:111II1SI I II IHHiiHiO'.i Ml ... trrjtfk WW" ■ '.liWli.lK II M» " «l' . Il»« ^V rii i: JOURNALS PROVINCIAL CONGRESS M A S S A C H I S 1 : I T S IX i7?i AXD 177 j, l Mi 01 riu: COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, ■ HI III AN APPENDIX, ■ N I \ I ". I N . . THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY CONVENTIONS— NARRATIVES OF THE EVENTS OF THE NINETEENTH OF APRIL; [775— PAPERS RELATING TO TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT, OTHER DOCUM ENTS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF 111! EARL1 BIS1 >B1 OF lilt: ISItllUAN RXTOLUTIOIf. PI BUSHED AUiiEKAl! I. V T<> \ KKSiil.Vi: I'ASSKl) MAKC1I ID, 1837, UNDER THE 811'EhVIM N 01 WILLIAM LINCOLN Boston: DUTTON AND WENTWORTH, PRINTERS TO TDK STATE. L838. LOG r .N 'LFS PC TY ■ - • . I N T 11 O D U C T ION. I',\ a resolve of the legislature of the Commonwealth, approved March 1< ( . 1837, the governor was authorized to | rocure the | ublication of the Journals of each Pro- vincial Congress of Massachusetts, id of such papers connected with those records, as would illustrate the patriotic exertions of the people of the state in the rev- olutionary contest. The subscriber had the honor of being appointed to carry this resolve into effect, by His Excellency Edward Everett, at whose suggestion measures were first adopted for j uating and multiply- ing copies of these memorialsof the history of that period when the authority of the crown had been overthrown, and the powers of government were exercised by the people in their priman assemblies. The journal of the first Provincial Congress, formed at Salem, on the seventh of October, 177 1. and dissolved on the tenth day of December following, was recorded by Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., the clerk, afterwards distin- guished by civic and military honors. The brave and wise men uniting in thai assembly, mighl have foreseen through the gloomy shadow of impending war, the ira- i'l INTRODUCTION. portance of the consequences to result from their acts, but they could not realize the value the gratitude ofpos- terity would attach to the memorials of their doings. The legislature had been driven from its ancient seat, and the depositaries of the public records were in the hands of an armed enemy. The documents relating to the proceedings of the first Congress, entrusted to the custody of members, whose minds were devoted to the great i olitical events of the day, and who soon engaged in the active duties of the field, were dispersed and have perish) d. Returns had been procured of the mili- tia, munitions of war, manufactures, and resources of the town-. Letters, petitions, and other communica- tions were received, showing the spirit of the times, and the progress of the preparations for resistance of usur- pation. All these have been lost, and no papers from the files, once so rich, have been preserved. It is not ini; r bable, that in the confusion occasioned by the sud- den march of the "British troops to Concord, the docu- ments exhibiting the weakness of the province in martial is well as the strength of its patriotism, were de- stroyed. The journal of the Second Provincial Congress, which )!, I imbridge, February 1, 177o, kept in part by tl careful clerk, and partly by Samuel Freeman, mutilation before it was placed in the "I the ' ommonwealth. The oilicial records of this assembly, from May 21, 1775, to its dissolution, are INTRODUCTION. Ill not known to exist, and but few of the reports, and lit- tle of the evidence, on which its proceedings were founded, have been retained. The Third Provincial Congress convened on the thir- ty-first daj of May, L775, and Sami el Freeman, Esq. was elected secretary. The labors of the recording: offi- cer of a body exercising the legislative and executive powers of government, In that stormy period, called hour by hour to issue orders to the army and the towns, must have been oppressive. From that part of the original records which has been preserved, it is appa- rent, that the memoranda taken amid the heavy pics- sure of engagements, and filled with references to re- ports and documents afterwards to be inserted, were designed to be perfected by future revision. The time which elapsed before they were transcribed in the fair volume now in the archives of the state, prevented the omissions from being fully supplied. Long after the two earliest assemblies had separated, copies of their journals were prepared with extraordi- nary neatness. The waste of years was irreparable, and the beauty of the transcript gives slight consolation lor the imperfection of its contents. So far as was possible, the fulness of the original jour- nals has been restored in this edition : many resolutions and papers have been recovered and restored from eon- iv INTRODUCTION. temporary newspapers and publications, and from other authentic sources. The text of the original journals has been carefully preserved, and the variations introduced by later writers, except such as were too inconsiderable to be matter of importance or curiosity, have been indicated. Documents elucidating the subjects of action or de- bate, have been placed in connection with the proceed- ings of each Congress, and some brief explanatory notes occasionally added. Preparations for defence, and the execution of im- portant measures pointed out by each Congress, were confided to the committees of safety and of supplies. The proceedings of these bodies while their sessions were held in union, and of the former, after the increas- ing weight of labor and responsibility rendered a divis- ion of duties necessary, were closely connected with the acts of tli<' assemblies conferring the powers exercised for the common good. The journals, preserved with many im] ions 3 have been inserted in this volume. resoluti as i i the conventions held in the several counties, were of deep interest, and il is hoped, will be (appropriate additions to those of the represen- tatives i i the stal The whole journal of the local as- sembly held in Worcester, redeemed from the destruc- INTRODUCTION. \ tion which has overwhelmed so man} of the memorials nt' the revolution, has been printed with the notices oi the acts of the other communities, unfortunately less full, but the most complete which could be obtained. The records of the towns of Massachusetts, from the first practical attempt to separate the power of tax- ation and the right of representation, to the termi- nation of the war of independence, arc filled with pa- { ers breathing an ardent spirit of patriotism. On their pages are eloquent vindications of the principles of civil liberty, able expositions of chartered privileges, and bold appeals against the encroachments of the crown. They bring to us the thoughts and words of the lathers of the revolution as vividly as they rose on the minds or came from the lips of the authors of the heroic resolu- tions. Desirable as it was to embody these representa- tions of the virtues of the patriots of former time, it was found that the doings of each of the municipal republics, formed connected series of noble acts and exertions, spreading through many years, and that a mere selec- tion from among the documents, made at the risk of un- just preference, would impair the value by separation, and possibly prevent the collection and publication of all of these honorable relics. Soon after the nineteenth of April, 1 7 / ~> , a narrative of the events of that memorable day was prepared, sub- stantiated by numerous depositions oi' witnesses ol the VI INTRODUCTION. ravages of the British during their excursion from Bos- ton. They were transmitted to England and to the Continental Congress, and widely circulated, as the jus- tification to the nation and the world, for the appeal to arms. These have been placed in the Appendix. Frequent references in the journals to the letters of Arnold, and to communications relating to the capture of the fortresses at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, ren- dered the correspondence with Congress and the commit- tees, a necessary supplement to the volume. Some extracts have been made from the journals of the Continental Congress, detailing proceedings connect- ed with the acts of the provincial assemblies. A i'cw papers of interesting character, copied from the fdes, have been added. A copious table of the principal subjects, and a full index, will afford the means of ready access to the facts spread through the pages of the work, and will render the use m isj Such are the contents of this volume. It was con- ceive 1 to be the primary purpose of the resolve author- izing the publication, to perpetuate materials for the histo- id of a glorious era in our national existence. Within the restrictions imposed by its terms, efforts have been mad-- to give to ihe records the best form which could INTRODUCTION. Ml be bestowed. Jt was no1 the object of tin- legislature to provide for the preparation of a new narrative of the revolution, but to preserve the remains of the past. Had it been permitted, it would have been a pleasant labor to have drawn from the journals illustrations of the vir- tues of our ancestors, and of their devotion to liberty : the humbler dut} of arranging some testimonials of their worth, it is hoped, will be found to have been executed with diligence and fidelity. WILLIAM LINCOLN. INATTONS OP THE REFERENCES. Is which have been omitted from the copy in the art-hives of irda diffi rent in the original from tliose in that copy, have been enclosed ! in this volume; that of the copy is iriginal joomala in the copy before described, have been placed in i . the public transcript indicated by a letter of reference i il nor copy, inserted in the text of this edition, are ■ eta, points to some word removed from the text to Words clearlj erroneous in the original or copy have been ime marks, while suitable reference CON T E N r r S FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF H 188 \« IIUSETTS. Sept. 28 — Proclamation of Governor Gaga, declaring bis intention not to meet the general court at Salem, on the 5tli of October, and discharging all persona elected as representatives from attendance, . . 3 < )i i. 5 — Members elected to the general assembly meet at Salem, ami organize a convention, ........ 4 " 7 — Their resolutions on the refusal of the governor to meet them and ad- minister the oaths, ....... 5 Provincial Congress formed at Salem. List of the delegates. Original territorial limits of the county of Suffolk, .... 7 Original extent of the county of Hampshire, .... 10 Incorporation of Rutland district by the name of Hutchinson. Proceed- ings of the citizens, and of the general court, in relation thereto. . 13 County of Lincoln, — Congress adjourns lo meet al C sord, . . \~> II — Provincial Congress merto at ('uncord, ..... lo John Hancock elected president, and Benjamin Lincoln secretary. Rev. Mr. Emeraon invited to act as chaplain. Monitors chosen, . . IG 12 — Committee to take into consideration the state of the province, . . 16 • 13 — The committee reported a message to the governor, which was consider- ed and accepted, . . . . . . . 17 Committee to present address to the governor, .... 19 ■■ II — Cun-t.ii.lr-. collectors of taxes, and other officers, advised not to pay over mi. y in theii hand- to the crown officer ; but to retain it, sub- jecl to the order of the towns. Provincial Congress, or general assem- bly, 19 " 17 — Cougress meets at Cambridgi ...... 20 \ isw< i of Governor (i.^.- to the address of the Provincial i 20 I!. ■■• m d to Ihe cornmitu n the state of the province, . . Jl Intercepted letters of Ihi Rei Vfi Peters referred lo the sa committi .'1 Rev. Doct. kpplelon appointed chaplain, .... ■■ 18— Sessions of the Congress ordered to be held with closed doors, . . 22 i i I i determine to repl} lo the governor, -1 ■ 19 — A committee appointed iquire into the state and operations of the British arni\ , . Reply to th.. governor, reported, and recommitted; reported again, and laid on the table, .... :: -" — Report ol the a littee to inquire into the state and operations ol Ihe army. Ordered lo Ik on Ihe table, It \ I i.n I t NTS ii, i i _ • nmilte* to consider what is necessary for the defence and safety of Ihe pro ....••• I, o the payment and collection of outstanding taxes, • • u — Resolutions n the mandamus counsellors, i en' li>li the names of i li» • mandamus counsellors, . i onsumption agret ment, i r ihe total disuse oi' India leas, . i Riving i's newspaper, I: for ibe disuse of India lea, .... .. — !;. the defence and safety of the provinci . c of sending an agent lo Canada referred • 1 1 » • next mi the < Congress, .... 1 1 I ksgiving recommended, n <>n the safety and defence of the province, amended, ami recom milled. ........ _ I— Committee i" report die most proper time to provide a stock of powder ordn & ••. . I ' tes to be kept secret by Ihe members, ' mmiltee report lhal ii"v is the most proper time for the province lo pro> k of powder, ordnance, &c. i lo determine wbal quantity shall be provided, and estimate tin- • ....... i - ilion of the report on the safety and defence of the province re and ihe report recommitted, .... •■ Co — Committee on Ihe non-consumption agreement, ordered lo sit forthwith Committee lo inquire into Ihe state of the stores iu Ihe commissars gen eral's office, . . ..... n on tin quantity of powder and ordnance stores necessary for the proi ....... All ■ e kept secret, . — H id defence of the province, considered aud ac . ' l meat, 23 23 :: 15 25 i 25 27 :: 23 28 28 29 29 . 29 30 30 31 3f 35 35 35 36 36 36 36 37 ■ ••7 37 38 33 38 in CONTENTS. M Oct. 88 — Committee to bring in a resolve relative 1 Irepresei ibe province I ...-.- 40 K olve i n v i 1 1 1 1 l; ihe conslilulional counsellors lo attend the next Con- .. . . . . . - - - 10 Ret jq for a non-consumption agreement, 40 irt on the warlike stores in the commi - II •• i'j — Kr|H>rt mi , i -s stem of military exi ihe province, - - H 1 isideration of the state of i courts referred to the u Congress, - - - - - - - - 11 1 safet) 'l reeled n> write d> the Continental Congress, show- ing the grounds and reasons of Ihe proceedings of this < longress, - l~ R \ of the Congress to the governor's answer. A. committee appoint- ed tn present ii, ------ - '- Committee lo extract >m h parts of the proceedings ol I on the 26th ami 88th, a > to be published, - - 15 Their ri p - - - - - - - - 15 Two members added t" the committee of safety, - - - - I ■ Congress adjourned to the SSd day of November, ... IS Nov. tS — Congress meet according to the adjournment, 48 \\ Jter Spo -r, ono of his majesty's constitutional council, desired to attend the Congress, ------- i: John Adams and Robert Treat Paine desired to attend, - - - 10 Representatives I Massachusetts in the Continental Congress, - - I'J -l — Members of the Continental Congress desired to report their proceed- ings, -..----.. |9 Rev. Doct. Vppleton appointed chaplain, .... pi Proceedings of the Continental Congress, reported, and committed, - 19 Petition from the officers of minute men in the northwest part ol" the county of Worcester, ...... C imittee to prepare a plan for the defence and safely of the govern- ment, required lo -.it forthwith, ..... ( lommittee ior publishing the names of Ihe mandamus counsellors, lo pre- pare a report forthwith, --.... ,-,u — Members of the conslilulional council invited io lake seats in the Pro \ inrial ( 'oiii."' - - - - - - - ,,| 26 — ( lommittee to dei ise means ior keeping up a correspondence with .Mon- treal and < tuebec, -------51 '"in lee to draw the form ol an order with respect lo ihe treasurer's x p\ ing bonds, -------- 51 " 28 — Committee to lake into consideration the state of manufactures in the province, and how they may be improved, -.-.., I— Committee lo make an estimate of the injury lo the province by ihe operation of Ihe Boston |>ort bill, .....;, Committei nouni of ihe Bums which have been extorted from us. since 1763, i>\ the operation of certain .iris of the British parliament, --...... .hi — Resolve^ ior the appointment of five members to attend ihe Coniineiii.il • '■■..■ Co uitee to bring m a resolve, expressing Ihe lhanks of Congress lo the other colouies, for their donations lo the i r of the town ol Ho-- ton. .iii.i io prepare a brief, ------ I • tiers iron, i) r . Franklin to Mr. Cushing referred to the provincial com mitiee of correspondence, ... . Xll CONTENTS. Dbc. I — Report of the committee on the proceedings of the Continental Congress 01 itted, * - - - - - - 54 Resolve express 114 the thanks of Congress to the other colonies, for their donations to the town of Hoston, ----- 54 Committee lo apply to the secretary for a list of the mandamus counsel- 55 ■■ .' — Members to represent the province in the Continental Congress., - - 55 Committee on the slate of the province reported, - 55 ■ '■■ — Report cousidered, .------ S6 mmiltee 10 prepare an address to the clergy of the province, desiring ilit'in to exhort the people to sustain the Congress, 56 Report on the pro< of the Continental Congress, 56 •• G — Committee to correspond with the inhabitants of Canada, - - 59 Brief to be circulated through the province to promote donations for the suffering inhabitants of Hoston and Charlestown, 59 Address lo the clergy, -------60 M ndamus counsellors who have not published a renunciation of their commissions, --------61 7 — Committee to determine the recompense of the delegates to the Conti- nent, il Congress, ------- 61 I;, tolve for taking the number of inhabitants, and the quantity of the ex- port-, and imports, and of the manufactures of the province, - 61 1 mmiltee to prepare a census of the inhabitants and a true state of the rti and imports, -------62 &— Report of ili.' committee and resolutions of Congress relative to the en- iragemenl ■>! manufactures, ----- 62 Two general officers chosen, ------ 65 9 — • Sommhtee lo bring in a resolve relating to an address from the Baptists to tin- ( iongress, ---.... 55 Report of the committee relating to the public moneys in the hands of constables and others, ------ 65 1 mmiltee to bring in a resolve relative to an article in the association of the Continental Congress respecting foreign goods, wares, and mer- ekandise, and their report, ------ 66 Committee to consider a plan of military exercise proposed by Capt. Timothy Pickering, ------- 67 B "Moi the committee on the address from the BauUsts, - - 67 1 I ess to the chaplain, and lo the proprietors of the meet- ing-bonje, ........ 67 1 a letter from the town of Hardwick, 67 Hi — Report on the letter from Hardwick, ----- 68 1 ■ 1. iiioii intended for the signature of the royalists, - - 68 I ' the freeholders and other inhabitants of the towns and .i.^'.r ■ . ■ \i 1 Bcbusetu Bay, ----- 69 • ■ relativt lo assuming civil government, taken up, v, ---.... 72 U procuring returns of the number of officers ibe militia, and o! the minute men of the province, - 72 1 .unit 11 the Hate ol the province, 73 H to iii<- dissolution of tln> Congress, and meeting of the 73 ■ n ..1 the committee en the plan of military exercise proposed by 1 - • pted, .... 74 CONTENTS. Mil 1 u ( . 10 — Expense "t transmitting address to the < Sanadi ui> to be paid by Ike u'"\ - eminent, ........ 11 The Congress dissolved, ....... 71 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF MASS ACH I SETTS. 1775. I'm. ) — Heels at Cambridge . 77 List of the Members, ....... 77 John Hancock chosen president, and Benjamin Lincoln, secretary, . 84 Committee to take into consideration the stale of the province, . . 84 " 2 — Rev. Doi't. Appleton appointed chaplain, ..... 84 Monitors appointed, . . . . . . . 81 " 3 — Commi tract from the journal of the last Congress what relates to ill' \ - and the militia, and cause it to be prin Committee to consider the representations of committees of Boston and oilier towns, that many of the inhabitants are employed in working for the army in Boston, ...... 85 1 — I debates and resolutions of Congress to be kept secret, ... 85 Committee to puUi-.li in a pamphlet some of the doings of the last Con- i, and to prepare an address to the inhabitants of the province, 85 " 6 — Delegates to the Continental Congress to hold their offices to the3lstday of December, . . . . . . . . 86 Resolution concerning the delegate from Wahham, ... 86 Troop of horse raised in Rowley, ...... 86 Secretary empowered to adjourn Congress in the absence of the presi- dent, ......... 86 •• 7 — Inhabitants recommended not to supply the troops in Boston with any thing that maj en tble tl em t<> annoy the people, ... 86 Committee to consider the accounts of the late delegates to the Continen- tal < !ongress, ........ 87 Address to the inhabitants relative to the province taxes, reported and re- committed, ........ 87 Members permitted to wear hats in the sessions of Congress, . . 88 " 8 — Address to the inhabitants again reported and recommitted, . . 88 Committee to prepare a resolution recommending the saving of linen rags, ......... 89 Jabez Fisher chosen of the committee of safety, .... 89 " 9 — Committee of safety, their powers and duties, .... 89 General officers appointed t>> act under the authority of the committee of safely, ........ 90 Elbi G rry, chosen on the committee of supplies, . . . i'l Address to the inhabitants of Mai tchusetts Bay, ... 91 Address from Sciluate in relation to British troops in Marshfield, . . 93 Committee to bring in a resolve empowering the committee ol Bafety to lake possession of the wai • ores of the province, Committee to bri i ting bow the ordnance of the prov- ince shall be > ....... '.'1 C nittee to make returns of the mihtia and minute men, to report as soon as possible, . . • • • • *• XIV CONTENTS. Feb. 9 — Committee to report a resolve for the publication of the names of the mandamus counsellors, . ...... 91 Resolve recommending the preservation of rags for making paper, . 94 " 10 — Committee to watch British troops said to be on the road to Cambridge, 94 Committee to sit in the recess of t '.n^iess to prepare rules and regula- tions for die army, ....... 95 Committee appointed to estimate the loss to the province by reason of the Boston port bill, reported, ..... 95 Report of committee and resolves for the payment of the delegates to the Continental Congress, ...... 95 Committee to revise the commission of the committee of safety, and of the committee of supplii s, ...... 96 The secretary directed to have the names of the mandamus counsellors published, ........ 96 Petition from the delegates of the several towns in the counties of Hamp- shire and Berkshiie, ....... 96 " 11 — Report of the committee appointed to revise the commission of the com- mittee of safety, ....... 97 Resolve authorizing die appointment of a commissary, ... 97 Committee of safety requested to possess themselves of all the bayonets and implements of war purchased at the expense of the province, . 97 Committee to report a resolve expressing the determination of the peo- ple to support their rights at all hazards, 97 " 13 — Committee to bring in a resolve for an inquiry into the state of the mili- tia, ......... 98 Committee to consider what should be done for the encouragement of the manufacture of saltpetre, ..... 98 Committee to bring in a resolve for the appointment of an agent to Que- bec, 98 " 14 — Report of the committee on the stale of the militia, . . . 99 " 15— Committee of correspondence of Boston directed to open a correspon- dence wilL the inhabitants of Quebec, .... 100 Resolutions for the encouragement of the manufacture of saltpetre in the province, ........ 100 Form of receipt to be signed by the receiver general, . . . 101 Committee to bring in a resolve relative to the danger of the people from the disposition of the British ministry towards them, . . . 101 Resolve relative to pedlers and pettj chapmen, .... 101 John Whitcomb, elected a general officer, .... 102 Militia and minute men reconmended£to perfect themselves, forthwith, in military discipline. ... . ... 103 Resolve for the encouragement of the manufacture of fire-arms, . . 103 Voie^ ■■! ( '..ii^r.-^ approving the conduct of the committees of coriespon- dence of Plymouth and other towns, ..... 103 \ dress of the selectmen of Plymouth and other towns i<> General Cage, 104 Com mil ifer with a deputation from Connecticut, . . 106 " lii — Committee to correspond with the neighboring goveri mts, . . 106 Resolves respecting the business and dutj "i the above committee, . 106 h of fasting and prayer throughout the province appointed, . . 107 Injunction of secrecy on the members removed, .... 108 !,'■ wive providing (or the calling together <>i Congress in case "i emer- y, . . . . . . . . . in 1 . Congress adjourned to March 2Sd, at Concord, 109 ( o.NTI > l B. tL\ Uabcb - ! — Mel according (■> adjournment, and Rev. Mr. Emerson appoint plain I 1 ties and resolutions to be kept set .... ( '.' in m > : ■ ■ 'iirn> of ihi lilia, . . 109 Two members added to the committee on the state ol '!"■ provim J.3 — Committee to prepare .t resolve declaring the dan Jd the) relax in their preparations for defence, R : ol the comm . . . . • • 110 -~ — The committee to prepare rules for the arm) reported, . . . Ill -'!! — Keport considered and recommitted, . . . . • III " 29 — Consideration resumed, recommitted for additions, . . .111 Committee to bring in a /c ~».l\ <■ introductory to publishing die names of the mandamus counsellors, . . . . . • 'II " 30 — Report of the committee on the state of the province relative to what movement of the troops should make it necessary to call out the militia, 1 IS !;• solve, that on Ihe calling out oi the militia, members of I pair to the place to which they shall be adjourned, . . . II- < *i publish a renunciation of their commiss : ons, and resolve for publishing their names, . . 113 ' nstables and collectors required to pay public mone a to the receiver ral, immediate]) . . . . . . - • 113 April 1 — Committee la prepare rules for the army report; report passed, and af- terwards rec< i . . . . • . ■ • HI K solve for furnishing with blankets the Indians who have enlisted as mil ule men, . . . . . . . .111 Address to the Slockbridge Indi ..... 11J Committee to draught an address to the chief of the Mohawk Indian 11G I: •cling duty of towns if General Gage should issue precepts i gent ral assembly, . . . • . . 116 I ilve for ch loanew Provincial Congress. . . 116 Committee on an application from the committee of correspondenci •■! ■ r. kiiLland, with an address lo the Mohawk In- dians, . . . . . . . . .118 " 5 — Rules and regulations for the Ma chusetts army, . . I- 1 Town oi' Northfield desired to elect an additional member lo ihe Con- 129 C< nittee on the application of the committee <■! Boston and of other ti.wii>, report, ........ — Application lo Congress from the t im inspection of Bristol rel- ative to an apprehended visit from his majesty's troopsj . . I, 1 Letter to ihe committees "i inspei lion of ihe county of Bristol, advising them lo keep ihe militia in the b< il p nee, Application l r< )ni Billerica and from the commiltt e oi Bosl , ig tin com* mitti ........ 131 Outrage by British troops in Boston upon Thomas D B 131 Protest ol the selectmen ol Billerica to General Gage, against ii"- cruel outrage of his sold ...... 133 135 138 139 XVI CONTENTS. April 7 — Two members added to the committee on the state of the province, . 132 Committee to confer with Gov. Hopkins upon the present state of public affairs, ...... ... Report of the committee on the application from Billerica, and letter to the selectmen, ... ..... 133 Letter to the committee of correspondence of Boston and other towns, . lo4 —Report of the committee on the state of the province relative to raising an army, ....••••• Delegates to the provinces of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, .....••• 1*>° Committee to draught a letter to each of the above colonies, . . 136 Committee to see what number of men should be raised from the New En- gland governments, ....... 136 • • 10 — Letter to the colonies of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hamp- shire, ......... 136 Additional delegates to the neighboring governments, . . . 137 " 11 — Infractions to the delegates appointed to repair to the neighboring col- onics, . Committee to repair to Brunswick and other places, to prevent supplies > rom them to the enemy, ..... 139 Committee to take the particular slate of the town of Boston, into consid- er;') o , " 12 — Resolve for the appointment of county committees, to report a true state of their towns, with respect to theii having executed the measures of the Continental and Provincial Congress, .... 139 Report of the committee relative to exercising the minute men in battal- u hi- . and paying them for the time they spend in the service, re- jected, ......... 140 Members of the county committees, ..... 140 " 13 — Resolve for raising six companies for the train of artillery, . . 141 i ■ - r< sumed the consideration of the report relative to the removal <.' ih< inhabitants "i Boston, and ordered it to be recommitted, . 142 II — I; i] the collection and payment of the tax assessed upon the plantation of New Providence, ..... 142 Committee ol donations "i Boston recommended to atiord assistance to persons desirous of removing into the country, . . . I I J Cominiti ■ ly directed to apply to a suitable number of persons to be in readiness to enter the service of the colony, when an aimv shall be raised, . . . . . . . .11.; i ol. Thomas Gardnei chosen a member of the committee of safety, . ill |.i — Report o I resolve recommendiug a day of fasting and prayer, . . . . . . . .ill Rj es for the payment of certain expenses incurred by Congress, . 145 M. mben on theii return to their respective towns, ordered to use their in- fluence to procure the payment of the public taxes* and to promote military discipline, . . . . . . ,146 i.. olves for the adjournment ..i Congress, and for calling together the membert in case ol necessity, . . . | iti \ '•■ ol thinks to tin- pi . . . . i it, Cot neet at Concord, on the 10th of May next, . 147 " 17 — » irrui.ir from ti mmittoe ap| ited foi the purpose ol convening the Provincial Congri i, and summoning the members to repair immedi- ord, , 117 CONTENTS. \\li Arnn. tS — Congress meets ;.i Concord, Richard Devens chosen chairman, and John Murray clerk, . . • . • • .117 Adjourns to VVatertown, . . . . . . . 1 17 Committee to notify ilic committee of Bafcly of the time and place of the adjournment of Congress, . . . • . .117 Committee to lake depositions relative to the transactions of the British ps in their march to and from Concord, on the 19th of April, . M8 E3 — Resolves for immediately raising an army of 30,000 men, . . 1 l'J Committee of safely directed to report a plan for the establishment of the army to lie raised, . . . . . . l I I Four members added to the committee of safety, . . . .113 Delegates to New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode 1-1. md, appointed, 1 l'J Letter from the committee of correspondence of Connecticut, . 1 l'J Committee to draught an answer to the letter, . . . . 1 l'J 1 1 t. Joseph Warren chosen president, and Col. Joseph Palmer secretary pro tempore of Congress, ...... 119 Committee to draw up a narrative of the massacre of April 19th, . • 150 J I — Committees of safety and supplies empowered to impress horses and learn -. ......... 150 Committee to recommend to the committee of safety persons most suita- ble for officers in the army, ...... 150 Letters from Hartford to the president of Congress, . . • 151 Committee to examine the records and report what parts of them should be made public, ....... 151 " 25 — Statement of the treasurer respecting the condition of the treasury, . 151 Report of the committee appointed to examine the records of Congress, . 151 I Iter to the town clerk of Haverhill respecting the representation of that town, . . . . . . . . .152 Order for the reduction of the companies to lifty-nine men, and of the r< !g- iments to ten companies, ...... 152 Memorials from Marblehead and other towns respecting the unprotected state of the sea coast, ....... 152 •■ JG — Committee to draught a letter to our agent in Great Britain, . . 153 William Burbeck appointed an engineer of the forces now raising in the colony, ......... I."».) Letter lo'Benjamin Franklin, ...... 153 Address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, .... 151 I; olutiou of the'general assembly of Rhode Island, for r.usiin; an army oi obsei \ alion, ........ 156 Protest of the governor and deputy governoi against the above resolution, I I;, olve appoiutii rd Gridley chiel engineer of lite colony forci 157 Report of the committee appointed to consider the state of the eastern parts of the province with respect to ammunition, . . • i '7 I ..i\is ior supply og ■ ■ rtain towns with pov . . . 15b" Committee to return the i hanks ol Congress to the ministers who line of- tiieii to supply the army as cbaplaius, .... Order to Richard Derby to proceed with dispatches to London, 159 Committee to consider tie recommendation ol the committee ol safi with respect lo armorers for the army, . • . I :', — Resolve recommending to the committees of the sea-port towns in the roiiiiiv oi Essex, lu use tin ii endeavors to have the effects "i the in- habitants removed into the country, .... XV111 CONTENTS. April 27 — Committee to confer with the officers of the army relative to the re duct ion of their pay, ...... Committee to obtain an account ol the number of men killed and wound ed on the 19th instant, ...... " 2o — Committee to coufei with the deputies from New Hampshire, Mr. Samuel Freeman appointed secretary pro tempore, . Letter to the convention of the colony of New Hampshire, < 'ommilti e to consider the expediency of establishing post riders between the Mass s forces and the town of Worcester, Committee to consider the propriety of recommending to the towns to take no notice of Gen. Gage"s precepts for calling a general assem bly, Committee to prepare a commission for the officers of the army, Committee to draught rules for the observance of the members of Con "TOSS Committee to bring in a resolve empowering the committee of supplies to procure supplies for the army, .... i on m tt( to bring in a resolve for reducing the pay of the field officers of the army, ....... 29 — The subject of the liberation of the inhabitants of Boston referred to the committee of safety, ...... Dav appointed for the meeting of the county committees, . Rules and regulations to be observed bj ( longress, Monitors ordered to enforce their observance, Resolve empowering the committee of supplies to procure provisions and military stores for the army, ..... Letters to the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, of Rhode Island. . Order for sending British prisoners to Providence, to be used for the lib eration of Mr. John Brown, ..... Resolve for reducing the pay of the field officers of the army, Resolve for altering the time of the county committees' meetings, Committee to consider some method for supplying the treasury, . Letter from Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, respecting the capture and detention of Mr. John Brown, ..... Letter from Jami I es from Rhode Island, Letter from John Hancock to the committee of safety, giving information of the arrival of intelligence from Europe; >■ 3 of Boston among thi towns of ihc province, ........ 176 t'..i itti plies ordered Lo furnish provisions lo certain j > • • r - • ■ n ^ who had sustained lo: British tro< I I tinglon, Committee to consider what should be done with respect io furnishing; the army with net ...... 178 " 2 — Col. Joseph Warren chosen president I ... 178 Committee to con t) of taking measures lo secure the ds of the counties exposed to danger, .... 179 omiltee lo draught a letter lo t Ii * - - fir < longresa lo < lonnec- licut 179 Committee lo draw up the form of an oath for the officers and soldiers of the army. ... ..... 179 Letter to the delegates of Congress in Connecticut respecting the arrival of gentlemen from that colony with a commission to treat with Gen- eral Gage, ...... 179 Letter from Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut to General Gage, . 1 '» Reply of < ii-uir.il < Sage, ... ... I l Commit to take into consideration a letter from Dartmouth respecting sending i essels lo sea, . . . • • ■ • 183 < nmillee t<> bring in a resolve for granting liberty to persons in Boston i send int.! tin- country for ihcir effi .... Committee to forward an express lo ihe < !orrfinenlal Cong ess with copies of papers transmitted to Great Britain, . . . .183 R lolve granting liccn ins in Boston to send into the country for their effects, ........ 181 ( ' mi t tee to consider whal shall be d for the liberation of the Amcr- i prisoners taken on the 19th of April, .... 184 ' 3 — Rev. Doct. Cooper requested lo officiate as chaplain, . . 184 Resolve foi supplying Col. Benedict Urnokl wilh money and warlike stores. ......... 185 < lommiltee to overlook the commissions of ihe comm llees of safety and supplies, and see what additional powers Jhey should have, . . 185 i: lives authorizing ihe receit er general to borrow money, and prescrib- ing the form of ihc security to be given lo the lender, . . 185 l;. solve for exempting the horses and cat ers of I longress from being impressed, . . . . . . .1 The receiver general directed l io notes for a less sum than four pounds, lawful money, ....... I i e committee appointed to consider ihe subject of advanci > the tiers, reported. The report was recommitted, . ,187 Committee lo procure a copperplate for printing the colon) notes, and lo countersign them, . I 3 ■■■r to the t lontinental Congn 187 XX CONTENTS. Mat 3 — Rev. Mr. Gordon requested to officiate as chaplain, . . . 189 Report of tlie committee appointed to consider measures for liberating the prisoners taken by General Gage's troops on the 19di of April, . 189 " 4 — Report of the committee appointed to take into consideration the advance pay to the soldiers, ....... 189 Committee to bring in a resolve for reconsidering a former resolve, and recommending to the towns and districts not to obey the precepts of General Gage for calling a general assembly, . . . 190 Committee to examine the towns' and districts' stocks of powder, . 190 Committee to hold a conference with the delegates from Connecticut to General Gage, ........ 191 Report of the committee appointed to inquire into the conduct of the tow us towards the prisoners of war, ..... 191 Report of the committee appointed to confer with the Connecticut dele- gates, ......... 191 Committee to prepare a letter to the assembly of Connecticut, . . 192 " 5 — Committee to bring in a resolve relative to an obstruction to the removal of the inhabitants of Boston, ...... 192 Report of the committee respecting General Gage's writs for calling a general assembly, ....... 192 Committee to bring in a resolve for the choice of delegates to a new Pro- vincial Congress, ....... 193 Letter to the governor and company of the colony of Connecticut, . 193 Report of the committee, and letter to General Ward relative to an ob- struction to the removal of the inhabitants of Boston, . . 195 Resolve for the election of delegates to a new Provincial Congress, . 195 Letter from Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut, .... 196 Resolve for supplying the assembly of Connecticut with the rules and reg- ulations of the army, ....... 196 " 6 — Committee of supplies empowered to procure powder in any of the colo- nies, ... ...... 197 Committee to bring in a resolve for the appointment of two muster mas- ters, ......... 197 Committee to take into consideration the letter from the speaker of Con- necticut, ... ..... 197 Form of a pass through the guards of the army for members of Congress, 197 Col. Dwighl ordered to proceed to Hartford, with letters and depositions for the general assembly of Connecticut, .... 198 Committee to i.ike into consideration the subject of an equal representa- i '.a of the coli ....... 198 < '..nun i •',■.■ to consider the form of an establishment for the train, . i;k; Resolve empowering the committee of supplies to import military stores, 198 Two master masters appointed, and report of the committee respecting their appointment, ....... 199 < lommittee to enquire w bal numbei of proi ince arms are in the province, and what number ol fire-arm i bs e been procured by the committee of supplies, ........ 199 I. tablishment for the companies of ihe train, .... 200 7 — Committee of supplies directed to procure Buch a number of fire-arms as they may think necessary, ...... _ Lev. Doct. Langdon chosen to preach the election sermon, . . JJI Resolve for taking a third set of depositions relative to the battle of Lex- ington, ......... SSI Report of the committee appointed to consider the petition of the select- men of Topsham, ....... I: lives for the establishment of post offices and post riders, . . 222 '• 1.3 — Ordered that a committee !"■ directed to desire the Continental Cong to lake measures lor directing and regulating the American forces, . 224 The committee appointed to prepare an introduction to the depositions ling to tb I rt on, reported. 'J*ln • report was re- committed, ........ Account of the discovery of Gov. Hutchinson's letters, . . . 224 ( '..mm iter to examine them, ...... Letter to lh< P I Indians, ...... 225 Resolve for preventing persons inimical to the colony from removing with iheii i oiony without permission of the committee of the town to which they belong, ..... Resolve respecting an embass j to Canada, 121 rovrrvr-i. win Mat 15 — Report of the committee appointed to bring' in i _• i coart of inquiry, made and rejected, ..... 1 1 egates lo repaii lo ii,.- i ■■. . 1 !ur Boppl • month's advance pay lo the soldiert ....... .Mr. J.iiin Pills chosen mi the '-'1111111 ■ Col. 1 Committee lo draw up instructions i" the delegates i" the Congress of S< » Hampsl ....... •• 16 — Committee t<> apply i" the committee of safety for a I - 1 of persons who have received enlisting orders, and the number ol men each oiliccr has enlisted, ........ Application to the Continental C respecting the exercise of civil government by the M ■-- ich isetls Bay, .... Instructions lo the delegates to the New Hamps C . . . JJ1 Doct. Benja i i !hurch chosen lo go to Philadelphia with the application to the Continental < Ri Dg the organization of the train of artillery in the pro- vincial army, ........ Committee to consider what measures should be taken relative to the prisoners in Boston and Ihe inhabitants tl ere kept in duress, n ol the committee appointed lo apply for a list of officers, . SS2 17— Committee to lake into consideration certain loiters giving an account of ihe taking of the fortress at Ticonderoga, .... 233 Monitors appointed, ....... Form of an oalh to be taken by ihe general officers, . . . Z33 Jonas l)i\ appointed to take depositions relative to the destruction of private property by the king's troops at Concord, . . . 234 1 mmittee to consider what steps are necessary for ihe relief of certain inhabit Boston, . I Iter lo ihe ass< mbly of Connecticut, an relative to tlie capture of the fortress at Ticonden ..... 234 Commiti"-.- i tnmission for General Ward, . R* irt of the committee relative to the prisoners at Dartmouth, . Con llee appointed li i i of the committee of safe- ly directed t» sit forthwith, ...... i tammiltee directed to bring in resolve for taking bonds of ihe postmas- ters, and appointing oaths for the pi :-. 18— Committee to consider (hi ibilii} of employing surgeons lo the army out of the i the colon} . Committee to bring in ■ recommending t<> Ihe inhabitants of the my not to choose anj person to represent them who has a com- mission in Ihe army, ....... ' Committee lo inqti re il Hon. James Russell, impost master, has an} pub- lic ne} - in Ins hands, ...... Comin llee lo bi ug n i resi Ive recommending lo the inhabitants lo have no dealings with ihe mandamus i es ol ihe colon} . . Committee to inquire into ihe subject of a r< ihe co lillei r*iy respectii g Lad} Prankland, ..... Letter fi be i inii Falmouth relative lo ihe situation ol ibal town. .... XXIV CONTENTS. May 18 — Report of the committee relative to the attack upon the king's ships in the harbor of Falmouth by Col. Thompson, .... 237 Members of the committee of safety, . 238 Committee to inquire where i lie treasurer may procure money for advance pay to the soldiers, ....... 238 Report of the committee upon the resolve of the committee of safety re- specting Lady Frankiand, ...... 238 " 19 — Col. Warren directed to procure a list of the officers who are prepared to receive their commissions, ...... 239 Letter of the committee of correspondence of Connecticut respecting the taking of Ticonderoga, ...... 239 Resolve permitting Lady Frankiand to remove or otherwise dispose of her goods, ........ 210 Mr. Gerry reported an answer to a letter from the committee of corres- pondence of Connecticut, ...... 240 Commission of the committee of safety, ..... 240 Resolve appointing Mr. John Pigeon a commissary for the army, . 242 Commission for General Aitemas Ward, ..... 213 Committee to get the depositions and narrative of the excursion of the king's troops to Concord, printed, ..... 243 Resolves relative to the commissions of the officers, and the rank and number of the regiments in the colony army, . . . 213 Resolves passed for granting commissions to Samuel Gerrish and other officers, ........ 244 " 20 — Committee to confer with Mr. Revere respecting an alteration in the val- ue of notes to be emitted, ...... 24-1 Petition from the inhabitants of Deer Island, .... 241 Report of the committee appointed to consider the situation of the pris- oners in Boston, and the inhabitants there kept in duress, . . 244 Resolve for the payment of advance pay to the soldiers in the provincial army, ......... 245 < lommitlee to consider what measures are necessary for the organization of the provincial army, ...... 24G Resolve for the issue of paper money by the receiver general, and form of the notes, ........ 246 Report of the committee appointed to consider the practicability of pro- viding chaplains lor the anny, ...... ,17 Commissions delivered to certain officers of the army, and resolves rela- tive thereto, ........ 218 Loss of the record of the Second I'mviiirinl ( 'ongreSS during the luri of a eomm ng the depredations of the British troops on tlie islands and leai hV •• •• cling the trial of certain persons charged with crimes com- mitted in tlie camp, ... .... I; iort of the committee upon the organization of the army, " 21 — Resolve respecting Ebene er Cutler of Northborough, Report of Mr. Gerry resp cling the appointment of additional armorers, Committee i" effect the removal of the poor of the town of Boston, and cling their powers, ..... 1 i deliver out the commissions of the officers and to adminis- ter the oaih to Ihem, ....... \ dress to the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay relative to an issue of notes by saiil colony, ...... 255 :5 — Report of the committee appointed to inspect the towns' stocks of pow- der, and consider what proportion could be spared, . . . 256 I: solve for drafting from tlie towns a quantity of powder, in conformity to saiil report, ........ 257 Resolve respecting a dispute between Cols. Hensbaw andJonatliau Ward of < ten. Ward's regiment, as to the post of lieutenant colonel, Letter from Mr. Dexter, ....... ^37 Letter from Gen. Thomas accepting the office of lieutenant general of the provincial army, ....... 258 Resolve respecting absconding soldiers, ..... 258 " 26 — Letter to the Provincial Congress of New York, .... Resolve directing the Hon. James Russell to pay all public moneys to Henry ( ianlncr, Esq. ....... Resolve lor a post rider from Cambridge to Exeter. N. II. 1; olve authorizing the muster masters to accept all able bodied men, notwithstanding they are not furnished with arms and accoutrements, 260 Cb; i-i Mr. Jonathan Brewer of Waltham, and report of the committee relative thereto, ...... 261 " J7 — ( \ nittee of safety direr i'' itn write to Col. Arnold, . . . .1 Report of a committee relative to certain charges against Lieutenant Col. Brown, . . . . . . . . .261 Report of the committee relative to the establishment of a court of in- quiry, ......... Letter to the governor and company of the colony of Connecticut respect- ing the fortress at Ticonderoga, . . • . . 263 Letter to Col. Benedict Arnold relative thereto, .... < '-I. Joseph I [enshavi appointed i>> repair to Hartford, i<> confer with the ■ mbly ol Connecticut respecting the t< >rt r. I I .mil afterwards to proceed to Ticonderoga, . . . .264 ■• -'.' — Letter t.> the Continental Congress upon the necessity of maintaining that fortress, ........ 265 Letter to the governor of the colony of Connecticut relative to the !<■! L Ticonderoga and Crown Point, .... P ten relating to Jonathan Brewer referred to the committee of safety £70 Letter to the Provincial Congress ol New Hampshire, ... I Officers commissioned by Congri . . 870 XXVI CONTENTS. THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 1775. Way 31 — Convened in Watertown. Samuel Freeman chosen secretary, and Jo scpli Warren, president, ..... List of delegates, ....... Committee lo return thanks to the Rev. Doct. Langdon for his election sermon, ....... Committee to consider the returns of members from Eastham., Convention of clergymen, ...... Committee to take into consideration the papers relating to the fortress at Ticonderoga, ....... Letter from the committee of correspondence of New Hampshire to th< committee of Newburyport, . . . . June 1 — Report of the committee appointed to consider Gen. Thomas' letter rel ative to advance pay lo the soldiers, .... Monitors appointed, ...... Report of the committee, and resolve, relative to sending the poor of Bos ton to certain towns in the country, .... Proposal of the clergy for furnishing the army with chaplains, Committee to make inquiries concerning the armorers, Letter from the selectmen of Hopkinton, .... Report of the committee appointed to consider the letter from New Hampshire, ....... Letter from the committee of safely of Salem, respecting Mr. Stephen Higginson, ....... Report of the committee relative to the return of members from East ham, ........ Report of the committee respecting Mr. Higginson, Order for printing three hundred passes for members of Congress, Hon. Mr. Dexter directed lo inquire respecting the public moneys in the hands of Mr. Russell. His report, .... Report of the committee relative to the use of a horse taken from the reg ulars by Mr. Emerson, ...... Letter to Col. Benedict Arnold relative to his conquests at Ticonderoga, Letter to the Hon. William Williams, speaker of die house of assembly of Connecticut, upon the same subject, . . . . Letter, concerning same, to tin' Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, " 2 — Rcsoh' recommending to the town of Eastham to choose a delegate to thi- Congress, . Committee to report a resolve making further provision for distributing the poor of Boston, ....... ( lommittec to consider a memorial from the countj "i w orcester, 290, Report and resolve respecting tin- appointment of chaplains for the army, < Sonunittee U ei the situation ol the import towns and inlands, Rev. Mr. Gord bosen chaplain to the Congri Report of the c< illee respecting armorers, . . . . « lommittee t" consider the petition of Capt. Jw * • rish and seven oth- er captains of the army, ...... Col. Richmond appointed to countersign the colony notes, 273 273 230 280 281 281 281 282 282 283 283 284 284 284 285 285 286 28G 286 287 288 305, SIS I I II ::>\ . I. E92 291 CONTENTS. \W II Jr m. j — Committee to consider what is besl to be d with the l. ;en from He's island, and report relative thereto, .... " 3 — Committee to consider a resolve of the committee of safelj ng a person affected with the small pox, ..... Report of the commiltei aed to consider the situation of the sca- I >< > r t towns, ........ Resolve respectin i al Brookline broke onl with the small pox, . Committee to consider the subject of a reeulorccmcnt of the army fur the protection of the sea coasts, ...... 294 Petition from the town of Dartmouth and resolve thereon, Report of the commit! t the petition of Jacob Gerrish, . . 295 Committee to consider a letter from Col. James Easton, . R jning a time for hearing Col. Jonathan Brewer, I.- Iter to tin.- receiver general respecting the signing of the colony notes, 2'.»i> Order relative to stamping and countersigning them, I — Resolves for the payment ol troops from Berkshire, Committee to make inquiries respecting the colony notes, and orders re- specting said notes, ....... 297 — Orders respecting countersigning and numbering the notes, . . '2'Jl I; iolve appointing a committee to examine some mineral earth brought from Brookfield, an I the report thereon, . . . .298,299 Committee to confer with the general officers respecting the health of the army, ......... 298 Committee to consider what should be done respecting intercepted letters, and their leport relative thereto, ..... 298 Committee to consider a proposal relative to the removal of the poor of Boston, ........ 299 I; solves for obtaining information of the committee of supplies respect- ing military stores and powder, ..... 299 I >. ler relative loan examination of the mineral earth at Brookfield, . 299 I ■ bring in a resolve for giving currency to the bills of credit of the other colonies, ...... :>,300 olvefor loaning a horse to the Rev. Mr. Emerson, . . . 299 ' ..imittee to confer with the committee of safety on the state of the ar- tillery, ........ .300,315 ResoUe lor the custody of certain prisoners, .... 300 1 lo make an establishment for an allowance of provisions to tin' soldiers, ........ 300 -' iommitlee lo devise means (or supplying the army with necessaries, . 300 Order relating lo the prisoners, ...... 301 Proi eedings ol Congress relating to the case of Col. Jonathan Brewer, . 3<>l • <: ler upon the petition of Loammi Baldwin for a loan of mathematical instruments, ........ 302 i; ior( of the committee relative to making provision for the poor of Bos« ton, ......... 302 " 7 — Committee u> v 1 1 n. Ward tor a return of the number of men in the Massachusetts army, ...... 303,30a Petition from the inhabitants of Machias, and committee to report there- on. Their report, ....... 303, ■'•<><'• The committee lo consider the state of the artillery report, and ask leave i i 1 1 . ........ •■"• Committee to consider the letters from the St ockbridge Indians, . . 301 XXV111 CONTENTS. June 7 — Committee to prepare a resolve for printing' two resolves of the Continen- tal Congress, ........ 305 Mr. Benjamin Edwards admonished for disrespectful language respect- ing the committee of safety, . . ... 301,305 Order for commissions to be delivered to the officers in Col. Fellows' reg- iment, ......... 305 A petition from the selectmen of Salem committed, . . . 305 Committee to confer with the delegates from New Hampshire, . . 305 Representation from the town of Lunenburg respecting their supply of powder, ........ 306 Report of the committee appointed to inquire into the circumstances of prisoners from Dartmouth, ...... 303, 306 Report of a committee to confer with the delegates from New Hampshire, 307 Letter from the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, . . . 307 Committee to prepare letters to the Continental Congress and each of the New England colonies, ...... 308 Report of the committee appointed to consider the augmentation of the army, ......... 308 Committee to consider the expediency of establishing a number of small armed vessels for the protection of the sea coasts, . . . 308,317 Committee to consider some measure for commissioning the officers of the army, 309,315 " 8 — Account of the taking of a sloop with stores for the army at Boston, from the selectmen of Arundel, ...... 309 Report of the committee to consider some measures for commissioning the officers of the army, . . . . . .310 Committee to consider a petition from the county of Cumberland, . 310 Committee to consider the account for transporting stores to Ticonde- roga, ......... 310 Letter from the Stockbridge Indians, ..... 311 Reply of Congress, . . . . . . .311 Resolve for sending messengers and belts to said Indians, . . 312 " 9— Petition from the selectmen of Manchester, .... 313 Committee to consider what shall be done with some prisoners brought from Arundel, ........ 313 Report of the committee appointed to bring in a resolve for enforcing two resolves of the Continental Congress relative to exportations to the British provinces, ....... 313 314 315 Report of the committee on the petition from the county of Worcester, Leave of absence granted to two members, Committee of safety required to certify the names of the candidates for the command of regiments, ..... " 10 — Report of the committee and resolves respecting Josiah Jones and Jona than llii-k~, two pris r> brought from Arundel, Committee to consider how many artificers may be necessary for the army, ........ Committee to bring in a resolve i<>r the appointment of armorers, Allowance of provisions to the soldiers of the Massachusetts army, 'i of the committee to inquire into the state of the army, Committee to consider the Mibjcct of furloughs to the soldiers, Petition from the freeholders of Williamsburg, 315 315 317,333 317 317 318 318 318 CONTENTS. XXIX June 10 — Committee to consider the expediency of establishing a number of armed vessels, ....... Address to the Continental ('undress, .... " 13 — Committee to consider measures for preventing a violation of the S bath, ........ < '. mmitli e to consider a petition from ilic committee of < !barlestowii, l; olve for the appoinlmenl ol persons to repair to the fortress ol Ticon deroga, ........ Committee in consider some method for supplying the surgeons with med icines, ........ Letter lo the < lonlinental < !ongress respecting < lanada and the Indians, Committee awl resolve respecting grass growing on the esl ties ol lb es, ........ Resolve for preventing the exportation offish and other provisions, Report of the committee appointed to consider Bome method of supply ing the surgeons with medicines, .... Ordered to examine the medical stores, .... Report of a committee respecting a vessel going from Salem for provis inns for tlic army m Boston, ..... Committee lo rneel committees from ilic oilier New England governments at Worcester, ....... Committee to repair lo Ticondi ri Petition from the county ol Cumberland committed, Report of the committee relative to the candidates for commissions in the army, read and recommitted, ..... Report on die petition of Davis and Coverly respecting their goods in Boston, ....... Committee respecting the number of armorers, repi rt, ■ 1.. — Letter from Governor Trumbull read and committed, Resolve for commissioning twenty-three regiments, Committee to consider a petition of Abner Graves and others respecting military rank, ....... Ri solve n onsidering the resolve for the appointment of a convention of eommiltees of the New England colonies, Col. John Whiteomb chosen a major general, Several private accounts read and committed, and reports thereon, 32*3 Committee to consider the expediency of appointing an additional ar morer. ........ Resolve respecting returns from gentlemen claiming to l>e commissioned as colonels, ....... instructions lo the gentlemen chosen to repair to Ticonderoga, . Report of the committee on the expediency of appointing liiisi-.i I an addition. il armorer, ...... Proclamation of General Gage, promising pardon to all persons who shall lay down iheir arm-, excepting 9 unuel Idams and John Han cock, and committee thereon, ..... •'II — Ri ir the payment of advance p soldiers under Col \ nold. and for the expen esol the committee appointed lo repair to Ticonderoga, ....... Report on the petition of Abner Graves, .... 1 on the petition "t Mr. Parry, .... t 'oinniittee to bring in a resolve for appointing a da\ ol fasti] 31 : 321,322 I ! -1 ■ ■ 32 1. 324, 324 321- sr> .;.'.-. 32f. 326 .'.J7.338 321 3.;t> 330 ■ XXX CONTENTS. June 14 — Committee to consider some way of supplying arms to the soldiers who are destitute of them, ------- 332 Committee to devise means for securing the library of Harvard College, 332 Committee to consider a request of Mr. Palmer for providing tents and barracks for the army, ------ .>.!- Committee to consider the propriety of supplying the generals of the ar- my with household furniture, ------ 333 Col. Foster ordered to countersign die notes, ... - 333 Doct Joseph Warren chosen a major general. - - - 333 Committee to inform Generals Whitcomb and Warren of their appoint- ment, .---..--- 333 Report of the committee to bring in a resolve for a day of fasting and prayer, read and recommitted, ----- 333 Resolves for commissioning officers for the train of artillery, - - 333 Mr. Samuel Thatcher appointed to number the notes, - 334 " 15 — Col. Gridley's letter respecting artificers committed, . - - 334 Committee to consider measures for supplying the army with good pro- visions, -------- 334 Resolve relative to securing the library and apparatus of Harvard Col- lege, 334 Letter to the Continental Congress and the several governments of New England, respecting danger from Canada and the Indians, - - 335 Report of the committee to consider means for providing barracks for the soldiers, -------- 335 Report of the committee and resolve for procuring fire-arms from the sev- eral towns for supplying the army, ----- 336 Report for providing a magazine of fire-arms, ... - 337 Committee to ascertain whether the army is supplied with ammunition. - 337 Committee to consider the application of Doct. Langdon, - - 338 Report of the committee to consider the claims and pretensions of the colonels of the army, ------ 338 " 1C— Resolve for supplying the soldiers with rum, - 3-10 < niiimittce to consider a resolve for an increase of the army, a supply of arms to the soldiers, &c. - - - - - 310 ( ' mittee to draft a letter to Gen. Whitcomb, and report of the same, - 340 Commissions delivered to several officers of the army, - - - 341 Allowance to Col. Henshaw for the expenses of his journey to Connecti- cut, 341 Committee to exam the surgeons, ----- 311 Col. Oti> and Mr. Johnson added to the committee to consider the proc- lamation of General Gage, ------ 3-11 Committee to consider what shall be done with vessels ready to sail with fish on board. Report, - - - - - - 341,343 Report of the a commiltee on the violation of the Sabbath, - - : >l- i immittee to consider the returns of the companies in Col. Heath's and Col. R tents, - - - ■ ■ -348 ' mmitlee to consider the petition of James Kirkwood, - - 343,374,378 Proclamation of the Provincial Congress, offering pardon lo all offenders against the rights of the people, except Thomas Gage, Samuel Graves the mandamus counsellors, and others, - - - - .'II Committee to fill commissions for the officers of artillery, - - - ; '7 Col. Heath ordered to be commissioned. - - - - -341 < ■ O N T i: NTn. XXXI ] — 1>. p] pton appointed to countersign the notes, - - - 3-17 Report of the committee on the application of Doct. Langdon, president of 1 [arvard i ' ...... •• IT — Comm itee lo consider the exp of procuring arms and ammunition from Philadelphia. Report thereon, ----- 318 ■ >rt of ihe committi ting the.. augmentation of the army, and supplying thi with arms, - Moses Gunn appointed to countersign the large notes, Onler for >!• lain officers, ... 3I'J Committe< er with the printers relative to their terms, R orl of the committee on il relative to a petition from ! .mi R ch for a supply of pro\ isions, - - - - i nmillec t<> i ider tin* state and circumstances of the sea coasts, - 350 Report of committee and resolve, advised the towns to sell and deliver their fire-arms lo a committee of Congress for the use of the army,- I I Lers from the president of the ConlinentaTCongress relative lo the form of government, supplies, &c. ------ 352 ' nd call together the members of Congress in an ex- traordinary emergency, ...... Committee to purchase fire-arms in the several counties, - 332 •• I — Resolve for the security[of the records and papers of Congress, - - 353 Petition from Waldoborough for powder, - - - - - Committee lo prepare a letter Lo the Continental Congress relative to the battle of Bunker hill, and lo take into consideration the letter receiv- ed from the president of the Continental Congress, - - - 353 Committee of supplies directed to write to Rhode Island and New Hamp- shire, loucbing the ; pow der, - Committee to consider petitions for supplies of provisions, - - 355 I — Committee to see that the army at tlic entrenchments is well supplied with provisions, ....-_. 355 Letters from Gen. Ward relative to blankets and other articles lost in bat- tle, and committee to consider thereon, - 333 1 mmittee to consider the expediency of establishing another hospital for the army, .--..-.. 35,3 Letter from llmi. I'norh Freeman r<-<|>. cling Col. Phinni ment be- ing commissioned lor the defence of the sea coasts, and committee relative then lo I tablishmenl for officers to take care of the ordnance stores, and for a company of arlifii • -..-.. 35(3 peeling the method of establishing civil gov- ernment debated, and consideration thereof postponed, Hon. James Warren chosen president of the Congress, - Report of a committee and resolve respecting blankets, • Report of a committee for establishing another hospital for the army, Rt port of the committee relative lo Gen. Ward's letter respecting sp< for the army, -------- U- Committee to purcba rmy, .... R< olve of the Continental Congress and letter of the Provincial Con- ihe towns, respecting .1 form of civil government for the col- ony, ----.-... Committee lo consider letters from Penobscot, .... XXX11 CONTENTS. June 20 — Committee to report a resolve relative to the killed and wounded in the late battle at Charlestown, ...... 3G0 Petition from Woolwich for powder, ..... 3G0 Committee to consider what method is proper to supply the hospitals with surgeons, and to provide medicines, ... 3G1 Report of the committee on the expediency of establishing armed ves- sels, ----...-. 3G1 Report of the committee relative to a house of Doct. Spring for a hospi- tal, 361 Committee on the petition of l\!r. Pigeon, and report relative thereto, - 3G1 Report of a committee relative to a petition of Col. Patterson for a sup- ply of blankets, ....... 361 Resolve for the appointment of deputy commissaries, ... 3G2 Committee to confer with four Indians from Penobscot, ... 362 Resolve authorizing the exportation of a quantity of old Jamaica fish, - 3G2,363 Report relative to the support of the poor of Charlestown, - - 362 Committee to inquire into the grounds of a report of treachery among the officers of the army, ------- 3G3 Col. Heath chosen a major general. ----- 3G3 Mr. Beriah Norton declared not regularly returned as a member of Con- gress from Edgartown, .---.. 3G3 Committee to make a commission for General Heath, ... 3G3 Committee to consider a recommendation of JMr. John Wiley as captain of a company of artillery, - - - - - -361, 373 Committee on a petition of Robcit Haskell, .... 364, 368 Form of a return of the choice of representatives, ... 3G4 Letter to the Continental Congress, relative to the battle of Bunker hill, 365 Letter to Gen. Ward relative to drawing off part of the forces at Roxbu- ry to Cambridge, ....... 3G7 "21 — Commission of William Heath as major general, - ... 3G7 Committee to consider the expediency of calling Col. Glover's regiment from Plymouth to Cambridge, ..... 3G8 Report relative to ordering the regiment from Marblehcad to Cambridge, 368 Committee to consider a petition of Robert Twining, and report, - 3G8 Resolve relative to the estates of the refugees, ... - 368 Committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of calling a general as- sembly, if the exigency should require, .... 3G9 Committee to inquire where materials for making paper can be found, - 369 Committee to take charge of the plates for the colony notes, - - 369,375 Address from the chief of the Penobscot Indians, - - - 369 Order for delivering out several commissions, .... 370 Committee to inquire into the reason of the want of discipline in the arms , - - - - - - - - - 370 Jo '|'li Fry, Esq. chosen a major general, .... 370 Report and reply to the address of the Penobscot Indians, - - »J71 Letter from Gov. Trumbull enclosing a letter from the president of the New York Congress to Maj. Gen. Wooster, - 372 Orders for commissions to officers of the train of artillery, - - 373 Committee to consider the petition of Briant Morton, ... 37-t *' 22 — Committee to make a list of officers of the army who have been commis- sioned. - - - - - - . - .>7 1 < »rdcr for supplying tnc town | Townscnd with powder. - - 371 CONTENTS. XXX111 Ji \i 82 — Petition of Col. Paul Dudley Sergeant, . . . . . l> 1 rancis Kittredge appointed a surgeon to the hospital, The colonels of ihe regiments ordered io recommend suital us for surgeons, ........ Committee the petition of George Viucont, relative to the exportation of fish, and report of the committee, . . . . . Committee t<> pro* ide a hospital tf -r ihe camp at Roxbury, Committee on ifi Paul Revere's account, . . . . C mmi * on the state of Col. Phiuney'i t, and report thereof, . < >rder r«.r commissioning certain officers in < !ol. Prescott's regiment, i of safety directed to prepare lists of persons fit to be commis- sioned in ihe several regiments, . l; olve for supplying the town of Townsend with powder, Report of committee, and letter to<;. Ward, relative to ordering ilic companies ol ( !ol. Thomas' and Col. < lotion's regiments ai Plymouth to • lambridge, ........ R< ve for supplying the inhabitants of Belfast, and other towns on the P< i dI river, with provisions, .... •• - JJ — Committee to (ill up commissions, ..... Order for commissioning ihe officers of Col. Glover's regiment, . i i ,r respecting ihe pay and commissions of ensigns, Order respecting Bridget Phillips, wife of a British officer, Commission ;i> chief engineer ordered to be given to Col. Gridley, Order for printing the hand bills for the observance of the Lord's day, Committee on the account of Mr. John Lane, Report of the committee appointed lo procure a hospital in Roxbury, Gen. Ward requested lo nominate an adjutant general, Committee to draw up the form of a warrant for the staff officers, Report of the committee upon the state of Col. Phinnej 'a regiment, Report and resolve respecting the price of blankets, Letter from Stephen Hooper, relative to a donation to the poor of Bos ton, ........ Daniel Noyes appointed postmaster of Ipswich, . < ' iniltcc lo inquire into the slate of the regiment moved from Marble head lo • lambridge, ...... Mr. Nye appointed io number the notes, .... Committee upon the petition of the town of Maiden, Committee io consider ihe circumstances of the Rev. Don. I.angdou, Committee lo consider expedients lo augment the army. . Mr. Holmes appointed in place of Mr. Nye to number the no Report on the account of Capt. John Lane, Report on the letter of Stephen Hooper of Newburyport, Report on the petition of the town of Maiden, i; olve for the payment ol Capt. 1 one's account, Resolve respecting the removal of the librarj and apparatus of Harvan College, ....... Resolve allowing the exportatii f certain fish from Gloucester, Vote for paying .CI |MI to the Rev. Dort. I. auction, Report of the committee on the petit on I" R< bert Haskell, .I — Committee to consider sunn- method lor regulating trade with the In dians ....... 374 ..7 1 374, 375 i 37G 377 377 377 377 378, 3S7 378 378 37:; 378 371) 3S0 380 3S0 380 381 381 I I . I 381 382 i XXXIV CONTENTS. June 21 — Committee to consider the expediency of stationing a part of Col. Phin ney's regiment in the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln, . Committee respecting the bills of credit of the colony, Establishment for surgeons of the army, .... Resolve for appointing a clay of fasting and prayer, Report respecting the wages of Capt. John Lane, Committee on the petition of Edward Parry, Resolve for the payment of £100 to Doct. Langdon, Committee to consider the surplus bills, .... Report of the committee on the petition of James Kirkwood, Resolve respecting Bridget Phillips, .... Report relative to a building for a hospital, Letter to the governor of Connecticut, respecting an augmentation of the army, ........ Committee to consider the desertion of Lieut. Cox, Report of the committee relative to stationing Col. Phinney's regiment, Report of tho committee relative to the desertion of Lieut. Cox, . Committee to consider measures for the reception of Gen. Washington, Report upon the services and compensation of Capt. John Lane, Committee to prepare a model for a spear, Resolve for the payment of Andrew Oilman, Blacksmiths to work on the Sabbath in finishing the spears, Resolve for furnishing supplies to the Penobscot Indians, . Committee to consider the subject of stationing a company at Nashaun Island, ...... Proclamation of the Continental Congress for a fast, Rev. JMr. Gordon chosen to preach the election sermon, " 25 — Committee to procure spades and shovels for the army, Commission of lieutenant for Mr. Andrew Gilman, Resolves respecting Capt. John Lane, Resolve respecting Lieut. Andrew Gilman, Resolve for the protection of the Elizabeth Islands, Order for delivering out certain commissions, Letter from the committee of Machias, respecting the capture of a king' cutter, ........ Mr. Holmes appointed of the committee for making the notes of the col iinv a currency, ...... ■ 26 — Order for an inquiry into the conduct of Capt. Thompson, at Falmouth, Committee to make a list of the officers who have been commissioned, Committee lo inquire into the stale ol the towns' stock of ammunition, < >i i l«-r relative to comm Bsions for i Seers of the train, Order respecting the handles to the spears, ( lommiitec to consider how the arms shall be distributed, . Report of the committee on the reception of Gen. Washington, . ' mill e t" prepare letters lo the New England colonies for a reenforce ment ol nun. not t<> prepare one foi New Hampshire, i nominee to bring in a resol vi lo the examination of suspected p rsons, ....... Report "i the committee on the letter from Mat h • i tier for delivering certain commissions, . Commitlei .1 letter from Gen. Ward, .... Committee to mei It i ill Washington and Lee at Springfield, 383, 38G 383 384 384. 385 386 336 386 386 387 387 387 390 390 390 391 391 391 392 392 392 392 392 339 393 393 394 394 394 395 395 39'. 397 397 397 397 S97 397 398 399 399 399 399 400 400 100 101 100, 101 102 C N T E N "1 - . WW Jisi 26 — General Whilcomb commissioned at ral, . . |O0 l.i III r I. .ii I'!;. is from lli.il town .... < Irdei ! !"i commissi win » I ! G I ' colt's ri gimenls, ...... Two i omp i. joined t" « !ol. Palli t's n a - j 1 1 . Report and resoi ling the distribution ol i arms, . Commiiiee to consider the stale of i . mis, Report of ilie committee to consider the conduct of Col. Thompson, at : Imoulh, ........ 105 •• J7 — Letter from the committee of Albany, and committee thereon, . . 103 R port of the committi G . Ward's letter read and recommitted, 103 i lalive to permitting pi carried lo prisoners in B ston, . . . . . . .404 Mr Big i appointed to inquire for blank commis . . Ii>l I r members added to the committee of supplies, . . . I"l 1 William Henshaw chosen adjutant general, .... l"l Committee lo prepare a letter lo t ho ('ouiiiient.il Congress, and also to 1 oneclicut, for supplies of powder, ..... 104 Mr. Samuel Brewer appointed an adjutant general, . . . 404 .Mr. Ezekiel Cheever appointed .-.tore keeper of the ordnance, . . 105 Committee to examine Ens R rt Campbell, a prisoner, . . 105 Committee to prepare an address lo the town-;, respecting supplying the army with powder, . . . . . . .405 Mr. IM ( is ordered lo print three hundred blank commissions, . . 105 Petition from Jonathan Hicks anil Josiah Jones, prisoners in Concord, . 405 Letter r. it armed vessels, .... 405 Committee on the petition of several eastern towns for supplies of provis- ions and ammunition, ....... (05 Committee to bring in a resolve that the pay of the officers and soldiers shall commence at the time of their enlistment, . . . 40G • 'ommiltee to report on measures for preventing the spreading of the small pox, . . - . . . . . .406 R olve relative to the distribution of fire-arms, .... 106 Report of the committee to examine Ensign Robert Campbell, . . 107 Committee to consider what quantity of powdei should be drawn from the ie\ era! towns, ........ 107 Report of the committee relative to supplying the wounded persons in cap- tivity in Boston, with provis .... 108 . —Resolve relative to the committee of supplies, .... 408 Li iter to the committee of Albany, containing an account of the battle of the 17th instant, ....... 403 Resolve for paying Bfi I b and Tobey ihe expenses of bringing I; .ii ( lampbell lo < Jambridge, . . . . . II" Committee lo inquire into the conduct of 1 i More, . . . 103,410 Committee lo bring in a re olve for saving provisions in the army, . - 1 1 « * Committee to consider a list of deputy commissaries, . . . II" Petition from John Obrian, of Machias, . . . . ill Committee to proportion the pay of the officers to that of Ihi . . HI Resolve to prevent the waste of provisions in the army, . • • 411 Committees to station the troops in the counties of Essex and Y< k, . ill Committee to give out enlisting orders, • • *'' XXXV 1 CONTENTS. June 28 — Resolve for defending the towns on the sea coast, . . . 412 Committee on the petition of Robert Shillaber for leave to export fish, . 413 Committee to devise means for supplying- the soldiers on the sea coast with provisions, ....... 413 Committee to consider the petition of several officers relative to their rank and the organization of the regiments, .... 414 Report of the committee relative to absconding soldiers, . . . 414 Committee to consider the best method for providing each soldier with a coat, ......... 414 Form of warrant for the surgeons, ...... 415 Committee to bring in a resolve to prevent the unnecessary expenditure of gunpowder, ........ 415 Report on the petition of Mr. Obrian, ..... 415 Report of the committee relative to making the bills and notes of this and the other colonics, a tender, ...... 415 Committee to bring in a resolve recommending to the governor and com- pany of the colony of Connecticut to permit provisions to be carried from that colony to the inhabitants of the eastern parts of this, . 41G, 417 Resolve for forwarding a letter to the Continental Congress, . . 416 Committee to examine the conduct of the commissary general, . . 416' Resolve relative to the commencement of the pay of the officers and sol- diers of the army, . . . . . . .417 Committee to consider a proposal of Doct. Whiting relative to saltpetre, 417 "29 — Committee on a petition of John Calef, ..... 417 Letter from the committee of Northfield, . . . . .417 Report on the petitions of the eastern towns for provisions, . . 418 Committee to prepare an address to Generals Washington and Lee, on their arrival, ........ 418 Report on the petition of several officers in the army relative to rank, . 418 Report of the committee on the subject of the manufacture of saltpetre, . 418 Report of the'eommittee on the subject of supplying the soldiers on the sea coasts with provisions, ...... 418 Committee to see that the military stores are properly guarded, . . 419 Report on the petition of John Calef, ..... 419 Committee to consider in what manner enlisting orders and commissions should be given to the officers of companies on the sea coasts, . 419 Resolves authorizing the person and goods of Ensign Campbell to be searched, ........ 419, 420 Committee to consider a resolve of Congress relative to the purchase of guns, ......... 419 Committee to examine certain letters brought from England. . 120, 1-7 \ Iress to the towns in the counties of Worcester and Hampshire, rela- tive to supplying the army with powder, .... ISO Committee to procure powder from the above counties, . . 1J1 Committee to inquire where safe and convenient stores may be had for storing gunpowder, . . . . . . . I . I Committee on a petition of Mr. Ichabod ( I Iwin, . IJ1 Doct. William Whiting appointed to procure from New York directions for making saltpetre, ....... IJ1 Resolve authorizing Robert Shillaber to export fish, . . . 421 Committee to prepare instructions to the committee appointed to procure powder, . • . . 1 J J CONTENTS. WW II jisi yi — Report on the account of Mr. [chabod Goodwin, " 3< > — Report n i itive pernumerary sheets of colony nob Letter from the commill »f aafetj ol Portsmouth, Order for paying the Whiting's mission to New York Committee i<> consider a resolve of the committee of safety relative to ar tifieers' accounts, ...... i; Ive for procuring powder from the counties of Hampshire and Wbr eester reconsidered and recommitted, .... ( tammillee lo bring in a resolve making provision for ilic poor of Charles low I), ........ Committee lo inquire into the stale of the light-houses, Resolve relative t" a further emiss on ol notes or bills of credit, . Form of a warrant for surgeons ol the hospital, . Commiss 9 ordered to !><• delivered lo certain officers, l;. ilve ior ihe payment of the expenses of persons appointed to pro cure powder, ....... Form of commissions lor Ihe officers appointed for the defence of the sea it, Form of beating orders for companies to defend the sea coasts, . Form of enlistment lor soldiers for the defence of the sea coasts, . I; olve lor publishing ihe foregoing blank forms, . Committee to consider how crimes by ihe officers and soldiers on the sea coasts shall he punished, ..... Resolves relative to Ihe dales of warrants and commissions, Report of the committor for procuring stores for the gunpowder, Report of ihe committee relative lo procuring powder from the towns i the counties of Worcester and Hampshire, Committee to examine the iccounls of Major Barber, Committee on a letter from ihe town of Biddeford, Ji i \ 1 — Ri mlves for removing certain poor of Charlestown lo Ihe towns in the county of Worcester, ...... < lomm ttee on Iwo letters from Rev. John Murray. Committee on the account of Jabez Matthews, i immittee to consider a resolve of the committee of safety respecting whale I. oats, ....... Committee respecting putting electrical points on the powder magazines Committee on the petition of eighteen Stockbridge Indians, Report relative lo Thomas Neat, a prisoner, Deputy commissaries in the Massachusetts army, . Gen. Ward directed lo orderlwo companies to Plymouth, Resolves f«r the punishment of criminals on the sea coasts, Petition from .lame- Fry, that his son may be appointed a deputy com missary, ....... Committee on a petition of Josiah Stearns, Committee on a petition from the town of Sandwich, Committee lo consider letters from I. on. Ion. i. ilve Tor reading the rules and regulations of the army at Ihe head o eai h corps, ....... I. otter to the governor and company ol Connecticut relal tpplying the province of Maine with provisions, Eli olve lor paying Jabez Matthews the expense of his embassy to Can ada, ........ Ul i.\ L22 i:j B3 423 423 124 124 1 U 125 125 126 126 127 433 427 127 430 ISO 431 431 431 431 131 431 132 433 i.; i 134 134 134 135 XXXV111 CONTENTS. July 1 — Committee to bring in a resolve for removing the sick and wounded to the hospital, ........ 436 Gentlemen appointed to administer oalhs to the soldiers, . . . 436 Resolve directing the receiver general to pay out the bills of credit of the other colonies, ........ 437 Report of the committee relative to the better accommodation of the sick and wounded of the army, ..... 437 Committee to draw up a resolve to be prefixed to the addresses to Gene- rals Washington and Lee, ...... 437 Address to his excellency George Washington, .... 438 His reply, 439 Address to Major General Charles Lee, and his reply thereto, . . 440 Committee to devise means of supporting the poor of Boston and Charles- town to their places of destination, ..... 441 Order f< r providing necessaiies for Generals Washington and Lee, . 441 Order and resolve relative to paying Mr. Paul Revere for printing the colony notes, ........ 441 Report of the committee relative to securing sundry whale boats, . 441 " 2 — Report of the committee relative to securing the lamps of the light houses, ........ 412 Committee to wiite to Mr. Russell respecting the money due from him to the treasury, ........ 442 Petition of Joseph Barrell relative to his loss by a fire in Boston, . 1 iZ Report of the committee for devising means for supporting the poor of Boston and Charlestown to their places of destination, . . 443 " 3 — Resolve ordering the rules and regulations of the army to be read month- ly, reconsidered, ..... . 413 Resolve for paying Mr. Josiah Stevens for his services in bringing letters from London, . . . . . . . .Ill Committee to confer with the gentlemen from New Hampshire, . . 414, 416 Committee on the petition of Thomas Morton for leave to export fish. Re- port thereon, ........ 444, 449 Committee on the petition of the selectmen of Abington. . . . 1 14 Resolve for furnishing the non-commissioned officers with clothing and blankets, who lost theirs on the 17th of June, .... 414 " 4 — Committee to prepare a letter to Gov. Trumbull, .... 410 Committee to inform Gen. Washington of the provision for the sick and wounded of the army, . . . . . .445 Committee on the account of Ephraim Fcnno, .... 415 Committee to consider the matter of donations lo the poor of Boston, . 41.3 Committee lo consider the account of tin: persons to procure arms for the colony army t . . . . . . . ■ 445 Committee lo consider a resolve relative lo the goods of Thomas Hulch- inson, . . . . . . . . .445 Committee lo consider the expediency of in. iking a draw bridge of the bri'l-r- .it ( lambridge, ....... 1 1:> i; olve that no more commissions be delivered at present, . . 145 C miiiee to consider in what manner the late inhabitants of Boston may choose members to represent that town in the next general as- •embljr, . . . . . . . .446 Resolve for supplying the chaplain with a borse, . 146 (,'ONTE NTS. \\\1X Ji i \ 1 — Committee to report an i I meat for die commissary of medical ston ....... i I en a member ol Ihe committee of supplies, • Order respecting a quorum of the comm ipplies, Commiltee to consider the suflei \ ' ■ r.< i i-> m Nimh Committee to cousider the conduct ol the pe pie ol Nnntucket, • Cominittci to nswer the letter from Ni ■ Hampshire, &c, Order for paying the account "i Mr \\ im Whi Letter to Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut, .... i - ider a letter relative i" the plans of the eastern pail of tl asts, \ .• . i . nomissary of medical slor< R< | >.ii of the > i mmillcc on Ihe loss ol Ihe Indian Nimham, l. Ive relating to the estates of the ordered to subside, " .") — Committee to inform Gen. Washington of Ihe intention ol Congress to . List i as approved of, and ordered to receive warrants, . Form of warrant for a medical commissary, i mmittee to procure 200 axes for the ai my, I. irt ol the committee appointed to consider in what way the late in habitants ol Boston shall choose representatives, Li Iter to Hon. James Russell, respecting public money in his hands, Committee to consider some method to prevent intelligence and provis ions being carried to our enemies, .... Report and resolve relative to making a draw bridge at Cambridge, I omm ttee on a petition from Jonathan Brewer, relative to recruits lor his . Committee to distribute depositions relative to the battle 1 1 Lexington, I;, •. , foi paying the accounts of the committee appointed to procure fire-arms, ....... Committee to consider a letter from Gen. Ward, relative to supplies o arms and ammunition, ...... I; "it of the committee on die petition of the Stockbridge Indians, Report of Ihe < 1 mmillee on n li Iter of .Mr. Alexander Sheppard, relative to plans ol the pro im 1 1 I Maine, .... 1 mmillee lo 1 onsider measures lor removing and securing the lamps and oil from ihe Boston light-house, .... ( lommitlee on a letter ol James Lj 1 n of Man l einbly in any extraordinary emergency, Committee lo confer with Gen. Washington relative to furnishing his la- ding furniture, ..... Letter from Jami Winlhrop, postmaster at Cambridge, and committee ili< n ....... Order respecting sundry letters and maps from England, . Letter lo Gen. W e to thi sick and wounded, Mi Lothri p < hosen a member of ihe committee of supplies, Report ol the committee and resolve relative lo providing coats for the army, ........ R olve for paying the account 1 M Dorothj t'oolidgc, fi — Orders relative u> providing accommodations i"r Gen. Washington, 1 nsider a letter relative to a quantity of Hour forwarded to Norfolk for die army, ■ . i:d 110 146 lid 117 117 117 117 11:: li:: li: 149 449 450 450 450 451 451 451 l/.J 158 155 ;. I 1..; 1.-.1 454 15 1 ■lod 455 ■\oo 155 160 Xl CONTENTS. Ji'LY 6 — Resolve relative to impressing a saw mill, .... 460 Committee to prepare a vole of thanks to the committee just returned from Ticonderoga, ....... 460 Commiitee on the account of expenses of entertaining and escorting Gen. Washington from Springfield, ...... 4G0 Commiitee on the report of the gentlemen returned from Ticonderoga, . 4G1 Letter of Gen. Green respecting the sale of spirituous liquors, . . 4G1 Committees on several private petitions and accounts, . . . 4G1 Committee to bring in a resolve relative to the estates of the refugees, . 461 Resolves for paying the expenses of entertaining and escorting Gen- erals Washington and Lee to Cambridge, . 461 Commiitee relative to a new emission of notes, .... 4G2 Resolve for paying the towns for the blankets furnished by them, . 462 Vote of thanks to the committee sent on an embassy to Ticonderoga, . 462 Committee to consider what allowance should be made for the use of a house by the committees of the Congress, .... 462 Resolve for making compensation to the committee appointed to procure fire arms, ........ 4G2 " 7 — Mr. Shillaber ordered to bring in a resolve recommending to the commit- tee of Philadelphia to permit the exportation of flour, . . 463 Committee to consider the subject of seizing the crown officers, . . 463 Committee of safety to draw up and transmit to Great Britain a fair ac- count of the battle of Charleslown, ..... 463 Committee on a petition of Daniel Murray of Rutland, . . . 463 Commiitee to consider a resolve relative to the appointment of a master workman for the blacksmiths, ...... 463 Report of the committee to consider the services of the secretary, made and recommitted. ....... 464 Order for making out warrants for two surgeons, . . . . 464 Resolve relative to William Shillaber's lading a vessel with flour for this colony, ......... 164 Report of the committee relative to a new emission of bills of credit, . 464 Committee to agree with some person for striking off the bills, . . 465 Report on the petition of Daniel Murray, ..... 465 Walter Spooner, Esq, appointed to swear the soldiers in Bristol, . . 165 Report of the committee on the report of the gentlemen who nave been on an embassy to Ticonderoga, ..... 165 Committee to consider the expense of procuring spears for the army, . 466 Committee to procure a steward for Gen. Washington, . . . 466 Report on the petition of Joseph Mallet, ..... 167 Committee to procure store houses for depositing fish, . . . 467 Committee to consider what provision is made for supplying the arms w iih clothing, . . . . . . . .467 Committee to prepare a letter to Col. Ea ton, relative to the payment of the money for the advance pay to his soldiers, . . . 167 Orders relative to supplying the table, of Generals Washington and Lee, 16;; Report of the commiitee to consider what compensation should be made '" ' try, ....... 468 Letter to (',, i. Baston at Ticonderoga, ..... 16." EL port -,i the committee lo consider some method to prevent supplying our enemies with provisions, ...... 16L) ( ONTE nts. \li Jn.i 7 — Report of ibe commilloe relative to dm expense of providing spears for tin- army, .....••• Report of the committee to inquire what provision had been made for shirts, breeches, &c. • • • • • Report relative lo supplying ihe island of Nantucket with provisions, . WO •• U — Warrants ordered ti I forlhesu . . • 470 • nmitlee lo ■ what should be done relative to the commissions of the committee of safety, . . • ■ • .470 Petition relative to the appointment of coramissai ... 470 i mittee on a petition from Frenchman's Bay, for provisions, . . 471 Commit tmine the accounts for axes and shovels, . • 171 Col. Walker desired t>> pay the money in his hands into the treasary, . 171 i to consider a proposal of exempting the soldiers from postage on leltci . . . . . • • .171 1 m accounts ol M i Bliss and Doct. Church, . • 171 Commilti m lol - -ion of till- ( ollllniltee Ol afelj . Ri port of the committee relativi I i the f Lei n pris !«, . Committee to report an i stablisl >nl nl sail for the army, Resolve I roll, and lettei to him, Report on the ai count ••! Mr. John Gill, .... I;, port ol the committee appointed to de\ i e mi tns tor mining a tempo rary reenforcement for the ann\ ..... 481 481 481 4S2 483 483 483 481 484 484 484 4S4 484 483 486 486 486 486 487 487 487 488 488 488 489 489 '189 489 490 490 I'm I:mi 491 491 C0NTENT8. \liii Ji iv l .'— II- amending the return of able men to the sea port tow ....... ■■ 13— Li tier from Joseph H G '•■ lo a rc- enfon emenl u>r the army, ..... 1 i I Carps well, .... ' i. it ol Mr. Solomon Lothrop, for enter laining Gen. Washington, ..... i immittee I r some n supplying the recruiting ol With money ; and report, ..... Col. Benjamin Lincoln appointed president <>i • Jongress pro tempore. .1 I, and report of the committee thereon, R tying Mr. William Barber £100 for the use of CapL No ble's company, ....... R - relative t<> the accounts of Mr. S. Lothrop and Mr. John Gill, R< olves ci mcerning two | t Long Island, i , relative to horses taken from the enemy i enlisted . Committee lo bring in a resolve recommending to the inhabitants not to kill their sheep, ...... >rt of ih«' committi in establishment of salt for the soldiers, l ttive to the horses captured, .... Ri port of the committee for the protection of sheep, K. olves for (be payment of certain accounts, Ri solve relative lo s<>li < longress to Rev. Mr. Gordon, to the proprietors of the meeting-bouse, and to the president, . Committee of supplies authorized to furnish supplies lo the eastern parts of the colony, ........ ilve relative to the building of whale boats . . . ■■ Iv — Committee lo consider the means of paying Col. Easton's regiment at I ........ The Provincial Congress dissolved, . 191 193 194 194 195 195 195 195 495 496 197 497 198 198 199 500 500,501 501 501 501 501 Till) COMM1 I PEE OF 8 ULTY \\l> THE COMMITTEE OF SLTI'LIES OF THE PROA [NCI \l. CONGRESS. 1774. Nov. 2 — John F clerk of the committee ol . . 505 ' : supplies recommended lo procure a quantity of provisions \\ iter and « loncord, .... ■''"■" , 1 C — Committee "I supi sed lo procure all the ammunition they can, xliv CONTENTS. Nov. 8 — Mr. Gill desired to get seven large cannon from Boston, . Dec. 20 — Voted that the committee of supplies endeavor to procure spades, shov- els, and other warlike implements, ..... Committee to examine the public stores, ..... Committee to write a letter to Henry Gardner, directing him to call for immediate payments of the taxes, ..... 1775. Jan. 5 — The last vote, relative to the immediate payment of the taxes, reconsid- ered, ........ Mr. Cheevcr to procure cannon and carriages, <' 25 — Cannon, &c. to be deposited in Worcester and Concord, . Committee of supplies directed to procure certain military implements and stores, ....... Committees adjourn to Cambridge, .... Feb. 3 — The chairman of the committee of supplies directed to report their trans actions to the Congress, ..... " 13 — Voted to purchase all the powder that can be obtained, . Committee to procure from Col. Robinson certain cannon, &c. belonging to the province, and deposit the same at Concord, " 21— Committees meet at Charl slow n, ..... Voted to procure ten tons of brimstone, .... Committee of supplies directed to purchase all kinds of warlike stores for an army of 15,000 men, ..... The powder at Concord to be removed to Leicester, Committee to make an inventory of medical stores necessary for the ar- my, ....... " 22 — Votes directing the committee of supplies to procure bell tents, field tents lead balls, cartridges, and certain stores, Mr. John Pigeon chosen commissary of stores, Abraham Watson and Moses Gill, committee to take possession and see to the removal of certain province arms. Order for assembling- the Congress .... " 23 — Committee to draft a letter to the officers of the militia, . Committee to draft a letter to the members of Congress, . Order for distributing the field pieces, .... Committee to draft a letter to the colonels relative thereto, Committee to inquire into the slate of Major Paddock's company of ar ttllery, ........ "24 — Artillery companies to consist of thirty-two privates, Committee of supplies to procure certain stores, . Committee to inquire when- doctor's chests can be procun d, Mr. John Goddard appoiuted wagon master, Committee relative to couriers, ..... Eighl field pieces, with ammunition, &c, to In- deposited al Leicester, March 7 — Vole authorizing tin- purchase ol medicinal stores, Watch to be kept over the provincial magazines, . Adjourned to • loncord, ...... "23 — A ton of bullets to be lodged at Concord, .... Letter from Plymouth representing the unprotected state of the town, April 1 — The stores at Concord not to be removed without orders from the com mitlec of safety, ...... 506 506 506 506 507 507 507 507 508 508 508 508 509 509 509 509 509 510 510 510 510 510 511 511 511 511 511 511 612 512 512 512 512 513 513 513 513 511 CONTENTS. \lv Apkii. .'< — Committee of supplies to furnish an exact account of all the pn ami stn: . . . . . . . . ;.i t '• 1 1 — Votes relative i<> the cannon al Concord and powder al Leicester, Col. Thomas Gardner chosen of the comm.tiei sly, . . .">li •17 — Officers to the companies of artillery appointed, .... Vote relative lo the cannon, and an artillery company .it < !oncord, Establishment for the companies of artillery, .... . r >IJ Certain warlike implements to be sent to Groton and Acton, . . 515 kdjonrned to Menotomy, ....... 615 " 18 — Capt. Timothy Bigelow requested t<> attend I le meeting of the com- mute- at Menolomy, ....... 516 \ uii -s relative lo the removal and deposit of the ammunition and provis- ions, ......... ammunition carts to be provided, ..... 516 The companies <>t matrasses stationed in the . . 516 \ tes for the purchase, removal and deposit of ammunition, warlike stores and implemi ...... .">17 The medicinal chests ordered lo he placed in certain towns for safety, . 517 • 19 — Letter i<> < Sol. Barrett relative to the powder at Leicester, . . 518 "20 — Circular to the several towns for assembling an army, . . . 518 Letter to the colonies of New Hampshire and Connecticut, . . 518 Letter from Doct.iWarren to Gen. Gage, relative to the removal of the inhabitants from Boston, ...... 519 "21 — Form of enlistment for the soldiers, ..... 519 Resolve for enlisting an army of eight thousand men, and for the organi- zation thereof, ........ 520 Voles relative to removing certain Geld pieces, and preparing them for ac- tion, . . . . . . . . .520 Companies to consist of fifty men, ...... Order for the removal of certain provisions from Salem lo < iambridge, . 520 The general officers ordered to make returns of officers and men, . , r )j| " 22— The stores ordered lo he removed from the seaporl towns. . . 521 Commissary general directed to inspect the entrenching tools, . . 521 I Iter from the committee of safely to a committee of the inhabitants of Boston, . . . . . . . .521 i — Letter to the Congress of New Hampshire, . . . . 521 Resolve relative to the inhabitants of Maiden and < Ihelsea firing upon the British seamen, ....... 522 "it — Col Freeman directed to secure the whale boats al Cape Cod, . R olve for enlisting troops in New Hampshire, .... Resolve relative lo the size of the companies, .... 622 Escort for (he members of the Continental Congress, " 26 — 1 iftei d pris (rs lo be removed from Concord to Worcester, . . 622 Congress re mended lo make an establishment for armorers, . R lolve relative to the enlistments into ihe army, . . . 523 '• -7 — Capt. Derby d i proceed, with despatch) - I London, . . 523 Ri ■ ommendation to appoint two majors lo each regiment, Letter to the colonies of Rhode Island and C client. . Order for preventing intelligence being carried to the British, . . 624 1. 1 Hits to the -• lectmen ■•'■ Boston, ..... .: — Vote relative to an establishment for post riders, .... P dent Langdon appointed chaplain to the army. xlvi CONTENTS. April 2S — The commissary general directed to provide quarters for troops from Connecticut, \ . ..... \ otes relative to giving 1 out enlisting orders, Agreement of Gen. Gage with the inhabitants of Boston relative to the: removal, ....... Committee thereon, ...... "29 — Committee upon a vote of the Congress relative to the removal of thcinhab itants of Boston, ...... Circular to the several towns calling for recruits for the army, \^ otes relative to a rceuforcement of the army, Expresses to have power to impress horses, Vote relative to the removal of the sick into the hospital, The commissary ordered to provide for Col. Arnold's company, Gen. Thomas ordered to seize Gov. Hutchinson's papers, Letters from Hon. John Hancock, at Worcester, . Vote relative to the companies at Medford and Dartmouth, Mr. Watson ordered to make inquiry re'ative to the colony arms, Order for securing the cannon in case of an excursion of the king's troops " 30 — Information from Col, Arnold relative to the fortress at Ticonderoga, Committee to form a plan for the liberation of the inhabitants of Boston Officers to grant permits to citizens to enter Boston, Resolve authorizing person-; to go into the town of Boston, Order to Col Samuel Gerrish relative thereto, Andrew Craigie appointed medical commissary, . Joseph Pierce Palmer recommended to the office of quarter master gen eral, ........ Mat 1 — Resolve for making the paper currency of the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island a currency in this colony, . Rev. Mr. Gordon authorized to have free access to the prisoners, for ex amining them, ....... •' 2 — Committee to confer with Gen. Ward relative to Col. Arnold's attempt upo i T eondi roga, ...... Vote relative to a number of recantations from Marblehcad, Order for paying money an I delivering ammunition to Col. Arnold, Two companies to be raised in Braintree for the defence of the coast o said town, ....... Letter from (in. Thomas relative to the seizure of Gov. Hutchinson': pap ....... Resolve relative to the removal of citizens into Boston with their effects Votes relative to Col. Arnold's expedition, imissary general directed to lake care of the stores belonging toGeu Brattle and others, ...... I and company of Connecticut relative to a confer agents with Gen. I ■ ... " 3 — Two companies to be raised for the defence of the sea coast of Ufa di a and Chelsea, ....... The quarter m ister general directe 1 to protect the property of the rcfu Instructions to Col. Benedict Arnold, ■ . . . '' 1 — Voir authorizing certain i p mie i to be raised for the defence of the sea il of Braintree, Hingiiarn and Weymouth, Petition of the selectmen of =ai certain intended movements of the British troops, and order thereon, ... ... Letters to the y foT calling in the troops lothe camps at i Roxbury, . . . . . . •*> 1 1 Li ller lo ihe president of the P I e, . .'ill Ordi ° and secui . . . . 542 I with llie. repair forthwith to Cam- gje, . ■• ii — Mr. William Cooper, Jr. appointed clerk lo Doct. Warren, ■■ I ! — Mr. Charles Miller appointed depulj commis: Vote for suppl) dj Mr. I iah Thomas with printing paper, Report of a joint co littee appointed to reconnoitre ihe highlands in Cambridge and Charleslown, ...... Ri solve relative lo ihe seizure of the officers of ihe crown, " IS— Gen. Thomas appointed to deliver out medicines lo ll soldiers ai l : 1 1 . . . . . . . .544 Ri solve relative to a number of men enlisted under Col. Jonathan Brewer, ->\i Ri . relative i Thomas N a negro, " 1 1 — The co issaxy ol medical • lores din cled lo impress beds and other ne> i ihe ->iik, ....... 645 Resolve for purchasing a quantity of tar, ..... Ri olvi i live to one Josiah Mania suspecledoi favoring the tyrannical ion, ...... 645 i; . i- i,i ihe live stock on ihe islands, .... Committee lo procure a particular account of the ordnance and military ■tons, ......... xlviii CONTENTS. Mat 14 — Vole relative to the treatment of persons escaping from their imprison- ment in the town of Boston, ...... 545 Resolve for dismissing certain men of Col. Fellows' and Col. Porter's regi- ments, ......... 546 " 15 — List of the ordnance and military stores of the province, . . . 547 Vote relative to the Hampshire companies under Col. Stark, . . 547 Order for imprisoning Capt. John Walker of Worcester, . . 547 Vole relative to a company from Maiden, ..... 548 The commissary general directed to furnish nine Indians of Col. Porter's regiment with provisions, for their return home, . . . 518 Vote giving Lady Frankland liberty to pass into Boston, . . 548 House for the use of the committee of safety, .... 548 Recommendation to Congress relative to the records of the county of Middlesex, ........ 549 Mr. John Goddard appointed wagon master, and empowered to impress wagons and cattle for the public service, .... 549 " 1G — Order for removing a prisoner, who is a paper maker, from Worcester to Milton, ......... 549 Resolve relative to the whale boats, ..... 550 Establishment for ten companies of matrosses, .... 550 " 17 — Resolves relative to certain ordnance and stores, .... 550 Committee to request of Congress that the duty of the committee of safe- ty may be precisely stated, ...... 550 Committee to see that the college walls are kept in repair, . . 551 Resolve relative to the removal of the inhabitants of the colony into Boston, ........ 551 Voles relative to Capt. Edward How, and a fraud practised upon the chair- man of the committee, ...... 551 Resolve for preventing intelligence being carried into the town of Boston, 551 " 19 — Colonels Gerrish and Learned recommended to Congress to be commis- sioned, ......... 552 Letter to the several colonels for the returns of the state of their regi- ments, ......... 552 Several armorers appointed, ...... 553 Samuel Barrett, of Boston, recommended by the committee to the favor and good opinion of his countrymen, ..... 553 "20 — Resolve relative to the admission of slaves into the army, . . 553 * " . . i . . i - - ,,, !:■■■■: i ! l; i mint ncommeiided to be commissioned, . 553 Letter to Gen. Preble relative to the enlistment of troops in the county of Cumberland, ........ 554 •' S3 — Resolve relative to securing the stock on the islands and sea coasts, . 551 Order to the innkeepers, iVc. tor supplying certain agents of the colony with necessaries u| their journey, ..... 655 Report and proceedings relative to Doct. Nathaniel Bond, of Marble- head, ......... 555 Letter from Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf, declining his appointment as a member of the committei ol safety, ..... 555 State of the New England army, and resolve thereon, . . . 556 ■• H — Mode of making returns of the reg menls, .... 55G « $5 — Express riders discharged from the service of the colony, . . 557 Letter from the committee of supplies to Congress relative to the dis- charge of their dutii i, ...... 557 • ONTENTS. \ll\ Mn 84— Recommendations to Congress to take some order respecting the remo \.il of the -iia-k from the islands, . The commissar) general directed to furnish certain persons ami troops with suppl ies, ....... — Several of the colonels ;>r<- recommended by tlic committee to the <'"n ommissions, ..... '• J7 — Order for tecuring animals put into the enclosures of Thomas Oliver and John Vassal, . Letter t" the Provincial Congress relative to the conduct of Major Abijal Brow 11 ol Wallham, ...... ! — V ;, im it r of guns were received from Grafton, • 29 — Proci . the committee in relation to certain charges against Rob I iple, ....... I ti r from Mr. Temple, ...... ' . ommended for con, . . R to a volume of Gov. Hutchinson's letters, i certain cannon and stores, I mel al \\ aterlown to attend the election sermon of the igdon, ...... Ji m. I — [mmi diate returns required of tlje number of men in camp, •■ J — Col. Nixon's regiment recomnv commissioned, . ; ' 3 — Col. Gridley required to make return of the artillery, 5 — Col. (ili>\cr"^ regiment recommended to be commission'''!, I; e relative to the regiment of the train, iiive to the repair of fire-arms by the armorers, ■■ I — i I.Jo n Glo> i din ted to remain with his regiment at Marblehead, relative to the wing on the estates ol" the refug ntlemen commissioned, ami of candidates lor commissions . ■• 1 2 — 'I I. . "13 — I olonels ordered to make immediate returns of the stale of their reg imen ....... quantity of powder in the possession of the committee o supp ....... I I and determinations of the committee to be kept in profound se crecy, ........ I; rel tlive to Daniel Idams, a lunatic, Resolve relative i" the destruction of the property of the refugees, I lation from the quarter master general, respecting a great wan of tents and barracks, ...... •■ I i — Committee t" proceed to the house of Tlioma-. [reland, of Charlestown to search for an infamous woman named Jackson, il regiment recommended to be commissioi l ni Mr. Nathaniel Mulliken, at the battle i ton, •• 15 — Allow hi 'i- of pj in the army, Committee to confer with the council of »,ir ral officers, relative to il:. : .:i ni Bunker hill and Dorchester neck, Resolve I 'my, R Bunker's hill and 1 lorchester to inquire whether any tents <>r houses aro to be obtained for the Uoo ..... ii < '•■!. Gridlej - regiment of the Urain, 557 557 559 569 559 I I 5C0 561 5G1 561 561 561 5C2 503 503 505 566 566 507 568 1 CONTENTS. Juke 17 — Colonels David and Jonathan Brewer recommended to Congress for com- missions, ........ 570 Letter to the selectmen of the towns in the vicinity of Boston relative to powder, ........ 570 Letter relative to a small pox hospital, ..... 570 Circular to the towns relative to supplies of provisions for the army, . 570 " 18 — Letter to the commanding- officers of the militia of certain towns, for the march of their regiments, ...... 571 Letter countermanding the above order. ..... 571 " 19 — Mr. William Eustis appointed to the care of a hospital, . . . 571 Order for providing hospitals for the army, .... 571 Nomination of officers for the company of artificers, . . . 572 Resolve for procuring the names of persons killed or wounded in the bat- tle of Lexington, ....... 572 " 20 — Representation to the Congress respecting John Wiley, nominated to the command of a company in the train, ..... 572 " 21 — Col. Woodbridge's regiment recommended to be commissioned, . . 573 Resolve relative to the horses to be kept in the public stables, . . 573 Congress recommended to make an establishment for aid do camps to the generals, . . . . . . . .571 -- — A number of officers recommended to be commissioned, . . . 574 The town of Medford requested to supply shovels for the works on Win- ter hill, 574 " 23 — The colonels requested to make immediate returns of the state of their respective regiments, ....... 574 The committee recommend the appointment of two supervisors of the camps, ......... 574 Committee to view the encampment on Prospect hill, . . . 575 Fire-arms received from Attleborough and Rehoboth, . . . 575 " 24 — Orders relative to the horses in the stable of John Vassal, . . 57G Certain fire-arms received and delivered out by the committee, . . 576 The artificers directed to carry on their woiks in the buildings of Mr. John Pigeon, ........ 57G " 25 — Representation to Congress relative to the appointment of two supervi- sors of the camps, ....... 577 " 2G — An account of fire-arms collected and distributed by the committee, . 577, 57S The officers in Col. Little's regiment recommended to Congress for com- missions, ........ 577 Doct. John Warren appointed to the oversight of the hospital in Cam- bridge. ......... 578 ' ; 27 — Account of John Chandler Williams as a rider in the colony service, . 578 Several officers I jiment recommended lo Congress, . 578 of fire-arm rcci b the colony, . 57'J ' . — l; he Provim al Coi alive to supplying the army with rms, ........ 579 Order Ir Gen Ward lo the committee of safety for the delivery of said arms, ......... .v:o Protest ol the commit! it the above general order, . . 580 Fire-arm reral of the colonels ii>r the use of their regi> . . . . . . . . . . 581 !; I ii I Russi II Trevel, arrested for alleged id in the battle ol the llihoi June, .... 581 CONTENT-. H Jink 30 — Re ' prevent I lading of the small pox, l: ilve relative i>> the account! of | • i lony, — Acc< iints of fire-arms •■ e of the colony, and of thost livered to certain colonels ol i: ... Col. Palmer directed to attend ( to procure information r<.-l.i • i further emission <>f bi ':t, .... 1 uested to I *!n', r the whale boats which h ive ! n collected, . . . . ... 583 l I in supply bead quarters with provisions, . 583 Ji i \ 1 — Order for the disposal of the hay under the care ol VIr. Dai 9 r. I ns recen ed an I distributed by the comm u '• .'> — Resolve for ii in property belonging to Thomas Hutchinson and "ii. ..... 585 ! mmendalion of the committee in favor of Henries A . 586 \ ■ \\ illiam \\ r, . 5 :;, > M Geoi je Armstrong, II ■ r for filling widow \ s ! '.irn with hay, .... 58G I > fire-arms distributed and received b^ the committee, . .580,587 5 — Arc, .nuts of John Bulfinch and otln rs, 587 ' ' ers relative io the hay on John Vassal's estate in Cambr . 587 • 6 — Mr. Fisk authorized to cut a quantity of hay from Jonathan Sewall's farm, 588 Rest I vi recommending to the Provincial Congress to issue a sum not ex- ceeding one hundred thousand pounds, in bills of credit, . . JJo Letter to Gen Washington relative to certain horses taken on Bunki hill 689 Resolve recommending to Congress to procure ami transmit to Great Britain a fair and impartial account of the battle of Chailestown, . 589 Ri these ure of every crown officer within the uni- ted colonies, ........ I l re-arms received and delivered by the committee, . .59 1 ' I recommended the appointment by Congress of master workmen for the blacksmiths, ...... '■ 7 — Account Matthew Clark and Isaac Bissell passed upon by the com- mittee, ......... 590 Tl tas < >rg in recommended to the care of the colony horsi I.', olve for the suppression of retailers of spirituous liquors, Letter to the selectmen of R i one Capt. Jacob Rogers, " '•'■ — .Mr. Jonathan Hastings recommended to Congress for postmaster at Cam- bridge ........ K. ilve r< i om m riding an establishment for foui master armorers, Instructions to the officers of the army who arc to go upon the recruiting servii ......... !.'• i • ve to soldiers enlisting into different companies in the army, Ri lolve for fitting up the h s ol John \ issal, for the residence ol Gen- eral Washington, ....... " 10 — Letter to the towns required to furnish clothing for the army. • 1 1 — Resolves for sen ling Mi ds'h ur \ iart, a Frenchman, to the town i W cester, ......... 1 nmittee to draw up a true statement of the battle of < !h irlestow n, ve relative to a number of horses taken from the enemy, lii CONTENTS. July 11 — Resolve relative to fifteen prisoners taken at Long- Island, . . 595 " 12 — Benjamin Guillam appointed a master armorer. Duties of said office, . 595 " 13 — Thomas Organ appointed to take care of the colony horses, . . 595 Resolve relative to ten prisoners taken at Machias, . . . 596 Resolve relative to property plundered from the inhabitants in the confu- sion occasioned by the battle of Lexington and Charlestown, . 596 " 14 — Resolve relative to the appointment of Thomas Organ as keeper of the colony horses, ........ 597 " 15 — Resolve for procuring a supply of medicines for the army, . . 597 Letter to Mr. Commissary Craigie relative thereto, . . . 597 CONVENTIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTIES OF MASSA- CHUSETTS. Convention of Suffolk County. 1774. Sept. 6 — The convention meets at Dedham and adjourns to Milton, . . 601 " 9 — Meets at Milton. Joseph Palmer chosen moderator, . . . 601 Preamble and resolutions reported to, and passed by the convention, . 601 Committee appointed to wait on Governor Gage, .... 605 " 12 — Address of the committee to his excellency Thomas Gage, . . 605 His excellency"s answer, ....... 607 Meeting of the committee of the delegates of the count}', . . 607 Address of the committee to Governor Gage in reply to his answer to the committee, ........ 607 " 13 — Governor Gage refuses to receive the address of the committee in form, 609 Resolve of the committee for printing said address, . . . 609 The committee adjourned without day, ..... 609 Convention of Middlesex County. 1774. Auo 30, 31 — The committees of the towns and districts in the count}- meet in con- vention at Concord, ....... 609 List of the delegates, ....... 609 James Prescott chosen chairman, ...... 610 Committee to lake into consideration an act of parliament for regulating the government of the province of Massachusetts Pay, . . 610 Report of the committee, . . • . . . (ill The report and resolutions accepted by the convention, . . . 614 The towns and districts in the county recommended to appoint delegates to the Provincial Congress, ...... 614 A copy of the proceedings of the convention to be sent to the Continen- tal Congress, and to the town clerk of oach town in the county, . 614 The convention dissolved, ....... 614 Conn nl'um of Essex County. 1771. Sept. 6, 7 — Delegates from every town in the county meet at Ipswich, . . 615 List of delegates, ........ 615 Jeremiah Lee, Esq. chosen chairman, ..... 615 A committee chosen t" consider and report on the late act of parliament for regulating the government of the proviucc, and other papers, . 615 CONTE M\ liii S> 11 5, 7 — Resolutions reported by ilic committee, ami unanimously accept I ■ wait nil Wil the pro\ ince, ........ '■ 9 — An 1 1 on. William Brown to the committee ap| .wait upon linn, ........ 1774. ( vention of Hampshirt County. Si ii -'-'. 23 — < 'ommittei • ..i nil the towns, excepting < !harlemont and Southwick, meet at Northampton, ....... Ebenezer Hunt. Jr. chosen clerk, and Timothy Danielson, chairman of the convention, ....... K' solutions adopted by the convention, ..... Convention of Plymouth County. Delegates from every town in the county meet nt Plimpton ami adjourn t" Plymouth, ...... " -'"• ' n meets at Plymouth, .... List of • ncc, .... 11 .1 - Warren chosen chairman, 1 bring in a report to the convention. . Preamble and resolutions reported by the committee, and unanimously accepted by the convention, .... 1 774. Convention of Bristol County. >m i ... I— ( invention meets in (he court bouse in Taunton, List of tow as repn Zephaniah Leonard chosen chairman, Resolutions adopted by the convention, Convention of Worcester County. A i '. 9 — i lommittee of correspondence and delegates meet in Worcester, Ni is of the members of the convention, William Young elected chairman, and William Henshaw, clerk, < 'ouimittee t" draw up resolves t" lay before the convention, •■ 10 — Same committee t" write a letter to the delegates of the province to the 1 mtinental Congress, . Letter to the towns not represented in this convention, desiring them to lo ii^ adjourned meeting, Resolve-, report! d to, and unanimously adopted by, the convention, Convention adjourned to the last Tuesday ol August, " 30 — The convention met and adjourned to the count} 1 court house, ' " mittee lo consider the --t.it>- of public affairs, and to prepare re for tli" '-"in en ...... " 31 — Resolutions reported by the committee and accepted, I igs relativejlo an apprehended visit of the royal troops lo Wot ■ r, . Official despatel G Gage to the Karl of Dartmouth, relative thereto, ........ Me ■ ores of defence recommended ' Voted to adjourn to the sixth ol S • r. 613 619 621 I 81 I :l t'.JJ 628 628 630 I 631 633 liv CONTENTS. Sept. 6 — Convention met at the house of Timothy Bigelow. Proceeding's in relation to the sitting; of the courts in Worcester, Large assembly of the[people, .... Vote relative to the royalist inhabitants who have protested against the patriotic resolutions of the town, .... .■Military officers recommended to resign their commissions, Towns to choose officers,"and to make other military arrangements, Address of the justices of the county of Worcester to Gov. Gage, His excellency's answer, ...... Votes relative o the justices who signed the address to Gov. Gage, Declaration signed by the justices that they will stay all judicial proceed ings ol h courts, .... Declaration by other officers of the court, . Commit e to draw up a vote relative to the administration of justice and protection of the justices, " 7 — Recantation of ihe justices who signed the address to Gov. Gage, Resolve authorizing the justices who were in office on the last day of June to continue to discharge the dulif s of their offices, Voted to put the Jaws in execution respecting pedlers, Voted that the Norfolk exercise be adopted by the militia Votes relative to Mr. Samuel Paine, clerk of the courts, The convention adjourned to the 20th instant, '•' 8 — Meeting of the blacksmiths of the county, . Proceedings and resolutions thereof, •' 20 — Committee to prepare instructions to the representatives to be chosen, The sheriff directed to a Ijourn the court appointed to be held this day, " 21 — Letter of apology from Mr. Samuel Paine, Committee thereon, and report relative thereto, Declaration of Gardiner Chandler, Esq., apologizing for presenting the address to Gov. Gage, Lnhabitanls of the county t rccommended to submit all cases in dispute to arbitration. • uring the suspension of the sittings of the courts, Instructions to the representatives of the towns, . The towns recommended to procure ammunition and field pieces, Resolve relative to the imports from Great Britain, Committee of correspondence for the county appointed, . Division of the regiments in the county. .... Recommendation to the towns to elect military officers and to enlist troops Vote relative to persons confined in jail for debt, . Remomstrance to his excellency General Gage, . Adjourned to the first Tuesday of December. Dec. 6 — Note from Mr. Secretary Flucker, relative to the direction of the above remonstrance, ....... Answer oi Gov. < i Vote recommending the raising an artillery company, Committee to put in order the votes of this convention, \ alive to the payment of the public moneys to Harrison Gray Esq , . Committee relative to the royalist covenant drawn by Gen. Ruggles, Committee to inquire why the officers of the militia have not resigned their com ...... Votes relative to the establishment of a printing office in the county. 635 635 635 636 g;; 636 636 637 637 637 638 638 633 639 639 639 639 639 G39 640 GIO 640 641 Gil 642 642 642 643 643 643 G43 643 644 644 646 646 616 647 G17 647 G17 G17 617 CONTEN rS. i ' — I tuned (" Jarni u - I ' ' i in is of die Continenlal ami Provincial I ..... \ !,) the ch( .i]iil\ l r. i ~ti rt r. . isumplion on and covenanl for the county, I; Mi I isfa invited lo preach a Berraon •• convention, rt aud resolvi a to the sale ol spirituous liquors, 1 1 .... lie of trade, and for di i on and i ..... March -'"— I on attended a sermon bj Rev. Elisha Fisk, . U »\. U — Committee t" draw up a remonstrance to the Provincial I live to the qualifications <>t ii> i. !nr a committee relative to the r ght of voting, R live recommending the erection of a paper mill in the county, 1771. Convention of Berkshire County. ji i\ —Convention mei S kbridgc, .... Resolutions of the convention, ..... \ .11. int for the inhabitants ofthe counts, to prevent the con sumption of 1 5 r i t i - 1 1 n ...... A da) ol amended, ..... The poor of Boston and Charl ed to the charity of the inhabitants of the county, ...... Convention of Cwmberla id ('unity. 1771. i. Jl — Convention met at Falmouth, ...... List of the « l « ....... Pi ■ ve lo William Tyng, Esq., sheriff of the county, 1 ■ frame a ntaining the sentiments of the convention, — Report ol lb< committee, ...... The committee of Falmouth empowered to notify future meetings of the convention, ........ \ LRR A I I\ ES OF THE EXCl RSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS, April 19, I R olve of the Provincial Congress for publishing the narrative ofthe excursion and ravages of the king's troops, April 19,17] er with depositions taken by <>r. !> command a regiment. Jink. 1 — Letter from Gov. Trumbull to the Provincial Congress, respecting the resolutions of the Continental Congress, " C — Letter from Col. James Easton to the Provincial Congress, upon the dis position of the i ins and their Indians, . " 1 — Proclamations of Cols. Allen and Easton to the French people of Canada riendship, ..... G91 694 G95 G97 G98 G99 700 701 702 704 705 706 707 708 708 709 709 710 711 712 714 714 715 r ON Til NTS. lvii Ji i.y 6 Report oi ihe committee appointed by the Provincial I ■ l and Crown Point, relating to Ihe conduct <>t' I \ tin- military force, store*, and condition ol Iho 711 i: mi of ihe ordi ' >wn Point, . ■ • • '19 R rn of the I ...... Jink 23— Letter from the committee of the Provincial Congress to Benedict Ar- nold, accepting Ih> resignation <■!' command at those fortresses, ami requ riii'.; linn to render bis •■ • • • • • ■ - ' I iter ir..iii the same c mittee to the Continental Congress, on ilic im- portance "I those fortresses, ...... ji iv .; — Letter from 1 1 1 < - same committee to Gov. Trumbull on same subject, and the dismission of Col. Arnold, ...... Letter from the same committee to the Congress of N Jfi k, on the same subjects, ........ 1— Letter from the ( f New Jfork to the Committee of Safety, ex- pressing reliance on tlie direction of ihe Continental Congn . "-1 Doings of the Continental Congress. M iv SO — 1. eiier from Col. Arnold received, informing of preparations to recapture Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and requ forcemeats, Resolve on the letter requesting troops from Connecticut, . . 7-j Ji m I — Commissaries at Albany foi supplies recommended to be appointed by Connecticut, ........ " 8 — Committee to examiue M.ijor Skene, lately appointed governor of Ticon- deroga and Crown Point, and his officers, .... 725 The committee directed to conceal matters of a private nature, . « 10— The committee report. Gov.Skeneand his o • I 1—1 elters from Massachusetts r< ad, and the forces of Connecticut, not «'m- ployed at the northern p<" trcbed to Boston, ; the p.i\ of the forces employed in the reductiou of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, ... . . 7J> EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNALS <>F THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS RELATING TO MASSACH1 SETTS. 1774. Si i-i 1 1 — Resolutions of the Middlesex Convention were presented and read. . 7J7 '■ 17 — The resolutions of the Suffolk Convention, with the address to Governor < iage, were pn rented, ...... Re • ol i approving the opposition to ministerial measures and the acts of parliament, and recommending perseverance in the c rse expressed by the Suffolk resolutions, .... 7J7 l: tolve thai contributions should be made for relieving the distresses of the inhabitants of Boston, ...... The resolves to be sent to Boston, and to be published, • >( i G — Letter received from the committee of correspondence of Boston, stating the situation of the town, tl ^ r< i of their petitions for relief, and praying the advice of Congress, ..... " 7 — Mr. Lynch, Mr. S. Adams, and Mi Pendleton, appointed a committi prepare a letter to Gen. G . ■ • - il>e "pinions of Congn it lviii CONTENTS. Oct. C — Resolve approving' the opposition of Massachusetts to the acts of parlia- ment, ......... 729 " 10 — Resolve expressing the opinion of Congress that all America ought to contribute to recompense the inhabitants of Boston for the injury they may sustain by removal, ...... 729 Resolve recommending to the inhabitants of Massachusetts to submit to the suspension of the administration of justice, . . . 729 Resolve declaring that those who take office under the acts of parliament ought to be held in detestation, ..... 730 '•11 — Letter to Gen. Gage, relative to the state of Boston, . . . 731 Answer of Gen. Gage, Oct. 20, . . . . . .731 Resolve advising the inhabitants to conduct peaceably towards the troops, 731 Resolves to be published, ....... 732 Resolve for preparing a memoria !to the people, recommending united ob- servation of the measures proposed by Congress, . . . 732 " 11 — Declaration of rights and statement of grievances, . . . 732 " 20 — Association and non-importation covenant, .... 735 1775. May 11 — Resolutions of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, letters and ad- dress, communicated, with the narrative and depositions relating to the engagement between the troops and inhabitants, . Depositions and address ordered to be printed, Committee on the state of America to consider the letter of the Provin cial Congress, ....... June 2 — Doct. Benjamin Church, delegate from Massachusetts, confers with Con gress on the defence of the province, .... Letter from the .Provincial Congress, asking explicit advice respecting taking up and exercising the powers of civil government, " 3 — The letter referred to a committee, .... " 7 — Report of the committee laid on the table, .... " 9 — Resolve, reported by the committee, recommending to the Provincial Con gress to invite the people to choose representatives to a general as sembly, to exercise the powers of government, 11 — Letter from New York respecting a vessel supposed to have provisions for the army and navy at Boston, referred to a committee, . " 27 — Letter from Massachusetts received, .... 740 741 741 714 711 7U 711 712 712 742 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. Proclamation of Gov. Gage, prohibiting all persons from complying, in any de- gree, with the resolves or recommendations of the Provincial Congress, November 10, 1771, . . . . . . . .713 Letter "i the committee "i New York to the Provincial Congress, transmitting ex- tract! of letters from England, .... . 744 Ert* :ts "i letters from England, relating to the situation of public affairs and the condition ol the colonies, ....... 744 Letter from Joseph Hawlev i<> Thomas Cushing, relating to the powers of the com- urn' ind the necessary preparations for war. Feb. 22, 1775, 748 l.eiirr from Ihejnhabitanti <>l Montreal t" the committee of safety, on the state of ' anada. April 88, 1775, . . . . . . 751 CONTENTS. llX Letter from Mrs. Elizabeth Bowdoifl t.> Ihe eommittee of safety, giving informa- lion of ravages on (he Elizabeth Islands. June 4,1775, . Deposition of Elisha Nye, relating to ili<-- plundering of one of the Elizabeth Islands, by Capt. Linzey, ....... "53 Population of Massachusetts, 1776, ....... Warlike stores in Massachusetts, 1774, ...... 756 \. i of the General Conn confirming tlie doings of each Provincial Congress, and providing thai ihe records might !••■ :;i\ en m evidence, anil for their preser- vation in the office of the secretary of the colony, J OURNAL OF THE FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF Massachusetts, ( 'mm mil at Salt m. Friday, October 7, 177 1. — Adjourned on the same din/. Convened at Concord, Tuesday, October II. -Adjourned Friday, October 1 I. Convened at Cambridge^ Monday, October 17. — Adjourned Saturday, October 29. Convened at Cambridge, Wednesday, November ■-'•'{. — Dissolved Saturday, Dec. 10. FIRST MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. On the first day of September, 1771, his excellency Thomas Gage, governor of Massachusetts Bay, sent out precepts to the several towns and di-tricts of the province, commanding the Inhabitants to return representatives to the greal and general court, ordered to he con- vened al Salem, on the fifth day of October then next. Alarmed by the preparations for resisting usurpations of chartered rights, by the bold -pint of tlie county resolves, and the patriotic instructions of the people to their delegates, it was determined by the royal council to countermand the summons for the meeting of the assembly, and to postpone its session. The following proclamation was issued, on the twenty-eighth day of September, bj Governor Gage, announcing bis view of the inexpediency of the meeting of the legislature at the time appointed, discharging the members from attendance, and declaring In- intention not to he present al Salem. Province 01 Massachusetts Bay. /»'// //// (ion rnor. \ PROCLAM \TION. W'm re as, 'Mi the lir-t day of September instant, I thought lit to is- sue writ- for calling a great ami general court, or assembly, to be con- vened and held at Salein, m the count) of Essex, Oil the fifth da\ of October next; and whereas, from the manj tumults and disorders which have since taken place, the e\traordinar\ resolves which have been passed in man) of the counties, the instructions given bj the town of Boston, and -nine other town-, to their representatives, and 4 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 7, the present disordered and unhappy state of the province, it appears to me highly inexpedient that a great and general court should be con- vened at the time aforesaid ; but that a session at some more distant day will best tend to promote his majesty's service and the good of the province; I have, therefore, thought fit to declare my intention not to meet the said general court, at Salem, on the said fifth day of October next. And I do hereby excuse and discharge all such persons as have been, or may be elected and deputed representatives to serve at the same, from giving their attendance : any thing in the aforesaid writs contained to the contrary notwithstanding : whereof all concerned are to take notice and govern themselves accordingly. And the sheriffs of the several counties, their under sheriffs, or deputies, and the constables of the several towns within the same, are commanded to cause this proclamation to be forthwith published and posted within their precincts. Given at Boston, the twenty-eighth day of September, 1774, in the fourteenth year of the reign of our sovereign lord, George the third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, defen- der of the faith, &,c. THOMAS GAGE. By His Excellency 's command. Thomas Flucker, Secretary. God save the king. Notwithstanding the executive prohibition, ninety 1 of the representa- tives elected in pursuance of the writs for calling the general assem- bly, met at Salem, on Wednesday, October, 5, 1774. With cautious courtesy they awaited during that day the attendance of the governor, or other constitutional officer, to administer the usual oaths. When it had become certain, by the lapse of time, that the presence of the chief magistrate could no longer be expected, a convention was organ- ized, on Thursday. The Hon. John Hancock was chosen chairman, and Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., clerk. A committee was appointed to consider the proclamation, and consult on the measures proper to be adopted. Their report was presented on Friday, and ihc following resolution-- submitted, which were accepted, and afterwards published in the newspapers of the time. (1.) The number of those in attendance i-< thn < tordon, History of tko American Revolu tion, vol. l. | and in thi / QaieU M Us Spy, Boston Gatttto, Boston Evt aporary prints. Some historians have supposed t i ■ • ■ members were 908 or 288 ; probably counting those who metal Concord, instead of those who assembled a) Salem. Many of the towns refused to otx y the governor's precept, an«t declined electing representatives to tho gmpral court, but »pnt delegates to 1 1 > « - Provincial Congri 177 1. 1 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. PrOI IN' i OP I in M LSSACHUSBTTS \'<\\ In fin Court Mousi nt Salem, October 7. 177 1 Win ki is, In- excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., did issue writs bear- ing date the tir-t of September last, t"« >r the election of members to serve as representatives in a greal and general court, which be < 1 1 • t •■ think lit and appoint" to be convened and holden the fifth da) of Oc- tobei instant, at the court house in this place : And whereas, a major- n\ of members duly elected in consequence of said writs, r officers by him appointed tor administering the usual oaths, and qualifying them thereto: Ami whereas, a proclamation, bearing date the 28th daj of September last, and published in sundrj newspapers, with the signature of his excellency, contains many re- flections on this province, as being in a tumultuous and disorderly state : and appears to have been considered by his excellent} as a con- stitutional discharge of all such persons as have been elected in con- sequence of bis excellency's said writs: The members aforesaid so attending, having considered the measures which his excellency has been pleased to take bj his said proclamation, and finding them to be unconstitutional, unjust, and disrespectful to the province, think it their duty to pass the following resolves : Therefore, /»'< solved, as the opinion of said members : I-t. Thai by the royal charter of the province, the governor, for the time being, is expressly obliged to convene, "upon every last Wednesday in the month of May, every year forever, and at such other time- as he shall think lit, ami appoint a greal and general court." And, therefore, thai as his excellency had thought lit, and by his writ appointed a great and general court to be convened on the fifth da) of Octoher instant, Ins conduct in preventing the same is against the ex- words, as well as true sense and meaning of the charter, and un- constitutional; more especially as, \>\ charter, bis excellency's power '• to adjourn, prorogue and dissolve all greal and genera] courts," doth not take place after said court- .-hall be appointed, until thej have first ■■ met and convened." 2dly. That the constitutional government of the inhabitants of this province, being, bj a considerable military force at this time attempted to be superseded and annulled ; and the people, under the most alarm- 6 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 7, 1774. ing and just apprehensions of slavery, having, in their laudable en- deavors to preserve themselves therefrom, discovered, upon all occa- sions, the greatest aversion to disorder and tumult, it must be evident to all attending to his excellency's said proclamation, that his represen- tations of the province as being in a tumultuous and disordered state, are reflections the inhabitants have by no means merited ; and, there- fore, that they are highly injurious and unkind. 3dly. That, as the pretended cause of his excellency's proclamation for discharging the members elected by the province in pursuance of his writs, has for a considerable time existed, his excellency's conduct in choosing to issue said proclamation, (had it been in other respects unexceptionable,) but a few days before the court was to have been convened, and thereby unavoidably putting to unnecessary expense and trouble a great majority of members from the extremities of the prov- ince, is a measure by no means consistent with the dignity of the province ; and, therefore, it ought to be considered as a disrespectful treatment of the province, and as an opposition to that reconciliation between Great Britain and the colonies so ar-dently wished for by all the friends of both. 4thly. That some of the causes assigned as aforesaid for this uncon- stitutional and wanton prevention of the general court, have, in all good governments, been considered among the greatest reasons for convening a parliament or assembly ; and, therefore, the proclamation is considered as a further proof, not only of his excellency's disaffec- tion towards the province, but of the necessity of its most vigorous and immediate exertions for preserving the freedom and constitution thereof. Upon a motion made and seconded, Votrd, That the members aforesaid do now resolve themselves into a Provincial Congress, to be joined by such other persons as have been or shall be chosen for that purpose, to take into consideration the dan- gerous and alarming situation of public affairs in this province, and to consull and determine on such measures as they shall judge will tend t<> promote tin true interest of his majesty, and the peace, welfare and prosperity of tin' province. BENJAMIN LINCOLN. Clark. The subsequent proceedings of the Congress thus formed are de- tailed in the following journal. JOURNAL. H'MiNi race of the proceedings of a Provincial Congress of Deputies of || the several towns and districts in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, convened at Salem, on Friday the seventh day of October, A. D., \~~ I ; with a list of persons chosen to represent them in the Bame, 'COUNTY OF SUFFOLK. Boston. — Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq., Mr. Samuel Adams, Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Doct. Joseph Warren, Doct. Benjamin Church, Mr. Nathaniel Appleton. Roxbury. — Capt. William Heath, Mr. Aaron Davis. Dorchester. — Capt. |j b Lemuel|| Robinson. Mill,, n. — Capt. David ftawson, Mr. James Boice. Brcdntree. — Ebenezer Thayer, Esq., Mr. Joseph Palmer, John Ad- ams, Esq. Weymouth. — Mr. Nathaniel Bailey. Hingham. — Benjamin Lincoln, Esq. Cohasset. — .Mr. [saac Lincoln. Dedhatn. — Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq., Mr. Abncr Ellis. Medfield.—Mi. Moses Bullen, Capt. Seth Clark. II /•< ni hum. — Mr. Jabez Fisher, Mr. Lemuel Kollock. Brookline. — Capt. Benjamin White, William Thompson, Esq., Mr. John Goddard. Stoughtm mill *Stoughtoriham. — Mr. Thomas Crane, .Mr. John With- ington, Mr. Job Su ift. a\\\ I reiaofDelegatesfrom.il b*jSamuel.|| (1.) The southern perl of the county of Worcester end the whole of the county of Norfolk were originally included within the territorial limits of Suffolk. The former was s< parated In tl til" mcorporal \ 9,1* II. Bj the il ituta of Hard) 96, 1798, all the towns mentioned in the t> form i ■•. ,.i \,,ri',.ik. This ael was repealed Jim.' 90, 1793, so far as il r< lated to Bingham and Hull, which were annexed t" the county "t Plymouth, June 18, lt?03. 3toughtonh I to Sharon, by the Legislature, Februarj 8 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 7, Walpole. — Mr. Enoch Ellis. Medicai/. — Capt. Jonathan Adams. Needham. — Capt. Eleazer Kingsbury. Bellingham. — Mr. Luke Holbrook. Hull.— [None.] Chelsea. — Mr. Samuel Watts. COUNTY OF ESSEX. Salem. — Mr. John Pickering, Jun., Mr. Jonathan Ropes, Jun. Danvers. — Doct. Samuel Holten. Ipswich. — Capt. Michael Farley, Mr. Daniel Noyes. Newbury. — Hon. Joseph Gerrish, Esq. Neicburyport. — Capt. Jonathan Greenleaf. Marblehcad. — Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Azor Orne, Esq., Mr. Elbridge Gerry. Lynn. — Ebenezer Burrill, Esq., Capt. John Mansfield. Andover. — Mr. Moody Bridges. Beverly. — Capt. Josiah Batchelder. Rowley. — Mr. Nathaniel Mighill. Salisbury. — Mr. Samuel Smith. Haverhill. — Samuel White, Esq., Mr. Joseph Haynes. Gloucester. — Capt. Peter Coffin. Topsjield. — Capt. Samuel Smith. Boiford. — Aaron Wood, Esq. Amesbury. — Isaac Merrill, Esq. Bradford. — Capt. Daniel Thurston. Wcnhatn. — Mr. Benjamin Fairfield. Manchester. — Mr. Andrew Woodbury. Mi t hum. — Mr. James Ingles. Middleton. — Capt. Archclaus Fuller. COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX. Cambridge. — Hon. John Winthrop, Esq., Capt. Thomas Gardner, Mr. Abraham Watson, [Mr. Francis Dana.] Charlestown. — Mr. Nathaniel Gorham, Mr. Richard Devens, Doct. [saac Poster, David Cheever, Esq. Watertown. — ("apt. Jonathan Brown, Mr. John Remington, Mr. Samuel Fisk. Wiihiini. — Mr. Samuel Wyman. 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS Q Concord. — ('apt. James Barrett, Mr. Samuel Whitney, Mr. Ephraim \\ immI, .Inn. \ /•/,;//. — Abraham Fuller, Esq., Mr. John Pigeon, Mr. Edward I rarant. Heading. — Mr. John Temple, Mr. Benjamin Brown. Marlborough. — Mr. Peter Bent, Mr. Edward Ham.'-, Mr. George Brigham. BiUerica. — William Stickney, Esq., .Mr. Ebenezer Bridge. Framingham. — Joseph Haven, Esq., .Mr. [William] Brown, Capt. Josiah Stone. Lexington. — Mr. Jonas Stone. Chelmsford. — Mr. Simeon Spaulding, Mr. Jonathan William- Aus- t in. Mi s imuel Perham. Sherburne. — ('apt. Samuel Bullard, Mr. Jonathan Leland. Sudbury. — .Mr. Thomas Plimpton, Capt. Richard Heard, Mr. James Mosman. Maiden. — Capt. Ebenezer Harnden, Capt. John Dexter. Medford. — Mr. Benjamin Hall. Weston. — Samuel IV Savage, Esq., Capt. Braddyl Smith, Mr. Josiah Smith. Hopkinton. — Capt. Thomas Mellen, Capt. Roger Dench, Mr. James Mi lien. Waltham. — Mr. Jacob Fim*l< >\\ . Groton. — Jam'- Prescot, Esq. Shirley — Capt. Francis Harris. PeppereU. — ('apt. William Prescot. Stow. — Henrj Gardner, Esq. Toumshend. — Mr. Jonathan Stow, Capt. Daniel Taylor. Ashby. — Mr. Jonathan Locke, Capt. [Samuel] Stone. stun, hum. — Capt. Samurl Sprague. Wilmington. — Mr. Timothy Walker. Vatick. — .Mr. Hezekiab Broad. Draeut. — Mr. William Hildreth. lit (/ford. — Dear. Joseph Ballard, John Read, Esq HoUiston. — Capt. Abner Perry. Tetohsbury.— Mr. Jonathan Brown. Icton. — Mr. Josiah Hayward, Mr. Francis Faulkner, Mr. Ephraim Hapgood. Westford. — [Capt.] Joseph Reed, Mr. Zaccheus Wright Littleton. — Mr. Abel Jewett, Mr. Robert Harris. Dunstable. — John Tyng, Esq , James Tyng, Esq 10 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 7, Lincoln. — Capt. Eleazer Brooks, Mr. Samuel Farrar, Capt. Abijah Pierce. iCOUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. Springfield. — Doct. Charles Pynchon, Capt. George Pynchon, Mr. Jonathan Hale, Jun. Wilbraham. — Mr. John Bliss. Ludlow. — Mr. Joseph Miller. West Springfield. — Mr. Benjamin Ely, Doct. Chauncy Brewer. Northampton. — Seth Pomeroy, Esq., Hon. Joseph Hawley, Esq. Southampton. — Mr. Elias Lyman. Hadley. — Mr. Josiah Pierce. South Hadley. — Mr. Noah Goodman. Amherst. — Mr. Nathaniel Dickerson, Jun. Granbij. — Mr. Phineas Smith. Hatfield. — Mr. John Dickerson. Wliateley. — [Mr. Oliver Graves.] Williamsburgh . — [None. ] Deerfield. — Mr. Samuel Barnard, Jun. Greenfield. — Mr. Daniel Nash. Shelburne. — Mr. John Taylor. Conicay. — Mr. Thomas French. Westfield and Southwick. — Capt. John Mosely, Mr. Elisha Parks. Sunderland. — Mr. Israel Hubbard. Montague. — Deac. Moses Gunn. Brimfield. — Mr. Timothy Danielson. South Brimfield. — Mr. Daniel Winchester. (1) The county of Hampshire, as established May 7, 1002, comprehended the western towns of Massarliu-'ti-. A small portion of tho ancient county was separated when Worcester was estab- lished, April 2, 1731. Anotli'r partition took place on the incorporation of Berkshire county, by the act of thr great ami general court of tin- province, in May Kill. The old count] of Hampshire was subdivided by the statute of Jane 24, 1811, setting off the northern part inti Franklin, which inclnded Whateley, Deerfield, Greenfield, Shelburne, Conway, Sunderland, Mon tague, Northfield, New Salem, Colrain, Warwick, Charlemont, Ashfield, Shutesbnry, Leverett and Bernardston, named in the text, ami Buckland incorporated in 1779, Wendell incorporated in 1781, Orange incorporated in 17 u :t, Etowe .mil Heath both incorporated in L785, Hawley incorpora- ted in 1792, (oil incorporati il in 1793, and Leyden incorporatni in |so;i. Thr county of Hampden was formed from thr southern town- of Hampshire, bj I February 25, 1812. Within its boundarii - were united, Springfield, Wilbraham, Lndlow, Weal Springfield, Westfield, Southwick, Brimfii hi. South Brimfield, Uonson, Granville, Murraystield ami Palmer, mentioned in i, with Stanford incorporated in 1711, Montgomery incorporated in 1792, Tolland incorpi in 1796, and Holland incorporated in 1810. The name of Murraysfield was altered to Chester, i id tint of South Brimfield changed to Wales, February 20, 1828. The other oi i in- text, i»n '!• 'i around tin- central pin of thr Old County, are within tin- present county of Hampshire Pel unincorporated ' 1742, and Wesl hampton incorporated E tnd omitted in thr list of municipal corpora - • listing in 177 I. 1771. j FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 11 Monscn. — .Mr Abel Goodale. Vorthfield. — .Mr. Phineas Wright ( irmifilli — Timothy Robinson, Esq New Salem. — Mr William Page, Jun. Colrain. — Capt Thomas McGee. Belchertown. — Capt. Samuel Howe II Hi-, — Mr. Joseph Poster. Murray sfii hi — [.None.] Warwick. — Capt. Samuel Williams. Chorlemont, — Mr. Hugh .Maxwell. Ashfield.— [None.] Worthington. — Capt. Nahum Eager Greenwich. — Mr. John Rea. Shutesbury. — [ None. ] ( 'In ~ti riii hi. — [ None. ] Norwich. — Mr. Ebenezer Meacham. 1 Edgt comb. — [None, j l.i n rett. — [None.] Palmer. — .Mr. David Spear. COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH. Plymouth. — Hon. James Warren, Esq., Mr. Isaac Lothrop. Si it in it, . — Nathan Crashing, Esq., Mr. Gideon Vinal, Mr. Barnabas Little. Karshfield. — Mr. Nehemiah Thomas, ffiddleborough. — Capt. Ebenezer Sprout Hanover. — Capt Joseph Cushing. Rochester. — Capt. Ebenezer White. Plympton. — Mr. Samuel Lucas. Pembroke. — Mr. John Turner, Capt. Seth Hatch. Abington. — Capt. Woodbridif ISrown, Doct. David Jones. Sridgewater. — Capt. Edward Mitchel, Doct. Richard Perkins. Kingston. — John Thomas, Esq. I)// i/j/n-i/. — Mr. George Partridge. Halifax. — [ None. | Wan hum. — [None.] I Bdgecomb » u probablj inadvertently placed among the towns ..i Hampshire, initead of thoie nooln count) . in Maine. 12 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 7, BOUNTY OF BARNSTABLE. Barnstable. — Daniel Davis, Esq. Sandwich. — Mr. Stephen Nye. Yarmouth. — Capt. Elisha Bassett. Eastham and Welflcet. — Mr. Naaman Holbrook. Harwich. — Mr. Benjamin Freeman. Falmouth. — Mr. Moses Swift. Chatham. — Capt. Joseph Doane. Truro. — Mr. Benjamin Atkins. COUNTY OF BRISTOL. Taunton. — Robert Treat Paine, Esq., Doct. David Cobb. Rehoboth. — Capt. Thomas Carpenter, Timothy Walker, Esq. Swansey and Q Shawamet. — Col. [Andrew] Cole, Capt. Levi Whea- ton, [Col. Jerathmiel Bowers.] Dartmouth. — Benjamin Aikin, Esq. Norton and Mansfield. — Mr. Eleazer Clap, Attleborough. — Mr. Ebenezer Lane, Capt. John Daggett. Dighton. — Elnathan Walker, Esq., Doct. William Baylies. Freetown. — [None.] Easton. — Mr. Eliphalet Leonard, Capt. Zephaniah Keith. Raynham. — Mr. Benjamin King. Berkley. — [None.] COUNTY OF YORK. York. — Capt. Daniel Bragdon. Kittery. — Charles Chauncey, Esq., Edward Cutt, Esq. Wells. — Mr. Ebenezer Sayer. Bericick. — Capt. William Gerrish. Biddiford. — Mr. [James] Sullivan. 2 Pcppcrrellborough. — [None.] Lebanon. — [None.] Sandford. — [None.] Buxton. — [None.] 4 (1) Prori itown, incorporated June I I, 1727, belonged to Bamstabl rarity in 1774 < (2) Thai part of Swansey known as " the Bhawi 't pnrchasi ," i" c the town of Somerset February 90, !• (3) The name "t" Bai ..|.i.ri m«tnul of IVpiirrri'llborough, Pi binary 25, 1805. (4) Another town li"! been i itablished in York county, previous to the session of the Provincial Congress, called Cape Porpoise n> 1753, Arundel from Jane 5, 1718, and rXennebunk Port after 1830. The northern pari of the counties of Vnrk and Cumberland, uninhabited in 17i I, was incorporated bs tbe county of Oxford, March 1, 1305. 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. IS COI \T\ OF 1)1 KES / Jgarton. — [ None. ] Chibnark. — Joseph Mayhew, Esq. Tisbury. — .Mr. Etanford Smith. Coi NT! OF NANTUCKET IShnbuin. — [None.] COUNTY OF WORCESTEB Worcester. — Mr. Joshua Bigelow, Mr. Ti thy Bigelt Lancaster. — Capt. Asa Whitcomb, Doct. William Dunsmore. Mendon. — Joseph Dorr, Esq., Mr. Edward ftawson. Brookfield. — Jedediah Foster, Esq., Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin, Capt. Phinehas I 'pliant. Oxford. — ('apt. Ebenezer Learned, Doct. Alexander Campbell. Charlton. — Capt. Jonathan Tucker. Sutton. — ('apt. 1 1 « 1 1 1 \ King, Mr. Edward Putnam. Leicester, Spencer and Paxton. — '-'Col. Thomas Denny, Capt. Jo- Beph Henshaw, Rutland. — Mr. Daniel Clap. Rutland District? — Mr. John Mason. I TIih inwn * Nantucket Juno 8, 1795. i D rly c pelted by fatal sickness to leave his seal in ' . whi r. ii Thi nod bj l> ih r.iir. in. ni wai supplii d i>> the election of Capt. II. nahaw, 1 1 IT" 1. Juno, 1774. 1 t ol incorporat went from ' re branch of thi legislature, conferred municipal powers, but best U'h. ii id. pari hmenl reached the council chamber, the blank w;i- filled by the oxecutivo, and the unwelcome designation of Hutchinson imposed on the patriotii The taken to remedj such heavy civic calamity, are recited in the following remarkable pre- amble of the statute, • the M j session of the general court, in 1776, strongly expn the popul >r sentiment of the time : " Whereas, the inhabitants of the town of Hutchinson have, r petition, r. presented to this court, thai in June, 1774, whon the <;ii>l town was incorpora- G I Gage, then governor, gave a the name of Hutchinson, in honor to, and i<> perpi tho memory of Thon - Hutchinson, his immediate predecessor in the chair of government, whom they justly style the well known enemy of the natui tulated rights of America ; that, at a town meeting, notified for thai purpo unanimously, to petition, and accordingly have petitioned the general '-nun, thai the n of the - 'id town migbl !"• alti red [to Wilkes,] and that rit mi longer l>--:i r the disgraceful nan f Hutchinson : And, whereas, there is a moral fitness that traitors and parricides, esp b as have remarkably distinguished themselves in thai odious character, and have long labored to deprive their native country of its mosl valuable n^'lii~ ami privileges, and '" destr onstitutional guard against the evils of an all enslaving ■ lould be held up to public view in their im.' inkind, and that ilx re should remain no other memorials of them, than such as »ill transmit tlx-ir names with ity: And, whereas, the said Thomas Hutch lion ol ad gratitude to this his nath itry which raised him firom private life '" the h and mosl lucrative offices in the govern nt, has acted toward her tl rricide .1, which ■ cle irU manifested i" the world by his Ii I 14 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 7, Oakham. — Mr. Jonathan Bullard. Hubbardston. — Mr. John Clark. Westburough. — Capt. Stephen Maynard, Doct. James Hawse. Northborough. — Mr. Levi Brigham. Shrewsbury. — Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq., Mr. Phineas Hayward. Lunenburgh and Fitchburgh. — Capt. George || a Kimball,|| Capt. Abi- jah Stearns, Capt. David Goodridge. Uxbridge. — Capt. Joseph Reed. Harvard. — Mr. Joseph Wheeler. Bolton. — Capt. Samuel Baker, Mr. Ephraim Fairbanks. Petersham. — Capt. Ephraim Doolittle. Southborough. — Capt. Jonathan Ward. Hardwick. — Capt. Paul Mandell, Mr. Stephen Rice. ^Western. — Mr. Gershom Makepeace. Sturbridge. — Capt. Timothy Parker. Leominster. — Thomas Legate, Esq., Mr. Israel Nichols Dudley. — Thomas Cheney, Esq. Upton. — Mr. Abiel Sadler. New Brainfrce. — Capt. James Wood. Holden— Mr. John Child. Douglass. — Mr. Samuel Jennison. Grafton. — Capt. John Goulding. Royalston. — Mr. Henry Bond. Westminster. — Mr. Nathan Wood, Mr. Abner Holden. Templeton. — Mr. Jonathan Baldwin. At hoi. — Mr. William Bigelow. Princeton. — Mr. Moses Gill, Capt. Benjamin Holden. Ashburnham. — Mr. Jonathan Taylor. Winchendon. — Mr. Moses Hale. ^Woodstock.— [None.] Northbridge. — Mr. Samuel Baldwin. COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND. Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth. — Enoch Freeman, Esq. a HCampfx 11. nml \i\ !ii having thus acted, it h:i~ become lit and just that every honorable memorial of him should ■ d and i:" Therefore, it cl d, that the town of BntohinBon ihoald no lon- ger t»':ir id it name, bnl thenceforth should be called l!;iriv. I The name of Western »•:.- altered t.i Warren, March 18, 1834. (2) Woodstock is erron isly inserted in the text. The inhabitants of that town, settled in 1636, ttacbed to Suffolk, afterwards connected with Worcester county, seceded from the jorisdio- I Massachusetts, in 1747 ; in 1753 they were admitted t<> the privileges and protection of Connec- ticut, nnd nn the settlement of ber boundary line, became, and have remained citizens of that state. [774] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 15 Scarborough. — Mr. Samuel March. North Yarmouth. — Mr. John Lewis. Gorhatn. — Solomon Lombard, Esq Brunswick and HarpsweU. — Mr. Samuel Thompson. < « »i \ tv OF LINCOLN —[None.] CO! vn OF BERKSHIRE. Sheffield, Great Harrington, Egremont and Alford. — John Fellows, Esq., Docl W illiam Whiting. Stockbridgi and West StocJebridge. — Mr. Thomas Williams. Tyringham. — Capt. Giles Jackson. Pittsfield. — John Brown, Esq. Richmond. — [ None.] Lenox. — Mr. John Patterson. /; zket. — Mr. Jonathan Wadsworth. The Congress proceeded to the choice of a Chairman, when the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., was elected. Benjamin Lincoln. Ksq. was chosen clerk. I pon a motion, Voted, That the Congress be adjourned to the iri house in|| Concord, there to meet on Tuesday next, al ten o'clock in the forenoon. 3 || Ti i sdat, October 1 1, 1771. V M. The Congress mel according to adjournment. I pon a motion Resolved, Thai the Congress be adjourned to the meeting house in Concord: Being mel there, upon a motion the " I) i tin- journal over the the countii ock, Waldo, Washington, H 1716, < ■ W,,..i. : '•'■ I '■ Bowdoinhani i (,am; 1765, Bristol ; 1771, Hallowell, Winthrop, Vassalborough, Winslow; 1773, ; Gardnui of I'm-:- t IT re the following town*, in addition !•> those enumerated in the text, incoi led |in< >r to 1774, in the h name; I Id, 1771, na I Peru, June 19, \. ■■. \; rltx roo rh, 1759 I lorough, i G 1771, i- ill-. I Winaor, 1778 ; Otis, 171 unit the town of Concord, >i lh( mei I r il court. •mil v with the n • held in the old court bouse, but thai uljouroed to the meeting i e. Two nd the other at thn 'clock, were hold i S luck 1 * Concord, 91. 16 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 11, question was put, whether they would reconsider their vote relative to the appointing a chairman, and then proceed to the choice of a presi- dent, by written votes, and passed in the affirmative. Upon a motion, Ordered, That Capt. Heath, Hon. Mr. Dexter, and Hon. Col. Ward, be a committee to count and sort the votes for a president. The Congress proceeded to bring in their votes for a president, and the committee having counted and sorted the same, reported that the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., was chosen. The Congress then appointed Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., secretary. Upon a motion, Ordered, That Capt. Barrett, Doct. Warren, and Hon. Col. Ward, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, and desire his attendance on the Congress, that the business might be opened with prayer. The committee appointed to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, report- ed that they had attended [to] that service, and that the Rev. Mr. Emer- son would soon attend on the Congress agreeable to their desire. Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. Three o'clock, P. M. — The Congress is further adjourned to half after eight o'clock to-morrow morning. Wednesday, October 12, 1774, A. M. || a || Upon amotion, Ordered, That Major Fuller, Col. Prescot, Doct. Warren, and Doct. Holten, be appointed to return the Congress when necessary, in order the more easily to ascertain a vote, and that they observe the following divisions, viz : The wall pews on the right of the desk for one division ; [those] on the left for another ; the men's seats and the pews adjoining them, a third; and the women's seats and the pews adjoining them, the fourth. Upon a motion, the question was put whether the several resolutions entered into by the counties respectively, be now read, and passed in the affirmative. Thej were read accordingly 1 Resolved, Thai a doorkeeper be appointed. Resolved, Thai Capt. Barrett he desired to appoint some suitable per-, n for a doorkeeper: he appointed accordingly, Mr. Jeremiah Hunt for that purpose. Ordered, Thai the lion. John Hancock, Esq., Hon. Joseph Hawley, Esq., Doct. Warren, lion. Samuel Dexter, Esq., Hon. Col. Ward, Hon. » ||< '<«ii^r- {reeablytoadjournment.il (1) The record* of the county convention* no far ns they can be recovered will be found in tin- lp- pendix. 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. \: Col. Warren, Capt. Heath, Col. Lee, Doct Church, Doct. Holten, Mr (irrr\. Col. Tyng, Capt. Etoberson, Major Poster, and Mr. Gorham, be a committee to take into consideration the state of the province, and report as soon as maj be. Tli. mi ill.- (c.n^r.-- adjourned t<» three o'clock this afternoon. Al'teinoou. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Thursday, October 13, 1774, A M. Adjourned to three o'clock tin- afternoon. Afternoon. Tli.' . -0111111111, ii ill.- state of the province, report. • to collect the wisdom of the province by their delegates in tin- Congress, to concert some adequate remedy for preventing impend- ing ruin, ami providing for the public safety. It is with the utmOSl concern we see your hostile preparation-, which have spread such alarm throughout this province and the whole conti- nent, a- threaten- to involve ns in all the confusion and horror- of a civil war: and while we contemplate an event BO deeply to be regretted by ev.rv good man, it inii-t occasion the surprise and a-toni-hnient of all mankind, that such measures are pursued against a people whose love of order, attachment to Britain, and loyalty to their prince, have ever been trulj exemplary. Your excellency nm-t he sensible that the sole end of government is the protection and security of the people. Whenever, therefore, that power, which was originally instituted to ef- fect these important ami valuable purposes, is employed to harass, dis- tress, or en-lave the people, in this case it becomes a curse rather than a blessing. v ... idjoiimment.il b ||di«ientient voice.|| 18 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 13, The most painful apprehensions are excited in our minds by the measures now pursuing. The rigorous execution of the Port Bill, with [increased] severity, must eventually reduce the capital and its numer- ous dependencies to a state of poverty and ruin. The acts for altering the charter and the administration of justice in the colony, are mani- festly designed to abridge this people of their rights, and to license murders ; and, if carried into execution, will reduce them to a state of slavery. The number of troops in the capital, increased by daily ac- cessions drawn from the whole continent, together with the formidable and hostile preparations which you are now making on Boston Neck, in our opinion, greatly endanger the lives, liberties and properties, not only of our brethren in the town of Boston, but of this province in gen- eral. Permit us to ask your excellency, whether an inattentive and unconcerned acquiescence [ b in] such alarming, such menacing mea- sures, would not evidence a state of insanity ; or, whether the delaying to take every possible precaution for the security of the province, would not be the most criminal neglect in a people heretofore rigidly and just- ly tenacious of their || c con?titutional|| rights? Penetrated with the most poignant concern, and ardently solicitous to preserve union and harmony between Great Britain and the Colo- nies, so indispensably necessary to the well being of both, we entreat your excellency to remove that brand of contention, the fortress at the entrance of Boston. We are much concerned that you should have been induced to construct it, and thereby causelessly excite such a spirit of resentment and indignation as now generally prevails. We assure you, sir, that the good people of this colony never have had the least intention to do .any injury to his majesty's troops ; but, on the contrary, most earnestly desire that every obstacle to treating them as fellow-subjects maybe immediately removed ; [''and we] are con- strained to tell your excellency, that the minds of the people will never be relieved till those hostile works are demolished; and we request you, ;i- you regard liis majesty's honor and interest, the dignity and happi- ness of the empire, and the peace and welfare of this province, that you immediately desisl from the fortress now constructing at the south entrance into the town of Boston, and restore the pass to its natural state. Upon a motion, Ordered, That ;i fur copy <>f the foregoing report betaken and pre- sented to hi- excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., and that a committee be b [to] e ||conatitatod d [but. | 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS I'.i appointed to wan upon him earl] to-morrow morning with tin- Bame. Accordingly, Col. Lee, Hon. Col. Ward, Col. Orne, Capt. Gardner, Henrj Gardner, Esq., Mr Devens, Mr. Gorham, ('apt Brown, Col. Pomeroy, Son. Col. Prescot, Col. Thayer, Mr. Williams, Capt. Heath, Capt. I ' | > 1 1 .- 1 1 1 1 . Mr. li.ir in -, ( 'apt. Dnnlittlr, M r. Lothrop, Major Thomp- son, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Pickering, and Capt. Thompson, were appointed. Hi -..//•, il , That when this Congress shall adjourn over tin- sabbath, thai it be adjourned t>> th»' courl house in Cambridge. Tlicii the Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Friday, ( October 1 1, 177 1. \. M. Hi «,.//•, ,/, Thai the message t" his excellenc) !>«' printed in the Bos- ton nru 3papers \ [journed i" three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. The committee on the state of the province reported the following resolve, which was read, considered and accepted, and ordered that it be printed in the Boston newspapers, and attested by the secretary. Hi sohn t' taxes through- out the province, who have or shall have an} moneys in their hands collected on province assessments, be advised nol to pa] the same, or any part thereof, to the Hon. Harrison Gray, Esq., but thai such consta- bles and collectors, as also 3uch constables and roll en or- as have or shall have an] founts moneys in their hands, take and observe such orders and directions touching the same, as shall he iriven them by the sever- al town- and districts b] whom thej were chosen. And that the sheriffs and deput] sheriffs of the several counties in the province, who have in their bands any province moneys, be also advised not to pay the same to the said Harrison Gray, Esq., but thai they retain the same in their hand- respectively, until the further advice of a Provincial Con- gress, or order from a constitutional assembly of this province. And thai the present assessors of the several town- and districts in the pro- vince, be advised to proceed t<> make assessments of the tax granted by the greal and general court of the province at their last Ma] sess and thai such assessments be duly paid by the persons assessed, to such person or persons a- -hall be ordered by the said town- and districts respectively. And the Congress Btrongly recommend the payment of the tax accordingly. "he Congress then adjourned to the courl house in Cambridge, thi 1,1 med on Mondat next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon. 20 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 17, ||Cambridge,|| Monday, October 17, 1774, A. M. The Congress met according to adjournment, and adjourned to the meeting house in Cambridge. Upon a motion, Ordered, That Capt. Gardner, Mr Watson, and Mr. Cheever, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and desire that he would attend the Congress and open the meeting with prayer. The committee reported, that they had waited on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and delivered the message, and that he would wait on the Congress immediately. Upon a motion, the question was put, whether application be made to the governor of the college, for leave for the Congress to sit in the new chapel, and passed in the negative. Resolved, That the seats now chosen by the members in Congress, and those which may be chosen by them in future upon their first coming into the same, be their seats during the session thereof. Resolved, That the Congress be returned in divisions as agreed on at Concord. Mr. President informed the Congress that he had in his hand his excellency's answer to our message to him of the thirteenth instant, directed to Col. Lee, ||and others which he read and is as followeth :|| To Col. Lee, Hon. Col. Ward, Col. Orne, Capl. Gardner, Henry Gardner. Esq , Mr. Devcns, Mr. Gorham, Capt. Brown, Col. Pomeroy, Hon. Col. Prescot, Col. Thayer, Mr. Williams, Capt. Heath, Capt. Upham, Mr. Barnes, Capt. Doolittle, Mr. Lothrop, Major Thompson, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Pickering, and Capt. Thompson, said to be a committee to wait on his excellency with a message. Gentlemen : The previous menaces daily thrown out, and the unu- sual warlike preparations throughout the country, made it an act of duty in me to pursue the measures I have taken in constructing what you call a fortress, which, unless annoyed, will annoy nobody. It is surely highly exasperating, as well as ungenerous, even to hint that the lives, liberties, or properties of any persons, except avowed enemies, are in danger from Britons ; Britain can never harbor the black design of wantonly destroying, or enslaving, any people on earth. And notwithstanding the enmity shewn the king's troops, by withhold- ing from them almost every necessary for their preservation, they have not, as yet, discovered the resentmrnt which might justly he expected to arise from such hostile treatment. No person can he more solicitous than myself to procure union and 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS J. harmony between \ your assembling, you are yourselves subverting that charter, and now acting in direct violation of \our own constitution. It i- my duty, therefore, however irregular your application is, to warn you of the rock you are upon, and to require you to desist from such illi' L r a | and unconstitutional proceedings. THOMAS GAGE. Pboi im i Hoi be, I tetober 17. 17? I. Resolved, That his excellency's answer be committed to the commit- tee on the Btate of the province. Ordered, That the letters on his honor's table, said to he wrote by the lG-\ . Mr. Peters, 1 be committed to the committee <>n the state of the pro\ ince. Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. I Bev.Samui P mat M iron, in Connecticut, Oei rl2, 1735, of Vale College 1757, took order* and assumed the charge of the churches of his native town and of Hartford in 1762. He reaided in Hebron until 1774. In tlmt yoar, public indignation was itrongly roused by communi- i" royalist newspapers attributed to his pen. Hii house was often visited by commit- on the patriotic in) his papers searched, and liis person sometimes treated with ••verity. The letters mentioned in the text wer nl from Boston, where he had t.ik.-n refuge, to In- friends and relatives: they were intercepted, and submitted to 1 1 • - - Com" < in the 28th "I" September, he writ.--, t.i his mother : " I should be bappj if my friends and rela- ii bron were provided for at these bad times when things are growing «..r-. . ire coming over from England and sundry men of w;ir. So soon as tbej come HANGING rVOBK willg i, and DESTR1 < "l'l< >N will attend tir-i the sea port towns. The lintel sprinkled im the lidepost will preserve the faithful." In a letter to Dr. tad ity, al New Y..rk, .1 tted at Boston, October I, l"7t, be writ •• The riots and mobs thai have attended me and my house, sel on by the Governor of Connecticut, ompelled me to take up my abode here ; and the clorgy of Connecticut must fall •> sacrifice with the several chnrchea, very - i, t" the rage of the puritan mobility, if I rpent, thai .i-ni.i hound.". ..." Jndge luchmuty will < l< > nil thai i« reasonable for the neighboring charter. Necessit] calls for such friendship, as the bead is sick and heart faint, and spiritual iniqui- ty rides in high places, with halbert md swords. Sei the proclamation I sont you by my nephew, on their pious sabbath day, the It l> of laal month, when the preachei - the pulpits, site, for the gun and drum and sel off for Boston, cursing the King and Lord North, '■ G igi . the bishop* and their cursed curates, and the church of England. And t". >r mj telling the church people not to tak< np arms, &c, it being high ir. , the sons of libortj have killed one of my church, tern the red t ■■■■ id on the 6th d mj windows, and ran) my clothes, even n>\ ■- out, down with ili.-rl.ur.-h. 22 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 18, Afternoon. Resolved, That in the absence of the president, the secretary have power to adjourn the Congress. Ordered, That the committee appointed to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton this morning to desire his attendance on the Congress, and [that he would] open the meeting with prayer, again wait on him, and return him the thanks of this Congress for his attendance ||on|| and prayer with them this morning ; and desire that he would officiate as their chaplain during their session here. Adj jurned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Tuesday, October 18, 1774, A. M. W^W Ordered, That the galleries be now cleared, and that the doors of the house be kept shut, during the debates of the Congress, until the further order thereof. Resolved, That a doorkeeper be appointed ; and that the members of the town of Cambridge appoint some suitable person for that pur- pose. Mr. ||William|| Darling was appointed accordingly. Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. AAernoon. Moved, That the Congress now determine whether they will, or will not, reply to his excellency's answer. After some debate thereon, the question was put, whether the Con- gress will make a reply to his excellency's answer, and it passed in the affirmative. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Wkp.nesday, October 19, 1774, A. M. Ordered, That the doorkeeper see that the galleries be now cleared. The committee on the state of the province reported a reply to his excellency's message. The same was read and ordered to be recom- mitted. Ordered, That Capt. Heath, Major Fellows, Col. Thomas, Capt. Gardner, and Col. Pomeroy, be a committee to make as minute an in- quiry into the present state and operations of the army as may be, and report. a ||Congress met pursuant to adjournment. || tin- rags <>f popery, ■'• •■• Their rebellion i- obvious, and treason i~ common, and robbery i* tin' daily devotion. The Lord deliver ua from anarchy. The bounds of New York may directlj i ttend to Connecticut river ; Boston meet them ; New Hampshire, take the province of Maine ; and Rhode I llowed up ' '■' it] Praj !"-•■ no time, nor fear worse 1 s than attend n ■" Mr. Peters went to E ! ' in 1 1 tumn of 1774 : published a history of Connecticut in 1781, which hai nol idered a work nthoritj : returned to America in 1605: wen) to the fill- ■■' Bt. v tl j claiming a I ir.-- territory under i '..rv.-r. in I - IT and 1818: and died in New \ ork, April 19, 1831 d 90. 1771.) FIRST PROA l\< l \l. CONGRESS Afli Ordered, Thai do members In- called out. The committee on the state "t the province reported an answer i" bis excellency's message; which, having been read ami considered, in 'paragraphs, ami -<> passed was ordered i" lie <>n the table, kdjourned nil to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Thursday, October 20, 177 1. \. M. The committee appointed to make inquiry into the state ami opera- tions of the army reported. The report, after being read, was ordered to H i the table. Afternoon. R< solved, That i committee he appointed t" consider u hat isneces- rj to !»■ now done for the defence ami safetj of the province. Resolved, Thai the committee consist of thirteen, m/. : two in the COUnt} "t' Suffolk, and one in each other county [ b which lias] returned members to tliis ( !ongr< 3S Resolved, Thai each county appoinl it- own member. The members of tin- several counties retired, soon returned, and re- ported that they had made choice of the following gentlemen respec- ti\ rl\ , viz : Suffolk. — Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq., ami ('apt. Heath. Middlesex. — ('apt. Gardner. Essex. — Col. Orne. Hampshire. — Major Hawley. Plymouth. — Col. Thomas. Barnstable. — Daniel Davis, Esq. Bris- tol— Col Walker. York.— Edward Cutt, Esq. Dukes. — Mr. Smith. Worcester. — Hon. Col. Ward. Cumberland. — .Major Freeman. Berk- shirt . — Major Fellow s. Upon a motion. Ordered, Thai the gentlemen appointed b) the era! counties respectively be a committee tor the purpose aforesaid. The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to i If paymenl ami collecting of the outstanding rate- ami t ixes; the same was read, and ordered to he recommitted. Upon a motion. Ordered, That the answer to hi- excellency's i remain on the table. Then adjourned nil nine o'clock to-morrow morning Friday, October 21, 177 1. \. M. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Col Warren, and Col. Lee, be a com- mittee to report a letter to the selectmen, overseers of the poor, com- mittee of correspondence, ami committee of donations, for the town ol 24 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 21, Boston, desiring their attendance at this Congress, to consult || a means|| for the preservation of the town of Boston at this alarming crisis. Upon a motion, the question was put, whether the Congress will now assign a time when they will take into consideration the propriety of recommending a day of public thanksgiving throughout this province, and passed in the affirmative ; accordingly three o'clock this after- noon was || b assigned|| for that purpose. ||Upon a motion the question was put, whether the Congress will now assign a time when they will take into consideration the proprie- ty of recommending a day of fasting and prayer throughout this pro- vince, and it passed in the affirmative. Accordingly, four o'clock this afternoon is assigned for that purpose. || Upon a motion, the question was put whether a time be now assign- ed to take into consideration the propriety of appointing an agent or agents, to repair to the government of Canada, in order to consult with the inhabitants thereof, and settle a friendly correspondence and agreement with them, and passed in the affirmative ; accordingly, five o'clock this afternoon was appointed for that purpose. The committee appointed to report a letter to the selectmen of the town of Boston, and others, reported a letter accordingly, which was read and accepted, and the president || c ordered|| to sign the same. Ordered, That the gentlemen wrote to and expected from Boston, [be requested to] bring with them six or eight of Rivington's late news- papers. Tbe committee on the state of the province, reported several resolves relative to the counsellors and others who have acted in obedience to the late act of parliament for altering the civil constitution of this gov- ernment, and are now in Boston. The same being read and consider- ed, were ordered to be recommitted for amendments ; which were ac- cordingly recommitted, amended, reported, accepted, and ordered to be printed in all the Boston newspapers, and are as follow, viz : Whereas, sundry persons now in Boston, have as mandamus coun- sellors, or in other capacities, accepted or acted under commissions or authority derived from the act of parliament passed last session, for changing the form of government and violating the charter of this pro- vince ; and by such disgraceful, such detestable conduct, have counter- acted not only the sense of this province, but of the United American Colonics, in Grand Congress expressed : Therefore, "Resolved, That the persons aforesaid who shall not give n ||mi <• ||reque8ted.| 1774] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 96 satisfaction t<> \\w< injured province ;ukI continent, within t -n days from the publication of tins resolve, bj causing to be published in all the Boston newspapers, acknowledgments of their formef misconduct, and renunciations <>t' the cuiiiiiii~-p.ii- and authork] mentioned, oughl to be considered as infamous betrayers <>f their countrj ; and that a com- mittee of Congress lie ordered to cause their names to he published repeatedly, that the inhabitants of tin- province, by having them enter- ed on the record- of each town, as rebels Bgainsl the state, may send them down t" posterity with the infamy they deserve; and that other part- of America may have an opportunity <>f Stigmatizing them in Mich way as -hall effectually answer a similar purpose. Resolved, Thai it he and hereby is recommended to the good people of this province, so far to forgive such of tin- obnoxious persons afore- said, who shall have given the satisfaction required in the preceding resolve, BS not to molest them for their past iiii-conduct. Ordered, That Major Thompson, .Mr Devens, and .Mr. Watson, be a committee to cause the names of sundry persons now in Boston, hav- ing as mandamus counsellors, or in other capacities, accepted or acted under commission or authority derived from the act of parliament passed la-t session, for changing the form of government and violating the charter of tin- province, to he published repeatedly, in case they shall not, within ten days, give satisfaction to this injured province, by caus- ing to he published in all the Boston new-paper-, acknowledg m ents of their misconduct, and renuiiciat ion- of the commissions and authority aforesaid. Ordered, That Mr. Appleton, Mr. Gill, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Legate. and Major Thompson, he a committee to report a non consumption agreement relative to Mritish ami India goods. Ordered, That Mr. Palmer, Gapt. Doolittle, Capt. Greenleaf, Doct. Poster, and Col. Danielson, he a committee to report a resolve recom- mending the total disuse of India teas. Then adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. Mr. President informed the Congress that he had m hi- hand- a number of EUvington's newspapers; Whereupon Ordered, That Mr. (ferry, Capt. Farley, and I)o«t. Church, he a Committee to look over the same: and if any thing therein should ap- pear to have been written with a design to injure tin- province, that they report It to the ( 'oll.rre.-S. 1 (1) Riring ton's .Yew York Oaiateer, or the Connecticut, Hudson's Rtrer, Neic Jersey, and Qm : -'Hi/ .lilrrrtisrr, «|| pnblbhod in the cltj "I' Vu Vi.rk. Il riiiiiim-iir.-il April 39, 177:1 . 26 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 21, Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Major Fuller, Col. Prescott, Mr. Hall, Mr. Gardner of Stow, Mr. Davis, and Capt. Upham, be a committee to wait on the gentlemen selectmen, and others, expected from Boston, and conduct them to this body. The gentlemen selectmen, overseers of the poor, committee of cor- respondence, and committee of donations, being introduced, a free conversation was had with them on means for preserving the town of Boston at this alarming crisis. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve recommending the total disuse of India teas in this province, reported. The report was read and accepted, and is as follows : Whereas, the unnecessary and extravagant consumption of East India teas in time past, has much contributed to the political destruc- tion of this province ; and as tea has been the mean by which a cor- rupt administration have attempted to tax, enslave, and ruin us : There- fore, Resolved, That this Congress do earnestly recommend to the people of this province an abhorrence and detestation of all kinds of East India teas, as the baneful vehicle of a corrupt and venal administration, for the purpose of introducing despotism and slavery into this once happy country ; and that every individual in this province ought totally to disuse the same. And it is also recommended, that every town and district, appoint a committee to post up in some public place the names of all such in their respective towns and districts, who shall sell or consume so extravagant and unnecessary an article of luxury. The committee appointed to consider what is necessary to be done for the defence and safety of this province, reported. The report was read, and ordered that the consideration thereof be referred till to-mor- row morning. ||The Congress then|| adjourned till to-morrow morning nine o'clock. was devoted to the support of the principles of the British administration ; had extensive circula- tion iiiixiii^' the royalists of the principal towns of the colonies ; and received the patronage of gov- ernment. It was continued until Novemher 27, 1775, when a troop of armed men from Connecti- cut surrounded the printing house, broke the press, destroyed the cases, scattered the forms, and carried away a large quantity of type to melt into bullets. James Rivington, the publisher, horn ni London, arrived in America ill 17C0, and commenced bu- lineai ai a I ksellei in Philadelphia. Be pursued the same trade in Boston and in New York, without success, and in 1773 became printer. After the disaster which terminated the existence of the GazateCT, he procured new apparatus, was appointed the king's printer for New York, and re- established bis newspaper. His editorial labors ceased in 178,'t. He resumed the occupation of bookseller, and died in July, 1S0J, aged «eventy eight years. — See Thomas's History of Printing, vol. II, pages 111,319. The newspapers exhibited to the Congress, had a decided tone of loyal sentiment, but contained no reflections peculiarly injurious to the character or feelings of the people of the province. 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 37 Batdrday, October £2, 1774, A. M. The Congress resumed the consideration of tin- report of the com- mittee appointed to consider what is necessarj to be done for the de- fence and Bafety of this province; and ordered the same to be recom- mitted for amendments. Ordered, Thai the Hon. John Winthrop, Esq., Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. I. .Milliard, be a committee to bring in a resolve recommending to the people of this province that thej observe a day of public thanks- giving throughout the same; and that they sit immediately. Resolved, Thai the consideration of the propriety of Bending agents to Canada be referred to the aexl meeting of this 1 tongress. Onl, ml. That Mr. Cushing, of Scituate, Capt Doolittle, Mr. Wil- liam.-, and Mr. Palmer, be joined to the c utter appointed to pre- pare a non-consumption agreement relative to British and India goods; and that the committee sit forthwith. Moved, Thai a committee be appointed to bring in a resolve relative to the king's troops providing themselves with straw. Alter a long debate had 'upon the matter|| the question was ordered to subside. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve recommending to the people of this province to observe a day of public thanksgiving through- out the same, reported: which report was read, amended, and accept- ed, and is as folloueth, \ iz : Prom a consideration of the continuance of the gospel among as, and the smiles of Divine Providence upon as with regard to the seasons of the year, and the general health which ha- been enjoyed : and in particular, from a consideration of the union which so remarkably prevail-, not only in this province, but throughout the continent, at this alarming crisis, it is resolved, a- the sense of this Congress, that it l- highly proper thai a day of public thanksgiving should be observed throughout tins province; and n is accordingly recommended to the several religious assemblies in the province, thai Thursday, the fifteenth day of December next, be observed as a day of thanksgiving, to render thanks to Almighty God lor all the blessings ue enjoj ; and, at the ,-ame time, we think it incumbent on this people to humble themselves before (iod, on account of then -in-, for which lie hath been pleased, m In- righteous judgment, i<> Buffer so great a calamity to befall us as the present controvers] between Great Britain and the colonies; as also to implore the Divine blessing upon us, that, by tin- assistance of In- grace, we may be enabled t<> reform whatever is amiss among us ; that mi (iod may be pleased to continue to us the blessing- we enjoy, a |jtlicri-on.|| 28 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 23, and remove the tokens of his displeasure, by causing harmony and union to be restored between Great Britain and these colonies, that we may again rejoice in the smiles of our sovereign, and in possession of those privileges which have been transmitted to us, and have the hope- ful prospect that they shall be handed down ||entire|| to posterity under the protestant succession in the illustrious house of Hanover. Afternoon. The report of the committee appointed to consider what is neces- sary to be done for the defence and safety of the province, being amended, was again read, and ordered to be recommitted for further amendment ; and was committed accordingly. Resolved, That the || a resolve|| recommending that a day of thanks- giving be observed throughout this province, be printed, and a copy thereof sent to all the religious assemblies in this province; and that the president sign the same. Ordered, That Mr. Appleton, Doct. Foster, and Mr. Devens, be a committee to agree with Messrs. Edes and Gill, to print the resolve entered into by this Congress, recommending to the inhabitants of this province to observe a day of public thanksgiving ; and that they send a copy thereof to all the religious assemblies therein. ||Then the Congress adjourned till Monday next, [at] ten o'clock in the forenoon. Monday, October 24, 1774, A. M. The report of the committee appointed to consider what is necessa- ry to be done for the defence and safety of the province, being amend- ed, was taken into consideration, and a long debate had thereon. ||The Congress|| adjourned till three o'clock, P. M. Afternoon. || b || Ordered, That Col. Lee, Mr. Palmer, Capt. Batchelder, Capt. Keith, and Col. Orne, be a committee to consider of and report to this Con- gress the most proper time for this province to provide a stock of pow- der, ordnance, and ordnance stores; and that they sit forthwith. Ordered, That the committee appointed to bring in a non consump- tion agreement, || c sit|| forthwith. Resolved, That the debates had in Congress this afternoon, and that all those which may be had ||therein|| in future, be kept secret by the members thereof, until leave shall be had from the Congress to disclose the same. n ||order.ll h llCongre.** mot pursuant to adjournment. || c ||rt>port.|| 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 39 Ordered, Thai Mr. Blue wail upon the committee appointed t<. con- sider of the most propei time for this province to provide themsefo uuli powder, ordnance, &c Be waited on the committee according- ly, and reported that they would || a be in | Congress in a few minnt The committee came in accordingly, and reported, as their opinion, lii.u nmr was the proper time for the province to procure a stock of powder, ordnanct , and ordnance -lores. ||Then|| Ordered, Thai Col. Lee, Mr Palmer, Capt Batchelder, Capl Keith, Col. Orne, Capt Gardner, Capt. Heath, Col. Warren, and Col. Pomeroy, be a committee to take into consideration and deter- mine whal number of ordnance, [and] whal quantity of powder, and ordnance stores will be now necessary tor the province Mock, and esti- mate the expense thereof The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the com- mittee appointed to consider what is necessary to be done for the de- fence and safet] of the province, and ordered it to be recommitted for further amendments, and thai Capt. Roberson, Major Foster, Capt. Bragdon and Mr. Gerry, be added to the committee. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Tuesday, October 25, 177 1. \ M. || b || Ordered, Thai the committee appointed to report a non con-mnp- tion agreement, -it forthw ith. Mr. Wheeler brought into Congress a letter directed to Doct. Ap- pleton, purporting the propriety, that while we are attempting to free ourselves from oui presenl embarrassments, and preserve ourselves from slavery, thai we also take into consideration the state and cir- cumstances of the negro slaves in this province. The same was read, and it was moved that a committee be appointed to take the same into consideration. After some debate thereon, the question was put, whether the matter now snb-ide, and it passed in the affirmative. Ordered, Thai Mr. Patterson, Mr. Devens and Doct. Bolten be a committee to inquire into the state of all the stores in the commissary general's office. I'pon a motion, the question was put, whether a committee be ap- pointed to lake into consideration the propriety of having the dona- tions which >hall be made to the pour of the town of Boston, Stored in the country, and passed in the negative. Resolved, That four o'clock tins afternoon be assigned to take into (i ||attend on tlic.|| l»|l' iljrtotnjouramwit.il 30 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 25, consideration the state of the executive courts throughout this prov- ince. Ordered, That the committee appointed to inquire into the state of all the stores in the commissary general's office, || R sit|| forthwith. Afternoon. Ordered, That the doorkeeper be directed to call in the members. The committee appointed to take into consideration what number of ordnance, [and] what quantity of powder and ordnance stores are now necessary for the province stock, and estimate the expense there- of, reported. The report was read, considered and accepted ; which is as followeth : The committee appointed to take into consideration and determine what number of ordnance, [and what] quantity of powder and ordnance stores will be necessary for the province stock at this time, and estimate the expense, beg leave to report the following schedule of articles as ne- cessary to be procured at this time, in addition to what we are already possessed of, with the estimate of expenses attendant, amounting in the whole to ten thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven pounds, viz : 16 field pieces, 3 pounders, with carriages, irons, &.c. ; wheels for ditto, irons, sponges, ladles, &,c, a £30, . ,£480 4 ditto, 6 pounders, with ditto, a £38, . . . 152 Carriages, irons, &,c, for 12 battering cannon, a £30, 300 4 mortars, and appurtenances, viz : 2 8-inch and 2 13- inch, a £20, 80 20 tons grape and round shot, from 3 to 24 lb., a £15, 300 10 tons bomb-shells, a <£20, 200 5 tons lead balls, a £33, . . . . . . 165 1,000 barrels of powder, « £8, .... 8,000 Contingent charges, ...... 1,000 £10,737 In addition to the above estimate, Ordered, That there be procured 5,000 arms and bayo- nets, a £ 1, 10,000 And 75,000 flints, 100 ||In the whole|| .... £20,837 Ordered, Thai ;ill the matters which shall come under consideration before this Congress, be kept secret, and that they be not disclosed to any but the members thereof, until the further order of this body. n ||r<>port.|| 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL OONGRKSS 31 The committee appointed to consider what Lb necessary to be done tor the defence and safety of the government, reported. The retort » as read. Th. ii tin- ( " • • 1 1 _>■ r . ■ - - adjourned till eight o'clock to-morrow morn- ing. yVkditebdat, October 26, 1774, \. ML The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to consider what is n.c<--ar\ to be done for the defence and safety of the province, ami ordered that it be read and considered || b in|| paragraphs. ||Theni| adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. Ordered, That the doorkeeper be directed to call in the members. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the above report, relative to what is necessary to be done for the defence and safety of the province, and ordered that it be recommitted for amendments; which was amended, read and accepted, almost unanimously, and is as follow. 'th, viz : Whereas, in consequence of the present unhappy disputes between Great Britain and the colonies, a formidable body of troop-, with war- like preparations of every sort, arc already arrived at, and others des- tined for the metropolis of this province; and the express design of their being Bent, is to execute acts of the British parliament utterly subversive of the constitution of the province: and whereas, his ex- cellenc] General Gage bas att< mpted, by his troops, to disperse the in- habitant- of Salem, whilst assembled to consult measures for preserv- ing their freedom, and to Bubjugate the province to arbitrary govern- ment : ami proceeding to still more unjustifiable and alarming lengths, has fortified against the country the capital of the province, and thus greatly endangered the lives, liberties and properties of its oppressed citizens; invaded private property, by unlawfully seizing and retaining large quantities of ammunition in the arsenal at Boston, and sundry pieces of ordnance || in the same town: committed to the custodj of In- troops, the arm-, ammunition, ordnance, || and warlike stores of all sorts, provided at the public expense for the use of the province; and by all possible means endeavored to place the province entirely in a de- fenceless state : at the Bame time having neglected and altogether disre- garded the assurances from this t iongress of the pacific disposition of the inhabitants of the province, and entreaties that he would cease from a ||< ••! pni uanl to idjournmi b ||by.|| 32 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 26, measures which tended to prevent a restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the colonies : Wherefore, it is the opinion of this Congress, that notwithstanding nothing but slavery ought more to be deprecated than hostilities with Great Britain ; notwithstanding the province has not the most distant design of attacking, annoying or molesting his majesty's troops afore- said ; but, on the other hand, will consider and treat every attempt of the kind, as well as all measures tending to prevent a reconci- liation between || a Britain|| and the colonies, as the highest degree of enmity to the province ; nevertheless, there is great reason, from the consideration aforesaid, to be apprehensive of the most fatal conse- quences, and that the province may be in some degree provided against the same ; and under full persuasion that the measures expressed in the following resolves are perfectly consistent with such resolves of the Continental Congress as have been communicated to us. Resolved, That be a committee of safety, to continue in office until the further order of this or some other Congress or house of representatives of the province ; whose business it shall be, most carefully and diligently to inspect and observe all and every such person and persons as shall, at any time, attempt or enterprise the destruction, invasion, detriment or annoyance of this province, &x. ; which said committee, or any five of them, (provided always, that not more than one of the said five shall be an inhabitant of the town of Boston,) shall have power, and they are hereby directed, whenever they shall judge it necessary for the safety and defence of the inhabitants of this province, and their property, against such person or persons as aforesaid, to alarm, muster and cause to be assembled, with the utmost expedition, and completely armed, accoutred, and supplied with provisions sufficient for their sup- port in their march to the place of rendezvous, such and so many of the militia of this province, as they shall judge necessary for the ends aforesaid, and at such place <>r places as they shall judge proper, and them to discharge as soon as the safety of the province shall permit. And this body do most earnestly recommend to all the officers and sol- diers of the militia in this province, who shall, from time to time, dur- ing the commission of the said committee, receive any call or order from the said committee, to pay the stri<-te>t obedience thereto, as they regard the liberties and lives of themselves and the people of this province. n liferent Britain. || ITT t . J FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 98 Also, Resolved, That or tin- major part of them, !>*■ a committee, in case of any such master ami assembling of the militia as aforesaid, to make such provision ae shall be necessarj for their reception and support, until they -hall be discharged by order of the said committee of safety : and also suffi- cient provisions to Bupporl them in their return to their respective homes; and shall also, without delay, purchase and provide, upon the credit of the moneys alreadj granted l»\ the province, not paid into the treasury, BO man] pieces of cannon and carriages lor the >aine, -mall arms, such quantities of ammunition [and] ordnance stores a- they shall judge necessary, nol exceeding the value of twenty thousand eighl hundred ami thirtv— e\en pounds, to he deposited in such secure places a- tin' said committee of safety -hall direct. Also, Resolved, That he and the\ hereby are appointed officers to c maud, lead and con- duct Buch of the militia as shall he mustered and assembled by order of the -an! committee of safety, in manner and for the purposes afore- said, -o 1 1 1 1 1 _r as they shall be retained by the said committee of safety, and no longer, who shall, while in the said service, command in the order in which they are above named. Also, Resolved, That all the said officers and soldiers who may be mustered and retained in service by the above said committee of safe- ty, tor tin purposes aforesaid, shall he entitled to such an allowance from tin- province, as shall he adequate to their services from the time that the) -hall inarch from their respective places of abode, until they shall he discharged from the -aid service, and reasonable time for their return home. Also, Resolved, That it he recommended to the several companies of militia in tin- province, who have not already chosen ami appointed officers, that thej meel forthwith and elect ollicers to command their respective companies; ami that the officers so chosen assemble as soon a- maj he : and where the -aid ollicers -hall judge the limit- of the present regiments too extensive, that thej divide them, and settle ami determine their limit-, and proceed to elect field officer- to command the respective regiments SO formed; ami that the field officers 30 elect- ed, forthw ith endeavor to enlist one quarter, at the least, of the number of tin- respective companies, and form them into companies of fifty pri- vates, at the least, who -hall equip ami hold themselves in readme--, on tin- shortest notice from the said committee of Bafety, to march to the place of rendezvous ; ami that each and every c pain -.1 formed i'""-'- S captain ami two 1 nut. nam- to command the au\ -uch 34 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS [Oct. 27, emergent and necessary service as they may be called to by the com- mittee of safety aforesaid ; and that the said captains and subalterns so elected, form the said companies into battalions, to consist of nine companies each : and that the said captains and subalterns of each battalion so formed, proceed to elect field officers to command the same. And this Congress doth most earnestly recommend that all the aforesaid elections be proceeded in and made with due deliberation and || a generous|| regard for the public service. Also, Resolved, That, as the security of the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of this province, depends, under Provi- dence, on their knowledge and skill in the art military, and in their being properly and effectually armed and equipped, it is therefore re- commended, that they immediately provide themselves therewith ; that they use their utmost diligence to perfect themselves in military skill ; and that, if any of the inhabitants are not provided with arms and am- munition according to law, and that, if any town or district within the province, is not provided with the full town stock of arms and ammu- nition, according to law, that the selectmen of such town or district take effectual care, without delay, to provide the. same. Resolved, That the blanks in the foregoing report be filled up to- morrow morning, at ten o'clock ; and that the committees and officers therein recommended be chosen by ballot. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare, in the recess of this Congress, a well digested plan for the regulating and disciplin- ing the militia, placing them in every respect on such a permanent footing as shall render them effectual for the preservation and defence of the good people of this province. Ordered, That Capt. Heath, Capt. Gardner, Mr. Bigelow, Col. Orne, and Col. Thayer, be a committee to take into consideration what exer- cise will be best for the people of this province at this time to adopt, and report [thereon.] Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Thursday, October 27, 1774, A. M. The order of the day was moved for. \\Ordered, That the doorkeeper be directed to call in the members.|| Ordered, That Col. Warren, Doct. Holten, and Col. Lee, be a com- mittee to count and sort the votes for the committees and officers this day to be elected. ii Himtrii'ii 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL Cov.Kl.— 86 Resolved, That the Congress will proceed to 1 1 1 « - choice of the com- mittee of safety, which is to consist of nine members, viz : three in the town of Boston, and six in the country, in the manner following, \ i/. they will give 1 1 n - 1 r votes tir-t, tor the three members of the town of Boston, and then for the sis in the country. The Congress accordingly proceeded to Uring in tlieir votes tor the three members of the town >>\ Boston, and the committee appointed to count and >ort the votes, reported, thai the following gentlemen were chosen, Tiz: Hon. John Hancock, Ksq., Doct. Warren, and Doct. ( 'liurch. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for sis gentle- men of the countrj : after sorting and counting the Bame, the commit- tee reported, thai the following were chosen, viz: Mr. Devens, Capt Winn- of Brookline, Mr. Palmer, Norton duincy, Esq., Mr. Watson, and ( !ol. < >rne. Afiernoou. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes tor five com- missaries : and the committee having sorted and counted the votes, re- ported that the following gentlemen were chosen, viz : Mr. Cheever, Mr. Gill, Col. Lee, Mr. Greenleaf, Col. Warren. I 'pon a motion made by Col. Warren, thai he mighl be excused from serving on the committee lor -applies, and having offered his reasons therefor, the question was put, whether he he excused from serving on said committee, and passed in the affirmative. The Congress then proceeded to bring in th< ir votes for a person to Berve in the place of Col. Warren, who hath been excused, and after sorting and counting the Bame, they reported that Col. Lincoln was chosen. It was then moved, thai the Congress proceed to the choice of three ifeneral officer- : and. Hi solved. That they would first make choice of th<' _ri-Ntlriii.ni w ho should ha\e the chief command ; ami the committee having sorted and counted the votes, reported thai the Hon, Jedediah Preble, Esq., v» as chosen. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for the second in command, and the committee having sorted and counted the votes, reported thai the lion. Axtemaa Ward, Esq., was chosen. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for the third in command, and the committee haying sorted and counted the votes, re- ported that ( Sol. Pomeroy w as chosen. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for a commit- tee to -it m the recess of this Congress, agreeable to the resolve oi 36 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 27, yesterday, and the committee having sorted and counted the votes, re- ported that the following gentlemen were chosen, viz : The Hon. Joseph Hawley, Esq., Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq., Mr. ||Elbridge|| Gerry, Capt. Heath, Major Fos- ter, Hon. James Warren, Esq. Resolved, That to-morrow morning, nine o'clock, the Congress will take into consideration the propriety of appointing a receiver general. Ordered, That the members be enjoined to attend, and that they do not absent themselves for any cause saving that of absolute necessity. Resolved, That the replication to his excellency's answer, which was ordered to lie on the table for the members to revise, be now taken up and recommitted for some amendments. Upon a motion, the question was put, whether the Hon. Samuel Dan- forth, Esq., 1 be desired to attend this Congress upon the adjournment, and passed in the negative. Upon a motion, the question was put, severally, whether the Hon. James Pitts, Esq., Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq., Hon. Benjamin Green- (1) Twenty-eight counsellors had been chosen, May 25, 1774, at the annual meeting of the general court, agreeably to the provisions of the charter of William and Mary : For the territory formerly the colony of Massachusetts Bay, eighteen : Samuel Danforth, John Erving, James Botedoin, James Pitts, Samuel Dexter, Artemas Ward, Benjamin Greenleaf, Caleb dishing, Samuel Phillips, John Winthrop, Timothy Danielson, Benjamin Austin, Richard Derby, Jun., William Phillips, Michael Farley, Jamts Prescot, John Jldams, Norton Quincy : For the territory formerly the colony of New Plymouth, four : James Otis, William Seaver, Wal- ter Spooner, Jerathmiel Bowers. For the territory formerly the province of Maine, extending from Piscataqua to Kennebeck, three : Jeremiah Powell, Jedediah Preble, Enoch Freeman .- For Sagadahock, including that part of the present state of Maine between Kennebeck and New Brunswick, one : Benjamin Chadburn : For the province at large, two : George Leonard, Jun., Jedediah Foster. When the Iiu. William Beaver, Esq., Hon. Walter Spooner, Esq., Hon. Benjamin Chad burn, Esq., Hon. Jedediah Preble, Esq., and the ll«»n. George Leonard, Esq., be desired to attend this Congress at the next meeting upon the adjourn- ment, ami passed in the affirmative. The question was then put, whether the Hon. John Brving, Esq., and the Hon. Jeremiah Powell, Esq., be desired also to attend this Congress, upon n< being evident that thej had u> >t accepted, and upon their having given full assurances that thej would not accept, of their commissions as mandamus counsellors, and it passed in the affirmative. Ordered, That Mr. dishing, Col. Prescot, and Capt. Greenleaf, be immittee to brim? in a resolve inviting the counsellors aforesaid to attend accordingly. || a || Friday, October 28, 1774, A. M. The order of the daj was moved for. Resolved, That the Congress now proceed to the choice ofareceiver general. Ordered, That Col. Warren, Doct. Holten, and Col. lac, he a com- mittee to count and >ort the votes for a receiver general. © The Congress then proceeded to bring in their vote- tor a receiver genera] ; the committee having counted and sorted the same, reported that the Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq., was chosen. But upon a motion bj him made, thai he mighl be excused from serving in that office, and having offered his reasons t'"r his motion, the question was put, whether he be excused accordingly, and it passed in the affirmative. /,' wived, That the choice of a receiver general he put off till three o'clock tin- afternoon. The committee on the -cue of the province reported a resolve, rela- tive to the removal of the inhabitants of the town of 15. .-ton from thence, which was read. Afternoon. Upon a motion made by Mr. Greenleaf, one of the committee for providing -tore-, that he mighl he excused from serving in that office, and having offered In- reasons tor his motion, the question was put, whether he he excused accorduiglv, ami it passed m the affirmative. The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the com- mittee recommending the removal of the inhabitants of the town of •n from thence. Ordered to he recommitted and that the com- mittee -it forthwith. tdjoarnod nil »■•« morrow iimrninr, nin J 38 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 28, Resolved, That the Congress now proceed to the choice of a receiver general. The votes being carried in, and the committee having sorted and counted the same, reported that Henry Gardner, Esq., was chosen. Resolved, That the Congress now proceed, according to their order in the forenoon, to bring in their votes for the choice of a person to fill up the committee for providing stores, in the place of Mr. Green- leaf, who was excused. The committee having counted and sorted the same, reported that Mr. Benjamin Hall was chosen. The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to the collecting and paying the outstanding taxes, which was read and accepted ; but, upon a motion, the above vote was reconsidered, and the report was committed to Major Hawley, Mr. Gerry, and Major Foster, for amendments, which || a being|| done, was again considered and accepted, and is as followeth, viz : Whereas, the moneys heretofore granted and ordered to be assessed by the general court of this province, and not paid into the province treasury, will be immediately wanted to supply the unexpected and pressing || b exigencies|| of this province, in its present distressed cir- cumstances, and it having been recommended by this Congress that the same should not be paid to the Hon. Harrison Gray, Esq., for rea- sons most obvious ; Therefore, Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., be, and he hereby is, appointed receiver general until the further order of this or some other Congress, or house of representatives of this province, whose business it shall be to receive all such moneys as shall be offered to be paid into his hands to the use of the province by the several constables, collectors, or other persons, by order of the several towns or districts, and to give his re- ceipts for the same ; and the same moneys to pay out to the committee of supplies, or a major part of them, already appointed by this Con- gr< as, or the order of said committee, or the major part of them, for the paymenl of such disbursements as they shall find to be necessary for the immediate defence of the inhabitants of this province. And it is hereby recommended to the several towns and districts within this province, thai they immediately call town and district meetings, and give directions to all constables, collectors, and other persons \\h<> may have any part of the province jj c taxes|| of such towns or districts in their respective hand- or possession, in consequence of any late order and directions of any towns or districts, that he or thc\ ii ediately pay tlw same to the said Henry Gardner, Esq., for the purpose afore- said. a ||wm.|| h ||Hf>m:m r jjinnnpy rolWtorl by tnxr«.|| m L] FIRST PRO\ INC] \l. I 0NGRES8 And n i- also recommended, thai the Beveral town- and districts in said directions, signif] and expressly eniraire, t • » -nch constables, collec- tors, '>r other persons, who shall have their Baid moneys in their hand-, thai their paying the Bame in manner as aforesaid, and producing a re- ceipl therefor, shall ever hereafter operate as an effectual discharge to such persons t'<>r the Bame. And ii is hereby recommended, thai the like order be observed respecting the tax ordered by the great and general courl al their Ias1 May session. And 11 i- herein further recommended, to all sheriffs who may have in their hands an) moneys belonging i" the province, thai the] imme- diatel] pa) the Bame to the said receiver general, for the purposes aforesaid, taking his receipt therefor. Ami the Baid Henrj Gardner, Esq., the receiver general, shall be accountable to this or soi ther Congress or house of representa- tives of this province, for whatever he shall do touching the premises. Ami to the end that all the moneys heretofore assessed in pursuance of .in \ li-niier gr mi- and <>rder- of the great ami general courl or assem- bly of this province, and hitherto uncollected by the several eon-tables and collectors, to whom the several li-t- of assessments thereof were committed, may be effectually levied and collected, and al-o to the end, that all the moneys granted, and ordered to be assessed l>\ the general court at then- session in Maj last, which have been assessed, or which ma] be assessed, ma] he al-o speedily and punctuallj collected, it i- earnestly recommended by tin- body, to the several constables ami collector- respectively, who have such assessments in their hands, or to whom any assessments yel to he made, may he committed bj the a— • r- of anj town- or district-, tint in the levying and collecting the. ective part or proportion of the total of such assessments, therein Bet down to the several persons named therein, they should act ami proceed in the same way and j manner as is expressed ami prescribed ill the form of a warrant given and contained in an act or law of this province, entitled •• an act prescribing the form of a warrant tor col- lecting of town assessments," &c. And ii is also hereb] strongl] re- commended to all the inhabitants of the several towns and districts in this province, thai they, without fail, do afford to their respective consta- bles ami collector- all that aid and assistance which shall he nece--ary liable them in that manner to lev] the content- of such assessments, ami that thej do oblige and compel the said constables and collectors to comply with and execute the directions of this resolve, inasmuch as the j >r» ■-. i it mo-t alarming situation ami circumstances of this province do make it absolutely oecessarj for the safet] thereof 40 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 28, Ordered, That Mr. Appleton, Mr. Cushing, and Mr. Palmer be a committee to bring in a resolve relative to a non consumption agree- ment. Ordered, That Major Hawley, Mr. Cushing, and Mr. Gerry, be a committee to prepare and bring in a resolve relative to an equal repre- sentation of the province in Congress at the next meeting thereof. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve inviting the constitu- tional counsellors of this province to attend this Congress at the next meeting thereof upon adjournment, reported ; which report was read and accepted, and is as followeth, viz : Resolved, That the Hon. John Erving, Esq., Hon. || a James|| Pitts, Esq., Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq., Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq., Hon. Caleb Cushing, Esq., Hon. Samuel Phillips, Esq., Hon. Richard Derby, Esq., Hon. James Otis, Esq., Hon. William Seaver, Esq., Hon. Walter Spooner, Esq., Hon. Jeremiah Powell, Esq., Hon. Benjamin Chadburn, Esq., Hon. Jedediah Preble, Esq., and Hon. George Leo- nard, Esq., constitutional members of his majesty's council of this colony, by the royal charter, chosen to said office last May session, be desired to give their attendance at the next meeting of this Congress upon adjournment, that this body may have the benefit of their advice upon the important matters that may then come under consideration And the secretary of this Congress is hereby directed to transmit to those gentlemen severally a copy of this resolve. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to a non- consumption agreement, reported. The report was read and ordered to be committed for amendments. It was accordingly amended, read again, and accepted, and is as followeth, viz : Whereas, ||the people of || this province have not, as yet, received from the Continental Congress such explicit directions respecting non- importation and non consumption agreements as are expected; and whereas, ihe greatest pari of the inhabitants of this colony have lately entered into non importation and non consumption agreements, the •rood effects <>!' which arc very conspicuous: Therefore, "Resolved, That this Congress approve of the said agreements, and earnest]) re< imend t<> all the inhabitants of this colony, strictly to conform to the same, until the further sense of the continental or the pro- vincial Congress i- made public. And further, this Congress highly applaud the conduct of those patriotic merchants, who have generously refrained from importing British goods since the commencement of the Samuel. || 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 11 cruel Boston port bill; at the Bame time refleel with pain on the con- duct of th"-c who have Bordidlj preferred their private interest to the Balvation of their Buffering country, by continuing to import as usual; ami recommend it to the inhabitants of the province, thai they discour- age the conduct of said importers by refusing t>> purchase any articles u batever <>t' them. [Ordered, That the foregoing report] be published. The committee appointed t<> inquire into the atate of the warlike stores in the commissar] general's office, reported ; and it was there- upon Ordered, That ('apt. Heath, Doct. Warren, and Doct. Church, be a committee to take care of, and lodge in some safe place in the coun- try, the warlike -iurr- now in the cotninissan ireneral's office, and that the matter he conducted with the greatest Becrecy. /.' -t reason to hope that hie majes- ty, upon 'being undeceived, would order redress. Is it not astonish- ing then, frir, that you should have irentured to assert that ;i " tortr. m, l>\ whatever name jtoui excellency i- pleased to call it, which puts it in the power of the standing army which you command to cut off com- mnnication between the country and the capital of this province ; to imprison the many thousand inhabitants of tin- town of Boston; to in- sult and destroy them upon the least, or even without any provocation, and winch is evidently a continual annoyance to that oppressed com- munity, " unless annoyed, will annoy nobodj .'" A retrospect of your excellency's conduct, since your late residence m tins province, we conclude, will convince you of that truth, the mere hinting of which, you tell us, " is highly exasperating a- well as ungenerous." We presume your excellency will not deny that you ha\e exerted yourself to execute the act- made to subvert the con- stitution of the province, although your excellency's connections with a ministry inimical to the proi ince, and your being surrounded by men of the worst political principles, preclude a prospect of your full] ex- ercising toward- this province \oiir wonted benevolence and humanity : \et. Bir, we pray you to indulge your social virtues so far as to consid- er tin- ie . feelings of this people under the hand of oppression. Have not invasions of private property, by your excellency, been re- ■dlv made at Boston .' Have not the inhabitants of Salem, whilst peaceably assembled for concerting measures to preserve their free- dom, and unprepared to defend themselves, been in imminent danger from your troop-? Have you not, by removing the ammunition of the province, ami by all other means in vour power, endeavored to put it iii a -t.ite utterly delete : , - ' [lave you not expressly declared that ■■ !• sent ut illicit justlj be expected" from your troop-, merely in consequence of a refusal of some inhabitants of the province to sup- ply them with property undeniably their own '. Surelj these are ques- tions founded on incontestible facts, which, we think, must prove that while the " avowed enemies" of Great Britain and the colonies, are protected by your excellency, the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of the province, who are real friends to the British consti- tution, are greatly endangered, whilst under the control of your stand- ing army. a ||hi« hcins-H 44 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. '29, It must be matter of grief to every true Briton, that the honor of British troops is sullied by the infamous errand on which they are sent to America; and whilst, in the unjust cause, on which you are engaged, menaces will never produce submission from the people of this prov- ince, your excellency, as well as the army, can only preserve your honor by refusing to submit to the most disgraceful prostitution of subserving plans so injurious, [and] so notoriously iniquitous and cruel to this people. Your excellency professes to be solicitous for "preserving union and harmony between Great Britain and the colonies ;" and we sincerely hope that you will distinguish yourself by exertions for this purpose : for, should you be an instrument of involving in a civil war this op- pressed and injured land, it must forever deprive you of that tranquilli- ty which finally bids adieu to those whose hands have been polluted with innocent blood. Your excellency reminds us of the spirit of the British nation ; we partake, we rejoice in her honors, and especially revere her for her great national virtues ; we hope she never will veil her glory, or haz- ard success by exerting that spirit in support of tyranny. Your excellency's strange misconception of facts, is not less conspic- uous in the close of your message than in many other parts of it. You have suggested that the conduct of the province, for supporting the constitution, is an instance of its violation. To declare the truth, relative to this matter, must be a full vindication of our conduct therein. The powers placed in your excellency, for the good of the province, to convene, adjourn, prorogue, and dissolve the general court, have been perverted to ruin and enslave the province, while our constitu- ents, the loyal subjects of his majesty, have been compelled, for the laudable purposes of preserving the constitution, and therein their freedom, to obtain the wisdom of the province in a way which is not only justifiable by reason, but, under the present exigencies of the state, directed by the principles of the constitution itself; warranted by the most approved precedent and examples, and || a sanctioned|| by the British nation, at the revolution ; upon the strength and validity of which precedent the whole British constitution now stands, his present majesty wears his crown, and all subordinate officers hold their places. And although we are willing to put the most favorable construction on the warning you have been pleased to give us of the " rock on which a ||nanctified.|| 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL COIM.-RKSS 15 we are," we beg leave to inform yon that our constituents do not ex- pect, that, in the execution <>t' thai important trust which thej have re- posed in us, we should be wholl j guided by your advice. We trust, sir, that we shall not fail in our duty to our country and loyalty to our king, or m a proper respect to your excellency. Resolved, That the foregoing replication to his excellency's answer be published in the newspapers. Ordered, That .Major Hawley, Col. Lee, and Mr. Gerry, be a com- mittee to extract such parts of the resolves which passed in this Con- gress, the "-tiih and 28th current, and are necessary no\y to he publish- ed : w ho reported as followeth : \\ bereas, it has been recommended by this Congress, that the moneys heretofore granted and ordered to be assessed bj the general court of this province, and nol paid into the province treasury, should not be paid to the Hon. Ham-on d'ray, Esq., for reasons most ohvious: Therefore, Hesolnd, That Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, be, and herebj is, appointed receiver general until the further order of this or some other Congress or house of representatives of this province, whose business it .-hall be to receive all such moneys as shall he offer- ed to be paid into his hands to the use of the province, by the several constables, collector-, or other persons, l>v order of the several towns or districts, and to give his receipt for the same. And it is herebj re- commended to the several town- and districts, within this province, that they immediately call town and district meetings, and give direc- tion- to all constables, collectors, and other persons who may have any part of the province tax of SUCh town or district in their respective hands or possession, m consequence of any late order and directions of anj town or district, that he <>r they immediatelj pay the same to the said Henry Gardner, Esq., for the purposes aforesaid. And it is also recommended thai the several town- and districts, in said direc- tion-, signify and expresslj engage to such constable, collector, or other persons as shall have their said moneys in their hands, thai their pay- ing the same to Henrj Gardner, Esq., aforesaid, and producing his re- ceipt therefor, shall ever hereafter operate as an effectual discharge to such persons for the same. And ii is herebj recommended, thai the like order I bserved respecting the tax ordered by the greal and gen- eral court at their lasl Ma] Bession. And it is further recommended to all sheriffs or deputy sheriffs, or coroners, who ma] have in their hand- any moneys belonging to the province, thai they immediately pa] the same to the said receiver general, taking his receipt therefor. And the s:ud Henry Gardner, Esq., the receiver general, shall l>< 46 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 29, countable to this or some other Congress or house of representatives of this province. And to the end that all the moneys heretofore assessed in pursuance of any former grants and orders of the great and general court or as- sembly of this province, and hitherto uncollected by the several con- stables and collectors to whom the several lists of assessment thereof were committed, may be effectually levied and collected ; and also to the end that all the moneys granted and ordered to be assessed by the general court at their session in May last, which have been assess- ed, or which may be assessed, may be also speedily and punctually col- lected, it is earnestly recommended by this body to the several consta- bles and collectors, respectively, who have such assessments in their hands, or to whom any assessments yet to be made may be committed by the assessors of any towns or districts, that, in levying and collect- ing the respective part or proportion of the total of such assessments therein set down to the several persons named therein, they should act and proceed in the same way and manner as is expressed and provided in the form of a warrant, given and contained in || a an|| act or law of this province, entitled " an act prescribing the form of a warrant for collecting of town assessments," &c. And it is hereby strongly recommended to all the inhabitants of the several towns and districts in this province, that they, without fail, do afford to their respective constables and collectors all that aid and as- sistance which shall be necessary to enable them in that manner to levy the contents of such assessments ; and that they do oblige and compel the said constables and collectors to comply with and execute the directions of this resolve, inasmuch as the present most alarming situation and circumstances of this province do make it absolutely necessary for the safety thereof. Whereas, in consequence of the present unhappy disputes between Great Britain and the colonies, a formidable body of troops, with war- like preparations of every sort, are already arrived at, and others des- tined for the metropolis of this province; and the || b expressed|| design of their being sent, is to execute acts of the British parliament utterly subversive of the constitution of the province ; and whereas, his ex- cellency General Gage has attempted by his troops to disperse the in- habitants of Salem, whilst assembled to consult measures for preserv- ing their freedom, and to subjugate the province to arbitrary govern- ment ; and, proceeding to still more unjustifiable and alarming lengths, has fortified against the country the capital of the province, and thus a ||one.|| b ||oxpress.|| 1774.] FIRST I'KOYIV I \L CONGRKSS. 17 greatly endangered the lives, liberties and properties of its oppressed citizens; invaded private property by unlawfully seizing and retaining large quantities <>!* ammunition in the arsenal at Boston, and sundry pieces of ordnance in the same town ; committed to the custody of his troops, the arms, ammunition, ordnance, and warlike stores of ill sorts, provided at the public expense, for the use of the province; and by all possible means endeavored to place the province entirely in a defenceless state ; at the same time having neglected and altogether disregarded assurances from this Congress of the pacific dispositions of the inhabitants of the province, and entreaties that he would cease from measures which tended to prevent a restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the colonies: Wherefore it is the opinion of this Congress, that notwithstanding nothing bul slavery ought more to be deprecated than hostilities with Great Britain, notwithstanding the province has not the most distant design of attacking, annoying, or molesting his majesty's troops, afore- said, but, on the other hand, will consider and treat ever) attempt of the kind, as well as all measures tending to prevent a reconciliation be- tween (ireat Britain and the colonies as the highest degree of enmity to the province, nevertheless, there is great reason, from the considera- tions aforesaid, to be apprehensive of the most fatal consequences ; and that the province may be in some degree provided against the same, and under lull persuasion that the measures expressed in the fol- lowing resolves are perfectly consistent with such resolves of the Con- tinental Congress as have been communicated to us, it is Resolvxl, and hereby recommended to the several companies of mili- tia in tin- proi nice, who have not already chosen and appointed officers, that they meet forthwith, and elect officers to command their respective companies; and that the officers so chosen assemble as soon as may be; and where the said officers shall judge the limits of the presenl regiments too extensive that they divide them, and settle and d< termine their limits, and proceed to elect field officers to command their respec- tive regiments |so formed ;|| and thai the field officers, so elected, forth- with endeavor to enlist one quarter, at least, of the number of the re- spective companies, and form them into companies of tiftv privates, at the least, who shall equip and hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice; and that each and ever] company, so formed, choose a captain and two lieutenants to command them on any neces- sary and emergent service, and that the said captains and subalterns, SO elected, form the said companies into battalion-, to COnsisI of nine companies each, and that the captains and subalterns of each battalion. 48 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Nov. 23, so formed, proceed to elect field officers to command the same. And the Congress doth most earnestly recommend that all the aforesaid elections be proceeded in and made with due deliberation and ||a|| gen- erous regard to the public service. Also Resolved, That the security of the lives, liberties, and proper- ties 01 the inhabitants of this province depends, under Providence, on their knowledge and skill in the art military, and in their being proper- ly and effectually armed and equipped ; if any of said inhabitants are not provided with arms and ammunition, according to law, that they immediately provide themselves therewith, and that they use their ut- most diligence to perfect themselves in military skill; and that if any town or district within the province is not provided with the full town stock of arms and ammunition, according to law, the selectmen of such town or district take effectual care, without delay, to provide the same. The committee on the state of the province, reported a resolve rela- tive to the removal of the inhabitants of the town of Boston. After the same was read and some debate had thereon, the question (upon a motion made) was put, whether the matter now subside, and it passed in the affirmative. Resolved, As the opinion of this Congress, that Cambridge is the most eligible place for the committee of safety, at present, to sit in. Resolved, That two gentlemen be added to the committee of safety. Ordered, That Col. Prescot, Doct. Holten, and Mr. Gill, be a com- mittee to count and sort the votes for two gentlemen to be added to the committee of safety. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes. After count- ing and sorting the same, the committee reported that Mr. Pigeon and Capt. Heath were chosen. Resolved, That the extract of the resolves, relative to the militia, which passed this day be printed, and a copy thereof sent to all the towns and districts in this province. The Congress adjourned till the 23d day of November next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then to meet in this place. Wednesday, November 23, 1774, A. M. The Congress met according to adjournment, and then adjourned till half past two o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. The Congress being apprehensive that the Hon. Walter Spooner, Esq.j had not received the resolve passed by them, inviting the mem- 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 49 ben of In- majesty's constitutional council to attend the Congress on this day, Resolved thai he be again wrote to, desiring his attendance here immediately, and that a messenger be despatched therewith with- out dela\ Resolved, Thai the gentlemen who were members of the late Conti- nental, and are of this Provincial Congress, be joined to the committee «m the state of the province. 1 Resolved, That John Adam-, Esq., be desired to favor this Congress with Ins presence, as soon as may be. Resolved, That Robert Treat Paine, Esq., be desired to attend this Congress, as soon as possible. Then the Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Thursday, November 24, 1774, A. M. Resolved, That the chairman of the committee from this province who were members of the continental Congress, be desired to report the proceedings of said Congress. Ordered, That Capt. Gardner, Col. Presrot, and Doct. Holten, be a committee to wail on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and desire that he would officiate as chaplain to this Congress, during their session in this town. The committee waited on the Rev. Doct. Appleton accordingly, and reported thai they had delivered the message, and that the Doctor would officiate as chaplain, agreeably to the desire of the Con- gre - The chairman of the committer appointed by this province to meet in Continental Congres>, reported, that they had attended that service; that the Congress had taken into consideration the state of the colo ni'-, [and] that he had a journal of their whole proceedings, which he would lay on the table. 2 [\i. «>/>•< the Continental Congress, which conve I at Philadelphia, September 5th, and was dissolved October 96, 1774. These gentlemen, with the exception of James Bowdoin, were retained as members of the Provinci >l Congri 9 The journal of the proi dings of the Continental Congress was printed immediate]] tin- dissolution of that body, in October, 1774, b] William and Th as Bradford, al Philadelphia, in an octavo p.unpulot of 139 pa 50 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Nov. 25, sociation, as stated by the Continental Congress, be committed. 1 The same was accordingly committed to the Hon. Major Hawley, Hon. Mr. Dexter, Doct. Warren, Col. Lee, Mr. Gerry, Col. Warren, and Doct. Church, who are to consider thereof and report. Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. The petition from the officers of the minute men, in the northwest part of the county of Worcester, [was] read and committed to the com- mittee on the state of the province. 2 Ordered, That the committee appointed to sit in the recess to pre- pare a plan for the defence and safety of the government, be directed to sit forthwith. Ordered, That the committee appointed to publish the names of the mandamus counsellors, and others, now in the town of Boston, be di- rected to sit forthwith and prepare a report. