OCTOBER 23d, 1769. 1769. to indemnify Trustees. The copy of deed to the trustees, and declaration of Resolutions trust from them to the Company, were again read, and there appearing no proper provisions in the said declaration to indemnify the said trustees or their heirs from the bond given to George Emlen, it was concluded by the Company that there should be a clause inserted in the declaration of trust to indemnify the said trustees. JANUARY 16th, 1770. 1770 some meth It was proposed that the members present should To think of think of some method or scheme to get a hall erected, od for buildif possible, next summer. ing Hall. JANUARY 19th, 1770. Gunning Bedford and James Bringhurst were ap- Committee pointed to endeavor to let part of the lot, viz., 26 feet to let part front by 140 feet deep, east of the 14 feet alley, of lot. JANUARY 30th, 1770. A motion was made that a convenient building Proposition should be erected on their lot on Chestnut Street, to to build. meet in as occasion may require, to transact the business of the Company, and to calculate and settle their private accounts of measuring and valuing carpenter's work; and as, the funds are not sufficient, it was agreed to open a subscription amongst the members of the Loan. Company, which shall be divided into shares of four pounds each, and when the sum subscribed shall amount to £300, the Company shall appoint a number to begin to erect the building, the plan and dimensions. of which shall be fixed by a majority of the Company, and as soon as the foundation is laid, the sums subscribed shall be due, and when paid into the hands of the Company's treasurer, he shall be empowered to give to each, on the payment of the subscription, a certificate for the receipt of so much, which certificate shall entitle every member, according to the sum he When to be repaid. 1770. has advanced, to receive a dividend as often as the rents of the building shall be received by the Company's treasurer, till the whole is repaid that has been advanced by the several members. And as every member Plan to re- of the Company will have an equal property and adpay loan. vantage in the building, it will be necessary for them to set a rent on said building, which shall in part be paid from the Company's money or stock, in order to repay those members that do advance, till the whole of Heirs of de- the subscriptions are repaid; and at the death of any ber to be one of the members, if any part of his subscription should not be repaid, that part shall be due to his heirs, &c., as part of his personal estate, and paid, agreeable to the tenor of his certificate. cea'd mem paid. Committee to receive The Company have appointed the following persons to take subscriptions of the members for the uses above subscrip- mentioned, viz.: Robert Smith, Abraham Carlile, Thomas Shoemaker, Benjamin Loxley, John Thornhill, and John Goodwin. tions. Form of sub FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION. Now we, the subscribers, having considered the above scription. proposal, do promise to pay to the treasurer appointed by the Carpenters' Company the several sums that stand against our names, as soon as £300 is subscribed and the foundation of the building is laid. Witness our hands, &c. Committee to procure The above copy of subscription paper having been subscribers several times read, was agreed to, and then the members present proceeded in signing it, and the persons before named were appointed to apply to the rest of the members and others, to endeavor to get what they could added to the subscription already begun, and when they have got £300 subscribed, the Company are to be called together in order to nominate persons to undertake the care and oversight of erecting the Hall. FEBRUARY 5th, 1770. The subscription paper being nearly filled up to the sum required, the Company were warned, and met at their own house (on this day) in order to consider of a for Hall. plan and dimensions for a Hall. It was proposed in Plan & size the first place to fix on the dimensions, which after being considered was agreed should be 40 by 50 feet, or not to vary more than a foot more or less, that to be left with the committee who shall be appointed to see it carried out. The following twelve members were appointed as a Building Committee, viz.: Robert Smith, Building Benjamin Loxley, Abraham Carlile, James Pearson, Committee. John Goodwin, James Bringhurst, Gunning Bedford, Joseph Rakestraw, Thomas Nevell, James Worrell, John Thornhill, and Thomas Shoemaker. APRIL 16th, 1770. A meeting was held this day on our own lot. APRIL 18th, 1770. At this meeting James Worrell mentioned that Evan Peters told him he would give £4 towards the Hall; he is therefore requested to speak to Evan Peters to make a pump to have an iron chamber in it, and fix in the old well on the lot, and to agree with him to wait as long as he can for the remainder of the money. JULY 16th, 1770. Pump. At this meeting Hezekiah Herbert, Samuel Clark, Committee and Richard Jones came with a letter from Friendship from FriendCarpenters' Company, which being read and considered, ship Co. it was thought necessary to be reconsidered at a meeting to be called on other business the 23d inst.,* at 6 o'clock, at this place. DECEMBER 20th, 1770. Benjamin Harbeson was paid £7 for ball and vane. January 21st, 1771, Hall first occupied by the Company. JANUARY 20th, 1772. Ball and vane. 1771 1772 It was agreed that the Library Company might be Library accommodated in the new Hall, and a committee was Company. appointed to confer with said Library Company in reference to their application. *There does not appear any minutes of a meeting on the 23d of July, as referred to above. JANUARY 18th, 1773. The Company borrowed of Joseph Fox £300 for the purpose of finishing the building and to pay debts. JANUARY 17th, 1774. At this meeting, James Graisbury agreed to give 15 shillings towards the chairs, and Joseph Ogilby and Joseph Govett agreed to make four tables, Matthew McGlathery two, and Ezekial Worrell two, for the use of the Hall, and the Committee is desired to give directions for the size and mode of making them. APRIL 25th, 1774. The Committee on Prices of work produced a book this evening, which was read. APRIL 26th, 1774. It was thought advisable to choose by ballot a proper person to take care and keep our Hall and furniture in order, to make fires, to put out the same, when the different companies meet, in order to prevent, if possible, any danger that might happen through neglect, for the want of such a person. When Mr. (Here the minute ends.) By determination of a ballot in general this evening, that the Book of Prices, which hath been lately revised by a committee chosen for that purpose, and laid before the Company at a meeting the 18th inst., which received their sanction, being audibly read by the Moderator. And further agreed, that every member choosing a copy of the prices, must write them in the Hall, as the book is to be lodged with the Committee only. NOTE. The stated meeting of July 18th, 1774, was not held, in consequence of the Provincial Committee meeting in the Hall. AUGUST 1st, 1774. 1774. The Company taking into consideration the state of Pump. our pump, it being used in general by the neighborhood, think it advisable that every family who are able, shall pay at the rate of six shillings per year; and we further direct Isaac Lafever to collect the same for the benefit of the Company, commencing the 1st of August, 1773, being one year's water-money due this day. SEPTEMBER 5th, 1774. The Delegates to the First Congress met in the Hall Congress. this day, and continued to meet therein until the 26th of October inclusive. Total number of members, 55. For history of their proceedings, see book in our Library, No. 1301, commencing page 7. NOTE. No minutes from August 1st, 1774, to January 17th, 1775. January 16th, 1775, part of lot 26 feet on Chestnut Street, by 140 feet deep, sold to Joseph Pemberton. JANUARY 17th, 1775. 1775 It was agreed that the Provincial Convention might Provincial meet in the Hall; to pay ten shillings per day. APRIL 20th, 1775. Convention ed, &c. It was agreed, that as the Hall is so far finished as to No more to accommodate the Company, that no more money be be expendexpended on the premises, until the sums advanced by the several members be fully paid, except it be necessary for repairs, or by voluntary subscriptions hereafter for that purpose; and it is further agreed that all the accounts relative to the building of the Hall, &c., be brought in as soon as possible, and adjusted by the be adjusted. Committee, and a certificate be given by the Master and assistants, for the time being, for the balance that shall be found due on said account. Accounts to Friendship James Pearson and Thomas Nevell informed the Company that, on conversing with several members of Company. the Friendship Company of Carpenters, it appears that |