Editor's Note: Other Lists of Revolutionary War Passes

248 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 45 EDITOR’S NOTE OTHER LISTS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR PASSES What we have been publishing as an ongoing series in this journal are abstracts of the loose papers related to applications for passes. They are especially valuable because they are original papers, hence contain original signatures, not only for the applicants, but also for those who gave character endorsements, for witnesses, and for those giving bond for successful applicants. These papers were usually folded in half, then in thirds, creating a jacket on which was usually written the name of the applicant, the date of the presentation to the Supreme Executive Council, and–sometimes–the Council’s decision. There is another source for the names of those requesting passes: the minutes of the Supreme Executive Council, noting the Council’s decision. These are published.22 Names in the colonial (and Revolutionary) minutes are not indexed in the volumes or series, but are indexed separately.23 A summary of the actions for those requesting passes in the years 1778—1782 were also published, with some annotations, in this journal.24 The number of applications increased dramatically in 1783 in anticipation of the exodus of the British from New York City. Many businessmen and individuals requested permission to go to New York City in order to secure debts, property, possessions, or inheritances belonging to them before the possessor of such evacuated with the British. Unlike the earlier applications, almost all of these were granted. It is not surprising that the loose papers contain petitions for only a small portion of the applicants. Loose papers can be lost. It may be that many of the requests were made verbally, without a written petition, or that the petitioner took the petition when leaving. It is surprising, however, that the loose papers contain quite a few petitions and other documents not noted in the minutes, which possibly were never presented to the Council. 22 Colonial Records of Pennsylvania: Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, 16 volumes (Harrisburg: State of Pennsylvania, 1851—53). 23 Mary Dunn, Index to Pennsylvania Colonial Record Series (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1992). 24 Hannah Benner Roach, “Petitions and Passes,” Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, 26(1970):169—78, 253—62; 27(1971):119—29. Proofreading copy 12 June, 2008