable that they may instead pertain to records of the Comptroller General (RG-4), Register General (RG-24), State Treasurer (RG-28) or Secretary of the Commonwealth (RG-26) or Commonwealth Land Office (RG-17).
Indian Commissioners' Account Book,
1784-1785.
(1 volume)
{series #4.94} [Holdings]
Arranged variously.
A handwritten ledger (labeled "Miscellaneous - 1784" on the cover)
concerning the trade goods handed over to Indians at Fort Stanwix and other
posts during the period 1784-1785 in return for lands in Pennsylvania. The pages
of this volume are not themselves numbered, but numbers have been assigned for
identification purposes to all pages except the covers. There appear originally
to have been 92 pages, and 70 of these pages (the majority unwritten upon) remain
intact. The 20 written pages in the volume include an inventory of the goods
and articles delivered to the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix by Griffith Evans
in October, 1784; and an inventory of articles delivered to the Wyandot and
Delaware Indian nations at Fort McIntosh by Evans in January, 1785. Included
also are financial accounts of Samuel John Atlee, William Maclay and Francis
Johnston, who were Indian Commissioners for Pennsylvania; Griffith Evans, Secretary
to the Indian Commissioners; and one James O'Hara, who was involved in the delivery
of Indian goods. The "Miscellaneous - 1784" label pasted on the front
cover of the volume is identical, including the handwriting, to the style of
other labels on certain volumes in the Pennsylvania State Archives' Record Group
28, Records of the Treasury Department. The evidence indicates that this account
book was once among the records in the State Treasurer's office but later, for
reasons unknown, passed out of State custody. Thus, it was presented to the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1970 by the Historical Society
of York County. The 20 written pages in this volume are pages [7-11], [15-16],
[18], [39-42] and [46-53], while the pages of which only the stubs remain are
pages [19-38] and [43-44]. On page [18] is the statement "Here follows
a State of the Cash Accounts," apparently referring originally to the immediately
following pages. Of the stubs, only four bear writing: [19], [21], [23] and
[28] and two of these show abbreviations that seem to correspond with months
of the year.
Indian Commissioners' Accounts,
1784-1792.
(1 box)
{series #4.23} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Contains an inventory of goods delivered to various Indian nations in the Commonwealth,
as well as promissory notes to these nations for the purchase of land from them.
The financial records of the Indian Commissioners for Pennsylvania are also
included in this series. These records contain accounts, bills, and receipts
of money spent on goods for the Commissioners; and a general record of expenses
incurred by the Commissioners during their tenure.
Internal Improvements File, Consisting of Accounts and Papers
Relating to Canal and Navigation Companies, Roads and Turnpikes, River Improvements,
Public Buildings, and Bridge Companies,
1777-1809.
(3 boxes)
{series #4.24} [Holdings]
Grouped according to specific construction project and thereunder chronologically
by the year in which the improvement was made.
This series includes account ledgers and receipt books of supplies bought for
the various internal improvements. The names of the commissioners presiding
over the building projects are given as well as the names of some suppliers,
the quantity of goods bought, and the amount paid. Pay schedules for workers
are sometimes included and show the name of the laborer, occupation, and rate
of pay. Specific accounts for improvement of the Philadelphia Courthouse to
accommodate Congress, the building of the President's mansion, and the costs
for moving the seat of the Commonwealth's government from Philadelphia to Lancaster
are also included in this series. River survey accounts for improvements include
the Delaware, Juniata, Lehigh, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna. General survey accounts
of eastern and western waterways are also in the volumes containing accounts
for the construction of roads, information is listed alphabetically according
to the town of the road's origination. These account books provide the name
of the county where the road is being built, its cost, and sometimes the laborers
involved in construction.
Journals,
1799-1808
(2 volumes)
{series #4.25} [Holdings]
Grouped by year warrants or vouchers were issued.
Please note that the Journal containing pages 1-728 could not be located and
was probably lost over time.
This series consists of two journals which record the warrants issued by the
Comptroller Generals Office during the above listed dates. Entries for each
warrant might show the name of the person receiving the warrant and the position
he held in the state government or the military. Typical persons to whom warrants
were issued include judges, assemblymen, councilors, militia officers, county
tax collector, sheriffs and various laborers of the state. Other expenses recorded
in these warrant entries included payment of interest on the funded debt and
pensions to widows of the Pennsylvania Line.
Journals A-AAA,
1775-1790.
(3 volumes)
{series #4.26} [Holdings]
Grouped by year that transactions occurred.
