USA > Connecticut > The public records of the State of Connecticut, from October 1776 to Ferbruary 1778, inclusive > Part 47
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Permit granted to Thomas Lewis of Norwich to transport by land to Providence seventy bushels of oats, to be exchanged for salt.
Permit d' to sd Lewis Sept 27th, 1777.
404
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[September,
Voted, That his Excellency the Governor be desired to give orders to Brig Gen' Tyler to detach from the brigade under his command 1 lieutenant colonel, 3 captains, 4 lieutenants, 3 ensigns, and 330 men, including non- commission officers, to serve until the 15th day of Novr next, unless sooner dismissed, and direct the lieutenant colonel, 2 captains, 2 lieutenants and 2 ensigns, with 200 men, including a proper proportion of non-commission officers, to take post in and about Fort Trumbull at New London. - One captain, 1 lieutenant and 1 ensign, with 100 men, including non-commission officers as above, to take post at the fort at Groton ; and 1 lieutenant with 30 men, including non-commission officers as above, to take post at Stoning- ton ; also direct the commanding officer to carry on the works of the fortifi- cations at New London and Groton in the best manner he can.
Voted, That Eben' Ledyard, Esq', be appointed to provide eight ox-teams to transport from Groton the baggage of Colo. Ely's regiment to such part of the State of Rhode Island as he shall direct ; and that he procure and deliver to said regiment continental provisions for eight days. If he can't otherwise provide, they may be had of Mr. Andrew Huntington of Norwich.
Voted, That Mr. Andrew Huntington deliver Eben" Ledyard, Esq", or order such quantity of continental provisions as he may call for the supply of Colo. Ely's regiment going into the State of Rhode Island.
Voted, That Mr. Andrew Huntington be desired to distill 20 hhds. of the molasses in the custody of Capt. Jabez Perkins, belonging to the State, into New England rhum, and said Perkins is directed to deliver the molasses accordingly.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY HOLDEN IN LEBANON THE 29TH OF SEPTEMBER, A. D. 1777.
Present: His Excellency the Governor. Jabez Huntington, Nath" Wales, Benjn Payne, James Wadsworth,
Wm. Hillhouse.
Voted and resolved, That Messrs. Nath" Backus, Jonathan Lester and Joshua Normon of Norwich, with the consent of Capt. Robert Niles, com- mander of the armed schooner the Spy, belonging to this State, be appointed to apprize the sloop called the Dolphin and appurtenances, lately taken by said Capt. Niles on a cruise on board said schooner against the enemies of the United American States.
Consented to the above appointment.
₱ ROBT NILES.
Maj" John Ripley is appointed Major of Brigade to the brigade under the command of Brig Gen1 Douglass in the intended expedition to Rhode Island.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY HOLDEN IN LEBANON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1777.
Present : His Excellency the Governor. Jabez Huntington, Benjn Payne,
Wm. Hillhouse, Nath11 Wales, Esqrs.
James Wadsworth,
405
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
A permit given Capt. Wm. Coit to transport by land to the State of Massachusets Bay 25 barrels of flour and 8 or 10 fat oxen.
Permit dd Sept 30th, 1777.
Toted, That Capt. Robert Niles's account for wages of the officers and crew of the armed schooner Spy, provisions, repairs &c., be referred to the Committee of Pay-Table to be examined, adjusted, and orders given for pay- ment of the ballance. The former accounts are forwarded by him, and 'tis to be noted that Capt. Niles received from Mr. Sherman 750 dollars, which he received out of 1000 dollars granted by Congress and delivered to Mr. Sherman and by him to be accounted for. In the former settlement made the 31st of January, 1777, it is to be noted that the last ballance was paid by an order on Prosper Wetmore, Esq', sheriff in the county of New Lon- don, and also at some time another order on said Wetmore for £100. This is to be inquired to see whether Capt. Niles hath accounted for it, and these two sums are to be carried to Mr. Wetmore's credit.
Toted and resolved, That the following orders be sent to John Shipman, Esq', lieutenant at the port at Say Brook, viz :
STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
By the Governor.
To John Shipman, Esq", Lieut. at the Fort at Say Brook :
I do, by and with the advice of the Council of Safety, order and direct you immediately to raise by voluntary inlistment twenty able-bodied effective men, to serve as a gnard at the fort at Say Brook until the thirtyeth day of November next, unless sooner discharged ; who shall be entitled to the same wages and allowance as the continental troops are. And in case they shall not be raised by inlistment, you will advise me thereof that further orders may be had.