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Friday, November 25, 1774, A. M. Ordered, That Doct. Holten, Col. Foster, and Col. Roberson, be a committee to inquire what number of the constitutional counsellors are now in town. Resolved, That the members from the town of Worcester apply to Col. Chandler, and receive from him the bayonets he has in his hands and is now ready to deliver ; 3 and inquire what sum or sums of money have been paid to him by the treasurer, for the purpose of procuring bayonets ; how many were procured by him, and to whom they were delivered, and the state of his account relative to the money by him received for the purpose aforesaid. Ordered, That a copy of this resolve be given to the members afore- said. Resolved, That Doct. Holten, Col. Foster, Col. Roberson, Capt. Baldwin, and Mr. dishing, be a committee to wait on such gentlemen of his majesty's constitutional council of this province, who are now in town at the request of this Congress, and acquaint them that this (1) The declaration of rights and statement of grievances, wore adopted by the Continental Con- 11 "'xt M, 177-1 : the |d:iti of mi nssocinl ion for carrying into effect the Don Consumption, non importation ( and non exportation agreement*, having In in repotted and considered, was ac- cepted and subscribed hy I he meinlii >is, October 20, 1771. (9) The militia of Worcester county requested that the Congress would establish the military drill called tie .Yorfolk eierciic, instead of that system prescribed for the discipline of his majes- ty's troops in 1764. (3) About ono hundred bayonets were in the keeping of Col. Chandler. 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. ,1 ( \ ingress respectfully ;ic knowledge their cheerful attendance, !>ut will nut be ready to offer anv matter- for their advice, until a quorum of that honorable l'<>arhall appear, and which i- -uuii expected ; and thai in the mean tune a seal i- provided for them in this bouse, if thej shall Bee can-.' to he pre-ent. Resohed, That it he the rule of this Congress at present, that the] -ii m the forepart of the day, and thai they adjourn over the afternoon, in order to give tune for the committees tO -it and perfect the huHie with which thej arc severally charged. Ordered, That Col. Thomas, ('apt. Gardner, and Mr Watson, he a committee to inquire whether a more convenient place than that in which the ( loogresl now -it<, can he procured for them to meet in. Resohed, Thai every member of tin- Congress be enjoined to give constant attendance during the session thereof; and in case any should be under a necessity of absence, that they signify the same to the Cou- L r n iss, in order to their obtaining leave to withdraw. Adjourned till ten o clock to-morrow morning. Saturday, November 2G, 1774, A. M. The committee appointed to wait on the members of bis majesty's council now in town, reported, that they had attended that service ; had seen the lion. Mr. Cushing, and the Hon. Mr. Seaver, and had deliv- ered to them the message with which they were charged; they being the only members in town. Ordered, That the same committee wait on the other gentlemen of In- majesty's council, invited by tin- Congress to attend here, as they come into town, and inform them of the resolve of tin- ConffTi 36 Ordered, That ('apt. Heath, Mr. Adams, Col. Doolittle, Col. Pome- roy, and Hon. Mr. Dexter, be a committee to devise some means of keeping up a correspondence between this province, Montreal and Quebec, and of gaining very frequent intelligence from thence of their ino\ ementa The committee appointed yesterday to see if some more convenient place could he procured for the Congress, than that in which thev now Bit, reported, thai the new chapel can be had, and that it i> the mosl convenient place that they can obtain. Ordered, That this matter now subside. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Hon Major Hawley, and the Hon. Mr Cushing, be a committee to draw the form of an order with respeel to the treasurer's giving bonds, and report. Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Adams, Hon. Mr. Cushing. and 52 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Nov. 28, Doct. Church, be added to the committee appointed to publish the names of the mandamus counsellors, and others, now in Boston. Adjourned till Monday morning, ten o'clock. Monday, November 28, 1774, A. M. Ordered, That Mr. Palmer, Mr. Cushing, Col. Gerish, Mr. Bigelow, Major Fuller, Mr. Pickering, and Col. Pomeroy, be a committee to take into consideration the state of the manufactures, and how they may be improved in this province. ||Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Tuesday, November 29, 1774, A. M. Ordered, That Col. Henshaw, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Gorham, Mr. Lothrop, and Mr. Pigeon, be a committee to make as just an estimate as may be of the loss and damage of every kind || a accrued|| to the province by the operation of the Boston port bill and the act for altering the civil government, from their commencement to this time. Ordered, That Doct. Foster, Mr. Gorham, and Col. Orne, be a com- mittee to state the amount of the sums which have been extorted from us since the year 1763, by the operation of certain acts of the British parliament. Resolved, That a messenger be despatched to the town of Salem, in order to gain what intelligence can be had by the last vessels from Lon- don, and that the messenger bring with him the Essex paper to this Congress ; and that Mr. Bigelow be desired to take upon him the above service. Resolved, That Mr. Devens be desired to go to Boston and inquire what advice came by the last vessels from London. Resolved, That when this Congress shall adjourn, that it be adjourn- ed to three o'clock this afternoon, || b which was then adjourned ac- cordingly. || Afternoon. Mr. Devens reported that, in obedience to the order of the Con- gress, he had been to the town of Boston ; that the letters from Lon- don by the last ships had not come to hand ; that Doct. Church was in Boston, and would bring them to the Congress as soon as they should arrive. Resolved, That to-morrow, at eleven o'clock, the Congress will take into consideration the expediency of appointing members to attend a a ||occasioned.l| b ||Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. || 1774.] FIRST PROVEN l \l. CONGRESS Continental Congress, to !><• beld at Philadelphia, agreeably to the re- commendation of the lasl Continental Congress. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning W'kiinksday, November 30, 177 1, A. ML The order of the da] was moved for. The expediencj of appointing members to attend a Continental ( "i »n l.ti ■-- . was considered : Thereupon, Resolved, unanimously, as the opinion of this body, that members be appointed to attend a Continental Congress, proposed to be beld al Philadelphia, on the tenth daj of Ma) next, agreeabl] to the recom- mendation <>t" the late Continental Congress. Resolved, Thai five members be appointed. Resolved, Thai to-morrow, at three o'clock in the afternoon, be as- signed to come to the choice of delegates to attend the- Continental ( Songress, proposed to be held at Philadelphia, on the 10th day of May oext, Ordered, That the Hon. Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Sullivan, and Doct. Foster, bring in a resolve expressing the thanks of this body to the other colonies, for their generous donations to the inhabitants of the town of Boston, now laboring under the oppression of ceil iin acts of the British parliament. \\Resolved, That the same committee prepare a brief, to !><• cir- culated throughout the several town- in tins province, to promote donations tor the persons suffering, in the town- of Boston and Charlestown, under the operation of certain act- of the British par- liament Adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. Resolved, That the letters from Doct. Franklin to Mr. Cushinu, which have been now read, he committed to the provincial committee of correspondence. 1 ||Then the Congress 1 1 adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. i i Ire 1 bj Doct. Franklin to tlie Hon. Thomu Cashing, bearing d D 9, I77 4 . 1 , January 5, March 9, April :i, Maj 6, June 9, J»n.- I, Jul) 7. Jul] 95, logusl I bei 19, November I, 1773 I nuarj 5, 1774; have been published in the ci of the writing* of the patriot and philosopher. \- noi 1° the commi - preserved b] the • kiln's writings, correspond with the ti whon those mentioned in I Bre laid be- is probable that the letters entrusted t" the committ bare perished with the other papers on theii Bli i. 54 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 1, Thursday, December 1, 1774, A. M. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve expressing the thanks of this body to the other colonies, for their generous donations to the inhabitants of the town of Boston, reported. The report was recom- mitted for amendments. The same committee reported a brief to be circulated through the several towns, to promote donations to the towns of Boston and Charles- town ; also recommitted for amendments. The committee appointed to take into consideration the state of rights, the state of grievances, and the association, as stated by the Continental Congress, reported. The report was then taken into con- sideration, [and] the further consideration thereof [was] referred to three o'clock this afternoon. \\Rcsolvcd, That the choice of delegates, which was to have been at three o'clock this afternoon, be deferred till three o'clock to-morrow afternoon. 1 1 ||Then adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon. || Afternoon. The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the com- mittee, agreeably to their resolve in the forenoon ; after some debate thereon, it was ordered to be recommitted for an amendment. The resolve expressing the thanks of this body to the other colonies, for their donations to the town of Boston, &c, as amended, was read and accepted, and is as followeth : Whereas, by the rigorous operation of the Boston Port Bill, the metropolis of this province, and the neighboring town of Charlestown, have been brought into the most distressful state, many of the inhabit- ants being deprived of the means of procuring their subsistence, and reduced to the cruel alternative of quitting their habitations, or of per- ishing in tliem by famine, if they had not been supported by the free and generous contributions of our sister colonies, even from the re- motest |>;irt of this continent : Resolved, That the grateful acknowledgments of this Congress be returned to the several colonies, for having so deeply interested them- selves in behalf of said towns, under their present sufferings in the common cause ; and that the Congress consider these donations, not merelv as unexampled acts of benevolence to this province in general, which baa also greatly Buffered, and of charity to those towns in par- ticular, but as convincing proofs of the firm attachment of all the colo- nies to the glorious cause of American liberty, and of their fixed de- L774] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. t tTiimiaf i< >n in support tlicm in the noble -land the) arc now making for the liberties of themselves ind of all America. The committee appointed to prepare a brief, reported their draught, amended: Ordered, to !><• recommitted lor a revision, and fox such further amendments as thej shall think pr< >[i\ mandamus ; ami in case he Bhould be refused such list, he i- desired to take with him a aotarj public, and in In- presence again desire t ) 1 « - same and tender the secretary In- fee. Thru I adjourned till to-morrow murium:, ten o'clock. Friday. December 2, 177 1, \. M. The doorkeeper [was] directed to call in the members, and iii call nmie out till the further order of this Congress. The committee on the state of the province reported. The report [was] taken into consideration. Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be referred till four o'clock this afternoon. 1 1*| | Afternoon. The order of the day [was] moved for. Ordered, That Doct. Holten, ('apt. dishing, ami Duct. Church, he a committee to sort and count the votes for five members to be chosen to represent this province at an American Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, at or before the tenth daj of Maj next. The Congress then proceeded to biing io their vote- for \\\r gentle- men to be delegated for the purpose aforesaid. The committee hav- ing counted and sorted the same, reported that the Hon. John Han- cock, Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq., -Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, ami Robert Treat Paine, Esquires, were chosen. The consideration of the report of the committee made in the fore- noon, [was] resumed: sometime [was] -pent thereon, then, ordered, that the further consideration thereof be referred till nine o'clock to-mor- row morning. Ordered, That the vote which passed yesterday, expressing the thanks of this body to the other colonies for their donations made to the towns of Boston and Charleston n, he published in all the Boston newspapers ; and that it he attested by the president Resolved, That the committee appointed to publish the name- of the mandamus counsellors who have been .-worn ami bare not resigned. n ||To which time tl ndi adjoumed.|| 56 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 3, be desired to send a messenger to Mr. Hall, printer, in Salem, and in- quire of him whether he hath a list of the counsellors appointed by mandamus, which he received from the secretary's office ; and if he hath a list so received, to desire him to favor this Congress therewith. The report of the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of rights, the state of grievances, and the association, as sta- ted by the Continental Congress, being amended, was read, and a con- sideration thereof went into. Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be referred till to- morrow morning, ten o'clock. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morn- ing. Saturday, December 3, 1774, A. M. The Congress then went into the consideration of the report of the committee on the state of the province, agreeably to their order of yes- terday. After a long debate thereon, it was ordered to lie on the ta- ble, and that the committee have leave to sit again. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till Monday next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon. Monday, December 5, 1774, A. M. Ordered, That Doct. Winthrop, Mr. Sullivan, Mr Pickering, Mr. Bridge, and Mr. Cheever, be a committee to prepare an address to the clergy of this province, desiring them to exhort their people to carry into execution the resolves of the Continental Congress. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the com- mittee appointed to take into consideration the state of rights, state of grievances, and the association, as stated by the Continental Congress, and it was accepted, and is as followeth : Resolved, That the proceedings of the American Continental Con- gress, held at Philadelphia on the fifth of September last, and reported by the honorable delegates from this colony, have, with the delibera- tion due to their high importance, been considered by us ; and the American bill of rights therein contained, appears to be formed with the greatest ability and judgment : to be founded on the immutable laws of nature and reason, the principles of the English constitution, and the respective charters and constitutions of the colonies ; and to be worthy of their most vigorous support, as essentially necessary to lib- erty : likewise the ruinous and iniquitous measures, which, in violation 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 51 of their rights, at present convulse and threaten destruction to Ameri- ca, || || appear to be clearly pointed out, and judicious plans adopted for defeating them. Resolved, That the most grateful acknowledgments are due to the trulv honorable and patriotic members of the Continental Congress, for their wise and ahle exertions in the cause of American liberty; and this Congress, in their own names, and in behalf of this colony, do hereby, with the utmost sincerity, express the same. Resolved, That the Hon. John Hancock, Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esqrs., Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine, K-'|i-v, <>r any three of them, be, and they hereby are appointed and authorized to represent tins colony on the tenth of May next, or sooner, if necessary, at the American Congress to-be held at Philadelphia, with full power, with the delegates from the other American colonies, to concert, direct, and order such further measures as shall to them appear to be best calculated for the recovery and establishment of American rights and liberties, and for restoring harmony between Great Britain and the colonies. And whereas, it is of the utmost importance that the salutary asso- ciation of the Continental Congress be effectually executed, and the plan- of toes to America defeated; who, aided by tyrannical power, in- tend to import goods, ware-, and merchandize prohibited by the as- sociation, which may clandestinely be vended, as goods imported be- fore the first of December in-tant, by assistance of such merchants and trader- as to tins intent shall basely prostitute themselves; and it will be extremely difficult to distinguish between goods imported be- fore the said first of December, and such as after said day shall, in vi- olation of the association, be imported and secretly dispersed through- out the colon] and whereas, it is expressly recommended by the Con- tinental Congress " to the Provincial Conventions, and to the commit- tee- in the respective colonies, to establish mch further regulations as they may think proper, for carrying into execution the association;" Resolved, That from and after the tenth day of October next, it will be indispensabl] necessary, thai all goods, wares, or merchandize, di- rectly or indirectly imported from Great Britain or Ireland; molasses, syrups, panel,-, coffee, or pimento, from the British plantations, or from Dominica: wines from Madeira or the Western l-lands, and for- eign indigo, Bhould cease to he -old or purchased in this colony, not- withstanding thej shall have been imported before the first of Decem- ber aforesaid, unless the acts and parts of acts of parliament, (partic- a Himl. 8 58 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 5, ularly enumerated in a paragraph of the American Congress's Associa- tion, subsequent to the fourteenth article,) shall be then repealed : and it is hereby strongly recommended to the inhabitants of the towns and districts in this colony, that from and after the said tenth of Octo- ber, they cease to sell or purchase, and prevent from being exposed to sale within their respective limits, any goods, wares, or merchandize, &c, above enumerated, which shall at any time have been imported into America, whether before or after the first of December aforesaid, unless said acts of parliament shall then be repealed. And it is like- wise strongly recommended to the committee of inspection, (which ought immediately to be chosen, agreeably to the said association, by each town and district in the colony not having already appointed such committees,) that they exert themselves in causing the association, as thereby directed, to be || a strictly|| executed ; and that after the said tenth day of October, (unless the acts of parliament aforesaid are re- pealed,) they apply to all the merchants and traders in their respective towns and districts, and take a full inventory of all goods, wares, and merchandize aforesaid in their possession, whether they shall have been imported before or after the first of December aforesaid, requir- ing them to offer no more for sale, until said acts || b || shall be repealed. And if any merchants, traders, or others, shall refuse to have an in- ventory taken, or shall offer for sale after the said tenth of October, any such goods, wares, or merchandize, it is expressly recommended to the committees aforesaid, that they take the goods into their posses- sion, to be stored at the risk of the proper owners, until the repeal of the acts aforesaid, and publish the names of such refractory merchants, traders, or purchasers, that they may meet with the merits of enemies to their country. And the towns and districts throughout the prov- ince are also advised that they by no means fail vigorously to assist and support their committees in discharging this as well as other du- ties of their offices, and to cause this resolution to be executed by ev- ery measure which they sh;ill think necessary. Jit mlml, That John Adams, Esq. be joined to the committee on the state of the province. Rc^iilriil, Thai t he above report made by the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of rights, &c, as reported by the Continental Con^n-.-.-, be published in all the newspapers in the prov- ince, and that it he signed by the president and attested by the secre- tary ; and also, that copies thereof be sent to all the towns and districts in the province. a ||fully.|| b ||of purliumont.|| 1774.] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS Resolved, That the vote relating to a brief be reconsidered, and that it be in order to be revised. ||Then the Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Ti i boat, December 6, 17? 1, A. M. The committee appointed to take hum consideration the stale of the manufactures in i In- province, reported ; the report was recommitted for -'Hue additions. The committee appointed t" devise means of keeping up a corres- pondence between this province, Montreal and Quebec, and of gain- ing frequent intelligence from thence of their movements, reported, that a committee !>'• appointed to correspond with the inhabitants of Canada. Accordingly, 1 1 1<- Hon. Major Hawley, Col. Pomeroy, -Mr. Broun, Mr Samuel Adams, Doct Warren, Hon. Mr. Hancock, and Doct Church, wire appointed a committee for thai purpose. The committee appointed to prepare a brief to be circulated through the several towns in this pros ince, to promote donations for the per- Bons suffering in the towns of Boston and Charlestown, under the op- eration of certain acts of the British parliament, having amended the same, reported : the report was read and accepted, and is as follow eth : The operation of the cruel and iniquitous Boston port bill, thai in- strument of ministerial vengeance, having reduced our once bappy capital and the neighboring town of Charlestown, from affluence and e to extreme distress; manj of their inhabitants being deprived of even the means of procuring the nece-saries of life; from all which they have most aoblj refused to purchase an exemption, l>\ surrender- ing the rights of American-: and although the charitable donation- from the other colonic- and se\eral towns in this province, have, in a ■ I measure, relieved their immediate necessities, while their appro- bation has animated them to persevere in patient Buffeting lor the pub- lic good, set a- the severity of winter i- now approaching, which niu-t add greatlj to their misery ; and there has Keen no general collection for them m thi- colony, we hold ourselves obliged, in justice, to con- tribute to their support : while they, under such n weight of oppre» -ion, are supporting our riirht s and privileg. It is therefore Resohed t Thai it be recommended be our constitu- ents, the inhabitant- of the other town-, districts, and parishes, within tin- province, that thej further contribute liberallj to alleviate the bur- den of those person-, who are the mote immediate objects of ministe- rial resentment, and are Buffering in the common cause of then oeun- tr\ seriously considering how much the liberty, and consequently the 60 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 6, happiness, of ourselves and posterity depend, under God, on the firm- ness and resolution of those worthy patriots. And it is Ordered, That Doct. Foster, Mr. Devens, and Mr. Chee- ver, be a committee to transmit printed copies of the above resolve to the ministers of the gospel in the several towns, districts, and parishes, in this province, who are desired to read the same to their several con- gregations, in order that their contributions of such necessaries of life as they can spare, may be forwarded as soon as possible. The committee appointed to prepare an address to the clergy, hav- ing amended the same, again reported ; the report was read and ac- cepted, and ordered that copies thereof be sent to all the ministers of the gospel in the province ; || which || is as followeth : Reverend Sirs: — When we contemplate the friendship and assist- ance our ancestors, the first settlers of this province, (while over- whelmed with distress) received from the pious pastors of the churches of Christ, who, to enjoy the rights of conscience, fled with them into this land, then a savage wilderness, we find ourselves filled with the most grateful sensations. And we cannot but acknowledge the good- ness of heaven in constantly supplying us with preachers of the gos- pel, whose concern has been the temporal and spiritual happiness of this people. In a day like this, when all the friends of civil and religious liberty are exerting themselves to deliver this country from its present calami- ties, we cannot but place great hopes in an order of men who have ever distinguished themselves in their country's cause; and do there- fore recommend to the ministers of the gospel in the several towns and other places in this colony, that they assist us in avoiding that dreadful slavery with which we are now threatened, by advising the people of their several congregations, as they wish their prosperity, to abide by, and strictly adhere to, the resolutions of the Continental Congress, as the most peaceable and probable method of preventing confusion and bloodshed, and of restoring that harmony between Great Britain and these colonies, on which we wish might be estab- lished, not only the rights and liberties of America, but the opulence and lasting happiness of the whole British empire. Resolved, That the foregoing address be presented to all the minis- ters of the gospel in the province. |jThe Congress then|| adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. Afternoon. Resolved, That the names of the following persons be published re- peatedly, they having been appointed counsellors of this province by 1771.) FIRST PRO\ [NC1AL ( <>\(ii:i'.ss ,\\ mandamus, and have aol published a renunciation of their comrnis- Bion, \i/. : Thomas Plucker, Poster Hutchinson, Harrison Gray, Wil- liam Browne, James Bouteneau, Joshua Loring, William Pepperrell, John Erving, Jr., Peter Oliver, Richard Lechmere, .l<>-iali Bdson, N - thanie] Kay Thomas, Timoth] Ruggles, John Murray, and Daniel l.i onard, Esquires. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Wednesday, l December 7, 177 1. \. M. Ordered, That Capt. Barrett. Mr. Bridge, and Major Fuller, be a committee to colled the several expenses thai have accrued to the Congress in this and the former b< ssiou tin rent', and thej are dm to -it forthvt ith. Ordered, Thai Mr. Sullivan, Doct. Holten, Mr. Palmer, Col. Lee, and tin- Hon. Col. Ward, be a committee to take into consideration and determine what recompense the delegates, who, from tin- province attended the Continental Congress ;ii Philadelphia, in September last, .shall be allowed lbr their services and expenses. Ordered, That Col. Orne, Hon. Mr. Cushing, and Hon. Major Haw- lev, be a committee to hring in a resolve, directing the Hon. James Russell, Esq., imposl officer, to paj the moneys now m his hand- to Henry Gardner, Esq., 'and no1 to Harrison Gray, Esq.;|| the commit- tee are directed to -it immediatel \ . Ordered, Thai John Adam-, Esq., Mr. Samuel Adam-, and Col. Danielson, be a committee to bring in a resolve, relative to the taking the number of inhabitants, and the quantity of exports and imports of merchandize and of the manufactures of all kind- in this colony; and the committee was directed to sil immediately. The ||above|| commit- tee having attended thai service, reported as followeth, viz: Resolved, That a committee be appointed, consisting of one gentle- man from each county, and our from each maritime town of this Col- ony, to prepare from the best authentic evidence winch can be pro- cured, a true state of the number of the inhabitants, and of the quan- tities of export- and import- of Mood-, wan-, and merchandize, and of the manufactures of all kind-, within the colony, [to] be used |.\ our delegates ||"at|] the Continental Congress, to be held at Phila- delphia, on or before the tenth day of May next, as they shall think proper \ml the members of this committee lor each count] be nom- inated In the members of this Congress for said county, and the mem- a ll.n. 62 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 8, ber for each maritime town be nominated by the representatives of such town. Ordered, That the several counties be ready to report their nomina- tions at three o'clock this afternoon. Resolved, That Mr. Sullivan be desired to forward to the Hon. Jede- diah Preble, Esq., a resolve of this Congress appointing him a general officer.|| a || Afternoon. The several counties and maritime towns nominated their members for the committee according to the resolve in the forenoon, who were accepted by the Congress, and are as follow, viz : County of Suffolk, Mr. Palmer; Boston, Doct. Warren; Essex, Col. Gerrish ; Lynn, Capt. Mansfield ; Marblehead, Col. Orne ; Salem, Hon. Mr. Derby; Beverly, Capt. Batchelder ; Manchester, Mr. Wood- bury ; Gloucester, Capt. Coffin ; Ipswich, Capt. Farley ; Netvburyport, Capt. Greenleaf; Haverhill, Samuel White, Esq.; Danvers, Doct. Holten ; Middlesex, Col. Prescot ; Charlestown, Mr. Gorham ; Med- ford, Mr. Hall ; Hampshire, Hon. Major Hawley ; Plymouth, Doct. Perkins ; Town of Plymouth, Mr. Lothrop : Kingston, Col. Thomas ; Duxbury, Mr. Partridge; Scituate, Nathan dishing, Esq.; Barnsta- ble, Daniel Davis, Esq. ; Sandwich, Capt. Nye ; Eastham, Mr. Hol- brook; Bristol, Doct. Cobb; Dartmouth, Benjamin Aiken, Esq. ; Frcetoicn, Mr. Durfee ; York, Mr. Sullivan : Kittery, Charles Chaun- cy, Esq. ; l [Wells, Mr. Ebenezer Sayer ; Dukes County, Joseph May- hew, Esq. ; Tisbury, Mr. Ranford Smith ; Worcester, Jedediah Fos- ter, Esq. ; Cumberland, Enoch Freeman, Esq.; Scarborough, Mr. Samuel March; North Yarmouth, Mr. John Lewis; Harpsirell, Mr. Samuel Thompson ; Berkshire, Jolin Fellows, Esq. ; Lincoln, Mr. Langdon.j [Thursday, December, 8, 1774, A. M.] [The report of the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the manufactures of the province being amended, was read, accepted, and i- ;i- follows :] [As the happiness of particular families arises in a great degree, from theil being more or less dependent upon others; and as the less occasion they have for any article belonging to others, the more inde- pendent, and consequently the happier they are; so the happiness of a ||Adjourned t<> tbr< 'clock this afternoon. || (1) A leaf has, unhappily, beeD lost from the original journal of the Provincial Congress. The defective list of members of the committee In- been partiallv restored from the fragment of a memorandum in the band yniting of ll<>n. Jedediah Poster. The report, to the fourth resolution, i* supplied from the Mi« Congress, which must be productive of the greatest good, will by them be effectually carried into execution, and it is therefore Resolved:] 1st. That we do recommend to the people the improvement of their breed of sheep, and the greatest possible increase of the same; and also the preferable use of our own woollen manufactures : and to man- ufacturers that the] ask only 'reasonable price- for their goods; and especially a very careful sorting of the wool, «i that it may be manu- factured to the greatest advantage, and as much as ma] he into the besl g Is.] [2d. We do also recommend to the people the raising of hemp and Sax; and as large quantities of flaxseed, more than may be wanted for sowing, ma\ he produced, ue would also farther recommend the man- ufacturing the same into oil.] [3d. We do likewise recommend the making of nails, which we ap- prehend must meet with the strongest encouragement from the public, and be of lasting benefit both to the manufacturer and the public] Ith. The making of steel, and the preferable use of the same, we do also recommend to the inhabitants of this colony. 5th. We do in like manner recommend the making tin plate, as an article well worth th< itt< ntion of thi< people. 6th. As fire arms have been manufactured in several parts of this colony, we do recommend the use of such in preference to any import- ed; and we do recommend the making gun-locks, and furniture, and other lock-, with other article- m the iron way. 7th We do also earnestly recommend the making of saltpetn 64 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 8, an article of vast importance, to be encouraged as may be directed hereafter. 8th. That gun powder is also an article of such importance, that every man among us who loves his country, must wish the establishment of manufactories for that purpose ; and as there are the ruins of several powder mills, and sundry persons among us who are acquainted with that business, we do heartily recommend its encouragement by repair- ing one or more of said mills, or erecting others, and renewing said business as soon as possible. 9th. That as several paper mills are now usefully employed, we do likewise recommend a preferable use of our own manufactures in this way ; and a careful saving and collecting of rags, &c. And, also, that the manufacturers give a generous price for such rags, &,c. 10th. That it will be the interest as well as the duty of this body, or of such as may succeed us, to make such effectual provision for the further manufacturing of the several sorts of glass, as that the same may be carried on to the mutual benefit of the undertaker and the public, and firmly established in this colony. 11th. Whereas buttons, of excellent qualities, and of various sorts, are manufactured among us, we do earnestly recommend the general use of the same, so that the manufactories may be extended to the ad- vantage of the people and the manufacturers. 12th. And whereas salt is an article of vast consumption within this colony, and in its fisheries, we do heartily recommend the making the same in the several ways wherein it is made in several parts of Europe, especially in the method used in that part of France where they make bay salt. 13th. We do likewise recommend an encouragement of horn smiths in all their various branches, as what will be of public utility. 14th. We do also recommend the establishment of one or more manufactories for making wool-combers' combs, as an article necessa- ry in our woollen manufactures. 15th. We do in like manner heartily recommend the preferable use of the stockings and other hosier] |'wove|| among ourselves, so as to enlarge the manufactories thereof, in Buch a manner as to encourage the manufacturers and serve the country. 16th, As madder is an article of irn-at importance in the dyer's busi- ness, and which may be easily raised and cured among ourselves, we do therefore earnest!] recommend the raising and curing the same. 1774] FIRST PR<>\ INd VI. << >\<;ri;ss. 17th. In order the more effectually to carry these resolutions into effect, we do earnestl] recommend thai a societj or societies be estab- lished for the purposes of introducing and establishing rach arte and manufactures ae ma) be useful to tin- people, and are aol yet introduc- ed, and the more effectuall] establishing Buch as we already have among us. I -in We do recommend to the inhabitants of this province to make use of mir iiwn manufactures, and those of our Bister colonies, in pre- ference to all other manufactures. I icrnooD. The order of the day was moved t<»r. /,' olved, Thai Doct. Church, Mr. Wheeler, and Doct. Holten, be a committee to count and -<>rt the votes for two general officers, and that the Congress vote for the officers separately. The Congress thru proceeded to bring in their votes for a general officer; the committee having sorted and counted the same, reported that Col. Thomas was chosen. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for one other general officer ; the committee having counted and sorted the same, reported that Col. William Heath was chosen. IITlifii the Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Friday, December '.». 177 1, \. M. The committee appointed to inquire into the siitliciencv of the bond- men procured by the receiver general, reported that the) bad attended [to] thai service, and that the gentlemen he had engaged as ln~ 'bond- men were m their opinion ;i \er\ ample security for the sum men- tioned. Ordered, Thai .Mr. Sullivan, Mi. Pickering, and Mr. Sayer, be a committee to bring in a resolve relating to an address from the Baptists to tin:- ( 'onffresa Ordered, [That] the report of the committee relative to the public moneys, now in the hands of the constables and others, which was or- dered to lie on the table, be qow taken up; winch was taken up ac- cordingly, and passed, and i- as followeth, viz : Whereas, this Congress, at their session in October last, taking into con-id, -ration the alarming state of this colony, were, upon the most mature deliberation, fully com need, that to provide against the danger to which it was then exposed by a standing army illegally posted in Boston, and from time to time reinforced for the purposes of subvert- ing our ancienl constitution and the libertii a of all North America, u a ||iecurity were amp!) iaffici< 66 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 9, was indispensably necessary that a considerable sum of money should be immediately laid out for the just defence of this people ; and where- as, by a resolve of the Congress, bearing date the 28th of said Octo- ber, and published in the newspapers, it was, among other things, ear- nestly recommended to the several towns and districts, that they would cause to be paid into the hands of Henry Gardner, Esq., all the pro- vince moneys due from them respectively, to supply the said pressing exigencies of the colony ; and whereas, the danger || a which|| then threatened the province is still continued and daily increasing : It is Resolved, and hereby most earnestly recommended to all the inhabitants of the towns and districts aforesaid, as they regard their own safety and the preservation of their inestimable rights and liberties, that they cause the moneys aforesaid to be paid forthwith to the said Henry Gardner, Esq., who has given bonds with sufficient sureties, to the satisfaction of this Congress ; and that they cause their respective proportion of the tax granted by the general court in June last, and all other the province moneys due from them respectively, to be supplied in some way that shall be more expeditious than the usual mode of collecting the taxes, in order to prevent any delay in provid- ing against the imminent dangers above mentioned. And the members of the Congress are hereby desired to || b use|| their utmost industry for having this resolve speedily and punctually complied with ; and the sheriffs and deputy sheriffs of the several counties, to pay the province moneys in their respective hands as has been already recommended. Ordered, That Col. Orne, Mr. Pickering, and Col. dishing, be a committee to bring in a resolve purporting the sense of this Congress of the Continental Congress's association, as now voted, relative to goods, wares, and merchandize, landed in England and Ireland, as well as those which are manufactured in England and Ireland ; who report- ed as followeth ; which was read and accepted, and ordered to be sent to the committee at Marblehead, and published in the newspapers: "Resolved, That it is the clear opinion of this Congress, that the first article in the association of the Continental Congress, extends to all goods, wares, and merchandize, of the growth, production, or manu- facture, of any part of Europe, or any other part of the world, import- ed from Great Britum or Ireland, in case they have been entered and cleared in any part of either of those kingdoms, :i- fully as to goods, wares, and merchandize, of the growth, production and manufacture of Great Britain or Ireland, and that the said first article ought to be so a llthat.ll b ||cxert.|| 1774] FIRST PROVINCE \l. CONGRESS. 61 constraed by all concerned, and in that universal sense carried strict!] into execution Ordered, That Col. Heath, Col. Gerrish, Col. Gardner, Capt Fuller, Col. Thomas, Col. < >rn« ■ . and Col. Barnes, I"- a committee to take into consideration a plan of military exercise, proposed bj ('apt. Timo- thy Pickering. Ordered, Thai the petition of the officers in the northwesterlj part of the count] of Worcester, be committed to the same committee, ||to|| rep< Afternoon. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve, relative to the pe- tition of Rev. Mr. Backus, in behalf of the Baptists, reported; which was read and accepted, and the secretar] directed to send him a copy of the resolve, which [is] as followeth, viz : On reading the memorial of the Rev. Isaac Backus, agent to the Baptist churches in this government, Respited, That the establishment of civil and religious liberty, t<» each denomination in the province, is the sincere wish of this Congress; hut being by n<> mean- vested with powers of civil government, whereby they can redress the grievances of anj person whatsoever, they therefore reconimeml to the Baptist churches, that, when a general assemblj shall be convened in this colo- n\ . they laj the real griei ances of said churches before the same, w hen and where their petition will mosl certainlj meet with all that attention due to the memorial of a denomination of christians bo well disposed tn the public weal of their country. Ordered, That Mr. Stickney, Col. Gardner, Col. Pomeroy, Col. Thayer, and Mr. Wheeler, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and return him the thanks uf this Congress for his services a- chaplain during this session. Ordered, That .Major Fuller, Capt. Brown, and Mr. Pigeon, he a committee to wait on the proprietors of the meeting-house and return them the thanks of the Congress for the use thereof. The Congress then adjourned for half an hour. Being mel upon the adjournment, Mr. President brought into Con- gress a letter from the committee of correspondence of the town of HuriliriiL, with a number of papers enclosed, which were read ; the Congress then ordered that Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Pickering, Col. Gardner, Col. Mandell, and t !ol. Danielson, be a committee to take the same into consideration and report in the morning. ||Then the Congressll adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 68 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 10, Saturday, December 10, 1774, A. M. The committee ||appointed|| to take into consideration the letter and papers enclosed, received from the committee of correspondence of the town of Hardwick, reported ; which was read and accepted, and ordered to be published in the public papers, and also the papers on which the said report is founded. The report is as followeth, viz : Whereas, it appears to this Congress, that one or more members of the lately appointed unconstitutional council in this province, now re- siding in Boston, has sent to the town of Hardwick, a paper purport- ing [to be] an association to be entered into by those persons who falsely assume the name of friends to government j 1 calculated to coun- (1) The following is the form of the association, intended for the signature of the royalists, pre- pared, and sent hy the Hon. Timothy Ruggles to the town of Hardwick, where he had resided until his acceptance of the appointment of mandamus counsellor compelled him to seek refuge from pub- lic indignation in Boston: " We, the subscribers, being fully sensible of the blessings of good government on the one hand, and convinced, on the other hand, of the evils and calamities attending on tyranny in all shapes, whether exercised by one or many, and having lately seen, with great grief and concern, the distress- ing efforts for a dissolution of all government, whereby our lives, liberties, and properties, are ren- dered precarious, and no longer under the protection of the law : and apprehending it to be our in- dispensable duty, to use all lawful means in our power for the defence of our persons and property against all riotous and lawless violence and to recover, and secure the advantages which we are entitled to have, from the good and wholesome laws of the government, do hereby associate, and mutually covenant, and engage to and with each other, as follows, viz: "1. That we will, on all occasions, with our lives, and fortunes, stand by and assist each other in the defence of life, liberty, and property, whenever the same .-■ball be attacked or endangered by any bodies of men, riotously assembled, upon any pretence or under any authority not warranted by the laws of the land." "2. That we will, upon all occasions, mutually support each other in the free exercise and en- joyment of our undoubted right to liberty, in eating, drinking, Inlying, selling, communing and acting, what, with whom, and as we please, consistent witli the laws of God, and of the King." "3. That we will not acknowledge, or submit to the pretended authority of any Congresses, committees of correspondence, or other unconstitutional assemblies of men : but will, at the risk of onr lives, if need be, oppose the forcible exercise of all such authority." "4. That we will, to the utmost of our power, promote, encourage, and, when called to it, en- force obedience to the rightful authority of our most gracious sovereign, King George the Third, anil of bis laws." "5. That when the person or property of any one of us shall be invaded or threatened by any committees, mobs, or unlawful assemblies, the others of us, will, upon notice received, forth- with repair, properly armed, to the person whom, or place where Buch invasion or threatening shall be, and will, to the utmost of our power, defend such person and In- property, and, if need be, will oppose ami repel force with force." " 6. That if any one of us shall unjustly and unlawfully be injured in bis person or property, by any such assemblies as before mentioned, tin' others of us will, unitedly, demand, and, if in our pow- er, compel tle> offenders, if known, to make full reparation and satisfaction for such injury : and if all other means of security fail we will have recourse to the natural law of re( diation." "In witm -is of all which we hereto subscribe our names." \ as order of the • longress for the publication of these resolutions v\ as nol immediately execut- ed, a copy was sent bj the writer himself, to the printer of the Boston Evening Post, and inserted in that paper, December 36, 1774, with a letter from General Ruggles, in which he writ's thus: " As many of the people for tome time pasl have been arming themselves, it m ij no! be iss to let them know, that their number will not appear in tin' tir id so I .-noil before it was known that independence tcai in contemplation : since which, many have associated in divers parts of the province to preserve tlnir freedom and nupport government." 1774.] FIRST PRO\ l.\< I \l. < ONGRESS i the salutarj designs of the ( lontinental and Proi incial < !ongrei to deceive the people into agreements contrary t « ► tin- welfare of this country, and tending in its consequences to hinder an amicable accom- modation uuli our mother country, the Bole end of those Conj and the ardenl \\i-h of ever] friend to America : it is therefore recom- mended by tin- Congress to the several committees of correspondence in tlu-~ colony, thai thej give notice to the Provincial Congress, thai shall meet in this province on the firsl da] of Pebruarj next, and the earliesl notice t>> the public, of all Buch combinations, and of the per- sons signing the same, if any should be enticed thereto, thai t tuir names maj be published to the world, their persons treated with thai neglect, and their memories transmitted to posterity with that ignominy, which Buch unnatural conducl mus1 deserve. The committee on the state of the province reported an address to the inhabitants of Massachusetts Baj ; the r< | >< >rt was considered in paragraphs, and bo passed, and was ordered to be printed in all the Boston newspapers, and also in handbills, and a copj thereof Bent to all the towns and district- in the province, and is as followeth, \iz : Tit i In Freeholders and other Inhabitants of Ifo Towns and Districts of Massachusetts Say. I'imi \ i>- wii I'.i; i i in; i \ At a time when the good people of this colony were deprived of their laws, and the administration of justice, civil and criminal ; when the cruel oppressions brought on their capi- tal had stagnated almosl all their commerce; when a standing army illegally posted among us for the express purpose of enforcing -nl>- mission n> a system of tyranny ; and when the general courl was, with the same design, prohibited n> sil ; we were chosen and empowered by you to assemble and consull upon measures necessar] for our common safety and defence. W nli much anxiety for the common welfare, we have attended this service, and upon the coolest deliberation have adopted the measures immended to \ ou. Wehave -till confidence in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of our sovereign, as well as the integrity, humanity and good sense of the nation; and it" we had a reasonable expectation that the truth of fact- wonhl be made known in England, we should entertain the mosl pleas- ing hope- that the measures concerted bj the colonies joint!] and sev- erally, would procure a in 1 1 red re-- of our grievances ; l)i it we are con- strained in justice to you, to ourselves, and posterity, i" say, thai the incessant and unrelenting malice of our enemies has been bo suci 70 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 10. ful as to fill the court and kingdom of Great Britain with falsehoods and calumnies concerning us, and to excite the most bitter and ground- less prejudices against us ; that the sudden dissolution of parliament, and the hasty summons for a new election, gives us reason to appre- hend that a majority of the house of commons will be again elected under the influence of an arbitrary ministry ; and that the general tenor of our intelligence from Great Britain, with the frequent rein- forcements of the army and navy at Boston, excites the strongest jeal- ousy that the system of colony administration, so unfriendly to the protestant religion, and destructive of American liberty, is still to be pursued and attempted with force to be carried into execution. You are placed by Providence in [the] post of honor, because it is the post of danger : and while struggling for the noblest objects, the liber- ties of your country, the happiness of posterity, and [the] rights of hu- man nature, the eyes not only of North America and the whole British empire, but of all Europe, are upon you. Let us be therefore alto- gether solicitous, that no disorderly behavior, nothing unbecoming our characters as Americans, as citizens, and christians, be justly charge- able to us. Whoever, with a small degree of attention, contemplates the com- merce between Great Britain and America, will be convinced that a total stoppage thereof, will soon produce in Great Britain such danger- ous effects, as cannot fail to convince the ministry, the parliament, and people, that it is their interest and duty to grant us relief. Whoever considers the number of brave men inhabiting North America, will know, that a general attention to military discipline must so establish their rights and liberties, as, under God, to render it impossible for an arbitrary ministry of Britain to destroy them. These are facts which our enemies are apprized of, and if they will not be influenced by principles of justice, to alter their cruel measures towards America, these ought to lead them thereto. They, however, hope to effect by stratagem what they may not obtain by power, and are using arts, by the assistance of base scribblers, who undoubtedly receive their bribes, and by many other means, to raise doubts and divisions throughout the colonies. To defeat their || 'iniquitous]] designs, we think it necessary for each town t<> !>'■ particularly careful, strictly to execute the plans of the Con- tinental and Provincial Congresses; and while it censures its own in- dividuals, c-oiiiiteraetiug those plans, that it be not deceived or diverted from its duty by rumors, should any take place, to the prejudice ot M ||wicko[l.|| 1774.1 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 71 other communities Your Provincial Congresses, we have reason to hope, uill hold up the towns, it' an] should be bo losl as not to act their j > : i r t — . and none can doubt thai the Continental Congresses will rec- iit\ errors should anj take place in any colon] through the subtilty of arguments can be necessarj to excite vou to the most stricl adherence to the American association, since the mi« nutesl deviation in one colony, especially in this, will probabl] be mis- represented in tlic other.-. tD discourage their genera] zeal and perse- verance, which, however, we assure ourselves cannot be effected. While the British ministry are suffered with so high a hand to tyran- nize >>\rr America, m> part of it, we presume, can be negligent in guard- ing againsl the ravages threatened by the standing army now in Bos- ton; these troops will undoubtedl] be employed in attempts t<» d< the association, which <>ur enemies cannot but Tear will ev< ntuall] de- feat them; and so sanguinary are those <>ur enemies, as we have reason t<» think, bo thirsty for the blood of this innocent people, who are only contending for their rights, that we should be guilty of the most unpardonable neglect should we not apprize you of your danger, which appears to us imminently great, and oughl attentively to be guarded against. The improvement of the militia in general in the art military has been therefore thought necessary, and strongl] recom- mended bj this Congress. We n >w think thai particular care should iken by the towns and districts in this colony, that each of the minute men, not already provided therewith, should he immediately equipped with an effective tire arm, bayonet, pouch, knapsack, thirty rounds of cartridges and halls, ami that they be disciplined three times a week, ami oftener, a- opportunity ma] oiler. To encourage these, our worth] countrymen, to obtain the skill of complete soldiers, we recommend it to the towns ami districts forthwith to pa] their own minute men a reasonable consideration for their services : ami mease ->t' a genera] muster, their further services must he recompensed by the province. An attention to discipline the militia in general is,however, bj ii" means to he neglected. \\ ith the utmost cheerfulness we assure you of our determination to Stand or tall with the liberties <>t America: ami while we humbly im- plore the Sovereign Disposer of all things, to whose divine providence the rights of his creatures cannot he indifferent, to correel the errors, ami alter the measures of an infatuated ministry, we cannol doubt of hi- support even in the extreme difficulties winch we all ma\ have tO encounter. Ma\ all means devised for our safet] b] the General Con- gress "t America, ami assemblies or conventions of the colonies, be 72 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 10. resolutely executed, and happily succeeded ; and may this injured peo- ple be reinstated in the full exercise of their rights without the evils and devastations of a civil war. Ordered, That the members of the town of Boston, with the secre- tary, be a committee to revise the doings of this Congress, and cause such parts thereof, as they think fit should be published, to be printed in a pamphlet, and a copy thereof be sent to every town and district in this province. The report of the committee on the state of the province, relative to assuming civil government, [was] taken up, and ordered further to lie on ihe ta le. Ordered, That the members be enjoined to attend in the afternoon. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. The committee appointed to collect the several expenses which have accrued to the Congress in this and a former session thereof, reported ; which report was read and accepted, and the receiver general ordered to pay and discharge the several demands therein mentioned. Ordered, That the secretary be directed to furnish the committee of safety with a number of attested copies of their appointment to that trust. Resolved, That a gentleman be appointed in each county, to apply to the field officers of the regiments within the same, for the list of the names of the field officers of each regiment, the number of other offi- cers, and the number of the men therein, as well the minute men as the common militia, and return the same unto Mr. Abraham Watson, of Cambridge. Accordingly, the following gentlemen were appointed : For the County of Suffolk, Col. Heath ; Essex, Capt. Farley ; Middlesex, Col. Smith ; Hampshire, Col. Pomeroy; Plymouth, Col. Warren ; Barnstable, Daniel Davis, Esq.: Bristol, Major Keith; York, Mr. Sullivan; Worcester, Capt. Bigelow; Cumberland, Mr. March: Berkshire, Doct. Whiting ; Lincoln, Capt. Thompson : Dikes Coun- ty. Joseph Mayhew, Esq. The committee on the state of the province reported : which report was read and accepted ; and Ordered, Thai printed copies be sent to the several committees <>f correspondence, and where there is no such committee, I" the selectmen iii each town and district in the province; and that the same order be observed relative to the address to the in- habitant- of Massachusetts Bay, and that the members of the town of 1774] FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGREi W Boston, and the secretary, disperse the same The report i< u fbDow- eth, \ 1/ • (nasmuch as many states have been taught by fatal experience, thai powers delegated bj the people for \<>t>>s periods bare been abused to the endangering the public rights and liberties, and this Congress bav- mg |n-t reason t<> suppose thai th.tr constituents, the L r ""n the twerity- iiinth u-i- i » t — aecessarj to be immediatelj despatched shall be fmished, the Con* L rr,---. be dissoh ed, And tin- Congress being deepry impressed with a sense of the in- creasing dangers which threaten the rights and liberties df i h«- people of tin- province with total ruin ; our adversaries being still indefatiga- ble in their attempt- to carry info execution their deep laid plan- for that wicked purpose: and considering the indispensable necessity thai .an assembly of the province should be very frequently sitting to Con" suit and devise 'measures for their common safety ; therefore Resolv- ed, That it l>c, and n i- herebj earnestly recommended to the several towns and districts in this province, thai thej each of them do forth- with, eled and depute as many members as to them shall seem aecessa- rj and expedient, to represent them in a Provincial Congress, to be held at Cambridge, on the first day of Februarj nexl ensuing; to be chosen by such onlj as are qualified by law to vote for representatives in the genera] assembly, and to be continued by adjournment, as thej -hall -.--■ can-.-, until the Tuesdaj nexl preceding the last Wednesday oi Ma\ next, and do longer ; to consult, deliberate and resolve upon such farther measures as, under God, shall be effectual to save this people from impending rum. ami to secure those inestimable liberties derived to us from our am-. •-tor-, and which it i- our dutj to preserve for pos- terity Ami considering the great uncertaintj of the present times, and that unexpected important events ma] take place, from whence il may be ab- solutely necessary thai the delegates who may be elected as above propos- ■ ||mi w i In 74 FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Dec. 8, 1774, ed should meet sooner than the day before mentioned, it is recommend- ed to the several towns and districts, that they instruct and authorize their said delegates, to assemble at Cambridge aforesaid, or any other place, upon notice given them of the necessity thereof, by the dele- gates that may be chosen by the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury and Dorchester, or the majority of them, in such way as they shall judge proper. And it is further recommended to the delegates to be elected, that they conform themselves to such instructions. Ordered, That the further consideration of the report of the com- mittee appointed to take into consideration what allowance should be made the delegates who attend the Continental Congress from this province, be referred to the sitting of the next Provincial Congress. The committee appointed to take into consideration apian of milita- ry exercise, proposed by Capt. Pickering, and also the petition of the officers of the northwest part of the county of Worcester, reported ; the report was read and accepted. Ordered, That the expense of transmitting the address to the Cana- dians be paid by this government. The business necessary to be immediately transacted, being finished, and the Congress having returned their thanks to the Hon. John Han- cock, Esq., for his constant attendance and faithful services as presi- dent during their session, dissolved. INI o a ||thc same to convene again the first day of February next, conformably to the preceding re- solve. || JOURNAL |>K THE SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS or i«afissarl)usttts t Convened ai Cambridge, Wednesday, FV6. I. 1 7 7 ."">. — Adjourned JTaa'sday, F>>>. 16. ( 'mm mil nl Concord, T ■ /, March 22. — Idjowrned Saturday, April r>. Coin-mill ut Concord, Saturday, . ////•// 22. -. Idjowrned /<< Watertovm. Convened ~>: with a list of th< persons chosen to represent them in the same. < i »i \ n OF SI FFOLK Boston. — Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq., Mr. Samuel Adams, Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Doct. Joseph Warren, Doct. Benjamin Church, Mr Oliver Wendall, Mr. John Pitts. Rozbury. — Col. William Heath, ('apt. Aaron Davis. Dorchester — Capt. Ebenezer Wellington. Hilton. — ('apt. David Etawson. /.' aiiifni . — < '<>l. .lu-cph Palmer. Weymouth. — Mr. Nathaniel Bailey. Hingham and Cohasset. — Benjamin Lincoln. Esq. Dedham. — lion. Samuel Dexter, l'.-<|., Mr. Abner Ellis. 1/,,//,, /,/._\l M Bullen. Wrentham. — Mr. Jabez Fisher, [Mr. Lemuel Kollock. Mr. Samuel Lethbridge. ] /; ookUne. — Capt. Benjamin White. Veedham. — Capt. Eleazer Kingsbury. Stoughton. — Mr. Thomas ('ran.' Stoughtonham. — Mr. Job Swift. Vedtoay. — Capt Jonathan Adam-. I',, Hi nullum. — | Mr. Stephen Mete all'.] ffuff.— [None.] Walpol —Mr. Enoch Ellis. Chelsea.— Mr, Samuel Watts COUNTY OF KSSEX. golem. — Mr. John Pickering, Mr. Richard Manning, [Mr. Jonathan I! . .Inn.] Danvers. — Doct Samuel Holten 78 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 1, Ipswich. — Col. Michael Farley. Newburyport. — Capt. Jonathan Greenleaf, Mr. Stephen Cross, Tris- tram Dalton, Esq. Neicbnry. — Joseph Gerrish, Esq. Marblehead. — Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Col. Azor Orne, Mr. Elbridge Gerry. Lynn. — Col. John Mansfield. Andover. — Mr. Samuel Osgood, Jun. Beverly. — Capt. Josiah Batchelder. Rowley. — Mr. Nathaniel Mighill. Salisbury. — Mr. Samuel Smith. Gloucester. — Capt. Peter Coffin, Mr. Samuel Whittemore. Topsfeld. — Capt. Samuel Smith. Boiford. — Major Asa Perley. Amesbury. — Isaac Merrill, Esq. Bradford. — Col. Daniel Thurston. Haverhill. — Nathaniel Peaslee Sargent, Esq., Mr. Jonathan Web- ster, Jun. Wenham. — Mr. Benjamin Fairfield. Middleton. — Capt. Archelaus Fuller. Manchester. — [None.] Methucn. — Mr. John Bodwell. COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX. Cambridge. — Col. Thomas Gardner, Mr. Abraham Watson, Jun. Charlestown. — Mr. Nathaniel Gorham, Mr. Richard Devens, David Cheever, Esq. Watcrtown. — Capt. Jonathan Browne. Woburn. — Mr. Samuel Wyman. Concord. — Col. James Barrett. Newton. — Abraham Fuller, Esq , Mr. Edward Durant. Reading. — Mr. John Temple. Malborough. — Mr. Peter Bent. Bilhrira. — William Stickney, Esq. f'Vaniing/taw. — Capt. Josiah Stone. Lexington. — Mr. Jonas Stone. Chelmsford. — Mr. Simeon Spaulding. Sherburne, — Mr. Benjamin Fasset, Mr. Richard Sanger. Sudbury. — Mr. Thomas Plympton. Maiden. — Capt. Ebenezer Harnden, Capt. John Dexter. Weston.— Col. Braddyl Smith. L775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 79 Medford. — Mr. Benjamin Hall, .Mr. Stephen Hall, 3d. Littleton. — Mr. Abel Jewett Hopkinton, — [None.] Westford. — Capt. Joseph Eteed. Waltham. — Jonas Dix, Esq. simr. — Henry Gardner, Esq Groton. — Col. James Prescot. Shirley. — Capt. Francis Harris. Pepper el. — Capt. Edmund Bancroft. Townshend. — Mr. [srael Hobart I hby. — [None.] Stoneham, — Capt Samuel Sprague. Wilmington. — Mr. Timothy Walker. \ ■ti, /.. — | None. I Din, ut. — Mr. Peter Coburn. 'Bedford. — John Reed, Esq. HoUiston. — Col. Aimer Perry. Tewkesbury. — Mr. Jonathan Browne. Dunstable. — John Tyng, Esq., James Tyng, Esq. Aetna. — Mr. Josiah Hayward. Lincoln. — Major Eleazer Brook- COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE Springfield. — Mr. William Pynchon, .Inn., [Mr. John Hale, Mr. \l Field.] Wilbraham. — Major John Bliss. \\, t Springfield. — Mr. Jonathan White, Doct. Chauncy Brewer. \ irthamptnn. — Hon. Joseph Hawley, Esq., Col. Setli Pomeroy. Southampton. — Major Elias Lyman. U, I, III II. [Nolle. ] South Hadley. — Mr. Noah Goodman. Amherst. — Mr. Nathaniel Dicker son, Jun. Williamsburgh. — Mr Russell Kello.r L r. Granby. — [None ] llntfi, hi. — Mr. John Dicker-on, Mr. Perez Graves. Westfield.— Col. John Moseley, Col. Elisha Parks. Deerficld.— [Mr. David Field, Mr. David Welles.] Greenfield. — Mr. Samuel Hinsdale S/n Ihiirn, . — [ .None. | Conway. — [Mr. Daniel Denham.l Sundolurul — [None.] 80 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 1, Montague. — [None.] Northfield. — Mr. Ebenezer Jones. Brimjicld, [South Brimfield and Monson. — Col. Timothy Danielson.] Pelham. — [None.] Greenwich. — [None.] Blanford. — [None.] Palmer. — [None.] Granville. — [None.] New Salem. — Mr. William Page, Jun. Belehertown. — Col. Samuel Howe. Colrain. — Mr. Thomas Bell. Ware. — [None.] Warioick. — Capt. Samuel Williams. Bernardston. — [None.] Murraysfield. — Capt. Malcom Henry. Charlemont. — Mr. Samuel Taylor. Shutesbury . — [None.] Chesterfield. — Mr. Benjamin Mills, Major Ezra May. Ashficld. — [None.] Worthington. — [None.] Ludlow. — Capt. Joseph Miller. [Whatcly. — Mr. Elisha Tracy.] COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH. Plymouth. — Hon. James Warren, Esq., Mr. Isaac Lothrop. Scituate. — Nathan Cushing, Esq., Mr. Barnabas Little. Duxbury. — Mr. George Partridge. Marshfield. — [Mr. Benjamin White.] Bridgrwatcr. — Col. Edward Mitchell, Major Richard Perkins. Middleborough. — Mr. Joshua White. Rochester, — [None.] Plympton. — [Deac. Samuel Lucas.] Pembroke. — .Major Jeremiah Hall. Kingston. — John Thomas, Esq. Hanover. — Col. Joseph Cushing. Vbington. — Capt. Woodhridge Browne. Halifax. — Mr. Ebenezer Tomson. COUNTY OF BARNSTABLE. liarnstahtr. — Daniel Davis, Esq 1776.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 9] Sandwit ■•//. — [ None.] Yarmouth. — Capt. Elijah Basset. East/urn. — Mr. Naaman Holbrook. Wettfiut.— [None.] Harwich. — Mr. Benjamin Freeman. "Falmimth, — [ None.] Chatham. — [ None.] Truro. — .Mr. Benjamin Atkins Provincetoum. — [ None.] COUNTY OF BRISTOL. Taunton. — Robert Treat Paine, Esq. Rehoboth. — M:i|< >r Timothy Walker, Capt. Thomas Carpenter. Swansey. — Jeratnmiel Bowers, Esq. Dighton. — Elnathan Walker, Esq., Doct. William Baylies. Dartmouth. — Benjamin Aiken, Esq. Vorton and Mansfield. — Capt. William Holmes. Attleborough. — Col. John Daggett. Freetown. — Mr. Thomas Durfee. Raynham. — Mr. Benjamin King. Easton. — Capt. Eliphalet Leonard. /; rkley — [ None.] COUNTY OF YORK. ) irk — < lapt Daniel Bragdon. Ki'ttery.-— Edward Cutt, Esq., Charles Chauncy, Esq. Wells. — Mr. Bbenezer Sayer. Berwick. — Mr. [chabod Goodwin, Jnn. Arundel. — Mr. John llovey. Biddeford. — James Sullivan, Esq. / '< />/>< in I llui run a It. — [None. ] DUKES COUNTY. Edgarton. — [None. | ( 'liilmurL. — [None.] Tisbury. — | \ ■ | [COUNTY OF] NANTUCKET Sherburne. — [None. ] 11 82 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 1, COUNTY OF WORCESTER. Worcester. — Capt. Timothy Bigelow. Lancaster. — Col. Asa Whitcomb, Doct. William Dunsmore. Mendon. — Doct. William Jennison, Mr. Edward Rawson. Woodstock. — [None.] Brookfield. — Jedediah Foster, Esq. Oxford. — Col. Ebenezer Learned. Charlton. — Capt. Jonathan Tucker. Sutton. — Capt. Henry King, Mr. Amos Singletary. Leicester and Spencer. — Col. Joseph Henshaw. JPaxton. — [None.] Rutland. — Mr. Jonas Howe. Hutchinson. — Mr. John Mason. Oakham. — Capt. Isaac Stone. Hubbardston. — Capt. John Clark. New Braintree. — Capt. James Wood. Southborough. — Capt. Josiah Fay. Westborough. — Capt. Stephen Maynard, Doct. James Hawse. Northborough. — Mr. Levi Brigham. Shrewsbury . — Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq. Lunenburgh. — Doct. John Taylor. Fitchburgh. — Capt. David Goodridge. Uxbridge. — Mr. Benjamin Green. Harvard. — Mr. Oliver Whitney. Dudley. — [None.] Bolton. — Capt. Samuel Baker. Upton. — Mr. Abiel Sadler. Sturbridge. — Capt. Timothy Parker. Leominster. — Mr. Israel Nichols. Hardwick. — Col. Paul Mandel. Holden.—Mx. John Child. Douglas. — Mr. Samuel Jennison. Grafton. — Mr. John Sherman. Petersham. — Col. Jonathan Grout. Royalston. — Mr. Nahum Green. Westminster. — Mr. Nathan Wood. Athol. — Mr. William Bimelow. Templeton. — Mr. Jonathan Baldwin. Prim, ton. — Mr. Moses Gill. Ashburnham. — [None.] Winchendon. — [None.] Western. — Simeon Dwight, Esq. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS COUNTY OK CUMBERL WD. Falmouth and Capt Elizabeth. — Mr. Samuel Freeman Vorth Yarmouth. — [ None.] Scarborough. — Mr. Samuel March. /; "unswick and HarpsweU. — Col. Samuel Thompson. Gorham. — Capt. Bryant Morton. Windham — [ None.] /'. rsontoum. — [None.] COUNTY OF LINCOLN. Pownah borough. — [ None.] i, jetoum. — Capt. Samuel MeCobb. \ , r , astlt — None.] Topsham. — Mr. John Merril. /.' nodoinham. — ('apt. Samuel Harnden. 1 1 oolurich. — [None.] Gardnerston. — Mr. Joseph North. Vassalborough. — Mr. Remington Hobby. HalloioeIl.—\ None.] Winslow. — [ Nunc, | Winthrop. — Mr. [chabod How. CO! \TY OF BERKSHIRE Sheffield and Great Barrington. — ('"I. John Fellow- / oremont and llford. — Doct. William Whiting. Stockbridge. — Mr. Samuel Browne. Veu> MalbiinwLili. — Doct Kphrnim Guiteau. />' chmond. — ("apt. Elijah Browne. /.■ run — John Paterson, Esq. Pittsfield and Partridgefield. — John Browne, Esq. Tyringham. — ( .None | Lnin sborough. — [ None.] Sandisfield.—M\ David Deming. Williamstown, — Mr. Samuel Kellog. /;,,/,,/. — [None.] Gageborough. — Capt. William Clark. \foved, Thai a president be appointed. Ordered, That Doct. Hoi ten, Mr. Cushing, and Doct. Baylies I committee t" count ami Borl the 1 voir- for a president. The Cong then proceeded t<> brum in their eotes for a problem • and the com- 84 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 2, mittee having counted the same, reported that the Hon. John Hancock, Esq. was unanimously chosen. Benjamin Lincoln was appointed secretary. Ordered, That Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Major Hawley, Hon. Mr. Cushing, [of Boston,] Mr. Adams, Col. Warren, Mr. Paine, Mr. Pitts, Doct. Holten, Col. Heath, Col. Gerrish, Mr. Cushing of Scituate, Hon. Col. Ward, and Col. Gardner, be a committee to take into con- sideration the state and circumstances of the province. Adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Thursday, February 2, 1775, A. M. Ordered, That Col. Lee, Col. Orne, Col. Palmer, Mr. Gerry, Col. Foster, and Col. Bowers, be joined to the committee on the state of the province. Ordered, That Col. Gardner, Col. Palmer, and Mr. Watson, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and desire his attend- ance on this Congress, and [that he would] officiate as ||their|| chaplain during the session thereof. The committee appointed to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton and desire that he would officiate as chaplain to this Congress, reported that they had attended that service, and that the Doctor would officiate as chaplain agreeably to the desire of this Congress. Ordered, That Mr. Aiken, Col. Gerrish, Major Fuller, and Doct. Holten, be monitors to this Congress. Ordered, That, in returning the Congress, the monitors observe the following divisions, viz : That the pews on the right of the desk be one division ; on the left, another ; the men's body seats, and the pews adjoining, a third ; the women's body seats, and the pews adjoining, the other. Then adjourned to three o'clock in the afternoon. Afternoon. Met and adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Friday, [ a ] February 3, 1775, A. M. Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Capt. Greenleaf, and Mr. Lothrop, be a committee to inspect the journals of the last Congress, and || b extract|| therefrom what relates to the public taxes and the militia, and cause the same to be printed in a pamphlet, and a copy thereof to be sent to each town and district in the province. a [morning-] b ||ab§tract |J 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 85 A ||*vote|| from the committee of correspondence for the town of Boston and other committees from a large number of town- m the vi- cinity thereof, setting forth that several inhabitants of the town of Bos- ton and several other town- in this province, are constantly employed in diverse kinds of works for the army now in Boston, and in supply- ing them with lumber, &c, and every other article of field equipage, to qualify them to take the field in the spring, &,c. ; Read, and Ordered, thai Col. Prescot, Capt. Carpenter, Col. Crashing, Mi Fisher, Mr. Partridge, Col. Thomas, and Doct. Taylor, he a com- mittee to take the said vote into consideration and report thereon. Then ( 'ongress adjourned till to-morrow morning ten o'clock. Saturday, February 4, 177."), A. M. Resolved, That all the debates and resolutions of this Congress be kepi as i ntire secret, unless ||their|| special leave be first || L had|| for disclosing the same. Resolved, That the vote of yesterday, relative to publishing in a pamphlet some of the doings of the late Provincial Congress, be re- considered, so far as it relates to publishing the resolve respecting the militia. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Partridge, Daniel Davis, Esq., and Mr. Sayer, be added to the committee appointed to publish in a pamph- let some of the doings of the late Congress, and thai the same com- mittee prepare an address to the inhabitants of this province, recom- mending t<» them immediatelj to pay all their province tax to Henry Gardner, Esq., and to carrj the resolves of the late Congress relative to the militia into execution. Upon a motion Ordered, thai the secretary be directed to write to Col. ELoberson, desiring him to deliver the four brass field pieces, and the two brass mortars now in his hands, the property of the province, to the order of the committee of safety. The committee appointed to take into consideration the vote from the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston and other- in the vicinity, &c., reported ; the consideration of the report referred till to-morrow mornim.', ten o'clock. ||ThentheCongress|| adjourned till aexl Monday morning, ten o'clock. Monday, February • ;. 177.*). \. M. < >rder of the day moved for. The report of the committee on the vote from the committee of b not • 86 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 7, correspondence of the town of Boston, &c, read ; after some debate thereon, Ordered, that it be recommitted for amendments. Resolved, That the Hon. John Hancock, and Thomas Cushing, Esq., Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Esq., appoint- ed by the late Provincial Congress, to represent this colony, on the 10th of May next, or sooner if necessary, at the American Congress to be held at Philadelphia, be, and they hereby are authorized and em- powered, with the delegates from the other American Colonies, to ad- journ from time to time, and place to place, as they shall judge neces- sary ; and to continue in being as delegates for this colony, until the thirty-first day of December next ensuing, and no longer. A petition of Abijah Browne and others, setting forth the irregular- ity of the choice of Jonas Dix, Esq., to represent the town of Wal- tham in this Congress, with a counter petition signed by Leonard Wil- liams and others, were read : whereupon, it was Resolved, that in case the averments in Browne's petition mentioned [ a were] true, [they] are not sufficient to disqualify Jonas Dix, Esq., member from Waltham, from having a seat in this Congress. A petition of John Sawyer and others of Rowley, in the county of Essex, setting forth that they have raised a troop of horse, praying the aid of this Congress that they may be established, &c, [was] read and committed to Mr. Sullivan, Col. Grout, and Major Fuller, to consider of and report thereon. Afternoon. Resolved, That the secretary have power to adjourn this Congress in the absence of the president. ||Then the Congress|| was adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Tuesday, February 7, 1775, A. M. The committee on the vote of the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston and others, having amended their report, again re- ported, which was considered and accepted, and is as followeth : Whereas, it appears to this Congress, that certain persons are em- ployed in diverse kinds of works for the army now stationed in Boston, for the purpose of carrying into execution the late acts of parliament, and in supplying them with iron for waggons, canvas, tent poles, and other articles of field equipage, whereby s;iid army may be enabled to take the field and distress the inhabitants of this country, Therefore, Resolved, as the opinion of this Congress, and it is ac- cordingly strongly recommended to the inhabitants of the several towns a [if.] L775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. B"t and districts of this province, that, should any person or persons pre- sume to supply the troops now stationed at Boston or elsewhere in said province, with timber, boards, spars, pickets, tentpoles, canvas, bricks, iron, waggons, carts, carriages, entrenching tools, or any materials for making any of the carriages or implements aforesaid ; with horses or oxen for draught ; or an) other materials whatever, which may enable them to annoy, or in any manner distress said inhabitants, he or they ||so offending 1 1 shall be held in the highest detestation, and deemed in- veterate enemies to America, and ought to be prevented and opposed b) all reasonable means whatever. And whereas, it appears to this Congress, that large quantities of straw will lie wanted by the inhabitants of tin- province, in case we should be driven to the hard uecessity of taking up arms in our own defence, therefore, Resolved, Thai no person or persons ought to sell or dispose of any straw, which he or they may have on hand, excepl to the inhabitants of this province for their own private use, or the use of said province. And it is strongly recommended by this Congress, to the committees of correspondence and inspection in the several towns and districts in this province to see that the above resolves be strictly and faithfully adhered to, till otherwise ordered by this or some other Provincial Con- gress, or house of representatives. Ordered, That the above resolves be published in all the newspapers in this province, and that [ 'they] he attested by the secretary. Ordered, Thai Mr. Fisher, Doct. Church, Mr. Bailey, Doct. Wat- ren, and Col. Thomas, lie a committee to take into consideration the account of the late delegates from this province who attended the Con- tinental Congress, and report what they he allowed for their expenses, and for their time while absent on the business of tiie province: and also [to] devise some method how the money shall be procured to dis- charge the same; and also how the money shall be procured to enable our presenl delegates appointed to attend the American Congress tore- fund their expenses. The committee appointed to draughl an address to the inhabitant- of this province, accompanying the resolve which is ordered to be pub- lished relative to the province taxes being paid to Henry Gardner, Esq., reported; read and considered in paragraphs; Ordered to he re- committed lor amendments, and that Doct. Church, and Doct. Warren, lie added to the c mittee. llThen the Congress 1 1 adjourned till three o'clock, I*. M. "•J 88 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 8, Afternoon. In consideration of the coldness of the season, and that the Con- gress sit in a house without fire, Resolved, That all those members who incline thereto may sit with their hats on while in Congress. The committee on the state of the province reported an addition to the report of the late Provincial Congress, relative to the power of the committee of safety, and general officers ; after some debate thereon it was referred for farther consideration till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Resolved, That at ten o'clock to-morrow morning, the Congress will come to the choice of some person to serve on the committee of safe- ty, instead of Norton Quincy, Esq., who declined accepting that trust. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Wednesday, February 8, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed to prepare an address to the inhabitants of this province, having amended, again reported the same ; after some consideration thereon, it was ordered to be recommitted for further amendments. Upon a motion made by Mr. Hall, that he might be excused from serving any longer on the committee of supplies, in consideration of his ill state of health, the question was put whether he be excused for the reason mentioned, and passed in the affirmative. Resolved, That at three o'clock this afternoon, the Congress will come to the choice of some person to serve on the committee of sup- plies instead of Mr. Hall, excused. The order of the day was moved for ; accordingly, the Congress re- sumed the consideration of the report of the committee, relative to the power of the committee of safety, and the power of the general offi- cers ; after some debate thereon, it was referred for farther considera- tion, to the afternoon. Afternoon. The Congress resumed the consideration of the same report, which was recommitted for amendments proposed. Ordered, That, as Doct. Warren, and Doct. Church are absent, that Col. Dwight, and Col. Coffin be added to the committee, on the account of the late delegates from this province to the Continental Congress. The committee appointed to report an address to the inhabitants of this province, having amended their draught, reported; which was again ordered to be recommitted for amendments. A petition of Boice and Clark, praying that this Congress will take 177S.] SECOND PROVING IAL CONGRESS 99 -..in" step for the encouragement of collecting of linen rags in th^ir tctive town read and Ordered, thai Mr.G M low, and Mr. Freeman, be i committee to bring in a resolve recom- mending the Baring of linen rags, according to the prayer <>!' the petition II, wived, Thai the Congress will now proceed to the choice of some person to Ben i the committee of safety, in the place of Norton Quincy, Esq . who declined serving thereon. Ordered, Thai Mr. Pitts, Major Puller, and Doct. Hoi ten, be a com- mittee to count and sort the eotes for a person to Berve on the commit- t. f safety, in the stead of Norton duincy, Esq., who declined serving thereon. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for a person to serve on the committee of safety : the committee baring sorted and counted the same, reported thai Mr. Jabez Fisher was chosen. Resolved, Thai to-morrow morning at ten o'clock, the Congress will come i" the choice of some person to serve on the committee of sup- plies, instead of Mr. Hall, who bath been excused. The < Congress then adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Thubsdat, February 9, 1775, A. M. The report of the committee relative to the power of the committee ifety, and the power of the general officers, being amended, was accepted, and is as followeth, riz: /,' totved, Thai the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Doct. Joseph War- ren, Doct Benjamin Church, .Inn., Mr. Richard Devens, Capt. Benja- min Wlnie, Col. Joseph Palmer, Mr. Abraham Watson, Col. Azor Orne, Mr. John Pigeon, Col. William Heath, and Mr. Jabez Fisher, he and herehv are appointed a committee of safety, to continue until the farther order of this or some other 1 iongress, or house of represen- tative- of this province; whose business and duty it shall be, most carefullj and diligently to inspect and ohserve all and every such per- son or persons as Bhall al any tune attempt to carry into execution by force, an acl of the British parliament, entitled •• an act tor the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England;" or who Bhall attempt to carrj into execution by force, another act of the British parliament, entitled •• an act lor the impartial administration of justice, in the cases of persons questioned for an act done bj them in the execution of the law, or for the siip- pression of not- and tumults, in the province of the M issachusetta Bay:" which Bald committee, or any five of them, provided always 19 90 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. Feb. 9, that not more than one of the said five shall be an inhabitant of the town of Boston, shall hi.ve power, and they are hereby empowered and directed, when they shall judge that such attempt or attempts are made, to alarm, muster, and cause to be assembled with the utmost ex- pedition, and completely armed, accoutred and supplied with provisions sufficient for their support in their march to the place of rendezvous, such and so many of the militia of this province, as they shall judge necessary for the end and purpose of opposing such attempt or at- tempts, and at such place or places as they shall judge proper ; and them to discharge as the safety of the province shall permit. And this Congress doth most earnestly recommend to all the officers and soldiers of the militia in this province, who shall from time to time during the commission of the said committee, receive any call or order from the said committee, to pay the strictest obedience thereto, as they (| a || regard the liberties and lives of themselves and the people of this province — any order or orders of any former Congress varying therefrom notwithstanding. Resolved, That the Hon. Jedediah Prebble, Esq., Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq., Col. Seth Pomeroy, Col John Thomas, and Col. William Heath, be and they hereby are appointed general officers ; whose busi- ness and duty it shall be, with such and so many of the militia of this province, as shall be assembled by order of the committee of safety, effectually to oppose and resist such attempt or attempts as shall be made for carrying into execution by force, an act of the British Parlia- ment, entitled " an act for the better regulating; the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England," or who shall at- tempt the carrying into execution by force, another act of the British parliament, entitled " an act for the more impartial administration of justice in the cases of persons questioned for any act done by them in the execution of the law, or for the suppression of riots and tumults, in the province of the Massachusetts Bay," so long as the said militia shall be retained by the committee of safety and no longer ; and the said general officers shall, while in the said service, command, lead and conduct, in such opposition, in the order in which they are above named, any order or orders of any former Congress varying therefrom, notwithstanding. The order of the day was moved for. Upon a motion. Ordered, That a committee be appointed to count and sort the votes for the choice of a person to serve on the commit- tee of supplies in the place of Mr. Hall, who hath been excused ; ac- u Il9liail.il 17J , 8E( OND l'lt<»\ l\< 1 \1. I I INGRESS '.'I cordingly Mr. Bayer, .Mr. Lothrop, and Capt. Greenleaf, were ap- pointed. The Congress then proceeded to l>niiL r in their eotes tor :i person to serve on the committee of supplies; after counting and sorting the Bame, the committee reported thai Mr. Manning was chosen. I |»on a tion made b] Mr. Manning, tin- question was put whether he \»- < \- cnsed from serving on the committee of supplies, and passed in the af- firmative. The Congress then proceeded to l>riiiL r in their votes tor a person to Berve in In- place, and, after counting and sorting tin- sa the committee reported that Mr. Elbridge Gerr) was chosen. Ordered, Thai during the debates of the Congress, the members thereof l»- seated in their proper places. \ Dumber <>f letters, Baid to be from gentlemen in England, were read; upon a motion, Ordered, thai they be committed i" the c - mittee on the state of the province, to take them into consideration ami report The committee appointed t<> prepare an address to the inhabitants <>t" tin- province, lia\ i 1 1 ur amended their report, the Bame was read, con- sidered and accepted, and ordered to be attested and added to the pamphlet directed to lie printed by this ("on. lid i> a- followeth, \ 1/ 'l'i> tin Inhabitants of thi Massachusetts Say. I'kii no- \m> I'i i i ow Si i i i 1:1 RS — When a | pie entitled to that freedom, which your ancestors have nobly preserved, as the riches! in- heritance of their children, are invaded by the hand of oppression, and trampled on by the merciless feel of tyranny, resistance is bo tar from being criminal, that it becomes the christian and social duty of individual. \\ hile you see the lives of your fellow men, m other nations, sported with and destroyed, and their I -i ites confiscated 1>\ their prince, onlj to gratifj the caprice, ambition, or avarice of a tyrant, you oughl to entertain and cultivate in your minds, the highest L r ratitmle to the Su- preme Being, tor bis having placed you under such a form of !_ r,, \crn- nnrit . as, when dulj administered, i_ r i\c- the meanest pea-ant the Bame security in his lite ami property, as In- sovereign has in hi- crown This constitution of governmenl secures to each one subjeel th< to, such an entire property in his inheritance and the fruil of hi- iii- dustry, thai thej cannot be taken from him without In- personal or representative consent ; ami a- the evidence of entire property ai from the uncontrollable power of disposing, when your estates -hall be brought mto such a situation, or under such a form of government, u 92 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 9, that they can be disposed of or granted by persons who are by no means accountable to you therefor, you cease to have any thing more than a licensed and precarious property in them. Notwithstanding these principles have been warmly contended for and nobly defended at the expense of much blood and treasure, by your British ancestors, who have ever been seriously alarmed at the least infringement on this branch of their happy privileges, the house of commons there, over whom you have not the least control, and in whose election you have no voice, have claimed and exercised the power of granting your money without your consent ; and what ren- ders the same more aggravated, is, that the money extorted from you, is applied to the vile purpose of maintaining a set of men, who, through depravity of mind, and cruelty of disposition, have been, and still are, endeavoring to enforce certain acts of parliament, made with express purpose to take from you your charter rights, and reduce you to a state of misery, equal to that ever attendant on those, whose prince has the sole disposal of their lives and properties. Fleets, troops, and every implement of war, are sent into the prov- ince, with apparent design to wrest from you that freedom which it is your duty, even at the risk of your lives, to hand inviolate to posterity. Those strides of tyranny have fixed the united attention of all America ; and, being greatly and justly alarmed, the wisdom of the whole continent has been collected in that Congress, whose salutary resolutions have pointed you to effectual means of redress, and the execution of the plan projected by that honorable assembly, has been warmly recommended to you by your former Provincial Congress. The transactions of your former Congress, with regard to placing the militia on such a footing as may serve to defend you from each act of hostility that may be offered, have been carefully transmitted to you, and we rejoice to hear, that you have cheerfully paid the strictest attention to them, and ardently wish that the same martial spirit which so remarkably prevails among you may be encouraged and increased. Though we deprecate a rupture with the mother state, yet we must still urge you to every preparation for your necessary defence; for, un- less you exhibit to your enemies such a firmness as shall convince them that you are worthy of that freedom your ancestors fled here to enjoy, you have nothing to expect but the vilest and most abject sla- very. The foregoing sheets contain the resolutions of your former Con- gress, respecting the improvement of your public monies at this criti- cal juncture of your public affairs. Such is the alarming state of the 1776.] skcond PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 93 province, that the necessitj of punctually complying with these re- solves can, by do means, need any further argument to stimulate tl to, than whal naturally arises from facta under your constant observa- tion; bul as necessarj preparations for your defence require immedi- ate supplies of money, dutj and faithfulness t-> you, compel as i<> take leave to limt, that, should you be so unhappy a- to be driven to un- sheath the Bword, in defence of your lives and properties, the having pntiMT magazines duly prepared, may give that success which cannol be expected \\ Itllollt tlieill. Sn!i|ects .renerallv pay obedience to the laws of the land, to avoid the penaltj that accrue-, mi breach of them ; and on the same princi- ples we are assured, that, as you hitherto have, you will continue Mill Btrictl] to adhere to the resolutions of your several congresses; for we can conceive of no greater punishment tor the breach of human laws, than the misery thai must inevitably follow your disregarding the plan-, that have, by your authority, with that of the whole continent, been projected. ^ tut conduct hitherto, under the severest trials, has been worthy of yon as men and christians, and, notwithstanding the pains that have been taken bj pour enemies, to inculcate the doctrines of non-resist- ance and passive obedience, and, by everj art, to delude and terrify you, the whole continent of America has, this day, cause to rejoice in \<>ur firmness. We trust you will still continue steadfast, and having rd to the dignity of your characters as fre< men, and those gener- ous sentiments resulting from your natural and political connections, you will never submit your necks to the galling yoke of despotism prepared tor you; but with a proper sense of your dependance on God, nobly defend those rights which Heaven gave, and no man ought t" take from us. \u address from the committee of correspondence of the town ol Scituate and others, showing that a number of his majesty's troops are now stationed in the town of Marshfield, &c. ||*was|| read: Ordered, That Doct. Warren, Doct Taylor, Col. Ken-haw. Mr Watson, ami Mr. Gill, be a committee to take the same into conside- ration, and the papers accompanying it, and report. Ordered, Thai Mr. Sullivan Mr. Pickering, and Capt. Greenleaf, be a committee to bring in a resolve, empowering the committee ol safetj, to take mio then hand- I he warlike -tore-, the property of the province. Ordered, Thai Col. Thomas, Col. Heath. Hon. Col. Ward, Col 94 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 9, Pomeroy, and Col. Gardner, be a committee to bring in a resolve, di- recting how the ordnance in the province shall be used. Afternoon. The committee on the petition of John Sawyer and others, reported by way of resolve, which report was ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, That the several members who were appointed to make return of the officers and number of the militia, and minute men, in the several counties, be directed to comply with the said order as soon as possible. Upon a motion, Ordered, That Col. Paterson, Mr. Browne, of Pittsfield, and Major Bliss, be a committee to report a resolve for the publication of the names of those who have been appointed counsel- lors by mandamus, and have refused to resign their appointments. The committee on the accounts of the delegates from this province to the Continental Congress, reported, which was accepted; and there- upon Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Devens, and Mr. Gorham, be a committee to report a resolve agreeably to the same. The committee on the petition of Boice and Clark, reported, by way of resolve, which was read and accepted, and is as followeth, viz : Whereas, the encouragement of the manufactories of this country will, at all times, and more especially at this, be attended with the most beneficial effects, and Messrs. Boice and Clark, having represent- ed to this Congress, that they have, at a very considerable expense, erected works at Milton, in this province, for the making paper, and have not heretofore been able to obtain a sufficiency of rags to answer their purpose, and in order to procure a larger quantity of that article, have raised the price thereof; Therefore, Resolved, That it be recommended, and it is by this Congress accordingly recommended, to every family in this province, to preserve all their linen, and cotton and linen rags, in order that a || n manufacture|| so useful and advantageous to this country, may be suitably encouraged: and it is also recommended to our several towns, to take such farther measures for the encouragement of the manufac- ture aforesaid, as they shall think proper. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock. Friday, February 10, 1775, A. M. Ordered, That Mr. Devens, Mr. Watson, Col. Gardner, Col. Howe, and Capt. Batclielder, he a committee to observe the motion of the troops said to he on then road In this town. a ||manti' 1775.] SECOND PROVINC] \l. < ONGRES6 96 \n application from Thomas Legate, Esq. was read. Ordered, That it In- cominittcd : Accordingly Ordered, Thai Mr. Pickering, Col. Cashing, and Col. Farley, be a c nittee to take the same into con- sideration. Ordered, Thai Col. Palmer, Col. dishing, and .Mr. Cushing of 9 ituate, l"- a committee to sit in the recess of this Congress, to pre- pare all such rules and regulations, for the officers and men of the constitutional army which maj be raised in this province, as Bhall be necessary for the good order thereof. The committee appointed bj the late Provincial Congress, to esti- mate the loss and damage which hath accrued t«> the province by the operation of the Boston port lull and the act lor altering the civil gov- ernment of this province, reported ; the report ordered to be Bled. The committee appointed to take into consideration how the ord- nce should l>e disposed of, are directed to make report to the com- tnittee of safet The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to the pay- nient of the late delegates to the Continental Congress, reported ; the r« port was accepted, and is as folio weth, \ iz : W hereas, the account of expenses incurred by the Hon. Tho;> Cushing, Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine, I in the execution of the trust reposed in them as representa- tives of this province at the grand Continental Congress, held at Phil- adelphia, in the i ths of September and October last, has been ex- hibited to, and approved of, l>\ this Congress, and there appear.- to be due to the said delegates the sum of nine pounds, seventeen shillings, and ten pence, lawful money, in order to discharge their -aid expensi - and this Congress have voted, that the sum of fifty-six pounds [be paid] to each of the aforesaid delegates, in order to compensate them for then time -pent in said sen ice ; Therefore, "Resolved, That Henrj Gardner, Esq., receiver general of this province, be directed, and he is hereby accordinglj directed, to p i\ to the 1 1 mi i Thomas Cushing, Esq , the above Bum of nine pounds, seventeen shillings, and ten pence, for expenses, and the sum of fifi -i\ pound- for his tune spent in the service aforesaid ; ami to Mr. Sam- uel Adam-, John Adams and Robert Treat Paine, Esquires, each, the sum of fifty-six pounds, as a recompense for their time -pent in said Ben ice. The -ame committee reported the following resolve, which was ac- cept, d, viz : 1 I';,,. 96 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 10, Whereas, the Hon. John Hancock, Hon. Thomas Gushing, Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams and Robert Treat Paine, Esquires, were, by a former Provincial Congress, chosen and appointed a committee of delegates, to meet the delegates from the other American colonies, at Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, or sooner, if necessary; and whereas, it is ordered by this Congress, that the sum of one hun- dred pounds be allowed and paid each of them, to enable them to per- form said journey ; therefore, \\Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq. re- ceiver general of this province, be, and hereby is ordered and directed, to pay each of the said committee of delegates of this province, the sum of one hundred pounds, for which they are to be accountable to some future Congress, or house of representatives of this colony. || Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of this prov- ince, be and hereby is ordered and directed, to pay, unto Robert Treat Paine, Esq., the sum of forty-six pounds, lawful money, in con- sideration of the same sum being by him nccdentally lost out of his pocket while on his journey to Philadelphia in the service of this gov- ernment. Afternoon. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Paterson, and Col. Thomas, be a committee to revise the commission of the committee of safety, and the commission of the committee of supplies, and point out what amendments, if any, are necessary. Upon a motion made, the question was put, whether the vote rela- tive to committing the petition of Thomas Legate, Esq., be reconsid- ered, and the petitioner have leave to withdraw his petition, and passed in the affirmative. Ordered, That the secretary be directed to publish the names of the mandamus counsellors now in Boston, in all the newspapers of the province, agreeably to the [order of the] late Provincial Congress. A petition from the delegates of the several towns and districts in the counties of Hampshire and Berkshire was read ; thereupon, Or- dered, That the same be committed to the committee on the state of the province, and that the committee make the petition public if they think proper. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Saturday, February 11, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed to revise the commission of the committee of safety and the committee of supplies, &,c, reported by way of re- solve, which was considered and accepted, and is as followeth, viz : 1776.] SKro.M) l'i:<>\ I \< I \i. < ONGRESS. Whereas, several resolves have been passed bj this and the former Provincial Congress, authorizing and directing the committee of safe- ty, in case of necessity, in the defence of the province, to call togeth- er, arm, accoutre, and equip, the inhabitants thereof: and, when bj resolves of the same < ongress, a committee of supplies is appoint- ed, to provide ordnance, stores, provisions, and arm-, and to place them where the - rid committi t' safet) shall order ; bu( there ie no provi- sion made by whom, t" whom, or in whal manner and quantities, the supplies provided by said committee of supplies shall be delivered ; It is therefore|| Resolved, Thai the said committee of safety, or the major pan of them, shall be, and berebj [are,] empowered to ap- point one of their number, a commissary, whose business it shall be i" deliver all such stores, ordnance, arm-, and provisions, as shall be, by the committee of supplies provided, as the Baid committee of safet) shall order and direct, until the constitutional army Bhall take the field; when, and during all the time said arm;, shall be in the field, until they are discharged l>\ tin- committee of safety, the commissary ap- pointed by the committee <>i' safet) -hall deliver the -aid warlike .-tores to the order • ■!' tip commanding officers of said army. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to tin- dis- posal of some bayonets, &c, reported the following resolve, which was accepted \\ i there are a number of bayonets ami other implements of war, purchased at the expense of the province, thai are nol novt in tin' hand- of the committee of safety, a- the) oughl to he, il is there- fort R the opinion of this Congress, that the committee of fet) oughl to possess themselves of ;ili the same bayonets ami imple- ments of war, o n a- thev conveniently can ; and that they oughl to dispose of the same, for the use of the province, to such persons, and on such condition-, as the) -hall think proper. The committee on the state of the province, reported a resolve re- commending thai a da) of fasting and prayer he kept throughout the province, which was considered am! Ordered to [j > the table. Ordered, Thai Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Stickney, and Col. Cushing, he a committee to bring in a resolve, empowering the committee of safet) to direct the committee i.i supplies, to make Buch further provision lor the defence of the province a- ma) he necessary. Resolved, Thai all the members of the Congress he enjoined to at- tend, and that n ■ depart withoul special leave he lir-t obtained. Ordered, Thai Col. Tyng, Mr. Adams, Doct, Warren, Major Haw- ley, Col W "d. lion. Mr Hancock, and Mr Paine, he a committee to 13 98 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 13, report a resolve, purporting the determination of this people, coolly and resolutely, to support their rights and privileges, at all hazards. The committee appointed to take into consideration the address from the committee of correspondence, for the town of Scituate, and others, reported ; the report was || a || ordered to be recommitted for amendments. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till Monday next, ten o'clock in the forenoon. Monday, February 13, 1775, A. M. The committee on the state of the province, reported the form of a receipt, two of the same tenor and date to be signed by the receiver general, one of which to be lodged with the town or district treasurer, and the other to be kept by the constable, or other officer, who shall pay the money to him. Ordered, that the report be recommitted for amendments. Then the Congress adjourned till three o'clock in the afternoon. Afternoon. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Paterson, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hobby, and Mr. Freeman, be a committee to bring in a resolve for inquiring into the state of the militia, their numbers and equipments, and re- commending to the selectmen of the several towns and districts in this province, to make return of their town and district stock of ammuni- tion and warlike stores to this Congress. Ordered, That Mr. Stephen Hall, Doct. Warren, and Mr. Browne of Abington, be a committee to take into consideration and report what is necessary for this Congress to do for the encouragement of making saltpetre. Ordered, That Col. Paterson bring in a resolve appointing an agent for and in behalf of this province, to repair to the province of Quebec, and there establish a correspondence, to collect and transmit to us the best and earliest intelligence that can be obtained, of the sentiments and determination of the inhabitants of that province, with regard to the late acts of parliament, or any other important matters that do or may affect the colonies in their present dispute with Great Britain. ||Then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Tuesday, February 14, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to an inqui- a ||rcad nml.|| 1775.] SFXOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 90 ry into the state of the militia, town stocks, *\ c . reported ; the report u i- recommitted for amendments. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to inquiring into the state of the militia, v-Vc, having amended their report, again reported, winch [report] was read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be printed, and a copj thereof) attested b] the president, Bent to each town and district m tbj&province : and i- as ■|<»i l i*v etJn, viy. : Whereas, n appears necessar] for the defence «»t th livi liberties, and propertied "t the inhabitants of this province, that this <'<>iiL r r«-". on the 1 1 r - 1 tiav of iheir pexl Bession, -hmdo 6a foadi fully acquainted with the number and rmHtajfj equipments df the militia and minute men in tin- province, as also the town stuck of ammunition in each 'i and district : It i- therefore, Resolved, Thai it he and hereby is recommended to the commanding officers of each regiment of initiate men that now i- Mr -hall hi- formed in this province, that they review the several com- panies in their respective regiments, or cause them to be reviewed, and take mi evict Btate of their numbers and equipments: and where there i- any companj that i- not incorporated into a regiment, the command- ing officer thereof shall review the several companies, or cause them to be reviewed, and take a like rtate of their numbers and equipment: and it is also recommended to the colonels or commanding officers of li regiment of militia in tins province, that thej review the several companies in their respective regiments, or cause them to he reviewed, ami take i rtate of their numbers ami accoutrements, which Baid state of the minute men and militia, shall he, by -aid officers, returned, in writing, to this Congress on the first day of their next session after the adjournment. Ami it is further Resolved, That it he recommended to the select- in. -ii of each town and district in the province, that on the same day they make return in writing, of the -tate df the town and district stock of ammunition and warlike stores t<> this Congn Mr Paterson reported a resolve relative to appointing an agenl tor and m behalf of tin- province, to repair to the province of Quebec, &c, which was recommitted; and he, with .Mr. Bigelovi ;m) i c j Henshaw, are directed tobringin a resolve, directing and empowering tlii- committee of correspondence for the town of Boston, to establish an intimate correspondence with the inhabitants of the province of Quebec, & c. Then the Congress adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning 100 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 15, Wednesday, February 15, 1775, A. M. Resolved, That at three o'clock this afternoon, the Congress will come to the choice of a general officer in addition to those already appointed. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve empowering the com- mittee of safety to give orders to the committee of supplies, to make such further provision for" th'^ defines of the government as they shall think necessary repoited ; Ordered, that the consideration of this report be referred to t\ie next session of this Congress. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve empowering the com- mittee of correspondence of the tor.n of Boston, to correspond with Quebec, &c, for and in behalf "cT this province, reported; the report was read and accepted, and is as followeth, viz. : Whereas, it appears the manifest design of administration, to engage and secure the Canadians and remote tribes of Indians, for the pur- pose of harassing and distressing these colonies, and reducing them to a state of absolute slavery : and, whereas, the safety and security of said colonies depend in a great measure, under God, on their firmness, unanimity, and friendship ; Therefore, Resolved, That the committee of correspondence for the town of Boston, be and they are hereby directed and empowered, in such way and manner as they shall think proper, to open and establish an intimate correspondence and connection with the inhabitants of the province of Quebec, and that they endeavor to put the same immedi- ately into execution. The committee appointed to take into consideration what is neces- sary for this Congress to do for the encouragement of the making of salt- petre, reported ; the report was read and accepted, (excepting that part thereof which relates to assay masters, which part was referred for fur- ther consideration to the next meeting of this Congress.) and is as fol- loweth, viz. : Resolved, [1st] That this Congress do now appoint a committee to draw up directions, in an easy and familiar style, for the manufacturing of saltpetre, and that the same be printed, and sent to every town and district in the province, at the public expense. 2d. That for the encouragement of such as arc disposed to set up the manufacture of saltpetre, this Congress do engage to purchase the whole quantity that shall be manufactured in tliis«province, within twelve months from this date, at the rate of fourteen pounds, &c, [for each hundred pounds weight.] 3d. That a proper assaj master he appointed in every county, to receive and pay for the saltpetre which shall be brought to him with a i;;.V| SE< OND PROA l\< I \l. CONGRESS 101 ^factor) certificate thai the same was actually manufactured mi this l>r<>\ ince. The committee on the state of the province reported :i^:iii» the form i. f a receipt, two of the - me tenor and date to be signed bj the re- ceiver general; one of which is t" be lodged with the town or districl treasurer <>r clerk, « ho shall send their monej , and the other t<> be kepi l>v the constable, collector, <>r other officer, who shall paj the same to him; which was read and accepted, and is as followeth: Resolved, Thai jiij is proper and expedient, thai Henrj Gardner, I'. i eivei general of this province, should, far tin- greater secnritj <>\ the province, give two sev< ral receipts for all Buch Bums "f mon< be for the futuri for the use of the province ; and for tli, ction "i' all such persons as .-hall make paymenb in the -nil receiver general, il i- herebj recommended t<. the Baid Henry I . rdner,] <>r his successor in office, thai he make l><>tli Buch receipts as d maj be to the form following; to wit : 177 — ,ReceivedofA B , the sum of being |>art |jor the whole of the proi ince tax sel on the town >>\ C by the general court in the year 17 — , for which sum, I have given lli'' -aid A — 15 — another receipt of the same tenor ami date « itli tin-. One of which receipts, the person paying the said money, is request- ed to lodge with tin- treasurer <>r clerk of the town or dNirii-t on whose »un1 the inoii.'\ shall be paid, or such other person as the inhabit- ants of such town or district shall appoint. Ordered, Thai Mr. Adams, Major Hawley, Mr. Gerry, Hon. Mr. Cushing, Mr Paine, Col. Palmer, and Mr. Freeman, be a committee to bring in a resolve holding up to the people of this province, the imminent danger the) are in, from the presenl disposition of the British 1 1 1 i 1 1 i - t r \ and parliament, and that there i- reason to fear thai they will attempt our sudden destruction: and the importance it i^ to the in- habitants of tin- colony to prepare themselves for the lasl event. Tli.- committee on the state of the province, reported a resolve rela- tive to pedlers, &c, which was read, considered, and accepted; and ordered to in- published in all the newspapers, and is as followeth, \ iz. : \\ bereas, the practice of pedlers ami pert] chapmen, in going from town to town. Belling Easl India goods and teas, ami various -or European manufactures, in dired opposition to the "•,„„! and whole- of this province, wherebj they are liable to the forfeiture of all their goods, besides being subjed to the penalty of twentj pound-. 102 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 15, does manifestly tend to interrupt and defeat the measures necessary to recover and secure the rights and liberties of the inhabitants of these colonies : and whereas, the law relating to pedlers and petty chap- men, cannot, at present, be effectually carried into execution : It is therefore hereby earnestly recommended to the committees of inspection of the several towns and districts in this province, that they be very vigilant and industrious to discover and find out, when any pedlers and petty chapmen shall come into their respective towns and districts ; and that the said committees, whenever they shall find out that any pedler or petty chapman shall be in the town or district for which such committee is appointed, that such committee, without fail, make a thorough and careful search and examination of the packs, baggage, and all the goods, wares, and merchandize of such pedler and petty chapman, and in case such committee shall find any India teas or European manufactures, in the possession of such pedler or petty chapman, it is further recommended to such committee to pre- vent, by all reasonable means, such pedler and petty chapman, from vending any such teas and manufactures ; and it is hereby recommend- ed to the inhabitants of this province, not to trade with such pedlers and petty chapmen for any article whatever. Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Browne, and Mr. Bigelow, be a committee to direct and forward the pamphlets printed by order of Congress to the several towns and districts in the province. The order of the day was moved for. Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Pitts, and Col. Mansfield, be a com- mittee to count and sort the votes for a general officer in addition to those already appointed. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for a general officer. The committee having counted and sorted the same, report- ed, that the Hon. John Whitcomb, Esq , was chosen. Ordered, That the member from the town of || a Bolton|| be desired to wait on the Hon. John Whitcomb, Esq., with a copy of || b his being elected|| a general officer, and || c desire|| his answer, whether he will accept that trust, as soon as may be. I^The committee appointed in the morning to bring in a resolve holding up to the people the imminent danger they are in, &x., re- ported : the report was read,|| accepted, and ordered to be printed in all the newspapers, and is as followeth, viz : Boston. || li ||the resolve electing him.|| c ||request.|| il \\Ordrred, Thai the report of the committee appointed to bring in ;; resolve, holding up to the people th'' imminent danger thej were in,&c.,be now read ; which was done accordingly, aml|| 1776.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 103 Whereas, il appears to this Congress, from the present disposition of the British ministry and parliament, thai there ie real cause to fear that the most reasonable and ju>t applications of this continent to Great Britain, for "peace, liberty, and Bafety," will not meet with ;i favorable reception; but, on the contrary, from tin- lar^e reenfoi.,- ments of troops expected in this colony, the tenor « »r mt«-U ii5<-nct- from G t Britain, ami general appearances, we have reason t<> apprehend that tin' sudden destruction of this colony in particular i- intended, ||*|| for refusing, with the other American colonies, tamelj to submit to tin- most ignominious -la\ cry ; Therefore, Resolved^ That the great law of self-preservation, calls upon the inhabitants of this colony, immediately to prepare against every attempt that may be made to attack them by surprise; ami it is, upon serious deliberation, mosi earnestly recommended to the militia in general, a- well as tin- detached part of it in minute men, that they -pare neither time, pains, nor expense, at so critical a juncture, in per- fecting themselves forthwith in military discipline, ami that skillful in- structors be provided for those companies which may not already be provided therewith : ami it is recommended t<> the towns ami districts m tin-- colony, that they i nooura:_ r e BUCh persons as are skilled iii the manufacturing of firearms ami bayonets, diligentlj to apply themselves thereto, tor supplying BUch of the inhabitants as may -till he deficient An. I for the encouragement of American manufacturers!! of tire trm- ami bayonets, it is further Resolved, that this Congress will give the preference t". ami purchase from them, bo man] effective arm- ami bayonets is can be delivered in a reasonable time, upon notice given to tin- Congress at it< next session. The committee appointed to take into consideration the address from tin- committee of correspondence of the town of Scituate, ami other town- iii that \ Minify, reported : their report w a- read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be published in the newspapers, ami is as follow- eth, \ 1/ Voted, That the Congress do highly approve of the vigilance and activit] of the selectmen and the committees of correspondence of the several town- of Plymouth, KuiL r< ion, Duxbury, Pembroke, Hanover, ami Scituate, in detecting the falsehoods ami malicious artifices of certain persons belonging to Rfarshfield ami Scituate, not respectable either in their numbers or their character.-, w ho are, with great reason, supposed to have 1 n the persons who prevailed upon General (ia^e to take tin- imprudent step, of Bending a number of the king's troops • ||nuTely.|| I' |manul ictwti || 104 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 15, into Marshfield, under pretence of protecting them : whereby great and just offence has been given to the good people of this province, as very fatal consequences must have arisen therefrom, if the same male- volent spirit which seems to have influenced them, had actuated the inhabitants of the neighboring towns; or if the same indiscretion which betrayed the general into the unwarrantable measure of sending the troops, had led this people to destroy them. Voted, That the Congress do earnestly recommend it to the select- men and committees of correspondence in the several towns of Ply- mouth, Kingston, Duxbury, Pembroke, Hanover, and Scituate, steadi- ly to persevere in the same line of conduct which has, in this instance, so justly entitled them to the esteem of their fellow countrymen, and to keep a watchful eye upon the behavior of those who are aiming at the destruction of our liberties. 1 (]) The petition, upon which the votes of Congress were founded, has not heen preserved. An address from the same towns, to General Gage, probably contains the substance of the memorial presented to the assembly of delegates. It is copied from the Boston Evening Post, February 27, 1775. " To his excellency Thomas Gage, Esq : may it please your excellency : — "We, his majesty's loyal subjects, selectmen of the several towns of Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury, Pembroke, Hanover, and Scituate, deeply affected with a sense of the increasing dangers and calamities which menace one of the most promising countries upon earth with political exci- sion, cannot but lament, that, while we are endeavoring to preserve peace and maintain the author- ity of the laws, at a period when the bonds of government are relaxed, by violent infractions on the charter of the province, our enemies are practising every insidious stratagem to seduce the people into acts of violence and outrage." " We beg leave to address your excellency, on a subject which excites our apprehensions ex- tremely : and, in the representation of facts, we promise to pay thai sacred regard to truth, which, had our adversaries observed, we flatter ourselves, it would have precluded the necessity of our addressing your excellency, on this occasion." "We are informed, from good authority, that a number of people from Marshfield and Scituate, ha\> pplication to your excellency, soliciting the aid of a detachment of his majesty's troops, for the security and protection of themselves and properties. That their fears and intimi- dation were entirely groundless, thai no design or plan of molestation, was formed against them, or existed but in their own imagination-;, their own declarations, and their actions, which have a more striking langua dantly demonstrate. Several men of unquestionable veracity, resid- ing in the town of Marshfield, have solemnly called God to witness, before one of bis majesty's justices of the p iace, th il thi . not only never heard of any intention to disturb the complainants, but repi itedly iw them aftei they pretended to be under apprehensions of danger, attending to tie ir pri . without arm , and even after they had lodged I heir arms a irw miles from their respective house • They frequently declared, in conversation with the deponents, that they wen- not apprehensive of receiving any injury in their persons or properties, and one of them, who is a minor, as many of them are, being persuaded to save bis life by adjoining himself to the peti- tioni rs, but afterwards abandoning them by the request of his father, deposeth, in like solemn man ner, that he was under no intimidation himself, nor did he ever bear any one of them Bay that he . It appears as evident, as if written with a Bunbeam, i thi i il tenor of the testimony, which we are willing to lay before your excellency if desired, that their expressions ol fear, were llacious pretext, dictated l>y the invi ti n I mies of our constitution, to induce your excel- lency to send troops into the country, to augment the difficulties of out situation, already very dis- tressing; and, what confirms this truth, if it needs any confirmation, is, the assiduity and pains 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 106 Ordered, Thai Mr. Adams, Mr Gerry, Son. Mr. Cashing, Mr. Paine, Bon. Col. Ward, Col, Prescot, and Major Bolten, be a com- mittee to win "ii the Hon. Col. Williams, and [Nathaniel] Wales, Esq., and inform them thai the Congress have had notice of their being in town as a committee from Connecticut, in order to hare a conference wiili us: and thai we are reads to confer with them by a committee, at such tune and place as shall be mosl agreeable to them. Ordered, Thai no member of thia Congri aa depart therefrom until the conference with the committee from Connecticut is over. The committee appointed to wait upon the gentlemen from Connec- ticut, reported, thai thej bad attended thai Bervice, and delivered the message with which they were charged; and that the gentlemen pro- pose tins evening to meet the committee from this Congress al -uch j on shall appoint dered, That the committee on the Btate of the province he the committee from this Congress, to meet the gentlemen from ( 'onnecti- cut. this evening, al ('apt. Stedman's, for the proposed conference. ||The Congress then adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Thursday, February 16, 1775, A. M. Idjourned to twelve o'clock, at noon. Mel 'upon the adjournment Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Doct Warren, and .Mr. Lothrop, be a committee to bring in a resolve purporting the business and duty of a committee to be appointed to correspond with the House of Assem- bly of Connecticut; and, if necessary, with the other neighboring colonii /.' ed f Thai al three o'clock this afternoon the Congress will conn- to the choice, bj ballot, of a committee to correspond with the neighboring governments. Afternoon. Ordered, Thai Mr. Put-, .Mr. Gill, and Major Fuller, be a com mi t- u ||agree tbl) • which wi an to iuv< We hare Industriously scrutinized into the can* I ih ii it h i foundation in reali " VII that wo havo in view in this address if, to laj rour excellency a trui that opprobrium, which this more nl of the militarj refit country: aa a spirit of enmity and falsehood intry, and as everj thing which cos ii iturallj 'a and impoi our excelli ni \ to le irch into the grounds of every report, previous lo n! tO H." ■• Morshfield ▼. I from tho British regiment* in Boston, J I I 106 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 16, tee to count and sort the votes for the committee to correspond with the neighboring governments. Ordered, That Major Hawley, Mr. Browne, and Col. Paterson, be a committee to bring in a resolve relative to the adjournment, and em- powering the members of Charlestown and others, to call the Congress together at an earlier day than [that] to which it may be adjourned. Ordered, That Col. Gardner, Major Holten and Capt. Batchelder, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and return him the thanks of this Congress for his services as their chaplain during this session. The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes for a commit- tee to correspond with the neighboring governments : after sorting and counting the same, the committee reported, that the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq., [Mr.] Samuel Adams, Doct. Joseph Warren, Mr. Elbridge Gerry and Col. William Heath, [were elected.] Upon a motion, the question was put, whether the vote in the morn- ing, relative to the choice of a committee to correspond with the neighboring governments, by ballot, be so far reconsidered, as that the three persons now to be appointed thereon, be chosen by hand vote, and that Mr. Richard Devens, Col. Joseph Palmer, and Mr. Moses Gill, be of the committee, and passed in the affirmative. Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, be and he hereby is directed to pay into the hands of the committee of correspond- ence of the town of Boston, the sum of twenty pounds, lawful money, to enable the said committee to correspond with the inhabitants of Canada, they to be accountable for said sum to this or some other congress. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve setting forth the business and duty of the committee appointed to correspond with the neighboring governments, reported ; [which report was] read and ac- cepted, and is as followeth, viz : While the iron hand of power is stretched out against these Ameri- can colonies, and the abettors of tyranny and oppression are practising every art to sow the seeds of jealousy and discord among the several parts of this country, it is incumbent on us to take every step in our power to counteract them in their wicked designs; and, as we are con- vinced, that the union now established throughout the several colonies can never be maintained without frequent communication of senti- ments between them, nor can any plan formed for their common bene- 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS ur. fit [be] carried into execution without a previous knowledge of the general disposition of the coloni> Resolved, Thai the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Hon. Mr. Cushing, Mr. Ad mi-. .Mr. (icrry. Doct. Warren. Col. Heath, Mr. Devens, Col. Palmer and .Mr. Gill, or the majority of them, be and are hereby ap- pointed to act as a committee of correspondence with the other colo- nies on this continent during the recess of this Congress ; and they are hereby empowered and directed, t'> consult with, and make propo- sal- to -mli committees as now are or -hall hereafter he appointed as committees of correspondence in the several American colonies, and to make report "f their doings to tin- Congress at their next -'--ions. The report of the committee recommending a day of fasting ami prayer to he kept throughout tin- province, which was ordered to lie « » 1 1 ih'- table, [was J now taken up, considered, ami accepted, ami 1- as followed!, \ 1/ Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God, the just and good governor of the world, to permit -o great a calamity to befal us as the present controversy between Great Britain and these colonies, and which threatens us with the evils of war; And whereas, it has been the annual and laudable custom of this colony, at the opening of the spring, to observe a day of fasting ami prayer, t<> humble themselves before God for their Bins, ami to implore In- forgh eness and blessing ; It is, therefore, /»' oh d, i£ the sense of tin- Congress, that it is high!] and peculiarly proper, and a dutj incumbent upon this people ue cially at a time of -mli general distress, that a daj of pub- lic fasting ami prayer Bhould he observed ami kepi throughout thiscol- ony, ii"i mils on account of the present calamity, hut also in conform- ity t" the laudable custom of our ancestors; ami it is according recommended to the several religious assemblies in the same, that Thursday, the sixteenth day of March next, be observed as a day of fasting and prayer to humble ours< Ives hefore God, on account of our -iu~: i" implore hi- forgiveness; to beg his blessing upon the labors of the field, upon our merchandize, fisher} ami manufactures, ami upon the \arioii- means used to recover and pre-er\e our jn-t rights and liberties; ami also, that In- blessing maj rest upon all the British empire, upon George the Third, our rightful king, and upon all the royal family, that the} may all he L r r .-at ami lasting blessings to the world to implore the outpourings of his -pun, to enable us t" beai ' In th the journal the preamble ii placed ifter thi n -■■ 108 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 16, and suffer whatever his holy and righteous Providence may see fit to lay upon us ; and also humbly to supplicate his direction and assist- ance, to discover and reform whatever is amiss, that so he may be pleased to remove these heavy afflictions, those tokens of his displeas- ure, and may cause harmony and union to be restored between Great Britain and these colonies, and that we may again rejoice in the free and undisturbed exercise of all those rights and privileges, for the en- joyment of which, our pious and virtuous ancestors braved every dan- ger, and transmitted the fair possession down to their children, to be by them handed down entire to the latest posterity. Ordered, That Mr. Devens, Mr. Gorham and Mr. Watson, be a committee to direct the [printed copies of the] resolve recommending a day of fasting and prayer, and send them to the several religious as- semblies in this province. Upon a motion made, the question was put, whether the injunction of secrecy now on the members of this Congress be taken off, and that they disclose such parts of their doings as shall appear to them to have a tendency to promote the public interest, and passed in the affir- mative. Ordered, That Col. Gardner, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Osgood, be a committee, to return the thanks of this body to the proprietors of the meeting-house in Cambridge, for their favors in indulging the Congress with the use thereof during their session. Ordered, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of this prov- ince, be and he is hereby directed, to pay unto Mr. William Darling, the sum of two pounds and sixteen shillings, lawful money, in full for his services as doorkeeper. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to the ad- journment of this Congress, and empowering the members from Charlestown, and others, to call the Congress together sooner than the day to which it may be adjourned, reported ; the report was read and accepted, and is as followeth, viz. : Resolved, That this Congress be adjourned from this day to the twenty-second day of March next, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, to meet at Concord, in the county of Middlesex ; and considering the great uncertainty of the present times, and that important unforeseen events may take place, from whence it may be absolutely necessary that this Congress .should meet sooner than the day abovesaid, not- withstanding the adjournment aforesaid : It is farther Re.«dr< d, That the members of this Congress for the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury and Dorches- 1775.] SECOND 1*K< i V INC l.\L CONGRESS 109 tei . >)' them, be ami [they ) are hereby authorized, in i they -lull judge it necessary, to give notice to the Beveral members of tin- Congress, in such way a- they -hall think proper, t<> meet at Con- cord, aforesaid, at anj 'earlier day than the abovesaid twenty-second ila\ of .March next, which shall he by them appointed; ami ii i- fur- ther recommended t<> the members of tin- ( !ongr< ■-- that they conform themseh es t" said notice. The president then declared the Congress adjourned accordingly. \\ i DOT -i.\i. March •."J. 177.'.. \. M. Congress met ;j'accordiii adjournment Ordered, That Col. Barrett, lion. Mr. Dexter ami Mr. Stickney, be a committee, to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, and desire his attend- ance . 177.".. \ ML Ordered, That when this Congress *adjourn,|| it be adjourned t . » Monda] next, at three o'clock in 1 1 1 « - afternoon. Ordertil, Tin! tin- members be enjoined t" attend punctually at the adjournment Monday, March !7, I77.">. I*. Rff. The committee appointed to prepare a Btate <>t' the imports, exports, ,\ . reported : Ordered, thai the further consideration thereof be re- ferred to Wednesdaj next, [at] three o'clock in the altera i. The committee appointed t" prepare .-nine rules, & c for a constitu- tional army, reported ; the report [was] read: Ordered, that the far- ther consideration of the report be on the morrow | f<>ur o'clock, 1' M., ami that the committee make Buch additions thereto a- they shall think necessary. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. [The Beveral] committees [were] enjoined to >it. Ti i boat, March 28, 177.">. A. M. The several committee- [were] enjoined to sit. Adjourned to three o'clock [tins afternoon.] Afternoon. According to the order of the day, [the Congress] went into the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to prepare rule- and re_nil itmn- for a constitutional artn\ . vV C. The above reporl was recommitted for amendments. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Wednesday, March 29, [1775,] \. M. imed the consideration of the report of the committee, rela- tive to rules, d&c. ; considered the same in paragraphs, [and] passed [tin- - nne] in part. Adjourned to three o'clock [this aft. Tiioon. ] Afternoon. The ||*above report|| relative to rules, &c, passed in whole, but | wa-] ordered t.» be recommitted for a • addition-. Ordered, Thai ('apt. < >«■ a committee to bring in a resolve, introductorj to the publishing the names of the mandamus counselli The vote of Tuesdaj relative to information being given to the • ii.ill i.lj...irn li. 112 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [March 30, committee on the state of the province, || a was|| so far reconsidered as that the information be given to the committee appointed to receive the returns from the colonels. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Thursday, March 30, 1775, A. M. The doorkeeper [was] directed to call in the members : they [were] enjoined to attend. The committee on the state of the province re- ported a resolve, relative to what movements of the troops should make it fit to call the militia together, to act on the defensive ; report read and considered in paragraphs, and passed unanimously in the affirmative. Upon a motion made and seconded, Resolved, that immediately, when notice shall be given for the assembling the forces of this colo- ny, the members of this Congress repair, without delay, to the place to which they shall be adjourned. • Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.] Afternoon. The committee appointed yesterday to draw an introduction to pub- lishing the names of the mandamus counsellors, reported ; [the report was] recommitted, and the committee [were] directed to bring in a report by way of order, &c. The committee appointed to receive the [returns of] exports and imports, &c, in the colony, reported ; [the report was] referred to Wednesday next at three o'clock. Several committees [were] enjoined to sit and perfect their reports without delay, in order, if possible, that the Congress may rise to- morrow. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Friday, March 31, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve as introductory to publishing the names of the mandamus counsellors, [reported a re- solve, which] being amended, was read and accepted, and is as follows : In Provincial Congress, Concord, March 31, 1775. Resolved, That the names of the following persons be published in all the Boston newspapers, who, having been appointed counsellors by his majesty's mandamus, and having accepted, and acted under said commissions, have proved themselves implacable enemies to the liber- a ||b0.|| 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGREg 113 ties of thru country, by refusing to publish a renunciation of their commission-, agreeably to a resolve of a former Provincial Congn thai Hi.- secretary !»■ directed to transmit authenticated copies of this resolve, with the names annexed, to all the printers in Boston, ami that thej I"- desired to insert the same in their papers, that every town may be po : "f .1 ( '.,;,\ of their names, which are to be entered upon the town and district records, that thej may be sent down to posteri- ty if possible, with the infamy they deeervi [They are as follow :] Thomas Flucker, Poster Hutchinson, Harrison Gray, William Brown, James Boutineau, Joshua Loriu_r, William Pepperell, John Erving, Jun., Peter Oliver, Richard Lechmere, Josiah Edson, Nathan- iel R i\ Thomas, Timothy Ruggles, John Murray, ami Daniel Leonard, Esquii i The committee appointed to receive the returns from the several »nels, &c, reported; the report was recommitted to be com- pleted. \ memorial from the selectmen of the town of Billerica, [was] read, ami committed to Mr. Marcy, Capt. llatchelder, Capt. Osgood, < jit. Manning and Mr. freeman. Ordered, That the receiver general be directed to lay a state of the treasury before this Congress. The members [were] enjoined to attend until the farther order of tin- ( 'on_'i. I Ijourned to three o'clock [this afternoi Afternoon. The committee on the Btate of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to tin- payment of the public monies immediately to Mr. Gardner: read ami accepted, and Ordered, that it he printed in hand hills, and a cop) thereof sent to each town, directed to the committee of corres- pondence, it' anj : if not, to the selectmen ; to he laid before the several tow ns [n Provincial Congress, Concord, March 31, 1775. Whereas, this Congress is informed that many collectors and con- Btables, having in their hands considerable sum- of the public moneys of this colony, have hitherto neglected to pay the same to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow; and the Congress, earnestly attentive to the of the inhabitants of the colony, an- desirous of completing the preparations ntially necessarj to the public safety, without call- ing on thnn fur other moneys, than BUch as are now due to the col on v . I.". 114 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 1, It is, therefore, Resolved, That the constables and collectors aforesaid, ought, by no means, to be longer indulged in their unreasonable neglect of complying with the most important plans of this colony ; and it is hereby strongly recommended, to the several towns and districts of the same, that they oblige said constables and collectors forthwith to pay the balances aforesaid, due from them respectively, to the receiver gen- eral ; and it is also most earnestly recommended to those towns and districts, having any public moneys belonging to the colony yet uncol- lected, that they do not fail to hire and pay the same to the said Henry Gardner, Esq., without delay; and that they vigorously exert them- selves to suppress every opposition to measures recommended by the Continental and Provincial Congresses, as they regard the freedom and happiness of themselves and future generations. Ordered, That Mr. Gorham, Mr. Devens and Mr. Watson, be a committee to forward the hand bills to the several towns, &c. Resolved, That each member be desired to urge the town, of which he is a representative, if they have not paid their money to Henry Gardner, that they would immediately pay it; and if it cannot be soon collected, that they be desired to borrow it ; and if there is any town which does not incline to pay their public moneys to Mr. Gardner, they are desired to give their reasons for such refusal to this Congress, at the next session thereof. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Saturday, April 1, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed to report rules, &c, for the provincial army, having made the additions directed, the same were read and put in whole and passed ; they were then ordered to be recommitted, for the bringing a form of oaths, and a resolve relative to witnesses. The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to furnishing the indians with blankets who have enlisted as min- ute men, &c, and an address to them ; it passed, and is as follows : In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 1, 1775. Whereas, a number of indians, natives of the town of Stockbridge, have enlisted as minute men — Resolved, that, for their encouragement, the following address to said indians be presented to them, by Col. John Paterson and Capt. William Goodridge, and that Henry Gardner, Esq., the receiver general, be, and hereby is directed, to pay the sum of twenty- three pounds, lawful money, into the hands of Col. John Paterson and Capt. William Goodridge, to be employed in purchasing a number of 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 11", blankets and some ribbons, which they are to present to the Indians en- listed as aforesaid, viz : one blanket and one yard of ribbon to each person, that is or may be enlisted; and in case the whole of the money should not be employed, in the purchase aforesaid, they are to be ac- countable for the residue. To Johoiakin Mothksin, and the rest of our brethren, the indians, natives of Stockbridge : Good Brothers — It affords us great pleasure and satisfaction, to hear by Col. Paterson and Capt. Goodridge, that our brothers, the na- tives of Stockbridge, are ready and willing to take up the hatchet in the cause of liberty and their country. We find you have not been in- attentive to the unhappy controversy we are engaged in with our mother country, by reason of sundry acts the British parliament have passed, by which, our rights and privileges have been invaded, and our property taken from us without our consent. We have frequently peti- tioned the king for redress of our grievances, and the restoration of our rights; but, instead of granting us relief, the king's ministers have sent a large fleet, and posted a great army in the town of Boston, who are daily abusing and insulting the inhabitants, in order to enforce obedience to these acts. The whole continent, from Nova Scotia to Georgia, by their delegates, have lately presented a petition to the king, praying for relief, to which we hope we shall receive a gracious answer. We wish the fire of friendship may be again kindled between both countries ; but in case our petition should not be attended to, and the ministry should determine to deprive us of our rights and property by a military force, we hold ourselves obliged to defend them at the point of the sword. This is a common cause ; a cause you are equally engaged in with ourselves ; we are all brothers, and if the parliament of Great Britain takes from us our property, and our lands, without our consent, they will do the same by you ; your property, your lands will be insecure ; in short, we shall not any of us have any thing we can call our own. Your engaging in this cause, discovers not only your attachment to your liberties, but furnishes us with an evidence of your gratitude to this province for their past favors. They have fre- quently, at your request, made laws and regulations for your protec- tion and defence against the ravages and frauds of deceitful and de- signing men. They have constantly and cheerfully afforded you aid and assistance, because you have given them abundant proof of your fidelity. We have directed Col. Paterson and Capt. Goodridge to pre- sent each of yon, that have enlisted in the service, with a blanket ami 116 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April I, a ribbon, as a testimony of our affection, and shall depend upon your firm and steady attachment to the cause you have engaged in. Ordered, That Mr. Adams, Mr. Cushing, and Col. Paterson, be a committee to draught a letter to the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, and an addresa to the chief of the Mohawk indian tribes. Moved, That the Congress now go into consideration of what ought to be the conduct of the several towns, in case general Gage should send out his precepts for convening a new assembly, on the last Wednesday of May next, and what ought to be their conduct in case he should not send out his writs. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that in case writs, in the form the law directs, should be issued, they ought to be obeyed. Resolved, That, in case writs should not be issued forth, that a Con- gress be called, on the last Wednesday of May next ; and in case gen- eral Gage should not issue precepts for calling an assembly, as the law directs, the members of the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brook- line, Roxbury, and Dorchester, be desired to publish this resolve and appoint a place where they shall assemble. Ordered, That Col. Warren, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Gill, be a com- mittee to reduce the several resolutions of this day, relative to calling a new Congress, into form, and bring in a resolve accordingly. The committee reported ; [ a the report was] read, accepted, and is as follows : In Provincial Congress, April 1, 1775. \\Resolved, As the sense of this Congress, that if writs should be issued, in form as the law directs, for calling a general assembly, to be held on the last Wednesday of May next, that the several towns in this colony ought to obey such precepts, and choose their members as usual ; and instruct them to transact no business with the council, ap- pointed by mandamus ; and if they should be dissolved, to meet in a Provincial Congress, for the purpose of considering and transacting the affairs of this colony. || In Provincial Congress, April 1, 1775. Resolved, That in case writs are not issued according to law, for calling a general assembly, on the last Wednesday of May next, it be recommended to the several towns and districts in this colony, to choose delegates for a Provincial Congress, to meet on the said last Wednesday of May next, at such place as the present members of the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, and Dorches- a ||which was. || 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CO \<.i:i:.SS. u; in, -hall appoint; who arc desired to cause this resolution t<> be pub- lished in the several newspapers, as soon as it can be ascertained that writs are nol issued for calling an assembly. An application from the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston, and others, was read: Ordered, thai the consideration ||thereof H be referred to three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. The Congress proceeded to consider the application from the com- mittee of correspondence of Boston, &c, agreeably to the order of the forenoon; Ordered, that it be committed to Col. Danielson, Mr. Gerry, Col. Foster, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Col. Warren, to consider of, and report thereon. The members enjoined to attend at the adjournment ['of this Con- gress. ] jjTIie Congress adjourned to Monday morning, nine o'clock. || Monday, April 3, 1775, A. M. Resolved, That the committee on the state of the province be desir- ed to collect all the late intelligence from Great Britain relative to their sending a reenforcement to General Gage, and on other matters which relate to this and the other colonies, and report to the Congress what is best to be done. Ordered, That Doct. Church, Col. Pomeroy, and Doct. Warren, be a committee to bring in a resolve to be inserted in the Salem pa] requiring the attendance of all the absent members, and a recommen- dation to the several town- and districts, who have not yel sen! num- bers to the Provincial Congress, that they elect them, and direct their immediate attendance. Ordered, Thai Major Bliss, Mr. Freeman, and Capt. Osgood, be a committee to bring in a resolve, to be forwarded by an express, to call in the absent members from the counties of Hampshire, Berkshire, Worcester, and Bristol. Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.] Ordered, That the committee on the memorial of the town of Bille- rica, be joined to the committee appointed to take into consideration the memorial from the town of Boston ami other-. Ordered, That the committee be enjoined to sit immediately. a llwbicfa will be at 9 o'clock A. M. M \'.|| 118 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 4, Ordered, That Col. Foster be excused from [serving on the] last mentioned committee. II s Ordered, That|| Col. Cushing be added to them. ||Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Tuesday, April 4, 1775, A. M. Upon a motion made that Capt. Goodridge have liberty to augment his company to one hundred men, and that they be considered as ran- gers; thereupon, Ordered, that Capt. Goodridge apply to Col. Pater- son on this affair, who will have an opportunity to consult the field officers of those regiments of the militia, from which said company is to be enlisted, and that this matter be settled as they shall think best. The committee appointed to prepare an address to the Mohawks, and a letter to the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, reported ; [the report was] read, and Ordered that the address be recommitted for amendments. ||Congress|| adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.] Afternoon. A letter to the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, and an address to the Mohawks, amended, [were] reported, and passed, and are as follow : Concord, April 4, 1775. Rev. Sir : The Provincial Congress have thought it necessary to address the sachem of the Mohawk tribe, with the rest of the five na- tions, upon the subject of the controversy between Great Britain and the American colonies. We were induced to take this measure, as we have been informed that those, who are inimical to us in Canada, have been tampering with those nations, and endeavoring to attach them to the interest of those, who are attempting to deprive us of our inestimable rights and privileges, and to subjugate the colonies to arbi- trary power. From a confidence in your attachment to the cause of liberty, and your country, we now transmit to you the enclosed ad- dress, and desire you would deliver it to the sachem of the Mohawk tribe, to be communicated to the rest of the five nations, and that you would use your influence with them, to join with us in the defence of our rights; but if you cannot prevail with them to take an active part in this glorious cause, that you would, at least, engage them to stand neuter, and not, by any means, to aid and assist our enemies — and as we are at a loss for the name of the sachem of the Mohawk tribe, we have left it to you to direct the address to him, in such way as you may think proper. a lland that. II 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS lig Bbothebs ■ — We, the delegates of the inhabitants of the proi ince of the Massachusett- May. heingcome together, to consider wli.it may lie best tor von ami ourselves to do in order to get ourselves rid of those hard- ships which we feel and fear, have thought it our duty to tell you, our good brothers, what our fathers in Great Britain have done and threaten to do with us. Brothers: — you have heard how our fathers were obliged, by the cru- elty of their brethren, to leave their country; how they crossed the greal lake and came here ; how they purchased this land with their own money, and how, since that tune, they, and we, their sous anil i_rrand- sons, have built our houses, ami cut down the trees, and cleared and improved the land, at their and our own expense : how we have foughl for them, and conquered Canada and a greal many other place-, which they have had, ami have not paid us for; after all which, and many other troubles, we thought we had reason to hope, that they would be kind to us, and allow us to enjoy ourselves, and sit in our own houses, and eat our own victuals in peace and quiet; but, alas! our brothers, we are greatly distressed, and we will tell you our grief, for you, as well as we, are in great danger. Brothers: — our fathers in Great Britain tell us, our land, and houses, and cattle, and money, are not our own; that we, ourselves, are not our own men, but their servants; they have endeavored to take away our money without our leave, and have sent their great vessels and a greal many warriors for that purpose. Brothers: — we used to send our vessels on the greal lake, whereby we wire able to get clothes and what we needed for ourselves and you ; but such has lately been their conduct, that we cannot: they have told ii-. we -hall have no more guns, no powder to use and kill our wolves and other game, nor to send to you, for you to kill your victuals with, and to get skins to trade with us, to buy you blanket-, and what you want. How can you live without powder and guns ? But we hope to -upply you soon with both of our own making. Brothers : — they have made a law to establish the religion of the pop, in Canada, which lies so near you. We much fear some of your chil- dren may be induced, instead of w or-hip|>iiiL r the only true God, to paj his due to images made with their own hands. Brothers: — these and many other hardships we are threatened with, which, no do u lit, in the end, w ill equally affect you; lor the same rea- -011 thej would ^(•tnur lands, they will take awa\ yours. All we want is, that we ami you may enjoy that liberty and security, which we have a right to enjoy, ami that we may not lose that good land which en- 120 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 5, ables us to feed our wives and children ; we think it our duty to inform you of our danger, and desire you to give notice to all your kindred ; and as we ||much|| fear they will attempt to cut our throats, and if you should allow them to do that, there will nobody remain to keep them from you, we therefore earnestly desire you to whet your hatchet and be prepared with us to defend our liberties and lives. Brothers : — we humbly beseech that God, who lives above and does what is right here below, to enlighten your minds to see that you ought |]to endeavor|| to prevent our fathers from bringing those miseries upon us, and to his good providence we commend you. The committee appointed to draught rules for the army, &c, again reported ; recommitted to bring in the form of two oaths. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Wednesday, April 5, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed to prepare rules and regulations for the Massachusetts army, having brought in the form of two oaths as direct- ed, the report in whole [was read] and passed, and is as followeth : ||1n Provincial Congress, Concord, April 5, 1775. || Whereas, the lust of power, which of old oppressed, persecuted, and exiled our pious and virtuous ancestors from their fair possessions in Britain, now pursues with ten fold severity, us, their guiltless children, who are unjustly and wickedly charged with licentiousness, sedition, treason, and rebellion ; and being deeply impressed with a sense of the almost incredible fatigues and hardships our venerable progenitors en- countered, who fled from oppression for the sake of civil and religious liberty, for themselves and their offspring, and began a settlement here on bare creation, at their own expense; and having seriously consider- ed the duty we owe to God, to the memory of such invincible worthies, to the king, to Great Britain, our country, ourselves, and posterity, do think it our indispensable duty, by all lawful ways and means, in our power, to recover, maintain, defend, and preserve, the free exercise of all those civil and religious rights and liberties, for which many of our forefathers fought, bledj and died, and to hand them down en- tire, for the free enjoyment of the latest posterity ; and whereas, the keeping a standing army in any of these colonies in times of peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony in which such army is kept, is against law; and whereas, such an army, with a large naval force, is now placed in the town and harbor of Boston, for the purpose of subjecting us to the power of the British parliament : and, 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 121 whereas, we are frequently told by the tools of administration, dupes to ministerial usurpation, thai Great Britain will not, in an] degrt relax iii her measures, until we acknowledge her "right of mak- ing laws binding upon us in all cases whatever;" and thai, 1! we refuse by our denial of her claim, the dispute must be decid- ed by arms; in which, il is said by our enemies, "we shall have no chance, being undisciplined, cowards, disobedient, impatient of command, and possessed of that spirit of ||*levelling|| which admits of no order, subordination, rule or government; and, whereas, . frotn|| the ministerial army and fleet now at Boston, the large reenforcement of troops expected, the late circular letters to the governors upon the continent, the general tenor of intelligence fromGreal Britain, and the hostile preparations making here: as also, from the threats and repeat- ed insults of our enemies, in the capital town, we have reason to ap- prehend, that the sudden destruction of this province is in contempla- tion, if not determined upon: And, whereas, the great law of self-preservation may suddenly re- quire our raising and keeping an army of observation and defence, in order to prevent or repel any further attempts to || b enforce|| the late cruel and oppressive acts of the British parliament, which are evident- ly designed to subject us and the whole continent to the most ignomini- ous slavery; and, whereas, in case of raising and keeping such an ar- my, it will be necessary that the officers and soldiers in the same, be fully acquainted with their duty, and thai the article-, rules, and regu- lations thereof, be mad.' as plain as possible : and having great confi- dence in the honor and public virtue of the inhabitant- of this colony, that they will readily obey the officers, chosen by themselves, and will cheerfully do their duty when known, without any such severe articles and rules, (except in capital cases,) and cruel punishments as are usu- ally practised in standing armies; and will submit to all such rules and regulations as are founded in reason, honor and virtue : it is therefore, "Resolved, that the following articles, rules, and regulations for the ar- my, that may be raised for the defence and security of our lives, liber- ties, and estates, be, and hereby are, earnestly recommended to be strictly adhered to by all officers, soldiers, and others concerned, as they regard their own honor and the public good. Art. I. AU officers and soldiers, not having just impediment, ball diligently frequent divine service and Bermon, in the places ap- pointed for the assembling of the regiment, troop, or company, to which Mi 122 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 5, they belong, and such as wilfully absent themselves, or, being present, behave indecently or irreverently, shall, if commissioned officers, [be] brought before a regimental court martial, there to be publicly and se- verely reprimanded by the president ; if non commissioned officers or soldiers, every person so offending shall, for his first offence, forfeit one shilling, to be deducted out of his wages ; for the second offence, he shall not only forfeit one shilling, but be confined twenty-four hours ; and for every like offence [after,] shall suffer and pay in like manner ; which money so forfeited, shall be applied to the use of the sick sol- diers of the troop or company to which the offender belongs. Art. 2. Whatsoever non commissioned officer or soldier shall use any unlawful oath or execration, shall incur the penalties expressed in the || a first|| article: and if a commissioned officer be thus guilty of pro- fane cursing and swearing, he shall forfeit and pay for each and every such offence four shillings, lawful money. Art. 3. Any officer or soldier who shall behave himself with contempt or disrespect toward the general or generals, or commanders in chief of the Massachusetts forces, or shall speak words tending to his or their hurt or dishonor, shall be punished, according to the nature of his offence, by the judgment of a general court martial. 1 Art. 4. Any officer or soldier, who shall begin, excite, cause, || b or join in any|| mutiny or sedition, in the regiment, troop, or company, to which he belongs, or in any other regiment, troop, or company of the Massachusetts forces, either by land or sea, or in any party, post, detachment, or guard, on any pretence whatever, shall suffer such pun- ishment as by a general court martial shall be ordered. Art. 5. Any officer, non commissioned officer, or soldier, who, be- ing present at any mutiny or sedition, does not use his utmost endeav- ors to suppress the same, or, coming to the knowledge of any mutiny, does not, without delay, give information thereof to his commanding officer, shall be punished by order of a general court martial, accord- ing to the nature of his offence. Art. 6. Any officer or soldier, who shall strike his superior officer, or draw, or offer to draw, [his sword,] or shall lift up any weapon, or offer any violence against him, being in the execution of his office, on any pretence whatever, or shall disobey any lawful commands of his superior officer, shall suffer such punishment, as shall, according to the nature of his offence, be ordered by the sentence of a general court martial. eceding.|| 1> ||any mutiny, or sedition, or join in such.|| (1) In the copy, th" third article i- numbered Fourth, and the fourth article inserted in the place of the third. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 128 Aim 7. Any non commissioned officer or soldier, who shall desert, or without leave from his commanding officer, absenl himself, from the troop or company t<> which he belongs, or from any detachment of the same, shall, upon being convicted thereof, he punished, according to ih" nature of his offenc •, al tii" discretion of a general court martial. Art. 6. Whatever officer or soldier shall be convicted of having ad- vised, or persuaded any other otHcer or soldier to desert, shall Buffer such punishment as shall be ordered by the sentence of a general court martial. Art. '.». All officers, of what condition soever, shall have power to part and quell all quarrels, frays, and disorders, though the persons concerned should belong to another regiment, troop, or company, and order officers to be arrested, or non commissioned officers or soldiers to be confined, and imprisoned, till their proper superior officers can be made acquainted therewith ; and whoever shall refuse to obey such officer, though of an inferior rank, or shall draw his sword upon him, shall be punished at the discretion of a general court martial. Art. 10. No officer or soldier shall use any reproachful or provok- ing speeches or gestures; nor shall presume to send a challenge to any person to fight a duel ; || a ||and whoever shall knowingly and willingly suffer any person whatsoever, to go forth to fight a duel ; || b or shall second, promote, or carry any challenge, || shall be deemed as a princi- pal : and whatsoever officer or soldier shall upbraid another for refus- ing a challenge, shall be considered as a challenger : and all such of- fenders in any of these or the like cases, shall be punished at the dis- cretion of a general court martial. Art. I I. Every officer, commanding in quarters or on a march, shall keep good order, and, to the utmost of his power, redress all such abuses or disorders, which may be committed to any officer or soldier under his command; if, upon any complaint made to him of officers or soldier- | beating | or otherwise ill treating any person, or of commit- ting any kind of riots, to the disquieting of the inhabitants of this con- tinent, he, the said commander, shall refuse or omit to see justice done to the offender or offenders, and reparation made to the par- ty or parties injured, as soon as the offender's wanes shall enable him or them, [he ] sh ill, upon due proof thereof, be punished, as ordered bj a general court martial, in such manner, as if he himself had committed the crimes or disorder- complained of. Art. 12. If any officer should think himself to be wronged by his or carry any challerij il si ml any such conduct.|| c ||bteaking.|| 124 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 5, colonel or the commanding officer of the regiment, and shall, upon due application made to him, be refused to be redressed, he may complain to the general or commander in chief of the Massachusetts forces, in order to obtain justice, who is hereby required to examine into the com- plaint and see that justice be done. Art. 13. If any inferior officer or soldier shall think himself wronged by his captain or other officer commanding the troop or company to which he belongs, he is to complain thereof to the commanding officer of the regiment, who is hereby required to summon a regimental court mar- tial for the doing justice to the || a complainant;|| from which regimental court martial, either party may, if he thinks himself still aggrieved, appeal to a general court martial ; but if, upon a second hearing, the appeal shall appear to be vexatious and groundless, the person so ap- pealing shall be punished at the discretion of a general court martial. Art 14. Whatsoever non commissioned officer or soldier shall be convicted at a regimental court martial, of having sold, or designedly, or through neglect, wasted the ammunition, arms, or provisions, or other military stores delivered out to him to be employed in the ser- vice of this colony, shall, if an officer, be reduced to a private sentinel, and, if a private soldier, shall suffer such punishment as shall be order- ed by a regimental court martial. Art. 15. All non commissioned officers or soldiers, who shall be found one mile from the camp, without leave in writing from their com- manding officer, shall suffer such punishment as shall be inflicted on him or them, by the sentence of a regimental court martial. Art. 16. No officer or soldier shall i| b lie|| out of his quarters, or camp, without leave from the commanding officer of the regiment, upon penalty of being punished, according to the nature of his offence, by order of a regimental court martial. Art. 17. Every non commissioned officer and soldier shall retire to his quarters, or tent, at the beating the retreat ; in default of which, he shall be punished, according to the nature of his offence, by order of the commanding officer. Art. 18. No officer, non commissioned officer, or soldier, shall fail of repairing, at the time fixed, to the place of parade, of exercise, or other rendezvous, appointed by the commanding officer, if not prevent- ed by sickness or some other evident necessity ; or shall go from the said place of rendezvous, or from his guard, without leave from his commanding officer, before he shall be regularly dismissed, or relieved, a ||complaint.|| b ||be.|| 1775.] SKCOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 125 on penalty of being punished, according to the nature of his often* b) the sentence of a regimental court martial. Aim. I'.t. Whatsoever commissioned officer shall be found drunk upon Ins guard, party, or other duty under arms, shall be cashiered for it; any non commissioned ollicer or soldier bo offending, shall suffer such punishment as shall be ordered by the sentence of a regimental court martial. Art. 20. Whatever sentinel shall he found Bleeping upon his post, or shall leave it hefore he shall he regularly relieved, shall sutler such punishment as shall he ordered by the sentence of a general court martial. Art. 21. Any person belonging to the Massachusetts army, who, by discharging of fire-arms, beating of drums, or by any other ans whatever, shall occasion false alarms in camp or in quarters, shall Buffer BUCb punishment as shall he ordered hy the sentence of a general court martial. Art. 22. Any officer or soldier who shall, without urgent necessity, or without leave of his superior officer, quit his platoon or division, Bhall he punished, according to the nature of his offence, by the sen- tence of a regimental court martial. Art. 23. No officer or soldier shall do violence, or offer any insult or abuse, to any person who shall bring provisions or other necessaries to the camp or quarters, of the Massachusetts tinny ; any officer or sol- dier so offending, shall, upon complaint being made to the command- ing otlicer. Buffer such punishment as shall be ordered hy a regimental court martial. Aim. J I. Whatever officer or soldier Bhall shamefully abandon any post committed to his charge, or shall speak words inducing others to do the like, in time of an engagement, shall suffer death immediately. Art. 25. Any person belonging to the Massachusetts army, who -hull make known the watchword to any person, who is not entitled to receive it according to the rules and discipline of war, or shall presume to give a parol or watchword different from what he received, shall suf- fer death, or such other punishment as shall he ordered by a general court martial. Art. \!<». \\ hosoever, belonging to the Massachusetts army, shall relieve the enemy with money, victuals, or ammunition, or shall know- inglj harbor and protect an enemy, shall suffer such punishment, as, bj a general court martial, shall he ordered. Aim. 1', Whosoever, belonging to the Massachusetts army, shall be convicted of holding correspondence with, or giving intelligence to 126 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 5, the enemy, either directly or indirectly, shall suffer such punishment as, by a general court martial, shall be ordered. Art. 28. All public stores, taken in the enemy's camp, whether of artillery, ammunition, clothing, or provisions, shall be secured for the use of the Massachusetts colony. Art. 29. If any officer or soldier shall leave his post or colors, in time of an engagement, to go in search of plunder, he shall, upon be- ing convicted thereof before a general court martial, suffer such pun- ishment as, by said court martial, shall be ordered. Art. 30. If any commander of any post, entrenchment or fortress, shall be compelled, by the officers or soldiers under his command, to give it up to the enemy, or to abandon it, the commissioned officers or soldiers, who shall be convicted of having so offended, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as may be inflicted upon them by the sentence of a general court martial. Art. 31. All || a sutlers|| and retailers to a camp, and all persons whatsoever serving with the Massachusetts army, in the field, though not || b enlistedj| soldiers, are to be subject to the articles, rules and regu- lations of the Massachusetts army. Art. 32. No general court martial shall consist of a less number than thirteen, none of which shall be under the degree of a field officer; and the president of each and every court martial, whether general or regimental, shall have power to administer an oath to every witness in order to the trial of offenders ; and the members of all courts martial shall be duly sworn by the president ; and the next in rank on the court martial, shall administer the oath to the president. Art. 33. The members both of general and regimental courts mar- tial shall, when belonging to different corps, take the same rank which they hold in the army ; but when courts martial shall be composed of officers of one corps, they shall take || c their ranks|| according to their commissions, by which they are mustered in the said corps. \i;t. 34. All the members of a court martial are to behave with calmness, decency and impartiality ; and in the giving of their votes, are to begin with the youngest, or lowest in commission. Art. 35. No field officer shall be tried by any person under the de- gree of a captain ; nor shall any proceeding or trial be carried on, ex- cepting between the hours of eight in the morning and three in the afternoon, excepl in cases which require an immediate example. Art. 36. The commissioned officers of every regiment may, by the appointment of their colonel or commanding officer, hold regimental a ||sellers.|| b ||entitled.|| c ||rank.|| i:;.V| SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 12*3 courts martial for the inquiring into such disputes or criminal man. as may come before them, and for the inflicting corporal punishment foi small offences, and -hall give judgment by the majority of voices; but no sentence shall be executed, till the commanding officer, uot being a member of the court martial, shall have confirmed the Bame. Art. :{"/. No regimental courl martial shall consist of less than t"i\ <■ officers, excepting in cast's when that number cannot be conveniently assembled, when three may be sufficient : who are likewise to deter- mine upon the sentence, by the majority of voices; which sentence is to he confirmed by the commanding officer, not being a member of the court martial. Art. 38. Am "tficer commanding in forts, castles, or barracks, or el-ew here, where the corps under his command consists of detach- ments from differenl regiments, or of independent companies, may a-semble courts martial, for the trial of offenders in the same manner, as if they wire regimental ; whose sentence is not to be executed till it shall be confirmed by the said commanding officer. Art. 39. No person whatsoever shall use menacing words, signs, or gestures in the presence of a court martial, then sitting, or shall cause any disorder or riot, so as to disturb their proceeding, on penalty of being punished at the discretion of said court martial. Art. 40. To the end that offenders maybe brought to justice, when- ever any officer or soldier shall commit a crime deserving punishment, he shall, by his commanding officer, if an officer, he put in arrest: if a non commissioned officer or soldier, be imprisoned ; till he shall be either tried by a court martial, or shall he lawfully discharged by pro- per authority . \kt. 41. No officer or soldier who shall be put in arrest or impri- sonment, shall continue in his confinement more than eight days, or till such time as a court martial can he conveniently assembled. Art. 12. No officer commanding a guard, or provost martial, shall refuse to receive or keep any prisoner committed to his charge by any officer belonging to the Massachusetts forces; which officer shall, [with the prisoner] at the same time, deliver an account in writing, signed by himself, of the crimes with which the said prisoner is charged. Art. 43. No officer commanding a guard, or provost martial, shall presume to release any prisoner committed to his charge, without pro- per authority for so doing ; nor shall he suffer any prisoner to escape, on the penalty of being punished lor it. by the sentence of a general court martial 128 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 5, Art. 44. Every officer or provost martial, to whose charge prisoners shall be committed, is hereby required, within twenty-four hours of such confinement, or as soon as he shall be || a relieved|| from his guard, to give in writing, to || b the|| colonel of the regiment, to whom the pri- soner belongs, where the prisoner is confined upon the guard belong- ing to the said regiment, and [ c where] his offence only relates to the neglect of duty in his own corps : or, to the commander in chief, their names, their crimes, and the names of the officers, who committed them, on the penalty of his being punished for his disobedience or neglect at the discretion of a general court martial. Art. 45. And if any officer under arrest shall leave his confinement before he is set at liberty by the officer who confined him, or by a su- perior power, he shall be cashiered for it. Art. 46. Whatsoever commissioned officer shall be convicted before a general court martial, of behaving in a scandalous, infamous man- ner, such as is unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, shall be dis- charged from the service. Art. 47. All officers, conductors, gunners, matrosses, drivers, or any other persons whatever, receiving pay or hire in the service of the Massachusetts artillery, shall be governed by the aforesaid rules and articles, and shall be subject to be tried by courts martial in like man- ner with the officers and soldiers of the Massachusetts troops. Art. 48. For differences arising amongst themselves, or in matters relating solely to their own corps, the courts martial may be composed of their own officers ; but where a number sufficient cannot be assem- bled, or in matters wherein other corps are interested, the officers of artillery shall sit in courts martial with the officers of the other corps. Art. 49. All crimes not capital, and all disorders and neglects, which officers and soldiers may be guilty of, to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, though not mentioned in the articles of war, are to be taken cognizance of by a general or regimental court mar- tial, according to the nature and degree of the offence, and be punish- ished at their discretion. Art. 50. No court martial shall order any offender to be whipped or receive more than thirty-nine stripes for any one offence. Art. 51. The field officers of each and every regiment, are to ap- point some suitable person belonging to such regiment, to receive all such fines as may arise within the same, for any breach of any of the a ||reloasod.|| b ||his.|| c [that.] 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. (29 (i>ri"jt)\wjr articles, and shall direct the same to be carefully and pro- perly applied to the relief of such sick, wounded, or necessitous sol- diers as belong to such regiment, and such person shall account with such officer for all fines received and the application thereof. Art. 52. All members sitting in courts martial, shall be sworn by the president of said court-, winch president shall himself be sworn by the officer in said court next in rank : the oaths to be administered previous to their proceeding to the trial of any offender, [to be] in form following : — You A B swear, that you will well and truly try and impartially determine the cause of the prisoner now to be tried, ac- cording to the rules for regulating the Massachusetts army. So help you God. Art. 53, All persons, called to give evidence in any case before a court martial, who shall refuse to give evidence, shall be punished for Mich refusal, at the discretion of such court martial. The oath to be administered in the form following : — You swear, the evidence you -hill give, in the case in hearing, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God. Resolved, That the inhabitants of the town of Northfield be desired, in consideration of the bodily indisposition of their present member, Mr. Ebenezer Jones, which prevents his attendance, to add one other member to him, in order that their town may be represented in Con- gress, who are very desirous that the wisdom of the province may be collected at this critical juncture of our public affairs. The committee, appointed to take into consideration the application of the committee from Boston, and others, reported that the papers lie on the table for farther consideration at some future day. Adjourned to three o'clock in the afternoon. Afternoon. Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province be di- rected to sit. Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Thursday, April 6, 1775, A. M. [On] an application from the committees of inspection of Taunton, and all the other towns in the county of Bristol, setting forth that General Gage had applied to five justices in said county, to provide quarter- for two hundred of his majesty's troops, which may be sent to the town of Freetown: \\*\\Ordered, That Mr. Murray, Doct. Gunn, Col. u l'tlnTcupon.|| 1" 130 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 6, Pomeroy, Col. Cushing, Mr. Freeman, Capt. Holmes and Mr. Watson, be a committee to take the said application into consideration and re- port thereon. 1 1 Congress 1 1 adjourned till twelve o'clock at noon. Met and adjourned to four o'clock, P. M. Afternoon. The committee appointed to take into consideration the application [from] all the towns in the county of Bristol, reported ; [the report was] amended and passed unanimously, and is as followeth : Gentlemen : — Your very interesting letter of the fourth instant, di- rected to the president, has been early laid before us. Heartily affected with the matters it contains, this Congress resolved on the immediate consideration of it. The part acted by Col. Gilbert respecting the com- mon cause of America, since the commencement of its public troubles, is sufficiently consonant to the tenor of his ordinary conduct, so far as it has been the object of public observation ; and leaves no American room to hesitate in pronouncing him an inveterate enemy to his coun- try, to reason, justice, and the common rights of mankind; and, there- fore, whoever has knowingly espoused his cause, or taken up arms for its support, does, in common with himself, deserve to be instantly cut off from the benefit of commerce with, or countenance of, any friend of virtue, America, or the human race. This Congress cannot but rejoice in the satisfactory evidence they have of the patriotism and public spirit of the county of Bristol, and the vigilance of its inhabitants over the manoeuvres of the incendia- ries among them ; we are much pleased with their joint readiness, for their most vigorous exertions in their country's cause, and earnestly hope that their preparations will be pursued with unabated zeal, as the known resolutions of our public enemies, have, at last, necessitated the contemplation of a plan of general defence, in support of which, the spirit and prowess of the county of Bristol may very soon be called up to the view of mankind. We earnestly recommend it to you, gentlemen, as guardians of the public interest, to exert yourselves, that the militia, and especially the minute men of your county, be found in the best posture of defence, whenever any exigence may require this aid; but the plans laid for the general good oblige us to request that whatever patience and for- bearance it may require for the present, you would act on the defen- sive only, until the further direction of this Congress. And, therefore, though we could wish that a particular account of the conduct of Col. Gilbert and his adherents, as well as of the king's 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. LSI troops, whilst stationed among you, might be taken <>n sufficient evi- dence in perpetuam ret memoriam,je\ we could not advise to iin-s, either with respect to said Gilbert and his b m 1 I troops, that our enemies might plausibly interpret as a commi nt of hostilities. This Congress, however, are clearly of opinion, that, whatever jus- tice of the peace, or other person in the county of Bristol, shall be active in providing quarters, or other supplies, for the said troops, or any others sent in like manner, will be considered by all America as aiding and assisting in the execution of the [acts of the] British par- liament, against which, as fundamentally destructive of the mosl inval- uable rights and privileges of the colonies, America has unitedly re- monstrated. In Provini i\i. Congress, Concord, April 6, \~~~< Resolved, That the foregoing be signed by the president, in behalf of the Congress, and sent to the committees of inspection of the county of Bristol. Ordered, That the application from the selectmen of Billerica, and the application from the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston and others, 1 be again committed to the committee, who had them under consideration, and reported that they lie on the table. The committee was ordered to sit immediately. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. (1) These application! related t.i an outrage on a citizen of llilli-rit-a, rmmed Thomas Ditson, Jim. The sUny of hia wrongs, which created great sensation, is told in the following narrative copied from the Massachusetts Spy, March 10, 1775. " The act of tarring and feathering not repealed."— *' Last Thursday morning, a countryman i irred and feathered, and curried through a e of the streets, in this town, by a party of sol- diers, attended by some officers. The following is the man's own deposition relative to thai affair, swum in before a magistrate ; upon which we shall make no remarks, bul leave the public to judge of the conduct of some of those who are aaid to have I a sent among ua to preserve peace and good order, and to prevent mobs, tumults and other unlawful assemblies." "I, Thomas Ditson, Jun., of Billorica, husbandman, testify and declare, that, while walk Fore street, on the 8th of March, in the afternoon, I inquired of some townsmen, who had any guns in sell ' one whom I did not know, replied, he had a very fine gun to sell. The man appeared ti> be a soldier, and I went with him to a house wher was, whom the soldier called sergeant, and seeing some old clothes about the bouse, I asked whether they sold such things ; tin replied that they did frequently. I then asked Ins price for an old red coat ripl to pit 8s. 6d. sterling j but 1 refused to give it. Then one M'Clinchy, the soldier I met with at first in the street, said be had Bome old clothea to sell, and aent Ins wife out after them to a man he called a sergeant, and sin sunn brought an old coat and an old jacket. I then asked him if be had right to sell them, and tin sergeant -aid that they frequently sold them, and be would give awi I if I desired it, but said there was no occasion. I then bought tl oat and jacket, and gave two pistareens, and then put the clothes in a bag, which I left behind j after which 1 went to M' and Mr. Crane, be a committee t<> take them into consideration and report ; they reported ||"|| that they be read. Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province be direct- ed to wait on the Hon. governor Hopkins and the Hon. governor Ses- sions, and congratulate them on their arrival to this town, and hold a conference with them on the present state of our public affairs. The committee appointed to consider on the application from Billeri- ca, Os. r. reported; the report [was] amended, accepted and is a- i"l- lows : I\ Provincial Congress, \Concord,\\ April*, 1775. Resolved, That the following letter be signed by the president, and directed to the selectmen of Billerica : Gentlemen: — This Congress, deeply sensible of the high-handed insult offered the town of Billerica, the colony of the Massachusetts Bay, and this continent in general, in the vile and ignoble assault in the person of Thomas Ditson, by a party of the king's troops under rica, was tarred and feathered, anil very much abused, by a party of his majesty's -17th regiment, under the command of lieutenant col I Nesbit. \s guardians for Baid town, and from a regard to tli.- liberties and properties of its inhabitants, we cannot but resent this procedure. Y.mr excel- lency i risible, that 1 1 1 1 ~ act is a high infraction of that personal security, which every En gliehman i* entitled to, ami without which his boasted constitution is but a Dame." I i- sufficiently unhappy for as, that «■•■ find trunks quartered ai ig us for the pur| of en- forcing obedienci : parliament of Great Britain, in the highest sense iniquitous, cruel and It i- -nil more nnhappy, if tin-so troops, instead <>f preserving tin' character which British bad, should pour in additional insult, ami he guilty of the most brutal outrages. We rout excellency will take some proper steps tor accommodating this affair: for. von, we cannot, consistent with oui duty, pass iiiis matter over. We have been told by your ex- cellency, thai you never meant to disturb the intercourse betwei n tie- town and country. Confid- ing in this, we have passed and repassed in our usual manner. We, therefore, hope- your excellen- cy will make ii evident by your conduct that you are determined the intercourse shall he pre-. and we he not buoj ed up with promises, which, in the end, we unhappily find, are not to he depended upon. Lieutenant colonel Nesbit is an officer under your excellency's command. Of you, then - fore, ire demand satisfaction for the insult committed by him. We think it is in your power. We >'ir excellency, that tin- breach, now too wide between Great Britain and this province, may not, by the brutality of the troops, still he increased. We assure you, -k, it always has been, anil still is our sentiment and prayer, that harmony may lie restored, and that we may no; be driven to the last .h-ires- of nations. But, may ii please >nnr excellency, we must tell you, tint we are de- termined, it tin' innocent inhabitants of our country town-, lor we must think this man innocent in this alt'air, must he interrupted by soldiers in their lawful intercourse with the town of Cost, m, and 1 with the most brutal ferocity, we shall, hereafter, use a different Btyle from that of p and complaint." " If the grand bulwarks of our constitution are thus violently torn away, and the powi earth prove unfriendly to the cause "I" virtue, liberty and humanity, we nre still happy that « appeal to llim whojudgeth righteously, and to Han we cheerfully ha. at." a ||an expedient.|| 134 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 7, general Gage's command, do highly approve of the manly and resolute conduct of the town of Billerica, by their manifesting a due resent- ment to the general, and demanding a constitutional satisfaction. Notwithstanding you have not received that satisfaction from the general which you had a just right to expect, yet this Congress humbly hope, under Providence, that the time is fast approaching, when this colony and continent will have justice done them, in a way consistent with the dignity of freemen, on such wicked destroyers of the natural and constitutional rights of Americans. Gentlemen, we are confident that the town of Billerica will still continue in that candid pursuit of peace and good order, which manifestly appears in their late conduct. Ordered, That the letters which have been received or laid on the table by Mr. Crane, be sent to the committee on the state of the prov- ince.^! Afternoon. The committee appointed to take into consideration the application from the committee of correspondence of Boston and others, reported ; the report [was] read and accepted, and is as follows : Gentlemen : — Your petition and memorial of the 31st of March we have received ; since which, intelligence of the most extraordinary nature from Great Britain has come to hand. We are, gentlemen, much pleased with the spirit and sentiment of your memorial : but, as || b matters of the greatest importance|| now demand our immediate attention, and the consideration of them will take up the most impor- tant matters in your petition ; we, therefore, most earnestly recom- mend to you, gentlemen, as guardians of the public interest, to exert yourselves that the militia and minute men of your counties, be found in the best posture of defence, whenever any exigence may require their aid; but as the plans laying for the general good oblige us to re- quest, that, whatever patience and forbearance it may require, you would act only on the defensive, until the farther order of this Con- gress. And, therefore, though we could wish a particular account of the ministers' troops, while stationed among you, might be taken on suffi- cient evidence, yet we could not advise to any measures, respecting them, that our enemies might plausibly interpret as a commencement of hostilities : but, on the contrary, let your characteristic be, as it always has been, || c regard|| of peace and good order, and the just rights of mankind. a ||Adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon. || he greatest and most important matters. || c ||conservators.|| 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 135 We most earnestly wish that the blessing of Heaven may accompany your laudable endeavors to preserve the public weal of this province We remain, [&-c] In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 7, 1775. Resolved, That the foregoing letter be signed by the pn-ident, in behalf of this Congress, and sent to the committees of correspondence of the towns of Boston, Milton, Roxbury, Dorchester, Cambridge, Newton, Watertown, Lynn, .Maiden, Woburn, Charlestown and Marl- borough, directed to William Cooper, clerk of said committees of cor- respondence. Ordered, That Capt. Osgood, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Mr. Webster, be added t<» the committee appointed to disperse the hand- bills, &c. ||The Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock. Saturday, April 8, 1775, A. M. [The] doorkeeper [was] directed to call in the members, and to call none out till the farther order of this Congress. The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to raising and establishing an army, and that committees be appointed forthwith to repair to Connecticut, Rhode Island and New- Hampshire, to inform them of our resolution, and desire their co-ope- ration, \Lc. Resolved, That the report be considered in paragraphs : Ordered, that the members be enjoined to attend. Adjourned to three o'clock in the afternoon. Aflcrni K The Congress resumed the consideration of the report made in the forenoon, which passed: present 103 [members:] in favor 96 — [which report] is as follows : l\ Provini i\i Congress, Concord, April 8, I77">. Resolved, Thai the present dangerous and alarming situation of our public affairs, renders it necessary for this colony to make preparations for their security and defence, by raising and establishing an army, and that delegates be appointed forthwith to repair to Connecticut, Rhode Island and New-Hampshire, informing them that we are con- templating upon, and are determined to take effectual measures foi that purpose; and tor the more effectual security of the New England colonies and the continent, to request them to co-operate with us, bj furnishing their respective quotas for general defence L86 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 10, Resolved, That there he sent two delegates to each New England colony with the above resolve. Resolved, That the Congress choose in the first place delegates to repair to Connecticut : accordingly chose Col. Foster and Mr. Bliss. lit solved, That they choose in the second place delegates to repair to Rhode Island : accordingly chose Col. Timothy Walker and Doct. Perkins. Resolved, That in the third place (lie Congress choose delegates to repair to New Hampshire: accordingly chose Mr. Freeman and ( lapt. Osgood. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Adams and Capt. Osgood draught a letter to each of the colonies, viz. : Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Resolved, That the committee on the state of the province take into consideration what number of men, in their opinion, will he necessary In be raised hy the lour New England governments for their general defence, and report. Adjourned to Monday next, nine o'clock in the forenoon. Monday, April 10, 1 775, A. M. The committee appointed to draught a letter to the colonies of Con- necticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, reported; the report [was] read and accepted, and is as follows: In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 10, ||*1775.|| Sir, or Gentlemen : — In consideration of the measures that have been taken by the British administration, to subjugate the North American colonies; the rapidity with which their plans have been hitherto executed ; the late very alarming intelligence from Great Britain; the false and inflammatory accounts that have heen laid be- fore Our sovereign and his parliament, to induce them to consider this colony as in a state of rebellion, and our sister colonies as counte- nancing ns therein, and the violent measures that are ordered, in con- sequence thereof, together with the daily and hourly preparations there are making bj the troops under the command of general Gage, in Boston; (hi-, Congress have come to a full conclusion, that very little, it BJl) expectation of the redress of our common and intolerable gnevanci i to he h;nl from the hnmhle and dutiful petition and other wise met of the late honorable Continental Congress, and n 11)810.' 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 193 therefore have come into certain resolutions i" !»■ communicated to \uii by delegates, appointed tor thai purpose, in which thej are earn- estly desirous of the concurrence of jrour colon] Wishing ili.it the American colonies may, al this important crisis, be under the directi f Heaven, I am, in the name and by order of the < longress, [&c] Ordered, Thai the foregoing be signed bj the president, in the name and behalf <>t" iln> ( longress. Ordered, Thai the co ittee on the Btate of the province take into consideration, and report, whal number of men, in their opinion, will be necessarj for the army [proposed] to be raised Resolved, Thai there be i an addition of three|| to the delegates ap- pointed to repair to the neighboring governments, and thai this Con- Income to the choice of them|| al three o'clock this afternoon, in ballot. Adjourned to three o'clock tliis afternoon \ll.rimon. The onlcr of the daj [was] moved lor. Ordered, Thai Major Fuller, Capt. Greenleaf and Mr. Ellis, be a committee to counl and Borl the votes for the gentlemen to be added to the delegates appointed to repaii to Connecticut, Rhode [aland and New Hampshire, and thai thej bring in theii votes for .1 gentleman t<> repair to < 'onnecticut. Having counted and|| sorted the votes, [the committee] reported thai the Mom. Timothj Daniel on, Esq. was chosen. Ordered, Thai votes be broughl in for a gentleman to !"■ added to the dele ■ ite appointed to repair i<> Rhode Island. Mhi counting and sorting the votes, [the committee] reported thai the Hon James Warren, Esq. was chosen. Ordered, Thai votes be broughl in for a gentleman to be added to the delegates appointed to repair to New Hampshire. Alter counting and Borting the votes, [the committee] reported thai Mr. Elbi nl"i- Gerry « as chosen. Ordered, Thai the committee on the state of the province 1>«: di- rected to draught such instruction i the] ihall think necessary to be given to the delegates appointed to repair to the neighboring govern- ments, and repoi I The c ittee on the state ol the province reported a resolve, rela- tive to exercising the minute men in battalions, and thai thej be paid li ||lliroc added. || r i I- 138 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 11, out of the public treasury, &c. : Ordered, that the consideration of this report be deferred till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. ||Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Tuesday, April 11, 1775, A. M. The committee on the state of the province reported instructions to the delegates appointed to repair to Connecticut, &lc. ; [which report was] read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be signed by the presi- dent, and is as follows : In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 11, 1775. Gentlemen : — The thorough knowledge you have of our public affairs, and the distressed circumstances of this devoted province, makes it unnecessary to be particular in any instructions with regard to the important trust committed to your care. We would, notwithstanding, in general, give you some hints, which may serve to cement and continue that union which has so happily taken place in this continent. In order to effect these desirable ends, [we in- struct you] that, ||as|| soon as may be, you repair to Connecticut, and en- deavor to obtain such an early conference with the governor and com- pany of that colony as the pressing exigencies of our affairs may demand : and as an immediate exertion of our united efforts to recover and main- tain those invaluable blessings of liberty, which are, in part, wrested from us by the hands of arbitrary power, and of which we have no other prospect of a restoration, under God, but by the firm and unsha- ken resolutions and conduct of America ; and as ministerial ven- geance appears to be levelled at the north east colonies in particular, it is of the utmost importance, that immediate measures, such as are consonant with the union of all the colonies, be pursued for their mu- tual defence ; and that you would endeavor to obtain an explicit and full answer, so that we may unitedly exert our strength in the common cause for the salvation of our country ; and to this end we would re- commend your continuance there until this important purpose may be effected, which we presume will be as soon as circumstances will ad- mit; you will, however, govern yourselves with respect to time and conferences, as to you, in your wisdom, shall seem meet ; and may God bless your endeavors for the common good. Ordered, That the letter to New Hampshire be directed to the Hon. John Wentworth, Esq. A letter from Mr. Barber [was] read ; thereupon Ordered, that it be 1775] SECOND PROVINCIAL CON <,i: I 130 committed to Doct. Holten, Mr. Sargeant and Coi I'omeroy, to i sider thereof and report. The committee thereon reported verbally, that Col. Thompson be desired immediatel] to repair to Brunswick, Casco Bay, Woolwich, Georgetown, and oilier places, and take the most effectual measures to acquaint the people thai one Mr. Perry is in the eastern part of the country, endeavoring to supply our enemies with masts, spars and timber, and to make use of all proper and effec- tual measures to prevent their aiding him in procuring said articles. Moved, That the propriety of this Congress advising the inhabitants of the town of Boston to be moved from thence, be now taken into consideration. After a long debate thereon. Resolved, that a commit- tee be appointed to take into consideration the particular state of the town of Boston, and report. Accordingly, Mr. Sargent, Mr. Murray, Col. Henshaw, Capt. Stone, Mr. Cross, Major Fuller of Middleton, Doct. Taylor and Col. Prescott were chosen. Ordered, That [Mr.] Murray be joined to the committee on the state of the province. Adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Wednesday, April 12, 1775, A. M. The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve, rela- tive to appointing county committees to receive returns from the com- mittees of correspondence, of the state of their towns, &c., [which was] read and accepted, and is as follows: K Provin< i\i. Congress, Concord, April 12, 1775. Whereas, the preservation of our county from slavery depends, un- der God, on an effectual execution of the continental and provincial measures for that purpose : Resohurl, That there be now appointed for each county in this col- ony, a committee, consisting of five persons, any three of whom to be a quorum, whose business it shall be to receive from the committees of correspondence in their respective towns, a state of the conduct of the towns and districts with respect to their having executed the con- tinental and provincial plans, as aforesaid; and it shall be the duty of said committees to meet on the first Wednesdays of May, July, Sep- tember, November, January and March, and prepare a report of the same, to be laid before the Congress at its then next session, that any neglecl of auch towns and districts in exe< uting such plan.- may be speedily and effectually remedied. Also, Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is strongly recommended 140 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 12, to the committees of correspondence in the several towns and districts in this colony, sometime before the first Wednesdays in May, July, September, November, January and March aforesaid, to render to any one of the members of their county aforesaid, a true state of the conduct of their respective towns and districts, with respect to their having used each plan, recommended by the Continental and Provin- cial Congresses, and to use their utmost diligence for this important purpose. And, whereas, some towns and districts in this colony may be desti- tute of so excellent an institution as committees of correspondence : Resolved, That it be and it hereby is strongly recommended to such towns and districts forthwith to choose the committees of correspond- ence, and to afford them assistance, at all times, in effectually suppress- ing the efforts of the enemies of America whenever they shall make them. || a Also,|| Resolved, That the county committees are hereby required to render their account quarterly, to this Congress, that they may re- ceive an order therefor on the public treasury of the colony. Resolved, That at three o'clock this afternoon the Congress will come to the choice of the county committees. Resolved, That the members from each county be together, and agree on gentlemen to constitute their county committee. The Congress renewed the consideration of the report of the com- mittee on the state of the province, relative to exercising the minute men in battalions, and paying them for the time they spend in that service. After a long debate the question was put, whether the report be accepted ; it passed in the negative. Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. The order of the day [was] moved for. The county of Suffolk having nominated, the Congress chose Mr. John Pitts, Mr. Nathaniel || b Bailey,|| Col. Aaron Davis, Mr. Moses Bullen and Mr. Abner Ellis. Essex. — Joseph Gerrish, Esq., Col. Michael Farley, Major Samuel Holten, Capt. Samuel Osgood, Capt. Josiah Batchelder. Middlesex. — James Prescot, Esq., Major Eleazer Brooks, Mr. Richard Devens, Col. Simeon Spaulding, Capt. Jonathan Brown. Worcester. — Col. Jedediah Foster, Esq., Capt. Timothy Bigelow, Mr. Edward Rawson, Capt. Samuel Brooks, Col. Jonathan Grout. a ||It i3 furtlier.|| b ||Baylies.|| 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, ill Bristol. — Doct. David Cobb, Benjamin || a Aikin,|| Esq., Doct. Wil- liam Baylies, Capt. William Holmes, Capt. Thomas Carpenter. Barnstable. — Daniel Davis, Esq., Capt. Stephen Nye, Mr. Mo Swift, Mr. Benjamin Freeman and Mr. \aaiuan Holbrook. Berkshire. — Mr. Samuel Brown, Mark Hopkins, Esq., Capt. Charles Goodridge, Major Jonathan Smith, Capt. Caleb Hyde. Plymouth. — Hon. James Warren, Esq., Col. Edward Mitchel, Capt. Joshua White, Doct. Jeremiah Hall, Mr. Ebenezer White. Lincoln. — James Howard, Esq., Mr. Timothy Langdon, Mr. Dum- mer Sewall, Mr. [Samuel] Cobb, Mr. Joseph Waldo. Nantucket. — Josiah Coffin, Esq., Grafton Gardner, Esq., Mr. Jo- siah Barker, Timothy Kolinr, Ksq., Mr. Stephen Hussey. Dukes County. — Joseph Mayhew, Esq., John Summer, Esq., Col. Beriah Norton, Shuhael Cottle, Esq., Mr. Ran ford Smith. ('i mberland. — Solomon Lombard, Esq., Mr. Samuel Freeman, Mr. John Lewis, Col. Samuel Thompson, Mr. Timothy McDaniel. York. — Charles Chauncy, Esq., Capt. Daniel Bragdon, Mr. Eben- ezer Sawyer, James Sullivan, Esq., Major Ichabod Goodwin. Hampshire. — Major [Joseph] Hawley, Col. Timothy Danielson, Mr. Noah || b Goodman,|| Col. Elisha Porter, Col. John Mosley. Resolved, That the resolve recommending the aforesaid committees, be printed in hand bills, and sent to all the towns and district-. Ordered, That Mr. Devens, Capt. Rawson and Col. Davis, be a committee to || c disperse|| the hand bills. Ordered, that the committee be enjoined to sit and || d perfect this.|| \n application from the plantation of New Providence [was] read ; committed to Col. Dwight, Capt. Goodridge, Col. Pomeroy, Col. Pater- son and Mr. Crane. Adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Thursday, April 13, 1775, [A. M.] Ordered, That the last resolve in the report, which was last night or- dered to be published, be not printed. The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve, [for J engaging 3ix companies of the train, and keeping them constantly in exercise, and paying them, &.C., [which was] read, considered and accepted, and is a- follows : In Provincial Cox<;ri-.ss, Cmu-onl, April \'-\, 1775 Resolved, That the committee of safety be directed to engage a a ||Atkin.|| Goodwin.|| c ||Jistribute.|| d ||complete the busineM.|J 142 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 14, suitable number of persons, and form six companies of the train for the artillery already provided by this colony, to immediately enter on discipline, and constantly be in readiness to enter the service of the colony, when an army shall be raised ; and that the committee be, and they are hereby empowered, to draw on the public treasury for paying said companies a suitable consideration for their services. The committee appointed to take into consideration the propriety of removing the inhabitants from the town of Boston, reported. The consideration thereof [was] deferred till three o'clock this af- ternoon. Afternoon. The Congress resumed the consideration of the report deferred ; after a long debate thereon, Ordered, that it be recommitted. || a || Friday, April 14, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed to take into consideration the petition from the plantation called New Providence, reported : the report was read and accepted, and is as followeth : In Provincial Congress, April 14, 1775. Resolved, That Major Joseph Bennet, be advised to pay Henry Gardner, Esq. the full sum assessed on the plantation of New Provi- dence for the year 1774, taking a proper and suitable receipt of said Henry Gardner, for the collector appointed by the town of Lanesbo- rough to collect said sum, and that said collector be advised to dis- charge the several persons' proportion of said tax, in said plantation, and collect the same. Per order of committee : Simeon Dwight, Chairman. The [report of the] committee appointed to take into consideration the removal of the inhabitants of the town of Boston, was || b read and accepted, 1 1 and is as follows : In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 14, 1775. Whereas, the late accounts of the hostile intentions of the British parliament towards this colony, have so greatly agitated the minds and raised the fears of many good people in the town of Boston, as to in- duce many of those, who are able, to remove with their effects into the country ; which iu the opinion of this Congress is a prudent step ; and as there is no prospect of the repeal of the cruel port bill, where- a ||Afljourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. || l> ||reported, which report waa accepted. || 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL COM, K I IBS 148 by many poor, industrious persons, if continued in that place, must be BtilJ great sufferers, notwithstanding tin' if«-mri >u- donations; and the season of the year i- now approaching, in which the] may be, in some measure, serviceable t<> themselves ami families in Buch parts of the countrj a- can find them employment in their Beveral occupations : It is therefore recommended to the committee "I donations, that they afford to Buch poor persons, who are anxious to remove themselves ami families into the country, such assistance a- may enable them to do it. Voted, That the members of the town of Boston be desired to com- inuniciite this recommendation, with the schedule, to the committee of donations. The committee <>n the Btate of the province reported a resolve, rel- ative to appointing a committee to apply to a suitable number of per- sons to he in readiness t<> enter the service of this colony, as officers, when an army shall be raised. Ordered, That the consideration thereof he referred to three o'clock, P. .M. Ordered, That at four o'clock, P. M. the Congress will come to the choice, by ballot, of a person to serve on the committee of safety, in- stead of Doct. Fisher, who was excused. The Congress|| adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. \ i. 'moon. The Congress resumed the consideration of the report referred, agreeable to the order of the day : after some debate thereon, u pass- ed, and i- as follov In Provincial Congress, Concord, April II. 1775. Resolved, Thai a committee be now appointed to applj to a suita- ble number of persons, to be in readiness to enter the service of this colony, to act as field officers : such field officers, in conjunction with the committee, to applj to proper persons as captains, and they to de- termine on such subaltern officers., as may be necessary for each regi- ment, when an army shall be raised; the committee and officers < eteris paribus, to give the preference to persons who have been chosen offi- cers in the regiments of minute men. Ordered, Thai the committee of safety he the committee to apply to a Buitable number of persons to act as officers, as recommended in the foregoing resoh e. Ordered, That the Congress now proceed to the choice of a gentle- man to serve on the committee of safety in the place of Mr. Fisher. 144 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 15, Ordered, That Mr. Cushing, Col. Palmer, and Mr. Bigelow, be a committee to count and sort the votes : [which committee] reported, that Col. Thomas Gardner was chosen. Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province take the late newspapers from England into consideration, and report what there is relating to this province. Ordered, That the Rev. Mr. Murray, Mr. Mayhew, and Col. Pome- roy, be a committee to bring in a resolve recommending a day of fast- ing and prayer. Congress adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Saturday, April 15, 1775, A, M. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve recommending a day of fasting and prayer, reported, [which report was] amended and ac- cepted, and is as follows : Whereas, it hath pleased the Righteous Sovereign of the universe, in just indignation against the sins of a people long blessed with ines- timable privileges, civil and religious, to suffer the plots of wicked men, on both sides of the Atlantic, who, for many years, have incessant- ly labored to sap the foundation of our public liberties, so far to suc- ceed, that we see the New England colonies reduced to the ungrateful alternative of a tame submission to a state of absolute vassalage to the will of a despotic minister, or of preparing themselves speedily to de- fend, at the hazard of || a life,|| the unalienable rights of themselves and posterity against the avowed hostilities of their parent state, who open- ly threaten to wrest them from their hands, by fire and sword ; In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as men and christians, to reflect, that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, or prepare to act a proper part under them when they come; at the same time, all confidence must be with- held from the means we use, and reposed only on that God, who rules in the armies of heaven, and without whose blessing, the best human councils are but foolishness, and all created power vanity. It is the happiness of || b his|| church, that when the powers of earth and hell combine against it, and those who should be nursing fathers become its persecutors, then the throne of grace is of the easiest access, and its appeal thither is graciously invited by that Father of mercies, who has assured it that when his children ask bread he will not give them a stone : Therefore, in compliance with the laudable practice of the people of a (jtheir lives. || b ||this || 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. I \r, God in all ages, with the humhlc regard to the steps of Divine Providence towards this oppressed, threatened, and endangered people, and espe- cially in obedience to the command of Heaven, that || a bids|| us to call on him in the day of trouble. Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, recommended to the good peo- ple of this colony, of all denominations, that Thursday, the eleventh day of M i\ next, be set apart as a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that a total abstinence from servile labor and recrea- tion be observed, and all the religio emblies solemnly convened, to humble themselves before God, under the heavy judgments felt and feared, to confess the sins that have deserved them ; to implore the for- giveness of all our transgressions, a spirit of repentance and reforma- tion, and a blessing on the husbandry, manufactures, and other lawful employments of this people; and especially, that the union of the American colonies in defence of their rights, for which, hitherto, we desire to thank Almighty God, may be preserved and confirmed ; that the Provincial, and especially the Continental Congress, may be di- rected to such measures as God will countenance : that the people of Great Britain and their rulers may have their eyes open to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the nation and all its connec- tions : and that America may soon behold a gracious interposition of II >aven, for the redress of her many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latesl generations. Ordered, That || b it|| be copied, authenticated, and sent to all the re- ligion- assemblies In this colony. Ordered, Thai Mr. Devens, Mr. Cheever, and Mr. Stephen Hall, be a committee to get the resolves printed and dispersed. Adjourned to three o'clock [in the afternoon.] Afternoon. In Provincial Congress, Concord^ April 15, 1775. Ri solved, That Henry Gardner. Esq., receiver general of the pro- vince of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and hereby is, directed to pay to Messrs. Edes and Gill, printers, the sum of thirty-six pounds, six shil- lings, and oinepence, lawful money, for printing for said province, to the twenty-seventh of Much last. In Promm tm. Congress, Concord, April 15, 1775. Resolved, Thai Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of the pro- vince of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and is hereby directed, to paj to Richard Devens, the sum of eleven pounds, nineteen shillings, and Bix- aHbiiids.ll b ||tln- foregoing.|| 19 146 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 15, pence half penny, for sundry accounts by him paid and discharged for services done for the said province. In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 15, 1775. Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of the pro- vince of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and hereby is, directed, to pay unto Jeremiah Hunt, the sum of four pounds, four shillings, for his at- tendance as doorkeeper, for paper and quills, || a for|| the Congress. Ordered, That Henry Gardner, Esq., Col. Barrett, and Col. Hen- shaw, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, and return him the thanks of this Congress for his faithful attendance on and || b || officiating as their chaplain during this session. Ordered, That the same committee be directed to wait on the com- mittee of the proprietors of this house, and return them the thanks of this Congress for the use thereof. Ordered, That, on the return of the members to their respective towns, they use their interest with the inhabitants thereof, that they immediately pay their public moneys to Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of this colony. Ordered, That the members use their interest to promote the milita- ry discipline. Resolve for adjournment passed, and is as follows : Resolved, That this Congress be adjourned from this day, to Wed- nesday, the tenth day of May next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to meet at Concord, in the county of Middlesex : and, considering the great uncertainty of the present times, and that important unforeseen events may take place, from whence it may be absolutely necessary that this Congress should meet sooner than the day abovesaid, not- withstanding the adjournment aforesaid ; It is farther Resolved, That the members of this Congress for the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, and Dorches- ter, or the majority of them, be, and they are hereby authorized, in case they should judge it necessary, to give notice to the several mem- bers of this Congress, in such way as they shall think proper, to meet at Concord aforesaid, at any earlier day than the abovesaid tenth day of May, which shall be by them appointed ; and it is further recommend- ed to the members of this Congress, that they conform themselves to such notice. Ordered, That the thanks of this Congress be || c given to the presi- a ||by him famished lor the use of.|| b ||especially for.|| c ||presented to the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.|| 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. n: dent|| for his constant attendance ||on|| ami faithful discharge ol bia duly as presidenl during the several sessions hereof. The business being finished, the president declared the Congr adjourned according ||*to the resolve. || Concord, [Saturday,] April 22, 1775. ' Mr. Richard Devens ||\vas chosen|| chairman, [and] Mr. John Mur- ray clerk. Mr. Gerry represented to Congress, thai a letter from Mr. Q-uincy to .Mr. Adam-.-' had been delivered to him, with a desire thai il might be opened by Congress la Mr. Adams's absence: after some debate, Or- dered, That the members presenl belonging to the committee on the state of the pro\ ince retire, open, and peruBe the said letter, and report to Congress whal parts they think proper: the committee returned, and desired that the whole he read in Congress; winch being done, Ordered, That the same be sent to Doct. Warren, to be used at ln< discretion. Adjourned to Watertown, at 4 o'clock, P. M. Watertown, [April 2*2,] 1775, 4 o'clock, P. M. Congress met according to adjournment. Ordered, That Mr. Watson notify the committee of safety, 3 of the time and place of our adjournment, and request their attendance, with whatever plan- they may have in readme-- for as, and also DOtifj the ill Wedn tenth day of Ma; mformably to the preceding resolve. || (1) Two days only elapsed after the Provincial Congress had adjourned, and the members, re- taining i" their respective ho apprehensions of immediate dan- i, on the l-tli lit' April, grew so intense, that the committ (instituted from t !hai town, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, and Dorchester, met, and issued the following summons to each del ; •• Sir : I In ing received cert intelligence of the sailing of a number of troops to reenforee the army under general Gage ; this, with the industrious preparations making in Boston for a speedy march into the country, impresses us with the of convening the Provincial fon- reeably to a vote of ( it the last session. Vou are therefore requested immediately to rep ur to Concord, as the closest deliber ition, and th dlected wisdom of the people, at this alarming crisis, are indispensably ai for the salvation of the country." RICHARD DEVENS, per order. The notice, although circulated with the utmost speed of express m mill not bed many of the members before the march of the British troo • ord bad roused tlio land MIS. The adjournment of Congress from Concord to Watertown, was undoubtedly made, from the ty, that the body holding tl xecutive and legislative pa government, should be near to the army of the people, already in the fii ' Phi letter of Mr. Quincy has not bei ed, nor does any paper on the files of thi indicate its conl (3) The committ f safety bad I n in cons tan I session during the pt ding daj and night in Combrj 148 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 23, absent members that are at Cambridge, and request their punctual at- tendance. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Cushing, and Mr. Crane, be a committee to wait on the selectmen, for liberty ||of the use|| of the meeting-house during the session of Congress here : they returned, and reported that the selectmen readily granted their request. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Col. Cushing, Col. Barrett, Capt. Stone, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Watson, and Esquire Dix, be a committee to take depositions, in perpetuam, from which a full account of the transactions of the troops, under general Gage, in their route to and from Concord, &c.,on Wednesday last, may be col- lected, to be sent to England, by the first ship from Salem. Adjourned to this place, to-morrow, at 7 o'clock, A. M. [Sunday,] April 23, 1775, [A. M.] Congress met || a according|| to adjournment, and adjourned to the school-house. Upon a letter from Gen. Ward 1 respecting the New Hampshire troops, Resolved, unanimously, that it is necessary for the defence of the colony, that an army of 30,000 men be immediately raised and es- tablished. Resolved, That 13,600 men be raised immediately by this province. Resolved, That the committee of safety be a committee to bring in a plan for the establishment of the officers and soldiers necessary for the army to be || b immediately raised, || and [that they] sit immediately. Voted, That Col. Cushing, Mr. Sullivan, Col. Whitcomb, and Mr. Durant, be added to the committee of safety. a ||conformably.|| b ||raised at this time.|| (1) This letter of Gen. Ward, which is lost, probably related to a communication from Col. Green- leaf, dated at Newburyport, April 21, stating, that " we have sent forward the bearer to have your orders, with all possible despatch, by his return, whether the forces that arc coming from the pro- vince of .New Hampshire and from the eastern parts of our province should be sent back, especial- ly those thai live near the Bea shore. We are well informed that numbers passed our river yester- daj at the upper ferry : besides, four companies went through this town on their way to you. We have B parly of men from this town, upwards of one hundred upon their march to you: if they are not wanted, and you think proper, you can order our express to turn them back. Wc sent oft" last evening two Geld pii cei i" you: if not wanted, they may be of some use here." A letter 6 Gen. Ward, of the date mentioned in the text, is preserved ; it states ; " My situa tion is such that, if] have not enlisting orders immediately, I shall be left all alone: it is impossi- ble to keep the men here, excepting lomething he done:" and implores immediate action on the • T,. ssary for tie- organization of an army. The committee of safety write thus to the Phh incial Congress of New Hampshire : " Our friends from NeM Hampshire ha^ ing abown their readiness to assist us in this day of distress, vve therefore thought it best to give orders for enlisting such ae were present in the service of this colony, as many desired something may be done to hold them together, until the resolve of your Congress is known, when we are ready ami desirous that thej should be discharged from us and put under such command as you shall direct." 1775.] SKCOM) PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 149 Resolved, Thai Mr. Sullivan be a committee to wan on the New Hampshire Congress, at Exeter, to inform them of our resolutions, and request their concurrence, [and that] .M ;ij< >r Bliss \\ to Connecticut, and Deacon Rawson to Rhode Island, for the same purpose. () nli nd. Thai .Mr. Sullivan be a committee to inform the c< ittee from the Congress of New Hampshire, dow waiting, of our resolutions immediately. Resolved, Thai Mr. Murray, Mr. Gill, and Capt. Stone, be a com- mittee to draught a letter t<> each of tin- colonels, to be senl by : the expresses.|| Adjourned to this place, at two o'clock, P. M [Afternoon J Two o'clock. Congress met according to adjournment, and ad- journed t" the meeting-house. Being there met, the committee appointed todraughl a letter [to the colonels, reported; t he report was read,] which was accepted, and or- dered to be copied by ('apt. Stone. Mr. Gerrj read in his place a letter from Marblehead, reporting thai [the British man of war Lively was lying off the harbor of that town; representing, that their means of defence were inadequate to repel at- tack : and asking direction and aid:] upon which, I!<<<>/r,t/. that the matter subside till further information. Doct. Warren read a letter from the committee of correspondence of Connecticut: 1 Ordered, that Mr. Gerry, Mr. Gill, and Doct. I y- lor, ommittee to draughl an answer, and report immediately. Or-/, nil. That Col. Orne, Major Fuller [of Newton,] and Major Fuller [of Middleton,] he a committee to count and sort votes for a pr< sidenl pro tempore. The committee reported, that the vote was full for Doct. Warren. Col. Palmer was chosen secretary pro tempore. The report of the committee|| for an establishment for the army, ||°was read. || ■. lii'-li being re id wa for further i They wrolo thus :" Every preparation ie > support your p * t.j..iru of wl it i- doing with you: the particulars h ji i » ■ i > • prei i- i->n : I '•nr pi they cannot be kepi k. Tlie nd in. ..i r. Je: ili>' remainder to Th' 1 principal objocl of the letter, which was smi from I ■ Natha ., and Joseph Trumbull, - of the British troops, and of the condition of the colon] . concert tl take." 1 pedition to i 'uncord. 150 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 24, A report was made of a draught of an answer to the committee of Connecticut, which, after amendment, was accepted. Voted, That a committee be appointed to draw up a narrative of the massacre on Wednesday last. [Ordered, That] Doct. Church, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Cushing, be that committee. Adjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow morning, [to meet] in this place. Watertown, [Monday,] April 24, 1775, A. M. Met according to adjournment. Rev. Mr. Murray [was] appointed president pro tempore, and Ichabod Goodwin secretary pro tempore : Jonas Dix, Esq., was appointed mon- itor. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry give the express going to the press, his orders for the enlisting papers. Ordered, That the enlisting paper going to the press, shall be au- thenticated by the secretary pro tempore. Resolved, That six hundred of these papers be printed, and that the || a express|| wait for two hundred of them. Resolved, That the committee of safety, or committee of supplies, be empowered to impress horses or teams, and direct the owners of them to send their accounts to the committee of supplies : also to empower other persons to impress on special occasions. Resolved, That the [resolves for the] establishment of the army be printed in handbills, and that a copy of them be sent by the express who is going for the enlisting papers, and that three hundred of them be printed immediately. Moved, That a member from each county be appointed to attend the committee of safety, and let them know the names of the officers in said counties belonging to the minute men, and such as are most suita- able for officers in the army now raising. Ordered, That [the following gentlemen be the committee :] Col. Lincoln, for the county of Suffolk : Major Fuller, for Essex : Col. Prescot, for Middlesex : Col. Pomeroy, for Hampshire: Nathan Cush- ing, Esq., for Plymouth : Daniel Davis, Esq., for Barnstable : Col. Dagget, for Bristol : Ichabod Goodwin, Esq., for York : Joseph Mayhew, Esq., for Dukes County: Major Bigelow, for Worcester: Mr. Samuel Freeman, for Cumberland : Rev. Mr. John Murray, for Lincoln : Col. John Patterson, for Berkshire, and [Stephen] Hussey, Esq., for Nan- tucket. I ongres8.|| L775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRE88 151 Orthrul, Thai each of these members attend the service according to their appointment, or write to the committee. Ordered, Thai Major Fuller of Middletown, give a List of the oami - of these members to the committee of safety. Resolved, Thai when this Congress do adjourn, thai they adjourn to three o'clock this afternoon, and the members are enjoined to attend punctually a1 thai tune. Adjourned accordinglj t<» three <> Clock Alt' . Lpril 84, 11 Letters from Hartford, 1 directed to the president of this Congn laid on the table, were ordered to be read, and, after reading, were or- dered to be immediately forwarded to the committee of safety, then sitting at ( 'ainbridge. Moved, That a committee be now appointed to examine the records and report such matters contained therein, as may be made public, and such as shall remain secret at present. Ordered, Thai .Major Brooks, Deacon Fisher, and Mr. Freeman, be a committee for that purpo ||Then the|| Congress adjourned till eight o'clock next morning, at this place. || Tuesday, April 25, 177o.|| Eight o'clock, A. M. According to adjournment [the Congress] then met. Ordered, Thai the treasurer be inquired of ||by this Congress|| re- specting the state of the treasury. Answered by said treasurer in a general way, that, for the year 1 77:5. it was supposed thai aboul £20,000 was due, and that he had received aboul £5,000. Moved, That a committee be appointed to bring in a resolve, how we may ||*ge1 the knouledge|| of the towns and districts, who are de- linquent; ||but|| passed in the negative. Moved, for a reconsideration, and passed negatively. The committee appointed to bring in a report of what they thought might be made public of the natives, reported, thai nothing relative to our proceeding with the Indian nations he known, and that other matters be hit al discretion with each member. Moral, That this matter subside for the present. in the numbor.|| ' The*c letters, repeating the aasui i by the committee of coi ..I the ml ii ••! ' ut in -Miiiport their brethren "t Uui u nasi IU, • d ' i to tli" number of troopa I t to < 152 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 26, Leave of absence is granted [to Jerathraiel] Bowers, Esq., to return home. ||Then|| adjourned to three o'clock, afternoon. [Afternoon.] Three o'clock. According to adjournment met. The letter from Haverhill 1 committed. Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Col. Gerrish, and Major Fuller of Middle- ton, be a committee for that purpose, and to sit forthwith. Moved, by the committee of safety, for two gentlemen as engineers, and an establishment for them. Ordered, That Mr. Gill, [Jonas] Dix, Esq., and Henry Gardner, Esq., be a committee for that purpose to bring in a resolve. Ordered, That a resolve should be || a brought in|| by the committee of safety to reduce the regiments. Moved, That the companies in each regiment be reduced from one hundred men each to fifty-nine, including three officers ; one captain, two subalterns ; and passed unanimously in the affirmative. Moved, That each regiment be reduced to ten of these companies, and passed in the affirmative. Ordered, That Col. Orne, Col. Palmer and [Henry] Gardner, Esq., be a committee for regulating the regiments of the army, and to sit forthwith. A letter from Salem [was] read, setting forth the expediency [that] the depositions we are now taking be forwarded as fast as possible ; the same [was] ordered to be sent to the committee, for that purpose, at Lexington, immediately. Ordered, That the memorial from Marblehead, 2 with the debate thereon, subside for the present. |jThen|| adjourned till eight o'clock next day. a ||submitted.|| ( 1 ) Tin' | by tho committee, addressed to the town clerk of Haverhill, will explain the content of the letter received by the Congress. ■ : 'I he I Ongri have this day received a letter from Nathaniel l'easlee Hargi ant, I'. i|., and Jonathan Wei tinting them that the late dreadful lire in Haverhill, together with tublfc distui ■ I town, niake.it necessary that they should he at home at this time. Congi bat the important business of the colonies requires that every town should desire that if neither of those gentlemen can attend, others should be 1 t I in their room, th it the wisdi if the whole colony may be collected at our hour '." (2) Many memorials, of similar purport, were pre tented to the Congress from the maritime towns, representing thai the li I was without adequate defence ; that armed vessels were hovering about the ports, ready to turn their cannon upon the villages of the shore ; that the people were i n nuous exertions in the common cause; and praying for reenforcements of men. and supplies of arms and ammunition. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 158 \\ ■ i.nksdat, April •.'