A record relating to the payment and settlement of public money kept for the
purpose of auditing, liquidating and adjusting Commonwealth accounts. Although
the entries are dated from 1775-1790, the actual books were probably compiled
between 1790 and 1792 for auditing purposes. Entries relate to expenses, revenue,
taxes, fines and transactions of county officials. Information provided includes
a description of each transaction, the amounts involved, the page numbers of
the corresponding entries in Ledgers A-AA, 1775-1788 {series
#4.27}.
Ledgers A-AA,
1775-1788.
(2 volumes)
{series #4.27} [Holdings]
Grouped according to the year which transaction occurred.
A record relating to the payment and settlement of public money, kept for the
purpose of auditing, liquidating and adjusting Commonwealth accounts. Although
the ledgers record transactions dating form 1775-1788, they were most likely
created between 1790 and 1792 to aid in auditing. Types of accounts represented
include general expenditures and revenues, taxes, fines, and transactions of
county officials. Information given for each transaction includes name of account,
amount paid or received, page number of the corresponding entry in Journals
AAA, 1775-1790 {series #4.26}, and what is probably the number of a
related warrant which no longer exists.
Letter Books and Indexes,
1782-1786, 1788-1803.
(6 volumes)
{series #4.28} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date letters were sent (May 6,1782 - July 12, 1803).
Each volume is indexed alphabetically according to recipient.
These volumes contain outgoing letters of the Comptroller General. Information
in the letters might relate to matters regarding the settlement of accounts,
collection of taxes and financial matters of the state, reports to the General
Assembly, duties on slaves, Pennsylvania's quota of the national debt, salaries
of government officials, and state debt.
Correspondence about such matters was sent to private citizens and government
and military officials on the local, state, and national level. Notable government
officials and bodies to whom correspondence was sent include the Supreme Executive
Council, federal treasury officers, county tax collectors, the General Assembly,
and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Letter Book, Accounts, and Related Records of the Auditors
of Accounts for the State,
1777-1784.
(4 boxes)
{series #4.29} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
This series contains auditors accounts for the various state departments. Information
in these files includes tax lists, receipts, vouchers, and accounts of money
owed Pennsylvania by the federal government. Other notable items are an indentured
servant contract and detailed records of judicial fees. Also included in this
series are letter books and cash books regarding specific accounts which the
auditors were attempting to settle. Depreciation interest books contain records
of certificates issued to soldiers. The names, ranks, and regiments of the soldiers
can be found therein. Other related files in this series include accounts of
the Barrackmaster of Philadelphia, the Superintendent of the Salt Works in Dover,
New Jersey, the General Assembly departmental accounts, accounts of the Secretary
of the Supreme Executive Council, audits of public accounts, and state taxes
cash book. Included in these volumes might be accounts collected and owed within
the commonwealth, detailed accounts of expenditures, ledgers containing payment
records to various individuals, and account vouchers and receipts.
List of Printed Accounts in the Comptroller General's Office,
undated.
(1 volume)
{series #4.30} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
A listing of the names of treasurers, tax collectors, lieutenants, and sub-lieutenants
of various counties, and the counties which they served. Although it is unknown
when this volume was compiled, the dates of accounts include the years 1777-1789.
Memoranda of Account Book,
1791.
(1 volume)
{series #4.31} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
This appears to be a listing of names of accounts. No information is given about
the accounts and the type of business being documented except the names, which
tend to be illegible.
Memoranda Book,
1791.
(1 volume)
{series #4.32} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter of surname of account holder.
A list of people who owed money to the Comptroller-General, the amount of money
outstanding, when the account was settled, the date it was submitted to the
comptroller, and when the records were returned to the governor.
Memoranda Book of Old Accounts Not to be Found in the New
Alphabet,
undated.
(1 volume)
{series #4.33} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter of surname or county of the existing
accounts.
This volume contains a list of accounts held in the Office of the Comptroller-General.
The names of the persons or counties for whom the accounts were kept is provided
as well as the four digit account numbers, which are listed to the right of
each name.
Militia Absentee Return Record for Philadelphia City,
1777-1791.
(4 volumes, 2 boxes)
{series #4.34} [Holdings]
Arranged by battalion or company, and thereunder chronologically.
A record of fines paid by militiamen. Typical information that might be entered
includes the name, rank and regiment of the militia member; the fines extracted;
and the name of the officer in charge.
Militia Exemption Books,
1801-1809.
(1 box)
{series #4.35} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically by years which exemptions were accounted for.