Order sent to Colo. Ely to be forwarded to Lt. Shipman Sept 30th, 1777.
Mr. Eliot is appointed Surgeon's Mate in the battalion commanded by John Ely, Esquire, colonel.
Voted, That the orders issued by Brig Gen1 Silliman for the marching of one quarter part of the 4th and 9th regiments of militia to rendezvous at Horseneck under the command of Colo. John Mead and Maj' Abel, for the defence of the adjacent parts, is approved of.
Permit given to the selectmen of Norfolk to transport to Boston 20007b. of flour to be exchanged for salt. Permit dª Josh Pickit Sept 30th, 1777.
Voted and resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be and he is hereby desired to issue orders to Brig' Gen Erastus Wolcott forthwith to draft from the first brigade in this State three hundred able-bodied effective men, including proper officers, and cause them to be well equipt with good arms &c. Also to issue orders to Brigadier Gen1 Andrew Ward forthwith to draft three hundred able-bodied effective men, including proper officers, from the second brigade in this State, and cause them to be equiped with arms &c. And that said brigadier generals be directed to form them into one battalion and give orders for them to march with all convenient speed to Peekskill, to act in conjunction with the continental troops under the command of Majr Gen1 Putnam for the defence of this and the other United States of America, and to be held in said service two months from and after
406
COUNCIL OF SAFETY
[October,
their arrival at said Peekskill, unless sooner discharged. And that Brig" Gen1 Wolcott be directed to give orders to one colonel and one major in his brigade to march with and take the command in said battalion, and that Brig" Gen' Ward give order to one lieutenant colonel of his brigade to march with and take the command as lieutenant colonel of said battalion.
Voted, That Benj" Huntington, Esq., be and he is hereby appointed to revise the journals of this Board and collect into accompts all the articles proper therefor, and that as soon as may be ; and that he provide himself needfull assistance.
AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, LEBANON OCTOBER 3D, 1777.
Present : His Excellency the Governor.
Jabez Huntington, Wm. Hillhouse, Wm. Pitkin, Nath" Wales jun", Esqrs.
Benj. Huntington,
Serjeant Elihu Avery is appointed to be Lieutenant Fire-Worker in Major William Ledyard's company of matrosses in the service of this State, instead of Lieut. Latham deceas'd.
Voted, That Mr. Andrew Huntington be directed to deliver one hhd. of N. England rum to Wm. Ledyard, Esq", commissary at Groton, and one hhd. N. England rum to Edward Hallam at N. London, for the troops there.
Resolved, . That orders be given to Brig Gen1 Douglass to march on Mon- day next to Providence and there put himself under command of Maj-Gen1 Spencer.
Orders given Octor 4th, 1777.
Resolved, That Col. Ely be directed to march on Monday next to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation by the route directed by Gen1 Spencer and put himself with his regiment under the command of Maj. Gen1 Spencer. Orders given Octor 4th, 1777.
Resolved, That the service of those who inlist into Col. McLallen's bat- talion shall be considered to them as a tour of duty.
Resolved, That a company of artillery men or matrosses, to the number of thirty-four including officers, be raised within the twentieth regiment of militia in this State, the non-commission'd officers and privates to be raised by voluntary inlistment, to exercise the field-pieces mounted on carriages in Norwich and to manage them in case of any invasion or attack from the enemy, to be subject to the orders and command of the Capt. General and other their superior officers and to the field officers of said regiment, and ex- cused from any other military duty during their continuance in said com- pany : the captain and captain-lieutenant to be appointed by this Board, and the other necessary commissioned and non-commissioned officers and all future vacancies to be supplied by the choice of said company.
And it is further resolved, That Jacob De Witt be and he is hereby appointed to be Captain and Isaac Abel to be Captain Lieutenant of said company ; and his Excellency the Governor is desired to grant the neces- sary commissions and orders accordingly.
Voted, To give order on John Lawrence, Esq', Treasurer, for five hun- dred pounds of powder, in favour of the managers of the furnace, for the proof of cannon. Order dd to Mr. Henshaw Octr 4th, 1777.
407
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Voted, To give order on Mr. David Trumbull to deliver five barrells of pork and two barrells of beef to Mr. Benj. Henshaw for so many delivered to the overseers of the furnace by him.