•;, 8 o'clock, A. M. Then met according to adjournment. Ordinf/, Tliat Mr. President, Duct. Taylor, Mr. Freeman, [Henry] Gardner, Esq. and Col. Stone, be a committee to draught a letter to our agent in Great Britain. {{'■Resolved, , That William Burbeck be, add be is hereby appointed an engineer of the force- now raising in this colony for the defence of the rights and liberties of the American continent, and thai there be paid to the said William Burbeck, Out of the public treasury of this colony, during bis continuance in that Service, at the rate of one hun- dred and lit'n pounds, lawful money, per annum. And it i- further Resolved, that from and after the time when the said forces shall he disbanded, during the life of the said Burbeck, there be paid to him out of said treasury, the sum of ninety-seven pound- six shillings and eight pence, lawful money, annually. Ordered, That Col. Gerrish, Deacon Fisher, Col. Orne, Mr. Batch- elder and Capt. Brown, be a committee to take into consideration the letter laid on the table by the committee of safety from James Sulli- \an,' Esq., and the committee to sit forthwith. Ordered, That the letter drawn by the committee, to send to Doct. Franklin, as agent, be copied, and authenticated by the president pro tempore. [The letter is as follows :] [In Provincial Congress, Watertown, April 26, 1775.] [To tin Hon. Benjamin FrankHn, Esq., at London.'] [Sir: — From the entire confidence we repose in your faithfulness and abilities, we consider it the happiness of this colony, that the im- portant trust of agency for it, in this day of unequalled distress, is de- volved on your hands, and we doubt not, your attachment to the cause and liberties of mankind, will make every possible exertion in our he- hall' a pleasure to you: although our circumstances will compel us often to interrupt your repose, by matters that will surely give you pain. A singular instance hereof, is the occasion of the present let- ter. The contents of this packet will be our apology for troubling you with it. From these, you will see, how and by whom we are at lasl plunged into the horrors of a most unnatural war.] [Our enemies, we arc told, have de-patched to Great Britain a falla- n ||Ordcr.'il.|| (1) On.' lettei of Mr. Sullivan was written t .• ;isk immediate attention t>> the relief n towns, the subject of a subsequent resolve. 20 154 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 26, cious account of the tragedy they have begun ; to prevent the opera- tion of which to the public injury, we have engaged the vessel that conveys this to you, as a packet in the service of this colony ; and we request your assistance in supplying Capt. Derby, who commands her, with such necessaries as he shall want, on the credit of your constitu- ents in Massachusetts Bay.] [But we most ardently wish, that the several papers herewith en- closed, may be immediately printed, and dispersed through every town in England, and especially communicated to the lord mayor, aldermen and council of the city of London, that they may take such or- der thereon as they may think proper ; and we are confident your fidelity will make such improvement of them as shall convince all, who are not determined to be in everlasting blindness, that it is the united efforts of both Englands that can save either. But that what- ever price our brethren in the one, may be pleased to put on their con- stitutional liberties, we are authorized to assure you, that the inhab- itants of the other, with the greatest unanimity, are inflexibly resolved to sell theirs only at the price of their lives.] [The following address to the people of Great Britain, reported by a committee, was adopted.] [In Provincial Congress, Watcrtoivn, April 26, 1775.] [To the Inhabitants of Great Britain.] [Friends and Fellow Subjects : — Hostilities are at length com- menced in this colony by the troops under the command of general Gage, and it being of the greatest importance, that an early, true and authentic account of this inhuman proceeding should be known to you, the Congress of this colony have transmitted the same, and from want of a session of the honorable Continental Congress, think it proper to address you on this alarming occasion.] [By the clearest depositions relative to this transaction, it will ap- pear, that on the night preceding the nineteenth of April instant, a body of the king's troops, under the command of Col. Smith, were secretly landed at Cambridge, with an apparent design to take or de- stroy the military and other stores provided for the defence of this col- ony and deposited at Concord : that some inhabitants of the colony, on the night aforesaid, whilst travelling peaceably on the road between Boston and Concord, were seized and greatly abused by armed men, who appeared to be officers of general Gage's army : that the town of 1775] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 155 Lexington, by these means, was alarmed, and a company of the inhab- itants mustered on the occasion : that the regular troop-, on their way to Concord, marched into the said town of Lexington, and the said company, on their approach, began to disperse : that notwithstanding this, the regulars rushed on with great violence ; and 1 1 r - 1 began hos- tilities, l>\ firing on -aid Lexington company, wherebj they killed eight and wounded several others: that the regulars continued their fire, un- til those of said company, who were nether killed nor wounded, had made their escape : that Col. Smith, with the detachment, then marched to Concord, where a number of provincials were again tired on by the troops, and two of them killed and several wounded, before the provincials fired on them : ami that these hostile measures of the troop-, produced an engagement that lasted through the day, in which many of the provincial.-, and more of the regular troop-, were killed and wounded, j [To give a particular account of the ravages of the troops, as they retreated from Concord to Charlestown, would be very difficult, if not impracticable. Let it suffice to say, that a great number of the houses on the road were plundered and rendered unfit for use; several were l.nrnt : women in childbed were driven, by the soldiery, naked into the streets : old men, peaceably in their houses, were shot dead, and such scenes exhibited as would disgrace the annals of the most unciv- ilized nation.] [These, brethren, are marks of ministerial vengeance againsl this colony, for refusing, with her sister colonies, submission to slavery: hut they have not yet detached us from our royal sovereign. We pro- fess to be In- loyal and dutiful subjects, and so hardly dealt with as we have been, are still ready, with our lives and fortunes, to defend his person, family, crown and dignity. Nevertheless, to the persecution and tyranny of his cruel ministry, we will not tamely submit. Ap- pealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, we determine to die or be free.] [We cannot think that the honor, wisdom and valor of Britons, will suffer them to be longer inactive spectators of measures, in which they themselves are so deeply interested : measures pursued in opposition to the -oleum protests of many noble lords, and the expressed -ense of conspicuous commoners, whose knowledge and virtue have long char- acterized them as some of the greatest men in the nation: measures executing contrary to the interest, petitions and resolves of many large, respectable and opulent counties, cities and boroughs in Great Britain: measures highly incompatible with justice, but still pursued 156 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 26, with a specious pretence of easing the nation of its burthens : meas- ures which, if successful, must end in the ruin and slavery of Britain as well as the persecuted American colonies.] [We sincerely hope, that the Great Sovereign of the Universe, who hath so often appeared for the English nation, will support you in every rational and manly exertion with these colonies, for saving it from ruin, and that, in a constitutional connection with the mother country, we shall be altogether a free and happy people.] 1 The depositions taken by the committee for that purpose, were laid on the table, and ordered to be read. 2 Ordered, That the committee make duplicates of the same, and Capt. Stone, [Jonas] Dix, Esq., Col. Tyng, Col. Dwight, Capt. Whit- temore, Major Fuller and Mr. Freeman assist as scribes in that business. And then adjourned till three o'clock. Afternoon. ||Three o'clock, afternoon. Met according to adjournment. || Ordered, That the letters and papers just now received from Rhode Island 3 by Doct. Perkins, be sent to the committee of safety, now sit- ting in Cambridge, by him, and that he have leave to go home a few days. (1) The letter to Doct. Franklin, and the address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, have been restored to their places in the journal of the Provincial Congress, from the copies preserved in the records of the Continental Congress, May 11, 1775. (2) These depositions, with the narrative prepared by order of the Congress, will be found in the Appendix. (3) The letters covered the following resolution of the general assembly of Rhode Island, adopt- ed April 25, 1775. " At this very daogerous crisis of American affairs : at a time when we are surrounded with fleets and armies, that threaten our immediate destruction ; at a time when the fears and anxieties of the people throw them into the utmost distress, and totally prevent them from attending to the common occupations of life : to prevent the mischievous consequences that must attend such a dis- ordered state, and to restore peace to the minds of the good people of this colony, it is thought ab- solutely necessary, that a number of men be raised and embodied, properly armed and disciplined, to continue in this colony as an army of observation, to repel any insult or violence that may be offered to the inhabitants ; and also, if it be necessary for the safety and preservation of any of the colonies, that they I"- ordered to march out of this colony, and join and co-operate with the forces of our neighboring colonies." " It is Voted, and Resolved, that fifteen hundred men be enlisted, raised and embodied, as afore- said, with all the expedition anil despatch that the nature of the thing will admit of." In the house of magistrates, on the |i.-iss:ige of t his resolution, the following protest was entered by the governor, deputy governor and two of the assistants. " We, the subscribers, professing true allegiance to his majesty, king George the Third, beg leave to dissent from tin- vote of tin' house of magistrates for enlisting, raising and embodying an army of observation of fifteen hundred men, to repel any insults or violences that may he offered to the inhabitant Iso, if it be m cessary for the safety and preservation of any of the colonies, to march them out of this colony, to join and co-operate with the forces of our neighboring colo- 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. !•»/ Resolved, Thai Richard Gridley, Esq. be, and he berebj is appoint- ed chief engineer of the forces now raising in tin- colony, for the de- fence of the rights and liberties of the American continent : and that there be paid to the said Richard Gridley, oul of the public treasury of this colony, during his continuance in thai service, at the ral one hundred and aeventj pounds, lawful money, per annum. And it is further Resolved, that from and alter the time when the said foi shall he disbanded, during the life him, oul of the said treasury, the sum of one hundred and twenty- three pounds, lawful money, per annum. Ordered, That the duplicates laj on the table till the narrative comes in. Ordered, Thai Mr. Freeman, Doct. Taylor, Deacon Chee\er, Doct. Baylies and Col. Farley, l>e a committee to consider the state of the eastern part- of this province at large, in regard to supplying them with ammunition, and to sit forthwith. [The committee presented the following report, which was accepted.] [In Provincial Congress, Wotertown, April -2<>, 177.>.] [Whereas, representation has been made to this Congress, thai seve- ral of the towns in the eastern parts of the colony are deficient in such supply of ammunition, as it is necessary that the] should, at this day, be furnished with, for the safety ami defence of the colony in general and that part of it in particular:] [Therefore, Resolved, Thai the committee of supplies he, ami they are hereby directed, forthwith, to take some effectual measures to pro- cur, -neh ;• quantity of powder and hall as will appear to them to be necessary for the use of this colony, under the present alarming situa- tion of our public affairs ; and, in particular, that the] immediate!] -end to the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island for so much powder as they shall think necessary, and when procured, to deliver so much of it, to the order of the selectmen of such deficient town-, and in such oil - : because, wa are of opinion, thai such o measnie will be attended with the most I quences to our charter privileges, involve thia colony in all the horrors of a civil war, and, iceivo, be an open violation of thi llegiance, which we have severally taken upon mir admission into the respei live offices we hold in the colon} ." "JOSEPH i. U INTON, THOMAS WICKES, D \i:n S SESSIONS, wii.u \ M POTTER." i ., speaker of the house, writes thus : " Notwithstanding an i of a few imli\ i'ln ii-. you ■•>:>> be assured th a the colony are linn and determined, and greater unanimity i pro vailed in the lower house than was found on tin' great quest - before them. i\ pray to Sod thai he would be grocioualj pleased to linn:.- to nothing the councils and wicked nun against our liven ami liberties, and grant Mi^ blessing upon our righteous conti -'■" 158 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 26, quantities as they may think will be proportional to the exigencies of each town respectively, and to the safety and defence of the colony in general : such towns to pay for the supplies which they may receive of said committee, according to the net expense of procuring the same.] 1 Ordered, That Col. Cutts, Ichabod Goodwin and Deacon Fisher, be appointed to proportion the powder that is recommended to be sold to the towns of York, Welles, Biddeford, Boothbay and Sandford, and to sit forthwith. [The committee reported the following resolve which was accepted :] [Whereas, the towns of York, Welles, Boothbay and Biddeford have applied to this Congress, setting forth the dangerous situation they are in, being sea ports, and thereby exposed to the ravages of the enemy, although but a small force should be sent to attack them by sea; and likewise shewing that they have not ammunition sufficient wherewith to make defence should they be thus attacked; and consid- ering them as they ought to be, part of the whole, and should they suf- fer that the whole must be affected :] [Therefore, Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is recommended to the selectmen of the towns of Marblehead, Salem and Newburyport, that they forthwith sell out of their town stock four half barrels of powder each, to said towns of York, Welles, Biddeford and Boothbay, to put the inhabitants thereof in some tolerable state of defence ; and should the towns of Marblehead, Salem and Newburyport be under the necessity of having the quantities which they have delivered to the said towns of York, Welles, Boothbay and Biddeford replaced, in that case, the Congress will give orders for the same as soon as may be : the powder to be apportioned according to the number of inhabitants in the said towns : as also to Sandford, said town having made appli- cation for supplies of the same kind.] Ordered, That Rev. J. Murray, Major Fuller and Jonas Dix, Esq., be a committee to return the thanks of this Congress to the rev- erend ministers, who have generously offered to supply the army as chaplains each a month in rotation. Ordered, That three o'clock to-morrow [ a be assigned] to take into consideration some effectual method of supplying the treasury. a [this Congress will take.] (1) This resolve, ami that which immediately follows, are copied from the original papers in the office of the secretary of the Commonwealth. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. i.v.i Ordered, That Deacon How have leave to return home, but ||he i- to i return to his dun immediately. Ordered, That copies of the order to Hon. Richard Derby, Esq., for fitting out his vessel a- a packet, be taken ami authenticated by the president j >r< » tempore. 1 Ordered, That the Hon Richard Derby, Esq's order to the treasu- ry, l>e also authenticated by the president pro tempore. Ordered, That the committee of supplies [he directed] in [cause the] draught of the letter to our agent m (.real Britain ||"to be sent, with the papers m>u preparing for that purpose. Ordered, That Doct. Holten, Doct. Baylies, Capt. Whittemore, Col. Dwight and Mr. Kollock, be a committee to take the recommendation of the committee of safety into consideration, « nh respect |jto armour- ers for 1 1 the arn i \ now forming. Mooed, That when this Congress do adjourn, that they adjourn till seven o'clock to-morrow morning. ||And then|| adjourned accordingly. Thursday, April 27, [1775, A. M.] Seven o'clock — met according to adjournment. Ordered, That Capt. Goodman inquire of the committee of safety, whether any provision is made for a post or posts to ride from the army to Worcester, agreeably to a request from the selectmen of that town, and also to procure a writ for calling a general assembly in Ma\ next, issued from general Gage for that purpose. Ordered, Thai the secretary pro tempore take extracts from the minutes of the resolves of this Congress, and authenticate the same. and deliver them to the men now in waiting from York and Welles, for the purpose of obtaining some powder. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry have leave to bring in a resolve with re- gard to the sea ports in the count] of Essex. [Whereupon, Mr. Gerry offered the following:] [Whereas, hostilities have been commenced in this colony by Gn at Britain, and the sword ma\ remain unsheathed for a considerable time : a lliiinl \ Richard Derby, Esq. \\ as as follows : IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, A Resolreil, That Capt. Derby be directed, and he bereb) is directed, to make for Dublin, a other -'""'I port in Ireland, and from thence t" cross I or Engl md, and hasten to London. Thi* direction is given, iii.it -•> he m .11 cruisers thai may l»' in the chops "i* thi i the communication of the provincial intelligence to the agent. He «ill forthwith his papers to the agent on reaching 1 don. J. W UtREN, Chairman. P. B.— i "N are t.> Icei p tin* order a profound secret from everj person "n earth. 160 SECOND PROVENCIAL CONGRESS. [April 27, Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is earnestly recommended to the committees of the sea port towns in the county of Essex, that they use their utmost endeavors to have all the effects of the inhabitants of their respective towns removed as soon as possible : that the Congress highly approves of the conduct of said towns in wearing a pacific ap- pearance until their effects shall be secured : that the Congress con- sider it as absolutely necessary for said inhabitants to be in readiness to go into the country on the shortest notice, and to avoid mixing with our enemies, as thereby their own lives will ever be in imminent dan- ger when the colony and the continent shall attack such enemies. And it is also recommended to them that their application to Congress for advice, and this resolve in consequence thereof, be kept a secret, that their effects may more easily be removed.] 1 Ordered, That three o'clock next Tuesday be assigned to take up the matter in the resolve brought in by Mr. Gerry. Ordered, That Mr. President, Col. Orne, Doct. Taylor, Major Ful- ler of Middleton, and Capt. Goodman, be a committee to confer with the officers of the army, relative to the reduction of their pay. Col. Dwight [was] appointed to wait on the committee of safety, and acquaint them with the names of the officers in the regiments of minute men in Worcester county. Mr. Hale ||is|| appointed to the same business ||for|| the county of Hampshire. Then adjourned till three o'clock. [Afternoon.] || Afternoon, three o'clock — met according to adjournment. || Ordered, That Capt. Kingsbury, Doct. Holten and Deacon Stone, are appointed to enquire, and endeavor to get an exact account of the men killed, and wounded, and murdered, in the late scene on the 19th instant. The order of the day was moved for, to take up the matter of sup- plying the treasury. Ordered, That a committee be appointed for that purpose, to con- sist of five, and to be chosen by written votes. Ordered, Thai two be added to this committee. Ordered, That Doct. Holten, Mr. Bullen and Capt. Batchelder be appointed to count and sort the votes. Ordered, That nine o'clock be assigned for that purpose. Ordered, Thai Mr. Partridge, Capt. Greenleaf and Doct. Baker, be appointed to consider the petition from Gorham, and to sit forthwith. (1) Mr. Gerry's resolution is transcribed from the original on the files of Congress. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 161 Ordered, That Gapt. Whittemore, Mr. Freeman and Doct Bayli* assisl as scribes, the committees in taking fair copies of the depo-i tions in order t"<>r the press; and to sit forthwith. Ordered, That Jonas Dix, Esq., [William] Stickney, Esq. and Deacon Stone, be appointed to take true copies of the depositions, and have them signed by the deponents, and authenticated by the jus- tices and a notary public. Ordered, That Mr. Hubbarl have leave to go home a few days. Then adjourned till nine o'clock [to-morrow morning.] [Friday, April 28, 1775, A. M.] Nine o'clock — met l^accordingH to adjournment. Ordered, [That] .Mr. President, Col. Gerrish, Mr. Gerry, Doct. Holten and Mr. Gill, he appointed to confer with the gentlemen from New Hampshire, and are desired to lay the letters just received from New York, before them. 1 Ordered, At the desire of the secretary pro tempore, that he be excused from that service after another is appointed in that place. Accordingly Mr. [Samuel] Freeman was appointed to that office pro tempore. In Provincial Congress, JVatcrtown, April 28, 177"). Resolved, That the committee appointed to confer with the commit- tee who this day arrived here from the colony of New Hampshire, have leave to report to this Congress a draught of a letter, which they have prepared as an answer to one received from the convention of the said colony of New Hampshire, dated 26th instant. The said draught was accordingly reported, read and unanimously accepted, and ordered to be authenticated by the president, and delivered to Col. Nathaniel Folsom, Col. Josiah Bartlet and Major Samuel Hobart, Esq., the committee from the said convention of New Hampshire, and is as follows, viz. . "Gi mi I.Mia : — It is with pleasure we have received your letter abovernentioned, and by a committee of this Congress, have had a conference with your respectable committee. We find the fullest conviction in the minds of the inhabitants of mformabl; || (1) Tin- letten from New York eneloied communication! from London, containing Intelii of the proceeding! of parliament, information of the designs of the miniitry, and exhortation* t" union and firmness in resists. >. 21 162 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 28, our sister colonies, as well as of this, that by their immediate and most vigorous exertions, there is the greatest prospect of establishing their liberties and saving their country ; and that without such exertions all must be lost. It is the opinion of this Congress, as already communicated, that a powerful army on our side, must, at once, cut out such a work for a tyrannical administration, as, under the great opposition which they meet with in England, they cannot accomplish ; and that their system of despotism must soon be shaken to the foundation : but should they still pursue their sanguinary measures, that the colonies will then be able to make a successful stand. We have the utmost confidence in your patriotic colony, whose in- habitants have signalized themselves in joining their brethren in this ; and hope to see New Hampshire, and every other government which has been exposed to the corruption of a British ministry, soon placed upon such a footing as will be best calculated to promote the true in- terest of the same, and to prevent in future such unhappy disputes as have taken place with the mother country. We have just received an agreeable account of the conduct of our brethren in New York, and have delivered a copy of the letter to your committee. We sincerely thank you for your ||late|| measures taken || a by your|| convention at Exeter, and are fully persuaded that the Congress of your colony, which is to meet on the 17th May, will take such effectual steps as the present exigency of public affairs requires, and the conti- nent of America must necessarily approve. Ordered, That the secretary authenticate a copy of the letter this day received from governor Hopkins of Rhode Island, and deliver the same to the abovementioned committee from New Hampshire. Ordered, That Mr. Dickenson, Doct. Holten and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to wait upon the committee from New Hampshire to the committee of safety of this colony, now sitting at Cambridge, to con- sult with them respecting the New Hampshire forces now at Cam- bridge. Ordered, That the president, Mr. Gerry and Mr. Gardner, be a com- mittee to take into consideration a letter this day received from the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., dated Providence, April 27th, 1775. 1 (1) This letter cannot he recovered: it related to the rapture of Mr. John Brown: the substance i g stated in the note to the journal of April 29. 177.-,.] SECOND PRO\ I NCIAL CONGRESS. IG3 Ordered, That Mr. Crane, Mr. Grout and Mr Fisher, be a commit- tee to take into consideration the expediency of establishing p riders between the Massachusetts forces and 1 1 » « - town of Worcester. Ordered, That Mr. Crane, Mr. Grout and Mr. Fisher, Ik- a commit- tee to take into consideration the propriety of recommending u> the several towns and districts in this colony, that tiny take no notice of the precepts lately issued b) general Gage, for calling a general as- sembly. Ordered, That Major Fuller of Newton, Mr. Goodman, Doct. Tay- lor, Doct. Baylies and Major Brooks, he a committee to prepare a form of a commission for the several ollicers of the army now forming in this province. Adjourned to three o'clock tins afternoon. Afternoon. Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Doct. Taylor and [Benjamin] Aikin, Esq., be a committee to prepare a draught of rules and regulations to be in future observed by the several members of this Congress. The committee appointed in the forenoon to take into consideration a letter received from the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., reported. The report [was] accepted, and ordered to lie on the table for the present. Ordered, That the committee appointed to introduce the honorable delegates from the convention at Exeter, in New Hampshire, to the committee of safety, applj to said committee for an authentic account of what transactions have certainly taken place, with respect to the liberation of our friends in Bo-ton, and report as soon as may be. Ordered, That Col. Dexter, Major Brooks, Doct. Taylor, Capt. Batchelder and Capt. Greenleaf, he a committee to bring in a resolve empowering the committee of supplies to procure such provisions, military stores, and other stores, as they shall judge necessary tor the army, now forming in this colony, during its establishment. It was Moved, That the sense of this Congress be taken, whether it would he expedient to reduce the pay of the field officers of the army ||now forming in this colony :|| after much debate the question was put, and it passed in the affirmative by a large majority. Whereupon, it was determined, that the pay of the chief colonel he reduced from l'l~> to i'\l: and that the lieutenant colonels and majors he reduced in the Bame proportion ; ||accordingly,|| Ordered, that Major Fuller |jof Newton, || Col. Dexter and ('apt. Little, be a committee to bring in a resoh e tor that purpose. ||This Congress was then | adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o'clock 164 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 29, Saturday, April 29, [1775, A. M.] The committee appointed to wait on the New Hampshire committee to the committee of safety, at Cambridge, and to make inquiry re- specting the liberation of the inhabitants of Boston, reported, that they had attended that business, and had brought from the committee of safety a number of papers, which contain the proceedings of the town of Boston with general Gage, in respect to moving the inhabi- tants and their effects ; And that the committee of safety, having taken the substance of them into consideration, desired that [the papers] might be returned to them, and that the Congress would not pass any resolve respecting them, till they had come to some resolve concerning ||the subject of || them ; Therefore, Ordered, That the subject matter of the said papers be referred to the consideration of the said committee of safety, they to make report to this Congress as soon as may be. On a motion made, || a Fo£erf,|| That the day appointed for the first meeting of the county committees, which was the first Wednesday in May next, be postponed to the fourth Wednesday in May next. The committee appointed to prepare a draught of rules and regula- tions to be observed by this Congress, reported. The rules were read and severally accepted, and are as follow, viz. : 1. No member shall speak out of his place, nor without standing up, and applying to the president for leave, and shall sit down as soon as he is done speaking. 2. No member, speaking by leave of the president, shall be interrupt- ed by another, but by rising up to speak to order. 3. No member shall speak more than twice to one question, without first obtaining leave of Congress ; nor more than once until others have spoken that shall desire it. 4. Whenever any member shall have liberty from the president to make a motion, and such motion shall be seconded by another, the same shall be received and considered by the Congress, and not other- wise. 5. No member shall declare, or question, whether it be a vote or not. 6. No grant for money or other thing shall be made, unless there be a time before assigned for that purpose. 7. No vote shall be reconsidered when a less number is present in Congress than there was when it passed. 8. No member shall nominate more than one person for a commit- tee, provided the person so nominated be chosen. a ||OrHcrcd.|| 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 166 !». No member shall be obliged to be upon mure than two commit- tees at [the same] time, nor chairman of more than one. II). That no member be permitted to Btand up to the interruption of another, while such other member is speaking. Ordered, That the monitors of this Congress be, and they are here- by directed, to see that the foregoing rules are observed by the several members of this Congress Ordered, The letter and resolve prepared to be sent t<> the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., of Rhode Island, be recommitted for a suit- able addition, and the committee to sit forthwith. Ordered, That the Hon. .Mr. Dexter be a committee to bring in a resolve expressive of the vote of this Congress tor altering the first meeting of the county committees. The committee ||\vho \vere|| appointed to bring [in] a resolve empou er- ing the committee of supplies to procure provisions and military stores, reported. The report was read and accepted, and is as follows: lv Provincial Congress, Watertovm, April 29, 1?7.">. Hrsolrrd, That the committee of supplies be, and they hereby are empowered to purchase every kind of military stores, provisions, and all other supplies which they shall judge necessary for the use of the forces of this colony, during the establishment of an army for it- de- fence, or until it shall be otherwise ordered by this or some future con- gress, or bouse of representatives, on the credit of the colonv : and make drafts of suitable sum-, from the treasury, for payment for tli' same: also to deposit the said stores in such ||suitable|| place- as they, in consultation with the generals of the colonv, shall judge proper: and to deliver such, and SO many of said store-, to the eoin- missarv ireneral, from time to time, as he shall ||'have demand for|| to BUpply the army. Likewise, said committee of supplies are hereby empowered to employ such and so many assistants, as they shall judge necessary, to be paid as aforesaid ; said committee of supplies to be accountable, when called upon, for their doings, to this or some future congress, or house of representatives of this colonv. The committee appointed to prepare an addition to a letter to the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., reported the following, winch was read and accepted : In Provincial Congress, WcAertoum, April 528, 177".. It i> with the deepest concern that we find Mr. Brown, that valuable friend to the cause of America, betraved into the hand- of OUT COm- ihall judge ii fbl. 166 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 28, mon enemies, and every measure for his release, that can be pursued by us, shall most earnestly be adopted. We have ordered Samuel Murray, son of a mandamus counsellor, and such officers of general Gage's army as are prisoners of war and not disabled from travelling, to be immediately sent, with sufficient guards, to Providence, and think it best that Murray and the officers should write to their friends in Boston, acquainting them that Mr. Brown's friends have the same advantage over them as general Gage hath over Mr. Brown. We beg leave to suggest to you the critical situation of this colony at the present time, which disables this Congress from immediately seizing every crown officer in the government. Boston is closed, and its numerous inhabitants, so obnoxious to our enemies, are imprisoned therein. Several of our sea ports are ["blockaded] with ships, and threatened destruction if they join the army. Under this situation, the inhabitants of the places most in danger are, day and night, remov- ing their furniture and effects, and we hope soon to see it generally done. Should we, therefore, seize the crown officers as proposed, it may hurl on our numerous sea ports sudden destruction, before they have had opportunity of saving themselves. We had it in contempla- tion to send a letter to the general, acquainting him that we should treat the crown officers with severity, if Mr. Brown should be so treated by him. But we are apprehensive that it would rather produce an unhappy than good effect, as he has a greater number of our val- uable friends than we can shew of his. We desire you to give us your further sentiments in the matter, and if any other way is best wherein the Congress can save Mr. Brown, it shall be readily pursued. We are, &c. To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq. In Provincial Congress, JVatertotvn, April 28, 1775. Whereas, a worthy friend to the liberties of America, Mr. John Brown, of Providence, hath been lately seized, and with two other per- sons, carried on board a British ship of war at Newport : Ordered, that Samuel Murray, and such officers of general Gage's army as are prisoners of war, and not disabled from travelling on account of their wounds, be immediately sent, under a sufficient guard, to Providence, and delivered to the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., or other friend of said Mr. Brown, to be made such use of as they shall think proper for obtaining the liberty of the said Mr. Brown. a [blocked.] 1775] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS i,;; In Provincial Congress, Jf'atertown, April 29, 1 7 7 ."•. Sib : — The above is a copy of an order and Inter which passed this Congress yesterday, since which we have received from Boston copies of sundry votes of that town to general Gage, upon the Bubjecl of a license [for the inhabitants] to remove, with their effects, into tin- country ; and by bis answers it appears, thai be has consented to suffer such inhabitants as have inclination therefor, to leave the place, with all their effects, excepting tin' arms, which are to be delivered at Fan- euil hall to the selectmen of tin- town, and the names of the owners to be placed on them : and tin- general expect-, un the other hand, a pro- clamation from Congress, gh mix liberty to all inhabitants of the colo- ny, having inclination therefor, to remove, with their i Sects, into Bos- ton. Some of the inhabitants have alread] lefl the town, bj permis- sion of the general; ||and under these circumstances, || should we issue the order which has passed in Congress, it may put a stop to this un- expected favorable event, and prevent the emancipation of many thou- sands of friends to America. We, nevertheless, purpose to detain tin- prisoners of war ; and if the general should not forfeit his plighted faith, to use all expedition in getting out families and the effects of our friends from Boston, that we may be at liberty to use our prison- ers, and every other means in our power, for the release of Mr. Brown, as was intended. P. S. — We have just heard the passages from Boston are again stopped, but the occasion of this extraordinary maun in re we cannot pel learn. Tu (In Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., \\qf Providence. Ordered, Thai a postscript be added to the letter just prepared to be sent to the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., purporting that we have just received intellicrence that the passages to and from Boston are -tupped ; the reason of which extraordinary manoeuvre we are not yel acquainted with. Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.] [Afternoon.] The committee appointed to bring in a resolve with respect to re- ducing the pay of the field officers, reported the following, which was read and accepted, and ordered to be signed bj the secretary, and transmitted to the committee of safety. In Provincial Congress, Watertown, Ipril 29, L77& Whereas, the reducing of the several regiments to be raised in the provincial ->mce. li one thousand men in a regiment to five hun- 168 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 29, died and ninety, makes the service of the said field officers of said regiments less burdensome ; therefore, Resolved, that the pay of said field officers be reduced one fifth part from the first establishment, and that said field officers' pay, in said service of this province, to the last day of December next, unless dismissed before, shall be as follows, viz. : a colonel's pay, twelve pounds per month : a lieutenant colonel's pay, nine pounds twelve shillings per month : a major's pay, eight pounds per month. Ordered, That Mr. Rawson, Doct. Dunsmore and Col. Davis, be a committee to wait on the committee of safety now sitting at Cam- bridge, to inform them of the deep concern this Congress feel, on ac- count of the state and situation of the cannon, and desire information respecting the disposition of them — and that this committee forthwith proceed on this business. Resolved, That this Congress will now proceed to choose a commit- tee, to consider some method of supplying the treasury. Ordered, That Esquire Greenleaf, Mr. Hall, (in the room of Doct. Holten,) and Mr. Batchelder, be of the committee to count and sort the votes. The absent members were ordered to be called in. The Hon. Mr. Dexter, who was appointed to bring in a resolve ex- pressive of the vote of this Congress for altering the first meeting of the county committees, reported ; which report being read and amend- ed, was accepted, and is as follows : Whereas, this Congress, on the 12th day of this instant April, ap- pointed a committee for each county, to receive from the committees of correspondence in such counties, a state of the conduct of the towns and districts, with respect to their having executed the conti- nental and provincial measures for the preservation of this country from slavery. And, whereas, the distressed circumstances of the colony may probably render it very inconvenient that so great a number of members should be absent from the Congress on the first Wednesday of May next, the day mentioned for their first meet- ing; Therefore, Resolved, That the first meeting of said committees be postponed to the fourth Wednesday in said month ; and it is recom- mended to the several committees of correspondence to render a true state of the conduct of their respective towns and districts on the said fourth Wednesday of May accordingly ; and especially with respect to their outstanding province rates, any thing contained in the former re- solve of this Congress differing herefrom notwithstanding. 17 75.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 168 Ordered, That the several county committees be, and they hereby are directed to inform the committees of correspondence of the seve- ral ||*towns in their respective counties|| of the purport of the fore- going resolve. Ordered, That the secretary be, and he hereby is directed to notify the chairman of each of the said county committees, of the purport of the said resolve. The committee appointed to count ami sort the votes for a commit- tee to consider on some method for supplying the treasury, reported that the following gentlemen were chosen, viz. : Rev. Mr. Murray, Col. Dexter, Col. Gerrish, Mr. Gill, Mr. Gerry, Capt. Stone ||of Fra- ininghamll and Capt. Greenleaf. On a motion made by Rev. Mr. Murray, that he might be ex- cused from serving on the above committee, and having offered his reasons therefor, the question was put, whether he be excused agree- ably to hi< request, from serving on said committee, and it passed in the affirmati\i' The Congress then made choice of Doct. Taylor to serve on said committee, in the room of Mr. Murray, who hath been excused. In Provincial Congress, \\Watertoum,\\ April 29, 1775. The president having received a letter from Messrs. Nicholas Brown and Joseph Brown, dated Providence, April *27th, 1775, desiring that this Congress would observe secrecy in respect to the capture of their brother, John Brown, al Newport, on the 26th instant, and also another, from the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., dated Providence, April "27111. I7 75, 1 presented the same to this Congress : which being read — a ||countiee.|| (1) These letters are not preserved on the books or files "I" Congress ; the information contained in tluit written by Honorable Stephen Hopkins is repeated in a communication on the following iddressed to the president. PROVIDENCE, \|.nl 28, 1775. GENTLEMEN : — Mr. Joseph Brown ami Mr. Mini's lirown, of this place, principal merchants, mill gentlemen of distinction ami probity, will wait upon you with this letter. Their brother, Mr. John Brown, of this town, merchant, was, two days u«o, forcibly taken at Newport in a packet, as he was coming from thence with a quantity of Hour, which be had purchased there. Be « aa car- ried on board a ship of war ami confined. We have sim-,- heard that be t- sen) round to lioston with the flour. I request you to give the bearers any aid and assistance in your power, for pro- curing the relief and discharge of their brother. In my letter of yesterday to the Congress, the iureofrepris,il in holding the llntish prisoners of war u hostages] was recommended; and if it i I wish it may be pursued. 1 am unit friend and humble servant, STKl'lll'.N lloi'KINS. The embarrassment created by the capture of the small quantitj ol uted by the British man of »ar, appears from the following letter ad. In---.il to the president "' Congl PRO\ ii'i N' i IprilSK, i: SIR :— At the request of his 1 r the deputy governor, [Hon. Harm- - I b*v« under- 22 170 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 29, Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Col. Gerrish and Doct. Taylor be, and hereby are appointed a committee to confer with the abovesaid Joseph Brown, who now waits the further advice of this Congress. Ordered, That said committee be, and they are hereby authorized to consider what is proper to be done ; to sit forthwith, and make re- port || a as soon as may be.|| The president, || b likewise,|| received a letter from Worcester, 1 in- a ||forthwith.|| b ||aIso.|| taken to answer yours of the 26th instant ; we, sir, sensibly feel the distresses of our brethren in the Massachusetts Bay, and can only say, that, as brigadier of the three battalions under my com- mand, in the county of Providence, I will furnish you, upon any alarm, with six hundred men ; but the situation of matters is such, occasioned partly by our assembly's not appointing officers for the fifteen hundred men, which they ordered to be raised for your assistance ; and partly by the seizure made by the man of war, at Newport, of three hundred barrels of flour, bought by this colony for supplying our army, that it will be impossible for our forces immediately to proceed to join your army, unless they go destitute of provision, which we imagine here would rather be a burden than a help to our friends ; however, men are enlisting very fast, and, when our assembly meets here, which will be next week, you may rely on it, that our forces will, as fast and as soon as possible, march to your assistance. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, JAMES ANGELL. (1) Information of the arrival of intelligence from Europe, was contained in a most interesting let- ter from the Hon. John Hancock, who, on his way to attend the Continental Congress, remained at Worcester two days, waiting for suitable escort, and for the coming of his colleagues. WORCESTER, 24th April, 1775, Monday Evening. " GENTLEMEN : — Mr. S. Adams and myself, just arrived here, find no intelligence from you and no guard. We just hear an express has just passed through this place to you from New York, in- forming that administration is bent upon pushing matters ; and that four regiments are expected there. How are we to proceed ? Where are our brethren ? Surely we ought to be supported. 1 had rather be with you ; and, at present, am fully determined to be with you before I proceed. I beg, by the return of this express, to hear from you ; and pray furnish us with depositions of the conduct of the troops, the certainty of their firing first, and every circumstance relative to the conduct of the troops, from the 19th instant to this time, that we may be able to give some account of matters as we proceed, and especially at Philadelphia. Also I beg you would order your secre- tary to make out an account of your proceedings since what has taken place ; what your plan is ; what prisoners we have, and what they have of ours ; who of note was killed on both sides ; who commands our forces, &c." " Are our men in good spirits ? For God's sake, do not suffer the spirit to subside until they have perfected the reduction of our enemies. Boston must be entered ; the troops must be sent away, or [blank] Our friends are valuable, but our country must be saved. I have an interest in that town : « bat can be the enjoyment of that to me, if I am obliged to hold it at the will of general Gage, or any one else? I doubt not your vigilance, your fortitude and resolution. Do let us know how you proceed. Wo must have. the castle. The ships must be [blank] Stop up the harbor against large vessels coming. You know better what to do than I can point out. Where is Mr. Cushing? An- Mr. Paine and Mr. John Adams to be with us ? What are we to depend upon ? We travel rather as deserters, which I will not submit to. I will return and join you, if I cannot travel in reputation. I wish to hear from you. Pray spend a thought upon our situation. I will not detain this man, as I want much to hear from you. How goes on the Congress ? Who is your president? Are the members hearty 7 Pray remember Mr. S. Adams and myself to all friends. God be with you. I am, gentlemen, your faithful and hearty countryman, JOHN HANCOCK." To the gentlemen committee of safety. 1775.] SilCOND PROVINCIAL CONGK ESS 171 fluking one from New York, which gave information of the arrival of a packet there, with despatches for general G unl recommended that care be taken to intercept the same. Ordered, That Col. Grout be directed to carry the letter last men- tioned to the committee of safetj , now Bitting at ( larabridge. ||The Congress then|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, seven o'clock. Sunday, April 30, 1775, A. M. The committee appointed yesterday to wait on the committee of safety, reported, that they bad attended the business to winch they were appointed, ami brought from said committee the following ac- count. In Committee ok ^ai i \\. Cumliriilge, April 29, 177".. Agreeably to the order of the Provincial Congress, this committee have inquired into the Btate and situation of the cannon and ordnance stores, with the provision made for the companies of artillery, and beg leave to report as follows, viz. : /// Cambridge. — Six three pounders complete, with ammunition, and one six pounder. /// Wat i rt own. — Sixteen pieces of artillery of different sizes; the said six pounder, and sixteen pieces, will he taken out of the way : and the first mentioned six pieces will he used in a proper way of de- fence. ('apt. Foster is appointed to command one of the companies of ar- tillery, and ordered to enlist said company. ('apt. William Lee, of Marblehead, [has been] sent for, to take the command of another, and several other persons [have been] sent for, to take the command of other companies. Joseph WabJREN, Chairman. Ordered, That Col. Grout be directed to request of the committee of safety a report, respecting the inhabitants of Boston. A motion was made for an addition to the committee of safety, and, after some debate, the matter was ordered to subside. The Congress then adjourned to twelve o'clock this day. [V.on.l The Congress l^inet at twelve o'clock, and then adjourned|| to halt an hour after one. n ||thon adjourned after meeting according t.> idjonmment.|| 172 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS [April 30, [Afternoon] || a At half an hour after one, the Congress met again, || and adjourned to half an hour after three : at which time the Congress met again Ordered, That another express be immediately sent to the commit- tee of safety, to procure their result with respect to moving out the in- habitants of Boston. Ordered, That Col. Mosely be directed to repair forthwith to Cam- bridge on this errand. The president was then desired to write a short letter to said com- mittee on this important purpose. The letter is as follows : In Provincial Congress, April 30, 1775. Sir : — I am directed to inform you, that it is with regret, this Con- gress find themselves obliged to send to the committee of safety a third messenger, to request their immediate report on the subject of the re- moval of the poor inhabitants of Boston. To wait for that report, the Congress have suspended all proceed- ings on that matter, and sat in almost impatient expectation, by seve- ral adjournments, since seven o'clock this morning. I am obliged to request your answer by this express, without loss of time, that the Congress may then see what it is their duty to conclude on. I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, John Murray. To Joseph Warren, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Safety : Ordered, That Esquire Dix, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Bullen, be a committee to inquire into the conduct of the several towns relative to the prisoners of war. Ordered, That the resolve relative to altering the time ||of the first meeting of the|| county committees, be printed in the Salem Gazette and in the Massachusetts Spy. A committee from the committee of safety offered to this Congress a resolve, respecting the liberation of the inhabitants of Boston, which being read and amended, was accepted, and is as follows : In Provincial Congress, Waiertoion, April 30, 1775. Whereas, an agreement has been made between general Gage and a HCongrens met pursuant to adjournment. || L776.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS i::; the inhabitants of the city of Boston, for |the removal <>!' t lit - persona and effects of such of the inhabitants of the town of Boston as m be so disposed, excepting their fire arms and ammunition, into the conntrv : Resolved, Thai any of the inhabitants of this colony, who maj in- cline to go into the town of Boston with their effects, fire .inn- and ammunition excepted, have toleration lor that purpose] and that they be protected from anj injury and instill whatsoever in their removal to Boston, and that this resolve be immediately published. P. s. — Officers arc appointed for giving permits tor the above pur- poses; one, at the sign of the Sun, at Charlestown; and another, at the house of Mr. John Greaton, Jun., al Roxbury. Ordt red, Thai attested copies of the foregoing resolve be forthwith posted up at Roxbury, Charlestown and Cambridge. Resolved, Thai the resolution of Congress, relative to the removal of the inhabitants of Boston, be authenticated, and sent to the selectmen of Bo-ton, immediately, to be communicated to general Gage, and also be published in the Worcester and Salem papers. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Holmes and Col. Farley, be a committee to consider what steps are necessary to be taken for the assisting the poor of Boston in moving oul with their effects: to bring in a resolve for that purpose : and to -it forth- with. ||Then!| adjourned till to-morrow morning, seven o'clock. Monday,] Maj I, 177."., A. M." The committee who wi re appointed to consider what steps are ne- cessary to be taken with respect to assisting the poor of Boston in moving oul with their effects, reported. The report was recommitted for amendment, and Capt. Smith, of Granby, Col. Mosely, Capt. Goodridge and Major Smith were added to the committee. Ordered, That Mr. Patridge, Doct. Baylies and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee to in-pert the papers of this Congress, and consider what would he proper to furnish the printer with for publication, and make report. The committee appointed to inspect the papers of the Congr< -- ported Beveral extracts of letters tor publication, which are ordered to be delivi red to Mr. Hall, of Salem, for that purpose - published dr. B . to Iho incident! of the inarch to I Thej will ,ho ■•native of that excoiaion, in the Appendix. 174 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 1, On a motion made, that the sense of the Congress be taken on this question, viz. : whether the commissions to be given for the officers of the army now forming in this colony, shall be signed by the president of the Congress : the question was put, and it passed in the affirmative. The Congress then adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. Afternoon. A letter brought from North Hampton, by express, from Major Hawley, respecting the bearer of despatches from general Gage, was read : on which, Ordered, that Col. Gerrish, Esquire Gardner and Ma- jor Gooding, be a committee to take the same into consideration, and report. The committee appointed to consider the letter from Major Hawley, re- ported, that the most likely way of detecting the bearer of the despatches to general Gage, was, to forward the said letter by Major Gooding to the committee of safety, at Cambridge, that they may take order thereon ; which report was accepted, and the said letter, together with two anonymous letters from London, were ordered to be sent to the said committee of safety. Moved, That William Reed, Esq. be admitted in this house, to rep- resent to this Congress the sufferings he met with on the 19th April, at Lexington. The question being put, after debate had thereon, it passed in the negative. Ordered, That Capt. Bragdon, Capt. Dix and Mr. Gill, be a com- mittee to confer with the abovenamed Esquire Reed, and to make re- port of their conference. Resolved, That Mr. Gerry have leave to bring in an order of this house, for leave to the several members of this Congress to pass the guards of the colony army without molestation. Mr. Gerry accordingly brought in an order for this purpose, and after debates had thereon it was ordered to be recommitted. The committee appointed to prepare the form of a commission for the officers of the colony army, reported. The form which they re- ported was read and accepted, and is as follows : The Congress of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay. To Greeting : We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your courage and good conduct, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, the said to be of the regiment of foot raised by the Congress aforesaid for the defence of said colony. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. I7fi You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the dutj ol a in leading, ordering and exercising tin- Baid in ariii>, both inferior officers and Boldiers, and to keep them in L r 1 or- der and discipline ; and they are hereby commanded t . ■ obey yon as their ; and you are jrourself i" observe and follow such or- ders and instructions a- \>>u -hall, from time to time, receive from the genera] and commander in chief of the forces raised in the colon] aforesaid, for the defence <>i" the same, <>r u\ « >t 1 1. -r your superior offi- cers, according to the military rules and discipline in \\ ar, in pursuance of the tru>t reposed in yrou. By order of the < 'oiiL r re— , , the of A. I). 1775. Pri >idt nt pre t, iii/iiin . Secretary pro temport . Ordered, Thai a fair copy of the foregoing form of a commission be taken, and transmitted to the press, and that one thousand copies thereof be printed. .Mr. Cerrv again reported the form of a pass lor the use ot" the members ot' this Congress, which was accepted, and six hundred ol them ordered to he printed. It is a-- follows : 'I'd THE r THE COLON! Ai:M\. Pursuant to a resolve of the Provincial Congn •--, \<>w arc hereby ordered to permit a member of said Congress, to pass ami repass at all times. St cretary. In Provincial Congress, || Watertown,\\ May 1, 177.">. Resolved, Thai the general officer of the army of this colon] be, and he hereb] is directed to sii.ni a sufficient number of blank passes for members of this Congress, ami to deliver the same to the secretary ||of Congress.|| The committee who were appointed to consider ot' measures for as- sisting tin 1 poor of Boston to move out of Baid town, having amended their report, again reported: which report being read and amended, || u.i- accepted, and cue hundred ami 6ft] copies thereof ordered to be printed, and a copy ||thereof|| forthwith transmitted to the commit! of donations, in Boston, and that Mr. (Jill take the charge of trans- mitting the same. The report is as follows, viz. : 176 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 1, In Provincial Congress, \\Watertoim,\\ May 1, 1775. Whereas, the inhabitants of the town of Boston have been detained by general Gage, but at length, by agreement, are permitted to remove, with their effects, into the country, and as it has been represented to this Congress that about five thousand of said inhabitants are indigent, and unable to be at the expense of removing themselves : Therefore, Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to all the good people of this colony, and especially to the selectmen, and committee of correspondence most convenient to Boston, that they aid and assist such poor inhabitants ||of said town|| (with teams, wag- gons, &c.,) as shall procure a certificate from the committee of dona- tions, that they are unable to remove themselves ; and it is further re- commended to the selectmen of the several towns specified in the schedule annexed, to provide for said inhabitants in the best and most prudent way ||and manner, || until this, or some future congress, shall take further order thereon, and that the said selectmen receive, support and employ their proportion of said inhabitants assigned them in said schedule, and no other ; and render their accounts to this, or some future congress, or house of representatives, for allowance, which reasonable accounts shall be paid out of the public treasury : and it is further recommended, to the committee of donations, to apply said donations for the removal of said inhabitants, and for their support whilst removing ; and in case that is insufficient, it is further recom- mended to said committee of donations, that they make up said de- ficiency, and lay their accounts before the Congress for allowance, which reasonable expense shall be paid out of the public treasury of the col- ony : and it is further Resolved, that the inhabitants of Boston thus re- moved shall not, in future, be considered as the poor of said town into which they remove ; and it is to be understood, that if the number of the poor who shall be removed in consequence hereof, should surpass, or fall short of the number herein calculated, the distribution of them shall be increased or diminished, in proportion ||according|| to this regulation : County of Suffolk. — Wrentham, 89 persons ; Stoughtonham, 33 ; Medway, 3S ; Bellingham, 25 ; Walpole, 31 ; . 215 Middlesex. — Concord,66; Marlborough, 80; Billerica,54; Fra- mingham, 63; Chelmsford, 49 : Sherburne, 31 ; Sudbury, 85 ; Weston, 41 ; Westford, 45 ; Littleton, 41 ; Hopkin- ton, 42; Stow, 36; Groton,61; Pepperel,34; Townsend, 26; Natick,20; Dracut, 35 ; Bedford, 29; Holliston, 34; 177.",.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CO.NfiK!" irj Tewksbury, 28 ; Acton, :?2 ; Dunstable, 80 ; Lincoln, 29; Wilmington, 25 j ..... 1016 Plymouth. — Bridgewater, 81 ; 4bington, 22 ; Halifax, 12; . ll."» Blrirtol.— Taunton, 10:5; Rehoboth, 129; Dartmouth, 113; Norton, 47; Mansfield, 30 ; AttlebOrough, 75 ; Raynham, 31 ; Easton, 3"> ; Berklej . 25 ; . 588 Berkshire. — Sheffield, 54; Great Barrington, 24: Stock- bridge, 2">: Pittsfield, 31; New Marlborough, 30 ; Egre- tnont, 13; Riohmond, 23; Lenox, 16; Tyringham, 13; LanesborOugh, 32; Sandisfield, 23; Williamstown, 20; Easl Hoosock, III: . . . . . 314 Hampshire. — Springfield, 68; Wilbraham, 31; Northamp- ton. TO; Southampton, 25; Hadley, 30; South Hadley, 23; Amherst, 34; Granby, 17; Hatfield, 35; VVhately, 13; Williamsburg, 9; Westfield,50; Deerfield, 36; Green- field, 24 ; Shelburne, 14; Conway, 17; Sunderland, 19; Montague, 18; Northfield, 20; Brimfield, 44; South Brimfield, 26; Monson, 23; Pelham, 25; Greenwich, 24; Blandford, 19; Leverett, 4 ; Palmer, 25 ; Granville, 44; New Salem, 22; Belchertown, 28; Colrain, 17; Wan-, L3; Warwick, 10; Btirnardslon, 14; Murraystield, 17; Charlemont, 12; Wbrthington, 6; Shutesbury, 14; Chesterfield, 22; Southwick, 19; West Springfield, 72; Ludlow, 10; . . . . . [788] Worcester. — Worcester, 82 ; Lancaster, 103: Mendon, 70. Brookfield, 90; Oxford, 35; Charlton, 35; Sutton, 98; Leicester, 30; Spencer, 31; Paxton, 20; Rutland, 48; Oakham, 14; Hutchinson, 42; Hubbardston, 9; New Braintree, 32; Southborough, 30; Westborough, 3< ; Northborough, 25; Shrewsbury, 32; Lunenburg, 51; Fitchburg, 19; Oxbridge, 30 ; Harvard, 50 ; Dudley, 32 ; Bolton, 48; Upton, 20; Sturbridge, l">: Leominster, 38 Hardwick,55; Holden,26; Weston, 35; Douglass, 22; Grafton, 38; Petersham, 38 ; Royalston, 8; Westminster, 31; Atli.,1, 20; Templeton, 25; Princeton, 21 ; Ashburn- ham, 12; Winchendon, 9; Northbridge, 13; . [539] W hole amouni, ..... 1009 28 178 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 2, Ordered, That Mr. Partridge, Mr. Lothrop and Doct. Baylies, be di- rected to assist the secretary in copying the foregoing report. The committee appointed to confer with William Reed, Esq., re- ported the following [statements of losses sustained by each from the British troops,] presented to them by William Reed, Esq., of Lexing- ton, in behalf of Joseph Loring, Joseph Loring, Jun., Widow Mulli- ken and Joseph Pond, viz. : x Whereupon, Ordered, That the committee of supplies be, and they are hereby directed to deliver to said William Reed, Esq., or to his order, for the use of the said Joseph Loring, Joseph Loring, Jun., Widow Mulliken and Joseph Pond, one barrel of pork. Ordered, That Mr. Hollock, Col. Howe and Capt. White, be a committee to consider what is proper to be done with respect to fur- nishing the army with some present necessaries. All [the] committees [were] enjoined to sit. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. [Tuesday,] May 2, [1775, A. M.] Resolved, That another president be chosen pro tempore, and that he be chosen by nomination. Col. Warren was then nominated and chosen. Ordered, That Mr. Partridge, Doct. Taylor and Mr. || a Dix,|| be a committee to wait on Col. Warren, and inform him of said choice. Col. Warren accordingly attended, and, after offering his reasons for excuse, Moved, that a committee be appointed to wait on Doct. Joseph Warren, informing him of the absence of the Rev. Mr. Murray, who has lately officiated as president ||of this Congress, || and to know ||of Doct. Warren|| if he can now attend the Congress in that station. Whereupon, Ordered, that Doct. Dunsmore be a committee for that purpose. 2 Ordered, That Col. Gerrish, Col. Warren, Hon. Mr. Dexter, Mr. a ||Dickfl.|| (1) These statements have shared the fate of many of the most interesting documents of the time, and are not on the files. From some representations subsequently made, it appears, that the loss sustained hy Deacon Joseph Loring, was estimated to he £720 ; that of Mrs. Lydia Mulliken, £431 ; including buildings, household furniture and wearing apparel. The house of Deacon Lor- ing, near the spot when' I lie brigade of Lord Percy joined the retreating detachment under Lieut. Col. Smith, is stated In himself to have heen the first destroyed hy the troops, in Lexington, on the memorable 19th of April. From the nature of the relief granted by Congress, it may be presumed, that some of the petitioners bid suffered so severely as to be without the means of providing food. (2) The reply to the invitation of Congress is brief: " Doct. Warren presents his respects to the honorable Provincial Congress : informs them that he will obey their order, and attend his duty in Congress in the afternoon." Cambridge, May 2, 1775. L775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL < <>V,i;r i:-., Gill, and Capt. Brown of Abington, be a committee t,, consider the propriety of taking measures f'>r securing the records of tin.-.- coun- ties winch are more immediately exposed in tin- day of danger. Ordered, That the Hon. Mr Dexter, Col. Warren and Mr. Gill, be a committee to prepare a draught of a letter to the delegates of Con- n-re--, now in Connecticut, giving them instructions with respeel to the arrival at this colons of two gentlemen from the assemblj of Connec- ticut, with an address to general (iage, and a commission to treat with In in respecting a cessation of hostilities, &-C Ordered, Thai Capt. Stone of Oakham, Deacon Raw-on and Ma- jor Fuller of Newton, be a committee to draw up the form of an oath to be taken by the officers and soldiers of the army now forming in \\w< colon] . The committee who were ! appointed to consider what || a is|| proper to be done with respect to furnishing the annv with some present ne- cessaries, reported : the report was read, and ordered to lie on the ta- ble for the present. A letter from Manchester to Doct. Taylor, respecting a computa- tion .if the taxes paid by Great Britain and America, &,c, was read : Whereupon, Ordered, Thai Mr. Webster, Deacon Cheever, and Capt. Stone ||of Framingham,|| be a committee to take the said letter into consideration, and make report. The committee who were appointed to prepare a letter to the dele- gates of this Con^re-- at Connecticut, reported : which report being r< id, was unanimously accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Gentlemen: — Although this Congress entertain the highest opin- ion of the virtue and public -pirit of the colony of Connecticut, and have not the .smallest doubt of the attachment of the general assembly of that colony to the glorious cause of freedom, now threatened with total destruction by a corrupt ministry ; yet, the arrival of two gentle- men of the first character from that colony, with an address to general Gage, and a commission to treat with him on the subject of American grievances; and to propose, as we are informed, a cessation of hostili- ty -. at a tune when that gentleman can he considered in no other lighl than as an lii-truinent in the hand-, and under the absolute direction of administration, to Bubjugate, and, for that detestable purpose, to spread slaughter and || b desolation | among his majesty's loyal subjects of his disposition to do which, he has recently gi\en a flagrant proof'. in ma>sacring a number of innocent people, who were in tin peace hi b ||il< ilruction.il 180 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 2, of God and the king ; and by other acts of injustice and cruelty ; we cannot but be greatly alarmed for the consequences. Any interrup- tions of that happy union of the colonies which has taken place, would prove of the most fatal tendency, and we cannot but view every kind of negociation between any colony and the chief instrument of minis- terial vengeance here, as being likely to operate towards such an in- terruption. We apprehend that things are now reduced to such a state, that nothing but an immediate recourse to arms, and a steady and persevering exertion in military operations, can possibly prevent our destruction, and that a recourse to any other method is, at best, nu- gatory and vain. Any proposals, either to parliament, to the ministry, or to their agents here, made separately by a single colony, may pro- duce most tremendous events with regard to America ; and we ap- prehend nothing could be more pleasing to our enemies than the making such proposals. We are so deeply impressed with the sense of the importance and absolute necessity of a thorough union of the colonies, and particularly with respect to the raising and supporting an army, to act with the utmost vigor at this alarming crisis; and so fear- ful of any measures taking place, whereby the common cause may be endangered, that we have unanimously concluded it necessary to sug- gest to you our fears respecting the effects of this embassy from Con- necticut to [general] Gage; and we expect ||that|| you will make a proper representation of the sentiments of this Congress to their assem- bly, in hopes that you will receive such an explanation of their mo- tives, and such assurances of their intention immediately to co-operate with this colony, as may remove every gloomy apprehension, and con- firm us in that high estimation in which we have ever held the respec- table colony of Connecticut. P. S. — If the assembly should be dissolved, it is expected that you will tarry to treat with the next assembly. 1 To Jedediah Foster, Timothy Danielson and John Bliss, Esquires. (1) Doct. Samuel Johnson and Col. Oliver Wolcot were commissioned to deliver the following letter from the governor, in behalf of the general assembly of Connecticut, to general Gage. HARTFORD, April 28, 1775. To his excellency Thomas Gage i " SIR : — The alarming situation of public affairs in this country, and the late unfortunate transac- tions in the province of the Massachusetts Bay, have induced the general assembly of this colo- ny, now sitting in this place, to appoint a committee of their body to wait upon your excellency, and to desire me, in their name, to write to yon relative to these very interesting matters." " The inhabitants of this eohmy are intimate!; connected with the people of your province, and esteem themselves bound, by the strongest ties of friendship, as well as of common interest, to re- gard whatever concerns them. You will not, therefore, be surprised, that your first arrival in Bos- ton, with a body of bis majesty's troops, for the declared purpose of carrying into execution certain 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 181 < >n a motion made, Ordered, That, ;it three o'clock thia afternoon, this Congrese do take into consideration the precepts issued l • \ gene- ral (iaon tin- lives and property of his majesty's subjects, ami it has been represented to as, thai such out- • n committed as would ■ 1 Lns, and much more Britons, so highly famed for humanity as well as bravery. It 1- (eared, therefore, tli a we »ri- devoted t>> destru :ti ami that you have it in command and intention to 1 d desolate the country. If this i* not tl ase, permit us tu ask, why have these outrages been coi itted .' Why is the town of Boston r..i» -hut up? and to what end ore nil the hostile preparations that are daily making, and why do we continually hear of fresh destinations of troops for this country) 'J ' I h • people of this colony, you may relj upon it, abhor the idea of taking arms against the troops of their sovereign, and dread nothing so much as the horrors of civil war ; but, at the same time, we beg leave to assure your excellency, thai as they apprehended themselves justified by the principle of self-defence, so they are most firmly resolved to defend their rights and privileges t" the lost extremity; nor will tin'. ined from giving aid to their brethren if any unjustifiable attack is mode u; them. I'.. so jriHid, then-fore, as to explain yourself upon this most important sub i-t- ent with your duty to our .on hi sovereign. Is there no way to prevent this unhappy dispute from coming to extremities .' I- there no alternative bul absolute submission, or the desolations of war? By that humanity which constitutes so amiable a pari of your character, for the honor of our sovereign, and by the glory of the British ompire, we entreat you, to prevent it, it" it he possj ble: surely it i- to In. hoped that the temperate wisdom of tin- empire might, \pe- .1 all parts of tie- empire may enjoy their particular rights, honors ami i m urn n it 1 I '»ly, this is an event i devoutly 10 in- wished for, ami will ii ma he consist- ent with your duty to suspend the operations of war on your part, ami in ible us nr- to quiet the minds of the people, al least till the result of Borne further deliberations may he known ? The importance of the occasion will, we doubt not, sufficiently apologise lor tin' earnestness with which we address yon, and any seeming impropriety which may attend it, as wall as induce you I the most explicit ami favorable answer in your powi r. I am, with great esteem ami respect, in behalf of the general assembly, Sir, Sec, JONATH \.\ 1 i;i MB! LL." The reply of general Gage, a dignified ami able paper, follow- : BOSTON, 3d May, 1775. ■■ .-11; :— I am to acknowledge tie- receipt of your letter of the 28th April last, in behalf of the genera] assembly of your colony, relative to the alarming situation of public affairs in this country, ami ilo late transactions in this province. Thai thi- situation is greatly alarming, and that 1. transactions an- truly unfortunate, an- iruths to he regretted In every friend to Imerica, and by • v ery well wisher for tin- peace, prosperity ami happiness of this province. The intimal 1 tion ami strong in- of friendship between tie. inhabitants of your colony ami the deluded people of this proi ince, c moot fail of inducing tin- former to interpose theii goo . '1. com ince the I itti r ol the impropriety of their past conduct, and to persuade them to return to their allegiance, ami to ■ r-.tr. -- of any sup| a grievances, in those decent ami constitutional methods, in which alone they can hope to in. sui isful." •' 'I' 1 "' troops -1 hi I... employed for thi purpose of protecting the m igistrati in the • \ • utioo .it theii duty, when opposed with violence, i< not a new thing in the English, or any othi r _•..-. mrnt. That any mts of the British parliament are unconstitutional or oppressive, I am not to «u|>. 182 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 2 Resolved, That Capt. Goodman be || a desired|| to take the charge of transmitting, forthwith, the letter to the delegates of this colony now in Connecticut. pose ; if any such there are, in the apprehension of the people of this province, it had been happy for them if they had sought relief, only the in way which the constitution, their reason and their interest pointed out." " You cannot wonder at my fortifying the town of Boston, or making any other military prepara- tions, when you are assured, that, previous to my taking these steps, such were the open threats, and such the warlike preparations throughout this province, as rendered it my indispensable duty to take every precaution in my power, for the protection of his majesty's troops under my command, against all hostile attempts." " The intelligence you seem to have received, relative to the late excursion of a hody of troops into the country, is altogether injurious, and contrary to the true state of facts. The troops dis- claim, with indignation, the barbarous outrages of which they are accused, so contrary to their known humanity. I have taken the greatest pains to discover if any were committed, and have found examples of their tenderness, both to the young and the old, but no vestige of cruelty or barbarity- It is very possible, that in firing into houses, from whence they were fired upon, that old people, women or children may have suffered ; but if any such thing has happened, it was in their defence and undesigned. I have no command to ravage and desolate the country ; and were it my intention, I have had pretence to begin it, upon the sea ports, who are at the mercy of the fleet. For your better information I enclose you a narrative of that affair, taken from gentlemen of indis- putable honor and veracity who were eye witnesses of all the transactions of that day. The lead- ers here have taken pains to prevent any account of this affair getting abroad, but such as they have thought proper to publish themselves ; and, to that end, the post has been stopped, the mails broke open, and letters taken out ; and, by these means, the most injurious and inflammatory ac- counts have been spread throughout the continent, which have served to deceive and inflame the minds of the people." " When the resolves of the Provincial Congress breathed nothing but war, when those two great and essential prerogatives of the king, the levying of troops and disposing of the public moneys, were wrested from him, and when magazines were forming, by an assembly of men, unknown to the constitution, for the declared purpose of levying war against the king, you must acknowledge it was my duty, as it was the dictate of humanity, to prevent, if possible, the calamities of a civil war, by destroying such magazines. This, and this alone, I attempted." " You ask, why is the town of Boston now shut up ; I can only refer you, for an answer, to those bodies of armed men who now surround the town, and prevent all access to it. The hostile prepa- rations you mention, are such as the conduct of the people of this province have rendered it prudent to make, for the defence of those under my command. You assure me, the people of your colony abhor the idea of taking up arms against the troops of their sovereign ; I wish the people of this province, for their own sakes, could make the same declaration." " You enquire, is their no way to prevent this unhappy dispute from coming to extremities ? is there no alternative but absolute submission or the desolations of war? I answer I hope there is. The king and parliament seem to hold out terms of reconciliation, consistent witli the honor and interest of Great Britain, and the rights and privileges of the colonies. They have mutually de- clared their readiness to attend to any real grievances of the colonies, and to afford them every just and reasonable indulgence, which shall, in a dutiful and constitutional manner, be biid before them ; and his majesty adds, it is his ardent wish, that this disposition may have a happy effect on the teinpe r ;in,| conduct of his subjects in America. I must add, likewise, the resolution of the 'JVth February, on the grand dispute of taxation and revenue; leaving it to the colonies to tax themselves, under certain conditions. Here is surely a foundation for an accommodation, to people vi bo wish a reconcili ttion, r ither than a destructive war, between countries so nearly connected by the tic§ of blood and inter !Sl : 'hi! I tear that the leaders of this province have been, and still ar", intent only on shedding blood." "I am much obliged by your favorable sentiment-- of my personal character; and assure you, as it li i, been my constant wish and I ndoavot hitherto, so I shall continue to exert my utmost efforts to a ||directed || L775.] SKC'OND PROVING l\I. <<>.\<;KESS 183 did, ml. Thai a postscript be added to Bald letter, instructing said delegates, that if their assemblj should be dissolved, thej tarr\ th to treat with the new assembly. The Congress then adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. \ i ii. \ letter was presented to this Congress bj Esquire Aikin, from Mr Lemuel Williams, dated I Dartmouth, Maj 1 , 1 775, 1 to Baid Aikin, \\ bich was read: whereupon, Ordered, that Mr Batchelder, Esquire Dix, Col. Farley, Mr. Greenleafand Mr. Bent, be a committee to take the Baid letter into consideration, and reporl as soon as may be, and thai Esquire Aikin be desired to attend on Baid committee. The onler of the day [was] moved for. Resolved, Thai the further consideration of the precepts for calling a genera] assembly, he referred to Thursda} next, ten o'clock, A. M. Ordered, Thai Deacon Cheever, Col. Warren, Mr. Gill, Hon. Mr. Dexter, and the president, be a committer to bring in a resolve tor the purpose of granting libert} to such persons in Boston as incline to send into the country for their effects, thai so another obstacle maj be removed to the liheratine of the inhabitants of Boston. ||The committee on the letter from Lemuel Williams to Esquire Aikin, reported verbally. The matter was ordered to Bubside. Ordered, Thai Mr. Gerry, Presidenl Warren, Don. .Mr. Dexter, Col. Warren and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to forward an expri ss to the Hon. Continental Congress, with authenticated copies of the depositions, and address to the inhabitants of Greal Britain, and letter to Mr. Franklin, lately senl to Greal Britain, per Capt. Derby of S h-m : also i" send another original sel of Baid papers, by said ex] to be forwarded by the vessel in the southern colonies to London, and • all lii> Hi jestj '- liege whether it will not bi I with my duty to suspend th" operations of war on my pi it, A I ommenced no operations of war but di fensive ; su rid, while 1 am bui I country, who have alreadj begun, and I I irther to pi offensn •• war ; and are now violently depriving me, the king's troops, and manj oth< rs of the king 1 jects under my immediate protection, of all the conveniences nnd m of life, « itb which the country abounds. But it must quiel the minds of all reasonable people, wh ml isi you, thai I have ii" disposition t" injure or moles) quii t •■••in it in) greatest ■'ir, your ma il humble - I'llnM \~ QA( 'I'hf Hon. On. 1'rumhull. (1) The enquiry was proposed by Mr. Williams, whether it would !»• (.r.<{..-r f<>r the m Dartmouth to send their vessels to I (pressed by tho committi -tiinii! be restri ined in port. 184 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 2, to report an application to be sent by said express to the Continental Congress. Col. Learned Moved, That the sense of this Congress might be taken, whether the regiment he is now raising may be a regiment ol grenadiers : the matter was ordered to subside. A motion was made and seconded, that a committee be appointed, to take into consideration the expediency of drafting a certain propor- tion of the town's stock of powder, &c, from such towns as they shall think proper, for the present supply of the army now establishing in this colony. The matter was ordered to subside, till the Congress had passed upon a report for giving license to such persons, in Boston, as incline to, send into the country for their effects : which report was read, amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : [In Provincial Congress, Watertoivn, May 2, 1775.] [Resolved, That such inhabitants of this colony, as have repaired to the town of Boston, there to take up their residence, and have effects in the other towns of this government, be permitted, each of them, to send out a servant, or other person, without arms, to put up and trans- port, into the said town of Boston, any such goods or effects, except- ing arms and ammunition ; and that the officers appointed for granting permits, at Roxbury and Charlestown, be, and hereby are, directed to provide a suitable attendant to each person so sent out, whose business it shall be to continue with him till he returns, and that permits, agree- able to the intention of this resolve, be granted.] 1 The committee appointed to devise ways and means for supplying the treasury, reported as to the first step, and asked leave to sit again. Ordered, That Mr. Freeman, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Lewis, Col. Dwight and Esquire Gardner, be a committee to consider what measures are proper to be taken for liberating those persons who were taken prison- ers by the troops under the command of general Gage, on the 19th [of April last.] All the committees ||of the Congress were|| enjoined to sit, ||and then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. [Wednesday,] May 3, 1775, [A. M.] Ordered, That Deacon Cheever be desired to make application to the Rev. Doct. Cooper, to request that he would officiate as chaplain for this Congress during its session in this place. (1) This resolve i* restored to the journal from :r copy made by Mr. Secretary Freeman. 1775.] S I :COND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 186 Ordered, That Doct, Taylor, Mr Lothrop and Mr. Paine, be a com- mittee to forward the proclamations, for a fast, into the country, as soon as possible. Resolved, Thai this last mentioned order be reconsidered ; and thereupon, Ordered, thai the committee who were appointed al Con- cord for dispersing the proclamations, be required to perform their duty w 1 1 1 1 all possible expedition. On tlic application from the committee of safety, relative to supplv- niL r Col. Arnold with one hundred pounds [lawful money,] and sundry m arlike stoi Ordered, Thai Mr. Greenleaf, .Mr. (Jill and Mr. Partridge, be a committee to take Baid application into consideration, and report. The committee <>n the application from the committee of safety, re- ported : [the report was] read and accepted, and is as followeth : In Provincial Congkess, Watertoum, Ma\ :i. 1775. Resolved, That the within request of the committee of safety be granted, and that the committee of supplies be, and they hereby are directed, to furnish Col. Benedict Arnold with ten horses, two hun- dred pounds of gunpowder, two hundred pounds of lead halls, and one thousand llints, at the expense of the colony, and that said committee draw upon Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, tor one hundred pounds, [lawful in ■v,] in favor of said Arnold, and take his receipt for the whole — said Arnold to he accouutahle therefor to this or some other congress, or future house of representativi a Ordered, Thai Col. Warren, Doct. Holten, Mr. Dix, Col. Farley and Doct. Taylor, be a committee to || a overlook the commission of the committee of safety, and the commission of the committee of sup- ping, and to see whether it be necessarj thai the] be invested with other power- than they now have. The committee [ appointed ] to bring in the form of a resolve, em- powering the treasurer to horrow a certain sum of money, and the form of a note, to he hy him given to the lender, &C, reported ; the report [was] amended, read and accepted, and is as followeth Resolved, That the receiver general he, and hereby is empowered and directed, to horrow the sum of One hundred thousand pound-, lawful money, and issue colony securities for the same, payable with annual interest, at -i\ per cent., June I, 1777, and that the Continen- tal Congress be desired to recommend to the several colonies to give a currency to such securities. 1 1, tl ■ power of the committeei "i rappliei and ol ■2 1 186 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 3 Resolved, That the securities given by the receiver general for the moneys borrowed by him, in pursuance of the aforegoing resolve, be in the form following, viz : No. The day of AD. 177 . Borrowed and received of A. B. the sum of pounds, lawful money, for the use and service of the colony of the Massachusetts Bay ; and in behalf of said colony, I do hereby promise and oblige myself, and my successors in the office of treasurer or receiver general, to repay to the said A. B., or to his order, on the first day of June, 1777, the aforesaid sum of pounds, lawful money, in Spanish milled dollars, at six shillings each, or in the several species of coined silver and gold, enumerated in an act ||made and passed in the twenty- second year of his late majesty king George the Second, entitled an act 1 1 for ascertaining the rates at which coined silver and gold, English half-pence and farthings, may pass within this government, and accord- ing to the rates therein mentioned, with interest, to be paid annually, at six per cent. A. B. ) Witness my hand, C. D. }£ E. F. J H. G. The committee on the letter from Mr. Lee to Doct. Taylor, reported verbally, that a copy of said letter be forwarded to our members of the Continental Congress : upon a motion, the question was put, whether the above report be accepted, and passed in the negative. Resolved, That in all orders for impressing horses and carriages, the horses and carriages of the members of this Congress be excepted, and that a copy of this resolve be sent to the committee of safety and committee of supplies. Ordered, That at three o'clock this afternoon, the Congress will take into consideration the propriety of establishing pay for a brigade major. Ordered, That at five o'clock this afternoon, the Congress will come to the choice of a committee of three [persons,] by ballot, to procure a copper plate for printing the colony notes, and to countersign them. Ordered, That the committee who reported a resolve relative to bor- rowing money, &c, bring in a resolve that no note be given by the receiver general for a less sum than four pounds. Adjourned till three o'clock, P. M. Afternoon. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve that no note be given 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 181 by the receiver genera] foi anj Bum less than four pounds, reported ; and the repoii was amended and accepted, and is as follows; Whereas, inconveniences may arise by the receiver general's issuing notes for -mull Bums: therefore, Resolved, thai 1 1 »* - receiver general be, and li»- hereby is directed, nol to issue anj aotes tor a less sum than four pounds, lawful monej . The report of the committee appointed t<> take into consideration the advance pay to the soldiers, was taken up and read ; bul as part of the report i> superseded l>y a resolve in the 1 1 1 1 » r 1 1 1 1 1 lt . therefore, Or- dered, that the report be recommitted, and that part thereof which hath been superseded be It-It OUt, and that each soldier be allowed twenty shillings, lawful money, in advance. The order of the day [was] ino\fd for. Resolved, Thai Capt Parker, Col. How and Col. Parley, be a com- mittee to take into coii-hI. ration the propriety of establishing pay for a brigade major. The above vote was reconsidered. The committee appointed to report the form of an oath, reported : the report was read, and recommitted. Ordered, Thai Major Fuller, ||Capt. Brown || and Capt. Brown of Watertown, be a committee to count and sort the votes for a commit- tee to procure a copperplate for printing the colony notes, and to countersign them. Tin- committee havinur forces ; and we request your assistance, in rendering our measures effectual, bj lmuiil: our not currency through the continent. Ordered, That Col. Da\i< be desired to wan "n the Rev. Mr Gor- don, and desire thai In- would attend on this Congress, and officiate as their chaplain, during their session in the town of \\ atertown. The committee who were appointed to take under consideration the advance pay to the soldiers, reported. The report was recommitted, and ('apt. Stone ||of Framingham|| and Doct. Taylor, added to the committee. [The committee who were appointed to consider what measures are l>r< >[>tr tu be taken for liberating those persons who were taken prison- ers by the troops, under general Gage, on the 19th of April, reported a resolve, which was read and accepted, and Ordered, that any mem- ber who desires a copy may have one. The resolve is as follows :] In Provincial Congress, Watertovm, Ma] 3, I77.">. [ Whereas, a number of the inhabitants of this colony were taken prisoners by the troops, under the command of general Gage, on the 19th of April last, and are by him so held :] [Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress thai an applica- tion be -''tit to genera] Gage, signed by the wives <>r n< aresl relations of such prisoners, and the selectmen of the towns to which they re- spective!] belong, desiring thai he would discharge their friends from tlnir said imprisonment ; and they are empowered hereby to otl'er to send in to the general an equal number of his troop-, now in the hands of this people, who were taken prisoners on the aforesaid 19th of Aprd, upon lu> liberating their friends as aforesaid.] ||The Congress|| then adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. [Thursday,] May I. [177:., A. M.] Col. Davis, who was appointed to wail upon the Rev. Mr. Gordon, to desire thai he would officiate as chaplain to this Congress, reported, thai lie had waned upon Mr. (iordon. and that Mr. Gordon informed him he would attend accordingly. The committee who were appointed to take into consideration the advance pa] to the soldiers, again reported; which report was read. amended and accepted, and ordered to ho authenticated, and senl forthwith to head . It is BS follows 190 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 4, Whereas, the distressed state of this colony, at this alarming crisis, calls for its utmost exertions, that the army now to be raised be forth- with completed : therefore, Resolved, that each non commissioned offi- cer and private soldier, who has, or shall, enlist himself into the ser- vice of this colony, shall have twenty shillings paid him out of the re- ceiver general's office, as advance ||pay ;|| and that the commanding officer of each regiment who shall be, ||and hereby is,|| empowered to act as muster master for his said regiment, shall draw from the receiver general's office the sum of twenty shillings, for each non commissioned officer and private soldier in his said regiment, and pay the same, ac- cording to the tenor of this resolve, as soon as said men shall have en- listed themselves, and be duly sworn, and give his bond, with suffi- cient surety, to the receiver general, therefor ; said bond to be dis- charged by a receipt produced, by said officer, from each non commis- sioned officer and private soldier, that he has received the same. On an application made to this Congress, for an order on the com- mittee of supplies, for one barrel of powder, for the use of the inhab- itants of Falmouth, in Casco Bay ; Ordered, that this matter be refer- red to the said committee of supplies, they to act thereon as they think best. The order of the day [was] moved for. The absent members were ordered to be called in. On a motion made, that a committee be appointed to bring in a re- solve containing a reconsideration of a resolve, passed by this Con- gress, at Concord, the first of April last, giving it as their opinion, that " if writs should be issued for calling a general assembly, to be held on the last Wednesday of May next, that the several towns in this colony ought to obey such precepts, and to bring in a resolve re- commending to the several towns and districts in this colony not to obey such precepts," — after a long and serious debate, the question was put, and it passed in the affirmative : for the question, 94 : the whole number of the house, 107. Col. Warren, Mr. Gerry, Col. Gerrish, Doct. Holten and Col. Man- dell, were accordingly appointed for this purpose. Ordered, That Capt. Stone of Framingham, Mr. Bent and Major Fuller, be a committee to examine the returns of the several town and district stocks of powder, and to bring in a resolve recommending to such towns as they think proper, which are not immediately ex- posed, to furnish the towns of Falmouth and Arundel with one barrel of powder each. Then adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 191 Resolved, That Gen. Putnam and Col. Porter, who were, with other of the committee of safety, appointed by the said committee of Bafety, and the council of war, to la) Borne special matters before tin- < on- gress, he admitted into this bouse, ni«l that Col. Warren, Mr. Devene and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to introduce them ||accordingly.i| The lefl hand front pew waa assigned them to -it in. The absent members were directed t<> attend. The said committee having accordingly attended this Congri thej informed the Congress, that the gentlemen delegated bj the as- sembly of Connecticut, to execute an embassj to genera] Gage, had come "in of Boston, with letters from bim to the assemblj of Connec- ticut, of which they thought it proper to inform this Congress, that the; might take order thereon, if they thought tit: whereupon, Or- dered, that the president, Col. Warren, Doct. Holten, Col. Gerrish, Col. Palmer, Doct. Baylies, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Gardner, .Mr. Partridge, Mr. Gerry and Mr. Mills, together with the committee from the com- mittee of safety, and council of war, be a committee to hold a confer- ence with the said Connecticut delegates, and to attend forthwith. The committee appointed to enquire into the conduct of the several towns, relative to the prisoners of war, reported : whereupon, Ordered s that Mr. Wyman apply to the committee of saf< ty, desiring that they would take such measures with respect to the colony .-tores, and two regular officers, with their waiter-, now at Woburn, as will remove the necessity of keeping so large a ifuard as i< now plac< d there to guard the same. The committee appointed to confer with the Connecticut delegates, reported, that they had conferred with them on the subject of their embassy, and of the letter to their assembly from general Gage, but that they thought it inconsistent witli their honor, and the interest ol the colonies, to open it; but that they would use their influence, when they returned, to have the contents of it communicated to this colony Moved, That the delegates from Connecticut be desired to attend tin- Congress : after debate the matter was ordered to subside. Or, I, nil. That the president, Col. Warren, Col. Dwight, Mr. Gerrj and Col. Holten, be a committee to return the compliments to the tlemen from Connecticut, for their patient attendance to the inquiry made of them by this Congress, respecting their embassj \<> general i ' i, r e. Moved, That the resolve passed yesterday, respectin<: advance pay for tin' soldiers, be reconsidered, bo far as n respects muster masters, 192 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 5, and that two muster masters be appointed by this Congress. After de- bate [the matter was] ordered to subside. Ordered, That the president, Mr. Gerry and Col. Warren, be a com- mittee to prepare a letter to the assembly of Connecticut, respecting their late application to general Gage. Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Mr. Mills, Capt. McCobb, Doct. Per- kins, Col. Grout and Mr. Kollock, be directed to copy the depositions of the late hostile proceedings of general Gage's troops, to be trans- mitted to Connecticut. Then adjourned to to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. [Friday,] May 5, 1775, [A. M.] Ordered, That Deacon Stickney and Mr. Webster be added to the committee who were appointed to examine the returns, and districts' stock of powder, &c, May 4th, A. M. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Batchelder and Doct. Holten, be a committee to bring in a resolve relative to an obstruction to the remov- ing the inhabitants of Boston, as expressed in a letter to this Congress from the selectmen of Boston, and other papers : and that said re- solve, when passed, together with the resolve which passed this Con- gress the 2d instant, giving license to those persons in Boston, who incline, to send a servant out for their effects, be authenticated, and transmitted to Gen. Ward. The committee who were appointed to bring in two resolves respect- ing general Gage's writs for calling an assembly, reported : both of which were read and accepted, and are as follow, viz. : Whereas, this Congress did, at their session at Concord, on the first day of April last, resolve, as their opinion, that if writs be issued in form as the law directs, for calling a general assembly, to be held on the last Wednesday of May next, that such writs should be obeyed, &x. ; and whereas, many reasons now prevail to convince us that con- sequences of a dangerous nature would result from the operation of that resolution : therefore, Resolved, that the said vote and resolution be reconsidered, and it is hereby reconsidered, and declared null and void. Whereas, his excellency general Gage, since his arrival into this col- ony, hath conducted as an instrument in the hands of an arbitrary ministry to enslave this people, and a detachment ||of the troops, || un- der his command, have, of late, been ||by him|| ordered to the town of Concord, to destroy the public stores deposited in that place for the use of the colony : and, whereas, by this clandestine and perfidious 177.",. j SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 193 measure, a Dumber of respectable inhabitants of the colony, without any provocation |given by them, || have been illegally, wantonly and inhumanly slaughtered bj the troop-: therefore, Resolved, thai the said general < i :iir<" hath, by these means, and many others, utterly dis- qualified himself to serve this colon] as a governor, and in every other capacity, and thai no obedience ought, in future, to be paid by the Beveral town- and districts in t hi- colony, to his writs tor calling an as- sembly, or to his proclamations, or an] other of his acts or doings; but that, on the other hand, he ought to be considered and guarded against, as an unnatural and inveterate enemy to this country. Ordered, That Mr. Gardner, Col. Dwight and Col. Warren, be a committee to bring in a resolve, recommending to the Beveral towns and districts in this colonv, to choose delegates tor a new Provincial Congress, to be held on the last Wednesdaj of the present month. The committee who were appointed to prepare the form of an oath, to be taken by the officers and soldiers of the army now raising in this colonv, reported : which report was ordered for the presets to subside. The committee who were this day appointed to bring in a resolve for the purpose of removing an obstruction to the liberating the inhab- itants of Boston, reported : which report was ordered to be recommit- ted, and that Mr. Gijl and Mr. Partridge be added to the committee. The committee who were yesterday appointed to prepare a letter to the assembly of Connecticut, reported a letter, which was r< ad, amend- ed and accepted, and is as follows : To tin Honorable, tin Governor and Company of tin \\* Colony \\ <>/' Count i in ut : ii\ \m i \n \ : — The delegates appointed by your ^'respectable!! as- sembly, to treat with general Gage on the late unhappy event- which have occured in this colony, have favored us with a conference, and communicated the substance of their interview with him. We are greatly alarmed at the unparalleled wickedness of our unnatural ene- mies, in endeavoring to persuade our sister colony, that the inhabitants of this, first commenced hostilities; a suggestion which, we cannot but think, will appear absurd, when the greal inequality of the Lexington company and the detachment of regular troop-, which attacked them, l- coollj considered. liui to put tin- matter in the clearest light, we beg leave to enclose you the copies of depositions, taken b) order of tin- Congri nil I. ||reipecUul.|| 25 194 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 5, despatched for London, containing the most incontestable evidence, that the king's troops first fired upon, and killed, several of the inhab- itants of this colony, before any injury was offered to them. We also enclose you the copies of an address to the inhabitants of Great Bri- tain, and of a letter to our colony agent, and think it expedient to sus- pend the publication of the address and letter, until they shall have had their effect in England. The experience which we have had of general Gage, hath fully con- vinced us, that but little dependence can be placed in his professions. Whilst he has been collecting his forces, fortifying our capital, and in every other respect preparing for war, we have been amused with his pretensions to benevolence and kindness, evidently calculated to retard the measures which we were necessarily pursuing for self defence. And we are constrained to declare, that should he be, at any future time, possessed of forces superior to those raised for opposing him, we should, from his past conduct, have no hopes ||left|| of escaping the heaviest vengeance which ministerial tyranny can devise, assisted by the most inveterate enemies to mankind in general, and of this their native country in particular. On the exertions of the colonies, and blessings of heaven, we alone can depend for safety and support. And it is clearly the opinion of this Congress, that the establishment of a powerful army, is the best and only measure left, to bring the present disputes to a happy issue. It is evidently the business of the general, to subjugate these and the other colonies ; and, we think, there are the most convincing proofs that, in order to effect it, he is constantly aiming to suspend their || a preparations|| for defence, until hisreenforce- ments shall arrive ; but, although we have been under great apprehen- sions with respect to the advantages which the conference of Connec- ticut, with general Gage, || b might|| give our enemies, yet, we have the greatest confidence in the wisdom and vigilance of your respectable assembly and colony, as well as of our other sister colonies ; and have reason to hope, that, while he fails in his intentions to lull and deceive this continent, he can never accomplish his designs to conquer it. Ordered, That the foregoing letter be fairly || c transcribed|| and au- thenticated, and committed to the care of Col. Dwicrht, together with a copy of the depositions respecting the late hostile proceedings of general Gage's troops, attested by the secretary, to be delivered by Col. Dwight to the governor and company of Connecticut as soon as may be. Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. (i ||opirntioiiR.|| b ||may.|| c ||copied.|| 177.3] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 195 [ \i'' The committee who were to bring in a resolve for 1 1 1 * - purp of removing an obstruction to the liberating the inhabitants of Boston, again reported: which report, being read and accepted, it was Order- ed, that -Mr. Partridge carry the aame immediately to ||*Gen.|| Ward. It is as follows, viz. : "Resolved, That the following letter be sent to Gen. Ward, and a copy of the same to the selectmen of Boston. Sik : — By the enclosed papers you will see, that the liberation of our good friends in Boston is greatly obstructed : therefore, Sir, you are directed to examine into the matter, and <:i\e such orders as shall be effectual, for the future, strictly to execute the resolutions of this Congress, respecting permits into the country, and protection of all persons thus permitted ; and also communicate your doing hereon to the selectmen of Boston, with all possible despatch, that our friends may not be detained any longer : and also, that you give directions to your officers carefully to execute the resolves of Congress, in all mat- ters in which they are to act, without any levity, or indecency of ex- pression or behavior. To tin Hon. Artemas Ward, E.< ||desired.|| (1) Governor Jonathan Trumbull replies to the letter of the Provincial Congress, from Hartford, Mny 4j 1775, in behalf of tin- colony of Connecticut : " Yonr letter of th( second of May instant," lie writes, "is received. You need not fear our firmness, deliberation and unanimity, to pursue the measures which appear best for our common de- fence and safety, and in no degree to relax our vigilant preparations for that end, and to act in union and concert with our Bister Colonies. We shall he cautious of trusting promises which it may be in ihe power of any one to evade. We hope no ill consequences will attend our embassy to gene- ral Gage. We should he glad to lie furnished wish the evidence, duly authenticated, concerning the attack, on the 19th of April last, at Lexington, which it is presumed you have taken. Although we are at a distance from the most distressing scenes before your eyes, yet we are most sensibly affected with the alarming relations of them." The letter from the speaker stated, that preparations were made for raising an army of fifteen hundred men, in the colony of Connecticut. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRKSS |o/j ( )a n motion made by Capt. Mc( 'obb, that some measures might be ta- ken to preserve a Dumber of large masts, plank, &c, nom lying inKenne- beck river, and to prevent their being carried to Halifax, where tht might l>c Unappropriated!! to the injury of this country : Ordered, that the consideration thereof be referred to the committee of safety, and that Capt. McCobb be desired to attend the said committee, and give them all the information he can relative thereto. A resolution of the committee of Bafety, giving it as their opinion, that government, in lull form, ought to he taken up immediate ly, was read: whereupon, Ordered, thai the consideration of tins matter be referred to Tuesday next, at three o'clock, P. .M. ||Then|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. [Saturday,] Maj ti. 1775, A. M. Resolved, That the committee of ||''supplies|| be, and they are here- by empowered, to procure powder, in such quantities as they shall think necessary, not only at Connecticut and Rhode Island, hut at New York, or any other colony on the continent. Ordered, That .Mr. Sawyer, Capt. Stone and Doct. Taylor, he a committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of appointing two offi- cers, one in each camp of the colony army, whose business it shall be to pass muster on the soldiers, and draw lor them, out of the treasury, their half month's pay. Ordered, That the president, Col. Dexter, Col. Warren, Doct. llol- ten and .Mr. Mills, be a committee to take || c under|| consideration the letter received yesterday from the speaker of the general assembly of ( onmcticiit. A form of a pass, and resolve thereon, brought in by Col. Warren, was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : To the Guards oi' rur. Colony Army : Pursuant to a resolve of the Provincial Congress, you art' hereby ordered to permit a member of said Congress, to pass and repass, with his company, at all times. President />rt> tempore. May 1775. KesTtlved, That the general officer of the army of this colon) be, and hereby is directed to gi\e orders to his officers, to pay obedience to all permits of the foregoing form, signed by the president of this ied.|| b ||mifoty.|| c |inl 198 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May C, Resolved, That Col. Dwight proceed with the letters and depositions as ordered by this Congress, with all possible speed, to Hartford, there to tarry, if at his discretion he thinks necessary, till he receives an an- swer to said letter, and a copy of the letter sent by general Gage to the assembly at Connecticut ; and to inform the said assembly of the alteration made by this Congress in the pay of the field officers of the army now raising in this colony. Ordered, That Mr. Whiting, Major Fuller, Col. Thurston, Doct. Taylor, Col. Field, Doct. Sawyer and Col. Warren, be a committee, to bring in a resolve containing a reconsideration of the resolve passed yesterday, respecting the choice of delegates for a new Congress, so far as to determine what towns should send members, and how many members each town and district ought to send. This last order reconsidered : whereupon, Ordered, that Mr. Rawson of Mendon, Col. Gardner, Mr. Thurston, Esquire Davis and Mr. Sawyer, be a commit- tee to take into consideration an equal representation of this colony, and report thereon. Ordered, That Col. Thurston, Esquire Dix and Mr. Lothrop, be a committee to take into consideration the form of an establishment for the train, and report a resolve thereon. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for the appointment of muster masters, reported. Resolved, That three o'clock this afternoon be assigned for choosing two muster masters, and that they be chosen by ballot. Col. Lincoln brought in a resolve, empowering the committee of supplies to import military stores from such place, and in such || a || quantities as they shall judge proper : which was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, in the course of the present disputes with Great Britain, it may be necessary to import, on the risque of the colony, many kinds of military and other stores : Resolved, That the committee of supplies be, and they hereby are empowered and directed, to import, or cause to be imported, from any place whatever, such and so many stores aforesaid, as they shall judge necessary for the defence of the colony, and the same to risk, at their discretion, with or without making insurance on the vessels and car- goes which may be so |[employed,|| sent out, or imported. Ordered, That this resolve be kept an absolute and entire secret by every member of this Congress. Resolved, That four o'clock this afternoon be assigned to consider a llmanncr and. II 1 775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 190 if an) method can be taken for Bettling tin- appointment of the held ofBc ||Th«Mi|| adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. ( Aliii, ii ] The order of the day [ \\ as] read. Ordered, Thai Mr. I)i\, .Mr. (iill and Doct. Sawyer, be a committee to sort and count the votes foi two muster masters. The committee appointed to sorl and count the votes for two mus- ter masters, | reported, thai Gen. John Wl itcomh and Col. Benjamin Lincoln, were unanimous!) chosen. The report of the committee respecting the appointmenl of muster masters was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That Gen. John Whitcomb and Col. Benjamin Lincoln, || be, and hereb) arc appointed muster masters in the M ssachusetts army, whose business it shall be to pass muster on every Boldier that [-It ill] l>e enlisted into -aid army, and by no means to accept of an) l»nt such as are able bodied, effective men ; and also to examine if their arms ami accoutrements are in proper order : and said muster masters are hendty directed and empowered to receive from Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, or his successor in office, twenty shillings, lawful money, for each and ever) mm commissioned officer and private soldier thus mustered ami sworn, who shall appear with their arms and accoutrements ; and shall L r i\e bonds to said receiver general, with sufficient surety, for such monies drawn out of the treas- ury; and shall forthwith pay out said sum of twenty shillings, as ad- vance pay, to each ami every non commissioned officer and private soldier, and on producing receipts from them to said receiver general, said bonds shall be camelled. Resolved, Thai the consideration of the pay of the muster masters be referred to some future time. Ordered, That Col. Thurston and Mr. Sawyer be a committee to appl) to the committee of safety for a list of all such persons to whom the\ ha\e inven encouragement to receive commissions a- field officers of the army now raising in this colony: and they are directed to in- quire of said committee of safety, what field ollicers they expect will be most likely to succeed in rilling up their regiments. Ordered, That Esquire Rawson, Mr. Partridge, Major Brooks, Ml Webster, Col. Mosely, Mr. Bliss and Capt. Stone of Oakham, be a committee to inquire what niunlier of province arm- there are m the province, and in what place; and, in particular, that they apply to the n ||* h 200 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS [May 7, committee of supplies, to know what number of fire arms they have procured, and how they have disposed of them. The committee who were appointed to consider the form of an es- tablishment for the train, reported verbally, that the pay was in their opinion reasonable, but, as to the number of matrosses, they were not proper judges. The establishment was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : An establishment for the company of the train, as fixed upon by the committee of safety : l^captain, .... £6 10s per month. 2 lieutenants, each, . . . 4 10 1 lieutenant fire worker, . . . 3 10 4 serjeants, each, . . . . 2 10 " 4 corporals, each, . . . 2 6 32 matrosses, each, . . . .23 " 1 drummer, . . . . 2 6 1 fifer, . . . . .26" 46 men, officers included, in each company of matrosses ; a blanket and coat, as for the rest of the army. William Cooper, Secretary. ||The Congress then|| adjourned to to-morrow morning, eight o'clock. Sunday, May 7, 1775, A. M. Resolved, That the committee of supplies be, and they are hereby empowered and directed, to procure at Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, or any other colony on the continent, such a number of fire arms and bayonets, for the use of this colony, as they shall think necessary. The committee appointed to make application to the committee of supplies, to know what number of fire arms they had procured, report- ed verbally, that they had not procured any. On an application made to this Congress, by Capt. Benjamin Dun- ning, of Harpswell, for powder, this Congress passed the following re- solve, viz. : Whereas, the district of Harpswell, in the county of Cumberland, lies exposed to the ravages of the enemies, and is unprovided with a supply of powder : therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended, ||and it is hereby accordingly recommended, || to the selectmen of the town of Haverhill, that they deliver to Capt Nehemiah Curtis and Mr. Ben- jamin Dunning, for the use of the said district of Harpswell, one half 1776.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 201 barrel of powder, 1 1 » * - x paying for the same which shall be replaced, if deeded, as Boon as the colony magazine can be supplied. Adjourned to twelve -.Clock t ln> day. i Noon ] Mel al twelve O'clock, and adjourned to tour o'clock, P. M [AAeroooD.] Mel al four o'clock, and adjourned to to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. NfonsAT, Ma] 8, 17 7*,. \. M. Ordered, Thai Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Partridge, Mr. Mills, Mr. Whiting, I Stone, Col. Howe, Col. Mandell, Col. Mosely, Col. 'Pierce and Col. Thurston, be a committee to transcribe the narrative of the proceedings of the km/- troop-, on tin- 19th nit., together with depo- sitions thereof accompanying, to be transmitted to Mr. Thomas for immediate publication. A letter from a number of the inhabitants of the town of Hopkin- ton, was read: whereupon, Ordered, that Doct. Church, Col. Foster and Deacon Etawson, be a committee to prepare an answer to the se- lectmen of that town, giving the opinion of the Congress on the sub- ject thereof. The form of an oath, to be administered to the officers and pri" soldiers of the army now raising || b in|| this colom. was read and ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That all officers and soldiers of the Massachusetts army now raising f"r the defence and security <>f the rights and liberties of this and our -i-ter colonics m America, shall each and e\er\ of them, excepting only the general officers, repeat and take the following oath, \ iz. : I, A. B., swear, 1 will truly and faithfully serve in the Massachusetts army, to winch I belong, for the defence and security of the estates, lives and liberties of the good people of tins and the sister colonies in America, in opposition to ministerial tyranny, bj winch the) are or may be oppressed, and to all other enemies and opposers whatsoever; that I will adhere to the rules and regulations of said arm) . observe and obey the generals and other officers set "\er me ; and disclose and make- known to said officers all traitorous conspiracies, attempt- and designs whatsoever, which I shall know to be made against said army, or an) of the English American colonies. So help me God. Ordered, Thai Col. Warren, Col. Gerrish and Col. Poster, in ■ ||Princc.|| b ||l"ur tli«- d< •■■ 26 202 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 8, committee to prepare the form of an oath to be administered to the general officers. Ordered, That Col. Warren, Esquire Dix and Col. Foster, be a committee to draw up a resolve, recommending to the committees of correspondence of the several towns and districts in this colony, and to the selectmen of towns and districts who have no such committees, to take effectual care to || a disarm|| all such persons, in their respective towns, who will not give them an assurance of their good intentions and regard to the interest of this country ; and also to recommend to the people of this colony to take effectual measures to oblige all who are liable by law to appear in arms in the militia, to appear, when properly called upon by their officers. Resolved, That the muster masters be, and hereby are empowered and directed, to administer the oath to the officers and private soldiers of the army now raising in this colony, agreeably to the form pre- scribed by this Congress. The committee who were appointed to prepare a letter to the select- men of the town of Hopkinton, reported the following, which was read and accepted, and ordered to be dated, signed, and delivered to the messenger in waiting : " Gentlemen : — Your favor of the 7th instant was duly considered in Congress. We cannot but regret that any persons, who have here- tofore evidenced their attachment to the rights and liberties of their country, should, in this day of trial and hazard, be so far influenced by an inordinate attachment to their personal safety, or the security of their property, as to desert the common interest, and basely refuse to contribute of their wealth, or assist, personally, in that struggle, which they are conscientiously led to approve. Nevertheless, gentlemen, such is the peculiar delicacy of our situation, that true policy suggests we should act with extreme caution respecting these fugitives. A vio- lation of the natural right of an individual to remove his person and effects wherever he pleases, ||we apprehend || would ill become those who are contending for the unalienable right of every man to his own property, and to dispose of it as he pleases. We would likewise sug- gest, that, should we restrain any inhabitant from conveying his goods to Philadelphia, our brethren there might justly arraign us of selfish- ness in such a transaction, and it would evidence such a distinction of interests in the two colonies, as might have a tendency to disunite us, at a time when the safety of the whole must ultimately depend upon liscov<>r.|| I IT.",.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRES 203 the firmest confederac] W< are thorough]] aware of the mischiefs tun i_rrncr.il a removal imi'lit produce; l>ut we have bo much confi- dence in the disinterested virtue of our countrymen, as to indulge hopes that .Mr. Barrett's example will not become infectious. We highly approve the ateadj patriotism and manly jealous) of our breth- ren in Ilopkinton, and arc, with much esteem, Gentlemen, yours, &c. Ordered, Thai the president pro tempore, l>. - ( 'hurch, Duet. Tay- lor, Doct. Holten and Doct. Dun-inure, be a committee to examine Buch persons as are, <>r rnaj be, recommended for Burgeons for the army now forming in this colon) Resolved, That the persons recommended by the commanding offi- cers of the several regiments, be appointed as Burg is to their respec- tive regiments, provided they appear to be duly qualified upon examin- ation. A letter from the committee of correspondence, in Portsmouth, was received by a messenger, express. The messenger was admitted on the floor. 1 Ordered, That said letter be committed, for an answer, to Doct. Church, the presidenl and ('apt. Foster. A letter from Gen. Ward was read ; whereupon, Ordered, That Col. Danielson, Doct. Church, Col. Foster, Mr. Bliss and .Mr. Etawson, be a committee to take the Bubject thereof into consideration, and report. L< ave of absence was l given|| to Mr. Partridge. The committee on the letter from Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, reported the following answer, which was read and accepted, and or- dered to be copied and sent : Q ||gl (1) Til.- letter mu addressed to the president of Congress, and i* as follow i \ PORTSMOUTH, Maj 6, IT SIR : — We have received intelligence, thai Mr. Edward Parry, of this town, together with Mr. J..I111 Barnard and Mr. Wilson, => r>- now confined in irons, in the > ■ . >» 1 n t > of Lincoln ; for whal » ■• I. ire nol tie i" explore. Bat, from the i>i*t conduct of Mr. Parry, in tin* town, we ore convin I he never merited inch treat i.t; and, that it cannot bnl meet «iili the disapprobation of your Congress, which have ntlj manifested, in ill their i>r... oedings, a contrary temper. We trust the Congress will exert ilxir influence to procure the immediate release of tii I tleman, and wish that humanity and candor may distinguish all our noble struggles in the c . liberty. Bj order of the oomroitt 1 uns your moit obedient servant, will. I wt wiiiiti I 204 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 8, Gentlemen : — The Congress have considered the subject of your express ; are surprised that a gentleman, of the character you have mentioned, should have such just reason to complain of unmerited se- verity, from any of our brethren in this colony. From a regard to justice, as well as to your recommendation, gentlemen, we shall not fail to make immediate inquiry into this transaction ; and if any out- rage has been offered to innocent persons, the perpetrators, you may be assured, will be properly censured, and the sufferers meet with all that redress which it may be in the power of this Congress to obtain. Be assured, gentlemen, we shall be studious to maintain that character for humanity, which, we would wish, may ever be the characteristic of Americans ; and [we] cannot but applaud those generous and be- nevolent sentiments, which influenced you in your application. We are, &c. The committee who were appointed to prepare the form of an oath, to be taken by the general officers, reported : the consideration where- of was referred to some future time. Ordered, That Col. Mosely and Major Bliss be, and are hereby em- powered and directed, to collect all the province arms which are in the county of Hampshire; and that Doct. William Whiting be em- powered and directed to collect all the province arms which are in the county of Berkshire. Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. [Afternoon.] Resolved, That Capt. Trueman Wheeler, of Great Barrington, be desired to assist Doct. Whiting in collecting the province arms which are in the county of Berkshire. Mr. Sawyer informed the Congress, that Gen. [John] Whitcomb, on account of his various avocations, could not acccept of the office of muster master to which he had been appointed. Whereupon, Resolved, That this Congress will now proceed to the choice of another person, by ballot, in his room; and that Mr. Sawyer, Esquire Dix and Major Fuller, be a committee to sort and count the votes. On a motion made, Resolved, that this last resolve be reconsider- ed, and that to-morrow morning, eleven o'clock, be assigned for the choice of a muster master, in the room of Gen. [John] Whitcomb, who declines that trust. Ordered, That Major Bliss, Deacon Whitney and Col. Patterson, be a committee to give notice to such members of this Congress as are now at Cambridge and Roxbury, and other absent members whom L775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 206 thej can notif] , that a matter of the greatest importance ia to be tak. d into consideration, at three o'clock, to-morrow afternoon, and to dirt their attendance at thai time. The committee who were appointed to bring in a resolve recom- mending the disarming certain persons in the colony, reported : vvhn h report teas read, amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz.: •• Whereas, their are divers persons now in this colony, who have, l>v their conduct, discovered themselves to be enemies t>> the rights of mankind, and the interest of America; and whereas, our verj peculiar situation renders it absolutely necessary, nol onlj to discriminate them from those who have shewn a disposition to be friendly to their country, hut 'likewise to put it out of their power to join with the open and a\owed enemies of America, in their endeavors to injui and 1 1 subjugate then- countrymen to the full operations of the tyranni- cal Bystem of the British administration, and the ruin and destruction concerted by the British parliament againsl the secolonies : therefoi Resolved, That it he, and hereby is recommended, to the Beveral committees of correspondence, in the several towns and districts where such committees ! have been appointed, and to the selectmen of such towns and districts as have nol appointed them, to inquire into the principles and conduct of such suspected persons, and that thej cause all such to be disarmed, who do not give them full and am- ple assurances, in which thej can with Bafetj confide, of their readi- ness to join their countrymen, on all occasions, in defence of the rights and liberties of America; and likewise, that thej take effectual ps to put it out of the power of such persons to obstruct, by any means whatever, the measures which shall be taken for the common defence . and it is also hereby recommended, to the good people of this colony, that thej/ take effectual care to secure obedience to the several resolves of Congress for the regulation of the militia, and cause a due regard to be paid to the orders of the several militarj officers, who have been elected by the suffrages of the several companies and n ments, agreeably to the resolves of Congress. Ordered, That Major Fuller, Dock Taylor and Mr. Webster, be a committee to get the resolve la send oat immediately for reenforcements. Resolved, Thai the consideration of the expediency of assuming government, which was to have been entered upon to-morrow after- noon, be postponed to Fridaj next, at three o'clock, P. .M., and that the committee who were just now appointed to confer with the com- mittee of safety, be directed to L r i\«' notice hert of to the Beveral mem- bers of tins Congress who are now at < ' .- 1 1 1 1 1 > r i < 1 lt • • and Roxbury, Then adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. I - i i sdat,] Maj '.'. 1775, A. M. Resolved, Thai the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to give public notice of the resolve, latelj passed bj this Congress, for borrowing monej on the credit of the colony, and assign certain time and place when he will attend thai business. The < -ranied permission to Col. Trumbull, to have a copy of the resolve of this Congress, relative to the ["inhabitants] moving out of Boston. Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, requested that this Congress would excuse him from serving anv longer in that office; the consid- eration thereof was ordered to subside for the present. .Mr. Gerry broughl in again a resolve respecting the supply of the soldiers, which was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, it hath frequently happened, thai sutlers, whilst permitted to supply soldi.r- in the service of this colony, have vended their Is ai extravagant rate-, and thereby, in a great measure, deprived the families of such soldiers of the benefil of their wages; therefore, Resolved, That the committee of supplies be, and they hereby are directed and empowered, to purchase and supply the commissary, for the time being, with such !_ r '><>ds, wan- and merchandize as they shall, at any time, judtfe necessan for supplying the colony forces, and to draw on the public treasury therefor. And the commissary aforesaid, as also his deputies, who shall be accountable to him, are hereb] di- rected and empowered to supply, at the firsl cost, the soldiers who shall belong to the regiments in which they shall be stationed, with such article- as their respective captains shall, at an] time, order ; and to keep and render to the captain- aforesaid, true and exact accounts thereof, any time before the making up of the inu-ter rolls. And the .-aid captains are hereby directed to give orders for such articles only as the] judge requisite and|| necessary for their respective soldiers, 208 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 9, not exceeding one half of the wages that shall, at any time, be due to them, and to cause the same to be deducted from their wages, on making up the muster rolls. Ordered, That Doct. Church, the president, Col. Dexter, Col. War- ren and Mr. Gerry, be a committee to prepare a spirited application to general Gage, respecting his treatment of the inhabitants of Boston. Ordered, That the same gentlemen be a committee, to consider what provision shall be made for furnishing such enlisted soldiers, as are unprovided with fire arms, with such effective fire arms as are ne- cessary for them to carry into the field. Ordered, That Col. Barrett, Doct. Holten and Col. Danielson, be a committee to take into consideration a printed false account of the late excursion of the king's troops to Concord. The order of the day [was] moved for. Ordered, That Col. Farley, Doct. Molten and Col. Danielson, be a committee to sort and count the votes for a muster master. The committee appointed to sort and count the votes for a muster master, in the room of Col. John Whitcomb, who declined accepting that trust, reported, that Col. Asa Whitcomb was chosen. A motion was made and seconded, that a committee be appointed to take into consideration the expediency of restraining the people of this colony from supplying the inhabitants of Boston with provisions. Af- ter debate, the question was put, and it passed in the negative. Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. [Afternoon J On a motion made, that the resolve passed yesterday, assigning Fri- day next, three o'clock, P. M., for the consideration of the expediency of assuming government, [be reconsidered,] and that an earlier day be assigned for that purpose. The question was put, and it passed in the negative. Ordered, That Mr. Pickering be added to the committee appointed to take into consideration an equal representation of this colony, in the room of Mr. Rawson, absent. Ordered, That Mr. Sawyer, Col. Foster and Mr. Dix, be a commit- tee to take into consideration the expediency of establishing post offi- ces and riders in this colony. The committee who were appointed to prepare a remonstrance to general Gage, reported. The report was ordered to lie on the table till the further orders of this Congress. The same committee, agreeably to their appointment, reported a re- solve, relative to furnishing those enlisted soldiers with fire arms who 1775.] SECOND PROVINt I M. CONGRESS an- unequipt therewith; which, after debate, was ordered to be reeoob nutted. Ordered, That Capt Stone of Framingham,|| be added t«. the com- mittee who were appointed to ooneidei of Borne measures to be taken with respect to the count] records, in the room <>r .Mr. Brown, ofAb- ington, now absent The committee appointed to consider the expediencj of establishing posl offices ami riders, in this colony, reported: whereupon, % Order* ill. thai the further consideration thereof be referred to to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. The committee appointed to oonsider the false account of the late excursion of the king's troop-, reported; winch report being read, amended and completed, was accepted, and is as follows, viz. i Whereas, a printed paper, Baid to be a circumstantial account of an attack, winch happened on the l'.Hh of April, 177.">, on ln> majesty's troops, by a number of the people of the province of the M a ss ichu- setts Bay, has been read in this Conine.— , which contain-, among man] falsehoods, the following paragraph, viz. : "When Capt. Parsons returned with the three companies over the bridge, at Concord, they observed three soldiers on the ground, one of them scalped, his head much mangled, and his ears cut off, though not quite dead." Resolved, That Col. Barrett be, and hereby is directed, to make strict impiirv of the persons who saw the three soldiers aforemention- ed lying at the said bridge, and also of those who buried them, and take their depositions, that so the truth or falsity of the aforesaid as- m i Hon may be ascertained. The committee appointed to consider of some method for furnishing those soldiers with lire arm-, who are not therewith equipt, again re- ported : the report was read ||and accepted, || and is as follows, \i/ Whereas, a few of the inhabitants of this colony, who are enlisted into its service, are destitute of tire arms, bayonets, and other accou- trements : Resolved, That the selectmen of the several towns and districts in tin- colony be, and hereby are, directed and empowered to examine into the state of the equipment of such inhabitants of their respective towns and districts a- are, «»r mav be, enlisted into the service ol tins colony, and w here any are dencieni in arms or accoutrements, as afore- said, it is recommended to the selectmen to supply them out of the town >toek, and in case of a deficiency there, to apply to such inhahi- B ||rcsolvcd.|| 27 210 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 10, tants of their respective towns and districts as, in their opinions, can best spare their arms or accoutrements, and to borrow or purchase the same for the use of said inhabitants so enlisted : and the selectmen are also directed to take a bill from such persons as shall sell their arms and accoutrements, in the name of this colony, and receipts from the soldiers to whom they shall cause them to be delivered, and render the same to the committee of supplies for this colon/: and each sol- dier, so supplied, shall pay for the use of such arms and accoutrements, out of his wages, the sum of six shillings : and if he does not return the said arms and accoutrements, there shall be deducted from his wages, at the time of making up the muster roll, the full value of said arms and accoutrements, as appraised by the selectmen, at the time of borrowing or purchasing the same ; and it is strongly recommended to such inhabitants of the colony as the selectmen, as aforesaid, shall ap- ply to for arms or accoutrements, that they supply the colony with the same. And, as many arms in this colony which are now useless may, by small repairs, be rendered fit for service, Resolved, that a sufficient number of armourers, not exceeding twenty, be appointed by the com- mittee of safety, to mend and repair such arms as shall be brought to them by the soldiers enlisted into the Massachusetts army. Ordered, That Mr. Webster, Major Fuller and Mr. Batchelder, be a committee to get this resolve published and dispersed. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Wednesday, May 10, 1775, A. M. Ordered, That the committee appointed to confer with the commit- tee of safety, upon the general state of the army, be directed particu- larly to confer with them on the propriety of removing the whole or part of the cannon and stores, now at Cambridge, further back into the country. Resolved, That the general officers be, and are hereby directed, forthwith to call in all the soldiers who are already enlisted in the ser- vice of this colony, and that they give immediate orders to all the en- listed soldiers, and all others now in the camp at Cambridge and Rox- bury, that they do not depart till the further orders of this Congress. A petition from the committees of correspondence, and the commit- tees of inspection, for the town of Pownalborough, was preferred by Joseph Tinkhani : Ordered, That this petition lie on the table. Ordered, That the resolve passed by this Congress the 23d ulti- mo, recommending to the selectmen of the several towns in this colo- 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 211 ay, to furnish each aon commissioned officer and 'soldier| with a blanket, be fairly copied by tli<- secretary, and printed in a h and sent i<> the selectmen of the several towns and districts in th< <>n\ . Ordered, That the petition from Pownalborough, just now read, be delivered to .Mr. Joseph Tinkham, agreeable to his request Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Doct. Taylor and Doct. Molten, be a committee to take into consideration the proceedings of the town of Bristol, presented to this Congress l>\ Mr. Thomas Bracket, in behalf of said town The committee appointed to brim: in a resolve, recommending to the inhabitants of this culoin to save theii atraw, reported; which re- port was read and accepted, ami ordered to be copied, and sent to the printer of the Cambridge newspaper, and t<> the printer of the Wor- cester newspaper, for publication || b It|l is as follows, viz. : Whereas, it will be indispensably necessary that large quantities of straw be provided for the use of the army now forming for the defence and protection of this colony ; Therefore, Resolved, and it is hereby strongly recommended to all such inhabitants of this colony as have, or may have, of that article by them, that, as they regard the lives and health of their brethren, who engage in the service abovesaid, they take immediate care the same be preserved for the purpose above mentioned. Ordered, That ('apt. foster, Mr. Lothrop and Mr. Pickering, be a committee to transcribe the depositions taken l>\ a committee of this Congress, of the proceedings of the troop-, under command of gene- ral (iaL r e, the I'.Mh ultimo, and that they transmit them to Mr. Hall, at Cambridge, to be published in a pamphlet, and that said committee agree with him for the expense of publication. Ordered, That Col. Barrett attend the business to which be was yes- day appointed, of inquiring into the truth or falsity of a paragraph, taken from a printed account of the action of the king's troops, on the 19th instant. The committee appointed to consider some measures for securing the county records, reported ; the report was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That the committee appointed for each county, on the L2th of April last, be instructed to take proper measures tor securing the records of their several counties where they are exposed. The order of the day was moved for. a prirat* tuldmr. . .ud ' 212 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 10, The committee appointed to consider on the expediency of estab- lishing post offices, &c, reported ; the report was recommitted, for the purpose of settling the rates of postage, and taking into conside- ration some method of establishing post offices. Mr. Hall, of Med- ford, and Mr. Cross, were added to the committee ; also Mr. Batchel- der, in the room of Mr. Dix. Resolved, That the resolve for accepting the establishment for the train, which passed this Congress the 6th instant, be reconsidered, and that Col. Mandell, Capt. Baker, Doct. Taylor, Major Perley and Col. Coffin, be a committee to take into consideration the propriety of es- tablishing a regiment of the train, and that they sit forthwith. Ordered, That Col. Warren, Mr. Gerry and Col. Foster, be a com- mittee to take into consideration a resolve of the committee of safety, recommending to this Congress to establish a court of inquiry. Ordered, That Col. Richard Gridley be, and hereby is directed, forthwith to recommend to the committee of safety, for officers of the train of artillery, such persons as he thinks are qualified for that ap- pointment. On a complaint of the selectmen of the town of Worcester, against Samuel Paine and William Campbell, prisoners from that town, Or- dered, that said prisoners be committed to the care of Capt. Brown, or such persons as he shall appoint, to be kept in custody till the further orders of this Congress. Ordered, That the committee appointed to transcribe the deposi- tions of the late proceedings of the king's troops, be directed to pre- pare a narrative thereof, as an introduction to the said depositions, which are ordered to be printed. Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. [Afternoon.] Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Col. Warren, Col. Gerrish, Mr. Dix and Doct. Perkins, be a committee to inquire into the complaint made by the selectmen of the town of Worcester, against Samuel Paine and William Campbell, and report to this Congress. The consideration of the remonstrance to general Gage was re- sumed : and [the same was] accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and sent forward. It is as follows, viz. : To His Excellency Gen. Gage: Sir : — This Congress have received frequent intelligence, that their brethren, the inhabitants of the town of Boston, have to contend, in their removal therefrom, with numerous delays and embarrassments, 1775.] SBOOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS ji;{ contrary to the stipulation proposed and agreed to between row excel* lenc] arid the selectmen of thai town, We think it our dutj i" remonstrate to your excellency, that, from the papers communicated to as bj the said selectmen, it appeared, that the inhabitants were promised, upon surrendering their arm-, thai they Bhould be permitted to leave the town, and carry with them their effects. The condition was a idiately complied with, on the pan of the people; since which, though a number of days have elapsed, but a very small proportion of the inhabitants have been allowed to take the benefit of your covenant. We would not affronl your excellencj bj the most distant insinua- tion, that you intended to deceive and disarm the people, 1>\ a cruel act of perfidy. A regard to your own character, as well as the fatal consequences which will necessarily result from the violation of \<>ur sdrum treaties, must ||*suggesl sufficient re:ison>, to deter a gentle- man of your rank and station from so injurious a design. But your excellency must be sensible, that a delay of justice is a denial of it, and extremely oppressive to the people now held in duress. This Congress, though not the original party in the treaty, have taken every step in their power to facilitate the measure, and, in the whole of their conduct, have endeavored to evidence a disposition to act upon the principles of humanity and good faith, and -till indulge hopes, that the confidence of the inhabitants of Boston, in jrour excel- lency's honor and faithfulness, is not misplaced; and that, notwith- standing any disagreeable occurrence-, nattrrallj resulting from the confused state of the colony, which this Congress have discounte- nanced, ami endeavored to rectify, your excellency will no longer suf- fer \oiir treats with a distressed people, who ought by no mean- to be a&ected thereby, to be further violated. The committee appointed to take into consideration the expedienc] of establishing ||a regiment|| of the tram, reported. Part of the establishment reported was accepted ; the consideration of the residue was referred to a future time. Resolved, That the resolve which this Congress passed at Concord, the 13th ultimo, direct itiir the committee of safety to engage a suitable number of persons, tor forming >i\ companies of the train, be BO far reconsidered, as that it be, and hereby is Resolved, that the committee of safety be directed to engage a suitable number of persons, and form ten companies of the tram, for the artillery already provided by this » l|b«.|| •214 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 10, colony, to enter immediately on constant discipline, and be in readi- ness to enter the service of the colony ; and that said committee be, and they are hereby empowered, to draw on the public treasury, for said companies, a suitable consideration for their services. The petition of Timothy Langdon 1 was read, and ordered to lie on the table till some of the eastern members should be present. Ordered, That the secretary be directed, pursuant to a request of the committee of safety, to furnish them with copies of all such re- solves as have passed the Congress in any ways relative to the duty en- joined them. The secretary pro tempore represented to the Congress, that the multiplicity of the business of his office was such, as made it necessa- ry that he should have some assistance; whereupon, Ordered, that Capt. Stone, of Oakham, assist him in that service. The committee appointed to inquire into the state of the army, and to settle the appointment of the field officers, reported a letter from head quarters. The committee appointed to inqu're into the complaint of the se- lectmen of the town of Worcester, against Samuel Paine and William Campbell, reported ; which report was accepted, and ordered to be transcribed, and delivered to Capt. Jonas Hubbard and Mr. Edward Crafts, who exhibited the above complaint, together with a printed re- solve of Congress, lately passed, for disarming the disaffected inhabit- ants of the colony. The report is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to hear the complaints, exhibited by the selectmen of Worcester, against William Campbell and Samuel Paine, have attended that service, heard the parties, and beg leave to report, that we find the charges against them proved by depositions, and con- ceded by them ; and that William Campbell has been guilty of leaving the town of Worcester without a permit from the selectmen, contrary to his own enslavements : and that the said Samuel Paine has, in one instance, propagated reports with regard to our Massachusetts soldiers' riflincr the house of Mr. Bradish, instead of the regular troops, and that those which were quartered in the colleges were lousy, and desert- (1) This petition represented, that the committee of safety, formed from ten towns in the coun- ty of Lincoln, after consultation, came to the determination, that the king's masts, in the dock yard at Georgetown, should not ho removed or fitted for use, and received assurances from Edward Par- ry, Esq., who had procured the timher, that it should remain : that when the result of the delibe- rations of the committee were known, Col. Samuel Thompson of Brunswick, with twenty armed men, seized .Mr. Parry, and compelled him to give honds, with the penalty of £-3000, to abide in the town until the pleasure of Congress could be known, and exacted money for the refreshment of the captors : and prayed that the bondi might be cancelled, and Mr. Parry discharged from false impris- onment 1775.] SF.COND PRO VINCI \\. CONGRESS 21 i ed in ^rr»':it numbers; which, however indiscreet, <\^»-- not appear u, us n> be done with any bad design, and that be ought to I"- dismissed imme- diately; and that the said Campbell maj I"- returned to the town of Worcester, t'> l>e dealt with, by the committee of correspondence of that town, agreeably to a resolve of this Congress, passed the Sth in- -t .nit. Tlic matter, however, we think not important enough to be brought before tln< Congress. Tlif consideration <>f the petition of Timothy Langdon was again resumed, and ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, Thai Capt. McCobb, Mr. Lewis and Doct. Perkins, b< committee to take under consideration the Beveral applications made to tin- Congress, from the eastern part- of the province, for arms and ammunition. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o'clock. Thursday, May 11, 1775, A. M. The petition of James Cargill, of Newcastle, committed to the com- mittee who were appointed to consider the [[several || applications to this < longress for ammunition, &x. The committee appointed to take into consideration the several ap- plications to this Congress for a supply of ammunition, vS. c, reported : the report was recommitted, and the committee directed to inspect the list of returns of the town- stock of powder, &.c, that it maybe known whether this Congress can, with prudence, recommend to any town which mav he stocked therewith, to supply those towns winch are destitute. Adjourned to twelve o'clock this dai [Noon] The Congress mel at twelve o'clock, ||"according|| to adjournment. The committee appointed to consider the several application- made to tin- ( longress for ammunition, and to inspect the list of returns, &c, reported. The report was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, the towns of Falmouth and Arundel, and the district of Cape Elizabeth, being >ea port places, and much exposed to the rage of our enemies, and not having a snilicieiit tpiantit) of gunpowder to defend themselves in case of anj long attack ; and the town ol Ando- ver being well stocked with gunpowder, and not so much exposed ; Therefore, Resolved, and it is hereby recommended to the selectmen ol the town of Andover, that the\ delivei to Mr. Joseph McLellan, of Fal- mouth, two half barrels of gunpowder, for the use of the town ol I a l|Ugruf:il>l)'.l| 216 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 11, mouth, in the county of Cumberland ; also to deliver to Mr. Zebulon Trickey, of Cape Elizabeth, one half barrel of gunpowder, for the use of Cape Elizabeth : also to deliver to Mr. John Hovey, of Arundel, two half barrels of gunpowder, for the use of said Arundel, they pay- ing them for said powder, which shall be replaced, if needed, as soon as the colony magazine can be supplied. Whereas, the towns of Brunswick, Pownalborough, Bristol and Newcastle, being sea port places, in the eastern parts of this colony, and much exposed to the rage and incursions of our unnatural ene- mies, and not having a sufficient quantity of gunpowder to defend themselves, in case of any attack ; and the towns of Marlborough, Sudbury and Framingham, being well stocked with gunpowder, and not so much exposed; Therefore, Resolved, and it is hereby recommended to the selectmen of the above mentioned several towns, that they deliver as follows, viz. : the selectmen of Sudbury, one half barrel of gunpowder, to Nathaniel Larrabee, for the use of Brunswick : the selectmen of Marlborough, two half barrels of gunpowder, one to Joseph Tinkham, for the use of Pownalborough, the other to Lieut. John Farley, for the use of New- castle : the selectmen of Framingham, one half barrel of gunpowder, to Thomas Bracket, for the use of Bristol : they paying them for said powder, which shall be replaced, if needed, as soon as the colony mag- azine can be supplied. Ordered, That each person now in waiting, who has made applica- tion to this Congress for powder, be served with a copy thereof. Information beino- made to this Congress, that two men of war, with troops, had sailed from Boston to New York, with a design, as is sup- posed, of frustrating a design of the inhabitants of that colony and Connecticut, to secure the arms and ammunition now in the fort at New York ; Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Col. Warren and Col. Lincoln, be a com- mittee to prepare a letter to the committee of correspondence of New York, informing them of the sailing of said men of war, and inserting such articles therein as will put the people upon their guard against any attempt that may be made against them by said ships. Ordered, That this committee prepare said letter, and forward it forthwith, without waiting to report to this Congress, said committee laying before this Congress, as soon as may be, a copy of said letter. 1 Adjourned to four o'clock, P. M. (1) The following letter was Rent to the committee of inspection of New York, subscribed by Elbridge Gurry. James Warren and Benjamin Lincoln: •• GENTLEMEN :— We are directed by the Congress of this colony, who are juet informed that 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS ji; | Utarnoon ] Met at four o'clock, according to adjournment Adjourned to eighl o'clock to-morrow morning. FlUDAT, Ma\ 1_\ 177.-,, \. M. Moved, Thai a committee be appointed to consider the expediency of recommending to the selectmen of the several towns in the colony, to furnish such as 1 1 1 a \ enlist in their respective towns, with i ries for then- march to head quarters. The question was put, and it passed in the oegath e. Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Col. Warren and .Mr. Sullivan, be a committee, to take into consideration an extract of a letter from the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., of Falmouth, to Samuel Freeman. 1 two mi 1 , and one other ship, with three or font compa s of troops on board, sailed yesterda] from Boston for your ptaci rliest notioe th n of. h that tiny have orders i" secure the ammunition and military stores in the fori of \.mr city. 5 mo ns in the common cause, have given the Congress reason to think, that timet) ■nation, rotative to this matter, would be important to yon. The post i- bow m ating, which pre- vents ns from indulging an inclination fur enlarging. Wi are, i spectfully, gentlemen, yours, ! (I) The extracts which follow are from a letter of Hon. Enoch Freeman, dated Falmouth, Maj f>, 1775, probably rel tting to the subjei t- presented for th.' consideration of < longi ■■ We have lately heard that th.- Penobscot indiana are highly exasperated ■• I it. G for Buffering the tendei to dismantle the fort there, and carrying off the powder: and truck ti stopped, as we are informed ; and that there were a number of men round about there, going t.i take Goldthwaite, for delivering up the tort, into tlmir custody, but what thi to do with him I dont hear. Perhaps it would !>.■ prudent lor the Congri -- to send down thore, and secure the Indi- an- in our interest, by keeping the truck trade open, supplying them powder, or onj other method in th.-ir wisdom, upon mature consideration they may think best. A hint on this hi ugh." "The selectmen of this town have this moment agreed with on.. Jabez Matthews am! Dinsmore, of Nevt Gloucester, to go over to Quebec, to maki discover) whether anj Canadians an' in motion to com ut b ick settlements, or to excite tin' indians to do it ; ami I have wrote to Mr. Remington Holby, ol \ orough, to procure on.- or two to go with them, as ha ami the] an- charged to be cautious not to let tin- Canadians have reason bo much as to i their business, and they will depend on your endeavoring to gel the Congr — to order them adequate satisfaction out of tin' public fund. If tin \ discover an) evil designs, » e shall la- glad to know it, that we may prepare according)) for our defence, rf the) find there is no •'< in-, it will itiefaction ; item country." ■ I ..iiia writ.- a g I deal in favor .a' Bending such an embassy, hut as my time is almost wholly token up on public matters, I have Intl.' in... to spare." ences, in tin- journal, to original papers, too often lead to the repetition of the Sam tale of loss and destruction. The letter of the lion. I'. sh Freeman ntioned on undoubtedly related to a transaction full) detailed in th.' following communication from G i io thr president of th.- Proi incial I I \l.\|"[ I'll. M L) 14, J " HONORED SEE. :— The committee of correspondence in tins town, beg leavi to inform yon, tim.' past, ■■■■ d advices from Georgetown, that Col. TI pson was fittii sets there, with dooign to attempt the taking th.- king's ship Canceaux, stationed in t commanded b) Capt. Mowat, a gentleman, whose conduct sinoe be has I n hen ground ion ho hod any design to distress or injure us ; but, on tl thoi band, he has of- 28 218 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 12, Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Col. Warren and Mr. Sullivan, above mentioned, be a committee to take into consideration the expediency of taking measures for raising a company or two of indians. Resolved, That to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, be, and is now assigned, for the purpose of choosing some person to preach a sermon to the Congress, on the 31st May instant. Resolved, That all persons who have the care of any prisoners de- tained at Concord, Lexington, or elsewhere, be, and hereby are direct- ed, to give the Rev. Mr. Gordon free access to them, whenever he shall desire it ; and it is recommended to all civil magistrates, and others, to be aiding and assisting him in examining, and taking depositions of them, and others, without exception. Ordered, That the establishment for a train of artillery be recom- mitted. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan be added to the committee appointed for revising the [commissions of the] committee of safety and committee of supplies, in the room of Doct. Holten, absent. forded his assistance to sundry vessels in distress. As we thought such an attempt had the appear- ance of laying a foundation for the destruction of this town, the committee of correspondence met, and wrote to the committee of correspondence at Georgetown, desiring they would prevent their- coming ; we also wrote to Col. Thompson, desiring him to desist from such an attempt, as it would throw this town into the greatest confusion imaginable; we sent an express, and received his an- swer that he had dropped the design of coming. But, on Monday night, [May 10,] he landed upwards of sixty men, on the back side of a neck of land joining to the town, who came there in a number of boats, and lay undiscovered till about the middle of the next day ; at which time, Capt. Mowat, the doctor of the ship and parson Wiswall, were taking a walk on said neck, when a detachment of Col. Thompson's party rushed from their concealment, surrounded the gentlemen, and made them prisoners, and conducted them to the colonel, who was with the main body, on the back side of the neck. Capt. Hog, who now commanded the ship, immediately clapped springs on his cables, she lying within musket shot of the town, and swore if the gentlemen were not released by six o'clock, he would fire on the town. He fired two cannon, and, although there was no shot in them, it frightened the women and children to such a degree, that some crawled under wharves, some ran down cellar and some out of town. Such a shocking scene was never before presented to view here. The gentlemen who were in custody, were conducted to a public house, where Capt. Mow- at declared, if he was not released, it would be the destruction of the town. Every gentleman pres- ent used his utmost endeavors to accommodate the matter. Col. Thompson consented that a com- mittee should be chosen, consisting of officers from his party and gentlemen from the town, to con- sult in what manner the affair could be accommodated ; but, as it was late, the committee chose to defer the consideration of it till next morning. Capt. Mowat then requested he might go on board his ship that night, and he would pawn his word and honor that he would return next morn- ing, at what time and at what place should be appointed. Col. Thompson consented, provided Col. Freeman and Brigadier Preble would pass I heir words that the several gentlemen should return ac- cording to their promises, and also pawn their word and honor, if the gentlemen failed of coming, that they would deliver themselves up, nnd stand by the consequences, which was consented to. Capt. Mowat not coining according to his promise, which wa9 to have been at nine o'clock the next morning, the sponsors appea red according to promise, and were confined. Capt. Mowat wrote to them, and let them know he had fully determined to have complied with his promise, but he had sent his man on shore, to carry some dirty linen to his washing-woman, and to bring off some clean : that said man made oath, that two of the body, under arms, one of which swore, by all that was sucred, the moment ho come on shore he should have what was in his piece, and the other, that he 1775.] BECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 319 Resolved, That the several committees be enjoined to mi, and thai this Congress In- adjourned to tln< afternoon, three o'clock. [Afl The committee appointed to consider measures for establishing i offices and post lenders, reported. After some debate, tin.* matter thereof was ordered for tin- present to subside. The order of the das was moved tor. Tin' absent members were ordered to I ■ called in. It was then Mural, That the sense of the Congress be taken on this question, viz. : Whether there is now I'M-tmi.' in tin- colony a necessi- ty of taking up, ami exercising the power- of civil government, in all its parts. After some debate, it was Resolved, that tin- Congress will now form itself into a committee of tin- whole house, for consideration of the question in debate. The committee having considered thereon, the president, on a mo- tion made, [^resumed] the chair. The committee then, by the Hon. Jo- seph Warren, Esq., their chairman, reported, " that a committee be raised, for the purpose of reporting to the Congress an application to the Continental Congress, for obtaining their recommendation tor this colony to take up and exercise civil government, as soon as ma\ he. ami that the committee he directed to ground the application on the ssity of the case;" which report being read, was accepted, bj a very large major it} ; whereupon, Ordered, that the president, Doct. should never return on board again with his life : ami thai two more of hii men made oath, they I of ill'' men under the moment he cam > shore thej would have bis lift ; it he wrote to plead u for not complying with lii« promise. Col. told tin- two gentlemen under confinement, that In- must have some provisions and refreehmt In- men, which they procured, in the a mi of thirteen 01 fourteen pounds, lawftil mom which they were dismissed. Vboul I . he sent an account in them for time and exp amounting to £156 1--. lawful monej . them till next morning, nine o'clock, to return swer, which thej did in the negative ; he said he would i. ire In' left town. He iced all the goods he could find, belonging to Capt. Coulson and William Tyng, Esq \ thej irried off one boat belonging to Coals and one other to Capt. Mow I ('apt. Pole to furnish them »itli some provisions, and a -mall matter of cash ; they also bro ii ..n In- knees, for speaking disrespectful!] of the col 1 and bis nun. Col. Thompson, we ilmilit not, is a true friend to his country, and a man of courage and resolve; but our town lie* so much exposed t" tin navj that, li id In- succeeded in his attempt, which thore » u not tin prob .in in \ of, it must have proved tin- destruction of this town, an. I the country back, who in in the greatest distress for want of provisions. We have onlj related plain facts, that tin' ' able members .a' the Proi incial < !ongress may not In- Impose I on » ith false accounts, to » horn I bis letter. u ■ ire, witli great esteem, genUemen, your i »< humble sen JEDED1 Ml PREBLE, CUirmmt." a iJroa.da.il b [asuum- 220 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 12, Church, Mr. Gerry, Col. Warren, Mr. Sullivan, Col. Danielson and Col. Lincoln, be a committee to prepare an application agreeably to said report. A letter from Col. Gtuincy ||of Braintree,|| to the president, was read ; whereupon, Resolved, that Gen. Ward be, and hereby is direct- ed, to order four respectable officers to escort the president of this Congress to Col. Quincy, at Braintree, to-morrow morning. Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Goodwin and Deacon Whitney, be a committee to estimate the damages done at Concord, Lexington and Cambridge, by the king's troops, on the 19th ultimo, so far as re- spects private property only. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Lewis, be a committee to take into consideration a letter from the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., dated May 10, 1775, to his son, Mr. Samuel Freeman. 1 Resolved, That the further consideration of the report of the com- mittee who were appointed to bring in a resolve respecting the estab- lishment of post offices and post riders, be resumed to-morrow morn- ing, nine o'clock. Resolved, That the establishment for a train of artillery, which has been accepted by this Congress, be reconsidered, and that the follow- ing report, for such an establishment, be accepted, viz. : Resolved, That the following establishment be made for ten compa- nies of matrosses : Captain, ....... £6 10s. per month. Captain Lieutenant, . . . . 5 10 " 1st Lieutenant, ..... Two 2d Lieutenants, each .... Serjeants, each ..... Corporals, each ...... 6 Bombardiers, each .... 6 Gunners, each ..... 32 Matrosses, each ..... Adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o'clock. [Saturday,] May 13, 1775, A. M. Met according to adjournment. The petition of the selectmen of the town of Topsham, in the county of Lincoln, respecting their being supplied with powder, [was] read, and Ordered, that the same be committed to Capt. McCobb, Mr. Lewis and Doct. Taylor. (1) See the note to page 217 ante. The letter mentioned in the text is not on the tiles of Congress. 1 10 3 12 2 10 2 6 2 4 6 2 4 2 3 1775.1 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 221 The order of the day, respecting the further consideration <>i the report of tin- committee appointed t" bring in a resolve respecting the establishing post offices, &c, was taken up, and the blanks for post masters being filled up, ordered t<» Bubside till th<- reporl on the l< iter from Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq. was read. The committee appointed to take m t < > consideration a letter from the Hon. Enoch Preeman, Esq., dated Maj 10, reported; and after a long debate thereon, [the report] u ed to be recommitted for amendment. Moved, Thai a i nittee be appointed t<» count and sort the votes, for a committee, to be chosen by ballot, to appoint post riders; [tin- ] time assigned t < > r that purpose [was] voted to be three o'clock, P M The order of the da) was moved fur, to choose a Kiutleraan to ch the Bei noon on the 3ls1 May. Moved, That a committee be chosen to count and sorl the votes. Col. Warren, Capt. Jennison, Major Hliss, were chosen. The committee chosen to count and ><>rt the votes, reported that the R.e\ - I >"<■;. Langdon w as chosen. Moved, That a committee of three persons be appointed, to wait on the Rev. Doct. Langdon, and acquaint him that this Congress hare made choice of bim to preach a sermon to the Congress of this i ny on the 31s1 instant May, ami desire his compliance therewith. Col. Gerrish, Mr. Pitts and l><><-t Sawyer, were chosen accordingly. The committee appointed to prepare a resolve respecting the taking a third set of the depositions relative to the kittle of Lexington, re- ported, and [the report] was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, Thai William Reed, William Stickney, Thadeus Mason, Jonathan Hastings, Jonathan Cummings, Josiah Johnson, Duncan En- graham, Jonas Di\ and Simon Tufts, Esqs., be, and thej hereby are required, to take a thud sel of the depositions r< lative t<> the battle of Lexington, similar to the two sets already by them taken: and the] are empowered to summon, or cause to be summoned, such inhabit- ants of tin- colony as they .-hall think proper, to attend them, at any time and place in this ||'county,|| which they shall direct, for the pur- poses mentioned ; and all such persons as shall be summoned bj the justices aforesaid, are herebj directed punctually to ok\ then sum- mons. Ordered, That Mr. Pitts, Mr. Gill and Mr. Sawyer, be a committee to take into consideration a letter from Mr. John Peck, respecting his n ||i nl 222 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 13, confinement, to the selectmen of Boston, and the said selectmen's let- ter to this Congress on the same subject. The committee reported their amendment of the report on the Hon. Enoch Freeman's letter ; referred to the afternoon. Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. [Afternoon ] ||The Congress met at three o'clock, P. M.|| The report of the committee respecting the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq.'s letter, [was] taken up, amended and [''accepted.] 1 The committee appointed to consider the petition of the selectmen of the town of Topsham, reported ; the report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, the town of Topsham being a sea port place, in the east- ern part of the colony, and much exposed to the rage and excursions of our unnatural enemies, and not having a sufficient quantity of gun- powder to defend themselves, in case of an attack, and the town of Wrentham being well stocked therewith : Therefore, Resolved, and it is hereby recommended to the select- men of the abovesaid town of Wrentham, to deliver one half barrel of gunpowder to Mr. Prince Rose, for the use of the town of Topsham, he paying them for said powder, which shall be replaced, if needed, as soon as the colony magazine can be supplied. || b The order of the day was called for ,|| and Capt. Jonathan Brown, Jonas Dix, Esq. and Deacon Cheever, were chosen a committee to count and sort the votes for a committee to establish post riders ; which committee was chosen ; and the blanks in the resolve respecting post offices, being filled up with said committees' names, the resolve was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, as the opinion of this Congress, that post riders be imme- diately established to go from Cambridge, and to ride the following roads, viz. : to Georgetown in the county of Lincoln, to Haverhill, to Providence, to Woodstock by Worcester, and from Worcester to Great Barrington by Springfield, and to Falmouth in the county of Barn- stable, and that post offices be kept as followeth, viz. : One at Cam- bridge ; one at Salem ; one at Ipswich ; one at Haverhill ; one at New- buryport; one at || c Kennebunk|| or Welles ; one at Falmouth in the county of Cumberland ; one at Georgetown, in the county of Lincoln; one at Worcester ; one at Springfield ; one at Great Barrington ; one ccepted, and is a* follows :] li \\Resvlvcd, That tin' order of ill" day, on the subject of post riders, be now taken ii]>.|| c ||Kennebeck.]| II) The report, unfurtunatoly omitted in the journal, is not preserved on the files. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 223 .it Plymouth ; one at Sandwich; one ;it Falmouth, in the count] of Barnstable. And it i- further Resolved, That Mr. James Winthrop be appointed posl master for the town <>t' * ' ;• n 1 1 >r i< i lt*' : Mr. Edward 'Norris » ■ .r Salem; Mr. James Poster for Ipswich; .Mr. Simon Greenough for Elaverhill ; Mr. Bulkier Emerson for Newburyport; Capt. Nathaniel Kimball for Kennebunk ; .Mr. Samuel Freeman for Falmouth, in Cumberland; Mr. John Wood for Georgetown; Mr. Isaiah Thomas for Worcester; Mr. Moses Church for Springfield; Doct William Whiting lb] Greal Barrington; Joseph Nye, 3d. i'<>r Sandwich; William Watson, Esq. for Plymouth; and Mr. Moses Swifl tor Fal- mouth, in Barnstable'; and that Capt. Jonathan Brown, Jonas Dix, Esq and David Cheever, Esq., be a committee to give directions for the setting oil and returning of the posts in their several routes, and to appoint t h«- number of riders, and agree with (hem, and to agree like- wise with the post masters for their service; and thai the rates of, and duties for postage of letters, &,c, be as follow, viz. : for any distance not exceeding (50 miles, 5 1-4 pence : upwards of 60 miles, and not exceeding 100 miles, 8 pence; upwards of J 00 miles, and not exceed- ing 200, K> 1-2 pence; upwards of 200, and not exceeding :>•'<>. 1 -lid- ling 1 penny: upward- of 300, and not exceeding 10i>, 1 shilling 1 pence; upwards of 400, and not exceeding 500, 1 shilling e paid in lawful money of tin- colony. The above rates are tor the postage of a single letter: they are to be doubled for all double letter-: trebled for all treble letters; and for every ounce weight, tour times as much to be charged as tor a single letter: and that the post masters be accountable to the aforenamed committee for what thej shall receive: and that tjie foregoing rule- ami orders continue, until the Continental Congress, or the congress, or future house of representatives of this colony, shall make some fur- ther order relative to the - uue. The committee || appointed \ to draw a resolve respecting a court of inquiry, reported; and Ordered, that Monday, three o'clock in the af- ternoon, be assigned lor taking the same into consideration Adjourned till to-morrow- morning, eight o'clock. • ||Morrii - -3iui»on.|| 224 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 15, v Sunday, May 14, 1775, [A. M.] Met, and adjourned to twelve o'clock. [Noon.] At twelve o'clock met, and adjourned to three o'clock. [Afternoon.] At three o'clock met again. Moved, That a committee be appointed to apply to the committee of safety, for a list of such persons as they have given enlisting orders to, that this Congress may commission such as they think proper, without delay. Resolved, That the further consideration of this matter be referred to to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. [Monday,] May 15, 1775, A. M. Resolved, That four o'clock in the afternoon of this day, be assigned for making choice of two persons, members of this Congress, to attend the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, on Wednesday next. The order of the day was moved for, and read. Resolved, That David Cheever, Esq., for reasons by him offered, be excused from serving in the business, to which he was appointed, by a resolve of this Congress, passed the 12th instant, for establishing post offices and post riders ; and that Mr. William Greenleaf, Joseph Green- leaf, Esq. and Mr. John Pitts, be added to the committee therein ap- pointed. Resolved, That five o'clock this afternoon be assio-ned for the choice of a person to serve on the committee of supplies, in the room of Col. Lee, deceased. Ordered, That the committee appointed to prepare an application to the Continental Congress, be directed to insert a clause therein, desir- ing that the said congress would take some measures for directing and regulating the American forces. The committee appointed to prepare an introduction to the deposi- tions ["relating to] the late affair at Lexington, reported ; the same was recommitted, for the purpose of examining it, to find if the narra- tive contained in the said introduction be supported by the depositions, and to add such other depositions as may be procured. Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Col. Field and Mr. Bullen, be a commit- tee to examine the letters of Governor Hutchinson, 1 lately discovered, a [of.] (I) Tln> following account of the discovery of the letter imnks of Governor Hutchinson, contain ing liis correspondence with the ministry, and with private individuals, is copied from Gordon's History of the American Revolution, Vol. I., Page 356. " When he [Governor Hutchinson,] quitted the province, nil his furniture was left behind at his seat in Milton. After the Lexington engagement, the committee of the town removed 1775.] SECOND PROA INC] \l. I < >NGR1 and report n> this Congress Buch letters, and extra thej think it will be proper i" publish. Ordered, That the committee appointed t" revise [the commission of j the committee of safety, sit forthwith. Ordered, Thai Col. Warren, Mi Sawyer and Major I5li — . bi committee t<> take into consideration the Bubject of a letter, read in Congress, from W illiara Watson, Esq. to < Sol. W arren and Mr. Lothrop. Col. Barrett, who was appointed t<> take a deposition at Concord, r<]i< irt.il : the deposition reported « red to be committed to the committee who were appointed to prepare an introduction to the d Bit s The committee appointed to take into consideration extracts of a letter from the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., reported a letter to the ern tribes of indians, which was accepted, and ordered to be au- thenticated, and Bent to .Mr. Julia Lane, to be communicated to them. li i- as follows, \ i/. : Friends \\i> good Brothers: — We, the delegates <>f the colony of the Massachusetts Bay, being come together in congress, to con- sider what ma) be best for you and ourselves to do, to get rid of the slaver) designed to be brought upon us, have thought it our dutj to write you the following lelt< i Broth i rs the great wickedness of such as should b< r friends, but are our enemies, we mean the ministrj of Great Britain, has laid deep plots to take awaj our liberty and your libert) ; the) want to get all >>ur money; make us pa) it to them, when they never earned it; to make you and us their servants; and let us have nothing to eat, drink, or wear, but what the) -a\ we shall; and prevent us from having guns and powder to use, and kill our deer, and wolves, and other game, or to send to you, lor you to kill your game with, and to ir t »t skins and fur to trade with us for what you want : but we hope soon it, in ordi r leing totally ruiaed. Mr. Samuel Henshaw, desirous "t' teeing now the tript of all the furnil tired thither with the gontlem id the H ..ah, up int. i d told, v nothing bul .1 parcel of useless papers, Curiositi led him to 10 them, when he n discovered a letter book of Mr. Hutcl 1, mid then post i 1 Warren, to whom ho related whal had happened: on which, an to G aself of the trunk. It was brought through the unprodi ■ ithcr, and - iblic good ' bought, that it' U10 in the prcsenl moi Mr. H ■ ■■ : .. The letl -•.ill retaim 29 226 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 15, to be able to supply you with both guns and powder, of our own making. We have petitioned to England for you and us, and told them plain- ly we want nothing but our own, and do not want to hurt them ; but they will not hear us, and have sent over great ships, and their men with guns, to make us give up, and kill us, and have killed some of our men ; but we have driven them back and beat them, and killed a great many of their men. The Englishmen of all the colonies, from Nova Scotia to Georgia, have firmly resolved to stand together and oppose them ; our liberty and your liberty is the same ; we are brothers, and what is for our good is for your good ; and we, by standing together, shall make those wicked men afraid, and overcome them, and all be free men. Capt. Goldthwait has given up Fort Povvnall into the hands of our enemies ; we are angry at it, and we hear you are angry with him, and we do not wonder at it. We want to know what you, our good brothers, want from us of clothing, or warlike stores, and we will supply you as fast as we can. We will do all for you we can, and fight to save you, any time, and hope that none of your men, or the indians in Canada, will join with our enemies. You may have a great deal of ||good|| in- fluence on them. Our good brothers, the indians at Stockbridge, all join with us, and some of their men have enlisted as soldiers, and we have given them that enlisted, each one, a blanket and a ribbon, and they will be paid when they are from home in the service; and if any of you are willing to enlist, we will do the same for you. We have sent Capt. John Lane to you, [to consult with you] for that purpose, and he will show you his orders for raising one company of your men to join with us in the war with your and our enemies. Brothers : we beseech that God who lives above, and that does what is right here below, to be your friend and bless you, [and] to prevent the designs of those wicked men from hurting you or us. Brothers : if you will let Mr. John Preble know what things you want, he will take care to inform us, and we will do the best for you that we can. The committee appointed to consider a letter from William Watson, Esq., of Plymouth, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, and ordered to be printed, and dispersed to the several towns in the colony, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, some of the inhabitants of this colony, and most of them such as have been inimical to the constitution and interest of the same, 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS are now, afteT having united themselves ivith nur enemies, in reducing us to the distresses and difficulties we ire laboring under, taking - to remove themselves and effects out of this colony, into the govern- mem of Nova Scotia, and elsev< here, m order to avoid their propor- tion of burdens necessarilj incurred for our defence, to prevenl winch, ii i- Hi solved ', thai no person be, from this time, permitted to move his _ r I- ami clVeets oul of this colony, unless he Bhall obtain the permis- sion of the committee of correspondence of the town he belongs to; or if no Buch committee be there appointed, of the selectmen, or the majority of them, under their hands, for thai purpose, but bj the leave of this or some future congress ; and the several committees of cor- respondence, or selectmen, where there are no such committees, are herein directed to be verj vigilanl in observing the motions of all such persons who thej may have re a -on to suspect, and to see that this resolve be carried into full execution. Then adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. [Afti moon.] The committee appointed to consider the extracts of a letter from the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Ksq., reported a resolve respecting an era- bassj to Canada, which being read and amended, was accepted, a copy ordered to lie authenticated, and sent to the selectmen of Falmouth, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, it is absolutely necessary for the interest and Bafetj of this colony, in it- present unhappj situation, that the most certain in- telligence, from Canada, of the designs and manoeuvres of the inhab- itants of that colony should be obtained as 'frequentlj as possible : ami whereas, the selectmen of the town of Falmouth, having been alarmed l>\ reports which had prevailed in the eastern parts of the col- ons, that the Canadians would soon attack them on their frontiers, and thereby bring nol onl) themselves, hut the whole colony, into a -till more deplorable situation . and judging it of the utmost importance, thai the truth or falsity of Buch reports be known without delay, have employed Mr. .la be/. Matthews and Mr. David Din-more, to go across the woods to Quebec, in order to observe the motions of the people there, and. as far as possible, to gain a knowledge of their intention : Therefore, Resolved, Thai this Congress do approve of the care and attention of the selectmen of Falmouth, to the general interest <■! the colony. Ami it i- berebj recommended to the said selectmen, that they transmil the intelligence thej ma) receive bj them, together with the expenses of the said embassy, t" this or some future cong a ||»pouiliIy.|| 228 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 15, this colony, with all convenient speed, that the account of their ex- penses may be adjusted and allowed out of the treasury of the colony. The order of the day [was] moved for. The report of the committee appointed to bring in a resolve for es- tablishing a court of inquiry, was read ; after debate, the question was put, whether said report be accepted, and it passed in the negative. Ordered, That the committee who reported a letter to the eastern tribes of indians, be directed to prepare instructions to Mr. John Lane, who is appointed to communicate the letter to them, and enlist a com- pany of them in the service of the colony. Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Bliss and Mr. How, be a committee to sort and count the votes for two persons, members of this Congress, to repair to the congress of the province of New Hampshire. The committee last mentioned, reported, that the Hon. Joseph Ger- rish, Esq. and Col. Ebenezer Sawyer, were chosen. Ordered, That Col. Dexter, Col. Warren and Col. Foster, be a com- mittee to bring in a resolve for supplying the soldiers with two twenty shilling bills each, for a month's advance pay, and they are directed to draw up a form for said bills, and employ an engraver to prepare a plate for [ a printing] the same, without delay, and Resolved, that to- morrow morning, ten o'clock, be assigned for the consideration of the report of said committee thereon. Ordered, That the committee appointed to prepare an application to the Continental Congress, sit forthwith. Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Bliss and Mr. How, be a committee to sort and count the votes for a member of the committee of supplies, in the room of Col. Lee, deceased. The committee last mentioned, reported, that Mr. John Pitts was chosen. Ordered, That Col. Barrett, Esquire Rawson and Mr. Webster, be a committee to take into consideration a petition to this Congress, from Mr. Boice and Mr. McLean, of Milton. 1 Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Col. Warren and Mr. Jennison, be a committee to draw up some instructions to the delegates appointed to go to the Congress of New Hampshire. Adjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow morning. a [engraving.] (1) John Boice and Hugh McLean represented, tliat they were engaged in the business of manu- facturing paper : that four apprentices, well skilled in the employment, bad enlisted in the army; that their services were necessary for the operation of the mills ; and prayed that these soldiers might be discharged from military service. L775.] SECOND VIU >V1\CIAL CONGRESS [TUESDAY, M:> 16, L775, \. M Ordered, Thai Doct. Taylor, Mr. Greenleaf and Capt. Dix, I" committee to appU to the committee of safety, fur a h-t of Buch per- sons as they have given enlisting orders to; and, in particular, [for] a list of such as have completed, or nearlj completed, their respective regiments; and as far as can be speedily obtained, the Dumber of men each officer lias enlisted thai this Congr< ss ma) commission such per- sons as thej think proper, without delay. The committee appointed to considei a petition of Messrs. Boice and Me I, ran. reported. A long debate was had thereon, and it was finally determined, that the petitioners have lei ve to withdraw their pe- tition. Ordered, Thai Mr. Sullivan, Capt. Stone, Col. Farley, Major Brooks and Duct. l\ wson, be a committee to tike mt<> consideration a verbal information of the capture of three vessels, by a king's cutter, a1 Dart- mouth, and the retaking two of them, and fifteen marine- prisoners. Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. [Afternoon.] Henry Gardner, Esq. having renewed his request, that this Congress would excuse him from serving the colony in the office of receiver general. Resolved, that the determination of this matter be referred to to-morrow morning, ten o'clock : and if .Mr. Gardner should then in- sist on being excused, that then the Congress will proceed to the choice of some other person to suppl) his place. The committee appointed to prepare an application to the Continen- tal Congress, reported the following, which was read paragraph by paragraph, and accepted, \ iz. -. Resolved, Thai Doct. Church he ordered to go immediately to Phil- adelphia, and deliver to the president of the honorable American Congress, there now sitting, the following application, to be by him communicated to the members thereof ; and the said Church is also direct) d to confer with the said congn - . respecting such other mat- ter- as may be necessarj to the defence of this colony, and particularly [as to] the state of the arm] therein. M.u ii please voub Honors: — That system of colonv adminis- tration which, in the mosl firm, dutiful and loyal manner, has been 111 vain remonstrated against, hv the representative bodj of the united colonies, Beema -nil. unless Bpeedilj and vigorously opposed, bj the collected wisdom and force of all America, to threaten ruin and de- struction to this continent. 230 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 16, For a Jong time past this colony has, by a corrupt administration in Great Britain and here, been deprived of the exercise of those powers of government, without which, a people can be neither rich, happy or secure. The whole continent saw the blow impending, which, if not warded off, must inevitably have subverted the freedom and happiness of each colony. The principles of self-defence, roused in the breasts of freemen by the dread of impending slavery, caused to be collected the wisdom of America, in a congress, composed of men who, through time, must, in every land of freedom, be revered, amongst the most faithful assertors of the essential rights of human nature. This colony was then reduced to great difficulties, being denied the exercise of civil government, according to our charter, or the funda- mental principles of the English constitution ; and a formidable navy and army, not only inimical to our safety, but flattered with the pros- pect of enjoying the fruit of our industry, were stationed, for that pur- pose, in our metropolis. The prospect of deciding the question, be- tween our mother country and us, by the sword, gave us the greatest pain and anxiety ; but, we have made all the preparation for our neces- sary defence, that our confused state would admit of; and as the ques- tion equally affected our sister colonies and us, we have declined, though urged thereto by the most pressing necessity, to assume the reins of civil government, without their advice and consent : but have, hitherto, patiently borne the many difficulties and distressing embar- rassments necessarily resulting from a want thereof. We are now compelled to raise an army, which, with the assistance of the other colonies, we hope, under the smiles of Heaven, will be able to defend us, and all America, from the further butcheries and devastations of our implacable enemies. But, as the sword should, in all free states, be subservient to the civil powers, and as it is the duty of the magistrate to support it, for the people's necessary defence, we tremble at having an army, although consisting of our own countrymen, established here, without a civil power to provide for and control it. We are happy in having an opportunity of laying our distressed state before the representative body of the continent, and humbly hope you will favor us with your most explicit advice, respecting the taking up and exercising the powers of civil government, which we think abso- lutely necessary for the salvation of our country; and we shall readily submit to such a general plan as you may direct for the colonies ; or make it our great study to establish such a form of government here, 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. j;i as shall not only most promote our advantage, bul the anion and inter- est of all America. As the army, collecting from different colonies, is for the general de- fence of the rights of America, we would beg leave to suggest to your consideration, the propriety of your taking the regulation and general direction of it, that the operations may more effectually answer the pur- poses designed. The Committee appointed to prepare instructions to the delegates who are going to .New Hampshire, reported the following, whicb was accepted, viz : Resolved, Thai the Hon. Joseph Gerrish, Esq., and Col. Ehenezer Saw- yer, who are by this Congress chosen a committee to wait on the dele- gates of the colony of New Hampshire, are hereby empowered and directed, to take such methods, and make such application to the said congress, as shall, in the judgmenl of said committee, appear most con- ducive to the union of the colonies, and the most direct way to induce said Congress of New Hampshire, to raise their proportion of men to defend the colonies. And it is also Resolved, That the said committee be furnished with a copy of the application of this Congress to the hon- orable members of the Continental Congress, which the said committee is directed to deliver the president of the congress of that colony, and to do all that they can to procure the approbation of that colonj to our assuming government, and to communicate to said congress such of the proceedings of this Congress as they shall think conducive to the good of the whole. Ordered, That the said delegates he furnished with a copy of the es- tablishment for the Massachusetts army, and rules ami regulations for the same, and form of the oath for the officers and soldiers. A letter from Col. Thomas Legate, dated Cambridge, Ma\ Hi, 1775, 1 was read, and committed to Col. Foster, Mr. Parker, and .Mr. Bliss. The Committee appointed to bring in a resolve for supply inu' the sol- diers with two twenty shilling hills for a month's advance pay, again reported. The order of the day [was] moved tor. Ordered, That Col. Foster, Major Bliss, and Mr. Bent, he a com- mittee to sort and count the votes for a member of this Congress, to go to Philadelphia with the application of this Congre>-. to the Conti- nental Congress. I Thii related to the organization of the train of artillery in the provincial army. 232 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 16, The committee reported, that Doct. Benjamin Church was chosen. The committee appointed to take under consideration the letter from Col. Legate reported ; which report being read and amended, was ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz : Whereas, it is of the utmost importance, that the men who shall be enlisted into the artillery company should be well qualified for that em- ployment, and it being impossible to enlist the men for the artillery at large, in the colony, so soon as the service requires, therefore, Re- solved, That the officers of the artillery be allowed to enlist the men from the several regiments already engaged, when the men are willing to engage in that service, until the whole artillery establishment shall be completed, always provided, that such enlistments shall be no pre- judice or hindrance to the officers with whom such men are already en- listed, in entitling them to their respective commissions ; and that not more than four men be taken from any one company : and the officers of the train of artillery are directed to use their endeavor, to enlist as many ||men,|| who are not under any previous engagement in the army, as they can, speedily ; and the officers, from whose regiment or com- pany any person is enlisted into the train of artillery, are also directed to fill up their said regiment or companies with all convenient speed, by enlisting other soldiers in the place of those enlisted into the train of artillery. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Pitts, Doct. Taylor, the President, and Mr. Batchelder, be a committee to consider what measures it would be expedient to take, relative to the prisoners in Boston, and the inhab- itants which are there kept in duress. The committee appointed to apply to the committee of safety for a list of officers, &c, reported, verbally, that they had no other list than what they had before sent to the congress : that they had received no returns, and knew not how many had enlisted, or whether any regi- ments were completed. Ordered, That Col. Barrett, Doct. Taylor, and Mr. Fuller, be a com- mittee to take into consideration a petition from the inhabitants of Ca- naan and Norridgewock, on Kennebeck river, and report. 1 The committee who were appointed to consider the information from Dartmouth, reported ; the report was recommitted for further exami- nation and inquiry into the affair. Ordered, That Mr. Freeman and Doct. Hoi ten be added to the com- mittee appointed to examine Hutchinson's letters. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock. (1) Tliis petition, like most others from the eastern part of the province, appears to have lieen for supplies of arras, ammunition, and provisions. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGREfi [Wi .i.m m>at, M >> it. i:;:,. \. m. A letter from [Edward] Mott to this Congress, dated Ma\ 11. I" giving an accounl of the taking of the fortress at Ticonderoga, « read, together with a letter from Ethan Allen ; also an application from Col. Easton, and others : whereupon, Ordered, That Col. Foster, Mr. Sullivan, and Doct. Holten, l>< a committee to introduce Col. Easton to this house, to give a narrative uf that transaction, and that each member have libertj to ask him any questions. 1 Ordered, That Mr. President, Doct. Taylor, Col Foster, Doct Hol- ten, and Mr. Cross, be a committee to take the Bame into consideration, and report. A resolve from the committee of Bafety, relative to the seizing tin- servants ami friends to government, improperly bo called, was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Resolved, Thai three o'clock, P. M., be assigned for the purpose of considering the expediency of making out a commission to Gen. Ward. The Congress appointed two other monitors, viz. : Mr. John Hair and Capt. Woodhridge Brown. The resolve, and form of an oath to be taken by the general offict wen- read, amended and accepted, and are as follow, viz. : 'Resolved, That the gem ral officers of the M -- ichusetts army, now raising fur the defence and security of the rights and liberties of this and our sister colonies in America, shall each and every of them repeat, tak and subscribe the following oath, to be administered by [blank] viz.: I, \ B., do solemnly swear, that, as a general officer in the M chusetts army, I will well and faithfully execute the office of a general, tn which I have been appointed, according to mj besl abilities, in de- fence ami for the security of the estates, lives, and liberties of the good people of this and the sister colonies in America, in opposition to ministerial tyranny, by which the) are or may be oppressed, and to all other enemies and opposers whatsoever ; that I will adhere to the rules and regulations of said army, established 1>\ the Congress of the col- ony of || the Massachusetts Bay, observe and obej the resolutions and order- winch are or shall be passed by said Congress, or any future congress, or house of representatives, or legislative bodj of said colo- ny, ami such committees as shall be by them authorized foi that pur- pose; and that I will disclose and make known to the authorit) afore- 1, all traitorous conspiracies, attempts and designs whatsoever, I 'i ting to 1 . will be found in ihe Appendix. 234 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 17, which I shall know to be made, or have reason to suspect are making, against the army, or any of the English American colonies. Ordered, That Jonas Dix, Esq. be directed to take depositions rela- tive to the destruction of private property, by the king's troops, on the L9th instant, and their driving women in childbed out of their houses, and killing old men unarmed. Henry Gardner, Esq., informed the house, that he was willing to continue to serve this colony in the office of receiver general. Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Deacon Nichols and Mr. Rawson, be a committee to consider what steps are proper to be taken, for the re- lief of such of the inhabitants of Boston as come over to Charlestown, who are not able to take care of themselves. The committee appointed to consider the account of taking the fortress of Ticonderoga, reported the following resolve, and letter to the assembly of Connecticut, which were accepted, and the letter or- dered to be authenticated and sent forward : Gentlemen : — We have the happiness of presenting our congratu- lations to you, on the reduction of that important fortress, Ticondero- ga; we applaud the conduct, both of the officers and soldiers, and are of opinion, that the advantageous situation of that fortress, makes it highly expedient, that it should be repaired and properly garrisoned. In the mean time, as we suppose that there is no necessity for keeping all the cannon there, we should be extremely glad, if all the battery cannon, especially brass cannon, which can be spared from that place, or procured from Crown Point, which, we hope, is, by this time, in the hands of our friends, may be forwarded this way, with all possible expedition, as we have here to contend with an army furnished with as fine a train of artillery as ever was seen in America ; and we are in extreme want of a sufficient number of cannon to fortify those impor- tant passes, without which, we can neither annoy general Gage, if it should become necessary, nor defend ourselves against him; we, there- fore, must, most earnestly, recommend this very important matter to your immediate consideration ; and we would suggest it, as our opin- ion, that the appointing Col. Arnold to take charge of them, and bring them down with all possible haste, may be a means of settling any dis- putes which may have arisen between him and some other officers, which we are always desirous to avoid, and, more especially, at a time when our common danger ought to unite us in the strongest bonds of unity and affection. We are, gentlemen, &c. 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS This Congress, having received authentic intelligence, that the t '■ . r t at Ticonderoga, is surrendered into the hands of Col. Ethan Allen and oilier-, together with the artillery, and artillerj stores, ammunition, & c . thereunto belonging, for the benefit of these coloni* sion< d by the 1 1 it r«-[ ud valor of a number of men under the command of the said Col. .Mini, Col. Easton of the Massachusetts, and others, and by the advice and direction of the committee for that expedition, the said Ciil. Allen i- to remain in possession of the same, and its dependen- cies, until further order : Resolved, Thai this Congress do highl) approve of the same, and the general :i»finlil\ eniL r put, whether the report shall he accepted, and it passed in the negatii thereupon. Resolved, that the petitioner- have ha\e to withdraw their petition. Ordered, [That] Col. Foster, Mr. Sullivan and ('apt. Farley, be a committee to prepare a commission R Gen W ard. The committee appointed to consider of the verbal information from Dartmouth, reported verbally, thai the inhabitants of Dartmouth be advised to conduct themselves, with respect to the prisoners the) have taken, agreeably to the direction of the committee of inspection for that town. After a long debate, it was Moved, thai the consideration of this matter should subside ; and the question being put, it passed in the affirmative, and the matter accordingly subsided. Ordered, That the secretar) be directed to inform the gentlemen from Dartmouth <>f the determination of the Congress, respecting the information from Dartmouth, and the reason thereof. Ordered, That the committee appointed to revise the commission ol the committee of safety, sit forthwith, and report as soon as ma) be j that Mr. Sullivan he e\cu-e.l, and that Col. Poster ami Deacon IVIier he added to tin- committee. 236 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 18, Resolved, That Doct. Church be allowed one servant to attend him in his journey to Philadelphia. Ordered, That the letters relative to taking the fortress of Ticonde- roga, be delivered to the committee of safety. Ordered, That the committee appointed to prepare an establishment for post offices, &lc, be directed to bring in a resolve, for the purpose of empowering the committee, who were appointed to agree with the post riders, &c, to take bonds of the post masters, and appoint oaths to be taken by the post masters and post riders ; and that Col. Foster be excused, and Capt. Stone and Mr. Greenleaf be added to the com- mittee. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. [Thursday,] May 18, 1775, A. M. The committee who were appointed to revise the resolves respecting the committee of safety, reported ; whereupon, Resolved, that three o'clock in the afternoon be assigned for the choice of a committee of safety, to consist of thirteen members, and for the further considera- tion of said report. Ordered, That Capt. Rawson, Mr. Bullen and Col. Farley, be a committee to consider the practicability of employing chaplains for the army, out of the number of clergy of this colony. Ordered, That Col. Warren, Mr. Gardner and Mr. Sullivan, be a committee to bring in a resolve, recommending it to the inhabitants of this colony, not to choose any person to represent them in Congress, who has a commission in the army. Ordered, That Major Fuller ||of Middleton,|| Mr. Whittemore and Mr. Bliss, be a committee to wait upon the Hon. James Russell, Esq., impost master, to know if he has any public moneys now in his hands. Ordered, That the president, Mr. Sullivan and Col. Warren, be a committee to bring in a resolve, recommending to the inhabitants of this colony to make no purchases, nor receive any conveyances of es- tates, from the mandamus counsellors, or other inveterate enemies to the rights of this country, and that they have no dealings of any kind with such persons. Ordered, That Mr. Gardner, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Kollock, be a committee to consider and inquire into the subject matter of a resolve of the committee of safety, respecting Lady Frankland. 1 Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. U) Sir Ilinry rmnkland was the proprietor of extern tates in Hopkinton, "where he had .a country residence previous to the Revolution, and maintained the splendor of an English nobleman. On tli" commencement of hostilities, his ladj became alarmed at the movements of the people, and asked and obtained leave to remove to Boston with a small portion of her effects. 1775.] SECOND PROA [NCIAL CONGREfi I ^ : • Ordered, Thai Mr. Sullivan, Col. Foster, Doct Holten, Mr. Bi don and Capt Batchelder, I"- a committee to take into consideration a r from tin- committee of correspondence fur tin- town of Falmouth, and such parts of a letter from the Hon. Enoch IV Esq., v> tli«- secretary, as he ma] communicate. 1 i Ti,. ho 15th ol We, iii and count) . and if thei n \<>r will i I r, now iii this harbor, has rtain ruin, by the admiral's rosenlirj h a mono u liar- ;.r. \. 1. 1 it, no t'urllii in here, the town i- i ir>, which ion the town t'nr supplies, of which, at present, thi rcity. We Col. Thompson's attempt ■ ind injndii t unjustifi lot learn he h uthorit) from you or the Congress ; u< an ontrarj to the will, and without any orders from his superior officers in the militia, though solicited for l>y him, and the i pie here atribution his men. Wo >ur enemies, through the proi ince, shall be conducted l>y pro lorly, and with proper authority, lest it should occasion a civil war among ours I II - irhich may be sudden, imm diate and resolute i a be suddenly thought of, should !><• adopted ; but < ni any time, and in any manner, may coll • tl>- y ry body i S U verbutn •■ \\ n the countrj , ;•■ &c, without hai for so doing: for thi intend, lall bo chief offii in, whether the mon re, fur mi. ■ may." • I , Preble, but he, not having any writl did not act in the affair. If the army can be c pleted without drawing men from hi to understand was tbi hinking it would bi prudent j however, wo shall not bo backward, if th a for our men ; and, in that we humbl) submit, whether it would not I"- 1" I, to condi: cording to orders. We ho ■ > I ■ I « < • u* your honors, as »'■ wore solicit! >l to do it bj o bor ol a." ■■ Wo are, with grent veneration, your honors' most obedient In: ENOCH I'KI'.I'.M W Th immittee to whom the communications, in relat , Thompson, wi I the following letter tu that gentleman, which, hov ■'■ d. b ive received inform the coi itt< i town of Falmouth, on hearing th it you were iboul makii k on tho Canceaux, i lying in th-- harbor of thai lov I you to forbear any pro lings of that kind, whi ed t" do ; but that you afterwards took tin Hon. i P Enoch Freeman, Esquin - the return oft and thai yon levied contributions of money, an I other things, from I uc." "TI gbthist if your general seal foi this country, yet it 238 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 18, The order of the daj was moved for. Ord • •'. rhal Capt Brown, Mr. Baylej and Mr. Baker, be a com- mittee to sort and count the votes for a committee of safety. The committee appointed to count and sort the votes for a commit- tee of safety, reported, that the following gentlemen were chosen, via Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Doct. Joseph Warren, Doct. Benjamin Church, Capt. Benjamin White, Col. Joseph Palmer, Mr. Richard Devens, Mr. Abraham Watson, Mr. John Two. mi. Col. Azoi Orne, Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq., Mr. Nathan Cushing, Doct Samuel Holten, Hon; Enoch Freeman, Esq. The rooort was recommitted for filling up the blanks. Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Doct Taylor and Col. Davis, be a committee to inquire whore the treasurer nun procure money for the muster masters to supply the soldiers with advance pay. The committee who were appointed to consider the resolve o\ the committee of safety, respecting Lady Prankland, reported : whereupon Ri s • '. that Mr. Ahnerj Craft he. ami hereby is directed, forthwith to attend this Congress. Mr. Craft accordingly attended, and having heard the allegations against him, and having made his defence, with- drew. The Congress then Resolved that he should he gently admon- ished by the president, and he assured, that the Congress were deter- mined to preserve their dignity ami power over the military. Mr. Craft was again called in, and the president politely admonished him. agreeably to the resolve of Congress. 1 R s • . That Lady Frankland be permitted to go into Boston with the following articles, viz.: seven trunks; all the beds, and furniture to them; all the boxes and crates; a basket of chickens ami a bag of corn : two barrels and a hamper : two horses ami two chaises, and all the article- in the chaise, excepting arms ami ammunition : one phae- ton; some tongues, hams ami veal; sundry small bundles. Which articles, having been examined by a committee from this Congress, -he is permitted to have them carried in, without an) further examination. [Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning.] luct, iii taki of the ship, against your promise, and your levying money, or other things, of the people, is, bj no means, justifiable : and it is therefore ted, Umt you attend ;iv::> that shall be held hi this colony, an I our character justice in tin* matter, and that you return said proceedings of this kind in the moan tin 1 Notwithstanding the n by the committee I ankland,to carry «itli her the articles of property me sob -. > itement arose among the inhabitants of the vicinity, from the Inarmed party arrested her join itil the action o( Congress ! them from captii ity. Thi Men incurred, for the indiscreet teal, which rroent of cJ inted by the resi 1775.1 ' ■' <,Nh ,,,{( A INCIAL < ONGREg [Fmdai M i 1775 \ M Hi olved, Thai ( '<>l Bond be, and herebj i- directed, to ;i|»|><>int m guard of i\ men to e corl Lad] Frankland to Bo ton, with such >>i Ikt effei i a thi Congn - have permitted her i" carry with her | and Col Bond i directed to wail on Gen, Thomas, with a copj of the re- olve of tin Con n n pe< ting I. idj Prank] and. /'i olved, Thai Mi. Ez< kiel Hill, <>r this town, I"- recommended to the g< in ril of «nir colony army, iii order to have inch aid as thej can afford him, in going into 01 oul of I!" ton, "i ending ome uitable per -hi i here, \\ hich appi ar to be m in order to of In valuable effi i which, there i n < on to fear, w< re i uposed \>\ i li<- late fire. Ordered, That Col. Warren wait on Gen. Ward, directing him i<> attend thi Congri forthwith, to receive hi commi jion; and a '.ii the committee of afi ty, for a list of uch colonels and other offi- cei a the) hall reporl to be prepared for receiving their <- < • 1 1 ■ 1 1 > > - ion A letter from 1 1 * * - committee of correspondence of Connecticut was read, respecting the tal ing of Ticonderoga ; whereupon, Ordered, that Mi. Gerry prepare an answer thereto, informing them what itepa this Congree have taken relative to thai affair.' i , i ill the ■ I holil of II I olo 10 nil will wi-li lo |in tuallj I to limn li i •. • ., lot in » lilch I u :: (III. .1,1 I 240 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 19, Ordered, That Doct. Perkins and Capt. Baker be added to the com- mittee, who were appointed to inquire where the treasurer can borrow money. Resolved, That all persons who may have any goods or chattels, be- longing to Lady Frankland, now in their custody, which are not men- tioned in the resolve of this Congress for allowing her, with certain effects to go into Boston, be, and hereby are directed, to permit her to send them to Hopkinton, or dispose of them in any way agreeable to her, not inconsistent with the resolves of this Congress. The committee appointed to consider what steps may be taken for the relief of such of the inhabitants of Boston as come over to Charles- town, &c, reported; whereupon, Ordered, that Deacon Cheever, Col. Davis and Capt. Withinton, be a committee to bring in a list of names of persons to fill up the blank in said report. Mr. Gerry reported an answer to a letter from the committee of cor- respondence of Connecticut; which was ["accepted.] 1 Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M. [Afternoon.] Ordered, That Doct. Holten, Mr. Whittemore and Major Bliss, be a committee to take into consideration the representation made to this Congress by Col. Warren, by desire of Gen. Ward, of the necessity there is, that the army should be immediately supplied with iron pots, as well as an additional stock of powder, as also for providing a house for the abode of Joseph Trumbull, Esq., of Connecticut, and another for the chairman and the other members of the committee of safety. The report of the committee for revising the commissions of [the committee of] safety, after being read paragraph by paragraph, was amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, the former Congresses of this colony have chosen, and by divers resolutions have empowered, John Hancock, Esq., Doct. Joseph Warren, Doct. Benjamin Church, Capt. Benjamin Church, Capt. Ben- jamin White, Col. Joseph Palmer, Mr. Richard Devens, Mr. Abraham Watson, Jr., Mr. John Pigeon, Col. Azor Orne, Nathan Cushing, Esq., Col. William Heath, Col. Thomas Gardner, Col. Asa Whitcomb, Mr. Edward Durant and Mr. James Sullivan, to be a committee of safety, and by virtue of the authority of that office, on certain occasions, to cause to be assembled the militia of this colony, for the defence of the inhabitants thereof; and which committee of safety are, by the resolu- a [accepted, and is :is follows, vi/.j (1) .Mr. Gerry's draft of on answer, never entered on the record, is not retained on the files of Congress 177$.] SECOND I'KOVI.M I M. ( O.M.KI- 241 lions of paid congri mpowered to 'l'» several othei acts fot the sei i |ce of the colon] , as b) the journals and record? of said appear : It is fii\ the congress aforesaid, for the defence <>\ tin-, and the other American colonii You re, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a general, in leading, ordering and exercising the said forces in arms, both inferior officers and Boldiers; and to keep them in good order and discipline, and thej are hereby commanded t" obej \"n as their genera] ; and yon are yourself to observe and follow such orders and instructions as you shall, from time t" time, receive from this, or an\ future congress or house of representatives of this colony, or the committee of safet) , so tar as the -aid committee is em- powered, b) their commission, to order and instrucl you, for the de- fence of this, and t lie other colonies; and to demean yourself accord- ing to the military rules and discipline established by Congress, in pur- suance of the trust reposed in you. , the of A. D., 17:.V By order of Congre.-- Pn sident />rn ttmpori Si crt tary pro t< iii[><>n . Ordered, That Col. Foster, Capt. Stone and Mr. Webster, be a com- mittee to get the depositions, and narrative of the late excursion of the king's troop- to Concord, printed in a pamphlet, on the best terms the) can; and thai they forward one pamphlet to each town and dis- trict m the colony. Resolved, That there be a blank left in the commissions, to be given the officers of the several regiments of the colony army, for the rank of the regiment, and thai [blank] be a committee to settle the ranks of the regiments, when the regiments arc completed Resolved, Thai the -ame committee be directed to bring in a resolve, settling the rank or number of the regiments, according to the rank or ace of the counties from whence the majority of the regiments shall come. Resolved, Thai the rank of the regiments, where there are more than one m each county, be according to the rank which those regi- ments have formerly sustained in the old arrangement from which they are taken, provided that can be ascertained, and where thai can- not be determined, the rank to be determined by lot 244 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 20, Resolved, That the commissions be all of one date, and that the rank of the officers be determined by this Congress, or by a committee from this Congress, at some future time. Resolved, That Col. Samuel Gerrish have a commission for a colonel in the army, and that the oath be administered to him by Mr. Gardner, the receiver general. [ a Also, that commissions, as captains, issue for Richard Dodge, Jacob Gerrish, William Rogers,] to bear date the 19th of May. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. [Saturday,] May 20, 1775, A. M. Ordered, That Col. Foster, Doct. Holten and Major Brooks, be a committee to confer with Mr. Revere, respecting his proposal for an alteration in the value of the colony notes, which have been ordered to be struck off. Ordered, That Col. Thurston, Esquire Aikin and Mr. Crane, be a committee to take into consideration a petition from a number of the inhabitants of Deer Island. 1 The committee appointed to consider the case of the prisoners in Boston, and the inhabitants which are there kept in duress, reported ; the report was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, this Congress did, on the 30th of April last, pass a re- solve for permitting such inhabitants of the colony to remove into Boston, with their effects, fire arms and ammunition excepted, as a [Also that captain's commission for Richard Dodge ; do. Jacob Gerrish ; do. William Rogers; commissions to bear date the 19th of May.] (1) The petition of the inhabitants of Deer Island, corresponds in the representations of distress, with those coming from many of the towns of the eastern coast. It was subscribed by Nathan Dow, Robert Nason, Francis Haskell, Samuel Haynes, Courtney Babidge, Isaiah Crockett and Thomas Thompson, and is almost a solitary exception to the general correctness with which the memorials to the Provincial Congress were drawn. The inartificial construction and simplicity of ljnguage, render the description of want and embarrassment more vivid : " DEER ISLAND, in the county of Lincoln. " To the honored gentlemen of tlie Provincial Congress: "SIRS : — We, who are the committee of this town, do desire to make our complaint unto you, and will inform yon in what poor circumstances we are at this time: and would beg your assist- ance, as we are without powder and ball, and [have] no way to get any, as our wood and lumber will not sell at any price ; and, gentlemen, we are in great want for corn and pork, and shall suffer, unless we have help from you, and unless the ports are opened and trade goes on. And, gentlemen, if you will be so kind unto us as to help us, we will make you full satisfaction for the same, when we can sell our lumber. We would inform you, that there are on this island about, three hundred souls, and we beg you would consider in what poor condition we must be. Gentlemen : we can't purchase corn nor pork at any rate whatsoever : and we hope, that your love and regard for your brethren and true sons of liberty, will send us speedy relief. And, gentlemen, in complying with the above, you will greatly oblige your humble servants," May 11, 1775. 1775.] SECOND PROVINt I AL CONQRE8S. should incline thereto, it being in consequence of genera] Gage's prom- ise to the inhabitants of Boston, that, upon resigning their arm- and ammunition, they should have liberty to remove from said town with their effects: and, whereas, but a small proportion of the .said inhabit- ants of Boston have been, hitherto, permitted to leave the town, and those only to bring their clothing and household furniture, they heing constrained to leave their proi isiona and all their other effects; therefore, Resolved, thai Gen. Ward be, and he hereby is directed, to order the guards, in future, not to sutler any provisions <>r effects, excepting fur- niture and clothing, to be carried into the town of Bo-ton, -o b>non as m R< olved unanimously, that the president be desired to deliver to Gen. Ward, th<- commission prepared tor him by thi I era! and commander in chief of the Mass i h .-■ tts Fori Ordered, That -Major Brooks, Col. Mitchell, Esquire R • Es- quire Dix and Major Blis3, be a committee to examine the prisoner at the door, brought from head quarters, and report some order to taken t hereon. The president communicated to the Congress the request of thi lectmen of Boston, that the Congri ss would permit Mr. Hall to carry p tr om, upon th,t DO bin : | consideration, and afford bin a full and fair trial, and an lion 248 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 20, two loads of hay into Boston, one for himself and one for another per- son, (lieutenant governor Oliver;) whereupon, Ordered, that the mes- senger in waiting ||for an answer|| be dismissed. Resolved, That only the colonels of each regiment should attend this Congress to receive their commissions, unless they should be in- disposed, or otherwise necessarily prevented : in which case, the next field officer may apply for his commission, and commissions for the in- ferior officers in his regiment. The Hon. Mr. Dexter having, by order of Congress, administered the oath to Gen. Ward, his commission was delivered to him by the president. The following commissions were likewise delivered, viz. : to Thom- as Cogswell, John Wood, captains, under the command of Col. Ger- rish; Ephraim Doolittle, colonel ; Ebenezer Learned, colonel; Joseph Reed, colonel ; James Bricket, lieutenant colonel, under Col. James Fry ; Calvin Smith, major, under Col. Joseph Reed ; Danforth Keyes, lieutenant colonel, Jonathan Holman, major, under Col. Ebenezer Learned: Ebenezer Clap, lieutenant colonel, under Col. Joseph Reed. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to the captains of Col. Fry's regiment, agreeably to a list exhibited. Resolved, That nine o'clock, next Tuesday morning, be assigned for taking into consideration the expediency of giving lieutenants' commissions to the subaltern officers. Resolved, That three o'clock, next Tuesday afternoon, be assigned to consider a motion made by Col. Doolittle, for appointing a muster master for the enlisted companies at Northfield. Ordered, That Capt. Brown and Esquire Dix, be a committee to procure a guard over the prisoners ||brought|| from head quarters, and that the guard who conducted them from thence be now re- leased. Adjourned till to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock. Sunday, May 21, 1775, A. M. Met at four o'clock, and adjourned to to-morrow morning, eight o'clock. 1 (1) From this date until the dissolution of the second Provincial Congress, no journal of the pro- ceedings is preserved. The fragments on the following pages, have been gathered from the papers on the files, from the copies of resolves certified to be correct by -Mr. Secretary Freeman, and from authorized publications in the prints of the times. These relii a afford a very imperfect history of the doings of the Congress during the last eight days of its existence, and excite deep regret for tho loss of the record, which, it is probable, from the evidence nff'orded by the volumes preserved, wan never entered in regular form by the clerk. 1775 SECOND PRo\ |\< |.\L ci NQRE88 Mohday, M 22 ITi [The committee on the petition from the inhabitants ol I' i [aland, reported as follow b, \ iz. :] [The committee on the petition of a number of the inhabitants of M [si and, so called, in the county of Lincoln, beg leave to report, that they have made inquiry of the bearer of the petition, Major Low, and timl th.it the people there are greatly in want of provisions, and ou flit to be relieved: Inn whether it will be besl to remove them from the island, or to supply them with 150 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of toes, 2 barrels of pork, 20 cod lines, with leads and hooks, and a Bmall quantity of salt, we submil t<> the Cougri [Ordered, Tli at the consideration of this report !»<• deferred until there is a fuller house, I [The committee appointed to consider what measures should be adopted in relation to the estates of persons unfriendl) to the country, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, and ordered to be published in the newspapers printed in Cambridge and Salem :] \\ hereas, a number of men, some of whom have, in times past, by the good people of this pro\ in. c, been raised to the highest places of honor and trust, have become inimical to this colony; and mere- l\ on principles of avarice have, iii conjunction with thi Hutchinson, been trying to reduce all Amen. -a to the most abject Btate ol* slavery: and as well to avoid the jusl indignation of the peopli to pursue their diabolical plans, have fled to Boston, and other pi for r. fu§ [Therefore, Resolved, That those persons, among whom are the mandamus counsellors, are guilt) of Buch atrocious and unnatural crimes againsl their country, that every friend to mankind ought to forsake and detest them, until thej -hall give evidence of a sincere re- pentance, b) actions worthy of men and christians; and that no per- son within this colony shall take any deed, lease, or conveyance what- ever, of the lands, houses, oi estates of such persons. And it is here- bj recommended to the committee of inspection, in ever) town in this colony, to see this resolve full) enforced, unless in such c the < ' . . n j i ■ ■ - - shall otherwise direct.] \ letter was received from Gen. Ward, recommending that the ord- e, arm- ami ammunition, mentioned in the following list, be im- mediatel) procured, and sent to head quarters, lor the supply of the army of M assachusetts :] ' -lour pounders, and if that number of cannon cannot be 250 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 22, obtained, that the weight of metal be made up with eighteen pounders, double fortified: 10 twelve pounders: 18 nine pounders: 21,600 pounds of powder, and 80 balls for each gun : 1500 stands of arms : 20,000 pounds of musket powder : 40,000 pounds of lead : 1700 iron pots :] [Ordered, That the letter be referred to the committee of safety.] [The Congress having requested the Rev. Doct. Langdon to deliver a sermon before the next Massachusetts Congress, at their meeting in Watertown, on the last Wednesday of this month, and he having sig- nified that he will comply with such request :] [Resolved, That it is the desire of this Congress, that the reverend ministers of the gospel in this colony, would assemble at that time, agreeably to their ancient custom, and hold a convention as usual, if they think proper : as, in the opinion of this Congress, the cause of religion, and the political interest of this colony, may be served by such meeting.] [Ordered, That the secretary be directed to cause the foregoing res- olution to be published in the newspapers, as soon as may be.] [A letter was received from the committee of safety, inclosing a communication from Col. Benedict Arnold, giving information of the surrender of Ticonderoga.] 1 [Ordered, That the following letter to Col. Arnold, reported by a committee, be accepted, signed by the secretary, and forwarded in the name and behalf of this Congress, as soon as may be.] [Sir : — This Congress have this day received your letter of the "11th instant, informing the committee of safety of the reduction of the fort at Ticonderoga, with its dependencies, which was laid before this Con- gress by said committee. We applaud the conduct of the troops, and esteem it a very valuable acquisition.] [We thank you for your exertions in the cause, and considering the situation of this colony at this time, having a formidable army in the heart of it, whose motions must be constantly attended to ; and as the affairs of that expedition began in the colony of Connecticut, and the cause being common to us all, we have already written to the general assembly of that colony, to take the whole matter respecting the same under their care and direction, until the advice of the Continental Congress can be had in that behalf, a copy of which letter we now en- close you.] [The president communicated the following letter from the Hon - James Russell, commissioner of imposts :] (1) The letters of I ol. Vrnold will uo found in the Appendix. 1775.] SECOND PRO\ IN( IAL i ONGRESS [Ch irlestow \. Way 19th, 17 '/'a .lo-i i'ii Warren, Esq., President of (In Provincial Sir : — I yesterday, bj Mij«>r Fuller. Mi rVhittemore and Mr B ived a resolve of the Congress, appointing them a committee to mm me, to know whether 1 have an] of the public moneys in mj bands; in answer thereto, I would desire you, Sir, to inform the Provin Congress, thai the lighl i ley, for several years past, since the m- crease -,t' light houses, and more especi dlj since tl bstructione of the last year upon our trade, has uot been sufficient to defraj thi pense of said bouses; and I have, consequently, been under a necessi- ty to apply the money arising from the impost for that purp Ever since I received the favors of my countrj in being chosen to the im- post office, I have done all in mj power to discharge my duty therein, to their satisfaction. The means of procuring oil, by the unhappy and increasing troubles of our country, appearing \ try uncertain and precarious, I have endeavored to purchase as large a stock as I could ; and as tin' impost bill expired on the tir-i of .March last, the public moneys 1 have in my hands, will not be more than sufficient to enable me to pay for the oil contracted for, to complete the stock for the present year. I am your most humble sen ant, James Russell.] [ Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Hale and Mr. Kol lock, be a com- mittee to take the foregoing letter into consideration, and, in particu- lar, to inquire into Mr Russell's right of making the contract therein mentioned, and the circumstances of it, and report as soon as maybe.] Tuesday, Ma\ 33, 177.".. [The committee appointed to consider the letter from Brownfield, reported, that they find by the bearer of the letter, that the inhabitants have -Mine arms, powder, &<■ . and are not in immediate danger, cepl tr indians, who are friendly at present ; and the state of our affairs calls for such large supplies, that the consideration of their re- quest should be deterred till the sitting of the nexl Congri rhe report was accepted, and Mr, Israel Hobart was directed to inform the hearer of the letter of the action of the Congress thereon : [The committee appointed to bring in a resolve r< spectlng the d< redations of the British troops on the islands and sea coasts, i as follows i 252 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 23, [Whereas, the forces under the command of general Gage and ad- miral Graves, are frequently plundering and making depredations on the islands and sea coasts of this province, from whence they plunder or purchase hay, cattle, sheep, and many other things, to the injury, not only of individuals but also to the great damage of the public, and thus strengthen the hands of our enemies :] [Therefore, Resolved, That it be recommended to the several towns and districts on the sea coasts of this colony, and to all those persons living on the several islands on said coasts, that they remove their hay, cattle, sheep, &c, that are exposed to those ravages, and cannot be sufficiently guarded, so far into the country as to be out of the way of those implacable enemies to this people. Also, that it be recommend- ed to the committees of correspondence in each town and district, and to the selectmen where no such committee is chosen, that they take effectual care that this resolve be immediately and strictly put into ex- ecution, and that all persons who refuse to comply with the aforegoing resolve, shall be held as incorrigible enemies to the rights and liberties of this country.] [This report being read and amended, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be referred to the next Provincial Congress.] [Whereas, Edward How hath been brought before this Congress, and charged with crimes committed in the camp, and as this Congress do adjudge the head quarters of the army to be the most suitable and proper place to try the said Edward, and determine what is adequate to his demerits :] [Therefore, Resolved, That the said Edward How, be sent under a guard to head quarters, and that he be there dealt with as the nature of his offence doth require.] [Ordered, That Capt. Brown be directed to see that said How is sent to head quarters, with a copy of the foregoing resolve.] [Whereas, Thomas Nichols, a negro man, hath been brought before this Congress, and there being no evidence to prove any matters or things alleged against him :] [Therefore, Resolved, That the said Thomas be sent to the town or district where he belongs, and that the committee of correspondence, or selectmen of said town or district, take such care of the said Thomas, that he may be dealt with as they, in their judgment, shall think proper.] [Ordered, That Capt. Kingsbury be directed to appoint some per- sons to conduct the abovementioned negro to Natick, agreeably to the foregoing resolve.] 