This series provides information about men exempt from militia duty. Data provided
for each regiment includes the number of the regiment, the county to which it
belonged, the captains in the regiment, the number exempt according to class,
and the total number exempt in each regiment. Also included are accounts of
exempt fines which are listed according to county, and lists of exempted men
by county. The names or numbers of the militia units in which men served is
also given.
Militia Fine Exonerations,
1777-1793.
(5 boxes)
{series #4.36} [Holdings]
Grouped by county.
Statements filed by Pennsylvania residents to demonstrate that they or their
kin should be exempt from fines being imposed for not serving militia duty.
The data appearing differs from document to document. While some statements
only list the person's name, residence and reasons for seeking an exemption,
others indicate the individual's age, occupation and parents' names.
Militia Loan Accounts,
1781-1792.
(12 volumes, 11 boxes)
{series #4.37} [Holdings]
This series is grouped into the following subseries: Certificate Counterparts,
1784-1792; Certificate Books, 1784-1792; Distribution Vouchers, 1784-1785; Distribution
Ledgers, 1784-1785; Interest Paid Receipt Books, 1785-1792; Pay Rolls, 1781;
Registers, 1784-1785.
Certificate Couterparts are the stub receipts for interest bearing certificates
issued to soldiers in lieu of money. The corresponding redeemed certificates
can be found in the Certificate Books. Distribution Vouchers include requests
for payment certificates and receipts for certificates received as well as requests
for payment by some militiamen. Interest Paid Receipt Books list the interest
paid to militiamen on loan certificates. The pay certificate names and numbers
listed in the book correspond to the Certificate Counterparts and Certificate
Books.
Miscellaneous Accounts, Including Records of Transactions
Involving the Commonwealth and the United States,
1782-1809.
(28 boxes, 3 volumes)
{series #4.38} [Holdings]
This series is organized into the following subseries: Abstracts of Continental
Certificates, 1791-1797; Assumed Debt, 1791-1793; Certificates for Horses and
Provisions, 1780; Day Books, 1789-1810l; General Accounts, 1789-1809, n.d.;
U.S. Accounts, 1775-1791; and U.S. Account Ledgers, 1775-1788.
This series contains on all of the categories listed above.
Abstracts of Continental Certificates (1791-1797) provides a listing
of loan certificates issued by Pennsylvania for a loan to the United States,
the amount of the certificates, interest earned, and the serial number of each
certificate. A list of warrants, redeemable and expected, is also included.
In the Assumed Debt (1791-1793) records, there are loan certificates
and corresponding stub booklets. Information on the certificates includes the
value of the certificate, the owner and the date of purchase, and the cancellation
seal. A ledger is also included which provides a listing of the certificates
in rising numerical order, the amount of each certificate, the date on which
interest would commence, and the rate of depreciation.
Certificates for Horses and Provisions, 1780.
Information about horses and provisions certificates include a book containing
lists of certificates for horses and provisions granted to various men. Data
in each entry includes the name of the issuer, the name of the grantee, the
date of issue, and the county of residence. There is also an account of when
the certificates were redeemed for reimbursement by the state, how much was
paid and to whom. The corresponding certificates this information can also be
found and are filed according to county.
Day Books, 1789 - 1810.
Arranged chronologically by date of transaction, these books are a bi-monthly
record of accounts kept on a daily basis for the purpose of auditing, liquidating
and adjusting Commonwealth accounts. Types of accounts include salaries, expenses,
taxes, revenue and transactions of government officials. Entries give a description
of each transaction, followed by the amount involved.
General Accounts, 1789-1809, n.d.
The General Accounts section of this series includes such information as lists
of goods seized by the British, their estimated value, and who filed the claim;
various accounts of state officials and military officers. Other important accounts
are: the Settlement of the Proprietaries, William Turnball's account, and accounts
of the seizure of British goods.
Other information contained in this section of the series includes vouchers
and receipts for purchase of arms, provisions, food, and supplies for the state
militia; and documents relating to the forfeiture and escheat of estates.
U.S. Accounts, 1775 - 1791.
In the records relating to the United States Account, information includes vouchers,
receipts, and account books involving the militia during the Revolution and
the Whiskey Rebellion and the money owed to Pennsylvania or individual commanders
for service to the United States. Records in these volumes vary greatly and
information can include detailed accounts of expenditures giving names of laborers
and merchants, receipts for goods purchased for military units, and day books.
The numbered certificates will match with the United States Account Ledgers.
United States Account Ledgers (1775-1788) include much of the
same information in the United States Account, and is arranged in ascending
order according to account number. This information might include names and
ranks of officers paid, reasons for payment; names and wages of laborers paid
and where the work was performed; names and titles of various county officials
and the reason for payments; and reimbursement to men for goods and possessions
lost in the Western Expedition.