Order dd to Mr. Henshaw Octor 4th. 1777.
Resolved, To deliver to Mr. Nath1 Wales jun' 32} lb. ten-penny nails, to be accounted for at a reasonable price, and Mr. David Trumbull is directed to deliver the same accordingly.
Orders were given to Brigadier Generals Erastus Woolcott, Andrew Ward and G. Selleck Silliman, Esqrs. to forward the detachments ordered from their brigades to Peekskill under command of Gen' Silliman with all possible dispatch without regard to fines. Similar directions were given to the colonel commandant of Brig" Gen1 Oliver Woolcott's brigade. These orders were occasioned by an application from Gen1 Putnam by Col. Root, who represents the preparations and disposition of the enemy at N. York to be such as threaten an attack to be made upon them at Peekskill soon.
Orders to Col. McLallen were given as on file.
OCTOBER 4TH, 1777.
His Excellency the Governor, Jabez Huntington, Wmn. Hillhouse, Benj. Huntington,
Attended to do
business in Council.
Orders were given by the Governor to Gen1 Douglass and Colonel McLallen respecting their march to Gen1 Spencer's headquarters.
MEMO. Benj. Huntington, being applied to by the sheriff and goal keeper, John Barney jun', for flour to support the publick prisoners in goal and those taken by Capt. Harding, alledging that they cannot possibly ob- tain it from the farmers and that the prisoners in goal have already suffered with hunger for want of bread, presumed to give an order to Mr. Elijah Lathrop to deliver to the said Barney two barrells of the publick flour in his hands as lent, to be replaced in a short time.
The order dated Octo" 21st, 1777.
408
PUBLIC RECORDS
[October,
AT A GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT HOLDEN AT NEW HAVEN ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF OCTOBER, BEING THE NINTH DAY OF SAID MONTH, ANNO DOMINI 1777.
Present :
His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esq', Governor. The Honble Matthew Griswold, Esq', Deputy Governor. Jabez Hamlin, Esq', Elisha Sheldon, Esq", Jabez Huntington, Esq', William Pitkin, Esq', Assistants. Roger Sherman, Esq',
Abraham Davenport, Esq',
Oliver Wolcott, Esq", Samuel Huntington, Esq",
Representatives or Deputies of the Freemen of the several Towns are as follow, viz .:
Colo. John Pitkin, Mr. Benjamin Payne, for Hartford.
Gen. Erastus Wolcott, for East Windsor.
Colo. John Chester, for Weathersfield.
Capt. Benja. Talcott, for Bolton.
Capt. Amasa Mills, for Symsbury.
Mr. Elijah Kellogg, for Hebron.
Mr. Titus Hosmer, for Midletown.
Mr. John Farley, Mr. Abiel Holt, for Willington.
Colo. Isaac Lee, for Farmington.
Capt. Isaac Pinney, Mr. Ebenezer Gay, for Stafford.
Colo. Samuel Chapman, Mr. Ichabod Griggs, for Tolland.
Maj" Elias Worthington, for Colchester.
Capt. Edward Griswold, for Windsor.
Mr. Ezra Brainard, for Haddam. Colo. Jabez Chapman, for East Hadam.
Colo. Nath1 Terry, Mr. Peter Reynolds, for Enfield.
Mr. Ebenezer Plummer, for Glastonbury.
Mr. Samuel Bishop jun', for New Haven.
Mr. Samuel Barker, Mr. Daniel Page, for Branford.
Mr. Eliphalet Hotchkiss, Capt. Thomas Clark, for Derby.
Mr. Elnathan Camp, for Durham.
Capt. Isaac Miles, for Milford. Mr. John Burgess, for Guilford.
Mr. Joseph Hopkins, Capt. Ezra Brunson, for Waterbury.
Majr William Hilhouse, Mr. Winthrop Saltonstall, for New London. Capt. Elijah Backus, Capt. Elisha Lathrop, for Norwich.
Mr. Hezekiah Lane, Mr. Daniel Redfield, for Killingworth.
409
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Capt. Samuel Shipman, Mr. William Lynde, for Saybrook. Capt. Jeremiah Halsey, Mr. David Adams, for Preston. Maj' Charles Phelps, Mr. Paul Wheeler, for Stonington. Mr. John Lay 2ª, Capt. Samuel Ely, for Lyme.
