In the war of 1812 John Smith was marshal for the eastern or western districts of Pennsylvania. One of the jobs of his office was to collect Militia fines imposed on militiaman by courts-martial. He had the power of appointing as many deputies as he thought proper. It was the duty of the deputies and marshal to collect these fines and record them, then the money was to be turned over to the United States Treasury. However seven years after the war 1822, a accounting was made on the militia fines for the state of Pennsylvania and it was found by the Treasury there was a shortage of $243,609.41, dollars, a committee was formed to look into the matter.
It was found that marshal Smiths accounting books were correct to a point, there were a few errors but for the most part correct. The committee found that many of the deputies still held the fines they had collected in their hands and never turned them over for a accounting. When the committee examined marshal smith he could not give a satisfactory answer on why he did not enforce the turn over of the money. On examination the committee found that many of the deputies stated they never collected any militia fines while others stated they had turned over the fines, but that they were either recorded incorrectly or never recorded.
One of the problems the committee faced was that the Treasury had no accounting on how many militia fines and been imposed in the State of Pennsylvania, and being that the money was going to the United States Treasury and not to the State of Pennsylvania, the State made no or little accounting of militia fines. The committee order a immediate accounting of all militia fines within Pennsylvania, from 1812 to the present. The Treasury was upset as they paid for the court-martials and the cost of the court was imposed onto the fine of the one being court-martialed. The Treasury was paying out money to the said State but little was being returned.
At the time the committee was going on, the Governor of Pennsylvania stated “Where’s our money these are our State militia and men of the state and were court-martialed within the State, this money should go to the State.” The Governor put a petition before Congress, which went into committee, the petition soon became a Bill, which passed. The Congress Stated that the said State was entitled to all State militia fines, however the shortage found would have to be made up by the powers of the laws of the said State.
Note. It is believed by this author after reading the report that the Treasury found it would be cheaper to hand over the problem to the State of Pennsylvania, then to keep paying the committee and all the paper work and to pay for witnesses and as this committee could go on for months if not years.
Note. On the following names I will add any information that I find on them.
Here is a list of Deputies that marshal John Smith states paid in the fines.
Greenberry H. Murphy.
A BILL
April 8, 1822
For the relief of the legal representatives of Greenberry H. Murphy.
Be it enacted by the Senate anti House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be paid to the legal representatives of Greenberry H. Murphy the sum of one thousand four hundred and ninety dollars thirty cents, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated; the same being the amount of a judgment, costs, and charges, incurred by said Murphy in two suits, brought against him as deputy marshal in Pennsy1vania. for collecting two militia fines.
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William Kincaid.
No info.
Joseph McMasters.
No info.
William Turner
No info.
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Joseph Weatherby.
February 2, 1824, a petition of Joseph Weatherby, of the state of Pennsylvania, praying compensation for his services in taking reports of alien enemies, in the late war with Great Britain, and granting them licences to reside in the United States; as, also, for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the line of his duty.
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John Kelker
No info.
Joseph Woodman
No info.
Lewis Diffebach
No info.
Andrew Quinton
No info.
John L. Wolf
No info.
Samuel Markley
No info.
Daniel Moore
No info.
Thomas Wills
No info.
James Hudson
No info.
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John Sisk
December 21, 1812, John Sisk, of Pennsylvania, to be Ensigns in the 6th regiment of Infantry.
Sixth Regiment of Infantry.
March 12, 1813, Ensign Sisk to 3d, Lieutenant.
Sixth Regiment of Infantry.
July 6, 1814, 2d Lieut. John Sisk, to be 1st Lieut.
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Able Reese
No info.
John Thompson
No info.
Peter Aurand
No info.
Charles Gleim
No info.
Abraham Horn Jr.
No info.
George D. Foulke
No info.
Here are Deputies for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Joseph Woodman, Philadelphia.
No info.
John Sisk, Philadelphia.
Note. See the above list.
James Hudson, Philadelphia.
No info.
Jacob C. Tryon, Philadelphia county.
No info.
John Thompson, Delaware county.
No info.
Abel Reese, Chester county.
No info.
Robert Smith, Chester county.
No info.
Joseph Weatherby, Chester county.
No info.
James M. Porter Chester county.
No info.
Samuel Markley, Montgomery county.
No info.
John L. Wolf, Montgomery county.
No info.
Lewis Diffebach, Bucks county.
No info.
Andrew Quinton, Bucks county.
No info.
Daniel Moore, Lancaster county.
No info.
John Kilker, Dauphin county.
No info.
Charles Gleim, Lebanon county.
No info.
Peter Aurand, Berks county.
No info.
Abraham Horn, Northampton county.
No info.
Abraham Horn, Jun., Northampton county.
No info.
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John Baldy, Northumberland county.
1812, Lieutenant infantry.
Sixteenth Regiment of Infantry.
John Baldy, (1st Lieutenant) Captain, 16th April, 1813
1818, a petition of John Baldy, Pennsylvania, late a captain in the army of the United States, praying to be allowed and paid the discount of five per cent, which he was compelled to pay, in changing a treasury note of one thousand dollars, placed in his hands for the public service, and that he may be allowed and paid for services rendered in the quartermaster's department, in the late war with Great Britain.
Note. This may not be the same man do your research.
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John W. Robinson, Susquehannah County.
No info.
Alexander Mann Columbia county.
No info.
John Griffin, Bradford cour4y.
No info.
George D. Foulke, Cumberland county.
No info.
Greenberry H. Murphy, Franklin county.
No info.
Samuel Maffit, Luzerne county.
No info.
Alexander Scott, Lycoming county.
No info.
Here are Deputies for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
William B. Irish, Allegany county.
Was nominated to be marshal of the Western District on April 20, 1818.
February 16, 1820, a petition of William B. Irish, son and executor of the last will and testament of Nathaniel Irish, deceased, an officer in the revolutionary army, praying to be allowed the commutation of half pay for life to which the deceased was entitled for his services.
Note. This may not be the same man do your research.
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Joseph McMasters, Allegany county.
No info.
George Armstrong, Westmoreland county.
No info.
James Dunlap, Washington county.
No info.
David Reilley, Bedford county.
No info.
Thomas H. Sill, Erie county.
No info.
John Morton, Beaver county.
No info.
William Kincaid, Greene county.
No info.
James M. Riddle, Somerset county.
No info.
William Turner, Muffin county.
No info
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