New Loan Accounts,
1776-1795.
(17 volumes, 16 boxes)
{series #4.39} [Holdings]
This series is organized into the following subseries: Addition of Principal
and Interest Unpaid on Cancelled Certificates, 1784-1795; Amount of Principal
and Interest Unpaid on Cancelled Certificates, 1777-1790; Calculations of Principal
and Interest on Cancelled Certificates, 1777-1788; Cancelled Certificate Registers,
1777-1790; Certificate Books, 1786-1788; Certificate Exchange Proposals, 1789-1793;
Certificate Registers, 1786-1788; Differences in New Loan Certificates, 1776-1788;
Interest Certificate Counterparts, 1786-1788; Interest Paid Receipt Books, 1786-1792;
Principal and Interest Paid on Cancelled Certificates to January 1, 1791, 1777-1791.
This series is a record of the New Loan Accounts which were established in March
1786 by act of the General Assembly.
Addition of Principal and Interest on Cancelled Certificates (1784-1795)
contains a record of interest and principal unpaid on these cancelled certificates.
Information is grouped according to certificate books A through D and the amount
unpaid is listed according to page number of certificate registers.
Calculations of Principal and Interest on Cancelled Certificates (1777-1788)
contains similar information as is in Addition of Principal and Interest on
Cancelled Certificates.
Cancelled Certificate Registers (1777-1790) contain the certificate
number, the payee, the principal amount, and the date which interest commenced
for all cancelled New Loan Certificates.
Certificate Books (1786-1788) are 11 volumes of New Loan Certificates
arranged in ascending numerical order of certificate number. The certificates
contain the following information: the owner's name, the amount, the interest
rate, the date of issue of the original certificate, the date of redemption.
Many of the original certificates were issued before March 1786 when the General
Assembly passed an act establishing these certificates.
Certificate Exchange Proposals (1789-1793) are petitions to exchange
New Loan Certificates for Continental Certificates. Information on each proposal
includes the names of the person who wished to exchange certificates, the name
of whom the certificate was issued, the number of the certificate, the principal
of the certificate, the date which interest commenced, and the year's interest
paid. Most proposals consists of numerous New Loan Certificates originally owned
by various people but which are being exchanged by an unrelated person.
Certificate Registers (1786-1788) contain a listing of some certificates
issued by the Comptroller General. Entries in these registers correspond to
the Differences in New Loan Certificates, as do the amount of principle and
interest paid.
Interest Certificate Counterparts (1786-1788) are for certificates
2 through 19,171. Included on each counterpart is the certificate number, the
payee, the period for the interest received, and the amount of interest.
Interest Paid Receipt Books (1786-1792) are records of interest paid
on certificates for the stated years. Entries are made chronologically according
to the date paid, and include the principal of the certificate, the certificate
number, the original owner of the certificate, the person receiving the interest,
the total amount of interest being paid at that time, and the amount of time
the interest was for.
Principal and Interest Paid on Canceled Certificates to January 1,
1791 contains account books relating to canceled certificates. Information
in each entry includes the date the certificate was issued, the principal amount,
and the amount of interest. Also included in these volumes are records relating
to depreciation certificates accounts, and miscellaneous accounts involving
the New Loan Certificates.
Officers' Claim Book for Arrears in Clothing,
1778-1791.
(1 volume)
{series #4.40} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
A detailed listing of clothing articles, food, and miscellaneous items delivered
to Pennsylvania regiments during the Revolution. Typical information in these
registers might include the name of the officer who received the supplies, the
cost of the purchases, and the money owed to vendors after an initial deposit.
Also provided in this series are the names of various military officers, their
personal account certificates, and the names of merchants who supplied the officer's
uniforms. The military units documented in this series are the 1st through 10th
Regiments, the Artillery Regiment, and the Light Dragoons.
Officers' Clothing Account Book,
1791.
(1 volume)
{series #4.41} [Holdings]
Unarranged
This volume contains an account of sundry officers of the revolutionary army
for clothing which they purchased for their service in the army. Each officer's
account is listed individually and includes the articles and amount of clothing
bought, the amount paid, and a corresponding voucher number which the officer
had used to purchase the clothing.
Philadelphia City General Muster Roll Books,
1777-1784.
(2 volumes)
{series #4.42} [Holdings]
Arranged in numerical order according to battalion, with the Artillery battalion
being listed first. The battalions are subdivided into companies.
