Contract between the Secret Committee and Oswell Eve
and George Losch
Text printed in Samuel Hazard, et al., eds., Pennsylvania Archives (1st
series; 12 vols., Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852-56), IV, 696.
<January 11, 1776: It is agreed between the undersigned members
of the committee and Oswell Eve and George Losch, of Philadelphia
County, that Eve and Losch will manufacture all the saltpetre
delivered to them by the committee during the next year into
good gunpowder, provide the necessary sulphur and charcoal at
their own expense, refine the saltpetre and carry it to the powder
mills, and deliver the powder to Philadelphia as the committee
directs; that they will be paid eight dollars for each hundredweight
of good powder so delivered; and that they will provide
good, seasoned barrels, half-barrels, and quarter-barrels as directed
and receive half the cost thereof. Signed by Franklin,
Joshua Bartlett, Silas Deane, Thomas McKean, Robert Morris,
and Samuel Ward for the committee, and by Oswell Eve and
George Losch.>
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