1775.] SECOND PRO\ [NCI \l. ( I INGRESS [The committee appointed to consider what further measun accessary t" be taken i"r the organization "t tli<- array, presented their report, which was read, accepted, and ia as folio [The committee appointed on the "-<>th of May current, to consider what further orders are Decessarj to be taken and passed, thai the army mm raising b) this province, for the necessary defence thereof, m;i\ be effectually officered and organized, have attended that servi< ;iinl beg leave i<> report, that the) are hui bly of opinion, that, for the cud aforesaid, it is necessar) that, over and above the general alread] appointed t'<>r the said army, and commissioned by Congress, the fol- lowing officers, not vet ordered by Congress, should I"- chosen and commissioned, to wit: one lieutenant general, tw> major generals, ir brigadiers generals, two adjutants generals, and two quarter m generals; and that this Congress, before they shall rise, and as soon as shall be convenient, proceed to choose and commission such lieutenant general; but thai the choice of the resl of the <>i]i<-crs above specified, should be referred to the beginning of the firsl session of the nexl ( longress ; and they beg leave to subjoin, as their opinion, that it will be proper that such brigadiers general should be chosen and taken, of and from among the colonels, who may be commission- ed by ( longress. All which is humbly submitted by your committee, who ask leave to -it again. Josi i'ii 1 1 im i i \ . /" r ordt r.] \\ EDNESDAY, Ma\ 24, 177.".. [Ebenezer Cutler, of Northl >ugh, having been broughl before this Congress, on complainl of sundry persons, for uttering sundry ex- pressions against the liberties of the good people of this colony, and the same having been inquired of by a committee, who reported, among other matters, thai all the expressions of which he is accus< were uttered some time ago, and thai the said Ebenezer had requested that he mighl have the same privilege of going into the town of B ton, without his effects, as other persons have, byi the order of Con- 's [The reporl was accepted, and it was thereupon Resolved, thai he ha\r liberty for so doing. ] Mr. Gerry, from the committee t<> consider the propriety of ap- pointing Bome additional armourers, reported as follows, viz. : [Resolved, Thai the committee of supplies be empowered and di- rected to appoint such and so many armourers, in addition to th 254 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 24, already appointed, as may be wanted by the army of this colony ; pro- vided the whole number, including those already appointed, shall not exceed fifteen, and that the said armourers, as also those already ap- pointed by the committee of safety, shall each receive four pounds per month, and be entitled to billeting as soldiers, they providing their own tools ; and the said armourers are hereby directed to keep true accounts of the expense of repairing the fire arms of the soldiers, to qualify them to pass muster. And the committee of supplies are here- by empowered and directed to discharge such armourers as are or may hereafter be appointed, when they shall think it for the interest of the colony so to do.] [The report being read and amended, Ordered, that Mr. Whitte- more, Capt. Dvvight and Mr. Kollock, be a committee to bring in a resolve for the appointment of a number of armourers as aforesaid, and for the establishment of their pay.] [It being made to appear to this Congress, that the major part of the committee, appointed to effect the removal of the poor of the town of Boston, to the place to which they are destined, are removed out of the towns of Charlestown and Roxbury to which they belonged ; Re- solved, that Messrs. Isaac Foster, Nathaniel Gorham, Edward Good- win, John Frothingham, Joseph Hopkins, Col. Joseph Williams, Mr. Nathaniel Patten, Mr. Lewis Fay, Mr. James Bridge, Jr., Major Na- thaniel Ruggles, Mr. Noah Brown, Mr. William Gridley, or any three of them, being present, be a committee for all the purposes, and with all the powers, to which the said committee were appointed.] [And it being also made to appear, that said committee cannot pro- ceed unless further provision be made in that behalf; therefore, Re- solved, that said committee, or any three of them, shall have full power to procure, upon the credit of this colony, in the most frugal manner, as much provision as tiny shall find necessary to support those poor persons to the places of their destination ; and the said committee are further empowered to procure teams to carry such persons and their effects to those places, and if such teams cannot be hired, to impress them for that service, and all the charges arising by the measures be- fore directed, shall be paid out of the donations to the poor of said town of Boston, now in the hands of the committee who were ap- pointed to receive and dispose thereof; and if that should be insuffi- cient, the remainder shall be paid by this colony ; and the committee hereby appointed to the service aforesaid, are hereby directed to lay before the next Congress, an account of the charges arising in pursu- 177.-,.] SECOND PRO\ l\< I \l. C( INGRESS ance of the above commission, th i whatever -hull appear in!.. onable and just, maj be liquidated and allowed.] 1 [Ordered, Thai Col. Joseph Cushing, Mr. Ellis and Mr. I a committee t<> till up and deliver to the colonels of each regiment, th- .• missions lor the officers of their respective regiments, when Baid committee shall be notified, bj tl of this Congress*, that the Congress have approved of the persons to be commissioned; and thai blank commissions be put in the hai Is of -ml committee, prop- erly authenticated, foi thai purpose; and thai when said commie are filled up, they be delivered b) said committee to the colonel, on his applying for the same, he engagin he will n< >t deliver Buch missions to the respective officers, until they shall have taken the oath appointed to be taken bj them, by order of this Congress ; and thai William Holden, Esq., be appointed to administer the oath t<> the officers stati id it Hoxbury, and James Prescott, Esq., be appointed to administer the • >.it 1 1 to the offii tioned al Carabridg [The committee appointed to prepare an address to the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay, relative to an issue of uotes by said colony, reported. The address was read and accepted, and 1- as follows, viz. :] [To the Inhabitants of tht Massachusetts Bay:] [Friends \\i> Fellow Countrymen: — With greal - lion we bear public testimony of your disposition to serve the glorious e in which America is now engaged, evidenced bj youi readiness to supply, "ii the credit of the colony, many necessary articles for the iim • of the army, and in various other ways; In which you have given convincing proof- thai you are heartilj disposed to maintain the public liberty.] [The cause, we have nol the least doubt, if you continue to exerl yourselves in conjunction with our sister colonic-, will finallj prevail.] [This Congress have opened a subscription for one hundred thousand pound-, lawful money, lor which the receiver general is directed I -ur notes, on interest, al the rate of six per cent, per annum, payable in June, 177 7 : and as it is of th<' utmost importance that the mi be immediately obtained, thai the public credil maj no1 suffer, we ino-i earnestly recommend to such of you as have cash in your hands, which you can -pare from the necessarj supplies ol your families, you would lend the same to the colony, by which you will put ii in 256 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 25, our power to carry into effect the measures undertaken for the salva- tion of the country.] [That the army should be well supplied with every article necessary for the most effectual military operations, you must all be sensible ; and that if we should fail herein, it may prove ruinous and destructive to the community, whose safety, under God, depends upon their vigor- ous exertions.] [As you have already, in many instances, nobly exerted yourselves, this Congress have not the smallest doubt, but that you will, with great cheerfulness, crown all, with furnishing as much cash as will be necessary for the good purposes before mentioned, especially when it is considered, that there are now no ways of improving money in trade, and that there is the greatest probability, that the other colonies will give a ready currency to the notes, which will render them, in one respect at least, on a better footing than any notes heretofore issued in this colony. If you should furnish the money that is now needed, you will perform a meritorious service for your country, and prove yourselves sincerely attached to its interests; but, if an undue caution should prevent your doing this essential service to the colony, the total loss, both of your liberties and that very property which you, by re- taining it, affect to save, may be the unhappy consequence ; it being- past all controversy that the destruction of individuals must be involved in that of the public] Thursday, May 25, 1775. [The committee ordered to inspect the several towns and district stocks of powder, and consider what towns are well stocked, and what proportion they could spare for the public service, have attended that business, and beg leave to report the following proportion, viz. :] [Suffolk — Roxbury 3 barrels, Medfield 1, Wrentham 4, Stoughton 1, Medvvay 1, Walpole 1. Essex — Marblehead 3, Newburyport 3, New- bury 1, Andover 2, Haverhill 2, Bradford 1-2, Boxford 1-2. Middle- sex — Cambridge 3, Charlestown 3 3-4, Marlborough 3, Framingham 2, Littleton 1-2, Chelmsford 1 1-2, Sudbury 2, Weston 1, Westford 1-2, Groton 1, Townshend 1-2, Dracut 1, Stow 1-2. Plymouth — Bridgewater 4, Middleborough 1. Worcester — Worcester 1, Lancas- ter 1 , Mendon 2 1-2, Brookfield 3, Oxford I 1-2, Charlton 1-2, Sutton 2 1-2, Leicester 1, Westborough 1 1-2, Shrewsbury 2 1-2, Lunenburg 1 , Bolton 1 . Total— 67 3-4 barrels. Daniel Thurston, per order.] [Upon the foregoing report, Ordered, that the committee who brought in said report, be directed to bring in a resolve in conformity 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS thereto, and that it l>e inserted in the resolve, thai the towns shal respectivel] paid lor whit powder is drawn from their several town Btock, or have it replaced, and that each town !>r notified of th<- quan- tity respectively to be taken from its Btock.] [The committee reported ;i resolve as directed, which was read and accepted, and i- as follows, viz.: Resolved, that there be drafted out of the town stocks of powder from each respective town aforesaid, the quantitj of powder affixed to the nan- of the town, tor the use of the armj in the defence ol the colony, and thai it be replaced as -oon a> the Btate of the colony magazine will admit of it, or otherwise paid for in money, and thai the selectmen of each town be forthwith -erved with an account of the draft made on their town, and that they imme- diately deliver it to the committee of supplies, or theii order.] [The c mute.- of safetj 1 1 a \ 1 1 1 lt represented to tin- Congress, that considerable ditlieulty exists in the adjustment of Gen. Ward's r. ment, in consequence of the pretensions of Col. Joseph Henshaw and (o|. Jonathan Ward to the post of lieutenant colonel in said regiment, it was Ordered, that said representation, a- also the memorial of Col. Henshaw, setting forth Ins (hums to said post, he referred to a com- mittee. The committee having considered the matter, reported a re- solve, which w.i- accepted, and 1- a- follows:] [Resolved, as the opinion of tin- Congress, that Col. Ward is best entitled to receive the commission a- lieutenant colonel of the re. ment, which right was disputed 1>\ Lieut, ('ol. lien-haw.] [Ordered, That the Hon. Mr. Dexter he desired to attend his duty on the committee for countersigning the treasurer's notes, immedi- ately.] [Mr. Dexter transmitted the following letter to the Congress, which w a- ordered to be read.] [Dedham, May 25, 1775. Honored Gentlemen: — I was under the necessity to come home lasl evening. Had I been at Congress to-day, and been as unwell as I am at present, I Bhould have very poorly performed my duty respect- ing the notes. I found myself so indisposed this morning, that I ven- tured to conclude to tarry till to-morrow morning at home, and -ick or well, will endeavor to be early at Watertown tor that purpose. W nli much regard, I am your very humble servant, S Ml \ I I.R.] [The committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of several persons al Etoxbury, reported verbally, that il is the opinion 33 258 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 25, of the committee, that the said petition be sent to Gen. Thomas, and that he be directed to inquire into the causes of the complaint therein contained, and take proper measures for their redress.] [The report was accepted.] [The following letter was received from Gen. Thomas, and ordered to be read.] [Roxbury Camp, May 25, 1775. Gentlemen : — I have had the honor of being informed by your committee, that the honorable Congress have made choice of me as lieutenant general of the Massachusetts army, and to know whether I would accept that trust. I am sensible of the great importance of the office, and of my inability of discharging that duty, but since you have done me the honor of appointing me to that important office, shall accept of the same, and attend the Congress to-morrow. I am, gentlemen, with the most profound respect, Your most obedient humble servant, John Thomas. To the honorable Provincial Congress.] [The committee to whom was referred an application from the offi- cers of the army, respecting absconding soldiers, reported. The re- port was read, accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, application hath been made to this Congress, by some of the officers of the army, that some effectual method may be taken for the speedy return of ab- sconding soldiers, or such as shall tarry beyond the time limited by furlough : therefore, Resolved, that it be, and it hereby is recommend- ed, to the committees of correspondence in the several towns and dis- tricts in this colony, or to the selectmen, where no such committees are appointed, that they take effectual care that such absconding or delinquent soldiers be immediately sent back to their respective regi- ments.] Friday, May 26, 1775. [The Hon. Joseph Ilawley, from the committee to prepare a letter to the Provincial Congress of New York, now sitting in that colony, re- ported the following, which was accepted, and ordered to be forward- ed.] [Watertown, May 26, 1775. Gentlemen : — Enclosed are copies of a letter from Col. Arnold, and a list of military stores at Ticonderoga. 1 You cannot fail to ob- (1) The letters of Col. Arnold, and the other documents relating to the capture of Ticonderoga, will be inserted in the Appendix. 1775.] SECOND PROVINC1 VI. CX)NQRE serve, thai Mr Arnold, i « » i - the defence of this colony, is ei thai Buch ordnance aa he judges can I"- Bpared from that i should be transported to the arm) in this colony. Thi in consequence of orders given t • » him b) oui committi Perhaps this m lj appear to you extraordinary, but, we tru-t, you will candidlj overlook such a mistake, it" it be one, made in the burr) and confusion of war, and, we most solemnlj declare to you, that tln^ Con nd the inhabitants of this colony, are at the utmost ren t "r < • r 1 1 any disposition <>r design to make any the least infraction upon, or usurpation of, the jurisdiction of an) of our ad it' ;m\ Mt' those cannon, &c, taken al the Lake Champlain, should hap- pen, through the exertions of ent< rprising -pun-, to be brought within the allowed limits of this colony, and come to our use, we shall hold ourselves accountable for them to the representatives of the continent, .■mil whenever the) shall inform us thai they are needed foi the general defence, at any other par' of the continent, than, in this colony, we shall endeavor, that they I >« - removed thither with the utmost despatch.] atlemen and brethren : could you have seen the horrid devai tion and carnage in this colony, committed by ministerial troops, those sons of violence, who have gol some footing in tlu< colon) . the br< of a mos1 solemn treaty with respect to the inhabitants of Boston, when tin \ had surrendered their arm-, and put themselves wholly in the power of a militar) commander, relying upon his faith then pledged, that they should immediately depart from the town with their effects, as stipulated, which was no - ler done, than the) were not only refused liberty to carry out the most valuable part of those effects, but their persons wen- detained under the si idle pretences, and Buffered < ml \ to scatter from their prison, a few in a day, hardly to be seen or noticed ; we say, gentlemen, could you Bee and realize these scenes of distress, you could no! refrain one momenl from doing every thing in your power to prevenl the like distress from happenin your metropolis, and availing yourselves of every article which our en- emies can improve with the leasl advantage to themselves for i ffecting the like desolation, horrors and insults, on the inhabitants of your citj and colony, or which mighl enable you to make the mosl effectual de- fence. ] [ Have you not, gentlemen, divers of those articles, as il were, und< r your hand ' If you should delay securing them until they Bhould I"' out of your power, and, within a few days, you should behold I very materials improved in murdering you, and yourselv< shing to, the want of them, will m>t the chagrin and regrel be intolerable ' 260 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 26, Brethren, pardon our importunity. It is our own case. We behold Castle William, and realize the ample warlike provisions and apparatus therein, held by our enemies, to our infinite and inexpressible mortifi- cation. We wish to Heaven that you may be timely admonished by the consequences of our delay. We are, &c] [The committee to whom was referred the letter of the Hon. James Russell, reported the following resolve, which was accepted.] [Resolved, That the Hon. James Russell, Esq. be, and he hereby is directed, immediately to call in all the public moneys committed to his care as impost officer, and pay the same to Henry Gardner, Esq., re- ceiver general of this province.] [It having been represented to this Congress, that it would be agree- able to the inhabitants of the colony of New Hampshire, that the post rider on the road from Cambridge to Haverhill, should extend his route to the town of Exeter, to meet the post rider from Portsmouth to that place, and a post office having been appointed at Exeter, by the inhabitants of New Hampshire :] [Resolved, That the route of the post rider from Cambridge be ex- tended to said Exeter, so long as it shall be found to be expedient, or until the Massachusetts or New Hampshire Congress, or future house of representatives, shall otherwise order.] [Whereas, it appears to this Congress, that although divers able bodied and effective men, who have enlisted into the Massachusetts army, are either not furnished with arms and accoutrements, or with such only as are insufficient for use, yet, that it will be for the public service that such men be accepted :] [Therefore, Resolved, That the resolve of this Congress, passed on the 6th instant, be so far reconsidered, that the muster masters be, and they hereby are directed, to accept of all such able bodied and effec- tive men, and muster them accordingly, any thing contained in the aforementioned resolve to the contrary notwithstanding ; and that the several muster masters be, and hereby are directed, to make a return to this or some future congress, or house of representatives, of the names of such soldiers as shall be found deficient in arms and accou- trements, and also of the names of the towns to which they respec- tively belong.] [Upon a representation of the committee of safety, that Mr. Jona- than Brewer, of Waltham, has, contrary to the orders of said commit- tee, undertaken to enlist a company of rangers, has made use of artifices 1775.] SE1 OND PROS ENCIAL O WGRESG »] and impositions to obtain said enlistments, and that be has also seized ami retained possession of horses and certain real estate, the |>r. property <>f \ .- 1 r n > 1 1 - individuals, and converted the Bame to his own wherebj he has disqualified himself for the command of a i ment, il was Ordered, thai the matter be referred to Doct. Perkins, Mr. rlollock and Mr. Bent.] [The committee appointed to consider <>f the charges alleged againsl Mr. Jonathan Brewer, bj the I rable committee of safety, having attended thai service, beg leave to report the defence of said Brewer, viz. : that he, the -aid Brewer, absolutel 3 denies the charge of seducing nun, belonging lo other corps, to enlist in his regiment, or anj of the companies thereof \- to the taking the horses ol Cols. Jones and Taylor, he acknowledges his thus doing, and thinks himself justified therein, by furthering tin- service of the province in which he was engaged, thai he had i\-< t \ them some time past in that way, and on Saturday last past had returned Jones's horse.] [He also owns the leasing part of said Jones's estate, and taking curity : which security, lie says, was in the keeping of one ('apt. But- ler; that he bad proceeded in the affair merelj from a principle of sa\in_r tlu- improvement of one Mr. Jennison, (whose land- were con- tiguous to those of -aid Jones,) and whuh were exposed l>\ a neglect of -aid Jones in keeping up sufficient fences. Said Jennison, (as Brewer Bays,) supposing, if he would thus dispose of the above l< land to him, he could truce ami improve it without molestation. And thai tin- committee can proceed no further, unless the) are enabled, bj hearing the full of the evidence supposed t" support the complaint. Per order : Richard Perkins, Chairman.] Saturiuv, M,i\ -.'7. 177... [Resolved, That the committee of safet] he directed to write to Col. Arnold, ami inform him that il 1- In- duty to conform himself d> such advices ami orders a- he -hall receive from tin- Congress [Doct. Richard Perkins, from the committee appointed to examine into the complaint against lieutenant colonel Brown, setting forth that -aid Col. Brown has, at various times am! places, used language d;-re- -pecifnl to the Congress, and tending i" lessen ami bring into con- tempi tin- power and authority "i' the Congress of tins pr«>\ ince, made the following report, which was accepted, viz. :] [Thai alter a full hearing of the allegations ami proofs, for ami againsl said Drown, on the complaint Ol some unknown pei through the selectmen of Waltham, to tin- honorabli l , we 262 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 27, are of the sentiment, that an unhappy controversy has existed in said town, relating to public affairs, in which said Brown had exerted him- self very earnestly in favor of the cause of liberty, by which means he had disgusted several persons, who have since endeavored therefor to censure and stigmatize him as being an officious, busy, designing man; and, unhappily, it appears, that Mr. Brown has associated in taverns, indiscriminately, with many persons, in discourse with whom, he, at some times, had inadvertently expressed himself, which he would not strictly justify himself in. And that it is evident, those disaffected an- tagonists of Mr. Brown's, had taken the advantage of his halting, purely from revenge ; and the committee adjudge, from the whole of the evidence for and against said Brown, that he is injuriously treated by the secret resentment of designing persons, and that he ought to be reinstated to the esteem and countenance of every friend to the liber- ties of this country.] [Hon. Joseph Hawley, from the committee to bring in a resolve for the regular administration of justice, reported the following :] [Whereas, it appears to this Congress, that a want of a due and regular execution of justice in this colony, has encouraged divers wicked and disorderly persons, not only to commit outrages and. tres- passes upon private property and private persons, but also to make the most daring attacks upon the constitution, and to unite in their en- deavors to disturb the peace, and destroy the happiness and security of their country : and, whereas, this Congress conceive it to be their in- dispensable duty to take effectual measures to restrain all disorders, and promote the peace and happiness of this colony, by the execution of justice in criminal matters :] [Therefore, Resolved, That a court of inquiry be immediately erect- ed, consisting of seven persons, to be chosen by this Congress, whose business it shall be to hear all complaints against any person or per- sons, for treason against the constitution of their country, or other breaches of the public peace and security, and to determine and make up judgment thereon, according to the laws of this province, and those of reason and equity ; no judgments to be made up, or punishments inflicted, in consequence of them, unless in such cases where five of the judges, so appointed, were agreed ; any three of said judges to have power, upon complaint made, to cause any person or persons complained of, to be imprisoned, until the said court can be convened to hear the same, or for any further orders of Congress which may be thought necessary, five of said judges !<> be a quorum, and to be vested with the full powers of the court, and to meet and sit in such place or places as they shall agree on.] \:: SECOND PRO\ [NCIAL I I »NGRESS Resolved, Thai [blank] be, and I as judges of the said court of inquiry, t" execute 1 1 ■ * - trust, to the above resol i [This report having been read, after some d< Jered, thai the t'lirtlirr consideration thereof be n ferred to the next Congri [The following letter, reported bj a committee, to the governor and companj of the colon] of Connecticut, was accepted, and ordered to be forw arded : | [ \Y \ i . i: i ov \. May 27, I ' 75. G stlemen : — Enclosed are copies of a letter from Col. Arnold, and a list of militar) t Ticonderoga, &< W have wrote you of the 17th instant, relative to that fortress, &c, and >us that you would give such orders relative thereto, as to you should in meet ; but, we are of opinion, thai the advice of the Continental should be had therein, on as may be, and also the par- ticular advice of the Provincial Cong New York, to each of whom we have wrote upon this matter: those fortresses being within the jurisdiction of the colony of V ■ York, we are of opinion thai if is necessar) to consul! them upon a matter in which they are so great- ly interested.] [We have appointed and directed Col. Joseph Henshaw to repair to you, and consult with you upon the affair of thai fortress, the mainte- nance of which, we think of the utmosl importance to the s< curitj of New York, and the New England colonies. Hi- instructions will laid before you, and, we have loubt, you will take such mi relative thereto, as will promote the genera] safety of tl To tin Hon. th G and i 'ompany Co Connecticut.] [The following letter to Col. Benedicl Arnold, reported by a com- mittee, was nad, accepted, and ordered to be forwt rded:] [Watertown, May -~ . 1775. Sib : — We have this day, with p . received your l< tter to the committee of safety, of the 19th instant, b] Capt. Brown, and return sou our hearts thank-- for \our exertions in the public cause, and full) agree with you, thai the interposition of Providence, in this, and man) other instances, is apparent, tor which we have the ol thankfulnes [We are clearl) of opinion, thai keeping Ticonden "' • importance, and. we make oo doubt, the honorabli I 264 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 27, Congress will take that affair immediately under their wise considera- tion, and give all necessary orders therefor, as we have addressed them most earnestly on the subject.] [You inform us you have had intimation that some persons were de- termined to apply, in order to injure your character ; if any such ap- plications should be made here, you may be assured, we shall be so candid as not to suffer any impressions to your disadvantage, until you shall have opportunity to vindicate your conduct.] [We enclose a resolve of this Congress, appointing and directing Col. Joseph Henshaw to repair to Hartford, and consult with the gen- eral assembly there upon this important matter, by which you will see the resolution this Congress has taken relative thereto.] [We would just add, that the letter you refer to, of the 14th instant, by Mr. Romans, has not come to hand, so that no order can be taken thereon. We are, &,c] To Col. Benedict Arnold, Ticonderoga. [Resolved, That Col. Joseph Henshaw, be appointed and directed to repair to Hartford, and inquire whether provision is made, by the gen- eral assembly of the colony of Connecticut, for securing and maintain- ing the fortress at Ticonderoga, and the adjacent posts ; and if that assembly has made provision for that purpose, the said Col. Henshaw proceed directly to Ticonderoga, and acquaint Col. Arnold that it is the order of this Congress that he return, and render accounts of his expenses in that expedition, in order that he may be honorably dis- charged ; but if Col. Henshaw shall find that such provision is not made, and the general assembly be not sitting, that he proceed to Ti- conderoo-a, and inform Col. Arnold that it is the order of this Con- gress that he continue there, with such number of forces as said Col. Henshaw shall judge necessary for the purpose. Nevertheless, if the said Col. Henshaw shall find the general assembly sitting, and that they have not made such provision, that he consult with them touching this important matter, and take their proposals, and immediately make report to the Congress of this colony.] Monday, May 29, 1775. [The committee appointed to prepare a letter to the Continental Congress, upon the necessity of maintaining a fortress at Ticonderoga, reported. The report being read, Ordered, that it be accepted, and a copy of the same, fairly transcribed, be sent immediately to Philadel- phia. It is as follows, viz. :] 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS [May it please jtoub honors: — Enclosed are copies of a letter from Col. Arnold, and a li-t of military Stores art Ticonderocra, &,c. It seems that the >tep Col. Arnold is taking, in transporting into this colony part of the ordnance taken at the Lake Champlain, is in consequence of directions given him in the baste and confusion of war; and if this Congress bad considered the proposal in a calmer season, perhaps they might have thought it would have been proper, previously to have consulted our brethren of the colony of New York. Certain it is, that this colony is in the most pressing need of the ord- nance which Col. .Arnold is transporting hither. We beg leave, on this occasion, most solemnly to assure your honor--, that nothing can be more abhorrent to the temper and spirit of tin- Congress, and the peopN- of this colony, than any attempt to usurp on the jurisdiction of any of <>ur r-i to observe, that, in our opinion, nothing can be more obvious, than the infinite import- ance to the safety of the inhabitants of the colonies of IS. N i .rkj M issachusetts, New Hampshire, and even Connecticut, than the main- taining, bolding, and effectually securing the post of Ticonderoga, or -.■me spot near the southwest end of Lake Champlain : for it that post is abandoned, the whole Lake Champlain will be commanded by the government of Canada ; and the command of thai water will amazingly facilitate all such descents upon these colonies, whether greater or less, which administration shall see fit to order; but if that post should be held by the colonies, all such attempts, for the destruction of the colo- nic-, in.is be vastly obstructed, if not wholly defeated. We ba therefore, the mosl full confidence, thai \our honors will immediately take these matters into your most serious consideration, and mal such order thereon as will appear most tit and reasonable, and m< conducive to the general safety.] [We would further humbl\ suggest, thai we stand in n. r 1 1 of l;i: quantities of gunpowder, and it is impossible to obtain thai article troin any quarter this way; we. therefore, most earnestly entreal yonr honor-, that some effectual measures may be devised, that we maj be 34 266 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 29, supplied with that most necessary means of defence ; and we find that deficiency of that article prevails in all the colonies. We most earn- estly press this matter, as the salvation of these colonies so much de- pends thereon. We would not presume to dictate to your honors, but would quere whether it would not be prudent, to advertise all nations of the opportunity they now have to dispose of that article in America at the best market. We have the strongest persuasion, that the settled plan of the British administration, is, to break the chain of union of the colonies at New York ; and we are sure that the evidence of such design, and their machinations for that purpose, cannot escape your attention. We confide in the wisdom and vigilance of your honors to devise such measures as, under God, will effectually defeat a plan so fatal, and which, if effected, will be the destruction of all the colonies.] [Hon. Joseph Hawley, from the committee appointed to prepare a letter to the governor of the colony of Connecticut, relative to the for- tresses at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, &c, reported the following, which was read, accepted, and ordered to be sent, viz. : [Watertown, May 29, 1775. May it please your honor : — Yesterday, about three of the clock, P. M., this Congress received your honor's most kind and friendly letter of the 25th instant, enclosing the resolution of the gen- eral Congress, of the 18th instant, relating to Ticonderoga, the order of the general committee of association of New York for executing the said resolution, the letter from the Connecticut delegates at New, York, each of which contain articles of intelligence very important and interesting to all the New England governments. But while we are consoled and rejoiced to find that the general Congress is attentive to the safety and general interests of the colonies, we cannot conceal from the general assembly of your colony, that we should be to the last degree agitated, if we really supposed that the said resolution of general Congress, touching Ticonderoga and said posts on Lake Champlain, was their ultimatum, and that they would not reconsider that resolution. But as we cannot suffer ourselves to doubt of their best intentions, and great concern for the liberty and safety of all the colonies, we assure ourselves, that, upon better information, and knowl- edge more just, they will be fully convinced of the great impolicy of abandoning Lake Champlain, which we conceive they have, in effect, advised to ; although we confess their expressions are not of the clear- est ; but we are confirmed in our construction of the said resolution, 1775.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. by the order taken by the general committee of New York, to execute the same.] [.May it please your honor: Permit us to acquaint you, that as soon as possible after we had received advice of the success of out people at Crown Point and St. Johns, and the taking of the armed sloop on that lake, by Col. Arnold's letter, a copy whereof we have sent you by Col. Henshaw, we sent an express to New York, and to the general Congress, signifying to the general Congress, and to the Congress of New York, in the strongest manner, our opinion of the absolute ne- cessity, and great advantages, of maintaining the post of Ticonderoga: but, as we conceived the reason- and grounds of such an opinion were obvious, and generally known, we supposed that a detail of the argu- ments and proofs was altogether unnecessary. But, upon seeing the resolution of the general Congress, upon that important matter, we were much surprised and concerned, and in the little time we have had to deliberate on the subject, we have resolved to endeavor to sug- gest to your honor, and your assembly, the reasons which at present occur to us: which, we apprehend, make it evident, that the maintain- ing that post is not only practicable, and, under God, in the power of the colonies, but of inexpressible necessity for the defence of the col- ony of New York, and all the New England colonies; and having enumerated those reasons, as they occur, without consulting method, or any orderly arrangement, to submit them to your assembly ; most im- portunately praying that if your honors approve them, von will, with the greatest de-patch, communicate them, with many more observa- tions, which your better knowledge of facts will suggest, to the gene- ral Congress; and, if yon should judge it advisable, also to the Con- gress of .New York, conceiving that, in several respects, thej would go from \ou with more advantage, not only to New York but also t ■ > the general Congress, than from ns. It seems natural to compare the two stations proposed to be maintained, namely, Ticonderoga and William Henry, in the following manner, that is to say: with regard to the benefits and advantages of the two stations, which will arise for the purposes of inueral defence, and annoyance of the Canada ene- my, and with regard to the feasibility of maintaining each place. And, in the first place, as to the advantages of general defence, result- ing from a post at Ticonderoga, beyond those of William Henry, they are 30 great and many, that they cannot be enumerated in an ordinary lettt r. Iii the view of a post of observation, we beg leave to observe, that all movements from Canada, intended against New England or New York, by the way of Lake Champlain, whether by Bcalping par- 268 SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 29, ties or large bodies, whether in the winter or open seasons of the year, may almost certainly be discovered, so seasonably, as that the blow may be generally warded off: whereas, if the post at William Henry be only kept, it is probable that three fourths of the attempts on the frontiers of New York and New England, by Champlain, will never be known until executed ; as to enterprises, by any large bodies, by the way of Champlain, it is clear that they may be known much earlier from the former than the latter station ; also, if it should become ne- cessary and just that the united colonies should annoy the inhabitants of Canada, and cause them to feel the grievousness of war on their borders, as it most certainly will be felt, in case they engage in the war upon us, the two stations scarcely bear any comparison ; for, if we abandon the post at Ticonderoga, the enemy will infallibly seize it, and, in that case, what annoyance can we give Canada, by the way of Champlain, by means of a fortified post at William Henry ? If the enemy hold Ticonderoga, they will effectually command the whole of Lake Champlain ; if the united colonies hold it, they will so far com- mand that lake, as by the way of it, they will be able to make descents by small parties, upon great part of the country of Canada, and infi- nitely distress them : but from William Henry none can be made with- out vast difficulty and risk. As to the advantages of subsisting and defending a garrison, and maintaining a post against the efforts of Canada, either at Ticonderoga or fort William Henry, we conceive they are much in favor of the former. For us to supply victuals for a garrison or an army stationed at some one place or the other, we con- ceive, that on the whole, they may be more easily and certainly afforded to Ticonderoga than William Henry. We suppose that what should be sent from ports on the westerly side of Hudson's river, may almost as easily be transported to Ticonderoga or to William Henry; and as to such supplies as would go from all parts eastward of Hudson's river, they may be conveyed to the former place with much more facil- ity than the latter. And as to the speed and certainty of marching succors, for the relief of a garrison at one place or the other, in case of an attack, we suppose the advantages of Ticonderoga are vast- ly superior to those of William Henry; for we cannot forbear observ- ing, that our brethren of New York government, settled on the west- erly side of Hudson's river, have been always rather slow in warlike efforts, and if the succors must go from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or the northeasterly parts of New York governments, they may be mustered and marched much sooner to the former station than the latter. We have no doubt, but, on a pressing emergency, a 17 75.] SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. large body of men might be marched from the middle of the county of Hampshire to Ticonderoga, in six days ; but to gentlemen bo well acquainted with the geography of the two places, we need not dwell on this part of the argument ; and, in short, we have no idea ol main- taining the one or the other of the two posts, in time <>f war with < !an- ada, but either by constantly keeping an arm] on the spot, or making a fort of sufficient strength for a garrison, to hold out against an at- tack, until an army could be marched from New Y<>rk or New En- gland, sufficienl to raise the seige ; the latter method we suppose mosl politic, and quite practicable, with regard to Ticonderot. Timoth) Walker. Drat i/(. — Deacon Vinos Bradley. Holliston. — Col. Abner Terry. Acton. — Mr. Josiah Hayward. Tewkesbury. — Mr. Ezra Kendall. Dunstable. l — John Tyng, Esq., James Tyng, Esq., Mr. Joel Parkhurst. Lincoln. — Major Eleazer Brooks. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. Springfield. — Mr. John Hale, .Mr. Edward Chapin. West Springfield. — Major Benjamin Ely, Doct. Chauncy Brewer. Northampton. — Joseph llawley, Esq., Mr. Elias Lyman. Wilbraham. — Major John Bliss. Sou t ft Hadley and Granby. — Capt. Phinehas Smith, [Mr. Noah Goodman.] Hatfield. — John Dickenson, John Hastings, Elihu White. WestfieU.— Col. John Mosely, Col. Elisha Parks. Greenfield. — Mr. Samuel Hinsdale. Until,, i.— Col. Elisha Porter. Sunderland and Montague. — Capt. Israel Hubbart, Doct. Moses Gunn. Brimfield, Monson and South Brimfield. — Col. Timothy Danielson Northfield. — Mr. Phinehas Wright. Blandford. — Deacon William Boies, Capt. William Knox. Granville. — Timothy Robinson, Esq., Mr. Nathan Harlow. (1) John Tyng, Bsq. and James Tyng, Esq., were roturnod as dot D as tin' lioalth Hi' tlir Connor was so much impaired ;i< t" pr< venl nil attt ndeni • . uid the mull tj of engagements of public and private business compelled the latter t" resign hii -■ it, Mr. ' 1'urklnirit was elected, ti> supply the vacancies thus occ tsioned, June 19, I* 276 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 31, Palmer. — Capt. David Spear. New Salem. — Lieut. Amos Foster. Belchertown. — Capt. Nathaniel Dwight. Colraine. — Lieut. Hezekiah Smith. Greenwich. — Mr. Joseph Hendrick. Amherst. — Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr. Chesterfield. — Capt. Benjamin Bonney. Shutesbury. — Mr. John Hamilton. Williamsburg. — Mr. Josiah Dwight. Shelburne. — Deacon Samuel Fellows. Ware. — Joseph Foster, Esq. Ludlow. — Capt. Joseph Miller. Worthington. — Doct. Moses Morse. Whatehj. — Mr. Noah Wells, Mr. Salmon White. Warwick. — Col. Samuel Williams. COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE. Sheffield, Grreat Harrington, Egremont and Alford. — Mr. William Whiting. Tyringham. — Major Giles Jackson. Stockbridge. — Timothy Edwards, Esq., [Jerathmiel] Woodbridge, Esq. Lenox. — Capt. Caleb Hyde. Williamstoien. — Mr. Samuel Kellogg. Richmond. — Capt. Elijah Brown. Sandisficld. — Deacon Samuel Smith. Tyringham. — Mr. Elijah Warren, John Chadwick, Esq. Leverett. 1 — [None.] COUNTY OF WORCESTER. Worcester. — Mr. David Bancroft. Lancaster. — Doct. William Dunsmore, Deacon Thomas Fair- banks. Brookfield. — Jedediah Foster, Esq. [Mcndon. — Capt. Thomas Wiswall.] Oxford. — Edward Davis, Esq. Sutton. — Capt. Henry King, Mr. Amos Singletary. Rutland. — Mr. Jobn Fessenden. (1) The town of Leverett considering " their circumstances as very young and weak," declined returning a membei 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS Hutchinson. — John Caldwell, Esq, Oakham.—Cspt. Isaac Stone. Leicester and S/min r. — Deacon Oliver Watson. PaztonJ — Rev. Alexander Thayer. Westborough. — Capt. Stephen Maynard. Shrewsbury. — Mr. Daniel rlemenway. Lunenburg. — Doct. John Taylor. FHtchburg. — Mr. Joseph Fox. Uxbridge. — Mr. Abner Rawson. Harvard. — Mr. Joseph \\ heeler. Bolton. — Capt. Samuel Baker. Sturbridge. — Capt. Timothy Parker. Hardwick? — Capt. William Page. Grafton. — Doct. Joseph Batchelder. Veto Braintree. — Major James Woods. Dudley. — Major William Learned. Southborough. — Lieut. William Collins. Upton. — Mr. Abiel Sadler. Leominster. — Deacon Israel Nichols. Holden.— Mr. John Child. Western. — Simeon Dwight, Esq. Doi/i;/f/>. — Deacon Jeremiah Whiting. Athul. — Capt. John Haven. Petersham. — < ol. Jonathan Grout. Westminster. — Deacon .Nathan Wood. Templeton. — Mr. Jonathan Baldwin. Princeton. — Mr. Moses Gill. Royaiston. 2 — [ .None. ] Hubbardston. — Lieut. William Muzzy. Charlton. — Rev. Caleb Curtis. Vorthborough. — Mr. Levi Brigham. (1) The district of Paxton, " t«' show theii dislike of the extravagant the ;i run, in a time of general c ilamity," instructed tlnir delegate, on lii* election, I bis influence, that no field officer Bhould receive more than £<> per month, no captain mora v anil no other person have compensation in a greater proportion. (2) The inhabitants of Hardwick, on tho 22d of May, elected Capt. William I' them in Congress during June and July ; Capt. Stephen Rice to annul ilHrm.- \ ■ ol. Jonathan Warner to sit during Octobi • irly dissolution of thi nted the t»" las) Domed gentlemen from taking theii i< ata. (3) The inhabitants "i Roj tlston, Ma) 25, 1775 ering the infltm ■ of in. ad the inability of the people !•> maintain ted n"i t" lend a mbei "i Co that time, i"it i mply srith evei the provincial assembly should recom nd for the public . 278 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 31, COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH. Plymouth. — Hon. James Warren, Esq., Mr. Isaac Lothrop. Scituate. — Nathan Cushing, Esq. Duxbury. — Mr. George Partridge. Marshfield. — Mr. Benjamin White. Bridgewater. — Col. Edward Mitchell. Middleborough. — Capt. Joshua White. Rochester. — Major Ebenezer White. Plympton. — Capt. Seth Cushing. Pembroke. — Mr. John Turner, Mr. Jeremiah Hall, Mr. Edward Thomas. Kingston. — Hon. William Seaver, Esq., Deacon Ebenezer Wash- burn. Hanover. — Col. Joseph Cushing. Abington. — Doct. David Jones. Halifax. — Mr. Ebenezer Thompson. COUNTY OF BARNSTABLE. Barnstable. — Col. Joseph Otis, Daniel Davis, Esq. Yarmouth. — Capt. Elisha Basset. Sandwich. — Mr. Stephen Nye, Col. [Nathaniel] Freeman. Eastham. — Mr. Amos Knowles. Wellfleet.— Col. Elisha Cobb. Harwich. — Mr. Joseph Nye. Falmouth. — Mr. Moses Swift. Chatham. — Col. Joseph Doan. Truro. — Mr. Samuel Harding. COUNTY OF BRISTOL. Taunton. — Robert T. Paine, Esq., Col. George Williams, Capt. [Simeon] Williams. Rehoboth. — Capt. Thompson Carpenter, Mr. [Ephraim] Stark- weather. Swanzey. — Col. [Jerathmiel] Bowers, Mr. Philip Slead. Dartmouth. — Hon. Walter Spooner, Esq., Benjamin Aikin, Esq. Attleborough. — Capt. John Stearns. Dighton. — lv/.ra Richmond, Esq., Doct. William Baylies. Freetown. — Mr. Thomas Durfee. Norton and Mansfield. — Capt. W 7 illiam Homes. Easton. — Mr. Benjamin Pettingil. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL < ONGRE88 Raynham. — Mr Benjamin Kin Berkley. — .Mr. Samuel Tobey, Jr. < 01 NT'S OF \<)KK. York. — Mr. Daniel Bragdon. B ttery. — Edward Cutt, Esq. Wells.— [None.] Berwick. — .Major [chabod Goodwin. Annul, II. — Mr. John Hovey. Biddeford. — James Sullivan, Esq. COUNTY OF CI MBERLAND. Falmouth andCapi Elizabeth. — Mr. Samuel Freeman. Gorham. — Capt. Bryant Morton. Brunswick. — ('<>1. Samuel Thompson. \ th Yarmouth. — David Mitchel, Esq. | Si arborough.'y — [ None. ] COUNTY OF LINCOLN. Pownalborough. — Mr. Timothy Langdon. Georgetown and Woolwich. — Capt. Samuel McCobb. Topsham. — [Mr. .lames Fulton.] Gardinerston. — Mr. Joseph North. hi KES COUNTS Chilmark. — [ None.] Tisbury — James Athearn, Esq. Edffarton.—NLr. Beriah Norton. ■s COUNTY OF NANT1 CKET. [ Shi rburit. ] — [ None. | 31st May, 1775. Ordered, That Doct. Hoi ten, Mr. Watson and Col. Lincoln, be a committee to wail on the K< \ Doct, Langdon, and 1 The inhabitant* of Scarborough represented, thai " they thought themn port the charge of o member ol I id town having no m ■• Inmber wai the chief trade; that being done, the crop* having been very abort, and coming from the lonthern colonioi, they wore in great diatreia lor want I •« > 1 1 • of n ■in thoj were willing to exert themaolvei to the atten i to nipport - mmenl «nil ■ jut rigbti and privilege added their "prayer*, thai <;<»1 might bli ,.i Congreaa, and, in the end, confirm that liberty whioh ooi forofatl enjoy." 2S0 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 31, inform him that this Congress are now ready to attend divine service, and request his attendance. Resolved, That four o'clock this afternoon be assigned for the con- sideration of the returns of members from Hardvvick, Eastham, 1 and several other towns. Ordered, That Mr. Brown, Doct. Taylor and Col. Sayer, be [a] committee to wait on the commanding officer of the militia of this town, to thank him for his polite offer to escort the Congress to the meeting-house, and to inform him, that, as this Congress are now sit- ting, the Congress think it needless to withdraw for that purpose : but will, with the reverend gentlemen of the clergy, attend them to Mrs. Coolidge's, if they please to escort them thither, when the Congress adjourns. [Afternoon] Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Doct. Whiting, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Jewett and Col. Lincoln, be a committee to return the thanks of this Congress to the Rev. Doct. Langdon, for his excellent sermon delivered to the Congress in the forenoon, and to desire a copy of it for the press. 2 Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Pitts and Mr. Greenleaf, be a com- mittee to consider some method for supplying the soldiers immediately with advance pay, and also to consider a letter from Gen. Thomas on that subject. Resolved, That a copy of the resolve of the last Congress, relative to providing the army with chaplains, be laid before the reverend gen- tlemen of the clergy, now in convention, at Watertown. The order of the day [was] moved for. Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Col. Bowers, Col. Gerrish, Mr. Bayley and Mr. Slead, be a committee to consider the two returns of mem- bers from Eastham. The returns of three members from Hardwick, who are to attend this Congress severally, each two months, was approved of. The committee appointed to consider Gen. Thomas's letter, reported verbally ; the report was accepted, and ordered to be committed to (1) A remonstrance was presented against the return of Mr. Amos Knowles, Jr., one of the members returned from Eastham, with testimony tending to prove, that lie bad used expressions re- flecting on the wisdom and fidelity of Congress, and that tie entertained sentiments unfavorable to its policy and measures. These charges were denied, and the origin attributed to personal or parly hostility by the respondent. The election of the members from Eastham and Williamsburg was contested, on the ground that the town meetings were not properly notified. (2) The sermon of Doct. Langdon was from Is w 111 i. 26. ".flnrf / will restore thy judges as at the ,fir*t, and thy counsellors as at tin beginning : afterwards tlmu shalt be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." The discourse was printed at Cambridge. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCl \l. CONGRES 28] writing, and one copy sent to the camp at Cambridge, and another to the camp at Etoxbury. Ordered, Thai Col. Palmer, Mr. William- and Deacon Chei a committee to introduce to this Congress a committee from the r< erend gentlemen of the clergy, in convention at Watertown, now at the door. The committee were accordingly introduced, and informed the Con- gress that the said convention would be glad of the use of the meeting- house to-morrow morning, at eight o'clock. Thru the said commit! h ithdrew. Ordered, Thai Col. Palmer, Mr. Williams and Deacon Cheever, be a committee to inform the reverend gentlemen of the convention, that this Congi imply with their request, and that the committee laj before the said convention, a copy of the resolve of the last Congr< respecting chaplains. Resolved, That Mr. Hastings, who attended the last Congress as door-keeper, be desire. I to attend this Congress till further orders. Ordered, That the papers relative to the fortresses at Ticonderoga, &,c, be laid before the Congress. The paper- being read. Resolved, thai Mi. Phelps, who was the be irer of some of them, be introduced to the Congress. After information from Mr. Phelps, Ordered, that the president, Mr. Glover, Col. Nicholson, Doct. Taylor, .Mr. Edwards, Col Dwight, Doct. Wheeler, Mr. Hale and Doct. Whiting, be a committee to take said papers into consideration, to sit forthwith, and report as soon as III i\ he. Ordered, That the Hon. Mr. Spooner, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Greenleaf, Cap Bal /helder ami Col. Otis, be a committee to consider a letter from the committee of correspondence of the colon] of New Hamp- shire, to the committee of correspondence of Newburyport. 1 The Congress then adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. I 'I 'lie following letter, from the committe i of correspondence of \-« II unpshi in \ PORTSMOl i " GENTLEMEN :— We had two provision vei mthof ourharb ught, by tfa ilication to -I ly for tin ir i im the admiral to tak ludun with provisions, salt, 01 send 1 1, rin to I in- 1 mi ; a ii.l In' Bays furthor, tho irculai through tho continent. ''■ tiit- n in-lit, inn! also inform you, thai 'In I '"P first fair wind, to convoy the two vessel* all and are sorr) to find ourselves unable to pre gun ship, and o them ' I 36 282 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 1, Thursday, June 1, 1775. The committee appointed to consider Gen. Thomas's letter, brought in the following report, which was accepted, and a copy of it ordered to be sent to the muster master at Cambridge, and another to the mus- ter master at Roxbury, viz. : The committee appointed to consider a letter from Gen. Thomas, relative to immediately paying the army the advance pay, have attend- ed that service, and beg leave to report, that they have waited on the receiver general, to know of him how soon he can furnish the muster masters with the notes proposed for the army ; and were informed by the receiver general, he now had several hundred notes ready to de- liver ; and that he had provided all necessary helps, and would make the greatest despatch possible ; and that he should be able, at least, to pay off one regiment every day, and perhaps more ; and that he would, from day to day, deliver one half of said notes to the muster master at Cambridge, and the other half to the muster master at Roxbury. Ordered, That a copy of the above be sent to the muster masters. Ordered, That Col. Jones and Mr. Orne, be added to the committee who were appointed to consider the returns of members from Eastham. Resolved, That the following members be, and hereby are appoint- ed, monitors in this Congress, viz.: 1st. Col. Gerrish : 2d. Mr. Durfee : 3d. Col. Farley : 4th. Doct. Taylor : And that the divis- ion of the house be as follows, viz. : First Division : the pews at the right hand of the pulpit, and all the pews on the west and south part of the meeting-house, from the aisle that bounds the seats and the body pews : Second Division : the pews on the left hand of the pulpit, and all the pews on the north and east part of the house, from the aisle that bounds the seats and the body pews : Third Division : all the body pews and seats on the left hand of the broad aisle : Fourth Division : all the body pews and seats on the right hand of the broad aisle. Resolved, That this Congress will adopt and observe the rules and orders established by the last Congress. enmstance, and sending ; « t ■ #■ v j>r- -s i h in nighl with it, i-. because we have jusi heard thai you have an armed * esse] in your i" ■• \\ i lered t«'> small \* asi 1- to cruizi off and on, and, if po Bible, give tlci-; intelligence to all vessels bound t" this nr any othei port, and trn-t you « ill do the same. l'.\ order of the Committi i . /'■■ i ; V.'iir mOSl humble servant, II. WENTWORTH, Chmrnum." 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL I ONGRES 283 Ordered, That Col. Prescott, Mr. Slead, Col. Barrett, Mr. Thatcher, and Mr. Partridge, be a committee to consider what number of t poor of the town <>!' Boston should be sent t" the town of Ashby, >ir other towns, not mentioned in the schedule annexed to a resolve passed in the lasl < !ongr< [The committee presented the following report, which was read and accepted :] Whereas, the poor of the town of Boston, bj a resolve of Congress passed the firs! daj of Maj last, are confined to a certain number of towns and districts in this colony, as appears by a schedule annexed to said resolve, and some of said | r having relations and connections in other towns and districts than are mentioned in said schedule, and being desirous t'> L r, » and reside in such places, it is, therefor* /.' - solved, that the poor of Boston maj be rfin< >\ *■< 1 into any other town or district in tin- colony, where the selectmen of such town or districl shall see lit to receive them, all such town- and districts observing the rules, regulations and directions given in the resolve aforesaid, and shall be entitled t'> the same rewards and privily, - ;i > mentioned in said resolve. Ordered, That Deacon Fisher, Mr. Spaulding, Mr. Stickney, Mr. Partridge and Major Perley, be a committee to consider the proposal of the reverend gentlemen of the clergy, now in convention at N\ ater- t<>u ii, [ h Imli i~ as follows :] / ' // i ./ eph Warren, Esq., President of fh> Provincial Con- of tin Colony «/ tin Massachusetts Bay, \r. .• Sih : — We, the pastors of the congregational churches of the colo- n\ ..t' the M • busetts Bay, in <>nr present annual convention, grate- fully beg leave to express the sense we have of the regard -hewn by the honorable I'lovincial Coni_ r re>s to ns, and the encouragement thi have been pleased to afford t<> our assembling as a bodj this day. Deeplj impressed with sympathy lor the distresses of our much in- jured and oppressed country, we are nol a little relieved, in beholding the representatives of this people, chosen by then- tree and unbiassed suffrages, now met to concert measures for their relief ami defence, in whose wisdom and integrity, under the -mile- of Divine Providen< innot hut express our entire confidence. \- n has I n found necessarj to raise an arm) for the common safety, and oui brave countrymen have so willing!] offered themselves to tin- hazardous service, we are not insensible of the vast burden that their necessarj maintenance must [devolve] upon the people. R 284 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 1, therefore, cannot forbear, upon this occasion, to offer our services to the public, and to signify our readiness, with the consent of our seve- ral congregations, to officiate, by rotation, as chaplains to the army. We devoutly commend the Congress, and our brethren in arms, to the guidance and protection of that Providence, which, from the first settlement of this country, has so remarkably appeared for the preser- vation of its civil and religious rights. Samuel Langdon, Moderator. At the Convention of the Ministers of the Massachusetts Bay, June 1 , 1775 : "The convention, taking into consideration the method of furnishing the army with chaplains, agreeably to the offer they have made to the honorable Congress, think it most expedient, that a sufficient number of persons should be chosen out of their number, by the officers of the army, to officiate statedly, rather than by quick rotation, in that character ; and the convention depend, that the parochial duties of those ministers who shall serve in the army, will be performed by their brethren in the vicinity. A true copy. Test : Amos Adams, Scribe." Ordered, That Major Fuller, Col. Cushing and Major Whittemore, be a committee to inquire how many armourers are already appointed in the Massachusetts army, and how many more are necessary. Ordered, That Major Brooks, Capt. Stone and Mr. Crane, be a committee to consider the letter from the selectmen of the town of Hopkinton, and that they sit forthwith. 1 The committee appointed to consider the letter from the committee of correspondence for the colony of New Hampshire, reported, ver- bally, that it was their opinion, that it would be expedient to forward, forthwith, a copy of said letter to the committee of correspondence for the colony of Rhode Island, and another to the colony of Connec- ticut, and that the several members of the sea port towns, or of the towns adjacent, should write to the committee of such sea port towns, informing them of the subject of said letter. (1) This letter si ites, thai » false alarm having been spread in the town of Hopkinton and the country adjoining, the people were called from their labors, and much and u I lo of time and h alarms, ;i meeting of the inhabitants wa held, and a commttt of Gilberl Dench, Si lei Park, Ebenezer Claflin, Samuel Hoyden lo Hale, appointed, to determine when it should be necessary for the people of the town tn march on any alarm ; and desired the Congri to • I ili h som ignal, by which au- thentic intelligence might l><- distinguished from falsi reports. 1775.] THIRD PROVINC1 \l. < ONGRESS Ordered, That Col. Thompson, Col Freeman and Mi Jewett, committee to consider a letter from the committt fetj for the tow n <>i Salem, and r« -| »< »r t . ' The <■ aittee on 1 1 » « - Bastham returns, reported, that in t l».-i r < i|»in- ion neither of the members were legallj chosen ; the report, after bate, was nol ted. Resolved, Thai tin- last vote be reconsidered, and thai a recommen- , bi - in to the town of Bastham, to choose one or more mem- to them shall seem meet, to n present them in th l Th ppointed to i the letter from the committee ret) "f the town of Salem, reported; which reporl « pted, and i- as follows, \ iz. : The committee appointed l>\ the honorable Provin Congress, to take into consideration the letter from the committee oi . and town clerk, for the town of Salem, respecting the answers of Mr. Ste- phen Higginson t<> questions asked him before the House of Commons of Great Britain, &c, beg leave to report: that they have critically examined that matter, and are <>f opinion that the intentions <>f said 1 1 g ginson, in those answers, were friendl) to the- inhabitants ■ >!' Salem and Marblehead, and t<> the colonies in general, and that he ought to be honorablj acquitted by this Congress, and recommended to the favor of the public. i pel Commoni of i : 1 . i Rhode! illoctivel) produ i Carolina*, Virginia, P ploj '-il in the ■ half of 111 • ii t iirkrt. whioh earrii under th< of ili'- inhabitantt at and near VI I iduced theroto." T I in the / 'I. l li, i ' 1 1 i th it ho wait "ii thi ■ Ili ■ i mi. : ■ 286 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 1, Ordered, That the Hon. Mr. Dexter, be directed to inquire of the receiver general, if he has received the money from the Hon. Mr. Russell, agreeably to the resolve of the last Congress. Ordered, That Deacon Bayley, Capt. Holmes and Col. Thompson, be a committee to draw up a resolve, recommending to the town of Eastham to choose a new member or members to represent them in this Congress. Ordered, That three hundred passes, of the following form, be printed, viz. : To the Guards of the Colony Army : Pursuant to a resolve of the Provincial Congress, you are hereby ordered to permit , a member of said Congress, to pass and repass, with such as may accompany him, at all times. , President, June 1775. Hon. Mr. Dexter reported to the Congress, that he had made in- quiry of Mr. Gardner, the receiver general, as directed, and that the receiver general informed him he had not seen Mr. Russell since the order of Congress, respecting his paying the public moneys he has in his hands to Mr. Gardner. The committee appointed to consider the letter from the selectmen of Hopkinton, reported : the report was recommitted, and Mr. Phil- lips, Mr. Partridge, Col. Richmond and Mr. Sawyer added to the com- mittee. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Hon. Mr. Dexter and the Hon. Col. Bowers, be a committee to consider the application made to this Con- gress by Col. Barrett, in behalf of the Rev. Mr. Emerson, for the use of one of the horses taken from the regulars, durino- the absence of the Hon. Thomas Gushing, Esq., who has Mr. Emerson's horse now in the public service. The committee appointed to consider the request of Mr. Emerson, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider the request of the Rev. Wil- liam Emerson of Concord, respecting the use of a horse taken upon the 19th of April lust, from one of the regulars, by Mr. Isaac Kittridge of Tewksbury, Capt. Nathan Barrett, and Henry Flint of Concord, beg leave to report, by way of resolve, that said horse be delivered to said Emerson, by the person or persons in whosesoever possession he may be found, lie, the said Emerson, paying a reasonable price for L775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS keeping said horse, and Mr. Emerson is herebj permitted to keep and use said horse, till the further order of this Con The committee appointed to consider the paper.- relating to Ticon- deroga, &c, reported a letter to Col. Arnold, another to the Hon William Williams, Esq., speaker of the assembly of the colom of Connecticut, and another to the Provincial Congress of New Hamp- shire, which were read and accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and sent forward, and arc as follow, viz. Letter to Col. Benedict Arnold: Sir : — This Congress have received yours of the 19th and 23d of Ma) ult., per Capt. Brown and Capt. Phillips, a cop) of which has been senl to New Hampshire; 1 they highly approve of, and take great satisfaction in the acquisitions you have made at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, on the lake, &c. As to the state you are in respecting men, provision. &c, we have advices from Connecticut and New York, thai ample preparation is making, with th< patch, in those two colonics, from whence you may depend on being seasonably sup- plied. They are sorry to meet with repeated requests from yon, that some gentleman be senl to succeed you in command; tin \ assure yon. that they place the greatest confidence in your fidelity, knowledge, courage, and good conduct ; and they desire that yon. at present, dis- miss the thoughts of quitting your important command at Ticondero- I rown Point, Lake Ch I you are hereby requested to continue your command over t - raised by this colony, posted at th era! places, at least until the colom of New York or Con- necticut shall take on them the maintaining and commanding the same agreeablj i«> an order ol the Continental Congn ss To Col Benedict Arnold, Ticondero^ P. S. — We have just received intelligence, by a letter from Gov. Trumbull, that the general assembly have ordered a thousand men to march immediate!] to reenforce the army now at Crown Point, Ticon- deroga, Ov. c., also i" send | 500 ll><. powder, and also that each soldier is furnished with one pound of powder, v\ c. The < Jongress further ad\ ise, that in case your present necessit) requires it, you make use of the £160 you found on board the sloop, for the service of this colony, you accounting for the same to this <>r some other congress, or house of - 1 These, with other let I J. Irnold, and document! 288 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 1, representatives of this colony ; and they hereby assure you, that this colony will repay it, whenever it shall be ordered by the Continental Congress ; and that you also complete the raising the number of four hundred men in the pay of this colony, if you judge it necessary. [To the House of Asscmbhj of Connecticut:] Gentlemen : — We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 27th ult. We fully concur in opinion with you, that maintain- ing a post at Ticonderoga or Crown Point, is of the utmost import- ance : therefore, take particular satisfaction, that you have, on this subject, so early, and repeatedly expressed your minds to the Conti- nental Congress. By private intelligence of the 29th ult., sent to Capt. Joseph Trum- bull, we are informed, that the Provincial Congress of New York, do not understand the resolve of the Continental Congress, concerning said fortresses, to extend so far as wholly to dismantle them ; but so far, only, as to supply any fortifications that may be built at the south end of Lake George ; which resolve, in this sense of it, they are, with despatch, executing : therefore, in our present distressing situation, we have postponed sending further assistance to || a Col.|| Arnold, especially since New York have not requested it. To the Hon. William Williams, Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut. [ To the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire :] Gentlemen : — We send you enclosed, a copy of a letter from Col. Arnold, commander of the troops at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, together with a copy of a letter from the speaker of the house of rep- resentatives for the colony of Connecticut, by which you will be ac- quainted with the present situation of those fortresses, and the meas- ures necessary to be taken for securing and defending so valuable acquisitions. You will, doubtless, agree with us in sentiment, that it is a matter of the greatest importance, that those places remain in our possession, in order to secure our frontiers from the depredations of our enemies, if they should attempt to attack us from that quarter, of which there appears to be great danger. It was the agreement of this colony, that four hundred men, and £100 in money, should be raised for the reduction of the place; and a UCuptain.ll 17" THIRD l'K<>\ INC] \l. CONGRES ii i- > mi determination i" contribute <>ur lull proportion toward secur- ing the acquisition. B3 the lettei from the speaker of the bouse "i - for Connecticut, you will find, that that colon) ml immediatel) to their assistance, four companies >00 pounds weight of powder; and \\<- suppose the troops on the march there : and we most earnest]] request, that you would contrib- ute \'>ui endeavors, liki for the speed) and effectual securit) of the aforementioned places, which, considering the importance of the affair, and the ready disposition which you have discovered t'<>r the de- if the common cause, leaves us oo room t" doubt of your com- pliance therewith. '/'./ tin I' 1 ! I /.' ohed, That the Becretar) be, and hereb) 1- empowered, to ap- |iniiii some person t" assist him in his office. Adjourned nil to-morrow morning, eight o'clock. Friday, June "J. 1/7."). The committee appointed to bring in a resolve recommending to the town of Gasthain to choose one or more members to represent them in this Congress, reported; the report was accepted, and is follows, \ i/.. : \\'i ihis Congress, upon examination, judge that the persons returned .1- d 3 for Bastham, in the count) of Barnstable, \\' no 1 legally chosen, and that the allowing either of them a seat in this house would be attended with many inconveniences; therefore, Re- solved, that 11 be, and it hereb) 1- recommended, to the said town of I. -tliiin, thai they forthwith elect or depute one or more j >. ■ r-- >i 1- , to serve for, and represent said town, in the Provincial Congress, now held ;it the meeting-house in Watertown, to be chosen b) such onl) are qualified to vote for representatives in the general assembly, and to be continued b) adjournment, as the) shall see cause, until the expira- tion of six months from tin- first Bitting of this Con rress, and no Ion- ger, and (<» consult, and deliberate, and resolve, upon such furtl measui God, shall be effectual, to save this people from impending ruin, and i>> secure those inestimable liberties, derived to 11- from our ancestors, and which it is <»ur duty to preserve for pos- terit) . R< I'h it ten o'clock, this foren , be assigned !'<>i 1 1 1 « - cho 1 chaplain for this ( !ongr< :;: 290 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 2, Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Col. Barrett, Capt. Holmes, Col. Bowers and Col. Sawyer, be a committee to bring in a resolve for making fur- ther provision for distributing the poor of Boston to such towns in the colony as the committee may think convenient. Ordered, That Col. Gerrish, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Sever, Col. Bowers, and Mr. Fisher, be a committee to take into consideration the petition and memorial of the several committees of correspondence for the county of Worcester, and report. 1 The committee appointed to consider the resolve and proposals of the reverend gentlemen of the clergy, reported ; the report was ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, it is of the greatest importance that our colony army be furnished with gentlemen to act as chaplains, on whose virtue, firmness and patriotism they can safely rely ; and whereas, the reverend con- vention of the clergy of this colony have, most nobly and without re- ward, tendered their services in their country's cause : Therefore, Resolved, That the general and field officers be, and they hereby are empowered and directed, to choose nine gentlemen of the clergy of this colony, to act as chaplains to said army : provided that not more than two of them belong to any one county ; and the gene- ral officers of said army are hereby empowered to determine the regi- ments to which each chaplain shall be desired to officiate; and also, the committee of supplies are hereby directed to make suitable provis- ion for said chaplains during their continuance in camp. Ordered, That Mr. Spooner, Col. Richmond and Col. Dwight, be a committee to take into consideration the expense Capt. Phelps has been at, in supplying the Massachusetts forces at Ticonderoga, and report. Ordered, That Doct. Whiting and Doct. Bailies, be added to the committee which was appointed by the last Congress, to examine those persons who might be nominated for surgeons of the Massachusetts army. Ordered, That Deacon Bayley, Hon. Joseph Gerrish, Esq., Josiah Johnson, Esq., Mr. John Hale, Hon. William Sever, Esq., Col. Joseph Otis, Hon. Jerathmiel Bovvers, Col. Cutt, Capt. Stephen Maynard, Col. Thompson, Mr. Joseph North and Timothy Edwards, Esq., be a com- mittee to take into consideration the situation and circumstances of (1) Tins puipoit of thif inferred fi ilution of the convention of com- mitti respouden e of tho county of Worcester, May 31, 1775: " Voted, Thai ;i committee be chosen to draw up a i e to the Provincial I allowed to have a seat therein, who does not i ote ; w bj his own monej for public pui isi . in common with the other member* iind liis constituents 1775.] THIRD PROVING I \l. < < >NGRES8 29] the sea port towns and islands in 1 1 * i — colony, winch are . sposed to the excursions and ravages of the enemy, ;unl in particular i" consider the letter of Mr Stephen Nye to <'<>!. Freeman; the petition from the town of Kitterj ; the resolve of the lasl Congress relative t" the inva- sion of the enemy on our sea co sts, & b. and ;i petition from some of the inhabitant- <<\ De.r I-land, and si I forthwith, and report as - i as may be. 1 < >rd.T Mi' the da] moved for. Ordered, Thai Mr. Jones, Mi Bliss and Mr. Toby, be a committee to receive, sort and counl the votes for a chaplain. The committee having attended thai service, reported, thai the K . ■ \ Mr. [William] 1 I u don u as chosen. Ordered, Thai Col. Davis, Mr. Wheeler and Major Bliss, be a com- mittee to wail upon the ELev. Mr. Gordon, informing him that this ( longress have made choice of him to officiate as their chaplain during it- session in this place. The committee appointed to inquire how many armourers were ap- pointed, 6cc, reported, that the committee of safet) informed them thai there were thirteen appointed, and several others nominated, and that the general officers had agreed thai thirteen was a sufficienl num- ber, 1 > 1 1 1 that the) were in want of tools and stock. OD. Ordered, Thai commissions be given to the officers of Col. Scam- mell's regiment, excepl Buch captains as have already received their commissions, agreeabl) to the list by him exhibited. Ordered, Thai Col. Prescott, Col. Preeman, I f < «n. Mr Spooner, .Mr. Partridge, Col. Cushing, Col. Spaulding ami Col. Saver, be a commit- tee to consider the petition of Capt. Jacob Gerrish, and -even other captains in the Massachusetts array. Ordered, Thai Col. Richmond be, and hereby is appointed, to coun- tersign the notes, which were ordered to be prepared for the soldiers' advance pay, in the room of Major Puller, who decline- serving fur- ther in thai business. Ordered, Thai Deacon Baker, Major Brooks, Mr. Nichols and Col. Grout, be added to tin- committee who were appointed bj the lasl < lon- gress, to draw up - • easj and concise method of making salt petre i ■ w it ihip», and of nuffering mid dUtreu from •I tin- ma ntioned in il>« t«*i 292 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 2, Ordered, That the officers of Col. Gardner's regiment be commis- sioned agreeably to the list by him exhibited. Ordered, That Capt. Parker, Capt. Thatcher, Mr. Jewett, Col. Por- ter and Mr. Singletary, be a committee to consider what is best to be done with the horses lately taken from Noddle's Island. The committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of Capt. Jacob Gerrish and others, reported, verbally, that they think it expedient that Col. Gerrish be notified to attend said committee, to- morrow morning, at eight o'clock, at the house of Mr. Learned, in Watertown, if he sees cause : thereupon, Ordered, That the same committee be directed to bring in a short resolve for this purpose. The committee appointed to consider what is best to be done with the horses taken from Noddle's Island, reported. The report was ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider what shall be done with the horses taken by our forces from Noddle's Island, which belong to our enemies, beg leave to report : that the same horses be delivered to the committee of supplies, to be by them used and improved for the bene- fit of the colony, as they shall think fit, until further order from this or some future congress, or house of representatives. Ordered, That Col. Farley, Deacon Baker and Mr. Batchelder, be a committee to inquire of the committee of safety, what progress has been made in the raising a regiment for the train. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve, whereby to notify Col. Gerrish to appear before said committee to-morrow morning, re- ported the following, which was read and accepted, and Capt. Thatcher was desired to carry it to Col. Gerrish this evening. It is as follows, viz. : To Col. Samuel Gerrish : A number of gentlemen have presented a petition to this Congress, in behalf of themselves and the men they have enlisted, praying that Capt. Moses Little and Mr. Isaac Smith may be appointed and com- missioned as two <>! the field officers over them. Six of the said peti- tioners are returned by you as your captains, as appears by your return, and the petition In- been committed to a committee, to hear the peti- tioner- and report to the Congress; and it is, therefore, Ordered, that the -ml Col. Samuel Gerrish be notified, and he is hereby notified, to attend the said committee, at the house of Mr. Learned, in Watertown, the 3d day of June instant, at eight o'clock in the forenoon. i:. THIRD PROVINC] \l. CONGRESS !:• id and accepted, and Capl Thatcher was desired to carry this resoh e t<> Col. ( lerrish tin- e\ enii The committee appointed t<> consider the subject of the letter from tin' selectmen of Hopkinton, again reported. The considerati f the report was ordered to he put off till to-morrow morning, el< o'clo The committee appointed (<> wait on the Rev. .Mr. Gordon, report- ed, that they had informed Mr. Gordon thai tin- Congress had ap- pointed him their chaplain, and that Mr. Gordon told them he would attend tin- Congress to-morrow morni 'I'll.' committee appointed to consider the expense Mr. Phelps had been upplying the M forces at Tic !■ i luh- ited an account, which they looked upon was not supported by any hers, and therefore submitted the matter to Congress. Ordered, that the consideration of the si ■ be put <>tl' to to-morrow morning. The Congress then adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Saturday-, Jum- ::. 177.">. Ordered, That ('<>!. rainier, Col. Davis, Mr. Glover, Deacon Gould and Mr. Webster, be a committee to consider a resolve of the commit- tee of safety, respecting a person in Brookline, who is broke out with the small pox, and that the} sil forthwith. e committee appointed t<> consider the situation and circumstan- of tli<- islands and I-; That the petition of Col. Lithgow be committed to tl mit- ■ 2d. \ i solve "ii the subject of Mr. Nye's letter, [which is as i"< >1- IOWS : J \\ hi n is, the forces undei the command of general Gage, are fre- quentl) plundering and making depredations <>n the islands and sea coasts of this province, particularly <>n the island <>i Nashawn, and « »t In r- adjacent ; whereby, not only individuals, bul the public, are much injured, and our enemies strengthened. Resolved, thi that it be recommended t<> all those persons occupying the islands >>r foresaid, which are exposed to be ravaged <>r plundered, and cannot be defended by the inhabitants ; to remove all their hay, cattle, horses, sheep, &c, so far into the country, or otherwise dis- of them, that the) maj I"- out "f the way <>!" '>ur implacable i ■ that it be recommended to the committee of correspon- dence, m each town and district, <>r selectmen, where no such commit- n, to take effectual care that this resolve be imm 294 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 3, strictly and fully executed, and that all persons who refuse to comply herewith, be viewed as disposed to furnish our enemies with such un- removed hay and stock, and shall therefore be held as inimical to the liberty and rights of this country.] The committee appointed to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, viz. : Whereas, a person is now broke out with the small pox, at Brook- line, on the road between Cambridge and Roxbury, whereby the pub- lic in general, and the camps in particular, will be greatly endangered, if said person is suffered to remain in said house : Therefore, Resolved, That said person be immediately removed to the house of Ebenezer Smith in Little Cambridge, wherein the small pox has lately been ; and that the selectmen of Brookline are hereby directed to remove said person to said house, in the most careful man- ner, at the expense of said town of Brookline; and the selectmen of Cambridge are hereby directed to receive said person into said Smith's house. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Hon. Mr. Spooner, Major Bliss, Hon. Mr. Sever, Col. Freeman, Col. Farley and Col. Richmond, be a com- mittee to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, relative to a reenforcement of the Massachusetts army, for the protection of the sea coasts, &c. ; and that this committee be directed to confer with the committee of safety on the subject of it ; and that those gentle- men, who have been appointed and commissioned as general officers, be invited to the conference. Also, Resolved, That eight o'clock, on Monday morning next, be assigned for such conference, to be held at Cambridge, and that the committee of safety, and the said general officers, be served with a copy of this resolve. A number of papers from the committee of safety, respecting Col. Jonathan Brewer, were read. 1 Resolved, That the further consideration of the papers relative to Col. Jonathan Brewer, be referred to the afternoon, three o'clock. Afternoon. Ordered, That a commission be prepared, and delivered to Col. John Nixon. Ordered, That Mr. Gieenleaf, Capt. Bragdon and Mr. Sawyer, be a I The coi Fet) charged Col. Brewer witli having obtained the men enlisted into the regiment he had formed, from others corps, by wrong representations; and with converting private property to his own use without proper authority 1775.] THIRD PROVINC1 \l. I ONGRES8 committee to der the petition ol a number of persona of the town of Dartmouth.' The committee on the petition of Jacob < i.rri-li and other-, report- ed i erballj iblj to « hich report, /,' olved, Thai the petition I r granted, as thai the petitioners be directed to applj to the committee of safety, tor :i recommendation to this Congress, to commission Capt. Moses Little as colonel of a ■in-lit in the Massachusetts armi . Ordered, Thai Col. Dwight, Hon. .Mr. Sever, Col. Farley, Major B - and Mr. Edwards, be a committee to take into consideration a letter from Col. James Easton, and report. j The ] ordei of the daj | w as] ved lor. The papers respecting Col. Brewer were read. After deb Moved, Thai the matter subside; the question being put, it passed in the negative. Moved, that the petitioner be admitted on the floor; the question was put, and il passed in the negative. Resolved, That Tuesda) next, al eighl o'clock, A. M., be assigned for i Col. Jonathan Brewer, on the subject of certain papers laid before this * !ongress by order of the committee of safety, and that the committee of safety, as also Col. Brewer, be servi d ith a copy of this resolve, and that Col. Brewer be directed to bring with him a re- turn of the number of men enlisted in his regiment, distinguishing how manj are presenl at head quarters, and how many are absent. Agreeablj to an order of < Ion jre s, a colo livered to < !ol. John Nixon. The committee on the petition from Dartmouth, reported. The re- port being amended, was accepted, and is as follows, \i/.. : ( >n the petition of David Shepherd and others, from Dartmouth, representing that uneasiness has arisen on account of s id petitioners fitting oui sundry vessels for whaling voyages, and for Indie-, R )h d, thai the petitioner- be informed, that this Congress know of no objection to their pursuing the above voyage, or anj otherwhere thej are willing to risk their interest, provided thai the owners and D i ■ i ; " t li 11 1 iu. - of oui \ ib foi " two « itli lam ii of « lii i h an the town, i or V I tonnii thould Provincial I hich " ill 1 ilivo to ii. i ■ 296 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 3, masters of such vessels strictly adhere to the resolutions of the Conti- nental Congress. Ordered, That a messenger be forthwith sent to the receiver general with the following letter, viz. : Sir : — The absolute necessity of paying the colony forces immedi- ately, having been duly considered by this Congress, and not being able to make necessary payments, to prevent the troops from returning home, without your being present ; you are therefore directed, upon the receipt of this order, immediately to repair to this place, and make the utmost despatch in completing the signing of the bills wanted for the above purposes. P. S. — The Congress is just informed, that a gentleman at Salem has =£500, which he is willing to lend the province ; which would be of the greatest importance to pay immediately to the soldiers, and might prevent the greatest mischiefs. Resolved, That Mr. Phillips be desired to repair to Salem to Mr. Becket, desiring him to bring, or send, the money he has offered to lend the province, to this place, to-morrow morning, and take a note therefor from the receiver general. Ordered, That Capt. Stone be directed to apply to Mr. Revere, de- siring him to attend the business of stamping the notes for the sol- diers, all the ensuing night, if he can, and to finish them with the greatest despatch possible ; and also to despatch a messenger to Major Fuller, desiring him to attend to countersign them. Adjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow morning. Sunday, June 4, 1775. Resolved, That Col. Henshaw be admitted to give an account of his proceedings at Connecticut, where he was sent by the last Congress on the affair of Tieonderocra. Resolved, That Col. Asa Whitcomb be directed to pay the advance pay to those companies of Col. Patterson's regiment, who came from the county of Berkshire, out of the first money he may receive from the receiver general. Resolved, That Col. Lemuel Robinson be directed to pay the ad- vance pay to the three companies of Col. [Fellow's] regiment, which came from the county of Berkshire, out of the first money he may re- ceive from the receiver general. Ordered, That the papers exhibited by Col. Henshaw be put into 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 297 the hands of the committee of safety, and the committee of this Con- gress, who are appointed to confer with them to-morrow morning. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Hon. Mr. Spooner and Col. Prescott, be a committee to inquire what number of colony notes are struck off, how many are signed, whether the press is now going, and to make a thorough inquiry in this respect, and report at the adjournment. Ordered, That Doct. Whiting be appointed to employ a messenger, to be sent to Major Fuller, directing his attendance to the service of countersigning the notes, immediately. 1 Ordered, That Capt. Bragdon and Col. Thompson, be appointed to attend Mr. Revere whilst he is striking off the notes for advance pay to the soldiers, eight and day, ['alternately,] till they are all struck off. The committee on Col. Easton's letter, reported, that it was their opinion it would be best to commit it to the committee who were ap- pointed to confer with the committee of safety, to-morrow morning : it was accordingly given to the Hon. Mr. Spooner. Ordered, That the key and billet delivered to this Congress, from Major Fuller, by Capt. Stone, be put into the hands of the committee who were appointed to make inquiry respecting the colony notes. Adjourned to twelve o'clock. [Noon.] Met at twelve o'clock. Ordered, That Col. Richmond be excused from serving on the com- mittee who were appointed to confer with the committee of safety, be- ing engaged in countersigning the notes, and that Col. Gerrish attend that service in his stead. Adjourned to four o'clock, afternoon. [Afternoon.] Met at four o'clock, and adjourned to Monday morning, eight o'clock. Monday, June 5, 1775. A petition from Truro for powder was read. Resolved, That the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition. Ordered, That Col. Foster be, and hereby is appointed, to counter- sign the $20, *14, and £6 notes. Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Mr. Phillips and Mr. [ b Goodwin,] be ap- pointed to number the notes which are preparing for advance pay for the soldiers. Mr. Pickering, to number the sheets struck off on the first plate: Mr. Phillips, those of the second; and Mr. ["Goodwin,] those of the third. a [alternatively.] iJooding.] (1) Majoi Pallet was detained, by sickness, from nttonrlnnrp on tho committer. 38 298 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 5, Ordered, That the letter from Gov. Trumbull, just received and read, be committed to the committee of safety, and the committee ap- pointed to confer with them. Ordered, That Col. Foster bring in a resolve, appointing some per- sons to examine and inspect the mineral earth, brought by him to this place. Col. Foster brought in a resolve accordingly, which was accepted, and is as follows : Resolved, That Doct. Whiting, Deacon Baker and Col. Grout, be a committee to inquire into the nature and quality of the said mineral earth, and in such inquiry to consult the Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq. and Mr. Professor Sewall, and such other persons as they may think proper, and report to this Congress as soon as may be. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Greenleaf, Mr. Partridge, Col. Cushing and Mr. Edwards, be a committee to hold a conference with the general officers of the American army, and to inquire of them whether there is any thing this Congress can do to preserve the health of said army. A petition, signed by Phillip Hubbard and others, was read, and or- dered to lie on the table. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Cushing, Capt. Holmes, Mr. Part- ridge and Mr. Currier, be a committee to consider what order it would be proper for this Congress to take relative to any letters which have been or may be intercepted. Ordered, That Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Stone of Lexington, be ap- pointed to inquire what is become of a letter said to be sent by the Stockbridge Indians to this Congress. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve respecting intercept- ed letters, reported ; the report was read and accepted, and is as fol- lows, viz. : Whereas, it has been represented to this Congress, that several let- ters, and packets of letters, of public concernment, wrote to and by the avowed enemies of this country, have fallen into the hands of sun- dry persons in this colony ; and, whereas, it appears absolutely neces- sary that all such letters should be immediately laid before this Con- gress, for their consideration ; therefore, Resolved, that all persons who now are, or shall hereafter be possessed of such letters, shall lay them, as soon as may be, before this, or some future Congress, for their ad- visement thereon. Afternoon. Resolved, That the resolve which passed this Congress, relative to accommodating the Rev. Mr. Emerson with one of the horses taken gSs Xngcles County Law LIEJejv L776.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. from the regulars, be so far reconsidered, as that it be recommitted, for ;i plainer description of the horse intended to be delivered to him; and thai Col. Batchelder and Col. Dwight be added t.» the- committee, in the room of Doct. Taylor and Col. Bowers, who are absent. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to the officers of Col. Nixon's regiment, agreeably to the list bj him exhibited. Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Col. Barrett, Capt. Holmes, Col. Bowers and Col. Sawyer, be a committee to consider the proposal of Capt. Poster, relative to removing the poor, and the goods of the poor, of the town of Boston, into the country. Resolved, Thai the committee of supplies be directed to lay before this Congress, in writing, an account of their proceedings, with respect to the memorandum of Gen. Ward for sundrj military stores, commit- ted t > them b) the last Congress. Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Capt. Smith and Col. Goodrich, be a committee to impure of the committee of supplies, if they have sent to New York for any of the powder, which, it is said, is lately arrived there. Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Capt. Holmes, Mr. Sawyer, Col. Grout and Mr. Webster, be a committee to bring in a resolve in addition to the resolve of the last Congress, respecting the poor of the town of Boston, passed the lir>t nlti , winch shall extend to BUch of the poor of said town, sufferers by the Boston port bill, as were removed out of that town before the date of said resolvi The committee appointed to inquire into the nature and qualities of the mineral earth, brought by Col. Foster from Brooktield, reported, that it was their opinion, and the opinion of those whom they con- versed with thereon, that it contains a matter useful for the production of nitre, but that there was ton -mail a quantity for an experiment : Whereupon, Ordered, That this committee be directed to appoint some suitable person, to repair to Brookfield, to make some experi- ment with the mineral earth, which is said to be there in large quanti- ties. Ordered, Thai the Hon. Mr. Dexter, Col. Otis, Col. Porter, Capt Stone of Oakham, and Capt. Stone of Pramingham, be a committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of giving a currency to the bills of credit of all the governments on the continent. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve descriptive of the horse designed for Mr. Emerson, reported ; the report was u-.u\ and accepted, and i- as follow - Whereas, in a resolve of this Congress, passed the 1-t instant, the 300 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 5, horse appointed for the use of the Rev. Mr. Emerson of Concord, was not so fully described as that Thomas Read of Woburn, the keeper of said horse, could, with safety, deliver him to said Emerson ; therefore, Resolved, that said Read be, and hereby is directed, to deliver a cer- tain sorrel horse, that was taken by the guards, at Roxbury, from an officer of general Gage's troops, on the 20th of April last, to said Emerson, he paying a reasonable sum for the keeping said horse, and said Mr. Emerson is hereby permitted to keep and use said horse, un- til the further order of this Congress. Ordered, That Col. Porter, Capt. Stone of Oakham, Capt. Part- ridge, Col. Otis and Deacon Baker, be a committee to consider the letter from Mr. Gridley to the committee of safety, and to confer with them thereon, and also on the state of the artillery in general. Resolved, That the four prisoners brought to this Congress by ser- geant John Parker, be committed to the custody of the guard, which is appointed to guard the public stores in Watertown, till further or- ders of this Congress ; and that the commissary be directed to provide what provisions they may stand in need of, till to-morrow morning. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan bring in a resolve, for the purpose of discouraging and preventing persons from taking any notes or bills of credit, of this, or the other colonies, under the value specified therein. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for giving currency to the notes of the other governments, reported : the report was or- dered to lie on the table, till Mr. Sullivan had brought in the resolve for which he was just now appointed. Ordered, That Col. Cutt, Capt. Parker, Mr. Page, Capt. Morton and Capt. Stone, of Oakham, be a committee to make some establish- ment for an allowance of provisions for the soldiers of the Massachu- setts army. Resolved, That Friday next, at three o'clock, P. M., be assigned for the consideration of the report of Col. Thompson, relative to his pro- ceedings at Kennebeck. Adjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow morning. Tuesday, June 6, 1775. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Cushing, Mr. Partridge, Mr. Greenleaf and Col. Glover, be a committee, to devise some means whereby the army may be more regularly supplied with the necessaries procured for it by the colony. [The] order of the day [was] moved for. Resolved, That those members who are out upon committees be directed to attend. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRE.- 301 lii>nlr,(l, That three o'clock, P. If., be assigned for the choice <>f a v ice president. Ordered, Thai Col. Thompson, Major Brooks and Col. Cott, be a committee to inquire into the circumstances of bringing tin- four pris- oners t'» this place yesterday. Moved, That the Congress take son rder at this time relative to the prisoners : the question being put, il passed in the aegath The papers respecting Col. Brewer w< re read, and Col. Brewer was then admitted, and, on his request, Resolved,thai ('apt. Edwards, Capt. Butler, Lieut. Tuckerman, Col. Buckminster, Mi. Cudworth, Thomas Withington and Capt. Gray, be admitted on the floor of tin- bouse, as [ ^witnesses j in the cause. The complaint of the committee of safety being read, and Col. Brewer having had leave of making bis defence, he was full) heard therein, as were also the witnesses by him produced, the galleries being lir»t opened for any who were inclined to hear the cause. Col. Brewer, having offered what he saw fit, withdrew with his wit- nesses, and the galleries being cleared, Resolved, that the further con- sideration of this matter be referred to the afternoon The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for giving currency to the bills of credit of the other governments, reported: the report was ordered to lie upon the table till the afternoon. [ Afternoon 1 I oted, That the resolve, which passed in the forenoon, for choosing a \ice president, be reconsidered. The Congress Presumed] the consideration of the case of Mh Brewer; and, after a long and full debate, it w a- Moved, thai the question be put whether the president should be directed to deliver a commission to Mr. Brewer, as colonel of a regiment in the Massachu- setts army, ami it passed in the negative : the number of members pre-ent beni^r 150, and but 70 for the question. Mr ( ' 1 1 ~ 1 1 1 1 1 15 informed the Congress, that Mr. Benjamin Edwards on hearing, at the door of this house, of the determination of the Con- irre>> respecting Mr. Brewer, made use of the following expression, viz.: " By God, if this pros nice i- to be governed m tin- manner, it i> time for u- to look out, and 'tis all owing to the committee of safety, a puk of sappy-head-fellows. I know three of them myself." Wl upon. Resolved, thai Mr. Edward- be directed to attend this hou make answer to the above charge. Mr. Edwards being called in, and a [evidence] b[ro»i»umcd.J 302 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 6, having heard the charge alleged against him, it was Resolved, that Mr. Edwards have leave to withdraw, and that he be directed to attend this Congress to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock. The petition of Major Baldwin, 1 being read and considered, it is thereupon Ordered, that the Rev. president Langdon be requested to furnish Major Baldwin, out of the college apparatus, with [such] instru- ments as he stands in need of, to perform the public services therein mentioned, he giving his receipt therefor, to return the same in good order, as soon as the said services shall be performed. A resolve of the committee of safety, relative to the [ a admission] of slaves into the army was read, and ordered to lie on the table for fur- ther consideration. The committee appointed to bring in an additional resolve, relative to making provision for the poor of Boston, reported : the report was read, amended and accepted, and ordered to be printed in the Cam- bridge, Watertown and Worcester papers ; and is as follows : Whereas, the provision already made for the removal of the poor of Boston, suffering by the cruel hand of arbitrary power, has not an- swered the salutary purposes intended, and it becomes necessary that further provision be made, therefore, Resolved, that such suffering poor shall be allowed to remove into any town or district in the colony, other than such towns or districts as are already ordered to provide for and receive the number of said poor to them assigned ; and every town and district in the colony, that shall receive and provide necessary support for such suffering poor, shall be indemnified, in every respect, as fully as any other town or district in the colony, provided they ob- serve and comply with directions already given relative to said poor. And, whereas, in the present distressed circumstances and confusion of the town of Boston, some of said poor have or may remove out of said town without proper certificates from the committee of donations, and the town to which such persons remove, may refuse to receive them for want of the same ; Resolved, that it be recommended to the select- men of the several towns and districts in this colony to which such persons may remove, that such provision be made, as is necessary to prevent their suffering, until such certificate can be procured; and such town or district shall be indemnified, as before provided, they observing the directions given in the resolve passed by the last Con- it [Inadmission.] (1) The petition of Loammi Baldwin represented, that Gen. Ward had approved of a proposal for taking surveys of the ground between the ramp of the Massachusetts army and the posts of the British troops, and requosted the loan of mathematical instruments from the apparatus of Harvard College, to he used in the execution of Uiis service. 1775.] THIRD PROVING l.\l. I ONGRESG 303 se relative to said poor ; and such persona --hall I idered l>ari of their assignment And, whereas, it is found extreme!) difficult for the committees at Charlestown and Roxburj to remove said poor to the several town- and districts to which thej are destined, for want of teams to go Bach a distance as is necessary in manj cases, il is farther recommended to the selectmen of each town and district in this colony, thai they assisl iu removing -aid poor, upon everj necessary occasion, when n is in their power, to the several places of their signment, keeping a particular account of their trouble and expena and the nam.- of the persons thej assisted, and they -h all be paid in manner as before provided. And the committees at Charlestown and Eloxbury, who were appointed by this Congress to make provision tor such poor as might come out of the town of Boston, are desired to procure a list of said pour from the committee of donations for future ii-.' . and also, t" take the advantage "t" the teams that maj come from the westward, for the removal of said poor by every opportunity in their power. Ordered, That the committee appointed to inquire into the circum- stances <>f !>rni£rinrT four prisoners from < lambridge, be directed to make such provision for them as is necessary, till further orders from this Congress, and that -Mr. Robinson be added to the committee, and that said committee report what they think would be best to be don.^ with them. Adjourned to Wednesday morning, eighl o'clock. \\ i MM boat, June 7, IT 1 Ordered, Thai Mr. Sullivan, Col. Parker, Mr. Webster, Major Ful- ler and Col. Prescott, be a committee to wait on General Ward, re- questing him to exhibit to this Congress a return of the number of men in the Massachusetts army, and thai Mr. Sullivan. Doct. Holicnand Mr. Cushing be a committee, to bring in a resolve tor this purpose. The committee appointed to consider what is besl to be done with the tour prisoners broughl from Dartmouth, via Cambridge, reported : the report was recommitted \ petition from the inhabitants of Machias was read and committed to Mr Batchelder, Col. Otis, Mr. Nichols, Mr Lothrop and Mr. Web- ster, to consider thereon and report. 1 it the petition meDtionod in tbe text. It *u ■ubecribed by Jo and ihir thai citiz. ■hr Bono* ' '•' I ..I vi II Mis v\ m, the bigheal Mtiiikctioo, »■ now •' ""• 304 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 7, The committee appointed to inquire what is become of the original letter from the Stockbridge Indians, reported, that they think it proba- ble, from what they have on inquiry heard, that it is in the hands of the Hon. Mr. Hancock. The committee appointed to consider of Col. Gridley's letter to the committee of safety, beg leave to report in part, that an ordnance store- keeper be immediately appointed, and recommend that Major Nathaniel Barber be appointed to that employment, and beg leave to sit again, to report a proper establishment, as also to report what further [ a steps] are necessary to be taken as requested in Col. Gridley's letter. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to the lieutenants and en- signs of Col. Mansfield's regiment, agreeably to the list by him exhib- ited. Ordered, That Mr. Edwards, Col. Porter, Doct. Whiting, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Goodridge, be a committee to consider the letters from the Stockbridge Indians, and report. extensive and wealthy province, and relying on your wisdom, the wisdom of the Continental Con- gress, the justice of our cause, and the tender mercy of our fathers' God, we promise ourselves, in due time, a happy deliverance from the iron chains of tyranny, which were forming for us, and from servitude equal to Egyptian bondage." " As a part, therefore, of your charge, we, the distressed inhabitants of Machias, beg leave to approach your presence, and to spread our grievances at your feet. We dare not say we are the foremost in supporting the glorious cause of American liberty ; but this we can truly affirm, that we have done our utmost to encourage and strengthen the hands of all the advocates for America with whom we have been connected ; that we have not even purchased any goods of those persons, whom we suspected to be inimical to our country, except when constrained by necessity ; and that none on the continent can more cheerfully risque all that is dear to them on earth, when called, in support of those precious privileges which God [gave,] and our venerable ancestors, as a most in- valuable legacy, have handed down to us." " We must now inform your honors, that the inhabitants of this place exceed one hundred fam- ilies, some of which are very numerous, and that divine Providence has cut otf all our usual re- sources. A very severe drought last fall prevented our laying in sufficient stores ; and had no vessels visited us in the winter, we must have suffered ; nor have we this spring been able to procure provisions sufficient for carrying on our business. Our laborers are dismissed ; some of our mills stand still ; almost all our vessels have forsaken us ; our lumber lies by us in heaps ; and, to complete our misfortunes, all our ports are to be shut up on the first of July next ; we must add, we have no country behind us to lean upon, nor can we make an escape by flight; the wilderness is impervious, and vessels we have n>.ne." "To you, therefore, honored gentlemen, we humbly apply for relief. You are our last, our only resource, and, permit in again to say, you are our guardians, and we rejoice and glory in being sub- ject [to you]. Pardon our importunity. We cannot take a denial, for, under God, you are all our dependanro, anil if yon neglect 08, wo are ruined. Save, dear sirs, one of your most flourishing settlements from famine, and all its horrors. We ask not for charity ; we ask for a supply, to be put into the liamU of M^-r*. Smith ami Stillman, or any other person or persons your wisdom may point out, who shall obligate themselves to pay the whole amount on demand in lumber, the only staple of our country." " That God ma; long preserve you, and make you happily instrumental in his hand, in bestowing all the sweets of peace and liberty to this much injured country, and even to Great Britain herself, is the constant ami fervent prayer of, gentlemen, your most humble petitioners," " Machias, May 25, 1775." a [stores.] 177.-,.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRE8S. 306 \ petition from Col. Brewer, and another from several nominal cap- i tins under him, were read and ordered to In- on the table. Two resolves from the Continental Congress were read, and ordered to be printed in hand bills, and dispersed throughout the colony. Col. Porter, Col. Tyng and Mr. Jewett, were appointed a committee to prepare a resolve for the purpose of carrying into execution the Baid resolves. Resolved, Thai Mr Edwards be called in, and admonished by the president: which was done accordingly. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to Col. Fellowes and the officers of his regiment, agreeably to the lisl exhibited l>\ In- lieutenant colonel. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve, expressive of the. dutj of the committee who were appointed this day to wait on General Ward, reported. The report was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Parks, Mr. Webster, Major Fuller and Col. Prescott, be a committee to wait on the lion, general Ward, and hold a conference with him on the state of the army, and to desire him to make a return, as soon as may be, to tin- Congress, of the number and equipments of the troops raised by this colony, and now in the ramps at Cambridge and Roxbury, and stationed el-ewhere, that due ad\ isement be had thereon. The Hon. Mr. Spooner, Hon. Mr. Sever, Hon. Col. Bowers, ap- pointed to consider a memorial from the convention of Worcester, being absent, Ordered, that the lion. Mr. Dexter, Col. D wight, and dpi. Stone, be appointed in their stead. A memorial from the selectmen of the town of Salem was read, and committed to Col. Glover, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Wheeler. The report of the committee appointed to bring in a resolve for giv- ing currency to the bills of credit of the other governments, was read and recommitted. Ordered, That Mr. Orne, Col. Porter and Mr. Whittemore, be a committee to consider the petition of Benjamin Ames, and seven other companies of Col. Fry's regiment, and report The committee on the petition of the inhabitants of Maclua- report- ed. The report was ordered to lie upon the table for further consider- ation [ \ ftornoob.] Ordered, Thai Col. Warren, Hon. Sir. Dexter, Col. Gerrish, Col. Otis and Col. Farley, be a committee to confer with the two gentlemen 39 306 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 7, members of the Congress of New Hampshire, who have brought a let- ter from that Congress to this. Resolved, That to-morrow, four o'clock, P. M., be assigned for the choice of two gentlemen to act as major generals in the Massachusetts army. The report of the committee on the letter from Hopkinton was read : the consideration of it was put off to five o'clock this afternoon. On the representation of the town clerk of Lunenburg, in his letter to Doct. Taylor, respecting their town's stock of powder, &c, Resolved, that that town be excused from delivering out of their stock any more than one half barrel ; the resolve of the former Congress, directing the selectmen of said town to deliver two [barrels], to the order of the committee of supplies, notwithstanding. Ordered, That Mr. Orne and Mr. Vose, be of the committee ap- pointed to collect the letters of the late Governor Hutchinson, in the room of Doct. Perkins and Mr. Ellis, who are absent. The committee appointed to inquire into the circumstances of the four prisoners, reported. The report was amended and accepted, and is as follows : [The committee appointed to take into consideration the circum- stances of four prisoners brought to this Congress on the second day of June instant, said to be taken at Dartmouth, since the nineteenth of April last, beg leave to report : that it is the opinion of this committee, that the said four prisoners, viz. : Richard Luckus, mate of the ship Falcon, John Dunkinson, surgeon's mate, Jonathan Lee and Robert Caddy, be sent to Concord, to the care of the selectmen of said town, to be by them secured and provided for, agreeably to their rank, at the expense of this colony, until they receive some further order, from this or some other Congress or house of representatives of this colony.] The committee appointed to confer with the gentlemen from the New Hampshire Congress, reported, verbally ; whereupon, Ordered, that said committee be directed to reduce their report to writing. The report of the committee on the petition from the inhabitants of M:ichias, being again read, was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider the petition of the inhabitants of Machias, beg leave to report, that it be recommended by this Con- gress to the committee of correspondence of the town of Salem, or to the like committees of any other towns within this province, to supply Messrs. Gardner &. Smith, of said Machias, for the present relief of the said inhabitants, with the following articles, viz. : one hundred Imshels of iudian corn ; ten barrels of pork and beef; one cask of mo- 1776.] THIRD PROVIN< I \1. < < rNGRESG 307 ind one cask <»t' rice; and tnk.-. in return tor tin- -un. <>r -mli othei paymenl aa t h.- said Gardner and Smith m ij make: and in ease they, or their constituents, the above said inhabi- tants, should nut make satisfaction foi the same in a reasonable time, it shall be allowed and paid out of the public treasury of this province, and the -.ml inhabitants shall refund the same as -non a< ma] be Your committee further report , that a recommendation go from this Congress to the governor and companj >'t' the colony of Connecticut, tffer the inhabitants of the eastern part- of this colony, t<> purchase and carrj out of said colon] of Connecticut, Buch provisions as their necessitous circumstances ma) require. The committee appointed to confer with the gentlemen from N Hampshire, having reduced theii report to writing, the same was read and accepted, and 1- as follows, viz.: Resolved, That an application be made by this Congress to the Con- tinental Congress, desiring them to take such measures as to them shall appear proper, to quiet and conciliate the mind- of the inhabitants of Canada, and the several trihes of Indians adjacent to these colonies, and prevent any unfavorable apprehensions, from the military prepara- tions of the several colonic- m America, ami that the other three N< 1 England colonies, with the colony of New York, be desired t<» join in such an application. /.'< olved, That letter- be immediately written to the colonies of Con- necticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, desiring them, severally, ppoint committee-, to meet a committer appointed b] tin- Con- gress, it the town of Worcester, in this colony, on Wednesday, the 28th day of June current, m order to settle and determine the number of men to be raised on the present emergency, by each of the V England colonies: and likewise to determine where they shall I" tioned and employed. 1 (I) Tho reaolut 1.111- were founded on pn of the Provincial Co communicated bj del nding on the aaaemblv of Maasachuaetts, and low in;; letter : In Provincial I •• 1 . 1 '. \ 1 I.I.MIA II ivii / undoubted evidence of the attempt* of the British miniitrj to ongnge 1 in their interoit, in the present conl ttli A ri ' we have though) it i ihoald , to defend, and quiet the minda of the i" ople moi in the 1 a number of 1 1 iport- " ^ .11 will concur in mch rniir » iadoi • >r whom b . aenaibl) I 308 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 7, Whereupon, Ordered, that the president, Hon. Mr. Sever, and the Hon. Mr. Dexter, be a committee, to prepare an application to the Continental Congress, and a letter to each of the colonies of Connecti- cut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, and a letter to New York, agreeably to the foregoing resolve. Resolved, That to-morrow, 5 o'clock, P. M., be assigned for the choice of three members of this Congress, as a committee, to meet committees from the colonies of Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, agreeably to the foregoing resolve. The committee appointed to confer with the committee of safety, on the subject of their resolve relative to a reinforcement of the army, re- ported, [as follows :] [The committee appointed to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, of the 2d instant, relative to a reinforcement of the Massachu- setts army, have attended that service, and having, agreeably to the order of Congress, conferred with the committee of safety and general officers upon the subject matter of the resolves, beg leave, upon mature deliberation, to report, that it appears to the committee inexpedient and unnecessary for this colony to augment, at present, the forces already voted by it to be established for the defence of this and the other American colonies. Elbridge Gerry, Chairman.] Whereupon, Resolved, That to-morrow, nine o'clock, be assigned for the consideration of the said report, and that the committee of safety, the committee of supplies, and the several committees for this Congress, be notified of this assignment, and be desired to attend at that time, if they can with conveniency. Ordered, That the Hon. Col. Warren, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Gerry, the president, Col. Freeman, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Batchelder, Hon. Mr Dexter and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee, to consider the expediency of establishing a number of small armed vessels, to cruise on our sea " We furthermore think it suitable, just to suggest, that we have some apprehensions, lest our military manoeuvres in the frontiers, should raise a jealousy in the minds of the Canadians, and awaken their fears of direct intentions of hostilities against them. We should give them the most positive assurances upon this head, that we desire nothing more than our own security ; and that it is our most hearty wish to remain in steady terms of friendship with them. And in order to the more regular, harmonious, and effectual prosecution of the important object aforesaid, as also other valuable purposes, that we conceive it may answer, we would humbly move for a conference by a committee, with a committee from you, at such time and place as you shall please to appoint, and to consider of an address to be forwarded to the Canadians : and put it in the power of this Congress to join with you, and, if it might be, with the other New England colonies, and New York, that thi« negotiation might answer the most effectual purpose. By order of Congress. I am your moBt obedient, humble servant, MATTHEW THORNTON, President." To the Hon. Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts Bay. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. coast.-, for the protection of <>ur trade, and the annoyance of our en< - mil's: and that the members be enjoined, by order nt' < '•►iiLfrt — , to observe secrecy in tin- matter. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Col. Porter, Hon. Mr. Se\er. .Mr Greenleaf and Mr. Partridge, be a committee to consider at large on some measure for ["c missioning] the officers of the army. Ordered, That the -ecretary he directed to sen e General Ward with a list <>t' tlie officers of the army, commissioned by tin- Congress Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. THUBSDATj June 3, 177.".. An account of the t a l< 1 1 1 lT ;i sloop which sailed from Boston for An- napolis tor baj ami other stores foi the use of the arm] at Boston, from the con mi it lee of the tou u of A i ii ii del, 1 was read, as also se\eral letters which were found on board said sloop. Whereupon, Resolved, That the thanks of this Congress be given to said commit- tee for their care and judicious conduct in this affair. The order of the day [was] moved for. Resolved, That this Congress will resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, which was done according . The committee of the whole house, by Col. Warren, their chairman, reported, that the committee have not sufficient time to deliberate on a mutter of such importance, and therefore desire leave to sit again; which report was accepted by the Congress. Afternoon. The committee of the house reported, that it was the opinion of said committee, that the report of the committee, who were appointed to confer with the committee of safety, on the augmentation of the army, be accepted ; which report was accordingly accepted by this Congri Ordind, That a commission he delivered to Thomas Poor, Esq., as major of a regimenl under the command of Col. Fry. * n [commiaeionating.] (1) TIm' committee of Imndel etale, thai the iloop Polly, belonging to that town, with Ephraim P ■ tor, while retaining from .i ooaating \o\.i_-.- t.i Plymouth, waa leized by a Britiab arm ad veaael, carried into Boaton harbor, and there detained. The 'iirc ».i^ taken into the cuatodj "i i. '■ , and the owner obtained payment of the original coat of the articlea. \ proposition waa made to Mr. Perkina, to enter into 1 1 « . ■ kin^N sen n-f, ami ai-copted, aa affording meana of The iloop waa chartered for Windeor, in N ia, i" rect ive h | < lor the anpply of the troop*, and went ont with J • •- 1 ;• U Jonea aurpercargo, and Jonathan Hicki gtt. The nm»ter aailed directly for Annul. I, n here be arrived on the 9d of Juni . and aurrendt hia comp priaonora, The papera tranamitted to Congreaa, were the charter part] Inalrnotiona, and I acribed by Majoi William ShirreflT, deputy quarter maater general Inting to the objecta and butim Ml of the oiynge. 310 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 8, Resolved, That the choice of two major generals be deferred to four o'clock, to-morrow afternoon. Ordered, That the committee appointed to consider the expediency of establishing several small armed vessels, sit forthwith. The committee appointed to consider on some measures for commis- sioning the officers of the army, reported the following resolve, which was read and accepted, and an hundred of them ordered to be printed, and dispersed among the army. It is as follows, viz. : Whereas, it is necessary to have, as soon as may be, a return of the number and equipments of the forces raised by this colony; and where- as, it is of the utmost importance that such returns should be consistent with the strictest truth : it is therefore Resolved, that if any officer now commissioned in the forces aforesaid, or that shall hereafter be com- missioned therein, shall, wittingly and willingly, after his being so commissioned, make any false return of the numbers or equipments of the men under his command, and shall be thereof convicted before this, or any future Congress of this colony, or before a general court martial of the army raised by this colony, such officer shall be immedi- ately cashiered. And every person now under nomination, or that shall hereafter be nominated to any office in said forces, that shall, wittingly and willingly, make such false return, shall be deemed inca- pable of holding any commission or command in the forces aforesaid, until the last day of December next. The petition of Col. Henshaw was read, and committed to the com- mittee who were appointed to consider on some measure for commis- sioning the officers of the army. Resolved, That the choice of three delegates to meet delegates from the other colonies in New England, at Worcester, be put off to ten o'clock, to-morrow morning. Ordered, That Mr. Gushing of Hanover, Capt. Stone of Oakham, and Dummer Jewett, Esq., be a committee to take into consideration a petition from the committees of correspondence for the county of Cumberland, and that they sit forthwith. Ordered^ That Major Bliss, Major Brooks and Mr. Sayer, be a com- mittee to consider the account of Capt. Phelps, and to consider what sum is necessary to supply Capt. Phelps with, for transporting to Ti- conderoga the pork he lias purchased for our forces there, and bringing the cannon from thence. Ordered, Thai Mr. Wheeler be appointed to number the small colo- ny notes, in the room of Mr. Goodwin, who has leave to go home. The committee appointed to consider the letter from the Stockbridge 1775.] THIRD ?RO\ i\« l \l. I ONGRESS :;n Indians, reported the following, which was accepted, and ordered to be authenticated 1»\ the secretary, if the president it not in N\ atertown, and -in' foru ard. 1 in thi Moheakounuck tribt of Indians, living in and about Stock- bridgi : Brothers We, this day, bj the delegate from Stockbridge, tii>t heard \<"ir friendly answer to our speech to you, l>\ Capt. William Goodrich; winch answer, »<• are told, you mule t<> us immediately, by a letter, which we have nol yel received. We ih>\\ reply. Broth i as : You - >\ thai you were once great, bul thai you are now little; and that we were once little, bul are nov* great. The Supreme Spiril orders these things. Whether \\«' are little or great, lei us keep the path of friendship clear, which mir fathers made, and in which w<- have I". tii travelled to this time. The friends <>f the wicked counsellors of our king fell upon us, and ["he talk «.t" the Moheakounuck or Mukhekantok indians ! by Solomon riilmunnau- waumut, ti ichem, at Stockbridge, the real of the tribe, April 11, 1775, after i letter of the interpreter, containing thi red intrant communication to n late period : it i- low. : VVe have beard you speak by your letter — we thank you for it — « " Bi member w ben you ti r little, ver) small. I then took you in for a friend, and kepi you under . : since ti. S II ruuii I the world, ami I am I : you fbl pi luarrel bel this qu irrel. We nei or till ti.. of this quarrel !■■ tween yoo and thi iu came fn i - ', ■ ■ nr blood running, you vwll soon find me about you t . » i brother'a blood. Although I am l"» and very small, I will gripe bold of your eel, that ho cannot run ! so light, as if be had nothing at his hi el*." "Brothers ! Sfou know I am not so wise as you I l now going to aay. ] you com run to the westward, • I the mind of my Indi in brethren, the S N , or for your enemies, [fl find the] m, I will try to turn their i I think they will listen t" mo, for they have always looked this wa) for idi ill iro- ■ -.mi the rising of the Bun. Iflhoy beark you will n behind you. However their mi roq shall Now I think I rvice in this way, than re: it may be rhile before blood runs. I I this for your consideration, whetl I down inro i • led." •■ It- I would nol have you think by this that we ar.' falliog back rrom .mr onf W to do any thing Ibr \..nr relii I 11 bo guided by your cou i i, if \.>n tend for me to right, that you »ill !• I I u ool usod to fight 1 I isbion, thei roar men. Only point oul to me where youi 312 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 8, shed some blood, soon after we spake to you last, by our letter. But we, with a small twig, killed so many, and frightened them so much, that they have shut themselves up in our great town, called Boston, which they have made strong. We have now made our hatchets and all our instruments of war sharp and bright. All the chief counsellors who live on this side the great water, are sitting in the grand council house in Philadelphia. When they give the word, we shall all, as one man, fall on, and drive our enemies out of their strong fort, and follow them till they shall take their hands out of our pouches, and let us sit in our council house, as we used to do, and as our fathers did in old times. Brothers : Though you are small, yet you are wise : use your wis- dom to help us. If you think it best, go and smoke your pipe with your indian brothers, towards the setting of the sun, and tell them all you hear, and all you see, and let us know what their wise men say. If some of your young men should have a mind to see what we are doing here, let them come down, and tarry among our warriors. We will provide for them while they are here. Brothers : When you have any trouble, come and tell it to us, and we will help you. To Capt. Solomon Uhhaunnauwaunmut, Chief Sachem of the Mohea- koumick tribe of Indians, at Stockbridge. [Whereas, it appears to this Congress, that great benefit may arise to the American cause, should our friends of the Stockbridge, or Moheakounuck tribe of Indians, send belts and messengers to the seve- ral tribes connected with them ; and as the same may be attended with expense ; therefore, Resolved, that the selectmen of the town of Stock- bridge, for the time being, be a committee to promote the forwarding such messengers and belts, and that the committee aforesaid be allowed to draw out of the public moneys, in the hands of Stephen Nash, late collector for the town of Stockbridge aforesaid, any sum or sums, not exceeding fifteen pounds, for which said committee shall account to this, or some future Congress, or house of representatives, and be al- lowed all reason able charges that have or may arise for promoting and forwarding the premises The committee appointed to establish an allowance of provisions for the soldiers, reported. The further consideration of the report was put off to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. A colonel's commission was delivered to Col. John Fellowes. Adjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow morning. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 118 Friday, June 9, I" A petition from the selectmen and others of the town of Manches- ter 1 was read, and committed to the committee who were appointed i<» consider the circumstances of the sea port towns. 1 i. Bowers and Mr Fisher, who were of the committee appointed to consider the petition of the convention of committees ted libert) t men for the defence of the town, t.> be placed <>n the provincial eetablbhment, and bed i" the regimen) ••( the army italiom I titioner*. ition of the i imitteei "i" \v ddition to n former memorial, ihi right of ill" delegatei returned from the diatrieti ofCharltoe «nd Paiton to hold tbi I -<. The objection* eg validity of the election* an no* 10 314 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 9, setts Bay, the convention of which colony is desired to take measures for effectually providing the said island, upon their application to pur- chase the same, with as much provision as shall be necessary for its internal use, and no more. The Congress deeming it of great impor- tance to North America, that the British fishery should not be furnish- ed with provisions from this continent through Nantucket, earnestly recommend a vigilant execution of this resolve to all committees. A true copy from the minutes. Charles Thompson, Sec'ry. The foregoing resolves of the Continental Congress, being read and considered, Resolved, that the same be forthwith printed in hand bills, together with this resolve, and dispersed in the several sea port towns in this colony, that due obedience may be paid to the same. Further, Resolved, that the inhabitants of the island of Nantucket have liberty to purchase such provisions as are necessary for the internal use of said island, in any of the New England governments; provided, never- theless, that no provisions or necessaries of any kind be exported to the said island of Nantucket, without a permit in writing from the committee of safety of this colony, or such person or persons as they shall appoint to give such permit, expressing the quantity so to be trans- ported, be first had and obtained ; and that the same be exported from such port only, in this colony, as shall be expressed in the same permit. The order of the day was moved for. The report of the committee on the establishment of an allowance of provisions for the soldiers, was read and considered, and after de- bate thereon, was recommitted. The committee on the petition from the county of Worcester report- ed, that it is the opinion of the committee, that the delegates chosen by the districts of Paxton and Charlton, as mentioned in said petition, have not a right to seats in this house. Moved, That a commission be delivered to Col. John Glover, as colonel of a regiment in the Massachusetts army. [Afternoon.] The report of the committee on the petition from the county of Wor- cester was considered, and, after much debate, the question was put, whether said report be accepted, and it passed in the negative. Ordered, That the guard who has in custody the prisoners from Arundel, be relieved by a guard from the town of Watertown. Ordered, That Mr. Sayer be added to the committee, who were ap- 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 315 pointed t<> consider some measures f>r commissioning the officers <>( tin- army, in the room of Col. Porter, who has leave of absent Leave of absence was granted to the Rev. Mr. Thayer, and the K Mi Curtis, and it being moved that they be directed to return as soon as ma] be, the question was put, and it passed in the negative. Col. Porter, who was of the committee to consider the letter of Mr Gridlej to the committee of safety, relative to the tram, being absent, Mr. Partridge was appointed in bis room. Resolved, That the committee of Bafetj be required, aa - i is may be, tn rcrtitv to this Congress, the names of Buch gentlemen as are candidates for the command of a regiment, with the number of privates that have been enlisted nnder them, and anj other claims <>r preten- sions that any gentleman may have to a commission in the Bervice. Ordered, That the papers exhibited to tins Congress by Capt. Phelps be returned to him l»y Major Bliss. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning Saturday, June 10, 177."). Ordered, Thai the committee of safety be directed to make return, in writing, to this Congress, as soon as may he, of the names of all those persons who claim, or offer themselves to be commissi -d afl colonels of regiments in the colon] army, and are not commissioned, with any agreement that may have been made with any such persona by the committee of Bafetj ; as also, a Btate of those regiments, which Buch persons claim the command of, as to their numbers, equipments, and the time they have been engaged in Bervice. The committee appointed to consider what is proper to be done with the prisoners brought from Arundel, reported as follow-, eiz. : The Committee appointed to examine the persons and paper- sent to this Congress, 1>y the committee of the town of Arundel, have attended that service; and, after due perusal of said papers, Josiah Jones and Jonathan link-, therein referred to, were brought before them. Saul Jones iii his defence says, he had no concern with the sloop Polly, otherwise than as a passenger in her to Nova Scotia: notwithstanding winch, it appears (dearly to this committee, l>\ said paper-, as also bj the evidence of <'apt. Smith, master, herewith transmitted, that -aid .lone- went on board said Bloop a- supercargo, in tin- Bervice of general Gage, to bring hay and other articles to Boston, to aupplj our enemies We find by said .lone-' account of himself, that he went to Boston soon after the memorable Lexington battle, of the 19th of April last, in companj with John Eluggles, of Hardwick, who was ordered bj a 316 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 10, committee to the said town of Hardwick ; and that said Jones was know- ing to the proceedings of said committee against said Ruggles, before they set out together from Weston to take refuge in Boston ; and that they left the common road, and went in the woods and difficult places, to pass the town of Roxbury. The committee, upon the whole, have not the least reason to doubt, of said Jones' being a notorious enemy to his country, and of his having been in the actual employment of our enemies against the just liberties of the people. [They] therefore beg leave to report the following order, viz. : In Provincial Congress, June 10, 1775. Ordered, That Josiah Jones, taken from the sloop Polly, be sent, with a sufficient guard, to the town of Concord, in the county of Mid- dlesex, and committed to the common jail, there to remain until the fur- ther orders of the Congress, or house of representatives of this colony. Said Jonathan Hicks in his defence says, that since the public dis- putes respecting the liberties of the country, he has not liked the part that has been acted, in many respects, on either side, therefore could not see his way clear to join with any. Upon examination, the com- mittee find by evidence, that at Gardinerston, while he lived there, he expressed himself highly against committees of correspondence, &.C., calling them rebels, and using other opprobrious language against the people who appeared for liberty, and endeavored to hinder their unity. That, also, while he the said Hicks lived at Plymouth, he was esteem- ed by the good people there, inimical to the liberties of his country by his general conduct, and that at certain times he appeared very high, and once drew his sword or spear upon certain persons. Said Hicks, upon the whole, owns his general conduct has been such, as the people for liberty call tory, but still says he is against the oppressive acts. Said Hicks confesses, that the evening after the battle of Lexington aforesaid, he left Plymouth, and took shelter with the troops at Marsh- field, not thinking himself safe in the country; that he went with them to Boston, and there remained until he went on board the sloop Pollv, with Jones, and says he designed for Halifax, there to tarry, if he could find business, in order to be out of the noise. Capt. Smith, master of said sloop, can give no account of Hicks' business on board ; all he can say is, he in general appeared inimical, calling the liberty people rebels, &lc. The committee, therefore, beg leave to report the following order : In Provincial Congress, Waiertown, June 10, 1775. Ordered, That Jonathan Hicks, taken from the sloop Polly, be sent, 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS :\\: with a sufficient guard, to the town ofConcord, in the count] ol Mid- dlesex, and committed to the common jail, there to remain until the fur- ther orders of the Congrt --. 01 house of representatives of this colony. Resolved, That the keeper of the jail in the count] of Middlesex In- directed to receive Me-srs Jones and Hicks, who were taken prison- ers from the sloop Polly, at Arundel, and keep them in safe custody till further order, and provide them necessaries for their subsistence whilst in jail, and that the committee of correspondence for the town r the protection of the sea coast -. Ordered, That Major Hawley, ('apt. Stone, of Framingham, Col. Parks, lion. Mr. Sever, Mr. Johnson, Hon. Mr. Spooner and Deacon Plympton, be a committee to take into consideration the artificers which may be necessary for the army in the pay of this colony, and that they report, as soon as ma] be, in what way such artificers shall be established, the numbers wanted for the arm] at Cambridge and Roxbury of each kind, and the sum that is proper to be allowed them per month. Ordered, That Mr. Whittemore, ('apt. Dwight and Mr. Kollock, be a committee to bring in a resolve lor the appointment of a number of armorer- tor the M ■-- ichusetts army, and tor the establishment of their pay. The resolve for establishing an allowance of provisions for the sol- dier.- a a- again read, ami accepted: and ordered to he printed in hand hills, and is as follow 3, viz. : The committee appointed to make an establishment for the allow- ance for provisions for the soldiers of the Massachusetts army, beg leave to report the following resolve, viz.: Resolved, That each soldier in the Mas.-achn-elts army shall have t he follow ing allowance per dav, \ iz. : l-t. One pound of bread: 2d. Halt' a pound of beel ami halt' a pound of pork ; and if pork cannot he had, one pound ami a quarter of beef; ami one day m seven they shall have one pound ami one quarter of salt fish, instead of one day's allowance of meat : 3d. < me pint of milk, or, if milk cannot he had, one iiill of rice Itb. One quart of good spruce or malt beer : 5th. ( me gill of pea- or beans, '>r 318 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 11, other sauce equivalent : 6th. Six ounces of good butter per week : 7th. One pound of good common soap for six men per week : 8th. Haifa pint of vinegar per week per man, if it can be had. The committee appointed to inquire into the state of the army, re- ported, that, in order to execute their commission, it is necessary that they should be furnished with a copy of all recommendations for com- missions, sent to this Congress by the committee of safety, and a list of all officers commissioned by the Congress, and asked leave to sit again. The report was accepted. Ordered, That Mr. Sayer, Mr. Edwards and Major Fuller, be a committee to consider the proposal of the Hon. General Ward, re- specting furloughs for the soldiers, and report. Afternoon. The petition of a number of the freeholders of Williamsburg 1 [was] read, and committed to Mr. Hale, Mr. Lyman and Col. Danielson. The petition of Davis &, Coverly 2 [was] read, and committed to Mr. Fairbanks, Mr. Webster and Col. Sawyer. Monday next, three o'clock, P. M., was assigned to make choice of three delegates to meet those that may be sent from the other New England colonies. The choice of two major generals [was] referred to Monday, five o'clock, P. M. Hon. Col. Warren, Hon. Mr. Spooner, Doct. Taylor, Capt. Stone, Mr. Edwards, Col. Cobb, Col. Thompson, were appointed a committee to consider the expediency of establishing a number of armed vessels. Sunday, June 11, 1775. [The Congress] met at eight o'clock, and adjourned to half past three, P. M. Resolved, That the Hon. Major Hawley, Hon. Mr. Spooner, Hon. Col. AVarren and Hon. Col. Foster, have leave to offer, for the consid- eration of this Congress, an address which they have prepared for the Continental Congress. The same being read and amended, was ac- cepted, and ordered to be transcribed, and signed by the Hon. Major Hawley as vice president, and sent immediately, by express, to Phila- delphia ; and that the committee of supplies be desired to procure some person to carry it. It is as follows, viz. : (1) Letters from the town clerk and other inhabitants of Williamsburg declare that the meeting held for election of a member of the Congress was illegal, hut assign no specific informalities. (2) The petitioners asked leave to exchange a quantity of goods owned by them in Boston, for similar merchandise in Marlt>orough, the property of a merchant residing in the former town. 177.-,. J THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 319 Mm/ if i>ltti>r your honors i The -million of any colony, or people, perhaps was never before such as maili it more necessary for fully exercising the powers of civil government, than the present Btate and situation of the co|on\ of the Massachusetts Hay. The cinharrassments, delay-, disappointments and obstructions, in executing every undertaking necessary lor the preservation of our lives, and much more of our property, are so great and many, as that they cannot be represented, or enumerated: and thai i- chiefly to he attributed to our want of a settled civil politj or govern- ment; hesides, every thing necessarj for the abovesaid most important purposes, which is in sonic degree effected, i- done in the mosl expen- sive manner: in short, although the times we are fallen into, and the prospects before us, are such as require the utmost economy, yet, nothing of the kind can be preserved in our present state. There are, in many parts of this colony, alarming symptoms of the abatement of the sense, in the minds of .some people, of the sacredness of private property, which is plainly assignable to the want of civil government : and your honors must he fully sensible, that a communi- t\ of goods and estate, will soon he followed with the utter waste and destruction of the goods themselves ; besides, the necessity of civil gov- ernment appears more and more apparent from the extreme difficult] of maintaining the public peace without it : although we can trulj sav, much fewer enormities and breaches of the peace have happened among us, than it was natural to expect, from the contemplation of such a Btate as we have been cast into, Ma\ it please your honors: The pressing weight of our distresses has necessitated the Bending a special post to obtain your immediate advice upon this subject; and we do most earnestly entreat, that you would, as soon as possible, despatch the messenger with such advice. Our former application to you, of the 10th of May last, has rendered it unnecessary that we should further enlarge upon this subject : ami. to prevent repetition, we beg leave to refer you to our letter of that date. The army under the command of general Gage, we estimate to amount, at least, to 5000 men, well appointed, under the command of general- of character and experience, and prepared with ever) thini! necessary for action, exclusive of the additional strength derived from negroes, which the general has taken into his service, and disaffected Americans \\ e have greal reason to apprehend, that a reenforcemenl of at least eight regiments of foot and one of horse maj be hourly ex- pected We enclose a cop\ «.f an intercepted letter fir Major Sher- 320 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 12, riff, which exhibits to you one ground of this apprehension. 1 We have had under our consideration, the propriety and necessity of augmenting our army, notwithstanding our great embarrassment, and though we have not yet adopted it, nothing, perhaps, but the more ample provi- sion of the neighboring colonies, will relieve that necessity. The depredations and piracies frequently committed on our sea coasts, and the little trade which remains to us, whereby, among other capital articles, the importation of ammunition and provisions is almost totally obstructed, and threatens our ruin ; have also occasioned our contemplating steps to prevent those inconveniences, by ["fitting] out a number of armed vessels, with sufficient strength to encounter their small though numerous cutters. We shall only add, that, as the seat of war, with all its attendant dis- tresses, have, for the present, taken their principal residence here, we should consider it as a happy event, if you should think proper to ad- journ to some part of the continent not so far distant, that the advice and aid of the [''Continental Congress] may be more expeditiously afforded upon any emergency. Adjourned to Monday morning, eight o'clock. Monday, June 12, 1775. Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler, Deacon Baker and Mr. Webster, be a committee to consider some measures for preventing the violation of the sabbath, and to bring in a resolve for this purpose. Resolved, That five o'clock in the afternoon, be assigned for the consideration of the report of the committee, who were appointed to bring in a resolve for giving a free currency to the bills of credit of this and the other colonies. Ordered, That the Hon. Mr. Spooner, Hon. Col. Gerrish and Doct. Whiting, be a committee to consider the petition from the committee at Charlestown, and report. Resolved, That the secretary have liberty to procure such assistance, from time to time, as he shall think necessary. a [fixing.] b [continent.] (1) The letter of Major William Sherriff, deputy quarter master general, was dated at Boston, May 29, 1775, and addressed to Thomas Williams, Esq., keeper of the king's ordnance at Annapolis, in Nova Scotia. The writer speaks of the profits and rewards the people of the eastern province might receive, if they would colled forage and provisions for the royal army in Massachusetts. "On the othrr hand," he Bays, " if they give thorns, I- - ;tirs, and follow the example of these mad men, thej will consider how easily government can chastise them, and they may rely upon it they will, and that immediate!] too: !>nt 1 hope they will consider their interest better, and make all the i ley thej can" . . . . " We are in the Bame situation, as when I wrote you last, except the addition <>f twelve hundred troops lately arrived from England. The regiment of horse, and eight other regiments are hourly expected, when I hope you will hear better accounts from us." 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONtJKKSS. 93] Resolved, That tuo persons be appointed to repair to the fortrew of Ticonderoga, to examine into the state of that fortress, and of affairs there, and to act in Bucfa a manner as thej shall be directed bj this Congress, and thai lour o'clock in the afternoon be assigned lor the choice of such persons, by ballot, and that the Hon. Major Haw ley, Hon. Col. Warren and Mr. Sullivan, be a committee to prepare in structions for such delegates. The committee who were appointed to consider the expediency <>t establishing a cumber of armed vessels, reported : the consideration of the report was put off to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Hon. Mr. Dexter, one of the committee who were appointed to pre- pare letters to the Continental Congress, New York and the New England governments, being abseut, Ordered, that the Hon. Mr. Spooner be appointed in his room. Ordered, That Mr. Sayer he directed forthwith to till up and deliver commissions to the officers of Col. Whitcomb's regiment. Ordered, [That] Mr. [ a Holten], Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Colvill, be a committee to consider the petition of Mr. Ebenezer Prout. Ordered, That Doct. Whiting, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Parks, be a committee to consider some method of supplying the several surgeons of the army with medicines. The committee appointed to prepare a letter to the Continental Con- gress, dtc, reported the following, which was accepted, viz. : Mm/ if i>lui>i your honors: Tlu- views <>f administration having been made evident, by their conduit for -ome vears |>a>t, and the late regulations of civil and ec- clesiastical polity of Quebec having clearly discovered an intention to make use of the Canadians as engines to reduce this continent to sla- very, it has been found absolutely necessary for the preservation of the liberties of America, to take possession of the important pass of Ticon- deroga, and to send forward a sufficient force to hold the same again.-t any attempt which may be made to retake it, and to prevent general Carlton from sending forces by the way of the lakes to anno] and dis- tress the frontiers: but, as we apprehend, there never has been any in- tention to give the leasl disturbance to our brethren of Canada, to whom we most sincerely wish the full and free enjoyment of their civil and re- ligion- rights. We humbly request, that your honor- would take such steps, to prevent any false impressions, which our enemies maj attempt to make on their minds concerning our designs, or to remove an] BUCu i olten. 41 322 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 12, as have already been made, as you, in your wisdom, shall think most expedient : as we look upon it to be of the utmost importance that there should no jealousies subsist between them and the other colonies. We also have had the most disagreeable accounts of methods taken to fill the minds of the Indian tribes adjacent to these colonies with senti- ments very injurious to us ; particularly we have been informed that Col. Guy Johnson has taken great pains with the Six Nations, in order to bring them into a belief, that it is designed by the colonies to fall upon them and cut them off. We therefore pray you would, with all the speed convenient, use your very great influence in guarding against the evil intended by this malevolent misrepresentation. And we have wrote to our sister colonies in New England, and to New York, re- questing they would make a similar application to you respecting these matters. We are your most obedient, humble servants. Resolved, That the vote for choosing two persons to repair to the fortress of Ticonderoga be so far reconsidered, as that there be three persons chosen, instead of two, for that service. [Afternoon] Ordered, That Col. Farley, Major Brooks and Mr. Cross, be a com- mittee to consider and report what is proper to be done with the grass growing on the estates of the refugees at Cambridge, Charlestown, Roxbury and Milton, [who reported as follows :] The committee appointed to take into consideration the resolve of the committee of safety relative to certain quantities of grass growing on the lands of the refugees in and about Cambridge, have attended that service, and beg leave to report by way of resolve. Resolved, That it be recommended to the committee of safety, that they appoint some person or persons in the towns hereafter mentioned, viz. : Cambridge, Charlestown, Roxbury and Milton, to cut the grass and secure the hay growing on the estates of the refugees, in the above mentioned towns, in some convenient place, for the benefit of the col- ony, as to them shall seem meet. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Hon. Col. Warren and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to consider what is best to be done with respect to a vessel said to be going from Salem to New Providence for fruit and turtle for the army at Boston. Resolvid, That Mr. Gerry have leave to bring in a resolve for pre- venting the exportation of fish and other provisions. The resolve was accordingly read and accepted, and ordered to be 1775.] THIRD PROVINCE \l. 0ONGRE8 339 printed in hand lulls, and sent to the several maritime towns in thii colony, and i- as follows, \i/.. : w bereas, the enemies of America are multiplying their cruelties to- wards the inhabitants of the New Kui_daud colonies, bj seizing provi* Bion ressels, either the propertj of, or intended to supply them, and also by plundering the stock of cattle, Bheep, & < . on their sea coasts ; [therefore] Resolved, thai it be, and it is bereby, recommended to the inhabitants of the towns and districts in this colony thai they forthwith exert themselves to prevenl the exportation of fish and all other k i n< N of provision, excepting such only, as shall be intended to Bupplj the inhabitants of the colonies aforesaid, and as, in the opinion of the selectmen, and committee of correspondence, and committees of safety of the towns where the Bame .-hall be Btored, may, with prudence, he Bhipped for conveyance by water for the purpose aforesaid. And it is strong!] recommended to the selectmen, committees of correspondence, and committees of safety, thoughout the colony, that they cause this resolve to be strictly executed. The committee appointed to consider some method for supplying the surgeons in the army with medicine, reported : the report was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to take into consideration a complaint that the Burgeons in the army are not properly furnished with medicint have attended that service, and beg leave to report : that whereas, it appears that there is not, as yet, a sufficient number of medicine ch< provided, to furnish each regimen! with a distinct chest : and whereas, the committ f Bupplies are making provision for the supplying of each regiment with Buch medicine chests as soon as po.--il.hv there- tore, Resolved, that the committee of supplies be, and hereby are direct- ed, immediately to furnish the Burgeon of the first regiment at Cam- bridge, and also the Burgeon of the first regiment at Roxbury, each of them, with a medicine chest, for the present; and that all the other Burgeons in the arm] at Cambridge and Roxbury, have free recourse to the said che-ts, mid he -upplied from them, from time to time, as they -hall find occasion, until more ample provision -hall be made for them . all which is humblj -uhmitted, ami the committee beg leave to sit again. William Whiting, per order. Ordered, That the Bame committee be appointed to examine into the medical -tore-, and make a li-t of what i- mce--ar\ for tlie supply- ing each regiment, thai the same may be laid before the committe* ami that the Bame committee consider what medicines are neot and brine in a list of what medicines are in the medicinal -tore and 324 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 12, that they be directed to report what instruments are necessary for the surgeons of the army. The committee appointed to consider what is best to be done rela- tive to a vessel going from Salem to New Providence, reported : the report was read and accepted, and is as follows : Whereas, this Congress has been informed, that a schooner belong- ing to the Ervings, in Boston, is fitted out, under color of being char- tered by one Thompson, who has lately fled from Medford to Boston ; but is really destined to Salem, and from there to New Providence, to get fruit, turtle, and provisions of other kinds, for the sustenance and feasting of those troops, who are, as pirates and robbers, committing daily hostilities and depredations on the good people of this colony, and all America ; it is, therefore, Resolved, that Capt. Samuel McCobb, a member of this Congress, be immediately despatched to Salem and Marblehead, to secure said Thompson, and prevent said vessel from going said voyage, and cause the said Thompson to be brought to this Congress : and the committees of correspondence, safety and inspec- tion of said towns, and all the good people of this colony, are directed to give the said Capt. McCobb all needed assistance therein. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Capt. Stone and Major Bliss, be a committee to count and sort the votes for three gentlemen as a com- mittee to meet committees from the other governments of New Eng- land, at Worcester, on the 28th of June current. The committee, having attended that service, reported, that the Hon. Mr. Dexter, the Hon. Major Hawley and the Hon. Mr. Sever, were chosen. The Hon. Major Hawley and the Hon. Mr. Sever, having desired to be excused, and having offered their reasons therefor, they were excused accordingly ; whereupon, Resolved, That ten o'clock to-morrow morning, be assigned for the choice of two persons, in the room of Major Hawley and Mr. Sever, to attend the said convention at Worcester, on the 28th of June current. Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Capt. Stone and Major Bliss, be a committee to count and sort the votes for three gentlemen to go to Ti- conderoga. The committee having attended that service reported, that the Hon. Mr. Spooner, Hon. Col. Foster and Mr. Sullivan, were chosen. Resolved, That the choice of two major generals, be referred to to- morrow morning, eleven o'clock. Ordered, That the petition from the county of Cumberland, laid on the table by the committee who were appointed to consider of it, be 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 325 committed to the committee who were appointed to consider the cir- cumstances of the sea coa-t~ The report of the committee of safety, relative to the claims of those who stand as candidates for commissions in the army, &x., was read, and, with the papers accompanying it, was committed to the Hon. Ma- jor Hawley, Col. Farley, Capt. Greenleaf, Doct. Taylor, Capt. Stone, Mr. Partridge and Col. Sayer. The committee on Mr. Prout's petition reported, that he have leave to withdraw it. The report was accepted. It was moved and seconded, that the resolve for choosing commit- tees to meet committees from the other governments in New England, at Worcester, the 28th current, he reconsidered: and it was thereupon Resolved, that the further consideration of this motion be referred to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. The petitions of Col. Brewer and his officers, being read, were com- mitted to the committee to whom were this day committed the report of the committee of safety, and the papers accompanying it. The committee on the petition of Davis & Coverly, reported : the report was read and accepted, and is as follows: Whereas, application has been made to this Congre-s by Messrs. Davis &, Coverly, merchants of Boston, representing that they have a quantity of English goods now in Boston, and that Henry Barns, of Marlborough, has a quantity of English goods, nearly of the same quality, in said Marlborough, and therefore pray that they may have leave to make an exchange : Resolved, that the prayer of said petition be granted, and that the petitioners have leave to make the exchange asked for. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for appointing t number of armorers, reported. 1 The report being read and amended, was ["accepted.] Tuesday, June 13, 1775. A letter from Governor Trumbull was read, enclosing a letter bom Col. Arnold, and three resolves of the Continental Congress : all which were committed to the committee who were appointed to prepare in- structions to the committees that are to repair to Ticonderoga. Resolved, That there be twenty-three regiments commissioned, ex- clusive of the regiment ofmatrosses. Ordered, That Mr. Webster, Col. Richmond and Major Wood, be n [accepted and i* as lollows.] (1) Tin' report hn» not been entered on the journal, nor i» it preferred on the III 326 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 13, a committee to consider the petition of Abner Graves and others, and that they hear the petitioners, and notify Capt. Dexter of time and place. 1 [The] order of the day [was] moved for. Absent members [were] directed to attend. Resolved, That the further consideration of the report relative to the establishment of armed vessels, be put off to three o'clock, in the af- ternoon, and that the committee of safety and committee of supplies be notified of this resolve. Ordered, That Col. Otis and Col. Grout be added to the committee who were appointed to deliver out commissions. Resolved, That the resolve for the appointment of a convention of committees from the several governments at Worcester, be reconsid- ered, as well as the vote whereby a committee was appointed by this Congress, and the vote assigning a time for the choice of two members in the room of two members of that committee who were excused. Ordered, That Mr. Partridge, Mr. Sayer, and Major Brooks, be a committee to receive and count the votes for the major generals. Ordered, That only one major general be chosen at a time, and that the gentleman first chosen be the first major general. Resolved, That the committees who may at any time be appointed to receive and count votes for the choice of any person to any office or appointment, be strictly enjoined to allow no member to shift or change a vote after it is put into the hat. The committee appointed to receive the votes for the first major gen- eral, reported, that Col. John Whitcomb was chosen. Resolved, That the choice of the second major general be referred to five o'clock in the afternoon. An account of Mr. Charles Cotton was read, and committed to Mr. Pickering, Mr. Ratchelder, and Mr. Dwight. An account from Mr. Taylor, was likewise exhibited, and committed to Col. Richmond, Mr. Singletary, and Mr. Hale, to examine, consider of, and report upon. Two accounts of Mr. John Brown were also read, and committed to Mr. Hale, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Vose, Col. Thompson, and Major Bliss. Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Fessenden, be a committee to consider the expediency of appointing Ensign Foley to be an armorer in the Massachusetts army, in addition to the number (1) The petition related to military rank and organization. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 321 winch this Congress have ordered to l>«' appointed, and to consider what hi> pay shall be, if thej think it proper he should be appointed. The committee on Charles Cohen's account, reported; whereupon, lit sii/rul, that the receiver general be, and hereby is directed, to pay to Mr. Charles Cohen out of the public treasury, the Bum of £13 18*. 8rf. in lull tor his account this da] exhibited to, and allowed by, \h\> Con- gress. The committee appointed yesterday to consider the report of the committee of safety, reported the following resolve, which was ac- cepted; and Capt. Stone, ('apt. Dwight, and Mr. Kollock, were or- dered to crive due information thereof to the colonels therein mentioned. \ iz : Resolved, That Colonels Glover, Heath, David Brewer, Rohin>on, YVoodbridge, Henshaw, Little, Jonathan Brewer, be directed, by next Thursdaj morning, at 8 o'clock, to make a true return to the commit- tee on the claims and pretensions of the several gentlemen claiming to be commissioned as colonels; of the number of captain-, who, with their respective companies, do choose to serve under the above named gentlemen respectively as colonels; and of the number of men; and of the number of effective fire-arms in each company : and of the place or places where said companies are : on pain of forfeiting all pretensions to a commission of a colonel, in case of making a false return. Afternoon. An account of Mrs. Dorothy Coolidge was read, and committed to Doct. Taylor, Col. Thompson, and .Mr. Bent. [The! order of the day [was] moved for. The report of the committee on the expediencj of establishing a number of armed vessels was considered, and after a verv long debate, the further consideration of it was referred to Friday next, at eleven o'clock, A. M. The committee who were appointed to prepare instructions to the gentlemen chosen by this Congress to repair to Ticonderoga, reported : the report was read, and accepted, and is as follows, viz.: To Walter Spooner, Jedtdiah Foster, and James Sullivan, Esquires: \ on are directed to proceed, as soon as ma\ be, to the posts of T conderoga and Crown Point, by the road through the new settlements, called the New Hampshire Grants; that you careful!] observe the quality of the said road, and judge of the feasibleness of transporting pro\ i > ions by the said road to the waters of Lake Chainplain : that you 328 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 13, take with you copies of the commission and instructions of the com- mittee of safety to Col. Benedict Arnold, and inform yourselves as fully as you shall be able, in what manner the said Col. Arnold has exe- cuted his said commission and instructions. That you make and give to the said Arnold, and any men whom he shall, by virtue of the said commission and instructions retain in the service of this colony, such orders as to you shall seem meet : provided always, that you do not authorize the said Arnold to engage and re- tain in the pay of this Colony, as soldiers, a greater number than that specified in his said commission and instructions, and provided that the said Arnold and his men whom he has retained are free and willing to continue at one or both of the said posts, under the command of such chief officer as is, or shall be appointed by the government of Connecti- cut ; and in case you shall order such number of men to be continued at or near the said posts in the pay of this colony, as you shall judge it necessary there should be, that you appoint a committee of one or more persons, in the pay of this colony, to provide supplies for such men, and a commissary to deal out such supplies to them : which commit- tee and commissary you are to appoint in writing under your hands. And you are to determine and order, respecting the said Arnold's continuing in the commission and pay of this colony, as to you shall appear most for the general service and safety, after having made your- selves fully acquainted with the spirit, capacity, and conduct of the said Arnold. And in case you shall judge it proper to discharge the said Arnold, that you direct him to return to this colony, and render his ac- count of the disposition of the money, ammunition, and other things which he received at his setting out upon his expedition, and also of the charges he has incurred, and the debts which he has contracted in behalf of this colony, by virtue of the commission and instructions aforesaid. And in case you shall find any men at the said posts properly re- tained, and engaged there in the service of this colony, that you cause them and their arms to be mustered, and that to such as shall pass mus- ter, you pay out of the money which you shall receive from our receiver general for that purpose, the same advance pay as is by order of Con- gress paid to such men as are retained and mustered to serve within the colony ; and in case you shall not find any men at the said posts, prop- erly engaged and retained in the service of this colony, or that the number which you shall find so retained, shall be much short of the number which said Arnold was empowered to enlist, that then you, if you shall judge that the effectual security of the said posts shall require 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 399 it, and if you shall also find a proper person in those pan-, fit and -mt- able for the command of four hundred nun. or such less number, as to- gether with such as you shall find ordered and posted there bj an] other colony or colonies, and shall also find thai soldiers can be raised in tho\ virtue of the said in- structions The committee appointed to consider the expediency of appointing Ensign F alley, of Col. Danielson's regiment, an armorer in the .Ma— a- 1-2 330 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 13, chusetts army, in addition to the number already ordered, and to con- sider what his pay shall be, if it is thought proper by this Congress, he should be appointed, have attended that service, and beg leave to re- port as follows, viz : That, whereas, it has been represented to your committee, that the armorers, or many of them, who are already established, are very im- perfect in the business they profess, and that the above said Falley is a complete master of the same ; in consideration of which, your commit- tee think it of the highest importance, that he (the said Falley) should be employed in said department, and be allowed and paid forty shil- lings per month, in addition to his pay as an ensign, and be under the same rules and regulations as the other armorers already appointed, or to be appointed ; all which is humbly submitted. Isaac Lothrop, per order. Ordered, That the president, Col. Warren, Col. Palmer, Mr. Sever and Doct. Taylor, be a committee to consider the subject matter of a late extraordinary proclamation of general Gage. 1 (1) The celebrated proclamation of general Gage was promulgated June 12, 1775. By his excellency, the honorable Tliomas Gage, Esq., governor and commander in chief, in and ova- his majesty's province of Massachusetts Bay, and vice admiral of the same: A PROCLAMATION. " Whereas, the infatuated multitudes, who have long suffered themselves to be conducted by cer- tain well known incendiaries and traitors, in a fatal progression of crimes against the constitutional authority of the state, have, at length, proceeded to avowed rebellion ; and the good effects which were expected to arise from the patience and lenity of the king's government, have been often frustrated, and are now rendered hopeless, by the influence of the same evil counsels ; it only re- mains for those who are entrusted with supreme rule as well for the punishment of the guilty as the protection of the well affected, to prove they do not bear the sword in vain." '• The infringements which have been committed upon the most sacred rights of the crown and the people of Gnat Britain, are too many to enumerate on one side, and arc all too atrocious to bo palliated on the other. All unprejudiced people who have been witnesses of the late transactions in this and the neighboring provinces, will find, upon a transient review, marks of premeditation and conspiracy that would justify the fulness of chastisement : and even those who are least ac- quainted with fi'-ts, cannol rail to receive a just impression of their enormity, in proportion as they discover the arts and assiduity by which they have been falsified or concealed. The authors of the present unnatural revolt, never daring In trust their cause or their actions to the judgment of an impartial public, or even to the dispassionate reflect of their followers, have uniformly placed their chief confidence in the suppression of truth : and while indefatigable and shameless pains have been taken to obstruct every appeal to the re;il in t < rest of the people of America, the grossest for- geries, calnmnies, and absurdities thai evei insulted human understanding, have been imposed upon their credulity- The press, that distinguished appendage of public liberty, and when fairly and im- partially employed, it- besl lupport, has been invariably prostituted to the most contrary purposes : the animate, 1 language of ancient and virtuous times, calculated to vindicate and promote the just rights and interest of mankind, has been applied to countenance the most abandoned violation of those ■acred blessing! . ind not only from the flagitious prints, but from the popular harangues of the times, men have been taught to depend upon activity in treason, for the security of their persona and properties : till, to i omplete the horrid profanation of terms and of ideas, the name of God has been introduced in the pulpits, to excite and justify devastation and massacre." » Tho minds of nun baring been thus gradually prepared for the worst extremities, a number of 1775.] THIRD IMtOVI.VIAl. CONGRESS Resolved, Thai Mr. Sullivan have liberty t'> use the horse in Mr. Fowle'a pasture in this town, which was taken lately from Noddl island, for liis journe] t<» Ticonderoga. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o'clock. .irm \;>ril la«t, and, from behind walls and larking holi unenl of the i. • of [ilir.ii. leeline it. their arms only in ili--ir own d ■ b iv lly fired i. i rm- ; h I -> I t'i • hich the to ■ ith pro\ I with a rude of miliiir. • to hold the army besieged; while part of their body make dai ■')', and with a wantonness of cruelt) over incident to lawl tree* - they turn tli i* mut ■t them ; and the il imes • from the i country. ■ i6rmatioo of the subse- ■ i • r complicated calamities, I avail myself of the last effort within the boonds of my doty tii -i|> ir-- the effusion Ml do hereby, in bis w l>r< •:■> > — his most gi ■ Ion tn all persons who shall forthwith lay down th.-ir arms, and r.-turn ifpeaceabl ipting only from the benefit of such pardon, San ei \ im ami J'in II i n ick, whose offences are of too il igitious a nature to admit of any other turn than that of condign punishment." \ id, to the end, tb ion within the limits of this proffered mercy, may pi nee of tli" i-uiHequencc of refusing it, I, by tb nts, proclaim, not only tb ted ami excepted, but also all their adherenl imprehend in these terms, Ml an ' or, who have appeared in arms against the king's government, and shall not lay d .is before i I like* ise all -II so lake arms d it'- hereof, or shall, in any w pro) ' Bern with money, pro carriagos, or any other i -hill bold ice J, or oth • anj trait is such to be •mil i in- ■• of the present unnatural rebellio dmin- ioo law of the land, the course whereof has, for i long time p violently impeded, and wholly interrupted, from whence results • for using and j the law marti I ve, therefore, thought fit, by the authority in me by th barter to this proi ince, to publish, and I do hereby publish, proclaim and order, the use an I ei the I iw martial, within and throughoul this pi ir so long a time is the present unhappy occasion ■hall ily require ; whereof all persons are I quired to take n rn them- selves, is well to maintain order and regularity among the inhabitant* of the provi as to ieli and traitors above des ;ri lied npon for thi these inevitable, but I trust lalol iry measures, il is a far more pleasing \< *r\ of mj di add the assurani f protection and support, to all, who, in so trying ill manifest their allegiance to the king, and affection to the pari 10 that such p i ntimnl.it.-. I i.i quit their habitations in the course of this alarm, maj return to thi •nl stand distinct an te from the parricides till G re to his creatures in this distractod land, that system of b from which thi I, the relig i |. of Q ' Hrit Lin, I : Ir. I in. I. -th. mi, ITT.".. I IL 'M V- •• I ■ • By his excellency's command, rHOMAfl I 'LI CKBR, Secrrtary." . i 332 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 14, Wednesday, June 14, 1775. Resolved, That the receiver general be and hereby is directed to pay the sum of four hundred pounds to the committee who have been appointed by this Congress to repair to Ticonderoga, to be by said committee appropriated as advance pay to the men enlisted under Col. Benedict Arnold : said committee to be accountable therefor. Resolved, That the receiver general be, and hereby is directed, to advance the sum of twenty pounds to the committee, who have been appointed by this Congress to go to Ticonderoga, in cash, or bills of credit, at the option of said committee, for their expenses, they to be accountable therefor. The committee appointed to consider the petition of Abner Graves and others, reported, that the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition. The report was accepted. Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Col. Warren, Col. Grout, Mr. North and Col. Otis, be a committee to consider the report of Col. Thomp- son and the petition of Mr. Parry, and report. Resolved, That the first Thursday in July next, be appointed to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer throughout this colony, and that the Hon. Col. Palmer, Hon. Mr. Sever and Mr. Hopkins, be a committee to bring in a resolve for this purpose. Ordered, That Col. Robinson, Mr. Webster, Major Fuller, Capt. Holmes and Mr. Edwards, be a committee to consider some way and means of furnishing those who are destitute of arms in the Massachu- setts army. Ordered, That the committee who were chosen to repair to Ticon- deroga, be directed to revise the papers that respect the fortress there, and take such as they may think they shall want, and that this Congress will not have occasion for. Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Mr. Jewett and Mr. Hopkins, be a committee to devise some means for securing the library and apparatus of Harvard College. Ordered, That Col. Gerrish, Mr. Parker and Mr. Caldwell, be a committee to consider the request of Joseph Palmer (quarter master general) for providing tents ot barracks for the army at Cambridge. Ordered, Thai three o'clock this afternoon be assigned for the choice of a second major i the Massachusetts arm\ at Cambridge and Roxburv. with some aecessarj household furniture. Ordered, Thai Col. Coffin, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Pickering, be a committee t" disperse the resolves ofCongri -- relative to the embargo laid upon the exportation of fish, &c. [A:i. : :. i i. | Upon a motion made, Col. Prescotl was chosen to countersign the notes, in tead of Col. Foster, absent, \\li" was appointed i"< • r thai pur- posi The order of the day [was] moved fur. Mr. Lothrop, Capt. Cushing and Capt. Dwight, were chosen a com- mittee to count and sort the votes for a second major general, who re- ported ih.it Doct. Joseph Warren was chosen. Resolved, That Col. Groul Col. Berry and Col. Otis, be a commit- tee to wail mi the Hon. John Whitcomb, Esq., and inform him this Congress have made choice of him foi first major general <>f the Mas- sachusetts army, and desire his answer to this Congress of bis accep- tance of said trust; also, to wait on the Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq., and inform him thi> Congress have made choice of him for second major general of the Massachusetts army, and desire his answer to this Congress of bis acceptance of said trust. The committee appointed to consider - • measures for preventing the violation of the sabbath, reported . the r* port was recommitted. The committee appointed t" devise -nine measures for securing the lil>rar\ and apparatus of Harvard College, reported : the report was re- committed for amendment. Mi. Smith, Mr. Lothrop and Major Brooks, were chosen on the committee appointed to take into consideration the artificers, which may I"- oecessarj ti>r the army in pay of this colony, instead of Major Hawley, Capt. Stone of Framingham, and Hon. Mr. Spooner, absent \l ijor 1 ► i v i — [was] chosen instead of Hon. Mr. Spooner, absent, on the committee appointed to consider a petition from Charlestown. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve i>>r a day of fasting and prayer, reported : the r<|M >rt was recommitted for amendment, viz : that the following things might be mentioned: blessing on the Conti- nental Congress; unit] of the colonies ; health; fruitful seasons; & & Col. Richmond, | >. r order, reported the following resolve: Whereas, it appears to this < Songress, that it is absoluti l\ n< i 334 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 15, that proper officers be put in commission to command the train of ar- tillery, and that it be done without delay: Resolved, that the committee of supplies be directed forthwith to recommend such officers to this Congress, as they shall think proper for the purposes aforesaid. The consideration of the currency of the notes for the payment of soldiers, [was] assigned to to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. Mr. Samuel Thatcher was appointed to number the notes, instead of Mr. Samuel Phillips, who is otherwise engaged. Resolved, That the receiver general be, and hereby is directed, to supply Col. Robinson to-morrow, with such money for advance pay for the soldiers, as he was to have received this day. Thursday, June 15, 1775. Ordered, That Mr. Gridley's letter respecting officers of the train, and artificers, be committed to the committee who were appointed the 10th instant, to consider how many artificers were necessary, &c. Ordered, That Col. Barrett, Capt. Dwight and Capt. Page, be a committee to consider what measures it would be proper to take, that the army may be supplied with no provisions but what are good in kind. The resolve relative to securing the library and apparatus of Harvard College, was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, it is expedient that those apartments in Harvard Hall, under the immediate charge of the professor of philosophy and libra- rian of Harvard College, be evacuated, Resolved, that the library, ap- paratus, and other valuables of Harvard College, be removed, as soon as may be, to the town of Andover ; [and] that Mr. Samuel Phillips, Mr. Daniel Hopkins, and Dummer Jewett, Esq., be a committee to consult with the reverend, the president, the Hon. Mr. Winthrop and the libra- rian, or such of them as may be conveniently obtained, and with them to engage some suitable person or persons in said town, to transport, receive, and take the charge of the above mentioned effects ; that said committee join with those gentlemen, in employing proper persons for packing said library, apparatus, and such other articles as they shall judge expedient, and take all due care that it be done with the greatest safety and despatch : and as the packages shall be completed, that they give notice to those engaged to receive them : the charges to be laid before this, or some future Congress, or house of assembly of this province. Ordered, Thai the letters prepared for the Continental Congress, 1775.] THIRD PROVINC1 \I. ( ONGRE8 335 New York, :uk1 the Beveral governments in Sen Engl ind, be authenti- ! mi! -int forward as ma) be. The) are as follow, \i/.. : Considering 1 1 1 « - exposed state of the frontiers of Bome "t" tin- . mi-, the danger that the inhabitants of Canada ma) possibly have disagreeable apprehensions from the military preparations making in Beveral of tin 1 other colonies, ami the rumors that thrrr are some appearances of their getting themselves 111 readiness to ait in a hostile way, thi- Congress have made application to the lion. Continental Congress, desiring them to take such measures a- to them shall appear proper, to ijiiiet ami < ciliate the tninds of the Canadians, and to pre- vent -m-h ;il ar in 1 1 1 _r apprehensions. We have also had the most disa- greeable accounts of methods taken to lill the minds of the Indian tribes adjacent to these colonies, with sentiments very injurious to us : par- ticular!) we have been informed, that Col. Guy Johnson ha- taken gre it p mi- with the Six Nations, in order to bring them into a belief, that it 1- designed hv the colonic- to fall upon them, and cut them oil'. We have therefore desired tin- lion. Continental Congress, that the) would, with all convenient speed, use their influence in guarding against the evil intended by this malevolent misrepresentation. Ami we desire you to join with us in such application. Tot C tincntal Congress, \ w York, and the several governments in \i //■ England. Voted, To iccepl the r< porl foi directin omraitti of - f t\ to take immedi it'- c ire to provide houses for the soldiers near the camp in Cambridge, if tent- cannot he hail, at the expense of the colony, h follows, viz : The committee appointed to take under consit tion tiie petition of the quarter master general, and committee of safe- ty, have attended that service, and report, that the comm ttee of 9afetj he directed to take immediate care to provide house for the soldiers near the camp iruCambridge, if tents cannol he had, at the expense "f the colon) . Ordered, That to-morrow, at three o'clock in the afternoon, be -mil 11 1 for tin- choice oi' ion r brigadier t mid-, two adjutant generals. and two quarter master gent rals. Ordered, That the petition of Bphraim Perry, and four others. 111- habitants of Fox Island, he committed to the committee app< ;.it' d to consid 1 tin- circumstances of the sea coasts. I".-'/, To iccepl the report for advising a number of towns ami districts, a- per -1 hedule annexed to the report, who have lire-arms, to deposit the same with their respective town or district treasurers, for the use of the armi It 1- a- foll-.w -. viz 336 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 15, Whereas, some of the inhabitants of the plantations in this colony not incorporated, and some of the inhabitants of the neighboring colonies, together with a number of the late inhabitants of the town of Boston, have enlisted into the army now raising in this colony ; therefore, [are] not provided with arms by a resolve of Congress, dated May 9th, 1775, empowering the selectmen to supply the inhabitants of their respective towns, with arms, &.c. : therefore, Resolved, that the inhabitants of the several towns and districts in the counties of Worcester, Hampshire, and other counties specified in a list hereunto annexed, who may have good and sufficient fire-arms and bayonets, be advised hereby, immedi- ately to deposit the same with the respective town or district treasur- ers, to the number at least of so many in each town or district, as is specified in said list, for which arms and bayonets, or arms alone, where bayonets are not to be had, each owner shall receive so much as his arms and bayonets shall be valued [at], by the selectmen of the town or district in which he dwells, of the treasurer of said town or district, in bills of credit of this colony, within thirty days after the arms are delivered, for which bills are to be taken, in the name of this colony, attested by the selectmen aforesaid. And the amount of such bills, with an order from such treasurer, the committee of supplies of this colony are hereby ordered to pay, together with the expense of transporting said arms to the store of said committee in Watertown. And further, the selectmen and committees of correspondence, together with the treasurers of the towns and districts aforesaid, are hereby di- rected to give their aid in collecting and transporting said arms with the greatest despatch. County of Worcester. — Worcester, 30 ; Lancaster, 32; Mendon, 24; Brookfield, 31; Oxford 11; Charlton, 11; Sutton, 31; Leicester, 12; Spencer, 10; Paxton, 6 ; Rutland, 15: Oakham, G; Ilubbardston, 2 ; New Braintree, 10; Southborough, 12; Westborough, 12 ; Nortbborough, 8 ; Shrewsbury, 22 ; Lunen- burg, 16 ; Fitchburg, 6; Uxbridge, 16; Harvard, 16; Dudley, 10; Hutchinson, 13; Bolton, 15; Upton, 6; Sturbridge, 12 ; Leominster, 12; Hardwick, 1": Western, 11; Holden, 8; Douglas, 7; Grafton, 12; Petersham, 12; Royalston, 2; West- minster, III: Athol, <', : Templeton, 8; Princeton, 8; Ash- burnham, 3; Winchendon, 3 ; .... 514 Hampshire. — Springfield, 22 ; West Springfield, 23; Wilbraham, 10; Northampton, '11. Southampton, 8; Hadley, 9; South Iladley, 7; Amherst, 10: Granby, 5; Hatfield, 11 ; Whateley, L775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRE8G l Williamsburg, 3 ; Westfield, l»; : Deerfield, 12 Greenfield, Shelburne, I; Conway, 5; Sunderland, 7, Montague, 6 Northfield, - Brimfield, 13; South Brimfield, 8 ; Monson, 6 Pelham, 12; Greenwich, B; Bl an ford, 5 ; Palmer, 8; Gran- ville, 14 ; New Salem, 6; Belchertown, 8 ; Colraine, 5; Ware, I Warwick, 3; Bernardston, 1 Murrayfield,5; Charlemont,3; lshfield,4; Worthington, 2 ; Shutesbury, 1; Chesterfield, 6 Southwick, 6; ...... 334 Suffolk. — Wrentham, 25; Medway, 10; Bellingham, 6; Wal- pole, 8; ..... .49 Middlesex. — Marlborough, 20; Littleton, 1<> : Hopkinton, 10; Westford, 10; Stow, T : (Jroton, s : Shirley, 1: Pepperel, 6; Townshend, •"> : Dracut, ': Holliston, »>: Acton, 5; Dunsta- ble^; ....... 102 Plymouth. — Bridge water, '.2.5 : Middlehorough, 16; . . 41 Bristol. — Attleborough, 10; Rehoboth, 1.5 ; . . . 25 Worcester, "»l I : Hampshire, 'Vl\ ; Suffolk, 49; Middlesex, 102 ; Plymouth, 41; Bristol,25: in all, .... 1065 Voted, To accept the report fur providing a magazine of fire-arms f'>r tin- chIoiu : also, thai said reporl \>r printed in the several news- papers, \ iz : Whereas, il is necessary that this colon] be provided with a maga- zine "t" arm- which are good and sufficient; therefore, Resolved, that any person or persons, who may have Buch t<> sell, -hall receive so much for them, as the selectmen of the town <>r district in which he or they may dwell, -hall appraise said arm- at, upon the deliver] of the same to the committee of supplies at Watertown, and exhibiting a cer- tificate of said appraisement, attested l>\ said selectmen, to the com- mittee aforesaid ; provided said delivery be made within one month from the date hereof. Afu-in. Ordered, Thai Mr. Parker, Col. Thompson, and Mr. Aiken, he a committee t>> apply to the committee <>f supplies, and the generals <>f tli>' army, ami impure whether the arm] IS sufficiently BUpplied with ammunition. Ordered?, Thai Daniel Davis, Esq., be on the committee appointed to take care of the estates of the refugees, in the room of Mr Partridge, w bo i- absent. 13 338 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 15, The committee appointed to examine and consider two accounts exhibited to this Congress by Mr. John Brown, reported : The report on each of them, was accepted, and is as follows, viz : The committee appointed to examine the within account, beg leave to report, that the same be laid on the table till Mr. Brown exhibits an account of particu- lars with his journal. John Hale, per order. The committee appointed to examine the within account, beg leave to report, that it does not appear to them that the within mentioned services were rendered in consequence of an application by any person employed by this colony. John Hale, per order. Ordered, That Col. Warren, Mr. Sever, and Col. Otis, be a com- mittee to consider the application of the Reverend Dr. Langdon, pres- ident of Harvard College, and report thereon. The committee appointed to consider the claims and pretensions of several colonels in the army, reported : which report was accepted : whereupon, Ordered, that Col's. Glover, David Brewer, Woodbridge, Little, and Jonathan Brewer, be commissioned as colonels in the Massachusetts army, and that [Joseph] Haven, Esq., administer the oath prescribed by Congress. The report is as follows, viz : The committee appointed to consider the claims and pretensions of the several gentlemen hereafter named, who suppose that they have just grounds to expect of this honorable Congress, that they should re- ceive commissions appointing them severally to be chief colonels in the Massachusetts army, now raising for the defence of the rights of this and the neighboring colonies, namely : Col. Glover, Gen. Heath, Col. David Brewer, Col. Robinson, Col. Woodbridge, Col. Little, Col. Henshaw, and Col. Jonathan Brewer, beg leave to report the following state of facts to this Congress, viz : That the colonels Glover, David Brewer, Woodbridge, Little, Henshaw, and Jonathan Brewer, have exhibited their claims to your committee, and according to the returns which the said gentlemen have respectively made to us, the said Col. Glover has levied ten companies, making in the whole 505 men, inclu- sive of officers , and about three quarters of the said number armed with effective firelocks; who are willing and choose to serve in the said army, under him the snid Glover; all now at Marblehead : That the said David Brewer has levied nine companies, amounting, inclusive of officers, to the number of 465 men, who choose to serve under him as their colonel ; and that 307 of the said men are armed with effective fire-arms; and that said companies, excepting 34 men who are on their way to head quarters, are posted at Roxbury, Dor- chester, and Watertown : That the said Woodbridge has levied eight companies, amount inir. 1775.] THIRD PROVINC1 VI. CONGRE8I mrlii-i\ .■ of officers, to the number of : '> ~>l nun, who ehoo under him a- their chief colonel, and that 2~:{ of the said men, are armed with good effective firelocks, and that all tin- said men, except- ing seven, are now in tin- camp at Cambridge; the said Beven men are mi tli.- road hither Ami that the said Little has raised eight companies, according i" Genera] Ward "> return, ai mting, inclusive of officers, t<> the number of 509 men, who choose to serve under him as their chief colonel ; and all the said men arc armed with ir< »< »«J effective firelocks, and 382 of them with good bayonets, fitted to their firelocks; and thai seven of the said companies are at the camp in Cambridge, and one company at I pe Ann, by order of the committee ofsafet) : And that the said Jonathan Brewer has levied eight companies, amounting, inclusive of officers, to the number of 397 men, who choose rve under him, the said Jonathan, as their chief colonel ; and that 302 of the said men arc armed with good firelocks; and that all the said men, excepting "2" who are on the road hither, arc posted at Cam- bridge and Brookline ; and the said Brewer supposes, from accounts he has received, thai one Cap! Murray is on the road from Hatfield hither with a full company : And thai the said Col. Henshaw has returned to us, thai he h prospect of several companies arriving shortly hen', who, he suppo would be inclined to serve under him as their chief colonel : \imI that general Heath, and Col. Robinson, have made no returns to us, your committee, of their levies, or whether thej are willing to Berve in the said arm) as colonels And upon these facts, your committee are clear!] of opinion, that the safety of the country, and the promoting the public service, make it high]) necessary and expedient, thai the said colonel- (Hover, David Brewer, Woodbridge, Little, and Jonathan Brewer, be, without any delay, commissioned as chief colonels in the army aforesaid : and that their field officers, captains, ami subalterns, be also commissioned, as soon as a lisl of them can be -ettled, inasmuch as your committee are l*i 1 11 \ satisfied from good documents, thai all the men contained in the 19 regiments already organized, together with all the men levied by the said Colonels ('lover, D. Brewer, W Ibridge, Little, and Jona- than Brewer, together with an allowance of 150 men. which may have been enlisted l>v general Heath, and the like number bj I Robinson, will fall considerably short of amounting to 13,600 men; ami also, because your committee apprehend thai this Congress may, without any injustice to the field officers alreadj commissioned, or am other, make such orders, that the amount of the pay of the whole 340 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 16, army may not be unreasonably enbanced by a greater number of regi- ments, than, by the last establishment it was intended the army should consist of; all which is most humbly submitted by your committee. Joseph Hawley, per order. Adjourned to Friday morning, 8 o'clock. Friday, June 16, 1775. Resolved, That this Congress will take into consideration a resolve offered to the Congress by the committee of supplies, through the hands of Major Fuller, relative to supplying the soldiers with rum. The resolve was accordingly considered and accepted, and is as follows, viz : Whereas, by a resolve of Congress, relative to the allowance of sol- diers, no provision is made for the delivery of rum, or spirituous liquors, upon extraordinary occasions : Resolved, That the commanding offi- cer of the army, the lieutenant general, the major generals, and the brigadier generals, be, and hereby are respectively empowered, to draw on the commissary for spirituous liquors, for such soldiers, as from time to time, they may think necessary to supply therewith ; provided always, that the said general officers shall not allow any soldiers spirit- uous liquors as aforesaid, unless upon extraordinary duty, or other- wise particularly circumstanced. Ordered, That the Hon. Major Hawley, Hon. Col. Gerrish, Hon. Col. Warren, Col. Prescott, Col. Farley, Mr. Aiken, and Doct. Hall, be a committee to consider a resolve of the committee relative to an augmentation of the army, a supply of arms to the soldiery, &lc, and re- port thereon. [The] order of the day [was] moved for, for further considering the report of the committee, respecting the expediency of fitting out some armed vessels : Voted, that there be a further assignment thereof, viz : to three o'clock, P. M. Ordered, That John Row, captain; Mark Pool, lieutenant; Ebene- zer Cleveland, ensign ; be commissioned in Col. Bridge's regiment. Ordered, That Col. Richmond, Doct. Taylor, and Mr. Partridge, be a committee to draw a complaisant letter to Gen. Whitcomb, to desire a more explicit answer respecting his acceptance of the post of first major general, [who reported the following:] Watertown, June 16, 1775. Sir : — Your letter wherein you express yourself willing to continue in the service of this colony, until the army is regulated and properly encamped, and then rely on a discharge, was read with much concern I77.V] Till HI) l'K<>\ iviAL CONGRESS 34] by tin- Congress, w ho earnestlj hope you will continue in office till the conclusion of the campaign, and must beg your further and mon plicil answer. Col. Jonathan Brewer [was] sworn and commissioned Col. David Brewer [was] Bworn and commissioned. Col. Glover [was] sworn and commissioned. The committee on Col. Henshaw'a petition for an allowance for his jonrnej to Connecticut, reported : [which report was] amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz : The committee appointed t" consider the within account, beg leave to report that thej think il reasonable to allow Col. Joseph Henshaw, tiir In- expenses, I I 7-.: horse travel for him and servant, t'\ 5 time, 62 16s. — 68 8 ; deduct 2s. per day from the sum charged for the time of Col. Henshaw and his Bervant, II.-. — L'~ 11.-. Receiver general directed to pay it. Samuel Harding, Chairman. |)u<-t. Hall and Doct. .1 is were ;<• delivered to two companies in Col. Nixon's regiment, agreeably to his list exhibited. [ \acrnooii.] Ordered, That Col. < >tis and Mr. Johnson 1"' added to the commit- tee who were appointed to consider the late extraordinary proclamation of genera] Gage. Ordered, That Mr. Benjamin Ely, be appointed to obtain of the com- mittee ot" saii-tv. as soon as po--ible, a lisl of such gentlemen as they can recommend to be commissioned as officers of the tram. Resolved, That the receiver general be, and herebj is directed to pay to Col. Joseph Henshaw, the Bum of -even pound-, fourteen shil- lings, in full for his account reported and accepted bj the Congr< - Ordered, That commissions be delivered to the following officers of Col. Nixon's regiment, viz: ('apt. Ebenezei Winship, Lieut. William Warren, Ensign Richard Buckminster. Ordered, That Mr. Orne, Mr. Glover, and Major Brooks, bea com- mittee to consider what may be done with respect to such vessels as are now read] to Bail, with ti>h on board, there being a resolve of this Congress against the exportation of fish, &c; and in particular the cases of Mr. Ellis Graj and Richard Hinckley which has been laid before till- < 'o|| L rr. 342 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 16, The committee on the violation of the Sabhath reported ; [which re- port was] accepted, and is as follows, viz : As it has pleased Almighty God in his providence, to suffer the ca- lamities of an unnatural war to take place among us, in consequence of our sinful declensions from him, and our great abuse of those inval- uable blessings bestowed upon us : and as we have reason to fear, that unless we become a penitent and reformed people, we shall feel still se- verer tokens of the divine displeasure : and as the most effectual way to escape those desolating judgments which so evidently hang over us, and if it may be, obtain the restoration of our former tranquillity, will be, that we repent and return, every one from his iniquities, unto Him that correcteth us ; which, if we do in sincerity and truth, we have no reason to doubt but he will remove his judgments, cause our enemies to be at peace with us, and prosper the work of our hands : and as, among the prevailing sins of this day, which threaten the destruction of this land, we have reason to lament the frequent profanations of the Lord's day or the Christian Sabbath ; many spending their time in idleness or sloth, others in diversions, and others in journeying, or bu- siness, which is not necessary on said day : and as we earnestly desire that a stop might be put to this great and prevailing evil, it is therefore Resolved, that it be recommended by this Congress to the people of all ranks and denominations throughout this colony, that they not only pay a religious regard to that day, and to the public worship of God thereon, but that they also use their influence to discountenance and suppress any profanation thereof in others : and it is further Resolved, that it be recommended to the ministers of the gospel, to read this resolve to their several congregations, accompanied with such exhortations as they shall think proper : and whereas, there is great danger that the profa- nation of the Lord's day will prevail in the camp, we earnestly recom- mend to all the officers, not only to set good examples, but that they strictly require of their soldiers to keep up a religious regard to that day, and attend upon the public worship of God thereon, so far as may be consistent with other duties. Ordered, Th.it the foregoing resolve be printed in hand bills, and sent to the several ministers in each town and district in the colony. General Heath and Col. Robinson returned a list of their companies, and whereas there are several of the same companies returned in each, Orel, rid. that Mr. Batchelder, Air. Durfee, Major Perley, Major Fuller of Middleton, Major Bliss, be a committee to consider of the same, and report. A further time was assigned to make choice of brigadier generals. 1775.] THIRD !'K< »\ INC1AI. < ■■ NGRE88 :i; nuariir masters general, and adjutant- general, m/. to-morrow morn- ing, eleven o'clock. I ■ .. Coffin, Mr. Stephen Hall ami Col. Davis, were chosen a com- mittee t<> consider the petition of James Kirkwood. The committee on the petition of Ellis Graj ami Richard Hinckley, vV.-., reported : tin- two reports were accepted, and are a- follow : 'I'll.- committee appointed to take under consideration tin- petition "f Messrs. Ellis Gray ami Richard Hinckley, relative to eight) bogshi of Jamaic i cod fish, laden on two vessels hound t'> tin- West Indies ; the one "f which would have sailed before the resolve of tin- In » 1 1 < ■ r . 1 1 > I < • ( tongress forbidding the exportation of fish was published, bad -h<- not been detained In the elopement of her hand-, beg leave to report : that being full) convinced, from t> given us b) Mi Gra) ami Mi Hinckley, thai the fish those gentlemen were about to export, is of such a kind, being "Id Jamaica fish, a-, if d( tained, cannot possibly be of any advantage to tin- colony, bu1 must perish, tin- colon) being plentifully supplied with new fish, thai permission be given by this Congress, n> the owners "f Baid vessels, for their proceeding on their voyages; provided, there, is no other kind of provision <>n hoard, ex- cepl whal i- for the ship's use; ami further, that toleration be : r iwn to all other owner.- of vessels, for their departure, who -hall convince this Congress, or a committee thereof, that their vessels ami ca re in the same predicament, a- no possible advantage can accrue from their detention. J. Ornb, per order. The committee appointed to examine the hearer <>i a certificate from Newburyport, setting forth, thai Jonathan Titcomb and Stephen Hoop- er, Esq., "f Newburyport, have shipped on hoard two vessels, 130 head- of .lam ilea fish, which i- said n> he old fish, beg leave to report: that they are full) convinced, the fish above mentioned is of Buch a kind a- i- expressed m the certificate, and that ;he vessels who have laden n, have no other provisions hut a suppl) for the ship's use; ami, a- -mli. air of opinion that the owners of said vessels be tolerated to despatch them on their voyages, agreeably to a resolve of tin- Con- gress jusl now past, granting indulgence to the owners of vessels in such predicament lor bo doing. .1. Orni . per order. 'I'he committee appointed to consider a late extraordinary proclama- tion, Bigned, Thomas Gage, reported [as follows:] [In Provincial Congress, WaUrtoum, Jun< 16, I" /.' -.-//•-//, Thai the following proclamation be Bigned by the presi- denl printed ami published throughout tin- colony.] 344 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 16, [By the Provincial Congress.] [The confidence which our countrymen have reposed in us, lays us under the strongest obligation to watch and guard against all the ma- lignant designs of their inveterate enemies.] [That the British administration have formed, and have been for sev- eral years executing, a plan to enslave this and the other American colonies, is a proposition so evident, that it would be an affront to the understanding of mankind to adduce proofs in support of it. We shall therefore only advert to those unhappy circumstances, which have been the immediate causes of plunging this people into the horrors of war and desolation. When a fleet and army were sent forth to deprive us of every thing that man holds dear : when the capital of this colony became a garrison, and fortifications were erected upon the only land entrance into the metropolis : when the commander of the army so far manifested his designs against us, as to send out his soldiers in the night, to remove the public magazines of the colony from their safe lodgment in the country, and place them under the command of a for- eign army : when he evidenced his enmity to the liberties of this coun- try, by sending a detachment from that army against the peaceable inhabitants of one of our principal towns, only because they were assembled, quietly to concert measures to save themselves from ruin : when we were totally deprived of the benefit of a legislative body : when the whole system of distributive justice was so mutilated, that there could be no reason to hope for any advantages from it : when an act of parliament was passed, which the general of the army resolved to execute, by which our countrymen were given up as a prey to a lawless soldiery, who were screened from punishment here, for the mur- ders they might commit : in fine, when the army and navy breathed nothing but blood and slaughter, and all our accounts from England but too strongly proved the inhuman intentions of those in power ; it became us as men, as freemen and as christians, to take some steps to preserve our own lives and properties, as well as to secure the inheri- tance, purchased at no less a price than the blood of many thousand of our bravo ancestors, entire and undiminished for succeeding genera- tions. The Congress, whom this people then chose, recommended it to them, to provide themselves with such articles for their defence as the law of the land required, and further recommended it to them, to appropriate some part of their property for the purchasing such stores, to be laid up in public magazines, as might be useful for the general defence, in case an attack should be made upon us by the army. The recommendation was cheerfully complied with, and stores were pro- it; third provinc] \i. i i ingress cured, in the m>>-t peaceable and quiet manner, and deposited in m azines, where the) « continued without the least injury -ir disturbance to in) one, unless drawn out bj necessity, to :li<- country from destrucl lint the possibility of our making resistai Id the bloody schemes ■>!' "ur adversaries was th<- source "i continual terror to the traitors, whose aim was t" enslave this country, ai i. . after many little pill everal humiliating di intments in his attempts to rob the people, al length determined to destro) the magazines al Concord ; he sent the grenadiers and detach- ments of lighl infantrj iment, about one thousand in number, s , b) night, over Charles rivei f April, they, in a most barbarous and infamous manner, fired upon :i small number of tin- inhabitants, and cruelly murdered hi men. The tire was returned by some of the survivors, l»ut their number \\;i~ too inconsiderable to annoy the regular troops, who proceeded on 1 1 1< -i r errand, and, upon coming up to Concord, began to destroy, l>v fire and water, the stores and magazines, until a part) of them aorain fired upon and killed two more of the inhabitants. The native bravery of "ur countrymen could now no long re- strained; a small party, consisting of about two <>r three hundred men, attacked them with \ Lord Percy; this, however, did not encourage them to keep their ■ uinl : but the) continued their route towards Charlestown, marking their way with ever) speci( - ofdesolation and cruelt) which their haste would permit. The burning and robbing of houses, the abuses and barbarities offered to defenceless women and children, the wanton slaughter of the aged and helpless, will be perpetual memorials of the base -pirit which actuated the perpetrators. I pon iln-ir arrival at Charlestown, our countrymen quitted the pursuit, and the next d suffered them, without annoyance, to cross the river, and return to Boston. Tin- action of the troops destroyed every hope of c ing t" any accommodation with them; we, therefore, were compelled to an army to prevent such bloody excursions in future; an arm) is, the] fore, raised .mil appointed for that purpose, and we are, with the gi reluctance, obliged to declare, that w«' have now nothing to depend upon, under il, t" preserve Vmerica from slavery and destruction ■m- M 346 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 16, own arms. To these we have been forced to make our appeal, and by these we are determined to maintain our rights: and we are obliged to declare, and do now publicly declare, all persons, who shall afford any aid, assistance, or relief, or hold any manner of communication of any kind whatsoever, with general Gage, admiral Graves, or the army, or navy, or any one of those now under their command, who are sta- tioned in our metropolis and the harbor of Boston, or elsewhere, or any persons who are known, or shall hereafter be known, to have affoided such aid, or to have had such communication with them, or either of them, to be enemies and traitors to their country, and they shall be proceeded against and treated as such; excepting only, such of the un- happy inhabitants of Boston, as have, by a treacherous and most infa- mous breach of faith in general Gage, been prevented from removing out of the town of Boston, whose peculiar circumstances this Congress will, at all times, make due allowance for, so long as they shall avoid doing any thing to obstruct or counteract such steps as this Congress shall think fit to take ; but the said inhabitants are strictly forbidden, whatever may be the consequence of their refusal, to be in any, the least degree, instrumental in assisting the enemy, or opposing the country, as they would avoid the penalties due to the enemies thereof. From a real tenderness to our fellow men, we most sincerely regret the unhappy situation of the soldiery and sailors in the army and navy now stationed in the town and harbor of Boston, and assure them, upon that faith, which never has been, and we trust never will be violated, that, upon their quitting the infamous service in which they are, as we must in charity suppose, contrary to their own inclinations and principles engaged; we will receive them as brethren and fellow sub- jects, and protect them against every attempt that may be made by our enemies to force them again into the disgraceful and inhuman service, in which they are now employed.] [And, that our earnest desire to discover our tender regard to our few misguided fellow countrymen, and our readiness to forgive even those who have knowingl] offended, we do promise and engage a full and l'ree pardon to nil persons who have tied to the town of Boston for refuge, and to other public offenders against the rights and liberties of this country, of whal kind or denomination soever ; excepting only from the benefit of such pardon, Thomas Gage, Samuel Graves; those counsellors who wcii' appointed by mandamus and have not signified their resignation, u/., Jonathan Sew all, Charles Paxton, Benjamin 1 1 ;il loud I ; ami all the natives of America, not belonging to the navy or armv, who wenl out with the regular troops on the nineteenth of April ITS THIRD PRO\ [NCI \l. < I INGRES :i: mil were countenancing, aiding, and assisting them in th< nd murders then committed ; whose offences are of too il ■_ natu Imil of any other consideration than th pun- ishment: provided, the) take the benefit hereof, b) making a surren- der of themselves to neral officer belonging t<> the Massachusetts army, and subscribe a declaration of their readiness to comply with, support, and abide by, ;ill the resolutions and determinations which alreadj made l>\ this or an) former Congress, or thai shall hereafter be made by this or an) future Congress, or house of representatives of this colony, within thirt) days from the date hereof. And it is earn< enjoined upon the selectmen, committees of correspondence, coromit- >f safety, and all other oilier-, of ever) town in this colony, that their utmost diligence to discover and make known to this I ti) person or persons, who shall, in any respect, attempt to do any thing tending to render ineffectual their designs and doii and we trust, that the God of armies, on whom we rely for a blessing upon our arms, which we have taken up in support of the great and fundamental principles of natural justice and the common and ind< Bible rights of mankind, will guide and direct us in oui designs ; and at last, in infinit i this his injured people, restore p and tiifd. mi to the American world. J Voted, That Tuesda) next, ten o'clock before noon, I jned for the further consideration thereof. Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Col. Grout and Mr. Crane, be a i i- mittee to till commissions for the field officers of the regiment of artil- lery, as recommended by the committee of safety. /.' • '•■ That i con ssion be made out for Mr Hi ith, as colonel regiment of the Mass ichusetts army. /' olved, That Deacon Plympton be appointed to countersign the Bmall notes, instead of < !ol. K ichmond. The committee appointed to consider the application of president I don, reported; which reporl was accepted, and is as follows, viz. /,'. lived, That it be and hereb) is recommended to as man) of the overseers of Harvard College as can be called together, under the pres- ent circumstances of the college and the country,to meet and join with the corporation of said college, in conferring academical di I the approaching - ison of the animal commence nt, on such candid as ma) offer themselves and be judged qualified for the Bame ; and ti> transact an) other important matters relative to thai society, in the 348 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 17, same manner, and to all intents and purposes, as the whole body of the overseers might do, if present. Voted, That the receiver general, Henry Gardner, Esq., as also Deacon PI ympton, have leave of absence from to-morrow afternoon un- til Mondav morning. Adjourned till eight o'clock to-morrow morning. Saturday, June 17, 1775. The committee on account of Mrs. Coolidge, reported : the report was ordered to lie on the table, till the president came into Congress. The Congress granted leave of absence to Mr. J. Orne, being bound on a journey to Philadelphia. The committee appointed to take into consideration the property of some persons, who have left their habitations in sundry towns in this colony, and also have discovered themselves to be enemies to the rights of this colony and the continent, &c, reported. Ordered, That Mr. Edwards, Col. Thompson and Col. Glover, be a committee to consider upon the expediency and means of procuring fire arms and powder from Philadelphia, and elsewhere : which com- mittee reported : the report was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider upon the expediency and means of procuring fire arms and powder from Philadelphia and else- where, and to report in the form of a resolve, report accordingly : Resolved, That the committee of supplies be directed to employ Mr. Joshua Orne, a member of this Congress, for this end, and that they, by letter, desire that the honorable Continental Congress would be pleased to grant to Mr. Orne their aid in the premises. The committee appointed to take into consideration the resolve of the committee of safety, respecting the augmentation of the army, and supplying the army with anus, &c, reported in part; the report was considered and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, the hostile incursions this country is exposed to, and the frequent alarms we may expect from the military operations of our en- emies, make it necessarj that the good people of this colony be on their guard, and prepared at all times to resisl their attacks, and to aid and assist their brethren : therefore. Resolved, that it be, and hereby is recommended to the militia, in all parts of this colony, to hold them- selves in readme-- to march at a minute's warning, to the relief of any place that may be attacked, or to the support of our army, with at least twenty cartridges, or rounds of powder and ball : and, to prevent all L775.] TfflRD PROT [NCIAL CONGRESS (49 confusion <>r delay, it i- further recommended t" the inhab tin- colony living on the sea coasts, or within twenty miles of them, thai they carry their arras and ammunition with them to meeting the sabbath, and other days when the) meel for public worship. /,'■ olved, That all paean sioned by the offh rag into the army, <>r otherwise, in the several regiments ■ >(" militia, be immedi- ately filled up: and it is recommended t.. the regi it-, where Buch re, to supply tlimi. in mannei ind form as pr< ed by the resolutions of < Ordered, Thai the resolve before mentioned, brought in by said committee last mentioned, be immediately printed in handbills, and thai the number be three hundred. Voi I i it G !n in. Mi. Brown, and M joi Bliss, be and hereby are appointed a comra id three hundred handbills printed, and distribute the same t" the several towns and districts in tin- colony . Resolved, Thai Doct. Moses Gunn, be and hereby is appointed ti> countersign the large notes, instead of the Hon. Joseph Warn n, I Col. Jonathan Brewer's list of officers in his regiment, was pr< Ordered, thai a commission be delivered to each of the said * » 1 1 ": ■ except i" Joseph Stebbins, who has bul ".'I nun in \\\< company. 1 ■!. David Brewer's lisl of officers in his regiment, was presented : Ordered, thai a commission be delivered t<> each of said officers, R ! Capt. Holmes, Major Brooks, and Capt. Smith, be a committee \>> confer with the printer-, Edes, Hall, and Thomas, and know of them respectively, upon what terms thej will print handbills, and also -in h pieces as may be desired l>\ this Congress t<> be put in the weekly papers, and make report t" this Congn -- in writing, with all eun\ enient speed. The petition of undry persons from Egamagon Reach was read, and committed to the committee on the state ■>!' the sea coasts, [who re- ported as follow < m thepetiin.il of a number of the inhabitants of Egamagon Reach, N I , " called, praying t"« >r a small supply ofprovisioi Resolved, That it be recommended by this Congress to the com- raitti fety of the town of Salem, or t<> the like committee or com- mittees "t' correspondence <>f any other towns within this province, n> Bupply Mi <- Robert Byard and Alexander Greenlaw, of said I Ri ch, No I , for the presenl relief of the said inhabil m ith the following article-, \ iz. : forty bushels of Indian corn, and ii\<- barrels <>i" pork ; and take in return i"r the - ime, i ord u I, oi such 350 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 17, other payment as the said Robert Byard, and Alexander Greenlaw, may be able to make ; and in case they, the said Bayard and Green- law, should not make satisfaction for the same, in a reasonable time, it shall be allowed and paid out of the public treasury of this province, and the said Byard and Greenlaw shall refund the same as soon as may be. Several of the committee who were appointed to consider the state and circumstances of the sea-coasts, viz. : Hon. Mr. Sever, Hon. Mr. Spooner, Col. Cutt, and Capt. Maynard, being absent, Ordered, that Major Hall, Mr. Aiken, Capt. Morton, and Capt. King, be appointed in their stead. Resolved, That the vote for choosing brigadier generals from the colonels who have been commissioned by this Congress, be so far re- considered, as that Col. Heath, though he has not yet received his com- mission, may be eligible to that office. The committee appointed to consider the resolutions of the commit- tee of safety, reported the following resolve and schedule, which were accepted . Whereas, some of the inhabitants of the new plantations in this col- ony, not incorporated, and some of the inhabitants of the neighboring colonies, together with a number of the late inhabitants of the town of Boston, have enlisted into the army now raising in this colony, to whom the resolve of Congress, dated May 9, 17 75, empowering the selectmen to supply the inhabitants of their respective towns with arms, &c.,did not extend ; and, by that means, many of such men are not provided with sufficient arms : therefore, Resolved, that the inhabitants of the several towns and districts in the counties specified in a list hereunto annexed, who may have good and sufficient firelocks, be and hereby are most earnestly advised, as soon as possible, to provide and deliver to such person or persons as are to be now appointed by this Congress to receive the same, the full number of good, effective firelocks, specified in the said list for each town and district to supply, for which firelocks every owner thereof shall receive such sum, in the bills of credit of this colony, as the person or persons now to be appointed by this Congress to receive such firelock, and the owner thereof, shall agree to be the value of the same, within forty days alter the delivery of such firelock. For all which firelocks delivered as aforesaid, the person to be ap- pointed b) this Congress to receive the same, shall give his receipt therefor in the form following 1775 THIRD PROA [NCI \l. I ONGRE& 351 / day of i: eived of \ B firelock , to the use of the colony of th< M husetts 15a, of the value of ; which Bum the receiver of the said colony is directed, in fortj days alter the date hereof, to i" the said A. B. <>r order, in bills ofcredil of this colony. Ami ill-' said receivi 1 I, upon Buch receipl being produced to him, 1- empowered and required to pay, ou( of the treasurj ofthie ony, tin- sum specified in such receipt, in the bills of credit aforesaid, t" the person named therein, or his order ; and, furthermore, th< lectmen and committees of correspondence of the Beveral towns and districts id, are hereby mos -th requested to afford all pos- aid and assistance to the persons to be appointed l>\ this Con- -. to procure the said tin luck- ; thai d arms 1 -n|>- plied to our army with th< tlition. -\m\ the persons to be appointed to procure said firelocks, arc hi Jly empowered and directed to employ such wagoners and ti shall be ni with great despatch, to convej the same to the »rder the rcci . ieral of this colon) t" pay, out of the treasury of the same, in bills of credit as aforesaid, such sums as they shall agree "n and draw fur : and the said receivi ral is hereby auth irized and di- rected to paj the order- so drawn. !l • 'C .it i/. — Worcester, 30 ; Lan Mendon, Brookfield, 31 ; Oxford, 11 ; Charll 1 I . Sutton, 31 I 12; S r, 10; Paxton, 6 ; Ru nd, l~>: Oakham, I I lubbardston, 2 Mi w Braintree, 1" : Southborough, 12 ; West- borough, 12; Northborough, 8; Lunenburg, 16; Fitchbui (i: I \t.rid_e. II Vorthbridge, 5 ; Harvard, Hi: Dudley, ! Hutchinson, 13 ; Bolton, 15; Upton, 6; Shrewsbury, ' Stur- bridge, 12; Leominster, 12 ; Hardwick, \'> ; Western, II ; II ol- den, S; Douglass, i ; Grafton, I".'. Petersham, 12; Etoyal- Bton,2; Westminster, 10; Athol, 6; Templeton,8; Princeti \-liltiiriili;mi. 3 ; Winchendon, 3 ; . . . 51 I pshire. — Springfield, 20 ; Wesl Springfield, 25 ; Wilbraham, II: Northampton, 25 ; Southampton, I": Hadley, II South Hadley, 9 Imherst, 12 Granby, 7 ; Hatfield, 14; Westfield, 19; Deerfield, 15; Greenfield, 10; Sunderland, 9; Montague, 8; Northfield, 10; Brimfield, 15; South Brimfield, H> : Mon- Bon, - Pelham, I I ; Blandford,9; Palmer, I nville, l< Salem,9; Warwick,.-. Uhfield,8; Southwick 352 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 17, Suffolk. — Wrentham, 25 ; Medway, 10 ; Bellingham, 6 ; Walpole, 4; Medfield, 4; ...... 49 Middlesex. — Marlborough, 20 ; Littleton, 6; Hopkinton, 9 ; West- ford, 6; Groton, 7; Shirley, 2; Pepperell, 4; Townsend, 4; Dracut, 5 : Acton, 5 ; Dunstable, 5 ; Tewksbury, 4 ; Chelms- ford, 7 ; Billerica, 7 ; Stow, 4 ; Framingham, 3 ; Wilming- ton, 4 ; 102 Plymouth. — Bridgewater, 25 ; Middleborough, 16 ; . 41 Bristol. — Attleborough, 10; Rehoboth, 15; . . 25 Worcester, 514; Hampshire, 334 ; Suffolk, 49 ; Middlesex, 102 ; Plymouth, 41 ; Bristol, 25 ; total, . . . 1065 Resolved, That four o'clock, P. M. be assigned for choosing com- mittees to receive and purchase fire arms agreeably to the foregoing re- solve. Afternoon. A letter from the president of the Continental Congress, and a re- solve containing several recommendations to this and the other colo- nies, and two letters, one to the Lieut. Gov. of Rhode Island, and one to the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, brought express by Mr. Fessenden, were read; whereupon, Ordered, that Capt. Morton take charge of the letter to New Hampshire, and Mr. Slead that to Rhode Island, to deliver them immediately, and return to the Congress as soon as may be. Resolved, That the Hon. Col. Warren, Hon. Major Hawley, Hon. Col. Gerrish, Mr. Gerry, Col. Prescott, Deacon Cheever, Capt. Brown, and Capt. Robinson, and the secretary of the Congress, be a commit- tee to notify and call together the members of this Congress in any extraordinary emergency, at any other time, or to any other place, than [that] to which it may stand adjourned. The order of the day [was] moved for : Whereupon, committees were chosen to purchase arms agreeably to the resolve passed in the forenoon : the names of the committees cho- sen are expressed in the following resolve, viz. : For the county of Worcester: Capt. William Page of Hardwick, Capt. Abiel Saddler of Upton, Mr. Heinmenway of Shrewsbury : — For the county of Hampshire: Major Benjamin S. Ely of West Spring- 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS :{.,:? field, Major John Bliss of Hadley : — For the round/ of Suffolk : Capt. Lemuel Kollock of Wrenthara : — For the county of Middlesex: Col. Simeon Spaulding of Chelmsford, Capt. Josiah Stone of Framiagham : — For the count)/ of Plymouth : Major Ebenezer White of Rochester : — For the county of Bristol: Col. George Williams of Taunton. Adjourned to Sunday morning, eight o'clock. Sunday, June 18, 1775. Resolved, That the records and papers of the Provincial Congress be secured and taken care of, at the discretion of the secretary; and that the committee of supplies be, and hereby are directed, to procure a horse for the secretary, that he may have one ready for that purpose on any emergency. A petition from the committee of Waldoborough for powder, was read; whereupon, Resolved, that the petitioners have leave to with- draw their petition. Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop appoint some messenger to go to Doct. Church, for the letters it is said he has brought from Philadelphia. Ordered, That Major Hawlev, Col. Warren, Mr. Kollock, Mr. Ed- wards, Col. Gerrish, Doct. Church and Col. Otis, be a committee to prepare a letter to the Continental Congress on the late attack of the king's troops at Bunker's hill, Sec, and such other matters as they may think proper, and report to this Congress : and also that they take into consideration a letter from the president of the Continental Con- gress, and several recommendations of the said Continental Congress therein enclosed, received by Mr. Fessenden, and another letter from the said president, with a resolve enclosed relative to a mode of gov- ernment for this colony ; and also to inquire of the committee of sup- plies, what steps they have taken to procure powder from the other governments of New England. 1 (I) The letters of the Hon. John Hancock, president of the Continental t'onjress, with the reso- lutions enclosed, except thai inserted in the journal, are copied below. Tho despatches for the governments of Rhode Island and New Hampshire, covered transcripts of the same documents. " PHILADELPHIA, June 10th, IT75 " GENTLEMEN : — In consequence of your application to this Congress for advice respecting a form of government to he adopted in the Massachusetts Bay, under your present circumstances, I um directed by the Congress to transmit you their resolution thereon, which is here enclosed. 1 am also to inform you that the Congress have been so pressed with business, thai they have been prevented determining upon the other matters mentioned in your letters to them : hut they will very soon come under their consideration, and their resolutions thereon shall he forwarded to you." " I also enclose you a resoh e of I longress, lor furnishing our army with flour ; this you will koep •ecu', at le isl u far as thi a iture of it will admit, as the publication may give an alarm, whist) may provent the good effects of it." " Last evening, Mr. Fessenden, vour express, arrived, with vour despatches of June 4th, which I 45 354 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 18, Ordered, That the committee of supplies be directed to write to Rhode Island and New Hampshire, touching the article of powder; also to send to each of said governments a copy of the recommenda- tions of the Provincial Congress. shall this morning lay before the Congress, and, when considered by Congress, their determination shall be immediately transmitted you." " I am, with much esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant, JOHN HANCOCK, President." " To the gentlemen of the Provincial Congress, Massachusetts Bay.'''' " In Congress, June 9th, 1775. " Resolved, That the Provincial Convention of New York be requested to convey, as soon as possi- ble, to Providence, in Rhode Island, or to any port in the government of Massachusetts Bay, five thousand barrels of flour, for the use of the continental army." " That the committee of correspondence at Providence, or in the government of Massachusetts Bay, where the said flour may be carried, be desired to receive the same, and to forward it to the camp before Boston, as soon as may be, and to lodge such parts thereof as cannot immediately be sent thither, in places of security." " That this Congress will make provision for defraying the expenses incurred for this service." " Secret as the nature of it will admit, for fear of an alarm being given, and a stop. J. H." "PHILADELPHIA, June 10th, 1775. " GENTLEMEN : — By order of the Congress, I transmit you the inclosed resolutions, passed by the Congress this morning. The necessity of the present emergency requires a speedy compliance with the first, and I need not inform you that the nature of the service requires it to be done with as much secrecy as possible." " I am also directed by the Congress to request you will please to transmit to them, as soon as may be, an estimate of the powder, arms, and ammunition in your colony, including private as well as public stocks." " By Doctor Church, this morning, I forwarded you the resolution of Congress respecting the mode of government." " I am your most obedient servant, JOHN HANCOCK, President." '« The inclosed letters for the lieutenant governor of Rhode Island, and the gentlemen of New Hampshire, please immediately, on receipt, to send off by express ; pray don't fail." " To the members of the Provincial Congress, Massachusetts Bay." " In Congress, June 10, 1775. " The Congress earnestly recommend to the several colonies of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and the internal towns of the Massachusetts Bay, that they immediately furnish the American army before Boston, with as much powder, out of their town and other public stocks, as they can possibly spare, keeping an exact account of the quantity supplied, that it may be again re- placed or paid for by the continent : this to be effected with the utmost secrecy and despatch." " Resolved, That it bo recommended to the committees of the several towns and districts of Mas- sachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and the eastern division of New Jersey, to collect all the saltpetre and brimstone in their several towns and districts, and transmit the same, with all possible despatch, to the Provincial Congress of New York." " That it be recommended to the Provincial Congress of New York, to have the powder mills in that colony put into such a condition, as immediately to manufacture into powder, for the use of the continent, whatever materials may be procured in the manner above directed." " Resolved, That it be recommended to the several inhabitants of the colonics, who are possessed of saltpetre and sulphur for their own use, to dispose of them, for the purpose of manufacturing gunpowder." " Resolved, That the saltpetre and sulphur, to be collected in consequence of the resolves of Congress for that purpose, be paid for out of tho continental fund." » A true copy fiom the minutes. CHA'S THOMPSON, Sec'y." 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS ( Ifternoou | Ordered, That Col. Thurston, Col. Parks and Doct. Corbett, b committee to consider a petition from Egamagon Reach; and also a petition from Deer Island, [for supplies of provisions.] Adjourned to IVfondaj morning, eight o'clock. Monday, June 19, 1775. Ordered, Thai Mr. Bonney, Mr. Foster and Col. Thompson, be and hereby arc appointed a committee to repair immediately to Cambridge, and inquire u li.it methods are taking to supply the army at the intrench- iii nt- with victuals and drink, and take effectual care that they 1)0 well supplied without delay. Ordered, That Col. Parks, Deacon Fairbanks and Doct. Whiting, be, and hereby are appointed a committee to take into consideration a letter from General Ward, respecting the supplying the soldiers with blankets and other articles lost in battle, also for providing spears for defence. 1 Doct. Hall, Doct. Jones and Mr. Bigelow, were appointed a com- mittee to consider the expediency of establishing another hospital for the sick and wounded of the army, and ordered to sit forthwith. Deacon Bailey, ('apt. Goodman and .Mr. Fisher, were appointed a committee, to inquire of the committee of supplies, how far they have proceeded to supply the soldiery with blankets, &C, and make report. Capt. Goodrich, Mr. Aikin and Capt. Dwight, were appointed to consider a letter from the Hon. Jedediah Preble and Hon. Enoch Freeman, respecting Col. Phiney's regiment being commissioned for the defence of the sea coasts. 2 I Two letters were received from Gen. Ward, on the 19tli of June, addressed to ilx- president of i longri -- ■ ••<' IMBRIDGE, June 19, 1" "SIB :— The honorable Congress arc hereby informed, that, in the late act , many of thi soldiers lust their blankets and clothes; they are now in a very suffering condition on thai account, and must, in order to fit them for duty, be immediate!) supplied, ospeciall] with blankets; and m that were not in the action aie destitute of blankets " " It is requested, that tin- troops may !>•■ supplied also with ■> I irge number of spears >>r lane defending the breastworks. In the late notion, spear ~ might bave saved the intrenchment. Bj order of the general. JOSEPH u Mil'. - 'rjf." ■ - in: \n . i i \i; rERS, June 19, V, "SIR:— T must earnestly entn I i furnish the train of artillery, with a company irlificers immediately, as the arm) suffers greatl] t'"r want <>r them. This ought t-> bi of the first establishments, and I hope t hi I will not delay the matter a daj long 1 mi, sir, vour most obedient, lium'ile servant, AIM T.M \S \\ IRD I'he lettei from the Hon. Jedediah Preble una Hon. Enoch Freeman foil I \l.\lol 111, Juno 14, 1775. •• HONORED SIR —These wait on you by Colonel rhlney, who tnformi u«, he has ordered the 356 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 19, The committee appointed to consider the expediency of establishing certain officers for taking care of the ordnance stores, viz., storekeep- er, conductors, and clerk ; also, the establishment of a company of ar- tificers, &c, reported : the report was amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider the expediency of establishing certain officers for taking care of the ordnance stores : also what arti- ficers, and the number, that may be necessary for the army, and in what way they shall be established, have attended that service, and beg leave to report as follows : That, in addition to the storekeeper al- ready appointed by this Congress, there be established four conduc- tors of stores, and two clerks for the ordnance department ; and a company of artificers, to consist of a master carpenter or overseer, with 49 privates; and the committee of safety be desired to recom- mend to this Congress, fit persons for the offices abovenamed ; and if any such privates, who are now engaged in either of the regiments of the Massachusetts army, are inclined to join the abovesaid company, they may have leave so to do, they relinquishing their pay as soldiers, from the time they engage as artificers, and be equipt with fire arms, and accoutrements ; and the overseer, when appointed, be ordered to consult the chief engineer with respect to the number of each kind of artificers that may be necessary, and that he complete his company, and make return thereof to this Congress, with all possible despatch. Your committee, furthermore, beg leave to report an establishment for the officers and privates above mentioned, viz,: The storekeeper, .$80 per month : four conductors, each $48 do. : one master carpenter, or overseer, 880 do. : two clerks, each 848 do. : 49 privates, they to find their own tools, $50 do. each. All which is humbly submitted. Elisha Parks, per order. Resolved, That three o'clock, P. M., be assigned for the choice of a president of this Congress, in the room of the Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq., supposed to be killed in the late battle of Bunker Hill. The committee appointed to take into consideration the resolve of men lately enlisted in this county, to guard the sea coasts and islands within said county, to secure the cattle and sheep from the ravages of cruisers from the navy : but, as no provision is made for their subsistence, it cannot be expected they can continue to do duty without. We refer you to Colonel Phiney for particulars. Four Indian chiefs arrived here this day, with Captain Lane, from the Penobscot tribe. We hope their expectations will be answered, which will lay a founda- tion for the securing to our interest the whole tribe." "We are, honored sir, your most obedient, humble servants, JEDEDIAH PREBLE, ENOCH FREEMAN." Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq., U> be communicated. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. the honorable Continental Congress, respecting the method of estab- lishing civil government in this colony, reported: [The report was] read and debated, and Resolved, that the further consideration of Baid report be put off until Doct. Church, who was at Philadelphia at the time said resolve of the Continental Congress passed, shall be present. The committee appointed to take into consideration a letter from General Ward, respecting supplying the soldiers with blankets, &.c, lost in battle, and providing spears &c, reported : The report was re- committed. Col. Prescott and Mr. Wheeler, were added to the committee cho- sen to fill up commissions for the officers of the army. Afternoon. [The] order of the day [was] moved for. Ordered, That Col. Prescott, Doct. Hall, and Col. Otis, be a com- mittee to receive, sort, and count, the votes for a President. The committee having attended that service, reported, that the Hon. James Warren, was chosen. Resolved, That nine o'clock to-morrow mornincr, be assumed for the consideration of the report of the committee on the establishing armed vessels. The committee appointed to inquire of the committee of supplies, what they had done relative to providing blankets and coats, reported, verbally; that they had conformed to the resolve of Congress relative thereto, and looked upon it to be their duty, to pay such orders as the selectmen mighl draw on them for the blankets they should purchase, but that they had only paid one town as yet. Resolved, That the same committee report to this Congress, the price proper to be given for blankets throughout the whole colonv, and that the committee of supplies be directed to suspend the payments for blankets till some further day, and that the said committee bring in a resolve expressive of the reason thereof. The committee appointed to consider the expediency of establishing another hospital for the army, reported, that a house belon^in^ to Doct. Spring, of this place, may be had for that purpose, whereupon, Resolved, That said committee be directed to inquire at what rate. per month, Doct. Spring will let the same. Resolved, That the secretary be directed to subscribe the name of the late president, to all commissions that are to be delivered out to the officers of the army, bearing date the 19th of M aj The report of the committee appointed to consider General Ward's Ji58 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 20, letter relative to spears, was again read and accepted, and it is as fol- lows, viz. : The committee appointed to take into consideration a letter from the general, informing that a number of the soldiers in the late action, lost their clothes and blankets, and also proposing that the soldiers in the intrenchments be furnished with lances and spears, have attended that service, and beg leave to repoit by way of resolve. [Resolved,] That the committee of supplies be, and they are hereby directed, to furnish those destitute soldiers with clothes and blankets, as soon as may be, who shall produce from the colonel of the regi- ment they belong to, certificates of their having lost such clothes and blankets in the late engagement : and that a committee be chosen, immediately to procure, from such as can most speedily and conveni- ently supply them, a sufficient number of good spears, not exceeding 1500, either by purchase or hire ; and that the same be transmitted to the army at Cambridge as soon as possible ; all which is humbly sub- mitted. Elisha Parks, per order. Adjourned to eight o'clock, to-morrow morning. Tuesday, June 20, 1775. The committee appointed to consider the request of Col. Phiney, reported. The report was ordered to lie on the table till the matter respecting armed vessels is considered. Ordered, That Major Brooks, Col. Mitchell, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Kol- lock, Deacon Fairbanks, Mr. Perry, and Major Fuller, be a committee to purchase spears, agreeably to a resolve which passed the Congress yesterday; said committee to proceed on the business forthwith; to consult with and receive directions from the general, respecting the form, &c, of the spears; and to engage payment for the fame, in bills of credit of this colony. The committee on the resolve of the Continental Congress respect- ing government, reported a letter to the several towns in the colony, which was read and accepted, and ordered to be printed in hand bills with the resolve of the Continental Congress at large: and Mr. Whit- ney, Col. Freeman, Capt. Stone, Doct. Church, and Deacon Cheever, were appointed a committee to ascertain the number to be printed; to get them printed, and to disperse the same to the several towns and districts in this colony : and also to consider in what manner the late inhabitants of the towns of Boston and Charlestown, should choose 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. :..:• members to represent them. The resolve of the ( lontinental ( longrt se and tlie letter to the towns, fol OW, viz. : In Congress, Friday, June 9, 17 7:.. Resolved, That no obedience bein<_ r due to the act of parliament for altering the charter of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, nor to a gov- ernor and lieutenant governor, who will not observe the directions of, but endeavor to subvert that charter; the governor and lieutenant gov- ernor are to be considered as absent, and their offices vacant. And as there is no council there, and the inconveniences arising from the sus- pension of the power- of government are intolerable, especiall) t a time when general Gag< hath actuallj levied war, and i- carrying on hostilities against in- majesty's peaceful and loyal subjects of that colo- ny : that in order to conform, as near as may he, to the spirit and sub- stance of the charter, it he recommended to the Provincial Congre--, to write letters to the inhabitants of the several places, which are enti- tled to representation in assembly, requesting them to choose such rep- resentatives ; and that the assembly, when chosen, should elect coun- sellors; which assembly and council should exercise the powers of government, until a irovernor of his majesty's appointment will consent to govern the colony according to its charter. A true copy from the minutes. ( i! m:i es Thompson, S, en fun/. By order of the Congri John Hancock, President. Coiow of fin. Massachusetts Bay. In observance of the foregoing resolve of the Hon. Continental Con- gress, now sitting at Philadelphia, these are to request you, forthwith. to cause the freeholders and other inhabitants of your town, that have an estate of freehold in land, within this province or territory, of fort) shillings per annum, at the least, or other estate to the value of fort) pounds sterling, to assemble, at such time and place as you shall appoint, then and there to elect and depute one or more freehold- ers, resident in the same town, according to the numbers set and limi- ted by an act, of the general assembly, entitled an act for ascertaining the number ami regulating the house of representatives, to serve tor. and represent them in a great and general court or assembly, to be con- vened, held, and kept, for the service of the -aid colony, until the end of the dav next preceding the last Wednesday of .May next, if nece--a- r\ . ami no longer, at the meeting-house in Watertown, upon Wedn day, the 19th da) of July next ensuing the date hereof, and to warn 360 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 19, the person or persons so elected by the major part of the electors pres- ent at such election, to be timely notified, by one or more of the con- stables of your town, to attend the service of this colony in the said general court or assembly, on the day above prefixed, by nine o'clock, in the forenoon, and so from day to day, during their session and ses- sions. Hereof we desire you not to fail, and make return of this let- ter, with the name or names of the person or persons so elected or de- puted, and of their being notified, unto the said general assembly, at the time and place abovementioned for its meeting. Given under my hand, this nineteenth day of June, anno domini, 1775. By order of Congress. President. To the selectmen of the town of Attest, Secretary. Resolved, That 3 o'clock, P. M. be assigned for the choice of a ma- jor general in the room of the late Doct. Warren, and also for the choice of one brigadier general. Several letters from Penobscot, viz. ; from Mr. John Lane, and oth- ers, were read and committed to Capt. Webster, Col. Farley, Capt. Holmes, Doct. Taylor, and Major Perley. 1 Doct. Gunn was appointed to report a resolve on the proposal made by the committee of safety, relative to the killed and wounded in the late battle. A petition from the district of Woolwich 2 was presented and read : and thereupon, Resolved, that the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition. Upon a motion made, Resolved, that the house of Mr. Hunt, at Cam- bridge, be hired for a hospital, and that the committee appointed to treat with Doct. Spring, be a committee to hire the same. (l)Tiic substance of the communications from Ponobscot, is contained in a letter from Gen. Preble. "Falmouth, June 15, 1775. " Honored Sir : — Mr. Lane is returned here, with four of the Penobscot tribe ; we have furnished them with carriages to convey them to von, and Mr. Lane with money to pay their expenses. Oro- no, the chief man, leemi to be sensible, and hearty in our cause : he reserves what lie has chiefly to say, till he comei to the ( longress. We gave them astaraoeea that they might depend upon being provided for, while there, as well as on their return back again, wished them a pleasant journey, and that the event might be happy to them and us. We suppose Mr. Lane will give account of the expense, therefore we have sent none." " Wishing lUCCeea to our righteous cause, we are, your honors, most obedient humble servants, the committee of correspondence, JEDEDIAH PREBLE, Chairman." " Hun. Joseph Warren, Pri ident." (2) This petition was for n supply of powder. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS Ml Ordered, Thai Doct. Church, Doct. Taylor, and Doci Whiting, be a committee t-> consider what method is proper t<> be taken t" Mipply the hospitals with Burgeons: and thai the Bame gentle d be a com- mittee to provide me. linn.-, am! ;ill other necessaries foi the hospitals. The report of the committee on the expediency of establishing arn vessels, was considered, and after debate, the matter was ordered to Bubside. 1 The committee appointed to confer with Do.t. Spring, relative to the use of In- house for another hospital, reported : the report was read and accepted, and i- as follows, v 1/ Tin' committee appointed to consider of the expediency of establish- ing another hospital lor the sick and wounded of the army, ha\n tended that service, beg leave to report, that thej judge n i- real! pedienl to have another established, and the) judge that the bouse of Doct. Spring, in Watertown, is convenient lor that purpose; ami that he l- willing -aid house should he improved by the province for that use, hnt that he cannot at present ascertain the damage it may be to him, hut is willing to submit that matter to the judgment of a com- mit tee to be hereafter appointed b\ tin- honorable Congress or the boose of assembly. Bj or. 1 .1. Hall. Ordered, That Doct. Church, Doct. Taylor, and Mr. Pickering, be a committee to considei the petition of Mr. Pigeon, commissary general. Ordered, Thai Mr. Wheeler, Doct. Whiting, andCapt. Pilsbury, be a committee to consider a petition of Col. John Patterson, [who re- ported as follow - ■ J The committee appointed to take into eon-iderat mil the petition of Col. Patterson, have attended that service, and beg leave to report by w av of resolve. [ Hi -ill r i ./, j That the com iii ii tee of supplies be directed to give imme- diate orders for the supplying -aid destitute soldiers with blankets, agreeablj to the -aid petition. The coi ittee on the petition of Mr. Pigeon, reported. The report iccepted, ami is a- follow -. \ iz. : "Resolved, That Mr. John Pigeon, commissar) general, requesting a dismission from hi- said office, being under a mistake, have bhertv to withdraw hi- petit ion : that the conduct of said coinnn neral in hi- office, hi- been such a- to merit the approbation of this < ongl 1 T rted by the a nittee, provided f..r fitting out .« numbei lo«« iii lount from eight to rourii the protection oftbe c >rce and propertj of thi latiooi ui I the province, :i».i foi the capture and deatraei 4t; 362 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 19, and of the public in general ; and that said John Pigeon be desired to attend his business as commissary general in the service of this prov- ince. At the request of Mr. Pigeon, the commissary general, Ordered, that Doct. Holten, Mr. Devens, and Col. Palmer, be a committee to consult, and with their advice, assist Mr. Pigeon in such matters as appertain to his office. Resolved, That there be one deputy commissary appointed to each regiment, and that Mr. Pigeon, the commissary general, be desired to lay before the Congress a list of persons proper to be appointed for this business, and to propose an establishment for their pay. Ordered, That Mr. Edwards, Mr. Hopkins, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Batchelder, and Doct. Church, be a committee to confer with four In- dians, this day arrived from Penobscot, under the conduct of Mr. John Lane, and to provide proper entertainment for them while in this place, and for their return home. Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Mr. Langdon, and Col. Sawyer, be a committee to consider the desire of Capt. George Dodge for liberty to export a quantity of old Jamaica fish. On a motion made in behalf of Capt. Thomas Mason and Capt. George Dodge, that they might have liberty from this Congress to ship off for the West Indies, one hundred and thirty hogsheads of last year Jamaica cod fish, or a quantity not exceeding the same : Resolved, That it appears to this Congress, that the detention of said fish can be of little or no service to this colony, and that they be al- lowed to export the same : and the committee of safety for the town of Salem is directed to see that this resolve be effectually carried into ex- ecution, and that no other provisions, except for the vessel's use, be shipped off in the same. Resolved, That five o'clock, P. M., be assigned for the choice of some person to preach an election sermon on the 9th of July next. [Afternoon.] The committee appointed to consider a petition from the committee chosen to take care of the poor at Charlestown, reported ; the report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee chosen to take the within petition into consideration report, that it is their opinion, that the poor of the town of Charles- town be provided for by the selectmen of the several towns to which they remove, until the further order of this or some future Congress, or house of representatives. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 968 Ordered, That Col. Cushing, Major Perley, Col. Prescott, Col. Bar- rett, and I). 'aeon I'Vhrr, !>e a committee to inquire into the grounds report which has prevailed in the army, that there baa been treachery in 9ome of the officers; and that, it" they liud thai Buch report i- with- ont Foundation, they bring in a resolve for quieting the minds of the people, in respecl thereof. Ordered, That the c mittee appointed to consider the request of Capt. George Dodge, should likewise com ler a request mad.' by Dea- con Cheever, in behalf of Mr. Russell, for a similar purpose. On a motion made in behalf of Mr. Thomas Elussell, merchant, that he might be allowed to ship off from this colony, one hundred hogs- beads of last year's Jamaica fish, for the West [ndii Resolved, That it appears to this Congress, that the detention of said fish can be of little or no service to this colony, and that he be al- lowed to export the same ; and as part of said lish is now at Salem, and part at Newburyport, it is further Resolved, that the said Russell be allowed to send or transport the fish which is at Salem to Newbury- port, in order to be shipped off as aforesaid : and the respective com- mittees of safety of both said towns, are directed to take care, in their own departments, that this resolve be effectually carried into execution, and that no other provisions, except for the vessel'- use, be shipped off in the same. The order of the day [was] moved tor. Ordered, That Capt. Webster, Mr. Wheeler, ami Mr. Fox, be a com- mittee to receive and count the vote- for a major general. The committee having attended thai service, reported that Col. Heath w a- chosen. Resolved, Thai eleven o'clock, to-morrow morning, be assigned for the choice of lour brigadier generals. A return of a member, (viz. : Mr. Beriah Norton.) from Edgartown, was read, and considered ; and the question being put, whether Mr. Norton be regularly returned a member for said town, it pa.-sed in the negative ()rf/i rter, and Doct. Taylor, be a committee to prepare the form of a return, to be printed on the back of 364 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 20, the letter to be sent to the several towns and districts for choosing rep- resentatives. Ordered, That Deacon Fisher, Capt. Stone, and Capt. Thatcher, be a committee to consider a letter from the committee of safety relative to their recommendation of Mr. John Wiley as captain of a company of the train of artillery, and that they notify the said Wiley to be heard thereon. Ordered, That Capt. Batchelder, Mr. Hopkins, and Major Fuller, be a committee to consider a petition from Robert Haskell. 1 Ordered, That Capt. Brown be of the committee, in the room of Major Hall, to agree with Mr. Hunt for his house in Watevtown, to be used as a hospital. Ordered, That Deacon Nichols, Deacon Fisher, and Mr. Hinsdale, be a committee to distribute Doct. Langdon's sermons, one to each minister in the colony, and one to each member of the Congress. The committee appointed to prepare the form of a return to be printed on the back of the letters to the selectmen of the several towns and dis- tricts, &c, reported. The report was read, and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Pursuant to the letters within written, the freeholders and other in- habitants of the town of , qualified as is therein directed, upon due warning given, assembled and met together, the day of , 1775, and did then elect and depute to serve for and represent them, in the session and sessions of the great and general court, or assembly, appointed to be convened, held, and kept, at the meeting-house in Watertown, upon Wednesday, the nine- teenth day of July, 1775; the said person being chosen by the major part of the electors present at said meeting. Dated at aforesaid, the day of , Anno Domini, 1775. : Selectmen of The person chosen as aforesaid notified thereof, and summoned to attend accordingly, by me, Constable of (1) Robert Haskell represented, that lie wn? a native of Beverly, where he resided until 1762, when he removed to Yarmouth in Nova Scotia, and cultivated a small farm. Returning to Bev- erly in 1773, he vnsnnfft in the coasting trade ; but the wreck of his vessel, and the loss of her cargo, had deprived him of the meant of Support, i ml rendered hitn desirous of returning to his lands. Hav- ing contracted for his passagi in an old ship, the committee of safety of Reverly had refused their permission for his departure on the contemplated voyage. He prayed that Congress would give him liberty, under the unfortunate circumstanced of las condition, to revisit his home and family. 177.-,.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. The committee appointed to prepare a letter to the Continental Con- gress, reported. The reporl was read, paragraph bj paragraph, accepted, and ordered to be transcribed, authenticated, and Bent for- ward, [ and is as follow .-. viz:] 7n the Honorable, tht Continental Congress, now sitting at Philadel- phia : Mn ii it phase your honors: Having been favored with your resolve respecting the assumption of governmenl in this colony, we Beize the earliest opportunity to express our grateful ["sentiments] for thai compassion, seasonable exertion, and abundant wisdom, evidenced in your recommendation to this people on that head, and for the generous provision you have made fur our sup- port, in our efforts for the defence of the common liberty and essential rights of the whole continent. As we are plunged into the accumula- ted distresses of a domestic war, our constant attention to the call- of our brethren in the field, will leave us hut little time to cont< mplate the acts of ordinary legislation: hut, as we are impressed with the in- dispensable necessity of rescuing this people from the danger they are in, of falling into a state of anarchy, and that our public resolutions may In- taken and executed with greater despatch, we -hall apply ourselves, with all diligence, to fulfil your benevolent intentions, ami establish the form of government recommended b) your honors; that so, oruu Ireland, both of horse ami foot, being arrived, the number un- known, and having good intelligence that general Gage was about to take pi. --e--inn of the advantageous posts in Charlestown, and on Dor- chester point, the committee of safety advised, that om troops should prepossess them, if possible; accordingly, on Fridaj evening, the 16th instant, this was effected by about twelve hundred men. About (lav- hid it. on Saturday moning, their line of ci renin v all at ion. on a -mall lull BOuth of Bunker's hill, in Charlestown, was closed. At this time, the Lively, man of war, began to lire upon them. A number of our ene- mies' -hip-, tenders, cutters, ami bcows, or floating batteries, soon came up : from all which the tire was general by twelve o'clock. About two, the enemy began to land at a point which leads out towards Noddies island, and immediately marched up to our intrenchments, from which th.y were twice repulsed ; but, in the third attack, forced them. Our n [raionloitiitt.] 366 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 20, forces, which were in the lines, as well as those sent for their support, were greatly annoyed on every side, by balls, and bombs, from Copp's hill, the ships, scows, &,c. At this time, the buildings in Charlestown appeared in flames, in almost every quarter, kindled by hot balls, and are since laid in ashes. Though this scene was most horrible, and altogether new to most of our men, yet many stood and received wounds by swords and bayonets, before they quitted their lines. At five o'clock, the enemy were in full possession of all the posts within the [isthmus.] In the evening and night following, General Ward extended his in- trenchments, before made at the stone house, over Winter hill. About six o'clock, P. M., of the same day, the enemy began to cannonade Roxbury, from Boston neck and elsewhere, which they continued twen- ty four hours, with little spirit and less effect. The number of killed and missing on our side is not known ; but supposed by some to be about sixty or seventy, and by some, consider- ably above that number. Our most worthy friend and president, Doct. Warren, lately elected a major general, is among them. This loss we feel most sensibly. Lieut. Col. Parker, and Major Moore, of this colo- ny, and Major McClary, from New Hampshire, are also dead. Three colonels, and perhaps one hundred men are wounded. The loss of the enemy is doubtless great. By an anonymous letter from Boston, we are told, that they exult much in having gained the ground, though their killed and wounded amount to about one thousand ; but this ac- count exceeds every other estimation. The number they had engaged is supposed to be between three and four thousand. If any error has been made on our side, it was in taking a post so much exposed. As soon as an estimate can be made of public and private stocks of gunpowder in this colony, it shall be transmitted without delay ; which, we are well assured, will be very small, and by no means adequate to the exigencies of our case. We apprehend, that the scantiness of our stock of that article cannot fail to induce your honors still to give your utmost attention to ways and means ofprocuring full supplies of it. We feel ourselves infinitely obliged to you for your past care in this respect. We beg leave humbly to suggest, that, if a commander in chief over the army of the United Colonies should be appointed, it must be plain to your honors, that no part of this continent can so much require his immediate presence and exertions, as this colony. Ordered, That the Hon. Major Hawley, and Mr. Phillips, be a com- mittee to draw up a resolve, to be sent to General Ward, suggesting to 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS SOT him the expediencj of drawing part <>f the forces Btationed at Etoxburj . to the '-11111) at ( lambridge. The said committee reported tin- following letter, which waa accept- ed, ami ordered to be sent, by -Mr. Thaxter, to the camp at ( lambridgi immediately : Sir: — Tin- Congress, considering the presenl situation of the ene- my, ami thai ofthe division of our army at Cambridge, think proper to suggest to your serious consideration, whether it i- ool proper ami ex- pedient, that there should be an immediate draft of a regiment or more from the tXoxburj camp to tint ;it Cambridge. Your good sense will undoubtedly incline yon to consult Gem ral Thomas, before you deter- mine absolutely on tin- measure; but we conceive the consideration of tin- matter ought not to he delayed a moment. To the llo„. General Ward. Adjourned to Wednesday morning, eight o'clock. \\ i dnesdat, June 21, 177."). Resolved, That the vote of this Congress for ranking the major >. r, ii- erals agreeably to the order of their choice, he reconsidered. The commission prepared for General Heath, was presented to Con- gress, read, and accepted, and is a- follows : Th Congress of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay,tothi Hon 117/- liam Hi nth, /.'- By order of ( !ongn President 368 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 21, Ordered, That Col. Gerrish, Major Hawley, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Dur- fee, and Mr. Jewett, be a committee to consider the expediency of di- recting General Ward, to call Col. Glover's regiment, now stationed at Marblehead, to the camp at Cambridge, and report. The committee on the petition of Robert Haskell, reported : The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of Robert Haskell, beg to report by way of resolve, Resolved, That the petitioner, Robert Haskell, be, and he hereby is permitted to proceed from Beverly to Nova Scotia, in a fishing vessel about 17 years old, that he hath procured for that purpose ; also to carry three or four persons with him, and the following provisions, viz. : one barrel of pork ; two of bread ; sixteen gallons of molasses ; sixteen gallons of rum ; a half bushel of beans or peas ; and two bushels of salt ; but no more provisions of any kind whatever : and that such proceed- ing will not be contrary to the resolve passed by the Grand American Congress, the 17th of May last, or any other resolve that honorable Congress have yet published. Resolved, That Col. Phiney, be admitted into this house, to inform the Congress of the state of the regiment enlisted in the county of Cumberland. The committee appointed to consider the expediency of directing General Ward, to call to the camp at Cambridge, the regiment at Marblehead, reported. The report was [''accepted] 1 . Ordered, That Col. Sayer wait on General Ward with it. Ordered, That Mr. Sayer, draw, in the form of a resolve, the report of the committee relative to the estates of the refugees. Ordered, That the president sign the resolve relative to the violation of the sabbath, which passed the lGth instant. Ordered, That Doct. Jones, Capt. Stone, and Capt. Bragdon, be a committee to consider the petition of Thomas Twining. Mr. Sayer reported a resolve relative to the estates of the refugees, which was accepted, and ordered to be printed in the Cambridge, Watertown, and Worcester papers, and is as follows, viz.: Whereas, the property of some persons who have left their habita- tions in sundry towns in this colony, and have discovered themselves to be enemies to the rights of this colony, and the continent of Ameri- a [accepted and is a? follows.] (1) The resolution, unfortunately lost from the journal and files, appears to have directed the re- moval of the regiment from the coast to the camp, as soon as the troops could abandon their post with safety to the inhabitants. 1775.] THIRD PROVING] \\, I ONGRES ca, in general, and have taken refuge in Boston, and other places, Hu- rler the protecti f the enemies to said colon) and continent . thi lore. Resolved, thai il be recommended t<> the selectmen and commit- - of correspondence of the several towns and districts of this colony, where any property is to be found belonging to an) of the aforesaid per- sons, thai the) take the si ■ into their care, and make the besl impro menl thereof in their power; and also, thai il be recommended to the said committees or selectmen, to use their endeavor, thai no strip or waste be made on such property, and to keep an accounl of all t Ik* rents ami profits arising fr the same, and to be accountable for the same, to tin-, <>r some other Congress or assembl) of this colony, when thereto required ; the) having a reasonable allowance made for their trouble. Aflemoi Ordered, That .Major Hawley, Mr. Gerry and Major Fuller, be a nmittee to bring in a resolve, for the purpose of calling the general sembly at another time than that at which it is to be held, if the exi- gencies of the times should make it necessary. R< solved, That another major general be chosen by this Congress, ".n addition to the two aire ad) chosen, and thai six o'clock, this after- noon, be assigned for such choice. Ordered, That Major Fuller, Col. Farley and Mr. Wheeler, he a committee to inquire how and wh( re material- for making good p p< r, nroper for bills of credit, ma) be had. if any such bills should l>e emit- • Ordered, Thai Capt. Bragdon and Col. Davis, be a committee to apply to Mr. Paul Revere, desiring him to take care, thai he does not e his engraving press exposed, when he is absenl from it ; and said committee are directed to take the plates into their hands, and deliver them to this Congress, when the notes are all struck oil*. The committee who were appointed to confer with the Indian-, re- ported as follow s, \ i/. : The committee appointed by the honorable colony Congress, now sit- ting, to treat with the chiefs from the Penobscot tribe, after an intro- duction "it their pari, received from the [chief of the] Indian- the fol- lowing address, \ iz. : The representation he now makes, and the engagements he enters into, are in behalf of the whole tribe he represents. Hi- heart i- g I. honest, and upright, in all he says. The English ire a people old and strong; bul the) are children and weak. They have a large trad of land, which the) have a righl to 47 370 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 12 call their own, and have possessed, accordingly, for many years. These lands have been encroached upon by the English, who have, for miles on end, cut much of their good timber. They ask that the Eng- lish would interpose and prevent such encroachments for the future : and they will assist us, with all their power, in the common defence ol our country ; and they hope, if the Almighty be on our side, the ene- my will not be able to deprive us of our lands. They request that Capt. Lane be an agent for them, to settle all matters relative to the above difficulties respecting their lands. They desire a commissary may be sent among them, of whom they may purchase goods. They desire provisions, powder, &c, may be sent them, which they will buy at a reasonable rate. They say, they have been much imposed upon by our traders, and desire such evils may be, by us, prevented. Ordered, That the request of the Indians, as mentioned in said re- port, be considered by the committee aforesaid. Ordered, That Mr. Haven administer the oaths to General Heath, as colonel, and as major general of the Massachusetts army. The president then delivered General Heath a commission as colo- nel, and another as a major general of the Massachusetts army. Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Mr. Lothrop and Mr. Pitts, be a committee to deliver commissions to the following officers in General Heath's regiment, viz. : Jotham Loring 2d, major : Charles Cushing, captain : Elias Whitton, lieutenant : Benjamin Beal, ensign. Ordered, That the president, Major Hawley, Mr. Gerry, Col. Thompson, Capt. Goodman, Col. Lincoln and Col. Freeman, be a committee to inquire into the reason of the present want of discipline in the Massachusetts army, and to report to this Congress what is the most proper way to put said army into a proper regulation. A commission was delivered to Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge, as colonel of a regiment in the colony army. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to the officers of Col. Woodbridge's regiment, agreeably to a list by him exhibited to the committee of safety. The order of the day [was] moved for. Ordered, That Col. Lincoln, Mr. Pitts and Mr. Lothrop, be a com- mittee to receive, sort, and count the votes for another major general : which committee reported, that they had attended that service, and that Joseph Fry, Esq., was chosen. Ordered, That Mr. Phillips be appointed, foithwith to wait on Col. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. :r, | Fry, to inform him of such choice, and to know it' In- will accept that trust. The committee appointed to consider the request of tin- Indians, now in Watertown, reported : the report was accepted, and i- ai fol- lows, viz. : We, the delegates of the people of this province, assembled in Con- gress, being appointed to transact the public business, have no doubt that any engagement we shall make, lor and in behalf of our constitu- ents, will, on their part, be faithfully ratified and adhered to. We do not doubt of the integritj and honest intentions of our brethren of the Penobscot tribe, and hope, on their part, that the) entertain no jeal- ousy of the upriL r htne-s and fidelity of us, their brethren. The inhabi- tants of this colony disdain to make use of unjustifiable force or arti- fice, to rob their unsuspecting hrethren of their rights; and are heartily disposed to prevent any injuries and encroachments upon their neigh- bors, and to restrain and chastise such invaders as have evidenced any such unjustifiable dispositions. And we hereby strictly forbid any person or persons whatsoever, from trespassing or making waste, upon any of the lands and territories, or possession-, beginning at the head of the tide on I'euohscot river, extend in if six miles on each side of said river, now claimed by our hrethren, the Indian- of the Penobscot tribe, as they would avoid the highest displeasure of this Congress We think our hrethren of the Penobscot tribe, for their generous offer- of friendship and assistance in our present war v, ith our hrethren in Great Britain, who are endeavoring, by murder and violence, to rob us of our lands ami property, and hereby engage to [support] their just claims against every invader. As soon as we can take breath, from our present fight, we will take care that our hrethren, the Penobscot tribe, shall be furnished with a proper commissary, who shall be direct- ed to furnish them with provisions, ammunition, and s_ r ""ds, at a rea- sonable rate ; and proper and effectual measures shall then he taken. to prevent any dishonest persons from carrying on a fraudulent traffic with them. We accept of Capt. Lane, as an agent, appointed by our hrethren of the I'euohscot tribe, who is hereby authorized and empowered to take cognizance, and make report to this Congress, or any future assembly of this colony, of any molestation or depredations, which the Indians of the Penobscot tribe may hereafter sustain, from anj person whatso- ever : so that seasonable ami effectual measure- ma) be taken to afford those, our brethren, such redress as their circumstances maj require. To the Fountain of all Justice we dare appeal, that our intentions are 372 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 21, equitable towards all our neighbors, and on that Almighty Being we rely, that, while we are struggling against rapine and tyranny, we shall be supported in the conflict, and our just endeavors be finally crowned with success. The committee likewise reported, verbally, that it is their opinion, the said Indians should have, each of them, two yards of blue broad- cloth, and one piece of ribbon, and have their expenses paid, out an home : which report was accepted, and the committee of supplies di rected to furnish said Indians with the said ribbon and cloth. A copy of a letter from the president of the New York Congress 1 Major General Wooster, at Greenwich, forwarded to head quarters a Cambridge, was read, and committed to the committee just now ap pointed to consider some methods for regulating the army immediately. (I) The letter of the New York Congress was forwarded by Gov. Trumbull, with the communi- cations which follow : " LEBANON, June 19, 1775, A. M., 7 o'clock. " SIR : — Inclosed are copies of notes taken by the Provincial Congress at New York, of the in- telligence brought bv Capt. Thompson, of the embarkation of four regiments from Ireland for New York, in consequence whereof .Major General Wooster is requested by that Congress to march imme- diately within five miles of the city ; and the latter informs me, that Capt. Sears informed him, that the people of New York intend to quarter our troops in the city. The military stores, which were at Turtle Bay, have fallen into the hands of General Wooster, consisting of too many articles to be enumerated ; among which are, about five hundred good horse harnesses, a very considerable nuru her of 13 and 10 inch carcasses, [shells and pots,] all well charged, a very great plenty of grape shot, cannon balls from 24 pounders down to 3, &c, &c." " The Provincial Congress of New York forwarded, for the use of your camp at Cambridge, 655 lbs. of powder, which came as far as Stanford. They desired the same quantity might be forwarded from our eastern magazines. The governor, with his council here, agreed, on Saturday last, to send forward ten barrels of powder, containing 1 100 lbs., from Norwich. Immediately after receiving the letter of Mr. Gerry, of 17 ih June, at 7 and 8 o'clock, P. M.. I sent to Norwich directions to fjrward the same, night and day. The remainder of Col. Parson's regiment were ordered to march, forth- with, to join the rest at camp, with one pound powder, three do. ball, and six flints each. I have sent to hasten them on. I have, this moment, received advice from Col. Arnold at Crown Point, of 13th instant, that the Indians of the Cagnawaga tribe are determined not to assist the king's troops, and have passed a law, that the first of their tribe, who takes uparms against us, shall be put to death ; which he says, is confirmed by five chiefs of that tribe there with their families, and they press hard for our army to march into Canada, as they are much disgusted with the regular troops. Three Indians, sent by him to Canada, it seems, have been much abused by the regulars, and are returned, and confirm that account : it is also confirmed, he says, by a gentleman of probity at Montreal ; and that number! of the Canadians have expected our army there, and are impatient of our delay, being determined to join us as soon as sufficient force appears to support ihein : that Gov. Carlton, by every art, can raise no more than twenty Canadians of the noblesse : that he threatens to burn .Montreal, if the men bants won't defend the city, incase of an attack: that he has only 550 effective men, and thinks it would be very easy to possess ourselves of the whole country." '• Col. Hinman writes, that he is in quiet possession of Ticonderoga, and does not rind that there are any enemit B about him." «< I am, with great troth and regard, gentlemen, your obedient, humble Bervant, JONA. TRUMBULL." "Joseph Warren, Esq., President of the Massachusetts Congress, and Elbridge Gerry, Esq., chairman of the committee of supplies at Massachusetts." 1775.] THIRD PROA [NCIAL < 0NGRES8. 373 Ordered, Thai commissions for the several officers of the train of artillerj hereafter mentioned, be prepared and delivered, viz. I I Richard Gridley, colonel : Mr. William Burbeck, lieutenant colonel. .Mr. David Mason, 1st major : Mr. Scarborough Gridli \. 2d major. Resolved, That commissions be delivered \<> I i eral officers of the train of artiller) . agreeably \>> the list exhibited bj the committee of safety, except t" Mr. John Wiley's company: and thai the >aiil committee be desired i" recommend -■> persons for that compan\ w. /, That Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Pickering ami Col. Sawyer, lo- a committee to prepare i ommissions lor the sevi ral officers of the train. eably t<> tin- foregoing resoh e of < !ongi i .\ Intelligence brought by Caj . " Qapt. Thompson arrix • n York, Ti 3th June, 1775 ; left Cork, in Ireland, on the 6th. • st, and informs, that six regiinei rnnsports, for Bn regiment of horse included, which Bailed 30lh April. ' J " ( . r . mbarked, and the fourth em- bark! I foi New York, with the first fair wind. The regiments were all full, * ich, filled by drafts from the i in. Their places were to be filled bj new recruits, eral report was, that these lour regiments were coming t.. New York, am! some captains, and other officers belonging to 1 1 1 . - troops, told Capt. Thompson in rrived at Cork, from Kilk lay Capt. Thompson sailed, wh was the lis] regiment to embark lor New York. Ho saw 12 large Iran- nod lor N York : ho heard that 16 v imo to Ni » York." •• 'l'ii ■ Yorknre to oil was, thnt tin Tor In persons here. Thi ,1,-1 out: no ships of war wcro coming with the transports : a report prevailed in Ireland, that nin i ! i.ODO rning. The people of Ireland, In general, an toll '. \ by the parliament of Great Bril ■ MM, - pt. Thompson lor Phil idelphi to Ymerii •- Pro\ iv I fern York, 17th Jut •• SIR : — lo oil' will informed thul four regiments, containing m'.ir three tliousnnd effective men, iled, in ir , wi look the liberty lo request the sons of freedom who air under your command. U in . ilii* instant, furthei informed, thai the Mercury, ship of war, was cruising upon oui to order thot I B Ion immediately, and did, on Tuesduj last, thirty leagues to the southeast of the M deliver her orders to the old S|n, man of war, now a transport, with part of i 1 men) on board, which im diutely altered her course. Prom hi onclude. th tnl stroke is medil I st our brethren of the Massachusetts B \ sir, whether il ion, for the forces under your command to march wesl but we I 'I to believe, thai ii i> nfmore important • sequence to secure tin with which i ously fortifiod the eastern country, th war should prove ratal to us, in the tirst contest, the enemy may, by bucIi r . v> insmil ibis intolligen uti Wo nro, -if, your most humble sen ler of tin I ER V. B. LI\ . / " Tii ■ tei just received from the I ^ and now forwarded bj i Ity ... I leral WoosUi IAME9 I . - v ." 374 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 22, Ordered, That Major Whittemore wait upon Col. Gridley, to desire him to attend this Congress, to-morrow, to receive his commission. Ordered, That Deacon Nichols, Mr. Bent and Deacon Fisher, be a committee to consider the petition of Capt. Briant Morton. Ordered, That Col. Gridley's list of staff officers be committed to the committee just now appointed to prepare commissions for the offi- cers of the train. Adjourned to Thursday morning, nine o'clock. Thursday, June 22, 1775. Ordered, That the secretary, Col. Cushing and Mr. Wheeler, be a committee to make a list of such officers of the army, as have been commissioned, and also to inquire who have not yet received their commissions. Ordered, That an ensign's commission be delivered to Mr. Stephen Frost, of Capt. Locke's company, in Col. Gardner's regiment. Ordered, That the selectmen of the town of Ashby, be directed to deliver the selectmen of the town of Townshend one half barrel of powder, provided they have two half barrels, the selectmen of Towns- end giving a receipt for the same. Ordered, That the petition of Col. Paul Dudley Sergent be commit- ted to Col. Parks, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Mr. Nye. Ordered, That the petition from Penobscot [for ammunition and provisions] be recommitted. Ordered, That Doct. Francis Kittridge be desired to attend the hos- pital, as a surgeon, till the further order of Congress, and that Mr. Kendall be desired to inform Doct. Kittridge of his appointment. Ordered, That the colonels of the several regiments in the Massa- chusetts army, be directed to recommend, immediately, suitable persons for surgeons and surgeons' mates. Ordered, That a recommendation from the committee of safety, re- specting aids de camp, be committed to Col. Glover, Major Goodwin and Dr. Whiting. Orelered, That Major Whittemore, Mr. Davis and Deacon [ a Gould,] be a committee to distribute the handbills respecting the due observ- ance of the Lord's day. Ordered, That Mr. Pickering be appointed, in the room of Col. Coffin, to consider the petition of Mr. Kirkwood, keeper of the light- house on Thatcher's island. 1 a [Goo!.] (1) James Kirkwood represented, that he had been di prived of his salary for two years, and had Dot been remunerated for hip Jisbura.->inon:s in maintaining the lights on Thatcher's island, and 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. :;::, Ordered, Thai .Mr. Hinsdale, Col. Farley and Capt. Batchelder, be a committee to take into consideration a petition from George Vincent of Salem. Ordered, Thai Dock Whiting be appointed to draft a resolve, that application be made t < » the committee of safetj l>v everj person thai is to he appointed a military officer. Ordered, That the proclamation for a fast be recommitted for amendment, and that .Mr. Webster and Deacon Fisher be added to the committee. Ordered, That a hospital be provided for the camp al Hoxbury, and that Col. Davis, Doct. Taylor ami Doct. Whiting, be a committee to provide one accordingly, and to supplj the same. Ordered, That Major Fuller of Newton, l>e appointed to take care of the plates, until the further order of this Congress, or some future house of representatives of this colony. Ordered, That Major Ilawlev, Mr. Webster and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to take into consideration Col. Phinev's regiment. Ordered, That Mr. Goodman be appointed, in the room of Col. Grout, on the petition of Mr. Parry. \ i'Tnoon. Ordered, That Mr. Paul Revere's account 1 be committed to Col. Karl.;., Mr. Hall and Mr. Bailey. Ordered, Thai Capt. Batchelder, Major Goodwin and Mr. ETobart, be a committee to consider the propriety of commissioning the officers in < !ol. Gerrish's regiment. Ordered, Thai Mr. Pickering be appointed, to fill np commissions for Samuel Patch, as captain, and Zachariah Walker and Joshua Brown, as lieutenants, in Col. William Prescott's regiment. Ordered, That a letter be sent to General Ward, in answer to his letter, and that Col. Lincoln be appointed for thai service. Voted, Thai a particular number of men shall Lie settled, to entitle Col. Pliinev to the command of a regiment. Voted, That Col. Phiney be directed to bring up to the camp four hundred men with effective tire arms, and that a time be limited to bring up one hundred more, at least, with effective tire arms, and in that case [he] to be entitled to a colonel's commission, and not other- wise. relief from the pecuniary diffionltiei he experienced bj reason of ttio postponement of the paj in. oti due fbi hi and expeni (1) Col. Paul Keren charged for engraving four copper pi itei of the colon* n..to», nt CI. ct.-h. •i\l. ■. and tor printing 14,600 impressions, at 3/. Gc. 8d\ the thousand, 48 376 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 2'2, Ordered, That Mr. Pickering be appointed, to make out commis- sions to the officers in Col. Gerrish's regiment. Ordered, That the committee of safety be directed, as soon as pos- sible, to prepare and transmit to this Congress, perfect lists of the names of such gentlemen as they judge fit and worthy to be commis- sioned in the several regiments granted by this Congress, and for which the said committee have not already transmitted lists, that so our army may be organized as soon as possible. On the petition of the selectmen of the town of Townshend, Re- solved, that it be recommended to the selectmen of the town of Ashby, to deliver to the selectmen of the town of Townshend, one half barrel of gunpowder for the use of the inhabitants of said Townshend: which shall be replaced in the town of Ashby by this Congress, or a house of representatives, so soon as the state of our magazines will admit; or otherwise, said town of Ashby shall be fully paid for said powder, out of the public treasury : provided the said town of Ashby have two half barrels, as has been represented to this Congress. The committee appointed to consider by what means the army before Boston, may be effectually and most expeditiously strengthened, beg leave to report in part, that they judge it absolutely necessary that the eight companies stationed in the county of Plymouth, belonging partly to General Thomas's regiment, and partly to Col. Cotton's regiment, be immediately ordered to join the army as soon as possible, and that directions be immediately given to General Ward for that purpose. Joseph Haw ley, per order. 1 [The committee reported the following letter to general Ward, which was accepted :] Sir : — As it appears to this Congress highly probable, that the army of our enemies will speedily make the utmost efforts to force your lines and penetrate into the country, they have judged it absolutely necessary for the strengthening of the army before Boston, that the eight compa- nies now posted in the county of Plymouth, belonging partly to Gen- eral Thomas regiment, and partly to Col. Cotton's regiment, should immediately join the said army. You are therefore directed, without delay, to give the orders necessary for the marching the said eight com- panies to the said army as soon as may be. (1) In the original journal, the resolve in relation to the removal of the troops from Plymouth, is repeated, under the date of June 23. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. Resoh /, That [ a the colonels] in the Massachusetts army, be and th ■;■• ire h sreby dire it • I. im n ■ I. itelyto infor n th ■ comra by Con to examine the surgeons for said a'rmy, whom they re- co:n n -;i I for tin' sur n I - irg in's m ites of their respective regi- ments, and send them to said committee for examination, without de- lay; except such as have been examined. Resolv, /, Th ge Vincent be, and he hereb) is permitted to export from Salem to the West [ndies, about fort) one barrels ol ale- wives, i i i said Vincent is also permitted to take on board his vessel, provisions ent tor his vo to the said West [ndies, and no more, and the committee <>f safety of the town of Salem, are hereby di- re I to see this res »lve strictly complied with. On a p itition of a number of the inhabitants settled on Penobscot river, the inhabitants of Belfast, Vlajabigwaduce, and Benjamin's river, representing the difficulties and distress said inhabitants are under, in respect to the scarcit) of corn and ammunition, and praying for some relief, Resolved, that it be recommended by this Congress, to the com- mittee of safety of the town of Gloucester, or Newburyport, or to the like co n nittees of s Lfety, or correspondence, of any other town- within this colony, to supply Capt. Jonathan Buck, one of the petitioners, for the use of said inhabitants, for their present relict', with two hundred bushels of indian corn, <>r to that amount in com and rye, and take, in return for the same, cord wood, or such other payment as the said Buck ma) be able to make, on his securitj therefor; and in case the said 15 i -a sh ill n it mi ike satisfaction for the same, in a reasonable time, it •I ind paid, out of the public treasury of this colony, and the sai ! I> ick sh ill refund the same as soon as m i) be : and that Col. <■ I a. vu ■ up all the public arras and ammunition in his possess- ion, to itioners, ot a committee appointed l>\ them for that pur- p >s ■ : and, as top >wd -r, the) shall be reasonably supplied therewith. soon as the state of our magazine will admit thereof. 1'ian \v, June 1 '>, I ''■'>■ Ordered, That Col. Cushing, .Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Wheeler, an I Mr. Lang Ion, b • a committee to fill up commissions, and that n . one of said gentlemen quit the house without leave. Ordered, That the officers m Col. Glover's regiment, be comn I. ex '•;■• < ' ipt. Lee and his subalterns. Ordered, That the pa) ol the ensigns he augmented tothreepout a [ouch colonel. J 4- 378 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 23, ten shillings, and those that are returned as ensigns, be commissioned as second lieutenants. Ordered, That the petition of Bridget Philips, be dismissed ; that directions be given to General Ward, not to permit Bridget Philips, wife to an officer in Boston, to go into Boston, nor any other person whatever, and that Major Goodwin, be directed to bring in a resolve for that purpose. Ordered, That a commission be given to Col. Gridley, as chief en- gineer and colonel, with the rank of major general, and that the lieu- tenant colonel of the train have the rank of colonel, and that the ma- jors have the rank of lieutenant colonels; and that the captains [have] the rank of majors, captain lieutenants and first lieutenants the rank of captains : and that the rank of the other officers be suspended for the present. Ordered, That the report respecting Col. Phiney's regiment be re- committed, in order to bring in a resolve directing Col. Phiney, to bring to the camp, 400 men with effective fire arms, and in that case [he] to be commissioned as first colonel, with a major under him ; and in case he brings up 500 men, all the officers to be appointed ; and in case he brings up but 300 men, [he] to receive a commission as lieu- tenant colonel ; also, that his men be brought up to camp at the ex- pense of the government. Ordered, That the committee appointed to disperse the handbills respecting the due observance of the Lord's day, be directed to make a computation what number are wanted, and order them to be printed, and that one be struck off for each parish. Ordered, That General Fry be commissioned as a major general, and that the president be directed to administer the oath to him. Oreh rid, That the oath for general officers be altered, and that the words, "or house of representatives, or legislative body of said colony," be added. Ordered, That .Mr. Lane's account for bringing up the Indians, be committed to Mr. Langdon, Capt. Goodman, Capt. Holmes, Capt. Parker, and Capt. Carpenter, to take the same into consideration, and report thereon. The committee appointed to provide a hospital for the camp in Rox- bury, reported as follows: That they have appointed the house be- longing to Joshua Loring, in said Roxbury, for a hospital, and for the use of said camp. The report was accepted. Ordered, That the account of Capt. Kirkwood, be recommitted to 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGREE the committee appointed to take that matter into considei ad thai Major Whittemorc, and Mr. Glover, be added to the commit! Ordered, That the consideration ol lo'mtmenl ofquarti r i generals, and adjutant generals, be deferred to four o clock, P M and that Mr. Hobart, be appointed to wait on General Ward, to quest him to] nominate an adjutant general. Ordered, Thai to-morrow, eleven o'clock, A. M., b _w<<\ to come i" the choice of four brigadier generals. Ordered, Thai a committee be appointed to draw up the form of warrant- for staff officers, and that the c mittees appointed to deliver out commiss - be appointed for that purpo The committee appointed to take into consideration Col. Phini iment, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, \ iz. : That Col. Edmund Phiney, heretofore authorized by the committee of safet) to raise a regimenl for the service of this colony, but [who] has no1 ye1 effected it. be directed to proceed, with the greatest diligence and despatch in thai business, and in case he shall, on or before the fifteenth day of July next, join the army of this colo- ny, now before Boston, with four hundred effective men, each armed with a good effective firelock, the said Phiney, shall be entitled to be commissioned as a colonel, <>n the pay established by this Congress t"> > r a chief colonel; and that there shall be also allowed to the s id body, one major, and no other field officers; and in id Phiney, ill procure an addition of one hundred effectivi men, or upwards, and each armed with an effective firelock, by the last day of Jul) next, that, in such case, the said one hundred men shall be joined to the id four hundred men, and both the said numbers shall constitute one regiment, and then the choice of field officers shall be completed, I a proper number of subordinate officers, commission* nd Phiney, he specially instructed nol to march any man to the -ml camp, who i- not furnished with a ■_:■«„{ effective firelock, and that no man without a firelock, shall he accounted, or reckoned, a [prod>: 380 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 23, to constitute the numbers above mentioned, which shall entitle him to either of the aforesaid commissions proposed for him. Ordered, That the secretary be directed to make out a copy of the resolve respecting Col. Fhiney's regiment. Afternoon. The committee appointed to take into consideration the price of blankets, to be given the soldiers, reported as follows; which [report] was accepted, viz. : Resolved, That the sum of twelve shillings, lawful money, be the stated price for each blanket allowed to the soldiers in the Massachu- setts army ; and such soldiers as have, or shall be supplied with blank- ets of less value, as may appear by the appraisement of the selectmen, shall have the overplus made up to them by those who supplied said soldiers, and the abovesaid twelve shillings shall be allowed, out of the public treasury, for each blanket. Ordered, That nine o'clock, to-morrow morning, be assigned to take into consideration an establishment for the brigadier generals, and quar- ter master generals, and adjutant generals. Ordered, That the time assigned for the choice of quarter master generals, and adjutant generals, be deferred to to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, A. M. Ordered, That a letter from Mr. Hooper of Nevvburyport, 1 be re- ferred to the committee of supplies, they to make report. Ordered, That Daniel Noyes, of Ipswich, be appointed a postmaster, in the room of Mr. James Foster, who has resigned that office. Ordered, That Major Fuller of Middleton, be directed to wait on General Whitcomb, and desire him to attend this Congress, and re- ceive his commission. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Col. Thompson, be a committee to take into consideration the regiment that was moved from Marblehead to Cambridge, immediately, and that the committee be directed to go to Cambridge, and inquire into it, and make report. Ordered, That the committee appointed to fill up commissions, be directed to fill up a commission for General Whitcomb. Ordered, That Mr. Nye, be appointed to number the notes signed by Deacon Plympton. (1) Stephen Hooper, Esq. slates, that the committee of Portsmouth had received from Baltimore, fifty barrels of flour, intended as a donation for the inhabitants of Boston : hut, as the New Hamp- shire troops needed supplies, they desired to purchase and retain the flour. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 38] Ordered, That Capt. Sprague, Capt. White and Doct. W i ii a committee to take into consideration a petition from the town Maid. -u. Ordered, Thai Mr. Hopkins, Capt. Br Phillip committee to take into consideration the circumsl of the I end Doct. Langdon, president of the college, and reporl then Ordered, Thai a committee be appoinl consider of pro pedients to augment the army, and, in particular. t<» write to the otl w England governments on the subject, and thai the) I to attend the service immediately. Ordered. Thai Mi. Nye be excused from attending the service, in - numbering the n< I oed by Deacon Plympton, and that Mr. Holmes be appointed in his room, and be directed to attend that - diately. Ordered, That t he report of the committee, who were ordered to inquire into the misconduct in the late engagi tn< nt, lie on the table till they are ready to report in lull. Ordered, That the committee of safety be directed to make out a new li-t for officers of the train of artillery, and that no person unwor- thy of the office be appointed. The committee appointed to take into consideration Capt. Lan account for bringing up the Indians from Penobscot, reported, that I account lie allowed, and that the receivei general be directed to p said account to Capt. Lane, or order ; and likewise, that the sum of nineteen pounds, ten shillings, eight pence, lawful money, be paid by the receiver general to Capt. Lam', to defray his expenses in carrying the Indians hack to Penobscot, and that .Air. Langdon be appointed to draft a resolve for that purpo The committee appointed to take into consideration a letter from Mr. Stephen Hooper of Newburyport, reported as follows, viz. : Resolved, That those of the committee of donations of the town of Boston, who have left said town, viz., Messrs. Benjamin Austin, Na- thaniel Barber and Proctor, he advised to -ell the fifty barrels of flour -'ut from Baltimore for the use of the po,.r of Boston, now in the hands of the committee of correspondence of Portsmouth, to the same committee, for the use of the .New Hampshire troop The committee appointed to take into consideration the request from the tow n of Maiden, reported a- follows, which was accepted, \ i/. > (1) Tli.' report of tfa ider what i ihould !>• • '''• am | . in reii > to the removal of the troops from ■' in *!>• joumul of tlio proceedings of tlm twenty-second of Jane, and n *• '" on omitted. 382 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 23, committee beg leave to report, that the inhabitants of the town of Mai- den be [directed] to make the best use of their artillery they can, for their defence, in case they shall be attacked by the enemy, and that they make their application for assistance to the general of the army, who, doubtless, will furnish them with such detachments from the army, as they shall judge necessary and expedient. The committee appointed to draft a resolve for the receiver general to pay to Capt. Lane <£19 10s. Sd., for defraying the expense of carry- ing the Indians back to Penobscot, reported as follows, viz. : Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Mr. John Lane, or order, the sum of £19 10s. 8d., to pay the expenses of himself, four Indian chiefs, and an interpreter, from Wa- tertown to Penobscot, and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the same accordingly. Voted, That the former vote respecting the removal of the library, apparatus, and other valuable effects of Harvard College, be reconsid- ered, and that the following resolve be accepted, viz. : Whereas, it is expedient that those apartments in Harvard Hall, under the immediate charge of the professor of philosophy and librarian of Harvard College, be evacuated : Resolved, that the library, apparatus, and other valuables of Harvard College, be removed, as soon as may be ; that Mr. Samuel Phillips, Mr. Daniel Hopkins and Dummer Jewett, Esq., be a commit- tee to consult with the reverend, the president, the Hon. Mr. Winthrop and the librarian, or such of them as may be conveniently obtained, and, with them, to engage some suitable person or persons in the town of Andover, and such other places as they may think best, to receive and take the charge of the above mentioned effects ; that said commit- tee join with those gentlemen, in employing proper persons for packing said library, apparatus, and such other articles as they shall judge ex- pedient, and take all due care, that it be done with the greatest safety and despatch; and, as the packages shall be completed, that they take due care for their transportation : the charges to be laid before this, or some future Congress, or house of assembly of this province. Ordered, That Mr. Hale, Capt. Parker and Capt. Bragdon, be a com- mittee to take Capt. Lane's account of his time into consideration, and report thereon. Resolved, That Winthrop Sergeant of Gloucester, merchant, be al- lowed to ship off for the West Indies, a quantity of old Jamaica fish, not exceeding forty hogsheads, it appearing to this Congress, that the said fish, if stopped, will be of little or no service to this colony ; and the committee of safety for Gloucester are directed to cause this resolve 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 383 to be so carried into execution, as that no other \>u>\ isions, exci [it for the vessels 1 use, be shipped off in the same. Voted, That the receiver general be directed to pay to the Reverend I) in. Langdon, president of the college, ol'lOO, lawful money, in bills of* credit of this colony. Ordered, That the committee appointed to consider by what mi the army before Boston, maj be effectut lly and most expeditiouslj strengthened, be directed to write a letter to General Ward; who re- ported a letter to General Ward, directing him to call on the eight companies stationed in the county of Plymouth. 3 The committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of Robert Haskell, beg leave to report by way of ' olved, that the petitioner. rl Haskell, be permitted to proceed from Beverly to \o\ a Scotia in a fishing vessel, about seventeen years old, that he hath procured for that purpose, also to carry three or four persons with him. and the following provisions, viz. : one barrel of pork, two hundred [pounds] of bread, sixteen gallons of rum, sivi lions of molasses, halt' a bushel of beans or peas, and two bushels of silt, but no more provisions of any kind whatever: and tint such proceeding will not be contrary to the resolve passed !>\ the grand American Congress, the lTthof May last, or any other resolve that honorable Congress have yel published. Resolved, That the committee of safety be directed to make out a new Hm I'm- officers of the train of artillery, that no person unworthy of office be appointed. i RDAT, .In lie "J I. 17?.". Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Col. Sawyer and Capt. Batchelder, be a committee to consider some method for regulating trade with the Indians. Major Fuller, Doct. Bailey and Capt. Goodman, [were] appointed a committee to consider the expediency of part of Col. Phiney's regi- ment being stationed in the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln. Ordered, That Mr. Langdon, Col. Sawyer and ('apt. Goodman, be a committee to consider what is further necessary to be done respect- ing the bills of credit of this colony. Voted, That then two surgeons and two mates appointed t"i e ich hospital, and commi d accori Ordered, That the committee appointed to examine the -i: be desired to report an establishment foi si pitals. I'liis parity j«ct having been disposed of on the preceding i 3S4 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 24, The committee appointed to consider an establishment for the sur- geons of hospitals, reported : the report was accepted, and is as fol- lows, viz. : that it is their opinion, that the establishment of the chief surgeons should be at the rate of eight pounds per month, and each mate, four pounds, ten shillings, per month. Ordered, That Col. Freeman, Col. Farley and Capt. Stone, be a committee to get the resolve for a fast printed, and one sent to each religious society in this colony . [which is as follows, viz. :] [Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God, the wise and good Governor of the Universe, in his righteous providence, for our many sins, to suf- fer the sword of the British troops to be unsheathed against the inhabi- tants of this colony, in such a cruel and unnatural manner as must give the world the most indisputable proofs of the wicked designs to destroy or enslave this whole continent : as in the unprovoked and unnatural instances of hostilities, cruelty and barbarity, of the ever memorable 19th of April last, whereby so many of the brave and inoffensive in- habitants of this colony were murdered : and the several attacks which have since been made by the said troops on us between that day and the 17th instant, when our country resounded with the roar of cannon from the once peaceful shores and harbor near the capital, when there was scarce aught but smoke, fire, and blood, to be seen there, whereby the lives of many of our countrymen, bravely fighting in defence of the rights of America, were lost; together with their laying the opulent town of Charlestown, in a most savage manner, in ashes :] [And whereas, some more late oppressive acts of the British parlia- ment are designed by them soon to be enforced upon the Americans; and as large rcenforcements are arrived and arriving to join our ene- mies in Boston, which will probably induce them to make another trial of military prowess, to penetrate into the country ; and we, being taught, not only by these sore trials, but also by the great mercies of our God, who has hitherto so remarkably covered the heads of our people in the day of battle, to be deeply impressed with a sense of our absolute dependance upon the Lord of Hosts, and God of Armies, for success in this important war, into which we are driven by our enemies, do re- nounce all confidence in our own strength ; but, being fully assured our cause is just, and relying on the mercy of God for his divine protection and assistance therein : therefore, Resolved, that Thursday, the 13th day of July next, be observed as a day of public fasting and prayer, throughout this colony, that wc may all, at one time, sincerely humble ourselves before the searcher of hearts for all our many sins, as a peo- ple, and as individuals, and humbly and earnestly beseech his forgive- 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL i ONGRESS. ness, and his blessing on as : that he would graciously afford his divine direction and assistance in our military operations, and speedih • our enemies to be at peace with us upon a just and permanent founda- tion, thai not only a stop may be put to the wanton effusion of human blood, !>iit that Great Britain ami these colonies may again rejoice in thr free and undisturbed exercise of all those rights, liberties ami priv- ileges, civil ami religious, lor thr enjoymenl ol winch our pious ances- tors braved every danger, b) which they hi e rendered their memory dear to us, their posterity, and set an example worthy the imitation "f all succeeding generations: that lie would grant us health in our armj and in all our habitations, succeed as in all our lawful employmenl give 11- ram from heaven to water the dry and thirst} earth, ami fruitful seasons, and till our hearts with food and gladness: that he would be- iw his blessing upon the various means used lor the recovery ami preservation of our just rights, particularly on the congr ml houses of assembly <>t" this and the sister colonies, and especially on the American Congress, that they may all he inspired with that wisdom that is necessary in this day of difficulty and distress: that he would smile on the measures taken for the exercise of civil government in this colony: above all, that he would sanctify to us the various dispen- sations of his righteous providence, that we may he prepared tor wl ever he may call u^ to do or sutler, he a peculiar people to himself, and our persons and services accepted of him through Christ our R - imer. And it is hereby earnestly recommended to each ami every i ligious society, of whatever denomination, in this colony, strictly to abstain from all servile labor and recreation on said day. to mix their ting with humble thankfulness for the many signal ami undeserved mercies ajov, and observe said day in a religious manner, by turn- ing every one from his evil ways to (J. id, that so he may turn unto us and not for- ike his heritage. ] The committee appointed to take into consideration the wages of Capt. John Lane and .Mr. Gilmore, lor then- attendance in bringing up four Indians from Penobscot, reported. [The report i- a- follow-. viz. :] The committee for examining the account of Mr. John Lane, have attended that service, [ami] found the said Lane's account well supported, excepting a few inaccuracies in casting; the} therefore I' leave to report by wa} of resoh e, viz. : That there he paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Mr. John Lane, the sum of forty-seven pounds, eighteen shil- lings, ami eleven pence half penny, for In- expenses in bringing up to tli of the chiefs of the Penobscot tribe of Indians, with 386 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 24, an interpreter ; and the receiver general of this colony, is hereby di- rected to pay the said John Lane, or order, the aforesaid sum of forty- seven pounds, eighteen shillings, eleven pence halfpenny. Mr. Freeman, and Capt. Bragdon, were added to the committee ap- pointed to consider the expediency of stationing part of Col. Phiney's regiment in the county of Cumberland. Ordered, That Capt. Lane be admitted on the floor of the house, in order to answer such questions as the Congress shall propose to him. Ordered, That the committee of supplies be directed to supply the four Indians brought up by Capt. Lane, with a pair of shoes each. Ordered, That Mr. Mighill, Mr. Hobart, Capt. Webster and Mr- Lothrop, be added to the committee to consider the petition of Edward Parry. The committee appointed to take into consideration the circum- stances of the Rev. Doct. Langdon, president of the college, reported as follows, viz. : Resolved, that there be allowed and paid out of the public treasury of this colony, the sum of ,£1(!0, lawful money, in bills of credit of this colony, to the Rev. Doct. Langdon, president of Har- vard College, in part for his services in that station, since his appoint- ment thereto : and the treasurer and receiver general is hereby direct- ed to pay the said sum in bills of credit, accordingly. 1 Ordered, That the report of the committee to consider Capt. Lane's services be recommitted. Ordered, That Col. Gerrish, Mr. Wheeler and Col. Farley, be a committee to consider and report what is to be done with the overplus bills. Ordered, That Deacon Fisher be appointed in the place of Capt. Bragdon, to consider the services of Capt. Lane, in bringing up four Indian chiefs. The committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of James Kirkwood, keeper of the lights on Thatcher's island, reported : the report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, Thai there be allowed and paid, out of the public treasury, to Capt. James Kirkwood, sixty pounds, for one year's salary as keeper of the light-houses on Thatcher's island, and also eighteen pounds, eighteen shillings more, being for his disbursements, in repairing buildings, and other work done there, box of medicines, and several other necessaries, as per his account, herewith exhibited : and the re- ceiver general is, accordingly, hereby directed to pay the said Capt. (1) The appropriation for tl> Hilary of Hint, [/uii'lnn hri I I >•-•-. 1 made on the preceding day: the «rant i* net out more formally in tlii- resolution, than in t ii.it of June *23. 1775.] THIRL) PROVINCIAL CONGRESS Kirkwood, th isiid suras, amounting to ighl pounds, • i i t»s, the same to be paid in bills of ■■- ■ I Ordered, That three o'clock, IV M, be assigued to come choice <>t';i gentleman to preach the election Bermon. The committee appointed to drafl a resolve respecting Bridget Phil- lips, wife of an officer in General Gage's arm\ . reported : the report w read and accepted, and i- as follows, viz. : Resolved, thai General Ward do qoI suffer or permit Bridget Phillips, wil to an offi ;er under Gene- ral Gage, to L r,) int,, Boston, nor any other person whatever, without leave first obtained of tin- Congress, or some future house of represen- tatives; and that an express !•«■ forthwith Bent to the committee of safety for th<' town of Newburyport, to order them to take the mosl effectual measures to prevent the said I?r nl_r.t from L r, )m _r out of this province, or to Boston. The committee appointed to take into consideration, and report the form of a commission for brigadier generals, quarter master generals, and adjutant trenerals, adjutants, quarter masters, and surgeons, report- ed a form, which was accepted. Ordered, That the form of a commission lie on the table. The committee appointed to hire a house of John Hunt, Esq., for a hospital, reported the following proposal, which was accepted, viz. : Gentlemen — With respect to the hire of the house belonging John Hunt, Esq, for a hospital, the proprietor only expects such a consideration from the colony, as will be a satisfaction lor the necessa- rj damage to the house, expecting proper care will betaken that the out-houses, & c, be kepi in good older. \V. Hi nt, in behalf of the proprietor. Ordered, That the committee appointed to procure spears for the army, be directed to use their discretion in procuring poles for the bandies of the spears. Afternoon. The committee appointed to prepare a lettei to the lieutenant gov- ernor and company of Rhode Island, reported ; the report h ,>t- ed, and similar letter-, so far as circumstances will admit, ordered to he -eni tn Connecticut and New Hampshire. [The letter to the g ernor of Connecticut is as follows:] ( io\ ii:\m; Tim mim 1. 1.. May it pleast your honor: — Krotn advices received divers ways, we have the greatest reason to determine, that all the British troop- al- 388 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [ Jure r i u lt [said] Cox, and such other deserters as may be ap- prehended, to then- trial, that the said Lieut. Cox and his accomplices may [receive] such condign punishment for their aggravated offences, a-, in the rules and orders of war, is provided for; and it is further L775.] THIRD l'K< »\ l\« [AL CONGB ES8 »1 recommended t" the committees of all denominations, and tli>- men of an} town where -aid deserters ma) be, to afford all pa aid and assistance i" th ral in apprehending them. Ordered, That the president, Mr Gerry, Major Hawley, Deacon Cheever, Col. Gerrish, Col. Lincoln and Col Porter, be i nmiti to consider what steps are proper to be taken for receiving Gen ral \\ ishington with proper respect, and to provide a bouse t>>r him cordingly. The committee appointed t" consider what allowance is adequate to the services of Capt. John Lane, &c, in bringing up four Indians from Penobscot, reported : the r.| ( «.rt was accepted, and follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider what allowance i- adeq the services of ('apt. John Lane and Mr. Gilman, for their attendant in bringing up to this town, foui Indian- of the P< nobscol tribe, b leave \>> report: that the said Mr. Lane proceed to raise a companj <>( fifty-six effective men, includin ints, to j< >i u the army at Cam- bridge, agreeabl) to the order of the committee <<\ safetj ; and upon his raising said men, that he be entitled not onlj to a captain's com- mission, bul to the pa) established for captains, to commence at the time he received his orders from the committee of safety : that Mr. Gilman be allowed for fort) days' attendai n interpreter t<> Mr. Lane, al three shillings per day, six pounds; and that the said Mr. | lieu- tenant, and be desired to u e bis influence t>> cultival disposition in the Indian- al St. Francois, and other parts adjoining, and give intelligence of their temper and disposition, from time to time, as he shall have opportunity, and as the importance of affairs ma) re- quire; and all necessary charge and trouble for any importanl intelli- gence so [communic ited,] shall be suitabl) rewarded. 1 The committee for giving "in commissions, were directed to make out an honorary commission for Mi. Gilman i iblj to the fort 1 1 1 lt report. Mr. Pickering [ was] appointed to draw a resolve, directing the if' ur.r to pa) Mr. John Lane and Andrew Gilman, ; "' rcpoi i. I >1. Portei was appointed i" procure a scythe, and carr) it i 1)1 nk- null, to !>•■ fixed 1"> »r a spear, in such a mannei as he thinks fit, ind hnn.' it before this Congress, when fixed. 1 Thii . tod in tlif joun 392 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 24, Mr. Pickering brought in a resolve as directed, which was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That there be allowed and paid out of the public treasury of this colony, to Mr. Andrew Gilman, the sura of six pounds, in bills of credit of this colony, for forty days' attendance as an interpreter to four Indians of the Penobscot tribe, in their late attendance at an em- bassy to this Congress ; and the receiver general is hereby directed to p;iv the same sum of six pounds to Mr. Andrew Gilman, in bills of credit, accordingly. Ordered, That any one of the committee appointed to procure spears, be empowered to order the blacksmith to work on the sabbath, to complete the same as soon as possible. Resolved, That it be recommended to our good brothers, the Indians of the Penobscot tribe, to immediately apply to General Preble and Col. Freeman of Falmouth, for a supply of provisions and all other necessa- ry goods, and would recommend said gentlemen, as the most suitable persons to supply the Indians, who will undoubtedly do them justice ; and it is hereby recommended to General Preble and Col. Freeman, to supply said Indians with provisions, and all other necessary articles, upon the most equitable terms, and to receive their fur, and other skins, in payment ; and the said General Preble and Col. Freeman, are hereby desired to supply said Indians at the truck-house at Penobscot. Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Col. Thompson and Capt. Bragdon, be a committee to consider the request of Col. Freeman, to have the min- ute company of the town of Sandwich stationed at Naushan island. -Monday morning, nine o'clock, was assigned, agreeably to a resolve of the committee of safety, to choose a proper person to superintend the armorers in the camp, and to see that they do their duty. A letter from George Stillman to Col. Otis was read, and committed to Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Langdon and Doct. Whiting. 1 Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Dickerson and Mr. White, were appointed a com- mittee to get the proclamation of the Continental Congress for a fast, reprinted, and dispersed one to each religious assembly in the colony.' 2 (1) This letter related to the capture of a tender; which is fully described in the memorial of the inhabitants of Machias. ppointed by the Continental Congress superseded that directed by the provincial The proclamation which follows was distributed and read from the desk of every church ofMassachusetl I, and entered in th i journal, page 384. In Coktireni m Congress, June 12, 1775' lor of the world, by his supreme and universal provi o onduct* the course of n itur<- wil ig wisdom and I ainds of ins purposes of his providential government ; and it being, at all L775.] THIRD PROVINC1 \l. CONGRESS Mr Lothrop, Deacon Pisher and Mr. Parker, were appointed roittee to court and sort the \'>i<-~ i"r some person I tion sermon on the L9th of Julj next. The committee reported, that Mr. Gordon was unanimous!) chosen, and the president was appointed to inform him of this choice. Idjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow mornini bath dat, June 25, 1 ! Ordered, That Cain. Brown, Major Fuller. Mr. Bigelow, Major Brooks, < ol. Smith and 1>' icon Stone, be a committee to procure tour hundred spades and shovels for the use of the army, immediately. And the said committee i- directed i ake a list of such persons, of whom the) may procure said spades and shovels, with the number received ■ >!' each person, and the value thereof, and, when procured, that they im- mediatelj forward them t<> the arm) at Cambridge. The committee appointed t<> prepare an honorary commission for .Mr. Gilman, reported a form, which, being duly amended, was ac< ed, and is as follows, viz. : Tht Congress of th Colony of th Massachusetts Bay, to Indrew Gilman, gentleman, Greeting. W e, entertaining a the Elizabeth islands, so called, in ['Dukes county,] there t<> protect the -tuck, and to impress such a numtx [as] be shall want to transport the men to and from islands, as occasion ma) require, from time i" time, until the further order of this, or some future Coi or constitutional assemblj of this colon] . Ordered, That commissions for the officers of the train be imm< airly sent to the committee of safety, and that the) be directed to de- liver them to such officers, to whom there is no exception, and that Col. Porter be appointed to cart] said commissions to the committee of safety, with this order, immediately. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to certain officers of Col. Prescott's regiment, agreeably to the recommendation of the committee of safety. \ ■ on. A draft of a letter to Governor Trumbull, was presented by the com- mittee appointed to prepare one, and was read and accepted, and the committee of supplies directed to forward it b) express.^] 1 Tin' committee appointed to consider what steps art- proper to be taken tor tli' ition of General Washington, reported ; the report was ordered to he on the table. A letter from the committee of Machias was read, respecting the capture of a king's cutter, and committed to the committee winch was yesterda) appointed to consider a letter on the same subject to Col. Otis. 9 a [ill.- county ofDuke'e com I b [and is as follow (1) Tli.' letter to Governoi Trumbull i- the same which baa alreadj been inserted in tin- Journal of June 0, page 31 1. (2) Tli.- letter of the committee ot Machia-s contains the relation of a bold exploit, li Juno 1 1, ITTo. • / the M " GENTLEMEN :— We, tli.. faithful and di N ' more, inth. pectful manner, to approach your presence, and spread befoi full representation of our verj critical aituat ." the 3d instant, Capt. Ichabod J ■< urrivi'il in this river with i»" I with tenders. « In the third instant, a paper was banded about for the p -'n, »» n pron Min- any provisions, of which lulge Capt. Jones in carrying lumber to B hi m mi. I In- proport) , at all but, unbappil) for bim, if not fa in their nature to those intendod. 1 Hbrt,inor ..-ill :ir ling, which was accordingly done. On th generally asaomblod at thi lointod, and soomod .that privately went to the teni nor to move up so n a her guns 396 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 25, Mr. Holmes was appointed in the room of Col. Sawyer, on the com- mittee appointed to bring in a resolve for making the notes of this col- ony, a currency and tender for payment in all cases. would reach the houses, and put springs upon her cables. The people, however, not knowing what was done, and considering themselves nearly as prisoners of war, in the hands of the common ene- my, which is our only plea for suffering Capt. Jones to carry any lumber to Boston, since your hon- ors conceived it improper, passed a vote, that Capt. Jones might proceed in his business as usual without molestation, that they would purchase the provision he brought into the place, and pay him according to contract. After obtaining this vote, Capt. Jones immediately ordered his vessels to the wharf, and distributed his provisions among those only, who voted in favor of his carrying lum- her to Boston. This gave such offence to the aggrieved party, that they determined to take Capt. Jones, if possible, and put a final stop to his supplying the king's troops with any thing. Accord- ingly, they secretly invited the people of Mispecka and Pleasant river to join them ; accordingly, a number of them came, and, having joined our people, in the woods near the settlement, on the 11th, they all agreed to take Capt. Jones and Stephen Jones, Esq., in the place of worship, which they attempted, but Capt. Jones made his escape into the woods, and does not yet appear ; Stephen Jones, Esq., only was taken, and remains, as yet, under guard. The captain and lieutenant of the tender, were also in the meeting-house, and fled to their vessel, hoisted their flag, and sent a message on shore to this effect : " that he had express orders to protect Capt. Jones ; that he was determined to do his duty whilst he had life ; and that, if the people presumed to stop Capt. Jones's vessels, he would burn the town." Upon this, a party of our men went directly to stripping the sloop that lay at the wharf, and another party went oft" to take possession of the other sloop, which lay below, and brought her up nigh a wharf, and anchored her in the stream. The tender did not fire, but weighed her anchors as privately as possible, and, in the dusk of the evening, fell down and came to, within musket shot of the sloop, which obliged our people to slip their cable, and run the sloop aground. In the mean time, a considerable number of our people went down in boats and canoes, lined the shore directly opposite to the tender, and, having demanded her to surrender to America, received for answer, " fire and be damned ;" they immediately fired in upon her, which she returned, and a smart engagement ensued. The tender, at last, slipped her cable, and fell down to a small sloop, commanded by Capt. Toby, and lashed herself to her for the remainder of the night. In the morning of the 12th, they took Capt. Toby out of his vessel, for a pilot, and made all the sail they could to get off, as the wind and tide favored ; but, having carried away her main boom, and meet- ing with a sloop from the Bay of Fundy, they came to, robbed the sloop of her boom and gaff, took almost all her provision, together with Mr. Robert Avery of Norwich, in Connecticut, and proceed- ed on her voyage. Our people, seeing her go off in the morning, determined to follow her. About forty men, armed with guns, swords, axes, and pitch forks, went in Capt. Jones's sloop, under the command of Capt. Jeremiah O'Brian : about twenty, armed in the same manner, and under the command of Capt. Benjamin Foster, went in a small schooner. During the chase, our people built them breastworks of pine boards, and any thing they could find in the vessels, that would screen them from the enemy's fire. The tender, upon the first appearance of our people, cut her boats from the stern, and made all the sail she could; but, being a very dull sailor, they soon came up with her, and a most obstinate engagement ensued, both sides being determined to conquer or die: but the tender was obliged to yield ; her captain was wounded in the breast with two halls, of whish wounds he died next morning; poor Mr. Am ry was killed, and one of the marines, and five wound- ed. Only one of" our men was Killed, and -i\ were wounded, one of whom is Bince dead of his wounds, The battle v. a- fought at the entrance of our harbor, and lasted for near the space of ono hour. We have in our possession, lour doable fortified three pounders, and fourteen swivels, and a number of small arms, which we took with the tender, very small quantity of ammunition. &c. Thus we have given your honors a-> particular an accoont ol this affair as possible. We now apply to yon for advice, and for a supply of ammunition and provisions, the latter of which we have petitioned your honors for already, « bich, if we could be fully supplied u ith, we doubt not but, with the hie* Lven, we should be prepared to defend ourselves. We purpose to convey the pris- oners to Pownalborough jail, as soon as possible, there to await your orders." " We are, with deference, your honors' most obedient, humble sen ants." " By order of the committee, JAMES LYON, Chairman. GEORGE STIU.M \\, Clerk." •• ' Machias, June Ut/i, 1775." 1775.] T1IIIU) PROVINCIAL CONGREE Mr. Davis was appointed] in the n> t' Capt Btone, "n the com- mittee \\Ih> were appointed t" consider the petition from Edward Parry. \ Ijourned to hfonda] morning, eight o'clock. Hohsat, June 26, I"" Ordered, Thai the committee appointed to consider the petition of Mr. Edward Parry, and the report <>f Col. Thompson relative to his iducl at Kennebec, be directed to consider his the said Thompson's conduct ai Falmouth, with respecl to Capt. Mowal and Capt Coulson, and ln> laying Mr. Bernard under bonds. Ordered, Thai the committee appointed to < I • • 1 i \ i • r out commissions, be directed i" draw a fair li-t of all those officers in the army, who have been commissioned, which li-t -hall be attested by the s< en I ury, and tran-miii' neral Ward. A letter from the committee of safety, proposing thai the Co should appoinl two pi rsons to superintend the supply of the army, ti d, and committed to the committee \\h<> have under consideration the regulation of the army. Ordered, Thai Mr. Pickering, Mi Nye and Mr. Fisher, be a com- mittee to inquire into thi of the towns' stocks of ammunition, in the counties of Worcester and Hampshire, and thai said committi -n forth** ith. Ordered, That all the commissions for the officers <>f the train, be forthwith signed bj the secretary, excepl John Wiley'-, Samuel Grid- ley's and John Callender's, and senl to the committee of safety. Ordered, That no handles be made \<< spears, or other weapons of war, r the use of the army, ol chesnut, or any other brittle \\ I. Ordered, That the committee appoint d t" inquire into the grounds of a report which has prevailed, thai there has been treacherj in some of the officers of the army, be directed to | teed in their inquir Ord red, Thai Col. Porter, Col. Gerrish and Capt. Thatcher, I committee to consider and report, to whom the arms obtained bj committee of Congress, shall be delivered, and, when distributed, how the persons receiving them shall be made accountable. Resolved, That ever) person who has in pi on anj <>f the pre- cepts latel] issued b) this Congress for calling a enei 3embly, desired /" del the word "warn," and in its stead insert the word ■■ . au i . and thai Mr. Edes I"- desired, in his next papi ire no- tice of the mistake made by printing the said word "warn" insti id ■■! the word " i au 398 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 26, Resolved, That Major Fuller be desired, immediately, to go home, to get the returns of the towns' stocks of ammunition. The report of the committee appointed to consider what steps are proper to be taken for the reception of General Washington, was again considered, amended, and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That Doct. Benjamin Church and Mr. Moses Gill, 1 be a committee to repair to Springfield, there to receive Generals Washing- ton and Lee, with every mark of respect due to their exalted characters and stations ; to provide proper escorts for them, from thence, to the army before Boston, and the house provided for their reception at Cambridge ; and to make suitable provision for them, in manner fol- lowing, viz. : by a number of gentlemen of this colony from Spring- field to Brookfield ; and by another company raised in that neighbor- hood, from there to Worcester ; and by another company, there pro- vided, from thence to Marlborough ; and from thence, by the troop of horse in that place, to the army aforesaid : And [to make suitable provision for] their company at the several stages on the road, and to receive the bills of expenses at the several inns, where it may be con- venient for them to stop for refreshment, to examine them, and make report of the several sums expended at each of them, for that purpose, that orders may be taken by the Congress for the payment of them : and all innkeepers are hereby directed to make provision agreeably to the requests made by the said committee : and that General Ward be notified of the appointment of General Washington, as commander in chief of the American forces, and of the expectation we have, of his speedy arrival with Major General Lee, that he, with the generals of the forces of the other colonies, may give such orders for their honora- ble reception, as may accord with the rules and circumstances of the army, and the respect due to their rank, without, however, any expense of powder, and without taking the troops off from the necessary atten- tion to their duty, at this crisis of our affairs. Resolved, That three o'clock in the afternoon, be assigned for the purpose of choosing three persons as a committee to repair to Spring- field, to receive Generals Washington and Lee, agreeably to the fore- going resolution. Resolved, That the president's house in Cambridge, excepting one room reserved by the president for his own use, be taken, cleared, pre- pared, and furnished, for the reception of General Washington and (1) In mnkin:.' ii|> the journal of the proceedings of tin' iliy, tin' names up tin! gentlemen elected to receive the general:* of the nrmy at Springfield were inserted in the report of the committee, al- though they were not elected to dischargo that duty until after the report had heen accepted. 1775.] THIRD PROVTN( i \l. CONGREfi Genera] Lee, and thai a committee I"- oboeen immediate!] I the same into execution. Tin- committee appointed to conaid< r uli.it preparations to be made for t lit- reception ol G ! w shington, reported the | foregoing] resolve, which was accepted, and ('apt. Parti I ipt Thatcher, and Mr. Philips', Major <■ twin, and Mi Caldwell, pointed a committee i''>r the purpose therein ra< utioned. Mi I rane waa appointed, in tin- ro.>m < f .Mr. Hall, on tin- commit- tee chosen i" consider .Mr. R i ount. Resolved, Thai the committee appointed to prep Iters to the several governments in New England for a reenl enl "i men, omit preparing one for the colon] ol \ rJampshit Ordered, Thai Doct. Taylor, Capt. G Iman, and Mr. Philips, be a committee, to bring in a resolve for the purpose of preventing all im- position on the committee who have been heretofore directed to exam- ine those persons \\li<> may be suspected as inimical to their country, by any person whatei er. The committee to consider the letter from Machias reported : the report was accepted, and is as follows, viz: Resolved, That the thanks of this Congress be, and they are ber< given i" Capt. Jeremiah Obrian, and Capt. Benjamin I . and the other brave men under their command, for their com conduct in taking one of the tenders beloi .r enemies, and two sloops belonging to [chabod Jones, and for preventing the minis- terial troops being supplied with lumber; and that the said tern sloops, their appurtenances and cargoes, remain in the hands of the said Captains Obrian and Fosti r, and the men under their command, for them to use and improve, as the] sh ill think most for their and the public advantage, until the further order of this, or some future Con- gress, or bouse of representatives : and that the committee of safetj for the western parish in Pownalborough, be ordered to c >nvej the prison- ers taken by the said Obrian and Foster, from Pownalborough jail to the committee of safetj or correspondence, for the town of Brunswick ; and the committee for Brunswick, to convex, them to some committee in tlie count] of York, ami bo to he conveyed from count] to county, till the] arn\ e at tin- < \ Ordered, Thai commissions he delivered to Ezi Badlam, < of the tram of arliller\, in the loom of John Wilej : John Si lieutenant; Samuel 1> econd lieutenant; and John Bland • fii 400 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 26, second lieutenant ; agreeably to the recommendation of the committee of safety. Ordered, That Col. Porter, Mr. Fisher, and Capt. Goodridge, be a committee to consider a letter from General Ward, this day received. Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Doct. Whiting, and Major Brooks, be a committee to receive, sort and count the votes for three gentlemen to go to Springfield to meet Generals Washington and Lee. The committee having attended that service, reported, that Doct. Church, Mr. Gill, and the Hon. Major Hawley, were chosen. The Hon. Major Hawley moved, that he might be excused from that service, and, having offered his reasons, the question was put, and he was excused accordingly. Resolved, That the vote for choosing three persons to go to Spring- field to meet Generals Washington and Lee, be reconsidered, so far as that only two persons should be appointed to repair thither on that service. Resolved, That Capt. Mc Kinster, and Capt. Porter, who have each of them raised a company at New York and Connecticut, be permit- ted to join Col. Patterson's regiment, provided their companies are complete and equipt : and that Major Goodwin bring in a resolve for this purpose. Resolved, That General Whitcomb's commission be dated the 2lst day of June. Resolved, That the president be desired to administer to General Whitcomb the oath appointed to be administered to the general offi- cers of the army. The president delivered to General Whitcomb a commission, as a major general of the Massachusetts army. A petition from the committee of correspondence for the town of Plymouth was read, 1 whereupon, Resolved, that the prayer thereof (1) The committee of Plymouth earnestly remonstrated against the removal of the detachments of troop? stationed along the coast to afford protection to the inhabitants. The petition follows : To the Honorable the Provincial Congress, now sitting at Watertowm The petition of the committee of correspondence for the town of Plymouth humbly sheweth, roar petitioners have this day i ived intelligence that a vote passed your house the instant, determining to remove to head quarters, that part of Col. Cotton's regiment, which has . by order of your most resp ictable body, Btationed in thii plai e, foi the security and protec- tion of the lives Mud property, ol this greatly exposed and much threatened town ; we, your petition- era, have lately received undoubted intelligence by one of our townsmen, who has been taken by u tender, and carried into Boston, that Vdmii il Graves made particular inquiry into the circumstan of this town, and said that we were a rebellious f , that, in consequei t our build- ing a fort in opposition to the king's troops, it Bhould not be long before he would blow the ti wn about our ears, four petitioners are very sensible, that, should the troops be called away from 1775.] THIRD PRO\ l\< l \l. I l >NGR] - mi be granted, and thai General Ward I"- directed i>> coantermand lu^ orders for drawing off the forces b( itioned al Plymouth. < >u a motion made, I oted, thai this last resolve be reconsidered, and Ordered that the petition from Plymouth I iroitted to Capt I' ker. Col. Lincoln, Col. Davis, .Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Webster. Ordered, Thai commissions be delivered to the < • i Ii « - . - r - of Col. Lit- tle's regiment, agreeably t<> a li-t recommended by the committee of i\ . A lisl of the officers and Boldiei if Capt. S Spi igue's compa- ny, was presented t'» the Congress: whereupon, Ordered, thai com- missions be delivered lo the said officers, viz : Samuel Spi tain; Joseph Cheever, lieutenant ; William Oliver, [ensign] ; and that the comp iny be joined to < !ol. Gerrish's regiment M Good iblj to order, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, viz : Whei I pt. M ackinster of Sp< nd • • Porter of Becket, hare enlisted, each, a compan) of men, on the tablishmenl of tHis colony, and not joined as yet to an) regiment, Resolved, thai the said companies be joined to Col. John Patterson's giment, now stationed at Cambridge, immediately; provided said companies are full, or near full, and that each man t> equipt with a good and sufficient firelock, and [that they] join their regiment as r-uon a- ina\ be. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to Capt Reuben Dow, and Lieut. John Gos iblj to the respective tit] affixed to th--ir nam"- in Col. Prescott's regiment Tin- committee appointed to consider and reporl t>> whom the arms procured by a committee of this Congress should be delivered, &t reported the following resolve, which was read and accepted, viz itation, tl. Plymouth, our enemies, and that il »ill be no difficult matter for them to plunder and de*troj u*. The poor much dittreis id, bj re i of the -ti.|i pot to the fiiberj , *ub«Ut upon what I lit of the clam bank*, and bj Gibing i "I ihould they be driren from thoii hull into the barren country thai surround* ua, they mu periih with hunger, and for want of habitation*, there not being house* within twi ive them. Then oplo consist principally of woman and children, thi I parent* having enlisted themielve* into the service of the colony. Vour | u« to the colon) , but, at tli think it • hi with n . drawn, thi U be immediately ei nd, for tfai i in I ii ANDREW CROSVt ELL, ( i. \m u hi Bfi IDI ORD, J*., jdii\ 1.1: \\ t'..r the to • >in in the |onermJ pray or of the above , 51 402 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 26, Whereas, this Congress has ordered a number of fire arms to be fur- nished from several towns and districts in this colony, to be forwarded to the army, to supply those who are destitute of arms ; but no provi- sion is made for delivering them out, and taking proper receipts for the same, therefore, Resolved, that all the small arms that are, or may be procured by the above order, be delivered to Major Nathaniel Bar- ber, military storekeeper at Cambridge ; he to give his receipt for the same, to the person from whom he receives them ; that the same be delivered out to such officers as shall produce orders therefor from the Hon. General Ward, they giving receipts for the same to the said Ma- jor Barber, to be returned in good order, unless lost in the service of the colony. And every soldier who shall receive any such fire arms, shall give his receipt for the same to the officer from whom he shall receive it, to be returned as aforesaid ; and in case the same shall not be returned, at the close of the campaign, or sooner, the value of the said fire arm shall be deducted out of the wages of the person receiv- ing the same ; and also that the sum of six shillings shall be deducted out of the wages of each soldier, who shall receive such fire arm, for the use of the same, in case he return it again in good order. The committee on the petition of Edward Parry, &c, reported. The report was read, amended, and ["accepted]. 1 The committee on the petition from Plymouth reported : the report was read but not accepted. Ordered, That the Hon. Col. Gerrish, Capt. Bragdon, Col. Thomp- son, Col. Freeman, and Mr. Lothrop, be a committee to consider what measures are proper to be taken for the defence and protection of the sea coasts. Ordered, That the committee last chosen, consider several petitions which were committed to the committee sometime since appointed to consider the state of the sea coasts, and that said committee first consi- der the case of the town of Plymouth, as represented in the petition from that town. The committee appointed to consider the conduct of Col. Thomp- son, at Falmouth, with respect to Capt. Mowat, reported. The report was ordered to subside. [It was as follows :] [The committee appointed to consider the conduct of Colonel Thompson at Falmouth with respect to Capt. Mowatt, &,c, and his laying Mr. Bernard under bonds, are of opinion, that said Thompson's a [ncceptod nnil is ns follows.] (1) The report referred to in tho text is neither entered on the journal, nor preserved on the files of Congress. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 103 conduct was friendlj t-> bia country, and the cause oflibertj and that said Barnard's conduct appears t'> bare been inimical to both.] Adjourned to Tuesdaj ni< »r 1 1 n i _r - o'clock. Tuesday, .Ii .'" 1775 \ letter from the committee of Albanj was read, whereupon Order- ed, thai Doct Whiting, .Mr. Greenleaf, and .Mr. Hopkins, be a <-"in- mittee to consider the same and prepare an answer thereto. 1 A\ solved, That four p< rsons !>•• added to the committee of supplies, and thai 1 I o'clock this forei i, be assigned for the choice of them. The committee appointed yesterdaj to consider General Ward's letter, reported a resolve, 8 which was accepted, and ordered to be printed in hand bills, and dispersed throughout the colony, and there- upon Order h/, that ('apt. (jiootlrid«_ r <\ Mr. Partridge, and Mr. Caldwell, h>- a committee for thai purpo A letter from Isaac Stone relative to Francis More, a baker, was read and ordered t<> be transmitted to the committee ofsupplii Ordered, that the resolve just now past, in consequence of General Ward's letter he reconsidered, and that it be recommitted, together with the resolve passed relative to absconding soldiers, to Mr l re, Mr. Hopkins and Capt. Goodrich. Ordered, That Mr. Thatcher be appointed to applj to the brother (1) 1 • from tli mittee \ • Ml' WV ■■ BRETHREN,— •ount from you union your ti had w itfa • or near < ' our- ting 1 1 ■•- general »• >1 of \ • . ■ . ire, lhat, I hough with the I"-- of manj brave men, you h , Ifoui infonnati inn-, to drive, with considerable low, the looli of tyran rylum. Strongly imprened with I ilion to cultivate harmony with yoo, and, if sary, to afford you "II thi e in out |M>wer, we have, therefo rou thij hy Mr. Price, in order to receive from you a circumstantial detail of the I pmenl ana its < qnenci God, who h a signally eaponaed our came in the ardn liberty and humanity, -till continue to yoi ioui guidance and proti ■ lion." ■■ u daily an attack upon Tic leroga from Canad . •■ \\ lots to know what it be done with the donation! colloctod in I be infon I bj you, u the chief of the contril ■ thet we shall diapo f it here, and convert ii into each, or other* W nr.-, brethren, your very bumbl r< B) order of tl nmitlee, SAMI EL STRING1 B I ii tare. (2, ited m tin- Joan .. of the oaken oftl " nwnlek- ni Horn tl ' the province t"i>r the tnppl) ofhli own enston 404 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 27, of our late president for such papers belonging to this Congress, as he may have in his possession. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Col. Coffin, and Capt. Webster, be a committee to consider a letter from General Thomas respecting a pe- tition for liberty to permit provisions to be carried to those who were taken prisoners by Gage's troops, on the 17th instant, now in Boston. A number of letters were presented to the Congress by Mr. Palfrey, lately arrived from England, some of which were read, and then the whole were committed to Doct. Taylor, Mr. Partridge and Capt. Brown. 1 Ordered, That Mr. Bigelow be appointed to go to Cambridge, to inquire if there are any blank commissions at the committee of safety's room. Ordered, That Mr. Webster, Mr. Partridge, and Capt. Goodman, be a committee to receive and sort the votes for four gentlemen to be added to the committee of supplies. The committee having attended that service, reported, that Col. James Prescott, Col. Elisha Porter, Major Brooks, and Capt. Vose, were chosen. Major Brooks, having requested that he might be excused, was ex- cused, and Col. Barrett was chosen in his room. Ordered, That the secretary make out a proper certificate of the choice of the abovenamed four gentlemen on the committee of sup- plies. The committee on the account of Mr. Paul Revere reported : the report was recommitted. A letter from General Ward was read, nominating Col. William Henshaw, to be an adjutant general in the Massachusetts army, where- upon, Ordered, that a commission be made out for him accordingly. Ordered, That the Hon Major Hawley, Mr. Pickering, and Col. Porter, be a committee, to prepare letters to the Continental Congress, requesting their aid in furnishing us with gunpowder : and also to prepare another letter to Governor Trumbull, requesting him to take some steps for collecting powder from the several towns in the colony of Connecticut, to be sent to head quarters at Cambridge, as this colo- ny is now doing. A letter from General Thomas was read, nominating Mr. Samuel Brewer, to be an adjutant general in the Massachusetts army : where- upon Ordered, that a commission be made out for him accordingly. (1) The letters from England, so fir as the contents of all can ho inferred from the few preserved, gave information of the embarkation of regiments of troops, and the preparations of the administra- tion to reduce the colonies to euhiection. 1775.] THIRD l'i;<>\ i\, | \i. ( ONGRE88 Resolved, Thai Mr Ezekiel Chever be appointed store ki the ordnance in tlw room of .Major liarl »<-r , who baa declined accept- ance of that trust, and that 5 o'clock P.M. !• aed for r- ing the expedieacj of augmenting the pay of the store keeper of the ordnam Ordered, 'Inn Capt. Holmes, Capt. Brown, and Cap! Batcbelder be a committee to examine Ensigu Robert Campbell, latelj arrived from England, ami now a prisoner in tin- town, and to report what ia proper to be done \\ itli him. Ordered, Thai Capt Farlej I Dwight, and .Mr. Webster, mmittee to prepare an address to tl ral towns in tl \\ ho ina\ In- applied to, to furnish the army with powder. I', solved, Thai Mr. Bdes be desired to print 300 blank commissions, in the tor ui lately made use of fur the offia ra of the army. \ petition from Jonathan Hicks, and Josiah Jones, prisoners in Concord jail, was read, and ordered to lie on the table. 1 A letter from S. L. was read, and ordered to lie on the table. 3 A petition from the committees of the several townships of Golds- borough, Narragaugus and Number Four, was read, and committed to Capt. Parker, Col. Smith and Capt Ellis, who are directed ai- der the propriety of supplying the inhabitants of Machias with some three pounders, and some sw ivel bal lor- -, : win I " the |«i» er of Great Britain. '• Wo d G , « iili |>. ty, ihnl r . u i — l » proi ' >nta in | r a* oar abilitiei eitend, to do an) thing within the li thU imp " Protesting that it was with thi ■ of the country, thai they bad taken np their residi • they may be liberated from imprisonment, coarse of conduct. (2) A li tl I with the inil - I ■ vessel* without delay. The writer apprehended, thai the squadron und I the small ship* of war and tonders, might interrupt the »i — Is bringing proi rin> and inhabitant* to I h ui Dai * lurdeo, in lyi 5 whore thai irticle i 111 the eastern I * • l " 1 ninmiiin- . \ 1,1 ipplii letter from Col. Enoch 1 \ 406 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 27, Ordered, That Capt. Shillaber be directed to bring in a resolve for the purpose of assuring the officers and soldiers, that, notwithstanding the date of the officers' commissions, the pay of both officers and sol- diers shall commence at the time of their enlistment. Ordered, That commissions be made out to the subaltern officers of Capt. Edward Crafts' company in the train, agreeably to the recom- mendation of the committee of safety. A letter from Elisha Phelps was read, and ordered to lie on the table. 1 The letter from Mr. Isaac Stone which was this day transmitted to the committee of supplies, was, by that committee, returned, and again read, and thereupon Ordered, that Major Fuller be directed to notify the commissary general to attend this Congress on the subject thereof. The committee appointed to consider in what way the sea coasts should be protected, reported, whereupon Ordered, that the committee of supplies, and all committees of the house now out, be directed im- mediately to give attendance. Ordered, That the committee appointed to provide hospitals for the army, be directed to provide another hospital, to be appropriated solely for such of the army as may be taken with the small pox, and to con- sider what measures can be taken to prevent the spreading of that distemper, and that Doct. Rand, and Doct. Foster, be added to the committee. Resolved, That the resolve passed yesterday, directing how the fire arms should be distributed, be reconsidered. The same being amend- ed, was again accepted and is as follows, viz : Whereas, this Congress has ordered a number of fire arms to be furnished from several towns and districts in this colony, to be forwarded to the army, to supply those who are destitute of arms, but no provision is made for delivering them out, and taking proper receipts for the same, therefore, Resolved, that all the small arms that are, or may be procured by the above order, be delivered to the committee of safety at Cambridge; they to give their receipt for the same, to the person from whom they re- ceive them : that the same be delivered out to such officers, as shall Penobscot, was here tins afternoon, and gives a melancholy aerount of the distress the people are. in, that way, for want of bread, owing to tin- stoppage of* trade. He heard that several children had died of hunger. What will become of them, God only knows. We are not able to help them or ourselves. I don't know what can he done for them or us, without some vessels of superior force to the tenders should be provided to bring bread." (1) Capt. Phelps was sent to Connecticut fur the purpose of procuring aid in transporting cannon from Tyconderoga to the enmp near Boston. He stated that Gov. Trumbull declined authorizing the removnl of the guns from the northern fortress, without the direction of the Continental Con_ great. 1775.] THIRD PROA INCIAL < 0NGRE1 MM produce orders therefor, from the rlonorabh General Ward, tl ing receipts for the Bame, to the Baid committee of Bafelj , to be r< in good order, unless lost in the service of the colony. And i soldiei who Bhall receive an) Buch lire arm, Bhall give his receipt i'"r the Bame, t" the officer from whom he Bhall receive it, to be returned as aforesaid ; and the officer Bhall return the Baid receipts to the com- mittee of Bafetj : and in case the Bame Bhall not be returned, at the close of tli>' campaign, or sooner, the value of the Baid tin- arm, Bhall be deducted oul of th< of the person receiving the same; and that the committee of safet) Bhall appraise all such ari e not already been appraised, and take an account of the wh Ordered, That Col. William Henshaw, an adjul nl oath appointed to be taken by the officers and soldier M chusetts arm \ , and thai a commission as adjutant to him. The committee appointed to examine Bnsign Robert Campbell, reported the following resolve, which \\ pted. The coram appointed to into consideration the case of a prisoner, bound to mi to join the array under the command of General G g< have ex- amined said prisoner, and his account of himself is, that his nam.- is Robert Campbell, about seventeen years old, -on of Lieut. Col \ - exander Campbell, who is now lieutenant governor of Fori G rge, in Inverness, and is of one of the first families in Scotland. Said R Campbell further says, he was born in the army, and now h i :om- mendation for an ensign's commission in the 35th regiment /.' wlvrd, That Robert Campbell be sent immediately to tl of the selectmen of Concord, to be bj them put under ' or into prison, and provided for, as their prudence shall direct, until the fur- ther order of this Congress, or some future house of representat and thai he be delivered to Col. Barrett, to be conveyed to said select- men of Concord. An account of Simeon Fish, and John Toby, of the expensi - of bringing Ensign Roberl Campbell from Falmouth to this Congi was read, and committed to the committee, who were appointed to examine said < 'ampbell. Tin- committee appointed to inquire into the state of the several towns Bto< ks in the counties of Hampshire and Worc< st< r, r< porti schedule, containing an accounl of the stocks of sev< ral towns in counties, which was committed to Mr. Singletary, Mi N md Mr Cut, who were directed to consider what quantitj Bhould be drawn from each town, for the use of the arm\. 408 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 28, The committee appointed to consider the letter of General Thomas, relative to the request of a number of our wounded friends, in captivity in Boston, reported : the report was accepted, and a copy of it ordered to be sent to General Thomas, and is as follows, viz : the committee appointed to consider the request of a number of our wounded friends, now in captivity in Boston, beg leave to report, that General Thomas be requested moderately to supply said prisoners with fresh meat, in case he can convey it to them, and them only. The report of the committee appointed to consider some means for protecting the sea coasts, was again read and considered, and after debate, the further consideration of it was put off till to-morrow morning. Adjourned to to-morrow morning 8 o'clock. Wednesday, June 28, 1775. The committee appointed to prepare an answer to the letter from Albany, reported. Ordered, That Col. Lincoln bring in a resolve, making five of the committee of supplies to be a quorum, or in defect of five, that any three may be a quorum, provided the chairman be one of the three. [Col. Lincoln reported a resolve, which was read, accepted, and is as follows, viz :] Whereas, The public interest often makes it necessary, that a very considerable number of the committee of supplies should be absent on business of the colony, and as no orders can be paid by the receiver general, but such as are signed by the said committee, or the major part of them ; by reason whereof, the public service may be obstructed, and greatly delayed ; for prevention of which, it is Resolved, That three of said committee of supplies, the chairman, David Cheever, Esq. being always one of the three, shall, when there are less than five present, be considered as a quorum ; and all orders, bargains, and contracts, by them made, shall be held good, to all intents and purposes, as fully as though the whole of said committee were present, and assenting to such orders, bargains, and contracts. And the receiver general of this colony be, and is hereby directed to govern himself accordingly. The letter prepared to be sent to the committee of Albany, was accepted, and is as follows : Gentlemen; This Congress have received your very obliging letter, by Mr. Price, of the 2:3d ultimo, and they cheerfully embrace the op- portunity to forward to you by the same hand, as particular an account of the late engagement with the enemies of America, as we, in the 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS no present hurry of our public affairs, are able to do. < >n the night of the ltiili of June instant, a body <>t' our troops tuck ; on of a hill in Charlestown, where they began some entrenchments; but as soon a? tbe morning light appeared, they were tirr.I apon by some of the r- 1 1 1 1 >- in Boston h:irl)i>r, and also from a batterj on I hill, which is on Boston aide. s..on after, several ahipa and floating batte- ries drew op, a» oear ae possible on each Bide [of] Charlestown neck, in order, with their cannon, to annoy oor people, and prevent any recruit- going from our mam bodj to their relief Abont two o'clock, P. .M., a large body of regular troop-, consisting of several thousands, commanded by Lord Howe, suddenly crossed Charles river, and land- ed near the bill on which our people were posted. Thej immedi marched n|>, in order to force our infant entrenchments: but our pie gave them bo warm a reception, that they thought best to reti but soon renewed their attempt-.- but wire repulsed th >nd time with great slaughter; but, on their third attempt, our people, being almost destitute of ammunition, as the enemies' con-taut tire from their ships and floating batteries had prevented any supplies from our main army, were obliged to retreat, with the loss of about 50 men killed, and 200 wounded, as near a< has yet been ascertained, and about 30 taken prisoners, many of whom were wounded, and some are since dead of their wounds. The loss on the part of our enemies IS much greater; some persons who were on the field of battle soon after the fight, affirm they saw 800 men dead on th< ad, and that there were a- many more wounded: the lowest account we have had, is, louo killed and wounded, among whom are B4 commissioned offi( On the -ame day, the town of Charlestown, consisting of near 500 houses and other building . I>\ those l>l ly incendiaries, set on lire and consumed to ashes. vTe cannot, however, but assure you, gentlemen, that, notwithstanding our present distressed situation, we feel a peculiar satisfaction in finding our patriotic brethren of the city and county of Albany, so cordially interesting themselves in our par- ticular welfare, ami -o kindU offering us their assistance, as well as manifesting their zeal for the rights ami liberties of America in gene- ral. Ft is our ardent desire to cultivate harmony and friendship with all our neighboring brethren, and. we hope, you will nol fail to con- tinue your favors, and we assure you, that we shall always take pi ure m conveying to you any intelligence that shall afford satisfaction As to the benevolent donations eon mention, which are collected for our distressed brethren, as the transporting the article yon male men- tion of, is almost impracticable, [we] ihmk it had better he exfhai ■•-• 410 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June '28, for cash, or some necessary specie, which may be more easily trans- ported. We are sorry to hear there is any prospect of an attack upon Ticonderoga, &c, but, we trust, those important fortresses are suffi- ciently garrisoned, and doubt not, but our brave countrymen stationed there, will be able to repulse any force which can be sent against them from Canada. Finally, brethren, we ardently wish, that the great Su- preme Being, who governs all things, may so direct all our military operations, that they may speedily issue in the full restoration and peaceable possession of the natural and constitutional rights and liber- ties of every American. P. S. Some make the number of our killed and missing to be near a hundred. The committee on the account of Messrs. Fish and Toby, reported : the report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, that Sim- eon Fish and John Toby be allowed and paid, out of the public treas- ury of this colony, six pounds, seven shillings, for their time and ex- penses in bringing Robert Campbell, a prisoner, from Falmouth to this Congress, and also for their time and expenses back to Falmouth again ; and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the said sum of six pounds, seven shillings, to the said Fish and Toby, in full dis- charge of their expenses as aforesaid. The committee who were appointed to consider the resolves of this Congress relative to absconding soldiers, reported : the report was re- committed. Mr. Pigeon was introduced on the subject of Capt. Stone's letter respecting Mr. More. Ordered, That Deacon Fisher, Capt. Batchelder and Capt. Stone of Framingham, be a committee, to join with Mr. Pigeon in an inquiry into the conduct of said More, and report to this Congress. Ordered, That Capt. Batchelder, Col. Coffin and Capt. Goodman, be a committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of saving provis- ions in the army. A list of persons recommended as deputy commissaries was read, and committed to Mr. Greenleaf, Capt. Carpenter and Mr. Johnson. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for giving a currency to the notes or bills of credit of this colony, reported : the report was recommitted for the purpose of introducing the large notes issued by this colony. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to such officers of Coh Gerrish's regiment as are not yet commissioned. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRE8S 411 A petition of John < tbrian iru read, and committed i" M ijoi 1' ly, Major Fuller of Middleton, and -Mr. Cult. 1 The report of the committee appointed to consider some mi for defending the Bea coasts was agaia takea into consideration, amended and accepted, and Col. Freeman, Col. Gerrish and I Carpenter, were appointed to ii\ the pay <>t' the officers in proportion to that of the Boldiers blj to said report The report of the committee respecting absconding soldiers, was put oil' to three o'clock, I' M. The committee appointed to consider some method of saving pro- visions in the army, reported : the report was accepted, and i- a low- 'I'lic committee appointed to consider of tin- most effectual means to prevent an] waste of provision in tii<' army, !>>■_' leave t>> re- port by way of resolve. Resolved, That the commissary L r, n<'ral be, ami In- hereby ■> dii ed, to purchase all the provisions that any of the soldier^ may bave to spare of their allowance, tor the use of our army, and pay a re able price for such provision. \ • r .11. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to Btation tin- troops in the county of Essex, agreeably to the resolve of Congress, which passed in the forenoon, viz. : I.i/nn — .Mr. Edward Johnson. Manchester — Mr. Andr< i \\ ood- lmrv. Gloucester— Col. Coffin. Salem — Mr. Pickering. Ipswich — Col. Farley. Newburypori — Capt. Greenleaf. Marblehead — EH bridge Gerry, Esq. Beverly — Capt Batchelder. Newbury — Col. Gerrish. Salisbury — Capt. Nathaniel Currier. And the following gentlemen foi the count! of York, viz.: ■ York — ('apt. Brandon. Berwick — Major (ioodwin. Arundel — Deacon Hovey. Kittery — Edward Cutt, Esq. Wetts — Col Saw- yer. Biddeford — James Sullivan, Esq. The following gentlemen were likewise appointed, agreeably to Baid resolve, to give out enlisting orders, viz. : For the Count}/ of Essex — Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Greenleaf, and Col. Farley. For the Count // of I'li/inouth — Hon. Col. Warren, Mr. Loth- rop, Capt. Partridge. For tin County of Bamstabh — Col Free- man, Col. ()lis, Daniel Davis, Esq. /or tin Counti/ of Uuktt — (1) The petitioner represented that the inhabitant oi Mi hn«l not prorlaiona, nor nny method to procure loppliei, in the bad condition or the tlroi i, I viaioo made (or their inpport bj Oongreaa, Ailed them with gratitude: but tli" quantity era* «o »m«ll, tlmt without farther aid thej eonld not i ind moat k* obliged i babitationt. 412 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 28, Mr. Nye. For the County of Bristol — Mr. Durfee, Hon. Mr. Spooner, Capt. Holmes. For the County of York — Col. Sawyer, Edward Cutt, Esq., Capt. Bragdon. For the County of Cumberland — Hon. Col. Freeman, Col. Thompson, Mr. Mitchell. For the County of Lincoln — Mr. D. Sewall, Mr. Langdon, Mr. E. Witcher. Ordered, That Col. Freeman, Mr. Langdon and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee to get two hundred of the resolves for stationing compa- nies on the sea coast, printed. The resolves being completed, are as follow, viz. : The commit- tee appointed to take into consideration and report some way of de- fending and supporting the towns upon the sea coast in this colony, having considered of the same, report the following resolves, viz. : Resolved, That there be immediately raised in the county of Essex, ten companies, to consist of fifty men each, officers included, to be sta- tioned upon the sea coast in that county, in such manner and propor- tion as shall be agreed upon by a joint committee, consisting of one member to be appointed by this Congress from each of the towns of Lynn, Manchester, Gloucester, Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, Ipswich, Newbury, Newburyport, and Salisbury, in said county, and to be under the direction of the committees of correspondence of each town where they may be stationed. Also, that there be raised in the counties of Plymouth and Barnstable, nine companies, each to consist of the num- ber of fifty men, four of which companies to be stationed in the coun- ty of Plymouth, according to the direction of the field officers of the first regiment of the county of Plymouth, under whose direction they shall be considered ; the other five companies to be stationed in the county of Barnstable, in such manner as the field officers of the two regiments there shall aoree, and to be under their directions : and that the county of Barnstable shall have the liberty of raising eight of those companies; likewise, that there be raised in the county of Bristol, in- cluding the towns of Wareham and Rochester, two companies, consist- ing of fifty men each, to be stationed, one company in Dartmouth, and the other company in Wareham and Rochester equally, and to be un- der the direction of the committees of correspondence of the respec- tive towns. Also, that there be raised in the county of York, four com- panies, consisting of fifty men each, to be stationed in that county, ac- cording to the agreement of a joint committee consisting of one mem- ber from each of the towns upon the sea coast in that county, to be chosen for that purpose; when stationed, to be under the direction of the field officers in that county. Also, that there be raised in the coun- ty of Cumberland, five companies, consisting of fifty men each, to be 1775.] THIW) PROVINCIAL CONGRE8& ||) -rationed as shall be agreed npoa by a joint committee appointed by each town upon the oast, viz. . two memberi to be chosen bj the town of Paimonth and Cape Elizabeth, one bj Scarborough, one by North Yarmouth, one bj Brunswick, and one by Harpswell, and after the division and station is ordered, to be under the direction of the committer- of the respectire towns where tbej shall be stationed And also, that there be raised in the county of Lincoln, three companies consisting of fifty men each, in be stationed bj ■ committee consisting of members to he chosen, one bj each town upon the -< i coast in county, as they -hail agree, and then to be tinder the direction of the committeea of correspondence of the respectire towns and plantations where thej shall be stationed, and of the a ssesso rs where no such com- mitteea are appointed. Also, llt-ulrul, that a committee of three per- son- l.e appointed in each county, to give out enlisting order- in their respective counties, where such men are to be raised, ami to muster them; ami also, that Col. Phinney he directed to march the whole of his regiment, who are equipt with arms, to the camp at Cambridge, ami those who are not equipt, to dismiss. Likewise, further Resolved, that the thirty men ordered to he raised from the tow n of Falmouth, and sta- tioned on the Kli/.aheth Islands, be augmented to fifty, officers includ- ed, and under the same wages ami subsistence, a- i- hereafter provid- ed, and to remain there for protection of the Btocks on those islands; and that each private soldier of the several companies herein mention- ed, Bhall he entitled to the sum of f«J6 per month, and subsistence as the other" companies raised tor the colony service, till the further order of tin-, or some future Congress or House of Representatives; and that the pay of the officers he reduced in the -ame proportion a- the pay of the soldiers, viz. : captains' pay, 658$.\ 1-t lieutenant. £312s. ; 2d lieutenant, €9 8s. : sergeants, £9 -Is. ; corporals, filets, and drum- mers, £2. Resolved, That each soldier who -hall enli-t . -hill furnish himself with a food and sufficient firelock, and that no man shall be must) as a soldier who is not so furnished, accordingly. Also, Resolved, That each town where soldiers shall he stationed as above, shall furnish them with ammunition, out of their Stocks, 'or which they shall he paid out r the surgeons was read and accepted, and i~ as follows, viz. : Tht Congress of tkt Massou husetts I> .1. II. Greeting. Being informed of your -kill in sur_'er\, and reposing especial trust and confidence in your ability and g I conduct, we do, bj these pre- sents, constitute and appoint you tin- -aid A. 15.. to be surgeon of the regiment of foot, u bereof is colonel, raised by the Con aforesaid, for the defence of -aid colon] . ^ >>n are, t Ik- r. fore, carefully and diligent!) to discharge tin- dutj of a surgeon t.> tin- -aid regiment, in all things appertaining thereunto, observing such orders and instruc- tions a- you .»liall, from time to time, receive from the colonel of regiment, according to military rules and discipline established bj - ml Congress, or anj your superior officers, lor which this shall be youx sufficient warrant. By order of the Congress, President. Dated at Watertown. Ordered, That the committee appointed to make out commissions for the officers of tin- army, In- directed to make out warrant- for the surgeons agreeably to the above form, a- -o<>n a- they have been exam- ined ami appointed. Ordered, That Deacon Fisher, Col. Thompson, ami Mr. Wiswall, be a committee t" bring in a resolve for the purpose of preventing the unnecessary [ 'expenditure] of gunpowder. The com m n ice appointed to consider the petition of Mr. Obrian, 1 1 - ported verbally: that the petitioner he Berved with a copj of the re- port of this Congress on the petition of a number of the inhabitants of Mat bias. The report w as accepted, and the petitioner hail leave to withdraw his petition. The report of the committee relative to making the notes and hills of credil of this ami the other colonies, a tender, being amended, accepted, and ordered to be authenticated ami printed in the Cam- bridge, Water town, and Worcester papers, ami i< as follows: Where- as, a toriner Congress of tin- colony, ordered their receiver general to notes and bills upon the credit of this colony, for the payment a [cijxsnte] 416 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 28, and supply of their army, and other necessary expenses of this colony ; and whereas, divers others of the sister colonies have issued notes or bills, for the payment of their respective forces ; and it is necessary, that the notes and bills of this and the sister colonies should have free currency ; therefore, Resolved, that the notes and bills of the colony of Rhode Island, at and after the rate of six shillings and nine pence an ounce for silver, and the bills and notes of this and all the other colo- nies, excepting Nova Scotia and Canada, at and after the rate of six shillings and eight pence an ounce for silver, shall be taken and re- ceived, and accounted a good and sufficient tender for the payment of all debts, and the damages that may arise upon the non-performance of any promises, and also be received into the public treasury of this col- ony, without any discount or allowance whatever. And if any person whatever, shall refuse to take any of the notes or bills of the colonies aforementioned, at the rates before expressed, for any debt, or in satis- faction for the damages sustained by reason of the non-performance of any promise, or shall ask, demand, or receive, any discount, gratuity, or premium, for receiving any of the bills or notes aforementioned, he or she so offending, shall be deemed an enemy to the country. And the several committees of correspondence, inspection, and safety in their respective towns, are required to return the names of all persons who shall contravene this resolve, to this or some future Congress, or House of Representatives, that they may take order thereon as to them shall seem meet. The resolve relative to the commencement of the pay of the officers and soldiers, was considered, and recommitted, and Mr. Batchelder and Major Fuller added to the committee. Ordered, That Mr. Webster, Major Perley, and Mr. Mighill, be a com- mittee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of recommending to the governor and company of the colony of Connecticut, to suffer the in- habitants of the eastern parts of this colony, to purchase and carry out of said colony such provisions as their necessitous circumstances may require. Resolved, That the committee appointed to prepare a letter to the Continental Congress, be empowered and directed to communicate it to the committee of supplies, and then to forward the same to the del- egates of this colony at said Congress, without reporting it to this Con- gress, said delegates to communicate it to the Continental Congress, if they think proper. Ordered, That Mr. Starkweather, Capt. Partridge, and Col. Dexter, Mr. Singletary, and Col. Coffin, be a committee to examine into the I77fi | THIRD PRO! [NCIAL O >NGRE* n, conduct and books of Mr. John Pigeon, com mi !, m, Pigeon having desired that a committee might be appointed for thai purpose, and that said c littee consider the expediencj of furnishing .Mr. Miller, a deputy c missary, with a horse. Resolved, That tomorrow morning, ten o'clock, be assigned for the purpose of considering the proposal <>f the commissar] g( neraJ, for an allowance of molasses to the soldiers. The committee appointed t<> I >n n lt in a resolve relative to the com- mencement of the pay of the officers ami soldiers, reported the follow- ing, which was accepted, and ordered t'> be published in the papers, and is as follow b, \ iz. : R wived, That each commissioned officer in the colon] army shall draw pay, according t<> the present establishment, from 1 1 1 • - time of Ins tir-t engaging in the public service or receiving beating orders, and that each non-commissioned officer and private draw pay from the time of his enlisting in said sen ice ; al -<>, thai such of the minute m< n and militia, as marched into the field on the 19th April, and booh after, and have remained there, and since engaged in said arm] for the de- I'enee of the <-<>l<>n\ , -hall he paid for their service, agrecablj t'» the pre-- Hi establishment, from the time of their iir>t inarching into the field. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Hall. Major Brooks, Mr. Par- tridge, and I). -aeon Fisher, be a committee to consider the written proposal of Doct. NN'Int ihlt. relative to saltpetre. 1 Adjourned to eight o'clock, tomorrow morning. Tin asn w . .1 1 \r 29, i * ; .". A petition from Mr. John Calef 9 was read, and committed to Majoi Fuller, Col. Collin, Mr. Hopkins, Capt Parker, and Mr. Mighill. The commits e appointed to bring in a resolve for the purpose of recommending to the governor and compan] of Connecticut, to sup- ply the eastern country with provisions, reported : the report was ac- cepted.' :t A letter from the committee of safety, enclosing a lettei from Mi Samuel Smith, chairman of the co ttee of Northficld, was read, and ordered to be sent to the committee ofsupplii (I [mill i. n. follow -. J (I) Doct. Whiting roeommeodod, thai inrormalion in relation to the manu ihoold be oblai I from -kilt'ul pen N a \nrk. 1 1 ■ 53 418 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 29, The committee appointed to consider the petition from Narragua- gus and other towns at the eastward, repotted. The report was or- dered to subside, and the petitioners had leave to withdraw their peti- tion. 1 Ordered, That the President, Major Hawley, Doct. Whiting, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee to prepare an address to Generals Washington and Lee, to be presented to them on their arri- val here. The committee appointed to consider the petition of officers belong- ing to Col. Prescott's, Col. Fry's and Bridge's regiments, reported : which report was accepted. 11 2 Ordered, That the lesolve passed the 19th instant, relative to spears, &c, be recommitted to Major Goodwin for amendment. The committee appointed to consider a proposal made by Doct. Whiting, for sending some person to New York, to advise with Doct. Graham and others, and procure from them directions for the manu- facture of saltpetre, reported ; which report was ordered to lay on the table, and Mr. Phillips and Doct. Whiting were appointed to confer with Mr. Professor Sewall, on the subject matter contained therein. The committee appointed to consider some methods for supplying the soldiers, stationed on the sea coasts, with provisions, reported. The report was amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Re- solved, that the selectmen of the several towns or plantations on the sea coast, or, where there are no selectmen, the assessors of such place where any such soldiers shall be stationed for their defence, be, and they hereby are directed, to supply the officers and soldiers with suitable provisions for their support, so long as said men continue in the colony seivicc, and do their duty of soldiers in their several sta- tions, for which provisions, the said selectmen or assessors shall be paid, out of the public treasury, the sum of five shillings for each man, per week, who shall be so supplied. And it is recommended to the owners of the Elizabeth Islands, to supply the soldiers that may be stationed on said islands, for which they shall be allowed, out of the treasury aforesaid, the same sum per week, which is allowed for the c fmul 19 as follows.] chusetts, mi. I :i double fortified gun of New Hampshire, were left at Fort Dummcr when tlmt lbr- t . - was dismantled, and a cannon ut Tort Hinsdale, above Notthfield ; all four pounders, which might be cunvi veil to the army. I The scarcity of provisions and the deficiency of arms were assigned aa the reasons for de- cliiiisi lo make the appropriations requc I "I by the petitioners. CIj report p ears to have pointed out a mode of adjusting difficulties which bail arisen in rank ' <\u. Ward'-, ordering thriu to deliver out small arm- to such officers as ma) Bpply, was read; the consideration wheieof w erred to 9 ;k, to- morrow morning- The committee on the petition of Mr John Calef, reporl rhe report was accepted, and is as follows, viz.: It appearing to tins Congress inconsistent with the best interest of this colony, that the within mentioned ship should proceed this Congress, and that Duct. Taylor and Capt Stone !'<• directed to search his packages, and see that he is brought to thi> Congress, and that .Mr. Partridge be directed to bring in a resolve empowering said gentlemen to [perform] this service. Ordered, That the letter- directed to gentlemen in Rhode [sland, be sent to the officers of the Rhode [sland forces; those to Connecti- cut to the officers of the Connecticut forces; and those directed to New Hampshire, to the officers of the New Hampshire for Ordered, That Doct Whiting, Mr Webster and Col. Freeman, be n committee to take under consideration a resolve of Congress, ent- ering the committee for procuring guns, to draw on the tr< asun r, i s.i ...■ of 0i6\ l\n \i. < ONGR] ui tate of the colon) magazines will admit thereof, or otherwise will be paid for in monei .' Ordered, Thai Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Singletary and D Nichols, be a committee to procure powder from the several towns in the coun- ty of Worcester, agreeably to Baid schedule, and Capt. Goodman, from the count] of Hampshire. Ordered, Thai Capt. Brown, Col. Davis and Mr. Fairbanks, be a committee to inquire where Bafe and con enienl stores maj be had, lor stormy whal gunpowder is or may I"- procured for the use of this colon] , and thai thej sil forth* ith. An accounl exhibited bj Mr. [chabod Goodwin, was read, and com- mitted to Deacon Stickney, Capt. KuiL r and Mr. Th pson. The report of the committee on the motion of l>". L \\ biting, was again read, amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz.: The com- mittee appointed to take into consideration a motion made t"'>r Bending Borne proper person to New York, in order to advise with Doct r the manufactur- ing of saltpetre, have attended thai service, and beg leave t<> report, by way of resolve, thai Doct. William Whiting be a committee to repair to New York, and confer with Doct. Graham, or any other gentlemi n that have had experience in the manufacturing of saltpetre, and that he be directed to procure from him or them, the mosl minute, partic- ular, and intelligible account, relative to the manufacturing of this ar- ticle, possible, ami that, if t" be found, he procure and engage some ingenious person, who has been used t>> work in the business of mak- ing saltpetre, to come immediately to this [dace, who -hall be em- ployed in said business, and thai the expenses of said journej to New \ < >r k , and the travel of Baid workman to this [dace, he paid out of the public treasurj of this colon] . The report of the committee on the account of Mr Paul Revere, was read, whereupon, Ordered, thai tomorrow morning, ten o'clock, be assigned for the consideration thereof! The committee on the petition of Robert Slullaher, reported. The report was accepted, and i< as follow-, \i/. : Resolved, thai Mr. R ert Slullaher he, and he herein 1- permitted, t<> exporl to th( R • In- die-, eighty hogsheads of Jamaica fish : proi ided, that no other proi i- Bion he -lupped with the -,ud fish, except -o much as will h.- sufficient uch a voyage; and the committee of safet] in Salem, are dire< e tin- resolve strict!) complied with. (I) Tin i ling thii n louin.il ■>! June 30. 42-2 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 3U, Ordered, That Major Goodwin, Col. Dwight, and Capt. Bragdon, be a committee to prepare instructions to the committee who were ap- pointed to procure powder from the counties of Hampshire and Wor- cester, and that they sit forthwith. The committee on the account of Major Goodwin, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, that the re- ceiver general be, and he hereby is ordered, to pay to Major Ichabod Goodwin, £2 J 7s 8d, for his time, horse, and expenses, in going ex- press to Falmouth, by order of the committee of safety. Adjourned to Friday morning, eight o'clock. Friday June 30, 1775. Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler, Major Fuller, and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of appointing some per- son to convey one Green, a captive, to Worcester gaol, there to be con- fined till further order of this Congress. The committee appointed to consider what was best to be done with the supernumerary sheets of colony notes, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consid- er what shall be done with the supernumerary sheets, struck off from the plate containing the twenty, fourteen, and six shilling bills, have attended to that service, and find, upon examination, that there are one hundred and twenty-seven sheets above the number proposed, which make the sum of two hundred and fifty-four pounds ; and beg leave to report, that it is their opinion, that an order of Congress be taken, for committing said sheets to the care of the receiver general, until the further order of the Congress or House of Representatives. Ordered, That Major Hawley bring in a resolve, directing the com- mittee of safety to consider the expediency of granting a further emis- sion of bills of credit. A letter from the committee of safety, enclosing one from the com- mittee of safety of Portsmouth, to Doct. Langdon, and an anonymous letter wrote from Boston to Portsmouth, which was intercepted by the said committee at Portsmouth, was read, and Ordered, that a copy of the letter from the committee of safety of Portsmouth, be transmitted to the committee of supplies, and that the anonymous letter lie on the table. 1 (1) The intercepted letter was addressed to Hugh Hen\ IV l \l. ( ONGRESS Ordered, That such of the committee who wen- appointed to deliv- ei out commissions, as are now present, \><- directed t" attest the list of officers commissioned. Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler, be directed t<> deliver the Bupernumer- ;ir\ bills to the receiver, and take bis receipt for the same, \ petition ofDoct William Whitinj read, 1 whereupon, Resolv- ed, thai the receiver genera] be, and he is herebj directed, t<> paj to Doct. Whiting, the Bum of eight |> nl-. m colonj notes, towards de- fraying the expenses of the said Doct, Whiting, which maj accrue in In- journey to New N ork, Baid \\ bitinc to I"- accountable for the same to tin- Congress or Borne future House i \ embly of this colony. The committee appointed to consider some m< to prevent the spreading of the small pox, were din cted to sit forthwith. Ordered, That Deacon Fisher, Mr. Lothrop, and Col. Richmond, l>e a committee i" consider a resolve of the committee of Bsiety, rela- tive t<> artificer's accounts, and that Baid committee be directed t<> con- sider such accounts as raaj be transmitted tu this Congress, bj tlu* committee of safety, and to report thereon. Resolved, That the resolve of this Congress relative to procuring powder from the counties of Hampshire and \\ orc< ster, l>c reconsider- ed, and that the same, together with the report of the committee ap- pointed to prepare instructions to the committee appointed to procure powder from -aid counties, be recommitted. On!, ml. Thai ('apt. Stone, Mr. Plympton, and .Mr. Johnson, be a committee t>> bring in a resolve for the purpose of maki -i"n f'>r the poor of the t'»u ii of < lharlestow n. Ordered, That Col. Coffin, Mi Lothrop, Capt. \ < pt. Bragdon, and Col. Mitchell, be a committee to impure into the state of the two Lnn, and the light house at the entrance of B ton harbor, and also, thai at Plymouth, and consider whether ii is ex- pedienl to continue the lights therein. better of the people. 1 ii ; but the) di.l not keep il fifteen minutoa a'i. r the ind -u.-li t. i I ii all the time. Thi thi in i- Doctoi Worn n : About tl ... i , : , . . : them ■ '•I: I iliink you Ii"! urn." C I |).. toi Whiting Hated, that ho had nol ■ 424 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 30, Major Hawley, agreeably to order, brought in the following resolve, which was accepted. Resolved, That the committee of safety be a committee, forthwith to consider, whether the exigencies of this colony do require, that there should be, as soon as possible, a grant made by this Congress of a further emission of notes or bills of credit, and that they consider of what sum it is proper that grant should consist, and of what denomina- tions such bills should be, and whether they should bear any interest, and if any, what the rate of such interest should be, and at what time such notes or bills should be payable or redeemed, and whatever other regulations the said committee shall judge it expedient such notes or bills should be issued upon, and that the said committee report as soon as may be. Ordered, That Deacon Fisher bring in a resolve, directing the re- ceiver general to pay the sum of three pounds ten shillings, to the com- mittee appointed to procure powder from the county of Worcester, and two pounds ten shillings, to Capt. Goodman, who is appointed to pro- cure powder from the county of Hampshire. Afternoon. The form of a warrant for surgeons of the hospital, was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The Congress of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, to Greeting. Being informed of your skill in surgery, and reposing special trust and confidence in your ability and good conduct, [we] do by these presents, constitute and appoint you, the said to be a surgeon of the hospital, established by order of the Congress, in , for the sick and wounded of the colony army. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a surgeon of said hos- pital, in all things appertaining thereto, observing such orders and in- structions as you shall, from time to time, receive from any, your su- perior officers, according to the rules and discipline established by said Congress, for which, this shall be your sufficient warrant. By order of Congress, Dated the day of A. D. 1775. Ordered, That warrants be made out to the following officers, viz ■ Doct. Lemuel dishing, surgeon ; Doct. Gad Hitchcock, surgeon's mate; Adam Bayley, quarter master; Luthei Bayley, adjutant; in i . 75.] THIRD PKO\ l\« IAL I I >NUK I General Thomas - regimeul Docl !•■ umel Howard, Roxbury Hospital. Mr. Jabez Matthews \\ .1- admitted to give an accouul ol bin bj to Quebec. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to sundrj officers iu < Whitcomb's regiment, >1\ to .1 lisl of this date, by bim exhib- ited. Deacon Fisher, agreeabl) to order, rep< ted the followiug resol u bich were accepted R olved, Thai the sum of three pounds and ten shillings, be paid out of the public treasury, by the receiver general, who is directed to pa) the same, to John ; Caldwell,] Esq., for the use of the committee thai was chosen to collect gunpowder within the count] of Worcester, for the use oi the army, and that they be accountable t" this Con or some future II- R,ep Resolved, That the sura of two pounds and ten shillings, be paid oul of the public treasury, by the receiver general, who is herein «1 1 r< i" paj ihe same, unto Mr. Noah Goodman, to bear bis expeuses in col- lecting gunpowder within the county of Hampshire, for ihe use of the army, he to be accountable for ihe same to this Con tress <>r Borne fu- lure I louse of Etepresentatii es. The committee appointed t<> prepare a form <>f a commission, «.\ c . for the "liner.- of those companies, who are to be stationed <>n tbi coasts, reported. The reporl was acc< pted, and i- as follows : Tin' committee appointed to take into consideration in whal manner and form commissions, beating and enlisting orders, be made onl to the officers to be appointed and raised \'<\ a , in leading, ordering, uid exert ising the said compan) in arms, both infe Dicers and soldier* and lo ■ lull -.1 426 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 30, keep them in good order and discipline ; and they are hereby com- manded to obey you as their , and you are yourself to observe and follow such orders and instructions as you shall, from time to time, receive from your superior officers, or from those who are or may be appointed to have the direction of the said company or companies, in the several towns or counties where you may be stationed, according to military rules and discipline in war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. By order of Congress. , President. the day of , A. D. 1775. Attest, , Secretary. Also, your committee beg leave to report the following blank or form for beating orders, viz. : To . Sir : — You are hereby empowered, immediately, to enlist a compa- ny, to consist of forty-seven able-bodied, effective men, including ser- geants, corporals, drummers, &c, as soldiers in the Massachusetts service, for the defence of the sea coast in this colony, and cause them to pass muster as soon as may be. By order of Congress, , President. day of , A. D. 1775. Attest, , Secretary. Your committee likewise report the following form of an enlist- ment, viz. : We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and enlist our- selves, as soldiers in the service of the Massachusetts colony, for the defence and protection of the sea coasts in said colony, from the day of our enlistment to the last day of December next, unless the said service should admit of a discharge of a part, or the whole, sooner, which is to be determined by the Congress or General Court, or Assembly of said colony. And we do hereby promise to submit ourselves to all the orders and regulations of the army, and faithfully to observe and obey all such or- ders as we shall, from time to time, receive from our superior officers. Your committee also beg leave to report, that the committees in the several counties, appointed by this Congress, to give out beating and enlisting orders, be directed to fill up said commissions and orders, and 1775.] THIRD PROVINC1 \l. < « WGRESS to deliver the commissions to the officer! their compai are roll ; also, that a person be appointed in each of il count'u apon the sea coast, to administer the « » n 1 1 1 to officers and soldi* N I I'll LNIEL FREEM W. Chairman. I! whed, That there I"- one hundred ami twentj blank commis- sions printed, sixty beating orders and one hundred and twenty enlist- ing orders. Ordered, That Col. Freeman, Doct Taj or, and Col. Farley, t» committee to consider in what manner crimes -hall be punished, which may he committed by anj of the officers <>r Boldiers of the foi tioiifd i>n the - rts. /.' tofoed, That all warrant- for staff officers, which mav m future be delivered, he dated the da] they arc delivered. Resolved, That all commissions t" till up vacancies, be dated the day they arc delivered. The committee appointed to consider some measures for making pro- vision for the poor of the town of Charlestown, reported. The n j »« . r t recommitted. Ordered, That Col. Grout, ami Mr. Woodbridge, be added to the committee appointed to consider the account- which the committi safety may transmit to tin- Congp Ordered, That the committee appointed to inspect the letters brought by ('apt. Jenkins, he a committee to consider what i- best to be done with them : ami that Mr DickinsOQ he of that committee', m the room of .Mr. Phillips. The committee appointed to inquire where Bafe and convenient .stores for securing gunpowder might be had, reported. The repoii WES accepted, ami i< a- follow ~ : The committee appointed to look out for a place, or plac< -. for the safe keeping the powder that is, or may he lodged in this town, have attended that service, and heir leave to report, as their opinion, that some part of tin- powder he kept in the middle school-house, and some part in the easl school-house, also, some part in a building belonging to Mr. Josiah Capen, near the great bridge; also, that a building he erected, a- BOOn as possible, within the limits of the -aid Capen- land, nol far from the great bridge in Baid Watertown, which place was pro- posed Bometime since, to build a provincial magazine at. I\ to a law of tin- colony. All which is humbly submitted. .K >\ \ I'll \\ BRt »\\ \. ]>.<■ ordt The Bame committee [were directed] I that the powder is well guarded, and to consider and report what sorl of n building shall be erected 428 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [June 30, The committee directed to prepare instructions to the committee who were appointed to procure powder from the counties of Worces- ter and Hampshire, reported. The report was accepted, and is as fol- lows, viz. : To the several towns in the county of Hampshire, on the easterly side of Connecticut river, and the towns in the county of Worcester. This Congress, taking into their most serious consideration the great want of powder in our public magazines, and considering how much depends on that important and most necessary article, which, under God, if provided, may prove the salvation of America; and, as your towns lay the least exposed to the ravages of our enemy : there- fore, it is most earnestly recommended by this Congress to the select- men of each town and district in the county of Worcester, that they deliver the whole of the towns' stock of powder, in said county of Worcester, to John Caldwell, Esq., Mr. Amos Singletary, and Mr. Israel Nichols, or either of them, a committee appointed by this Con- gress to receive the same, except so much as is allowed to be kept in each town, which will appear by the schedule hereunto annexed ; and that it be replaced so soon as the state of the colony magazines will admit thereof, or otherwise will be paid for in money. And it is likewise recommended to the selectmen of each town and district in the county of Hampshire, except those on the westerly side of Connecticut river, to deliver the respective town stocks of powder to Mr. Noah Goodman, who is appointed by this Congress to receive the same from the county of Hampshire, agreeably to the annexed schedule : therefore, Resolved, that the said committees, appointed by this Congress to collect the powder from the counties of Worcester and Hampshire, be directed to give a receipt to the selectmen of such towns as they shall receive powder from, in the form following: The day of , 1775. Received of A. B., selectmen of the town of , the town stock of powder, containing weight, to the use of the Massachusetts' Ray; which powder is to be replaced again, as soon as the state of the colony magazine will admit of it, or paid for in money. And the committee appointed to receive the powder are hereby, sev- erally, empowered and directed, to employ such wagoners, or team- sters, as shall be necessary, with great despatch, to convey the same to the committee of supplies: for which service, said wagoners and teamsters, when they have delivered said powder to the committee of supplies, and shall produce a certificate from either of the committee men appointed to collect said powder, setting forth the sum agreed L775 ] THIRD l'K<>\ [NCI \l. ( < >\<;m — for the conveyance of said powder, then the coi itti Mipplie* Bhall give orders to the receivei general <>r the colony, foi ihe bui agreed !<>r, to !>r |>:ml in cash; and the receiver general ia herebj i!i- rected to pay the same accordingly. The schedule is as follow s, viz. : Towns' 1 ■ powtloc. COUNTY OF \VOH( f.S I 1 K. Worcester, - - - •J.'. 1 .11 ivU, l barrel, 4 barrel. Lancaster, - . -' da I il<>. 4 d". Afendon, - - . _ da ■.' da 1 . 3 da 4 da Oxford, - - - . 3.J da 1 do. 4 da Charlton, _ - _ l da 4 da i . Sutton, . - . 1'. da - - 1 da Leicester, - . _ ■j do 1 do. 1 da Spencer, - - - - I .In - - i da I'axloli, - - _ - - - - A akhaiii. - - . - - - - da Hubbardston, _ - . - - - - 1 • In. New Braintrei ) _ _ I do. - - i i da Southborough . - n do. - - K da North borough . . 2 da 1 da da Shrewsbury, . - 5 da - - i ■ 1". Lunenburg, - - 2 do. - - >■ da Fhchburg, - . . - - - - \ do, Uxbridge, . . - 2 da - - 4 da Harvard, - - - 21 do. - 4 da Dudley, - - . - - - - 4 da Hutchinson, - . - -.* do. >■ da A da Bolton, . . 2 da - - 4 ■ I". 1 pton, - - - I. do. - ! da Sturbridge, - - - 34 do. - - J da 1 .. ominster, - . - I da - - do. Hardwick, - - - 2 da - - J do. \\ estern, - . - - - . 1 do. Holden, - - . 4 da - - \ do. Douglas, - - - - - - - - ! da Grafton, - - - - 24 .1... - - A da Petersham, - - - 3 do. - - 4 da Royal ston, - - - - - - - do. \\ estminster, - . - h ili). - - ! da Athol, . . . - - - i i .In. Templeton, - . - 2 do. - - 4 do. Princeton, - - - H do. - - 1 • I<>. Ashburnham, - - - - - - J do, Winchendon, - - - - - - 1 do. \\ . stborougb, - - :i da 4 da 4 do. Northbridge, - - - . - - - 1 da I'm \tv OF u ufPSHiax. Springfield, - - - 1! do. - - : da \\ ilbraham, . . . 1 da - - \ do Hadley, - . . 1 do. - - i do South Hadley ■ - - 11 da - - i do 130 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July I SCHEDULE— Continued. Town's stock of To be left in Towns' names. powder. Supplied already. town. Amherst, - i barrel, Granby, - £ barrel, _ k do. Montague, - - - 4 do. Northfield, - li do. - i do. Brimfield, - 1 do. - 4 do. South Brimfield, _ _ i do. Monsoii, - - _ _ h do. - 4 do. Pelham, - - - 4 do. Palmer, - - - i do. New Salem, - 1 do. _ 4 do. Belchertown, - 1 do. _ i do. Warwick, - 1 do. ... i do. Shutesbury, - - - i do. Ordered, That Capt. Brown make provision for the two poor women, late of the town of Charlestown, now at the door, till to-mor- row morning. Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Col. Grout, and Mr. Dickerson, be a committee to examine the accounts of Major Barber, agreeably to his letter. A letter from the committee of inspection of the town of Biddeford, was read, and committed to Col. Richmond, Capt. Stone, and Mr. Langdon, who are directed to examine the prisoner, Thomas Neat, brought from Biddeford, and report. 1 Adjourned to 8 o'clock, to-morrow morning. Saturday, July 1, 1775. [The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for the purpose of making provision for the poor of the town of Charlestown, reported the following, which was accepted, viz :] Whereas, the distressed circumstances of the inhabitants of the town of Charlestown, calls for the charitable aid of this colony: therefore, Resolved, that such of those inhabitants as are unable to remove or support themselves, be removed to the several towns in the county of Worcester, mentioned in the schedule hereunto annexed. And it is further recommended to the selectmen of the aforesaid towns to provide for, and employ said inhabitants, in the best and most prudent manner that may be, and render their accounts to this or some (1) A suspicious person, named Thomus Neat, a deserter from one of the lung's ships, was ar- rested in Biddeford, and sent as prisoner to Walcrtow D. I".-».J THIRD PROVINC1 \l. ( 0NGRE8S. 13] future Congress, or House of Representatives, which reasonable counts shall be paid <>ut of the public treasury of said colony. And it is further Resolved, that Di ■ >n Cheever, CapL Brown, and Major Fuller, of Newton, be a committee to agree with teamsters, not exceeding the rate of nine pence per ton per mile, for transporting such inhabitant- as are unable to travel, with their effects, and give certifi- cates to such teamsters, expressing that they arc thr poor of the town of Charleston n, and the sum tiny arc to re< live tor Buch service J and upon said teamsters producing -aid certificate to the committee of supplies, endorsed with the test of thr selectmen of the town where such poor and their effects arc lodged, that said teamster ha- done the service agreed for, per said certificate, the committee of supplies are hereby directed to draw, on the receiver general of said colony, for the payment of said teamster; and the said receiver general is hereby ordered to pay the same. Count)/ of Worcester. Lancaster, 30; Mendon, -51) : Brookfield, •20; Oxford, 15; Charlton, 10; Sutton, 30; Leicester, 12; Spencer, 10; Paxton, 7; Rutland, 15; Oakham, (i; Hutchinson, 20 j V Braintree, 15 ; Southborough, 6; Westborough, 20; Northborough, 10; Shrewsbury, 10; Fitchburg, 10: Uxbridge, 10. The committee appointed to consider whal methods would be proper to try and punish crimes which may he committed b) the soldiers sta- tioned on the sea coasts, reported. The report was recommitted, and Major Haw-ley and Mr. Greenleaf added to the committee. Two letters from Rev. John Murray were read, and committed to Col. Grout, Major Fuller, of Newton, and Major Goodwin. An account of Jabez Matthews [for a journey to Quebec] was read, and committed to Major fuller. Col. Mitchell, and Mr. Engalls. Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Dickenson, and Mr. Nye, committee to consider a resolve of the committi fciy, respecting whaleboats. A resolve of the committee of safety, proposing that electrical points should be erected over the powder magazines, was read, and commit- ted to the committee w ho were appointed to l.uild a More tor depositing gunpowder therein, ami seeing that it is well guarded. A petition from eighteen Stockbridge Indians was read, ami com- mitted to Mr. Kollock, Mr. Crane, and Major White. The committee appointed to examine Thorn - V it, reported. The report was accepted, and i- as follows: The committee appointed to examine Thomas Neat, have attended that service, ami are humbly of opinion, that he ought to he discharged, ami set at liberty, ami do 4&J THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 1, recommend him for a pass, to be signed by the secretary, to go to New York, there to apply for a further pass, as he proposes to go to Vir- ginia. Submitted. EZRA RICHMOND, pr. order. Resolved, That the following persons be appointed deputy commis- saries in the Massachusetts army, being one to each regiment: Mr. Samuel Norton, recommended by Col. Lincoln. Capt. Ebenezer Craft, of Sturbridge, recommended by Col. Learned, Rev. Mr. Paine, &c. Mr. Jedediah Easterbrooks, Lunenburg, recommended by Mr. Gill and Dr. Taylor. Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, Boston, recommended by "[Col. Pigeon.] Mr. Samuel Russell Gerry, Marblehead, recommended by do. Mr. Ebenezer Warren, Boston, recommended by the hon. committee of supplies. Mr. John Fenno, Boston, recommended by Secretary Ward. Mr. Alexander Sheppard, Newton, recommended by a [Col. Pigeon.] Mr. Ephraim Russell, Stow, recommended by Col. Doolittle, and the paymaster general. Mr. Daniel Bell, Boston, recommended by Mr. Pitt. Mr. William Mollineaux, Boston, recommended by do. Mr. Daniel Henshaw, Jr., " " by Doct. Church. Mr. John Checkley, " " by do. and others. Mr. Jabez Brown, Stow, recommended by the paymaster general. Mr. Joseph Clark, Boston, recommended by Gen. Warren, Doct. Church, &,c. Mr. Gillam Taylor, Boston, recommended by Gen. Warren and others. Mr. Andrew Newell, Charlestown, recommended by Mr. Cheever. Capt. James Littlefield, Wells, recommended by Col. Scammon and others. Mr. Waterman Thomas, Marshfield, recommended by Gen. Thomas. Mr. Peter Clark, Newfoundland, recommended by Col. Palmer & Son. Mr. Timothy Newell, Sturbridge, recommended by Capt. Timothy Parker. Mr. John Story, Ipswich, recommended by Col. Farley. Mr. Eliakim Atherton, Bolton, recommended by Col. Whitecomb. Mr. Abraham Tuckerman, Boston, recommended by Col. Palmer and Col. Brewer. Mr. William Holmes, Boston, recommended by his father. Mr. Eaoch Woodbridge, Stockbridge, recommended by Col. Porter fur Col, Paterson's regiment. ;i fin) -- If,] 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS \.\.\ Resolved, That the commissary general be directed to see that a sufficient number of deputy commissaries be placed at or Dear Prospect Hill, for the more convenient supply of the forces Btationed there. The president, by leave of Congress, brought in a resolve, directing General Ward to order two companies to Plymouth, which was ac- cepted, and is as follow-, viz : Whereas, the town of Plymouth appears to I"- in danger of being attacked by the enemy: therefore, Resolved, that General Ward be and hereby is directed, immediatelj to issue bis orders, that two full com- panies, from Col. Cotton's regiment, under proper officers, march, without delay, to Plymouth, and there remain for the guard and de- fence of the inhabitants, till tiny can he relieved by such companies a- are to be raised for th" defence and protection of the sea coasts, and i'> In- Btationed there for that purpose. Ordered, That Col. Palmer bring in a resolve, directing that the rules and regulations of the army he frequently read to the soldiers. The committee appointed to consider some method of trying crimi- nal- on the sea coast, reported again. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That all offences committed by any of the force- raised for the defence of the sea coast, -hall he tried by a court martial, con- sisting of the field officers of the regiment of militia within which, that company to which the offender belongs i- stationed, together with the commissioned oilier- of that company, according t" the rule- and regulations for the M issachusetts army, agreed upon by a formei < !on- gress, excepting those offences and causes wlm-h are punishable with death, which are to be tried, agreeably to the laws of the land, bj the civil authority. Al-o Resolved, That in case any of the soldiers shall lose, destroy, or unnecessarily tire away any of hi- powder, ammunition, or cartridges, without giving reasonable satisfaction to Ins commanding < >lliitr there- for the captain -hall deduct four [times] the \alue thereof out of hi- wages, to he applied a- i- directed in the tir.-t article of the rule- and regulations abo\ ^mentioned. Uso [Resolved,] That each ol the officers of which these court- martial shall consist, shall be supplied with a pamphlet, containing said rule- and regulations, with these resolves annexed thereto, which shall be read, once a week, by the captain or commanding officer of each comp tnj to their respective companii B order of Congrt . P ■" , Attest, , Secretary. iubli i • 434 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 1, Ordered, That the committee who brought in the foregoing resolves get a number of them printed ; and that they also procure as many pamphlets, containing rules and regulations of the army, as they think proper. A petition from James Fry, requesting that his son might be ap- pointed a deputy commissary, was read : whereupon, Ordered, that the petitioner have leave to withdraw his petition. Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Fox, be a committee to consider a petition and account of Mr. Josiah Stearns. 1 A petition from the committee of correspondence for the town of Sandwich was read, and committed to Col. Richmond, Col. Grout, and Col. Mitchell. 2 A number more of letters from London were laid upon the table, and committed to the secretary, Mr Langdon, and Col. Richmond. The committee to whom were committed a number of letters, re- ported, that, in a letter directed to John Rowe, Esq., was enclosed a number of blank bills of exchange, designed for the use of the army at Boston : whereupon, Ordered, that said committee draw up a true state of this matter, and keep the blank bills as vouchers thereof. Col. Palmer, agreeably to order, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, viz. : Whereas certain rules and regulations for (1) Josiah Stearns prayed for compensation for services in bringing letters written in London, from the island of Nantucket, where they had been received on the arrival of a vessel commanded by Capt. Seth Jenkins. (2) The committee of Sandwich requested the advice of Congress in relation to vessels owned by Simeon Wing and Jesse Barlow, captured by the British cruiser Falcon, Capt. Linsey, and retaken by a schooner from Dartmouth, commanded by Capt. Egery. They state these facts: " Mr. Wing's vessel, commanded by his son Thomas, hath been plying, as a wood boat, between Sandwich and Nantucket for some years, and it hath been the usual practice to settle with the custom house once a year, the officer always giving them their choice of paying twelve pence per trip, or the whole at the year's end: and this hath been, we rind, on examining, the common prac- tise with other vessels which have followed the same business at the same place. Upon Captain Wing's returning from Nantucket through the Vineyard Sound, his sloop was taken by a barge from Capt. Limey's brig. An Indian fellow, on board of Wing's vessel, informed Capt. Linsey of said Barlow's vessel, which had brought a cargo lately from the West Indies, and was laden with pro- visions, in Buzzard's Bay. Captain Linsey employed Captain Wing's vessel, putting fourteen men on board, to proceed up the bay and take said Barlow's vessel, which they carried off. The master of the latter vessel was taken with Wing, being then on board as a passenger, so that both vessels, with all the crews and passengers, were taken, and proceeded to the cove to Captain Linsey. Mr. Barlow made application to some people at Dartmouth, who went with a sloop, one half of which Barlow ventured, and retook tin- vessels and men, with their arms, and carried them into Dart- mouth. Messrs. Wing and Barlow applied to the Dartmouth people, who took the vessels, for them again : the people offered them their vessels, upon Wing's paying them eight dollars, and BarloVv ten dollars, with which they complied, and Wing paid tlie money ; after which, the Dart- mouth people drt lined the vessel* until the orders of Congress could lie known, and refuse to give them up, without Barlow and Wing (laying forty-five dollars, and giving bonds to indemnify the Dartmouth people." 1775.] THIRD PROVINC1 \l. CONGRES ilic Massachusetts army, were resolved and d upon bj a fonnei Congress of this colony, but no provision was therein made for the regular reading the same t" the several corps in said arm) : therefore, "Resolved, that - ml rules and regulations be read, at l< ;i-t, on< mouth, at the head of each regiment, nr other corps in Baid army, and that the genera] he directed to order bis officers to Bee that this resolve be dul) observed. The committee appointed to prepare a letter to the governor and company of Connecticut, reported The report was accepted, and is as follous, \ i/. : May it pleast your honors: The distressed situation of tin- eastern parts of this province, calling foi the serious attention of the humane, this Congress beg leave to address you in their behalf. By reason of a number of our friends removing from the sea ports into the interior towns, and a large army before Boston, to support the rights of the colonies, this colony is un- able to spare the necessary supplies of grain and provisions to our friends in the province of Maine: by which means, and an embargo laid upon grain and provisions in your colony, they are reduced to the alternative of starving, or supplying the ministerial troops with lumber, either of which they deprecate. We would therefore suggest to your honors the expediencj of taking oil" the embargo, bo Far as to permit the inhabitants of the eastern parts of this province to purchase grain ami provisions for themselves, they producing a certificate from any of the committee- mentioned in the enclosed list, and giving bonds to your officers, that they will deliver il to such committee. We are, with the greatest sincerity, Your honor-' most obedienl humble servants To the honorable the Governor and Company of tin ki/oii)/ iif Cuiiin i ti'iit . [List enclosed in the foregoing hit. r | Wachias; .lames Lyon, George Stillman, Jeremiah O'Brian, Ben- jamin Poster, Samuel Scott, Manwaring Beal, Nathaniel Sinclair Number four; .lolm Stevens, Phineas Whitten : Goldsborougk ; Ben- jamin Glasher, William Shaw : Narraguagus; Joseph Wall is, ilex- ander Campbell : St. Georges; [blank]: Penobscot; [blank B / contribute all the aid in our power, to the cause of Amer- ica, and your happiness and ease in the discharge of the duties of your exalted office. We most fervently implore Almighty God, that the blessings of Divine Providence ma) resl on you; that your head maj be covered in the day of battle; that everj necessarj assistance may be afforded, and that you maj be long continued, in life and health, a blessing to mankind. [The following answer was returned bj General Washington:] Gentlemen — Your kind congratulations on my appointment and ar- rival, demand my warmest acknowledgments, and will ever be retain- ed in grateful remembrance. In exchanging the enjoyments of domestic life for the duties of my present honorable, but arduous station, I only emulate the virtue, and public spirit of the whole province of the Massachusetts Bay, which, with a firmness and patriotism without example in modern history, has sacrificed all the comforts of social and political life in support of the rights of mankind, and the welfare of our common country. Mj high- est ambition is, to be the happy instrument of vindicating those rights and to see this devoted province again restored to peace, libertj and safety. The Bhorl space of time which has elapsed Bince mj arrival, does not permit me to decide upon the state of the army. The course >>\ hu- man affairs forbids an expectation, that troop- formed under such cir- cumstances, should, at oner, possess the order, regularity, and disci- pline of veterans. Whatever deficiencies there may be, will, I doubt not, soon be made up by the activity and zeal of the officers, and the docility and obedience of the men. These qualities, united with their native bravery and .-pirit, will afford a happy presage of success, and put a final period to those distresses which now overwhelm this once happ\ country. 1 most sincerely thank yon, gentlemen, for your declaration of read- iness, at all times, to assisl me in the discharge of the dutiesofmj sta- tion. They are so complicated and extended, that I Bhall need thi Bistance of ever) -s 1 man and lover of his country ; I therefore repose the utmost confidence in your aids, [n return for your affectionate wish- es to myself, permit me to Bay, that I earnestly implore that divine be- ing, in whose hand- are all human events, to make you ami yOUI COU 440 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 1, stituents, as distinguished in private and public happiness, as you have been by ministerial oppression, by private and public distress. GEORGE WASHINGTON. To the Honorable Charles Lee, Esq., major general of the continen- tal army : Sir : — The Congress of the Massachusetts colony, possessed of the fullest evidence of your attachment to the rights of mankind and regard to the distresses, which America in general, and this colony in particular, are involved in, by the impolitic, wicked, and tyrannical system adopted by administration, and pursued with relentless and savage fury, do, with pleasure, embrace this opportunity to express the great satisfaction and gratitude they feel on your appointment as a major general in the American army. We sincerely congratulate you on your safe arrival here, and wish you all possible happiness and success in the execution of so important a trust. We admire and respect the character of a man, who, disregarding the allurements of profit and distinction his merit might procure, en- gages in the cause of mankind, in defence of the injured, and relief of the oppressed. From your character, from your great abilities, and military experience, united with those of the commander in chief, un- der the smiles of providence, we flatter ourselves with the prospect of discipline and order, success and victory Be assured, sir, that it will give us great pleasure to be able to con- tribute to your happiness. May the favors and blessings of Heaven at- tend you. May Divine Providence guard and protect you, conduct you in the paths of honor and virtue, grant you the reward of the brave and virtuous here, the applause of mankind, and the approbation of your own conscience and eternal happiness hereafter. [The following answer was returned by General Lee :] To tin Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts: Gentlemen : — Nothing can be so flattering to me, as the good opin- ion and approbation of tin- delegates of a free and uncorruptcd people. I was educated in the highest reverence for the rights of mankind, and have acquired, by a long acquaintance, a most particular regard for the people of America. You may depend, therefore, gentlemen, on my zeal and integrity; 1 can promise you nothing from my abilities. God Almighty grant us success equal to the righteousness of the cause. I 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. Ill thank you, gentlemen, for an address which does me bo much honor, ami shall labor to deserve it. Ordi rt d, that the Bum of fifty pounds be paid to .Mr. Paul Ri r< re, in full, tor engraving four plates, and printing 14,500 impressions, and that Mr. Langdon 1 • r i n ^r in a resolve for that purpo Ordered, Thai Mr. Phillips, Col. Grout, and Mr. Crane, be a com- mittee to devise means for supporting the poor of the town- ol Boston and Charlestown to the plates of their destination. Ordered, That the committee for procuring and furnishing a house foi 1 1 '.'. • hington and Lee, be directed to purchase what things ,■ \ , thai thej cannot hire. Ordered, Thai Mr. Goodwin and Col. Richmond be added to the committee last mentioned. Ordered, That the lasl mentioned committee be directed to procure (reshmenl for the Generals, Washington and Lee. Mr. Langdon, agreeably to order, brought in the following resolve, which was accepted, \ i/.. : Resolved, Thai there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Mr. Paul ltevcrc, or order, the sum of fifty pounds, in full, foi procuring and engraving lour [date-, and printing 14,500 impressions ofcolonv notes; and the receiver general is hereby directed to pa) the same sum accordingly. The committee appointed to consider of means for securing sundrj whale boats, procured for the use of tins colony, and now lying at Weymouth and Braintree, be$ leave to report : That ('apt. Edmund Soper, oi Braintree, be empowered to take charge of the same, and with the assistance of ('apt. Seth Turner's and Capt. Vinton's compa- nies, now posted in Braintree, to convej and secure them in some sale and COnvenienl place, where they will not he expo-ed, either to the enemy, or the weather, and there to remain till the further order of this or some future Oongri --. or House of Representatn Adjourned till eight o'clock, tomorrow morning. S \i;i; \ i II i) w , Ji i \ J. \'. . Ordered, 'I' hat Mr. Bliss ami .Mr. Cutt, be of the committee foi de- vising means lor the support of the poor of the town- of Boston ami Charlestown, to tin- places of their destination, in the room ol Mi Phillips and Mr. ( '1 am-. 'I'h. i. poii of the committee foi ecuring the lamp- ol the li iiou-. , was read, accept! d, ami i a- follow 3, vb 56 442 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 2, The committee appointed to consider the expediency of removing and securing the lamps, with the oil, &c, from the several light houses within this colony, have attended that service, and beg leave to report as follows, viz. : That it be recommended to the committee of correspondence, or se- lectmen of the town of Chelsea, to remove and secure, if practicable, the lamps and oil from the light house at the entrance of Boston har- bor, with all the appurtenances thereto belonging ; also, that it be recommended to the committee of safety of the town of Gloucester, that the same measures be taken with respect to the light houses on Thatcher's Island, so called, and that the keeper of said lights, with the several boats, cattle, 6lc, be also removed from thence. Furthermore, that it be recommended to the committee of corres- pondence for the town of Plymouth, to remove and secure the lamps, oil, &lc, from the light house at the Gurnet, so called, with all the ap- purtenances thereto belonging ; and, that the keepers of the several light houses as above specified, be discharged from the service of this colony, till the further order of this or some future Congress, or House of Representatives. Ordered, That three copies of the last mentioned report be sent to the places in said report mentioned, and that the committee, who drew the report, forward the copies. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Pickering, and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee to write to Mr. Russell, desiring him to pay the money due from him to the treasury, immediately. The petition of Joseph Barrell for himself and others, [was] read, and ordered to lie upon file. 1 (1) This petition bears date June 30, 1775, and is as follows : " The petition of Joseph l!;irrell, late of Boston, humbly sheweth, that in the fire in Boston, which began in the soldiers' barracks, on the evening of the 17th of May last, his store, together with bis effects to a very considerable amount, were consumed. Vour petitioner humbly appre- hends, that this loss is entirely occasioned by the cruel oppression of the British administration; as, nt the general desire of the friends of tin' country, he removed with his family from Boston, that scene of distress, and, by the chicanery of General Gage, was prevented from carrying bis effects with him ; as be, with his distressed townsmen, were shamefully deceived by the fairest promises of a speedy removal, with their effects, without molestation, until the end of the capitulation on the side of the general was fully answered, and then they were insulted, by the most cruel perversion of that comprehensive, plain English word effects, confining it to a few trifles, which, when they were suffered to depart, was clogged with such restrictions as will forever disgrace him. But, not- withstanding all this, Btill your petitioner had been safe, in all probability, had not the General, by an order, :i* i xtraordinary as it was new, secured from the inhabitants the fire engines, and given the use of i in' m to his troops ; whereby, as roar petitioner is informed, it was a very considerable time bi lor. tb. y were in use at all, and then were conducted with such consummate ignorance as to be of no seriiee; in which tune, the Humes raged to that degree, that no human help could prevent them ; ami \c.nr petitioner is further informed, thai -nun of his effects, saied from the fire by his friends, were aftorworda wantonlj destroyed by tin aavagi order of tin' officer of the armj 1775.] THIRD PROVING l \l < ONGR1 5* 143 The letter of Mr Mexander Sheppard, Jun to the committee ol safet] | u .(- 1 read. 1 The report of the committee tor devising means for the Bupporl of the | r of Boston and Charlestown, to the pi ices of their destination, was read, and accepted, and i- as follows Whereas, il is necessary, thai further provision be made for the Buf- fering poor of the towns of Boston and Charlestown, therefore, />'< 50/0- "/. thai Buch person or persons as Bhall produce a certificate from anj • >r either of the selectmen or overseers of the poor of the Baid town-. thai thej are of the poor of the town to which the Baid selectmen or overseers do, or * 1 i < 1 in March last, belong, thai then th<- commissaries, in the towns of Watertown and Roxbury, .• i r < ■ herebj directed to deliv- er, out of the | » r< » \ 1 1 1 <- . • stores, to them, a sufficiency of provisions to car- r\ tin in to the place of their destination, the commissar] i" take a re-_ ceipl from BUCb selectmen or over-i rr- therefor. \nil i! i- recommended in the inhabitants of this province, to treal -mil poor with humanity, by affording them shelter in their houses from the weather, and, if desired, to exchange such provisions with tlirin a- Baid poor may have occasion tor mi their way. Unl< nd. That the foregoing resolve be published in the Water- town, Cambridge, ami Worcester newspapers. Adjourned to four o'clock, P. M \t lour o'clock, P. M . the Congress met, and adjourned to Mondaj morning, eight o'clock. Monday, .1i i \ :'», I ' '■'> Ordered, Thai the committee of safety, who were appointed a com mittee to take into consideration the expediency of a new- emission of notes or bills of credit, be directed to sit, and report as soon as possi- ble. /«'- soht '/. That the resoh e of the first instant, ordering the rules and regulations of the army to be read monthly, be reconsidered. Resolved, Thai the receiver general be directed to paj to Mr Josiah Wherefore, yoor petitioner humbly hopet, that hi ogethor with e I I ■ i -« follow inf . b] the honorable Congrats, be represented to the grand Continental CongrcM, thnl theyi in il.. ir great wisdom, may take inch me i • them ihnJl m lit, '•> alloviate Ibeii iufl< i ills'! , nrnl that what it thus t foil to very heavily on any indi i. " ■ \ i • ' 1 1 1 \ . \ - . ■ 444 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 3, Stevens, the sum of two pounds, in colony notes or bills of credit, pay- able to said receiver, for his services in bringing a number of letters to this Conoress, taken out of a vessel from London. Afternoon. A vote of the Congress of New Hampshire [was] read, and Messrs. Child and Ashley, the bearers thereof, [were] admitted on the floor. 1 They produced a letter from Messrs. Bucknam and Wales, to Col. Bay- ley, of New Hampshire, and his answer. Ordered, That Messrs. Dexter, Col. Lincoln, Doct. Church, Mr. Pitts, and Capt. Bragdon, be a committee to confer with Messrs. Child and Ashley, from the province of New Hampshire. Ordered, That the addition of the words " overseers of the poor," be added to the resolve of yesterday, respecting the poor of the towns of Boston and Charlestown. Ordered, That Mr. Cutt, Col. Farley, and Col. Dwight, be a com- mittee to take into consideration the petition of Thomas Morton, [for leave to export fish.] Ordered, That a letter for Thomas Irving, Esq., be opened, and or- dered to be committed to the committee who were to take under con- sideration, what should be done with the letters from London. The petition of the selectmen of Abington, [relating to donations for the poor of Boston,] was read, and committed to Col. Mitchell, Mr. Lothrop, and Mr. Ellis. Major Goodwin, who was appointed to bring in a resolve for direct- ing the committee of supplies to furnish the non-commissioned officers, who lost their clothes and blankets, in the late engagement, with clothes and blankets, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows : Whereas, in consequence of a letter from General Ward, provision was made, by a resolve of this Congress, for private soldiers who had lost their clothes and blankets in a late engagement, but no provision was made for non-commissioned officers in similar circumstances, therefore, Resolved, that the committee of supplies be, and they hereby are directed, to furnish said non-commissioned officers with clothes and blankets, in such manner and form as they were directed by said resolve to supply said privates. Adjourned to Tuesday morning, eight o'clock. (1) The communication from New Hampshire related to (ho establishment of friend]; inter course and union with the people of Canada. 1775] THIRD PROVING] \l. CONGRESS 145 Ti i BD v n . .Ii i \ I, I Ordered, That the honorable the president, Bon. Major Bawley, and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee to prepare a letter to Governor Trumbull, desiring Imu t'> forward to this colony, aa Boon as may be, whatever Bow may arm.- at Connecticut for the use of the army. A letter from Col. Gridlej was read, [relating t«i the commission officers,] and ordered to lie on the labia Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Air. Partridge, and Mr. Goodwin, be a committee to prepare a letter to lin the committee for the Abington petition, in the room of I ktci. Jones. Ordered, Thai the President, .Mr. Langdon, and Major Bliss, I"- a committee to take into consideration the conduct of the people of Nan- tucket, and report what is expedient to be done with respect to them. Ordered, That Mr. Wheelock, with letters from the Congress of New Hampshire, be admitted upon the Boor. Ordered, [That] Doct. Church, Mr. Hopkins, and Major l!li--. be a committee to introduce Mr. Wheelock, and also t" deliver a cop] <>i the letter from New Hampshire to his excel! enc] General Washington, and also (" draw an answer to the letter from New Hampshire. The report of the committee upon the account of Mr. White was ■ pted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider accounts, transmitted to this Congress bj the committee of safety, beg leave to report, by nay of resolve, that William White be paid the sum of six pounds, lawful money, for -mice done by said William White, by order of the com- mittee of safety, and that the receiver general be directed t'> pay said Bum to the said William White. The committee appointed to write to (Jmrrnor Trumbull, reported. The report was read, accepted, and is as follows, viz. ; May it pleas( your honor: four favor of the 27th June, we received, and heartily thank you for the information therein given us. The arrival of the dour from New York to .Norwich, gives us great pleasure, as we stand in need of large supplies of that comi lity. We request your honor to give or- der- that the same mav be forwarded, a> soon as possible, to our com- mittee of supplies at Watertown; and any further quantities that ma] arrive hereafter, we desire ma] be sent, immediately upon its arrival, to the same committee: almosl all the grain in this colon] being already brought in, and our stock not equal to the demand- for bread. We have the pleasure to be able to acquainl your honor, that Gen- erals Washington ami Lee, with Mr. Mifflin, aid-de-camp to General Washington, arrived at Cambridge, last Sabbath, in g 1 health, a lit- tle after 12 o'clock, at noon, and have great reason to expect, from their known characters, and then- activity, and vigilance, alread] dis- ered, that then presence in the arm] will be attended with most happ) consequ < >m camp at Cambridge and Roxbur] ar< 448 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 4, daily putting on a more defensible appearance ; the health in our army is as general as we could expect. Several privates in the Cambridge camp were last week taken down with the small pox, but we have great reason to hope, that the precautions taken on this occurrence, will, by the divine blessing, prevent the spreading of that distemper in the camp. We are, with the greatest respect, your honor's Most obedient humble servants. Ordered, That Col. Grout, Mr. Langdon, and Doct. Taylor, be a committee to take into consideration the letter from Mr. Sheppard, relative to the eastern plans of the sea coasts. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for appointing Mr. Craigie, medical commissary, reported. [The report] was read, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That Mr. Andrew Craigie be, and he is hereby appointed a medical commissary and apothecary for the Massachusetts army, and that said Craigie be allowed five pounds per month, for his services as abovesaid. Ordered, That the committee for making out commissions make out a warrant for Mr. Craigie, medical commissary. The committee appointed to take into consideration the loss of In- dian Nimham, reported. The report was read, accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider the losses of Abraham Nim- ham, in his journey to Cagnawauga, in carrying a message to the Indians, beg leave to report by way of resolve : That the said Abra- ham Nimham be paid the sum of thirty-six shillings, lawful money, and that the receiver general be directed to pay the said sum to Jahleel Woodbridge, Esq., and he to account with the said Abraham Nimham. Resolved, That this Congress will attend to matters of the greatest importance, that they may finish the business and dissolve, sometime before the sitting of the General Court. Ordered, That the matter contained in a resolve of the committee of safety, relating to the effects of refugees, being before provided for by this Congress, subside. Adjourned to Wednesday morning, 8 o'clock. Wednesday, July 5, 1775. A letter from William Tollman, of Dartmouth, was read, and com- mitted to the committee appointed to con.sider at large of the donation^ for the poor of IJo.ston. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 149 The report of the committee on the petition of Thomas Morton was rr;nl, and accepted, and is as follows, \i/..: The committee appointed insider the memorial of Thomas Morton, ve to report l»v u aj of i esoh e : Resolved, Thai tin- [>r;i\ »r of the memorial be granted, and that William I'd well, Esq., late of Boston, have leave to exporl one thousand quintals of Jamaica <>1<1 codfish, to the Wesl Indies, and that the com- mittee of correspondence in Newburyporl Bee thai the said William Powell, Esq strictly c plies with the resolutions of the continental and ]>r<>\ incial ( longresa Ordered, That Mr. Greenleaf, Col. Richmond, Doct Taylor, Mr. Glover, and Capt Holmes, be a committee t" wait upon General Wash- ington, to inform him that tin- Congress have il in contemplation to rise tin- week, and to know if he has any matter t<» lay before the ( longresa. A J i — t of surgeons who have been examined and approved of, by a committee of this Congress, was laid before the Congress, and read, and i- as follow g Doct David Jones, surgeon; Samuel Blanchard, mate, in Col. Ger- rish's regiment; Aaron Putnam, mate, in Col. Frj s regiment; Joseph Hunt, mate to Doct. Joseph Foster, in Cambridge hospital; Jacob Bacon, mate in Col. Scammon's regiment; Harris Clarj Frid Edward Durant, Burgeon, Col. Mansfield's regiment; Josiah Harvey, mate, Col. Fellow's regiment ; Abraham \\ atson, Jr., Burgeon, William \inal. n i .- 1 1 « ■ , Col. Gardner's regiment; Doct. John Geoi . General Heath's regiment; Doct. Isaac Spafford, mrgeon, Col. s i\on - [regiment] Doct. John Crooker, Burgeon in Col. Scammon's regiment; Doct. Walter Hastings, surgeon in Col. Bridges' [regi- ment] ; Doct. Timothy Child, surgeon, in Col. Patterson's [ regimenl ] ; Doct. Levi Willard, Burgeon, in Col. Reed's [regiment] ; Doct. Daniel Parker, Burgeon, in Col. Walker's [regiment]; and Don. Thomas Kittrid ■• . surgeon, in Col. Fr\ 's regiment. Thereupon, Ordered, Thai warrants !>»• made ou1 for them agreea- blj thereto. I,', wived, 'Thai the order of Congress r< lative to the date of the war- rants for the staff officers, be bo far reconsidered, as thai the wan for the surg< s be dated the 28th June, ultimo. Ordered, Thai the committee who wire appointed to deliver oul commissions to the officers of the army, be a committee to prep and laj before this Conj r< i li~i ol such a-> have been commission ed 450 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 5, A form of a warrant for a medical commissary, was read and accept- ed, and is as follows, viz. : The Congress of the Colony of the 31assachusctts Bay, to Greeting. We, being informed of your skill in medicine, and reposing especial trust and confidence in your ability and good conduct, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you the said , to be medical commissary and apothecary to the army raised by this Con- gress, for the defence of this colony. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a medical commissary and apothe- cary in all things appertaining thereto, observing such orders and in- structions as you shall, from time to time, receive from any your su- perior officers, according to the rules and discipline established by said Congress, for which this shall be your sufficient warrant. By order of Congress, , President. Ordered, That Col Smith, Mr. Plympton, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Bigelow, Deacon Stone, Capt. Brown, Major Fuller, and Capt. Stone, be a com- mittee to procure two hundred axes with helves, immediately, for the use of the army, and when procured, to forward them immediately to General Washington, or his order, and lay before the Congress a list of the persons of whom they shall be procured, with the price agreed on, and that the committee assure the persons of whom they may pro- cure said axes, that they shall be paid for, as soon as the Congress can make provision therefor. The committee appointed to consider in what manner the late in- habitants of the town of Boston, should choose representatives, report- ed. The report was accepted, and is as follows, and was ordered to be sent immediately to Mr. William Cooper; viz. : As it appears to this Congress, fit and reasonable, that the good peo- ple of the town of Boston, though at present in a dispersed state, should have a just and equal representation in the great and general assembly of this colony ; and as the choice of representatives for that purpose, in legal town meeting, convened, in the common and ordinary way, is, af present, utterlj impracticable, therefore, Resolved, that Mr. William Cooper, town clerk of Boston, be, and he hereby is empowered and di- rected, by notifications, under his hand, in the several newspapers, im- mediately to notify and give warning to the freeholders and others who 1775.] PHIRD N!<>\ |\( i \|. CONGR I I .1 were inhabitants of the aaid town of Boston, and were qualified ac« cording to law, to vote for representative! in May, l" I. nnd are now dispersed, to assemble and meel at the me< ting-house in Concord, on Tuesday, the 18th daj of July, instant, at three o'clock, in the after- noon, then and there, to eleel and depute "in- or more freeholders in said town, according to the numbers limited by a law of this colony, to serve for, and represent them in a great and general court or assembly, to be convened, held, and kept, for the service of said colony, until the daj next preceding the last YVednesdaj of Maj next, if necessary, and no longer, at the meeting-house in Watertown, upon Wednesday the 19th instant, l>\ nine o'clock, in the forenoon, and so, from daj to daj . during their session <>r sessions. Bereof be is desired not to fail, and make return of this resolve, with the name or nam.- ol the person and person- elected or deputed by a major part of the electoi - present, unto the great and general assembly, al the time and place above mentioned lor K- meeting. The committee appointed the 2d instant, to prepare a letter to the Hon. James Russell, Esq., reported. The draft prepared, was accept- ed, ori le red to l.c signed by the president, and forwarded, and is as fol- lOW 3, \ I/. Sir : — The presenl necessity for cash is such, tint it 1- n< c< ssary tor this Congress to direct you to p:u m Lo Elenrj Gardner, Esq., receive 1 genera] of this colony, all the public monej 111 your hand- 01 care, be- longing to -aid colony, without further delay. By order of CongTt , President Tn tin Hon. James Russell, Esq., oj Dunstable. Ordered, That Capt. Holmes, ('apt. Carpenter, Mr. Glover, Mi Jewett, and .Mr. Parker, be a committee to consider some method to present conveying intelligence to our enemies, and also to put a stop to supplj m_ r them wit li provisions. The committee appointed to consider the request of General \\ ash- ington, relative to making a draw bridge of the bridge at Cambridge, reported. The report was accepted, and 1- as follows, \i/.. : The committee appointed to wan on his excellency General Wash- ton, relative to making the bridge over Charles river, in Cambridge, a draw bridge, have attended thai service, ami beg leave to report, that In- excellency suggested, thai he apprehend- i< 1.. be of great impor- tance, that this business be immediatelj entered upon also, he men- 452 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [ July 5, tioned, that he did not intend the passing and repassing should be im- peded. His excellency recommends to the Congress the doing it, as they are the best judges of proper persons to be employed. His excel- lency hinted, that it would be agreeable to him, to be consulted as to the manner of its being done. Per order, Dummer Jewett. [The same committee, being directed to bring in a resolve relative to said bridge, reported the following, which was accepted, viz. :] Whereas, his excellency General Washington, has signified to this Congress his desire, that the bridge over Charles river, in Cambridge, should be made a draw bridge, and that the Congress would see to the doing of it, immediately, therefore, Resolved, that Capt. Thatcher, Mr. Whittemore, Mr. Temple, Mr. Cross, and Capt. Parker, be a commit- tee to procure materials, and employ a suitable number of artificers, for accomplishing the aforementioned business, agreeably to the direc- tion of his excellency General Washington ; the same to be done at the immediate expense of this colony; and, that the committee render to this Congress or some future House of Representatives, their account of said expense. Resolved, That three o'clock, in the afternoon, be assigned for the choice of some person to serve on the committee of supplies, in the room of Mr. Partridge, who, at his request, has been excused, and that in such choice, the members of the Congress may have liberty to vote for any person who may not belong to the Congress. The committee appointed to consider of the donations for the poor of Boston, reported. The report was recommitted. A petition of Jonathan Brewer, [relating to recruits for his regi- ment,] was read, and committed to Deacon Stickney, Doct. Taylor, and Col. Spaulding. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Lothrop, and Mr. Jewett, be a committee to distribute the pamphlets which contain depositions rela- tive to the battle of Lexington. Ordered, That Col. Glover be of the committee for stationing the soldiers in the county of Essex, in the room of Mr. Gerry, excused. The committee appointed to examine the accounts of the committee appointed to procure fire-arms, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, \ iz. : Where;!-. Messrs. John Bliss, William Page, Abiel Sadler, and Lemuel Kollock, were appointed by this Congress to collect a number of fire-arms, for the use of the colony, and have delivered said arms to the committee of safety, at Cambridge, as appears by receipts from said committee, and have exhibited their accounts for said service, 1775.] THIRD PRO\ l\< I \l. CONGB ESS i •. I which accounts appear to be reasonable: therefore, Resolved, that there !><■ paid by the receiver general, to the persons aforesaid, the following sums, viz. : t" John Bliss, the sum of ' •"> II- . to Wil- liam P '•'■ I" to M'i'l Sadler. €5 10s.: to Lemuel Kollock, i':{ I0s.8d.\ being I -I 18 Sd., in full of the aforesaid account. Ordered, That the li-t of persons of whom the arms were procured, be lodged « itli the rec< iver general. Ordered, That .Mr. Partridge, Col. Bowers, and Mr. Jewett, be a committee to consider ;i letter from General Ward. 1 The committee appointed to consider the petition of the eighteen Stockbridge Indian-, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, it appears to this Congress, b) a petition from the Stock- bridge Indian- enlisted in the American army, thai they, in 1 1 1 « - i r more serious hours, being sensible of their want of prudence in disposing of their money, arc desirous that this Congress, in their wisdom, would devise some method to prevenl their getting too much strong drink, and they also request that all their wages, that are now (\uo, or shall hereafter he dm- to them for their services, be paid to Timothy Ed- wards, and Jahleel Woodbridge, Esq., <>r to their order: therefore, Resolved, that Timothy Edwards, or Jahleel Woodbridge, Esqrs.be, and are hereby empowered, to draw the wages of the aforesaid Indians, and deal "in the same as they shall rind said Indians have need thereof, according to an) order <>r orders of this Congress, thai have been, or shall hereafter l»' made, for paying all or an) [tart of the wages due to the soldiers, and render an arconnt of their doings to this, or some future Congress, or House of Representatives, when required. And the receiver general is accordingly directed to pay the same to the said Timothj Edwards, or Jahleel Woodbridge, Esqrs., as aforesaid, and take their receipt therefor. And it is also recommended and enjoined by this Congress, thai all persons who sell spirituous liquors, be par- ticularlj careful not to lei said Indian- have too much strong drink, as that wholly unfits them for any service. The committee appointed to consider a letter of Mr. Alexander Sheppard, repented. The report was accepted, and i- a- follows, \i/. The committee appointed to take under consideration the letter from Mr Sheppard, beg leave to report, bj wa) of resolve, as follow-, viz. : /.' olved, thai n !>e, and it hereby is rec mended to Mr. Alexander Sheppard, jiin., that he retain m hi- hands all the plans he hath of the (I) The loUoi ol G .'. • la. d '" 454 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 5, province of Maine, and that he do not suffer them to go out of his possession, to any person, upon any consideration, until the further order of this, or some future Congress, or House of Representatives. Ordered, That part of the resolve, relative to the light-houses, which empowered the selectmen and committees of correspondence to remove and secure the lamps and oil from the light-house at the entrance of Boston harbor, be reconsidered, and that Mr. Crane, Capt. Holmes, and Deac. Washburn, be a committee to consider at large, on some measures for removing and securing the lamps and oil aforesaid. Ordered, That Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Lothrop, be a com- mittee to consider a letter from Mr. James Lyon, dated Machias, June 17, 1775. 1 Afternoon. The committee appointed to consider the state of the donations for the poor of Boston, reported. The report was recommitted, and Mr. Batchelder added to the committee, in the room of Capt. Stone, absent. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve, for the purpose of calling the general assembly together, at any time sooner than the 19th instant, if occasion should require, [reported.] The report was ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, this Congress, pursuant to the recommendation of the General Congress of this continent, have sent out their letters to the several towns in this colony, desiring that representatives might be elected and returned by them, to serve in a great or general court, or assembly, to be convened, held, and kept, for the service of this colony, at Watertown, on the 19th day of July current ; and whereas, such unforeseen events may take place, between this time and the said 19th day of July, as may render the convening of such general court or as- sembly, at Watertown aforesaid, at the time aforesaid, very improper and unsafe ; therefore, Resolved, that Henry Gardner, Esq., Mr. Gill, Deacon Cheever, Mr. White of Brookline, and Capt. Thatcher, be a committee, in case they, or the major part of them should judge it im- proper and unsafe, that such general assembly should be convened at the said Watertown, at the time aforesaid, to agree upon, and deter- mine, at what other place in this colony, the said general assembly should be convened ; and the said committee, or the major part of them, are hereby fully empowered to determine at what place it shall be most expedient, that the said general assembly should be convened, (1) James Lyon, chairman of the committee of safety, informs Congress, that the people of the town had determined to arm a Bloop, captured from the enemy, to defend their harbor, ami express- ing deep sense of " their own weakness," applied '■ for adi ice ami support." 1775.] THIRD PRO\ tNCl \l. CONGRESS and to give notice thereof to the several persons who have been, ox may be chosen i" serve in such assembly, in Buch ivaj and manner they Bhall 1 1 1 1 1 li < • most expeditious and effectual. Ordered, That Doct. Church, Col Bowers, and -Mr. Bayley, be a committee i" confer with General Washington, on Ihe subject of fur- nishing his table, .-nul know what he expects relative thereto, and thai thej -ii f'Tiliu ith. Ordered, That the committee appointed to procure m furni- ture for the bouse provided for General Washington, complete the business of their commission bj purchase, or by borrowing. Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler, Col. Grout, and Mr. Durfee, be a committee to considei a letter from Mr. James Winthrop. 1 A letter from Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq. of Newburyport, was read, impanying sundr) letters broughl l>\ Capt. Folger, from London, 9 a jacket enclosed i«> Major Sill, of the 63d regimenl ; also, three maps enclosed to said Major Sill, viz.: one of New England, one of Vir- ginia and Maryland, and one of New York ; whereupon, Ordered, thai the jacket be committed to the cure of the secretary, till further orders of Congress, and thai the maps be pul into the hands of the committee of supplies, and the) are directed to get them framed for the use Of the colony. The committee appointed to prepare a letter to General Washing- ton, enclosing a resolution of Congress relative to the aick ami wound- ed, reported. The report was accepted, ami is as follows, viz. [To his Excellency General Washington .*] This Congress ordered the enclosed resolution to be prepared, ami -.Hi to Generals Ward ami Thomas; hut by the agreeable event of your excellency's appointment to the chief command of the American army, ami arrival at camp, the propriety of that step ceases. We mean not to dictate to your excellency, bul presume, that to secure the health of the army, ami [to afford] relief for the sick, will naturally engage your attention. Everj thing in the power of tin- Congn do] to enable you to discharge, with ease, the duties of your exalted ami important Station, will he, b) US, attended to, with the greatest II : ! ni for ins mpport, tli.it In' had do i ninl I • manication of B I • I , If. mi till ■ roopa in Bott 456 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 5, alacrity. If the enclosed resolution has that tendency, we attain the end intended hy transmitting to you the same, and are, with respect, Your Excellency's most humble servants. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Pitts, and Mr. Lothrop, be a com- mittee to count and sort the votes for a member of the committee of supplies in the room of Mr. Partridge. The committee having attend- ed that service, reported, that Mr. Lothrop was chosen. Resolved, That the resolve, directing the committee of supplies to get the three maps framed, be reconsidered, and that the secretary be directed to take care of them, as they are for the use of the colony. The report of the committee appointed to consider how the soldiers should be provided with coats, was again read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That thirteen thousand coats be provided, as soon as may be, and one thereof given to each non-commissioned officer and soldier in the Massachusetts forces, agreeably to the resolve of Congress, on the 23d day of April last ; and in order to facilitate their being pro- cured : Resolved, That the said thirteen thousand coats be proportioned im- mediately on all the towns and districts in this colony, except the towns of Boston and Charlestown, [in proportion] as they paid to the last provincial tax; which towns and districts are desired to cause them to be made of good plain cloth, preference to be given to the manufac- tures of this country, and to be delivered to the committee of supplies, without buttons, on or before the first day of October next, and sooner if possible. That for every yard of such cloth of seven-eighths of a yard wide, they shall be allowed and paid the sum of five shillings four pence, and in that proportion for cloth of a greater or less width, and the sum of four shillings for making each and every coat ; and the se- lectmen of each town and district, respectively, are directed to lay their accounts before the committee of supplies, who are ordered to draw on the receiver general for the payment thereof. "Resolved, That each coat be faced with the same kind of cloth of which it is made; that the coats be made in the common plain way, without lappels, short, and with small folds, and that the selectmen cause a certificate to be sewed to the inside of each coat, purporting from what town it came, and by whom the coat was made, and if the cloth was manufactured in this country, by whom it was manufactur- ed. Resolved, Thai the committee of supplies be, and they arc hereby 1775.] i HIRD PRO\ INCJ U. ( ONGRESS i ,; directed, immediately, to proportion the coats <>n the several towns and districts as afores rid, inform them of their proportion, and assure them that the coats the) supply shall l>c delivered i<> th<- men of their town respectively, so far as circumstances will admit, and enclose t<> them a sample of the goodn< ss of the cloth of which the coats arc to be made, with a copy of this and the foregoing resolves, and i>» desire those towns and districts who cannot supply the whole of their proportion ol the co i as aforesaid, and aN< » tin ►->■ who ean supply more than theii proportion, t<> give them information what number they can supply, on, or before the tenth day of Augusl oext. Resolved, Thai the committee of supplies be, and they are hereby directed to provide all the coats proportioned on such towns and dis- tricts as give information to them as aforesaid, thai the) cannol -n|>|>ly them, and they are t" cause all thi coals to be buttoned with pewter buttons, and that the coats for each regiment, respectively, have Inii- tons of the same Dumber stamped on the face of them. [The committee reported the following schedule of the apportion- ment of coats, which was accepted.] 1 [Suffolk County. — Roxbury, 182; Dorchester, !»NGR I Rutland District, 16 Hubbardston, 8 ; New Braintree, 37 ; South borough, 54; Westborough, 43 ; Northborough, 30 ; Shrewsbury, ~,'j ; Lunenburgh, 57 ; Fitchburg, 13 ; Uxbrid •"»". Harvard, 56 Dudley, 37; Bolton, 55 Upton, 23; Sturbridge, 51 ; Leomint 13; Bardwick, 61; Holden, 30; Western, 38 ; Douglass, 24 ; Graf ton, 12 Petersham, 13; Royalston, 9; Westminster, 37 ; Athol, 23; Templeton, 28 ; Princeton, 24 j Ashburnham, 12 ; Winchen- don, 10. Cumberland County. — Falmouth, 146 Car* Elizabeth, 53 North Yarmouth, 54 ; Scarborough, 52 ; Brunswick, l~ \ Harpswell, 26 Gorham, 27 ; Windham, 10 ; Piersontown, 5 ; New Boston, 3; N( Glouct rter, 20. Lincoln County. — Pownalborough, 25 ; Georgetown, ;">(), Woolwich 15 Newcastle, 13; Topsham, 13; Booth-Bay, 14; Bristol, 20 Bowdoinharo, 3 ; Medumcook, 3 ; Hallowell, 4; Broad-Bay, 10; Vassalborough, 3; St. Georges, 10; Winthrop, :S : Window, ; : Gardinerston, 7. Berkshire County. — Sheffield, 61 ; Great Barrin<,'ion, :5T ; Stockbridge, 29; Pittsfield, 37; New Marlborough, 34 ; Egremont,14; Richmond, 26 : Lenox, 16; Tyringham, 14 ; Lanesborough, 37; Sandisfield, 2G; Williamstown, 23 ; Becket, 10; Gageborough, 12; Partridge- Geld, 7; East Hoosuck, 11; Jericho, 5; Plantation, No. 5, ' Plantation, No. 7, 7. Suffolk, 1M»; Essex. 2553 Middlesex, 1778; Hampshire, 1201; Plymouth, 1054; Barnstable, 193; Bristol, 953; York, 612; Dukes County, 112; Nantucket, 174; Worces- ter, 1 — It; ; Cumberland, \l'\ ; Lincoln, 196; Berkshire, 413; .... 13,000 /,'. olved, Thai Mr Dorothy Coolidgr lu- allowed and paid oul ol the public treasury of this colony, the mm "I" £'t 15s 8d, in full <>l hei account, and the receiver general <>f thia colony, is hereby ordered to paj the aforesaid sum of '. L5 3d, to the said Dorothy Coolidge oi .•rc a committee to consider the account of Mr. Ulen Gray, and report. Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Sullivan, l>r a com- mittee to consider the services of the secretary, and reporl what granl the] think is adequate thereto. Ordered, Thai the Hon. Major Hawley, Mr. Sullivan and D( Taylor, be a committee to bring in a resolve explanatorj of the sense of Congress expressed in a resolve of the : ?l-t ultimo, relative to the estates of refugi The committee appointed to consider the account of Doct Church and Mr. Gill, reported verbally, thai they had examined the account, and found it well vouched, and thought it oughl to be allowed. Thereupon, /i'r >lved, thai the receiver general be, and he hereb) is directed, to pay Doct. I5eu|iniin Church and Mr. Moses Gill, or theii order, the Bum of twenty-eighl pounds, five shillings, ten pence, lawful money, in discharge of an account l.\ them exhibited, of the i xpenst - of escorting and entertaining Generals Washington and Lee from DO O Springfield to thi camp at Cambridge. Resolved, Thai the committee appointed by a resolve of this Con- of the first instant, to agree with such teamsters as they ma) emploj to convey the poor of the town ol Charlestown to certain town- in the county of Worcestt r, !><• directed to pay them a sum not eding one -Inline milej for -\\<-h ser\ ict nine penct . i a< pnce fixi d in ■ comn 462 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 0, likewise directed and empowered to remove the inhabitants of the town of Boston in like manner. The report of the committee of safety, relative to a new emission of bills of credit, was taken into consideration, and recommitted to Mr. Spooner, Major Hawley, Doct. Taylor, Capt. Stone and Mr. Wheeler, who are directed to consider the sum of the bills already impressed and the propriety of striking off more from the same plates. Resolved, That the committee of supplies be directed to pay the selectmen of the several towns and districts in the colony, for the blankets they have respectively furnished the soldiers with, any resolve of Congress to the contrary notwithstanding. The committee appointed to consider the report of the committee [sent on an embassy] to Ticonderoga, reported. The report was re- committed, and the last mentioned committee are directed to lay be- fore the committee first mentioned, a state of their account, debt and credit. The committee appointed to prepare a vote of thanks to the com- mittee who have been on an embassy to Ticonderoga, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster and James Sullivan, Esquires, a committee of this Congress, lately ordered on a commission to the important posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, for divers purposes expressed in their instructions, have this day returned and made their report in writing, and it appearing upon full consideration thereof, that the said committee have executed the various branches of their instructions, with ability, fidelity and despatch, and that their services had been at- tended with much fatigue and danger, therefore, Resolved, that the services of said committee do merit the express approbation and thanks of Congress, and they do hereby testify and render the same to them, and each of them. Ordered, That Mr. Hcmmenway, Mr. Whittemore and Capt. Par- ker, be a committee to consider what allowance is proper to be made to Mr. Edmund Fowlc, for the use of his house by the committees of this and the former Congress. The committee appointed to consider the accounts transmitted to Congress by the committee of safety, reported on the account of Ebenezer White and others. The report was accepted, and is as fol- lows, viz. . Whereas, Messrs. Ebenezer White, Daniel Heinmcnway, Col. Simeon Spaulding and Benjamin Ely, were appointed to collect a number of fire-arms for the use of tins colony, and have delivered said 1776.] THIRD PROYINC1 \l. OONGR] arms, as appears by receipt from the committee, of safety, or clerk of the ordnance stores, and have exhibited their accounts n> Conm which accounts appear to be reasonable: Therefore, Resolved, that there be paid out of the public treasury, to the several persons em- ployed in collecting arms as aforesaid, the following Bums, and the re- ceiver general is accordingly ordered to pay the said sums, »iz. : to Ebenezer White, the sum of PI I9s.j to Daniel Hemmenway, £4 8s to Col. Simeon Spauding, ?4 7s.; to Benjamin Ely, «£13 10 lid.— •■„•! Is. 11.1. Ordered, That Capt. Holmes be added to the committee lasl men- tioned. Adjourned to ei [hi o to-morrow morning. Friday, Juli " , 1" 75. Capt. Ston Framingham, was appointed, in the room of Major Bliss, on tin- committee, which were chosen to prepare an an to the letter from the Congress of New Hampshire. Resolved, Thai Mr. Shillaber have leave to hring in a resolve, recommending to the committee of the city of Philadelphia to permit him to export from thence a quantity of flour. Ordered, That Deacon Bayley, Major Brooks, Mr. Baker, Col. Grout and Doct. Taylor, be a committee to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, recommending to tins Congress the seizing the crown ollicers. In compliance with a resolve of the committee of safety, reeom- mending that a committee he appointed to draw up, and transmit to Britain, a fair ami impartial account of the late battle at Charlestown, as soon as possible: Ordered, thai the said committee of b tf< ' | be a committee tor that pur] ad thai they likewise be a standing committee tor that and the like purposi Ordered, Thai Mr. Wheeler, Capt. Batchelder and Doct. Taylor, be a committee to consider the petition <>[' Mr. Daniel Murray, and a letter from Mr. Joseph Reed, seen tary to General Washington, on tlu' Bubjecl thereof. 1 Ordered, That Deacon Nichols, Mr. Glover and Col. Mitchell, be a committee to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, relative t' 1 the appointment of a master workman for the blacksmiths. 'I I' I \;«:r LJ D Of I >0l. M ' l.llllllt ■ 404 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. L Jul y 7 > The committee appointed to consider the services of the secretary, reported. The report was recommitted, and the committee directed to consider, in particular, his extra services to this time, and the ex- pense of his clerks, and the said secretary is directed to lay before this Congress, or some future assembly of this colony, an account of his future services. Ordered, That a warrant be made out for Doct. Isaac Foster, as surgeon of the hospital at Cambridge, and another to Doct. Isaac Rand, as surgeon of the hospital at Roxbury. Mr. Shillaber, agreeably to order, presented the following resolve, which was accepted, viz. : Mr. William Shillaber, of Danvers, a member of this Congress, having represented to this Congress, that he has a vessel now at Philadelphia, having there disposed of her cargo, a schooner called the William, commanded by Samuel Tucker, and that he apprehends, from such instructions as he has [given] and will give the said master, that the vessel, if laden with flour, or partly so, might arrive safe at some port in this colony, and having applied for the approbation of this Congress, and set forth that he is willing to risk the same : therefore, Resolved, that this Congress do approve thereof, and it is hereby recommended to the committee of inspection at Philadelphia, that they permit the said Capt. Tucker to lade his vessel as above desired, and sail from that port : provided the same be not against the resolution of the American Congress, or any resolu- tion formed in that colony. The committee appointed to consider the resolve of the committee of safety relative to a new emission of bills of credit, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, several per- sons have been employed in the service of this colony, and several have supplied small articles, whose accounts amount severally to small sums only, and it appearing to this Congress, that the plates engraved for impressing or striking off the bills for the payment of the soldiers in the service of this colony are still sufficient for the striking off a number of impressions on each plate ; therefore, Resolved, that there be impressed, or struck off, on the plate containing the engraving for notes of ten shillings, eighteen shillings and twelve shillings, six hun- dred and sixty-seven sheets, and no more ; and that there be impress- ed, or struck off, on the plate for notes of sixteen shillings, fifteen shillings and nine shillings, six hundred and sixty-seven sheets, and no more; and also on the pluic for twenty shillings, fourteen shillings, and six shillings, dial there be impressed, or struck off, five hundred and forty sheets, and no more which last number, together with ori 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 165 hundred and twenty-seven sheets, or impressions, already struck off on that plate, and nol signed, make the like number of biz hundred and sixty-seven sheets, or impressions, which, together, amount to two thousand and one Bheets, or impressions, each Bhe< I containing forty shillings, amounting to the sum of ' 1002, which, together with the Bum of .£25,998, alreadj perfected of those ootes, make the sum of 1 30,000* We also report, that a committee be appointed to agree with Mr. Revere, or m>mic other -uitable person, for tlie Btr iking oil* the above number of sheets. Also, thai a committee be appointed to authenticate said Bheets, when they are struck off. Ordered, That Deacon .Mitchell, Capt. Holmes, and Capt. Stone, of Framingham, be a committee to agree with Borne persons to strike off the lulls, agreeably to the foregoing report. Ordered, That the chairman of the committee of supplies be direct- ed to attend this Congress with a copy of such resolves as constitute then- commission. The committee appointed to consider the petition of Daniel Murray, &c. reported. The report was accepted, and i< as follow-, viz. : The committee appointed to take into consideration the letter from his excellency General Washington, to the committee of safety, respecting the petition of Daniel Murray of Rutland, who has requested leave for his sister, and two of his brothers, to go into Boston, winch petition the committee of safety have referred to the consideration of this Con- gress, beg leave to report, that it is their opinion, that the aforemen- tioned petition ought not to be granted. That the committee of safety be directed to acquaint hi- excellency the General, of the resolution of tin- house, of the 24th of June last, respecting the permitting of per- sons to go into Boston, and that it is their opinion, that said resolution ought not to be receded from in the present case. W liter Spooner, Esq. was appointed in addition to Col, Richmond, to swear the soldiers to be stationed in the county of Bristol, The committee appointed to consider the report of the commit! who have been on an embassy to Ticonderoga, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz.: The committee appointed to take under consideration the report of the committee from Crown point, &c, beg leave to report bj way of r< solve, a- follow -, viz. ; W bereas, it appears to this Congress, that the sum of four hundred pound-, received by Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster, ami .lame- Sul- livan, Bsqrs., of the receiver general, the I tth of June last, tor the n-e of this colony, ha- been expended by them tor the purpose lor which 59 466 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 7, it was designed by this Congress ; therefore, Resolved, that the said Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster, and James Sullivan, Esqrs., be, and they are hereby discharged, from all demands, the said colony at any time had upon them for the same, and that the receipts produced by them be filed in the treasurer's office. Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster, and James Sullivan, Es- quires, the sum of twenty-six pounds three shillings and nine pence, for the balance due to them, from this colony, for their time, and ex- penses to Crown point, &c, and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the same sum accordingly. Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Mr. Abijah Merril, the sum of four hundred pounds, to be by him delivered to Col. Easton, for advance pay to two hundred men at Crown point and Ticonderoga, and the said Merril to take a receipt of said Easton therefor, and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the same sum accordingly. Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, the sum of two hundred and fifty-two pounds eleven shillings and one penny halfpenny, to Lieut. William Satterlee, or order, being the balance of the pay roll of Capt. Herrick's company, from the 3d of May to the 25th June last, and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the same sum accordingly. And the said Herrick and Satterlee are hereby discharged from all demands which Col. Arnold, or this province had, for the sum of twenty-three pounds twelve shillings, re- ceived by said Herrick and Satterlee of said Arnold, for the use of the company of said Herrick. Col. Grout was appointed to accompany Mr. Merril to the receiver general, to know of him if he can pay him the <£400, agreeably to the above resolve. Ordered, That Mr. Shillaber, Capt. White, and Mr. Crane, be a committee to consider the account of Mr. Edward Mitchell, and any other accounts that may be rendered of the expense of procuring spears for the army. Ordered, That Col. Robinson, Major Brooks, and Deacon Bayley, be a committee to procure a steward for his excellency General Wash- ington. Afternoon. Leave of absence was granted to the receiver general, till the begin- ning of next week. The committee appointed to consider the letter of Mr. Joseph Hal- 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS ur, Let, dated New Sfork, June 26, 1775, reported verbally, that the same be referred to the committee of supplies. 1 The reporl was accepted :Mr. Batchelder was appointed in the room of Mr. Sullivan, to con- sider what grant was proper t" be made for the services of the rotary. Ordt rid. That Mr. Johnson, Major Perly, and Mr. Hemmenway, be a committee to procure stores foi depositing the fish, which the committee of supplies may purchase for the use of the colony, either by hire, or by building new stores, as they may think best Ordered, Thai Mr. Phillips, Mr. Kollock, and Deacon Gould, be a committee to consider the subject of a letter, this day received from General Ward, and to inquire of the committee of supplies what pro- vision is made for supplying the army with the articles [of cloth- ing] therein mentioned. Col. Grout informed the Congress that lie had accompanied Mr. Merril to the receiver general's otlice, ami that the receiver general informed them, that there was not money in the treasury, sufficient to pay said Merril the sum which the Congress have directed the said receiver general to pay him. Ordered, That Col. Dwight, Col. Robinson, and Deacon William-, be a committee to prepare a letter to Col. Gaston, informing him, that the state of the treasury i- such, that Mr. Merril cannot, at present, he supplied with the sum of £400, which this Congress has this day di- rected the receiver general to pay him. Ordered, That Capt. Holmes be directed to inquire of .Mr. Revere, how many Bheets of notes or lulls of credit can he -truck off", from the plates he now has by him, more than six hundred and Bixty-seven, which were directed to be struck oil', by a resolveof this Congn as, this day passed. Resolvt I, That to-morrow morning, ci«-ht o'clock, he assigned for the consideration of a request made by Col. Danielson, in behalf of the officers of the army, that they might have a month's pay advanced. The committee appointed to consider the letters from General Green, reported. The report was recommitted, and Mi. Robinson added to the committee. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Langdon. Ordered, That the committee appointed to procure a Bteward for General Washington, he directed to procure him likewise two or three u omen, t'oi cook-. i rhe letter wu in relation to iluur, sent from t lie lonthern coloniea tor the " 468 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 7, Ordered, That the committee appointed to inquire how General Washington's table should be furnished, be a committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of complying with the requisition of General Washington relative thereto, and that Mr. Hopkins be added to this committee in the room of Col. Bowers. Ordered, That the Hon. Major Hawley, Col. Grout and Col. Rob- inson, be a committee to wait upon General Lee, to know of him what provision he expects should be made by this Congress for the furnish- ing his table. The committee who were appointed to consider what sum should be granted the secretary for his services, again reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to take into consideration the allowance that ought to be made Mr. Sam- uel Freeman, for his services as secretary of the Congress, to the present time, beg leave to report, that they find there has been much business done by the said Freeman in the service of the colony, and the said Freeman has been obliged to employ several clerks to assist him, which he agrees to pay ; he has also been at considerable ex- pense to be furnished with books, paper, ink, quills, and house to hold his office in, as secretary ; for all which they beg leave to report the following resolution, viz. : Resolved, That the receiver general of this colony be, and he hereby is directed, to pay Mr. Samuel Freeman, out of the public money of said colony, the sum of thirty pounds eight shillings and six pence, for his services as secretary to the Congress, and that those further servi- ces, which he may have to perform, in recording the proceedings of this Congress, when performed, be exhibited to some future house of representatives of this province, for their consideration and allowance. The committee appointed to prepare a letter to Col. Easton, report- ed the following, which was accepted : Sir : The committee appointed by the Congress to settle matters at Ticonderoga, having given you encouragement, that they would send, by the first opportunity, the c£400 due from this colony, on advance pay, to the men under your command, it gives us pain that we are obliged to say, we have not the whole of the money in the treasury ; but you may depend, Sir, that so soon as the notes can be struck off, and properly authenticated, the same will be immediately remitted to you. The embarrassments under which the province labors, will, we [trust,] apologize for our not being ready by the first opportunity. We rely upon you, Sir, that you will do all in your power to make the 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. |,;\ asions, &,c, reported. The report was accepted, and ordered to he printed in the newspapers, and is as fol- lows, viz. : Whereas, complaints have been made to this Congress, of the in- habitants of some of the sea port town- frequently supplying our ene- mies with butter and cheese, fresh provisions, &c, also, [it is] sus- pected, that intelligence has been given them, therefore, Resolved, that it he, and herehy is recommended, to the committees of safety, corres- pondence and inspection, and where there are no such committees, to the selectmen of the sea port towns and districts in this colony, that they, forthwith, exert themselves to prevent any person or persons from supplying our enemies with any kind of provision whatsoever, or intel- ligence. And it is further recommended to the committees or select- men as aforesaid, of each town and district, not to suffer any vessel or boat of any kind, to go from the shore on hoard any vessel or vessels of any size whatsoever, in the service of our enemies, without first ob- taining a permit, in writing, of the committees or selectmen aforemen- tioned, for that purpose, and that no boats be suffered to land from men of war, tenders, or any other vessels employed to distress the sea coasts and trade of this country, without permit obtained as aforesaid. The committee appointed to consider the account of Col. Mitchell, relative to the expense of providing spears, reported. The report was ordered to lie on the table till Col. Mitchell produced a receipt from General Thomas, or the committee of safety, for the delivery of them. The committee appointed to inquire of the committee of supplies what provision they had made for shirts, breeches, &.c, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appoint- ed to make inquiry of the committee of supplies, what provision they have made of the articles of shirts, breeches, stockings and shoes, and consider whether it is requisite to take any further care to procure those articles, have attended the service, and beg leave to recommend, thai persons be immediately despatched to the neighboring counties, to collect such a proportion of the above mentioned articles from the sev- eral towns in said counties, as may be judged proper. Ordered, That the committee who brought in the above report, be a committee to bring in a lisl of those towns from whence the articles 470 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 8, above mentioned ought to be procured, and the proportion each town shall supply. [The committee appointed to consider the subject of supplying the island of Nantucket with provisions, reported. The report was ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. :] Whereas, by the act of parliament called the restraining act, the in- habitants of Nantucket are exempted from the restrictions in said act mentioned. And whereas, the Continental Congress, on the 17th of May last, took the matter under consideration, and thought it expedi- ent, to prevent the Newfoundland fishery from being supplied with provisions through Nantucket, to prohibit the exportation of provisions from any of the colonies to that island, excepting from this : And whereas, the inhabitants of Nantucket have by them, large quantities of provisions in their stores, and are fitting out a large fleet of whaling vessels, whereby they intend to avail themselves of the act aforemen- tioned, and the provisions they have by them may be unnecessarily ex- pended, in foreign and not domestic consumption : therefore, Resolved, that no provisions or necessaries of any kind be exported from any part of this colony to the island of Nantucket, until the inhabitants of said island shall have given full and sufficient satisfaction to this Con- gress, or some future house of representatives, that the provisions they have now by them, have not been, and shall not be, expended in for- eign, but for domestic consumption. And the several committees of correspondence, inspection and safety, in their respective towns, are required to see that this resolve be not contravened. Adjourned to eight o'clock, to-morrow morning. Saturday, July 8, 1775. A list of surgeons examined by a committee appointed for that pur- pose, was exhibited to Congress, and warrants ordered to be made out agreeably thereto. Ordered, That Major Hawley, Major Bliss, and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to inspect the commissions of the committee of safety and the committee of supplies, and report to this Congress, what is expedi- ent to be done relative thereto, more especially in the recess of the Congress. Ordered, That Capt. Stone be appointed in the room of Mr. Sulli- van, on the committee who were directed to bring in a resolve, explan- atory to the resolve of Congress relative to the refugees. A petition of several field officers in the army, was read, relative to 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 471 the appointmenl of commissaries tor the regiment from the o « j 1 1 1 1 1 \ «.t E 'A. Ordered, That the |" titionera have leave i" withdraw their petition. Ordered, Thai Capt. Holmes, .Mr. Fox, and .Mr. Perry, be a com- mittee to consider a petition from a number "i the inhabitant Frenchman's Bay, [for Buppliee of provisions.] Ordered, That Mr. Fessenden, Mr. Walker, ; > i > < 1 Capt. White, be a committee to examine and consider all accounts thai may be rendered to this Congress, relative to the expenses of procuring axes and shovels for the use of the army. A *■< >n mi 1 1 1 1 1- of this Congress, agreeably to their appointment, re- ported the following resolve, which was accepted, and ordered to be printed in the several newspapers. 1 Ordered, Thai Mr. Hay ward, repair t<» the receiver general, si Stow, uimI direel him t<> attend this Congress, immediately. Didi ml. That ('apt. Carpenter be, and hereby i.-, appointed to de- sire Col. Timothy Walker to pay what public monies he has in his hands, into the treasury, immediately, and the committee of supplies arc directed to employ some person to be sent express to Col. Walker, fur tin- purpose. Ordered, That .Mr. Woodbridge, Col. Robinson, and Deacon Nich- ols, be a committee to consider a proposal of exempting the soldiers in the army from paying the postage of letters, and to report thereon. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, .Major Brooks, and Mr. Hall, he a committee to examine and considi r an accounl of Major Bliss ; and also, an account of Doct. ( hurch. Ordt nil, That Major fuller, Mr. Hall, and Col. Robinson, be a committee to countersign and number the ne i emission of lulls, who are likewise empowered and directed to superintend the impression of said bills. The committee appointed to brinjj in a resolve for the purpose '<( complying with the requisitions of General Washington, reported the following order, which was accepted, viz.: Ordered, That Col. Robinson, Major Brooks, and Deacon Bailey, be a committee to make inquiry forthwith, for Borne ingenious, active, and faithful man, to be recommended to General Washington, as a Bteward; likewise, to procure and recommend to him some capable i '• iponding t.i that mentioned in the record ii pi ibltoh- id in i I . u .ii. iwiwn, or v try on the journal U | idy intended to refer to tho resolve for restraining the s;ilo «»no 472 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 8, woman, suitable to act in the place of a house-keeper, and one or more good female servants. The report of the committee on the account of Mr. Daniel Taylor, was read, and ordered to lie upon the table. The committee on the petition of Col. Jonathan Brewer, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That the prayer of Col. Brewer's petition be so far grant- ed, that said Col. Brewer be allowed to recruit men sufficient to com- plete his regiment, or so far as he can complete his said regiment in twenty days, he not to enlist any person as a soldier who shall not furnish himself with a good and sufficient fire-arm. Resolved, That three o'clock, in the afternoon, be assigned, to con- sider the expediency of appointing a surgeon general for the Massachu- setts forces. The committee appointed to consider the artificers' accounts, report- ed the following resolve on Mr. Clark's account. Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he hereby is directed to pay to Mr. Matthew Clark, or order, the sum of nine pounds six shil- lings and six pence, in full discharge of his account for time and mate- rials, in repairing boats for the use of this colony. [The] order of the day [was] moved for. Ordered, That Major Hawley bring in a resolve for the payment of a month's pay to the officers of the army, as soon as provision can be made therefor. The committee on the account of Major Bliss, reported. The re- port was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That Major John Bliss be allowed, and paid out of the public treasury of this colony, the sum of £5 7s, in full discharge of the above account, and the receiver general of this colony, is hereby or- dered to pay the aforesaid sum of £5 7s, to the said John Bliss, or or- der, accordingly. Major Fuller, agreeably to order, brought in the following resolve. Resolved, That there be paid out of the public treasury, the sum of twelve shillings to Mr. John Cook, for the use that Mr. Paul Revere made of his house, whilst he was striking off the colony notes therein. The committee appointed to consider a proposal for exempting the soldiers of the army from the postage of letters, reported. The report was ordered to subside. Major fuller brought in a resolve, directing what notes each of the committee should sign, which was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Resolved, That Abraham Fuller, Mr. Stephen Hall, Jun., and Col. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCJ \l. ( « INGRESS i: I Robinson, the committee appointed to countersign the colon] n< now ordered t" be Btruck off, countersign and number said not< following denominations, viz. : said Abraham Puller counter! number the notes of eighteen shillings, twelve shillings, and ten >lnl- lm_r<; Baid Stephen Hall countersign and number the notes of sh I shillings, fifteen shillings, and nine shillings : Baid Col. Robinson coun- tersign and number the notes of twenty shillings, fourteen shillings, ;iik1 six shillings. Afternoon. The report of the committee on the letter of General Green was read, and recommitted to Col. Robinson, Major Brooks, and Col. Gerrish. M ijor Hawley, agreeably to appointment, reported the following re- solve, relative to advance paj to the officers of the army, which was accepted. Whereas, application has been made lately to this Congress, in be- half of the commissioned officers of that part of the continental army before Boston, raised by tin- colony, that, for the relief of the present necessities of the said officers, there might be immediately advanced and paid to them, one full month's pay. according to the establishment I at el 3 made by Congi — tor the army; and the Congress, having tak.n the said application into due consideration, do Resolve, that it i- expedient and proper, that there should he advanced and paid unto the said commissioned officers, one month's pay, in notes or lull- of credit of tin- colony, a- soon a- provision can he made therefor by a further emission "f not,- or hills of credit, than ha- been already or- dered by Congrt The committee appointed to consider how stores ma] he procured furt ption of fish, reported. The report was ordered to sub- side. The committee appointed to agree with Mr. Paul Revere, for strik- offa new emission of colony note-, reported. The reporl wa cepted, and i- as follows, \ iz. : /,' ,,//■,,/, That there he eighteen hundred seventy-four sheets im- pressed and Btruck off, according to the resolve of this Congress, p the 7th instant. And that Mr. Paul Revere l iployed to do said service, at the rate of six shillings for each hundred sheets so struck off, provided -aid Revere find ink, ami house room, ami procure suit- able paper, the colony paying onl) the prime cost of said paper [The] committee [was] instructed to direct Mr. Revere to alt< of the not i\ 8th if it cm !• 474 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 8, Ordered, That Mr. Hall, Capt. Batchelder, and Mr. Ellis, be a com- mittee to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, recommending to this Congress to make an establishment for four master armorers. Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Sanger, Mr. Johnson, and Deacon Wy- man, be added to the committee who were appointed to give passes for removing the poor of Boston, and Charlestown, to the towns in the county of Worcester, and that Major Fuller be excused from serving on said committee. Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Capt. Brown, and Col. Smith, be a committee to revise the resolves of Congress relative to the poor of Boston and Charlestown, and report what they think proper to be done thereon. Agreeably to the recommendation of the committee of safety, Re- solved, that Mr. Jonathan Hastings be, and he hereby is appointed, post- master for the town of Cambridge, in the room of Mr. James Winthrop. The committee appointed to examine several accounts of the expense of procuring axes and shovels, reported. The reports were accepted, and Mr. Woodbridge was appointed to bring in a proper resolve for the paying of the several accounts, agreeably thereto. The committee appointed to prepare an answer to the letter from the New Hampshire Congress, reported the following, which was ac- cepted, and ordered to be transcribed, authenticated, and sent foward, viz. : Gentlemen : We received your favor of the 3d instant, by Mr. Wheelock and Col. Beetle, and much rejoice to find, that the honora- ble Congress of New Hampshire, and the good people of your govern- ment in general, are so warmly attached to the common cause. We highly approve of Mr. Dean's being sent to the Continental Congress, more especially as he is so well acquainted in Canada, and lately came from thence, and we think it is a matter of great importance to New York, and all the New England colonies in particular, and to America in general, to satisfy our friends in Canada, that we are truly friendly to them, and also effectually to prevent our inveterate enemies there from making depredations on our frontiers: and as we have the greatest confidence in the wisdom and vigilance of that honorable body, therefore, we think it most advisable to wait their determina- tion. We are, with greal respect, gentlemen, Your friends in the common cause. Hon Congress of the Colony of Woe Hampshire. 1775.] il 1 1 1 : 1 > PRO\ rNCl \l. CONGREi The coi hi.-.- appointed to consider the subject of n letter From General Green, reported. The report was accepted, and i- as f.-!- lov» 3, \ \/.. : The Conoress havin<» taken into consideration the difficulties and troubles which have [arisen] and dailj are arising in our camps, by reason of divers evil-minded persons selling Bpirituous liquors, by which means, it i. not in the power <>t' the officers, although a constant exertion has been hitherto made, to prevent the Bame, ; i order to keep thai stead] government in camp so absolutelj necessary; therefore, Resolved, that it an] licensed person shall, after the I5tfa instant, presume to Bell an] spirituous liquors to an] Boldier, without a permit from the captain, or commanding officer of the company he belongs to, specifying the quan- tity, he Bhall, for the first offence, forfeit his license, and for the second, Buffer such punishmenl as Bhall be inflicted on him or her, bj a court martial ; and any person who is not a licensed person, or whose license is without the limits of said ramp, [who] shall presume to retail an) spirituous liquor to any of the troops, shall suffer for the first offence, the penalties inflicted by a court martial: this resolve not to extend to any person who shall have a license or permit from the general or commanding officer. The committer appointed to bring in a list of such town- as might supply the army with shirts, breeches, &c, reported. The report was recommitted for introducing the form of a receipt. The committee appointed to consider the petition of the inhabitants of Frenchman's Bay, reported. The report was accepted, and i- as follows, \ i/.. . The committee appointed to consider the petition of Thomas Don- nell and others, of Frenchman's Bay, have attended thai service, and beg leave to report bj way of resolve. Whereas, Mr. Philip Hodgkins has applied to this Congress for a suppl) of provisions for the inhabitants of Frenchman's Bay, and being at a great distance from the committees of correspondence of that place, therefore. Resolved, that it he recommended, and it is, b) this Congress, accordingly recommended, to the governor and companj ol the colony of Connecticut, that they sutler the inhabitants of French- man's Bay to purchase such pro) isions in said colony as the) stand in Herd Of. M ijor Hawley, who was appointed to bring in a re-.. he explanator] of the resolve of this Congress relative to the refu ported The report was accepted, and i- a- follows, viz.: Where i rtain resolve was made and passed, on the 21st da; 170 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 9, June last, respecting the improvement of the estates of several persons who have fled to General Gage, in manner as is expressed in the said resolve, and it being made to appear to this Congress that the said re- solve is taken in such a sense, in divers parts of this colony, as to make it necessary, that some explanation of the said resolve should be made by this Congress, it is therefore, Resolved, that henceforward the said resolve ought not to be construed to extend to any estates of such per- sons, excepting such estates as are left unimproved and void of any occupant, or possessor, and that no other estate of such person ought io be treated in the manner prescribed in the said resolve, until they shall be regularly indicted and tried for their supposed offences. Ordered to be printed in the several papers. Resolved, That eight o'clock to-morrow morning be assigned for the consideration of the expediency of appointing a surgeon general of the Massachusetts army. Ordered, That the account books of Major Barber be committed to the care of the committee of supplies. Adjourned to Sunday morning, eight o'clock. Sunday, July 9, 1775. The committee appointed to consider a resolve relative to seizing the crown officers, reported by way of resolve. The report was re- committed, and the secretary was added to the committee, and the committee [were] directed to report by way of letter, and to insert a clause relative to the desire of this Congress, that the Continental Congress would adjourn nearer the seat of action. The committee appointed to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, recommending the appointment of four master armorers, re- ported. The report was ordered to lie on the table, till the committee for revising the commission of the committee of safety, and the com- mission of the committee of supplies, reported. Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Pickering and Mr. Woodbridge, be a committee to consider a letter from Mr. John Scollay, relative to the poor of the town of Boston. 1 (1) The letter of .Mr. John Scollay, with the paper enclosed, follows: " Bostoit, Jtly 8th, 1775. " Pin : — His excellency the governor having, by Mr. Secretary Flucker, sent a message to the se- lectmen, overseers of tlie poor, and committee of donations, respecting the removal of the poor, and other inhabitants ofthe town of Boston, they attended the same, and, after deliberating on the matter, presented to Mr. Secretary i li\ [NCIAL CONGRESS m Ordered, That the Secretary, Doct. Taylor and Major Brooks, be a committee to • • - • i » i '. • r with Mr. John Lane, on the difficulties which tend the supplying the Indiana at Falmouth, Casco Bay. Resolved, Thai the Hon. Jedediah Preble, and the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., be, and hereby an- empowered, to Bupply the (ndians of the Penobscot tribe, with any quantity <>i' goods, not excei ding 1 1 ■• - value <>f three bundred pounds, and t'» dran on the rec< eneral for the Bame, who is hereby directed i" paj such drafts, in tbi months after the date of thia r< solve, and to take i'ur> and Bkina of the said Indian-, in exchange, "ii the account <»i thia colony, they to be accountable for their proceedin Ordered, Thai D i Cheever be a committee to bring in a resolve, empowering the committee of supplies t<> furnish General Washington v. itli Buch art icl< > i>t' household furniture, ae he has wrote id committee t < » r . lioi providi .1 fur the reception of any more of the pour of the town tlian have already left it ; and as the bI ite of the inhabitant ia really distressing, « e sh ill bo l'I id thai imi diate attention !"• given t" llie above, and that we, is may be, know your resolution! il on. A* many of these pour unhappy people are not in acondiUon t" b therefore, we should think that 1 1 j - - place of their destination might bo as near wal ■•as in l\ !. ivenient : if it would not be thought assuming, wo would hi a r .» lem or M trblehoad, as proper pi ices for the above pur] • II a, thai h "r othei . i this business, ample security b< given thai they shall I iili ihc persons th turn withi ■■I i, in I int, -' < ' 1 1 \ BCOLL \N J , M 'I ii \ lli I of tli.- ; ■ the town, and attended < •■■• itli all p beg I the number of the i r in » J » - - alms houso, amount drod, of w hich thoy suppo moved, for which I , will mal i In- i providing boat 'iun by waterorla thought llowing such qi of provisioi ig, clothing and modi proper. The few unhappy persons thai may be >ih * ile to mostly recommended i" bis excellency's well known humanity." ■ \ to the poor, and othor inhabitants of the town, who, if nol alro uly, will io> ■ I,. lectmen, on nd committee approhond, that by for lh< iiirt, u* not the whole, would i diatelj remove Ihomselvoa, «iiii the imall ir the committee of donations, provided they could obtain his oxcelloncj ■ii." '• Tl provious to their re vnl, bog for loavo to w ■ l to takt thi find such I noil particulai requi 478 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 9, Afternoon. Resolved, That the consideration of the allowance proper to be made to Mr. Fowle for the use of his house, by several committees of this Congress, be referred to the general assembly. The committee on the letter of Mr. John Scollay, of Boston, re- ported. The report was ordered to lie, for further consideration. The committee appointed to prepare a list of such towns, as it would be expedient to apply to, for shirts, breeches, &c, again report- ed. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, there is now a very pressing demand for some articles of clothing, more especially of shirts, breeches, stockings and shoes, in the army raised by the colony of the Massachusetts Bay, and there is danger of very mischievous consequences, from a delay of supplying the same : Rejoiced, that the inhabitants of the respective towns and districts in the counties specified in a list hereunto annexed, be most earnestly desired, as soon as possible, to procure such a number of each of the articles of shirts, breeches and stockings, as are affixed to their said towns and districts respectively, of a serviceable quality, and as many good shoes, as they can obtain, and deliver the same to the person or persons now to be appointed by this Congress to collect them, who are directed to give receipts to the owners, at the prices for which they shall mutually agree, keeping an account thereof, in the form following : o The day of 1775. Received of , — shirts, at — ; — pair of breeches at — ; — pair of stockings at — : — pairs of shoes at — : amounting to the sum of , for the service of the colony of the Massachusetts Bay ; which the receiver general is directed, in forty days after the date hereof, to pay to the said , or order, in notes, or bills of credit of this colony, and the receiver general is hereby required to pay the same accordingly. And that this business may be effected with the greatest expedition, the select- men and committees of correspondence in the several towns and dis- tricts beforementioned, are hereby most earnestly requested, to afford the utmost aid in their power, to the person or persons appointed as aforesaid, in collecting said articles. Ai\<\ those persons are further directed to take such measures, as will enable them to ascertain the price of each article, on its arrival, and to contract, at a reasonable rate, with suitable waggoners and teamsters to transport the effects, when procured, with great despatch, to the committee of supplies, at Watcrtown, giving them a certificate of the sums to be paid tor such 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 179 sen ice, h>r which ram, Baid commits e are berebj din cted to draw <r their "r- ders, and the receiver general is accordinglj directed to paj the same Committee. — Suffolk Mr. DanielVose, Milton: Mr. Mraer Ellis, "Dedkam; Deacon Jabez Fisher, IVrentham. Essi \ Major Asa Perley, Boxford; Col. Daniel Thurston, Brad- ford} Major A. Fuller, Middleton. Middles] \ : .Mr. Peter Bent, Marlbo ugh; ('apt. Timothy Walk- er, Wilmington; .Mr. Israel Hobart, Townshend; Mr. Samuel Sprague, Stoneham. Plymoi mi .Mr. Bbenezer Thompson, Halifax; Col. Joseph Cusb- iirr, Hanover; Mr. George Partrid e D tbury. Bristol: Mr. Thomas Durfee, Freetown; Capt. Benjamin King, Raynham; Benjamin Aikin, Esq., Dartmouth. Worcester : Mr. David Bancroft, Worcester ; .Mr. Joseph W beeler, Harvard; Col. Jonathan Grout, Petersham. Barnstable: Col. Joseph Otis, Barnstable; Col. N. Freeman, Sandwich; Col. Elisha Cobb, Wellfleet. DtKi s Cot \iv : Janus Athorne, Esq. Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he hereby i- directed, to pa) Doct. Benjamin Church, Jr., or order, the sum of £34 5 2d. in full discharge of his accounl of expenses of himself and servant, on a journej to Philadelphia, in .May la^t. Ordered, Thai Mr. Gill, Mr. Phillips and Doct. Taylor, be a com- mittee to provide a dinner on the 19th instant, for themselves and the clei Ordered, That .Mr. Kollock, Doct. Taylor and Deacon Nichols, he a committee to gel the resolves relative to procuring shirts, breeches, & c, printed, and dispersed, one to each town mentioned in the sched- ule, and one to each of the committee. The committee appointed to bring in an additional r< solve relative to the pom- of Boston, reported. The report was accepted, and i- as follow s, \ iz. : Whereas, it appears thai some towns in this colony have ;i lai number of the poor of the towns of Boston and Charlestown, than has been heretofore assigned them, and more than the) are willing to retain : /.'- \olved, That it lie recommended to the selectmen of those t< wns, to cause Buch pooi to b< removed to some town, thai shall not h 480 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 10, the proportion heretofore assigned, or shall be willing to receive them, and, if convenient, to those of such towns that said poor may choose ; provided said poor are possessed of a certificate from either of the selectmen, or overseers of the poor, of the towns of Boston or Charlestown, showing that they were inhabitants of either of those towns, on the first of March last ; and the selectmen, or overseers of the poor of the towns qualified as aforesaid, to which the before men- tioned poor may be conveyed, with a certificate as above prescribed, are requested to receive, and make provision for the same, as has been before directed : all reasonable charges attending such removal to be paid by this colony. Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Mr. Batchelder and Deacon Plympton, be a committee to bring in a resolve, for the purpose of supplying the Penobscot Indians with a small quantity of gunpowder. Resolved, That the selectmen of the town of Watertown be, and hereby are empowered and directed, to take into their custody one Daniel Green, now in this town, who was wounded and taken a pris- oner the 19th of April last, and convey him to the jail in Concord, there to be confined till the further order of this Congress, or some future house of assembly of this colony. Adjourned to Monday morning, eight o'clock. Monday, July 10, 1775. [The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for supplying the Penobscot Indians with gunpowder, reported. The report was ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. :] "Whereas, application has been made to this Congress, by Capt. John Lane, agent for the Penobscot tribe of Indians, for a small quan- tity of powder, for supplying said Indians: therefore, Resolved, that the committee of supplies is hereby directed to deliver, out of the public stori - <>f this colony, to the said John Lane, twenty-five pounds of powder, for the use aforesaid, taking said Lane's receipt therefor, to deliver the same to General Preble and Col. Enoch Freeman, on ac- count of this colony : and said committee are hereby directed to re- place the same again, as soon as may be, from some town in this col- ony, (if they judge it necessary,) thai can besl .-pare the same. Ordered, That the warrants for Burgeons, adjutant generals and quarter master generals, be committed to the committee of safety to be delivered. Ordered, Thai Deacon Bakei bring in a resolve, directing the re- ceiver general to paj Mr. Hastings, for his services, as door-keeper. 1775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 1-1 Ordered, That ihe lettei from John Scollay, Esq, [relating to the poor] of Boston, and the paper accompanying it, !><• j»ut into th<- bands of the committee of safetj . Ordered, That the President, I)<><-t. Church and Mr. Gerry, b» committee to prepare an answ< r to a letter this daj receired from Gen- eral I , and that II o'clock be assigned for the choice of some per- son to attend Genera] Lee, on an interview with General Burgoyne. 1 Ordered, Thai Mr. Pickering, Mr. Spear and Mr. Phillips, fa committee to examine a number <>i letters this day laid before the Congress, brought from London bj ('apt. Folger. Resolved, That it be, and it i> herebj ordered, that the committee of supplies immediately furnish General Washington with ten £>«»\ horses, with Baddies and bridles, ii>r the public use Ordered, Thai Mr. Batchelder count and -<r a person to attend General Lee on an interview with General Burgoyne. Mr (1) The following i- r i ... letter Irom Gen. I. Ilivii Gti KiiiN, Ji i.t nir 10th, 1775 '. leral Lee ; - to the president and »entlemen of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and submits to their perusal a letter which he yesterdaj Q flur- goyne, in which was read and approved of by the d t' this province and oth' I nitincntal Congress. Be bi ga leave t'> receive their commands with re- spect to the proposed interview. If they approve of it, he thill be glad t.v accept of n ; if they disapprove, he shall reject it; hut if they approve of it, he mi thai they will d< pute iomo one gentlem.m «.f their bo !y to a ' e, ami be witness of tho conversation. B res their answer imni. i inform Gen. Burgoyne I iock afternoon, whether the in'. in i> u it to take place. He shall obliged to tho ■lemen, if they will return thi sve noobjer- • On the ar- royne in Boston, G r to that • pressing wana of persooaj regard for his former companion in arms, and explaining his rs of the right* of the Americans, and their determination and power to maintain them. Gen- eral B . in reply, proposed ■ \ .1 ihould find an i I bapp] if n il Id induce snch et, igbt tend in their oonseqnenoes to peace. I (i in common with all around me, fur the unhappy p' this country: th mil the dis tress that is impending ov< r them. I k Bril tin is r. idj to opt n her arms upon tho rlr«t rtore of accommodation. I know she j< equally resolute to main) i in il rights, snd if the war proceeds, your one hundred and fifty thousand men will not be a match for her power." The proposed interview w i. declined in the following note: CaMBJUDOE, linn Q.UARTCU, J'lr 11. IT! " General I^c's compliments to General Burgoyne — would ly happy in an intt • kindly proposi be perceivi tbatG i Burgoyne has alremlv made • t [ > bis mind on thi< in 1 it it is impossible thai be, General Lee, should ever alter his opinion, h« i« appi- thai the interview might ci • nn.i suspicion in the dearest of all Causes, th it of their liberty, prop- • . in. I fu tore generations, II t, therefore, defer the happiness of ei i man whom h cerely lores, until I rsionoftbi rannii J ministry an srhicbheii > month*, as hs know* Great Britain <-mnoi stand th" contost. B I • ". I the |»tl»T» « hi. h h|» lid H» C*m| If • hi. Inve tn hi 61 482 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 10, Batchelder having attended that service, reported, that Mr. Elbridge Gerry was chosen. Ordered, That Col. Porter, Doct. Taylor and Major Brooks, be a committee, whose business it shall be, in conjunction with the committee of safety, to make thorough inquiry into the subject matter of a letter this day received from General Washington, [relating to reenforce- ments lor tbe army.] And that the committee be directed to confer with General Washington on the subject of his letter, and particularly inform him of the number of men we had generally estimated in the Massachusetts forces, from the returns of the general officers, from the money paid out of the treasury, for a month's advance pay to the soldiers, and from the provision made for billeting the said forces. 1 (I) The following is the letter of General Washington mentioned in the text, addressed to the President of Congress : Head Quakteiis, Cambridge, July 9, 1775. '• Sib : — After much difficulty and delay, I have procured such returns of the state of the army as will enable us to form a judgment of its strength. It is with great concern 1 find it far inadequate to our general expectations and the duties which maybe required of it. The number of men fit tor duty in the forces raised in this province, including all the out posts and artillery, does not • in, mint to nine thousand. The troops raised in the other colonics are more complete ; but yet fall short of their establishment. So that upon the whole, I cannot estimate tho present army at more than fourteen thousand live hundred men capable of duty." " 1 have the satisfaction to find the troops, both in camp and quarters, very healthy ; so that the deficiency must arise from the regiments never having been filled up to the establishment, and the number of men on furlough : but the former is much most considerable. Under all these circum- Btances I yesterday called a council of war; and, enclosed, I send you an extract of our determi- nations, so far as they respect the province of Massachusetts Hay." '•Your own prudence will suggest the necessity of secrecy on this subject, as we have the utmost reason to think the enemy suppose our numbers much greater than they are : an error which it is Dot our interest to remove." "Tho great extent of our lines, and the uncertainty which may be the point of attack, added to the necessity of immediate support, have induced me to order that horses, ready saddled, should be kept at several posts, in order to bring the most speedy intelligence of any movement of the enemy." " For Ibis purpose I should be gl .1 thai ten horses might be provided as soon as possible." '• I have the honor ti your most obedient and very bumble servant, GEOEGE WASHINGTON." •• I', s. \s | Kin informed the Congress propo immediately, I should be glad to know what committei whom the executive business devolves. G. tV n." •• \ i t. Council "i War, held at Head Quarters, July 9, 1775. — Present: His excellency General Washington, General \'\ ird, Lee, Putnam, Thorn s, Heath, Green, Gati ." •■ lh- . rxellency proposi d to the consideration of tin- council — What number of troops may be nc- ■ in and neai Bo Ion, to defend the posts already occupied, against the force supposed i" be employed against us?" " I 'pon which it was agreed, tli i for the above purpose ought to consist of at least 22,000 men." "As it !• [ > i > ' ars bj the returns now mi the number of effective men is far short of the .. estimate, a qui Jtion was proposed, \i/..:" " In what manner this deficiency si 1 1 In- supplii "And il v ■- unanii jlj hi i<> i" done bj sending an officer from each comporj 1775.] rilllM) PRO\ [NCI \l. CONGR1 189 The committee appointed t'> prepare a letter to General I ported. The report was accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and sent forward to General Lee, bj Doct. Church, Doct Taylor and Mr. (jerry, a committee for thai purpose Sir: — The Congress have perused the letter from General 15m- goyne, which you was kind enough i-> submit to 1 1 n ■ i r inspection. Thej can have do objection to the proposed interview, from a want of the highest confidence in the wisdom, discretion and integritj of Gi n- i ral Lee, but beg leave to suggest, that, a< the confidence of the p pie in their General, is so essentially necessary, i<> the well conducting the enterprize in which we are engaged, and as a people contending for their liberties art- naturally disposed to jealousy, and not inclined to make the most favorable constructions <>f the motives of conduct which they are not fully acquainted with, whether Buch an interview might not have a tendency to lessen the influence, which the Congress would ui-h to extend, to tin' utmost of their power, to facilitate and succeed the operations of war. The Congress, agreeably to your request, have, to prevent, as far as we are aide, any disagreeable consequences, which may arise from the jealousy of the people on such an occasion, appointed .Mr. Blbrid Gerry to attend you at the proposed inten lew, it' you shall think proper to proceed in it. and as the) do not think themselves authorized to counteract the general's inclination, they would submit it to bis opin- ion, whether the advice of t he council ol war might not be taken in a matter of such apparent delic / i tin Tionorabk General Lee. Ordered, That Col. Mitchell, Capt. Batchelder, and Deacon Nich- ols, be a committee to consider the circumstances of the town of Hull, and report what is bi st to be done. Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Deacon Nichols, and Capt. Stone, be a committee to consider the situation of the puhln- stock of powder, and report n hat shall be done with it. '" '. , which tin b) Hi" Provim iul l \ l thnt, in the ii era! ili> Bpplj lo P I . for llioii |x>i i»j '■ • <•<•■" ■ mi lit, su ilitarj ml. < .1- iho 484 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 10, Afternoon. Resolved, That the resolve which passed yesterday, relative to Dan- iel Green, be reconsidered, and that Capt. Stone be appointed to bring in a resolve with regard to him. Ordered, That Mr. Baker, Mr. Kollock, and Capt. Parker, be a committee to consider an account of Mr. John Gill. Ordered, That Capt. Vose, Mr. Jewett, and Mr. Bigelow, be a com- mittee to consider an account of Mr. Moses Lammon, for a gun sold Barnabas Evans. Ordered, That the committee for signing the bills, &c, be directed to sit, and despatch the business, that the soldiers may be paid off, ac- cording to the order of Congress. Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Mr. Bigelow, and Capt. Harnden, be a committee to consider the account of Mr. Isaac Bissell. Resolved, That the committee of supplies, be directed to write to the selectmen of Charlestown and Walpole, in the government of New Hampshire, and desire them to inform them, what cannon there are in those towns belonging to this colony, and the said committee are to take into their custody such as they shall find to be the property of this colony. Resolved, That Mr. Stephen Hall be on the committee in the room of Doct. Gunn, to sign the colony notes. Mr. Israel Nichols' account was passed upon, and Ordered, that the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay Mr. Israel Nich- ols, the sum of eighteen shillings, in full of his account. Capt. Stone, agreeably to order, brought in the following resolve, respecting Daniel Green, which was accepted : Resolved, That the selectmen of Watertown be, and hereby are di- rected, to take Daniel Green, a prisoner, taken in the late battle on the 19th of April last, who is now in this town, and safely convey him to Mr. Jones, prison keeper at Concord ; and said prison keeper is hereby directed safely to keep, and properly support the said Green, until further order of the Congress or House of Representatives. The committee on Capt. Lane's account, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Risidvnl, Thai the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay John Lane, the sum of three pounds six shillings, for horse hire, and expenses, from Falmouth to Watertown, and back again, in be- half of the Penobscot tribe of Indians. Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay to Mr. Simon Hastings, the sum of eight pounds four shillings, i"5] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 185 for attending this Congress as a doorkeeper, for forty-one days, the present session. Adjourned to Tuesday morning, eight o'clock. Tuesday, Juxi ! I , \~~.~> A letter from , of New York, to the committee of donations for the town of Boston, was read: apon which, the Con- gress :i--unied the consideration of a report relative to such donations, which was accepted, and ordered to be pi Dted in the newspapers, and i- as follows, vi/. Whe/eas, the poor of Bo-ton and Charlestown, who hare been as- signed to the several towns in this colony, and have been, and -til! are supported at the public expense, for reasons that are obvious; th< fore, Resolved, thai the money, grain, flour, &c. that have, or shall he generously given for the support of said poor, and lodged within tin- colony, ought to he considered as belonging to the public stock of this colony, for the use aforesaid; and the committee of supplies are hereby directed to take care of such donations accordingly, till the further or- der of this Congress, or House of Representatives; and when any town shall, by order of said committee, or otherwise, receive or make use of such donations, or any part thereof, the selectmen of such town arc hereby ordered to exhibit an exact account thereof, to this Con- gress, or some future Hon-.' of Representatives, as credil to their ac- counts of charges for the support of the poor abovesaid. A resolve of the committee of safety, relative to soldiers who had enlisted a second time, was read, and committed to the committee who were yesterday appointed to impure into the subject of General Wash- ington's letter. Resolved, That if this committee is not ready to report to the Con- gress at it- present se--ion, that they be directed to report to the next General Assembly or House of Representatives. Onlirul, That Doct. Church, Capt. Stone, and .Mr. Woodbridge, be a committee to inquire into the subject of a resolve of the commit- tee of safety, relative to Mr. W in slow s employing one William Lightly, to carry a load of molasses fr Connecticut to New ><>rk. Resolved, That this Congress has no objection to Mr-. Marj (Jreenwood ha\ ing a permit to go into Boston. The committee appointed to consider the circuui-t nice- of the town of Hull, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, riz, The committee appointed by this Congress to consider of a request of a committee from the town of Hull, Betting forth that thej are now 486 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 11, invested by an armed vessel, and expect that the communication be- tween them, and their neighbors, will soon be cut off, beg leave to report the following resolve, viz. : Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby accordingly recommended to the selectmen and committees of correspondence of the town of Hing- ham, and district of Cohasset, that they cause all convenient assistance to be given to the inhabitants of Hull, in removing their effects from that place, and securing and removing the crops of grain, and other produce, from said town, to some secure place for the use of the pres- ent proprietors of the same. Mr. Pickering, by leave of Congress, presented the following resolve in behalf of Capt. Samuel Williams, which was accepted : On an application made to this Congress, setting forth that a number of o-entlemen at Salem, in this colony, have employed Capt. Samuel Williams of that town, to procure for them, at their cost, a number of barrels of powder, at New York, or elsewhere to the southward : Re- solved, that the intention of those gentlemen is agreeable to this Con- gress, and that Capt. Samuel Williams appears to be a friend to his country, and possesses the confidence of his townsmen, and that if he executes his commission, it will be of great service to this, and the other colonies. Resolved, That the persons employed in cutting the grass on the land of the refugees, be allowed half a pint of rum, each, per day. Afternoon. Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Phillips, and Col. Porter, be a com- mittee to repair immediately to General Wa>hington, and know of him what number of men he would have this Congress raise, for a tempo- rary reinforcement of the army; and to inform the General of the powers vested by this Congress, in the committee of safety, and to confer witli the General, at large, on the state of the army, and in par- ticular, with respect to some soldiers of the army who have enlisted twice. Ordered, That the president, Col. Palmer, Mr. Jewett, Capt. Stone, and Col. Farley, be a committee to devise some means of raising speedily a temporary reenforcenu nt of the army, and to bring in an establishment. Ordered, That Capt. Brown, Mr. Glover, and Major Fuller, he a committee \<> procure three courier-. h\ ten o'clock tomorrow morning. Resolved, Thai the rec< i teral be empowered and directed lo employ some person to number the colony not' 1775.] I IIIKD PROTON I \l. ( ONGRES Iff; Ordered, Thai .Mr. Fox, and Mr Bigelow, l»- added i>> ih>- commit- who were appointed to consider what waa proper to be done with the public stock of powder. (h
  • I"- done \\ ith the « bale-boats. Ordered, Thai Mr. Shillaber, .Mr. Johnson, and Mi Brown, hi committi •• thai the fish, procured b) the committee of rapplies for the use of this colony, be proper!) taken care "t". \ memorial of William Hunt waa and ordered to lie on the table. Major B rbei - accounl was allowed, and the receiver general di- (1 I., pa) it. I Lincoln, •'■. to appointment, brought in the following resolve, relative to whale-boats, which was acci pted : \\ hen the I sometime past, directed and empowered, in the absence ■ >! Capl Joshua Davis, Capt. Edmund Sop< i to take care of a number of whale-boats, then lying in the river al Braintree, jmr- chased by said Davis for the use of the colony, and as he hath procured and brought there, a ver) considerable number more, which require his care and inspection; and as one person is sufficient t" have the of the whole of them : therefore, Resolved, that, as Capt. Davis i- now returned, Capt. Edmund S ised from any car.' of said boats, until further orders; that he give information to -.ml Davis, where they are lodged, and if he hath delivered any of them to ilu- onlrr of the officers in the army, to whom the) were delivered, in o to In- receiving them into bis pos soon as the public service u ill adiiiit of it. Adjourned to eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Wednesoay, Juli 12, IT 75. The committi •• appointed to considi F the committee of safety, relative to Mr. Winslow's employing one William Lightl) to carr) a load of molasses t<> New York, &c, reported the following letter to G mot Trumbull, which was accepted, and ordered t" be authenticated, and sent forward : [latf if jili OSt your honor : The brigantine Nam i in the harbor of Stonington, in Con- necticut, being laden with molasses, the propert) of the late Joshua \\ inslov* of B •!, Hud active friend i" administration; which, as we are well informed, is now directed to be conveyed to N 488 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 11, York, and from thence as we conjecture, from sundry suspicious cir- cumstances, to be sent to Boston ; the master who has undertaken this business, being now in custody, having given the information before- mentioned, the Congress of the Massachusetts Bay beg leave to ob- serve to your honor, whether prudence and good policy do not suggest to detain said ship and cargo, or such part of it as belongs to said Window, for the use of the colonies, rather than to suffer them to fall into the hands of General Gage, where they will be improved to the support of our enemies, and to augment the distress of these colonies. We have the honor to be, &x. To the Hon. Governor Trumbull. Resolved, That said William Lightly be confined in Concord jail, and that Mr. Davis be dismissed, and that Mr. Woodbridge bring in a resolve for this purpose. Ordered, That Mr. Crane, and Mr. Fox, make out warrants for several surgeons and surgeons' mates, agreeably to a list this day ex- hibited by Doct. Taylor, and that such warrants, when made out, be transmitted to the committee of safety. Mr. Glover, by leave of Congress, brought in a resolve, recommend- ing to such able-bodied men as have left their sea-port towns to return ; which resolve was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, many able-bodied men, who were inhabitants of the sea- port towns of the colony, have removed their families into the country, and have themselves left said towns, and carried with them their arms and ammunition ; therefore, Resolved, that this Congress do approve of the conduct of such persons, so far as it respects the removing the women, and children, and valuable effects. It is recommended to the male inhabitants, fit to bear arms, that they return to their respective towns, and there continue with that dignity and firmness which ought ever to distinguish an American, and to defend them from the ravages of the enemy, until it shall be judged by the inhabitants of such towns, at a meeting for that purpose, expedient to vacate the same. Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Capt. Stone, and Col. Moseley, be a committee to consider the subject of a letter from Capt. Noble, dated Pittsfield, July 3, 1775, and report. 1 Mr. Woodbridge, agreeably to appointment, brought in the following resolves, which were accepted. I ("apt. Noble a«krr) th<» allowance of the pay roll ofhi> rompany engaged in the public service, under Col. Benedict Arnold. 1775.] THIRD l'i:< >\ i\< I \i. I I >NGR1 Sfi 189 Resolved, That Ihe receiver general be, and hereb) is directed pat to Mr. Jacob 15i_'l<>w, tin- sum «'t £13, for sundry axes, shovels, and spades, anil for prr collecting the Bame for the use of the army, agreeably t" the direction of \\\\> < iongress. Resolved, That the receiver general be, md he is hereby directed to pa) Major A. Full< i 7 2 3d. for axes, & c , as above. Resolved, Thai the receiver general be. and he is hereb] directed - to pa\ Deacon Jonas Stone, the sum of I I" 12$. - i alni\ e. Resolved, That the receiver g< oeral be, and he is hereb) directed to pa) Mr. Enoch Klli>, the sum ol €8 3s. Id. i«>r axes, & c . as above. The committee appointed t<> confer with the General, relative i" the number of men necessar) to I"- raised for a lemporarj reen for cement, reported a letter from him, which was committed t- pointed t'> devise means of raising such reenforcement, to wlm-h com- mittee Col. Porter, Mr. Glover, and Capt. Parker, were added. Resolved, Thai Doct. Church, Duct. Taylor, and Doct. Whiting, !>•• a con ttee t<» take into their custody all the medicines, medical stores and instruments, which arc. or ma) be provided l"<>r the use of the irmy, b) this colony, and to distribute them at their best discretion, so that no peculation "i needless waste be made "I the medicinal stores belonging to the public. It, solved, That the president have leave to go home in the after n Adjourned u> three o'clock, 1'. M. All. rii on The committee appointed to consider the situation of the public stock of powder, reported. The report being amended, was drawn anew, accepted, and is as follows, \i/. This Congress taking into consideration the situation of the public -tuck of powder that is now in Watertown: Resolved, that it be recom- mended to the committee of supplies, to make a division of said powder into two or more parcels, as the) shall judge requisite; that they de- posile one pan in this town, and the remainder in such other town or towns as the) shall think most expedient Ordered, Thai ('..I Lincoln, Mr. Gill, and Capt Stone, be a com- mittee to examine fifteen persons taken prisoners ti Long Island it to thi I b) the committee of alt > ■ 490 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 11, Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Phillips, and Major Fuller, be a committee to enlarge the commission of the committee of safety. A letter from the committee of safety, requesting this Congress to appoint a special committee to make provision for the poor of Boston and Charlestown, was read. The matter, after debate, was ordered to subside. The report of the committee for devising means of raising a tem- porary reenforcement, was taken into consideration, and after much debate was recommitted ; and Col. Palmer, and Mr. Phillips, were added to the committee. The committee appointed to examine the fifteen prisoners, sent to the Congress by the committee of safety, reported, verbally, facts as they found them : whereupon, Ordered, that Jonathan Winship, and Jacob Whipple, two of the prisoners, be discharged immediately; that Jacob Davis, another of the prisoners, be sent to the main guard at Cambridge, the Congress having great reason to suspect, that he en- listed in, and deserted from the army raised by this colony, and that the officers of the guard be certified, in writing, of what crime the said Jacob now stands charged ; that John Freeman, a negro man, said to be the servant of Mr. Joseph Howett of Newburyport, be sent to the jail at Cambridge, there to continue till further orders ; that the other prisoners, with the said Jacob and John, be committed to Capt. Crafts, to be kept under guard, until further orders. Ordered, That Capt. Brown cause suitable provision to be made for the said prisoners. Ordered, That Mr. Learned be directed to charge the expense of keeping Mr. Lightly, and the guard that attend him, to this colony. Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Kollock, and Mr. Crane, be a committee to consider what is a proper establishment of salt for the army, and report. The committee appointed to consider a letter from Capt. James No- ble to Walter Spooner, Esq., reported a resolve, and a letter, which were accepted, and are as follow, viz. : Resolved, that Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, be, and he is hereby ordered to pay to Capt. James Noble, or order, c£l00, as part of his pay roll, as captain in Col. Benedict Arnold's regiment, in the late expedition against the posts of Ticonderoga and Crown point, for the use of said company. Sir : We received yours of the 3d instant, by Mr. William Barber, together with your account of expenses, and a muster roll of your company, whilst in the service of this colony, under the command of ITT.j.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 101 c.l r.riicili.i Arnold, hut before your account can be I with propriety, it mosl be examined, and adjusted bj indiflerent persona. Therefore, it is Ordered, that the committee ol eorr( rpondence for the town of Pittsfield, be .1 committee for that purpose; and it 1- further Ordered, that you make oath to the truth and justness of four muster roll, and see thai the Bame be right cast; thru charge yourself with the '■!' 7s. Id*., which you received of Col. Arnold, as advance pa) for your company ; also with the £100 now sent you bj Mr. Barber, agreeably to your order; then return Baid roll and account, and when you comply with the above, you will receive the balance due I'd ( 'apt. J ana - Nobli . Lieut. Zachariah Gurney having conducted fifteen persons who were taken ;it I g [aland, t<> this Congress, and the Congress having ordered eleven of them, under a guard of this town, and dismissed the other two, the Baid Gurney is discharged from further attendance. The report of the committee on Mr. John Gill's account was taken up, and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee on the account of John Gill, beg leave to report bj way of resolve, as follows : "Resolved, that the receiver general !><•. and he is hereby directed, to pay to the within named John Gill, th>' sum of o£G I7s8d, in full, of In- Bervices on several journeys, hoi lure, expenses, & c. The committee appointed to devise means for raising a temporar) reenforcemcnt, again reported. The report was amended, accepted, and 1- a- follows, \i/. : Whereas, a speedy augmentation of the army 1- wanted, and lias been r< quested by the general, to sene a- a tempo- rary reenforceini'iit until the new levies now raising to till up the regi- ments in the field, can come in, and until they shall be discharged bj the general of the army, or the assembly of this colony, therefore, Re- solved, that it he, and hereby is most earnestly recommended to the in- habitants of town, that they immediately raise and send to the camp at Cambridge, men, provided with a good fire-lock, ammu- nition, and a blanket, each, who Bhall be detained not longer than one month, at farthest, from the beginning \ the colony, all due regard being had to the present urgency of farming business, and the inconvenience of complying with such a requisition at this juncture. And the milita- ry oilier-, selectmen, and committees of correspondence, are desired to see this resolve executed without delay, and that thej be paid ac- cording to the following establishment 492 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 13, N. B. The above is copied from the original report on file, which has been altered and still appears to be incorrect. The following is a copy of the printed one on tile : To the military officers, selectmen, and committees of correspon- dence in the town of . Gentlemen : — You are hereby most earnestly requested to procure the execution of the subsequent resolve, with the greatest possible ex- pedition. In Provincial Congress, Watertoicn, July 12, 1775. Whereas a very speedy augmentation of the army is indispensably necessary, and has been requested by his excellency General Washing- ton, to serve as a temporary reenforcement until the new levies now raising to fill up the regiments in the field may be completed : There- fore, Resolved, that it be, and it is hereby most earnestly recommended to the commanding officer of every company in the town of , that they immediately raise, and send to the camp at Cambridge, able bodied men, each provided with a good fire-lock, ammunition, and blanket, who shall be detained not longer than one month, at farthest, from the beginning of their march, and be paid honorably for their service ; all due regard in the pay being had to the difficulty of com- plying with this requisition in the present urgency of the business of husbandry. Those who are required from together with others who are called from , will form one company, under the com- mand of such officers as the field officers of that regiment from which the greatest number of said company is taken, shall appoint. And the field officers above mentioned, or the major part of them, are desired accordingly, without delay, to appoint one captain, and two lieuten- ants, of persons who now are, or have been in command, well calcula- ted to Berve the public in these departments. By order of Congress. A true copy. Attest. Resolved, That the resolve passed this forenoon, recommending to all able bodied men, who have left their sea-port towns to return, be reconsidered. Adjourned to eighl o'clock, to-morrow morning. Thursday, July 13, 1775. A letter from General Washington's secretary, dated nine o'clock, P. M., July 12, 1775, was read; whereupon, Resolved, that the re- 1775 ninth PROVINCl \l. CONGRESS 19 I Bolve passed yesterday, f"i raising a temporarj reenforcement, tx considered. 1 A petition from the selectmen and commits Harpswell, i read, and committed to Mr. Johnson, Mr. Perry, ;in-•. and they hereby are em- powered and directed, to give orders on the receiver general in favor of such officer or officers a- arc, <>r -hall be appointed as recruiting offi- cers, nol exceeding the sum of foui pounds to an) one of them, and take their receipts tor the sum they shall order to them respectively, which sum i- to he deducted from their oils being made up, unless otherwise ordered by a house of representatives of this colons : and the receiver general is herebj directed to paj -aid order accordingly. Resolved, That the resolve passed yesterday, directing the receiver genera] to pay Capt. .lames Noble, or order, the sum of one hundred pounds, l>e reconsidered, and that a resolve be drawn bj ('apt. Stone, (1) The Following la the letter mentioned in the toxl : II, i i | , Cambridge, J I " Sin :- rjpon :i -' the militia, il that one thousand men to be il a and about Medford, will "II: i i, ,| mm to . 'I' 1 ' thej would , i.. forward ami promote the n< •.% 1 nii'l Ii fond 11m ir furlough*, '>r ' mil may I '" Iheii formoi bon I .mi lir, with much n I at humble icrvant, ji i-. i:i lie S 494 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 13, directing the said receiver general, to pay Mr. William Barber, the said sum of one hundred pounds, for the use of Capt. Noble. Resolved, That Capt. Stone be appointed to the office of president of this Congress in the absence of Col. Warren. Capt. Stone, agreeably to his request, being excused from the office of president : Resolved, That Col. Benjamin Lincoln be appointed to officiate as president of this Congress in the absence of the Hon. James Warren, Esq. The committee appointed to consider the petition of the selectmen and committee of safety of the district of Harpswell, 1 reported, that the consideration of said petition be referred to the general assembly. The report was accepted. Resolved, That Lieut. Zachariah Gurney be, and he hereby is di- rected, to take into his custody John Davis, and John Freeman a ne- gro man, and convey them to Cambridge, and deliver them according to the resolves of this Congress respecting them ; copies of which are to be delivered him, together with this resolve. Capt. Stone, agreeably to the direction this day of Congress, brought in the following resolve, which was accepted : (1) " To the honorable the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay, convened at Watertown, July — , 1775." " The petition of the selectmen and committee of safety, at the desire, and in behalf of the inhabi- tants of the district of Harpswell, humbly sheweth ; that your petitioners have, at all times, exert- ed themselves in prosecuting those measures recommended by the Continental and Provincial Con- gresses ; that it is their fixed determination to continue thus to do; that some of said inhabitants cheerfully enlisted for the public safety, and to ward off that despotic and arbitrary power with which administration is aiming to govern the colonies ; that said district, on the account of its situa- tion, being an isthmus, or neck of land, about ten miles in length, with many adjacent islands, nav- igable on eacli side, upwards of seven miles for ships of the navy, and abounding with cattle, sheep, Sec, is peculiarly exposed to the ravages of the British troops ; that the inhabitants of said district, did, at their own cost, station guards every night, at sundry places most exposed, lest the troops should be benefited by their provision ; that the enlisted men were, upon the 20th of June last, put upon duty by ordei of their superior officers, to guard said district from the plundering of troops which were daily expected with cutters, &c. ; that the inhabitants of said district are in low cir- cumstances, and are unable to enlist any more men, unless their husbandry employment greatly suf- fers, which must be an additional distress to that which they aliendy feel ; that, should the men al- ready enlisted be called away to join the army, s.iiil district is liable to fall an easy prey to the rav- ages of troops which may attack it lor fresh provisions. Your petitioners therefore, humbly pray, that this honorable Congress in their peat wisdom, would allow said district the number of men al- ready enlisted, with such additional number] as the Congress may judge proper ; and your petition- ers, as in duty bound, shall ever pray," \\ 11.1,1 \M BYH IS IKK. I of said District. PAUL KENDALL. ) Committee of Safeti WILLIAM SYLVESTER, for said District.'* Harpsirrll, 8 July, 1775V L775.] THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS i>; /.' tohted, That Henrj Gardner, Esq., receiver general, be, and i- herebj ordered, to pay to Mr. William Barber, t''>r the use "i Capt James Noble, £100, aa pari of said Noble's paj roll as captain in Col. B licl Arnold's regiment, in tin- late expedition against the poal Ticonderoga and Crown Point, for the use of Baid Noble - companj The committee appointed i'» consider an account of Mr. Solomon Lothrop, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. Resolved, Thai the receiver general be, and hereb] is directed, to pa] Mr. S. Lothrop, the sum ol €24 St 9d. in full of his account exhibited this day, for entertainment provided for General Washing- ton. Resolved, That the resolve passed yesterday, directing the receiver general to pa] Mr John Gill €6 17s.8d. be reconsidered. /.' totved, That John Davis, one of the persons taken from Long Island, and brought under guard to this Congress, be remanded to the commander in chief of the American forces, at Cambridge, being pected t" have deserted from Capt Foster's company in the artillery, and engaged in the service of our enemies: that he be delivered, to- gether with a copy of tin- resolve, to Buch officer as the general shall appoint Resolved, That John Freeman a oegro man, one of the persons taken from Long Island, and brought under guard to this Congi be committed to the jail in Cambridge; there to remain mud be he discharged by order of tin- Congress, or Borne future house of repre- tivt 3, or by order of the committee of safety, in case there i> no ('unjre-s or house of representatives then Bitting, and the jail keep r is hereby directed to receive, detain, and provide for the Baid John accordingly . Ordered, That Mr. Crane, Major Fuller and Mr. Jeueit, be a com- mittee to consider a resolve of the committee relative to horses, this day presented to Congress. The resolve of the committee of safety, relative to Buch soldiers have enlisted twice, was read, and again recommitted to Col. Porter, ( !ol. Mosel] and Capt. Stone. Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Mr. Kolloek and Mr. Robinson, be a committee to brine in a resolve, recommending to the inhabitants ol this colony not to kill any more sheep, till the general assembly shall take some order hereon. The committee appointed to make an establishment of Bait, tor the soldier-, reported The report was accepted, and i- as folio Whereas, complaintt have been made to this Coi that there is 496 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 13, now great want of salt in the camps ; therefore, Resolved, that the commissary be, and hereby is directed, when application is made by any of the officers for the above said article, to deal out one gill per week to each person, for which said application is made, and no more. The committee appointed to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, relative to several horses taken from the enemy, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, four horses were taken by Capt. Brown, of Salem, and a party with him at or near Charlestown neck, and some disputes having arisen whose property said horses should be, therefore, Resolved, that the said horses be de- livered into the hands of Capt. Brown aforesaid, until the further order of this Congress, or some future house of representatives of this colo- ny, to whom he is to be accountable for the same. The committee appointed to bring in a resolve recommending to the inhabitants of this colony, not to kill any more sheep, &c, reported. The report was accepted, and ordered to be printed in the newspapers, and in handbills to be issued for procuring coats, &c. Whereas, there is the highest probability of a very large demand for the article of wool, and inconceivable mischief may ensue from delaying a speedy provision for its increase ; therefore, Resolved, that it be earnestly recommended to the inhabitants of this colony, that they refrain from killing any sheep, or lambs, excepting in cases of absolute necessity, till the further order of this Congress, or some fu- ture assembly of this colony, and it is expected of every person who regards the advice of this body, the decisions of the Continental Con- gress, or the welfare of this people, that they grant a strict compliance herewith. A resolve was brought in on the account of Alexander Gray, and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : It, .-.nl ml. That the receiver general be, and hereby is directed, to pa] Mr. Alexander Gray, or order, £2 7s. 8d. in full for the balance of hi> account of time, and expenses, on a journey to Philadelphia, as an express to the Continental Congress. A resolve for paymenl of .Mr. Nathaniel Barber's account was brought in, accepted, and is as follows, viz.: Resolved, Thai the receiver general be, and hereby is directed, to pay Mr. Nathaniel Barber, or order, €4 lis. id. in full for one month's service as store keeper of the ordnance, and expenses of horse hire, &,c, agreeably to an account exhibited to this Congress, by said Barber. The committee appointed to consider a resolve of the committee of 1775.] THIRD PR< >\ INC1 \l. I < INGRESS v>; safety, relative t" soldiers who had enlisted twice, reported 'I pun was accepted, and i- as follows, \i/.. : \\ 1 1. - r . • : - . man) inconven- iences have an -en b) reason of divers soldiers of tin- forci d by thin colon] enlisting a second mm- into other companies than those which they first enlisted into, which ought to be remedied; thi /' - solved, tint every soldier, w ho, before tin- second da] of Jul] instant, has enlisted into other companies than those with whom he at first enlist- ed, unless tli'- Becond enlistment was made with the consent of the officer with whom In- at tii -t enlisted, or b] i onsent <>i the committi e of Bafety, or order of Congress, in either of which Mm- iir~' listmenl Bhall !"• void, Bhall ri turn to tin- compan] with whom In- first enlisted, if requested by the commanding officer ol such company, otherwise to remain in tin- company he next enlisted mi". And in .in \ dispute Bhall arise, whether anj such Becond enlistment made bj consent, or <>r<■ Bent to the towns in tin- county of Worcester hereafter named, viz. John Hayes and Thomas Bibby to the town of Lunenburg; James Griffin ami Jehu R.-.-d t.> Rutland; I' Vferren ami Michael Malonj to Shrewsbury; Patrick Hickej and Richard Nash t- Brookiield ; Mi- chael Mellows and John Fleming i<> Sutton to be received, employ- ed and provided for, by the selectmen of those respective towns, in the best wa] and manner thej can, till the further order of tin- col- on] And it is further Resolvi I, that the pris srs -hall not be at libert] to pass over the line of tin- town, where they an- respective- U Btationed, without a pass from the selectmen of such town, after thej have arrived then in. Further /«'< olved, That a copj of the fori o far as relates to each town, be bj them carried to the selectmen of such town, and that each of the above named persons be informed, that an) attempt to make an escape, or evade the execution of the above resolve, shall be deemed full evidence of his bein jed in the service of the < mies of this country, and that he shall b< treated as such. Further R< olved, that each of thi said persons be furnished wnii two days' provisions, to enable them to repair to th al placi 498 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 13, their destination ; which provision shall be delivered to them by Cap- tain Brown, out of the colony stores in this place. Ordered, That the president, Mr. Phillips, and Col. Porter, Mr. Gerry, and Capt. Stone, be a committee to revise and explain the com- mission of the committee of safety. Afternoon. [The committee appointed to revise the commission of the commit- tee of safety, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :] Resolved, That the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Doct. Benjamin Church, Capt. Benjamin White, Col. Joseph Palmer, Mr. Richard Devens, Mr. Abraham Watson, Col. Azor Orne, Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq , Nathan Cushing, Esq., Doct. Samuel Holten, and Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., be, and hereby are appointed a committee of safety for this colony, with the powers and authorities hereafter ex- pressed, and no other, that is to say ; that the said committee shall have full power, at any time during the recess of this Congress, if they shall judge it necessary, in the shortest and most effectual manner, to summon and cause to come together a quorum of this Congress, forty at the least to be accounted a quorum, at such place as the said com- mittee shall judge most proper ; and in assembling such quorum the said committee are hereby strictly enjoined to notify such members as may be most expeditiously assembled. Also, that the said committee be, and they hereby are invested with full power, until the thirtieth day of July instant, or until their commission shall be abrogated by the repre- sentative body of the inhabitants of this colony, upon application made to them therefor, by the general and commander in chief of the conti- nental army in this colony, for the time being, or whenever the said committee, without such application, shall judge the safety of the lives and property of the inhabitants of this colony, or of any of tin in, shall absolutely require it, to warn, and cause to be assembled, such and so many of the militia thereof, as they shall judge necessary, at such place or places within the colony as they shall judge proper, and Buch militia to retain and discharge as to the said committee shall m unci. Also, th.it the said committee are hereby empowered, during the time lasl mentioned, to procure, and employ for that part of tli'' Baid continental army raised by this colony, all such armorers and other tradesmen and artificers, as they shall suppose and judge to be needed, to further and promote the operations of the said army, and them, as also all such tradesmen and artificers as arc now retained, and employed for thai pari of the said army, to regulate, arrange, re- 1775.1 IIIIKh l'i;< >YI\< I \l I « >NGR ESS move, dismiss, and discharge, for unskil fulness, uufaithfulu whenevei the service maj nol require the further retaining them, 01 ,in\ of them. And the said committee ;r- herebj desired i" be atten- tive i" ill" behavior and performances of such tradesmen and artifii .i~ are now, or shall l»- in the service and emploj of this « - < • I « • ■ ■ \ in the said army, thai the colon) be no! defrauded bj unfaithful, and incom- ill per-oli-. And the said committee are i authorized to execute all the commissions, and perform all the service have been given them, and t'> which the) have been appointed in and bj an) special r< solv< - of this Congress, made and passed at this session, h hich the) have nol \i i of Congress, taking all imaginable care i«. guard ; i lt • i i 1 1 - 1 the infection of the small pox, by persona coming out "I ilic town of Boston, ;mc al the disposal oi tin- colony. And all the power- with which the committee oi safet) were vested by the resolve of the eighteenth of Maj last, ej such as are contained in the above resolves, are herebj revoked, and declared null and void. Ordered, Thai Major Fuller of Newton, Col. Farley, Mr Cram Capl Stom ami Major Fuller, be a committee to examine the pri ers brought from Machias, and reporl what i- best to be done with them. Ordered, That Col, Mosely, Mi W Ibridge, and Mi Kollock 500 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 13, a committee to consider Lieut. Ely Styles' [account of the] expense of bringing ten prisoners from Machias. The committee last mentioned, having attended the service to which they were appointed, reported the following resolve, which was ac- cepted, viz. : Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed to pay Lieut. Ely Styles the sum of six pounds twelve shillings, in full discharge of the money he expended in bringing a number of prisoners from Machias to Watertown. The committee appointed to consider what is best to be done with the ten prisoners brought from Machias, reported : whereupon, Re- solved, that the commanding officer of the town of Watertown be desired to appoint some officer, with a guard of not more than eight men, to conduct the said prisoners to the jail in Worcester, tomorrow morning-, that Captain Crafts be desired to take care of the said pris- oners, till that time; and that the officer who may be appointed to conduct said prisoners to Worcester, be empowered to draw on Capt. Brown, the commissary in this town, for so much provisions as may be necessary for their support to Worcester; and Capt. Brown is directed to supply them accordingly. The report above mentioned was [reconsidered, amended, and] ac- cepted, as follows, viz. : Resolved, That Thomas Skinner, a seaman, William Nurse, a ma- rine, John Burrows, a seaman, Nicholas Durham, a marine, Peter Larch- er, a sailor, Thomas Crispo, Joseph Temple, sailors, William Bishop, a sailor, and John Pardra, a marine, prisoners, all taken on board the armed schooner, called the Margaretta, commanded by Matthew Moor, near Machias, be all sent under a proper guard to the common jail in the county of Worcester, and the jail keeper is hereby directed to re- ceive them therein, and provide for them, and detain them there till the further order of this Congress or [the] House of Representatives of this colony. Ordered, Thai Mr. Phillips be appointed to acquaint General Wash- ington with the proceedings of this Congress, with regard to Daniel Green, lately conveyed to Concord jail, and the reasons thereof; and desire his excellency to take such further order concerning him as his wisdom i n.-i \ direct. Ordered, That the president, Mr. Gill, and Mr. Gerry, be a com- mittee to return the thanks of this Congress to the Rev. Mr. Gordon, for his attendance and acceptable services to this Congress as their chaplain. 1775 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 50] Ordered, That the president, Mr. GUI, and Mr. Gerry, be i com- mittee to return th>- thanks of tin- Congress to the proprietors of the meeting-house for the use of it, < 1 u r 1 1 1 lt the session of this Conj r< Ordered, That the present president, (Col. Lincoln,) Mr. Gill, and Mr. Gerry, be a i oittee to return the thank- of this Congress to the Hon. Jamea Warren, Esq., for his faithful services as president of the ( ',.ii f r< — . R< >,)/rul t Thai the committee of supplies l> build a number of whale-fa for the service of the public, therefore, Resolved, that the committee of supplies be, and berebj arc directed, to deliver to Capt. Briant Mor- ton, "r order, t<> be bj said Morton delivered to said Preble and Free- man, such a quantity of nails and provisions as they think will l>e necessarj to complete the building said boats. The Congress then adjourned to Wednesdaj next, at i ight o'clock, A. M. Wednesday, Julv 19, IT 3 Col. Easton being admitted, requested that a committee be appoint- ed to consider the necessitj of drawing on the treasurj tor the sum of twelve hundred pounds, said to be due to his regiment at Ticonderoga. (>n a motion made, Ordered, that Deacon Fisher, Doct Taylor, and Mr. Gill, !"• a committee for that purpose, and that thej be directed, in case they cannot report to this Congress, to make report to the next I [ouse oi Etepresentatn es. On a motion made and seconded, that the Congress be dissolved, the question was put, and it passi d in the affirmative. The Congress was accordingly dissolved. s \Ml i:i. FREEM W Secretary. .) O i: R N A L S ..I T J I E C O 31 M I T T E E or S A I E I Y AM. OK THE COMMITTEE OF SUPPLIES OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS .'► 1774—1775. .1 or II N A L. V>\ i Mini: 2, I " " 1 At a meeting of the committee of safety, at the house of Cap1 Sted- man, in Cambridge, November 2, 1774, Wednesday : I'n tent — 1 1 "ii. John Hancock, Esq., chairman, Col. Orne, .Mr. \\ son, Col. Palmer, .Mr. JJewns ('apt. Heath, Doct. Warren, I)'"' Church, Capt. White, John Pigeon : Voted, That Jolm Pigeon be clerk of this committee. Voted, 'That it be recommended to the committee of supplies, to pro- cure, a> soon as may be, :{•">•"» barrels of pork, "nil barrels ■>!' floui . 20 tier- ces of rice, 300 bushels of pease ; and thai there !><■ deposited of them, in Worcester, 200 barrels of pork, Iimi barrels of flour, 150 bushels "I pease: ami, at Concord, 155 barrels of pork, 300 barrels of il"ur. tierces of rice, and |.">n bushels of pease. Adjourned to meet oext Tuesday, ten o'clock, at Capt Stedm V'\ I Mill i; S, 1774. At a meeting of the committees of safet) and of supplies at the ho ofCapt. Stedman, Tuesdaj the Bth of November, 1" I Present — Doct. Warren, Doct. Church, Capt, White, Capt. Heath, Mr. Devens, Col. Palmer, Mr. Watson, J. Pigeon, committet of safety: Col. Lee, Deacon Cheever, Mr. Gill, Mr. Hall, Col. Lincoln, commit' ht of supplii Voted, unanimously, 1>\ the committee of safety, that the commil ! of supplies be advised to procure all the arm- and ammunition the) ran. at the neighboring provinces on the continent and. that it is • commended, that the committee of supplies do, and ma) with safety, engage to pa) for the same, <>n the arrival here of said arm- and am- munition. Voted, That the committees adjourn lo Mi Whitteinore's, in Charlestown, to mi el next Tue d i) at U n o < lo 54 506 COMMITTEES OF SAFETY AND SUPPLIES. [Dec. 20, November 15, 1774. At a meeting of the committees of safety and supplies, at Mrs. Whit- temore's, in Charlestown, on Tuesday, 15th November, 1774 : Present^- Doct. Warren, Doct. Church, Col. Palmer, Mr. Devens, Mr. Watson, Col. Orne, Mr. White, J. Pigeon, committee of safety : Col. Lee, Col. Lincoln, Deacon Cheever, Mr. Gill, committee of sup- plies : Voted, unanimously, that Mr. Gill be desired to apply to Mr. Wil- liam Powell, to get seven large pieces of cannon, on the best terms he can ; and, that said Gill and Mr. Benjamin Hall be desired to get them out of Boston to some place in the country, in such manner as they may think most prudent. December 20, 1774. At a meeting of the committees of safety and supplies, at the house of Mrs. Whittemore, of Charlestown, on Tuesday, the 20th of Decem- ber, 1774 : Present — John Hancock, Esq., Col. Orne, Col. Heath, Capt. White, Doct. Church, Doct. Warren, Mr. Watson, Col. Palmer, J. Pigeon, coynmittce of safety : Col. Lee, Deacon Cheever, Mr. Gill, Mr Hall, committee of supplies : Voted, That the committee of supplies endeavor to procure the fol- lowing articles, viz. : 200 spades, 150 Iron shovels, 150 pick-axes, 1000 six quart iron pots, 200 bill hooks, 1000 wooden mess bowls, 1 tenant saw, sieves, cartridge paper, tin cases, tubes, drills, hand mal- lets, drawing knives, gunner's quadrants, and fuses, as much as they think necessary of each of those articles, to which the quantity is not annexed. Voted, unanimously, that Doct. Warren, Doct. Church, and the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., be a committee to inspect the commissa- ries' stores, in Boston, and report what surgeon's stores and stores of other kind arc there. Voted, unanimously, that the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Doct. War- ren, and Mr. Gil), lie a committee to write a letter to Henry Gardner, Esq., directing him to draft a letter to the collectors and constables, requesting them to make immediate payments of the taxes for 1773 and 1774, and all other province money in their hands. Voted, That the committees adjourn to meet next Wednesday, at eleven o'clock, ai Mrs. Whittemore's, in Charlestown. 1774.] COMMITTEES OF suT/r WD si ppi i; .1 v m \k\ 5 1775 At a meeting of the committees of safety and supplie house of Mrs. Whittemore, "i Charlestown, <>n Thursday, the 5th of Janua- ry, !"•"> Present — John Hancock, Esq., Doct Warren, Mi W it ( Heath, J. Pigeon, committet ty: Col. I tf r. Gill, !>■ Cheever, Mr II ill. Col. Lincoln, committet oj -uji/i/it> : Voted, That tlir last vote at the meeting on the 20th ultimo, where- in a committee was appointed to urn.- ;i letter to Henrj (i trdner, Esq , directing him to write t" the collectors and constables, requesting im- mediate payment of the taxes for 1":! and I"" I. and all other province debts, be reconsidered, which \\a> done, and, Voted, that it Bubside, and tli.it said Gardner receive the t ixes, &c, when brought t<> him. Voted, That Doct Warren I"- desired to wait "ii Col. Robinson, to desire him to deliver to any person Deacon Cheever -hall send, two brass cannon, and two seven inch mortars and beds, and, that Mr \\ liam Dawes be desired to deliver to said Cheever, one pair of b cannon, and. that the said Cheever procure carriage a for said cannon, or any other cannon that require them; that the battering cannon nazes be carried to the cannon at Waltham, and, that the cannon and carriages remain there till further ord< I inl, That the committees adjourn, and meet at this place on the lasl Wednesdaj in this month, eleven o'clock, but if storm j the next fair day. .1 wi \x\ 25, I" 75. \i a m , eting of I of safetj and supplies, at the house of Mrs. Whittemore, of Charlestown, on Wednesday, the 25th of J uar) , I" "» . Present — Doct. Warren, Mr. Watson, I >• icon Palmer, Mr. Devens, Capt. White, Col. Orne, .1. Pigeon, commiltei of safety: Mr. Gill, Deacon Cheever, Mr. Hall, Col. Liucoln, committei oj supplies : Voted, That all the cannon, mortars, cannon halls and shells, be de- posited at the towns of Worcester and Concord, in the same propor- tion as the provisions are to be deposited. Voted, unanimously, thai two ten inch mortars I"- provided, and also, two howitzers be provided, together with a suitable quantity ol shells, by the committee of supplies I oted, unanimously, that the committee of supplies endeavor to pro- cure the following articles, viz, 200 axes handled and ground com- plete, 50 wheelb irrows. 508 COMMITTEES OF SAFETY AND SUPPLIES. [Feb. 13, Voted, unanimously, that Deacon Cheever settle the account with Mrs. Whittemore, for charges of entertainment at her house, pay the same, and exhibit his account to the next Congress. Voted, That the two committees adjourn, and meet next Friday week, at one o'clock, at Capt. Stedman's, of Cambridge, and dine to- gether, and, that Mr. Watson bespeak a dinner and room. February 3, 1775. At a meeting of the committee of safety and committee of supplies, at the house of Capt. Ebenezer Stedman, on Friday, the 3d of Febru- ary : Present — The Hon. John Hancock, Mr. Watson, Col. Palmer, Capt. White, Col. Orne, Col. Heath, Mr. Devens, committee of safety : Col. Lee, Col. Lincoln, Deacon Cheever, Mr. Gill, and Mr. Hall, com- mittee of supplies : Voted, unanimously, that the six pounders that were formerly voted to be procured, be passed by. Voted, unanimously, that the two pieces of brass cannon in the care of Capt. Robinson, and the two pieces of [cannon] that were taken out of Boston, be included in the sixteen that were voted. Voted, unanimously, that the chairman of [the committee of] sup- plies be directed to report to the Congress their transactions, since their appointment, and, that this report be made to-morrow forenoon. 1 February 13, 1775. At a meeting of the committee of safety and the committee of sup- plies, at Capt. Stedman's, at Cambridge, on Monday, February 13, IMMp I / i a and Dorchester, and if matters are Bettled without, Baid field pieces are to be returned !•> said Robinson l'i bbi mi 21, l " At a meeting "i" the committee of safety, and committee of sup- plies, at the bouse of Capt. Nathan Adam , in Charlestown, Tueadaj, February 21, 1 775 : Present — Hon. John. Hancock, Docl Joseph Warn a, Docl Church, Mr. Watson, Col. Heath, .Mr. Devens, Col. Orne, committet fety: Mr. Gill, Mr. Cheever, Mr. Gerry and Col. Lincoln, eommHtet oj Voted, unanimously, by both committees, that the committee of -iippl i. - do procure ten tons of brimstone, provided, it can be bad on tin- condition ; that the c< nittee of supplies eng ige to paj there- for, when the present owner shall have opportunit) to sell the same, or that it shall be returned in six months if uot used, and if used, that it shall then !)«■ paid tor. Voted, unanimously, by the committee of safety, thai the commit- tee of supplies purchase all kinds of warlike Btores, sufficient for an army <>t fifteen thousand men to take the field. Voted, unanimously, thai the powder that is now at Concord \>>- r. - imi\ ed to Leicester. Voted, unanimously, that the committee of supplies get fifteen thousand canteens. I 4ed, That Docts. Warren and Church be a committee to bring in an inventory of whal is necessary in the waj of their profession, for the aboi e army t<> take the field. Voted, That these committees adjourn to to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock, in this place. Fj bri un 22, 1 775. \i a meeting of the committee of safety, and the committee «>i supplies, Wednesday morning, February 22, 1775 Present— Hon. John Hancock, < Sol. < hrne, ( Sol. Heath, Capt W bite, Mr. Watson, Mr. Devens, Mr. Pigeon, Doct. Warren and D Church, committ* of safety: Col. Lincoln, Mr. Cheever, Mr. Gerry and Mr. Gill, of the cotnmitte* oj supplu Voted, That the committee of supplies procure one hundred bell tents, for arm- 510 COMMITTEES OF SAFETY AND SUPPLIES. [Feb. 23, Voted, That the committee of supplies procure one thousand field tents complete, for the soldiers. Voted, That the committee of supplies procure ten tons of lead balls, in addition to what were formerly voted. Voted, That said committee employ a number of men to make cart- ridges for fifteen thousand men, for thirty rounds. Voted, That said committee purchase three hundred bushels of beans or peas, more than formerly ordered. Also, that they purchase twenty hogsheads of molasses: also, 150 quintals of salt fish: also, two carpenters' chests of tools complete. Voted, That Mr. John Pigeon be the commissary of stores. Voted, That Mr. Abraham Watson, on the arrival of more troops, take possession of the province arms, now at the college, and send them to Worcester. Voted, That the province arms, now at Boston and Roxbury, be re- moved by Moses Gill, Esq., to AVorcester. Voted, unanimously, by both committees, that, on certain intelli- gence, or such as appears to the committee to be such, of the arrival of the reenforcements coming to General Gage, that then the commit- tee appointed to assemble the Congress, be desired to despatch cou- riers to assemble the Congress immediately. Voted, That the committees adjourn to this place, to meet to-mor- row morning, at forty-five minutes after 7 o'clock : and that when the committees meet to transact business after the arrival of the reen- forcements to General Gage, it be at Capt. Stedtnan's at Cambridge. February 23, 1775. At a meeting of the committee of safety and the committee of sup- plies, February ~:$, 1775 : Present — Hon. John Hancock, Col. Ornc, Capt. White, Doct. Church, Mr. Devens, Mr. Watson, Doct. Warren, Mr. Pigeon, eoi/i- mittee of safety: Col Lincoln. Mr. Gerry, Mr. Cheever and Mr. Gill, commitU < of supplu : Voted, Thai Doct. Church, Mr. Gerry and John Pigeon, be a com- mittee to draft a letter to the commanding officers of t he militia, and the commanding officers of the minute men through the province, to assemble one fourth part of the militia through the province on receipt of this letter. Voted, That <-ne hundred of each of the letters be printed, and two hundred of the resolves of Congress, relating to the committee of safe- ty assembling the militia. !".-,.] COMMITTEES OF SAFETY IND SUPPLIES 511 Voted, Thai M Gill, Esq., and Doct Church, !>>• ■ committer draft a It- 1 1 . r to each member of Congress, to require hia attendance direct!) on receipt of said letters I ,)/n/, l.\ the two committees, that the folio* ing colonels have each two field pieces put into their hands, bj the commitl viz. : Col. Gardner of Cambridge, Col. Mitchel of Bridgewater, I Warren of Plymouth, Col. Heath <>f Roxbury, Col. Ward •>!' Shr. bury, Col. Foster of Brookfield, Col. Robinson ol Don ter, and two for the use of the ar tiller) company ol Boston, latelj commanded :•. Major Paddock. I ted, Thai Mr. Gerrj and Doct. Church, be a committee t'> draft a letter to the above colonels, relative to the above cannon. Voted, That the committee of supplies purcha enty hogsheads of rum, and send them to * kmcord. Voted, That Doct Warren be desired to apply to the. companj for- merly under the command <>i' Major Paddock, and know how many of them maj be depended on, officers and men, to form an artillerj com- pany, when the constitutional army of the province shall take the field, and that report be made without loss of time. Voted, That Mr. Cheever and .Mr. Devens procure couriers to c irry letters to the several colonels who are appointed to have the '-.[re ol the sixteen field pieces, and get an answer, and bring t<> the committee <>f supplies. Voted,Tha\ C >ls. Gardner and Heath be desired to procure, by bor- rowing, field piect - to learn their companies the exercise of them. l'l i : l ; i \i;\ 24, I " 75. \. a meeting of the committee of safetj , and the committee of -up- plie-, February 2 1, 1775 Present — Hon. John Hancock, Col. Orne, Mr. Devens, Capt. White, Mr. Watson, J. Pigeon, Doct. Warren, < !ol. Heath, committet of safety : Col. Lincoln, David Cheever, Esq., Mr. Gerry and Mr. Gill, committet oj supplit s •' Voted, Thai whal artillery companies are formed in the regiments, shall consist of thirty-two privates. l )ted, That the committee of supplies procure the following arti- cles, and send the same to Concord, viz. : 1000 candles; l' 1 ' 1 hhds. salt; a suitable supply of w len spoons; 20 casks of raisins 20 bushels of oatmeal 1500 yards Russia linen; also 2 barrels Lisbon oil c. casks of Malaga wine, and 9 casks of Lisbon wine, to I- lodged ai Stow. 512 COMMITTEES OF SAFETY AND SUPPLIES. [March 7, Voted, That Doct. Warren, Doct. Church, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Cheever, Col. Orne and Mr. Devens, make inquiry where fifteen doctor's chests can be got, and on what terms, and report at the next meeting. Voted, unanimously, that the clerk of the committee of safety, in behalf of said committee, sign the letters to Col. Warren, Col. Ward, Col. Mitchell and Col. Foster, relating to two pieces of cannon to be put under the care of each of those gentlemen. Voted, unanimously, that Mr. John Goddard, of Brookline, be wag- gon master for the army, and that Capt. White inform him of his choice by the province. Voted, That Mr. Pigeon, Capt. White and Mr. Watson, be a com- mittee to consider how many couriers shall be chosen to go to the sev- eral colonels through the province for returns of militia men, and the minute men, and report what road each courier shall go. Voted, That eight field pieces, with the shot and cartridges, and two brass mortars with their bombs, be deposited at Leicester, with Col. Henshaw. Voted, That these committees adjourn to Tuesday, the 7th of March, [to meet] at the house of Capt. Stedman of Cambridge, at ten o'clock. March 7, 1775. At a meeting of the committee of safety, and the committee of sup- plies, at the house of Capt. Stedman of Cambridge, on Tuesday, the 7th of March, 1775 : Present — Hon. John Hancock, Doct. Church, Doct. Warren, Mr. Watson, Mr. Palmer, Capt. White, Mr. Devens, Col. Heath, Mr. Pigeon, Mr. Adams, Hon. Thomas dishing, Esq., co?nmittee of safety : Col. Lee, Mr. Gill, Deacon Cheever, Col. Lincoln, committee of sup- plies : Voted, That the committee of supplies be directed to make a draft on Henry Gardner, Esq., the receiver general, in favor of Doct. Jo- sc|)h Warren and Duct. Benjamin Church, for five hundred pounds, lawful money, to enable them to purchase such articles for the provin- cial chests of medicine as cannot be got on credit, to be deducted from the provincial tax payable by the town of Boston. Voted, That what tin- seven hundred barrels of flour formerly voted, fall short of two hundred weight each, be made up to the quantity of fourteen hundred weight of flour. Voted, That the committees adjourn, to meet at Capt. Stedman's in Cambridge, at time o'clock on Tuesday next. 1775.] COMMITTEES OF SAFETT AND SUPPU1 513 March II, I " " . At b meeting of th<- committees of Baf< tj and supplies, at ih< of Capt Stedman, Tuesday, 14th March, l".~>: Present — Hon. John Hancock, Col. Heath, Capt. White, Col. P mcr, .Mr. Devens, Col. Orne, M Watson, Mr. Pigeon, Hon Thomas Cushing and .Mr. Samuel Adams, tommitttt of safety: Deacon < \. r. Mr. Gerry and Mr. QUI, eommittei of supplies: I ted, That watches be kepi otlj al places where the provin- cial magazines are kept, and that the clerk write on the Bubjecl to< Barrett of Concord, Hem G Esq. of Stow, and < Timo- thy Bigelow of Worcester, leaving it k> them how man) the wat< shall consist I ted, Thai the members on these committees, belonging to the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge and Eloxbury, !>-• desired, at the province expense, to procure al least two men for a watch every night, to be placed in each of those towns, and that Baid members be in readiness nd couriers forward to tin' town- where the magazines are placed, when sallies arc made from the army by night. 1 Voted, That t he committees adjourn to [meet on] the 23d of this month, at Concord. M m;. ii 23, I " 75 At a meeting of the committees of Bafety and supplies, at the house ..!' Mr. Taylor, at Concord, the 23d March, !"'•"> Present — Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Col. Orne, Col. Heath, Capt W'hii. I> icon Palmer, Mr. Watson, Mr. Devens, Mi Pigeon, com- miiin of safely : Deacon Cheever, Col. Lincoln, Col. Lee, Mr Gerry, Mi. Gill, ' t'liiutitti i of supplu Voted, That a ton of muskel bullets now arrived at Concord, be there lodged with Col. Barrett. ' ■ 'ii iho fifleonlh ••! M Col. Bairott of ( .-I. ni numbei of faithful men t>> ^uir.l il Ion] mag izinea in thai town, '•■ * bei "i i. .nil-, in ' tint i- ■ mil night, on il"' nhorteil no and to provido co ilarm the neighboring tow of the BritUh ti i The follow from Plymouth i^ preaorvod on thi Gli - • ■ Pi i m h M leet n and commit! i eorreapoi iwn of Plymoul vent the peculiai I I iwn, and to im, "lull tlimk prop* r to din t u mouth 1 1 ding twolvc "r thirteoi I< llll. .1.1111. I 514 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [April 14, April 1, 1775. At a meeting of the committee of safety, at Concord, April 1, 1775, Voted, that the stores at Concord, and elsewhere, shall not be removed without written orders from the committee of safety. April 5, 1775. At a meeting of the committee of safety, at the house of Mr. Tay- lor, of Concord, on Wednesday, April 5, 17T5 : Present — Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Col. Palmer, Col. Heath, Capt. White, Mr. Watson, J. Pigeon, Mr. Devens : Voted, unanimously, that the committee of supplies do directly fur- nish this committee with an exact account, in writing, of all the pro- visions and stores, and the places of their disposition. Voted, That one piece of cannon be sent to Col. Mitchell of Bridg- water. April 14, 1775. At a meeting of the committee of safety at Concord, at the house of Mr. Taylor, on Saturday, April 14, 1775 : Present — Hon. John Hancock. Esq., Col. Heath, Capt. White, Mr. Devens, Col. Gardner, Mr. Watson, Mr. Palmer : Voted, That the cannon now in the town of Concord, be immedi- ately disposed of within said town, as the committee of supplies may direct. Voted, That the cannon powder now at Leicester be removed, one load at a time, to this town, and made into cartridges, under the direc- tion of the committee of supplies. N. B. Mr. Devens acted as clerk pro tempore. Col. Gardner this day was chosen as one of the committee of safety, instead of Deacon Fisher, who resigned, in consequence of the distance he lives. town, apprehensive of danger, have been on almost constant duty, without being able to at- tend to their private affairs : the consequence (if which must produce great distress, it" not ruin, unless they can be relieved. Another very peculiar circumstance attending us is, that in case we should !"■ attacked, no immediate aid can come to our assistance from the hack country, we being surrounded by a wilderness, extending Boveral miles, without} any inhabitants at all, and several more miles with very few and scattering ones. We, t lure lore, pray your consideration of these matters, and that you would ordi r the minute regiment under the command of Col. Cotton, to be posted ii ■'•■, and that proper provision be mule for them." •• We .irr, gentlemen, with great t," " Your very humble servants," "JOHN TORRE F, Chairman, per order of tin committet and selectmen nf the town of Plymouth." " To tin honorable the com "';/ for tht f the .1/ ir elscichcrc.'* 1775.] COMMITTEES OF SAFET1 IND SUPPU :,r, ii 17, 17" \t .i meeting of the committees of - ifety and supplii M I lor*B bouse, in Concord, on Monday, April I", 17" Present — Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Col. Heath, Col. Palmer, Capt. White, Mr. Devens, Col Gardner, Mr. v. ( .'. Orne and J. Pigeon, commit I I. e, Mr. Gill, Mi I rer, .Mr. Gerry and Col. Lincoln, c m nittt Voted, unanimously, that application b Capt. H tch, for captain of the artillerj company for B and ii it to Mr. Crafts, and sq on in order as the) stand in the comp also, ill it Capt. Robinson of Doi be applied to n of the company of Dorcl and that Mr. Newhall of I o be applied to ; that t hi n for the M rbl not ap- pointed until the Marblehead members m iquiry and report; that Timothy Bigelow be applied to ofthe^ com- pany ; that Mr. Thomas Wail of H tain of the company at Had] i • ', That two four pounders, now at C ted by the committee of supplies, and th < Barretl be desired to raise an artillery company, to join the army when raised, they to have no pay until the) join the army: and also thai an instructer for the use of the cannon be appointed, to be put directly in p Voted, unanimously, thai six pounds, lawful money, a month, b captain's pay in an artillery company, that the first and second lieuten- ant bavefour pounds, the lieutenant of fireworks to have three pounds, five shillings, that the sergeants have forty-two shillings per month ; the corporals thirty-eight shillings per month, the common men thirty-six shillings per month, the drummers and fifers thirty-eight shillings per month; also, that four shillings per week be allowed for their hoard. Voted, That when these committees adjourn, it be to Mr. Wetherby's, at the Black Horse, Menotomy, on Wednesday, at ten o'clock. 1 oted, Thai the lour -i\ pounders be transported to Groton, and put under the care of Col. Prescott. Voted, Thai two seven inch brass mortar- be transported to Acton, Voted, That the two committee: adjourn to Mr Wetherby's, at Menotomy, [ at ) ten o'clock \ikii I"-, \~~~> At a meeting of the committees of safety and supplies, on Tuesd the 18th of April, l" "> /»,, ent—Co\ Orne, Col. Palmer, Col Heath, Co G 516 COMMITTEES OF SAFETY AND SUPPLIES. [April 18, Devens, Mr. Watson, Capt. White, J. Pigeon, committee of safety : David Cheever, Esq., Mr. Gerry, Col. Lee, Col. Lincoln, committee of supplies : Voted, That the two brass two pounders, and two brass three pound- ers, be under the care of the Boston company of artillery, and of Capt. Robinson's [company.] [The following letter was sent to Capt. Timothy Bigelow.] Newton, April 17, 1775. Capt. Timothy Bigelmo : Sir : — The committee desired me to write you, to desire the favor of your company, next Wednesday, the 19th instant, at Mr. Wether- by's, at the Black Horse, in Menotomy, on business of great impor- tance. Sir, your most humble servant, J. PIGEON, Cleric. P. S. The committee meet at ten o'clock. Voted, That all the ammunition be deposited in nine different towns in this province ; that Worcester be one of them ; that Lancaster be one, (N. B. Col. Whitcomb is there :) that Concord be one ; and, that Groton, Stoughtonham, Stow, Mendon, Leicester, and Sudbury, be the others. 1 Voted, That part of the provisions be removed from Concord, viz. : 50 barrels of beef, from thence to Sudbury, with Deacon Plympton ; 100 barrels of flour, of which what is in the malt-house in Concord be part ; 20 casks of rice ; 15 hogsheads of molasses ; 10 hogsheads of rum ; 500 candles. \ ntcd, That there be, by the committee of supplies, provided, six ammunition carts, one to be in each town where a company of matros- ses is fixed. Voted, That one company of matrosses be stationed at Worcester; one at Concord; on*' at St. m^tit ■ mliain ; one at Stoughton ; one at Stow ; and, one at Lancaster. 3 Voted, That thirty-three rounds of round shot, thirty-three rounds of grape shot, and, thirty-three canisters of langrage, be provided and lodged with each of the twelve field pieces belonging to the province, (1) In the original journal the wordi " i"- another,"jire added to the name of each town. (9) The word " ditto" i« '. bi Fore the place di lignated for the station of the company. 1775.] ( OMMITTEES OF SAFET1 \M> SI PPUE8 ther with our hundred cartridges of powder, one hundred and teen tul es, one hundred wads, togeth< r with all necessarj Voted, Thai the towns of H I ucord, Stow, and 1. ter, I"- provided with two iron three pound cannon each. I ted, Thai four hundred and fiftj four-pound-cannon ball l"- car- ried t'r< mi Stoughtonham n- Sudbury. i ted, 'I'll .! one ton of grape shol be carried from Stoughtonham t" Sudburj . Voted, That one ton of three pound <•■ inon hall be carried from ditto to ditto. I oted, That one half of the two pound cannon hall, uow at Stough- tonham, exclusive of what is for the use of the matrosses, be carried t>> Sudburj . I oted, Thai tin- rote of the fourteenth instant, relating t" the pow- der being removed from Leicester t" Concord, be reconsidered, and, thai the clerk be directed to write to Col. B rrett, accordingly, and to desire he would not proceed in making it up in cartrid I oted, That one hall' of the musket carti idges be removed from Si to Groton. \'nt,il, That the muskets balls under the care of Col. Bari buried under ground, in some safe place, thai he hi- desired to do it, and to let tin commissary onlj be informed thereof. Voted, Thai the spades, pick-axes, bill-hooks, sh< u 9, hatch- ets, crows, and wheelbarrows, now at Concord, hi- divided, and one third remain in Concord, "in- thud at Sudbury, and "ill- third at Si Voted, That five hundred iron pots be deposited at Sudbury, five hundred at Concord, and one thousand al W ter. Voted, That the two thousand wooden bowls be deposited [in tl towns in the same proportion] as the pots; and the spoons in the -a me manner. Voted, That the fifteen thousand canteens be deposited [in the same manner ja- the ah<>\ e. Voted, That the weights and measures be put into the commissary's hand-. Voted, That two medicinal chests still remain at ( loncord, at tw<. dif- ferent parts of the town ; tin. lid chests al Sudbury, in different pari- of the town. -i\ do, at GrOtOU, Mendon, and StOW, two in earh town, and in di Hen nt places ; two ditto in Worcester, one in each part of the town: and, two m Lancaster, ditto; thai sixteen hundred yards of Russia linen be deposited in Beven parts, with the doctor's ch< 518 COMMITTEES OF SAFETY AND SUPPLIES. [April 20, that the eleven hundred tents be deposited in equal parts in Worces- ter, Lancaster, Groton, Stow, Mendon, Leicester, and Sudbury. Voted, That these committees adjourn to nine o'clock instead of ten. Voted, That the papers belonging to the committees be lodged with Mr. Abraham Watson. [The following letter was sent to Col. Barrett :] Newton, April 19, 1775. Col Barrett ; Sir : — The committee have directed me to inform you, that the can- non powder, which last Saturday you were desired to have removed from Leicester, one load at a time, and to make up into cartridges, they would not have you send for, unless you have already; but, if sent for, take care of it ; but do'nt make it into cartridges. I am, Sir, your humble servant, J. PIGEON, Clerk. [April 20, 1775.] [The following circular letter was sent to the several towns :] [Gentlemen : — The barbarous murders committed upon our inno- cent brethren, on Wednesday, the 19th instant, have made it absolute- ly necessary, that we immediately raise an army to defend our wives and children from the butchering hands of an inhuman soldiery, who, incensed at the obstacles they meet with in their bloody progress, and enraged at being repulsed from the field of slaughter, will, without the least doubt, take the first opportunity in their power, to ravage this de- voted county with fire and sword. We conjure you, therefore, by all that is sacred, that you give assistance in forming an army. Our all is at stake. Death and devastation are the certain consequences of delay. Every moment is infinitely precious. An hour lost may del- ude your country in blood, and entail perpetual slavery upon the few of our posterity who may survive the carnage. We beg and entreat, as you will aii>\ver to your country, to your own consciences, and above all, a- vou will answer to God himself, that you will hasten and encourage by all possible means, the enlistment of men to form the army, and send them forward to head quarters at Cambridge, with that expedition, which the vast importance and instant urgency of the affair demands.] 1 (1) The following letter WW tddreued by the committee of safety to the governments of tlio col- onics of New Hampshire mmI Connectii ut. "Oambbidge, April 20, 1775." ii v., Ini inj the I9lh in tanl | i dotachmenl of General Gnge's armj L775.] I OMMITTEE OF B \n:n sig \ 11:1 1 21, r At a meeting of the commit) ifety, April 21, 1775 the foil ing] t"< >r 1 1 1 of enlistment [was adopted:] I. A. I'>. do herebj solemn!) and enlist myself as a Boldiei in • Massachusetts service, from the day of my enlistment to the last daj of December next, unless the service Bhould admit of a disch marched into tier eountrj to I * [to a ■mall part teotJon of doing any in i, w itlioat an; prot • them < . until lli I Hill, although t ' . i . | * it our dot] t" • v n out utc... ■. to nr ii n would aflord oa all tba aaaiatanea la yotn I ihaJI I Mint oar brethren w to oni aid, ipplied with nil Gad to - ns ihall tend to the salvation of oar commoi Pororderofl Iter was ad G G U J I • • H - : "Cambi . : — The Ul . .\ , mil li and I think it of the ul . I • i i I think 1 doty ; til'lDg win i _■ lad t" know fn I: i itli theil • .li w ill alii I i for their re rah When 1 have n tt information, I will repaii t I . tin issuing i proclamation. I it the condition of adn ent, anil will prevent the good effi ots of n prod mi tUon intended to ng nil Lbe i 9"( eta from Boaton with all pos d. Ii yooi cy will . ind favor I ith an anawer, it u ill I ij me tin I ■■mi. [ have many things which I wish to aaj to yoor < I through tin' formalities wbioh I thought doe to youi rank, an " all 1 ill'iir-i, nml I ii me such opening, as I now think I onghl ml Hie in; il doing it, I bad of the vil \ mi, m Ii" I i jour ontire confidi I . ISEPH W IBM 520 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [April 21, of a part or the whole sooner, which shall be at the discretion of the committee of safety ; and, I hereby promise, to submit myself to all the orders and regulations of the army, and faithfully to observe and obey all such orders as I shall receive from any superior officer. Resolved, That there be immediately enlisted out of the Massachu- setts forces, eight thousand effective men, to be formed into companies to consist of a captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, one fifer, one drummer, and seventy rank and file; nine companies to form a regiment, to be commanded by a colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major ; each regiment to be composed of men suitable for the service, which shall be determined by a muster master or muster masters to be appointed for that purpose ; said officers and men to continue in the service of the province for the space of seven months from the time of enlistment, unless the safety of the province will admit of their being discharged sooner; the army to be under proper rules and regulations. Voted, That the field pieces be removed from Newburyport, and de- posited, for the present, in the hands of Capt. Dexter, of Maiden. Voted, that a courier be immediately despatched to Stoughton, to re- quire the immediate attendance of Col. Richard Gridley, and his son Scarborough Gridley, upon this committee. Voted, That a courier be sent to command the attendance of David Mason, now upon furlough in Salem. Voted, That Mr. Mason be ordered to provide one field piece, with every implement necessary for action, and proceed forthwith to pro- vide for the remainder, till the whole are in a thorough state of pre- paration, unless otherwise ordered : the cannon to be provided for are eight three-pounders, and three six-pounders. Voted, That orders be given to Capt. Dexter to conceal the can- non committed to his care, which was accordingly done. Voted, That the resolve above written be so far reconsidered, as that the companies, rank and file, consist of fifty men each, and that no further obligation be required of those companies who are adjudged to be firmly enlisted by their respective officers. Voted, That an establishment be proposed for the troops at an early day after the meeting of Congress. Ordered, That Mr. Pigeon, the commissary general, be directed to carry thirty-five barrels of pork, and an half barrel of hog's fat, from the town of Salem t" the town of Cambridge, by virtue of an order from Mr. William Bond. 1775.] I OMMITTEE OF B UT.n I ted, That the I officers be forthwith desired t<> maki return of such officers and soldiers as are already under suffi< gagements I in the M chusetts artnj \ bted, That the general offic< i - be desired, with all i in a list of such offic< they Bhall judge duly qualified to Berve as colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors, t>>r Buch a number of regiments as Bhall, with the officers and soldiers already ei make up an army of « • i i_ r 1 1 1 thousand men. Voted, That Major Bigelow !»■ applii to, to furnish ind horse to attend the surgeons, and convej medicim to their directions. A 11:11 11, \~~,~> I "/"/, That the commissary general be directed t" have th< belonging to the colonj removed from all the sea |">rt towns with all ible -j" 1 'I I ted, That Capt. Foster be ordered to take the care < »t" t h. ■ cannon and intrenching tools at Mr. Richardson's tavern. Voted, That the commissar 3 general be directed t<> inspect the in- trenching tools, and, if any an- out of order, to see them, with all possible speed, repaired. 1 />' T G W rd be desired, immediately, to direct all the field the regiments of minute men now in Cambridge, i" attend the committee of safetj at their chamber at M ' ing - bou • 1 w ah ill.- 1 child n n, willi .ill tin . ondition that II II, on il. tli.ii they ^^ 1 J I nol . within Hi.- town, Rhoi • Hi. U '•• cannol bul • willing I 1 ■ 522 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [April 26, Resolved, That the inhabitants of Chelsea and Maiden be, and here- by are, absolutely forbidden, to fire upon, or otherwise injure any sea- men belonging to the navy under the command of Admiral Graves, unless fired upon by them, until the said inhabitants of Chelsea and Maiden receive orders from this committee or the general of the pro- vincial forces so to do. April 25, 1775. Resolved, That the three cannon now at Marlborough, be brought to the town of Waltham, and mounted on the carriages prepared for them, till further orders. Resolved, That Col Freeman, of Sandwich, be directed to take such a number of men as may be sufficient for the purpose, and secure the whale and such other boats at Cape Cod, as may be of use to this colony. Resolved, That Col. Paul Dudley Sergeant, of New Hampshire, be desired, forthwith, to recommend ten persons belonging to the colony of New Hampshire, to receive beating orders for the enlistment of per- sons belonging to said colony, until they are discharged by this colo- ny, or taken into the service of the colony of New Hampshire. Resolved, That it be recommended to the Provincial Congress, to reduce the regiments so far, as that the companies consist of fifty-nine men, including officers ; and also, that they allow only two lieutenants to a company. Resolved, That be ordered, with the troop of horse under his command, to proceed forward, as an escort to the honorable members of the Continental Congress on their way to Philadelphia, until they are met by an escort from the colony of Connecticut. April 26, 1775. Voted, That an express be sent to General Preble, at Falmouth, de- siring his attendance at Cambridge, as a general officer, or in his pri- vate capacity. Ordered, That fifteen of the prisoners at Concord, be removed from thence to Worcester gaol immediately. Upon a motion made, Voted, that the secretary of this committee this colony, ai many desired lomething may be done t" hold them together, until the resolve of your Congresa n known, when we are ready and deairooi they should he discharged from us, and put iiihI't inch command ai yon lhall direct. Colonel Sergeant has hecn ko kind as to afford his utmost aaiiatance in concluding this matter." " Wo arc, &c. Sir." 1775.] COMMITTEE OF S \n:Y\ >2 I be directed and empowered lo sign an) papers or writings in behall this commits e. Voted, Tliat Mr. Ephraira Jon.-, the gaol keeper of Wore. directed to receive fifteen prisoners from the gaol in Com >rd. Voted, That this committee recommend it to the Provincial < - press, that the) make an establishment for such u number of armoi as they may judge necessarj for the forces belonging to this colony. Resolved, That as many men as are not already enlisted, and incline to remain in the army, immediately enlist, in order that it may be certained what number ma) be Btill necessary to be raised in i town to complete the complement of troops for tin- colony, and to for- ward to each town their remaining qu ' md the men thai may now enlist may be assured, thai thej shall have libertj to be under the command of Buoh officers as ma) be appointed l>> the committee of safety, until the particular regiment and companies arc completed; and the Utm e will he taken to make every soldier happy in be- inf his excel- lency General G precepts for calling sembly. Doct. Warren was appointed to _ r i\r the sentiments of this commit "ii Lord Dartmouth's circular letter to the other governments. I ted, Thai Mr. President Langdon I"-, and he hereby i- appoint chaplain of the arraj in Cambridge pro tempore, and that be be fur- nished with a copy of this \ o M B ''.vii [was] appointed to inch repairs to the cannon, at Waltham, as may be judged proper. 'liriil. That the commissary general be directed to provide quar- ters for about one hundred and fifty men from Connecticut, under the command of Major Brown. Voted. That it is the sense of tin- <• mittee, that no enlisting or- der be hereafter given out, unless a written order is received from the respective colonel-. \'«t<■ directed to attend this committee immediately, and that the secretary write them accordingly. Upon information that the supplies of powder ami ball, at Water- town, were in the keeping of the commissary general, Voted, thai General Ward be desired to apply to the commissary i'< » r snch a quan- tity of said stores as he maj have occasion tor. Pored, That Doct Isaac Foster be directed and empowered to re- move all the Bick and wounded, whose circumstances will admit of it, into the hospital, and to supply proper beds and bedding, clothing, victual-, and furniture, with every other article he shall judge proper for said hospital, and that this be a sufficient order for him to draw on the commissary for such articles as he can supply, and to draw orders upon the commissary lor the payment of whatever expenses are neces- Barj tor procuring the above mentioned articles. Voted,Thai the secretary desire Messrs. Halls, printers, at Salem, to print three hundred letters, to be sent to the several town- in the province. Capt. Benedict Arnold, with a company, being armed here from Connecticut, Ordered, that the commissary general be directed to pro- vide suitable quarters tor said company. Upon a motion made, I «/"/, that orders 1"' given to General Thomas for - - ■ i / 1 1 1 _r Governor Hutchinson's papers. A letter from General Thomas, respecting some companies of min- ute men at Dartmouth, was read, whereupon, Voted, that Col. Orne, Col. Palmer and Col. Gardner, be a sub-commnt. e, to consider and give direction- relative to the general's request Letters from Col. Hancock, now at Worcester, 1 were read ; where- upon, Voted, that four reams of paper be immediately ordered to Wor- cester, by Mr. Barber, for the use of Mr. Thomas, printer, he to be accountable. (1) Th« II. .ii. John Hancock, on lii< Journey t.. Philadelphia, t<> attend the < tWoi ■ , awaiting the arrival of hie colli igui -. ■ .1 Ua, and the attendance of an escort. One of hii letters to the committee U print o ipplythepi i iahThomaa. The following re- ipointmenti were m ide during the rame »ieit ! ■ • u , \ I n 94, 175 "GstmjM Hon of your diapoaiUon to promote thi ' «• the rar coontonanoe and good offices in f&voi ol Mr. Edward Craft*, ol l ' ■ ' - that hi ■ aaod of a companj I know him w II; b< to cape I 528 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [April 29, A letter from Medford was read ; whereupon, Voted, that the com- pany now raised there, hold themselves in readiness to march at a min- ute's warning, remaining in Medford till further orders. The sub-committee on General Thomas' letter, reported, that it be ordered that Capt. Nathaniel Richmond, with any other captain that can bring into the camp fifty-six men, including sergeants, that will enlist into the service of this colony, shall have the encouragement given by the Provincial Congress, and shall immediately enter into pay upon their enlistment : [that] the critical situation of our public affairs demands the utmost exertions of the friends of America ; and should remissness now appear, the consequences may be fatal. Voted, That Mr. Watson be desired to make inquiry with respect to the colony arms not in use, and that Capt. Goodridge, of the Indian company, have such a number as is desired. Voted, That Col. Gerrish be desired to send Major Dunbar, now a prisoner at head quarters, to Woburn, under a strong guard, and order him to be there kept in safe custody, till further orders from this com- mittee. Voted, That Capt. Hill and company be furnished with provisions at any tavern they see fit to call at, in conveying Major Dunbar to a place of safety, at the expense of the province. Voted, That Capt. Brown, of Watertown, be desired, upon any ad- vice of the troops coming out, to order the cannon to a place of safe- ty, and, for that purpose, be empowered to press horses, cattle, &,c. your attention to this. It will give great satisfaction to Mr. Adams and myself, and to the people of this county : do gratify us. I also beg leave, you would recommend to the notice of General Heath, in my name, Mr. Nathaniel Xazro, of this town, who is desirous of being noticed in the army. lie is lively, active, and capable. My respects to Heath, and all friends. Pray General Heath to take notice of this recommendation. God bless you. Adieu." " I am your real friend, JOHN HANCOCK." " To the Committee of S;>,< " Worcester, April 2G, 1775." " Gentlemen : — Having had the honor to command the Cadet company at I'oston, and knowing the ability of those ivho ! that corps, I cannot withhold mentioning, and recommending to the notice of yon and i I o ers, Mr. John Smith, and .Mr. John Avery, two excellent good soldiers, and i will advance the reputation of the province in that department of command where they rqaj be placed. I therefore most strongly recommend them, and earnestly pray they may be noticed. I will he at tor their conduct. There are several other gen- ii, .mm i, el' that corps, wlin may lie useful, particularly .Mr. Brent and Mr. Cunningham. Do notice Messrs. Smith and Avery. They will he useful. I set out to-morrow morning. God bless you. Why don'l you send to -Mr. Crafts. Praj improve him. lie is a good man, and one on whom you may depend. Don't miss him." " I am your real friend, JOHN HANCOCK." 1775.] COMMITTEE OF SAPET1 529 \ii:ii :{i>. 1".", Capt. Benedict Arnold, captain of a company from Connecticut, at- tended, and reported, that there are at Ticonderoga, 80 pieces of heavj cannon, 20 pieces of brass cannon, from 1 to I* pounders, I n to 12 mor- tars : at Skeenborough, on the South Bay, 3 or 4 pieces of brass cannon ; the fort, in a ruinous condition, is supposed to have about Hi or 1"> men, a number of small arms and considerable Btores; and thai there is a sloop of 70 or 80 tons on the lake. Voted, That an order be given to Major Bigelow, desiring him to have the province arms, either in Worcester or Concord, immediately brought to this tow n. Voted, That Mr. John Chandler William- be din cted to attend this committee, thai he may be employed as an express. Voted, That the committee appointed yesterday, to consider the state of the town of Boston, be now desired to sit, and form a plan li>r the liberation of the inhabitants. The sub-committee on the removal of the inhabitants from Boston, reported, which report was accepted, and Doct. Warren, Col. Palmer and Col. Orne, were appointed to wait upon the Colore-- with the proposals. Voted, That two offices be opened to deliver permits for such per- sons as desire to enter Boston with their effi Voted, That Col. Samuel Gerrish be appointed to the office [of granting permits,] at the house of Mr. John Greaton of Roxbury. Voted, That Col. William Henshaw be appointed to the office of granting permits, at the sign of the sun. in Charlestown. Whereas, proposals h Lve been mad.' b) General Gage to the inhabit- ants of the town of Boston, lor the removal of their persons and effects into the country, excepting their arm- and ammunition Re- solved, that any of the inhabitants of this colony, who mat incline to go into the town of Boston with then effects, tire-arm- and ammuni- tion excepted, have toleration for thai purpose, and that the) be pro- tected from ;m\ injury or insult whatsoever This resolve to be im - diately published. The following order- were delivered to Col. Samuel (ierri-h — You an- herein empowered, agreeably to a vote of the Provincial Congress, to grant liberty, thai any of the inhabitants of this colony, who maj incline to go into Boston with their effects, fire-arms and ammunition excepted, have toleration for thai purpose; and thai the) be protected from anj injur) or insult whal oev< r, in 'hen re val to 530 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 2, Boston. The following form of a permit is for your government, the blanks in which you are to fill up with the names and number of the persons, viz. : Permit A. B., the bearer hereof, with his family, consisting of persons, with his eifects, fire-arms and ammunition excepted, to pass unmolested into the town of Boston, between sunrise and sunset. By order of the Provincial Congress. JOSEPH WARREN, clerk pro tern. Voted, That Andrew Craigie be appointed to take care of the medi- cal stores, and to deliver them out as ordered by this committee ; and that the secretary make out his commission accordingly. Voted, That it be recommended by this committee to the council of war, that Mr. Joseph Pierce Palmer be appointed to the post of quar- ter master general of the army. May 1, 1775. Voted, That the quarter master general be directed to clear that chamber in Stoughton College, occupied by S. Parsons, Jr., for a printing office for Messrs. Halls. Whereas, many of our brethren of the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island are now with us, to assist in this day of public and gen- eral distress, in which we are all deeply concerned : and, whereas, our brethren of said colonies have brought with them some of the paper currencies of their respective colonies, which have not, of late, had a currency with us, and for want of which, our common interests may greatly suffer : Resolved, That said paper currencies shall, from and after the date hereof, be paid and received within this colony, in all payments, to all intents and purposes, in the same proportion to silver, as the same are paid and received within the respective colonies by which the same have been issued. Resolved, That Col. Palmer be a committee to inquire into the mat- ter, [to find] what colonies have such currencies, to alter this resolve agreeably thereto, and to present the same to the honorable Congress for their consideration. [ Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Gordon have free access to the prisoners detained at Worcester and elsewhere, and that all civil magistrates and others be aiding and assisting him in examining and taking deposi- tions of them and others. | May 2, 1775. Doct. Warren, Col. Palmer and Col. Gardner, [were appointed] a 1775.] COMMITTEE OF SAFETY Bub-committee, to confer with General Ward, relative i" the prop made by Col. Arnold of Connecticut, for an attempt upon Ticonde- roga. A Dumber of recantations, from the town of Marblehead, hai been laid before the committee, for their opinion, ae to the proprietj of recen ing them : Voted, That it is the opinion of tin- committee, that Baid recanta- tions be received, and that the persons making them, be made acquain- ted with the proclamation latelj issued l>\ Congress, respecting those [who] may incline to nret into Ibi-ton : ami that it lie recommended to the inhabitants of this province, that they be protected from all injuria insults whatsoever, so long a- they adhere to their several recantations, now before this committee, ami continue to assist and abide bj their country, and the inhabitants of Marblehead in particular, in the im- portant dispute between Great Britain and America. Voted, That two muster masters be appointed, one at the camp in Cambridge, and one at the camp in Roxbury. Voted, That General Thomas be desired to give such orders, re- specting the whale boats at Falmouth, and other ports southward, as he may judge proper. Votnl, That the .Massachusetts Coimress he desired to give :m order upon the treasurer, for the immediate payment of one hundred pounds in cash; and also to order 200 pounds of gunpowder, 200 pounds of lead balls, and 1U00 Hints, and also ten horses, to be delivered unto ('apt Benedict Arnold, for the use of this colony, upon a certain Bervice approved of by the council of war : said Arnold to be accountable for the same, to this or some future Congress, or house of representatives of this colony. Voted, That two companies be raised in Braintree, for the immedi- ate defence of the sea coast of said town ; the said companies to be joined to such regiment in future as they may he ordered to, should there be occasion, or discharged from service, as soon as the public good would admit of it: and that Col. Thayer be furnished with two sets of enlisting papers for this purpose. 1 Voted, That General Thomas be, and he hereby is duct ted and em- powered to stop the trunks mentioned to be in Col. Taylor's hand-. until this committee -end some proper persons to examine their con- tents (l) Thii vute wi) reconsidered May Ith. (2 l< iter rrom Oom rat 1 Mnj ■ ■ ■ 1 1 BMXM : — In COO • 532 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 2, Resolved, That agreeably to a vote of Congress, General Thomas be directed and empowered to appoint suitable persons, to accompany such people into the country as may be permitted to bring their effects into Boston, upon the conditions mentioned in the proclama- tions posted up, and that General Thomas give such general orders as he may judge the common safety requires. Voter/, That Col. Arnold, appointed to a secret service, be desired to appoint two field officers, captains, &c, to be allowed the same pay during their continuance in service as is established for officers and privates of the same rank, who are ordered by the Congress of Massa- chusettss Bay to be raised for the defence of the rights and liberties of America ; the officers and privates to be dismissed by Col. Arnold, or the committee of safety, whenever they shall think proper. Voted, That the committee of supplies be desired to procure ten horses for Col. Arnold, to be employed on a special service. Voted, That Mr. Isaac Bradish, keeper of the prison in Cambridge, be supplied with provisions out of the colony stores, for the support of the prisoners under his care, who have or may be committed by the orders of the council of war or of this committee. The quarter master general having informed that some persons un- known had made spoil of liquors in the cellars of General Brattle, and Mr. Borland, and others, whereupon, Voted, that he be directed to take possession of those liquors, and other stores, immediately, in all the houses which are deserted, and that a particular account of such stores be taken, and that they be then committed to the care of the commissary general. [A letter to the governor and company of the colony of Connecti- cut was reported, accepted, and is as follows :] [Cambridge, May 2, 1775.] [We yesterday had a conference with Doct. Johnson and Col. Wol- on whom I ronlil depend, to the house of Governor Hutchinson, who brought o(T all the papers he conlil find in that house ; hut I was informed that Colonel Taylor, of -Milton, had lately taken sev- eral trunks out of the governor's house, not many days ago, in order to secure them from heing plundered. I immediately sent another messenger to Col. Taylor, for all the papers that helonged to Governor Hutchinson H hich he ha.! in his possession ; he sent me for answer, lie did not know of any papers that belong to said Hutchinson, hut just now comes to inform me that there are seve- ral trunks in his house, which be took as aforesaid, which hi' expects will he sent for very soon. I inapt ' i there may he papers in said trunks, and if it is thought proper, two or three judicious per- sons bo sent to hrcak open and search for papers, he will give them his assistance. This, gentle- men, is submitted to the consideration of tin- honorable committee." " I have, gentlemen, the honor to subscribe myself, your most obedient humble servant, JOHN THOMAS," "Roxbiry Camp, Mai 2, A. P. 177:,'- 1775.] COMMITTEE OF S \IT.T\ cot, who were appointed by pour assembly to deliver :i letter to, and hold a conference with General < i .ilt« ■. We feel tin- warmest gratitude to you for those generous and affectionate Bentiments which \ >u en- tertain toward us. Bui you will allow us t<> express our uneasim — on account of one paragraph in your letter, in which a cessation of hos- tilities is proposed. We Fear that our brethren in Connecticut are not even yet convinced of tin- cruel designs "f administration against America, nor thorough!] sensible of the miseries to which General Gage's army have reduced this wretched colony. We have l"-t tin- town of Boston, and we greatlj fear for the inhabitants of Boston, as we lind the general is perpetuallj making new conditions, and forming mosl unreasonable pretensions for retarding their removal from that garrison. Our sea posts on tin- eastern coasts are mostlj deserted: our people have been barbarously murdered by an insidious enemy, who, under cover of the night, have inarched into the heart of the country, spreading destruction with fire and .-word. No business but that of war i- either dune oi thought of in tin- colony. No agree- ment or compart with General Gage will, in the least, alleviate "ur dis- tress, as no confidence can possibly lie placed in an] assurances he can er'n e to a people whom he ha- lir-t deceived, by taking poss< — « • ■ 1 1 of and fortifying the town of Boston, ami whom he ha- suffered In- army to attack in the most inhuman and treacherous manner. <>ur relief now must arise from driving General Gage with hi- troops out of the country, which, 1>\ the blessing of God, we are determined to accom- plish, or perish in the attempt, as we think it better to meet an honor- able death in the field, whilst fighting for the liberties of all America, and far preferable to be butchered in our own houses, than to be reduced to an ignominious slavery. We must entreat, that our sister colon] Connecticut, w ill afford, immediately, all possible aid; as, at this time, delay will be attended with all that fatal train of events, which would follow from an absolute desertion of the cause of Ameri- can liberty Excuse our earnestness on this subject, as we know that upon the Buccess of our present contest depend the lives and liberties of our country and Micceeding generations.] [We are, & c] [To the Governor and Company of Connecticut] W w 3, I " Voted, That two companies be raised in the towns of Maiden and Chelsea, for the defence of the sea coast of -aid town-, the said com- panies to be joined to such regiments in future, as the] ma] b< 534 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 4, dered to, should there be occasion, or discharged from service as soon as the public good will admit of it. Voted, That the quarter master general be directed to pay the strict- est attention, that the household furniture of those persons, who have taken refuge in the town of Boston, may be properly secured, and dis- posed of in places of safety. The following orders were given Col. Arnold, relative to an attempt upon Ticonderoga, viz. : To Benedict Arnold, Esq., commander of a body of troops on an ex- pedition to reduce and take possession of the fort of Ticonderoga : Sir : — Confiding in your judgment, fidelity, and valor, we do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, colonel and commander in chief over a body of men not exceeding four hundred, to proceed, with all expedition, to the western parts of this and the neighboring colonies, where you are directed to enlist those men, and with them, forthwith, to march to the fort at Ticonderoga, and use your best endeavors to reduce the same, taking possession of the cannon, mortars, stores, &c, upon the lake; you are to bring back with you, such of the cannon, mortars, stores, &c, as you shall judge may be serviceable to the army here, leaving behind what may be necessary to secure that post, with a sufficient garrison. You are to procure suitable provisions and stores for the army, and draw upon the committee of safety for the amount thereof, and to act in every exigence, according to your best skill and discretion, for the public interest, for which this shall be your suffi- cient warrant. BENJAMIN CHURCH, Jun., [For the'] committee of 'safety . By order, WILLIAM COOPER, Secretary. Cambridge, May :{, 1?7">. May 4, 1775. [Moved and Voted, That the vote passed the second of May, respect- ing the raising of two companies in Braintree, be reconsidered, and that the copy of said eote together with the two enlisting papers, be or- dered to be returned into the hands of said committee of safety; and whereas, a petition from the towns of Braintree, Weymouth, and Hing- ham, hath this day been presented to this committee, setting forth the exposed situation of those towns, and praying for such relief and pro- 1776.] ( OMMITTEE OF - IFETi lection as maj l"- thought proper, 1 therefore, Voted, thai the • Braintree be herebj empowered to raiae one company, the town of Eiingham another company, and tin- town of Weymouth half of one company, for the immediate defence <>t' the sea I of said towns; the .-;ii companies and ;i half to !>•• joined t'> such regiment in future as thej maj !><■ ordered to, should there !>•■ occasion, 01 dis- charged from service on the last daj of December next, or sooner if " '' " The I" lilion of ll v oral t'i» n* to h in' b I bend, "null Iho tro this fortnight past, at an Ulhat baa been taid, I i, and are -< t i 1 1 likely t" be, ia ">ir present • an !<■■■ 'uiily kept in tamalt and it their boal tu ti " \ ii r petitio iro, horablj pray your l>" ind -rant I , the return of tl service from our several towns, or such other relief and pi I think lit, ninl yuur petitioner*, us in duly bound, shall over pray." ".I HUES PENNIM IN JON \ I II \.\ B ISS, ) J Wll- III MPIIR] 1 BAMUEL KINGMAN, > i ■' «<*. SON, ) foSEPH^DREvVs.l* ' • ■W*-." n A petition for powdor and arm from the « rick: M hereunto - ly to iufoi .r m- i" into ti" nnil liml the town \ I ammunii ■. hut !, without imunition ; at present, u than |u lound of pi i limn throughout thi two men; and in thi* dofenci less utato, h l our I whimi ire b iv -i ut, i iniel [*nrrabe< ; ani bnndrod w id in « h.it wnj it would b u ■hoold esteem it a* be infoi .1 from you, b) porlunity, of our publi ■• \'> ntlcmen, your- . eommani ■ \ \i;i.\ m\Ki I : I . \ .1 \ STUNK. M»H II - I \M"\ ' •' ID J \MI- I I I. I 536 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 4, the public safety will admit of it, and that the selectmen of said towns be furnished with a copy of this vote and one set of beating orders, re- spectively.] Resolved, As the opinion of this committee, that the public good of this colony requires, that government in full form ought to be taken up immediately, and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Congress now sitting at Watertown. [The] sub-committee reported the draught of a letter to the gover- nor and company of the colony of Connecticut, requesting the speedy march of three or four thousand of their men, which was accepted, and ordered, that a fair copy be transmitted immediately. [It is as fol- lows :] [Cambridge, May 4 1774.] [The distressed situation in which a wicked and despotic adminis- tration have involved this colony, will justify us in your eyes, as we presume, in our present most earnest and pressing desire, that you will immediately send us three or four thousand men of your establishment, in order to enable us to secure a pass of the greatest importance to our common interest, and which the enemy will certainly possess them- selves of as soon as their reenforcements arrive ; and if they once get possession, it will cost us much blood and treasure to dislodge them ; but it may now be secured by us, if we had a force sufficient, without any danger ; therefore, we earnestly repeat our request for three or four thousand men for this present purpose, with all possible despatch, and supported with all necessary stores of ammunition and provisions; and we would beg, that they may be forwarded in companies or regi- ments as fast as they can be got ready ; this will make it easier to the troops, and to the country through which they may pass, and may, probably, be of more essential service to our common cause.] [ To tin Governor and Company of Connecticut.] Voted, Thai William Cooper, .Tun., be appointed a clerk to this committee in the room of Mr. Palmer, appointed quarter master gener- al ; Samuel Cooper was added as an assistant. Voted, That a chest of medicines be removed from hence to Rox- bury, under the care of General Thomas. There having been eight guns sent in for the use of the colony, Col. Whitcomb and General lb. nil were appointed to appraise the same, who reported as follows, viz. : one gun taken of Capt. How, apprais- ed :it LI one ditto of Joel Brigham t'-l one ditto of John Baker, 1775.] I I >MMITTEE OF S \l'i:n ■ I B one of Aaron A - 6 one ditto ■•: .1 PI 45. ; one ditto of A I'll!' ; one ditto of Aarou Fay, I l l/; one ditto of William Bethank, 18 Memorandum, Col. Jonathan Ward _ r a\r a receipl foi the ah guns, tor which he made himself accountable, which rec< ipt is ent in tlir minute hook. \ letter was reported for the inhabitants "i New N ■ -rk . which accepted, ami a copj of the same [I'm] on file, [ami i- a- follows j < ' IMBRIDG] . Mai 1 . I * • [It i^ with great satisfaction thia committei ir letter of iln' second instant, expressive of your tender <'ar<-, anil sympathy with this colony under our alarming situation. All we t-m writ.- nr zeal lor the common safety will m-|>irr you to do every thing that i- proper l<>r the safetj ami preservation of the unalienable righl America.] A draught of a lettei to the governor ami companj of Rhode Island, cting the sending a number of n nmediately, w rted, whereupon, Voted, that the same be accepted, and transmitted by an I at, (I, That a sub-coramitt( e be appointed to wait upon the council of war to recommend their envins ord< rs for a return of the enlisted in' i, ami that the) will take order, that such nun as art- enlisted, ma) be admitted to join the camp with all expedition, that so such m< a as an- far from home, ami do not intend to enlist, ma) have leavi pai i can !>• done w ith safet) to tl Q) , Vottd, Thai Col. Gardner be appointed to lay this \ot<- before the council of war. I olid. That it be recommended to the council of war, th it six com- panies of each of th<' two reciments to be raised in tin- count] Plymouth, be ordered to join the arm) at [toxburj on as the) ompleted ; and that the tour other companies of i a< h ol said iments, which may be raised mosl contiguous to thi county, be retained foi the immediate defence of said sea coast, to I" dated b) the colonels of said regiments until furthei ord< rs ii> fig 538 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 7, Voted, That Col. Palmer and Col. Cushing be appointed to lay the foregoing vote before said council. Advice being received, that a number of transports with troops are just arrived at Boston from England, Doct. Church, Col Palmer, and Mr. Devens, were appointed to confer with the council of war, upon the occasion. Voted, That Col. Bricket be desired to take possession of all the arms and ammunition that he shall find in Mr. Borland's house, and bring them to head quarters. May 7, 1775. Whereas, it appears to this committee, that great uneasiness may arise in the army, by the appointment of surgeons who may not be agreeable to the officers and soldiers in their respective regiments, therefore, Voted, that it be recommended to the Congress, to allow the colonel of each regiment to nominate the surgeon for his regiment ; said surgeon to nominate his mate ; and unless there is some material objection made against them, that they be accordingly appointed. Mr. George Babcock, charged with the care of a house, having com- plained that certain persons had come to said house, and taken from thence considerable furniture, Voted, that this complaint be referred to Congress, and that Mr. Cushing be desired to accompany said Bab- cock there, and that the above vote be sent to the council of war for their approbation ; which vote being sent, it was approved of accord- ingly- Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the selectmen and committee of correspondence for the town of Sudbury, that they use their utmost influence, that the effects of Col. Ezra Taylor of that town, be secured from any injury whatsoever. Ordered, That the selectmen and the committee of correspondence for the town of Chelsea, be desired to take such effectual methods for the prevention of any provisions being carried into the town of Boston, as may be sufficient for that purpose. [The following letter to the chairman of the committee of safety and protection of Albany, was accepted, and ordered to be forwarded.] [Sir : — We have received your important and very agreeable let- ter of May current, by the worthy gentleman, Captain Barent Ten Eyck. While we lamem the effusion of the blood of our friends and fellow countrymen, shed by more than brutal cruelty, urged on by the corrupt administration of a British minister of state; yet, amidst all our sorrow- on thai mournful occurrence, we rejoice greatly, at the 1775 I OMMITTEE OJ - \i ET1 bright prospect lying before us, in the unaniroitj <>t I tin- extended continent v, bate the hi ion in thi ance from \'>u, thai the citizens <>i Albanj continue Brmly and i 1\ to cooperate with their brethren in Nen ^> id with the colonies on the continent, in iln-ir opposition i" the ministi rial now prosecuting against us, and that the citj have unanimous!) aj>- pointed a committee of safety, protection and correspondence, which we esteem as a necessar) measure to bind us all in one indissoluble liuiul of union in the common cause « » t tin- American c< [Be assured, Sir, thai we -lull ever esteem il as '>ur honor and in- i to correspond with you, at all times, on matters t> oding i" pro- mote th< common good. Suffer us to say, thai we have the pleasure in v<>ur information, thai the extensive c iiv of Albanj will follow your laudable example, and in the important aid the general cause will receive from our Bister colony, New York. The enclosed, you may depend upon it, is a well authenticated account "t the late en- ^ij.-imiit in tins colony, and supported bj a great number of ail eits.] 1 [ Permit us to say, Sir, thai you maj rely upon the resolution of the people of this colony to exert themselves, in every possible way, and thai they have, long Bince, devoted their lives and fortunes in the nun- cause of liberty and their country and thai they net up their stand, to oppose despotism and tyranny, while they have Buch full assurances from their Bister colonies, that thej are equally i in the defence of th<- natural and constitutional rights <>i' Amerii The lil I "t our neighbors, i dly and untimely poured out, cries aloud to the survivors to defend the American rights i">»r which they bled and died. We have their wounds fresh in mind, and while the colonies are united, we have the fullesl assurance, under God, of the salt ation of our country.] | We an-. Sir, affectionately, N our \ erj humble sen ants.] [ /// Committet qj Safety, Cambridge, May «. 1775.] Mai '.i. I Moved and Voted, Thai the Congress I"- desired to direct th< rel iry to furnish this committee with copies of all 9111 have passed the Congress in an] ways relative to the duty enjoined this com- mittee, and as the circumstances of this col on j are e< rj different from J I lire will to I ii\. 540 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 10, what they were at their first appointment, the committee would repre- sent to the Congress, that they apprehend it is necessary, that the whole of their duty may be comprised in a new commission. The council of war having determined that two thousand men are necessary to reenforce the army now at Roxbury, and that, if possible, the reenforcement be brought into camp the ensuing night; this com- mittee took the vote of the council of war into consideration ; there- upon, Ordered, that the commanding officers of the towns of Dorches- ter, Dedham, Newton, Watertown, Waltham, Roxbury, Milton, Brain- tree, Brookline, and Needham, immediately muster one half of the militia, and all the minute men under their command, and march them forthwith to the town of Roxbury, for the strengthening of the camp there. A firelock of Mr. Borland was appraised by Col. Palmer and Col. Orne, at forty shillings, and delivered Col. Sergeant, for which he is to be accountable. A vote passed, recommending it to the Provincial Congress, that a court of inquiry be appointed, for the trial of accused persons. Voted, That Daniel Taylor, of Concord, be desired to send down to Cambridge, about sixty oars for boats, from twelve to sixteen feet in length. May 10, 1775. Voted, That one company of men be raised by the district of Co- hasset, for the immediate defence of the sea coast of said district : the said company to be joined to such regiment in future, as it may be ordered to, should there be occasion, or discharged from service as soon as the public good will permit. Voted, That Nathan dishing, Esq. be desired forthwith to engage four armorers, for the service of this colony, and order them immedi- ately to repair to the town of Cambridge, with their tools and other matters necessary for that purpose. Whereas, the council of war are of opinion, that many batteaux, whale boats, and other vessels, will immediately, or very soon, be wanted in Charles nver and other places, and as there is not a suffi- cient number of such vessels to be now obtained, it is therefore Re- solved, thai it would \>r of public utility to have one or more master carpenters immediately engaged in that service ; and that this resolve be immediately senl t" Congress for their consideration. Mr. Daniel Taylor, of Concord, [was] empowered to impress a car- riage or carriages, for the bringing down oars from that town to Cam- bridge. 177.-,.] COMMITTEE OF SAFET1 541 Voted, Thai orden be issued t'> the colonels of thi in. iii~. to repair with the nun they have enlisted, to Cambridge, im- mediately. 1 The Provincial Congress having resolved, that th< be directed forthwith to call in all the Boldiere who are enlisted in the service of this colony, and thai thej give immediate orders to all the enlisted soldiers, and all others now in the camps at Cambridge and Eloxbury, that the) ur restless enemies, we therefore enjoin you, as you would evidence your regard to your coun- try, forthwith, upon the receipt of this order, to r< pair to the town "t Cambridge, with the men enlisted under your command. We are. v\ Voted, That the following letter, signed by Benjamin Church, Jr.. as chairman of this committee, be transmitted ti> Joseph Warren, Esq. president of the Congress, to be communicated, vi Sir: — Conformable to the order of < of safety, with the council of war, h ive issued orders to the a vera! col- onels, a copj of which we em .nt> [ioni | to i D ■•II D i ,ry : if thej ihould Dorchestei neck, ul them oft" ontiroly. nor a r i C I that Earl I' j - i, and all 542 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 12, to suggest on this emergency, but should there finally be a deficien- cy, enlisting orders must be given to others. Yours, &c. On a motion made and seconded, Ordered, that William Goodwin have orders to fetch a number of boats from Charlestovvn, and like- wise orders to press teams for the same purpose. Mr. William Goodwin, of Charlestown, was directed and empow- ered to take possession of a number of boats now at Charlestown, and likewise to press teams, wherever they may be found, to convey said boats to Cambridge ; directing the owners of such teams to transmit their accounts to this committee. Voted, That Mr. Watson be directed and empowered to remove to Cambridge the boats now in Menotomy river, and to impress what carriages may be necessary. The commanding officers of the neighboring regiments, were direc- ted forthwith to repair to the town of Cambridge, with the men enlist- ed under their command. May 11, 1775. Voted, That Mr. William Cooper, Jr., be, and he hereby is ap- pointed, a clerk to Doct. Warren, president of the Congress. May 12, 1775. Voted, That Mr. Charles Miller be, and he hereby is appointed, deputy commissary to Mr. Pigeon, the commissary general. Voted, That orders be given to Mr. Clark, boat-builder, that he give such repairs to the boats as may be judged necessary. Voted, That Mr. Isaiah Thomas have sixty reams of printing crown paper, and eifjht reams of printing demy paper, supplied him, by the committee of supplies, they taking his obligation to be accountable to the colony for the amount thereof. Ordered. That Mr. Charles Miller be, and he hereby is empowered and directed, to impress any horse he may have occasion for on the service of the province. Valid, That Mr. Joseph Branch be, and he hereby is appointed, one of the armorers for the colony forces. The following is the report of a joint committee, appointed by the committee of safety and the council of war, for the purpose of recon- noitering the highlands in Cambridge and Charlestown, viz. : 1775.] COMMITTEE OF BAPETY. \\ e have car( Fall] examined the lands, and their situation, in regard of annoying and preventing the enemj Prom passing into the country from I'. md] are ■-!' opinion, that the en ■ .1 i<> cause a breasl work to be raised near the bridge, bj t » i* - n «1 bouai the In •ail of the creek, near the road from Cambridge to Charleatown, on the south side of said road ; also a breasl work [to 1 tin- north Bide of the road, opposite the Baid red bouse, and to run in the same line as the fence now stands, upon the declivitj of the lull there; also a redoubt on the top of the hill where the guard bouse now stands; and three or four nine pound* planted tl also a strong redoubt [to be] raised on Bunker's Hill, with cannon planted there, to annoj the enemj coming out of Charlestown, also t-> annoj them going bj water t" Medford. When these are finished, we apprehend the country will !>•• safe from all Bailies of the enemj in that quarter : all which is humbly submitted. BENJ \MIN (III HCH, chairman the sub-committet /nun the committe* of safety. WILLIAM HENSH iW, chairman ■ the sub committee from tin council of //•f war. The council of war lia\inir senl in to this committee, a proposal re- specting the suspending the orders «>t' C'oii'_ r n-— n-pfi-ting the rem< of the persons and effects of the tories, and ordering the crown offi< through the continent to be apprehended : />'. ohed, That the recommendation of the council of war, n ing tli" Beizure of the servants and friends of government, improperly died, and keeping them in custody, until General Gage Bhall have complied with the condition proposed bj him to the town ol Boston, and accepted by them, be referred to C< J, for their determina- tion thereon. 544 COMiMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 14, Voted, That this committee adjourn to Congress, upon matters of great importance. May 13, 1775. Voted, That Capt. Isaac Foster be recommended to the council of war, as a suitable person to carry such provisions into the town of Charlestown, for the use of the inhabitants, as the general shall think proper to permit to be carried in. Voted, That General Thomas be desired to deliver out medicines to such persons as he shall think proper, for the use of the sick soldiers at Roxbury, until the surgeons for the respective regiments are regu- larly appointed. Voted, That the provisions and chest of medicines belonging to Madam Vassal, now under the care of Col. Starks, be stored as Col. Starks may direct, till further orders : and that the other packages may pass into Boston or elsewhere. Ordered, That the commissary general or his deputy be, and he hereby is directed, to supply Col. Rosseter with provisions for thirteen men for eight days, said men being discharged by recommendation of the council of war, and order of this committee. AVhereas the committee are informed, that a number of men enlist- ed into the colony army, under Col. Jonathan Brewer, are now posted at Waltham, and are receiving provisions from the public stores : Re- solved, that the commanding officer of the colony forces be desired to order said enlisted men at Waltham, immediately to repair to head quarters, and in case of refusal, that orders be given for the preven- tion of their being supplied with provisions of any kind from the pub- lic magazines. One Thomas Nicholas, a negro, brought before this committee on account of his suspicious behavior for some time past, having been examined, Resolved, that it be recommended to the council of war to commit said negro, until there be further inquiry into his conduct. Mr. Solomon Shaw was appointed one of the armorers for the army, and General Thomas was desired to accommodate him with a suitable place at Roxbury, for carrying on his business. Ordered, Thai Mr. [saac Bradish, keeper of the jail in Cambridge, be directed and empowered to confine one Thomas Nicholas, negro, till further orders. May 14, lT Ordered, Thai the con ssar) general supply with provisions, for six days, four nun ,.f Capt. Williams' company, and three men of i::r,.| COMMITTEE OF B 1PET1 Capt Noble's company : — these men came down with Co] I' n and are returning home, being dismissed. I >,il. That Capt John Carrier have one Bet of ; Col. Fry'a regiment . and in c ise it should not be consent* d to bj tin- colonel, he agrees to join that regiment which -hall In- thought i convenient Mr. Andrew Craigie, commissary of tin- medicinal stort . v.\ direoted and empowered to impress beds, bedding, and other nea ries !'"r the sick, as they may be wanting, giving the owners a re< t'<>r Buch articles as li«' may take foi the purpose afori said. Resolved, That it be recommended to the committee of sup] [i barrels of tar, in the slo nture, I r, just arrived at Salem from Virginia, it being appreh ed, thai the service of the colony requires said tar bein red. \ •• of the i ouncil of war, desiring a >u|>|»l\ of hoes and brooms, was recommended to the committee of supplies l>\ this commit! The following was Bent to the gentlemi n, the selectmen of the town of Lynn : Whereas Josiah .Martin has. under guard, been brou r ht this committee to he inquired of touching hi-, conduct, respecting his pearing in favor of carrying hum execution the tyrannical designs of administration fir the enslai m. r of this |>r->\ ince : upon examination of th«' evidences produced, Resolved, that the said M urtin's conduct has, in some instances, been unfriendly to his countrj ; but that, on his being charged w ith the same, he has promised, with his life and fortune, to -t.ind forth lor the defence of his country, and that so long as he evinces this disposition, bj his conduct, and does not an) more attempl • into the town of Boston, thai he be received with the favor of his countrymen, and that no insult nor injur) be offered him or his property The following resolve, relative to the live stock on the islands n< Bo ton, passed this committee, \ iz : R< olved, as the opinion of this committee, thai all the live -to.-k be taken from Noddle's island, Hog island, Snake island, and from part of Chelsea near the sea coast, and be driven back; and I "i hi of this bus 3s be committed to the committees ol pon ctmen of the towns of Wed ford, Maiden, Ch< and Lynn, and that the) be supplied with such a i they -hall ne< d, from the regimenl novt at Medford. /.'. olved, Thai Col. Palmer and Col. Orne be directed to appl) to the committee of supplies, al Watertown, foi n pnrticulai account of the G9 546 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 15, ordnance and military stores, and where the same are deposited, agree- ably to the request of the council of war. Voted, That it is the opinion of this body, that all persons escap- ing from their imprisonment in the town of Boston, ought to be receiv- ed and protected in the several towns in this and the neighboring col- onies, except such as are of principles inimical to the liberties of their country, who are not to be received, but on their first recanting their said principles, and making their peace with their countrymen to the satisfaction of the selectmen, committees of inspection, &c, in the town to which they shall apply : and that the wives and children of such persons, who shall choose to remain in Boston with General Gage, may and ought to be treated with humanity and tenderness in the several towns they may go to dwell in, during the present troubles, and, by no means, to suffer the least injury, or meet with the smallest mark of disrespect upon account of their said husbands or fathers. The council of war having recommended that forty persons of the regiment commanded by Col. Fellows, have liberty to return to their several homes. Resolved, that they be dismissed accordingly, and that the commissary general be directed to supply said persons with six days' provisions to serve them on their return home. This committee, having been informed by the committee of supplies, that they had secured as many naval stores as Col. Gridley of the train had indented for, Voted, that Capt. Foot be permitted to deliver his cargo, naval stores not excepted, agreeably to the bills of lading he had signed for the same. Voted, That Mr. William Haskins be, and he hereby is appointed, first clerk to the deputy commissary general. The council of war having recommended that Capt. Joseph Foster, Thomas Jenkins, James Lammans, John Rutherford, Jonathan March, J. Mensh, .1. Simmins, J. Crost, of Col. Porter's regiment, who are not enlisted, may be dismissed, they were accordingly dismissed, and had an order on the commissary general for four days' provisions each. Voted, Tint Matthew Clark and five other persons, who are repair- ing the boats brought to this town, be supplied with provisions while llipy air at work fur the colon] . May 15, 1775 The 9ub-committee, appointed to apply to the committee of supplies for a particular account of the ordnance and military stores, reported, and handed in to the committee the following list, viz. : 1775.] I • >MMITTEE OF a UT.TN II 1 List oj Military > mder (/<> can oj Capi I At Cambridge ; — pick axes, H'»i> batcbeU 23 en-inch :• 298 spades, 190: pieces of cannon, 24 : axes, 156 bo* shot, ll l-J hogsheads of flints containing 75,000 2 • rpenter's tool chesl j, 2 boxes of axes, 4 1 barrel I • eaden balls : 1 1 small arm cartrid 18 barrels of bomb fuses, I : irn s of i 1 chests of tin cannisters, 2 boxes of paper for carl I : nine pound ball, 607 : Bix-pound balls, 1129 ur- pound ditto, 200 Iwo- pound ditto, 800 seven-inch Bhells, 298 twenty-four pound ball, 122 three-pound ball, 620 ; No. I and 2 paper cartridges for cannon bo 2 one barrel containing four lube cannisters 16 I I svder horns, 5 Bkeins dry matches 1 barrel cannisters rilled with langrage, but no cartridges affixed to them, for <"> pounders I i marked, paper cartridges rilled : 1 barrel, marked, -1 two pound i ridgi Under tin can of Col. Barrett and Capt. Heywood. Musket balls, 9,000 : grape shot, 1,600: bar lead, 700 musket cartridges, about 3,000 weight -\ barrels ofbandaj Von at Cambridge, under tin cur, oj Capt. Foster. 2 casks of tubes : 1 barrel, marked, 60 • a with flannel cartrii for three pur single fortified guns 2 barrels containing shot, part fuses and tubes I barrel containing a number of paper cartri nol filled 2 casks of cases with flannel cartridges, marked 1 T, T Attest, U.l'.X INDER SHEPHERD, Jr.. B . ordi i of the ( !ommitti \foved and Voted, That the original lisl ofmilitar] stores be handed in to the council of war, and it was handed in accordingly. Voted, Thai the Hampshire companies, nov» at Medford, if enlisted into this colony'- service, under Col. Stark or Col. Sargent, and pro- perly equipped, shall be provided with barracks: those of them, it any, who are not, and do not choo-r to !>•• enlisted, and are not equipped, art- to be furnished with provisions for their return. Voted, That Capt John Walker of Worcester, who came dowi this committee for liberty to go into Bo-ton, upon the proclamation issued bj Congress, be apprehended and confined as r prisoner ol 548 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 15, he being an half pay officer, and under the orders of General Gage; and so not included in said proclamation. Upon a motion made, the question was put, whether Col. Phipps be permitted to have a cow, calf, and a load of hay, to go into the town of Boston : passed in the negative. Voted, That ('apt. Naler Hatch [with the] Maiden company be as- signed to Col. Gardner's regiment, but they are to remain in Maiden until the special order of Col. Gardner shall be received for their attendance elsewhere. Voted, That nine indians, of Col. Porter's regiment, have liberty to return home, and that the commissary general be directed to furnish them with six days' provisions for that purpose, the same having been recommended by the council of war. Upon the application of Lady Frankland, Voted, that she have lib- erty to pass into Boston with the following goods and articles for her voyage, viz. : 6 trunks : 1 chest : 3 beds and bedding : 6 wethers : 2 pigs : 1 small keg of pickled tongues : some hay : 3 bags of corn : and such other goods as she thinks proper. The following permit was granted : To tlic Colony G-uard : Permit Lady Frankland of Hopkinton, with her attendants, goods, and the provisions above mentioned, to pass to Boston, by express order of the committee of safety. BENJAMIN CHURCH, Jr., Chairman. Head Quarters, May 15, 1775. Voted, That the letters and writings from New York, via New Lon- don, relative to the establishing a post office and riders for the service of the colony be sent to the Congress. Voted, That John Tucker of Col. Porter's regiment be dismissed from the service, and that he be furnished by the commissary with seven days' provisions. Voted, That Jonathan Blaisdcl of Amesbury, be appointed an ar- morer for the army. Resolved, That Mr. Borland's house be appropriated for the use of the committee of safety, and the quarter master general is directed to provide quarters for the troops now lodged at said house. Voted, That the quarter master general be directed to remove as 1775.] COMMITTEE OF S UT/n Minn v of tli<' three companies now at Mr. Borland's, t" ti Duct. Kneeland, as the house ran accommodate, and thai U companii - al Mr \ m il's bouse, be placed al Mr. Fox< roll - i ■ thai Mi Borland's bouse be cleared and i Resolved. Thai it ommended to the honorabb I that the records of the probate office for the eoont] of Midi to be al Mr. Danforth's and Doct. Kneel and's hou ed to 1 1 • M m«-t — , at ( ' :ord, and, thai the records of the county at Mr Foxcroft's office, be minted to said Minot house. The following certificate was delivered Mr. Goddard, \ This i- to certify, that Mr. John Goddard, has been appointed by the j"int committees of sail tj and ropplies i to this <•"!< 'ii\. to convej such articles of stores from one part of this col- ony to another as the public i iig< ncj may require, under t he direc- tion of the commissary general and the ordni er, and, that auch other waggoners <>r drivers are to be « mployed, as he shall recommend tor thai purpo The following permit was given to Capt. Walker. Permit Capt. John Walker, now on his parole of honor, to pass un- molested to his family at Worcester. Mr. Julm Goddard, waggon master, was'directed and empowered, in of emergency, to impress such v and cattle as shall b quisite for the public sen ice. I ted, That the clearing Mr. Borland's and Mr. Vassal's bouses suspended till further order-. I \ted, Thai Thomas Austin, of Charlestown, be, and berebj is ap- pointed an armorer lor the army. I ../,,/, That the above vote, appointing Mr. Tl tas Austin one of the armorers t<»r the army, be, and berebj is reconsidered. M w 16, l ' '■'< In a letter from Col. James Barrett, of this day, it is represent that a prisoner now at Worcester, is a paper-maker, and that M James Boice, of Milton, is in want of such a person in bis paper man- ufactory; therefon /«' Ived, that Col. Barrett, be, and be berebj is directed and empowered, to remove said prisoner from ^ i '" said Boice's manufactory in Milton. 550 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 17, Voted, That Capt. Hill, and four men, with four prisoners, have an order for supplies on the taverners and innholders in the towns they pass through. Whereas, it is recommended by the council of war, that fifty-four whale-boats be immediately provided for the use of this colony : Re- solved, that a copy of said vote of the council of war, be transmitted to the committee of supplies, and that they be desired to procure and place said boats, agreeably to the recommendation of the council of war. Voted, That Capt. Butler be desired to furnish those men of his own company with arms, who are destitute thereof. By a resolve of the Provincial Congress, the following is the estab- lishment for ten companies of matrosses : Captain, £6 10s. per month; captain lieutenant, <£5 10s. per month ; first lieutenant, £4 10s. per month ; 2 second lieutenants, each, £3 12s. per month ; sergeants, each, £2 10s. per month ; corporals, each, £2 6s. per month ; six bombadiers, each, £2 4s. Or/, per month ; six gunners, each, £2 4s. per month ; 32 matrosses, £2 3s. per month. Voted, That Col. Gridley have one set of beating orders, for a com- pany of matrosses. Voted, That Col. Azor Orne have one of the college arms, he giv- ing a receipt for the same. May 17, 1775. Whereas, it is determined, in council of war, that ten swivels be immediately provided for the use of the army, and delivered in camp, at Cambridge : Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing vote be transmitted to the committee of supplies, and that they be desired to procure said swivel guns immediately. Resolved, That the three pieces of cannon, with the stores, now at Waltham, be immediately removed to Watertown, near the bridge, by advice of the general, and that Mr. El bridge Gerry, one of the com- mittee of supplies, be desired and empowered to remove the same. Ordered, That Col. Orne, Doct. Church and Col. Palmer, be a committee to repair to the Provincial Congress, and request, that forthwith, the duty of the committee of safety be precisely stated, and that said committee be empowered by Congress to conduct in such manner as shall tend to the advantage of the colony; and to justify the conduct of said committee, so far as their proceedings are correspon- dent with the trust reposed in them ; and to inform [the Congress] 1775.] COMMITTEE OF B IFETY. .1 that until the path <>f their duty 1- clear!] pointed out, they must I a tol il I"- how to condui I to stand justified in their own mil and in the minds of [the 1 i»l<- of] tin- colony. Mr William I!. in. in, hi Col. Fellows' regiment, 1- appointed !>v this committee to acl as an armorer for th<- forces posted at Roxbury. Resolved, That .Mr. Joseph Austin, "i Charlestown, be directed to attend u] this committi fety, immediately. I ted, Thai Col. Fellows be directed to procure a shop and tools, and everj material necessar) for an are R (bury, to work immediately iu the co I-/"/, Thai the commissar) deliver .Mr. Matthew Clark sixt] oar-. for the use of this colony. Voted, Thai the carrying any hay into the town of Boston, on . -..11111 of John Borland, Esq., be suspended until further order from this commit' I ted, Thai Mr. Stephen Ball be appointed to inspect the colli walls, ami see that thej are k< pi in proper repair. Voted, That the selectmen of Cambridge be directed to supply Gen- eral Ward with lour half barrels of powder, for the use of this Whereas, General . p Tin in m _r the inhabit ints of this colon) to remove, with tii-ir effects, into the town of Boston, which resolution was founded upon said aiTr.Mii.iii. Resolved, That Col. Orne and Col. Palmer be directed to attend the Congress, with tit.- above resolve. Resolved, That in case of an alarm, this committee will repair to CoolidLf'- tavern, in Watertown. Upon a in .110:1 made, Voted, that Capt. How be directed to resl the Biz sets of enlisting papers, which hi- this day took out without the consenl of the committee, by a fraud practised upon the chairman. Voted, That application be made to his Excellenc) General Ward, that he would order Edward How under guard, until this committee can have a full hearing of his case. [Whereas, one Mr. Mellicant, of Waltham, who is an officer in his majest] - service, under half pay, 1 suspected, b] means of bis, Baid Mellicant a wife having Gr< is into and out from the town ol B ton, of communicating such intelligi nc< to our enemies as ma) have a 552 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 19, tendency to injure the important cause we are engaged in, and, in some degree, defeat the plans forming for the salvation of this colony and continent : therefore, Resolved, that the selectmen and commit- tee of correspondence of the town of Waltham be, and hereby are di- rected and empowered, to take such effectual methods, for the prevent- in^ any intelligence going into the town of Boston, by means of the abovesaid Mr. Mellicant, or any of his family, as to them, in their wis- dom, shall seem meet.] May 19, 1775. Voted, That Capt. John Lane have enlisting papers delivered him, for raising a company of indians at the eastward. The following certificate was delivered Col. Gerrish, for the Provin- cial Congress : Col. Samuel Gerrish having satisfied this committee that his regi- ment is full, we recommend to the Congress that said regiment be commissioned accordingly. Ordered, That Mr. Newall proceed to Watertown, and lodge the ten swivel guns he has under his care, at Edward Richardson's, inn- holder in said Watertown ; it being recommended by General Ward. The committee of correspondence of the town of Northborough, having sent a certain Ebenezer Cutler to this committee for trial, upon complaint of his being an enemy to this country, and this committee not having authority to act in the case, as they apprehend, do refer the matter to Congress. Col. Ebenezer Learned having satisfied this committee that his regi- ment is full, it was recommended to the Congress that said regiment be commissioned accordingly. The following letter of direction to the several colonels, was for- warded, viz. : Sin : — The necessity of completing the colony army, and the suspi- cions entertained by some of the officers who have been engaged in recruiting men, oblige us to request your immediate return, to this committee, of the number of men enlisted in your regiment, with the names of the officers of said regiment, as the Congress have urged for said returns, that commissions may be issued, and due subordination take place. Voted, That Mr. John Wood, of Roxbury, be, and hereby is ap- pointed, an armorer for the army. 1775.] < 0MM1T ir.i: OF S \i \:\\ Voted, That Mr. Diki I Bridgwater, I"-, ami he I i int- ed, an armorer tor the army. <■ aeral Thomas was informed, by letter, that the < omraittee had appointed Messrs. Bern an, Shaw, Wood ami Diki for tin- forces posted at Etoxbury, and red i" acquaint tin- committee it' : 1 1 1 \ further appointments were necessary. Voted, Thai Doct. Church have an order for a horse ami sulky, ami a single horse, for his journej to Philadelphia upon the province ac- count. [Whereas, some persons have hinted thai Samuel B ! Boston, has, in some inst been unfriendly to his country, and the common cause of liberty, for which tin- colon] mm Buffers and bleeds, ami >ns maj have a tendency t'» injure him, we have inquired into tin- conduct of tin- .-.ml Samuel Barrett, Esq , during the unnatural contest between Great Britain ami tin- colonies, ami from In- acts ami explicit declarations, we have reason i" think that In' i- friendly t" the n_ r| it- ami liberties of tin-. In- native coun- try, ami we recommend him accordingly.] M u 20, 1775 Voted, That Capt. Edward How, Eben i < ttler, and Nicl Mack fellow, mm under guard, be sent up to I lamina- tion ami trial, ami Capt. White i- appointed to attend I . with tlir above named persons. I >■t Deacon Timothj Winn, of Woburn, In' ami In- horse being employed in the colon] Bervice. Resolved, Thai it i- the opinion of this committee, as the contest now between Great Britain and the colon la th'- liberties ami privileges of the latter, which the colonies are determined t" maintain, thai the admission <>t' any persons, a- soldiers, into the army now rais- ing, hnt onl] -mli a- .Hi- freemen, will In- inconsistent with tin- princi- ples that ai-r in In- supported, ami reflect dishonor on this colony, anil that no slave- he admitted into tin- army upon any consideration what- ever. 1 - i Read having satisfied tin- committee, that In- regiment i- full, a certificate was given him of the -ami', ami it w amend- ed to the honorable the Provincial Congress, that his reg it might imissioned according!] 70 554 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 23, Col. Read had thirteen sets of regulations for the army delivered him by order. 1 May 23, 1775. Whereas, our enemies make frequent excursions to the islands and sea coasts, from whence they plunder hay, cattle, and sheep ; which not only greatly injures many individuals, but also the public, and strengthens the hands of our enemies ; therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended to the honorable Congress, to take some effectual meas- ure to secure the stock on the islands and sea coasts, to prevent its fal- ling into the hands of our enemies. The following orders relative to furnishing one of the expresses with provisions, horses, &c, were issued, viz. : (1) The following letter was addressed to General Preble. Cambridge, May 20, 1775. Uonordbh General Preble, ,< ik: This committee), received your favor of the fifteenth instant, touching the raising men, for the service of this colony, and note your just observations on the subject. The committee, after the resolutions of the Congress for establishing an army of thirteen thousand six hundred men, thought the exigencies of the times and the exposed situation of the several towns near Boston, made it absolutely necessary, that the army should be immediately raised, and, that for the facilitating of this important business it was expedient that orders should be issued to such men as were recommended as proper persons for such impoitant trusts. Accordingly, orders were issued to as many colonels as were sufficient to complete said army ; but from the delay which appeared in the army's being formed, by the slow progress made in the enlisting men, and the exposed situation of the colony camp, by the going off of numbers from time to time, it was rendered necessary, that further orders should be issued for completing the army with all possible speed ; and in consequence of that determination, among others, Col. March received orders for the enlisting of a regiment for the service of this colony, and, we understand, has made some considerable progress in enlisting men for said service. AVe are also informed by your honor, that Col. Phinney has received enlist- ing orders from you, and has engaged in the business of enlisting men to complete a regiment ; and we arc further informed by your honor, that it is impracticable that two regiments should be raised in the county of Cumberland, and being told by Col. Phinney, that many of the men that would be raised in your county, could not be supplied by the towns from which they are enlisted, with fire- arms and blankets, this committee, taking into consideration the exposed situation of your county and ih'' probability of the army's being completed without drawing men from those parts of the col- ony which arc more immediately exposed, would recommend, Sir, that you would use your influ- ence, that a stop I).- put to the raising any men hi your comity until it may be known by tho returns from ' authorized tor the raising regiments, whether it may be necessary to take any men from \ , and should this necessity take place, this committee will endeav- or to give yon snch earl] intelligence as maj be necessary. The request of this committee to your nor, we flatter ourselves, will not bo conceived by you as carrying in it the least disrespect to i |. March or < lol. Pbinnej , but solely from the probability of the army's being complete without "ii from those parti of the colony which are more immediately exposed. We should bo a] . . r i r 1 r :it head quarters, which we hope your health will soon admit, and with you „,. join in tlo- hop. ol soon seeing a speedy end to tho great difficulties this distressed colony now labors under. U . am Sir, with the great r< spect, your honors humble servants, P. B. Please to inform the within mentioned colonels, of this determination. N ours, &c. 1775.] I OMMITTEE OF - \n n . . . To tlur persons ir/m,,, it „un/ t,,n- < > in : \ "u are desired t" furnish the bearer, Mr. John GUI, with all oe< Baries upon his journt ind return from Rhode [stand, a- also with horses, if necessary, ami to exhibit your account to the commit- tee of safety for this colony, he being an express on the colon] service The following certificate was i r i\< n Dr. Bond Doct. Nathaniel Bond, of Ufarblehead, having been charged before this committee, with having acted an unfriendlj part to tin- col said committee appointed Joseph Warren, Esq., Col. Thomas Gardner, and Lieut. Col. Joseph Palmer, as a court of inquirj to examine wit- nesses in the case, and hear and determine the same; and upon full inquiry into the case, they air clearlj of opinion, that -aid Bond's era! behavior ha- been friendlj to American liberties, and though he may have discovered an imprudent degree of warmth in Borne instan- ce! \\c do not find an) proof of an inimical temper or disposition to this country, and therefore, recommend him to the esteem friendship of In- country[men], hoping, that, i- the error which o sioned hi- being broughl before tin- committee, appears to have I altogether involuntary, and was such a- several of our most firm friends were led into b) false rumors Bpread of the transactions of the nineteenth instant, no impressions to the doctor's disadvantage maj remain on the mind- of any person whatsoever. 1 H rOCOrd .it [I Will 'I'll' Hon. B G i 556 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 21, This committee have taken into their most serious consideration, the state of the New England army, proposed to be raised for the defence and security of the lives, liberties, and property of the Americans; and find that the several colonies have not, collectively, raised more than 24,500 men ; whereas, 30,000 were supposed to be necessary ; and said committee also find a considerable number of officers of minute men now at head quarters, who, with their men, cannot find room for employ- ment in the army upon the present establishment of this colony ; and as our enemies have determined to distress us upon our sea coasts, by taking our vessels, with provisions, salt, molasses, &c, as well as by plundering our islands and coasts of live stock, which will require a greater number of men to guard said coasts, than was at first estima- ted ; and as said army, or any part thereof, may be disbanded at any future time, when the public safety will admit thereof, and as the pub- lic military spirit now runs high, it is therefore, Resolved, that the con- sideration of these premises be recommended to the honorable Con- gress ; and that Col. Palmer be directed to attend said Congress with this resolve, in order to know whether they will make any addition to their present establishment. May 21, 1775. [This committee have often contemplated the mode of ascertaining the completion of the several regiments, and find no clear and explicit rule to their satisfaction, and therefore, beg leave to suggest to the honorable Congress of this colony, whether, a return from a muster- master, that such or such a regiment had such a number of privates who had passed muster, would not be a good rule for ascertaining when a regiment may be said to be full ; and submit the consideration of the same to said honorable Congress.] rial Congress had done mo tlio honor of choosing mo a memher of the committee of safety, and that they requested my attendance without delay. I readily exert myself on every occasion that pre- sents, as far as 1 am able, to promote such measures as have a tendency to relieve the country from its present difficulties mid embarrassments ; hut my ill state of health forhids my attending closely to business, and therefore, disqualifies me to act in that department, with advantage to the public or myself, fi>r which reason, I have to entreat the indulgence of the Congress, while I ask to he ex- cused from that service ; assuring them I cannot he an indifferent observer of the scene that is now acting ; bnt, as I \\u\ •■ hitherto attended to our public affairs, as far as my health would permit, al- most to the n.t il neglect of my nun persona] concerns, I shall continue to do so, if my life is spared until this laud <>!.t lins a complete deliverance from the hands of tyranny and oppression} hut then it iiiii-t In- iii a sphere wherein I shall no1 be liable to so much confinement and solicitude as I must in il-- ink submit i", as a membi r of thai committee." " I am, with lespect, Sir, your most humble servant, B. GREENLEAF." 1775.] I I »MMITTEE OF S \\\:\\ M n 22, 1775 \\ 1 1« - r . a-, it appears to this committee, that do iron renders it ni iders should !>«• k.pt in pa) at present, t> fore, Voted, that all such riders as have d l>\ this com* mittee, be from tin- da\ dischai ed from Baid Bervit - Mai 24, 1775 1 ted, That the commissary general be directed to supply John Carter, and three others, with provisions at irmorers and coopers, nou in \\\c \>m\ i tn> ■ sen ic< I ol. Scammon having satisfied the committee, that hi rl) full, a certificate was given him thi ml it u unmend- ril to tli ■ Provinci tl < , that his regimi nt be commissioned ac- cordingly. Resolved, That it be recommended to < -. immediately, to take such order respecting the remo\ al <»t" the she< i> and ha] from N die's island as they may judge proper, together with th< on the adjacent islands. Voted, That the commissar) general be directed to supply twenty- Bve nun of Capt. Spr: company, who art' Btationed al CI Mai 26, 1775 The Congress having passed a resolve, that the house of John \ sal, Esq., be appropriated for the use of the commit! ifety, there- I i . tod to I articli any iui [it Com " • /'•/. / The lettora which wo have thi G Ward, through . gross, carry with them an impression which the commitli conscious to ourselves of ri harged the heavy dul with fldi hiy, and we tliink, the general, on consideration, must acknowli in. mi in the 1 G for collectii •f troubled w iili IK transurii if the affair. Bat, what we think most hari lank, u ■ 'Iniii in r to Bpprisi • I of this. w shall, in i' the colon) I, from thi and, in the intorim, wo think il ■ the Minn' ' With r. «j" .1, > ..nr humble ».r»nnt, D \\ ID (. IUI \ 1 . 585 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 27, fore, Resolved, that the quarter master general be directed to clear the said house, immediately, of the soldiers now lodged there, that it may be improved for that purpose. Colonels Ward and Gardner having satisfied this committee, that their regiments were in a good [state of] forwardness, a certificate to that purpose was given them ; and it was recommended to the honor- able Provincial Congress, that said regiments be commissioned accord- ing^- Colonels Patterson and William Prescott having satisfied this com- mittee, that their respective regiments are nearly full, a certificate was given them of the same ; and it was recommended to the Provincial Congress, that said regiments be commissioned accordingly. Colonels Cotton and Bridge having satisfied this committee, that their respective regiments are full, a certificate was given them there- of; and it was recommended to the Provincial Congress, that said regi- ments be commissioned accordingly. Colonels Asa Whitcomb, Frye, and Doolittle having satisfied this committee, that their respective regiments were nearly full, a cer- tificate was given them thereof; and it was recommended to the hon- orable the Provincial Congress, that said regiments be commissioned accordingly. Col. Walker having satisfied this committee, that his regiment was complete, a certificate was given him thereof; and it was recommend- ed to Congress, that said regiment be commissioned accordingly. Col. Donaldson having satisfied this committee, that his regiment is in good forwardness, a certificate was given him thereof; and it was recommended to the honorable Congress, that said regiment be com- missioned accordingly. May 27, 1775. Col. Mansfield having satisfied this committee, that his regiment is in good forwardness, he had a certificate thereof, and a recommenda- tion to Congress, that the regiment be commissioned accordingly. Mr. Wesson, keeper of Thomas Oliver, Esquire's farm, had orders to secure any creatures thai might be put into his inclosures by ill-dispos- ed persons, and to inform the committee thereof. Voted, That agreeably to the recommendation of General Ward, Jacob Rhodes, of Charlestown, be empowered to impress such cattle as may be necessary for the removal of two boats from that town to Cambridge. Joseph Smith, keepei of John Vassal, Esq's farm, had orders to se- 1775.] ( OMMITTEE OF SAFETY cur. nn \ creatures that might !"• pul into bis inclot I'd persons, and i" inform the committee thi reo£ [The following letter was sent to the Provincial < [Gentlemen: — This committee baring received information from Bundrj person tmen of the town of Waltham ting the con- duel <>[ M ijor Alujili Browne, "i said NN altharo, informing, that 1 the Baid Browne, at Bundr) times and in sundr) places, f this committee, I" i leav< to refei the matter, with the evidence respecting the Bame, to your honors, ti. you ma) be furnished with such light as maj enable you to determine thereon, a.- to \<>u m \.>ur wisdom shall seem meet We are, van honors, most obedient humble servants.] \ln 28, 1775 A number of guns taken from some persons in Grafton, were ap- praised bj a Bub-committee appointed i<>r that purpose, and delivered Luke Drury, for the use of his company, and a receipt taken in the rough minutes ; as, reference thereto being had, will particularly ap- pear. M n 29, ITS \ aumber of letters taken from Robert Temj I om- i mi trted a certifi< which v. epted, and is a- follows, \iz. : Whereas, the committee of inspection <>!' the ili-tnct «>f Coin: have transmitted to aumber of lettt n found in the p< u ol 500 COxMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [May 29, Robert Temple, Esq., and this committee have carefully inspected said letters, and had the said Mr. Temple before them, and examined him, both with regard to his principles and conduct in the present con- troversy between Great Britain and the colonies in America; and whereas, we think it the duty of this committee, at the same time that we applaud the vigilance of the committee of Cohasset, who have stop- ped those letters, and that of the town of Plymouth, who have sent two of their members with Mr. Temple to this committee, to do justice to individuals, in consequence of which, we Resolve, that it be recom- mended to the committee at Cohasset, to deliver Mr. Temple, such ar- ticles of his as are now in their possession, and likewise, that they and all others consider and treat him as a friend to the interest of this country, and the rights of all America. 1 Col. Q-uincy, of Braintree, having proposed to this committee the erecting of a small defensive work against the depredations of our en- emies upon the farms in his neighborhood, [they] do refer the matter to the council of war. Col. Fellows having satisfied this committee that his regiment is full, he had a certificate thereof; and a recommendation that said regi- ment be commissioned accordingly, was given him for the honorable Congress. It being expected that the present Congress will be dissolved this night, and hearing that one volume of copies of Mr. Hutchinson's 'let- ters, are in the hands of Capt. McLane, at the upper paper mills, in Milton, which volume may be of use to this colony, if in the hands of the Provincial Congress ; therefore, Resolved, that the Rev. Mr. Gor- den, of Roxbury, be desired and empowered to receive from said Capt/ McLane, all such copies as are in his hands, or in any other hands, (1) Robert Temple, Esq., subsequently, presented the following representations to the committee. " I, Robert Temple, of Ten Hills, near Charlestown, New England, do declare, that I have re- ceived no injury to mj property, nor have 1 been under any apprehensions of danger to either my person 01 property from tin- troops that an- under tin: command of General Ward. But, it is a fai t, that I have been so threatened, searched for, attacked by the names of tory and enemy to this country, ami i r, that not only my own judgment, but that of my friends, and of almost the whole of the t"» n u here I lived, made it necessary or prudent fur me to fly from my home. I am confident, that 'hi- is owing to the wickedness ofa few, very few, who have prejudiced Borm hted people against me, wholive t no far from my abode, to lie acquainted with iny propi r character. I am confirmed in thi from the kind protection that my wife and family have . Mid continue t" r. ceive from <;■ neral Ward, as well as from the sentiments which the committee "I I in pleased to entertain of me. R. TEMPLE." /■■■• , 1775.] COMMITTEE OF 8 IPET1 ami in be accountable i" the present or Borne futui I • the same. \1 i , 30 1775 Blisha Lettinwell was directed i>> proceed with two teams • I and bring up from thence the c innon and other Btor< - - ved from the Bchooner which has been burned bj our people, and t" lod stores m this tow n. Mai 31, 177S The committee met, by adjournment, at Water town, being the appointed b) charter for the election of councillors, when ll ' gress convened, and bad a suitable discourse delivered [b< ihem tfi I' sidenl Langdon, at the meeting-house, where the committee attended in the afternoon. Afterwards thej nut, and adjourned, to meet at Cambridge, on Tuesday morning, at eight o'clo .1 1 \ i I , I " " 5 On a motion made by .Mr. Samuel Whittemore, of Glouci ster, that the forces now raised in said town, and In Manchester, should remain there lor the present, for the security of the sea ports Voted, that there be return- immediately required of the number of men now in camp, ami if it shall then appear that the safety of the whole will per- mit of it, the request will be granted. Jim 2, ITT". \ gun taken from Samuel Flagg, of Grafton, for the use of the i ony, was appraised by a committee, appointed for that purpose, at fort) shillings, lawful monej ; which gun was delivered Capt, Luke Drury, foi the use of his company, and a receipt taken from him in the rough minutes. Col. John Nixon having satisfied this committee that his regiment is in good forwardness, he had a certificate thereof, and a recommenda- tion to the Provincial Congress that said regiment be commissioned accordingly. .1 1 \ i ■', 1 1 Voted, That Mr. Devens be a committee, to join Col. Putnam, from the council of war, as a committee to wait upon the committee of sup- plies for a conference, and to desire their attendance at head qu triers I ,it,il. That Col. Gridlej be required to make immediate return ol the regiment of at tillery. Jim ■">. \','.< \ number of officers belonging to Col John Nixon n rimeni h 562 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [June 10, recommended to the Congress to be commissioned ; and a list of said officers ordered to be put on file. Col. Glover having satisfied this committee that he has about four hundred and sixty men in his regiment, a certificate was given him to that purpose, and it was recommended to the honorable Congress that said regiment be commissioned accordingly. The honorable the Provincial Congress having, by their committee, inquired of this committee what progress has been made in raising a reo-iment for the train : Resolved, that the honorable Congress be in- formed that this committee have given out enlisting orders to raise nine companies, and that they will immediately procure a return, and forward it to the Congress. June 9, 1775. A number of officers, belonging to Col. Whitcomb's regiment, were recommended to the Congress to be commissioned ; as by copy of the list on file. Two small arms, taken from General Brattle's house, were appraised 1>\ Capt. White and Mr. Devens, a committee appointed for that pur- pose, at one pound six shillings and eight pence ; which guns were de- livered Capt. Joseph Stebbins, for the use of his company, and a re- ceipt taken for the same in the rough minute book. Resolved, That the armorers repair no fire-arms for any soldier, without a certificate from his commanding officer, and that they keep an exact account of what arms they repair, and the soldiers' names to whom they belong ; also what regiment they belong to ; and also that the arms that first come be first repaired ; and that this vote be trans- mitted to the several armorers in the colony service. Capt. Hall, of Mistick, having informed the [committee] that a par- cel of spars were brought on this side [of] Mistick bridge, Voted, that Mr. Hall be desired to remove them to such a place of security as he shall judge proper, till the further order of this committee. Voted, That Capt. Ebenezer Winship have the recommendation of this committee to the honorable Congress, for being commissioned, with his subalterns, in Col. Nixon's regiment. June 10, 1775. Whereas, B return has been made by Col. John Glover, of the state of his regiment, now at Marblehead, and it appearing to be for the safety of this colony [that] said regiment should continue for the pres- ent at said Marblehead, therefore, Resolved, that Col. John Glover be, and he hereby is directed, to continue said regiment, under his com- mand, at Marblehead, until further orders, and that he hold them in 1775 | COMMITTEE OF - \n.i \ linen t" march, at ■ minute's warning, to mv post wb be directed ; and that be till up aaid regiment as - i as possible. Whereas, Bundrj pieces of mowing land, belonging t" persona who bave left this to wd, have upon them considerable quantitii which, it' not cut soon, must diminish much in quantity, and as hi) will be wanted for the use of thi ly, therefor /.' /, thai ii be recommended to the honorable Provincial Con that thej ap- point a •• ittee of Congress to vien said p if land, and thereon ae to them, in tlu-ir wisdom, Bhall seem meel Voted, Thai Col. Learned be empowered to appoint one armorer and an assistant, for the arms at Roxbury, provided he c btain tools and accommodation t"r them. \ list of the gentlemen who have been commissioned, >>r who have ived an] encouragement for commissions, was Benl i" Congri - copy Hi' which is on file, [and is as follows \ The following return was sent in t<> tin- Provincial <''>n_ r r' In obedience to a resolve <>t the honorable the Provincial Congri "thai the committee of safety certify to thi I ress the names ol Buch gentlemen as an c indidates for the command of a regiment, with the number of privates, &c.' This committee nov* report, that be- sides twenty gentlemen to whom the) have given certificates, vis. Col. Asa Whitcomb, General Ward, Lieut. Col. Ward, Col. G Col. Fry, Col. Learned, Col. Read, Col. Nixon, Col. Fellows, Gene- ral Thomas, Lieut. Col. Bayley, Col. Bridge, Col. < "otton, Col. W alk- er, Col. Prescott, Col. Scammon, Col I » m Jdson, Col. Patterson, Col. G dner, Col Mansfield, Col. Gerrish ; Gi I Heath took oul ten of orders, and bas raised a full regiment, which has done dutj in the army for Beveral wi he bas informed this committee, bul made no return in writing, nor applied for a certificate Col. David Brewer has received ten Bets of orders, but has made no returns, though we hear lie has enlisted a number of men as rangers ( Robinson has applied to this committee for a recommendation, in con- sequence of a petition signed b) ten companies, the cop) of which petition accompanies this report. The committee promised Col. I! 1 1 j — < > 1 1 that they would recommend him, if there should be a racancy. Col. W Ibridge informs this committee, and il appears, that 860 men Btand read) to under him. The committee would observe, thai Col. Woodbridge has been in the camp, with bis minute men, doing dut) ever since the battle, bul did noi apply t<> this committee for en- listing orders, until the committee had issued orders sufficient t" com- 504 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [June 10, plete the army, and therefore the committee did not give him orders, but promised they would recommend him, if there should be a va- cancy. Col. Porter, now in conjunction with Col. Patterson, and, by agree- ment with Col. Patterson, to have the chief command in the regiment, officiated some time in that capacity, waiting for the men raised by Col. Porter's orders to arrive ; but they not arriving so soon as expect- ed, another officer with several companies arrived, and offering to join Col. Porter's regiment, Col. Porter said he was willing to resign, rather than the public service should be hindered. Since this, we are informed by Col. Porter, that the men raised by his order are upon their march to Cambridge. Col. Henshaw expected to have the command of a lieutenant colonel in General Ward's regiment, but the dispute between him and Col. Ward having been already laid before the Congress, and acted upon ; we would further represent, that he has signified to this committee, that a number of companies incline to go under him, as by his return which accompanies this report. About five or six weeks past, Mr. Greenleaf applied to this commit- tee, desiring that the men raised in and about Newbury might not be annexed to Col. Gerrish's regiment, or any other where it would be disagreeable to them. He afterwards applied to this committee re- specting said men, and desired that the eight companies enlisted upon orders issued by this committee, through Col. Gardner's hand, who have since petitioned in favor of Col. Little's taking the command of them, might be put under him as colonel of a regiment. We then found we had ghen orders for as many regiments as would complete the es- tablishment made by this colony, and therefore did not give Col. Little any orders to raise a regiment, but promised that if any vacancy should happen he should have the preference. We find said companies were early in the field, and have done duty ever since, and are very well equipped. Early after the 19th of April, this committee sent two sets of beat- incr orders to the lion. General Preble, desiring him to give out such orders to such persons as were suitable for commissions, in order to form a regiment : and Col. March was also supplied with ten sets of orders, tor the purpose of raising a regiment, to be commanded by him. Soon after, it was represented to us, by the committee of cor- respondence of Falmouth, that it would be inconvenient to that coun- tv, in their exposed situation, to raise men for the army, and the same was agreed to by Colonels Phinney and March, and this committee : on 1775.] COMMITTEE OF - \rm which we wrote to General Preble, informing bun of the same 1>>u beard nothing further, until about six days |>a-t, « eturn from Col. Pbinnej of about ti\o hundred nun enlisted in ;i regiment to L ri > under his command, and Col. Man b certified that be agreed to come in as his second, a copj of which letter to General Pr< companies this report. Col. Sergeant - c l» baring been i Co iress, tl of Baid representation accompanies this report The committee beg lr:i\<- further to repi tsent, that tlx- reason why more enlisting orders were delivered out than were sufficient to enlist the number of nun established bj Congress, was an apprehension thai the province was in the utmost danger for want <>!" men. the commit- tee ii"i being able i" prevail on the militia and minute men t<> i i r r \ in camp, ami i lit-rt 1 .. - 1 1 1 _r i.ia few men enlisted at that time, obliged as to issue further orders. Ji m 12, 1775. The committee nut apprehending that it was necessarj to detain Eliphalet Hill, of Newbury, an\ longer, as :i rider in the colon) ser- vice, In' \\:i- < 1 i — r j • i — « il therefrom yesterday. Shubael ami Joseph Sever, <>t" Fraraingham, entered mi" tin service, as armorers, the HMli instant. I ipt. Lawrence, in Col. Prescol iment, offering to a<-t as an armorer without any pay for his labor, and to return home I'm- some tools which are necessarj t" effect 1 1 • « - repairs of the muskets, it was consented to by the committee, and the said Lawrt d to procure Ins tools as soon a- ma) be. June 1 ; 5, l " ■ Jonathan Stickney, in Col. W [bridge's regiment, received a small arm of one Guillam, a Bcholar, tor which he gave a receipt in the rough minute book, to deliver the Bame again to this committee, when so required. Whereas, it is daily expected, that General Gage will attack <>ur army now in the vicinitj of Boston, in order to penetrate into the country,it is of the utmost importance, that -aid arm) be, in i spect, prepared for action as soon as possible, therefore, Resolved, that the genera] I"- desired, to order each colonel in the army, to make im- mediate return to him of tin- state and equipment of the respective regiments, setting forth what number of men are destitute of arms, and what arm- arc lit for immediate service; and, thai this vot< be laid be- fore the general as - i as maj be. 566 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [June 14, Mr. Devens was appointed a committee, to inquire of the committee of supplies, relative to the quantity of powder in their possession, and where the same is. 1 On a motion made, Resolved, that the debates and determinations of this committee be kept in profound secrecy by its members and their attendants, until further order of this committee. Whereas, Daniel Adams, of Boston, a lunatic, now in camp at Cam- bridge, occasions great disorders in said camp, therefore, Resolved, that the selectmen of the town of Woburn be, and they hereby are di- rected and empowered, to take into their custody and care the above mentioned Daniel Adams, and make such provision for him, at the ex- pense of this colony, as his circumstances, being peculiar, may require, and also for the guards while there. Whereas, frequent complaints have been made to this committee, of the waste and destruction of the property of some persons who have left their habitations in sundry towns in this colony, and taken refuge in the town of Boston, therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended to the honorable Congress now sitting at Watertown, that they take the above into their consideration, and act thereon, as to them in their wisdom shall seem meet. The committee earnestly recommended to the honorable Congress, that the representations from the quarter master general, be taken into immediate consideration, especially as the committee, from their own knowledge, find the rooms too much crowded, and the healths and lives of the soldiers thereby greatly exposed ; and if tents cannot be imme- diately furnished, that some barracks be forthwith erected. 2 June 14, 1775. Whereas, this committee are informed, that Doct. How, of Andover, is prepared to receive [insane patients,] and is well skilled in such disor- ders as Daniel Adams, of Boston, sent on the 13th instant, to the town of Woburn, is atfected with, therefore, Resolved, that the selectmen of the town of Woburn, be, and they hereby are released from keeping said Daniel Adams in the town of Woburn, and they are required to provide a horse and carriage, with provisions, to forward the said Adams to Andover, the expense of which will be paid by this colony. (1) Fort] lix halfbarreli of powder were in the magazine ii t Watertown; four half barrels of cartridge! had been lenl to C bridge j and thirty-live half barrels of powder were expecteil from Worcester county. (2) The quarter master peneral represented, that there was great want of tents and barracks, and that the lenst delay in making provision for the shelter of the troops, would ho attended with injuri- ous consequences. 1775.] I OMMITTEE OF - UT.n Resolved, That Daniel Adams, a lunatic, now at Woburn, ried to the town of Andover, and committed to the careol l» I 1 and the Baid Dod Hoh is herebj desired to take propel the — 1 1 « i lunatic, al the expense of this colony. A number of men belonging lo the compan) ofCapt Drury, baring petitioned that the) might l»- permitted lo join, some, the regiment commanded b) Col. !' this comm let . thai Baid compan] be joined to Bucfa regiment as it Bhall ij >j >< a r the major part mpa- n\ are in favor "f, when called upon for that purpot Resolved, That Capt. White, and M Devens, bi mmitte* proceed lo 1 1 1 * - liouse of Thomas Ireland, of Charlestown, and find whether a certain infamous woman, who calls herself Jackson, be ill' re, and if Bhe can !><• found, order her t<» head quarters, th< ) be- ing -'Hi furnished with an order from the general, for a file of men foi that purpose. Genera] Heath having satisfied this committee, that his regiment is near full, a certificate was given him thereof; ami it was recommend- ed i" the honorable < Ion tress, that his regiment be commissioned cordingly. .Mr. Nathaniel Mulliken having represented to tin- committee, t hut on the 19th of April last, his house was plundered ami burned bj the Boldiery ; at which time In- lost a pair of silver shoe buckles, which he says li«' i- well informed an- in tin- possession oi ■ int of thi >2 regiment, now in Concord jail ; it 1- the desire of this committee, that the committee of correspondence tor said town, with whom the) think it properlj belongs, would make inquirj into tin- matter, and it' they fmd it to be a- has be< n represented, that the) would use their endeav- ors, that the said Mulliken ma) have justice done him b) the deliver] of -aid buckles, Two l"ih> taken from John Borland, Esq's house, lor tin- colon) service, were appraised b) Messrs. Devens, Watson, ami Orn< twenty-seven shillings and thirty-three shillings, which guns were de- livered William Hudson Ballard, lor tin- use of his company, and a re- ceipt t don for the same in the rough minutt Upon reading a letter from General Thomas, in favor of Capt 1 *rael Henrick, Resolved, that tin- committee, do not think tin- matter con- tained in .-aid letter comes within the commission of tin- committer . and therefore, refer il to tin- honorable Congress. 568 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [June 15, June 15, 1775, The following resolve respecting the allowance for provisions to the soldiers in the Massachusetts army, passed at the Congress, June 10, 1775. Resolved That each soldier in the Massachusetts army shall have the following allowance per day, viz. : Article 1. One pound of hread. Art. 2. Half a pound of beef, and half a pound of pork, and if pork cannot be had, one pound and a quarter of beef; and one day in seven they shall have one pound and a quarter of salt fish instead of one day's allowance of meat. Art. 3. One pint of milk, or if milk cannot be had, one gill of rice. Art. 4. One quart of good spruce or malt beer. Art. 5. One gill of peas or beans, or other sauce equivalent. Art. G. Six ounces of good butter per week. Art. 7. One pound of good common soap for six men per week. Art. 8. Half a pint of vinegar per week per man, if it can be had. Ordered, That Capt. Benjamin White, and Col. Joseph Palmer, be a committee to join with a committee from the council of war, to proceed to Roxbury camp, there to consult with the general officers on matters of importance, and to communicate to them a resolve this day passed in this committee, respecting Bunker hill in Charlestown, and Dorchester neck. Whereas, this committee lately applied to the honorable the Con- gress of this colony, for an augmentation of the army now in the vicin- ity of Boston, and as some circumstances have since taken place, which strengthen the arguments then used in favor of the said augmentation, particularly, thai many of the then expected reenforcements for Gener- al Gage's army have arrived ; that General Gage has issued a very ex- traordinary proclamation, in which the inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay are in the most explicit manner declared rebels 1 ; and various ac- counts have been brought to this committee of the movements of Mr. Gage's army, and that he intends soon to make another attempt to pen- etrate into the country ; from the consideration of all which premises together with that of our army : "Resolved, That the good and welfare of the colony requires, that there be an immediate augmentation of said army; that such soldiers i. The proclamation "i Genei I G printed in the journal* of Congress, page 33U. 1775.] CO MM I TIKI' OF B \li:i V in thr army u an- destitute of arm- In- immediate!) supplied there* uli ; that such regiments of militia a- an- in ani degree destitute "i ofl be immediately filled up in Bucb manner u the honorab I in iv direct ; and, that all the militia in tin- colon) I"- "m;. red i" bold themselves in readiness i" march on tin- shortest notice, compli equipped, having thirt] rounds of cartridges per man; .'II which i> earnest)]/ recommended t<» the immed msideration <>i" the bonora* lil.- Congress aow Bitting at Watertown ; to which the committee would beg leave i" add, a general recommendation t" the people t< in meeting armed, on the Lord's day, in « »r «I « • r to prevent being thrown into confusion. \\ hereas, it appears of importance to the safety of tin- colony, I I ission of the lull called Bunker's lull in Charlestown, l><- securel) ki pi ami defended, ami also, bo ne lull <>r lulls on Dorchester m ck be likewise Becured, therefore, /.'< ohed, unanimously, that it he re- commended to tin- council of war. that thr above mentioned Bunker's lull he maintained by sufficient tor..- being posted there, ami a- the particular situation of Dorchester neck i- unknown to tin- com- mittee, the] desire that th< council of war take ami pursue such steps respecting tin' -am.', as to them shall appear t>. be tor thr security of this colony. Ordered, That ('apt. Benjamin White, and Col. Joseph Palmer, !"• a committee to join with a committee from the council of war, to pro- ceed to Ko\!>ur\ camp, there to consult with tip general officers on matters of importance, an. I to communicate to them a i. solve tin- .! <\ .1 in tin- committee respecting Bunker's hill in Charh stown, ami Dorchester neck. Jim 16, I " " ■"> The committee took into consideration tin' resolves of Congres relative to barracks; whereupon, Voted, that Mr. Watson, Mr. Crush- ing and Doct. Holten, It a committee to make inquir) whether am bouses or tents are to be obtained tor the troops that warn .-..ver. The coi issar) general was directed to furnish Messrs. Joseph ami Thomas Austin, armorer- in the colony service, with provision wanted Col. Gridley's captains ami subalterns for the train, were tin- daj recoiiimemleil i i re-- to in- commissioned. Mi Burbeck was recon ml.il a- lieutenant colonel in Col. Grid- lej - tram of artillery, Mr Scarborough Gridley a- tir.-t majoi Mr David Mason a- second major, in said regiment of artillerj 570 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [June 18, June 17, 1775. Colonels David Brewer and Jonathan Brewer, having made returns of the field officers, and officers of nine companies of their respective regiments, it was recommended to the Provincial Congress, that they might be commissioned accordingly. [The following order was issued to the towns in the vicinity of Boston.] [ To the Selectmen of the Town of ] [Gentlemen : — You are ordered instantly to send all the town stock of powder you have to the town of Watertown, saving enough to furnish one pound to each soldier.] The following was voted to be sent Mr. John Badger, viz. : Sir : — As the safety of the colony army demands that any person or persons suspected of having the small pox, be immediately placed in such place as may prevent its spreading in said army, and your house is thought proper for that purpose, you are directed immediately to quit said house, that the person now suspected may be placed therein. The following vote was laid before the committee of supplies, viz. : As, in consequence of our late movements, a constant fire is kept up on the colony troops, we think it necessary that there should be quick intelligence brought to head quarters from the scene of action : we therefore desire that this committee may be immediately furnished with four of the best riding horses for the service aforesaid. 1 a June 18, 1775. A letter was forwarded to the commanding officers of the militia in the neighboring towns, for the march of their respective regiments, as per copy on file, [which is as follows :] (1) The committee of supplies inform the committee of safety, tluit they are unable to furnish horses to send the summons for the militia by express. They add, " we are sensibly concerned for the expenditure of powder, and as any great consumption by cannon may be ruinous, on our side, we think it propel to inform you, that exclusive of thirty-six half barrels of powder received from the governor and council of C( ecticut, there are only in the magazine twenty-seven half barrels, and that no more can be drafted from the towns without exposing them more than they will consent to." The following cii liar was addressed to the towns: Chamber of Supplies, Watertown, June IB, 1775. (ii.N ii.kmkn : — The welfare of our country again induces us to urge your exertions in sending to the magazine in this [dace, what can be procured of the following articles ; salt pork, beans, peas, 1775.] I OMMITTEE OF SAFETY n I ( ' IMBRIOG] . .Ii M 18, I * 75 | To tin Commanding Officer < 1 1 < • custom of your place, which wo dosire you to certify. It is of the utmost impoi t the army should be supplied agreeably to the resolve of the Co Hj "" ll ' I the lour first of which are necessary i"« »r the subsistence as well ts the health of th a, the othora for their comfort. Th< of the deficiency in blnnk ""' ber of iii.ii enlisted from Boston and other town-, which have been vacated, and they all ma procured immediately, or our worthy countrymen « ill suffer. \ the country affords every thing in plont) r -- 1 r> to subsist the army, and we pr' in many things hut by your assistance, we assur irsolvoi thai you will ael yoni I, iri- as worthily i- you have dour, and bono thai the evenl of :ill ooi t inn of our count i v . DAVID ur wisdom shall judge necessary. Resolved, That no more of the militia of this colony march, than are called for by express orders from this committee, on any alarm that may take place. Ordered, Thai Mr. Abnei Graves, who came down as a minute man on the 20th of April, to defend his country, be discharged, and he is accordingly discharged. I/O « I >MMITTEE OF 8 Ml. IN l .■/,(/, That a certificate I"- given Samuel Poo), ol Hu.-ton, to p .!■*•* the guard to the town of Littleton. Tin- following receipt was taken from Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., via Received of tin* honorable the committee of safety, thirty-eeven blankets, which the) received into their hands, and give their n i lor them to Air. William \ Received bj me, i;i:vi wii.n UNO »i.\ Jim 21, 1 ; : :> Resolved, Thai Joseph Adams, driver of the stage from Newbury, 1 1 < 1 he herebj is directed, to transport back to Newbury, Eliaa- beth Royal and her ohild, who, as sh< is wife to W illiam Royal, lir.-t sergeant in the 63d regiment of foot, now in Boston, snd deliver her to the care of the b< lectmen of said Newbury, who are hereby di- d to provide for her and her child, at the expense of the colony. I ted, That the quarter master general l>c directed to order nine horses in the colons service, to be Btabled at Mr. Hastings' ham this nielli. Mr. Thomas William-, on the colony service to Marblehead, had an order on the taverners and innholders, for the necessary -"i'i ,!; of l ,r "- visions for man ami horse. Col. Woodbridge, having satisfied this committee that eight compa- nies, belonging to this regiment, were in good forwardness, it was re- commended to the honorable ( ss, that thej be commissioned ac- cordingly . Ordered, Thai Mr. James Munroe, an armorer in the provincial Bervice, take into his keeping a [quantity] of old iron, saved out ol the cutter burned ai Winnesimit ferry, he t<> be accountable to the committee tor the same. Stephen Frost, ensign in Capt. Locke's compan] of Col. Gar dm regiment, was recommended to the honorable Congress for a commis- MOD Two half barrels of powder were received t' i Billerica, for which Col. Palmer gave a receipt. Said powder was delivered to Major Bar- ber of the train. Whereas, a great number of horses have been, from time t" time, put into the Btables and yard at Mr. Hastings', at head quarters, not belonging to the colony, to the committee of safety, or the general Officers, their aids de camp, or pOBl rider-, to tin expense "I the public, and inconvenience of the committee, generals, Ate, therefore, 574 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [June 23, Resolved, that no horses be hereafter admitted into said stables or yard, or be taken from thence, but only by order of said committee or general officers. As it is thought of great importance, that intelligence of the state and situation of the army, or any part thereof, should, at all times, be known to the general officers, and that such orders as may be sent by the generals, be communicated, with all speed, therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended to the honorable Congress, that they make such establishment for aid de camps, to the generals, as to them, in their wisdom, shall seem meet. June 22, 1775. Samuel Patch, in Col. William Prescott's regiment, was recommend- ed to the honorable Congress, to be commissioned as a captain ; and Zachary Walker and Joshua Brown, as lieutenants in said regiment. Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is recommended to the town of Medford, that they immediately supply Major Hale with as many spades and shovels as they can spare, as it is of importance for the safety of this colony, that the works begun on Winter hill be finished, and that they will be retarded unless soon supplied with tools of that kind. A number of Col. Donaldson's officers were recommended to the honorable Congress to be commissioned, as by copy on file. June 23, 1775. Agreeably to a resolve of the Provincial Congress, orders were issued to the colonels of the several regiments, that they forthwith make return of the officers in their respective regiments who are not commissioned, [that they] may immediately receive their commissions, and that the vacancies, if any such there are, may be filled up. A letter from General Thomas, recommending a supervisor for the armorers at Roxbury, is referred over to Congress. The following was voted to be sent the Provincial Congress, viz. : This committer beg leave to represent to the honorable the Provin- cial Congress, that they apprehend it [to be] absolutely necessary for the safety of the colony, that two persons of ability and prudence be appointed to superintend the regular supply of our two camps; one of them to be placed in the camp near this place, and the other at Roxbury, whose duty it shall severally he, constantly to attend said camps, and examine into the supplies of each regiment, to see thai such supplies are properly delivered out in time, quantity and quality, and seasonably to advise the commissary general when, and what articles 1775.] COMMITTEE OF 8 UT/n of supplies, are wanted at the respective camps All which i- humbly submitted Col. Palmer and Col. Orne appointed a commitl om- mittee from the council <»t war, to view the encampment "n P lull, and the works carrying <»n there. This day wae lodged with this committee, by CapL Cyprian Howe, thirty arm-, Ben! bj Capt Josiah Stone, of Pramingbam, for which a receipt «^ given b) the secretarj of this committi Voted, That Mr. Joseph Jon< b, of Lan isler, be supplied with pro- visions, till the further orders of this committee, he being well skilled in the train. The following fire-arms were received from the town of Attlebor- ough, \ 1/ gun from Henry Richardson, - Jacob Perrj - - - " George Stanley, - - Amos Stanley, - - - Samuel Freeman, .lr., B n jam in Allen, - - Ditto, David Richardson, " Ebenezer Lan.-, - ■ Blisha < fa) , - - - ■ Daniel Dagget, - ■ • SO I The following fire-arms were received from the town of Rehoboth, \ 1 1. - appraise d at ' 1 16 • > * • - 1 i : 1 1 3, - ii ti • i llll .. 1 - .( 1 III 11 5, - ti ■ > llll II «i. - .. 1 16 a ■ - •■ 1 1 ■ ■ B, - •• . i . » '•'. - •■ 1 i .. I'», - • • •• . > l l •■ 1 1. - • > ■ > \ I/.. L r, in from .1 i Dagget, - - Mo. 11, appraised at I 2 - Benjamin Ridge, b II Elisha < ' .i r ; »- - m - r, - " \ ithan Round, " Richard Whittaker, James Dagget, - - Benjamin If idii<'. John Wheeler, - - William Cole, - Stephen Bullock, - N i 11, 12, 13, i > 1 1. i. 1",, •■ 16, * . 17, 18, <( 1'.', 20, .i • > - i l ii I I . . > - - • • .. I 19 > , i > . > l i 1 l i ; .. I i : i - 576 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [June 24, June 24, 1775. Ordered, That the commanding officer who has the charge of the hay on John Vassal, Esq.'s estate, be directed to supply Mr. £eth Brown, who has the care of the colony horses, with as much hay as they may need for their consumption. A gun taken after the late action was appraised by this committee at thirty shillings, and delivered Col. Brewer for the use of his regiment; for which he gave his receipt to be accountable to this committee in the roush minute book. A gun, appraised at two pounds fourteen shillings, was delivered Elisha Frizel, of Capt. Robert Oliver's company, in Colonel Doolit- tle's regiment, he having had his gun split in the late engagement. A receipt was taken for the same in the rough minute book. A number of Col. Frescott's officers were recommended to the hon- orable Congress, to be commissioned as by the captain's return on file. Capt. Ezra Badlam, of a company in the train, and four lieutenants, were recommended to the honorable Congress, to be commissioned, as by the captain's return on file. Capt. Samuel McCobb, of Col. Nixon's regiment, had twenty fire- arms delivered him, appraised by the towns which sent them at thirty- seven pounds twelve shillings, for which he gave his receipt in the rough minute book, to be accountable to this committee. Ordered, That Mr. Brown, the keeper of the colony horses, do not admit any horses into the stables of John Vassal, Esq., but such as are the property of this colony. Resolved, That the overseer, and such a part of the company of ar- tificers under his direction as may be necessary, be posted in Newton, in buildings of Mr. John Pigeon, for the purpose of carrying on their business, and what loss said Pigeon shall sustain, in consequence of said artificers being posted there, this committee will use their influ- ence that the damage so sustained be reimbursed by this colony. Resolved, That the cannon in this and the town of Watertown, not mounted, and all other military stores not wanted for present use, be removed forthwith to the town of Newton, where the artificers are to carry on their works. Voted, That Mr. Pigeon, the commissary <_ r eneral, have the care and direction of removing the spare military stores to Watertown. A gun, said to have belonged to James Boynton, was delivered to Eliphalet Cole, in Capt. Parley's company, in Col. Fry's regiment. A inin \\;i- (lclivrrcil to Aaron ('r<>iu!>\, in Capt. Gridley's company, <>f the train. 1775.] C< »MMI T TEE < >1 E \li; T\ Bighty-four fire-arms, collected from several towns, were received ol Mr. 'I'll as Cowden, for the use "I this colony, Rm which ■ receipt was given linn by .Mr. Watson, of Lhius committi .li m 25, l " 75 Whereas, Sir. Pigeon, the commisi leral, has represented i<> this committee, that the public service will !>«■ promoted bj a faithful person being appointed as a supervisor of the camp, for reasons off ed; upon consideration "f which, and for other reasons, this commit- i e beg leave to represent t<» the honorable Congress, thai they appre- hend it to !>-■ absolutely m ■ for the safetj of this colony, thai two persons, of known ability and prudence, be appointed, to superin- tend the regular supply of <>ur two camps . one of them to be plao d in the camp mar tin- place, and the other at <>r n< u ftoxbury who duty it shall severally be, constant!] to attend Baid camps, and examine into the supplies of each regiment, to Bee thai Buch supplies are prop- erlj delivered out, in time, quantity and quality, and seasonabl] to - « *1— vise the commissary general when, and what articles of supplies are wanted at the respective camps, and also to take care thai the empty cask.- arc saved and returned t<» the commissar] general's office fbi farther service, and in general t" do all the service to the public which such appointment requires. Jim 36, I" 75 Twenty small arm- were delivered CapL Lemuel TrescoU, of Col Jonathan Brewer's regiment, for the us< of bis company, t"i which he gave a receipt in the minute hunk, to be accountable when called upon therefor. Six sm all arms were delivered Capt. William Hudson Ballard, for the use of his compan] in Col. Fry's regiment, f<>r which hi gave a ceipt, to be accountable when failed upon therefor < "ii|. Moses Little, having made a return to this committee of a lieu- tenant colonel, major, ten captains, and twenty lieutenants, it a recommended to the honorable Congress, that thej be con ssioned accordingly. Three small arm- were delivered CapL John Nutting, foi the use ol his compan] in Col. Prescott's regiment, amounting, l>\ appraisemi at, to seven pounds ten shillings, for which be gave a receipt in the min- ute I k, to be accountable when called upon therefor. Six small arm- were delivered Lieutenant Whitney, for the u« Capt I'arueH'- compan] in Col. Prescott's regiment, amountit 73 578 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 27, by appraisement, to thirteen pounds twelve shillings, for which a re- ceipt was given by the lieutenant in the minute book. Six small arms were delivered Capt. Joshua Parker, of Col. Pres- cott's regiment, for the use of his company, amounting, as by appraise- ment, to thirteen pounds eight shillings, for which he gave a receipt to be accountable to the committee when called upon therefor. Ten small arms were delivered Capt. Asa Lawrence, for the use of his company in Col. Prescott's regiment, appraised at nineteen pounds three shillings, for which he gave a receipt to be accountable to this colony, which receipt is on file. Three small arms, for the use of Capt. Wyman's company in Col. Prescott's regiment, appraised at five pounds, were delivered to his lieutenant, for which he gave a receipt in the minute book, to be ac- countable when called upon therefor. Three small arms, for the use of Capt. Oliver Parker's company in Col. Prescott's regiment, were delivered said Parker, amounting, as by ;ippraisement, to four pounds nine shillings and four pence, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. Whereas, this committee find the public hospital in this town has been much neglected, to the great injury of the patients in said hospi- tal, occasioned by the want of some suitable person being placed there as surgeon, therefore, Resolved, that Doct. John Warren, be, and he hereby is appointed, to the oversight of said hospital, and that he take proper care such provision be made as may be necessary for the com- fortable support of the patients in said hospital until further orders. Fifty-eight small arms, amounting, by appraisement, to one hundred and nine pounds fifteen shillings, were delivered Col. Asa Whitcomb, for the use of his regiment, and a receipt taken for the same in the minute book. June 27, 1775. Passed upon John Chandler Williams' account, who was employed as a rider in the service of this colony, amounting to £\ 4s 6d, as by the copy thereof on file. It was recommended to the honorable the Provincial Congress, that William Dana lie commissioned as captain lieutenant; Mr. Treadwell as first lieutenant; Jonas Simmons and William Stevens as second lieu- tenants: in Capt. Edward Craft's company of the train, in Col. Grid- ley's regiment. A gun was taken for the use of tins colony, which was owned by Aaron Par, of Mansfield, who died of the wounds he received in the 1775.] COMMITTEE OP S \\\:\\ battle of Bunker lull, which gun has been valued l>\ this committ< thirty-six shillings l.iu fu] mon< One hundred and twenty-four small arma were received of Mr Al)i;ih Sadler, and ten of Capt. Stone, collected by them for the vice ol tin- colony, amounting, by appraisement, to two hundred and fifty-one p ids fourteen shillings and eight pence, for wind: ceipts were given bj .Mr. Wat Jim 28, 1" " Two small arm- w( re delivered Col. Samuel Gerrish, t"< >r the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraised value, to three pounds three shillings, ii>r which a receipt was taken in the minute book. The following is a resolve of tin- Provincial Congress, relative t.» supplying the army with -mall arm-, \i/.. : In Provincial Congress, Watertown, Jdni 26, 1"* Whereas, this Congress has ordered a number of fire-arms to be fur- nished tr<>m several towns and districts in this colony, to be forwarded to the army, to supply those who arc destitute of arm-; but n«> provi- sion is made for delivering them out, and taking proper receipts foi the same, therefore, Resolved, that all the small arm- thai an- <>r may be procured 1>\ the above order, be delivered to the committee "f iv, at Cambridge, thej to give their receipts i"r the same to the per- son from whom thej receive them; thai the same be delivered out to such officers as shall produce orders therefor from the Hon. General Ward, they giving receipts for the same to the Baid commits e of safi ly, to be returned in good order, unless lost in the service of the colon] . and everj soldier who shall receive any Buch fire-arms, shall L r i\c bis re- ceipt for the same to the officer from whom he shall receive it, to b< turned as aforesaid ; ami the officer shall return said rect ipts t" the i mittee of safetv ; and in case the same shall no! be returned al thee of the campaign, <>r sooner, the value of the said fire-arms shall 1" ducted out of the wages of the person receiving the*same; and thai the co ittee of safety shall appraise all such arm- as lia\<- nol already been appraised, ami take an account of the whole. Bj order of < longri JOSEPH \\ MMM'A /' riifatf. The following was received I General Ward in < the above \ ote of Con i / : >S0 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 28, Head Quarters, Cambridge, June 28, 1775. The general orders, that the commanding officer of each regi- ment make application to the committee of safety for so many fire-arms as their respective regiments stand in need of; each commanding offi- cer to give his receipt for the fire-arms he may receive, and the com- mittee of safety are hereby ordered to deliver out arms to such com- manding officers as make application to them for the same. Per order, SAMUEL OSGOOD, Major of Brigade. In consequence of the above order of the council of war, the follow- ing protest was entered, and a copy of the same, together with the other proceedings, was, by a vote of this committee, laid before the honorable Congress, viz.: Whereas, the Provincial Congress did, on the 26th instant, pass a resolve, " that all the small arms that are or may be procured by the above order (mentioned in said resolve,) be delivered to the commit- tee of safety, at Cambridge, they to give their receipt for the same, to the person from whom they receive them ; that the same be delivered out to such officers, as shall produce orders therefor from the Hon. General Ward :" and whereas, the Hon. General Ward, in conse- quence of that part of the above quotation which is scored, has this day issued general orders, in which are these words, " and the commit- tee of safety arc hereby ordered to deliver out arms to such commanding ojjiccrs as make application to them for the same :" and whereas, this committee apprehend, that said resolve does not empower the general to ordtr them to deliver said arms, but only to order his officers to re- ceive from the committee such arms as they are ordered by the honor- able Congress to deliver on the general's orders to his officers : and whereas, the committee apprehend, that it is of vast importance that no orders are issued by the military, or obeyed by the civil power, but only such as are directed by the honorable representative body of the people, from whom all military and civil power originates; and, though this committee are satisfied, that General Ward has misunderstood said resolve, and does not mean or intend to set up the military power above the civil, yet, lest this order of the general, should be adduced as a precedent in future, we think it our indispensable duty to protest against the general's said order ; notwithstanding which protest, we also think it our indispensable duty to deliver said arms agreeably to !".