In these volumes, only the names of the officers and militiamen are given who
enlisted in the Philadelphia city militia. They are listed according to the
company in which they served and the class in which they ranked.
Philadelphia City Lieutenant's Office General Return Book
of Militia Called into Actual Service,
1777-1782.
(1 volume)
{series #4.43} [Holdings]
Arranged in numerical order by battalion and thereunder by company. In each
company, men are listed according to the class in which they ranked.
This volume is a roll book of men who enlisted with the Philadelphia city Lieutenants
office during the Revolutionary War. Information provided by each entry in this
volume includes the men's names, their private or public substitute (if any),
and remarks pertaining to the man's service such as whether he served his tour
or deserted, when he was paid, whether he was killed or if he was excused on
appeal.
Pierce's Certificate Accounts, Consisting of Pay Roll Books,
Voucher Indexes, Ownership Certificates, and an Account of Certificates Loaned
to the United States, Signed by John Pierce and Relating to the Issuance of
Interest Bearing Certificates to the Pennsylvania Line,
[ca. 1784-1793].
(3 volumes, 1 box)
{series #4.44} [Holdings]
This series is organized into the following subseries: Pay Roll Books, Voucher
Indexes, Ownership Certificates, and an Account of Certificate Loaned to the
United States.
This series contains a record of certificates signed by John Pierce who was
Paymaster General and Commissioner of Accounts for the United States Continental
Army. Certificates were issued to the men of the Pennsylvania line in lieu of
cash. The certificates bore 6% interest and have an official date of July 1,
1784.
Ownership certificates (1782-1787) in this series are grouped according
to regiment The men and officers listed in the volumes are also grouped according
to regiment and thereunder numerically by the certificate number which they
owned. It should be noted that the certificates in this series are only the
ownership claim certificates where the men swear that the vouchers and certificates
which they have are not fraudulent or stolen. The original certificates and
vouchers which they were issued are not in this series and were probably lost
over time. However, the certificates include such information as the name of
the holder, the date the original certificate was issued, the number of the
original certificate, and the amount of the certificate.
Voucher Indexes for these two volumes which groups men alphabetically
and thereunder the volume and page number where information about them is given.
Pay roll books (1778-1783) in this series contain the following information
in each entry: the date which the certificate was issued, its number, the name
of the man to whom it was issued, the voucher number (if known), the amount
of the certificate, and the signer of the certificate. A separate index for
these books is also included. It should be note that most issue dates listed
in the books and on the certificates do not correspond to the date which is
ascribed as the official issue date of these certificates - July 1, 1784. Also,
relatively few men listed in the registers have corresponding ownership claim
certificates contained within this series. The signatures of the men are on
both the registers and the certificates. Those who could not write left a simple
marking to denote their signature.
The Account of Certificates Loaned to the United States is a ledger showing
all certificates signed by John Pierce for Pennsylvania which were loaned to
the United States. Entries are arranged in rising numerical order of certificate
number and show the owner's name and the date of issue.
Register of Accounts Received from the Register General,
1790-1792.
(1 volume)
{series #4.45} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by the date which the account from the Register General
was examined by the Comptroller General.
This volume contains a record of all accounts examined by the Comptroller General,
which had been submitted to him by the Register General for his advice and approval.
Typical information about each account might include the name of the person
responsible for the account, his military rank or government position, the amount
of each transaction, and a brief description of the transaction and the parties
involved.
Register of Executive Accounts,
1784-1791.
(4 volumes)
{series #4.46} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of expenditure.
Four volumes of registers documenting the expenditures of the Supreme Executive
Council. These registers were maintained in order to keep balance accounts with
the Comptroller General. Entries in these registers show the names of those
directly employed by the Council or under their supervision, a brief description
of work they performed, and the amount paid to them. Each expenditure was approved
by order of the council. Typical reasons for expenditures include land surveys,
salaries for councilors, government officials and clerks, and purchase of supplies.
Report Book of the State Treasurer,
1783.
(1 volume)
{series #4.47} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically according to the years which each treasurer held office
and thereunder by each individual account.
This volume contains reports of all the general accounts held by the Comptroller
General from the commencement of the Revolution until October 1782. The purpose
was to inform the General Assembly of the moneys in the Treasury at the beginning
of the Revolution, the revenues and expenditures between then and 1782, and
the current balance. Also in this report are county tax accounts from 1781 to
October 1782 and their debts due to the state. Entries in this volume contain
the name of the account holder, a brief description of the account, and the
balance.
Report Books of the Committee of the Assembly on the State
of the Public Accounts,
1778-1780.
(2 volumes)
{series #4.48} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of monetary transaction.