Mr. Thomas Mumford, Colo. Nathan Gallop, for Groton. Capt. Caleb Baldwin, Mr. Henry Peck, for Newtown.
Mr. John McKay, for Greenwich.
Mr. Sam" Cook Syllyman, for Norwalk.
Mr. Sam11 Hungerford, Mr. Alex' Stewart, for New Fairfield.
Mr. Nathaniel Wales jun', for Windham.
Mr. Eliashib Adams, for Canterbury.
Mr. Hezekiah Green, Mr. Benja. Leavins, for Killingley.
Colo. Jeremiah Mason, Mr. Beriah Southworth, for Lebanon.
Mr. Constant Southworth, Mr. Edmund Freeman, for Mansfield.
Capt. Nehemiah Lyon, for Woodstock.
Capt. Jedidiah Fay, Mr. Ezra Smith, for Ashford.
Capt. John Weld, for Pomfrett.
Capt. Ebenez" Kingsbury, Capt. Jeremiah Ripley, for Coventry. Capt. James Bradford, Mr. Joseph Shepard, for Plainfield.
Mr. Robert Hunter, for Voluntown.
Mr. James Pardy, Mr. Joseph Lord, for Sharon.
Maj' Jethro Hatch, for Kent.
Colo. Ebenez' Norton, Capt. Asaph Hall, Goshen. Capt. Samuel Forbs, for Canaan.
Capt. Abiel Camp, for Salisbury.
Capt. John Willson, for Harwington.
Mr. Abner Marshall, for Torrington.
Mr. William Walter, for Norfolk.
Mr. Judah Kellogg, for Cornwall.
Mr. Samuel Comstock, for New Milford.
Mr. John Jenkins, Mr. Isaac Tripp, for Westmoreland. Titus Hosmer, Esq', Speaker, 1 of the House of Repre- Benjamin Payne, Esq", Clerk, sentatives.
Resolved by this Assembly, That the sessions of this Assembly be adjourned from New Haven to Hartford, to meet there on Saturday the 11th instant at nine of the clock in the morning, and to be held there during the present session, and his Excellency the Governor is desired to adjourn the Assembly accordingly.
410
PUBLIC RECORDS
[October,
AT A GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT IN AMERICA HOLDEN AT HARTFORD, BY ADJOURNMENT, ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER, ANNO DOMINI 1777.
Present :
His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esq', Governor. The Honble Matthew Griswold, Esq', Deputy Governor.
[The names of the Assistants present are not entered on the record.]
Representatives or Deputies of the Freemen of the several Towns areas follow, viz :
Colo. John Pitkin, Mr. Benja. Payne, for Hartford.
Gener Erastus Wolcott, Mr. Benoni Olcott, for East Windsor.
Capt. Ezekiel Williams, Colo. John Chester, for Weathersfield.
Capt. Benja Talcott, Mr. Seth King, for Bolton.
Doct" Neziah Bliss, Mr. Elijah Kellogg, for Hebron.
Capt. Amasa Mills, for Symsbury.
Mr. Titus Hosmer, for Midletown.
Mr. John Farley, Mr. Abiel Holt, for Willington.
Colo. Isaac Lee, Mr. John Treadwell, for Farmington.
Capt. Isaac Pinney, Mr. Ebenezer Gay, for Stafford.
Colo. Samuel Chapman, Mr. Ichabod Griggs, for Tolland.
Colo. Henry Champion, Maj' Elias Worthington, for Colchester. Doct" Alex' Wolcott, Capt. Edward Griswold, for Windsor.
Capt. Nehemiah Brainerd, Mr. Ezra Brainerd, for Haddam. Colo. Dyar Throop, Colo. Jabez Chapman, for East Hadam.
Colo. Nathan1 Terry, Mr. Peter Reynolds, for Enfield.
Mr. Ebenezer Plummer, for Glastonbury.
Mr. Ebenezer White, Chatham.
Capt. Reuben Sikes, for Somers.
Capt. Abraham Granger, for Suffield.
Mr. Samuel Bishop, jun", for Newhaven.
Mr. Samuel Barker,* Mr. Daniel Page, for Branford.
Mr. Eliphalet Hotchkiss, Capt. Thomas Clark, for Derby.
Mr. Elnathan Camp, for Durham.
Capt. Isaac Miles, Mr. Gideon Buckingham, for Milford.
Mr. John Burgess, for Guilford.