-,.) I 0MM1TTEE OF 5 Mil \ &\ tli.- -jurit of said resolve, and a- the exigencj of the public reqoii ami submit our conduct to tin- honorable Congri Forty-three -mall arm-, amounting, a- In appraisement, to seventy- nine pounds two shillings and four pence, were delivered to Col lnllin:_ r - ami six pence, tor which he gave a receipt to be countable to tin- colony, which receipt 1- on the files of the commit- ■ Nine -mall arm- were delivered Col. William Preacott, tor the uae of In- regiment, amounting, a- by appraisement 1 pounds mm- shillings, for whicb a receipt was L r i\<-n in tin- minute l>ook. Twenty-five -mall arm- were delivered Col. Fry, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to forty-nine pounds eight shillings and two pence, tor which In- gave a receipt to I..- accountable to the colony, which receipt is on the minute l>ook. Twenty-five small arm- were delivered Col. John Glover, tor ih<- nan of his regiment, ai intiii_r. a- by appraisement, to forty-eix pounds twelve shillings ami eight pence, for which In- gave a receipt in the minute book to i>. tntable to tin- colon] . deceived of Major Barber, store-keeper for the tram-, l«\ onl.-r of tin- Provincial Congress, thirty-two -mall arms, amounting, as bj ap- praisement, to € . Mr. Devens ami Col. Orne, appointed to draw up a vote relativi (.'apt. Trevet and company, reported tin- following, which was ace ed, \ 1/. : Whereas, from a mistake made l»\ on,- of the i_ r, ''i'-ral offici rs, Capt. Samuel Etussel Trevet has been put under arrest, which nn-tak>- , forth in a certificate by onl.-r of the general, ami upon exaj ation it appears that said Trevet In- approved himself a j><>»\ officer, but mistake has unhappil) operated to the dispersion of in- companj ; therefore, Resolved, thai Capt. Trevet be directed to collect In- said company, as soon a- possible, ami then apply to tin- committee, in or- der to be commission* .1.' 1 \ n 1 from number! of thi Pi l< an. I ni" ill.' , to inquire int.. the alleged mUconducl ol 1 Imerioan army i ttle of the I7lh of June. The invi i ed on the il i loam, that as he wu riding op tho lull, du 582 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [June 30, This committee being greatly alarmed at the danger of the small pox spreading in the American army, which, should it take place, we fear may be attended with very fatal consequences to this colony and continent : therefore, Resolved, that it be earnestly recommended to the honorable Congress, to take such speedy and effectual measures, to prevent a communication of that very dangerous and distressing distemper, from the small pox hospital, to the army, or to the inhabit- ants of this colony, as to them in their wisdom may seem meet. Whereas, sundry persons, who, in the exigency of our public affairs, have been employed in the service of this colony, are, from time to time, exhibiting their accounts to this committee, in order for payment, therefore, Resolved, that said accounts be transmitted to the honora- ble Congress, that this matter be taken into their consideration, and that such orders pass thereon as their wisdom may dictate. June 30, 1775. One hundred and fifty-two small arms were received of Capt. Wil- liam Page, collected by him for the use of this colony, amounting, as by appraised value, to £ , for which a receipt was given him by Mr. Watson Mr. Samuel West was recommended to the honorable Congress, to be commissioned as second lieutenant in Capt. Abner Cranson's com- pany, in Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment. Forty small arms were delivered Col. John Paterson, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to seventy-eight pounds sixteen shillings and four pence, for which a receipt was given in the minute book. Fifty-one small arms were delivered Col. James Scammon, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to ninety-seven pounds eighteen shillings and eight pence, for which guns a receipt was taken in the minute book. Three small anus, for the use of this colony, were received of Col. Simeon Spalding, amounting, as by appraisement, to five pounds four shillings. ment, ho met nn officer of art illery drawing a cannon down, who :i 1 l«-ir«-il as the cnusc of his move- iii'- ii i , thai be had expended hi-* nanilion. General Putnam dismounted, and finding some cart- ridges unexpended, ordered the officer to return to his post. Another captain left the field, under similar circumstances. It was in evidence, that the balls were too largo for tho service of the guns, and that it wi k the cartri »y could be used. The officers ap- pear to have left the hill for the purpose of preserving the guns from capture. The examination subsided) without further proceedings. Capt. Trevct was in no way implicated in any nuspici I misconduct, anil hii arrest r< suited from an unfortunate mistake. 1775.] COMMITTEE OF S UT.n Whereas, the honorable Provincial Congress has tin- da\ •, ilve, appointing this committee to be a commit! further emission of notes or lull- of credit, as mentioned in said re- solve : but tin- commits e, finding themselves unable to proceed in the business without ;i more perfect knowledge of the emissions lately made, both in quantitj and circumstances ol payment; and also want of sufficient knowledge of the demands made, <>r to be made, upon the colony, do Resolve, that Col. Palmer attend the honorable Congress to-morrow, in order to obtain ill necessarj light in the premises. \\ hereas, a considerable number "f whale boats h a procured lor the service of this colony, and man) of them are Baid to be now in the town- of Braintree and \\ eymouth, and, unless proper care I ken of said boats, they will probablj sustain great damage: therefore, /.' rived, that it be recommended to the honorable Congress, that such order be taken resp< cting - lid boats, as their wisdom maj direct This committee beg leave to suggest to the honorable Congri O 3 3 whether the magazine wherein gunpowder is deposited, ought not to narded by electrical point- ; as an} considerable I"-- in that article would deepl) affect the public, which is humbly submitted. Twenty-seven small arm-, for the use of this colony, were received of Mr. Benjamin Ely, lor which a receipt was given l>\ the secretary of tin- committee, winch guns were collected l>\ order ol I and amount, by appraisement . Forty-four small arm-, for the use of this colony, were • ! of Mr. John Bliss, for which a receipt was given him by tfa of tin- committee, which guns were collected l>\ order ol < and amount, by appraisemi nt, to € . Voted, That the commissary general be directed to supply I quarters with provisions .1- usual, till the further order of this commit- tee. .1 1 1 \ I , I ' 75. Forty-nine small arm-, for the u-e of the colony, were received from the Re\ Mr. Lemuel Kollock, for which a receipt was given by Mr. Devens ; which guns were collected by order of Congress, and amount, by appraisement, to € . Fifteen hi 1 all arms were delivered Col. Ruggles Woodbri use of In- regiment, amounting, as b) appraisement, to twenty-nine pound- sixteen shillings and eight pence, for which gun taken in the minute hook. 5S4 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 3, Voted, That two thirds of the hay under the care of Mr. David San- ger, be brought to head quarters, and one third carried to the commit- tee of supplies, at Watertown. Six small arms were received of Mr. Abner Ellis, for the use of this colony, amounting, by appraisement, to £ , for which a receipt was given by the secretary of this committee. Forty-four small arms were received of Benjamin Ely, by the hands of Mr. Solomon Edwards, for the use of this colony, for which a re- ceipt was given by the secretary, which arms were collected by order of Congress, and amount, as by appraisement, to £ . Eight small arms were received of Col. John Dickinson, by the hands of Benjamin Scott, Jun., for the use of this colony, amounting, by appraisement, to £ , for which a receipt was given by the secretary. Capt. Jacob Miller was recommended to the honorable Congress, as a captain in Col. Doolittle's regiment, in the room of Capt. Leland, who has resigned. Seventy-one small arms were delivered Col. David Brewer, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to one hundred thirty-eight pounds six shillings, which guns he engaged should be re- turned in good order, unless lost in the service of this colony, as by his receipt in the minute book. Thirteen small arms were delivered Col. Jonathan Brewer, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to twenty-six pounds seven shillings, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. July 2, 1775. One hundred small arms were delivered Col. Glover, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to one hundred ninety- two pounds eleven shillings, which guns he engaged should be return- ed in good order, unless lost in the service of this colony, as by his re- ceipt in the minute book. One hundred and seven small arms were received of Mr. Daniel Hemmenway, by the hands of Mr. John Elder, for the use of this col- ony, for which a receipt was given by Mr. Abraham Watson. July 3, 1775. Twenty-six -mall arms were delivered Col. James Fry, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to fifty-five pounds four shillings, fur which a receipt was given in the minute book. 1775.] < OMMITTEE OF B \n;n . Ten small arma were deliver l I ihraim Doolittle, I of In- regiment, amounting, aa bj appraisement, to twenty-two |>.>ir eighteen shillings, tor which a receipt waa taken in ili<- minute bo < >ne gun, f<»r the ii-.' of < lol. Lieut. Col. Bond, amountin praisement, to 1 iurteen shillings, For which a receipt ken in the minute (»«»••!<. T( ii -mall arm- were deliv( r< ( M - Little, for the regiment, amounting, aa by appraisement, to twenty-two poum Bhilling and four pence, for which a r< given in the minute book. Two small arms were delivered Col. M I , for the his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to four pounds four shilliu tor which a receipt waa taken in the minute l»»<>k. Thirteen guns were received <>f Mr. Benjamin Ely, l»\ tin- bands of .Mr. John Baton, collected by order ol Congress, for which a receipt w as gii en him. Fifteen small arms were delivered Col. William Prescott, for the use i>i In- regiment, amounting, by appraisement, to twenty-nine pounds sixteen shillings, for which a receipt was given in the minute hook. A number of officers in Col. \V [bridge's regiment. w< am- mended to the honorable Congress, to be commissioned, as bj return on file. Whereas, Mr. Edmund Quincy, of Stoughtonham, has represented to this committee, that sundry household goods and otto i or late the propertj <>t' Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., and other | publicly known to be also enera ad liberl \ - il- ea, are hid in several places in and near Milton, which property will probably I"- lost or h isted, unless prop. i- taken of the Bame, for Buch persons as ma) hereafter justly claim the same, ther< 'ved, that Baid Quincy, !"■, and he herebj is empowered, to receive and convej to this cot itte ' •. all such _ ■■■ Is 11 d as aforesaid, tor the use of such person or persons as the horn Congress or some future Congress, or House of Repr< colon) may order: he ateo producing to iln> committee, the I or Hon-, of Representatives, an account of ill the articles he i receive, the names of the persons from whom he in ive the e and .in at of the ch urges that may arise from such -a: nd removal , an. I he also is hereby empowered, to press, it' necessary . sue is •- may be needed for r< mo> ing Buch effects llso, R ! ; . Thai thi \ I e immed transmitt I I i 58G COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 5, of said Quiney, to the honorable Congress now sitting at Watertown, for their approbation or disapprobation. Henries Vomhavi, an Indian, having represented to this committee, that he had taken two horses at Noddle's island, one a little horse, which he is desirous of retaining as some recompense for his fatigue and risk in that action, in which, it is said he behaved with great bravery ; it is the opinion of this committee, that said Indian should be gratified in his request, which will be an encouragement to others in the service, provided, the honorable Congress should approve thereof. Passed upon Mr. William White's account, a person employed by this committee as a rider in the colony service, which account amount- ed to six pounds thirteen shillings four pence, and a certificate was given him accordingly. Thirty-nine small arms were delivered Col. Jonathan Brewer, for the use of his regiment, amounting, by appraisement, to sixty-eight pounds eighteen shillings and eight pence, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. July 4, 1775. Mr. George Armstrong, who brought in a company of minute men, and has been in the army since the first alarm, having desired leave of absence from the camp, for some time, it was accordingly granted him ; and an order was given the said Armstrong, on the taverners and innholders on the road to Murraysfield, to supply him with neces- sary provisions on his return home. Mr. Eleazer Wier, was directed to deliver Benjamin Willing, one dozen and a half of files, for the use of the armorers now working at Mr. Gideon Frost's shop. Voted, That Mr. David Sanger be directed to fill the widow Vas- sal's barn with hay. Nine small arms were delivered Col. Joseph Read, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to seventeen pounds fourteen shillings, for which guns a receipt was taken in the minute book. Four guns were delivered Col. Moses Little, for the use of his regi- ment, amounting, as by appraisement, to nine pounds two shillings, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. July 5, 1775. Thirty-seven fire-arms were received from Major Ebenezer White, 1775.] ' MMITTEE OF 9 \IT.T\ w 1 1 n- 1 1 guns were collected l>\ order of Congress, and amount, u b\ appraisement, to eighty-five pounds Beven shillin Thirty-seven sntall arms, valued at eighty-five pounds • were delivered General Thomas, for the use of his regimi nt, as bj his ipt on file. Si\ Bmall arms were delivered Col. William Prescott, for the u f his regiment, amounting, b) appraisement, to eleven pounds six shil- lings, for which a receipt was taken in the minute 1 1%. Four small arms were delivered Col. NN illiam IV ■ itt, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to eight pounds four- teen shillings, for which :i receipt was taken in the minute book. I n small arras were delivered Col. M Little, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as bj appraisement, to eighteen pound shillings ri 1 1 < l four pence, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. Passed upon John Bullfinch's, and twelve other persons' accounts, who worked with Jeremiah Russell, amounting in the whole to forty- four pounds eight shillings and eight pence, for which a certificate given them, for tin- committee of acco ints Voted, Thai Joseph Bates have liberty to cut thirty hundred of hay, on John Vassal, Esq's estate in Cambridge, he to !»• accountable therefor, and that Samuel Sanger, who has the care of th<- hay, \«- di- rected according!] Bight guns, collected in Princeton, were received of Mr Ephraim \\ ol son, by the hands of SylvanusOakes, amounting, b) appraisement, to fourteen pounds -• ven shillings, for which ;i receipt iven him by the secretary. .1 1 i \ 1 1 . 1775 I ted, That Joseph and Parsons Smith, be allowed to cut, each, ouo ton of English hay, and our ton of black grass, on the est ite of John V.i. ,'. Esq., in Cambridge, they to !><• accountable therefor: and that Mr. David Sanger be directed accordingly. \ hand vice, screw plate, and pins, were purchased of Mr Richard ■ r the u e of the armorers, amounting, as bj i it in the minute I k, to eight shillin Mr Seth Brown was directed and empowered to clear the widow irns, lor the reception of hay and horses for the colon] and also to prevent horses feeding in the pastures owned h] widow. Mi- Elizabeth Hicks was paid four shillings, b] Mr. l» for bringing up ;t boat from Charlestown, as bj n c< ipt on file. 588 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 6, Voted, That Mr. Fisk, who has the care of Jonathan Sewall's farm, have liberty to cut on said farm one ton of English hay and two tons of salt hay, and that Mr. David Sanger be directed accordingly. [Voted, That it be recommended to the honorable Provincial Con- gress to pass the following resolve :] Whereas, the exigencies of the colony require that there should be, as soon as possible, an emission of bills of credit : therefore, Resolved, that there be immediately issued on the credit of this colony, and de- posited in the treasury, a sum not exceeding one hundred thousand pounds, lawful money, in bills of credit of the following denomina- tions, viz. : of one shilling, of two shillings, of two shillings and six pence, of four shillings, of five shillings, of seven shillings and six pence, of eight shillings, of eleven shillings, of thirteen shillings, of seventeen shillings, of nineteen shillings, of thirty shillings, of forty shillings, of sixty shillings, of eighty shillings, and of one hundred shillings; to be five thousand of each denomination, and no more, and to be of the form following, viz. : Colony or the » T 1WK ivt inn AT „ July , l//o. No. 109. Massachusetts b.\Y. ) The possessor of this bill shall be paid, by the treasurer of this col- ony, two shillings and six pence, lawful money, by the 18th day of July, 1777, and [it] shall be received in all payments at the treasury at all times. By order of Congress. A. D. 1 B. E. > Committee. C. F. j which said bills shall be paid and received in the public treasury, and in all payments in this colony, without any abatement or discount, upon any pretence whatsoever, under penalty of treble damages to both the payer and receiver, which penalty shall be applied to the discharge of the public debts of this colony. And said bills shall also be printed on the back, with the colony seal, the value of the bill, and its date, and round the seal, these words : Issued in (l> <>ur friends, and others, in Great Britain: therefore, thai it be humbly recommended I • honorable I now sitting al Watertown, to appoint a committee to draw up and transmit to Gn il Britain, as possible, ;i lair, honest and impartial tnl of the late battle of Charli stown, on the 17th ultimo, so that our friends, ;<.n<\ othet that part of the world, may n in an) >osed upon b) Genera] Gage's misrepresentations <>t" that day's trai is; and that they also be a standing committee for that purpo With hearts deeply affected by the sufferings of '>ur friends in the town and harbor of Boston, now under th ' hand of tyrannic power; and reflecting upon the advice of the late Continental Con- enemiae seiziug an) of our friends, il is K by tin- committee, that it be recommended to the honorable Provin- cial Co nun- sitting • W itertown, to recommend t" the grand A a Congress, that ever) crown officer, within the united 590 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 7, colonies, he immediately seized, and held in safe custody until our friends who have been seized by General Gage are set at liberty, and fully recompensed for their loss and imprisonment. Voted, That Mr. John Steel and his two sons be appointed armorers for this colony's forces. Eight small arms were delivered Col. Ebenezer Bridge, for the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to seventeen pounds six shillings, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. Whereas, the honorable Congress have made an establishment for a company of artificers, which consists of carpenters, blacksmiths, and wheelwrights ; and a captain is appointed for the carpenters, but no provision is made for captains or master workmen for the blacksmiths and wheelwrights, therefore, Resolved, that the premises be recom- mended to the consideration of the honorable Congress, now sitting at Watertown. July 7, 1775. Two guns were received from Capt. Josiah Stone, of Framingham, for the use of this colony, amounting, by appraisement, to three pounds sixteen shillings, for which a receipt was given by Mr. Devens. Forty small arms were delivered Col. Scammon, for the use of his regiment, amounting, by appraisement, to seventy-four pounds thirteen shillings and four pence, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. One small arm was delivered Col. Gridley, for the use of his regi- ment, amounting, by appraisement, to two pounds four shillings, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. Passed upon Matthew Clark's account, amounting to nine pounds three shillings and six pence; and a certificate was delivered him for the committee on accounts. Whereas, Mr. Scth Brown, who has had the care of horses for the cannon, has resigned thai employment, and as Thomas Organ, who was in the service of the late General Warren, is willincr to un- dertake that service, looking upon him to be a person well qualified for that trust, we desire he may be appointed accordingly. The above was directed to the gentlemen of the committee of sup- plies. Passed upon Mr. Isaac Bissel, a post rider's account, amounting, as by copy on file, to two pounds one shilling; and a certificate was given him for the committee on account-. [Where.;-, a number <>f soldiers in the American army, are from time to time, observed to be much disguised with spirituous liquors, L775.] < OMMITTEE OF - \ri.i \ ami Bhould not some effectu il measures > to put this disorder, not only the morals and health, Inn also the ii ti< - of this people will be endangered ; therefor* /.' >hed, that it be, ; 1 1 1 « J n i- hereb) recommended to his Excellenc) General W ton, that an order be issued to Buppresa retaih rs of spirituous liquors within ami near the camps, in Buch m mm r as t>> him m i) seem n Upon application made to tin- committee l>\ Capl R ml due examination into the matter, the following was voted t>> be sent the 1 1 1 it 1 1 . &c, of the town of Heading, > be communicated to the adjacent toy ns. Gentlemen — When * pi .1 ■ R ers, late an inhabitant of Charlestown, but who, through the nec< Limes, has been obliged t" quil Charh stown, has since i iken up his residence in the town of Reading ; but so licentious persons of the town of Stone- ham, as i- repre» nted to us, have thre itened to raise a mob, and drive him oul of said Reading, to the great terror of his family, and tin-, without any cause thai we can find, evidence having appeared of his good behavior while in Charlestown; in ordei to put a stop t-> Buch disorderly conduct, it i R tved, that all the inhabitants <>t" tin- i n\ be desired, as the) regard the peace and wi Ifare of the country, to behave peaceabl) and quietly towards the said Capt. R and if In- conduct should hereafter be unworthj a friend t<> American liberty, - thru to !»■ orderl) complained of, t" Buch authorit) then exist within this colony, but l>_\ no means to In- proceeded against in an) disorder!) manner. Twenty-eight guns, for the use of the colony, collected by »»ril< r of Congress, were received of Mr. John Ingraham, July 7th. Passed upon Mr. John Barber - i count, amounting to seven pounds thirteen shillings and eighl pence ; and a certificate « is given him for the committee <>n accounts. Two small arm.- wire received of Col. Simeon Spaulding, f"r the use of tin- colony, amounting, by appraisement, to tw<> pounds twelve shillin Two small arms, appraised al four pounds Four shillings, w< livered Capt. Job Cushing, of Col. Ward- regiment, as b) receipt on file. r nail arm- [v livered,] for tin 59 2 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 8, regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to twenty-seven pounds three shillings, for which a receipt has been taken in the minute book. The honorable the Provincial Congress having acquainted this com- mittee, that Mr. James Winthrop, post master in Cambridge, had de- clined serving any longer in that office, and desired that another might be recommended to them for that place : Voted, That Mr. Jonathan Hastings, Jun., be recommended to the honorable Congress, as a suitable person for the trust aforesaid. Two small arms were received of Mr. Seth Stone, of Cambridge, for the use of this colony, amounting, as by appraisement, to three pounds eighteen shillings, for which a receipt was given him by the secretary. Passed upon John Gill, Jun., a post rider's account, amounting to six pounds seventeen shillings and eight pence, for which a certificate was given. [Whereas, many complaints have been made to this committee, that the armorers frequently deliver the arms out of their shops unfit for service, and delay the work unnecessarily ; in order to prevent occa- sion for such complaints in future, and to hasten the public service in an orderly manner, which has not yet been provided for, it is Resolved, that it be, and it hereby is, recommended to the honorable Congress, to make an establishment for, at least, four master armorers, each one of whom shall work and superintend one shop, each of which shops, as we apprehend, may well accommodate eight men, including the master.] [Resolved, That the instructions to be given to the officers of the regiments, be sent to the council of war, and if approved, be forwarded : they are as follow :] [Inst rue tions for the officers of the several regiments of the Massa- chusetts Bet)/ forces, who are immediately to go upon the recruiting servii i . j [You are not to enlist any deserter from the ministerial army, nor any stroller, negro, or vagabond, or person suspected of being an ene- my to the liberty of America, nor any under eighteen years of age.] [As the cause is the besl that can engage men of courage and prin- ciple to take up anus, so it is expected that none but such will be ac- cepted by the recruiting officer ; ihe pay, provision, &,c, being so am- ple, it is not doubted but the officers sent upon this service, will, with- out delay, complete their respective corps, and march the men forth- with to camp. ' 1775.] COMMITTEE OF - \\\.v\ [You are not to enlisl any person who is not an Amei rn unless -in h person has a wife and family, and is a Bettled resident in this country. ] [The persons you - nlist, must be provided with good and complete arms. ] One small arm was received ol M B muel Haynes, of Sudbury, for ilir ii-.- of this colony, amounting, by appraisement, t" thirt] shillii for which a receipt was given him b) the clerk. vVhen con uderable u aris< a in -"in.- pin "t the army, from Bome >>t' the soldi isting a second lime mi" other companies than those which thej first enlisted into, ami ifnol prevent- ed will be attended with great inconvenience, there! />' that it be recommended to the honorable Provincial Congress, t" pass such i r.l.T a- ma) .-an-.' those Boldiers who have conducted a- above, to return tn their respective companies into which tiny were tir-t enlist- ed, <>r otherwise order, a- to them in their wisdom Bhall seem mi \\ hereas, it is necessary [that] the house of Mr. John \ J, order- ed by Congress for the residence of his excel) en c j General N\ ton, should In- immediate!) put in such condition >- may make u >"ii- \, in. nt tor thai purpose, therefore, Resolved, that Mr. Timothj Aus- tin he, ami hereby is empowered ami authorized, t>> put Baid house in proper ...r"nr moal hu DAVID CHE! i tea. p. 8 \ i ' ■■ number ofihirl "I lummi I .. ii,. Ilvi countrymen, to Furnish tbii committi . with -. large nu nb in tWO «lnrl«, !».. p in .,! . in. I two , portioned aa thi share ol your town, and tend I M il.nv M. We -ii ai !■■ prices winch you ihall certify, relying on youi judgment lo prevent imp 594 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 11, July 11, 1775. The commission from the honorable Congress to this committee, was this day received from said Congress. His excellency General Washington having signified to this commit- tee, that they send Monsieur Viart to the town of Worcester ; Resolv- ed, that a post immediately proceed with said Viart, to Worcester, and that Mr. Devens provide a horse for that purpose. Two small arms were delivered Col. Mansfield, for the use of his regiment, amounting to five pounds eight shillings four pence, for which a receipt was taken in the minute book. Resolved, That the committee of correspondence in the town of Worcester, be hereby required and directed to take into their custody, Monsieur Viart, a Frenchman ; that they suffer him, on his parole, to have the liberty to walk for his health to a convenient distance about the town, but to guard against his escape, till they shall receive fur- ther orders on this subject, either from the general or this committee. The following order was issued. Cambridge, July 11, 1775. To the Tavcrners and Innholders on the road between Cambridge and Worcester. You are hereby required to supply with necessary provisions, Mr. , and a Frenchman with him, (he being on public service,) and charge the same to this colony. The honorable the Congress of this colony, having passed a resolve that this committee be appointed to draw up and transmit to Great Britain, a fair and impartial account of the late battle of Charlestown, as soon as possible ; and this committee being exceedingly crowded with business, therefore, Resolved, that the Rev. Doct. Cooper, Rev. Mr. Gordon and the Rev. Mr. Peter Thatcher, be desired to draw up a true statement of said action, as soon as may be, and lay it before this committee. The committee of safety of Marblehead, were advised by this com- mittee, that five ships sailed this day from Boston, their destination unknown. The taverners and innholders on the road to Marblehead, were re- quired to supply Mr. Thomas Williams, an express in the colony ser- vice, with necessary provisions, and to transmit an account of the charge thereof, to this committee. 1775.] I I >MMITTEE OF 8 \! i:r\ Whereas, a number ol horses have been tak< u ti niir Boldiers, and a difficulty arises whose propert) the horse* in ju oughl t'» be: therefore, Resolved, that il be, and it is bei mended, to the bouorable Congress, to take such order same, as to them, in 1 1 1« -i r wisdom, shall seem rn [Whereas, bie excel lencj General Washington, by In- Mr. Heed, lias sen! to thic committee fifteen persons, taken :it Long Island, tin- committee apprehending, that bj their commission, the) have no power to dispose of said person therel R ved, thai the above fifteen persons !>■• immediate!) Ben I n< the honorable the Congress, at Watcrtown, and that Mr diehard Devens and Col Orne, be a committee to eo to the Congress unh tin- resolve.] Juu 12, 1775. [Whereas, frequenl complaints have been made to this committ that many of the arms returned from the armorers have not been suffi- ciently repaired, which error may have arisen from ignoranl or persons being employed as armorers, or for want of a master work- man or superintendent m each shop, therefore, /«' ved, thai Benja- min Guillam, an armorer in the shop belonging to G »n Frost, be, and he hen by is directed, to work as a master armorer in said shop, and to superintend the oilier armorers in that -hop, whose dut) it shall be to receive into said shop such arm- as may, at an) time, be senl there, hv am of the colonels in that part of the American arm) be- longing to this colony, in order to In- repaired ; to see that Buch arm- are properlv repaired : to deliver the same, when ired, to the persons from whom the) were received; to see thai m< persona em- ployed in said shop, as armorer-, are either ignoranl of --aid liii-n or careless, or idle; and if any such should be employed in the shop, said Guillam shall, w ithoul delay, inform this committee then of and that he sutler no more than eight armorers, including himself, to be employed ai an) one time, in said -hop. | J i i.v 13, \~ 75 | Mi. Benjamin Guillam, an armorer, had an order on the committee ol mpplies for two hundred pounds of iron, and what files and old brass be has occasion for. tor himself and other- thai work in ln- shop.l | Mr. Monroe recommended Seth Johnston, of Old Rutland, and Enoch Putnam, of Granby, as proper person- foi armorers.] [Thomas Organ was this day commissioned to take the care ol the 590 COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. [July 14, colony horses, and from time to time to attend to such orders as he shall receive from this committee.] [His excellency General Washington having this day ordered, to the direction of this committee, ten prisoners taken some time past, at Ma- chias, on board an armed cutter, the committee, apprehending from their commission of the 8th instant, that they are altogether restricted from actincr as a committee but only in the recess of Congress, except in conformity to certain special resolves of Congress, or for making provision for the poor of Boston and Charlestown, and guarding against the small pox; as mentioned in said commission, have Re- solved, that the said prisoners be sent to Congress for their orders, and that Doct. Church be directed to attend Congress with this resolve.] [Whereas, Lieut. Ely Stiles has represented to this committee, that he has been at considerable expense in conducting the prisoners from Machias to head quarters, and desires to be repaid, but this matter not being within the powers with which this committee is vested, they beg leave to recommend the consideration of this case to the honor- able Congress.] [Whereas, some evil minded persons, taking advantage of the con- fusion occasioned by the battles of Lexington and Charlestown, have plundered and carried off, into several parts of this and the neighbor- ing colonies, sundry goods and household furniture belonging to some of the unhappy sufferers of Boston and Charlestown : therefore, Re- solved, that it be recommended to the honorable Congress, that the several selectmen and committees of correspondence in the several towns and districts within this colony, be directed and ordered, and also the town officers in the neighboring colonies be, and they hereby are severally and earnestly requested, to inspect their several towns and districts, and if they observe any such goods or household furni- ture, such officers are directed or desired to send all such effects to the office of Mr. Joseph Pierce Palmer, quarter master general, in Cambridge, for the benefit of the true and rightful proprietors, or that the Congress may take such other measures as in their wisdom may seem meet.] July 14, 1775. [Whereas, Mr. Seth Brown, who lately had the care of the artillery horses, at Cambridge, resigned that employment : upon which this committee recommended to the committee of supplies to appoint Mr. Thomas Organ to the care of said horses, instead of said Brown, but .-aid committee of supplies having signified to this committee that such appointment was not within their commission, but was, as they appre- 1775.] COMMITTEE OF S MT.n bended, within our-, and accordingly returned -;u.l recommendation with their repl) upon the back thereof: and whereas, the publit - requires thai said horses should U- taken proper care of, and alu kepi in readiness for use upon the shortest notice, therefore /.' '•-,,{, that although said appointment is nol within, but contrary t" the i mission of this committee, yet apprehending that it is abeolutelj ne- r\ for the public service, that an hostler should be appointed for that employment, and no other mode of appointment appearing, in this time of the recess of Congress, this committee do. for the i Bons assigned, appoint said Organ to 1 1 • • - care of said horses, for th<- purpose aforesaid, until further orders.] Jim 1 5 . 1775 [Ordered, That Mr. Sanger put as much hay into the general's barns, in this town, as they will receive, any order to the contrarj not- h ithstanding. ] [Complaint having been made to this committee by the honorable General Ward, and other officers in the army, that several men are dangerously sick, and their lives would be greatly hazarded, except immediate application of medicine be made to them, and that the sur- geons of some of tin- regiments had applied, but could not obtain any; a sub-committee was therefore chosen to visit the hospital, and t" the surgeons, and, upon inquiry, found that there were no such medi- cines as are immediately wanted: therefore, Resolved, that as the lives of some part of 1 1 1 « - army are in great danger, for want of d cines, notw ithstanding the commission of the committee of Bafetj i not ad nit of direction in this matter, that Mr. Commissar] I ie be ired to procure, at the expense of the colony, such medicine ma\ be immediately and absolutely necessarj ; in i sequent which, the following order was given Mr. Commissar] Craigie Sib : — You are hereby desired immediately to supply the store un- der vour care, with such medicines as arc absolute!] ni • for the present relief of the sick in the arm).] 1 (10 Although • i "i" the eomn journal it not , APPENDIX i • i ; < m i . i . i > i \ i i N \ ENTIONS OF T II E l' EO PL E ( "I NTIESOF MASSA4 III SE'J I i < >\\ ENTION <'l SUFI OLK I 01 \ I N . \ i ,-i mi • tiug <>t' the delegati - of <\n\ town and district in the count] of Suffolk, held on Tuesday, the sixth of September, 177 1, al the bous II Richard W oodward of Dedham, and, bj adjournment, at the house of Mi. Daniel Vbso of Milton, on Friday, the ninth instant, Joseph Palmer, I being chosen 1 1 1 > •« !< rator, and \\ illiam Thompson, Esq., '-K rk, a comn was chosen t" bring in a report ti> the convention, and the followii _ several times read, and put paragraph bj paragraph, was unanimous!] i \ i/. : \\ hereas, the power, bul not the justice ; the but not tin- c I* • 1 1 1 of Gr< al Britain, which <'i'i>i<| persecuted, ■ I, and •• x i !»•• I our fu citivr parents from their native shores, now pursues us, their guiltli ss < - lnl (Inn, with unrelenting Beveritj : and whereas ilii>, then savage and unculti- vated desert, was purchased by the i"il and treasure, or acquired b; valor and blood of those, our venerable progenitors, \\lu> bequeathed ' ili> dear bought inheritance, who consigned it i ir care and protection; the most sacred obligations are upon us i" transmit the glorious purchase, unfettered In power, uucloggi d with shackles, to our innoci ni and be! offspring. <>n the fortitude, on the wisdom, and on the exertioi important day, is suspended the fate of this new world, and <>\ unborn mil- lions. If a boundless extent of continent, swarming with millions, will taruelj Bubmit to live, move, and have their being -'it the arbitrary will licentious minister, the] n% ill baselj yield i" voluntnr) Blavery, and future general s shall load their memories with incessant < ns. <'n tlw other band, if we arrest 1 1 j * - hand which would ransack oui pockets, il disarm llie parricide \\h" points the dagger i<> om bosoms, if v.<- uobl feat that fatal edict, whi< li proclaims s powi i i" frame laws Ibi i M-2 SUFFOLK CONVENTION. cases whatsoever, thereby entailing the endless and numberless curses of slavery upon us, our heirs and their heirs forever ; if we successfully resist that unparalleled usurpation of unconstitutional power, whereby our capital is robbed of the means of life ; whereby the streets of Boston are thronged with military executioners ; whereby our coasts are lined, and the harbors crowded with ships of war; whereby the charter of the colony, that sacred barrier against the encroachments of tyranny, is mutilated, and in effect an- nihilated ; whereby a murderous law is framed, to shelter villains from the hands of justice ; whereby that unalienable and inestimable inheritance which we derived from nature, the constitution of Britain, which was cove- nanted to us in the charter of the province, is totally wrecked, annulled, and vacated; posterity will acknowledge that virtue which preserved them free and happy; and while we enjoy the rewards and blessings of the faith- ful, the torrent of panegyric will roll down our reputations to that latest period, when the streams of time shall be absorbed in the abyss of eternity. Therefore, we have resolved and do resolve : 1. That whereas, his majesty, George the third, is the rightful successor to the throne of Great Britain, and justly entitled to the allegiance of the British realm, and, agreeably to compact, of the English colonies in Amer- ica ; therefore, we, the heirs and successors of the first planters of this col- ony, do cheerfully acknowledge the said George the third to be our rightful sovereigu, and that said covenant is the tenure and claim on which are founded our allegiance and submission. 2. That it is an indispensable duty which we owe to God, our country, ourselves, and posterity, by all lawful ways and means in our power, to maintain, defend, and preserve those civil and religious rights and liberties, for which, many of our fathers fought, bled, and died ; and to hand them down entire to future generations. 3. That the late acts of the British parliament, for blocking up the harbor of Boston, and for altering the established form of government in this col- ony, and for screening the most flagitious violators of the laws of the prov- ince from a legul trial, are gross infractions of those rights, to which we are justly entitled by the law^s of nature, the British constitution, and the charter of the province. 4. That no obedience is due from this province, to either or any part of the acts abovementioned ; but that they should be rejected as the at- tempts of a wicked administration to enslave America. 5. That so long as the justices of our superior courts of judicature, court of assize, and general gaol delivery, and interior courts of common pleas in this county, are appointed, or hold their places by any other tenure than that which the charter and the laws of the province direct, they must be considered as under undue influence, and are, therefore, unconstitutional officers, and as such, n<> regard ought to be paid to them by the people of this county. <:. That if the justices of the superior court of judicature, court of assize, &c, justices of the court of common pleas, or of the general sessions of SI FFOLK < <>w l\ HON the peace, -hall -it and act during iheir present disqual i\ will Bupport and bear harmless all -1 ■ jurors, and other oflii •> ahull i to carrj iuto i • rutiuii ill of said courts ; and, must ait. ihI the bus| mend it t<> all cr< ditora I mable si to their debtors ; and to all debtors t" disci just debts, with all possible speed; and if anj dispi ning debts or trespasses ?-i i»»ul.l arise, which cannot l»- settled b) die | m I it to them to submit all such ran- bitration ; and if • parties, or either of them, shall refuse bo to do, the) ought ti> be considered as coo| enemies <>i" this country. 7. Thai it I"- recommended i" the collectors, of ta d «" othei officers, who have public moneys in their bands and ii"t to make anj pawn. Dt thereof t.i the provii aunty tn until the civil government of the province is placed upon a constitutiomi foundation, or until it shall otherwise be ordered bj the proposed provincial congn b& 8. That the persons who have accepted seats at the council board, bj virtue of a mandamus from the king, in conformity t.> the lat<- act of the British parliament, entitled an act for regulating 1 1 j • - government <>t' the Massachusetts bay, have acted in direct violation of the dutj thej o* their country, and have therebj given great and jusl offence to tiiis Therefore, Resolved, That this county do recommend it to all persons who highly offended bj accepting said department, and have Dot, already, pub- bclj resigned their Beats at the council board, t.> make public < tiona ni tin ir places at said board, on <>r before the tw< otieth day of this instant tember; ami that all persons neglecting so to do, shall, from ami thai day, be considi n I bj this count} as obstinate and incorrigible enemies t>> this colony. 9. That the fortifications began and now carrying «'ti upon Boston n< are justly alarmiug to this county, and give us reason t.. apprehend some hostile intention against that town; more especially as the commander in rhiii' has, in ; i \n\ extraordinary manner, removed the powdcrfrom the magazine at Charlestown, and baa also forbidden the keeper of 1 /in. at Boston, to deliver out to the owners, the powder which the) 1...I...I in >ai.| magazine. 10. Thai the late act <>f parliament, for establishing the roman catholic r- ligion and the Fri och laws in thai extensive country now called Canada, is dangerous jn an extreme degree, t.> the |"" ! Btanl reli io , and t.> «!>«• civil rights and liberties of all America; and therefore, as men and pi tanl christians, we are indispensably obliged to take all pro] i r m< - in our security . 1 1. That, whereas, our > Demies have Battered themselvi s thai they shall M.'' • an eas; prej of this numerous, bra* e, and hard) people, I n ep 604 SUFFOLK CONVENTION. prehension that they are unacquainted with military discipline ; we, there- fore, for the honor, defence, and security of this county and province, advise, as it has been recommended, to take away all commissions from the officers of the militia: that those who now hold commissions, or such other persons, be elected in each town as officers in the militia, as shall be judged of suffi- cient capacity for that purpose, and who have evidenced themselves to be inflexible friends to the rights of the people : and that the inhabitants of those towns and districts, who are qualified, do use their utmost diligence to acquaint themselves with the art of war as soon as possible, and do for that purpose appear under arms at least once every week. 12. That during the present hostile appearances on the part of Great Britain, notwithstanding the many insults and oppressions which we most sensibly resent ; yet, nevertheless, from our affection to his majesty, which we have at all times evinced, we are determined to act merely on the defen- sive, so long as such conduct may be vindicated by reason and the princi- ples of self-preservation, but no longer. 13. That as we understand it has been in contemplation to apprehend sundry persons of this county, who have rendered themselves conspicuous in contending for the violated rights and liberties of their countrymen, we do recommend, should such an audacious measure be put in practice, to seize and keep in sale custody every servant of the present tyrannical and unconstitutional government, throughout the county and province, until the persons so apprehended be liberated from the hands of our adversaries, and restored safe and uninjured to their respective friends and families. 14. That until our rights are fully restored to us, we will, to the utmost of our power, (and we do recommend the same to the other counties,) with- hold all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, Ireland, and the West hidies, and abstain from the consumption of British merchandize and man- ufactures, and especially of East India teas and piece goods, with such ad- ditions, alterations, and exceptions, only as the grand Congress of the colo- nies may agree to. 15. That under our present circumstances, it is incumbent on us to en- courage arts and manufactures amongst us, by all means in our power; and that Joseph Palmer, Esq., of Braintree, Mr. Ebenezer Duer, of Roxbury, Mr. James Boicc and Mr. Edward Preston, of Milton, and Mr. Nathaniel Guild, of Walpole, l>e, and hereby are appointed a committee, to consider of the best ways and means to promote and establish the same, and report to this convention as soon as may be. 16. That the exigencies of our public affairs demand that a provincial congress be called, to concert such measures as may be adopted and vigor- ouslv executed by the whole people ; and we do recommend it to the seve- ral towns in this county, to choose members for such a provincial congress, to be bolden at Concord, on the second Tuesday of October next ensuing. 17. That this county, confiding in the wisdom and integrity of the Conti- nental Congress, now Bitting at Philadelphia, will pay all due respect and submission to such measures as maj be recommended by them to the colo- -I FFOLK CONVENTION in- *, for the "ii .ui.l establishmt di of our ju-t i gious, and for renewing that harmony and uuioi G the colonies, jo earnestly wished i"i b) all l I men. I-. Whereas, the universal un< which pre* men, arising from the w ud oppressive i ministration, ma} influenc me unthinking i upon private property : we would heartil) recommend to all p> community, not to engage in an) i"in~. .j,,,,, ||„. property "i an] pej boob n I government; but b) a steady, manly, uniform, and p ■: in convince our enemies, that in • important, in Bolemn, our conduct shall l»- Huch and the admiration of the brave and free of ever) i rj . 19. That should our enemies, b) an) sudden ii . the aid and brethren in the counti one of the comraittet ol i spondence, or a selectman of sucb town, or the town adjoining where such hostilities shall commence, or shall b pected to commence, shall despatch couriers with written i - n> the selectmen or committees of corn spondence of tin- sevi ral towns in tl cinity, with ;i written account < ■ T Biich matti rs, who shall despatch committees or selectmen more remote, till proper and be obtained : and that the expei idcouri yed by tJ i\. until it - 1 1 : 1 1 1 be otherwise ordered b) the pn / I t Joseph \\ arren, Esq. ai tin i 'hui I ton, Deacon Joseph Palmer and Col. Ebenezer Thayer, of B I Lemuel Robinson, William llolden, I I John I 1 U chesl ' iL William Heath, of lloxbury, Col. William Taylor and U Samuel Gardner, of Milton, I G dner, Esq-, CapL B n White and ('apt. Thon \ |>inwall, of Urookline, N 3 .Mr. Richard Woodward, >>\ Dedham, be a committi scel- lencj the governor, t" inform bim tliat 1 1 1 i - count) are alarmed at the t'"in fications making on Boston neck, and to remonstrate against the same, and the it peated insults offered bj the Boldier) tn persona passing and n | inu' iiitn that town, and to confer with bim upon those Bubji \\ II. 1. 1 Wl THOMPSON, ' The committee appointed at the convention, according!) prepared, on Monday, September 12th, 177 1. presented the t'"IIi»\\iii- '/'.. his Excellency Than G ■. /.' <■/.. Captain G ' r in Chief of his Majesty's provinct oj Ma ' • II";/. May it pltasi your Excellency *— The count) of Suffolk, I" in then opinion, justly alarmed, at the formidable appt lility, now threatening lii- majesty's good subjects of t * j : — country, and m 606 SUFFOLK CONVENTION. ticubriy of the town of Boston, the loyal and faithful capital of this province, beg leave to address your excellency, and to represent, that the apprehen- sions of the people are more especially increased by the dangerous design now carrying into execution, of repairing and mantling the fortification at the south entrance of the town of Boston, which, when completed, may, at any time, be improved to aggravate the miseries of that already impoverish- ed and distressed city, by intercepting the wonted and necessary intercourse between the town and country, and compel the wretched inhabitants to the most ignominious state of humiliation anil vassallage, by depriving them of the necessary supplies of provisions, for which they are chiefly dependant on that communication. We have been informed, that your excellency, in consequence of the ap- plication of the selectmen of Boston, has, indeed, disavowed any intention to injure the town in your present manoeuvres, and expressed your purpose to be for the security of the troops and his majesty's subjects in the town. We are at a loss to guess, may it please your excellency, from whence your want of confidence in the loyal and orderly people of this country could originate. A measure so formidable, carried into execution from a preconceived though causeless jealousy of the insecurity of his majesty's troops and subjects in the town, deeply wounds the loyalty, and is an additional injury to the faith- ful subjects of this country, and affords a strong motive for this application. We therefore entreat your excellency, to desist from your design, assuring your excellency, that the people of tliis county are by no means disposed to injure his majesty's troops; they think themselves aggrieved and oppressed by the late acts of parliament, and are resolved, by divine assistance, never to submit to them ; but have no inclination to commence a war with his majesty's troops ; and beg leave to observe to your excellency, that the fer- ment now excited in the minds of the people, is occasioned by some late transactions, by seizing the powder in the arsenal at Charlestown, by withholding the powder lodged in the magazine of the town of Boston from the legal proprietors, insulting, beating, and abusing passengers to and from the town by the soldiery, in which they have been encouraged by some of their officers, putting the people in fear, and menacing them in their nightly patrols into the neighboring towns, and more particularly, by fortifying the sole avenue by land to the town of Boston. In duty, therefore, to his maj- esty, and to your excellency, and for the restoration of order and security in this county, we, the delegates from the several towns in this county, being commissioned for this purpose, beg your excellency's attention to this our humble and faithful address, assuring you .that nothing less than an immedi- ate removal of the ordnance, and restoring the entrance into that town to its former state, and an effectual stop of all insults and abuses in future, can place the inhabitants of this county in that state of peace and tranquillity, in which every free subject ought to live. By order of the committee, JOSEPH WARREN, Chairman. Boston, Sept. 10, 173 I. 31 FFOLK c < >\\ i;\ in »\ ,.,,- To which address, bis excellency was pli ow >\mi and th< it i- iu\ dutj ;iii the inhabitants of l»>tli town and country, for their d behavior, from their first arrival to this time. 1 would ask, wh numbi rs eoing armed in and oui of the town, and through th<- country, in an hostile manner? Or, why were the guns removed, privately, in the night, from the batter; at Charlestown? The refusing submission to the late acts of parliament, I find throughout the province; and I shall lay the same before sty. THOM kS G \> - •. 12, it; i. The committee of the delegates from the several Suffolk, who presented the address to the governor, on n swer, met together,and having carefully perused tli<- same, were of opinion, thai his excellency's answer could not be deemed satisfactory to the county. And further thougbt,his excellency, in bisreply.had b i d pli asedto pn several questions, which, if unanswered bj the committee, would leav< on the miuds of persons not fullj acquainted with the state offacts, Borne disagreeable impressions concerning the conduct and behavior of the plain this county and province. And the following addi - unani- mously \ oted tn bis excellency. May it plea* your Excellency .-—The auswi r you have been pleased to fa vor us with, to the address this daj presented to you, gives faros it relates to your own intentions; and we thank your .•■ the declaration which you have made, that it isy duty and interesl t< courage an intercourse between town and country ; and we i utreal your in- dulgence, while we modestlj replj to the questions proposed in your an B wer. ^ur excellency is too well acquainted with the human b< art nol to be sensible, thai il is natural for the people to be soured bj op| jealous for their personal security, when their exertions for the pn of m eir rights ore construed into treason and rebellion. Our lib invaded bj acts of die British parliament; trooi»sar nl to< 608 SUFFOLK CONVENTION. acts ; they are now erecting fortifications at the entrance of the town of Boston ; upon the completing those, the inhabitants of the town of Boston will be in the power of a soldiery, who must implicitly obey the orders of an administration, who have hitherto evinced no singular regard to the liberties of America. The town is already greatly impoverished and distressed by the operation of the barbarous port-bill. Your excellency, we ore persuad- ed, from principles of humanity, would refuse to be an actor in the tragical scene that must ensue upon shutting up the avenues to the town, and re- ducing the inhabitants by distress and famine, to a disgraceful and slavish submission ; but that cruel work may possibly be reserved for a successor, disposed and instructed thereto. Daily supplies of provisions are necessary for the subsistence of the inhabitants of the town. The country, disgusted and jealous at the formidable operations now carrying on, survey with hor- ror, a plan concerted, whereby the inhabitants of the town of Boston may be imprisoned and starved, at the will of a military commander. They kindly invite them to abandon the town, and earnestly solicit them to share the homely banquet of peace in the country. Should their refusal involve them in miseries hitherto unheard of, and hardly conceived of, the country must stand acquitted, and will not hold their liberties so loosely, as to sacri- fice them to the obstinacy of their brethren in Boston. Your excellency has been pleased to order the powder from the magazine in Charlestown ; to forbid the delivery of the powder in the magazine of Boston to the legal proprietors ; to seize the cannon at Cambridge ; and to bring a formidable number from Castle-William, which are now placed at the entrance of the town of Boston ; and has, likewise, in addition to the troops now here, been pleased to send for reenforcements to Quebec, and other parts of the continent. These things, Sir, together with the disposi- tions of the ships of war, we humbly think, sufficiently justify the proceed- ings for which your excellency seems to be at loss to account. Your excellency has suggested, that nature has made it easy to cut oft* the communication between town and country. Our only request is, that the entrance into the town may remain as nature has formed it. If security to his majesty's troops is the only design in the late manoeuvre, we beg leave to assure your excellency, that the most certain, and by far the most honor- able method of making them secure and safe, will be to give the people of the province, the strongest proof that no design is forming against their lib- erties. And we again solicit your excellency, with that earnestness which becomes us on this important occasion, to desist from even thing which has a tendency to alarm them, and particularly from fortifying the entrance into the town of Boston. We relj on your excellency's w isdom and candor, that in your proposed representation to our common sovereign, you will endeav- or to redeem us from the distresses which we apprehend were occasioned bj the gr< 91 misinformation, ami thai you w ill assure his majesty, that no w isJb of independence, no adi erse sentiments or designs tow aids his majes- i\ or his troops now here, actuate his good subjects in this colony ; but thai their sole intention is to pre ervc pure and inviolate those rights to which, MIDDLESEX < < »\\ I.N I H >\ as men and English Americans, the] are justlj entitled, and I)' "ii guarantied t" them b) his majesty's royal pn d< • \ copj of the foregoing was Mr. .-■ en I I chairman, with n desire, that be would, as -">.u a~ wu convenient, pn ii in the governor, .in appoiul o time i < - 1 n il in form. 'I'll >r\ informed the chairman Uie i day, that be had seen the governor, and bad given bim the copy of the addn .»-, but, tliat he declined receiving il iu form, i ch lirman mentioned t" bim Ibe im- portance of the busini bs, declaring bit I- lit t in an) danger, and lhai no person hnd, bo I an) Mrj.> which indicati .1 on) hostile intention, until thi ing offthi powdi r from the tie in the county .>i .Mi. I. II. - if an) ill consequences should arise, that should G Itritain, the most candid and judicious, 1 *« ■ t f * in Europ< and Arocrii consider the author of the ferment now raised in the minds of the i>< ople, a> a. countable for whatever i sequences might follow from it. He tin i lesired tl e more to make application to llency, and t" state the affair to bim in that serious manner \nIm.-Ii the case seemed to require. The secretar) accordingl) made a second applica- tion to the governor, but received for answer, thai he bad given all faction in his power, and he could not Bee that any further argtum don upon the subject would !»• to an) purpoe I pon tins, the committee were again convened, and it was uuanimousl) R ''. thai the) bail cuted the commission intrusted t" them b) 1 1 1 ■ - county, to the utmoei ability. And after voting that the repl) t.> his excellency's answer should I..- inserted in the public papers as Boon as possible, the) adjourned wit day. Ever) vote passed b) the delegates of the c ity, and b) the comra appointed to wail on the governor, was unanimi CO.N\ ENTION OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. At b meeting of th< following gentlemen, being committei b from i town and district in the count) of Middlesex, and province of Massachu- setts Bay, held at Concord, in said county, on the 30th and 31st days of \ gust, 1*7 1. to consult upon measures proper t<> be taken ;it the important da] , \ i/. : Cap! Thomas Gardner, Doct Samuel Blodget, Capt Samuel Whit- tei ■e, Mr. Loammi Baldwin, Mr. Abraham Watson, Copt Ezekiol II"". Mr. Samuel Thatcher, Mr. John Maynard, Capt EUiphalel Robbins, Mr. Phinehaa Gleason, Capt. Ephraim Frosl M Samson Bclchei II J Wellington, Mr. Thomas Plympton, Mr. Nathaniel S| U II 010 MIDDLESEX CONVENTION. Maynard, Capt. Isaac Foster, Doct. Samuel Curtis, Mr. Peter Edes, Mr. Al- pheus Wood, Mr. William Wyer, Mr. Edward Barnes, David Cheever, Esq., Mr. William Boyd, Mr. Richard Devens, Mr. Ebenezer Bridge, Jr., Mr. John Frothinghain, Mr. Joshua Abbot, Mr. John Codman, Capt. Ralph Hill, Doct. Isaac Foster, Mr. William Thompson, Mr. Samuel White, Doct. Timothy Danforth, Mr. Josiah Capen, Capt. Josiah Bowers, Mr. David Beamis, Mr. Solomon Pollard, Mr. David Sanger, Capt. Thaddeus Bowman, Mr. Elijah Bond, Mr. Jonas Stone, Mr. Ephraim Wood, Jr., Mr. Joseph Loring, Mr. John Flint, Mr. Benjamin Brown, Mr. Nathan Merriam, Joseph Haven, Esq., Mr. William Clark, Capt. Josiah Stone, Mr. Joshua Hammond, Mr. William Brown, Capt. Jonas Stone, Mr. David Haven, Mr. Edward Durant, Mr. Eb- enezer Marshall, Capt. Samuel Wyman, Mr. Jonathan Williams Austin, Mr. Robert Douglass, Mr. Simeon Spaulding, Mr. Samuel Stevens, Jr., Mr. Jona- than Stow, Mr. Benjamin Walker, Capt. Daniel Taylor, Capt. Francis Har- ris, Mr. James Hussey, Mr. Asa Holden, Mr. James Locke, Mr. Obadiah Sawtell, Henry Gardner, Esq., Mr. Benjamin Brown, Mr. John Marble, Mr. Jonathan Flint, Doct. Charles Whitman, Mr. Joseph Parker, Capt. Phinehas Taylor, Capt. John Dexter, Mr. Joseph Bryant, Capt. Ebenezer Harnden, Mr. James Hay, Mr, Thomas Hill, Mr. Edward Buckman, Mr. Samuel Sprague, James Prcscott, Esq., Mr. James Kettell, Oliver Prescott, Esq., Mr. Benjamin Pierce, Capt. Josiah Sawtell, Mr. Thomas Rand, Capt. Benjamin Jaquith, Mr. Josiah Smith, Mr. Timothy Walker, Mr. Joshua Symonds, Mr. Edward Kendall, Mr. Ebenezer Brooks, Jr., Mr. William Borden, Capt. Josiah Ilartwell, Mr. Thomas Upham, Mr. Oliver Hoar, Mr. Abel Perry, Mr. Daniel Rogers, Jr., Mr. Hezekiah Broad, Mr. Samuel Park, Mr. Peter Colburn, Capt. Thomas Mellen, Mr. Ephraim Colburn, Capt. Roger Dench, Mr. Stephen Davis, 3Ir. Jacob Gibbs, John Read, Esq., Capt. Jonathan Minot, Mr. Joseph Hartwell, Mr. John Abbot, Mr. John Moore, Doct. Asaph Fletcher, Capt. John Webber, Mr. Nathaniel Boynton, Mr. Daniel Mellen, Mr. Zacheus Wright, Mr. Aaron Phipps, Capt. Richard Sanger, Mr. Joshua Hemenway, Mr. Benjamin Fassett, Mr. Francis Falkner, Mr. Samuel Bullard, Mr. John Heywood, Capt. William Coolidge, Mr. Ephraim Hapgood, Mr. Jonathan Hammond, Capt. William Prescott, Mr. Samuel Harrington, Mr. Henry Woods, Mr. Jacob Bigelow, Mr. William Green, Capt. Abijah Brown, Mr. Nehemiah Hobart, Mr. Charles Withered, Mr. Joseph Danforth, Capt. Ed- mund Bancroft, Mr. Lemuel Perham, Mr. Josiah Fisk, Mr. Jonathan Brown, Mr. Samuel Farrar, Mr, Aaron Beard, Capt. Abijah Pierce, Mr. David Bay- ley, Capt. Eleazer Brooks, Mr. Ebenezer Stone, Capt. Joseph Butterheld, Mr. Jonathan Locke. Tin- Honorable Janus Prescott, Esq., was chosen chairman. Alter having read the late act of the British parliament, entitled an act for the heller regulating the g<>\ eminent of the province of Massachusetts Baj in Pfev England, and debated thereon : Votedj That a committee be appointed to take into consideration the said act, and report to this meeting. Voted, That Mr. Jonathan Williams Austin of Chelmsford, Capt. Thomas MIDDLESEX CON1 ENTION 01 1 Gardner of Cambridge, Doct I Foster ofCli Stone of Framingham, Mr. Richard Bevei oft i 1 Oliver Presoott of Groton, II • . I q. of S! Willim M »n of Framingham, and Mr. Ehcni U I . of Hillerica, be the commit w Imi n ported as follow li is evidenl to ever] attentive mind, thai this province is in b \- gerous and alarming situation. We are obliged to say, however painful it may be to us, that the question now i-, whether, b) a kuIjh late acts of the parliament of G ented t" be the abject slaves, and entail thai ■ on poateri manly, joint, and virtuous opposition, assert and support !>>m. There is a mode "t" conduct, which in our verj critical cir . we would wish i" .i(l"|it: a conduct, on tin- ..in band, i t<> tyrannj and oppression, on ti"- other, never degenerating ini sion, ami confusion. Tin- i~ a spirit which we rev< re, a- we find ii exhib- ited hi former ages, ami will command applause to the latest posterity. The lair acts of parliament pervade the whole system of jurisprudi l>\ which means, we think, the fountains of justice are fatall] corrupted. Our defence must, therefore, be immediate in proportion t" tin suddenness of tin- attack, ami rigorous in proportion t«> the dai We must now exert ourselves, or all those efforts, which, for ten yi past, have brightened the annals of this country, will !><• totally fi Life and death, or, what is more, freedom and slavei suliar Bense, now before us, and the choice and Buecess, und< r God, d< l\ npon oureelvi s. \\ • are therefore bound, as struggling m>i onl] for our- selves, lint future generations, t" express our sentiments in the followiii solves; sentiments which, we think, are founded in truth and justice, then fore sentinu nts we are d< termined t<> abide by. /.' Phat as true and loyal subjects of our graciou G the third, king of Great Britain, web] m> means intend to withdraw oar allegiance from him ; but, while permitted the free exercise of our natural and charter rights, are resolved to expend life and treasure in Ins .»■ rvia . /.'■ nived, Thai when our ancestors t migrated from Gn at Britain, chat and Milium stipulations exp r e sse d the conditions, and what particular rights thej yielded; what each part] had to do and perform; and which each of the contracting partit > were squall] bound by. /■'■ • I li.it we know of no instance, in \\lii' - li this province has n ■ I the rules on their part, or an] ways fbrfi ited their natural and char in- rights to an] [tower on earth. I'm/, That the parliament of Great Britain have exercised a power contrary to the abovementioned charter, bj passing acts, which hold up tin ii absolute supremac] over the colonists; b] another set blocking up '!"• |n>rt of Boston ; and b] two late acts, the one entitled, an act fbt b idating the government of the province of M usetts Bsy, the other en* titled, an act for the more impartial administration of jiurtii 612 MIDDLESEX CONVENTION. incc ; and by enforcing all these iniquitous acts with a large armed force, to dragoon and enslave us. Resolved, That the late act of parliament, entitled an act for the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, expressly acknowledges the authority of the charter, granted by their majesties king William and queen Mary, to said province ; and that the only reasons suggested in the preamble to said act, which is intended to deprive us of the privileges confirmed to us by said charter, are, the inex- pediency of continuing those privileges, and the charge of their having been forfeited, to which charge the province has had no opportunity of answering. Resolved, That a debtor may as justly refuse to pay his debts, because it is inexpedient for him, as the parliament of Great Britain deprive us of our charter privileges, because it is inexpedient to a corrupt administra- tion for us to enjoy them. Resolved, That in all free states there must be an equilibrium in the legislative body, without which constitutional check, they cannot be said to be a free people. Resolved, That the late act, which ordains a council to be appointed by his majesty, his heirs and successors, from time to time, by warrant un- der his or their signet or sign manual, and which ordains that said council- lors shall hold then offices respectively for and during the pleasure of his majesty, his heirs and successors, effectually alters the constitutional equili- brium, renders the councillors absolute tools and creatures, and entirely de- stroys the importance of the representative body. Resolved, That no state can long exist free and happy, where the course of justice is obstructed, and that, when trials by juries, which are the grand bulwarks of life and property, are destroyed or weakened, a people falls im- mediately under arbitrary power. Resolved, That the late act, which gives the governor of this province a power of appointing judges of the superior and inferior courts, commis- sioners of oyer and terminer, the attorney general, provosts, marshals, and justices of the peace, and to remove all of them, the judges of the superior court excepted, \\ ii limit consent of council, entirely subverts a free adminis- tration of justice ; as the fatal experience of mankind, in all ages, has testi- fied; that there is no greater species of corruption, than when judicial and executive officers depend, for their existence and support, on a power inde- pendent of the people. Resolved, That by ordaining jurors to be summoned by the sheriff only, which -In rill' is to be appointed hy the governor, without consent of coun- cil, that security which results from .1 trial hy our peers is rendered alto- gether preearions, and there is not onh an evident infraction upon our charter, but a subversion of our common rights as Englishmen. Resolved, That every people have an absolute right of meeting together to cOnsiul upon common grievances, and to petition, remonstrate, and \\^: every legal method for their removal. MIDDLESEX COW BIS I h >\ ,.i | //. >,, 'i-.,/, That the act which prohibits these constitutional m< away the scaffolding of English freedom, and ■• state of vassallage and slav< i\. /.' wived, That it i» < . 1 1 r opinion, these la-. ifquieUy submitted \\ill annihilate tin last ir< of libertj in this province, and then musi be justified by God and the world, in never submitting t<> them. /.'■ wived, That it is the opinion of tin- body, that the present a< I the government of the pi-minn* »i M.i~-jic-lui-l before the first day i>t' July, 177 1 and sup- port them in the execution of their offices according t" the manm before the late attempt t<> alter the constitution of tlii- proi incc ; i although the governor should attempt to revoke their comniia* D -. that, if any of said officers shall acc< pt a commission under the | plan of arbitrary government, or in any way or manner whatevei ernor "i administration in the assault now making <>n ">nr i ties, we will consider them as having forfeit! il their commissions, and yield them no obedience. -'.' wived, That whereas the Hon. Samuel Danforth and Joseph I I two of the judges of the inferior court of common pleas fbi the county, have accepted commissions und< r die new act, by being sworn memtx i In- 1 1 j . 1 1 . -i\'~ council, appointed by said act, we then fore look upon them as utterly incapable of holding anj office whatever. And whereas, venires mi the late act <>f parliament, have issued from the court of session by the clerk, we think they come under a preceding resolve, of actii conformity to the new act of parliament. We therefor i: tl sun- mission i" courts thus acting, and under these disqualifications, is o sul i Mem to the act itself, and of consequence, as we are n solved nevi r t" sub- mit in one iota to the act, we will not Bubmit t" courts thus constituted, ami thus acting in conformity to Bold act // .,'1.,/. Thai as, in consequence of the former resolve, all buainesi at the inferior court of common pleas and court of general sessions of the peace, aext to be bolden at < loncord, must cease ; to pr< eent the many In- conveniences thai ma) arise therefrom, we Resolve, thai all actio* suits, & •-.. broughl to said court, i>m.'lii i" n main in il"- same conditio at present, unless settled bj consenl of partu -. till we know the result 614 MIDDLESEX CONVENTION. provincial and continental congress. And we Resolve, that no plaintiff, in any cause, action, or writ, aforesaid, ought to enter said action in said court, thus declared to be unconstitutional. And we Resolve, if the court shall sit, in defiance to the voice of the county, and default actions and issue execu- tions accordingly, no officer ought to serve such process. And we are also determined to support all constables, jurors, and other officers, who, from these constitutional principles, shall refuse obedience to courts which we have resolved arc founded on the destruction of our charter. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this body of delegates, that a Provincial Congress is absolutely necessary in our present unhappy situation. These are sentiments which we are obliged to express, as these acts are intended immediately to take place. We must, now, either oppose them, or tamely give up all we have been struggling for. It is this that has forced us so soon on these very important resolves. However, we do it with hum- ble deference to the provincial and continental congress, by whose resolu- tions we are determined to abide ; to whom and the world we cheerfully appeal for the uprightness of our conduct. On the whole, these are "great and profound questions." We are grieved to find ourselves reduced to the necessity of entering into the discussion of them. But we deprecate a state of slavery. Our fathers left a fair inheri- tance to us, purchased by a waste of blood and treasure. This we are re- solved to transmit equally fair to our children after us. No danger shall af- fright, no difficulties intimidate us ; and if, in support of our rights, we are called to encounter even death, we are yet undaunted, sensible that he can never die too soon, who lays down his life in support of the laws and liber- ties of his country. Which report being maturely deliberated, Voted, That the sense of the whole body, respecting the same, be collect- ed by yeas and nays ; which being done, there were one hundred and forty- six yeas, and four nays. Voted, That it be recommended to the several towns and districts in this county, that eacli appoint one or more delegates to attend a provincial meet- ing, to be holden at Concord, on the second Tuesday of October next. Voted, That a fair copy of the proceedings of this meeting, be made out, and tin warded to the grand Continental Congress, and also to the town clerk of each town in this county. Voted, That tin; thanks of this meeting he given to the Hon. James Pres- cott, Esq, for his faithful services as chairman. Voted, That this meeting be dissolved, and it was accordingly dissolved. I:I51:m:/EK BRIDGE, Clerk. ESSEX CON\ ENTK »\ (II < "\\ i.\ nONOl ESSEX COUNTY. At a meeting of delegates from everj t.>\\n in the count) of I --• \, ii province of Massachusetts Bay, held at Ipswich, in the said county, on tiili and 7ih days ofSeptemh r, 17 7 I, viz.: Ibr H m. Richard Derby, J un I . Mr. John Pickering, Jun^ Capt Jonathan Gardner, Jnu., • 'apt Richard Manning, Capt Tim< thj Picki Jllll. Danvera Doct Samuel Holti d, Capt William Shillab / Capt Michael Farley, Mr. John Patch, 3d M . D • n Mr. Jonathan Cogswell, Jun., Mr. Nathaniel Fai ley. .\'« wbwry— II.. ii. Joseph Gerrish, I I I Jose] Hale, i l M Little, Samuel < Jerrish, I isq. Netcbwyport Capt Jonathan Oreenli I itam Dalton, Esq., M ph. n ( i — . Mi . John Bromfield. MarbUhead Jeremiah Lee, Esq., izoi Orne, Esq., Mr. Elbridgi Gerry, Mr. Joshua < >rne, Mr, N\ illiana DolUber. Lynn Capl John Mansfield, Mr. Daniel Mansfield. . bidover — .la mo Frye, Esq., Mr. Joshua Holt, Mr. Samuel Osg I. Beverly — Capt Benjamin Lovet Mr. Samuel <• Lridge, Mr. Joseph W I. Rowley- Mr. Nathaniel Mighill, Daniel Spafibrd, Esq. Salisbury — Nathaniel Currier, Esq., Mr. Samui I Sn it] . Mr. II- j I iton, Haverhill — Samuel White, Esq., Mr. Jonathan \\ Mr. I H dington, Mr. Jo» ph Haj (. ,', r — Daniel Witham, Esq., Capt. Peter ( , Mr. E Wl more, .!• >l ■ 1 1 Low, Esq , Mr. Solomon Parsons, Tops 'eld ' 'apt Samuel Smith, Mr. John Gould, Mr. I In- ■- Ki JUmsbury — Mr. Winthrop Merrill, Mr. Caleb Pilsbury. /; adford — Capt Daniel Thurston, Mr. P< R sell. Wenham — Mr. Benjamin Fairfield, C p - 1 cob Dodge, Doct Tylei P Manclu John Lee,] sq, Capt. Andrew M Mr. kndrew W I bury. Milium — Mr. John Bodwell, Mr. John - i int I: trd—i !apt Asa Perley, Mr. Thomas Perley, Mr Joseph Hovey. Middlelon — Capt \r.li.-laiis Fuller, Mr. Ephraim Fuller, D Meriam. / "/"/. That Jeremiah Lee, Esq., I>< - chairman. Several papers relative to the situation of our public affairs, and the alter ation of • constitution and laws, intended b) the late acl of Parliament Ibr regulating tlie government of this province, a '1 act, b< read; after consultation and debate had thereon, a committee of nine ]>• r sons were appointed to consider and report on the Baine The committee reported a number of resolves, which they thought necessar) to b 616 ESSEX CONVENTION. into by the county at this time ; which resolves, after being read several times, debated on, and amended, were unanimously accepted, the delegates one by one, declaring their assent. The report is as follows : The delegates appointed by the several towns in this county, to meet to- gether at this alarming crisis, to consider and determine on such measures as shall appear to be expedient for the county to adopt ; deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of this delegation, of the abilities and quali- fications necessary for conducting our public afi'airs with wisdom and pru- dence, but with the firmness and resolution becoming freemen, with the re- spect and deference due to the sentiments of our brethren in the other coun- ties of the province, with submission to the future determinations of a pro- vincial assembly, and the decisions of the grand American Congress, do, in the name of the county, make the following resolves, viz. : 1. That the several acts of parliament which infringe the just rights of the colonies, and of this province in particular, being subjects of deliberation be- fore the Continental Congress, renders it expedient for this county to suspend their determinations respecting them ; except so far as their immediate ope- ration requires immediate opposition. That the act of parliament, entitled an act for the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts 13ay, in New England, being a most dangerous infraction of our constitutional and charter rights, and tending to a total subversion of the government of the province, and destruction of our liberties ; and having been, with uncommon zeal, with arbitrary exertions, and military violence, attempted to be carried into execution ; and this zeal, these exertions, and this violence still continuing : from the sacred regard, and the inviolable attachment we owe to those rights which are essential to and distinguish us as Englishmen and freemen ; and from a tender concern for the peace of this county, we are bound to pursue all reasonable measures, by which any attempts to enforce immediate obedience to that act may be defeated. 2. That the judges, justices, and other civil officers in this county, appoint- ed agreeably to the charter and tlie laws of the province, are the only civil officers in the county whom we may lawfully obey ; that no authority what- ever, can remove these officers, except that which is constituted pursuant to the charter ami those laws ; that it is the duty of these officers to contin- ue in the execution of their respective trusts, as if the aforementioned act of parliament had never been made; and, that while they thus continue, un- tainted by any official conduct in conformity to that act, we will vigorously support them therein, to the utmost of our power, indemnify them in their persons and property, and to their lawful doings yield a ready obedience. '.). That all civil officers in the province, as well as private persons, who shall dare to conduct in conformity to the aforementioned act, for violating the charter and constitution of the province, are, and will be considered by this county, as its unnatural and malignant enemies; and in the opinion of this body, Buch men, while the) persist in biich conduct, and so contribute to in- SEX CONVENTION ,.\; volve tli>- colonies in all the hoi th.-ir lands ought 1 1« > f to l»- tilled In il \ families supplied \\itli clothi i d. I. I be fourth resolve, w bicli n IP I I | i.\ tin- direction of the delegates "i Sal< tn, Morblebi a. I. am 1 1 posing In- liank and ted in tl lull satisfaction to tin- county, and n ud< i a publicati fluous ami improper. • niunilt. e \- r i-i .1 I., nail .mi the I w H I --' i , of Salem, and acquaint him, tliat with grief ti exertions foi carrying into - \. ci tion ■< slave and ruin hi land ; that wl ct for several years paid him, it linnlv future c< i n< ction \\ nil all Buch as -hall pi i tenancing the late arbitrary edicts of parliament ; thai the d« • name of the county, request him t" • them from the painful i of considering and treating him as an eneroj to In- country, and tl that In- would n Bign his office a- councillor mi the Ian- establishn decline a- a judge, and in ever) other capacity, to execute thi parliament, and all others deemed b) the province uncoustitutii I .>|>- pressive. 6. That in iln- opinion of this body, all town n inty, ought to be called agreeably i" tin- law- of the province ami .nut usage of the count) . 7. That it is the opinion of tin- bod) of d< provincial ■ ■ gress is absolute!) nee — u\ in our present unhapp) situation; and, thai w rit- an- now issued for the eli sembl] . ' t Sail m, on tl,.- fifth da) of O I will properl) form Buch provinci \ml it i> further our opinion, that these representative - Bhould b ral towns, to resolve themselves into a pro* incial congn ordingl) ; if when assembled, the) -hall deem it necessary or expedient j in order to consult and determine on such inoasun - a.- the) judge will tend i" promote the true interest ofhia majesty, and the peace, welfare, an. I it) of the pun ince. -. Deeply aftected with a sense of the miseries and calamities now im pending over tin- colonies, and this province in particular, v ompelled to form these resolutions ; which, as we apprehend, b ng founded tici and necessity, on tin priuciples of oui natural,! I, and unal i rights, we are determined to ubide by. At the same lime, we frankly, ami w n i: Mil., i n\ declare, thai we -nil hold oursclvi - subji i i- ofhia n t) king G the third; as such, will bear him true all- read) with our lives ami fortunes, to Buppi rl ami .1. tend In- p own, an. I dignity, ami In- constitutional autborit) over us. But, b) the In Blavery, b) the dignit) ami happiness attending virtui .-.in -i i am. .1 i" declare, that we bold our liberties i I. .n la i» ported with, 78 618 HAMPSHIRE CONVENTION. and are therefore, most seriously determined to defend them. This, in the present dispute, we conceive may be effected by peaceable measures. But, though above all things, slavery excej.ted, we deprecate the evils of a civil war ; though we are deeply anxious to restore and preserve harmony with our brethren in Great Britain ; yet, if the despotism and violence of our ene- mies should finally reduce us to the sad necessity, we, undaunted, are ready to appeal to the last resort of states; and will, in support of our rights, en- counter even death, " sensible that he can never die too soon, who lays down his life in support of the laws and liberties of his country." Voted, That Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Doct. Samuel Molten, and Mr. Elbridge Gerry, be a committee to wait on the Hon. William Browne, Esq., agreeably to the fifth resolve. Voted, That a committee be chosen to notify the members of this body to assemble again when they shall think it necessary ; and that the members from Salem and Marblehead, be this committee ; and that they, or the major part of them, be and they are hereby empowered to issue notifications ac- cordinsrlv. JOHN PICKERING, Jun., Clerk. Salem, Friday, September 9, 1774. Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Doct. Samuel Holten,and Mr. Elbridge Gerry, waited on the honorable William Browne, Esq., at Boston, with the filth resolve of the delegates of this county, and received the following answer, viz. : Gentlemen : — I cannot consent to defeat his majesty's intentions, and dis- appoint his expectations, by abandoning a post to which he has been gra- ciously pleased to appoint me ; an appointment made without my solicita- tion or privity, and accepted by me from a sense of duty to the king, and the hopes of serving my country. I wish therefore, to give him no cause to sus- pect my fidelity, and I assure you, I will do nothing without a true regard to its interest. "As a judge, and in every other capacity," I intend to act with honor and integrity, and to exert my best abilities ; and be assured, that neither persuasions can allure me, nor shall menaces compel me to do any thing derogatory to the character of a councillor of his majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bav. WILLIAM BROWNE. Boston, September 9th, 1774. To Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Doct. Samud Holten, and Mr. Elbridge Gerry. CONVENTION OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. At a Congress of committees from every town and district within the county of Hampshire, and province of the Massachusetts Bay, excepting II IMPSHIRE « i »\\ ENTION ,.!■. « harlemont and Bouthwick, h. Id ai the court bouse, in Northampton, irkh. in the said couuty, on the 22d and SSd days of & ptetnber, \Ti I "I on measures proper to i ■ at this time ol ■, ti„. province, occasioned fe) tlr»- Int.- attacks of the British parliament on the constitution >>t' the said province, wbereb) i!.<-_\ have endeavored t.» - destroj its most fundami ntnl rights, and reduce the inhabitants thereof' to a state ofvassallage and -\-.i\> rj : Mr. Bbenezer Hunt. Jim., of Northampton, « -. and Mr. Timothj Danielson, ■■( llr unfi.M. chaim Alter divers observations msde upon the late acts "ft!,.- British parlia- ment, for taxing the American colonies, and for subverting l titution of this province, a committee of nine pi rsons, members ofth< ivere appointed to considei and report thereon; which committer The committees appointed b) the several towns in tl ty, to n together at this alarming crisis, to consider and determine on measu* - pedient for the count] to adopt, with the respect and deference du< to the future determinations of a provincial congress, and the decisions of tl.- American Congress, as the) are not : 1. 1 > 1 < - to make an) resolvt - the rights and liberties of the people of tin- province, moi ible u> their own sentiments than such as have been made b) their brethren in the other counties, il". ou mature delitx ration, make the following, for the in<>-t part similar to theirs, \ a. : I. Thai ;i< true and loyal subjects ol G e the third, kii._ I G Britain, Stc, we bj no means intend to withdraw "iir nlli from him, ~u long as he N\ill defend ami protect n> in the free and full • ■ ind i n |ci\ men! of our charter rights and liberti* - ■'. That the charter of this province is a most solemn stipulation and com pad between the king and the inhabitants thereof; and thai it ought to be kept sacred and inviolate l>y each party, and thai it cannot, in anj n spect, be varied or altered b) one part) only, \% i 1 1 1 . . 1 1 1 a most criminal breach of faith, ami that they know of no instance, wherein the inhabitants <>t" this provin • mi their part have violated the said compact .". That the si vera! acts of the British parliament, which infringe the jn-t rights of the colonies, and of this province in particular, being subjects "t" deliberation before the Continental Congress now Bitting, renders it exp di -Tit for this count) to suspend their determination resp I lem, ei so far as their immediate operation requires our iinmedi utions thereon. !. That whereas, hi- excellency Thomas th bouses ofassembl) : and ha since, bj tion, bearing date 83d of Augusl last,snd others and d< cil his tiill resolution ami determination I t of the Bi (>20 HAMPSHIRE CONVENTION. parliament, entitled an act for the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, whereby they have at- tempted to sap the foundation of the constitution of this province, and anni- hilate the most important rights of the inhabitants thereof; and has also, ac- tually, at Salem, by an armed force, endeavored to execute the said acts ; we are obliged therefore, to declare, that our minds are so deeply impress- ed with the abovesaid conduct of his excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., as to excite in us very great doubts whether he can any longer be considered as the constitutional governor of this province; and consequently, whether any writs issued by him for convening a general assembly, or any other acts whereby he shall attempt to exercise the office of a governor of this prov- ince, have any force or validity, and whether any obedience or respect there- to can be paid, without a degree of submission to and acknowledgment of the force and validity of said acts; but in case any towns within the prov- ince should judge it safe and expedient so far to regard the writs lately is- sued by his excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., for the convening a general court or assembly of this province, to be held at Salem, ozi the 5th day of October next, as to elect and depute any persons as their representatives to repair to Salem, at the time aforesaid, we cannot but declare it as our clear opinion, that they ought, and our full expectation is that they will, most ma- turely and deliberately consider, whether any such representatives can do any one act in concert with his excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., and his mandamus council, without an implied acknowledgment of the authority and force of the abovesaid acts of parliament. 5. That it is the opinion of this congress, that a provincial congress is ab- solutely necessary in our present unhappy situation, and that we approve of the proposal made by a late Middlesex congress, that the said provincial congress should be holden at Concord, on the second Tuesday of October next, and we accordingly recommend to the several towns and districts within this county, that each appoint one or more delegates to attend the same. 6. That the collectors, constables, and all other officers, who have or shall have by them moneys collected upon the province assessments, delay mak- ing payment of the same to the honorable Harrison Gray, Esq., until the civil government of this province is placed upon a constitutional foundation, but that they deposit the same in the treasuries of their respective towns and ilistricts. 7. Whereas, the universal uneasiness which prevails among all orders of men in this county, arising from the unjust and oppressive measures of the pres nt administration, may influence some persons inconsiderately to com- mit outrages upon particular persons or their property, we would heartily recommend to all the inhabitants of this county, not to engage in any routs, riots, or licentious attacks upon the person or property of any one, as being subversive of all order and government ; but, by a steady, manly, uniform, and persevering opposition to the said measures, to convince our enemies, I'l.N MOl I'll < < »W BNTION thai in a contort bo importanl and solemn, our oonduci ah Jl b* meril 1 1 j * - approbation of all sober and nriae men. - Thai in the opinion <>f this I ,11 towi railed agreeabl) to tbo laws and ancient of the pi 9. 'I li.it the inbabitants of the several tow ds and d itbin ii« ty, be advised, for their own 1 r, and for the d< thai thej use the utmost diligence, forthwith, to acquaini thei with the military art, under the command and direction ofsucb ; choose, and thai thej furnish themselves with the full lawful quantity munition, and good effective arm-, as bom d a- maj be, for that p \ EBENI /l i; Hi ST, Jen I cn\\ ENTION OF rn Mm ill COl ST\ , \ c a meeting <>t" the d< l< gat< - of every town in die count} "(' Plymouth, in the province of Massachusetts Ray, held al Plimpton, in said countj Monday, the 26th da) of September, 177 I. and then bj adjournment, al tl>»- county coun house in Plymouth, on Tuesday, the 27th da} ol E J77 I, presenl : Plymouth — Hon. James Warren, Esq., Mr. Jol I I Cotton, William Watson, I'. -■;.. Mr. Thomas Lothrt Siihuili — Nathan Cushing, Esq., John Cushing, Jun., Esq., < I Vinal, Jun., Mr Barnebas Little, Mr. Williai I CaptJ Wareham — Mr. Ebenezer Briggs, Mr. Barnubas B Marahfi I ' liony Thomas, Capt William Thon Mnngton—DotL David Jo -. I pt. W Ibi dg Brown, Mr. William Ri i d, Jun. Bridgewaler — Capt Edward Mitchell, Mr. Nathaniel Reynold . Mi N than Mitchi II, Mr. Thomas Hooper. Kingston — John Thomas, Esq., Capt. John Gray, Mr. William D Hanover — Capt. Joseph Cushing, Mr. Joseph Ramsdell, M . J< mons, Capt Robert Eells, Doct Lemu< I < lushing. Pembroke — Capt John Turner, Doct. Jeremiah Hall. II - II I !apt. Edward Tin mi;;-.. ( !apt Elijah Cusbii It h— 1 'apt. Wade Wadsvvorth, Mr. G P 1 Wadswortb. Halifax— Mr. Barnabas Thompson, Mom- [ngl i, Mr. El I MiddleborougJ*— Capt Ebenezer Sprout, Mr. John Miller, Mr. I Wood, Mi. Benjamin Tucker, Mr. Nathanii I Foster. Rochester— Capt Ebenezer White, Mr, N tbaniel Hammoi M N Nye. 622 PLYMOUTH CONVENTION. Plimpton — Mr. William Ripley, Mr Samuel Lucas, Mr. Setli dishing. Voted, That the Hon. James Warren, Esq., be chairman. A committee of nine, viz. : James Warren, Esq., William Gushing, Esq, Capt. Joseph dishing, John Thomas, Esq., Doct. Jones, Mr. John Torrey, Mr. Thomas Lothrop, Mr. George Partridge, and Doct. Jeremiah Hall were chosen to bring in, at the adjournment, a report to this body, and the follow- ing being several times read, and put paragraph by paragraph, was unani- mously voted, viz. : Whereas, the British administration, instead of cultivating that harmony and affection, which have so long subsisted, to the great and mutual advan- tage of both Britain and the colonies, have, for a series of years, without provocation, without justice, or good policy, in breach of faith, the laws of gratitude, the natural connections and commercial interests of both coun- tries, been attacking with persevering and unrelenting injustice, the rights of the colonists; and have added, from one time to another, insults to oppres- sions, till both have become, more especially in this colony, intolerable, and every person who has the feelings of a man, and any sense of the rights of mankind, and the value of our happy constitution, finds it now necessary, to exert himself to the utmost of his power, to preserve them : we, who are returned from the several towns in the county of Plymouth, and now met on the ground first trod by our venerable ancestors, and at the place Provi- dence directed them to, as an asylum from the persecuting rage and oppres- sion of their cotemporaries in Britain ; feeling the same spirit, and actuated in defence of our rights, by the same principles which animated them in ac- quiring and transmitting them to us and succeeding posterity, in a manner which will ever distinguish the heroism and virtue of their characters, do resolve : 1. That the inhabitants of the American colonies are entitled to all the natural rights of mankind, and are, by right, subject to the control of no power on earth, but by their own consent. 2 That the inhabitants of this province have no other political con- nection with, or dependence on Britain, than what was, originally, by our ancestors, for themselves and posterity, stipulated with the king, and in the form of a grant from him expressed in the charter. 3. That the interposition of any other power on earth in our affairs, and more especially, in attempts to tax or even legislate for us, and that of the king himself, in other manner than is expressed and provided for in the original compact, is an infraction of our natural and constitutional rights. 4. That the people of this province have, at all times, been loyal and duti- ful subjects to the king of Great Britain, have observed all the conditions of their original compact, borne great affection to his other subjects in all parts of his dominions, and are read), at all times, to render him that allegiance whirh his protection of our rights entitles him to, and to sacrifice our lives and fortune.- in deli nee o| hi- person and constitutional government. 5. That the parliament of Great Britain has not onlj assumed, but exr-r- PLYMOl I'll <<>\\ ENTION cised with unexampled severity, a power over and tax them without their <'\\m consent, and bj *ev< late session of parliament, fbi blocking up th< port of Boston, the hetu ulating the government ofthe province ofthe Massachi the moat flagitious violators ol the laws of the province from a legal trial, and the establishing the roman catholic religion in thai extensive country, called Canada, has shewn tin ir il> termination t<> deprive us of both our civil and religious rights. t>. Thai it is a duty everj manandbod) of men owes to p< I .veil as i" God and our country, to op| ose with all thi ir power, the execution of Baid acts, and that w e Btronglj re< ommend it t" the inhabitants of the pn ince, never to Bubmit t" them in an) instance whatever. 7. Thai the provision made in one of said art- ui" them s sel of ministerial i""N mid hireling -. 8. That those persons who bave accepted seats ;it the council hoard, bj mandamus from the king, in conformity t<> a lat< act of the British parli ment, have violated the fundamental rights of the Bociety thej belonged t" : bave traitorously attempted to destroy the constitution of their country, which they were bound bj the laws of < - • »» 1 and man to defend; and bave, lis their persevering obstinacy, against the entreaties of their fellow coun* trymen, exposed themselves i" their just resentment and indignation. It. That the judges, justices, sheriffs, and othei civil officers in the pi ince, who are appointed t" their several offices agre< : 1 1 » 1 \ t<> the charter and law.- of the same, and n fuse to act in conformity to the acts of parliament, or to assisl the administration in the execution of them, are the onlj pro] persons who are entitled to thr nil. (In nee of the people; and that we will aid and support them in the execution of their offices, in the manner usual before the attempt to alter the constitution of the province; and will in- demnify their persons and prop< rty ; and thai no legal authority can remove them from their respective offices, except thai which is constituted pursuant t<> the charter, and the laws of this province. 10. That all officers and private persons, w bo shall presume to conform to or bj an\ means aid and assisl the execution of the late acts of parliament, do, bj Bucb conduct, forfeil thai prot< ction and friendship good men it ty an entitled to, and are and oughl to be considt n d and treated as our in- veterate enemies, as men lost to ever] sense of virtue, and the obi dm- to ' lod and man. I I. Thai everj people bave s righl i<> meet togt tber when thej pit ase, to consult upon their grievances, and the proper methods to I . ; removal ; and that anj act which prohibits such meetings, strikes at tin dation of freedom, and will reduce to laverj and ubmitto 624 PLYMOUTH CONVENTION. 12. That the present exigencies of our public affairs, render it absolutely necessary that there be a provincial congress ; and we dp recommend it to the several towns in this county, to instruct their representatives to form themselves into such a congress, agreeably to the seventh resolve of the delegates for the county of Essex, for the purposes there mentioned. 13. That our enemies may be disappointed, and we be the better enabled to make that last appeal, which the law of God and nature will justify, we recommend it to the people of this county, to apply themselves with all dil- igence, and in the most effectual manner, to learn military discipline, and to equip themselves immediately with arms and ammunition according to law. 14. That whereas, the present circumstances of the province are such, that if the public moneys now raised should be paid into the public treasu- ries, they may be misapplied, perhaps to purposes detrimental to the inter- est of the people : we therefore recommend to the collectors of taxes, sher- iffs, and other officers in this county, to retain the same in their hands, and not to make any payment thereof to the province treasurer, until the civil government of the province is placed upon a constitutional foundation, or until it shall otherwise be ordered by the proposed provincial congress ; and that they be indemnified in their persons and property for so doing. 15. That the fortification erected on Boston neck, the seizing the powder in the magazine at Charlestown, the prohibiting the keeper of the magazine at Boston to deliver the powder, which is private property, and many other instances of the conduct of the army and commander in chief, are justly alarming, and give us the strongest reasons to apprehend hostile inten- tions against the town of Boston in particular, and the province in gen- eral. 16. That if any persons who have distinguished themselves by virtuously contending for the violated rights and liberties of this country, should be seized, in order to be transported to England, or in any way subjected to the tyrannical power of administration now prevailing, we do recommend, that the good people of this county immediately make reprisals, by seiz- ing and keeping in safe custody, every servant of the present tyrannical government, and all BUCll as are known to have favored and abetted their measures, and detain them till our friends are restored safe and uninjured to their respective families. 17. Thai it is highly proper and necessary for the towns to continue to meet and transact their affairs as usual, and we recommend to the select- men of the several towns in this county, to issue their warrants for calling town meetings, agreeably to the laws of the province and former usages, and to the constables to warn the same, whenever their circumstances re- quire it, and to the people in the c itj to support each other in the exer- cise of a privilege and a right, by long experience found so beneficial to their interest and happiness. 18. That it is justifiable and proper for the people, at such a time as is this, to prevent any courts sitting and proceeding to business, or any officers PL1 M01 I'll CON\ l.\ I ION. i.r an] court executing their office, w li" Bhall refuse, \\ h< a n qui - nake and sign a lull and ample declaration, i sp ttieir ab the late innovations attempted in our constitution, and thai tin \ do not i nor will at anj time hereafter, bold their commissione mi an) otliei wa) than wliat ie prescribed bj the charter ami well known constitution of this province, and thai tins will not, in an) way, countenance, aid, or support the execution of the late art- of parliament. 19. That tin- circumstances of the country require, and make it i ry, that we should, until our rights are full) i d, witlihold all conn cial intercourse with Great Britain and Ireland, and refrain from the i Bumption of British manufactures and merchandize, especial!) I it India - and other goods, subject to such additions, alteratii d exceptions only, as the grand Cong of the <•"!" i". 20. We recommend to the several t"\'.n~ in this county, to make provis- ion for, and in order tli>' payment of their i representatives out of their town treasuries, in order to do justice to them, aud at tin Bame time defeat one "i the machinations of our enemies. 21. That those justices of the courts of general sessions of the peace and common pleas for this county, who, at tl"- last term, in the name of the whole, addressed ln~ excellency governor <• sje, have, therein, wantonly, without reason, and without provocation, aspersed the clergy, the commit- tees of correspondence, and other good pi ople <>i t i i i - county, and thereb) shown that the) have n<> tender feelings for the distri sses of their country, and can rejoice at their calami) 22. That this count) Bbould entertain a high se rratitude for the benevolent alacrit) and read own h) our brethren in th<- otlicr colo- , to aid and support this province under our present distresses, and to .•Din'' i" our relit f, wheni \> r the blood-thirst) malice of our i u< a make it necessarj . II i.i i Edward Winslow, Jr. one of the two clerks of the court of general ins of the peace and court of common pleas for this county, has, b) refusing this bod) a cop) of an address made ;it the last term in this coun- t) to Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., betrayed the trust reposed in him, and b) refusing his attendance when requested, treated the bod) of this count) with insult and contempt, and b) that means n ud< red himself unworth) t<> bi ur the count) in said office. 24. That it be earnest!) recommended to the inhabitants! county, that the) careful!) avoid all riots, routs, tumults, and disturb our present distress) d circumstanci -. and dial the) maintain all that i and good order that the nam it of our present situation « ill admit. Ill« >M IS LO'J 11R( »r ' 626 BRISTOL CONVENTION. CONVENTION OF BRISTOL COUNTY. At a meeting of the gentlemen, delegates from the following towns in the county of Bristol, viz,: Taunton, Dartmouth, Rehoboth, Freetown, Dighton, Swausey, Norton, Mansfield, Raynham, Berkeley and Easton, held at the court house, in Taunton, on the 28th and 29th days of September, 1774, to consult upon proper measures to be taken at the present alarming crisis of our public affairs : Zephaniah Leonard, Esq., was chosen chairman. After having read the act of parliament for regulating the government of this province, and the resolves of the counties of Suffolk, Middlesex, &c, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : Whereas, our ancestors, of blessed memory, from a prudent care for themselves, and a tender concern for their descendants, did, through a series of unparalleled dangers and distresses, purchase a valuable inheritance in this western world, and carefully transmitted the same to us, their poster- ity ; and whereas, for many years past, we have quietly enjoyed certain rights and privileges, stipulated by charter, and repeatedly confirmed by royal engagements, which rights and privileges are now unjustly invaded bv T the pretended authority of a British parliament, under pretext that it is inexpedient for us any longer to enjoy them ; and as the same persons who found out this inexpediency, will, no doubt, in time, discover that it is inexpe- dient for us to enjoy any rights, and even any property at all ; we cannot, in justice to ourselves and posterity, and in gratitude to our revered ancestors, tamely stand by, and suffer every thing that is valuable and dear - to be wrest- ed from us ; but are resolutely determined, at the risk of our fortunes and lives, to defend our natural and compacted rights, and to oppose, to our ut- most, all illegal and unconstitutional measures, which have been, or may be hereafter, adopted by a British parliament or a British ministry. And though we deprecate the evils which are naturally consequent upon a breach of that mutual affection and confidence which has subsisted betwixt Great Britain and her colonies, yet we think it better to suffer those evils, than voluntari- ly suhmit to perpetual slavery. We are sensible that the important crisis before us demands the exercise of much wisdom, prudence, and fortitude, and we sincerely hope, that all our deliberations and actions will be guided by the principles of sound reason, and a hearty desire to promote the true interest of the British empire. Accordingly, we resolve in the following manner, viz. : Resolved, That we freely recognize George the third, king of Great Bri- tain, &c, as our rightful sovereign, and as allegiance and protection are re- ciprocal, we are determined faithfully to yield the former as long as we are allowed the enjoyment of the latter. Resolved, That the late acts of the British parliament, relating to the con- tinent in general, and this province in particular, are contrary to reason and WORCES rER CON\ EN riON. the spirit of the English constitution, and, if complied with, will i to the mosl abject state of servitude* /.'■ .',.//. Thai all <-imI officers in ilii< province, considered as holding their respective offices bj the tenure specified in a late act of the British parliament, deserve neither obedience nor respect; but we will support all civil authority thai i tble t<> the charter of the province granted i>> king William ami queen Mary. /.' /, That il is our opinion, that the wvrral towns of this COUnty Bhould regulate themselves in all their public proceed i eably to the law - of tlllS |'in\ in.-.'. Resolved, Thai we w ill use our utmost endeavors t<> discountenance suppress all mobs, ri<>t-, and breaches of 1 1 1 « - peace, and will afford all the protection in our power to the persons and properties "f our loyal fellow subjects. Resolved, That, in all things, we will regulate ourselves bj the opinion and advii-c <>f tin* Continental Congress, now sitting at Philadelphia; and as we place great confidence in the abilities of the gentlemen, membi thai congress, we will cheerfully subscribe to their determinations. Resolved, That our brethren of the town of Boston, who are now Buffer- ing under the cruel hand of power in the common cause of America, are justly entitled to nil that support and relief which we can give, and are now read] to afford them. Rejoived!, That whereas, our brethren of the count] of Suffolk have, •>> their spirited and noble resolutions, full] made known our sentiments, we therefore think it unneceesarj for us to !><■ more particular, a> we most cheerfull] adopl 1 1 1 < ■ i r measures and resolutioi Voted, 'I hat the above proceedings !»• inserted in the public papers. / iled, Thai the committee for the town of Taunton, be empowered to call a meeting of this body, whenever the] think it necessary. fulfil. That the thanks of this bod] I"- given to the chairman, for hi* faithful Ben ices. Poled, That thi-s assembl] be adjourned, and it was accordingl] ad- journed. D\\ ID COBJB ' com i:\ I |m\ of WORCESTER COI \ i \. Joi knm. ut' a convention of the committees of correspondence and del egates, of the several towns in the county of Worcester. Tuesday, At ...i si ". 1 7 7 1. \t a nni ting of tin mmittees of correspondence for the count} of Worcesti r, in county I ongn b asa mbled, on the 9th dsj of August, \ l». I?; I, at the bouse of Mrs. afar] Sternes, in Worcester, there were pn tent 6-28 WORCESTER CONVENTION. Worcester — William Young, Esq., Mr. Joshua Bigelow, Capt. Timothy Bigelow, Lieut. John Smith. Lancaster — Doct. William Dimsmore, Deacon David Wilder, Mr. Aaron Sawyer, Capt. Samuel Ward, Capt. Asa Whitcomh, Capt. Hezekiah Gates, Mr. John Prescott, Mr. Ephraim Sawyer. Mendon — Capt. Nathan Tyler, Deacon Edward Rawson, Mr. James Sum- ner, Elder Nathaniel Nelson, Mr. Benoni Benson. Rutland District — Mr. Asa Hapgood, Lieut. Nathan Sparhawk, Deacon John Mason, Lieut. Andrew Parker. Brookfield — Jedediah Foster, Esq., Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin, Capt. Phine- has Upham. Oxford — Capt. Ehenezer Learned, Doct. Alexander Campbell. Charlton — Mr. Caleb Curtis, Capt. Jonathan Tucker. Sutton — Mr. Amos Singletary, Capt. Henry King, Rev. Ehenezer Chap- lin. Leicester, Spencer and Paxton — Col. Thomas Denny, Capt. William Hen- shaw, Capt. Joseph Henshaw, Rev. Benjamin Conklin. Jf'estborough — Capt. Stephen Maynard. Shrewsbury — Hon. Artemas Ward, Mr. Phinehas Heywood. Lunenburg — Doct. John Taylor. Harvard — Rev. Joseph Wheeler. Bolton — Capt. Samuel Baker, Mi*. Jonathan Holnian. Petersham — Capt Ephraim Doolittle, Col. Jonathan Grout. Southborough — Capt. Jonathan Wood. Hardwick — Capt. Paul Mandell, Mr. Stephen Rice, Lieut. Jonathan War- ner, Deacon John Bradish. Holden—Mr. John Child. Douglas — Mr. Samuel Jennisou. Princeton — Mr. Moses Gill. A committee was appointed to sort and count the votes given in, for a chairman or president, and clerk, who reported that William Young, Esq., of Worcester, was elected chairman, and William Henshaw, Esq., of Lei- cester, clerk. The Rev. Benjamin Conkliu, being invited, opened the meeting with very earnest and solemn prayer. Voted, To choose a committee of ten, to draw up some proper resolves to lay before the convention for their consideration. Voted, That Mr. Timothj Bigelow, Capt Josepb Henshaw, Capt Ephraim Doolittle, Capt. Samuel Ward, Mr. John Smith, Mr. Luke Drury, Mr. Joshua Bigelow, Deacon Edward Rawson, Capt. Paul Mandell, Lieut. Jonathan Holman, be tin committee. The committee retired, and again returned, alter some time, and reported that they had drafted a Dumber of resolves, which were read. After debate thereon, it was voted to lay the resolves upon the table for further consideration. WORCESTER I ONVENTIOM I ' I To adjourn to to-morrow morning, i I 7 at the same pi Wednesday, \ 10, 177 1. according to adjournment In the b of the president, Deacon Bal «en chairman pro /- ' Thai the committee chosen yesterday, be a committee to write a ■ to the gendemeu chosen by tin- province i" attend the Continental Congress, to inform them of th< count] resp cting our public affairs. A letter being reported, was considered and accept* iL I That the committee chosen yesterday, \«- a committee i" a nd a letter t<> all of die towns and districts in this county, who have nol cl committ< Bpondence, desiring them i" « - l Be such commit! nd delej nt them at the adjournment of Uiis convention. The committee chosen i" write to the several towns, alter some time, ■ I, that die) \\ i 'I a letter; which was done, and the ■ cepted, and is as follows : WORCES i il, \i i.i - r 9, 177 !. Friends imi Brethren : — The committees of correspondence from a majority of towns in this county, have now convened at Worcester, in order in consult ami determine upon the most regular steps t<> be taken and re- commended to the several towns in this county, at this truly critical and alarming crisis, when it oo longer remains a doubt, that the acts, annihila- dng our once free constitution, are actually come authenticated, attended with three more transports and a ship of war, and the council, appointed In his majesty, are about taking il adis required lor that office. In the first place, we beg leave to observe, that a considerable number of towns in this count) have not yet chosen committei by dial means, ma;, uot have received the letters notifying iliis convention; i , we earnestly n commend, as brethren and fellow suffer* re, when all that is valu- able in this life is at staki you choose committees of correspond! or Buch othi i as you may think prop* r, to I this convention at i In ir adjournment, v> hen the united wisdom and aid of the whole are want- ing, to oppose the torrent of tyranny rushing upon us. lu ivoid a second disappointment, by having our letters fall into unfriendly hands, and you thereby !"• deprived of a proper notification, wo shall be careful !■> have them transmitted by such of <f die committees of i orrespondence in convention, TlMOTin B1GEL >W. The consideration of the resolves r» day, was resumed: thi 630 WORCESTER CONVENTION. same were severally read, considered, debated, and each accepted without one dissentient vote : and it was Ordered, that the same be signed by the chairman and clerk, and printed, and circulated in handbills. They are as follow : 1. Resolved, That we bear all true allegiance to his majesty king George the third, and that we will, to the utmost of our power, defend his person, crown, and dignity, but at the same time, we disclaim any jurisdiction in the commons of Gr< a Britain over his majesty's subjects in America. 2. Resolved, That the charter of this province is the basis of our allegi- ance to his majesty, wherein, on his part, the royal faith is plighted, to pro- tect and defend us, his American subjects, in the free and full enjoyment of each and every right and liberty enjoyed by his subjects in Great Britain ; his American subjects likewise bear him true allegiance. 3. Resolved, That we have, within ourselves, the exclusive right of origi- nating each and every law i-especting ourselves, and ought to be on an equal footing with his majesty's suhjects in Great Britain. 4. Resolved, That an attempt to vacate said charter, by either party, with- out the consent of the other, has a tendency to dissolve the union between Great Britain and this province, to destroy the allegiance we owe to the king, and to set aside the sacred obligations he is under to his subjects here. 5. Resolved, That the right lately assumed, by the parliament of Great Britain, over this province, wherein they claim a disposal of our lives and properties, and to alter and disannul our charter without our consent, is a great and high-handed claim of arbitrary power. 6. Resolved, That as parliament have not only adopted the aforementioned principle, but have actually put it into practice, by taxing the Americans, and most cruelly blocking up the harbor of Boston, in order to force this province to submission to such power, and have farther proceeded to pass several acts to change our free constitution in such manner, which, if effect- ed, will render our lives and properties wholly insecure : Therefore, 7. Resolved, That it is the indisputable duty of every American, and more especially in this province, to unite in every virtuous ojjposition that can be devised, in order to save ourselves and posterity from inevitable ruin. And, in the first place, we greatly approve of the agreement entered and entering into through this and the neighboring provinces, for the non-consumption of British goods. This, we apprehend, will have a tendency to convince our brethren in Britain, that more is to be gained in the way of justice, from our friendship and affection, than by extortion and arbitrary power. We apprehend that the balance of our trade with Britain has been greatly in their favor; that we can do much better without it than they can ; and that the increase of such trade heretofore, was greatly occasioned by the regard and affection borne by the Americans to their brethren in Britain. Such an agreement, if strictly adhered to, will greatly prevent extravagance, save our money, encourage our own manufactures, and reform our manners. 8. Resolved, That those justices of the court of general sessions, and com- mon pleas, for this county, who, in a late address to his excellency Gover- WORCESTER C< INVENTION 631 nor (. ['ir.-i'il the good people of this county, have thereby diseovi that they were destitute of that tender regard which we might just! pect in our presenl distressed situation. Voted, Thai we most earnest!) recommend it to th( I towne in thin county, (and if it should not be thought too arrogant, to ■ verj town in the province, t" meel and adopt Bome wise, prudent, and spirit* d measun order to prevent the execution of those most alarming acts of parliament, respecting out constitution. Voted, That the meeting l»- adjourned to the last Tuesday of August in- stant, to meet at the house of Mrs, Mar] Sternes, innholder, in Worcester, at Id o'clock "i" the forenoon, and it was adjourned. Tub - i • \ •. . \ i • . 17 7 1. \i a mi eting of the committees of correspondence from each and everj town and district within the count) of Worcester, convened in Congrt - Worcester, on Tuesday, the 30th da] of August, A. I». 1774, there were I'll-. ni one hundred and thirt) members, together with a number of dele- gates and gentlemen from Beveral towns. William Yoimi.', []>i\. was president. Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Chaplain be desired to attend this meeting, and to praj : who came in, and the me< ting was opened with prayi re. Void/, By reason of the Btraitness of the place, and the man] attending, tn adjourn to the count) court house. The Congress nut in the county court house, according t" adjournment ; debated on man] things, and adjourned to 3 o'clock, P. M. Met according to adjournment, at the court house. Vutnl, Tn i-Iihiim a committee of nine persons, to take into consideration the state of public affairs, and prepare resolvt b to la) before the convention. Voted, That CapL Joseph Henshaw, Mr. Phinehas Heywood, Capt Eph- rai tn Doolittle, Capt llenr) King, Mr. Timoth) Bige low, Mr. Samuel Jen nison, Capt Samuel Ward, Mr. Luke Drury, and Capt Joseph Gilbert, tx a committee for the purpose aforesaid. Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Chaplain be desired to attend the Congress to- moi row . VotedjThaX this meeting be adjourned till to-morrow, at 7 o'clock, \- M. to this place. The meeting was closed with prayer. Wednesday, Aogusi 31, 177 1. The Congress mel according to adjournment Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Chaplain open the meeting w ith prayer ; « hich was done. Voted, That everj person who speaks in this meeting ahall rise up, and, alter lie is done Bpeakiug, ahall sit down, and not speak more than twi< the same subject witliout obtaining leave, and shall not speak irrelevantly. G32 WORCESTER CONVENTION. The committee appointed yesterday, returned, and informed that they were ready to report resolutions. The resolves prepared by the committee were read. Voted, To adjourn to 2 o'clock, P. M. Afternoon. Met according to adjournment. Voted, To accept of the introduction of the resolves brought in by the committee, and the same were amended. Voted, The first resolve in the affirmative : Voted, The second resolve in the affirmative : Voted, The third resolve in the affirmative : Voted, The fourth resolve in the affirmative: Voted, The fifth resolve in the affirmative : Voted, The sixth resolve in the affirmative : Voted, The seventh resolve in the affirmative : Voted, The eighth resolve in the affirmative : Voted, That the whole of the resolves be accepted, which are as follow : Whereas, the charter of this province, as well as laws enacted by virtue of the same and confirmed by royal assent, have been, by the parliament of Great Britain, without the least color of right or justice, declared in part null and void ; and in conformity to an act of said parliament, persons arc appointed to fill certain offices of government, in ways and under influen- ces, wholly unknown before in this province, incompatible with its charter, and forming a complete system of tyranny : and whereas, no power on earth hath a right, without the consent of this province, to alter the minu- test title of its charter, or abrogate any act whatsoever, made in pursuance of it, and confirmed by royal assent, or to constitute officers of government in ways not directed by charter, and as we are assured that some officers of the executive courts in this county, have officially conducted in compliance with and in conformity to the late acts of parliament altering our free con- stitution ; and as the sittings of such courts may have a tendency to affect the good people of this county, in such manner as may insensibly lead them to submit to the chains of slavery forged by our enemies; therefore, 1. Resolved, That it is the indispensable duty of the inhabitants of this county, by the besl ways and means, to prevent the sitting of the respective courts under such regulations as are set forth in a late act of parliament, en- titled, an act for regulating the civil government of the Massachusetts Baj . 2. Resolved, That in order to prevent the execution of the late act of par- liament, respecting the courts, that it be recommended to the inhabitants of this county, to attend, in person, the next interior court of common pleas and general ses>i<>ns, to be holden at Worcester, in and for said county, on the sixth day of September next '■'>. Ilisolved, That it he recommended to the several towns, that they choose proper and suilahle officers, and a sufficient number, to regulate the WORCESTER I "\\ i.\ i [< >N movements of each town, and prevent an) i wliicli happen : and that it be i on 1 1 1 • - inhnbitai thai the] ad ictlj to the orders nnd din • ■I. And whereas, tli< courts of justice will necessarily l»- opposition to the -;.iil acts ■ •! parliament, thi I ', dial commend) >\ t" the inhabitants of this province in gi ni ral, and i" il" tlii- count) in particular, that t ln> depute tit persona to n pn m nl U i m in one general provincial convention, t" I" convent d at i mill Tuesdaj of Octoh r at nt, to devise proper ways and mcai - t" resume our original mode of government, whereb] I lifted s< as the] evei ought to be, dependant on 1 1 1 • - people for ii such; or sorai otlier which ma) appear t ■ ■ them !• ilatcd to and secure our violated rights. The jue of n dn ss, wi submit to tin- determination of our <>iir opinion, die onl) just tribunal • ,,| t,. on earth. .">. /. I iat ii be recommended, thai Buch innholders and n who Bhall be approbati the law of this province n specting innholdi rs and retail 6. Resolved, Thai ii be recommended t<> the several towns, that diey in- demnif) their constables for neglecting i" return lists ofp< rsona qualifii -• rve as jurors. 7. /.' . That as the ordinar) course of justice musl be stayed, in con- sequence of the late arbitral*) and oppn B we would earnestl) recommend to ever) inhabitant of this count; his just debts as soon as may \»- possible, without an) disputes or I tion. 3. /.' '. Thai a- the dark and gloom) ir public thrown this province into great convulsions, and the minds of the people b rend) agitated with the near view • >'" impending ruin; we earnesl commend to ever) one, aud we < ourselves, t" use the utmost influ- ent e in suppressing all riotous and disorderl) proceedings in our respective IOV"j ii.-. It was Moved, That whereas, il is generally expected, thai the governor will Bend one <>r more regiments t>> enforce die execution of the acts ofpai liament, on 1 1 • * - 6tb of September, that n l»- recommended to t i » « - inhabi tants of this county, if Uiere i- intelligence, thai troops are on theii march t<> \\ cester, i" attend, properl) armed, in order t" repel an) 1 1« »— 1 1 J • - I which ma) be employed for thai purpose. 1 The motion, after some debate being withdrawn; ..i tbe ^ i-ii mi I hi I -.1 C34 WORCESTER CONVENTION. Voted, That if there is an invasion, or danger of an invasion, in any town in this county, then such town as is invaded, or being in danger thereof, shall, by their committees of correspondence, or some other proper persons, send letters, by express posts, immediately, to the committees of the adjoin- ing towns, who shall send to other committees in the towns adjoining them, that they all come properly armed and accoutred to protect and defend the place invaded. Voted, That it be recommended to the towns in this county, to pay no re- gard to the late act of parliament, respecting the calling town meetings, but, to proceed in their usual manner ; and also, that they pay no submission to any acts altering our free constitution. Voted, That it be recommended to each town of the county, to retain in their own hands, what moneys may be due from them severally to the prov- ince treasury, till public tranquillity be restored, and more confidence can be reposed in the first magistrate and his council. Voted, To postpone the consideration of the petition of Doct. William Paine, respecting the establishment of a hospital for the small pox, to the adjournment of this meeting. Voted, That each member will purchase at least two pounds of powder in addition to any he may have on hand, and will use all his exertions to sup- ply his neighbors fully. Voted, That the members and delegates endeavor to ascertain what num- ber of guns are deficient to arm the people in case of invasion. taken his seat upon the bench, but he has promised me to attend the superior court at Boston, to- wards the end of the month, and I hope also, he will preside in said court to be held at Worcester, in September, notwithstanding the threats thrown out against him. I have engaged to meet him at Boston, to prevent violence, which, from the present system, I dont expect to meet with there ; I believe, that I must attend him also at Worcester, where I am to expect it." " By the plan lately adopted, forcible opposition and violence is to be transferred from the town of Boston to the country." " In Worcester, they keep no terms ; openly threatening resistance by arms; have been pur- chasing arms ; preparing them ; casting balls ; and providing powder ; and threaten to attack any troops who dare to oppose them. Mr. Ruggles, of the new council, is afraid to take his seat as judge of the inferior court, which sits at Worcester, on the 6th of next month ; and, I apprehend, that I shall soon be obliged to march a body of troops into that township, and perhaps into others, as occasions happen, to preserve the peace." In reference to the mandamus councillors, General Gngc writes," your lordship judged right, that art would be practised on this occasion, to intimidate and prejudice ; even force was attempted on Mr. Ruggles, by a number of people collected on the road, near Worcester, with intent to stop him, but he made his way through them." On the second of September following, Gov. Gage writes to the Earl of Dartmouth, as follows : " I came here to attend the superior court, and with the intention to send a body of troops to Wor- cester, to protect the court there ; and if wanted, to send parties to the houses of the councillors who dwell in that county; but finding, from undoubted authority, thai the Barnes of sedition had spread universally throughout the country, beyond conception ; the councillors already driven away ; and that no court would proceed on Im- mess ; I waited the evenl of the sitting of the superior court here, on the 30th ultimo ; the judges met, but could get neither grand nor petit jury." \vou|>inii)ii ui' this convention, that the court >li"u!n the judges to inform them of the m solution tn atop the courts sitting, if the people concur therein. / nhil. Thai the bodj of the people in this county now in town, assemble on the common. 1 Voted, To i-hoose a committee of three persons to inquire <>f the commit- tees of the towns, how long it will be before the) make the determination of the body of the p< < »j >!• ■ respecting the courts, known to the judges, and to inform the convention thereof Voted, To adjourn to the green beyond Mr. Salisbury's, where the conven- tion proceeded. Voted, Thai ;i committee of three, \i/.: Capt Mandell, Deacon Rawaon, and Mr. Samuel Jennison, be a committee to inform the grand jurors of the determination of the county as to tli<- courts being held. / ted, i" adjourn to the court house al two o'clock, P. M. Mel according to adjournment, and again adjourned t<» the green, t>> attend tin- bod} of the people. I'otnl, To clioosc :i i-oinmittee of tint r pi-r-oiis to |notvi(l to wait on the committi es of the town--, to inquire the occasion of the delay of the jui in making their appearance before the bodj of the people. / oted, Thai three persons be chosen s committee, to acquaint John ' Chand- ler, Esq., and the other protesters, thai the) must follow after the ju I) On I in of ill ivenUon, ilio peopl u in. I. Tl ompaniei of the n vol il towna * .i in ntilitarj ..r.i.-r. II i\ in.- been formed in two liw ■ I their di public » ill. \ iii.it n i their a • i the judicial tribunal*, « r i > | >t • - . i bj iIm aei of parliament, tl 636 WORCESTER CONVENTION. through the ranges of the body of the people ; that they go immediately after the judges, and read their recantations. 1 Voted, That the thanks of the convention be given to the Rev. Mr. Chap- lam, for his attendance with them. Voted, That it be recommended to the military officers in this county, that they resign their commissions to the colonels of the respective regiments. Voted, That the field officers resign their offices, and publish their resig- nations in all the Boston newspapers. Voted, That it be recommended to the several towns of the county, to choose proper officers for the military of the town, and a sufficient number. Voted, That it be recommended to the several towns and districts of this county, that they provide themselves, immediately, with one or more field pieces, mounted and fitted for use ; and also a sufficient quantity of ammu- nition for the same ; and that the officers appoint a suitable number of men, out of their respective companies, to manage said field pieces. Voted, To take notice of those justices of the inferior court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace of this county, who aspersed the people in a late address to Gov. Gage.' 2 (1) Forty-three of the royalist inhabitants of Worcester, had made their protest against the pa- triotic resolutions of that town. This protest having been entered on the municipal records, by the clerk, without authority, he was subsequently compelled, in open meeting, to obliterate the docu- ment ; the work of the pen not being effectual in destroying its former traces, his fingers were dip- ped in ink, and drawn over the page, which still remains in the town book, entirely illegible. Most of the subsciibers of the loyal paper were forced to sign recantations of their expressed opinion. To these persons the vote in the text refers. (2) The address of the justices of the county of Worcester, was presented June 21, 1774, and with the answer of Governor Gage, follows: To his Excellency Thomas Gape, Esq., Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over theprov- nf Massachusetts Buy, in New England. May it pleasi your I. ■ Uency: — The justices of the court of general sessions of the peace, and justices of the inferior court of common pleas, held at Worcester, on the second Tuesday of June, 1774, beg leave, at our first session, after your safe arrival, to congratulate your excellency thereon, and also, on your appointment to the most important office of first magistrate in this province; in full confidence, from the an iable character your excellency has obtained in your other impor- tant departments in America, you will ever delight in promoting the good of this government. We find a peculiar difficulty in expressing the distress of our minds relating to the unhappy circumstances of this province at this time ; and can, with sincerity, say, that we have no donbt, from your well known i you will do all that is in your power, to i xtricate us out of our distresses, in every waj consistent with the true interest of Great Britain and her colonies, which we hold inseparable. And we do bear our testimony against all riots, routs, combinations, and un- warrantable " solves, which, we apprehend, have been the unhappj occasion of many of our trou- 1,1. s. And as there are now circulating through this province, certain inflammatory pieces, signed by order of the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston ; ami in this county, by order of certain persons, calling themsel « es a committee of correspondence of the town of Worcester, di- rected to the several towns in the county, stimulating the people to break off all connexion with i . eat Britain, which bave still a tendencj to alienate the affections of the people of this province and county from thi id create discord and confusion, we do assure your excel lency, thai we will do every thing in our power. I tenance such proceedings, and support the e\er ution of the laws, at, I r, nder your excellency's administration successful and prosperous. To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following answer: WORCESTER < <»\\ EN HON / -//-/, That three pi \ sons be a committee n> require tin- comn day. in make report to the convention, of their proa I I'li.it the principals in the protesl reading their recantation, shall l>. acc< pted for all those who signed the recantation. I iiinl. That four nun be desired to attend, in addition t" those who to walk \\ nli < '"l. ( Sardner < lhandler, aheriffof the county, through the i is of the people. I hat u I"' recommended to the officers of each company of the people assembli d, t" keep good order : < njoin it on their men not to do the lessl damage to anj person's property: but to march quietlj borne: and thai the convention have nothing further to lay b< lore tbi m. ' ■' !i Deacon Rawson, Mr. Asa Wbitcomb, and D I committee to wsit on a number of justice ive them en opportunit) to aign the declaration, which has I oed bj the justices and i the inferior court, and is as follows: \\ ..i.. i - 1 1 k. E 177 I- Worcester, 88. The justices of the inferior court, and justices of tin- rourt of general sessions of the peace, for the count] of Worc« ster, to the people of the county, now assembled at Worcester: < m \ i i.i mi n :— ^ i'ii ha\ ing desired, and evi n insisted upon it, that all ju- dicial proceedings be stayed bj the justices of the court appointed tin- day, b] law. tn be held al Worcester, within and for the count] of w r,on accouui of the unconstitutional act of the British parliament, respecting the administration of justice in tlii- province, which, if < , will reduce the inhabitants thereof to nine arbitrarj power; we do you, thai we w ill stay all Buch judicial proceedings of -aid court-, and w ill not i ndi to put Baid act into execution. Thou is Steel, Ezra Tati or, i cm Wilder, .Loin Caldwell, \i. i i m \ - W led, I '.i in. mi W ii -os. Timo i m Pairs, 9 Wilder, John CUAWDL1 .lo-ui v I I'll \M, Dahiel Hemshaw, Johr Chandler, Jk. A i:i i WlLLARD, Himii OlIV] Charles Brigb vm. Josi ph Dorr, R.OR] a i < rODD Men. 1 IzBA Hoi QH rOW, FraRCIS Win in. i . ,\ \ i ii \ n I lit i.. .lo-m v WlLLARD, I trot] n i of the ' and i iheirbrel I ■ r. ■• • i • I unio:i M in. G38 WORCESTER CONVENTION We, the officers of the court, do, for ourselves, give the people the same assurances above. Gardner Chandler, Sheriff. Rufus Chandler, John Sprague, Nathaniel Chandler, Attorneys. Voted, To choose a committee of nine persons, to draw up a form of a vote for administering justice, and to protect the justices in the execution of their offices. Voted, That Capt. Ward, Capt. Henshaw, Deacon Rawson, Joseph Whee- ler, Samuel Jennison, Lieut. Joseph Baker, Capt. Mandell, Timothy Bige- low, and Lieut. Jonathan Holman, be the committee for that purpose. Voted, That the above committee be appointed to confer with the justices of the county, to-morrow morning. Voted, That the consideration of the justices' address to Governor Gage, be committed to the same committee. Voted, To adjourn till to-morrow, at 8 o'clock, A. M. Wednesday, Septemeer 7, 1774. The convention met according to adjournment. Voted, To accept of the acknowledgment made by Thomas Steel, Joseph Wilder, Timothy Paine, John Chandler, Abel Willard, and Joshua Upham, Esquires, for aspersing the people of this county in a late address to Gov- ernor Gage. Voted, That the justices who addressed Governor Gage at the last session of the court, be brought before the convention, and make and sign a decla- ration, in writing, of the inadvertence of their proceedings : which is done, and the declaration is as follows : Whereas, the committees in convention have expressed their uneasiness to a number of the justices of the common pleas and general sessions, now present in the convention, who, in an address to Governor Gage, at their session in June last, aspersed the people of this county ; those justices, in the presence of the convention, frankly declare that they precipitately enter- ed into the measure ; they are sorry for it ; and they disclaim an intention to injure the character of any; and were the same measure again proposed, they should reject it. Thomas Steel, Duncan Campbell, Joseph Wilder, Jedediah Marct, Timothy Paine, Francis Whipple, John Chandler, Ezra Houghton, Abel Wii.j.ard, Isaac Barnard, Joshua Upham, The committee on the administration of justice, and respecting the offices WORCESTER < ONVEN PION of probate and sheriff made a report, which was accepted, and ii IB fol- low - : Whereas, the late act of parliament respecting the | • r- * * v : ridently designed to prevent an] civil officers holding tlnir places bj virtue of the charter "i tin- province, then l>\ interrupting the course of justice, and ft is necessarj i" bav< civil officers till further provision can be made: tbx fore, /.' wived, That the justices of the pi ace for this county, who were in office on the lasl da] of June past, except Timothy R , J< ; M my, and Janus Putnam, Enquires, be berebj »t Bired to set in said i single justices, except in judicial proceedings mere)] civil: also, thai tin: judge of probate, sheriffs, and coroners, who were in office on tin of June past, exercise their respective offices till the rising of the Provii Congress, propose d to nil al Concord, on the second 1 . of October next, notwithstanding anj proposed supersedeas that ma] be sent to them, or an] of them, or any proclamation designed to prevent them from ln>l meet at the court house, in Worcester, at Id o'clock, A. M. 1 (1) On tlio day following itirnment of the county convention, n n imitbi of the eonntj of Won esti r w 11 bi Id. Thoii rotolulioai, which bill, ind n > fort] tbr< o porsoni, foil Win in iaa, lit r\ mooting of tbi ' I i from thi «iili il ommittoe of correspondence of the town bold) i the 98th daj of An I proof of their enmity to i!"' peopli try , ahoold bo held in oontempt, and that thoia who an d with thi from tl ion their rii , buibandraon, and othert, to withbol mini lOppllet : i itinii of »ii reip< l:1 "* ata, and ic . .it tins distri Ming day of trial, wo, the mb»«ib«r». 640 WORCESTER CONVENTION. September 20, 1774. The convention met, according to adjournment, and was opened with prayers. Voted, To defer the consideration of the expediency of adjourning to the superior court, for the present. Voted, That the sheriff send out precepts to the towns for the choice of representatives. Voted, That Capt. Joseph Henshaw, Capt. Thomas Denny, Capt. Whit- comb, Mr. Timothy liigelow, and Capt. Tyler, be a committee, to report in relation to giving instructions to the representatives. Toted, That the same committee take into consideration the choice of field officers. Voted, As the opinion of this convention, that the sheriff adjourn the su- perior court appointed by law to be held this day, and that he retain such as are, or may be committed as criminals, in his custody, until they have a trial. Voted, That the plan for military organization be recommitted to the same committee who have reported, to make further additions and amend- ments. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock, A. M. cd with a sense of our duty to our country, paternal affection for our children and unborn millions, as also for our personal rights and liberties, solemnly covenant, agree and engage to and with each other, that from and after the first day of December, 1774, we will not, according to the best of our knowl- edge, any or either of us, nor any person by our directions, order or approbation, for or under any or either of us, do or perform, any blacksmith's work, or business of any kind whatever, for any per- son or persons whom we esteem enemies to this country, commonly known by the name of tories, viz. : all councillors in this province appointed by mandamus, who have not publicly resigned said office, also every person who addressed Governor Hutchinson on his departure from this province, who has not publicly recanted : also every officer exercising authority by virtue of any commission tending to carry any of the late oppressive acts of parliament into execution in America : and, in particular, we will not do any work for Timothy Ruggles of Hardwick, John Murray of Rutland, and James Putnam of Worcester, Esquires: nor for any person or persons cultivating, tilling, im- proving, dressing, hiring, or occupying any of their lands or tenements. Also, we agree to refuse our work of every kind, as aforesaid, to all and every person or persons who shall not have signed the non-consumption ngreeement, or have entered into a similar contract or engagement, or that shall not strictly conform to the association or covenant agreed upon and signed by the Continental I -. Iii'l) convened at Philadelphia. We further agree, that we will not do any work for any mechanic, tradesman, laborer, or others, that shall work for, or in any ways, or by any means whatever, aid, assist, or promote the business, or pecuniary advantage, pleasures or profits of any the said ■ ,,, s in this country. Rrsolrctl, That all lawful ways and means oui;ht to lie adopted by the whole body of the people of this province, to discountenance all our inveterate political enemies in manner as aforesaid. Therefore, we earnestly recommend it to all denominations of artificers, that they call meetings of their respective craftsmen in tbeii several counties, as soon as maj be, and enter into associations and agreemi ntt tor said purposes : and thai all husbandmen, laborers, &c. do the like : and that whoever shall be guilty of any breach of any or cither of the articles or agreements, be held by us in contempt, as enemies to our common rights. ROSS YVYMAN, Chairman. Timothy Biollow, Clerk. w < >RCESTEK > 1 1\\ i.\ ri, WJ 17 7 1. The convention m< Ijournm A paper was sent b) Mr. Samuel Paino, cli t, which is a- follow /' ntienu « ■ Worcester, 1 ■ — 1 ' ghl I ii iv issuing the warrants, at your I -- * ~ t n w 1 ■ i • - 1 1 could n pected : still, you have d I of mo \ 1 that matter, as actii of the propriety oi irnpropi tin- wai rants ga\ e tie people, w determine lor theraselvos whether t i i > • _\ Bhould be complied with "i upon this representation, I hope I sb II -; ind Pair in the eye "i nr. country- men. Should 1 1 < • t this !»• a sufficient excuse for n must ki tlemen, that I was regularlj appointed clerk of the ; tunty, bj the justices, in September last, and, as the said justices "I" i eral sessions of the peace, as well as the inferior court of comm for this county, whose servani I am, on the 3ixth da - current, did give assurance to the bodj of the people "i' this county, tin ibled at Worcester, that they would nol > ndeavor to put said act in • gentlemen, I give you the same assurance. \ mt, SAMUEJ PAJN1 .' That tin- paper sent l>\ Mr. Paine is nol satisfi th< Bame I"- committed t" Mr. Joseph ll> oshaw, Mr. Bigelovt and Mr. Doolittle, who reported, after some time, as follows i The committee to whom the convention referred th< consideration of a letter addressed to them, signed Samuel Paine, have bad tie sami them, and beg leave i" i eporl : The letter appears to have been written by a young man, who, bj his connections, has lati < of t<"> small importance to be notici >l anj further by the convention, and therefore recommend, that said letter \<>- dismissed, ..ml the pei son treated with all oegli ct Bj order of tl mil JOS1 I'll HENSH \w ' 043 WORCESTER CONVENTION. Voted, To take notice of Mr. Sheriff Chandler, for carrying an address to Governor Cage, and that a committee wait on him, and request his attend- ance before this body, forthwith. J'oted, That Doct. Dimsmore, Mr. Drury, and Mr. Clapp, be a committee to inform the sheriff of this vote of the convention respecting his conduct. Mr. Sheriff came in, and presented the following declaration, which was accepted : Whereas, the convention of committees have expressed their uneasiness to the sheriff of this county, now present before the convention, for pre- senting, with others, an address to Governor Gage, he frankly declares it was precipitately done by him : that he is sorry for it : and disclaims an in- tention to do any thing against the minds of the inhabitants of this county : and, had he known it would have given offence, he would not have present- ed said address. GARDINER CHANDLER. Resolved, That as the ordinary courts of justice will be stayed, in conse- quence of the late arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British parliament, we would earnestly recommend to every inhabitant of this county, to pay his just debts, as soon as possible, without any dispute or litigation, " and if any disputes concerning debts or trespasses should arise, which cannot be settled by the parties, we recommend it to them to submit ail such causes to arbitration ; and if the parties, or either of them, shall refuse to do so, they ought to be considered as co-operating with the enemies of the coun- try. The committee on instructions submitted their report, which was accept- ed, and is as follows : Resolved, That it be recommended to the several towns and districts, that they instruct their representatives, who may be chosen to meet at Salem, in October next, absolutely to refuse to be sworn by any officer or officers, but such as are or may be appointed according to the constitution, or to act as one branch of the legislature in concert with any others, except such as are, or may be appointed, according to the charter of this province : and that they refuse to give their attendance at Roston, while the town is invested with troops and ships of war : and should there be any thing to prevent their acting with such a governor and council as is expressly set forth in the charter, that they immediately repair to the town of Concord, and there join in a provincial congress, with such other members as are or maybe chosen for thai purpose, to act and determine on such measures as they shall judge to be proper to extricate this colony out of the present unhap- py circumstances. Voted, That it be again recommended to the several towns and districts in this county, thai they provide themselves immediately with one or more field pieces, mounted and fitted for use, and also, a sufficient quantity of \\< MCESTER i I »\\ EN I i< »\ ammunition for the same, and thai tl men, out of ive companies, to m W hercas, the pi ople <>r this count) are under purchase an) goods imported fro i < .' I H il gust, 1774, which the) determi . .Il_\ !•• adl l our n grievances \«- redressed, thi f, thai it l»- rec we do earnest!) recommend it to mmittei lectmt 11. in ■ on tow ns in this p '" be appointed, commiti the imports that ho be made, since the last dn) o \ ch in iho ] S. ^ ~ t . . i ! newspapers, with the names of the im| fully .-iMiid all such - in our dealings for the futu / oU K To ch •• d standing tittee for the c it'.. >nd with the committees of correspondence for the several coui ;t> they Bhall think proper; also, t-> prep ter t" la) before this 1»>.1\ at their several meetings ; to give th< earliest iutell ral <-i>ni- mittees of an) nev» attack upon th< liberties of the people, and call ;i count) congressional convention at an) time, as occasion ma) require. / ott I. Thai the committees of correspondence for the towns of \\ ter and Leicesti r, be a committee for the above purpose, and thai M Thomas Denny, Joseph Henshaw, and Joshua Bigelow, I" added to the committee. \ ■ sei iments in this county ore large and inconvenient, b) the increase of its inhabitants since the first settlement of said n VoU I, that the county be divided into seven distinct regiments, in 1 1 »« - follow ing manner, to \\ it : I — Wore I ster, Holden, Spencer, Paxton. m, < > cford, Sturbridge, < Jharlton, Dudley. Th Lai rter, Bolton, Harvard, Lunenburg, Leominster, Fitchh Asbburnham, W< rtminster. / 'ourlh — Itrooktit'lil. Western, Braintree, Hard wick, Oakham. / ■//<— Rut lam I, Hutchinson, Petersham, Athol, Templeton, Wiuchendon, I; alston, I [ubardston, Princeton. Sixth — Southborough, Westborougb, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Grafton. nth — Mendon, Uxbridge, Northbridge, I pton, Dou Vol ly That it be recommended to the several towns in this county, to choose proper militar) officers, and ;i sufficient number for each town, and thai the captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, who are chosen b) the p each regiment, do convene, on or before the tenth da) of Octobei e ■ convenient place in each regiment, and choose th< ir fit Id n in I the militia until the) !"• constitutional!) appointed, and thai it b recommended t" the officers in each ti>\\n of the county, t" enlisl one third of the men of their respective tow us, betw< en sixteen and Bixt) to l»' read) t" acl ai a minute's warning; and thai ii I"' recommended to • town in the county, to choose :i sufficient number of nun ae o co nmitl Buppl) :in>r troops tli:it .-kill move on an) emergency. 044 WORCESTER CONVENTION. Voted, That it be recommended to the company officers of the minute men, to meet at Worcester, on the 17th of October next, at ten o'clock of the forenoon, to proportion their own regiments, and choose as many field officers as they shall think necessary. Voted, That it be recommended to the justices of the county, that they liberate any persons confined in jail for debt, who are entitled to such liber- ation by the laws of the province. Voted, That Capt. Joseph Henshaw, Colonel Thomas Denny, and Capt. Willard Moore, be a committee to present the following remonstrance, in behalf of this convention, to his Excellency General Gage. To his Excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., fyc. fyc. The people of the county of Worcester, being earnestly solicitous for the peace and welfare of the province in general, cannot view the measures now pursuing by your excellency, but with increasing jealousy, as they appre- hend there has not existed, and docs not at present exist, any just occasion for the formidable hostile preparations making on the neck leading to our distressed capital. It is a matter of such notoriety, that your excellency must be sensible, there was not the least opposition made to obstruct the introduction of the king's troops at their first landing, nor have the people, since that time, dis- covered any intention to disturb them, till your excellency was pleased to order the seizure of the powder in the arsenal at Charlestown, in a private manner, which occasioned the report that a skirmish had happened between a party of the king's troops and the people at Cambridge, in which several of the latter fell. This caused the people to form and march from divers parts of the country ; but no sooner had the report proved false, than they returned peaceably to then homes. The inhabitants of the province in general, and of the town of Boston, have never given cause for those cruel and arbitrary acts, for blockading their har- bor and subverting the charter by altering the civil government of the prov- ince, which, however, this people are determined, by the divine favor, never to submit to, but with their lives, notwithstanding they are aggrieved at the king's displeasure against them, through the instigation of traitorous and de- signing men. This county finds it difficult to comprehend the motives for the present hostile parade, unless it be in consequence of some preconcerted plan to subject the already distressed town of Boston to mean compliances or mili- tary contributions. They are equally at a loss to account for your excellen- cy's conduct towards the county of Suffolk, a> in your answer to their ad- dress, remonstrating against fortifying the only avenue to the town, which, by that means, may, in some future time, ]»• improved to cut off the commu- nication between town and country, and thereby reduce the miserable in- habitants to the greatesl straits; your excellency is pleased in answer to ob- serve, that you had not made it easier to effect this, than what nature has WORCESTER < I >\\ l.\ I i< »\ made it ; ii" bo, the count) cannot conceive, wh) tin- exp< i of the town to no purpose ; your excellency islikev tice of tip- general ; »r ofth< t at the over that part complaining ->i" • n of private pn ceed to answei b) wa) ofi which you would reply. This count} are i rve, the) apprehend the people jut 1>!<- in providing for their own d< while the) understood then 1 • - t'"- neck without examination, ti, m at the nortl Bpiked up, and man) pi irched, v mmunilion were Buspected to be, and if found, seized ; y< peopli d of- fensively, nor discovi red •"■ I the county apprehends tin It i> n itli g er in the oflici ra of the customs Bpectiug tin of fuel, destined for the use of the in ha I B Moo, who are obliged to have it with the additional c .1 relad- ing at Salem, lx ed; when your excellency must be sensible, the a>-t. which Ls the professed rule of i onduct, expressl) exc< pts fuel I victuals, which may be brought 1 n by taking on board ■ or more officers, without the aforesaid charge, while that destined forthi - pro- ceeds direct, free from th I are many other things whicb tremel) bard on the inhabitants, while they are prohibited from transport- ing the smallest articles from one part of the town t<« another, water-b without danger of a seizure, or to l<-\ hay, cattle, roni an) of the islands, notwithstanding then f transportation. i leucj . v hend, must ha\ 1 of the character of i eitiier I mission I . \n itli the l boit) to find the execution of tli than was intended, unless the thought too leni< itO tin- !■ Dnou li' I -W illi.iin ; - for a further reinforci ment of ti sli other concui Btrongl) indi( ome dan Jtl) excited in the n of the people, apprehensions of the most alarming nature, and the authors must be held accountable i<>r all the l»l* ■« >*l and ram. le in co quence thereof Therefore, this county, in < 1 1 1 1 \ to God, their country, themselves, and posterity, do re n ! earnestl) desire your ex- cellency, as you regard I fthe king, and tin- p the province, to desist from an) further hostile pn the ; b) levelling the entrenchnu dismantling the fortifications, which will have a tendenc) t>> Batisf) di< h I re- store that confident i nti J to their quiet, and his m B) ord( r of the convention of committees for ih>' count) ol w JOSEPH HENSH Ul\ ' Attest, Wn.i. i \m Ili.-.-p i . ( 646 WORCESTER CONVENTION. Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to the first Tuesday of December next, at 10 o'clock, of* the forenoon, to meet at the court house in Worcester. December G, 1774. The convention of committees met according to adjournment, and after prayer by the Rev. Mr. Maccarty, proceeded to business. The committee appointed to present the remonstrance to General Cage, reported, that they offered the same to Mr. Secretary Thicker, who kept the address some days, and returned it to them, with the following answer: .Boston, Oct. 6, 1774. Gentlemen : — His excellency the governor is ever ready to receive any address of his majesty's subjects, properly laid before him; but that from the county of Worcester, which you were appointed to present, not being directed to him as governor of the province, and there being an article in it injurious to his majesty, the governor declines receiving it at present, as he wishes to have an alteration in those two points before it is presented. I am, Gentlemen, your humble servant, THOMAS FLUCKER. To Messrs. Thomas Denny, Joseph Herniate, Willard Moore. The committee being afterwards informed, that if the address were direct- ed to General Gage, with his official titles, it would be received, they waited on the governor, on Friday, October 14th, and presented the address, en- titled as follows : " To his Excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., Governor of his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and Commander in Chief of the King's forces in North America" The governor returned the following answer to the same : Gentlemen : — 1 have repeatedly given the strongest assurances, that I intended nothing hostile against the town or country, and therefore, desire you to ease the minds of the people against any reports that may have been industriously spread amongst them to the contrary; my wish is to preserve peace and tranquillity. With respect to the execution of the port-bill, it is a matter belonging to other departments; and if any thing is done not warranted by said act, the law is open for redress. THOMAS GAGE. Voted, To request the Provincial Congress to establish the Norfolk exer- cise, with such alterations as they shall think proper, instead of the exercise of 1764. \\<>K< ESTEB i i >NVENTH .\ i i: f'ottil. To recommend the i an artillery companj in this eouni exercise and manag( tin- fit Id \ d thai ll thnt purpose in eacb town, meel on the l request tl the Provincial ( ougress, what measun ..all take in tbat at- fair.i / ,,!■ I . committi e <>r nine pei the field officers of the count} of Worci ster, to know the reason whj they have not resigned their commissions i" th< governor, and published resignation in the Boston newspapi i ablj t" a vote of this conv< ution at a former meeting, and demand a categorical answer, whedier thej "ill compl) or not with said requisition, and make report t'" this bodj al their lllWt III. . Ill Capl Gates, Capt Timothj Bigelow, Mr. Joshua Bigelow, Major Willard M e, Col Sawyer, Mr. Dodge, Capt Joseph Gilbert, and Mr, Hezekiah Ward, were chosen a committee for the above piu*pi / ,,/ ', That it be recommended to the inhabitants of each town in county, to i mmittces of inspection to carry into ■ and proceedings of the < lontinental I II, ,t we will . ncourage a | rinti to be set up in this coun- imend t<> ever) town herein, to give all pr< to such undertaking. I Timothj Bigelow, Mr. Jo hua Bigelow, and Will ■ 648 WORCESTER CONVENTION. Henshaw, be a committee to consult with Mr. Isaiah Thomas, and endeavor to procure a printing office to be set up. Voted, That the convention be adjourned, to meet on the 2Gth of January next, at ten o'clock, A. M., at Worcester, at the court house. January 26, 1774. The convention met at the court house in Worcester. In the absence of the chairman, Col. Artemas Ward was chosen chairman pro tempore. Voted, That Col. William Henshsw, Col. Ward, Mr. David Bancroft, Capt. Timothy Bigelovv, Doct. Dunsmoie, Mr. Longley, Capt. Job Gushing, Capt. Page, and Col. Sparhawk, be a committee to take into consideration a plan for this county to adopt respecting the non-consumption covenants of the Continental and Provincial Congress, and to report thereon. Voted, That it be recommended to the selectmen in each town and dis- trict in the county, to insert in the warrants for the next March meetings, an article to choose a county treasurer agreeably to law. Voted, To adjourn till to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock, A. M. Jammry 27, 1774. The convention met according to adjournment. The committee chosen yesterday, being ready to report, Voted, That the convention sit with closed doors, during the disputes on the covenants. The committee on the covenant reported as follows : Resolved, That it be recommended to the inhabitants of this county that have not signed this or a similar covenant, that they do it as soon as may be with convenience. The covenant is as follows : We, the subscribers, having seen the association and covenant drawn up by the grand Continental Congress, respecting the non-importation, non- consumption, and non-exportation of goods, signed by our delegates, and also the delegates of the other colonies on the continent, and also the addi- tion thereto, made by the delegates in Provincial Congress, dated Cambridge, December 5, 1774, for carrying into execution the said association, and hav- ing attentively considered, di> heartily approve of said association, and the addition, and of every part thereof; and in order to make the same associa- tion our own personal act, we do, by these presents, associate under the sa- cred ties of virtue, honor, and love of our country, strictly to observe and keep all and every article and clause in said association, and addition con- tained with reaped to the importation, exportation, and consumption, ac- cording to the true intent, meaning, and letter thereof, and will duly inform, and give notice of everj evasion or contravention of said agreement, so far as we are able. All and everj of which clauses aforesaid, to remain firm WORCESTER CON\ EN l U I and in force until overruled bj b continental and provincial i -i mbli 'l. The above was accepted bj the convention, and signed b) tl thereof / That Col. Ward, Capt. Newhall, and Col. H i commi to wail "ii the Rev. Mr. Pish, and d< sire him to preach the convention, at die nexi me e, t'> wait upon the Rev. Mr Paine, for thai |" ' rhal Mr. < 'hail man, Mr. J nd Mr. I n> wait on the Rev. Mr. Mac make pro\ ision for the reveroi aiL / 'oted, Thai < 'o\ \\ ard, < 'apl Bigeli I \\ :< ■ I Capt Newhall, \«- a commitl u the w innbolders, retailers, and p< |uors without a licei / , To adjourn t" three o'clock, P. M. The convention mel according to adjournn ed, Thai Col. Ward. Doct Dunsmore, C pt Bigelow, Wil I Bhaw, Capt. Willard, Capl Fay, and Capl Newhall be a committee to take into consideration, the conduct of certain pi nimical to their country. Their reporl thereon was made, accepted, and is as follows: \\ bereas, the convention <>!' committci s forthc count] of \\ did, nn the 31sl of August, 177 I. n solve; thai il ..-Ii inn- holders and retailers in said county, w I e approbated by tl men in their respective towns, to continue and i dieir n functions, provided the] stricd] adhere t<> the laws oftl ing innbolders and retailers, and it was the uvention, dial do pi i -.in or persons, oughi to Bell spirituous liquors in said county, I" I are, or shall be approbated b] the selectmen of their resj districts: and as complaint has been made to the convention now sitting, thai a number of persons in this count] do practise the .-■ Uing strong liquors without the approbation as aforesaid, which i- nol onl) counteracting a re solve of said convention, !>ui La againsl the law of the provini fdan gerous consequence, and hasatendenc] to corrupl the morals of the peopli for preventing the same, and promoting peace and ■-<<'»{ ord< r, it is /.' "/, that ii be recommended n> the committees of correspondence, int and selectmen in ever] town and districi in this county, carefully t<> inquire into Bucb illegal practices, and disorders, and ool onlj discountenance, bui disc age and put a final stop n> Bucb breaches ofg I ord< i : but, provid nj person will nol be reclaimed, he <>r the] < >uulit to be beld u|> to the public view, and treated nol only with neglect, bui contempt, as enemi tin- public as well as of private good, until the] reform. \nd, when I c Jones of Weston, in the count] of Middlesex, inn holder and trader, baa, bj his conduct of late •■ s, in various ii 82 650 WORCESTER CONVENTION. manifested a disposition inimical to the rights and privileges of his country- men : therefore, Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to all the inhabitants of this county, not to have any commercial connections with said Isaac Jones, but to shun bis house and person, and treat him with that contempt he deserves : and should any persons in this county be so lost to a sense of their duty, after this recommendation, as to have any commercial connections or deal- ings with said Jones, we do advise the inhabitants of this county to treat such persons with the utmost neglect. Voted, That Mr. Willard Moore, Mr. Nathaniel Longley, and Capt. Wil- liam Page, be a committee to take under consideration a motion made re- specting Messrs. Mills and Hicks, and Draper's newspapers, who made re- port, which was accepted, as follows : Whereas, the enemies of these united colonies are indefatigable in their endeavors to create divisions among the inhabitants, and as there are seve- ral printers on the continent, viz. : Rivington and Gaines of New York, Diaper, Mills and Hicks of Boston, that incessantly assist them in their en- deavors, by publishing their scandalous performances in their several news- papers : therefore, Resolved, That it be recommended to the good people of this county, not to take any more of the aforesaid papers, but that they encourage those printers who have invariably appeared friendly to the country. Voted, That Col. Ward, Capt. Newhall, Capt. Page, Capt. Bigelow, and Major Moore, be a committee to take the affairs of trade into consideration, and to remonstrate against riots and routs. The report of this committee was accepted, and is as follows : Resolved, That it be strongly recommended by this body to the commit- tees of inspection in the several towns in this county, that they be very as- siduous in the discharge of the trust reposed in them, with respect to trade; to see that all traders keep strictly to the rules laid down by the Continen- tal and Provincial Congress : and also, that they make strict inquiry of eve- ry person that purchases goods abroad, who they trade with, and when the goods were imported ; and that it be also recommended to the inhabitants oi this county, w henever they purchase goods as abovesaid, that they be very careful not to break covenant: and that they take bills of parcels of everj article, and lav the same before the committee for their inspection, thai no person may be imposed upon by those villains that are inimical to the cause of liberty. Whereas, we aie fully sensible that our enemies are assiduously endeav- oring to provoke US to acts of violence, not only with those whom we esteem inimical to our liberties, who are natives of this province, but also with General Gage, and the king's troops; endeavoring thereby, as we ap- prehend, to exci ed the hounds of our patience, that they may have a pre- tence to represent us as the aggressors: therefore, WORCESTER CON\ ENTION U5I Res o lved , That we in diposed to conduct ourselves in a friendl) towards his majesty's troopi ibly i" the recommendation of the • tinental Congrt B8, bo long as the) behave peaceabl) towards Rejoiced, That it be recommended to the inhabitants of th - very careful in discountenancing and suppressing .-ill acts of violi cepi bo much as is necessar) tocarrj the resolves of the Continental and Provincial Congress into execution; and being full) convinced of the jus- dee of our cause, we are determined firmlj and religious]) to support and maintain our rights, even to tiu \ tw Inks and fortunst, before we «ill dastard!) and impiousl) ^ r i \ ■ • up and lubmil loan arbitral") power. Feted, Thai the standing committee fit and prepare the vol Bolvee of the convention for the press, and get such a number of hand- bills, containing the ^.nut •. struck off as the) shall think proper, for circula- tion. / "<■ ■'. To adjourn i>> the twenty-eighth da) <>t" March next, to m* o'clock, A. ML at tin- court house in Wore* ster. M mi. ii 28, 1775. The convention mel according to adjournment I •'../, Thai the Rev. .Mr. Chaplain be requested to open this convention s\ ith piB) ii'. ed, Thai the convention do now proceed to the meeting house, to tend the sermon b) the Rev. Blisha Fish, and the other exen is The convention being again mel in the afternoon : Voted, Thai the thanks of the convention be presented t" the Rev. U Pish, for the discourse preached before tbem, and thai the standing commit- tee wail upon him and request a copy thereof for the pn I Thai the standing committee print as man) copies of Baid die course as the) judge tit, for circulation. Mai ::i. Vt The convention mel according to adjournment, ai the couri house, in \\ oro Bter. .Mr. William Young was elected chairman pro tempore, and Jeduthan Baldvt in clerk pro tempore. Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Chaplain be desired to open this convention with prayer. / . Co pae over counting the votes for county treasurer. Voted, That Col. Hezekiah Ward, Mr. Padleford, and Mr. Josli B be a committee to draw up a remonstrance to the Provincial Co do man be allowed to bave a seal therein who does noi vote awa) hia mone) for public purposes, in < imon with the other members, and with his i onstituents. /,' tolved, Thai a committee be appointed, to take into coi - •' subject of allowing those who are inimical to the country, to exci right of voting in tovi n meeting Resolved, That the erecting of a paper mill in ibis count) would '•• great public advantage; and if an) person or persons will undertake the 652 BERKSHIRE CONVENTION. erecting of such mill and the manufacture of paper, that it be recommend- ed to the people of the county to encourage the undertaking by generous contributions and subscriptions.! CONVENTION OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY. At a meeting of sixty gentlemen, deputies of the several towns in the county of Berkshire, appointed to consult and advise what was necessary and prudent to be done by the inhabitants of this county, in the present alarm- ing situation of our public affairs, met at Stockhridge, July 6th, 1774 : John Ashley, Esq. was unanimously chosen chairman, and Mr. Theodore Sedgwick, clerk. Mr. Williams, Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Hopkins, being appointed, reported the following resolves, viz. : Resolved, That king George the third is our rightful king, and that we will bear true allegiance to him. Resolved, That the inhabitants of his majesty's colonies in America, are justly entitled to all the rights and liberties that the inhabitants of Great Britain are entitled to, which rights and liberties have been particularly con- firmed to the inhabitants of this province, by charter. Resolved, That it is one of the grand rights and liberties of said inhabi- tants of Great Britain, that they cannot, constitutionally, be deprived of their property but by their own consent. Resolved, That the late act of the British parliament, for giving and grant- ing to his majesty, a duty upon all teas imported from Great Britain into America, Avhich duty, by said act, is made payable here, for the purpose of raising a revenue, was made without the consent of the inhabitants of America, whereby their property is taken from them without their con- sent, and therefore ought to be opposed in all legal and prudent ways. Resolved, That it is an undoubted right of the inhabitants of said colonies, in all actions, to be tried by their peers of the vicinity; and, therefore, that all those acts of the British parliament, that any way respect the collecting the duties aforesaid, whereby the trial by jury is taken away, or whereby the ancient trial by jury is in any way altered, are unconstitutional and op- pressive. Resolved, That whenever any franchises and liberties are granted to a cor- poration or body politic, those franchises and liberties cannot legally be ta- ken from such corporations and bodies politic, but by their consent or by forfeiture : that the inhabitants of this province have many great and inval- uable franchises and liberties granted to them by charier; which franchises (1) Although meetings of the Worcester County Convention were held at a Inter date, no regular journal of tho subsequent proceedings em be recovered. BERKSHIRE < <»w ENTION ami liberties have not been forfeited or resigned bj said inhal that l.\ the late acts of the British parliament, some of tbe most val those franchises aud liberties of the said inhabitai taken from thein, withoul even the form of a trial : tin n fore, /.' '.'That it i-> the indispensable duty of ever] person, who w< preserve to bimself and posterirj the inestimable I » i < — p liberty, bj all constitutional ways and means in bis power, to endeavor t" avert tbe much dreaded consequences of these arbitrarj and oppressive 1 that, for that purpose, it is prudent for the inhabitants ur allegiance due t" tbe lung . ads t" promote the peace, g 1 order, and safetj of the community. Which said report being mature]] considered, it «:>- put to graph b) paragraph, and each and every paragraph thereof was unanimoi ly accepted \ committee being appointed to make a draught of a form of a solemn league and covenant, to be recommended t<> I d bj the inhabitants >>i this county", to prevent the consumption of the merchandize ot' Ureal Brit- ain ; the following draught was reported, viz : Whereas, tbe parliament of Great Britain have, of late, undertaken t" give and grant awaj our a ey, without our knowledge or cons* at ; and in order to i ompel us to a senile submission t" the aboi h iv. pi ceeded to block n|> the harbor >>t Hi »-t«ni ; al><> have vacated, or are about to vacate the charter, and repeal certain laws of this p enacted b) the general court, and confirmed b) the king and sore: therefore, as a mean t" obtain a speed) redress of the a ances, we do hereby, BolemnI) and in good faith, covenant and • ngag< with each other : 1. That we will not import, purchase, or consume, or suffer anj pei by, for, or under us, to import, purchase, or consume, in an) manner what- ever, any goods, wares, or m< rcbandize, which shall arrive in \ ca from Greal Britain, from and after the first da) of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, or such other time as shall hereafter be agreed upon by the American Congress; nor an) goods, which Bhall be ord< from the i, after this day, until our charter and constitutional right be restored, <>r until it Bhall be determined, b) the major | r d in this and the neighl consumpl at will i o a tend* or until it .shall be apparent that a non-importation < emeut will i into by the maj boring colonies \ such article: ' ■ America shall agree to import, purchase, and consul •j. We do further covenant and agree, that we will observ< rtrict 654 BERKSHIRE CONVENTION. obedience to all constitutional laws, and authority, and will, at all times, ex- ert ourselves to the utmost, for the discouragement of all licentiousness, and suppression of all mobs and riots. 3. We will all exert ourselves, as far as in us lies, in promoting love, peace, and unanimity among each other ; and for that end we engage to avoid all unnecessary lawsuits whatever. 4. As a strict and proper adherence to this present agreement will, if not seasonably provided against, involve us in many difficulties and inconven- iences ; we do promise and agree, that we will take the most prudent care for the raising and preserving sheep, for the manufacturing all such cloths as shall be most useful and necessary ; for the raising of flax and manufac- turing linens. Further, that we will, by every prudent method, endeavor to guard against all those inconveniences which may otherwise arise, from the foregoing agreement. 5. That if any person shall refuse to sign this or a similar covenant, or, after having signed it, shall not adhere to the real intent and meaning there- of, he or they shall be treated by us with all that neglect justly deserved. 6. That if this or a similar covenant shall, after the first day of August next, be offered to any trader or shop-keeper in this county, and he or they shall refuse to sign the same, for the space of forty-eight hours, that we will not, from thenceforth, purchase any articles of British manufactures, from him or them, until such time as he or they shall sign this or a similar cove- nant. Witness our hands, this day of July, Anno Domini, 1774. Which being several times distinctly read, it was put paragraph by para- graph, and accepted. This Congress, in deference to the resolves of the late house of represen- tatives, in imitation of the pious example of the reverend pastors of the as- sociated churches in the town of Boston, and from a sense of their depend- ence on God for every mercy, do earnestly recommend to all denomina- tions of christians in this county, to set apart and observe Thursday, the fourteen day of July current, as a day of public fasting and prayer, to im- plore the divine assistance, that he would in mercy interpose and avert all those evils with which we are threatened. And each and all the members of this Congress are enjoined to inform the several ministers of the several religious assemblies to which they be- long, hereof. Voted, That the several members of this Congress, do recommend to the charity of the inhabitants of the several towns and places to which they be- long, the distressed circumstances of the poor of the towns of Boston and Charleston n, and that whatever shall he rnlkricd lor them, be remitted in fat cattle in the next fall, by BUch ways and means as shall be hereafter agreed upon. Voted, unanimously, Thai thanks be given Col. Ashley, for his constant attendance, uprightness, and impartiality, as chairman. Votfrf, That the clerk be enjoined to make a fair copy of the proceedings CUMBERLAND I 0N\ EN I [ON of tliis meeting, and transmit 1 1 < « - same t-> the committee of nt' the town of Boston. Voted, To dissolve this meeting; ami ii wasdissoh rdingly. i ill 10DORE h.Im.u k u < N. 15. — The proceedings aforesaid were pn ceded bj an animati d made In the Rev. Mr. \\ m\\ ENTION OF CI Mm kiwi NTY. At a meeting of the following gentlemen, chosen bj the several towns in the county of Cumberland, held at Falmouth, in said county, on the 91st day of September, 177 1, at the bouse of Mrs, Grw le, \ iz. : Falmouth — Son. Enoch Freeman, Esq., Stephen Longfellow, Esq., Mr. Richard Codman, Capt John Waite, Mr. Enoch 11.-. y, Mr. Samuel Freeman. Scarborough — Capt Timothj McDaniel, Capt Reuben Fogg, Mr. Joshua Fab] an. .\''nth Yarmouth — Mr. Jolm Lewis, David Mitel,. I, Esq., .Mr. Jonathan Mitcbel, Mr. Jolm Gray. Mr. William Cutter. Gorham — Solomon Lombard, Esq., William Gorhain, I I pt Edmund Phinney, Capt Briani Morton, Mr. Joseph l>a\i-. Cupi Elizabeth — Doct Clement Jordan, Mr. Peter W Ibury, Mr. Samuel Dunn, Capt Jeduthan Dyer, Doct Nathaniel Jones, Mi G» Strout Brunswick — Mr. Samuel Thompson, Mr. Samuel Stanwood, Capt Th< Moulton. HarpsiocU — Mr. Joseph E wing, Capt John Stover, Mr, Andrew Dunning. Windham — Mr. Zerubabel Honeywell, Mr. Thomas Trott, Mr. David Bar- ker. New Gloucester — Mr. William Hani-, Mr. Isaac Parsoi The Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., was chosen chairman, and Mr. B nauel Freeman, clerk. A committee from the bod] of the people, who were assembled at the entrance' of the town, waited on this convention, if thej would choose a committee <>i" one member out of each town, to join them, to wait upon Mr. Sheriff Tyng, to see whether be would act in bis office, un- der the late art of parliament for regulating the government ' 'n a m mad.-, / oh'/, thai a messenger be sent t.> the >anl Sheriff Tyng, to desire In- attendance al this convention. A messenger then waited upon Mr. Tyng, with the following billet, viz.: Mr. Sheriff Tyng's company is desired at the convention nt' the county in .w Bitting at Mrs. < freelt '-. S \Mi EL FREEMAN I Wednesday, Sept. 214, 177 1. 1 1 o'clock, A .'/. 65G CUMBERLAND CONVENTION. Mr. Tyng accordingly attended, and, after some interrogations, subscribed the following declaration, viz. : County of Cumberland, Falmouth, Sept. 21, 1774. Whereas, great numbers of the inhabitants of this county are now as- sembled near my house, in consequence of the false representations of some evil minded persons, who have reported that I have endeavored, all in my power, to enforce the late acts of parliament, relating to this province : I do hereby solemnly declare, that I have not, in any way whatever, acted or endeavored to act, in conformity to said acts of parliament ; and, in com- pliance with the commands of the inhabitants so assembled, and by the ad- vice of a committee from the several towns in this county, now assembled in Congress, I further declare I will not, as sheriff of said county, or other- wise, act in conformity to, or by virtue of, said acts, unless by the general consent of the said county. I further declare, 1 have not received any com- mission inconsistent with the charter of this province, nor any commission whatever, since the first day of July last. WILLIAM TYNG. County of Cumberland. — At the convention of committees from the several towns in the said county, held at the house of Mrs. Greele, in Fal- mouth, in said county. September 21st, 1774, Voted, that the foregoing, by William Tyng, Esq., subscribed, is satisfactory to this convention. Attest: SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk. The convention then formed themselves into a committee, to accompany Mr. Tyng to the body of the people, to present the above declaration, and adjourned to the old town house, at three o'clock, P. 31., the deliberation to be in public. The committee accordingly went with Mr. Tyng, who read the declara- tion to the people, which they voted to be satisfactory, and after refreshing themselves, returned peaceably to their several homes. Afternoon. Met according to adjournment. Voted, That Mr. Samuel Freeman, Solomon Lombard, Esq., Stephen Longfellow, Esq , David Mitcbel, Esq., Mr. John Lewis, Capt. John Waite, Mr. Samuel Thompson, Capt. Timothy McDaniel, DocL Nathaniel Jones, Mr. Isuuc Parsons, Enoch Freeman, Esq., Mr. David Barker, and Capt. John Stover, be a committee to draw up the sentiments of this convention, and report the same at the adjournmi Qt Then adjourned to Thursday morning, eiyht o'clock, September 22. Thdesday, September 22, 1774. Met according t" adjournment, when the committee presented the follow- ing report, which, after being nail paragraph by paragraphias unanimous- l\ acce] t'ii, viz. : The great concern with which the people of this county view the incrcas- Cl MBERLAND I <»\\ EN riON. Serences, which m>w subsist between tin- motbei countrj sod ihi onies, and the dark prospect which some lat< the Bruit have, m particular, opened i- • them, bavi • herein to choose committees for ibis convention, "to r what i urea it would be thought expedient to adopt for tl il intei inty, in the preseut alarming situation of our public afl \\ fore, the said committees, pursuant to the req tive towt guided b) a strong attachment t'> tin- interest of our oppn I count think it proper, with reaped and deference i" our brethren in the »tl counties, to make known our minds a- t"ll" We think it the indispensable dutj ofeverj Bubjeci of th< I sh < - "n- Btitution, for his own - well as thatoffutun - utmosl care, and endeavor, according to ti in, i" preserve the -.inn; inviolate ami unimpaired ; foi wt onlj a- the foundation of all our civil rights and liberties, but i amenttl ^1- culated to promote tbe people's peace and happiness : and we lament, that in tin- presenl administration, there an- men -■> l"-t t" all the principles of honor, equity, and justice, as to attempt a violation of the rights which we ha long enjoyed, ami which, while we profess bui do, faithful subjects to G tin- third, our rightful righl Still i<> enjoy entire ami unmolested : ami it i- a melancbolj tinii, that the acknowledged head of tin- respi t< .1 si t< should Ik- induct >l to pass In- sanction to Mali law- a- tend t" tin- subversion of that glorio freedom, which preserves tin- greatness of the British empire, and gives it reputation throughout all tin- nations of the civilized world. I' nut, that tin- British ministrj have long been batching monstro to break our constitution, and .-mm- the) have at length brought forth. ^ • think tin- colonies des< rve a better treatment from his majest) than i which be assents to W< are bis loyal subjects, and merit hi.- regard, and cannot help thinking that if*he would pursue his own unbiass* >l jud ami lay aside tin- selfish counsel of wicked ami designing men, In- anil his subjects would be mutual!} happy, and provocations on both Bides Bui since the ministrj liave borne their tyrannj in bucIi a length, as t" endeavor t" execute their wicked designs, bj military force, i ir n tropolia, we fear ii is their aim to introduce despotic monarchy, lint though their tyrannj and fell oppression seem now, with hast) sti threaten all the colonies with ruin and destruction, we hope no vi i will affright, or wiles allure us n> lim- up ourdi ar bought lib* 1 1_\ , th..t cho - boon of Heaven, which our fathers came into i> ind which we therefore will retain while liii- i nables us I glc for it inj-. We believe our enemies supposed we must submit, and I up all our rights. It is true, a vigorous opposition will subject us n> m inconveniences, bui bow much greater will our miser) be, il all we now enjoy, and laj our future earnings at the mere) ofd men; W< cat t bear the thought. Distant posteritj woidd have I ret our folly, and tbe rising g< ncration would justly ■ ne< G58 CUMBERLAND CONVENTION. ory. We, therefore, recommend a manly opposition to those cruel acts, and every measure which despotism can invent to ahridge our English lib- erties, and we hope that patience will possess our souls till Providence shall dissipate the gloomy cloud, and restore us to our former happy state. The late act for regulating the government of this province, we consider, in particular, as big with mischief and destruction, tending to the subversion of our charter and our province laws, and in its dire example, alarming to all the colonies. This, through the conduct of some enemies among our- selves, will soon bring us into difficulties, which will require some able counsel to remove. We therefore recommend to each town in this county, to instruct their several representatives to resolve themselves, with the other members of the house, at their approaching session, into a provincial congress, for this purpose. To this congress we shall submit the general interest of the province, but for the particular benefit of this county, we do advise and recommend : 1. That the justices of the sessions, and court of common pleas, and every other civil officer in this county, whom no authority can remove but that which constituted them, agreeably to charter and our own provincial laws, would religiously officiate in their several departments, as if the afore- said act had never been invented, and that every private person would pay a strict obedience to such officers, be always ready to protect and to sup- port them, and promote a due observance of our own established laws ; and if any persons whatsoever should, henceforth, in any manner, dare to aid the operation of the said tyrannical act, they should be considered as ma- lignant enemies to our charter rights, unfit for civil society, and undeserving of the least regard or favor from their fellow countrymen. 2. That every one should do his utmost to discourage lawsuits, and like- wise compromise disputes as much as possible. 3. That it be recommended to the honorable Jeremiah Powell, Esq., and Jedediah Preble, Esq., constitutional councillors of this province, residing in this county, that they should take their places at the board the ensuing session as usual. 4. We cannot but approve of the recommendation given by the convention of Suffolk county, to the several collectors of province taxes, not to pay one farthing more into the province treasury, until the government of the prov- ince is placed on a constitutional foundation, or until the Provincial Con- gress shall order otherwise, and we recommend the same to the several col- lectors in this county ; but we think it the duty of the several collectors of county, town, and district taxes, to perfect their collections, and pay the same into then- several treasuries as soon as possible. And here we think it proper to observe, that though we do not coincide in every in- stance with our Suffolk brethren, which may be owing to a want of know- ing all the circumstances of affairs, yet we highly applaud their virtuous zeal and determined resolution. 5. We recommend to every town in this county, charitably to contribute to the relief of our suffering brethren in our distressed metropolis. t l MBERLAND CON\ ENTK >N • i. Lest oppression, which maketh even wise men i ould In Borne people into tumults and disorders, we would recommend, ti. individual in the count] use hia best eudeavore to anp it all ti riots, mobs, and (ill licentiousness, and that oar fellow subjects would skier themselves, as the] always are, in the presence of thi G *fho loveth order, nol confusion. 7. Thai when s general non-importation a g r eem ent takes plea ihall look ii|hiii u to l"- the duty of ever) y onde r of inerchandba I his u Is at ill'- |'n -.hi rates; and if an] person shall axhorbttantl) enhance the prices of bis ir< »< »< 1 -, we shall h">k upon him a- an • • § »| • • i Ins country. And in order n> prevent imposition in tliia respect, wi recom- mend that a committee l»- chosen in each town, to against an] who ma] be to blame herein : and if he shall refusi to wait on such committee, on notice given, or be found culpable in thia t, bia name shall be published in the several towna <>t" the county, as undesi rving of the future custom of bia countrymen. 8. Thai ever] one \\ln> has it in bia power, would improve our breed of sheep, and, as far as possible, increase their number; and also encourage the raising of flax, and promote the manufactures of the country. 9. As the ver] extraordinary and alarming acl for establishing the tt man catholic religion, and French laws, in Canada, may introduce the French or Indians into our frontier towns, we recommend thai ever] i"»n and individual in this county, should \x- provided with a proper stock of militar] stores, according to our province law, and thai some patriotic mili- tary officers be chosen in each town, to exercise their ■•<\>r:il compa and make them perfect in the militar] art 10. Our general grievances being the Bubject oi deliberation before the Continental Congress, renders il inexpedient to consider them particular!] : on their wisdom we have a greal dependence, and we think it will 1* our dutj to la] aside ever) measure to which we have advised, that maj h riant from theirs, and pa) a due regard t" their result. A in I now we think it propi r to declare, thai aa we have been n counting tin- hardships we endure In the machinations '>f our enemies at home, we cannot but gratefully acknowledge our obligation t<> th<>-.- illustrious wor- thies, our friends of the minority, who constant!) opposed those wicked measures, and would heartily wish, some greal and good turn would invent and mark out Borne plan that will unite the parenl Btate to thi ae, its colo Dies, and thereb] prevenl the effusion of christian blood. Then, Voted, Thai ever] member of this convention be several!) inlet gated, whether he novi has, or will hereafter, take an) commission under the present act of parliament, for regulating Ibe government of thia prov- i i n"< • . The members were accordingly interrogated, and each and ever) one of them answered in the negative. Voted, That tin- several committees which compose this convention the major pan of each, be, and bereb] are, desired t" interrogate the civil (360 CUMBERLAND CONVENTION. officers, and other persons whom they may think fit, in their respective towns, whether they now have, or will hereafter take, any commission un- der the aforesaid act. Voted, That the whole proceedings of this convention be, by the clerk, transmitted to the press, and also to the town clerks of the respective towns in this county, as soon as may be. Voted, That this convention be continued, and that the committee of Fal- mouth, or the major part of them, be, and hereby are empowered, on any occasion that in their opinion requires it, to notify a meeting of the dele- gates thereof, at such time and place as they may think proper, setting forth the occasion thereof. Voted, That the thanks of this convention be given to the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., for his faithful services as chairman. SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk. \ \ R R \ 'I' I \ ES E X CI R. S ION OF THE KIM. S TROOP \ l' l; I i i i, i In Proi in. i vi I \\ .. M » | ■_•.'. i; /.'• liiat the following narrative of the excursion and fthe king's troops, under the command of General Gage, on tin- nineteenth of April last, together with the depositions taken bj order of the < support the truth ofit, In- sent t<» the press for publication. B \MI II. 1 K I I.M \Y - n/. A NARRATIVE OF Till EXCURSION AND RAVAI hi m I N|.| K Mil I nMMANIi 01 GENERAL (m.,1. OB TBQ N Mil 01 \ in i , IT ' ETHER « i i ii i ill DEPOSITIONS i \M n i \ ORDER Ol CONQREG ro 8UPPOR1 rHE TRUTH Ol I i . PUBLISHED B1 lUTHORI (in the nineteenth daj of Ipril, one thousand seven hundn enty- five, a daj to be remembered bj all Americans "t the present generation, and which ought, and doubtless w ill be handed downtoagi a y< i unborn, tin- troops of Britain, unprovoked, Bhed the blood ofeundrj <>i' the l"_\al Am. ri- can subjects of the British king in the field of Lexington. Earl] in the morning of said day, a detacbmenl of the forces under the command of General Gage, stationed B ton, attacked a -mall part] of the inhabitants of Lexington and some other towns adjacent, the detacbmenl consistio about nine hundred men, co landed b) Lieutcnani Colonel Smith: I inhabitants of Lexington and the other town about one bundr with and some without fire-arms, who had collected upon information thai the detachment bad Been tl] marched from Boston the pre© dii landed on Phipps's Farm in< !ambridge,and wen proceeding on tiicir way with a brisk pace towards Concord, as the inhabitants supposed, to take or di a quantit) of stores d< posited there for the use of the colon] : sundrj |- (1) Thii MirmtiTi - " ■ ■ i Thomas, 662 EXCURSION OF THE KINGS TROOPS. [April 19, able inhabitants having the same night been taken, held by force, and other- wise abused on the road, by some officers of General Gage's army, which caused a just alarm, and a suspicion that some fatal design was immediate- ly to be put in execution against them. This small party of the inhabitants were so far from being disposed to commit hostilities against the troops of their sovereign, that unless attacked, they were determined to be peaceable spectators of this extraordinary movement ; immediately on the approach of Colonel Smith with the detachment under his command, they dispersed ; but the detachment, seeming to thirst for blood, wantonly rushed on, and first began the hostile scene by firing on this small party, by which they killed eight men on the spot and wounded several others before any guns were fired upon the troops by our men. Not contented with this effusion of blood, as if malice had occupied their whole souls, they continued the fire, until all of this small party who escaped the dismal carnage were out of the reach of their fire. Colonel Smith, with the detachment, then proceeded to Concord, where a part of this detachment again made the first fire upon some of the inhabitants of Concord and the adjacent towns, who were col- lected at a bridge upon this just alarm, and killed two of them and wounded several others, before any of the provincials there had done one hostile act. Then the provincials, roused with zeal for the liberties of their country, find- ing life and every thing dear and valuable at stake, assumed their native val- or and returned the fire, and the engagement on both sides began. Soon after, the British troops retreated towards Charlestown, having first commit- ted violence and waste on public and private property, and on their retreat were joined by another detachment of General Gage's troops, consisting of about a thousand men, under the command of Earl Percy, who continued the retreat ; the engagement lasted through the day ; and many were killed and wounded on each side, though the loss on the part of the British troops far exceeded that of the provincials. The devastation committed by the British troops on their retreat, the whole of the way from Concord to Charlestown, is almost beyond description ; such as plundering and burning of dwelling-houses and other buildings, driving into the street women in child-bed, killing old men in their houses unarmed. Such scenes of desolation would be a reproach to the perpetrators, even if committed by the most bar- barous nations, how much more when done by Britons famed for humanity and tenderness: And all this because these colonies will not submit to the iron yoke of arbitrary power. The follounng drpositioyis ivere taken and authenticated as sooji as possible afler the action, to prove and elucidate the truth of facts relative thereto, We, Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring, and Elijah Sanderson, all of lawful age, and of Lexington, in the count] of Middlesex and colony of the Massa- chusetts Bay, in N<\v England, do testify and declare, that on the evenin»- of the eighteenth of April, instant, being on the road between Lexington and Concord, and all of us mounted on horses, we were, about ten of the clock, 1775.] r.v i i;>l< >\ OF THE KING - TROOPS suddenl] surprized bj tune persona, whom we t>>.>k n> be reguhu who rode up to us, mount) >l and armed, each holding ■ |>i*n>l in 1 and after putting piatob to out brents, and seizing tin- Inn I the) swore, thai it we Btirred another step we Bhould In- all dead men, which we *ui endered ourselves. I bj detained us until two o'clock the next morning, in which time the] Marched and greet!) ai wing first inquired aboui the magazine at Concord, whether an) guard* were posted there, and whether the bridges m re u|> ; end said four or I ments of regulara would i»- in p..--. . — : • ■ i * of tin.- -(• d; thej then hroughi ui back t" Lexington, cut the la>i. -<■«,' in nil. ■>, an. turned tin oa loose, and then l< fl us> Bsowk, J llllO I ...|.|M., I i , J. Lexington, ipril 25th, I '• ' VIlDDLESKX, IS. \ ri. ii. 25TH, IT \ Jonathan Loring, Solomon Brown, and Bujah Sanderson, being duly cau- tioned to testifj the whole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by them subscribed: before u~, Wll.l.lAM KkU', JOSULH JOHlfSOIf, JuatiOU <;/' (flM P \\ hi i vm Stickkzt, J I. Elijah Sanderson, above named, do further testifj and declare, th I was i>n Lexington common the morning <>f the nineteenth <>f April, al Baid, having been dismissed b) the officers above mentioned, and saw n large bod] of regular troops advancing towards Lexington company, man] of whom were then dispersing, I heard • f lh< regulars, wbom 1 took to be an officer, say, M damn them— we will have them," and immediate!) tli« regulars b1 touted aloud, run and fired on 1 1 «• ■ L ungton company, which . Elijah Sanderson, above named, being dulj cautioned t" testifj Um ^ truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition bj him sub- scribed : before us, \\ hi i am Bj in, . Josi mi JoBifson, JutOa I "/ Ik P w ii.i.iAM Stickrxy, I 064 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, 1, Thomas Rice Willard, of lawful age, do testify and declare, that being in the house of Daniel Harrington, of Lexington, on the nineteenth instant, in the morning, about half an hour before sunrise, I looked out at the win- dow of said house and saw, as I suppose, about four hundred regulars in one body, coming up the road and marching toward the north part of the com- mon back of the meeting-house of said Lexington : and as soon as said regu- lars were against the east end of the meeting-house, the commanding officer said something, what I know not: but upon that, the regulars ran till they came within about eight or nine rods of about an hundred of the militia of Lexington, who were collected on said common, at which time the militia of Lexington dispersed ; then the officers made an huzza, and the private soldiers succeeded them ; directly after this, an officer rode before the regu- lars, to the other side of the body, and hollowed after the militia of said Lex- ington, and said " lay down your arms — damn you — why don't you lay down your arms?" and that there was not a gun fired till the militia of Lexington were dispersed : and further saith not, Thomas Rice Willard. Middlesex, ss. April 23d, 1775. The within named Thomas Rice Willard, personally appeared, and after due caution to testify the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, made sol- emn oath to the truth of the within deposition, by him subscribed : before us, William Read, Jonathan Hastings, I Justices of the Peace. Duncan Ingraham, J Lexington, 25th of April, 1775. Simon Winship, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, being of lawful age, testified) and saith, that on the nineteenth of April, instant, about four o'clock in the morn- ing, as lie was passing the public road in said Lexington, peaceably and un- armed, about two miles and a half distant from the meeting-house in said Lexington, he was met by a body of the king's regular troops, and being stopped by some officers of said troops, was commanded to dismount; upon asking why he must dismount, he was obliged by force to quit his horse, and ordered to march in the midst of the body, and being examined whether he had been warning me minute men, he answered no, but had been out and was then returning to bis father's. Said Winship further testifies, that be marched with said troops until be cam< within about half a quarter of a mile of said meeting-house, where an officer commanded the troops to halt, and then to prime and load ; this being done, the said troops marched on till they came within a fevi rods of Capt Parker and company, who were partly collected on the place of parade, when said Winship observed an offi- cer at the head of said troops, flourishing his .-word, and with a loud voice l"T-Vj i:.\< i RSK >\ I >F THE KING > rROO giving the word bieh \\ trj followed bj rrom Baid regular tn iid \\ inahip i- positive, and in • emu manner declares, thai tin re was do dischai rma on ■ it: till the word fire was given bj said officer ai Hinnxj i \. - - . \i i. ii 25 in. 17 ; Simon Winsbip, above named, appeared, and alter due caution t< the whole truth, and nothing bul the truth, n th t" the truth of the above deposition, bj bim subscribed : bel \\ n n \M III U'. / ii J I' JO i > N -">. S I \ Mil 25th, 17 7 I, John Parker, of lawful age, and commander of the militia in Lexington, do i < • - 1 1 1 \ and declare, that on the nineteenth instant, in the morning, about one of the clock, being informed, that there were a number of th< officers riding up and down the read, stopping and inputting people a* tiny passed the road, and also informed that a number of thi were on their march from Boston, in order t-> take the provii Concord, I ordei ed our militia to meet on tin- common iu said l.> Kington, to consult what to d<>, and concluded not to l»- discovered, m>r meddli make with said regular troops, if the) should approach, unless thej abould in -i ilt or molest us; and upon their sudden approach, I imnx diatelj ordt our militia to disperse and not to tin . Immediately, said troops made tln-ir appearance, and rushing furiousl) on, fired upon and killed eight of our party, without receiving any provocation therefor from n>. J'HIN PARI .Miniu.i.-! \, is. \ i i. ii 25 i ii. 17 75. The above uamed John Parker, personal!] appt and, arid dohj cautioned t" declare the whole truth, made- solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition, bj bim subscribed: before us, \\ III UM Kl Mi. . Jo in v JOHNSON, ./ / \\ ii 1 1 \m Stic airs r, J l.i sington, Apnl 24th, I ! I John Robbins, being of lawful age, do testify and say, that on the nine- teenth instant, the compan) under the commaud of Captain John Parker, _• drawn up sometime before sunrise, on the green or common, and I being in the front rank, there sudden!) appeared a numb r of the i troops, about a thousand as I tl ght, at the distance of ab sixt] -I 666 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, enty yards from us, huzzaing, and on a quick pace towards us, with three officers in their front on horseback, and on full gallop towards us ; the foremost of which cried, " throw down your arms ! — ye villains ! — ye rehels !" upon which, said company dispersing, the foremost of the three officers or- dered their men saying, "fire! — hy God!— fire .'" at which moment we receiv- ed a very heavy and close fire from them ; at which instant, being wounded, I fell, and several of our men were shot dead by me. Capt. Parker's men I believe, had not then fired a gun : aud further the deponent saith not, John Robbies. Middlesex, ss. April 24th, 1775. John Robbins, within named, appeared, and being duly cautioned to testi- fy the truth, and nothing but the truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the within deposition, subscribed by his special order, he being so maimed and wounded, that he thought he could neither write his name, nor make his mark : before us, William Read, i T , > Justices of the Peace. Josiah Johnson, $ J We, Benjamin Tidd, of Lexington, and Joseph Abbot, of Lincoln, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of the Massachusetts Pay, in New Eng- land, of lawful age, do testify and declare, that on the morning of the nine- teenth of April, instant, about five o'clock, being on Lexington common and mounted on horses, we saw a body of regular troops marching up to the Lexington company, which was then dispersing ; soon after, the regulars fired, first a few guns, which we took to be pistols, from some of the regu- lars who were mounted on horses ; and then the said regulars fired a volley or two, before any guns were fired by the Lexington company. Our horses immediately started and we rode off: and further say not, Benjamin Tidd, Joseph Abbott. Lexington, April 25th, 1775. Middlesex, ss. April 25th, 1775. Benjamin Tidd, and Joseph Abbott, above named, being duly cautioned to testify the whole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposi- tion, by them subscribed : before us, William Read, \\ ILLIAM HEAD, Josiah Johnson, \ Justices of the Peace. William Stickney, ) We, Nathaniel Mulliken, Phillip Russell, Moses Harrington, Jun., Thomas and Daniel Harrington, William Grimer, William Tidd, Isaac Hastings, Jo- nas Stone, Jun., James Wvman, Thaddeus Harrington, John Chandler, rr,3.] i:.\t I R.SION OF THE KING - 1 i;< >< >p Joshua Reed, J un., Joseph Bimonds, Phineas Smith, John Chandler, Jun., Reuben Lock, Joel Viles, N than Reed, Samuel Hdd, B 1 Thomas Winahip, Simeon Sirow, John Smith, Moses Hai . Ebeni l John Harrington, Enoch \\ illington, John Hosmer, Isaac Green, Phineai Steams, Isaac Durant, and 1 nomas II' dley, Jui of lawful age, and inhabitants ol I- _■ in the count) ofMiddh eolonj ofthe Mas lettsR . in New England, do on the nineteenth of April, iustant, about one <>■• two in the n I 'i Hi- informed, that several < of the rej , had, tin been riding up and down the road, and had detained and insulted tin- in- babitants passing tl i ! also ui ding, th were marching from Boston, towards C :ord, with intent, as it v d, to take thu Btorea belonging t" the colon) in thai town, we were alarmed, and baviug met at the place of our company'i missed bj our captain, John Parker, for the pr< sent, with orth rs to be n t<> attend ;it the beat <>t' the drum. We further testifj and declare, that about five o'clock in the moruing, hearing "ur drum beat, u>- p d to- wards ili-- parade, and Boon found, that a large bodj "f troops \\> re march- ing towards us ; some of our company were comiug up t<> th<- parade, and others had reached it : at which time, the company began to n b) them, and a num- ber of our men were instantly killed and wounded Not a gun was tir<-'l bj any person in our company on the regulars, to our knowledge, before tbey fired "M us, and the) continued firing until we had all made "ur escape. N \ 1 I! VMM. Ml III JOEL \ll' Phillip Ri bsell, M"-r - II M.I.1M. I "V, .ll V, THOM \.B II m.i. inc. ; Daniel Harrington, Wii.i.um Grimer, Wii LI AM TlDD. I - \ V I I I v - I I \ ■ JO • ~ "M . .ll V, .1 vmi - Wtmah, Tfl M'i'i i - 1 1 \ RRIHGTON, John Ciiamm i ir, Joshua Reed, J i v.. Josi i'ii Simonds, Phineas Smith, John Cha holer, .it- v., Ri i i;i % Lo< s. Lexington, April 25tb, IT ! \ v I ll O ReI D, i I i. TlDD, LMtH I.", k. Thom IS Win imp, n ,in Show, John Smi Ml, Moses 11 irrihs i on, 3d , J Ida Reed, i ifEZEB Parker, .Inn \ Harrington, I ifOCH WELLINGTON, .i.xin Hosmi a, [Si G EH, Phihi is Sti irhs, I'Hi l»l I. O I. Thomas Hi ldi n. Jos. Middlesex, ■ i *- Aran. 'JJrn, 177.".. Nathaniel Miillik.'ii, Phillip Russell, Moses Harrington, Jim.. Thomas 66S EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, Harrington, Daniel Harrington, William Grimer, William Tirld, Isaac Has- tings, Jonas Stone, Jun., James Wyman, Thaddeus Harrington, John Chand- ler, Joshua Reed, Jun., Joseph Simonds, Phineas Smith, John Chandler, Jun., Reuben Lock, Joel Viles, Nathan Reed, Samuel Tidd, Benjamin Lock, Thomas Winship, Simeon Snow, John Smith, Moses Harrington, 3d, Joshua Reed, Ehenezer Parker, John Harrington, Enoch Wellington, John Hosmer, Isaac Green, Phineas Stearns, Isaac Durant, and Thomas Headley, Jun., above named, being duly cautioned to testify the whole truth, made solemn oath to the above deposition, as containing nothing but the truth, as sub- scribed by them : before us, William Reed, \ Josiah Johnson, > Justices of the Peace. William Stickney, J We, Nathaniel Parkhurst, Jonas Parker, John Munroe, Jun., John Win- ship, Solomon Peirce, John Muzzy, Abner 31eads, John Bridge, Jun., Ebe- nezer Bowman, William Munroe, 3d, Micah Hagar, Samuel Sanderson, Samuel Hastings, and James Brown, of Lexington, in the county of Middle- sex, and colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, and all of law- ful age, do testify and say, that on the morning of the nineteenth of April, instant, about one or two o'clock, being informed, that a number of regular officers had been riding up and down the road the evening and night pre- ceding, and that some of the inhabitants as they were passing, had been in- sulted by the officers and stopped by them, and being also informed, that the regular troops, were on their march from Boston, in order, as it was said, to take the colony stores then deposited at Concord, we met on the parade of our company in this town. After the company had collected we were or- dered by Capt. John Parker, who commanded us, to disperse for the pre- sent, and be ready to attend the beat of the drum, and accordingly the com- pany went into houses near the place of parade. We further testify and say, that about five o'clock in the morning, we attended the beat of our drum, and were formed on the parade. We were faced towards the regulars then marching up to us, and some of our company were coming to the pa- rade, with their barks towards the troops, and others on the parade began to disperse, when the regulars fired on the company before a gun was fired by any of our company on them ; they killed eight of our company and wound- ed several, and continued their fire until we had all made our escape. Natiivniei, Paukiiurst, John Bridge, Jin., Jonas Parker, Ebenezer Bowman, John Monroe, Jon., William Munroe, 3d., John Winship, Micah Hagar, Solomon Peirce, Samuel Sanderson, John Mi/zy, Samuel Hastings, Abner Meads, James Brown. Lexington, 25th April, 1775. 1775.] l.\< i R.SION OF THE KIN'. - l i:< K >P8 • ..;•• Mii'i-i i -i \. - - \i mi '.'.".I ii. 177 Nathaniel Parkhurst, J Parker, John M i m, Jul \'. i,i|>, Solomon Peirce,John Muzzy, Abnei M< di Johi H . .Juu.l Bow man, \N illiara M Micah II Samuel G Hastings, and James Brown, above named, being dul) cautioned, to u th<' whole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above .!• them Bubscribt <\ : before \\ n ii im I C i LD, JOSIAH Jfl ./ /• William Sticejtki ' I, Timothj Smith, of Lexington, in the count) "t" Midd Massachusetts Bay, in New England, being of lawful agi I de- clare, that on the morning of the nineteenth of VpriL, instant, b I ington common, as a spectator, I si« a large bod) of regular tn irch- ing up towards the Lexington company then dispersing, and likewise, the regular troops fire on the Lexington compan) before the latter fin gunj I immediate!) ran, and a voile) was discb I me, which put me in imminenl danger of I < > - i 1 1 ir m) lift ; I Boon returned t<> the <-"iit! saw eighl of the Lexington nun. who were Kill' <1 ami la) bleeding at a i aiderable distance from each other, ami several w« sre wounded, ami further Baith ii"'. TlMO niv Smi i II. Lexington, April 25th, 17 7".. Middlesex, --. \ri.i i 25 1 a, I77.">. Timoth) Smith, above named, being duly cautioned i" testif) the truth. made ~< >lt - 1 1 , i ■ oath to the truth of the above d< position, b) him i 'I • before us, \\ n. l.l \M Kt: vn, Jo IAH JoU n-iin. ./ I ' William Stickni I We, Levi Mead and Levi 1 larrington, both of Lexington, in the count) of Middlesex, and colon) of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, and of lawful age, do testif) and declare, that on the morning of th>' nineteenth <'t' April, being n horses, whom we took to be officers, fin >l a pistol or tw the Lexington company, which was then dispersii guns that were fired, and the) were iramediatel] followed i ilvolleya from the regulars, b) which eighl men belonging t" said company killed, and Beveral wounded. I.I \ I Ml Mi. l.i \ i II laaine Lexington, ipril 25th, 1775. 670 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, Middlesex, ss. April 25th, 1775. Levi Mead and Levi Harrington, above named, being duly cautioned to testify tbe wbole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposi- tion, by them subscribed : before us, William Read, \ Josiah Jonxsox, K Justices of the Peace. William Stickket, J Lexington, April 25th, 1775. 1, William Draper, of lawful age, and an inhabitant of Colrain, in the county of Hampshire, and colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in New Eng- land, do testify and declare, that being on the parade at said Lexington, April nineteenth, instant, about half an hour before sunrise, tbe king's regular troops appeared at tbe meeting-house of Lexington. Captain Parker's com- pany, who were drawn up back of said meeting-house on the parade, turned from said troops, making their escape by dispersing. In the mean time, the regular troops made an huzza, and ran towards Captain Parker's company who were dispersing, and immediately after the huzza was made, the com- manding officer of said troops, as I took him to be, gave the command to the troops, "fire l^fire ! — damn you, fire .'" and immediately they fired, before any of Captain Parker's company fired, I then being within three or four rods of said regular troops : and further saith not, William Draper. Middlesex, ss. April 25th, 1775. William Draper, above named, being duly cautioned to testify the wbole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him sub- scribed : before us, William Read, \ Josiah Johnson, V Justices of the Peace. William Stickxet, j Lexington, April 23d, 1775. 1, Thomas Fessenden, of lawful age, testily and declare, that being in a pasture near the meeting-house, at said Lexington, on Wednesday last, at about half an hour before sunrise, I saw a number of regular troops pass speedily by said meeting-house, on their way towards a company of militia of said Lexington, who were assembled to the number of about an hundred in a company, at the distance of eighteen or twenty rods from said meeting- house: and alter they had passed by said house, I saw three officers on horseback advance to the front of said regulars, when one of them, being within six rod of said militia, cried out, "disperse you rebels immediately;" on which he brandished his sword over his head three times ; mean while, the second officer, who was about two rods behind him, fired a pistol point- 1775.] EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS 871 r!• mn oath i truth of the within deposition b) him aubscribed: before i \\ 1 1 i i \ •■• Read, / i i r Justices of the P .I..-I \ll Jul Lincoln, April 2 Id, 171 I. John Bateman, belonging to the fifty-second regiment, commanded by Colonil Jones, on Wednesday morning, on the nineteenth da) of April in- stant, was in the part) marching i<> Concord. Being al Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, I > < i 1 1 ir nigh the meeting-bouse in said Lexington,! was a small part) of men gathered together in tliat place, when our I troops marched In ; ami I testif) and declare, that 1 heard tin- word maud given to tlir troops t" fire, and some "t' said troops did fire, and 1 one of said small party lie dead on the ground nigh -aid meeting and I testify, that 1 never heard an) of tin- inhabitants h a- fire one gUO l>|| -aid Hum],-. Jons I ut. Middlesex, ss. Aran 23d, 177-".. The above named John Bateman voluntarily, being previous!) cautioned to i' late nothing but tin- truth, made Bolemn oath to the deposition b) him subscribed : before us, John Cdmminos, / , . .- ,, /, i . i Justices Oj UU I I l»l M \N Im,K V 1 1 \ l , April We, John Hoar, John Whitehead, Abraham Garfield, Benjamin Mm Isaac Parks, William llosmer, John Adams, and Gregor) Stoue, all of I coin, in tli'' count) of Middlesex, Massai bus I ty, all of lawful age, do testif) and say, that no Wednesda) last we w< re oss< mbli > the numl aluitit twelve hundred : on which, wre retreated i" a Mil al hack, and tin- aforet >ps ilnn took | of tli<- hill where we were first posted. PreseutI) after ll them n north bridge, about mile from said i theu imm< d l\ went beibre them, and passed I them, to the number of about two hundre< ed- Tl i half of those two hundred at the bri I ^^ it 1 1 tin- real towards ( lolonel Barrett's, aboul t\\ o m;. m\ end fires in the tow n, thought < atel) inarched b the i • . in- our app up bo me of the planks. \\ o then and \\ hen we h -mi--, one rid then n upon which, and not before, havii >m our i "i in fire till v fired ii| 1 upon the i \ Concord, and on their retreat through I houses, burnt three at Lexiugton, together with a shop ami mitted damage, more or less, to almost everj I < ' InU II. Nathan Rarri Iathaji I '.i r i i.ic k, Jonathan 1 S piien H .li. I ill I3l ri S \ \:i I : B ■ \ m i> Win : i i i.. Tho Jones, JoiI.N B ll III < 'll VM' Joii.il Brown, Peter Whim Silas VValki Nathan Peirce, I i:. \i m M ELVIN, Rll ii LRD8 I ington, April 23d, I We, Joseph Butler and Gphraim Melvin, do testify and declare, tltat when the regular troops firi fore U-. 1 1 John Commik /' I »i m v n Im.k mi im, ' 674 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, Concord, April 23d, 1775. I, Timothy Minot, Jr., of Concord, on the nineteenth day of this instant April, after 1 had heard of the regular troops firing upon the Lexington men, and fearing that hostilities might he committed at Concord, thought it my incumbent duty to secure my family. After I had secured my family, sometime after that, returning towards my own dwelling, and finding that the bridge on the northern part of said Concord was guarded by regular troops, being a spectator of what had happened at said bridge, I declare that the regular troops stationed on the bridge, after they saw the men that were collected on the westerly side of said bridge marched towards said bridge, then the troops returned towards the easterly side of said bridge, and form- ed themselves, as I thought for a regular fight. After that, they fired one gun, then two or three more, before the men that were stationed on the westerly part of said bridge fired upon them. Timothy Minot, Jr. Middlesex, ss. April 23d, 1775. Doct. Timothy 31 i not, Jr. personally appeared, and after due caution to testify the truth, and nothing but the truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed: before us, William Read, Jonathan Hastings, T nn «. r<™„«„„„„ > Justices of the Peace. John Cummings, Duncan Ingraham, Lexington, April 23d, 1775. I, James Barrett, of Concord, colonel of a regiment of militia in the county of Middlesex, do testify and say, that on Wednesday morning last, about day break, I was informed of the approach of a number of the regu- lar troops to the town of Concord, where were some magazines belonging to this province : when there were assembled some of the militia of this and the neighboring towns, then 1 ordered them to march to the north bridge, so called, which they had passed, and were taking up. 1 ordered said mili- tia to march to said bridge, and pass the same, but not to fire on the king's troops unless thej were first fired upon. We advanced near said bridge, when the said troops fired upon our militia, and killed two men dead on the spot, and wounded several others, which was the first firing of guns in Con- cord. My detachment then returned the fire, which killed and wounded sev< ral of the king's troops. James Barrett. Minn; i -. April 23d, 1775. The above Darned James Barrett personally appeared, and after due cau- tion to testify the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition bj him subscribed: before us, \\ i i.i.i \m Read, -\ Jonathan Hastings, C Justices f the Peace. Di m an Ingraham, ) L775.] EX( i RSION OF THE KIN'. i \ \\ . , Bradburj R >n, Samuel Sprii I I cord, and Jamee Adams, of Lincoln, all in tli<- count) of Middli ill of lawful age, do testify and Bay, that on Wedi the clock, we san near one hundred ol troopc in the I of Concord, at the north bridge in said town, so called, and the aame the) were taking up said bridge, when about three bui our militia were advancing ti rd< i when, without Baying an) thing to us, lh< on U-, which killed two men dead on thi when we returned the fire on them, which killed two of il • rd sevi ral ; h lii'-li was the bcgiunii % of I I ii \ ml. i - I! \ ■■■ Middli sex, b& \im i 2 to, 1775. The within named Bradbury Robinson, Samuel Spring, Thaddeuf B .•mil and James Adams, made solemn oath t" the truth <>!' the within depo- ■ ii b) them subscribed : before us, \\ ii .i.i kM III LD, \ \\ ii. 1. 1 \m Stk km r, > Justices qf P \ i ii in ELxsTtifi I mcord, April 33d, IT ' I, James Marr, of lawful age, testify and Bay, that in the evening of the eighteenth instant, I received orders from G Hutchinson, adjutant of the fourth regiment of the regular troops stationed in Boston, to prepare ami march: to which order I attended, and marched I ord, wb< I was ordered bj an officer, with about one hundred men to guard a certain bridge there. While attending that Bervice, a number of people came along, in order, as I Bupposed, to cross said bridge, at which time a nun of regular troops firsi fired upon them. Jami M las. Middlesex, ss. Lpru 23d, 1775. The above named James Marr appeared, and after due caution i" tcstifj the truth, and nothing but the truth, made Bolemn oath to the truth "i the above deposition b) him voluntarily subscribed: b< 1*1 !f< \ N iN'.l; Ml Ol. / Jonas Dix, N I. Edward Thornton Gould, of bis majesty's own regiment ol nf lawful age, 'I" testify and di clare, thai "ii the evening of tl enth instant, under the order of <; neral Gage, I embarked with the light infan- tr\ and grenadiers of the fine, commanded b) Colonel Smith, and 676 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, on the marshes of Cambridge, from whence we proceeded to Lexington. On our arrival at that place, we saw a body of provincial troops armed, to the number of about sixty or seventy men. On our approach, they dis- persed, and soon after firing began, but which party fired first I cannot ex- actly say, as our troops rushed on, shouting and huzzaing, previous to the firing, which was continued by our troops so long as any of the provincials were to be seen. From thence we marched to Concord. On a hill near the entrance of the town, we saw another body of the provincials assem- bled. The light infantry companies were ordered up the hill to disperse them. On our approach they retreated towards Concord. The grenadiers continued on the road under the hill towards the town. Six companies of light infantry were ordered down to take possession of the bridge which the provincials retreated over. The company I commanded was one of the three companies of the above detachment, and went forward about two miles. In the mean time, the provincial troops returned, to the number of about three or four hundred. We drew up on the Concord side of the bridge. The provincials came down upon us ; upon which we engaged and gave the first fire. This was the first engagement after the one at Lexing- ton. A continued firing from both parties lasted through the whole day. I myself was wounded at the attack of the bridge, and am now treated with the greatest humanity, and taken all possible care of, by the provincials at Medford. Edward Thornton Gould. Medford, April 20th, 1775. Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Middlesex County, April 25th, 1775. Lieutenant Edward Thornton Gould, aforenamed, personally made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration, by him subscribed: before us, Thaddeus Mason, -\ Josiah Johnson, V j l(S (i C es of the Peace. Simon Tufts. j Province of tlue Massachusetts Bay. ClIARLESTOWN, SS. JL Nathaniel Gorham, Notary and Tabellion Public, by lawful authority, duly admitted and sworn; hereby certify to all whom it doth or may con- cern, thai Thaddeus .Mason, Josiah Johnson, and Simon 'Putts, Esq'rs, are three of bis majesty's justices of tin- peace, quorum unus, for the county of Middlesex, and thai full faith and credit is and ought to be given to their transactions as such, both in court and out. In witness whereof, 1 have hereunto affixed m\ name and seal, this twenty-sixth day of April, Anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. Nathaniel Gorham. 173 3 EXC1 (tSION OF THE KING - TROOP V i: \ <• ■ : ■ oade out under 1 1 » . - signature lie, that -ill ili'- other justices wlio administered tin- ponents, were his m of the peace, in the • certificates wen made, uid were legallj appointed to dial I that full faith and credit is and ought to u to their ii A paper having been printed in Boston, re] of the l is killed at the In id. I uid th< i oil* from the bead, supposed to be done in 01 dishonor th< M ichu- -i ii- | ■• ople, ami Id make them . the fol- lowing deposition was taken that the truth u, W • , ll of law l'i. (lie dead bodies of i dial were killed at I cord, mi the aiueteeuth da) <>i" ^pril, 1 T 7 ~>. where the action first began, and that neither of those persons wi Iped, nor their i - has been repn sented. '/.M ii m.i \h Brown, Tho Davis, Jon. Concord, Ma) 1 1th, 177 ."">. Zachariah Brown, Tliomas l>.\i~. Jim., personally appeared l» : and made oath to the above declaration. I>l M v 1 Ml VM, JuM\ /' Hannah Adams, wife of l> n Joseph \ \ precinct in Cambridge, testifieth and soilh, that on the nineteenth daj of April upon the return of the I - from Concord, divers of i our house, b) bursting open the doors, and tliree of the into the room in which 1 then was, laid on my bed, ben I) able to walk from m\ bed to the fire, not having been to my chamber door from in) delivered in child-birth to that time. < me of said Boldiers brum di opened mj curtains with his bayonel fixed, pointing the same to ui) I . I immediate!} cried out, " for the Lord's sake do nol kill me;" i i * - replied, '•damn you." One that stood near said, u we will nol hurt the woman, if she will go out of the bouse, bul we will surer) burn it" I imn , threw a blanket over me, went <>m and crawled into a c . mar the door, \\ ill i ins iiiiimt m my arms, where I remained until U gone They immediatel) set the house on fire, in which I bad lefl children, and do other person ; but the fire was happil) extinguished, when ilic i i 5 in the utmost danger of being utterl) consumed. llwNMI \l VM . 678 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, Middlesex, ss. Cambridge, Second Precinct, IGth Mat, 1775. Hannah Adams, the subscriber of tbe above deposition, personally ap- peared, and made oath to tbe truth of the same : before me, Jonathan Hastings, Justice of the Peace. Cambridge, May 19th, 1775. We, Benjamin Cooper and Rachel Cooper, both of Cambridge, aforesaid, of lawful age, testily and say, that in the afternoon of the nineteenth day of April last, the king's regular troops under the command of General Gage, upon their return from the blood and slaughter which they had made at Lexington and Concord, fired more than a hundred bullets into the house where we dwelt, through doors, windows, &c. Then a number of them entered the house, where we and two aged gentlemen were, all unarmed. We escaped for our lives into the cellar. The two aged gentlemen were, immediately, most barbarously and inhumanly murdered by them : being stabbed through in many places, their heads mauled, skulls broke, and their brains dashed out oil the floor and walls of the house ; and further say not, Benjamin Cooper, Rachel Cooper. Middlesex, ss, May 10th, 1775. The above named Benjamin Cooper and Rachel Cooper, appeared, and after due caution, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition, by them subscribed : before me, Jonas Dix, Justice of the Peace. Tlie following is a list of those provincials ivho ivere killed, wounded, and mis- sing in the action of the nineteenth of April, 1775, and the toivns to which they respectively belonged : including all that were lost on that day. Cambridge. — Killed : William Marcy, Moses Richardson, John Hicks, Ja- son Russell, Jabish Wyman, Jason \\ inship. Wounded: Capt. Samuel Whit- temore. Missing: Samuel Frost, Setb Russell. Charlestown. — Killed: James Miller, and a son of Captain William Barber. Watertown. — Killed: Joseph Cooledge. Sudbury. — Killed: Deacon Josiah Hayncs, Asahcl Reed. Wounded: Joshua Baynea, Jun. Acton. — Killed : Capt. Isaac Davis, Abner Ilosmer, James Hayward. Bedford. — Killed: Capt Jonathan Wilson. Wounded: Job Lane. Woburn. — Killnl: Asa Parker, Daniel Thomson. Wounded: George Read, Jacob Bacon. 1775.] BX< i RSION OF THE KING - TROOPS Mebpord. E Henrj Putnam, WU Ham Polly. .\ t H I OS. II ■ \ \\ ill. i.i \i m, 1..N a,/;../ .• .1 r.n..i. i John Raymond, 3 Hadley, Juuatliau Harriogtou, Jun.. I- c M Caleb Harringlou, Nathaniel W^iuan, Jubn Brown. " I Bfom ii, Ji'lm Uubbi - n"ii I'. i i i Muuroe, Jun ,1 \l\ - I Billerii v I' : John \ I :iinili\ BlancliartL t in lmsi iii.i.. /' ounded : D karoo I ■ < • r run. ( '<>\i ord. — a bun '■ I : Abel Pi J ' I es Miles, Cap 1 1 than Barrett I \ mi m.ii i W Dai iel Hemi away. Stow. Wo 1 1 I nant I »i mi \m. Killed : Eli H ,: nufed : I - I ■ ti. Needham. Killed: Lieut John Bacon, Serjeant Elisha Mills, Amos > I i 1 1 ^ . Nathaniel Chamberlain, Jonathan Parker. Wounded: Capt El< K bur} . and a bod of I h ict Tohnan. Roxbi i.i. — Missing: Elijah Seaver. B . "iMisi —Killed: Isaac Gardner, Esq. Salem —Killed: Benjamin Peirce. Dam vers. — Killed: Henrj Jacobs, Samuel < ■ I G dthwait, George Southwick, Benjamin Deland, Jun., Jotbam Webb, Perl) Putnam. Wounded: Nathan Putnam, Dennis Wallis, M ph Bell Beverly. -Killed: Mr. Kinnyni. Wounded: Nuthaniel ' Ii ivea, San \\ id bur) , \\ illiara Dodge. Ltkw.— A Abeduego Ramsdell, Daniel Townsend, William Flynt, Thom b Hadley. /fo : J< -I I iinotb) Muuroe. Jtt all llr. i d. BRITISH I HI K I \l. ICCOl NT. A CIRCOMSTANTIAL IlCCOUNI 01 IB LTTACI THAT HAPPENED on inr MM i i i m ii ..i ii i.i i . i; .... 05 HIS IK i I...... -. i > v M • m i in peopli oi i M i pRovmci oi Mas lchusetts Bay. U i -,• Bl 0RDEH 01 III- ExCELLEKCl I HOB <.'v'.i. IWD ENCLOSED in \ i.i i i i .. ro G I'm mi:i i i . I fWECTK On 7 iy, the kpril, about half paal u d oi night, I ant Colonel Smith, of the 10th regiment, embarked from ih< • 680 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, Boston, with the grenadiers and light infantry of the troops there; and land- ed on the opposite side ; from whence he began his march towards Con- cord, where he was ordered to destroy a magazine of military stores, depos- ited there for the use of an army to be assembled, in order to act against his majesty and his government. The colonel called his officers together, and gave orders, that the troops should not fire, unless fired upon ; and after marching a ihw miles, detached six companies of light infantry, under the command of Major Pitcairn, to take posssssion of two bridges, on the other side of" Concord. Soon after, they heard many signal guns, and the ringing of alarm bells repeatedly ; which convinced them, that the country was rising to oppose them, and that it was a preconcerted scheme to oppose the king's troops whenever there should be a favorable opportunity for it. About three o'clock the next morning, the troops being advanced within two miles of Lexington, intelligence was received, that about five hundred men in arms, were assembled and determined to oppose the king's troops; and on Major Pitcairn's galloping up to the head of the advanced companies, two officers informed him, that a man, advanced from those that were as- sembled, had presented his musket and attempted to shoot them, but the piece flashed in the pan ; on this, the major gave directions to the troops to move forward, but on no account to fire, nor even attempt it, without orders. When they arrived at the end of the village, they observed about two hun- dred armed men, drawn up on a green, and when the troops came within one hundred yards of them, they began to file off towards some stone walls on their right flank. The light infantry observing this, ran after them; the major instantly called to the soldiers not to fire, but to surround and disarm them. Some of them, who had jumped over a wall, then fired four or five shots at the troops; wounded a man of the 10th regiment, and the major's horse in two places, and at the same time several shots were fired from a meeting-house on the left : upon this, without any order or regularity, the light infantry began a scattered fire, and killed several of the country peo- ple, but were silenced as soon as the authority of their officers could make them. After this, Colonel Smith marched up with the remainder of the detach- ment, and the whole body proceeded to Concord, where they arrived about nine o'clock, without any tiling further happening; but vast cumbers of armed people were seen assembling on all the heights. While Colonel Smith with the grenadiers and pari of the light infantry remained at Con- cord, to search lor cannon, &c. there, he detached Captain Parsons with sbs light companies, to secure a bridge at some distance from Concord, and to proceed from thence to certain houses where it was supposed there were cannon and ammunition. Captain Parsons, in pursuance of these orders, posted three companies at the bridge, and on some heights near it. under the command of Captain Laurie, of the 43d regiment, and with the remain- der went and destroyed some cannon, wheel.-, powder, and hall. The peo- ple still continued increasing on the heights, and in aboul an hour after, a large bodj of them began to move towards the bridge; tb< light companies IT",.] i:\ri RSIOIS < T THE KING B TROOPS I 31 of the Mi and 10th then Captain Laurie. 