These volumes contain a record of orders (working contracts) granted to sundry
individuals for work to be done on the Assembly meeting room. Typical information
included might be the name of the person receiving the order, a brief description
of the work to be done, and the amount he was to be paid. Also included in these
volumes is an account of money paid to the Assemblymen, their names and positions
in the Assembly, the number of days they attended Assembly meetings, the mileage
traveled by each Assemblyman, and the reimbursement they received for travel.
Additional information in the volumes includes the accounts of the paymasters
for the county militias, accounts of taxes collected in various counties, and
a record of recruiting officers' accounts for each county and who the various
officers were in those counties.
Return Book of Officers and Soldiers to Whom Patents Were
Not Issued,
Undated.
(1 volume)
{series #4.49} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier.
Little information is actually entered in the volume other than the name of
the individual, the lot number, and the number of acres drawn. The rank of the
soldier is sporadically supplied as well.
Return Book of the Pennsylvania Line Entitled to Donation
Lands,
Undated.
(1 volume)
{series #4.50} [Holdings]
Entries normally record the name, rank and corps of the soldier and the number
of acres drawn. Remarks concerning whether the person was killed in action or
was a foreign officer are often included. Additional information on this subject
may also be obtained at the Bureau of Land Records in the Department of Community
Affairs.
Revolutionary War Associators, Line, Militia, and Navy Accounts,
and Miscellaneous Records Relating to Military Service,
1775-1809.
(99 boxes)
{series #4.51} [Holdings]
Associators Accounts, 1775-1777.
Grouped by county, and thereunder arranged chronologically. Receipts, accounts,
returns, payrolls and muster rolls for associators in Bedford, Berks, Bucks,
Cumberland, Lancaster, Northampton, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Westmoreland
and York counties. While the accounts and returns usually only list the soldier's
name, rank and military unit, the pay and muster rolls may also record the associator's
residence, commanding officer, and dates of entering and leaving the service.
Line Accounts, 1775-1809.
Grouped by regiment, and thereunder arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier.
Pay and muster rolls that may show the name, rank, regiment, company and pay
rate of each soldier; the name of his commanding officer; and the dates and
locations of the musters. At times the dates that a soldier enlisted, deserted
or was discharged are also noted. In a few instances enlistment papers are to
be found.
Militia Accounts, 1777-1809.
Grouped by county, and thereunder arranged by company and battalion. Militia
receipts, returns, operations documents, and lists of white males between ages
eighteen and fifty three for Allegheny, Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland,
Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Luzerne, Montgomery,
Northampton, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland and York
counties. The information entered varies with each type of document. Returns
of absentees are dated, and normally list the name and company (or battalion)
of the soldier, the officer to whom he was attached, the number of days that
he mustered, and the number of days that he was absent. In addition, some operation
accounts also mention the dates that the militia members were ordered into and
released from service.
Navy accounts, 1775-1794.
Grouped according to stations of duty, and thereunder arranged chronologically.
Muster and pay rolls that usually give the name, rank, station and pay rate
of the sailor; the time of his service; and the dates of his entry, discharge
or desertion. The age of the individual is periodically recorded as well.
Revolutionary War Pension Files and Related Accounts,
1785-1809.
(8 boxes, 5 volumes)
{series #4.52} [Holdings]
Individual pension files are grouped alphabetically by surname of pensioner.
Pension registers are grouped chronologically by year. Invalid payroll files
are grouped chronologically by date of payment (January 1789 - February 1792
and 1805 - 1809). Other miscellaneous files are unarranged.
Indexed externally, alphabetically
by surname of pensioner.
Records pertain to various militia men or their widows petitioning for pensions
from the Commonwealth. Generally, the service men petitioning for pensions had
been injured during the war and were thus incapable of working. Many times,
the court petitions give descriptions of the injuries and the battle at which
they occurred. Widows of militia men generally filed petitions in Orphan's Court
in order to obtain pensions for support of their children. However, most widows
were only awarded either one half or one quarter of their deceased husband's
salaries. Also contained in this series are some receipts for payments of these
pensions. Additionally, there is one file containing correspondence between
the "House of Employment" and the Comptroller General regarding various
state pensions who were invalids at the House. The five volume in this series
pertain to pensions for disabled soldiers and pensions to widows and children
of soldiers killed in the Revolution. Most of these volumes are also indexed.
Some volumes contain records of warrants issued to recipients. These records
continue in a series of Auditor General records, the Military Pension Accounts
and Related Papers, [ca. 1789-1883] {series #2.53}.