Mr. Joseph Hopkins, Capt. Ezra Brunson, for Waterbury.
Mr. David Brooks, Colo. Street Hall, for Wallingford.
Majr William Hillhouse, Mr. Winthrop Saltonstall, for New London Capt. Elijah Backuss, Capt. Elisha Lathrop, for Norwich.
Mr. Hezekiah Lane, Mr. Daniel Redfield, for Killingworth.
* This name has been partly erased.
411
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Capt. Samuel Shipman, Mr. William Linde, for Saybrook. Capt. Jeremiah Halsey, Mr. David Adams, for Preston. Maj' Charles Phelps, Mr. Paul Wheeler, for Stonington.
Mr. John Lay 2ª, Capt. Samuel Ely, for Lyme.
Mr. Thomas Mumford, Colo. Nathan Gallop, for Groton. Capt. Samuel Squire, for Fairfield.
Capt. Caleb Baldwin, Mr. Henry Peck, for Newtown. Mr. John McKay, for Greenwich.
Mr. Samuel Cook Silliman, for Norwalk.
Mr. Samuel Hungerford, Mr. Alex' Stewart, for New Fairfield.
Capt. Sylvanus Knapp, Capt. Isaac Lockwood, for Stamford.
Capt. Daniel Judson, Capt. Abraham Brinsmade, for Stratford. Mr. Nathan Olmsted, Mr. John Benedict, for Ridgfield. Major Eli Mygatt, for Danbury.
Capt. Jabez Huntington, Mr. Nath1 Wales jun', for Windham. Mr. David Payne, Mr. Eliashib Adams, for Canterbury.
Mr. Hezekiah Green, Mr. Benja. Levins, for Killingley.
Colo. Jeremiah Mason, Mr. Beriah Southworth, for Lebanon. Mr. Constant Southworth, Mr. Edmund Freeman, for Mansfield. Capt. Nehemiah Lyon, for Woodstock.
Capt. Jedidiah Fay, Mr. Ezra Smith, for Ashford.
Capt. John Weld, Mr. Thomas Williams, for Pomfrett.
Capt. Ebenez' Kingsbury, Capt. Jeremiah Ripley, for Coventry.
Capt. James Bradford, Mr. Joseph Shepard, for Plainfield. Colo. James Gordon, Mr. Robert Hunter, for Voluntown. Maj'. Andrew Adams, Mr. Jedidiah Strong, for Litchfield. Mr. Uriel Holmes, for Hartland. Mr. James Pardy, Mr. Joseph Lord, for Sharon. Maj' Jethro Hatch, Capt. Joseph Carter, for Kent.
Colo. Ebenez' Norton, Capt. Asaph Hall, for Goshen.
Capt. Samuel Forbs, Mr. Asahel Bebee, for Canaan. Colo. Joshua Porter, Capt. Abiel Camp, for Salisbury. Capt. John Willson, Capt. Daniel Catlin, for Harwington. Mr. Abner Marshall, Mr. John Cook, for Torrington. Capt. Giles Pettibone, Mr. William Walter, for Norfolk. Mr. Judah Kellogg, for Cornwall.
Mr. Daniel Sherman, Colo. Benja. Hinman, for Woodbury.
Colo. Samuel Canfield, Mr. Samuel Comstock, for New Milford. Mr. John Jenkins, Mr. Isaac Tripp, for Westmoreland .*
Titus Hosmer, Esq', Speaker, ) of the House of Repre- Benjamin Payne, Esq', Clerk, § sentatives.
* In addition, the following gentlemen were returned as elected : Col. Noah Phelps, Symsbury ; Col. Comfort Sage, Middletown ; Capt. Jonathan Wells, Glas- tonbury ; Col. John Penfield, Chatham ; Maj. Abiel Pease, Somers ; Capt. Simeon Sheldon, Suffield ; Mr. Pierpoint Edwards, New Haven ; Gen. James Wadsworth, Durham ; Gen. Andrew Ward, Guilford ; Maj. Elijah Abel, Fairfield ; Col. John Mead, Greenwich; Col. Joseph Platt Cook, Danbury ; Col. Samuel Mcclellan, Woodstock ; Capt. Abel Brace, Hartland ; Capt. Thomas Porter, Cornwall.
Roll in Rev. War, viii, 250.
412
PUBLIC RECORDS
[October,
An Act in Addition to the Law enjoining an Oath of Fidelity to this State.
Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That no person within this State shall exercise any office, civil or mil- itary, within the same, nor vote in any town, society or other public meeting appointed by law, nor plead in any court except in his own case, till he has taken the oath of fidelity to this State. And that no person after the first day of December next, who shall be appointed executor on any estate, shall be admitted to execute that trust till he has taken said oath, but administration if necessary shall be granted cum testamento anncro to some proper person in his stead; nor shall any person after the said first day of December be appointed adminis- trator on any estate nor guardian to any minor till he shall take the aforesaid oath.
An Act concerning the Real Estates of Aliens and Persons inimical to the United States of America.
Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That all houses, lands and other real estates, situated within this State, not belonging to any inhabitants or subjects hereof, or of any other of the United States of America, shall be taken possession of for the Gov- ernor and Company of this State, and such of said estates as are fit for use shall be leased out to proper persons for a term not exceeding three years for a reasonable rent. And the State Attorney in the county where such real estates are situate is hereby authorized in behalf of said Governor and Company to transact said business and to commence and prosecute any action or suit necessary for recover- ing possession of such real estates, and to recover damages for any trespass or waste that may hereafter be committed thereon, and to recover and receive the rents as they become due, and pay all such sums as the said attorney shall receive for damages or rents, as afore- said, into the treasury of this State, for the use of the State. And said attorneys shall be allowed as a reward for their service three per cent. on all the monies by them so received and paid into the treasury, and shall also be entituled to the bills of cost that may be recovered in the actions they commence as aforesaid. And said attorneys shall fix a time and place for letting such real estates and give public notice thereof in one or more of the newspapers in this State three weeks successively next before said time, and shall lease such houses and lands to the highest bidder, taking good security for the rents, and that no waste shall be made of the wood, timber or any other part of the estate.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no inhab- itant of this State or of any other of the United States of America, who are inimical to the freedom or independence of said States, and refuse or neglect to take the oath of fidelity prescribed by the State to which he belongs, nor any alien or foreigner, shall be capable to pur-
413
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
chase or transfer any real estate within this government without special licence from the General Assembly. And all conveyances or .grants or transfers whatever, made of any such real estates by or to any such person or persons without such licence shall be void and of no effect. And it shall be the duty of the selectmen of the several towns in this State, and every of them, to give notice to the State Attorney of all real estates in their towns which belong to foreigners.
An Act to encourage Fair Dealing and to restrain and punish Sharpers and Oppressors.
Whereas all conspiracies and other acts to enhance the prices of merchandize or any of the necessities and conveniences of life bought and sold are at all times immoral, oppressive to the poor, and per- nicious to the State, and more especially so at the present time, by reason of the interruption of commerce and great demand for many articles occasioned by the war :
Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the twelfth day of November next no person in this State shall purchase any of the following articles (except in small qnanti- ties for their own use and consumption or for the use and consump- tion of their families or immediate dependants, or tradesmen and artificers for carrying on the business of their trades,) viz: Rum, sugar, molasses, tea, wine, coffee, salt, tow cloth or any kind of linen or woolen cloths, stockings, shoes, raw hides, leather, wool, flax, cot- ton and wool cards, butter, cheese, wheat, rye, indian corn, beans, pease, meal or flour of any kind, beef, pork, cyder, tobacco, neat cattle, sheep or other live stock, (except to keep or fat on their own farms,) unless such persons first obtain a licence therefor signed by the civil authority and selectmen in the town wherein they dwell, or a majority of them when convened together, who shall not grant such licence to any persons but such as are known to be of good char- acter for probity, public spirit and friends to the freedom and inde- pendence of the American States, and who shall have taken the oath of fidelity to this State by law prescribed. And if any person so licenced shall misbehave in said business by selling any articles at unreasonable prices, or refusing to sell them at reasonable prices for bills of credit of this State or bills of the United States, the said authority and selectmen, or the major part of them, may revoke the licence granted to such persons so misbehaving as aforesaid.
Be it further enacted, That no person shall sell in this State any of the articles aforesaid which he has ingrossed or has now in his pos- session, or which he may hereafter purchase and bring in from any of the neighbouring States, without first obtaining a licence therefor as aforesaid, or a permit from the Governor and Council of Safety of this State, on penalty of forfeiting double the value of every article so sold, or suffer six months imprisonment. And to prevent any fraud in regard of said articles which shall be sold by any such purchaser or
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