1 pie continued to advance in great nun I fin •! ii|)on ili< kit killed three men, wounded fou four pri n; upon which, after returning the fin Captain Laurie am i>t it prudent t" retreal towards the main bod) at « d, and on joined bj two conapani When I r tui n< >l with the three companies over the l>i bserved lhr< •" the ground, >'ii<- i»i" them scalp ! much mangled and bi 'it ofi£ though not quite dead ; it whicl with horror. • ptain Parsons marched on main body, « rtj waiting for !n~ coming up I Boston. Colonel 8 cuted ln> orders n itliout o >n, b) 1 . 1 1 1 1 ; I. ut the) were sulky, and one of them even struck M jo I' cairn. Except ii| Captain I. urie, at the bi bappei rd, the) i ved a beav) fire, from all sid( s, from walls, fena s, I &c, which continued without intermission, till they met tin with two field pieces, near Lexington, ordered oul under iii> command "t" Lord Percy, to support them: advices having I d, about seven lock in \t morning, that signals had been mad< to alarm the country, and that the people w< the n- under < lolonel Smith. I j •• >n the firing of the field pieces, tl was, for a while, silenced ; but, as the) continued t<> ii tl) in uum- bere, the) fired again as before, from all places where the) could flu. i upon ili>- whole body, and continued so doing, for tin Notwithstanding their numbers, the) did i pcnl) during thewh day, bul k« • [ ir under cover ou all occasions. The troops were ver) much fatigued, tl ter part of diem having been under arms all night, and made a march of upwards of fort) miles, b< fore the) arrived at Charli stown, from whence the) were ferried over i" Boston. The troops had above fift) killed, and man) more wounded. R various about the ' tained by the countr) people; some make it \- id< rahle ; othi i much. Thus tliis unfortunate affair has happened, through the rashi i im- prudence of a few people, who 1 n the troops at 1 >n. 30 6S2 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, INTERCEPTED LETTERS. The following extracts of letters, written by British officers and soldiers in Boston, and intercepted, relating to the events of the 19th of April, 1775, were communicated to the Provincial Congress. 1 Boston, April 28, 1775. I am well, all but a wound I received through the leg by a ball from one of the Bostonians. At the time I wrote you from Quebec, I had the strong- est assurance of going home, but the laying the tax on the New England people caused us to be ordered for Boston, where we remained in peace with the inhabitants, till, on the night of the 18th of April, twenty-one com- panies of grenadiers and light infantry were ordered into the country, about eighteen miles ; where, between four and five o'clock in the morning, we met an incredible number of the people of the country in arms against us. Col. Smith, of the 10th regiment, ordered us to rush on them with our bayo- nets fixed ; at which time, some of the peasants fired upon us, and our men returning the fire, the engagement began ; they did not fight us like a regu- lar army, only like savages, behind trees and stone walls, and out of the woods and houses, where, in the latter, we killed numbers of them, as well as in the woods and fields. The engagement began between four and five in the morning, aud lasted till eight at night. I cannot be sure when you will get another letter from me, as this extensive continent is all in arms against us. These jieople are very numerous, and full as bad as the Indians for scalping and cutting the dead men's ears and noses off, and those they get alive, that are wounded and cannot get off the ground. Boston, April 28, 1775. The grenadiers and light infantry marched for Concord, where were powder and ball, arms, aud cannon mounted on carriages ; but before we could destroy them all, we were fired on by the country people, who are not brought up in the military way as ourselves: we were surrounded always in the woods ; the firing was very hot on both sides; about two in the after- noon the second brigade came up, which were lour regiments and part of the artillery ; which were of no use to us, as the enemy were in the woods; and when we found the} fired from houses, we set them on fire, and they ran to the woods. We were obliged to retreat to Boston again, over Charles river, our ammunition being all bred away. We had one hundred and fifty wounded and killed, and some taken prisoners. We wen' forced to leave sonic behind, who were wounded. We got back to Boston about two o'clock next morning; and they that were able to walk were forced to mount guard and lie in the field. I never broke my fast for forty-eight hours, for we carried no provisions, and thought to be back next morning. - .hi' Journal ol Maj I. unU page 173. Neither the address nor signature of any Utter has been preserved. 1775.] EXC1 RSION OF THE KING S NlOOPi I li.nl di\ bat shot off mj bead 1 1 » r< -• ■ times, two balls through • ni_\ bayonet carried awa) by mj side, and near being kill'>t let the town's people go out. Dili rt for me to Chatham's division of marim i'. iTOir, Aran 30, l" B this reai ou, you ma] bear thai our regimeni bas been en- ■ 1 with the provincials. The grenadiers and light infant cbed about nun- at night At sii iii \t morning, four hundred and twenty-three Boldieraand forty-seven marines, in all fifteen hundred, marched ton the grenadiers and light infantry: w< joined about them iin' .1. which t ln-\ had I bt I rs before; for we had two of cannon, which made us march verj bIow. \ came u|> we fired the cannon, which brought them from behind the trees, for we diil Dot fight a~ you did in German] ; for we did not see above ten in ■ body, for thej were behind trees and walls, and fin d at us, and then lo on their bellies. We bad but thirty-six rounds, which obliged u- t< home that nighl ; and as we came along, the) got before us, and fired at us out of the houses, and killed and wounded a great number of us, but we levi lied their houses as we came along. It was thought there were about six thousand at first, and at night double that number. The king's troops lost, in killed and wounded, one hundred and fifty, and the Americans five hundred, nun, women, and children; ialt provisions, and the officers are supplied bj the men of war cutters, wln> l'i> up the creeks and take live cattle and sheep w herever the] find them W vex the kmericans verj mucb b] cutting down their Libert] poles and alarm posts. We have had a great man] died in our regiment lasi winti r, so that what with wounded nun, ami what have d( Berted, we have not three hun- dred nun. and dutj i- bo hard thai we come off guard m the morning and mount picket at night 684 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, Boston, April 25, 1775. The rebels, when we came to Concord, burnt their stores, fired upon the king's troops, and a smart engagement ensued. About two o'clock, our brigade came up to thorn, when we engaged, and continued fighting and retreating towards Boston. The rebels were monstrous numerous, and sur- rounded us <>n every side; when they came up we gave them a smart fire, but they never would engage us properly. We killed some hundreds and burnt some of their houses. I received a wound in my head. The troops are in Boston, and surrounded on the land side by the rebels, who are very numerous, and fully determined to lose their lives and fortunes, rather than be taxed by England. We had thirty-four killed and wounded. I suppose the king's troops, lost in all about one hundred and sixty. In case they should take Boston, the troops will retire on board the men of war, and then the men of war will burn the town, and remain till more troops come from En- gland, and then conquer them, so their estates and lives will be forfeited. There are oidy four thousand soldiers, and about fifty or sixty thousand of them. Boston, May 2, 1775. The 19th of April the engagement happened, and my husband was wounded and taken prisoner; but they use him well, and I am striving to get to him, as he is very dangerous, but it is almost impossible to get out or in, or to get any thing, for we are forced to live on salt provisions entirely, and they are building batteries round the town, and so are we, for we are expecting them to storm us. Are expecting more troops every day. My hus- band is now lying in one of their hospitals, at a place called Cambridge, and there are now forty or fifty thousand of them gathered together, and w r e are not four thousand at most. It is a very troublesome time ; for we are ex- pecting the town to be burnt down every day, and I believe we are sold, and 1 hear my husband's leg is broke, and my heart is almost broken. RAVAGES OF THE BRITISH TROOPS. Statements of the losses sustained by the inhabitants from the ravages of the blutlsh troops, april 19, 1775. The committee appointed to estimate the damages done at Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord, bj tin- king's troops, on tin' nineteenth of Apiil, 177.">, have attended that duty, and beg leave to report: 1775.] i\« i RSION OF THE KING 8 TROOPS Thai the destruction made bj 6re and robbery on .-iiiii day, bj i- U follows, \ i/. : The damages to th< buildings in Cambridge, estimated according to il"- -kill and judgment of your commits ■■, after viewing the same, amount t" ....... . The value of the goods and chattels thai were destroyed, or taken out of the houses, or near the same, b) the estimation of those i who left the same, according t<> their sev< ral accounts exhibit! A on oath, and ed, amounts to ... . . The value of the g I- and i battels thai w I k«'n oul of tli- said houses, or neat the same, bj th< estimation of thorn | "lio |i it the same, b) their several accounts exhibited, who wen rorn, bj M of some being . • ! • ~ . - j 1 1 , nr some oth< r inconvenience that attended the same, amounts to ..... . 6 10 The damage done to the meeting-house and school-house in the north- wesl precincl in said Cambri wrted b) your committee, amounts to ....... The vessels, linen, and cash, belonging i<> the church of said precinct, taken <>nt <>i" the house of Joseph Adams, d< aeon "i" said church, a^ bj bis account, exhibited on oath, amount to . . . x.i<'> 16 B The whole losses suffered in Cambridge, amount to . £1209 - '• The damages sustained in L< Kington, are as follow, viz.: The buildings destroyed b) fire, with the cash, utensils, and mc either burnt in the same, or carried away, estimated bj the owners of the property, as bj their accounts, exhibited on oath, amount t«> I e damages t" other buildings in Baid town, estimated as were those in < Cambridge, amount to . . . . . . 1 1 IS '• D tustained from the robberies of said troops, by sundrj inhabi- tants, as bj their several accounts ath, . . . 18 2 Damages sustained by otlier inhabitants, as bj their several accounts hibited, but nol on oath, for the reason before mentioned, amounl to the sum of . . . . . . . 674 4 2 l> to the meeting-house in said town, . . CI 12 The whole amounl in Lexington, . . . . £1761 1 15 The damages sustained in Concord, were as follow, vi The damages to the buildings, estimated as above, are . 12 The il ustained bj Bundrj inhabitants, estimated in manner afi said, under oath, amount to ..... C209 16 10 'III. damagi - to other inhabitants, nol under oath, for reasons bi I mentioned, amounl to • . . . • • ' ' 6S6 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, The damage to sundry door locks broke in his majesty's jail in said town, by account exhibited, on oath, by the under keeper of said jail, £3 G The whole amount in Concord, .... £274 1G 7 Abraham Fuller, Ichabod Goodwin, Oliver Whitney, Committee. ACCOUNTS OF DAMAGES. The original accounts of the injuries done to individuals, not having been preserved on the files, the following returns were made, by order of the Legislature, in 1783. Joseph Loring. An account of the real and personal estate belonging to Joseph Loring, of Lexington, destroyed and carried off by the British troops in their rava- ges in said town, on the nineteenth of April, 1775, viz. : A large mansion-house, and a barn seventy feet long, and a corn-house, all burnt, ...... £350 Household goods and furniture, viz. : eight good feather beds and bedding ; a large quantity of pewter and brass ware ; three cases of drawers ; two mahogany tables ; with the furniture of eight rooms, ....... All the wearing apparel of my family, consisting of nine per- sonSj •*••*•■■ All my husbandry tools and utensils, with a cider mill and press, with about rive tons of hay, and two calves, About two hundred rods of stone wall thrown down, . £3 in specie, ....... £720 N. JB. The above mentioned buildings were the first that were destroyed in the town, and near the ground where the brigade commanded by Lord Percy met the detachment retreating under Lt. Col. Smith. It does not appear that anj of the militia were in or near these buildings, neither could they, in any way, either expose or retard the British troops in their operations : therefore, the destruction must be considered as brutal, barbarous, and wanton. JosErH Loring. 230 GO 72 5 3 Jonathan Harrington. Account of things 1 lost on the nineteenth of April, 1775, by the British troops. One eight day clock, carried off, almost new, . . . £15 1775.] EXC1 RSION OF THE KING - ri;< M i *; India dark gov n, . One striped English cotton gown, . Two dozens of cottoa and linen and two -— 1 1 . i t-. . Si\ shirts, -i\ shifts, to the value of < me law 11 apron ; one da catul ric ; • <1". linen, Four ii'-w check aprons, .... 1 i e dozen of handkerchiefs, pan check, pari printed, < me bed blanket, ..... Fifteen pair- stockings, pan wonted, part thread and raj Si* large diaper table cloths, » hie dozen fine diaper cloths, ( me dozen cotten linen 1 1 • - pair nt' in- w I t.- and two pairs of shoes, 1 ' new razei great coal ; one »l". blur, . Two ii'-w beaver hat-. .... Five yards of cotton and linen cloth, A number of women's rap-, < me muff and tippet, .... Three l< >« >k i ni^ glasses, all large, 'J'w ii large moose -kin-, .... Three cartridge boxes j thr< e bridl< - and straps, all new Three and a half yards of ratteen, . Two ran-, one trimmed with silver, one da pinchb One dozen of stone plates, mugs, bowls, tea pots, >\ <•.. Two L"iil razors; a number ofl ks ; Latin history, & One dozen of spoons, porringei -. & >■.. to the value of 1 ' i damask cloth. N< w buckskin breech Damage to m_\ bouse, ninety-four squares ofgl I ty-two wooden sashes broke to pieces, Two desks broke, clock, cans, &c, The above is a true copy from the original thai was taken it li\ Major Fuller and others, with Borne additional things. Jonathan II \Ki;i> n .' - ! I 1 3 ii ii y io n l 10 1 I (i l- 4 ii 1 10 . 1 1 II 1 i 9 ii ii 9 1 ii 6 10 1 1 II 1 III II ii 19 H 6 ii ii l .1 ii 3 l i • I i- l i 9 ,i ii l i 9 1 9 l ii .1 £103 7 (i i nn il -with to Ltdu Wihship. i rington, Januarj 33d, l" 'I In- maj certify, to whom it ma\ concern, thai I. the subscri- ber, lost, mi tin- nineteenth of Ipril, 1775, bj the British trooj in household furuiture, wearing apparel, and in money, more than 1 ran replace with tin- Mini of sixty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and lour pence. ...... ■'-' 6 13 4 Li in ^ w I5SHIP. 688 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, John Mason. The loss and damage I sustained by the British troops, on the nineteenth of April, 1775, in sundry articles of clothing and household furniture, &c. &c, was ..... £14 13 4 John Mason. Lexington, January 23d, 1783. Matthew Mead. The account of the loss that I sustained by the British troops, on the nineteenth of April, 1775, amounts to one hundred and one pounds, agreeably to the present value of these things that I lost. £101 Matthew Mead. Benjamin Merriam. The following is a true and just account of the damage sustained by Ben- jamin Meriam, by the ravages of the British troops, in the town of Lexing- ton, on the nineteenth day of April, 1775. Real Estate, . . . . . . . .£600 Personal Property, . . . ,. . . . 217 4 Benjamin Merriam. Nathaniel Farmer. The following is a just and true account of what damages and losses I sustained, by the wanton ravages and depredations of the troops of his Brit- ish majesty, under the command of Lord Percy, on their return from Con- cord, on the nineteenth of April, 1775, viz. : To the wearing apparel of my family, consisting of seven per- sons, together with my bedding, ..... £2G 00 To the furniture of three rooms, much damaged and carried off, . . . . . . . . . 16 To damage done my house and shop windows, . . 4 10 £46 10 Natiiamel Farmer. Thomas Fessenden. The following is a just and true account of the damages I sustained, by the wanton ravages of the British troops, under the command of Lord Per- cy, on the nineteenth of April, L775, in their return from Concord, viz.: To damage don.; mj bouse and windows, and fences, . £6 1775.] l'.\< i R.SK »\ I >F THE KING S Ti;< K >PS T.> the \\ • :n in ir apparel ofmj whole family, consisting ••li pei soi ....... I the bedding and furniture <>i' four rooms, with .-• reral arti- clea of plate, . . . . . . . To one horse and chaise stolen and cai B ton, . i suodrj | if broadcloth, and manj other articles in mj trading shop, . . . . . . .20 •:ii,i it Thou v I i > ■ •■ ■ Lexington, Januarj . Ill V V M I N 1 ' 1 - K I . The losses thai [sustained, \pril l'.'tli, 177.". Four fine Holland shirts, ( me sash w indow, .... Our black > i I k apron, < >in- ^<>l.| ring, .... < >ne >inii>- ear i iuu. < me pair Btone sleeve buttons, < »nr black gauze handkerchief, ( » 1 1 « - black barceloua do. Tw 'i pair cotton h" I isb, ..... quarl pew ti r basin, 13 i. i- it 15 ii i n I i) , ii ii i 18 I 2 jC!» 7 I I ■ ' V M 1 N PlSKS. .1 i i.KMI Ml II kRRIIfQTON. I Im-i on the uinetei nth of April, I77."i, the following artii ( tin- broadcloth great co < me pair goatskin bj i ( >m- pair cotton and linen sheets, . r J • yards calico, at lis pel < hie \ .inl ami a quai ter u>\\ cloth, Four linen handkercluefs, . Two diaper towels, T< ii yards tow cloth, I • platter, Fight |» wter plan b, Six pint port ingers, -7 • . £3 '■ ii 19 1 G - . (i I- ii n 1 Hi (i - ii (i 2 (I 15 . ii 9 5 1 1 ii 16 (590 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, Six spoons, . One pair hose, One pair shoes, . 4 . 3 . 9 £11 13 11 Jeremiah Harrington. Robert Harrington. An account of the damage done hy the British troops, on the nineteenth of April, 1775: To clothing and linen to the amount of . £12 Robert Harrington. Joshua Bond. The following is a true and just account of the damages sustained by Joshua Bond, by the ravages of the British troops, in the town of Lexing- ton, on the lUth day of April, 1775. One dwelling-house and shop, Personal property, . . £54 . 135 16 7 Joshua Bond. Benjamin Brown. A true and just account of the loss and damage sustained hy the wanton cruelty and barbarity of the British troops, on the 19th of April, 1775, in real property, and in household furniture and wearing apparel, &c. &c. Real property, Personal estate, £7 35 N. B. Having delivered to a committee, sent by the great and general court or convention, a list of the articles valued separately and distinctly, the subscriber has nothing more to deliver in now, than the total of the w hole as above. Benjamin Brown. Lexington, January 20, 1783. Hepzibeth Davis. Lost at Concord fight: One pair of sheets, . £0 18 Two pair of pillow cases, . 8 Three Dapkins, 4 Two table cloths, . 4 Three smocks, 13 G 1775.] EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS Three ;i]>r..' .... Shoes, caps and other irtu . . • 1 * • 1 II EPZIBI i II X I>\\ i-. In irk. B .1 IBROOK. Tlii- iii.i\ certify, thai I, the subscriber, lost, on the 19th of ApriJ, 1775, bj ih. British troops, in dan i m) buildings and furniture, and i'i carried away, more than I can replace now for twelve pounds. Benjamin Ebtabxook. B \mi i i. Bemis. An accounl <>r damages, and plundering from me, by the king's troops, on thi-ir return from < Joncord, on the L9th of April, I " i \bout twelve panes of window gli .... CO 12 One pair of sheets and pillow cat • • • .17" Pari of a timepi< . . . . > 1 16 A looking glass, . . • • . Two boxes, \\ itb sundi i< • • • • . •: i - - Saudi l Bkmis. Lexington, January 23d, IT N \ i il \ s Bjlodoi i- Tlii.- i- i srtify, thai the following is a just and true accouni of the d ages .-iinl waste I sustained, bj the ravages of the troops, under the com- mand of Lord Percy, on the 19th <>f April, l7/">, viz.: M\ wearing apparel, namelj : two coats, one pair of breech< one beaver hat, and sundry other articles, . . . £18 (l \ \ i ii \ % Bi om 1.' ungton, Januarj 22, K-:. I . M / \ mi i ii Bamson. This in v. ■ mi) i" whom it maj concern, thai F, the subscri- ber, lost, "ii the 19th of April, 1 7 7 -~». bj the British troops, in w< .niiiu apparel, more than I < - ;in replace with the sum of CIO Elizabeth Saj or. 692 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, Jonathan Smith, Jr. The account of the things that I lost by the British troops, on the 19th of Ajiril, 1775 : Three silver spoons, One pair of silver buckles, One pair of sleeve buttons, One satin bonnet and cloak, One hat and one pair of shoes, Two pewter porringers, One block-tin tea pot, One blanket, To a number of other articles, Damage done to the house, . £0 12 18 6 8 3 12 1 10 2 12 18 2 2 3 £13 12 8 Jonathan Smith, Jr. John Williams. A true and just account of the damages received by the British king's troops, under the command of Lord Percy, April 19, 1775 : To damage done to my house and fence, To wearing apparel and household furniture, £3 10 33 5 Sum total, Lexington, January 23, 1783. . £36 15 John Williams. John Winship. Taken by the British troops the 19th of April, 1775 : Two suits of clothes, valued at twelve pounds, lawful money, . £12 John Winship. Lexington, January 23, 1783. Margaret Winship. This is to certify, that the following is a just and true account of the dam- ages and waste 1 sustained, by the ravages of the troops under the com- mand of Lord Percy, on the loth of April, 1775, viz.: My wearing apparel and bedding, with sundry articles of plate, £15 Also the furniture of two rooms, much damaged and carried off, 6 1775.] EXC1 EtSION OF THE KING 9 TROOPS 1 1 ae to in\ bouse and window . . .11 MaB IBET Wl !I8HIF. LexiDgtOD, Jain:;! 22, I Maebj 1 . Damage done by th I' sb troops, the 19th of April, 1775, to mj pi ertj carried off) to the amount of five pounds and six 1 • I :count of dungs taken awaj and destroyed by the British tr.. \ i 1 : >. 1 7 ; II isebold furniture and clothing, . . . 11 ■ * In tin retail shop, . . . . . . .90 £173 II 9 Damage of real property, . . . . .'MOO William Mum \ Mi /./.v. April 19, i: \ ! account of what (lam.!. British troops did me thai To breaking glass windo ..... •_■; 11 To ■>in lool . . . . 7 in 11 To crockery wan . . . . no To ilania-. to n . .... 2 Ll in v MULLIKEN. \n account of the real and personal property belonging to the widow Lydia Mulliken and ber son, destroyed and carried off bj tin- Britisb tn hi their ravages in said town, ou tlie 19th of April, 177 ( me mansion bouse and si op, ■ . . . CIS 1 1 « .ii~. hold furnil . .... 1 M) wearing apparel, and that of five of mj family, . 96 18 - \ umber of valuable • id clockmal . .105 The above account is computed at the low< si rate thai thii purchased at thj Ltdia i v 694 EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS. [April 19, 1774. William Munroe. An account of the loss and damage sustained by William Munroe, late of Lexington, destroyed by the ravages of the British troops, on the 19th of April, 1775, viz.: Household goods and furniture, . . . . .£900 Isaac Reed, one of the heirs to said estate. Lexington, January 24, 1783. P A I' E ! TICONDEROG \ \ N i» < i; < » v, N POINT /• iii'firt .Irnoltl to tilt f'uiiunilt' - ■!;/. < !aznbri(] \ ril 30, 1' Gi tm i mi n : — \ on I i.i \ i- !' our Bister colon] of N< \\ York ; bul w<- I n <1 tb< tlemau who will carrj diis Ictu r, !■• r< pn sent the matter t" you, di I 1 1 i.i\ give auch orders as art blc to you. \\ ■ are, n% i 1 1 i the greatesl respecl and affection, ^ our most obedi< nt servai .M r-l.l'll W AIM! I \. ' MTMCM. '/'../■ Ml> ■u-j-'tll. I. 096 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. Edward Mott to the Provincial Congress. To the honorable Provincial Congress, or to the Council of War for the. Prov- ince of Massachusetts Bay : Shoreham, May 11, 1775. Gentlemen: — I would congratulate you on the surrender of the gar- rison of Ticonderoga to the American forces. The affair was planned and conducted after the following manner : a number of the provincial gentle- men of the assembly at Hartford, on Friday the S28th of April, conversing on the distressed condition of the people of Boston, and the means necessary to relieve them, fell on the scheme to take that fortress, that we might have the advantage of the cannon that were there, to relieve the people of Boston. 1 told the gentlemen, that in my opinion, it might be taken by surprise with a few men, if properly conducted ; on which, they desired me, if I was willing to serve my country in that way, to join Capt. Noah Phelps, of Sims- bury, and Mr. Bernard Romans, on that design; and furnished us with £800 in cash from the treasury, and desired us to go forward to the upper towns and search into the situation of said garrison, and if 1 thought proper, to proceed to take possession of the same. On which, we collected to the number of sixteen men in Connecticut, and proceeded forward till we came to Col. Easton's, at Pittsfield ; and there we consulted with Col. Easton, and John Brown, Esq., who, after they heard our plan of operation, agreed to join us, and after informing them that we intended raising our men on the Grants for the aforesaid purpose, as it would be difficult to raise and march a number of men through the country any distance without our plans being discovered, Col. Easton and Mr. Brown told us, that the people on the Grants were poor, and at this time of year it would be difficult to raise a sufficient number of men there to take and hold said garrison ; whereon Col. Easton offered to raise men in his own regiment for the aforesaid pur- pose, to join with the green mountain boys ; on which I set out with him for the town of Jericho, where Col. Easton raised between forty and fifty men, and proceeded to Bennington, at which place the men arrived the next day. At this place a council of war was called, Col. Easton being chair- man, and it was voted, that Col. Allen should send forward parties to secure the roads to the northward, to prevent all intelligence from arriving before us. On Sunday evening, the 7th of this instant May, we arrived at Castle- ton, where, on the next day, was held a council of war by a committee cho- sen for that purpose, of which committee I had the honor to be chairman. Alter debating and consulting on different methods of procedure in order to accomplish our designs, it was concluded and voted, that we would pro- ceed in the following manner, viz. : that a party of thirty men under the command of ('apt. Uerrick, should, on the next day, in the afternoon, pro- ceed to Skenesborough, and take into custody, Major Skene and his party, and take possession of all the boats thai thej should find there, and in the night proceed up the lake to Shoreham, with the remainder of our men, which were about one hundred and forty, who were under the command of Col. Ethan Allen, and Col. James Easton as his second, and Capt. Warner, TICONDEIU Kj \ \M» CIU >\\ \ r< HNT the third in command; as these three men were the persons wl I ihe nun the) were chosen to the command, and t<> nmk according t<> the num r men that each 001 raised. We also sent off Capl D I t,i proceed direct!) i" Panton,and there consul! bis brother in law, who lived there, and send down some boata to Bhoreham, if possible, to belp people over i" the fort Ml this it was concluded should l»- done or at- tempted, and was voted universally. After this affair \\.>- all settled, and the linn pitched "ii t.. go in each party, all were preparing for tin ir march, ing then within about nine miles of Skeneaborougb, and about twenty-five mi lea on the waj u< went, from Ticonderoga. < Arnold arrived to us from you with bis orders W rejoiced to see that you full) agreed with us, as to the expediei I im- portance of taking i to of ti But we nglj surprised when Col. Arnold presumed to contend for the command >m • forces that we had raised, whom \\<- bad assun «l. should l"> under the com- mand of their own officers, and be paid and maintained b) the colon] of Connecticut; but Mr. Arnold, after we had gene si) t<>M bim mir whole plan, strenuously contended and insisted, that be had a right to comn them :in- soldiers, as almost frustrated our whole design. Our men were for clubbing their firelocks and marching home, but were prevented b) CoL Allen and Col. Easton, who told them, that be should n<>t have llie command "t' d if he had, their pa) would !»■ the same as though thej were under their command; but the) would damn the pay, and sa) tins would n«.t !»• com- mauded by an) others but tli<>.-<- the) i ngaged with. After the ganrisoi surrendered, Mr. Arnold again assumed the command, although he had not one man there, and demanded it of Col. Allen ; on which, v CoL Al- len ln> orders in \\i it follow, \ a. : To CoL Ethan Mm: Sir: — Whereas ibl) to the power and authorit) to us given b) tin- (ii|cii_\ of Connecticut, we have appointed you t" t •• i K « ■ tli<- command of a part) of men and reduce and take possession of the garrison at Ticondi ;iml the dependencies thereto belonging; and as you •'"''' " nu '" : " '"•''' P° a on of the same, you are hereb) requiri A t>> keep the command and m ssion of the same for the use of the American colonies, until you liave fur- ther orders from the colon) of Connecticut, >>r the Continental Coi Signed, per order of the committee of v I l>\\ \i; D M« I I I Chairman oft < I James I laston, was of gr< al set t ice both in eouncil and act and in raising men for the above expedition, and appeared to be well qualified t>> be n"t onl) a colonel <>i" tli<- militia at borne, but t<> command in the held. Also, John Brow ii. Esq., of Pittsfield, w- r» commend a> an abl< llor, and full of spirit and resolution, as well as % 1 conduct We wish the) 88 698 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. may both be employed in the service of their country in a situation equal to their merits. I have the pleasure to add, that on Wednesday morning last, the 1 Oth of this instant May, about the break of day, our men entered the gate ; till then they were undiscovered, and in the most courageous and intrepid manner darted like lightning upon the guards, so that but two had time to snap their firelocks at us, and in a few minutes, the fortress and its dependen- cies were delivered into our hands. There are about forty soldiers taken prisoners of war, including officers, and excluding those taken at Skenes- borough. Not one life was lost in these noble acquisitions. I am, Gentlemen, in haste, your most obedient humble servant, EDWARD MOTT, Chairman of the Committee of War. Certifcate of Col. Easton, and others. Ticonderoga, May 11, 1775. To the Provincial Congress noto sitting at Walerlown : This is to certify, that previous to Col. Benedict Arnold's arrival to the forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point, a committee sent from the colony of Connecticut, furnished with money for the purpose of reducing and garri- soning said forts, had, with the assistance of eighty men from Massachu- setts, and one hundred and forty men from the New Hampshire Grants, marched within a few miles of Ticonderoga, and this morning, at day break, took possession of said fort, and gave the command thereof into the hands of Col. Ethan Allen. Col. Arnold refuses to give up his command, which causes much difficulty ; said Arnold not having enlisted one man, neither do we know that he can do so. As said committee have raised the men, and are still raising supplies for the purpose of repairing said fort, taking the armed sloop, and defending the country and the fort, we think said Arnold's further proceeding in the matter, highly inexpedient both in regard to ex- pense and dispute. James Easton, 1 Committee of War for tin Epaphrus Pall, I expedition against TV- Edward Mott, [ conderoga and Crown Noah Phelps, J Point. Hi indict . I mold to the Committee of Safety. Ticonderoga, May 11, 1775. Gl NTI.F.MKN : — 1 wrote you yesterday,' that arriving in the vicinity of this (1) 'I'll- letter of the lOtli of May, was not received bj the Commil f Safety. n^K- Tl< < >NDER< h, \ 1ND I i;< »w N Pi >i\ r place, I found, one hundred and fiftj m< n, collect* .1 at tin- ii nnte gentlemi ii lion i Connecticui • 1 • signed on the same errand on which I i headed hj < iol Ethan Mleu ; ami dial I had joined them, nol thiukii er to wait the arrival of the troops 1 had ■! on the road, but lo attempt the fori bj Burpriae; thai we had taken die t ■ »*n at four o'clock yesterdaj morning widioui opposition, ami had mail, prison* rs, "in- captain, one lit u- tenant, and fort] odd privates an. I subalterns; ami thai we found the fori in a most ruinous condition, and nol worth repairing; thai a part) of fitly men were gone i>> Crown Point, and thai I intended i" follow with as many more, i" seize the sloop, & c. ; ami dial I ini nd< >l ■ >n here, until I had further advice from you. On and b ir taking \*oam --ion here, I had agreed with Col. Allen, to issue future ordera joiutly, until I could raise a sufficienl Dumber of men to relieve bis people; "ii which plan, we proceeded, when I wrote you yesterday ; since which, CoL Alleu, timl- ing he had the ascendency ov< t bis people, positively insisted 1 should have i tnuiaml, as 1 had forbid the soldiers 1 plundering and destroying pi property, Tin- power is now taken out of m] bands, and [am Dot consulted, imr have I a voice in an\ matters. There are here, al present near one hun- dred men, who are in the greatesl confusion and anarchy, destroying and plundering private property, and committing ever] enormity, paying no at- tention i" the public service. The part] 1 advised w< to Crown Point, have returned, having met with bead winds; and thai expedition, and taking 1 1 1 * - Bloop, mounted with >i\ guns, are entirel] hud aside. Tlicre is n>.t tin- leasl regularity among the troops; bul every thing is governed by whim and caprice ; the soldiers threatening to leave tl ion on the leai front Mosl of them musl return home soon, as their famil suffering. I nder our present situation,] believe one hundred men could retake the fort, ami tin re w ema m> prospeel of things I" ling in s I" iter situation. I have, therefore, thought proper to send an express advising you of the of affairs, nol doubting you will take the matter into your ser - consi tion, and order a number of troops to join those I have coming on hen thai you will appoint some other person to take the command of them and this place, as you shall think most proper. Col. Allen i- a proper man to bead bis own wild people, but entirel] unacquainted with military service; and ii^ I am the onlj person who has been legal!] authorizcil intake posses- sion of this place, 1 am d termined to insist on mj riuht. and tlimk ii mj du- t] to remain here, against all opposition, until I have further orders; I nol comply with y ordera in regard to the cannon, & c . for want of men. I have written to the governor and general assembl] of < Connecticut, a.l\ i>- ing them of my appointment, and giving them an exact detail of m I the] stand al present I Bhould be extremelj glad to be honorabl) acquitted of m\ commission, and thai a more proper person mighi be appointed in toy loom: hut, as | nave, in consequence of mj ordera from you, gentlemen, been the firs) person who entered and took possession of the fort, I shall 700 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. keep it. at every hazard, until I have further advice and orders from you, and the general assembly of Connecticut. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient, humble servant, BENEDICT ARNOLD. P. S. It is impossible to advise you how many cannon are here and at Crown Point, as many of them are buried in the ruins ; there are a large num- ber of iron and some brass cannon and mortars, &c, lying on the edge of the lake, which, as the lake is high, are covered with water. The confusion we have been in, has prevented my getting proper information, further than that there are many cannon, shells, mortars, &c, which may be very ser- viceable to our armv at Cambridge. 1 B. A. To the Committee of Safety, Cambridge. Benedict Arnold to the Committee of Safety. Ticonderooa, May 14, 1775. Gentlemen : — My last was of the 11th iustant, per express ; since which, a party of men have seized on Crown Point, in which they took eleven pris- oners, and found sixty-one pieces of cannon serviceable, and fifty-three un- fit for service. I ordered a party to Skenesborough, who have made Ma- jor Skene prisoner, and seized a small schooner, which has just arrived here. I intend setting out in her directly, with a batteau and fifty men, to take possession of the sloop, which we are advised this morning, by the post, is at St. Johns, loaded with provisions, &c, waiting a wind for this place Inclosed is a list of cannon, &c. here, though imperfect, as we have found many pieces not included, and some are on the edge of the lake cov- ered with water. 1 am, with the assistance of Mr. Bernard Romans, mak- ing preparation at Foil George, for transporting to Albany those cannon that will be serviceable to our army at Cambridge. I have about one hun- dred men here, ami expect more every minute. Mr. Allen's party is de- creasing, and the dispute between us subsiding. I am extremely sorry mat- ters have not been transacted with more prudence and judgment. I have done every thing in my power, and put up with many insults to preserve peace, and serve the public. I hope soon to be properly released from this troublesome business, and that some proper person may be appointed in my room, till which [ am, very respectfully, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble servant, BENEDICT ARNOLD. (1) The answer to this letter is inserted in the Journal of the Provincial Congress, ante page 250. TICK >NDER< )(i\ ami cm >\\ \ p< >i\ i Tin P, S. Since writing the above, Mr. Romans, eoneludi - 01 to forward oarri innon, \ ■■., and provisions, which will l»« soon wanted. I beg leave i<> observe, be baa bi i n of gn ai -• i \ ice 1 tliink him a \>i\ spirit* d, judicious gentleman, who Ji;i- the aai vice of the country much al heart, and i 1 > »j »« • be will meet proper encouragi ment i: \. lAat of Cannon, Mortars, and s H Point and T M , \\, \ .'. Jit Crown Point -Two iron twenty-four poundera : one iron twenty-l useless: one brass twenty- four, serviceable : four iron ind four- iron twelves, noi examined, but appeari I encfa iron twelves, uaelesa: eight French twelves and eigh too ns, not examined, but appearing good : seven long nines, double fortified, and g I: twelve long nines, serviceable : i nn < > long nines, mounted: thirty-three long - i I bines, useless: bi ven 1- >i i ^r nine-, and twelves, useless : two long sixes, good: two short sixes, l>ad : three slum sixes, not examined: three short useless: one English thirteen inch mortar: one French thirteen inch, two French i ighl inch, and two eight inch howitzers, all serviceable. . // Ticondaroga — Three long eighteen pounders, good : twi I b eigh- teens,bad: two French twelves, bad, and t\\" g I: six French twelves, double tiirtitifil, giMnl, ami two bad: twelve long nines, g I, and five bad: eighteen sixes, bad: nine fours, good: one m\, L""il : nineteen awi good: two wall pieces, good : two French twelves, bad: one thirteen inch mortar and bed, g I : one Beveu inch and l>. d, -j. 1 : one seven inch how- itzer, good: twenty-eight iron truck wheels : ten carriages, fit for use: for- ty-two port fires: five copper ladles, with staves: twelve copper ladles without stav< enteen lintstocks: one hundred, eighteen pound shot: live hundred and fifty, twelve pound shot: two hundred and forty, nine pound shot: "in thousand lour hundred and thirty, six pound Bhot: one hundred and Bixtj eight, quilted grape >ln't: nine tons lead balls: three thousand seven hundred pounds iron balls: twenty-eighl barrels powder, damaged: nine hundred and Bix Bhells: thirty thousand flints. Benedict Jbrnold to tht Committer s ■!>/- Caowa Pomt, ^Im 19, 1 1 ( b s 1 1 1 m \ : Mj last was of the 1 Ith instant, bj Mr. Romans, \ ia N< « Haven. I then acquainted you of the occasion of delaj in not carrying your orders into execution. The afternoon of the same day, being joined bj Captains Brown and Oswald, with fifty men enlisted on the road, they having taken possession of a small Behi ir at Skeneeborough, wi imme- diatelj proceeded on ourwaj to St. Johns, and at eight o'clock, P. M. the 17th instant, arrived within thirtj mile- of St Johns, The weather proving 702 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. calm, we manned out two small batteaux with thirty-five men, and the next morning, at six o'clock, arrived at St. Johns, surprised and took a sergeant and his party of twelve men, the king's sloop of about seventy tons, with two brass six pounders and seven men, without any loss on either side. The captain was gone to Montreal, and was hourly expected, with a large detachment for Ticonderoga, a number of guns and carriages for the sloop, which was just fixed for sailing ; add to this, there were a captain and forty men at Chamblee, twelve miles distant from St. Johns, who were expected there every minute with the party : so that it seemed to be a mere interpo- sition of Providence that we arrived in so fortunate an hour. We took such stores on board as were valuable, and the wind proving favorable, in two hours after our arrival, weighed anchor for this place, with the sloop and four of the king's batteaux, having destroyed five others : so that there is not left a single batteau for the king's troops, Canadians or Indians, to cross the lake in, if they have any such intention. I must, in justice to Col. Allen, observe, that he left Crown Point soon after me for St Johns, with one hundred and fifty men, and on my return I met him five leagues this side, and supplied him with provisions, his men being in a starving condi- tion. He informed me of his intention of proceeding on to St. Johns with eighty or one hundred men, and keeping possession there. It appeared to me a wild, impracticable scheme, and provided it could be carried into exe- cution, of no consequence, so long as we are masters of the lake ; and of that I make no doubt, as I am determined to arm the sloop and schooner immediately. 1 wrote you, gentlemen, in my former letters, that I should be extremely glad to be superseded in my command here, as I find it next to impossible to repair the old fort at Ticonderoga, and am not qualified to direct in build- ing a new one. I am really of opinion, it will be necessary to employ one thousand or fifteen hundred men here this summer, in which I have the pleasure (if being joined in sentiment by Mr. Romans, who is esteemed an able engineer. I am making all possible provision for wheel carriages, &c., to carry such cannon, &c. to Albany, as can be spared here and will be ser- viceable to our army at Cambridge. 1 must refer you for particulars to the bearer, Capt. Jonathan Brown, who has been very active and serviceable, and is a prudent and good officer, and beg leave to observe, I have had intimations given me, that some persons had determined to apply to you and the Provincial Congress, to injure me in your esteem, by misrepresenting matters of fact. I know of no other motive they can have, only my refusing them commissions, for the very simple reason, that 1 did not think them qualified. However, gentlemen, I have the satisfaction of imagining I am employed by gentlemen of so much candor, thai my conducl will not be condemned until 1 have the opportunity of being heard. I am, with the greatest respect, Gentlemen, Your most devoted and very humble servant, BENEDICT ARNOLD. TICONDEROGA \M) < K<>\\ \ POINT 70 I P 8, Enclosed is a memorandum of such cannon, A I in:: in < ambridge : also of bucIi bj arc hi K\ a return from Montreal to Gei • G I find there are seven hun- dred and seventeen men in I the 7ih ami 26th n clud- ing seventy, whom we have taken j >i i~i»j To the ( - i /.' rudid . frnold to the i 1 >ws Poijtt, M * r 23, J ' Gentlemen : — Mj last was of the 19th instant, by Capt Jonathan Brown. I then advised you of m) taking i on of tin k. that, mi the 1-tli instant, on m\ return from St. Johns, Colonel Allen, with a I ii jut eight] or one hundred nun, passed me, with the intention of makii stand al St. Johns, and not being able to dissuade bim from so rash a pur- pose, I supplied him with pro\ ision, &c ^ esterda) he arrived at 1 with his party, and says, that on the evening of the 18th instant, hi rived with his part) at Si Johns, and bearing of a detachment of mei tin road from Montreal, he laid an ambush for tin m: but bis people I* so much fatigued, when the part) was about one mile distant, he the proper to retreat, and crossed the lake at St. Johi ; through the night : at dawn the nexl day, the) were, when asleep with a discharge "!' grape shot from >i\ field pieces, and a <\i><- small arms from about two hundred regulars. The) made a precipitati treat and lefl behind three men. Immediate!) on 1 1 1 i~- advice, 1 proceed* 'I here n itli the Bloopai as well armed as | — ible under our circumstances, and < igbt) men, which, with the part) here before, make mar one hundred and fift) men, with whom I am det< rmined to make a stand hen ire the cannon, it I impossible to remove them al present I am in bourl) expectation of two or three hundred men more. Most of those here have enlisted. Co . Mini's men are, in general, gone home. \- the regulars have good infor- mation of our Btrength and movements, 1 am apprehensive of their paying us a visit, provided the) can gel batteaux from Montreal to St. Johni I shall make ever) possible preparation t" give them a worm reception. I have commissioned < "a|it. John Stone in the sloop, and Capt I M in the Bel ner, and have written to New York for a numbei ami at amen to man the two v< s» Is, being i I ofthi m al ami obligi 'I to stay on board one of them myself \- booi ifficient number of men arrive, I shall lose no time in • tying your ordt ra into i Kecution, in regard to the cannon. Tl ver) luckily, an i scorl of provisions, five barrels of pork, and thii Sour, arrivi il here, as a pn -• m from Albany, under the care of < '. I lijah Phelps, the hut barrel of our pork being broached. I have ordered fifty 704 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. barrels of pork, and one hundred barrels of flour, from Albany, which I ex- pect soon. Prior to which, I bought five oxen and thirty barrels of flour, which is all the provision purchased yet. The people enlisted have been promised the same bounty as is given in the Massachusetts Bay. A sum of money will be requisite to carry matters into execution. I have £160, found in the sloop : but as it was the property of the captain, I don't choose to make use of it at present. 1 have sent to Albany repeatedly for powder, and can get none there: only one hundred and fifty pounds here, which I brought from Concord ; and I beg you will order a quantity to be sent for- ward here immediately. I have written to Connecticut, but can have no dependence from that quarter, as it is very scarce there. I hope some gen- tleman will soon be appointed in my room here, who is better able to serve the public than I am. In the interim, I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant, BENEDICT ARNOLD. P. S. Since writing the above, one of Col. Allen's party, who was taken prisoner at St. Johns, has made his escape, and says, that on the 19th in- stant, there were about four hundred regulars at St. Johns, who expected to be reenf breed by more men, and were making all possible preparations to cross the lake, and retake Crown Point and Ticonderoga. I have sent ex- presses to Fort. George and Skenesborough, to rally the country. You may depend, gentlemen, these places will not be given up, unless we are over- powered with numbers, or deserted by Providence, which has, hitherto, sup- ported us. I am yours, &c. B. ARNOLD. Gov. Trumbull to the Provincial Congress. Hartford, May 25, 1775. Gentlemen: — Your letter of the 17th instant, with the enclosed resolve of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay, was delivered to me by Col. Easton, and communicated to the general assembly, who have desired me to return their congratulations on the reduction of Ticonderoga, a for- tress truly important, and to assure you they entertain a proper sense of the merit of those officers and soldiers by whose bravery and good conduct it was achieved. As this advantage was gained by the united councils and enterprise of a number of private gentlemen in your province, New Hamp- shire, New York, and this colony, prompted only by a zeal for the liberty of their country, without public authority to our knowledge, and is of great and general importance to the united colonics, it was thought best to take the advice of the Continental Congress upon the manner .of treating it in future, both by the general assembly of this colony and the committee of New York, as well as by you. Despatches were accordingly sent to Phila- TH ONDEROG \ AND cimw \ POINT 705 delphia, and the sentiments of the Continental Congn n ih< reon have ba n ived tin- day, bj express, with ;i letter from the commi York, copies <>i which, enclose d, are herewith sent yon. B) them _\"'i will gee, the present custod) of that ii>. tted to the province oi New York, with the assistance of th< N I land col- onies, if needed. The general assemblj of this colon} behold your situa- tion with concern, and a fixed resolution in contribute ever) thing in their power to your defence and preservation, and as fat - , to them, willing and d< sirous you Bhould have the benefil h artiller) as ma) be Bpared from the fbrti f Crown Point and Ticonderoga; but, as the) (In in a consider thi mselves as entitled to the i immand of those phiccs, the) cannot take upon tbemselvi ive orders for l cat n that ma) be spared, without the concui interested in them. The necessity of securing and maintaining tin lor the defence of the frontiers, becomes dail) mon t, from the r d in- telligence wi receive, of the plan formed bj our enemies to distress us, bj Inroads of Canadians and savagt -. from the province of Qui 1" c, upon the dements. The enclosed cop) of a letter from our delej tending at New York, to communicate measures with the Provincial Con- gress in thai city, throws an additional light on this t, and is tho worth] to be communicated t>> \<>n. Whilst the designs of our i againsl us, fill us with concern, we cannot omit to observe the -mil' Providence upon us, in revealing their wicked plans, and hitherto prosper- ing tin' attempts nf tin- colonii s to frustrate them. \\ itli :i bumble rel on the continuance of divine favor ami protection in tin cause, "i" tin- jus- of which a doubt cannot l»' entertained, il mbl) of this colon] an- read) t'> cooperate with tin- other colonies, in ev< r) i \- rtion t "< • r their common defence, ami in contribute their proportion of men and other ssaries, for maintaining the posts on the front defcndii pelling invasions in any other quaru eably to the advice of the Conti- nental < 'nil!' I am. <;■ mil men, in iiihali" of the general assembl] of this colouy, ^ our most obedient humble servant, JON ATI! \\ TRI M It I I To Uu Provincial Con f Maua/chutttU, Committee of New York !•> G TrumbulL \ i .. \ i n.K. M \ \ J .'. I Hiimikmi 8ia: I am directed b) the general committee ol lion for this cit) and county, to transmit to your honor the enclosed authentic copy of a resolution of the Continental Congress, received b) express, and B9 706 T1CONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. to inform your honor, that in consequence thereof, we immediately shipped to Albany one hundred barrels of pork, and that a select committee has been appointed to purchase and forward, without delay, cordage, oakum, pitch, guns, and every other necessary that may be wanted from hence, to carry into execution the aforesaid resolution. We have also, by express, desired our brethren of Albany to give their aid and assistance. I have the honor to be, most respectfully, Your honor's most obedient and humble servant, HENRY REMSEN, Deputy Cliairman. Hon. Gov. Trumbull. Resolution of the Continental Congress. Ik Continental Congress, Thursday, May 18, 1775. Whereas, there is indubitable evidence that a design is formed by the British ministry, of making a cruel invasion, from the province of Quebec, upon these colonies, for the purpose of destroying our lives and liberties, and some steps have actually been taken, to carry the said design into exe- cution: and whereas, several inhabitants of the northern colonies residing in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, immediately exposed to incursions, impelled by a just regard for the defence and preservation of themselves and their countrymen from such imminent dangers and calamities, have taken pos- session of that post, in which was lodged a quantity of cannon and military stores, that would certainly have been used in the intended invasion of these colonies : this Congress earnestly recommend it to the committees of the cities and counties of New York and Albany, immediately to cause the said cannon and stores to be removed from Ticonderoga to the south end of Lake George, and, if necessary, to apply to the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Ray, and Connecticut, for such an additional body of lorces as will be sufficient to establish a strong post at that place, effectually to secure the said cannon and stores, or so many of them as it may be judged proper to keep there ; and that an exact inventory be taken of all such cannon and stores, in order that they may be safely returned, when the restoration of the former harmony between Great Britain and the colonies, so ardently wished for by the latter, shall render it prudent and consistent with the overruling law of self-preservation. A true* copy from the minutes. CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary. TIO >NDEROG \ Wh UROM \ l'< >l\ r ' ' General, Meh J k, Mil 83, \~>~ Bib: W< arrived in tl scitj d have the satisfaction to form you, that the committee of N cd with the direc- tions of the < Continental I [*icondero- ga \\ ith |>ii.. The Provincial Convi f tliia provii i Bitting, bul I i the busim *a of examiui S W have not, therefore, as yet, laid our ap|K>intmenl before them. We lia\<- bad n onal conference with Mr. Price, an eminent English merchant treal, who is Bent b) the English merchants of th i the Continental* is, with intelligei of a most inti re. Me informs us, that all the French offic< I inada are now in actual pa] un- der < ieneral Carlton ; that St. Luk< La Corne, who was superintendent of all the Indians in Canada, while it was in the hands of the French, and is father in law of Mr. Campbell, who is superintendent under his majesty, has Benl belts i" the northern trilx r up as the falls of St Marj and Michilimakinak, to engage them t>> take up arms against thi N I gland colonies, but the event "t' that embi nown : that a Bimilar ap- plication had be< n mad ■ t<> the tribes nearer to the frontiers "t' the Bnglish settlements, but with little succ( dian fort) Indians could \»- found that would engage in the m< : that the plan i i procun to join with the Canadians in hostilities against the rebels of N( I ingland. Mr. Price gives it as lii- opinion, that the I nts will not, but with the utmost reluctance, en gainst tli<' colonists, but that th< our bitter enemies: he also G I rlton was cx< I at Montreal in a daj or t\\i> after he left that place, which v\a.* the I Itli of Mas in-taut, and that li«' was t'> take up his residi nee then for this Bum- mer. \\ ,'■■ are now about t" take up in the hearl <>t" the city, where we shall have an opportunity of conversing with the citizens, and of learning their true .-pint. The Provincial Convention of New Jersej meet this daj : we propose t" wait "ii them sometime this \\ i • We can, at present, lm\'- you no jusl account of the state <<\' the cause of libertj in this city, but hope, from th>' littl>- information u>- have alread) had, that there will nol be bo general a defection as was appreht uded. \\ e ■ . Sir, \\ i t ! i due resp< ct, your most obedient InnuM"- servaj \ \ I II Will. \\ Ml-. .Ik.. Ill VDhl.i 9 i:i KK. I'll i:r< »N I li>\\ kRDft '/'a tin llmi. William WUUanu I. Sm // fembly, ' tit. 708 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. Congress of New York to the Committee of Safety. In Provincial Congress, New York, May 26, 1775. Brethren : — Having received a minute of the grand Continental Con- gress, of which we send you a copy herewith ; we wrote a letter to the gov- ernor and company of the colony of Connecticut, of which we also send you a copy. We do not doubt of your ready concurrence in the measures recommend- ed hy that august hody, in which we do entirely acquiesce. We pray you to act on this occasion with prudence and expedition, espe- cially as we have received intimations from our brethren in Connecticut, that they cannot send a sufficient force for the purposes mentioned to them in our letter. And we beg leave to assure you, that we are affectionately your friends and brethren in the general cause of freedom. We are, Gentlemen, your humble servants, P. V. B. LIVINGSTON, President. To Joseph Warren, Esquire, and others, the Committee of Safety for the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. Benedict Arnold to the Committee of Safety. Crown Point, May 26, 1775. Gentlemen : — My last was of the 23d instant ; I then advised you of the situation of matters here ; since which, there has been no material altera- tion. Very few men have arrived ; we have fixed the sloop with six car- riage and twelve swivel guns; the schooner with four carriage and eight swivel ; both vessels are in good order, and tolerably wellmanned, eight gentlemen having arrived from Hartford, who are seamen. I have sent two ten inch iron mortars, two eight inch brass mortars, and two eight inch howitzers to Ticonderoga, to be forwarded to Fort George. You may de- pend on my sending the cannon from this place as soon as possible. There are three thirteen inch iron mortars here. I beg to know what 1 shall do with them. I have received large donations of flour, pork, peas, &c, from Albany, near seventy barrels, and 1 am informed, there is a large quantity on the road from that place, and a quantity supplied from Connecticut. The advices I received from Butterfield, and communicated in the postscript of my last of the 23d instant, prove to be premature. I have good intelligence from a batteau immediately from St. Johns, which place she left the 19th instant, that the regulars win' returned to Chamblee. 1 am, with great respect, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, BENEDICT ARNOLD. To the Committee of Safety, Cambridge. Tl< ONDEROG \ Win i:<>\\ \ |m,|\ r yo9 ('•■ m ml . U i inn tuut to the P i II rtford, Ma] '.'". I ( ■'( n n i mi n : Y'.'i have, doubtless, received the advice of the < ''>nt:' tal Congress, relative to the important :• - and posts "t I and Crown Point W m it n< lided bj their opinion in ever] important transaction, and bat tion in their approbation of the capture made of those |»>m~ : and their advice relating t«> tb< ing the cannon, & ■• . t" the -'>mli end of Lake < • there, must probablj be complied with, unless they, u] furth lider- ation, shall alter their opiuion, and advise to making the both the aforesaid forts, which this I • much more expedient, on man] obvious accounts, and have, several da] signified their opinion t<> our d< at Baid I nd from thi and for oth< r reasons, hope for their com urrei The bearer, Cape Phelps, who has been verj active and useful in the rap- tures, is just arrived w it 1 1 important advices from CoL Arnold, of an expect- ed attack, speedil] from Governor Carlton, and is charged with the same advices from Mr. Arnold t" you. In consequence of tbem, and the imminent danger the people there are exposed t". our assembl) have just orden <\ the hundred pounds of our pittance of |><>\\ < l« r. to !»• fbrtbw ith sent tbera; I also, have ordered four companies t" march, for their present relief) and have advised the New Vork IV"\ incial Congress of tlii- step; and al>' now despatching advices of the same to the Continental I ting forth the advantage of maintaining a posi at Ticondi i Crown Point, and suggesting our wishes, that the) reconsider their ail. In the mean time, you maj !»■ assured that we have in> such claim t<> the acquisition or the command of them as in the \< isl di _ • • to interfere with anj measures you ma) think proper to adopt relating to them, and consider whal we have iir as a small and temporar) n be£ I ii. Gentlemen, in the name and behalf <>t" the bouse of represental your most obedient and humble servant, bj their order, \\ II. 1. 1AM \\ ll. l.l \M- - kerJ Governor Trumbull to Uu Provincial Congn ll tford, Ma) 3 '. r (.'i m ii men: — I am d( sin d to inclose to you, a cop) of a letter from the Congress of V w Vork to this assembly, dated 25th instant, which you \\\U rec< rve herewith, per Mr. Brown, who i> <>n bis return from the Contii tal Congress. The contents of the above mentioned letter "■ re immedinti Is taken into consideration b] this assembly; in consequence whereof, tbej (i ~^- 710 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. came into the following resolutions. Tliat one thousand men, including four hundred which we had before ordered, under command of Col. Hin- man, should march, as soon as possible, to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, for the support and defence of those fortresses. That they continue there until they are relieved by the province of New York, or are otherwise order- ed by this assembly. That Col. Hinman take the command of our troops on those stations. That the troops be furnished with one pound of powder and three pounds of bullets to each soldier. That Col. Hinman be ordered to keep up the strictest vigilance, to prevent any hostile incursions from be- ing made into the settlements of the province of Quebec. And, that the Provincial Congresses of New York and Massachusetts Pay, be advised of these measures ; and the New York Congress be requested to forward the necessary supplies for said troops, and such other supplies of ammunition as they shall judge necessary. Advice of these resolutions is already sent forward to New York, per Mr. Colton, your express to Philadelphia. It is matter of doubt with us, whether the above mentioned detachment of troops ordered by this colony, will be sufficient for the important purposes for which they are destined. Put we recollect that Col. Arnold is now on the spot with a commission, as we understand, to raise a regiment in the pay of your province. We are not informed how far he has proceeded in that design. If he meets with success, we flatter ourselves that his regiment, joined with the troops we have sent, will be able to maintain their ground and keep possession of those important posts. We take the liberty to recommend to your consideration, the furnishing such additional supply of powder from you, as you shall think necessary to be sent forward for the support of those northern posts. 1 am very sorry to have it to say, that we are credibly informed there are not five hundred pounds of powder in the city of New York : but at the same time, are advis- ed, that means are taking to supply them with that very important article. 1 am, with great truth and regard, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble servant, JONATHAN TRUMBULL. The honorable Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay. The Congress of .Yew York to the Assembly of Connecticut. In Provincial Congress, New York, May 25, 1775. To the honorable the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut : Brethren:— By a minute of the grand Continental Congress of the 18th of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy- TICONDEIU '<■ \ AND « ROM \ P< UNT : 1 1 five, a copy of which we ■!" herewith transmit that Ticouderoga hath been taken h) Bundrj inhabitants of the northern i nies; and from the minute . ured that tl sure \\ :is for the common safetj of tin \ In purs reclions contained in that minute, we I d the i removiug the cannon ai u ;it that important i"i o the Bouth end of 1 «• e, and for securing them there ; and we have ap- pointed Messrs, John V Bleeker, II j I I' I P link Swart, and Peter J i of tins bue I doubt but that "tn brethren of Connecticut t tin- idea of ordering an) <>!' their troo] a t<> inarch within the bounds of ihi> eoU ony, for the purpose of defending the fort at Ticonderoga, and the cat and Bton - above mentioned ai Fort I But we praj you to cast away all (ears of offending us upou 1 1 * I — occasion. \\ e shall I"- bappj thai _\ur forces destined for the purposes above mentioned; and our willingness that they shall take the command at th< a whili risoned l>\ your trooj -. \\ i beg leave to assure you, that in this and all other matters, we will paj the highest attention to everj recommendation of th< I 1 _:• ss, ■ - 1 ■ < i that we have the honor t" I i . atlemen, your most obedieul bumble servai P. \. B. I.l\ INGS rON, /' fen*. P>\ order of th< I .Inns Mi Ki Robert Bensok, S P. S. We praj you t" use everj effort to preserve and improve the pre- sent peaceable dispositions of the Canadians and Indians, for which purpose we think it will be m cessarj t" keep up the strii test vigilant <• n> pn anj incursions from I" Log made 1 1 1 1 « » th<- province "i < l P. \. B. Il\ LNGS rON, /' mi. Benedict Arnold to Uu Commitle* s ty, i '. n Point, Maj 29, I ''•'<■ ( . i vi 1 1 mi \: — I was ii i nails surprised and alarmed this day, on receiving 712 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. advice, via Albany, that the Continental Congress had recommended the re- moving of all the cannon, stores, &c, at Ticonderoga to Fort George, and evacuating Ticonderoga entirely, which being the only key of this country, leaves our very extensive frontiers open to the ravages of the enemy, and if put into execution, will be the entire ruin of five hundred families to the northward of Ticonderoga. 1 have written to the Congress and given my sentiments very freely, with your instructions to me, as I fancy they have had no intelligence of my appointment or orders. Col. Allen has entirely given up the command. I have one hundred and fifty men here, and expect, in two or three weeks, to have my regiment completed, and believe they will be joined by a thousand men from Connecticut and New York. 1 have sent to Lake George, six large brass and iron mortars and howitzers, and one brass and three iron twelve pounders ; and shall pursue your orders with all the despatch in my power. I am, Gentlemen, with great respect, Your most obedient and humble servant, BENEDICT ARNOLD. Col. Easton to the Provincial Congress. Pittsfield, May 30, 1775. To the honorable Provincial Congress, now sitting at Watertown, and to the honorable Committee of Safety, at Cambridge. May it please your honors : — When I arrived express from Ticondero- ga, to the honorable Provincial Congress and Committee of Safety, at Water- town and Cambridge, I represented to those two honorable boards, that the reduction of that important fortress had taken its rise in the general court of the colony of Connecticut, as it was also mentioned in the letter from Capt. Mott to those two honorable boards aforesaid ; upon which, the Con- gress passed a resolve, and the president of the Congress was ordered to write to the said general assembly, desiring them to garrison and fortify I hose late acquisitions, and also to bring down some of the cannon to our head quarters at Cambridge. When J arrived at the assembly, and deliver- ed the letter to the governor, his honor told me, that the assembly had not, as an assembly, taken the matter up, but that it had its original in private persons belonging to the assembly. However, it was immediately attended to, and a committee of both houses was appointed to take the matter under consideration, and did so; but did not report till Capt. Mott came from the Continental Congress, with the approbation of that, honorable body for the taking and maintaining the fortress aforesaid. The council have detained me till farther intelligence can be had from the Congress at New York, and Mr. Bheppard is sent in m\ Btead. I am, however, sent on my way, with all haste, for Ticonderoga, without receiving said intelligence, on account of TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. 713 the great danger that fortress is in of being besieged in a short time. By order of the aforesaid assembly, 1 have senl forward five hundred [rounds of powder, under a proper guard, and shall, this day, basten after ii with all expedition. 1 i sped do provision from Connecticut will I ad th<- men that were with me from this province at the tak Baid fort, which were about fifty, and about one hundred who have ircement, ex- cept the paying them till about this time. Though Connecticut will men and assist in the defence of that fortress, yet the) exp< ct that our con- gress will proper!) i inize the men tlie) send, and ,-iIm> paj them. It i- .. on all hands, the fortress must be maintained, as it is of infi- nite importance to the general i I ao doubt but ver) violent at- tempts will soon be made to wrest it out of our hands, \- I hav< about uiii' hundred ami fift) men now at dial fort, ami shall be able to till up a regiment in a fevi days time-, I would ju.-t hint to your honors, that I should h< willii rve m_\ countr) in the capacit) 1 stand in at home, as the bead <>f a regiment on this northern expedition. Should you Bee tit to ifj me with the command of a i at li'i tin fortifying and garrisoning said fortress, you ma) depend on m_\ n osl faithful exertions t" d< fend it, to the last extremity, against the whole weight of Canada, and <>n tin- punctual observance "f all your orders. And I shall !"■ read) farther acquisitions as shall he in m) power, consistent with wisdom and prudence for the safety of what arc alreudy made, that you in your wisdom shall direct \- iu other regimental officers, Copt Israel Dickinson and John Brown, Esq . havt distinguished themsi Ives ver) highly, both in council and action, ami, in m) humble opinion, are well qualified to command in the field. In a word, gentlemen, what is now wanted, is, that you put that fortress into the besl posture of defence, in conjunction with Connecticut: that \«>n properl) officer one or more regiments : as there muBt be order and com- mand in all armies, that you nominate a commander in chi< f: ami forward I >.i \ with all expedition. I hope n> receive an answer to this without an) unnecessar) delay. Should you Bee lit to appoint a chaplain t<> attend us, 1 recommend to you the Rev. Thomas Allen of this place, as a suitable per son, who is well known to General Pomeroy. 1 am, Gentlemen, your humble Bervant, .1 \MI - I ISTON. N. r> Ti necessary that provisions for the t ps be provided immedi ately, and also a number of the militar) laws lati ly made b) the ' • .1. I. iSTON. •.hi 714 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. Governor Trumbull to the Provincial Congress. Hartford, June 1, 1775. Gentlemeh : — Your letter of the 29th May, by Mr. Sheppard, is received, and I observe your agitation occasioned by the resolution of the General Con- gress, touching Ticonderoga and Crown Point. It was looked on in the same light here, and hath been repeatedly mentioned to the delegates from Connecticut, that removing from Ticonderoga to the south end of Lake George, would expose great part of the frontiers to invasion and distress, and a fort at the latter could scarcely be tenable. The expressions of the resolution are not clear. The Provincial Congress at New York, take them to mean no more than the removing the supernumerary cannon and stores from those two fortresses to the south end of Lake George ; but, not to leave or abandon those two important posts. Mine of the 29th of May, by Mr. Brown, informs what hath been resolved here, which is fully approved by the Provincial Congress at New York. They express their concern to keep and maintain " the important posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point." \\ e have received intelligence from Albany, of the readiness of that city and county to afford their utmost assistance for securing those important posts, for the common defence of our rights and liberties. Our general assembly was closed last evening. I shall be attentive to jour intelligence, and will communicate to you all that appears important, that shall come first to my knowledge : please to direct for me at Lebanon. 1 congratulate you on the union and increasing harmony of these North American colonies, and the wonderful concurrence and coincidence of counsels amongst them. May our hearts be united in humble thankfulness therefor. I am, with great truth and regard, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble servant, JONATHAN TRUMBULL. The honorable Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay. Col. Easton to the Provincial Congress. Crown Point, June 6, 1775. Respectable Gejsteemen: — It is of the utmost importance to the united colonies to cultivate harmony and friendship with the Canadians and their Indians. 1 have painfully exerted myself to procure and secure it. I have sent you a copy of a letter Col. Allen and myself wrote to the Canadians. It appears to me of importance, that your honors should be acquainted with the state of policy and of facts. You will discover, by perusing the enclosed, that a party of Canadians made an attack upon our reconnoitering party. Since that, Mr. Ferris, an inhabitant of the New Hampshire Grants, has TICONDEROG \ kND CR< i ' l\ T ; r, been at Montreal, and returned to this place ; !>• I ile in, and he inibrme thai Sainl Luke La Corue, who acted wards our people the lant war, for which be was lii- utmo.sl influence t<> excite the Canadians and India i the war against the united colonieB ; and thai he, and Capi Mel o) \ ^ I ,• > com- manded il"- Canadian attack, have made hul little proficiency. \\ tlie said part) of Canadians were appointed officers, hul could ; few soldiers and not one Indian. Saint Luke advises, that some in i parish l»- immediati tecuted, except t J i . \ will join the k There are latel) come to Saint Johns, near two hundred regulars, and j"m- ed ( apt, Mel 'oy's port) of aboul fifl) Canadians, w ho have I" < n menti< as assailants on the reconnoitering party, and the) ore there fortifying I still retain mj sentiments thai policy demands thai the colonies advance an army of two or three thousand men into Canada and environ M This will inevitable ii\ and confirm the Canadians and Indiana in our inter- est Nothing gives me bo much concern, as the mistaken policy in our worthy Congress and assemblies, who, for wani of the real knowledge of ••i n.ii'i facts, imagine, thai to push an arm) thither would offend the < dians and incense them agaiusl the colonies. The armed vessels vanced to the north pari of the lake to command it, and, consequently, to guard the frontier settlements thereon. We hear thai CoL Hinman is ;i|>- pointed commander in chief of this department, aud is marchjng hither with a thousand men. These are joyful tidings to us. We hope the) will prove true : for we cannot long conducl our orm) \\ itboul it be reguloj Ij organized w ith officers and under pa) . I am, Gentlemen, your n b dienl humble Bervant, .1 \mi.s ; \. 'I'ii tin honorable tht < enqftht Provitu ' ( 'ommittet pn and Cambrid damation <>\ which, in this letter, we do nol pretend to expatiate upon ; bul refer you to t!i>' consid eration of the justice and equitableness "i" our cause from \ ' i" quaintance with the merits of it. We n\\ \ poiN r ;i: A copj of the letter that we sent !■• tin- Canadians, to i» communicated to them in print, translated into French bj tin- favor "i Mr \\ alk< . o\ ;it UontreaJ. This we Bubrail to your bom sideration. N i command, Ethan Ai i i v James I /.' ni ii/'tln CommiUet .•>•» ni to 'I ( Iambi idge, Jul) « ; . I ' 1 The committee appointed t" proceed to die posts of Ticonden Crown Point, & i\, beg leave to report, that thej proci edi 'I through the new settlements called die New Hampshire Grants, and carefullj ■ 1 the road through the same, and find thai then is a good road from Willi t"\\n tn the place where the road crosseth the river called Paulet river, which is about fifteen miles from Skenesborough ; from thence t" the falls at \\ i",,| < 'r, , |( ii, :,|- Major Skene's bouse, the road is not feasible, and is unfit for carriages, but cattle maj be driven that waj verj well. Your committee, having taken with them th< pies of the com mist and instructions from the committee of safetj tn<',,i Benedict Arnold, and informed themselves, as fullj as thej were al >t< ■, in what manner be had i \- ecuted his said commission and instructions, hav< found that he was with Col. Allen, and others at the time tin fort was reduced; but <1" not find that he bad anj men under Ms command at the time of the reduction of ll fbrtn sses ; but find that be did, afterwards, poss< ss bimself of the sloop on the lake. At Saint Johns we found the said Arnold, claiming the command of said Bloop, and ■■< schooner, which is said to l»- the property o \ Ski in- ; and also all the posts and fortress) - at the south end of Lake < Iham- plain and Lak< G , although Col. Hinman was I , with in ar a thousand men under his command at the several po Your committee informed the said Arnold of their commission, and, at bis request, gave him a copj of their instructions; upon reading of which, beseemed greatlj disconcerted, and declared he would not b >\ in command to any person whomsoever; and after .-nun- time contemplating upon the matter, resigned his | ost, and gave your committee his resignation under bis band, dated the 24th of Juni : which is submitted, and, al the same time, he ordered In- men to I"- disbanded, which he said were bctv twoand three hundred. N 'committee, not finding anj nun regularl) un- \ old, bj reason of his so disbanding them, appointed Col I ton, who was at Ticonderoga, to tal e the command under Col. Hinman, who was die principal commanding officer, al diose posts, of thi I and endeavored to give the officers and nun who • i i i ooauB ilio Jmifii : i 718 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. said Arnold, an opportunity to reenlist ; of whom, numbers enlisted and sev- eral of the officers agreed to hold their command under the new appoint- ment. Your committee, having taken a critical survey of the garrison and posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, found them in a very defenceless state, and after consulting with Col. Hinman, were of opinion, upon the whole, that it is necessary to retain in the service of this colony, for the present, the number of four hundred men, as the committee were informed from intelli- gence from Canada, that great preparations were making and all endeavors used to bring over the Canadians and savages to be inimical to these colo- nies. Your committee having found Capt. Noble at the Point, with a number of men who had been under said Arnold, willing to engage in the service, we paid to said Noble, one hundred pounds, to be delivered to the men, as ad- vance pay ; and appointed Mr. William Satterly, a worthy man, to muster them and inspect their arms; and took Capt. Noble's and Satterly's receipt for the same, and their promise to apply it for that purpose. Your committee returning to Ticonderoga, and Col. Easton being there, they paid into his hands the sum of two hundred and eighty pounds, to be applied for the purpose aforesaid, and took his receipt and promise so to do ; and appointed Mr. Jonas Fay, a respectable person, to muster the men and their arms, all except Capt. Noble's company. We also paid into the hands of one Remember Baker, said to be a good officer, who engaged a certain number of men under Col. Easton, the sum of twenty pounds, and took his receipt and promise to apply said money as advance pay to said men ; which completes the whole of the money delivered to said committee for the pur- poses aforesaid. Your committee have engaged to Col Easton, that the remaining part of the advance pay should be immediately sent to him. Your committee found, that as soon as Col. Arnold had disbanded his men, some of them became dissatisfied and mutinous, and many of them signified to the committee, that they had been informed that they were to be defrauded of their pay for past services. The committee, in order to quiet them, engaged, under their hands, in behalf of the colony of the Massachu- setts Bay, that as soon ;is the rolls should be made up and properly authen- ticated, they should lie paid for their past services, and all those who should engage anew, >lioiild have the same bounty and wages as is promised to those who serve within said colony. Your committee inquired of Mr Henry Bleeker, of Albany, how the men at those posts were supplied with provisions; who informed us, that he act- ed iinilcr his brother, who was commissioner of supplies from New York; that all tin- men at those stations, of whatsoever colony, were supplied by him, without distinction, and that he should continue so to supply, until otherwise directed. Your committee appointed Timothy Edwards, and Samuel Brown, Esq'rs, a committee to supply the men under Col. Kaston's command, with such Tl< ONDEROG \ WD < i:< >\\ \ POIN r 719 is should not be supplied from New York; and appointed Cape Elisba Phelps, to act aa commissar] under them, t" deal out to the men whatsoever should be supplied bj the said Edwards and Brown. v i our committee, being of opinion, that a major should be appointed iu (rd< i with submitted. ^ nr committee made an examination of the military si those | a schedule whereof is berewith delivered, except - ind iron balls, and old chains, whicb have been dug out of the ruins I •• n Point fort 1 ir committee, finding that the nun at those stations bad n'»t a sufficien- cy of gunpowder i" defend the posts, and upon a careful inquiry not finding il Albany, have directed said committee of supplies to Buppl) two hun- dred weight from some of the town stocks in the count) of Beikshin ilir credit "f the colon) . ^ "in committee are of opinion, that the maintaining of ti. - of tlie utmost importance i<> the security of t I • . - colony of N - 5 d the New England colonies, which was a sufficient inducement to the coram to continue in the paj <>f this colony the number of men before mentioned. The fortn sses not l» ing at pres< nl tenable, then there musl be a Buffi< number of men r. . ci i the lake, and prevent the enemy from lan< "i >ur committee are of opinion, that the \« -t securitj of il ta in there present Btate, is l>\ armed oi various construction kept constantly cruising «>ti the lake, and small l><>..r> with swiv< which will effectually prevent the arm) from sudden surpru ) »ur committee have, agreeably to their instructions, advised the Hon. American Congress, the Hon. Convention «>i" the colou) of New York, and the governor of Connecticut, by respectful!) Biguifying to them, their opin- ion of the importance of the maintaining thoa nd the mesi sting the same. All which is humbly Bubuiitti d, W M.I'KK SPOONER, Return o/ Ordnaru ■ s I P rinL ,.ii punches for vents of guns ; three Bcoopa for shells ; one pair I scales; fourteen mallets ; one set of measures for powder; three liui ami ten pounds of alow match; one hundred, eighteen-pound >lt< .t : ii\<- buudred and eighty, twelve-pound shot; five hundred and eighty, nine-pound shot; live hundred and eighty, six-pound shot ; one thousand four hundred 720 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. and thirty grape shot ; sixty-eight, eight-inch shells ; three hundred and sev- enty, six-inch shells; six sponges with ramrods; six waggon hodies; nine hundred and six wheels ; twenty-two wadhooks with ramrods ; one cross- cut saw ; one whip saw. Stores at Ticonderoga. Three guns and triangles ; six gages for twelve-pound shot ; three copper hoops; six copper ladles; twelve iron ladles; shells, shot, &c, in vast quantities. June 23, 1775. Tlie Committee to Benedict Arnold. Crown Point, June 23, 1775. Sir: — You having signified to the committee who are appointed and di- rected by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay, to inquire into the state of the fortresses of Crown Point, Ticonderoga, &c. and the appenda- ges thereof, your resolution to resign all your command of the suid for- tresses, and the vessels and stores thereunto belonging, for reasons under your hand expressed, this is to inform you, that it is the expectation of the Provincial Congress aforesaid, that the chief officer of the Connecticut forces at those stations, will command the same for the present: and the committee accordingly expect that you will conform yourself to the direc- tions of said Congress in that behalf, and deliver the same to such chief officer of the Connecticut forces, or his order, for which this shall be your authority. The committee expect that you will, as soon as may be, lay an account of your disbursements before the Provincial Congress, agreeably to our instructions, a copy whereof is lodged with you. By order of the committee. WALTER SPOON ER, Chairman, Col. Benedict Arnold. The Committee to the Continental Congress. Ticonoeroga, Junje 23, 1775. To the honorable the President, and the members of the American Congress, now silling til Philadelphia. May it please your honors: — The Congress of the colony of the Mas- sachusetts Bay, . the colo- D) of New York, together with tbi N I jland colonies, would be in continual danger of having d tted on them, b) then lax forces, who would b ■••.! of tl snd Bhould lb< I nadians and savages, who, we horx I eniuit) with us, be in- clined to take part with the ministerial army, the of the i before mentioned, must be extremel) great \ garrison at the Bouth end of Lata G • nable, dd be of but little service to the New England colonies: because the moal route for an arm) from Quebec into V w England, would be through Lake Champlain to South Bay, from whence the) mighi travel b) land through the new settlements of New York into the New England governn* destroj the frontier towns in their march, drive the farmers from their fields, prevent the large supplies of wheal and other necessaries which maj Boon I"- expected from these new settlements, and send distress and famine into the heart oi the i itr) : and this all without being, on a right line, within man) miles of the Bouth end of Lake G I him also directed, b) said committee, to Bignif) t" your I rs, that it is the opinion of the committee, that the defenci of those fortresses must be supported In holding command of I Champlain, which, the) ■ ma) be mosl easil) done, by bavin; if various constructions, well manned and armed, floating there: for which purpose, the nmittee have stationed four hundred men there, which are all that th.' embarrassed cir- cumstances <>t i>ur colon) can at present admit of, t « > co-operate with i i thousand, under the command of Col. Hinman, who is sent to those poets by the government of Connecticut ; but whether tl now on the lake an sufficient for the purposes aforementioned, your honors will judge. I am, in behalf of the committi , i our honors 1 1 1 1< >-t humble servant, \\ M.IT.K SP< K »M.i;. ( To the honorabU Continental Congress, 91 VZ-2 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. Tlie Committee to Gov. Trumbull. Springfield, July 3, 1775. May it please your honors: — When the Congress of the colony of the Massachusetts .Bay were informed that your government had sent Col. Hinman to Lake Champlain, with a thousand men, to defend the important posts there, it was with the deepest concern that they saw he was not com- mander in chief of the fortresses and their appendages : and immediately despatched a committee, whereof I had the honor to he chairman, to let the commander of their forces know that it was the expectation of our Con- gress, that the commander in chief of the Connecticut forces should be over our officers and privates : the committee was also ordered respectfully to signify to your honor, their opinion of the necessity of holding those for- tresses, as also of the most expedient method to do it. Whereupon, they proceeded, and at Crown Point let Col. Arnold know, that it was expected that he should give up the command of the garrison, &c. to Col. Hinman, and be under him as officer there : but he declined it : declared he would not be second to any man : disbanded his forces, and re- signed his commission. A majority of his men engaged anew under Col. James Easton, who the committee appointed under the commander of the forces of your government, on Lake Champlain, and to be regulated by your martial laws ; and the committee left the garrison and appendages in peace, with much satisfaction, commanded by Col. Hinman, who, they are confident, is fully equal to the appointment. The committee also order me to inform your honor, that it is their opin- ion, that the abandoning the posts on Lake Champlain, would probably prove the utter ruin of the New England governments, and that they appre- hend armed vessels, floating batteries, &c. will be the surest means of com- manding the lakes. The committee would write your honor more fully on the subject, but they are convinced, from the letters you have favored our Congress with, that you are fully possessed of the importance of holding those fortresses. Justice compels the committee to let your honor know, that on Col. Ar- nold's refusing to serve under Col. Hinman, a mutiny arose among some of Arnold's men, who would not engage anew in our service, which seemed to be attended with dangerous symptoms, but by the noble exertions of the officers of your government, with those of Judge Duer, of Charlotte coun- ty, in the colony of New York, and the ample .support by them rendered to the committee, in the most difficult situation, it was happily quelled ; the par- ticulars of it are too tedious and disagreeable to trouble your honor's atten- tion, while you have constantly business of the last importance before you. Bui thus ninth the committee order me to take leave to say, that from tint polite, generous and manly disposition of Col. Hinman, and the officers in the Connecticut forces under him, we may gather the most happy pros- Tin >\i»i:i:<»<; \ \nd CROvl \ POIN r :::; i of a campaign in the northward replete with honor and interest to tin- Colonies. 1 am, in behalf of the commit! Hon, J'jii it/tun Trumhull. \ honor's most <>l» dient servant, \\ a 1. 1 l I: SPOON 1. 1:. Chairman. /' i mitt" tu thi Congn u A' ) - RIJCOI it Li.. Jim •'!, 17? To the honorabli it" President M ' wention I New ) GEifTLKMEtv: Notwithstanding the man) calamitiee that the colon) "i M nachusetts Baj now struggles under, the Congress there are lutelj determined to leave nothing within their power undone, which ma) have even a probable tendenc) i" preserve the rights and propert) of the American colonies. Jn piursuance of this resolution, they, on the 14th da) of June, appointed a committee, whereof I have the honor i<> !"■ chairman, to proceed to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, to inquire into the importance of holding those posts, and, among other thu i ctfull) to aignif] i" \i>n their thoughts nil the subject The committee have made Buch inqui- - b the) were directed to prosecute, and have ordered me to take l< to inform you, that it is their opinion, should the fortresses on I I ham- plain fall into the hands of our enemies, the colon) of New \ ork, with the .Wu England colonies, muBl !»■ in the utmost insecurity, for the eneui) might land at the Bouthern end of a part <>f the. watei - Lake 4 ihamplam, called South Bay, from whence, as Fort Edward is razed t" the foundation, there is nothing to check them, or prevent their spreading fire and devasta- tion down t" Albany, and over all the frontier towns eastward, in New N ork and the New England colonies: wherefore, it is the opinion <>t' the commit- tee, that all | ible care ought t" be taken t<> keep the command of I Cbatnplain, which, perhaps, raa) be more eaail) effected b] armed vei of various constructions, than otherwise. The committee has established <>n the lakes, in the pa) of the M tss i ;hu- setts colony, foui hundred effective men, with proper officers, which are all that the distressed state of the colony, at present, admit "f : which i from the peculiar embarrassments which that colon) is now laboring under, must look for present supplies <>i | ■ i* ■ \ isions t" the colon) of New ^ <>i k. While the committee was at the posts above mentioned, there w dangerous mutiny Bet on ti>nt b) some persons, employed b) < !oL Arnoli officer of our colony, who bad their own interesl more at heart than the public _ I. which, had it not been for the influence and well tin tions of Judge Duer, a gentleman of th unt) of Charlotte, in your ■ ny, and the principal officers of the I sticui forces, might i • n at- 724 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. tended with fatal consequences. As the committee suppose the colony to be under great obligations to that worthy gentleman, they cannot but inform his own government of his zealous exertions for the public good. We are, Gentlemen, with great respect, Your obedient humble servants, WALTER SPOONER, Chairman. Hon. Provincial Congress of New York. Provincial Congress of New York to the Committee of Safety. In Provincial Congress, New York, June 7, 1775. Gentlemen: — The multiplicity of business brought before us by the Continental Congress, and a short adjournment of our body, from Saturday till Tuesday morning, have rendered it impossible for us to give a more early attention to your favor. We have little to say upon the principal subject of your letter, as we conceive that the Provincial Congresses of both colonies are concluded from any discretionary provision relative to the ordnance and other stores taken at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, of which you must be fully con- vinced by the acts of the Continental Congress on that subject, copies of which are enclosed. We are fully apprised of the dangerous consequences, that would await this capital of our colony, either from supineness, or a confidence in the honor of those, who being the avowed instruments of ministerial vengeance, we cannot expect w ill hold any faith with us. Whatever articles we are now possessed of, that may be used to the injury of this city in particular, or of the continent in general, we shall be studious to prevent, if possible, from falling into the hands of our enemies. In sympathizing with you for the unhappy town of Boston, we shall do every thing in our power to pre- vent this city from being reduced to the same deplorable situation, and shall watchfully attend to every means of defence which our present or future circumstances may enable us to Improve. We are, Gentlemen and Brethren, With great respect and sincere affection, Your most obedient humble servants, P. V. B. LIVINGSTON, President. To Joseph Warren, Esq., and the Committee of Safety for the colony of Massachusetts Bay, Waterlown. TICONDEROG \ \\l> CR( >\\ \ POINT 725 /,' ConHnerU < Mm 30, i: K. letter from Col. Arnold, dated Crown Point, M 23, 1775 fore the Congress, informing thai he bad certain intelligence, thai w on 1 1 1 • - 19th there were then four hundred regulars si St J"hn*-. making slJ possi- ble preparation t" cross thi nd expected t" be joined by ;i number of Indians, with ;i design "t retaking Crown Poinl and Ticondei ad earne8tlj calling for a reenforcement and supplies. Tin- letter being taken into consideration, /.' erf, That the governor of Connecticul I- requested immediately to -• ml a Btrong reenforcement t" tin- garrisons of < 'i ■ >\\ n Poinl ami I iconde- i. ami 'hat .-.. man) of the cannon ami other stores l»- retaini 'I, as maj be neceasarj for the immediate defence of those posts, until further order from tl I d that 1 1 1 « - provincial convention of New x"ork be in- formed of this resolve, and desired to furnish those troops with provisions ami other i ry stores, ami [.. take effectual care thai a sufficient Dum- ber of batteaiut !>■• immediately provided for the la fererf, That the above resolve !"■ immediatelj transmitted in a letter bj the presidi ot, to Gov. Trumbull, ami the convention a) N >- ^ ork. " •'-/■»-/, That tin' president in his letter acquaini appoint commis- saries to receive at A I ban] ami forward tin' supplies of provisions, for the forces on Lake Champlain, from tin- provincial convention i N . N irk, and that the said convention use their utmost endeavors in facilitating and aiding the transportation thereof, from thence t<> when .id com maj direct .li m B, 177".. The Congress being informed that a Major Skene, with Borne other offi- cers, who arrived last evening, in a vessel from London, were, with their papers, in the custodj of the troops i f tin.- citj ; that the said Skene had latel) been appointed governor of tin- tint- of Ticonderoga and Crown r mi ; that i. in- of the officers with him i- a lieutenant in the regulars, now in tin- |iici\ ince of Quebec; ami moreover, that tin- .-.ml Skene had d< clan d that In- has authority to raise a regiment in America; from all this, appi bending that tin; -aid Skene is a dangerous partizan i>t' administration, ami that bis papers may contain intelligence of ministerial d .-am-t America, verj importanl t" l>.- known, /.' dvedf That a committee !>'■ appointed t" examine the papers of the -aid Skene ami lieutenant, in their presence! That tin' committee consist of Mr. J. kdams, Mr. !>■ ane, and Mr. Mifflin. 726 TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT. That the said committee be upon honor to conceal whatever, of a private nature, may come to their knowledge by such examination ; and that they communicate, to this Congress, what they shall discover relative to the pres- ent dispute, between Great Britain and America. June 10, 1775. The committee for examining Gov. Skene's letters, &c., having communi- cated to Congress what they found relative to the dispute between Great Britain and these colonies : Upon motion, Resolved, That Gov. Philip Skene, Lieutenant Moncrief, and Mr. Lundy, be released from their present confinement, and permitted to go at large any where within eight miles of the city, between Delaware and Schuylkill, on their parole of honor, not to pass those limits, and that they will hold no correspondence with any person whatsoever, on any polit- ical subject. June 19, 177o. The president laid before the Congress, sundry letters he had received from Massachusetts Bay and New York, which were read. The letters from Massachusetts Bay being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolve : That the governor of Connecticut be requested to direct all the forces raised in that colony, not employed at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, or re- commended by this Congress to be marched towards New York, to be im- mediately sent to join the combined army before Boston. And it is earn- estly recommended to the colony of Rhode Island, and to the provincial convention of New Hampshire, to send immediately to the army before Bos- ton, such of the forces as are already embodied, towards their quotas of the troops agreed to be raised by the New England colonies. June 22, 1775. A letter from Crown Point, dated June 10, was laid before the Congress and read. Information being given, that two officers who brought the let- ter were at the door, and had some things of importance to communicate, Ordered, That they be introduced, and they were introduced. After they withdrew, the Congress came to the following resolutions : Resolved, That it be recommended to the officer commanding in the New York department, to procure, as soon as possible, a list of the men employ- ed in taking and garrisoning Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and keeping possession of the lakes, and also of their disbursements, in order that they may be paid. Resolved, That their pay be the same as that of the officers and privates in the American army; the highest of the officers not to exceed that of a captain, and that the pay commence the third day of May last, and continue till they aif ili-charged. Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention of New York, that they, consulting with General Schuyler, employ in the army to be raised for the defence of America, those called Green Mountain Boys, under such offi- cers as the said Green Mountain Boys shall choose. i: X 1 R AC I - IK'Jll HIE JOl R \ ALS OF Til E CONT1 N ENT \ I. CONG RESS RELATING TO MASSAC HUS1 I I- >. 1 1. 1 1. m i The delegates from the province »'f Massachusetts Bay, agreeable toa re- quest from the joint committees of everj town and district in the count] of Mi. Mli Bex, in the Baid province, communicated t" the Congress the proc< i .1 inga c.i' those committei s al ( Concord, on the 30th and 31si days of August last, s\ hich were read. Si pt. 17. 177 I. The resolutions ent< red into l>\ the delegates from the several towns and districts in the couutj of Suffolk, in the province <>f the Massachusi its Bay, « * 1 1 Tuesday, the fith of September, and theii address t<> his excellencj gov- i rnor Gage, dated the 9th, were laid before the Congn sa The ' 'ougress taking the resolutions into consideration, /.' '. unanimously, That this assembl) deepl) feels the suffering of tlnir countrymen in t i j ■ M ass ■> i - ■- Bay, under the operation of the late unjust, cruel, and oppressive nets "i the British parliament— that thej n* thoroughly approve the \\i>(l"ia aud fortitude, with which opposition these wicked ministerial measures has hitherto been conducted, and the) earnest I j recommi od t<> theii brethren, ;i perseverance in the same firm and temperate conduct, as expressed in ili«' resolutions determined upon at a meeting of the delegates for the count] of Suffolk, on Tuesday, the 1 1!> in- Btant, trusting that the effect of the muted efforts >>!' North America in their behalf, will carry Buch conviction to the British nation, of the unwise, un- just, and ruinous polic) of the present administration, as quickly to intro duce better men and wiser measun i 17, 1 ■ id.' Briliah doi inn.- 10, I rolal Crown Point 728 JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. Resolved, unanimously, That contributions from all the colonies for supply- ing the necessities, and alleviating the distresses of our brethren at Boston, ought to be continued, in such manner, and so long as their occasions may require. Ordered, That a copy of the above resolutions be transmitted to Boston by the president. Ordered, That these resolutions, together with the resolutions of the coun- ty of Suffolk, be published in the newspapers. October 6, 1774. The Congress resumed the consideration of the means proper to be used for a restoration of American rights. During this debate, an express from Boston arrived with a letter from the committee of correspondence, dated the 29th of September, which was laid before the Congress. In this the committee of correspondence inform the Congress, that they " expected some regard would have been paid to the petitions presented to their governor, against fortifying their town in such a manner as can be ac- counted for only upon the supposition, that the town and country are to be treated by the soldiery as declared enemies — that the. entrenchments upon the Neck are nearly completed — that cannon are mounted at the entrance of the town — that it is currently reported, that fortifications are to be erected on Copp's hill, Beacon hill, Fort hill, &c, so that the fortifications, with the ships in the harbor may absolutely command every avenue to the town both by sea and land — that a number of cannon, the property of a private gentle- man, were a few days ago seized and taken from his wharf by order of the general — that from several circumstances mentioned in the letter, there is reason to apprehend, that Boston is to be made and kept a garrisoned town ; — that from all they can hear from Britain, administration is resolved to do all in their power to force them to a submission — that when the town is in- closed, it is apprehended the inhabitants will be held as hostages for the sub- mission of the country — they apply therefore to the Congress lor advice how to act — that, if the Congress advise to quit the town, they obey — if it is judged that by maintaining their ground they can better serve the public cause, they will not shrink from hardship and danger — finally, that as the late acts of parliament have made it impossible that there should be a due administration of justice, and all law therefore must be suspended — that as the governor has by proclamation prevented the meeting of the general court, they therefore request the advice of the Congress." October 7, 1774. The Congress resumed the consideration of the letter from the committee of correspondence in Boston, and after some debate — Hi solved, Thai a committee be appointed to prepare a letier to his excel- lency Gcnerul Gage, repr< Benting "thai the town of Boston and province of ■Massachusetts Bay, are considered by all America as suffering in the com- JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 729 mon cause, for their noble and spirited opp< ritiontoi of pai lia- i ■ i • nt calculated ii> deprive ub ofoui most Bacr< >l rigbta and prii Expressing our i cern, that, while the Congress are deliberating on the most peaceable means for rest ig American liberty, and thai harraonj and in- tercourse, which subsisted between ui and the parent k i i > l; « 1 < « r 1 1 bo i to both, lii- excellency, as thej are informed, is raising fortifications round the town of \'<-i therebj exciting well grounded jealousies in the minds i>i his majesty's faithful subjects therein, that he means to cul off all commu- nication between them ami their brethren in tin country, ami reduce them tn a state of submission to his will, and that the soldiers under his excellen- cy's command, are frequent!} violating privatt property, and offering various insula to the p ople, which musl irritate their minds, and if not pul s to, involve all America in the horrors of a civil vi I o • ntreal bis excellen- cy, from the assurance we have <>f the |>eaceable disposition <'t' th<- inhabi- tants of the town of Boston and the province of th< Massachusetts Bay, t«> discontinue bis fortifications, and that a free and safe communication l» n I and continued between the town of Boston and the country, and pre- vent all injuries on the part of the troops, until his majesty's pleasure shall be known, afler the measures mm adopting shall have been laid Inline him. Mr. Lynch, Mr. S. Idams, and Mr. Pendleton, are appointed a committee to draught a letter agreeable i" the foregoing resolution. < I IBB - . 1771. The Congrr-- resumed the consideration of the letter from Boston, and upon motion, Resolved, That this < Congress approve die opposition of the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay, to the execution of the late acts of parliament; and if th« -hall be attempted to be carried into execution b) force, in such e, all America ought to support them in their opposition. < )< i OBXB 10, 177 1. The Congress resuming the consideration of the letter from Boston; olved unanimously, 'That it is the opinion of this body, thai the removal of the people "l* Boston into the country, would be, not onlj extreme I) diffi- cull in the execution, but bo imports!) 1 in its consequences, as '<> require the utmosi deliberation before it is adopted; but in case the provincial meeting of thai colon) Bhould judge it absolutely n< c< ssary, il is the opinion of the Congress, that all America oughi t" contribute towards rec [tensing them for the injur] the) ma) thereb) sustain ; and il will be recoi ended ac cordingly. Ri mlved, That the ( longress n commend to the inhabitants of the colon) busetts Bay, to Bubrail to a suspension of the administration ol when it cannot be procured in a legal and pet ible manner, under 730 JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. the rules of their present charter, and the laws of the colony founded there- on. Resolved unanimously, That every person and persons whomsoever, who shall take, accept, or act under any commission or authority, in any-wise de- rived from the act passed in the last session of parliament, changing the form of government, and violating the charter of the province of Massachu- setts Bay, ought to be held in detestation and abhorrence by all good men, and considered as the wicked tools of that despotism, which is preparing to destroy those rights, which God, nature, and compact, have given to America. The committee brought in a draught of a letter to General Gage, and the same being read and amended, was ordered to be copied, and to be signed by the president in behalf of the Congress. October 11, 1774. A copy of the letter to General Gage, was brought into Congress, and agreeable to order, signed by the president, and is as follows : Philadelphia, October 10, 1774. Sir : — The inhabitants of the town of Boston have informed us, the rep- resentatives of his majesty's faithful subjects in all the colonies from Nova Scotia to Georgia, that the fortifications erecting within that town, the fre- quent invasions of private property, and the repeated insults they receive from the soldiery, have given them great reason to suspect a plan is formed very destructive to them, and tending to overthrow the liberties of America. Your excellency cannot be a stranger to the sentiments of America, with respect to the acts of parliament, under the execution of which, those un- happy people are oppressed, the approbation universally expressed of their conduct, and the determined resolution of the colonies, for the preservation of their common rights, to unite in their opposition to those acts. — hi conse- quence of these sentiments, they have appointed us the guardians of their rights and liberties, and we are under the deepest concern, that whilst we are pursuing dutiful and peaceable measures to procure a cordial and effectu- al reconciliation between Great Britain and the colonies, your excellency should proceed in a manner that bears so hostile an appearance, and which even those oppressive acts do not warrant. We entreat your excellency to consider what a tendency this conduct must have to irritate and force a free people, hitherto well disposed to peaceable measures, into hostilities, which may prevent the endeavors of this Congress to restore a good understanding with our parent state, and may involve us in the horrors of a civil war. In older therefore to quiet the minds and remove the reasonable jeal- ousies of the people, that they may not he driven to a state of desperation, being fully persuaded of their pacific disposition towards the king's troops, could they he assured of their own safely, we hope, Sir, you will discontin- ue the fortifications in and about Boston, prevent any further invasions of JOI i;\ \l. OF THE CONTINENT IL CONGRESS 731 private property, restrain tin- irregularities of the Boldit i-. and give ordi ra that the communication between the town and countrj tnaj l»- open, unmo- lesti 'I and I Signed b) order and in behalf of the General I \'\.\ T< »\ R A\l»i 'l.l'll. P ii<.1 \ the Congress nave riven < Sonera! Gage an assurance of the peaceable disposition of the people of Boston and the Massachust tts Baj ; R wived unanimously, Thai i ln\ !»• sdvised >t ill to conducl themselves peaceablj towards In- excellency General Gage, and bis majesty's troops new Btationed in the town ol B r ss i:hi possiblj Im- com with their immediate Bafety, and the security of the town; j i \ < > "n ! 1 1 1 lt and discountenancing ever] violation of his majesty's property, or an) insult to his troops, and that thej \» aceably and firmly c rsevere in the line thi now conducting themselvi 9, on the defensive. Ordered, Thai a copy of the ton going resolve, and of that passed on Sat- urday, and the thr< e passed yesterday, 1"' mad< t, and thai the president The following i* 1 1 ■ • - answer of G Gage to tho I tall B To Ptijton Randolph, I B wlo with Candor, n -land. People would be led t" bclii *•'. from jrour letter to i I tho low property invaded, I iult the i a the town and countrj ihul u mr from tho tro I ought foi N Ibi eornpl lint, and gi . from thi dii r-. The coi a town and • ■ ■till. ', and ml in them. The rei gun* placed there liki * P >ple will think diflorenUjr, whet i I • ie pie Mure thai i with the which, from wh iipired, I hav< rea than myielf. I have ondeavored to '"r, if I could eatabliah tioa !•> w:ik upon, and ;lj urged ii to peopl ill in the k i ; 1 1; , » i,n h would I"- Ij the) leek t" move in thoir lupport. i • piril of tli'' British > Bui I ihould hope th il i rdenUy « ish that the common the i count like the ■, . ■ the affi cUon « nicfa 1 im. Sir. Miut IDO • '<'• I ll< i\| \- i. I 732 JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. inclose them in a letter to the committee of correspondence for the town of Boston, being the sentiments of the Congress on the matters referred to them hy the committee, in their letter of the 2iJth of September last. Resolved unanimously, That a memorial he prepared to the people of Brit- ish America, stating to them the necessity of a firm, united, and invariable observation of the measures recommended by the Congress, as they tender the invaluable rights and liberties derived to them from the laws and consti- tution of their country. October 14, 1774. The Congress met according to adjournment, and resuming the consider- ation of the subject under debate, made the following declaration and re- solves: Declaration of Rights. Whereas, since the close of the last war, the British parliament, claiming a power, of right, to bind the people of America by statutes in all cases whatsoever, hath in some acts expressly imposed taxes on them, and in oth- ers, under various pretences, but in fact for the purpose of raising a revenue, hath imposed rates and duties payable in these colonies, established a board of commissioners, with unconstitutional powers, and extended the jurisdic- tion of courts of admiralty, not only for collecting the said duties, but for the trial of causes merely arising within the body of a county: And whereas, in consequence of other statutes, judges, who before held only estates at will in their offices, have been made dependant on the crown alone for their salaries, and standing armies kept in times of peace : And whereas, it has lately been resolved in parliament, that by force of a statute, made in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of king Henry the eighth, colonists may be transported to England, and tried there upon accusations for trea- sons and misprisions, or concealments of treasons committed in the colo- nies, and by a late statute, such trials have been directed in cases therein mentioned : And whereas, in the last session of parliament, three statutes were made; one entitled, "an act to discontinue in such manner and for such time as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, lading, or shipping of goods, wares, and merchandize, at the town, and within the harbor of Boston, in the province of Massachusetts Bay in North America;" another entitled, "an act for the better regulating the government of the province of Massachu- setts Hay in New England ;" and another entitled, "an act for the impartial administration of justice, in the cases of persons questioned for any act done by them in the execution of the law, or for the suppression of riots and tu- mults, in the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England:" And another statute was then made, "for making inure effectual provision for the government of the province of Quebec, &c." All which statutes are impolitic, unjust, and cruel, as well as unconstitutional, and most dangerous and destructive of American right- : .I'M k\ \i. OF THE I ONT1NENT \l. I ONGR] SS And when nblies have been frequent!) dissolved, con tran to the rights of i!it people, when they attempted to deliberate on ; and 'li ii dutiful, humble, loyal, and reasonable petitions in tin- crown dress, have been repeated!) treated with contempt, bj bis maj< minis- ten of state : The good people of the several colonies of N< li mpsbire,M ■ chu- setts Bay, Rhode Island ami Providence Plantations, Connecticut, N York, N( J , Pennsylvania, N< stle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, justly alarmed .-it these arbitrary proceedings of parliament and administrati have sen rally elected, constituted, and appointed deputies t" meet and sit in gem ral con- b, in the city of Philadelphia, in order '<> obtain such estsblishmi i that their religion, laws, and liberties, ma} not be subverted: Whereupon, the deputies bo appointed being now assi mbled, in a full and fri i n pn bi n- tation of these colonies, taking into theii mosl bi >nsideration,the best means of attaining the ends aforesaid, do in the first place, I gUabmen, their ancestors, in lil suallyd ), for effecting and vindic their rights and liberties, d< clare, That the inhabitants of the English colonies in North America, bj the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English constitution, and the • ml charters or compacts, have the following n^lit- : /.'■ ; . .V. C D. 1. Thai the) are entitled to life, liberty, and propert) : ami the) have never ceded t" an) sovereign power whatever, a right i" ill-- pose of either without their consent Resolved, N. C. If. •.'. That our ancestors, who first settled these coloi wire, at tin- linn- of their emigration from the mother country, entitled to all i In- ri-lii-, libertii s, ami immunities of free and natural born subjects, within tin- realm of England. R .V. c. l>. :;. Thai b) Buch emigration the) b) no means forfeit- « d, surrendered, or losl an) of those rights, but that the) were, ami their de- scendants mm an-, entitled t" the exercise ami enjoyment of all such of them, as their local anil other circumstances i liable them t « » « - ami enjoy. /.' olved, I. That thi foundation of English hbert) ami of all free gov- ernment, i-. a right in the people i" participate in their legislative council : and as the English colonists are not represented, and from their local ami other circumstances cannot properl) be represented in tin British parlia- ment, the) an- entitled to a free ami exclusive power of legislation in their Beveral proi incial legislatures, where their right ■>!' representation can a lorn- In preserved, in all cases <>t" taxation anil internal polity, subject onl) to the i live of their sovereign, in such manner as bas been Inn tofore used accustomi <\. But from tin nec< ssit) of tin- case, ami a regard to tin- mutu- al interests of both countries, we ch< erfull) consent to tin 1 operation of such art- ofthe British parliament, a- air ban ined t" ti"- regulati ■ eternal commerce, lor tin- purpose of securing tin- commercial sdvan- ofthe whole i mpire to tin- mother c try, ami tin- conuni n ial l 734 JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. fits of its respective members ; excluding every idea of taxation internal or external, for raising a revenue on the subjects in America without their con- sent. Resolved, N. C. D. 5. That the respective colonies are entitled to the common law of England, and more especially to the great and inestima- ble privilege of being tried by their peers of the vicinage, according to the course of that law. Resolved, 6. That they are entitled to the benefit of such of the English statutes, as existed at the time of their colonization ; and which they have, by experience, respectively found to be applicable to their several local and other circumstances. Resolved, N. C. D. 7. That these, his majesty's colonies, are likewise entitled to all the immunities and privileges granted and confirmed to them by royal charters, or secured by their several codes of provincial laws. Resolved, N. C. D. 8. That they have a right peaceably to assemble, con- sider of their grievances, and petition the king ; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same, are illegal. Resolved, JV. C. D. 9. That the keeping a standing army in these colonies, in time of peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony in which such army is kept, is against law. Resolved, N. C. D. 10. It is indispensably necessary to good government, and rendered essential by the English constitution, that the constituent branches of the legislature be independent of each other; that, therefore, the exercise of legislative power in several colonies, by a council appointed during pleasure, by the crown, is unconstitutional, dangerous, and destruc- tive to the freedom of American legislation. All and each of which, the aforesaid deputies, in behalf of themselves and their constituents, do claim, demand, and insist on, as their indubitable rights and liberties; which cannot be legally taken from them, altered, or abridged by any power whatever, without their own consent, by their repre- sentatives in their several provincial legislatures. In the course of our inquiry, we find many infringements and violations of the foregoing rights, which, from an ardent desire that harmony and mutu- al intercourse of affection and interest may be restored, we pass over tor the present, and proceed to state such acts and measures as have been adopted since the last war, which demonstrate a system formed to enslave America. Resolved, .V. C. I). That the following acts of parliament are infringe- ments and violations of the rights of the colonists; and that the repeal of them is essentially necessary, in order to restore harmony between Great Britain and the American colonies, viz. : The several acts of 1 Geo. III. ch. 15. and ch 34.-5 Geo. 111. eh. 25.-6 Geo. III. ch. 52.-7 Geo. III. ch. 41. and ch. 46.-8 Geo. HI. ch. 22. which impose duties for the purpose of raising a revenue in America, extend the power of the admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American subject of trial 1>\ jury, authorize the judges, certificate to indem- nify the prosecutor from damages, thai he might otherwise be liable to, re- JOl i:\ \i. OF THE < ONTINEfl r \i. < ONGRESS quiring oppressive securit) from a claimanl of ships and u I- seized, be- fore be Bhall be allowed u> defend In- property, and are Bub \ nan rigbt& Also, IS <• III ch. 24. entitled, M an act for the better seem maj- esty's dock-yards, magazines, ships, ammunition, and stores," whicb de- clares a new offence in America, and deprives the American subject of a constitutional trial bj a jurj of tin- vicinage, bj authorizing tin- trial of anj person charged with the committing an) offence described in the i>nt of tbe realm, to l»- indicted and tried for tin- -aim- in any Bhire or coun- ty \\ ithin tlir realm. Also, the three acts passed in the last b< --ion of parliament, for - 1 > ■ j > j ■ i 1 1 ir tin- port and blocking up tin: harbor of Boston, for altering tin government of Massachusetts Bay, and that whicb i- entitled, u an act for the better administration of justice, &c." Also, tin 1 art pass* 'I in tin- .-an tablishing the Roman < Cath- olic religion in tin' province of Quebec, abolishing the equitable system of English laws, and erecting o tyrannj there, to tin' great danger, from so t"- tal :• dissimilaritj of it ligion, law, and governmi nt, of tL^ neighboring Brit- i.-h colonii -. bj tin- assistance of whose blood and treasure tin- said country was conquered from I 'ranc< , Also, the an passed in the same session for tin- better providing suitable quarters for officers and soldiers in bis majesty's service in North America. Also, that tin- keeping a stunding arruj in several "t' these colonies, in linn ofp< 1 1 •-. without tin 1 consenl of the legislature of that colony in which such arm] is ki pt, is against law. To thes< uia- - ami measures Americans cannot submit : bul in hopes their fellow subjects in Greal Britain will, on a revision of then Btore us t" that Btate, in which both countries found happiness and | ty, we have, for tin- present, onlj resolved to pursue tin- following p< aceable 3ures : I. 'I'" enter into a non-importation, Don-consumption, and exportation agreement or association. 2. I" prepare an address t" tin- p< • ■- pie ol l - Britain, and a memorial to the inhabitants of British Ann rica: And.". To prepare a loyal address to bis □ eeable t" resolui aln nl_\ entered into. « >• ,. 20, 1774. The association being copied, was read and Bignt d at the table, and ic follows : Won I p irttdion ( 'otx nanL We, bis majesty's most loyal subjects, tbe delegates of thi Dies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Islaud, < onuecticut, \m\ Vork, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower count v w Castle, Kent and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Nord ' -arolina, and South Carolina, deputed to represent them in a Continental C 73G JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. held in the city of Philadelphia, on the 5th day of September, 1774, avow- ing our allegiance to his majesty, our affection and regard for our fellow- suhjects in Great Britain and elsewhere, affected with the deepest anxiety, and most alarming apprehensions, at those grievances and distresses, with which his majesty's American suhjects are oppressed ; and having taken under our most serious deliberation, the state of the whole continent, find, that the present unhappy situation of our affairs is occasioned by a ruinous system of colony administration, adopted by the British ministry about the year 1763, evidently calculated for enslaving these colonies, and, with them, the British empire. In prosecution of which system, various acts of parlia- ment have been passed, for raising a revenue in America, for depriving the American subjects, in many instances, of the constitutional trial by jury, ex- posing their lives to danger, by directing a new and illegal trial beyond the seas, for crimes alleged to have been committed in America : and in prose- cution of the same system, several late, cruel and oppressive acts have been passed, respecting the town of Boston and the Massachusetts Bay, and also an act for extending the province of Quebec, so as to border on the western frontiers of these colonies, establishing an arbitrary government therein, and discouraging the settlement of British subjects in that wide extended country; thus, by the influence of evil principles and ancient prejudices, to dispose the inhabitants to act with hostility against the free Protestant col- onies, whenever a wicked ministry shall choose to direct them. To obtain redress of these grievances, which threaten destruction to the lives, liberty, and property of his majesty's subjects, in North America, we are of opinion, that a non-importation, nou -consumption, and non-exporta- tion agreement, faithfully adhered to, will prove the most speedy, effectual, and peaceable measure: and, therefore, we do, for ourselves, and the inhab- itants of the several colonies, whom we represent, firmly agree and associ- ate, under the sacred ties of virtue, honor, and love of our country, as fol- lows : 1. That from and after the first day of December next, we will not im- port, into British America, from Great Britain or Ireland, any goods, wares or merchandise whatsoever, or from any other place, any such goods, wares or merchandise, as shall have been exported from Great Britain or Ireland ; nor will we, alter that day, import any East India tea from any part of the world; nor anj molasses, syrups, paneles, coffee, or pimento, from the Brit- ish plantations or from Dominica ; nor wines from Madeira, or the Western Islands; nor foreign indigo. 2. We will neither import nor purchase, any slave imported after the first day of December next; after which time, we will wholly discontinue the slave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves nor will we hire our vessels, nor sell our commodities or manufactures to those who are con- cerned in it. .'5. As a non-consumption agreement, strictly adhered to, will be an effec- tual security lor the observation <>f the non-importation, wo, as above, sol- emnly agree and associati , that from this day, we will not purchase or use JOl RNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL < ONGRESS. 731 any tea, imported "ii account of the East India company, <>r anj on which a duty hath been or Bball be paid; and from and after the iir>t day of Uarch in \t. we will not purchase or use anj Easl India tea whatever ; DorwUJ we, i or shall an) |» reon for or under us, purchase or use an) of those _"<"l-, wares, or merchand • ed not t" import, which w<- shall know, or hav< cause to Buspect, were imported after the firsl da) of December, except Buch as come under the rules and directions of the tenth article hereafter mentioned. l. The earnest desire we have not t" injure our fellow Bubjects in Great Britain, Ireland, or the West Indies, induces us i" Buspeud a non-exporta- tion, until the tenth da) "f Septemh r, 1775; t which time, if the said acts and parts of acts of the British parliament, hereinafter mentioned, are not repealed, we will not direct!) or indirectly, export any merchandise or com- modity whatsoever to Great I In land, or the Weal Indies, i ccept rice [>> I lurope. ."). Such as are merchants, and use tin- British ami Irish trade, will give ord< i ion a- possible, to their Factors, agents, ami corn spondenta, in :. ■ Britain and Ireland, not to ship anj goods to them, on an) preti whatsoever, as the) cannot 1»- received in America; ami if an) merchant, ling in Great Britain or Ireland, Bball, di recti) or indirectly, ship any goods, wares or merchandise, for America, in order to break tin- -aid non- importation agre< ment, or in an) manner contravene the same, on Buch un- worth) conduct being well attested, it ought to In- made public ; ami, on the .-aim- being so done, we will not, from thenceforth, have an) commercial connexion \\ ith such merchant That Bucb as an- owners of vessels will give positive orders to their captains or masters, not t<> receive on board their vess< Is an) goods prohib- ited by tin- said non-importation agreement, on pain of immediate ili.Mnis- sion from their Ben ice 7. We will use our utmost endeavors to improve the breed of sheep, and increase their number to the greatest extent; and to that end, we will kill them as seldom as ma) be, i speciall) those "t" the most profitable kind; m>r w ill we export an) t<> th< West Indies or elsew Inn- ; and those of us, \\ ho are or ma) becom< overstocked with, or can convenient!) Bpare an) sheep, will dispose '»i tin in t" our neighbors, i ~\*< ciall) t" the | er sort, "n mod- erate terms. B. H •■ w ill, in our several stations, encourage frugality, economy, and in- dustry, and promote agriculture, arts, and the manufactures of this country, especiall) that of wool ; and will discounteuance and disci -• < ver) sp< - rn - ..i' extr and dissipation, especial!) all bora . and all kinds of gaming, cock-fightiug, cxliibiti tows, plays, aud other • \- ive diversions and entertainments ; and on the death of an) relation or friend, none of us, or an) of our families, will go iuto an) further mourning dress, than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or bat, lor gentlemen, and ■ Mark ribbon or necklace for ladies, and we will discontinue the l'imi glov( .- and its 93 7;38 JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 9. Such as are venders of goods or merchandise will not take advantage of the scarcity of goods, that may be occasioned by this association, but will sell the same at the rates we have been respectively accustomed to do for twelve months last past. And if any vender of goods or merchandise shall sell any such goods on higher terms, or shall, in any manner, or by any device whatsoever, violate or depart from this agreement, no person ought, nor will any of us deal with any such person, or his or her factor or agent, at any time thereafter, for any commodity whatever. 10. In case any merchant, trader, or other person, shall import any goods or merchandise, after the first day of December, and before the first day of February next, the same ought, forthwith, at the election of the owner, to be either re-shipped, or delivered up to the committee of the county or town wherein they shall be imported, to be stored at the risk of the importer, un- til the non-importation agreement shall cease, or be sold under the direc- tion of the committee aforesaid ; and in the last mentioned case, the owner or owners of such goods shall be reimbursed out of the sales, the first cost and charges ; the profit, if any, to be applied towards relieving and employ- ing such poor inhabitants of the town of Boston, as are immediate sufferers by the Boston port-bill ; and a particular account of all goods so returned, stored, or sold, to be inserted in the public papers ; and if any goods or merchandise shall be imported after the said first day of February, the same ought forthwith to be sent back again, without breaking any of the packages thereof. 11. That a committee be chosen in every county, city, and town, by those who are qualified to vote for representatives in the legislature, whose busi- ness it shall be, attentively to observe the conduct of all persons touching this association ; and when it shall be made to appear, to the satisfaction of a majority of any such committee, that any person within the limits of their appointment, has violated this association, that such majority do, forthwith, cause the truth of the case to be published in the gazette ; to the end, that a!l such foes to the rights of British America may be publicly known, and universally contemned as the enemies of American liberty ; and thence- forth, we, respectively, will break off all dealings with him or her. 12. That the committees of correspondence, in the respective colonies, do frequently inspect the entries of their custom-houses, and inform eacli oth- er, from time to time, of the true state thereof, and of every other material circumstance that may occur relative to this association. 13. That all manufactures of this country be sold at reasonable prices, so that no undue advantage be taken of a future scarcity of goods. 14. And we do further agree and resolve, that we will have no trade, commerce, dealings, or intercourse whatsoever, with any colony or province, in North America, which shall not. accede to, or which shall hereafter vio- late this association, but will hold them as unworthy of the rights of free- men, and as inimical to the liberties of their country. And we do solemnly bind ourselves and our constituents, under the ties aforesaid, to adhere to this association, until such parts of the several acts .mi i:\ \l. OF Till: CONTINENTA] CONGRESS of parliament passed sines 1 1 * » - close of die last war, as imi continue duties "M tea, wine, mol igar, pimento, imli- l'", foreign paper, glass, and painters 1 colors, imported into America, and extend the powers of tin- admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, di prive the American subjeel of trial bj jury, authorize the judge's certificate to indemnify the prosecutor from damages thai be might othem ise l»- liable to, from a trial bj his peers, require oppressive securitj from a claimant of ships or goods seized, before be shall be allowed to defend bis property, are repealed— and until thai part of the aetofthe 12th (i. 3. ch. 24, entitled " an act for the better securing bis majesty's lock-yards, magazines, ships, ammunition and stores," bj which an) peraons charged with committing anj ol the offences therein described, in America, ma) be tried in an] shire or county within the realm, is repealed — and until the four acts, passed the but Bession of parliami at, viz. : thai for stopping the port and blocking up the harbor of Boston— that for altering the charter and government "t" the M - sachusetts Baj — and that which is entitled u an act for the better adminis- tration of justice, vV'" — .nil I thai u for extending tin' limits of Quebec, fee." are repealed. And we recommend it to the provincial conventions, and to the committees in their respective colonies, to establish Buch further regula- tions as thej ma) think proper, for carrying into execution this association. The foregoing association being determined upon l>\ the Co ivas ordered to be subscribed by the several members thereof; and thereupon, we bav< hereunto sel ' respective names accordingly. In ( !0NQR1 - . PhiLADZLFHI v. < »> TOB1 R ! I. - rned, PEYTON B IN DO I I'll P ■■<>!. New Hampskin John Si li i\ i\, \ \ I II AMI I. I'ol SOM. V huaetls Bay . ..TnoMAS CosHmo, SaMUEI iOAMB, Jo Ha Adams, I.'": 1. 1 Tax m Paiwi Rhodi Island Stephen Hopkins, Samuei Ward. ' imrtinil . . I'.i.irn Mir l>\ i R, II'" i i. Sin km \ \. S i la a 1 > i \ % » . Veu ) ork I- \ \> Low, Joan \ i bop, • l"ll \ .III, James Duani W 1 1 1 1 \ m l'i ..I i 740 JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. New York Henry Wisner, S. Boerum, Philip Livingston. New Jersey James Kinsey, William Livingston, Stephen Crane, Richard Smith, John He Hart. Pennsylvania Joseph Galloway, John Dickinson, Charles Humphreys, Thomas Mifflin, Edward Biddle, John Morton, George Ross. Neiv Castle, fyc Cesar Rodney, Thomas M'Kean, George Read. Maryland Matthew Tilghman, Thomas Johnson, William Paca, Samuel Chase. Virginia Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, P. Henry, Jr., Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendleton. North Carolina William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, R. Caswell. South Carolina Henry Middleton, Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge, Edward Rutledge. May 11, 1775. Mr. Hancock laid before the Congress a letter from the Provincial Cou- gress of Massachusetts Bay, together with certain resolutions formed by said Congress, and a copy of a letter, sent by said Congress to their agent in England, and an address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, on the late .KM i;\\l. OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 741 engagement between the troops under Gen. Gage, and the inhabitai achuaetta Baj : and also a Dumber of depositions, dulj attest) d, rela- tive to the commenoemenl "i' said hostilities, all which were read. Ordered, That the se< retarj have the depositions and the address to the inhabitants of Greal Britain published. Resolved, .V. ('. l>. Thai the Congress will, on Monday next, resolve itself into u committee of the whole, t<> take into consideration the Btate of Amer- ica. Ordered, That the letter from the Provincial ('mull— of Massachusetts Bay, be referred to that committee. .li m .', 1775. The president laid before the Congress a letter from the Provincial Con- vention of Massachusetts Bay, dated Maj 16, which was read, setting forth the difficulties thej labor under for want of a regular form <>f government, and as thej and the other colonii s arc imu compelled t" raise an armj t" defend themselves from the butcheries and devastations of their implacable enemies, which n nd< rs it still mure necessarj to have a regular established government, requesting the Congress to favor them with ''explicit advice respecting the taking ■ i j • and exercising the powers <>(' civil government," and declaring their readiness to " submit t" such a general plan as the < lon- gr< bs may direct for tin colonies, or make it their great studj to establish .-itch a form hi' government there, as shall not onlj promote their advan- tage, lmt the union and interest of all America." Ordered, To he on the table for farther consideration. Duet. Benjamin (lunch being directed bj the convention of Massachu- setts Bay, to confer with the Congress respecting Bucb matters, as maj he ssarj to the defence of that colony, and particnlarl) the Btate of the arm] therein, Ordered, That he he introduci d. Aihr hi withdrew, an express arriving with despatches from Massachu- setts Bay, the president laid before the Congress letters from the conven- tions of that colony, and ,\eu Hampshire, also from <«'"\. Trumbull, which w< re read. Jim 3, \~~< 5. The letter from the convention of Massachusetts, dated the liith Mas, be- ing again read, Resolved, Thai a committee of five persons lie chosen to consider the same, and report what in their opinion is the proper advice to he given to that com ention. The following persons were chosen b) ballot, t<> compose that committee, \i/. : Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jay, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Lee. .h m 7. I i < .>. The committee appointed to prepare advice in answer to the letter from •he convention of Massachusetts Bay, brought in their report, which was read, and ordered to lie mi the table for considt ration. 742 JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. June 9, 1775. The report of the committee, on the letter from the convention of Massa- chusetts Bay, being again read, the Congress came to the following resolu- tion: Resolved, That no obedience being due to the act of parliament for alter- ino- the charter of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, nor to a governor, or a lieutenant governor, who will not observe the directions of, but endeavor to subvert that charter, the governor and lieutenant governor of that colony are to be considered as absent, and then offices vacant ; and as there is no council there, and the inconveniences, arising from the suspension of the powers of government, are intolerable, especially at a time when Gen. Gage hath actually levied war, and is carrying on hostilities, against his majesty's peaceable and loyal subjects of that colony ; that, in order to conform, as near as may be, to the spirit and substance of the charter, it be recommend- ed to the provincial convention, to write letters to the inhabitants of the several places, which are entitled to representation in assembly, requesting them to choose such representatives, and that the assembly, when chosen, do elect councillors ; and that such assembly, or council, exercise the pow- ers of government, until a governor, of his majesty's appointment, will con- sent to govern the colony according to its charter. Ordered, That the president transmit a copy of the above to the conven- tion of Massachusetts Bay. June 14, 1775. A letter from the convention of New York, dated 10th instant, respecting a vessel which is stopped there, on suspicion of having on board provisions for the army and navy at Boston, was read and referred to the delegates of Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut and New York. June 27, 1775. A letter from the convention of Massachusetts Bay, received by express, was laid before the Congress, and read. M I>c ELLA N EOUS PA PE RS. Gov. G r odamatii u. PbOI 19 i in Mi SAl in -i i i - I'.w. By ih ( roernor. V PROCLAMATION. IVuerj \-, a Dumber of persons unlaw lulls assembled at Cambridge, in tin- month of October last, calling themselves a Provincial < 'ongn bs, did, in the most open and daring terms, assume u> themselves the powers and au- thority of government, independi ni of, and repugnani i<> bis majesty's goi ernment legally and constitutional!) established within this province, and tending utterly to subvert the same; and did, amongsi other unlawful pro- ceedings, take upon themselvi - to r< solve and direct a new and unconstitu- tional regulation of the militia, in high derogation of his majesty's royal prerogative; and also t>> eleel and appoint Eienr) Gardner, Esq., of Stow, to l»' receiver general, in the roo f Harrison Gray, Esq., then, and still, legall) holding and executing thai «>iii<-'- : and also to order and direct the mom ys granted t<> bis majesty, to be paid into the hand- of the said Henr) r, and m>i to the -aid Harrison Gray, Esq. : and further earnestly to recommend to the inhabitants of the province to oblige and compel tin era! constables and collectors to compl) with and execute the said direc- tions, itrary t « » their oaths, and against the plain and express rules and directions of the law ; all which proceedings bave a most dangerous tend* ency to ensnare his majesty's subjects, the inhabitants of this province, and draw them mt" perjuries, riots, Bedition, treason and rebellion: For the prevention of which evils, and the calamitous consequei thereof, 1 bave thought it mj dutj to issue this proclamation, berebj i arn< stl) exhorting, and in his majesty's name strictlj prohibiting all his liege sub- jects within this province, from complying, in an) degree, with the said re- quisitions, recommendations, directions, or resolves of the afbn said unlaw- ful assembly, as the) regard bis majesty's highest displeasure, and would avoid the pain- and penalties of the law. And I . Providence seems to have placed me here, in order to give you the earli- est intelligence of the most interesting affairs, relative to the colonies. To my great astonishment, I have now before me an act for blocking up the other colonics; and another called the black act, to prevent the fishe- ries. The whole nation seems to be deeply ailected at such an enormous crime, which is supposed to be done at the request of the king and his MISCELLANEOI 8 P VPERS. , i > creatures. God forbid, that you should be intimidated ai thi* iniquitous law, which is calculated t" rum wnal was a mutual benefil t<> \ < • 1 1 ;,mi ua, This must convince you what _\"u are to expect, if you nibmit t" I i ahocking set of meu thai England can produee. \>>ur mili- tia. Watch your governor and council. The nev ilj it to be com- posed of such creatures as will give up the | - rights, and join in the most horrid plot against them. Wu.it a melaneholj reflection, that the riches and trade <>f a great nation Bbould be abuw tin Btruction of themselves and the colonii In short, the king is determined to l><- as absolute as th I • with tin' most obstinate bead and bad heart, bas si t bimself against the peo- ple, whom be «ill not see, keeping bimself retired from hi> subjects, in pride and ignorance. II' bas discarded men of veracitj from all places of profit and honor, and filled their offices with a set of the most abandoned villains mi earth. These are they who advised bim to break 1 » i — oath with the people, for which the) are despised bj tin- cation. If you I • » • I « 1 out a few months, England will rise and il" you justice, as well as relieve themselves from those accursed t_\ rants, who want to corrupt you, and deprive Mm of both liberty and property. There are two hundred and eighty-five members "t" parliament, who are all paid with the people's monej ti>\<>tr whatever Lord North proposes, and he has his lesson from eight more, who compose a «•! ul >. that meets in tin- niu~t private manner, in the night, at Mrs. Keens, near the palace, where they have a box, which contains the papers that pass between his majesty and them. The king overlooks their schemes and corrects them, as well as giv< - ord< rs bow tu proceed for the future. Hutchinson is consulted, and tn their shame, Governor Colden, Penn, and Martin, who bave written such letters to Lord Dartmouth, that the king has appointed them to meet ai N York, in order t" join with your other l\ ing spirits in betraj ing the • To complete which villany, Lord North bas made a motion in parliament, as if he intended to promote peace with the colonies; but it i> t<> dec them, and the | pie "!' England too. It is intend) d to I iiury advice of the Congress, which does credit t" British America ! Set tin; press immediately to work, and publish to orld the wicked n- of Hi' king ami bis councillors; that you despise thoir slavish Bchemcs, and are determined to preserve your laws and religion. Encourage the brave people ol M thj of their noble ancesti I have the pleasure to assure you, thai die noble lords with whom I have conversed, all join you in contempt of the junto here. Y<>n an I t>> let the colonics know that there is a deep plot formed to divide them, ive the people im> the pajiers, the treatmeni Lord Chatham's plau mei with. Those lords, who advised the king to declare you r< ; , inted Ml 746 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. Messrs. Hancock, Adams, &c, &c, have gone so far as to say that Chatham shall fall a sacrifice to their designs, &c. I know there is public virtue among you. I know your fondness for En- gland will not let you believe the wicked designs that are meditating against you ; but I do now, in the presence of God, warn you that the king has no good intentions towards you, but what you oblige him, by your own wisdom and virtue, to have. Take care of yourselves, and act as the wise and brave have done in all ages when oppressed by tyrants. Resist unto blood, all who attempt to betray you. The parliament have registered Colden's and Peun's letters ; look to them, and see for yourselves. Believe the court your worst enemies. Pe much ou your guard. Yesterday, Doct. Fothergill and Mr. Karclay were so pressed in spirit, that they went to Lord North, and told him that the bill for prohibiting the fishery, was so horrid and inhuman an act, that the nation would rise and oppose it: and that if it did pass into a law, it would be a scandal to hu- manity, and perhaps occasion a revolt. They plead two hours with him, but to no purpose. The bill is to be read a third time on Tuesday; so that in five days this horrid bill passes into a law, without any further consideration. Oh, America ! Oh, England ! The ministry, in order to quiet the mob, ordered an inflammatory pam- phlet to be burnt at Guildhall, which drew off the people, whilst the bill passed in parliament. A report is sent into the city that the transports are stopped. This is to quiet the merchants. But the officers are gone dowu in private coaches, ot other people, and America is to be divided and driven into compliance, be- fore England is apprised of it. Lord North has just given out that he will resign, and at the same time says that he fears nothing from the people, unless it be the breaking of his coach doors, or some such trifle, and no resistance of importance from the city, only a clamor, which he has often experienced. He expects that this manoeuvre will quiet the people on both sides of the water. Goods are shipped in the transports with the officers' baggage, marked Rex, and under the protection of the king's troops, who are to land them, and protect the trade. North Carolina is to be a store house, it is said. Support the committee, aud watch the officers of the custom.-, &c. Your friends are afraid that you will be surprised into compliance. The offers of peace were only to raise the stocks, which had fallen. They an; now four per cent, higher ou account of the report. The council sat up all night, in older to find out ways and means to con- quer Virginia, and procure' tobacco. Great offers will be made to those who will raise it, ^cc. Men of large fortunes are afraid to oppose government, least the bank should fail, which is said to be in danger. MISCELL \M.« n - P iPERg : \; The inti rest "t thi ot paid. Many of the people are your -i heart] friends, bul I t eneni) I'., i t deceived bj hia low cunning ; act wii d the. wicked plol will br< ok on tin . Ml to d< a. The king in in- t" send off his \><<\, nil bit of pnp< r lit cl rouw four of the ablest lawyera are constantly with him, whose In. advise and search for precedent bead, and tfunow u nil the parliament Two millions have been squandered in I irruption, i crown has nothing to fear but the hunger <'t" the |- \ Bteady odhen nc< to the pro< i and America. B ware of Gov. I* mi, who hai ide him l plj wid designs of the court. Bend ilii> to B iston immi dinti ly. Mr. Hancock's lands ai dj iIim- iliil among the 'i!li< I "\ Dartmouth is your bitter enemy, and determined to destroj the lib- f America. All the n i-'- n i>li that von may attend t" the ad\ ice of the < 'ongi • Uarcb I, 17 7 P rt of the troops now ordered for embarkation here and Ireland I. ml zvous ni New York, to make it a place of arms, securing the d of ili.it province, from die general alliance in lb< lom and en diing that is dear to man ; and to prevent the communication betw \ iiu, Maryland, and the othi New Eng land : when Gen. Gage, \\ith Buch assistance as be maj get from V « Vork, Bubdue i onies by a garrison and place of arms, with ti- nt' Quebec, t" rule "itli a rod of iron all die \ \\ ithout the concurren New ^ ork, thh bcIh me can never be i into execution, of which every genUeman n of knowledge in kingdom is fully convinced ; thei on your virtue, in depends, whedier America shall be free, or be reduced to the most i. 1 and oppressive servitude, worse than that of Egyptian bondage, in which you must inevitablj be involved, if you lend your aid to your bi ren in the other colonii I have to inform you thai the bill for preventing the four colonies and provinces of New England from fishing, getting any proviatoi the other col ryingon anj commerce whatever to ihe world, except (o <; tain, Ireland, or the B Weal ! finally pa House of Commous to-morrow, and of ii< xi July. \ "ii may also depend, thai in a few d I be brought in to prohibit anj of the oil on any t . >ver with each other, or <<> any other part of the world, except t G 748 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. Britain, Ireland, or the British West Indies, which will probably take place in July also : therefore, you will act accordingly, and let this be publicly known. London, March 1st, 1775. The measures of the ministry will, I hope, do more towards uniting the colonies, than any efforts of America itself. You will easily perceive their wicked intentions to divide, as well as their designs after that hoped for di- vision. They have high hopes of success, from the last accounts from New York. I trust the people of that province will soon displace those rascally and treacherous tories in your assembly, who dare thus negatively encour- age the system of despotism now adopted for your government. The wis- dom of the Congress, and the firmness of the people, give the strongest as- surances of future conduct Several names are made use of here as author- ities to warrant the defection of America. Pray print this short hint for the observation of the honest men among you. I need not endeavor to expose the baseness or folly of the present men in office, for they take care to do it themselves. The foregoing were at first, intended only to be communicated to the in- habitants of Massachusetts Bay, but on more consideration, it was judged best to inform those of Connecticut also, leaving them to forward the ac- count to Concord with the utmost despatch. Joseph Hawley to Thomas Ciishing. Northampton, Feb. 22, 1775. Dear Sir: — Since I left Cambridge, I have had many thoughts on the state of this province, and the continent ; and suffer me to say, Sir, that the tune is in fact arrived, when we are to drop all chimerical plans, and in our contemplations thoroughly to think down and pervade every step that is pro- posed for practice ; to judge of its practicability, and, as far as possible, to view all its consequences. With this conviction, I have been most seriously contemplating the commission and most important trust of our committee of safety, and especially that branch of it which relates to their mustering the minute men and others of the militia, when they shall judge that the late acts of parliament, VIZ.! the regulation act, and the murder act, are attempt- ed to be carried into execution by force. A most critical, most important, most arduous trust this. Here let me observe, that the soldiers, when thus mustered by the said committee, who have this power devolved on them by the representative body of the province, will suppose it is their duty to fight; they therefore, will only deliberate how to fight to advantage. They will not consider the question, whether or not the time is that they ought to fight; MISCELLANEOl S P IPERS. : 10 tlit\ will suppose tli.it the coi have devolved question upon this province, and 1 1 i r 1 1 tl.i- | commit safety, aud that the committee, bj They will judge, that if tfiej Bhould decline when d for that intent, thi ir 1 ouor and i /ill he in therefore, will prol t all events, fall on. m- menced ; wl . will, thenceforward, • I In- in' I, until tin- I in w liicli we must have ti onies, or we must sink uuder them. Buffer n it "ill not be the height of presumption assun ■ cm itj of such i d coutiuui 'I lutelj i y, than uli.it i- il in u resolutii ami they consisting of I nns and expn t th< t d certain urnl precise meaning? The w il in die resolution i ..ii need, ore, in my opinion, by loo .i : •• when l shall I"- attempt! ii I lion bj the word .1 of ti.' nies, to wit : "all America ought to Bupport diem in such o| that they will actui port them, but a m that it would be i. isonable and just that such support should lx afforded. I ■ '. nsive and d< tensive of sulhVn nt pn cision to maki tual aid of the other colonics in a war with Great I bj w horn was thi or t is, madi W as it b) di I spi ciidly authoi izi 'I at d instructed to n sort? Who knows whether the n lavowd declaration? Moreover, it ought to be well < to all die other colonics except I onuccticut and Ulu rid, what situation t! j are in to fulfil an i • • nt of this sort, in post .1 to ' • me into it. Do'nt we .-'Il say, that diis provi sist, and pa) an ormj suffich nt to ufibrd i without a legislature which the people will checrfullj submit to! I- tbat precisely the case with all tin two al* . Lcepti d? 11 I i" do I every one of them, in ordi i to levy, subsist, and pa) their i of an army, as we havi [ y, would not the succ ss of Bort be mon precarious in c m than in this | pie cannot be suppot thoroughl) to nppivhcnd ti •■ as ours maj be BUp|K>s< d to do \ ■■• they o| ■! with the new measures as we are 5 Will not their govern t and I embarrass ever) attempt of the kind as much W n- many friends ti» government to assist Can it therefore, be much short of madness and infatuation in on a Bcene of this sort in the present rtat May, is it therefore, that actual hostilities mual be suspt od< d, il , 750 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. tinent, by their representatives, shall, in the most explicit manner, in fact say, that the moment is actually arrived when the scene shall open ? No one, 1 presume, will say, that it will he sound policy for us to enter on hos- tilities with only some prospects of such donations from the other colonies to support the war as have been made and are making for the support of the poor of Boston. Does it not infinitely import us, to admit these and many more considerations into our minds before we enter upon lasting, most im- portant hostilities ? When once the hlow is struck it must be followed, and we must conquer, or all is lost forever, if we are not supported, perseveringly supported, by divers other colonies, can we expect any thing else, than, in a short time, to fall a prey to our enemies? May God, make us consider it. Should large numbers of men come voluntary into the province service, unless they should have been regularly raised and proper provision made for their subsistence, and magazines of ammunition provided by the colony from whence they come, will they do any more than just look on us. turn about, and hasten home as fast as they came ? In order, therefore, for the necessary establishment of auxiliary troops, as I said before, must not the other colonies assume new forms of government as well as we? Is it to be supposed that all this can be done suddenly ? We know, that according to the present respective constitutions, nothing of the sort above mentioned, to wit : the levying, subsisting, and paying of troops, can be done in a governmental way. When we shall have once made the hostile attack, we are, thencefor- ward, to look for nothing but fire and sword, until we have conquered or are ourselves vanquished. Therefore, if we, by order of our committee of safety, should begin the attack, and so bring on hostilities before the general express consent of the colonies that hostilities are altogether unavoidable, and that the time to commence them is absolutely arrived, and that we are actually ready, I conceive that there will be infinite hazard that the other governments will say, that we have unnecessarily and madly plunged into war, and therefore, must get out of the scrape as we can, and we shall have no other aid from them, only some warm people who will resort to us in a fit of zeal, and soon return home again as fast as they came, without afford- ing us any real service, but will leave us in a worse state than we should have been if they had never come. I know your concern will be, that if we proceed in this deliberate way, the spirit of our people will evaporate and be lost. But let me assure you, that there is no danger of that. If I can make any judgment, all the danger is, on the other hand, that our people will rashly and headily rush into hostilities before they can be upheld and sup- ported : tluy wiil consequently fail of success: the tide will then turn: a very low ebb will succeed the high tide of Hood: they will then give all up: and the good cause will be lost forever. I beg of you, therefore, as you love your country, to \\?e your utmost in- fluence with our committee of safety, that our people be not mustered, and that hostilities be not commenced, until we have the express, categorical de- cision of the continent, thai the time is absolutely come that hostilities ought KIIS4 ELLANE01 9 PAPJ 751 to begin, ami that they will support ue in continuing ibem. A- to the courts, we must eral i n them, that \\. may fully know iln' bu( llie attempts to estal lish the i spects ii,.' courts Si . I think it of much importance i" >l" this ■! re- gard your "\u Ti:i ami your usefuhu ss in your couutr) you should most at- tentively watch all the Btepsaud pro< the couri no ton. [fthey get u grand jury, then the) will probably obtain indictments of high treason, and indictments will not I ed without and re- spect to arrests ami commitments, couvictions, hangings, drawings, ami quortei ings. What your • buuce w ill be I m ud not till you. I am, Sir. with most sincere regard, \ our most obedient humble servant, JOSEPH !i W\ LEY. . Thomas Cusldng. Inhabitants of Montreal to tiu Commiltct - ety. Moa i ki vi , Aikii. :-, 1; 75k Gentlemen : — We have received your letter of the 21st <>f l\ bruary, by Mr Brown, and see clearly the great injustice thai has been done you. W< deeply feel the sorrows and afflictions of our suffering brethren ; and sin- cerely wish it was in our power to afford you effectuul relief; but alas! \\»- are more the objects <>t pity and compassion than yourselvi s, who are now Buffering under the heavy baud of power; deprived, as we are, of the com- mon right of the miserable, t" complain. You have numbers, th, and a common cause to support you in your opposition : we arc still more divi- ded In re, by our interests, than by our religion, language, ami mam;' The apprehension of evils t'» come upou us, in a Bhort time, from tin- unlim- ited power of iln- governor, strikes all opposition dead : indeed, fev» in this colony dare vent their griefs; Inn groan in silence, ami dream of Uttres dt W, confiscations, and imprisonments; offering up their fervent prayers to the throne of grace, to prosper your righteous cause, which alone will fi II-- from those jealous fears ami apprehensions that rob us of our i" In .i word, were thi British inhabitants of this widel) extended province, united in their s mtiments, we hive neither numbers nor wealth sufficient t" iln you any essential service. We must, therefore, cast ourselves ii arms ■>■' our -i iter colonies, rely ing upon tin- w isd< \ igor, ami firm the general Continental Congress for our protection, hoping they will enter- t mi no animosity or resentment again cause we cannot join them in the ensuing general Congress, which, were we i" attempt, tin- Canadiai would join with iln- government to frustrate. 752 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. You will please to bear in mind, that not only those who hold the helm of government, but also, all those who make wealth or ambition the chief objects of their pursuit, are professedly your enemies ; and would be glad to reduce you to the same abject state, with themselves: nevertheless, the bulk of the people, both English and Canadians, are of quite contrary sentiments ; and wish well to your cause ; but dare not stir a finger to help you ; being of no more estimation in the political machine, tban the sailors are, in shaping the course or working the ship in which they sail. They may mutter and swear, but must obey: however, should government handle them too rough- ly, and arbitrarily attempt to force them upon dangerous and disagreeable service, to which they have already shewn an irreconcilable aversion, they may, perhaps, dearly repent it. The case is quite different with their noblesse, or gentry. The pre-emi- nence given to their religion, together with a participation of honors and of- fices in common with the English, not only flatters their natural pride and vanity, but is regarded by them, as a mark of distinction and merit, that lays open their way to fortune. Of liberty, or law, they have not the least no- tion. As to the savages that dwell round about us, doubtless there are some to be found among them, who, tor the sake of plunder, would murder, burn, and destroy; but we conceive that their chiefs know their own interests better, than to interfere as a nation, in this family quarrel : for let which side will, prevail, they are sure, in that case, to be the victims. We desire to know, whether English delegates would be accepted under the above named limitations; namely, without entering into the general as- sociation for the non-importation of goods from Great Britain, or the non- exportation of the produce of this colony, and the Indian countries above : and beg to be informed in what manner we can be serviceable to your cause, without bringing down ruin upon our own heads. It may not be amiss just to hint, that the idea the Canadians seem to have of this colony, at present is, that it is to be a French government, holding under the crown of Great Britain ; from which they mean to exclude every Englishman, save the governor and lieutenant governor. We heartil) wish our abilities to serve you were equal to our wills, and pray Heaven to prosper your generous purpose; and are, with the utmost consideration and feeling for your distresses, Gentlemen, your most obedient, And very humble servants, and fellow sufferers, THOMAS WALKER, JOHN WELLES, JAMES PRICE, WILLIAM HAYWOOD. I'. S. It is "ur earnesl request, that this letter may not be uow published, tur liar "I had consequences to the subscriber*. V1ISCELLANEOI s PAPERS M . Bouxbrin tu tlu. Commit' D0R4 in - in,. Ji .1 1. 17 i Gentlemen: -Mr. Bowdoin has just d the enclosed deposition, and being in a ver) me t>> inform you, that for some time past, the Falkland, sloop of war, commanded by Caj I been cruising about tbe i ■ land- called - lb islaii \ tliat the - tvc, divi i ai med nil n on tin I islands, w Im have abused i ■ taken aw of 1 - ma) more lulls a] by tl on. li is humbly apprehendt d, if about one hundred armed men w | per- I) posted on the said islands, the) would force t< I tbe inhabitants, and protect tbeii ittle and sheep, which are \< r) con- siderable, and which have, hitherto, • ■ ir, furnished dh this colony with fut sheep and cattli rticularl) with a e quantit) of wool for our home manuti I beg l< ave to make th tation, that you may take such n as your wisdom shall dictate; and um, mos :tfully, in Mr. Bowd behalf, who is part owner of one of said blonds, i . otlemen, your most obedit nt humble m rvant, ELIZABETH r,u\\ DOIN. Tu the honorabk ' 'ilj. \\w si, n Elh • i, Lnnholder, In ing on i tumonl) called Nausbuu, and near to Tarpolin ( -tiiiith th, that some tunc about tlie 5th of May, the sloop of war called 1 1 » « - Falkland, command- ed by ( 'aj>i. Liu; . and as i ome to aucbor, the captain cume on shore with bis Im;:' . all armed, and came to the house, and said unto the deponent, "you i upon w 1 told liim ii \ i an) I men come on Bhoro armed ; and the womi to where be knew not; upon which, Cuj I ill llicm in, for h< uot i • hurt an) bod) -upon which pi famil) i ' Led mo to walk with him ; which be complied with ; ami in th . I had, and add d, to tell him right, for if I did not, I bo iml : upon which, I . I I. i. I told me, ' oui m, if 1 sold an) of tin m, 754 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. force : upon which, 1 told him, if he were here when they were fit for mar- ket, he might have them, paying the price I used to have. Soon after, he went to Rhode Island, and returned hack in a few days ; after which, he used to pass and repass the island almost every day, mostly in company with the doctor of the ship, leaving down the fence repeatedly, which let the cattle often mix together, which I told the doctor was a great damage : the doctor's answer was, "then you may put it up yourselves, for I will not;" and he often talked in an ahusive, insulting manner, that he, the doc- tor, would soon take what he wanted, without any pay. On the 2Gth instant, a sloop came into the cove, with about twenty pas- sengers, men, women, and children, in great distress for provisions, and made application to me for supplies. Capt. Linzey knowing that, his boat having boarded her, sent his boat on shore, and forbade my letting them have any. Then I advised them to apply to Capt. Linzey, and see if they could not prevail upon him to let them have some ; accordingly they went ; afterwards, the captain of the sloop told me, that he absolutely refused them, and said, " damn the dog that would let them have any! and if they were not gone immediately, he would sink them :" upon which, they set sail immedi- ately without any supplies. And further, the deponent declareth, that the doctor came on shore, and said, that the captain's orders were, that 1 should go with him, the said doctor, and destroy all the boats belonging to the island. I told him I could not go upon such business as that; he said he would send me on board the ship if 1 did not go ; upon which, I found 1 must comply, and accordingly went with him, and saw him, the doctor, stave three boats. On the 29th, about eight o'clock, in the evening, he, the said doctor, came on shore, and told me he had come for my sheep, upon which, I told him they were out in the pasture, and I could not get them into the pen it being dark, but would fetch them in as early in the morning as he pleased; the answer from the doctor was, " damn you ! what did you turn them out for ?" the reason, I told him, was, that they had got out their own sheep, and did not say any thing about when they should want mine, and I thought it best the sheep should be let out to feed; upon which, the said doctor said to me, "damn you! go on board the ship and I'll sec; what they were turned out for;" I told him, 1 would not, but would go and try to get the sheep up ; he said " well, damn you ! make haste !" and s\\ ung his sword over my head, — but upon trial J found it so dark, I could not get them in ; and, on my return, was informed that he, the doctor, had sent on board for more help to carry me and my brother on board the ship; upon which, with the abuses and threats I had received before, I thought it time to make my escape, which I did, to tin: main land, and begged the assistance of the people, who readily came to my assistance. When I returned, which was about three o'clock, in the morning, some of nay family told me, they had been on shore, armed, and taken all my calves, being Beven in number; two of the poorest and smallest, they sent on shore in the morning; the others, with four sheep they had some days before, they carried off without paying any MISCELLANEOl S V IPERS. tliiiiL r for them I do further d the abuses and threats 1 received, from (.'apt. Liuzej and the doct< d of mj moving off the island, leaving mj ii I And I declare, that I never refused CapL Lin- • •r an) other person l» I hip of \- rtainraent in my bouse, or a suppl) "i pi that 1 had "ii my farm, and could Bpare. I iirther declare, that on i I of the 529th instant, the afon I e mi Bhoi e and d< mandi d in) gun, w itli sword in hand, which she di livered t'» him, and I ha seen it Bince, though - the onl) wea] on ofd< (< nee that I had on the isl The value of the sheep, calves, and gun, which t i from me, and the i.. horsi and well, are as follow, viz. Four sheep, . . . . . . . S 16 Three calves, four months old, . . . . ..'{<; <> I ur quarters of veal, sixt) pounds, sold, . . . 'J b U < me u in i taken out of mj house b) the doctor of the -lii|>. • value, . . ■ . • • • .300 Riding mj horse and use of mj well, . . . ..SOU £15 0' 1 .1.1.-11 \ Nl I'.. I! M, n- i \i:i.i . ss. y\ \\ 31, 177 Sworn i". before THOM i8 SMITH, Justict qfV* P t 'uin Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex, Hampshire, . Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, > <>ik, Duki s, Nantucket, Worcester, Cumberland, . Lincoln, Berkshire, PI LA.TIOS OF M \-.Mi Ill SETTS, 177' m Blacks. 7 27,419 . • 28,11 I 50,! . . 1,049 5 1 .' 152 40,119 . • 702 10,821 34,315 . . 245 34,560 : 06 . . i-; •.: 15,344 . • 171 15,515 26,1 • • ••7 ..'11 17. . . 241 17,834 ■ l BOO -• . . 2,881 ■1.1 1 -J . . 133 !.:.i:. 16,331 . • 132 16,' ! ,'IU • • 1 1 a 14,072 1 -. • • 35 I- 1- ■■■ • • 216 i- : S 343,845 5,249 349, 756 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. Warlike Stores in Massachusetts, 1774. Returns of Avarlike stores were received from almost all the towns of the several counties of Massachusetts and Maine, except Dukes and Nantucket, April 14, 1775. The aggregate was as follows: Fire-arms, ....... 21,549 Pounds of powder, ....... 17,444 Pounds of lead balls, ...... 22,191 Number of flints, ....... 144,699 Number of bayonets, ...... 10,108 Number of pouches, ...... 11,979 Aggregate of the Town Stocks. Fire-arms, ........ 68 Barrels of powder, ....... 357 Pounds of lead balls, ...... 66,781 Number of flints, ....... 100,531 A N A < ' T ; \ i. COl RT OF M CHI SETT - ■ i THIS I jr ! , Wii this oppressed colon] has, for man) months past, been prived of the free exercise of its usual powers of government, which lia.* ioned the i » 1 1 1 • 1 i < - business thereof t<> be conducted b) Con- . and as manj matters of thi -t importance for the recover) ami preservation of thai liberty, which God, nature, and compact have given to this |n.''i|il<-, have been resolved, done, and transacted, b) Provincial Con- gresses, some of which have noi yei had their full effect : and whereas, the legalit) of such resolves, doings, and transactions, may hereafter be called in question, and ma) occasion much litigation, unless confirmed and estab- lished in some known constitutional manner: Be it therefore enacted, b) the council and bouse of repn sentatives of colony, in -'inT.ilcc.1111 assembled, and li_\ the authority of the same, that all and ever) of] the resolvi 3, and tram of the several Pro- vincial Congi - ilony, from and after the fourth da) of ( oni diousand Beven bundn d and seventy-four, to the twentieth da) of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, be, and t Ii«-\ hereb) ore con- firmed and established, as lawful and valid, t<> all intents, constructions, purposes whatsoever, as fully and effectually, as if the Bam< i and transactions, had been done b) an) general court <>;■ assembl) of this colony. \nd be ii further enacted, b) the autiiorit) afbn said, tha per on or p • hall be sued, I" fore an) Btip< nor court of judicature, court i ze, and general gaol delivery, or before an) in . -cunt of common pleas, or an) c t of general -> the pea befoi ingle magistrate, for an) thing done in obedience to, < r in com l>lianc( ^n it ! i any oft I ic re solv< t doings, recommendations, or oUier proc 758 ACT OF THE GENERAL COURT. ings of said Congresses, such person or persons shall and may give this act, and the record of* the resolves, doings, and transactions of the several Provincial Congresses aforesaid, in evidence, under the general issue, and the same thus given in evidence, shall avail to all intents and purposes, as if the same were specially pleaded : any law, usage, or custom, to the contra- ry notwithstanding. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the records of the resolves, doings, and transactions of the several Provincial Congresses aforesaid, be immediately lodged, and forever hereafter kept in the secreta- ry's office of this colony, and that the secretary shall copy and authenticate all such records of said resolves, doings and transactions, as shall be de- manded of him to be used in any of the courts aforesaid, which copies, so authenticated, shall be received as full evidence, in said courts, of all such resolves, doings, and transactions. J N 1) E X . \ the lable of content ibis volume, the in io ii where the nami i. John, ■ Joshua, \ igton, II. Ml. 145, \ - ,l<> 111. II I. \ • ■ ■ < louri, coufirming do- ; \ \ . i ' II 1 677 ; J. inn's. 675 ■. Jol 19, i i . John 61 .1 . . ; Joseph M N 61, 71 512 Atljul \ Aikin, B< nin, I 141.163, l \ J \ Alford, 15 \ i, Benjamin, 5" . I 712 715, 716, ". i; : Thorn is, 713 \ J Ames, I'- nj i \ Ami. Ammunii . I .' : \ An.-' \ J 170. \ R< Di Armorers, 159, 210 540, 642, 648, 549, 551, I Armstrong I . \ 111,114,120-9,135, 1 ii I ■ See A ■ ■ ! I • VKlitia, < I T 710, 711. 717. ; Artifi \ Arundel, 12, Bl, 190, 215, \ urnham, II. \ Ashfield, 10, II \ I '. A". iv Masters, I'm. rne, J Ion, Eliak Alhol, li. . .. 177, 64 I. '. in. . 1 1 ■ I . I ; John, J \. is, 9, 610: J i J i; ,450,471 I ■ .' H . .1 J I I !' 760 INDEX. Badlam, Ezra, 399, 576. Bailey, Nathaniel, 7, 77, 87, 140, 173, 233, 273, 280, 286, 290, 355, 375, 383, 413, 455,463,466,471. Baker, John, 53G ; Joseph, G38 ; Remem- ber, 718 ; Samuel, 14, 82, 1G0, 212, 238, , 240,277,291, 292, 298, 300, 320, 4G0, 463, 480. 484, 493, 628, G29. Baldwin, Jedutlian, 13, 50. 628, 651 ; Jon- athan, 14, 82, 277; Loammi, 302, G09 ; Samuel. 14. Ball, Epaphrus, 698. Ballard, Joseph, 9; William Hudson, 567, 577. Baltimore, 380, 381. Bancroft, David, 276, 479, 647, 648, 649; Edmund, 79, 275, 454, 610 ; Thaddeus, 675. Baptists, G5, 67. Bar, Aaron, 578. Barber, John, 591; Nathaniel. 304, 381, 402, 405, 430. 4G0, 47G, 487, 49G, 573, 581; Nathaniel, Jr. 572; William, 490, 494, 495, 678 ; Mr. 138, 527. Barclay, Mr. 716 ; Capt. 281. Barker, David, 655; Josiah, 141. Barlow, Jesse, 434 ; Nathan, 275. Barnard, Isaac, 638 ; John, 203, 402, 403; Samuel. Jr. 10. Barnes, Edward, 9, 19, 20, 67, 610. Barns, Asa, 445; Henry, 325. Barnstable, 12,80,278,458. Barnstable County, 12, 23. 62. 72, 80, 141, 150, 278, 411, 412, 158, 459, 479, 755. Barracks, 332, 566, 569. Barre, 14. Sec Hutchinson. Barrel!, Joseph, 442. Barrett, James. 9, 16, 61, 78, 109, 146, 148, 203, 209, 211, 225, 228, 232, 255,271, 283, 286, 290, 299, 334, 363, 404, 407, 513,515,517, 513, 547, 549, 673, 674; John, 672, 673; Nathan, 286, 672, 673, 679 ; Samuel, 553, 672, 673. Barron, Oliver, 679. Bartlett, Josiah, 161. Bass, Jonathan, 535. Basselt, Elisha, 12,81,278. Batchelder, Joseph, 277 ; Josiah, 8, 28, 29, I I, 73, 94, 106, 113, 140, 153, 160, 163, 168, 183, [92, 196, 210, 212, 232, 237, 274, 281, 292, 299, 3d.;, 308, 326, . 362,364, 375, 383, 105, 110, 411, 413, 116, 154, 463, 167, 171, 480, 181, 183. Bateman, John, 671. s, Barnabas, I .' I ; Joseph, 587 Baylev, Adam, 421 ; David, 610; Luther, L'l"; Lt. Col. Baylies, William, 12, 81. 83, 1 11, 157,159, 161, 163, 173, 178, 191, 278 290. Bayonets, 97, 103, 756. See Fire Arms. Beal, Benjamin, 370; Manwaring, 135. Beamis, David, 610. Beard, Aaron, 610. Beating Orders, 1 16. Becket, 15, 83, 159. Becket, .Mr. 296. Bedford, 9, 7!', 176, 158,678. Beetle, Col. 17 1. Belcher, Samson, 609. Belcherlown, 11, 80, 177, 276, . ; 37, 130, 158. Belfast, 15, 377. Bell, Daniel, 432; Joseph, 679; Thomas. 80. Bellingham, 8, 77, 176, 273, 337, 352, 457. Beman, William, 551. Bemis, Samuel, 691. Benjamin's River, 377. Bennett, Joseph, 142. Benson, Benoni, 628 ; Robert, 711. Bent, Peter, 9, 78, 183, 190, 231, 261, 274, 374, 147,479. Berkley. 12. 81, 177, 279, 458 ,626. Berkshire County, 10, 15, 23, 62,72, 83, 96, 141, 150, 177, 204, 276, 296, 459, 652-5, 719. 755. Bernard, Mr. 397, 402 ; Col. 683. Bernardston, 10, 80, 177, 337, 458. Berry, Col. 333. Berwick, 12, 81, 279, 313, 411, 436, 458. Bethank. William, 537. Beverly, 8, 78, 274, 364, 411, 412, 457,615, 679. Biddeford, 12, 81, 158, 279, 411, 430, 453. Biddle, Edward, 740. Bigelow, Jacob, 9, 52, 275, 355, 393, 404, 450,484. i:;7. 189, 610 ; Joshua, 13, 628, 643, 647, 651 ; Timothy, 13, 34, 72, 82, 140, 150, 513, 515, 516, 521, 529.628. 629. 631. 635, 638, 640, 641, 647, 648J 649,650; William, 14, 82, 89, 99, 102, 144. Billerica, 9, 78, 1 13, 131, 132, 133, 134. 176. 274 352 457 573. 679. Bills of Credit, 186, 187, 246, 255, 256,257, 282, 297, 299, 300, 301 , 320, 333, 334, 383, 386. 396, 410, 414, 415, 416, 422, 424, 434, 437, 44 1 , 443, 4C0, 462, 464, 467. 471, 473, 484, 583, 588. Bishop. Samuel, 239 ; William, 500. Bissell, Isaac, 484. 590. Blacksmiths, 463, 639. Blaisdel, Jonathan, 548. Blanchard, John, 399; Samuel, 449 ; Tim- othy, 679. Bland, Richard, 740. Blandlbrd, 10, 80, 177, 275, 337, 351, 458. Blankets, 114, 211, 355, 357, 358, 380, 1 11, 462. Bleeker, Henry, 718 ; John N. 711. Bliss, John, 10,29, 79, 94, 117, 136, 149, 180. 199, 203, 204, 206, 221, 225. 228, 231, 236, 210, 247, 251, 275, 291, 294, . 310,313, 315, 324, 326, 342, 319, .111. 115. 147, 152. 153, 161, 163, 470, 171. 172, 583. Bl< Igel, Nathan, 691 ; Samuel. 609. Boats. 47 542, oM. See Wlude I 'mats. Bodwell, John, 78. 615. Boerum, S. 710. Bog< rt. Henry I. 711. Boice and Clark. 88, 94. Boice, .1 imes, 7. 549, 604; John. 228. 229. Boies, William, 275. Boh. ml 14,82, 102, 177.256,277,336,351, '. \. Bond, Elijah, 610; Henry, II; Joshua, I: Nathaniel, 5555 Col. 239, 581, J William. :i:o. Bonney, Benjamin, Boolbbay, 15. 158, 135, 159. Borden, William, 610. Borland. John, Ml. 538. 548, 519,551, 567. INDEX. 701 1 i 106 ir. 129 I i 171,173,181 150 i il British \ I 731 Ann'. ■ P 1 III. in. ;, • Rem ■■• J of 1 I, 142, 143 163 i :i J B i I Pott, 4 G 1 1 mF B 1 1 .1 61,1 I '■ I J B w doinhnm, 15, 4 rs, Jerathmiel, 1 ! I Bowai in : I Boyd, \\ Boyiiion, Jami N iniel, 610. Brackell, Thomas, -'l l r.r.. ... r, l. 157, 615. Bradford, Gamaliel, Jr. I 11 ! j l W liam, 19. Bradisb, I 14; John, 628 ; Mr. :il. I '. B . D ,1111. 136, HI ••I. Branch, J I -'. Brand G i i : J Brent. Mr i Chaunee) B Jo ha i; Samuel, 104, 146. B ..II.. Inn itri.i-.-. i;i. ,-,,.•/. ,. ■•. .■ 6i no, 41 l 118, I 610, 61 1. 614; James, Jr. ■I , John, .1 'I Bridgewater, II, 80, 1 i;i B i ■ I ; Sei i i ii". i ■ ' . j i • 1 1 Brim6eld, 10, I..: Bristol, 15, IT II. 816. i Bristol Count} I i in. lao, i", ii i ih Plantations 96 G I n B ' B l I ' - \ I i 1 J J I .1 u • i i I M • 169 : N I I \\ "• II. l l?r..» - I U liam BroM 'l 113, ltr\ .in' . J pli i: Buckman, I II l J Bullard, J M B i i , 8t( ■■■ Bunker's II \\ B Bun l i : J Burrill, I i 1 Josepl r Bum Sal n ||yar:>. 12. 56. 60,78, I 15, 157. 179, 183, 184, I':;. '11, 223, 221. 240, 271, 281, 352, 358, 363, 391, 403, 431, 416, 451, 177, 505-13, 515, 557, 571, 593, 610; Ezekiel, 405, 432; Joseph, 401. Chelmsford, 9, 73, 176, 256, 274, 352. 457, 679. Chelsea, 7, 8,77, 273, 442, 457, 522, 523, 533, 538, 541. 545, 557, 561. Cheney. Thomas, 14. Chester^ 10. Chesterfield, 11, 80, 177, 276,337,453. Child, John, 14, 82.277,628; Timothy, 449. Chilmark, 13,81,279,458. Church, Benjamin, 7, 17,25,35,41,50,52, 55,59,65.77.87-9, 117, 132, 150 201, 203, 208, 220. 229, 232, 236, 238, 240-1, 273, 353, 357-8. 361-2, 390, 398, 400, 444, 4-16-7, 455, 460-1, 471, 479, 481, 483, 485, 489, 493, 505-6, 509-12,534, 538, 511, 513, 548, 550, 553, 596, 605, 661,741 ; Moses, 223. Clafliu, Ebenezer, 284. Clap, Daniel, 13, 642; Ebenezer, 218; Kleazer, 12. Clark, John, 14, 82; Joseph, 432; Mat- thew, 472, 512, 516, 551, 590; Peter, 432; Seth, 7; William, 83, 610. Cleaves, Nathaniel, 679. Clergy, 56, 60, 280-1, 283-4, 290, 479. Clerk" of Committee of Salety, 505, 508, 536. to President of Congress, 542. Cleveland, Ebenezer, 310. Cloihing for the Army, 357-8, 436, 444, 456-7. 467, 469, 478," 593. Cohh, David, 12, 62, 141, 627; Elisha, 278,318,479; Samuel, 141. Cobum, I'eter, 79 Codman, John, 610 ; Richard, 436, 655. Coffee, 57. Coffin, Josiah, 141 ; Peter, 8, 62, 78, 88, 212. 274, 333, 343, 374, 404, 410-11, 413, 416-17,423,615. Cogswell, Jonathan, Jr. 615; Thomas, °48 Colias'set, 7, 77, 273, 457, 486, 540, 559-60. Colburn, Ephraim,6l0; Peter, 610. Colden, Gov. 745-6. Cole, Andrew, 12 ; Eliphalet, 576 ; Wil- liam, 575. Collins, William, 277. Colraine, 10, 1 1, 80, 177, 276, 337, 458. Colson, Ebenezer, 535 Combs, Woolcombers', 64. Comie, Joseph. 679. Commissaries, 97, 165, 207, 242. 361-2. 410,417,432 4,416,448, 450, 471, 506, 510, 521. 525, 527, 532, 512. .Ml, 546, 513-9, 557. Commissions for Officer-. 163. 171-.-). 212. 377, 387, 395, 397. 125. 127. 115 Committees ol Correspondence, 53, 69. 72, 87, 105-7, lio. II I, Committees fiom other Colonies, 308, 310, .'.i::. 325. Conant, Daniel, 679. Concord. 9, 15.78. 103-9. 116-7, 176, 274, 107, I2(.. 157. 507-9, 511, 513-17, 522, 529,519.609,679 British Troops at. 118. 151-5, 173, 208-9,211,220. [43,524,685. Congress, ( 'ontinental, — Delegates to, 19.53.55,57,61,74, 86-7, 95-6, 229, 231, 522, 735, 739-40. i.M)i:x 763 I : i. P : 14. i i - s< n 174 Journal of, 151, 1 !:• .88, 1 1 in, Benjamin, Connect irul, Colonj . I 1 Hi., . Correspondence with 136,149 I l-i i'-i . "I. 119, . 707, 709-10. D. H levies i I - .mil Collectors, 19 ! II -II. 506-7 1 Joun, Samuel, ''.7'.' ; Rev. - nuel, 571 j Lt Got i' I' 1 l.-c. Joseph, 1 :-.■. Dorotbj , 551: William, I I lenjamin, 61 uel, 536 ; Ret I' • 184, 181 594 : William, J 1 i C - 111 -7; Co ; Theophilus, I c (Japl ' l> Committee I 0, 1 10—1. IGI-j. 168-9 l < County < inventions, 601-660. County I; Ml. Council, Constitul al, K), 50- 1. of \\ . I n See M itdamus. < '...in of Inquiry, -'<-. • '..mi,. Execulit e, 30, 11. Courts hi" Juatii e. 61 : I I. 616, I il-.\ 751 Courts, Martial, 196-8. < '..^ in. mi. \..,i-< Consumption, I < 'owden, rbomas, <'..T Lieut Craft, Abtter, E38 : Ebem - I I. Iward, 814, 106, 190, 500, 515, I \ 146, 148, Cr Stephen, 7K>, Thomas. ' 134, ill. 1 18, 163. :n B4, 347, I, HI. VI... 154, 466, 188, 190, i rhomai iOO. < 'r.. I ib, -'i i. Cr.. \ ( 'rnukir John, I I I. I'm- |i I I i 145, 16*, 61 i J wi Point, . •7. Cu.KM.nl, M I II. • .1 ■ . j ' ; . Jonathan, 821. See B ' ' ( 'in i J ■ ; Nathaniel, ill Curtis, Caleb, .1 Mr. 6 •: ;Ni - 610. Cn-li : r, Benj I 7, 40, l.i :.-•".. I I : J .1 .... Jr. 621 ; J..-- |ili. II 118 130 l . l iel. 124, 621 j Nathan, II ■ 116, 144,150 Jin- I .1 ; Seth, rhomas, 7. .'.7. 10 i - 101, 105-7, 150, 170, 'IM '■. 538, i . \\ Cuiu-r. Ebenezer, William, Cult, Edward, 12, !3, 81, I 300-1, 350, 107, HI. 111. I 1 ret, Daniel, 575j James, 07 j ■, S uel, 1 1 ggelt, JuImi - '-'■ :;1 ' ,5 °- I > on, Tristram, 78, ''.Ij. I I l i William, I 1 brlh, Joseph, 610j Samuel, 36, 613; Timothy, 549, 610 Danielsou, Timothy, 1" 117. I .7. I II. I ; Danv. 7,274, 105, 157,615,1 i Darling, William. 22. I Dartmouth, I-'. 81, 177. 183, B9, 13, 11.'. 134, . Dartmouth, Lord, 525.6 0-4, 745, 7 17. \ ::. 140-1, ' I'U. 121, 461. D sandCoverh Davis, D,i |, |j. 72, 80, B5, i ii, 150, 198, Jix'.. -'7.:. .;i7. .;.;:. hi •. Edward, -'7'.. 31 I. 391 j Hepsibelh,! I J. .mi. 190, I'. 1 1-.".; Joseph, ; Joshua, 187-8, 193 ; Stephen, '•!" . Thomas, ,lr 677 l II . Dawes, William, 507. I .. - Mr 174. I declaration of Rights, 50, 56, 782-5. 540,601 Deer Island. 844,249 SI 155 l> • •',.■1.1. 1(1.7'... I" Deland, Benjamin, Jr. 679. I taming . David Dench, «i Ibert, E84 ; Rogei 10. I tenbam, Daniel, 7'.*. Denny, Thomas, I 16 I I ^. Richard, Jr 36-7, 10, 62, 154, 189, i ■ . ; ; 615. Deserters, 390 Devon Rid ird, 8, 1^. 7.'.. 28-9, "' 764 INDEX. 52, 55, 60, 78, 89, 94, 106-8, 114, 133, 140-1, 145. 147, 191, 238, 240-1, 274, 362, 498, 505-16, 526, 538, 561-2, 566-7, 581, 583, 587, 590, 594-5, 610-11. Dexter, John, 9, 78, 163, 169, 208, 228, 326, 520, 610; John. 9, 78. 163, 169, 208, 228, 326, 520, 610 ; Samuel, 7, 16, 23. 36, 37, 50-1,77, 109,165, 168, 178-9, 1S3, 187, 197, 248, 255, 257, 273, 286, 299, 305, 308, 321,324, 414, 416. 137.414. Dickerson. John, 10, 79, 275, 392, 427, 430, 431, 584. Dickjnsou, John, 740; Israel, 713; Na- thaniel, Jr. 10, 79, 162, 276. Dighton, 12,81,278,458,626. Dike, Mr 553. Dinsmore, David, 217, 227. Ditson, Thomas, 113, 131-4. Dix. Jonas, 79, 86, 148, 150, 152, 156, 158, 161,172,174, 178, 183, 185, 196, 198-9, 202, 204, 208, 212, 221-3, 229, 234, 247, 248, 675, 678. Doane, Joseph, 12, 278. Dodge, George, 362-3 ; Jacob, 615 ; Rich- ard, 244 ; William, 679; Mr. 647. Dolliber, William, 615. Donaldson, Col. 558, 563, 574. Donations. See Boston. Charlestown. Donnell, Thomas, 475. Doolittle, Ephraim, 14, 19, 20, 25, 27, 51, 248, 270, 558, 585, 628, 631, 641. Doorkeepers to Congress, 16, 22, 108, 281, 485. Dorchester, 135, 457, 509, 540-1, 568-9. Delegates, 7, 74, 77, 108, 116, 146, 147, 273. Dorr, Joseph, 13. 637. Douglas, 14, 82; 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 459, 628, 643. Douglas, Robert, 610. Dow, Nathan, 244; Reuben, 401. Dracut, 9, 79, 176, 256, 275, 337, 352, 458. Draper, William, 670. Draper's Newspaper, 650. Drew, William, 621. Drury, Luke, 559, 561, 567, 628, 631, 642. Doane, James, 739. Dudley, 14, 82, 177, 277, 336, 351,429, 459, 643. Duels, 123. Duer, Ebenezer, 601 ; Judge, 722-3. Dukes County, 13, 23, 62. 72, 81, 141, 279, 395,411,458-9,479,755 6. Dunbar, Major, 52:;. Duiikinson, John. 306. Dunn, Samuel, 655. Dunning, Andrew, 655 ; Benjamin, 200. Dunsmore, William, 13, 82, 168, 178, 203, 276, 628, 642. 648-9. Dunstable, 9, 79, 177, 275, 337, 352, 458. Duraut, Edward, 9, 78, 148, 240, 449, 610; Isaac. 667. Durfee, Thomas, r>l, 81, 273, 282, 312,368, 112, III. 155, 160,479. Durham, Nicholas, 500. Duxbury, 11,80, 10.J-I. 278, 101,458,513, 621. Dwight, Josiali, 276 ; Nathaniel, 276 ; Sim- eon, 82, 88. I 1 1 -J. 156, 159, 160, I ::l 191. 193-4. 198. '--I. 277, 281, 290. 299, 305, 317, 326-7, 333-4, 355, 405, 422, 111,461,467. Dyer, Eliphalet, 739 ; Jeduthan, 655. Eager, Nalium, 11. East Hoosork, 177, 459. East India Goods, 101-2, 736-7. Easterbrooks, Jedediah, 432. Easlham, 12, 81, 278,280, 282, 285-6, 289, 458. Easton, 12, 81, 177, 278, 458. 626. Easton, James, 233, 235, 295. 297, 466 8, 501, 696-8, 704, 712, 719, 722. Eaton, Henry, 615 ; John, 535. Edesand Gill. 28, 145. Edes, Peter, 610; Mr. 349, 397, 405. Edgarton, 13, 81, 279, 363, 458. Edgecombe, 11. 15. Edson, Josiah, 36, 61, 113. Edwards, Benjamin, 301, 305 ; Michael, 493; Pierpont, 707; Solomon, 584; Timothy, 276, 281, 290, 295, 298, 304, 318, 326, 332,348,353,362,453,718,719. Eells, Robert, 621. Egamagon Reach, 319, 355. Egremont, 15, 83, 177, 276, 459. Elder, John, 584. Election Sermon, 218, 221, 280, 362,364, 387, 393. Electrical Points, 431, 583 Elizabeth Islands, 394 5, 413, 418, 753. Ellis. Abncr, 7, 77, 137, 140, 255, 273, 306, 333, 405, 434, 444, 450, 479, 584 ; Enoch, 8, 77, 273, 35S, 474, 489. Ely, Benjamin, 10, 275, 341, 352, 462, 583-5. Emerson, Bulkley, 223 ; Joseph, 4.35; Rev. William, 16, 109, 146, 286, 293, 299, 300. Engineers, 152-3, 157. England See Great Britain Enlisting Orders, 411-12, 419, 426, 525. Ensigns, 377. Erving, John, 36-7, 40 ; John, Jr. 36, 61, 113. Essex County, 8, 23, 62, 77, 140. 159-60, 256, 274, 411, 412, 436, 452, 457, 459, 471,479,615 618,755. Essex Gazette, 4, 72. Esles, Richard, 587. Estabrook, Benjamin, 691. Europe, Intelligence from, 170. Eustis, William, 571. Evans, Barnabas, 481. Everett, Israel, 679. Ewing, Joseph, 655. Exeter, N. H. 260. Exports of Massachusetts, 61, 111. Exportation of Provisions, 323, 333, 727. Express Riders, 557. Fabynn, Joshua, 655. Fairbanks, Ephraim, 14; Thomas, 276, 318,355,358, 121. Fairfield, Benjamin, 8, 73, 274, -1-15, 615. Fales, David. 136. Falmouth. (Cumberland County.) 14, 83, 190, 215, 217. 222-3,237, 279, 402,413, 436,459. Falmouth. (Barnstable County,) 12, 81, 222-3, 278,458,531. Farley, John, 216 ; Michael, 8, 25, 36,62, 1 I, 78, 95, 109, 110, 157. 173 183, 185, 187, 503, 229, 235-6, 274,282. 292,294-5, 305, 313, 322, 325, 340, 360, 369, 375, 384, 386, 390, 405. 41 1 , 419,420.427, 411, 445, 460, 486, 193, 499, 615 ; Nathaniel, 615. INDEX. " t ;.~> Farm < N >;88. Farrar, Samuel, 10 I 10. I ■ , Jonathan, 6 I 10. Fast, Day ..i 101 144 51. Paulkuer, Pranri i 9, 610. l-'.is , Aaron, \ J " l ; lj Joaiah I Fellow J Felt, Joshua, • Fenno, Ephraim, I 15 ■, John, l J I .ii. Ifii. John, - ' 171 ; Mr I ; Tboi Field, D M Fire Arms, 34, fi I, 1 1" I I T. US, U9, 144, 510, I I ..rum...!.. i 341 II 3 I - 107, il"; K. i I il 649, 651 Ii 143, 151 374 00, 115 423-5, 160, 179, 501, 508, 61 I. Fisherii I 16-7. I .... .1 isiah, 610 j Mr. 588 : Samuel, 8. I l ". • i ij 1. 1 Fitchburg, 14. I . I] I Samuel, 561. I I I cher, A ph, 610. Flint, Henry, 286; John, ClOj Jonathan, 610. Flints, 756. Florida, 313 Flour, 354, 380-1 I I, M 739 Flucker, Thomas, 36, 61 II •, 131, 177, ;n Flynt, William, I l. I • J Folger, Timothy, I II : C ; i Folsom, Nathaniel, II I I I ipt. .'< 16. Fort Edward, Fort George, i 1,711. I ler, kmos, £76 ; Benjamin, ■ , Isaac, 164 10; J imes ; Jede- diah. 13, 17 ,41 62, 82, i In II. 136 I I". 180 -■ ' 211,21 165 1 1 ..i 0; Joseph, II, 171, 16-" : Nathan- iel, l i.i. u ail, 515. Fothergill. I»r l I dmund, I I I I J ■ 160, 171, I ■ (I Hi Framingbam, '.', 7::. 176. 216, 106, -71. I Lady, 236, 238-40, 54 II. i I klin, Benjamin 1 . 188. Frankl u < '• unti . 1U. i . r 12, 81 117,130,131 141,14 151 l III, II ! John, 190, 194 5 \ N 141, 150, 1 ii. 184, ■ 0-1 i Samuel, Jr Freetown, IS 1,1 I • m i,. Thomas l" I Bay, 471 , 4 l ll < r\ . 1 19. I I, Elisha, I i, Ephraim, 8 G Samui Frothingham, John, 85 1. 610 l J . 05 II l 118, 134, 5I.">, i. Jow pb, 370, I Peter.l 17. Fuller, Abrahi 9, 78, 1 19 I, 17.'-.;. 499, 686; Archi l . ; ; 137,139,14 II 0,1 i.l 220 . I, 305, 31 140, 342, 106, in. n.;. ii i. ll.;. 117. 122, 131, 450. 171 J. 171 15 ; E] hraim, Fulton James, Furnass, Robert, I i . >den, ( Ibristopher, 7 10, G e, Thomas. 5, 13, l 1-1,31 l" .. 116, 129, I 11 159, l 34, l I7n I. I7.i. I I, 191-4, . 346, 1 1 H. 519, ■ 711. 7 17. A. Mr >s lo, 17. 12, 104 Proclamations "i. 3, I . ■'• 10-1, 13-4. I .i|i- of. See British Army. 1 ■ lorough, 15, 83, 159. < iallowa^ . Joseph, 7 10. Gardner, Grafton, I II ; Henry, 15 61 I 101, 106, 10 I 113-1 ill.' I 15 6 l n l. 184 5, 191, 193, 1 454, 166, 171, 4 06-7, 612-13, 610-1 1,743; 1 J bun, 615 : Samui . I I :. II, 12, 19, 51, I 94, 106, II 3* i. 511, 61 i 15 II. Gardnerslon, 15 169. 1 ■ \ ibam, 6" I Gates, II. .•■■i.i. il., I ... II. .... ... i :. Gaj . Elisba, .'>7j. ,66 INDEX. General Court, 3-5, 13, 44, 116, 159, 163, 190, 192. 359, 369, 397. General Officers, 33,*35, 65, 90, 102, 160, 175, 233, 253, 335,' 379, 467, 472-3, 726. Georges, John, 449. Georgetown, 15, 83, 139, 214, 217-18, 222, j 223,279,436,459. Georgia, 313. Gerrish, Jacob, 244, 291-2. 295 ; Joseph, 8, 78, 84. 110, 152-3, 161-2, 169-70, 174, 183, 190 1,201,212, 221, 228, 231, 274, 280. 282, 290, 297, 505, 320, 322, 332, 340, 352-3, 368, 375, 386, 389. 391 . 397, 401-2,410 11,413,470, 473, 528, 563-4, 615; Samuel, 244, 292-3, 529, £52, 579, 615; William, 12, 52, 62, 67. 178, 248, 270. Gerry, Elbridge, 8, 17. 23, 25, 29, 36, 38, 40, 45, 50. 78, 84, 91, 101, 105-7, 109, 117, 136-7, 147 50, 159-62, 169-70, 174 5, 183, 190-2, 206-8, 212. 216, 220, 232, 2.39-40, 246, 253, 27 1, 294, 308, 322, 352, 369-70, 372, 391, 411, 452, 48 1-3, 486, 498, 500-1, 5 r 8-13, 515-16, 550, 615, 618, 661 ; Samuel Russell, 4^2. Gelchell, John. 135. Gibhs, Jacob, 610. Gilbert, Joseph, 631, 647 ; Col. 130, 133. Gill, 10. Gill and Edes. 28, 145. Gill, John, 484/491, 195, 555. 592 ; Moses 14; 25 6. 35, 48. 82, 93, 102. 105-7, 116 149, 152, 161. 169. 174-5, 179, 183, 185 187, 193, 199, 212. 221. 228, 277. 280 393, 400, 445-6, 454. 461, 476, 479, 489 491, 500-1, 505-13. 515, 628. Oilman, Andrew, 385,391-4. Glasher, Benjamin, 435. Glass, 64. Gleason, Phinehas, 609. Glidden, Charles, 195-6. Gloucester, 8, 62, 78, 274, 377,411-12,442, 457,561,615. Glover, John, 314, 327, 338-9, 341, 368, 377, 524, 562-3, 581, 584; Jonathan, 274, 281, 293, 300, 305, 311, 348, 374, 379, 446, 449, 451-2, 463, 486, 488-9. Goddard, John, 7, 512, 549; Robert, 637. Goldsborough, 405, 435, Goldlhwaite, Ebenezer, 679; Capt. 217, 226, 377. Goodale, Abel. 11. Goodman, Noah, 10, 79, 141, 159-60, 163, 182, 275, 349. 355, 370, 375, 378, 383, 399, 404, 410. 413, 120-1, 421 5. 428. Goodrich. William, 299, 311, 313, 355. Goodrid^o, Charles, 111; David, II, 82, 111, 173, 301, 100. Id.;, 528j Samuel, 615; William. 11415, 118. Goodwin, Edward, 251 ; Ichabod, Jr. 81, IH, 150, 158, 174, 220, 279, 297, 310, 374-5, 373, 392, 399, 400-1, 411, 413, 418, 421-2, 431, 436, 441, 444-5, 686; William, 542. Gordon, William. 189, 218, 291, 393, 416, 500, 5,!!), 560, 594. Gorham, 15, 83, 160,279, 459. 655. Gorham, Nathaniel, 8, 17, 20, 52, 62,78, 89,91, 108, 1 1 I, 251, 676 ; William, 655. Goss, John, 401. Gould. Edward Thornton, 675-6; John, 274,293,374,467,615. Goulding, John, 14. Government, Form of, 207-8, 219, 230, 319, 357-9, 365, 727, 741-2. Grafton, 14, 82, 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 459,559,561, 643. Graham, Doct. 418. 121. Granby, 10, 79, 177, 275, 336, 351, 430, 458 Graimis, John, 394-5. Granville, 10, 11, 80, 177, 275, 337. 351, 458 Graves, Abner, 326. 332, 572 ; Oliver, 10; Perez. 79; Samuel, 346, 522. Gray, Allen. 461; Alexander, 496; Ellis, ail, 343; Harrison, 19. 36, 38, 45. 61, 113, 620, 647, 743; John, 301, 401, 621 ; John, 655. Great Harrington, 15, 83, 177, 222-3, 276, 459. Great Britain, 153-4. 419, 427, 463, 523, 735, 737, 741.741 8. Grenton. John Jr. 173, 529. Gicele, Mrs. 655. Greene, Benjamin, 82; Daniel, 422, 480, 481. 500; Isaac, 667; Joseph, 36; Na- liiim,82; William, 610. Green Mountain Boys, 726. Greene, General, 461,467, 473. 475, 482. Greenfield, 10, 79, 177. 275, 337, 351, 453. Greenlaw, Alexander, 349, 350 Greenleaf, Benjamin, 36. 40, 238 241-2, 155, 198. 555 6 ; Jonathan, 8. 25. 35, 37, 38,62,78,84,91,93,111.137, 148. 160, 163, 168-9, 173, 183, 185. 229, 236, 274, 280-1. 294. 298, 300. 308-9. 325, 403, 410-12, 418, 422. 431 . 442, 445, 449, 564, 615; Joseph. 224; William, 224. Greenough, Simon. 223 Greenwich. U, 80, 177, 276, 337, 458. Greenwood, Mary, 485. Gridlev, Richard. 157, 212, 300, 304, 315, 334, 373-4, 378, 445, 520, 546, 550, 561, 569, 590; Samuel. 397; Scarborough, 373, 520, 569 ; William, 254. Grievances, 43 4, 49, 50, oG, 58, 344. Grimer, William, 667. Groton, 9, 79, 176, 256, 275, 337, 352, 457, 515-18. Grout, Jonathan, 82, 86, 140, 163, 171, 192, 255, 277, 291, 298-9, 313, 326, 332-3,347, 375, 427, 430-1, -134, 441, 445-6, 418, 455, 460, 4*53, 4(56-8, 479, 623. Guild, Nathaniel, 604. < iuillam, Benjamin, 595. Guileau, Ephraim, 83. Gunlocks, (S3. Gunpowder, See Powder. Ammunition. (inns. See Fire-arms. Gunn, Moses. 10, 129, 275, 349, 360, 484. Guryev, Zachariah. 491, 194 Hadley, 10, 79, 177, 275, 336, 351, 429, 158.' Hadley, Samuel, 679; Thomas, 679. I lai;ar, Micah, 668. Hale. John, 79, 160, 233, 251, 275, 281, 290, 318, 326, .'.38, 382; Jonathan, 284; Jonathan, Jr. 10; Joseph, 57 1, 615 ; Mo- ses, I I. Ilalilax, 11.80, 177,278,458,621. Hall. Benjamin, 9, 26, 38, 62, 79, 83-9, 168, 212, 275, 375, 399, 417, 471, 17 1, 505-8,562; Ezekiel, 239; Jeremiah, 80, INDIA. :..: in i 651 M 173 II \l ■ l II .ii. Joseph, 160, U II M veil, Beuj -l '. Hamilton, John II i Joshua N II (Joum i" I n. 160, 11 '1-2, ll i inly, 10 ll .i . : i i i l l". 153, 1 1. 1 II ll \ I II - 141. H 177,271 ll i l". Si Harp* i ■ II ; Daniel, J,f. .1 J 'bin. J 1 1 ii.i.i. .ir 679 : Le\ i. 6 ; Mo- tes, Ji 667; M , 3d I ~ ; Rohcrl, - imuel, 610 ; Thaddeus, I Thomas, Harris, Franr 610; Robert, 9 ; \\ 1 1 "ii. Benjamin, 7 0. II. in. John U II , 151. 196, 198. Hariwell, Joseph, 610 ; Josiah, 61 '. Harvard Colli 510,530 ••! 1 1 i r \ bv, Josiah, I 19 II rwich I ■ II i ird, ll. 82, 177, Haskell, Francis, M4; Robert, 364, Haskins, William, 5 16. 1 1 i- tig -I J 75; Jona- than. .'I. 174, I; S 281, ! Steward 521, i73 . W liter, 149. II N ■ Seth, 11. Hatfield. 10 79 17/ ." II iven, Davi I 610 : Elias, 679 ; John, I J Ii). Haverhill, 1.78,13 ; .: i , Hawley 10. II ,J >h, 10. 1 ■ : 10, 15, 101, 106 III. 174, ■ 311 i I I 100, l 'l ll i :: 134, 4 11, ■ Haw J 14 ll II iv. James, 610. II lyden, Samuel, Haynes, Joseph, •'•. 615: Joshua, Jr. J . . ■ i Samui . ii-h.u\ . 1 1 . Dan el, ir J ph l ■ ■ 1 16, ; .,i 11 .. 564 62 631, 63 ■ •■ II rward, Jam I 1 171 . Ph neh is, 1 1 Haywood \\ i; ., ii ,. lo ll ... Thomas, Jr. I II ufa Wi.liam 7. 16 17, 1 II- ■i ll i IlOj Daniel, II. in 1 1 en lerson, Hugh, I- J. I leodrii k J..-. I |i in i«-k . l-i II . . M ■•■ n I' ■ ek 7m 1 1 ishaw, I) mirl, I ' iniel, ir J ; \\' widi mi.' i'h! 101 H k. Capi 161, Hewes J ph, 7 10. Hey wood, John, 610; Pbinehns, 62 631 ; ' ipl .'-17. Hieks I 581 Jonathan, 309, 315- 317, 105 ; John, I 1 1 _ g nsnn, Stephen, . H Ulreih, William Hill, Eliph .I. i .1 ihn, 136 ■. R 528 550, 610; Thomas 610 II nekley, Aaron, 136, R u 341, 343 II II i 10.715 711 Hinsdale, Sunn. I. 7:'. 275, Hitchcock, Gad, I II lar, John, 671. 1 r,610 11 in, Israel Vi hemiah, 610; Samuel, ll I. ll i: JIT. Hodgkins, I'll 1 1 rook, Luki N nan, 1.'. 6 III. Holden. II. 82, 11 643 Holden, Ibner, 14; Asa, (10; Benjamin, It; William, 205, G05. Hog, Capl 81 1 1":.' Ulaud, 5 lo. ll land, in. Hollislon, '.». 79, 176. " 158. Holman, Jonathan, 848, 628 II s, John ... . W : im, I, I 0, 1 II. 173 i 105, 12, 151, l.l. 160, ; l . Wil- li nil .i iun,l 15. Holien, Samuel, 8, 16, 17 105, 106, ISd. 140, l i 185, I ii- ! ■ 10, 841, 644, :~.\. 321, I Ii.. . ii-. . John II . \ well, Zeruhahel I Hooper, Robert, 36; Stephen, 34S, 380, 381 ; Thomas, 621 j William, 7 10. 768 INDEX. Hopkins, Daniel, 274, 281, 332, 334, 362, 3(54, 381, 382, 403, 411, 417, 418, 420, 447, 4(50, 468; Joseph, 254; Mark, 141 ; Mr. 652; Stephen, 133, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 169,739 Hopkinton, 9, 79, 176, 201, 202, 236, 240, 275, 284, 286, 293, 306, 337, 352, 457. Hornsniiths, 6 k Horses, 495, 496, 570, 573, 576, 595, 597. Hosiery, Domestic, 64. Hospitals, 355, 357, 360, 361, 375, 378, 387,406,436,437,571,578. Hosrner, Abner, 678 : John, 667; Stephen, 672, 673; William, 671, 672. Houghton, Ezra, 637 638. Hovey, John, 81, 206, 216, 279, 313, 411 ; Joseph, 615. How, Edward, 252, 551, 553; Ezekiel, 609 ; I.habod, 83, 228 ; Doct. 566, 567. Howard, James, 141 ; Lemuel, 425. Howe, Cyprian, 575; Jonas, 82, 159; Samuel,' 11, 80. 94, 178, 187, 201. Howett, Joseph, 490. Hubbard, Israel, 10, 275, 390 ; Jonas, 214 ; Philip, 298. Hubbardston, 14, 82, 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 459, 643. Hubbart, Mr. 161. Hull, 7, 8, 77, 457, 483, 485, 436. Humphrey, James, 535. Humphreys, Charles, 740. Hunt, Ebenezer, Jr. 619, 621 ; Jeremiah, 16, 146, John, 360, 387; Joseph, 449; William, 487, 593. Huse, John, 436. Hussey, James, 610; Stephen, 141,150. Hutchinson, 13, 82, 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 431,643. Hutchinson, Foster, 36, 61,113; George, 675; Thomas, 13, 224, 225, 232, 249, 306. 445, 527, 532, 560, 585, 745 ; Thom- as, Jr. 36. Hyde, Caleb, 141,276. Ilsey, Enoch, 655. Impost Master, 236, 250, 260. Imports, 61, 66, 11 1. Impressment, 150, 558. Inches, Henderson, 526. Indians, 151, 218, 307, 383.548; Canadi- an, 707, 715, 716, 725, 752 ; Cagnawau- ga, 372; Falmouth, 477; Mohawk, 116, 118, 119; Penobscot, 217, 225,226,228, 356, 360, 362, 369, 370, 371 , 372, 331 , 332, 386, 391, 392, 477, 480, 552; Six Na- tions, 311, 322, 335; St. Francois. 394 ; Siockbridge, 1 14, 1 15, 226, 311, 312, 453. Indigo, 57. Ingalls, James, 8, 274, 431. Inglis, Moses, 621 . Ingraham, Duncan, 221, 664, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 677 ; John, 591. Innkeepers, 555, til'.). Inspection, Committees of, 58. Intercepted Letters, 298, 682, 683, 68 k Ipswich, 8, 78, 222, 223, 27 k 411, 412, '157, 615. Ireland, 373. Ireland, Thomas, 567. Iron, 63, 573. Irving, Thomas, 414. Islands, 5 15, 554. Jackson, Giles, 15, 276. Jacobs, Henry, 678. Jamaica Fish, 362, 363, 382, 421, 449. Jaquith, Benjamin, 610. Jay, Joim, 739, 741. Jenkins, Thomas, 546. Jennison, Samuel, 14, 82, 221, 228, 623, 631, 635, 638, 639 ; William, 82. Jericho, 4.59. Jewett, Abel, 9, 79, 275; Dummer, 274, 280, 285, 292, 305, 310, 332, 334, 368, 382, 445, 451, 452, 453, 461, 484, 495. Johnson, Edward, 274, 313, 317, 411, 446, 467, 487; Guy, 322, 335; Josiah, 221, 274, 290, 341, 410, 423, 445, 4(50, 474, 493, 663, 665, 666, 668, 669, 670, 671, 676; Doct. 532; Samuel, 180 ; Thomas, 740, 741. Johnston, Selh. 595. Jones, David, 11,278, 282, 291, 341, 355, 368. 445, 447, 449, 460, 621 , 622 ; Ebene- zer, 80, 129; Ephraim,523; Ichabod,395, 396, 399 ; Isaac, 649, 650 ; Joseph, 575 ; Josiah, 309, 315, 316, 317, 405 ; Nathan- iel, 655, 656 ; Stephen, 396 ; Thomas, 672, 673. Jordan, Clement, 655 ; Rushworlh, 436. Journal of Congress, H4. Judges of the Court of Inquiry, 262, 263. Justice, Administration of, 262, 729. See Courts Justices, 602, 612. Keith, Zephaniah, 12, 28, 29, 72. Kellog.;, Russell, 79 ; Samuel, 83, 276. Kendall, Edward, 610; Ezra, 275, 374; Paul, 494. Kennebeck, 300. Kennebunk, 222, 223. Kennebunk Port, 12. Kettell, James, 610. Keyes, Dauforth, 248. Kimball, George, 14; Nathaniel, 223. King, Benjamin, 12, 81, 279, 479; Henry, 13, 82, 276, 350, 421, 628, 631. Kingman, Samuel, 535. Kingsbury, Eleazer, 8, 77, 160, 252, 679. Kingston, 11,80, 103, 104, 278, 401, 4.58, 513,621. Kinnym, Mr. 679. Kinsey. James, 740. Kirkland, Rev Mr. 116, 118. Kirkwood, James, 343, 374, 378, 386. Kitterv, 12, 81, 279, 291, 411, 458. Kittredge, Francis, 374; Isaac, 286; Thom- as. 149; John, 572; Doct. 549. Knight, Enos, 615. Knowles, Amos, 278, 280. Knox, William, 275. Kollock, Lemuel, 7, 77, 159, 178, 192, 234, 236, 238, 251, 254, 261, 273, 317, 327, 353, 358, 430, 431, 434, 436, 445, 452, 453, 467, 479, 480, 484, 490, 493, 495, 499, 583. Lake George, 269, 270, 288, 709, 711, 712, 717,721. Lammans, James, 546. Lammon, Moses, 484. Lancaster, 13, 82, 177, 256, 276, 336, 351, 429, 431 , 458, 516, 517, 518, 628, 643. Lane, Ebenezer, 12,575; Job, 678; John, 225, 22(5, 228, 356, 360, 362, 370, 371 , 378, 381, 382, 385, 386, 391, 394, 477, 480, 484, 552. INDEX. 769 Lanesborougli. 15, 1, 148, IT/ I io, Rev. S ■ • • I : Timoih i 1 1 1 . j 1 1 . .' i I II.:. 161 Lao pr, 711. I P I. ;n- \ Laurie, < 'apt, I ■ \ I I. 184 -- I - won, 12, : \i 1,113. 1 • I MO, III. J •'"I" 15; J than, : .Mr. I i. ... I lenr) ,740,741 ; W illiam, : I las, 14,25 ster, 13, 82, 1* I J. 51 i. 516, »17, 643. I ul, Jonathan, 9 ; Capt. I I. - ,. 14,82, 177, I lard, Dm. ■ il, 113; Eliphalet, l l 7, 40 j Zephauiah, l . Samuel ! Dwell, El sha, 561 Leverett, 10,11, 177. 276, . I s, .1 h 15, 62, III. 184, I --. 215, I - :7l. 157. Battle of, I 18, 150, 154, 155, 160, l -: 194, 196, SOI, 209 211, 2 14 345, 152, 519, -694. I len, 1". I Spiril Light House<, 251, III. 142, 154. I I .-In. 10, i Lincoln. Countj of, 15, 111. 150, 214 1,412,413 I .in. Benjamin, 1. 6, 7. 15, 16, 3o, 77. 84, 150, 198, 199, I 520, £45, 246, l, 370, 375, II 394, 101, III. I. vi. III. 117. ! 183, 104, i— 513,515,51 Isaac, 7, Liuzey, < !apt 134, 753, 754, - I Little, Barnabas, II I, 163 . 1 . M ; 615. Littlefield, James, 132. Lull. -imi. 9, 79, r 157, I Stock, 645. I jston, Petei \ B 373 708,711, " Philip, 740; U im 740. I ink . Benjamin, 667 ; Reuben, ' Locke, James, 610 j Jonathan, '.'. 610; Capt. 31 1. 97 J 15, 27, 141 Lou i. ni, in. , I I (fellow, J I ■ . \ • .ii. I D I I I" .1 ■ in, Jr. 1 J ..im. J.l. II. 19, 52, I ; 173, 11 i :li : i.l . .. I i. ii. '. 15. I i j J 615; Major 849. - inn. I. II Luckus, K chard I How, 10, I l-'-8. Lundy, Mi . 726 Lunenburg, 14,82,171 - 277, 306, 336, 351, I J:'. 159, 197, 628, 643 I. v.n .in. Elias, 10, .13. Lvnch, Thomas, 729, 7 In. Lynn, 135, 274, 111. H2, Lyon, Ja i !'>l. I liaddeus, 646, 6 l ' M 1,30 105, 111. II... 135, 154, \&9 M : ler, >i I. Madeira Win. Maine, 135, 154. Major G 10,324 ; ibigwaduce. M . . - Public, 93, IJ7, 131 -I ; . -J83. Makepeace ( iiT-linm, 1 1 Maiden, 9, 7:: 135, 274, 520, 545. \| -...> Manchester, 8, i ,11 ,274, 313, ill. LIS, 157, 561 . 615 M damus ( '. 17, 50, 111. 112, 113, 116, 640 Mandell, Paul, II. 190, 201, -'I-', Mann n-. R i hard, 17. 91, 113, 615 Mansfield, 12, 81, 1 " iel, 615; Joh 102, 270, 304, ■ 594, 615 Manufactures, 62, <■■'•. 64, 65, inn. 103,604 Marble, John, 610. Mi.rlil.-li.-a. I. 8 ' ,171, 13. 411. 177, 524,531,362,573, 594,615, M h, Jonath Marcy, Jedediah, 638 ; Mr. 113 : Wi M i iorou«rh, 9 176 111 318, Marr, James, - Marshall, Ebenezer, 610 Marshfield, 11,80,! ■ I 158,621. 770 INDEX. Martin, Josiah, 545 ; Governor, 745. Maryland, 733, 740, 747. Massachusetts Bay, 17, 23, 31, 265, 263, 269, 727, 733, 739, 755. Address to Inhabitants, 69, 72, 91, 255. Massachusetts Spv, 4. 62. 131, 172, 173. Mason, David, 373, 520. 569; John, 13, 82, 628, 688 ; Tliaddeus, 221, 676 ; Thomas, 362. Masters, Andrew. 615. Matrosses, 200, 220, 516, 550. Matthews, Isaac, 703 3 Jabez, 217, 227, 425,431,436. Maxwell, Hugh, 11. May, Ezra, 80. Mayhew, Joseph, 13, 62, 72, 111, 144, 150. Maynard, Ilezekiah, 610; John, 609; Ste- phen, 14. 82, 277, 290, 350, 628. McClary, Major, 366. McCobb, Samuel, 83, 192, 197, 206,215, 220, 279, 324, 576. McCoy, Capt. 715, 716. McDaniel, Timothy, 141, 655, 656. McDougal, Alexander, 695. McGee, Thomas, 11. Mcintosh, William, 273. McKinster, Capt. 400, 401. McKisson, John, 711. McLane, Capt. 560. McLean, Hugh, 228, 229. McLellan, Joseph, 215. Meacham, Ebenezer, 11. Mead, Levi, 669; Matthew, 688. Meads, Abner, 668. Medfield, 7, 77, 256, 273, 352, 457. Med lord, 9, 79, 275, 457, 493, 525, 528 543, 545, 547, 574, 679. Medical Commissary, 446, 448, 450, 530 545. Medical Stores, 323, 489, 506, 509, 512 517,545. Medicines, 321, 323, 489, 597. Medumcook, 459. Medway, 8, 77, 176, 256, 273, 337, 352, 457 Mellen, Daniel, 610; James, 9; Thomas 9, 610. Meliicant, Mr. 551,552. Melviu, Ephraim,672, 673. Mendon, 13, 82, 177, 256, 276, 336, 351 429, 451,436, 458,516, 517,518, 628, 643 Menotomv, 515, 571. Menotomv River, 542. Mensh, J." 5 16. Merriam, Benjamin, 688 ; Nathan, 610 Silas, 615. Mcrril, Abijah, 166, 4G7 ; John, 83. Merrill, Isaac, 8, 78 ; Winthrop, 615. Metcalf, Stephen, 77. Methuen, 8, 78. 271. 157,615. Middleborough, 11, 80, 256, 278, 337, 352, 158, 621. Middlesex County, 8, 23, 62, 78, 1 10, 176, 256, 274, 337, 352. 353, 4-57, 459, 479, 649,609-61 t,727, 755. Middleton, 8, 78, 274, 157,615. Middleton, Henry 1 in. Mifflin, Thomas, 725, 7 Hi. Midiil, Nathaniel, 8, 78, 271,386, 416. 117. 1 1 1 5 . Militia, 94, 93, 99, 109, 136, im. 193, 512, 56! 1, 571. Militia Arms and Equipments, 34, 48,71, 99, 103, 209. 210. • Discipline, 34, 48, 71, 103, 146. Call. 11- out, 90, 112, 202, 21! , 241, 490, 510, 572, 748. Organization, 33, 34, 47, 152, 243, 414, 520, 522. ■ Officers, 33, 47, 72, 90, 167, 168, 377,414,521,377. Military Exercise, 34, 41, 48, 50, 67,71,74. Miles, Charles, 679. Miller, Charles, 542; Jacob, 584; James, 678 ; John, 6 M. Mills, Amos, 679; Benjamin, 80, 191, 192, 197, 201 ; Elisha, 679. Mills & Hicks' Newspaper. 650. Milton, 7, 77, 94, 135, 273, 322, 445, 457, 510,585,601 Ministers, 158, 250, 281, 283, 284. See Clergi/men. Minot, Jonathan, 610; Timothy, Jr. 549, 674 Minute Men, 137, 140 See Militia. Mitchel, David, 279, 655, 656; Jonathan, 655. Mitchell, Edward, 11, 80, 141, 247, 278, 313, 321, 358, 412, 423, 431, 434, 436, 444. 415. 463, 465, 466, 469, 483, 511, 512,514,621; Nathan, 621. Mohawk Indians, 116,118, 119. Moheakounuck Indians, 31 1.312. Molasses, 57, 417, 485, 487, 736. Molleneaux, William, 432. Moncrief, Lieut. 726. Moneys, Public, 19, 38, 39, 45, 46, 65, G6, 113,11 4, 146 See Bills of Crtdit. Monitors, 84, 150, 165, 233, Sol. Monson, 10, 11, 80, 177, 275, 337, 351, 430, 458. Montague, 10, 80, 177,275, 337, 351, 430, 458. Montgomery, 10. Montreal, 51, 59, 372, 751. Moor, Matthew, 500. Moore, John, 610; Willard, 644, 646, 647, 650; Major, 366. More, Francis, 403, 410. Mortis, Edward, 223. Morse, Moses, 276. Mortars, 507, 508. See Ordnance. Morton, Briant, 83, 279, 300, 350, 352, 374, 501, 655; John, 740; Thomas, 444, 415,449. Moseley, John, 10, 79, 141, 172, 199, 201, 204, 206, 275, 488, 495, 499. Mosman, James, 9. Mothskin, Jehoekakin, 115. Molt, Edward, 233, 696, 697, 698, 712. Moulton, Thomas, 655. Mourning Apparel, 737. Mowat. Henry, 217, 218, 219, 237, 397,402. Mulliken, Lydia, 178,693; Nathaniel, 567, 667. Munroe, Benjamin, 671, 672; Ebnezer, Jr. 679; James. 573, 595; Jedediah, 679; John. Jr. 668, 669; Marretl, 693 ; Rob- ert, 679; Timothy, 679; William, 693, 694; William, 3d'. 668. Murray. Daniel, 463, 465; John, 36, 61, 113,639,640; Rev. John, 129, 139, 141. 1 17, 119, 150, 158, 160, 162 169, 170, 172, 178. 203, 431 ; Samuel, 166. 1NDKX. 771 Murrayfield, 10, ll. 80, 177,:..;:. Mustei Masters, I 0, 191, 197, 1 204, 20 1,245,24 I, 260 Muzzy, A • I .'.' j John, . \\ illiam, -'77. Natl« Nantucket, 13. See Sherburne. Nantucket County, 13, 81, III. 150, 158 159 ticket Island, 313,31 I. 147, 170 N : igaugus, II 5, 1 18, 135. N ish L)a lie), 10; Stephen, II J. Nason, Robert, I I Mai 158. N mshan Island, Vn al Stores, 5 16. Nazro, \..ih in el. Neat, Thorn i . I .'.'i. 131. Needham, 8, 77, ! »40,679. Nelson, Nathaniel, - Ni lit, Lieut Col. I 12, I 13. New Boston, 159 N ■ Bi linlree, I I, 82, 127, J77. 336, 351, 129, 131, 159,643 V « ii t, III, H2, 157, 615. Newburvport, 8,78, I 18, 158 I, 256, 17, ill. il_\ 157, 520, 615 \ islle, I 5, 8 I, 216, 159 ; Province of. D : tware,) ',->•. 740. Newell, Andrew, 132, 552; Timothy, 132. Newfoundland, 313, 170. New ( floucestei . 15! '. 655. Newhall, < '.'Mi 649, 650 ; Mr. 515. New Hampsh re, 135, 136, 137, 138, 148, I 19, 161, 162,22-1 -1 . i I, I, 30 I, 307, I, H 1 ' III. 147, 160, 11 1. 521,522, 706, 739, 741, New Jersey, 707, 733, 7 10. V m Marlborough, I J, 83, 177. I Newport, 169, 170. New Providence, I II. 1 12. New Salem, 10, 11, 80, 177, 576 337, 351, 130, 15 :. Newspapers, II I, H5, II I, 171. 196,6 I N iwton, 9, 78 135, 51 1, 157, 540 \ i Jfork, Cily, 726 ; Province of, 161, 171. 216, 258, 2 695, 705, 708, 711, 7:.;, 724, i 739. 7lo. 711.717 Nichols, Israel, 11.:::. 234, 364, 31 l. 120, 421, 4 l 13, 184; Join., 071'; Thomas, 252, 511, Nicholson, Col - I Nimham, Abraham, 1 16 \ ire Nixon, Col. John, 294, 295, - Noble, James, 161, 188, 190, 191, 193 718. Noddle's Islai Non-Consumption, 25, .'7. 10 6,57, 08.' Non-Imporiaii I, G53, 659 Norfolk County, 7 . I Norridgewc Norris, Edward, - North, Joseph, 83 Lord, '. 16. North Carolina, 733, 7 in. 746. N ih Yarmouth, I. lid \ luamplon, 10, 79, 177, : , 351, Nonhborough, 14, 82 177, 129 131 ■ ■ Northbri I I Norlhfielcl", 10, II. 80, I 9, 177, 151, H7, l Norton, 12, 81. 11 I 56. b, 141, S - muel, Norwi h, 11. Mod ' . See fl f C i Scotia, 313, 105, M oyes, D Numbei Four, I"- 1 Nurse, William, Nutting, John N ElUha i Josi ph, 3d : \ nh in, - 51 : Stephen 12.62 III. i 112, I :.. I 11. ( lakes, Syl\ anus, I I ham, 14, -'. 177, 131, 158, 643. -. I 9, II l, I , 501 Obrian, Jeremiah, I. 135; John, III. 115. 124,127,128, I l.;. 150, 160, 16 I, 167, l II 199, 21 l. 532 233, 242, i II I. II... 167, 17: 1,541,581 < Irowu oilu-t i-. 166, i I, Oil, 63, 251, Oliver, Amir.-'. . Daniel 7; Lt.G P 61, 113, i: 57o ; Thorn ■ : ; \\ illiam, 401. t (range, 10. ! . 95, 110, 171. Si< 30, 171, - 719, 720. Store l>. Organ, Thomas, i »97. Orne, Izor, 8, 19, 61,1 153, 160, I. 274, 21 341, 540, 545 i 615; J 1, 348, 615 id, Samuel, Jr 7:;. 108, III. 113, 117, i », 136, 140 Oswald, Capt. 701. Otis, J imes, 36, 37, l" ; Joseph, I, 303, 305, 317, 326, ! 333, 338, 341 111, Oxford, 13,82, 177. ,351, 129, 131, 158,628,643. d Cnu itj l ! Paca, W i! am, 740. Paddock, Major, 511. Padleford, Mr. 651 Page, William 161, I; w illiam, Jr. ll Paine, Robert Treat, I -'. 19 I 772 INDEX 86, 95, 96. 97. 101 , 105, 109, 170, 185, 278, 739; Rev Mr 649; Samuel, 212, 214, 639, 641 ; Timothy, 36, 637, 638 ; Wil- liam, 634. Palfrey, Mr. 419, 420 Palmer, 10, 11, 80, 177, 276, 337, 351, 430, 453. Palmer, George. 711; Joseph, 7, 19, 20, 25, 27, 28, 29. 3.3. 40, 52, 61 .1.2. 77. 84, 89, 95, 101,106, 107. 144, 149, 152, 191, ' , 210, 241, 246, 273, 281, 293, 3.50. 332, 362,433,434. 160, L86, 490, 498, 505 8, 512-15, 526. 527, 5211, 530, 538, 540. 5 15, 550, 551, 555, 556, 568. 573, 575, 583, 601,604,605; Jo-eph Pierce, 332, 530, 5.36, 596 ; Thomas, 36. Paneles, 57, 736. Paper, 64, 94, 228, 369, 549, 651. Pardra, John, 500. Park, Samuel, 284, 610. Parker, Andrew. 628; Asa. 678; Daniel, 449; Ebenezer, 667; John. 664, 665, 667, 668, 670; John, 300; Jonas. 668; Jonas, 679 ; Jonathan, 679 ; Joseph. 610; Joshua, 578; Oliver, 578; Timothy, 14, 82, 187, 231. 277, 292, 300, 303, 332, 337, 366, 378, 382, 393. 401, 405, 417, 416, 451,452. 462, 484, 4S9. Paikhurst. Joel, 275; Nathaniel, 668. Parks. Elisha, 10,79, 275, 305, 317, 321, 355, 356, 358, 374; Isaac, 671. Parliament, Arts of, 58, 602, 603, 610, fill, 612,616, 619, 623, 626, 630, 652, 729, 732, 734, 735, 736, 739. Parry, Edward, 203, 214, 386, 397, 402; Mr. 332, 375. Parsons, Isaac, 655,656; Samuel H. 239 ; Solomon, 615 ; Solomon, Jr. 530; Tim- othy, 436 ; Capt. 209. 680, 681. Partridge, George, 11, 62, 80, 85, 160, 173, 178, 185, 191, 193, 195, 199, 201, 203, 278, 283, 286, 291, 298, 300, 309, 315, 325, 326, 337, 340, 399, 403, 404, 411, 416, 417, 419, 420, 445, 446, 452, 453, 456, 479, 621, 622. Partridgefield, 15, 83, 459. Pass to and from Boston, 175, 197, 529. Patch, Samuel, 375, 574; John, 3d. 615. Patten, Nathaniel. 254. Patterson, John. 15. 29, 83, 94, 96, 98, 99, 106, 114, 115, 116, 118, 141, 150, 204, 270, 296, 361, 400, 401, 558, 563, 564, 582 Paulet River, 717. Paxion, 13.82. 177,277.313,314,336,351, 429, 131, 458, 628,643. Paxion, Charles, 316. Peck, John. 221. Peddlers, 101, 102. Pierce, Benjamin, 679; Nathan, 672; Sol- omon, 668, 679 Pelham, 10, 80, 177, 337, 351. 430, 458. Pembroke, 11.80, lO.i. 101, J78. i.V;, 621. Pendleton, Edward, 72 I. 740. Penn, Governor. 745, 746, 747. Pennsylvania, 733, 7 10. Penniman, James. 535. Penobscot, 371,377.435. Indians, 217, 356. 360, 362, 369, 371,392,477. 180, I" I, 552. Pepperell, 9. 79, 176, 275, 337, 352, 457. Pepperell, William, 36, 61, 113. Pepperelborough, 12, 81, 458. Perham, Lemuel, 610 ; Samuel, 9. Perkins, Ephraim, 309; Richard, 11, 62, 80, 133, 136, 156, 192,212,215,210,261, 306. Peilev, Asa, 78, 212, 274, 283, 342, 360, 363, 411, 416, 467, 479, 615; Thomas, 615. Perry, Abel, 610; Abner, 9, 79, 275, 358, 471, 493; Daniel, 273; Ephraim, 335; Jacob, 575; Mr. 139. Percy, Earl, 178,662,681. Persontown, 83, 459. Peru, 15. Peters, Rev. Samuel, 21, 22. Petersham, 14. 82. 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 459, 628, 643. Pettingil, Benjamin. 273. Petty Chapmen, 101, 102. Phelps, Elijah. 703 ; Elisha, 281, 290, 293, 310. 315, 406. 719 ; Noah, 696, 698. Philadelphia, 463 Phillips, Biidget,378, 387; Samuel, 36, 37, 40, 274, 288, 296, 297, 332, 334, 366,370, 381, 382, 399, 401, 418, 420, 427, 441, 467, 479, 481, 483, 486, 490, 493, 495, 498, 500; William, 36 Phinnev. Edmund, 355, 356, 358, 368, 375, 378, "379, 383, 386, 390, 413, 554, 564, 565, 655 Phipps, Aaron, 610; Col. 548. Pickering, John, Jr. 8, 19, 20, 25, 52, 56, 65,66,67,77,84,93.95,105.208,211,274, 297, 308, 326, 333, 361, 362, 370, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 391, 392, 397, 404, 411, 437, 442, 445, 446', 476, 481, 486, 615, 618; Capt. Timothy, 67, 74, 285, 615. Pierce, Abijah, 10, 610; Benjamin, 610 ; Isaac, 572; Josiah, 10,201. Pigeon, John, 9, 48, 52, 67, 89, 238, 240, 241, 242, 361, 362, 410, 417, 505, 606, 507. 509-16, 518, 520, 576, 577. PilKbury, Caleb, 274, 361, 615. Pimento, 57, 736. Pitts, James, 36, 40 ; John, 77, 84, 89, 102, 105, 140, 221, 224, 228, 232, 273, 280, 308, 370, 444, 447, 456. Pittsfield, 15, 83, 177,459,491. Pittston, 15. Pitcaim, Maj. 680, 681. Plimpton, Thomas, 9, 78, 274, 317, 347, 318, 380, 381, 423. 450, 480. 516. 609. Plymouth, 11, 80, 103. 104,223,278,400, 40 1 , 402, 423, 433, 442, 458, 513, 560, 621. County, 7, 23, 62, 72, 141, 150, 177, 337, 352. 353, 376, 411, 412, 458, 459, 479 621-5 "55. Plympton, 11, 80, 278, 458, 621, 622. Pollard, Solomon. 610. Pollv, William, 679. Pomeroy, Seth. 10. 19, 20,22,29,35,51, 52, 59, 67, 72, 79, 90, 94, 117, 130, 139, 141, 111, 150. Pond. Joseph. 178. Pool, Samuel^ 573; Mark, 340. Poor, Thomas, 309. Poor. See Boston. Charlestown. Population of Massachusetts, 61, 755. Port Bill, 52, 54, 59, 95. Porter, Elisha, 141, 191, 275, 292, 299, 300 INDEX. — » 804, 305, 309, 31 I 400, 104, 182, 186, W9, 493, 195, 198, 546,648,564 ; Tyler,615; Capt. WO, 101. Porl uli. Nil 122. I ■ , 212, 223, 171, 172. Posl Masters 171, 592. Post Offict -. ■ i rs, 2( ■;;. 209, 219, 220, 221, 2 : i 5 18. Pole, Caj i T.i. Poller, William, 167. Powell, J< remiah, 36, .'.7. 10, 6685 Wil- liam. : 19, 5( 6. Pownal, Fori, Pownalsborough, 15, 83, 210, 211, 21G, 279 399 135 I I, 90, 217, 'I::, 219, 237, 355, I 6, 177. 180, 501, 5 I; John, 226. PrescuU, Abel, Jr. 679: James, 9, 19, 20, ,37, l I, 19, 62, 79, B6, II 5, 109, 139, 1 in. 150, 255, 270, r 91, 303, 503 31: 33 I, 340, .). 401, 104, 111. H8 515, 576, 610, 61 I ; John, 628 ; Oliver, 610, (ill ; William, 9,375,6 581 L 587, 610. i lents of Congress, 16, 83, I 19, 150, 174, 17;:. ;;.;. 366,357,494. Preston, Edward, 604. Pi ice, James, 752 ; .Mr. 707. Prince, (a negro,) 61 Princeton, 1 I. 82. 177. 177 ..:.">!. 129. 459,587,628,643. Pris. ners, 166, 172, 235,300,301, 303,306, 315, 316, 189, 1-90, 1-91, 193, 195, 197, 499, 500, 5 10, 532, 595 I . American, 184, 189, 232, 104, 108 Proclamations for Fast, 384, 390,392. Governor Gage's, 3, 1. 5 330,331. of Provincial Congress, 344. Procter, .Mr. 381. Prospect Hill. 433,575. Providence. 166, 169, 222. Provincelowo, 12, 8 I Province Monej s, 65, 66. Provisions, HO, 111, H8, 169, 505, 610, 516, 570,583. Prout, Eben< zer, 321, 3 Putnam, Aaron, 149; Edward, 13; Enoch, i ; Henry, 679; G< n. Israel, 191, 182, 561 581, 68" ■: James, 639, 640 3 Nathan, 679; lYHrv. 679. Pynchon, Charles, 10; George, 10; Wil- liam. ,lr 79 Quartet Master General, 530, 532, 534, 5 1 ■' ; . Quebec. 51, 59, 98,99, 100, 227, 313,710, 725, Quincy, Edmund, 132,585; Col. 220,560; .Mr. 1 17 ; Norton, 35, 36, 88, 89. Rag 1,94. Ramsdi II, Abednego, 679 ; Joseph, 621. Ri I, Isa tc, 106, 164 . Thomas, 610. Randolph, Peyton, 7.;i . 7.'.'.' Rawson, Abner, 277 ; David, 7. 77. 111. 236 ; Edward, 13, 82, 1 10, 1 1'.'. 168, 17'.'. 198, 19 I, »1, 203, 208, 228, 229, 234, WJ, 62 .. < ■ 5, 637.638. Raymond, JohnV>79. Raynl am 12.81 171 626. i:, .1, hu, 11. Read, George 678; Gi nrge, 740 ; J. bn,9 f 7'.'. '.I"; I I as. 300; William, II 1, 670, 671,1 72 f»74 Reading '.'. 7:; Receivi 1 G< n< ral, 36, HU, 113, 185, 181 - ■ Gardner, II- a- a. Reci ' II. Keen. I I 615. \ • 1 In I. 678 ; David. 135; Is 694 ; . ,11; J.—,, 1 248, 586, J Jt . \\ ill am, Jr I: 337,348 l, 148,461, 470, Rehobolh, 12,81, 177, 278, 337, Rem ngion, John. Representation ol Colony, 40, 198, 208, Representative 359, 642. I nrs 126, 591, 649. Revere, Paul. 244 390, 399, 104, I 'I. 137, 111. I7J. 17.;. I!. \ nolds, Nathaniel 621 Rhode Island. 135, 136, 137, 149 151 30!:. 7, H6, H 530, 537, . 726, 739, 749. Rhodes, JaiiM K 1 • . Stephen, 1 I. 277, 6 !8 ; Thomas, 436. I: - ..ion.!. 15, 83 177. 276, 159. Richmond, Ezra, 27 .. 326, 333, 340, 347, 123, 130, . 134, III, I Hi, 149, 165; Nathaniel, Richardson, David, 575; Edward, 552, (172 ; IIiiiin . .775 ; Moses. I Ridge, Benjamin, I •-. Declaration of, 50, 56,733-5. Riots, 605. 620, 627,650,659. Ripley, William, 622. Ri\ »ton, J ames, 26. Rivingtou's Gazetteer Robbius, John. 665, 666, 679 ; EliphaJet, Rnherson, Col. 85. Robinson, Bradbury, 675 ; James, Lemuel, 7. 17. 29, 50, 273, 296, 303 39, (42, 352, 166, 167, 171. 17.;. 19 ill, 515, 516, 563, 605; Timothy, 1 1, 275. Rochester, 11. 80, 278, U2, i. . 21. k.John, I ' 1 • ir. 7 |H Rog< rs, I', liel, .Ir 610 ; Jacob, 591 ; Wil- liam, 211. R ans, Bernard, 264, 696,700, 7m. ' Ki'uv elo, Monsieur, Ropes, Jonathan . Jr. 8, 77. Rose, Prince, - Ros -. < ieorge, 7 In. Rosseter, < ;ol. •'» 1 1. Round, Nathan, 5* Rowe, 10. Rowe, John, 340, 134. 774 INDEX. Rowley, 8, 78, 86, 274, 457. 615. Roxbury, 7, 74, 77, 108, 116, 135, 146, 1 17. 17:3, 256. 257. 27.1, 305. 322. 366, 375, 457,510,513 537,540.541,1.71*. Royal, Elizabeth, 57.5 ; I-aac. 36. Royalists, 68, 636, 638, 641. 612. 647. Royalists, 14, 82, 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 469, 643 Ruddock. John, 572. Rubles. John, 31.5; Nathaniel, 254 ; Tim- othv, 36, 61, 68, 113, 634. 639, 640, 647. Rum, 511. Russell. F.phraim.432; James, 36.61, 236, 250. 251, 260. 286, 442. 451 ; Ja>on,678 ; Jeremiah. 587 -, Peter. 615 ; Philip, 667 ; Seih 678 ; Thomas, 363. Rudierford, John, 546 RuUedge. Edward. 740; John, 740, 741. Rutland. 13, 82. 177, 276, 336, 351, 429, 431.408.497,643. Rutland District, 13, 459, 628 Sabbath, 320, 333, 342, 349, 368, 392, 569. Saco, 12. Sadler, Abiel, 14, 82, 277, 352, 452, 453, 579. Safety. Committee of 32, 33, 35, 42, 48, 88. 89. 96, 97, 100, 143, 147, 148, 150, 164, 185, 218, 225, 235, 236, 238, 240, 241, 242, 301, 406, 419, 424, 427, 470, 490, 498, 505, 514, 538, 550, 551, 555, 561, 5156. 579, 580, 698, 7 0, 701, 703, 70S, 711, 712, 724, 748, 751, 752, 753. Sale, John, 273 Salem, 3, 4, 7, 8. 31, 43, 46", 52, 77, 152, 158, 222, 223, 274, 285, 305, 306, 411, 412, 421, 457, 477, 486, 520, 535, 615, 613, 679. Salisbury, 8, 78, 274, 41 1 , 412, 457, 615. Salt, 64, 490 495. Saltpetre, 63, 9S, 100, 291. 354, 417,418, 421. Samson, Elizabeth, 691. Sandf'ord. 12, 158,458. Sandisfield, 15, 83, 177. 276. 459. Sandwich, 12, 81, 223, 278, 392, 434, 437, 458. Sanderson, Elijah. 662 ; Samuel, 668. Sanger, David. 584, 586, 587, 588, 597, 610; Richard, 78, 610; Samuel, 474, 587. Sargent, Nathaniel Peaslee, 78. 139,152; Col. 547 Satterlee, William, 466, 718. Savage, Samuel P. 9. Saunders, Mr. 206. Sawver, Aaron, 620,647; Ebenezer, 141, 228,231 ; Ephraim, 628; John, 86. 91; Doct. 197, 198, 199, 204,208,221,226, 255, 286, 290, 294, 299, 318, 362, 373, 383, 396, 411, 412. Sawlell, Josiah, 610 ; Obediah, 610. Saver, Ebenezer. 12, 62, 65, 81, 85, 91, 255, 280, 291, 310, 314, 318, 321, 325, 326, 363, 368. Scammons, Col. James, 270, 291, 557, 563, 582, 590. Scarborough, 15. 83, 279. 413, 459, 655. Schuvler, Gen Philip. 726 Sciiualc, II, 80, 93, 98, 103, 104, 278, 458, 621. Scollav, John, 476, 477. 478, 481. Scott. Benjamin, Jr. 531; Samuel, 435. Sea Coasts, 313, 317, 355, 402, 106,408, 411, 412, 425, 426, 431, 448, 554. Seaport Towns, 291, 293, 294, 488, 492, 521. Seaver, Elijah, 679. Secretary ot Colony, 22, 55. of Provincial Congress, 16. 84, 149, 150, 161, 214, 273, 289, 320, 357, 161, 464, 467, 468. Sedgwick, Theodore, 652, 655. Selectmen. 34. 99. Serjeant. John, 615; Paul Dudley, 374, 522,591; Wimhrop, 332 ; Col. 540. 565. Sessions, Darius, 133, 157, 169. Sever, Joseph, 565; Shubael, 565; Wil- liam, 36, 37, 40. 51, 273.290,294.295. 305, 308, 309, 317, 324, 330, 332. 338, 350. Sewall, Hummer, 141.452,436; Jonathan, 346. 588 ; Professor, 298, 418. Sharon, 7. Shaw. Elijah, 541; Solomon, 544; Wil- liam, 435. Shawamei, 12, 453. Sheep, 495. 496. 659, 737. Sheffield, 15, 83, 177,276.459. Shelburne, 10, 79, 177, 276, 337, 458. Shepherd, David, 295. Sheppard, Alexander, 432, 4 43. 418,453, 517,712. Sherburne, 9. 78, 176, 275, 457. Sherburne, (Nantucket,) 13, 81, 279, 458. Sherman, John, 82 ; Roger. 739. Shewslmry, 14, 82, 177, 256, 277, 336, 351, 429. 431", 459, 497, 628, 643. Shillaber, Robert, 413, 421; William, 274, 406, 463. 464, 466,487, 6 15. Shirley, 9, 79.337, 352, 457. Shirre'tr, William. 309, 320. Shovels, 393, 471', 474, 489, 506, 574. Shutesburv, 10, 11, 80, 177,276,337,450, 458. Sibley, John. 399. Sick and Wounded, 436, 437, 445, 455,527. Simmins, J 5 16 Simmons, Jonas, 578 ; Joshua, 621. Simonds. Joseph. 667. Simpson, Jonathan, 36. Sinclair, Nathaniel, 435. Singletarv, Amos, 82, 276, 292, 326,407, 414,416,420,421,428,628. Skeenborough, 529, 695, 696, 700,701, 704, 717. Skene, Majoi Philip, 696, 700, 717. 725, 726. Skinner. Thomas, 500. Slave Trade. 736. Slaves, 29. 302. 553, 736. Slead, Phihp, 278, 280, 283, 352. Small Pox, 293. 294, 406, 423. 499, 570, 582. .V 6. Smith, Braddyl, 9, 72,78, 206. 275, 299, 333, 349, :m. 405, 450. 474 ; Calvin, 248 ; Capt 315. 316; Col. (British army,) 154. 155. 661, 662, 679. 630, 681, 682; Eb- enezer, 206,294 ; Hezekiah, 276 ; Isaac. 292; John, 528, 628; John, 667; Jona- than, 141; Jonathan, Jr. 692; Joseph. 558. 587; Josiah, 9, 610; Phineas, 10, 173, 275, 667; Parsons, 587; Ranford, 13, 23,62, 141; Richard, 740; Samuel. 8, 78, G15; Capt. Samuel, 8, 78, 173, INDIA lid 615 ; S imuel, II" ; Tboin Tim- .. in . 669. I • ;. 187, i ."7, HO, III. H3, II I. II',. 117. Hi 171, 172 185. i Edmund, III 187, 535. - ihampton, 10, 79, 177, 8 '■• 3 S( u h trough, I 1 !, 177, 131, 169, 628, '.I-. - , Brimfield, 10, 80, 177 I 158 - ili Carolina, 7.; ;. 7 in. - h 1 1. nil. -v. Hi, 79 |77, 275, 336 I l-".'. 158. - ithwick, l". 177. 337,351, 158,619. Suuthwick I i( Spades, - .7 1. S ■■;'• 'i l. I> i iel, 6 5 ; Isaac, 1 19. a .. Nathan, 628, 6 18 ; Nathaniel, 609 Spaulding, Sii n, 9, 7::. I 10, -'7 ; 291, 353, II-,. 152, 162, 163, 582, 591, - ir, David, II, 276, 181. .',397, 136, 166, 169 - cer, IS 82, 177. J77. 336,351, 129, i II 643. Spirituous Liquors, 340, 161 . I" 64 I Spo« r, Walter, 36, .',7. 10, 18, :7 ! ■I. I '7. 3 15, 313, 317, : 1,724. Sprague, J,,lm. 638 ; Samuel, 9, ■ ! 101, 17:'. il 610 Spring, Samuel, 675 ; Doet 357,361. Spiing6cld, 10,79, r.7. r :..::>. :::>,3X, 100, 129, 158. Sproat, Ebene; er, 11,621. fej nley, Amos, 575 ; George, 575. Stanwood, Samuel, 136, 535, 655. Stark, Col. 544, 547. Slaikwealher, Ephraim, 278, II I \ j ih, II, III; John, 278, 333; .1 -i. ih. 134; Mary, 627 j Phiueas, 667. J iepb, 349, Stedman, Ebenezer, 105, 505, 508, 510, il3 Steel, Manufacture Steel, John, 590; Thomas, 637, I ns, John, 135 ; Josiab, III; Samuel, Jr. 610; Wil St. George's, 135, 159 . Jonathan, 565 ; William, 9, 67, : 109, 161, 192, 221, 274, IH I, 121, 152, 663. 665, 666 Stillman.U 135 St John 8, 267. See Crown Point. Island of, 313. St Luke La Corne, 707, 71 Stockbridge, 15, 83, 177, ■ ■■. 311, 169, Si • Indians. Stockings, >i I. Stone, Benjamin, I-' Ebenezer, 610 ; Gregory, 671 ; Isaac, I I I, 199, II r i ■ J IN. v .1 d, 703; Jom 160, 161, J -. . ',i" J J Bh,9, i ;•• i. 3 ; ■ II 9 179 i i . I, 392, 110, 119, 120, 123, ll... 150, 164, U 3, 165, 170, ■ 610 611 ; Samuel, 9 ; Setb, Stoneham, V ore I! 181, 173. - e Keep rs, 10 - igbion, 7. 77, i 116. 57, 616, 617. \ . John, I Storei . John, ' Stow, 9, 7". r | 167, 511,513, 516,511 Slow . Jonathan, 9, 610 Straw :il. Sillily, i . Samuel, Stioui . < leoige, i Smihridge, ll 82, 177, m, 336, 351, 189, Styles, Ely, 500, 596. ury. 9, 7 171 216, &6, 274, 157. il6, 51' k ( ouiity, 7. 23, ii. 62, 7:. 77, i 10 150, 176 157. ; an, James, 1-'. 51, 53, 56, 62, 6 7.'. in 148, I 19, 153, 217, 21 537, 240, 27 111, I', I. 162, 16 0; John, " Sulphur, • Sumner, James, John, 111; Nathan- iel. I Sunderland, 10 51, 150. Supervisors ol the Camp, 57 1 . 577. Supplies, Committee ol, .'■.',. 35, 38, ::;;. 91, 96, :'7. 150, ll ■ i ■ -"7 218, J- 1 22 I, ll.'. 146, 162, 166, 17". 601, >"/ Supplies ii.i the Army, Surg s, 203, 290, 321. 323, 341, ... i i. 116, 184, 137, 449, 464, 17". 172, 176, 188, 506, 521, 544, 7lv. Sutpecled Persons, Suttlers, 126 Sull 13, 82, 17" 336, 351, 131 168, I 643. Swanzev, I B1.5 686. Swart, i>nk. 7 1 1 Swill.Job, '■ 77; Hoses, 18, I 11. .'J.;. 27S. Sylvester, \\ illiam. 19 k S\ monds, Joshua, 610. S\ rnj.s 57, 736. Tar, Tarring an.i Feathering, 131. T uon, 12, 81, 189, 177. .7::. 168. 687. Taxes, 19, 38. . 16, 66, B6,98, 101, 743 Taylor, Daniel, 9, ITS, 510, C10; Ezra, 776 INDEX. 53% 637; Gillam, 432 ; Docl. John, 82, 85,93, 139, 148. 149, 153, 157, 160. 163, 169, 170. 172, 173, 178, 179, 184,185, 186, 189, 191. 192, 195, 197, 198,203, 205, 206, 211, 212. Jiu. 229, 232, 233, 236, 238, 261, J77, 280, 281, 282, 286, 299, 305. 30-;, 313. 318, 321, 32.5, 327. 330, 333, 340, 360, 3(51, 362, 363, 363, 375, 380, 383, 399, 401, 414. 417, 419, 420, 427, 436. 112. 146, 413, 149, 152, 456, 460. 461, 162, 463, 471, 477.479, 482, I 13, 188, 489, ISO, 501, 628; John, 10; Jonathan, 14 ; Mr. 326; Mr. 513, 514, 515, Phinehas, 610; Samuel, 80; William, 531, 605. Teas, India, 25. Ih, 101,102, 7.37. Temple, John, 9, 78, 274, 452; Joseph, 500; Robert, 559, 560. Templeton, 1 1. 82, 177. 277, 336, 351, 429, 15:i.643. Tender, 41,416. Ten Eyek,5Barcnt 538. Tents, 509, 510. o()h. Tewksburv, 9, 79, 177, 275, 352, 453. Thanksgiving, Dav of, 24, 27, 28. Thatcher's Island, 394, 386, 442. Thatcher, Peter, 594; Samuel, 271, 283 292, 293. 331. 361, 397, 399, 4U3, 445 552, 454, 609. Thaver, Alexander, 277,315; Ebenezer 7. 19,20.31.67,531,605. Thaxier, Mr. 367. Thomas, Anthony, 621 ; Ebenezer, 621 Edward, 278 ; Isaiah, 201, 223, 249, 527 542. 618. 661 ; Col. John, 11,22, 23, 51 62, 65, 67, 80, 85, 87, 90, 93, 96, 133 225, 239, 25 !, 270, 280, 282, 367, 376 404, 408, 436, 437, 455. 169. 482, 526 527, 531, 532, 536. 544, 553, 563, 567 574, 587, 621, 622; Nathaniel Ray, 36 61. 113; Nehemiah, 11; Waterman 432; William, 621. Thompson, Barnabas, 621 ; Benjamin, 247 Capt. 373; Charles, 314, 351,359,706 Ebenezer, 278, 479 ; Samuel, 15, 19, 20 25, 62,72, 83, 111, 139, 141, 211, 279 285, 286. 290, 297, 300, 301, 318, 326 327, 332, 337, 355, 370, 380, 392. 102 412, 415, 421, 655. 656; Thomas. 244 William, 7, 19, 20, 601. 605; William 610; Col, 217. 21 !. 219, 237,397. Thomson. Daniel, 678. Thornton, Matthew, 308. Thurston. Daniel. 8, 78, 198, 199, 201, 244, 256.274, 355, 179,615. Ticondoroga, 233, 231, 335,236,239.250, 258, 263-70, 281, 287. 288, 290, 293, 321, 322, 324, 325. 327, 332, 372, 406, 460, 461, 462, 465, 490, 495, 529, 534, 695, 726, 727. Tidd, Benjamin, 6663 John, 679; Samuel, 667; William. 667. Tilghman, Matthew, 740. Tinkham, Joseph, 210, 211, 216. Tin Plate, 63. Tisbury, 13. 81,279. 458. Tilcomb, Jonathan, 343 Tobev, Samuel, Jr. 279, 291. Toby", John, 407 410. Tolland, 10. Tolman, Doct.679; Joseph, 621 ; William, 148. Tomson, Ebenezer, 80. Topsiield, 8, 78, 274, 457, 615. Topsham. 15, 83. 220, 222, 279, 459. Tor rev, John, 514, 621,622. Towns and Districts, 38. 39, 45, 46. 58, 67, 71,73, 98, 99, 109, 114, 116, 139, 176, 184, 209, 210, 215, 256, 257, 336, 358, 359, 364, 397. 420, 457, 462, 478, 479, 518, 526. 570, 593, 756. Townshend, 9, 79, 176,256, 275, 337, 352, 374, 376, 457. Townshend, Daniel, 679. Tracy, Elisha, 80. Train, 141, 142, 198, 200, 212, 213, 218, 221). 232. 292, 334, 341, 373, 378, 381, 383, 395, 397 399, 515, 562. Tread well, Mr. 578. Treason, 125, 126. Treachery in the Annv, 363. 397. Treasury, 113, 151, 160, 168, 169, 185. Treasuries, 51. Trescott, Lemuel, 577. Trevet, Samuel Russell, 531. Trickey, Zebulon, 216. Troll, Thomas, 655. Trumbull, Col. 207; Gov. Jonathan, 181, 18.5, 196, 270, 287, 298, 325. 372, 387, 395, 404, 106, 445, 446. 447, 487. 679- 704, 706, 709, 722, 725, 741 ; Joseph, 149 240, 283. Truro, 12,81,278,297,458. Tucker, Benjamin, 621 ; John, 548 ; Jona- than, 13,82,628 Tuckcrman, Abraham, 132 ; Lieut. 301. Tufts, Simon, 221, 676. Turner, John, 11, 278, 621 ; Seth, 411 ; William, 621. Twining-, Thomas, 368. Tyler, Nathan, 628, 637, 640. Tyng, James, 9, 79, 275, 305, 460, 461 ; "John, 9, 79, 97,275; William, 219, 655, 656. Tvi iugbam, 15. 83, 177, 276, 459. Upham, Joshua, 637. 638; Phinehas, 13, 19, 20, 26. 628 ; Thomas, 610. Upton, 14, 82, 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 459, 643. Uran, Thomas, 572. Uxbridge, 14. 82, 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 431, 4 59, 643. Vance, William, 573. Vassal, John, 519. 557. 558, 576,. 537, 593 ; Madam. 544, 587; William, 36. Vassalborough, 15, 83, 459. Vessels. Small Armed, 308, 310, 317, 318, 321,327.310, 357,. U;. 361. 169 Vice President of Provincial Congress, 301. Viarl, .Monsieur, 59 I. \ lies. Joel, 667. Vinal, Gideon, 11; Israel, Jr. 621; Wil- liam, 449. Vincent, George, 375, 377. Vinton, Capt. III. Virginia, 740,746,747. Vombavi, Henries. 1 16, '^'■'~'. Vose. Daniel. 273, 306,326. 101. 115. I hi. I?.'. 184,601. Voting, 651 . Wadsworlh, Jonathan, 15; Pelcg, 621 5 Wade, 621. Wagon Master, 512, 549. INDEX w ■•• J w I .1 w u . . 10 w \ Jr. 106, Walker, » J Mr 717 j S I i tin Ij Col. 'J I /. "I \\ I). .1 W , 77, 1 \ II W J .' \\ irtem I I". | I, - I, 107, H9, ; 511, I! ah, I ; Jonathan, l I. .1 i - muel, l pi. Samu W ■ i I L 171 w .11.11: W irl Ice I np emi Is, 97, 210 70J W ner, Jonathan, 71 U rren, I I Warn I ; . Elijah, - I ' I 185, 190, 191, 1 16, 217, I 340 r !. 111. i: ' 'II >] John D. 51 .1 ] 117, 132, n; i • i I w 10 II I 154. ill I Watertov 98 u u . w. u. w s .1 ber, J J l \\ i u Hi, 4 v, I I w. VVi ■ 10 \\ . \\ • • .11 U . Mr West. B U \\ ■ I I ■ . W. lorn, It, 82, 11 Weslfi I \\. W pton, 10. West 1 u. w . W( - West Si M W W R \' \ . . \\ lelcy, 10 I I \\ Wheeler, I I I. P< I Wheeloi k, Mr. 147, 111. \\ I ' W \\ \ ! : 1 \\ I'. i I II I II. I I J J 615 ; S v. 778 INDEX. Whithead, John, 671. Whiting, Jeremiah. 277; William, 15,72, 83, 198. 201, 204, 223. 276,280,281,290, 297, 04, 320. 321, 323, 355, 361, 374, 375, 381, 392, 400, 403, 417, 418, 419, 421, 423, 489. Whitman, Charles, 610. Whitney, Daniel, 275. 358; Lieut. 577; Oliver. 82, 204, 220, 686; Samuel, 9; Col. 246, 516, 558, 562, 563. Whittemore, Jacob, 206; Mrs. 505, 506, 507, 508; Samuel, 78, 156, 159, 161, 236, 240, 251, 254, 274, 284, 305, 317, 371, 371'. 152, 161, 462, 561. 615, 67S; Capt. Samuel, 609. Whitten, Phineas, 435. Whittaker. Richard, 575. \Y hitlier, Ebenezer, 435. Whitton, Elias, 370. Wickes. Thomas, 157. Wier, Eleazer, 586. Wilhraham, 10, 79, 177, 275, 336, 351, 429, 458. Wilder, David, 623; Joseph, 637, 638; Samuel, 637. Wiley, John, 364. 373. 397. 399, 572. Willard, Abel, 637,638 ; Abijah, 36 ; Capt. 649; Joshua, 637; Levi, 449; Thomas Kice, 664 William, Henry, 267-9. Williams, George, 278, 353; Israel, 36; John, 692; John Chandler, 529, 555, 578; Joseph, 254; Lemuel, 183; Leon- ard, 86; Capt Samuel, 27-1 ; Col. Sam- uel, 11, 80, 276, 281, 467, 486; Simeon, 278; Thomas. 15, 19, 20, 27, 320, 573, 594,652; Hon. William, 105, 149, 239, 287, 288, 707, 709 Williamsburg, 10,79, 177, 276, 280, 318, 337,458. Williamstown, 15, 83. 177, 276, 459, 717. Willing, Benjamin, 586. Willingion, Enoch, 667. Wilmington, 9, 79, 177, 275, 352, 458. Wilson, Ephraim, 637; Jonathan, 678; Mr. 203,741. Wincheudon, 14, 82, 177, 336, 351, 429, 459,643. Winchester, Daniel, 10. Windham, 83, 459, 655. Wines, 57, 736. Wing, Simeon, 434. Winn, Timothy, 553. Winship, Ebenezer, 341, 562; Jason, 678; John, 668, G'J2; Jonathan, 490; Lydia, 687; Margaret, 692; Simon, 664, 665; Thomas, 667. 679. Winslow, 15,83,459. VVinslow, Benjamin, 436 ; Edward, Jr. 625 ; Isaac, 36; Joshua, 485, 487. Winsor, 15. Winthrop, 15, 83, 459. Winthrop, James, 223, 455, 474, 592 ; John, 8, 27, 36, 53, 56 ; Hon. Mr. 334, 382. Wiscasset, 15. Wisner, Henry, 740. Wiswall, Noah, 679 ; Parson, 218 ; Thom- as, 276, 415. Witcher, E. 412. Witham, Daniel, 615. Witherell, Charles, 610. Withington, Ebenezer, 77, 240 ; John, 7 ; Thomas, 301. Wohurn, 8, 78, 135, 191, 247, 274, 457, 528. 566, 678. Wolcot, Erasius, 239; Oliver, 180, 532. Wood Creek, 717. Wood, Aaron, 8; Alpheus, 610; Ebene- zer, 621 ; Ephraim, Jr. 9. 610; James, 14. 82 ; John. 223, 436, 552 ; Capt. John, 248; Jonathan, 628; Joseph, 615; Na- than. 14, 82. 277. 325. Woodbridge, Benjamin Ruggles. 327, 338, 339, 370, 445, 583, 585 ; Enoch, 432 ; Jerathmiel, 276, 427, 446, 471, 474, 476, 485, 488. 499, 563, 573 ; Jahliel, 448, 453; Timolhv, 36. Woodbury, Andrew, 8, 62,411, 615; Pe- ter, 655 ; Samuel, 679 Woods, Henry, 610 ; James, 277. Woodstock, 14, 82, 222. Woodward, Richard, 601, 605. Wool, 496. Woolcombers' Combs. 64. Woolson, Ephraim, 587. Woolwich. 15, 83, 139. 279, 360, 459. Wooster, Gen. 372, 373. Worcester, 13, 41. 50, 82, 159, 163, 170, 177, 212, 214, 222, 223, 256, 276, 307, 336, 351, 398, 414, 422, 429, 458, 500, 505, 507, 510, 513, 516, 517, 518, 522, 525, 527, 529, 594, 627, 628, 633, 634, 636, 6-13. Worcester County, 7, 10, 13, 23, 50, 62, 67, 74. 82. 140. 150, 160, 177, 256, 276, 290, 305, 313, 336, 337, 351, 352, 397, 407, 420, 421, 422, 423, 428. 429, 430, 431, 458, 459, 479, 566, 627-652, 755. Worthington, 11, 80, 177, 276, 337,458. Worthington, J< hn, 36. Wrentham, 7, 77, 176, 222, 256, 273, 337, 352 457. Wright. Phineas, 1 1 . 275 ; Zaccheus, 9, 6 10. Wyer, William, 610. Wyman, Jabish, 678; James, 667; Na- thaniel. 679 ; Boss, 640; Samuel, 8, 78, 191.474.610; Capt. 578. Yarmouth. 12,81,27.".. 158. York. 12,81, 158,159,279,411,412.458. York County, 12, 141, 411, 412, 436, 459. 755. Yountr, William. 628, 631, 651. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 • Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. SOOhK/' 1«AG.3QU UCLA YRL ILL Dl]E %AY°2 1 200S AA 000 545 739 Date Due tt~- 1 ^©e c 1 1 *\r% 1 °^n C/ *n ° l 'l A L 4f* 11 II - I't K ■ II III II