See also the following related series, and the online name
index to the Revolutionary War pensioners documented therein:
Specie Day Book and Waste Books,
1775-1790.
(2 volumes)
{series #4.53} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of transaction.
A record relating to the payment and settlement of public money, kept by Comptroller
General John Nicholson for the purpose of auditing, liquidating and adjusting
Commonwealth accounts. Although the entries are dated from 1775-1790, the actual
books were probably compiled in the late 1780s or early 1790s for auditing purposes.
Information provided includes a description of each transaction, the amounts
involved, the page numbers of the corresponding entries in the Specie
Ledger, 1775-1790 {series #4.55} and Specie Journals,
1775-1790 {series #4.54} , and often the date of the transaction.
Specie Journals,
1775-1790.
(2 volumes)
{series #4.54} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of transaction.
A record of state monetary transactions kept on a daily basis relating to the
payment and settlement of public money, kept by Comptroller General John Nicholson
for the purpose of auditing, liquidating and adjusting Commonwealth accounts.
Although the transactions recorded date from 1775-1785, the journals themselves
were probably created in the late 1790's. Information given includes a description
of each transaction, amounts received or paid, page number for the corresponding
entry in the Continental Journals, 1775-1785 {series #4.10},
and often the date of the transaction.
Specie Ledger,
1775-1790.
(1 volume)
{series #4.55} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of transaction. At the beginning of the volume
the entries are grouped alphabetically in an index according to account holder
and the page number where their information can be found is located to the right
of each name.
A record relating to the payment and settlement of public money, kept by Comptroller
General John Nicholson for the purpose of auditing, liquidating and adjusting
Commonwealth accounts. Entries relate to the payment of taxes, receipt of revenue,
government expenses, and transactions of county officials and committees. Information
provided includes account name, amounts paid and received. The folio numbers
appearing at the far left of each entry to the Specie Journals,
1775-1790 {series #4.54}.
Specie Ledger's Balance Books,
1775-1790.
(2 volumes)
{series #4.56} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by account holder.
This volume gives the balance of the accounts of the names listed. Page numbers
on the left correspond to the account's location in the Specie
Ledger, 1775-1790 {series #4.55}.
State Departmental Accounts,
1782-1809.
(13 boxes)
{series #4.57} [Holdings]
Grouped by department and thereunder according to year the record was kept.
A record of accounts for the following state departments: the Council of Censors,
the General Assembly, the Master of the Rolls, the Adjutant General, the Comptroller
General, the Receiver General, the Register General, the State Treasurer, the
Surveyor General, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Land Office, and the
Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council.
Included in this series are accounts of expenditures of the various commonwealth
departments, as well as cash vouchers, and receipts. These accounts detail the
day to day function of each department. Recorded expenses might include: translating
laws into German and distributing copies of bills and government reports; the
daily pay and mileage pay of members of the General Assembly; expenditures by
the Master of the Rolls relating to elections and the enrolling of acts passed
by the Assembly; fees charged by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for such
things as marriage licenses, certificates of bankruptcy, use of the great seal,
pardons and other certificates; expenses of the Secretary of the Supreme Executive
Council for government payroll; and collection of revenue for licenses, petitions
and passes. Many of the receipts and vouchers relate to expenditures for writing
supplies, paper, and printing copies. For these tasks and similar ones, the
names of men employed and contracted merchants are listed. Also included in
this series is a volume from the Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council
which provides a detailed list of all fees received in the secretary's office
between 1783 and 1790.
A State of the Finances of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
by John Nicholson,
1787.
(1 volume)
{series #4.58} [Holdings]
Unarranged
A detailed report by Comptroller General John Nicholson of the finances of the
commonwealth. It contains a description of the accounts between Pennsylvania
and the United States, the debt due by the Commonwealth to individuals, and
the revenues of the Commonwealth. Information within these descriptions might
include sources of revenue, timetables for payments to the United States, and
various problems which had arisen while balancing the accounts of the state.
State Treasurer's Reports,
1790-1798, 1800-1809.
(4 boxes)
{series #4.59} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of transaction.
This series contains monthly state treasurer's reports for the above mentioned
dates. For the most part reports include records of expenditures and receipts,
however there are some accounts pertaining to the value of stock certificates
of the United States held by various people, and bills of credit for specific
years. Information provided about each transaction includes the name of the
person(s) involved, the register number and the treasury number. Receipt records
include the reason why money was paid into the treasury. In some cases, explanations
for expenditure are also found in the reports.
Statement of Public Accounts Book,
1790-1791.
(1 volume)
{series #4.60} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
This series contains several lengthy public account statements. The monetary
value in these records is based upon Bills of Credit which were issued during
the following periods: June 1780, April 1781, March 1785, and April 1785. Information
can be found in these records about the expenses of the civil list, inland navigation
accounts, pension expenditures, grants to the Penn family, Indian expenses,
militia expenses, the state lottery, and various taxes. A record of bills of
credit which were burnt by a committee of the treasury after being withdrawn
from circulation is also included. Likewise, information concerning loan accounts,
stock accounts, marriage and tavern licenses, and account of the wardens of
the port is also provided by these statements.
Tax and Exoneration Lists,
1762-1794.
(47 boxes)
{series #4.61} [Holdings]
Arranged by county, thereunder by political subdivision, and finally alphabetically
by surname of taxpayer.
Consists of diverse tax (supply taxes, carriage and billiard table taxes, property
returns, etc.) and exoneration returns for Allegheny, Bedford, Berks, Bucks,
Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Montgomery,
Northampton, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland and York
counties. Depending on the time period and the type of returns compiled, the
dated lists may show the name, residence (county and township), and trade of
the taxpayer; the number of acres and type (patent, warrant and improved) of
land that he possessed; the number of livestock (cattle and horses) and Negroes
that he owned; the tax rate; and the tax that he paid. Frequently the lists
also indicate whether the individual was a single freeman and whether he operated
a distillery, sawmill or gristmill.
Tryal Balance Book,
Undated.
(1 volume)
{series #4.62} [Holdings]
Arranged numerically by folio number.
This volume appears to contain a balance of accounts of various state officials
including tax collectors, military officers, and state and county administrators.
The amount of money in each account or owed upon each account is listed to the
right of the account holder. Folio numbers are listed to the left of the name.
Unidentified Indexes,
Undated.
(1 box, 2 volumes)
{series #4.63} [Holdings]
Unarranged
The box full containing identified indexes includes labeled indices for Day
Books, New Loan Accounts, and Revolutionary War transactions. Other indexes
which are not labeled give names and page number, certificate numbers, and sometimes
the occupation of the particular individual.
The following are descriptions for the two loose volumes in this series:
Accounts A: Identified on the cover as "Accounts A,"
this volume contains an undated alphabetical index of individuals and subjects.
Entries indicate the name of the person(s) or subject, followed by two numbers.
One set of numbers directly follows the name and ranges from 1 to 6716. Each
entry is also referenced by a number ranging from 1 to 1479 and proceeded by
the abbreviation "No." In addition to names of individuals, the index contains
references to subjects such as: Commissioners and Assessors, the Council of
Safety, Commissioners for Exploring Rivers, Civil Officers, Decrees Relating
to Forfeited Estates, Delinquent Returns, Fees Received, the Hospital of Pennsylvania,
Appraisal of Horses, the House of Employment, the Invalids Corps, Judges of
the Supreme Court, Loan Office Accounts, Legislator's Report, Miscellaneous
Papers, Northumberland and Westmoreland County Militia, Orders for Orphans Court,
Prothonotaries' Receipts, Traveling Expenses of Judges, Trustees of Province
Island, Vouchers for Certificates, Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia, Writs
of Attachment, and Wyoming Disturbances. The name "Geo. Bryon" is written in
script inside the back cover.
A-Z, 1780-1809: Alphabetical index to an unidentified
volume indicating names of individuals, counties, or subjects and their corresponding
page number. Dated entries range from 1780-1809. Subjects appear to be mainly
financial, with entries including topics such as taxes, bonds, appropriations,
accounts, funds, expenses, fines, licenses, bills, funded and unfunded debts,
continental money, certificates, contingent expenses of various offices, general
revenues and accounts, specie accounts, state money accounts, U.S. Stock, and
Pennsylvania Bank Stock, with several references to the Loan Office. Entries
associated with individual counties consist of accounts of sheriffs, treasurers,
and prothonotaries dealing with court fines, exempt fines, taxes, and licenses.
References to Land Records include accounts of new and old purchases, certificates,
grants, and various lots. Entries associated with the Militia relate to officers
of the Pennsylvania Line, ordnance for militia, militia fines, pensions, arrears
in clothing, brigade inspectors, frontier defense, and depreciation pay. There
are also references to the Pennsylvania Hospital, Pennsylvania claimants' accounts
of expenses, road appropriations, canal funds, French Emigrants, and marriage
and tavern licenses.
United States Lottery Stub Book,
Port of Philadelphia Records
| PA State Archives | Hours, Directions, & Fees | Research Topics | Online Catalog | Land Records |