USA > Massachusetts > The journals of each Provincial congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of safety, with an appendix, containing the proceedings of the county conventions-narratives of the events of the nineteenth of April, 1775 > Part 1
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UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 3 1761 00585091 2
١
JOURNALS
OF EACH
PROVINCIAL CONGRESS
OF
MASSACHUSETTS.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/journalsofeachpr00massuoft
THE
JOURNALS
OF EACH
PROVINCIAL CONGRESS
or
MASSACHUSETTS
IN 1774 AND 1775,
AND OF THE
COMMITTEE OF SAFETY,
WITH
AN APPENDIX,
CONTAINING -
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY CONVENTIONS-NARRATIVES OF THE EVENTS OF THE NINETEENTH OF APRIL, 1775-PAPERS RELATING TO TICONDEROGA AND CROWN POINT, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS,
ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. .
PUBLISHED AGREEABLY TO A RESOLVE PASSED MARCH 10, 1837,
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
WILLIAM LINCOLN.
1775.
S
SIS
DAM SUB L
HIBE
NACNA
CHART
COL
ENSE
ONIA
MASSAC
Boston: DUTTON AND WENTWORTH, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 1838.
1
LIBRARY
AUG 2 0 1964
IV RSITY PANTO
JK 83 M4A3
921514
INTRODUCTION.
BY a resolve of the legislature of the Commonwealth, approved March 10, 1837, the governor was authorized to procure the publication of the Journals of each Pro- vincial Congress of Massachusetts, and 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 perpetuating and multiply- ing copies of these memorials of 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 primary assemblies.
The journal of the first Provincial Congress, formed at Salem, on the seventh of October, 1774, 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 that assembly, might have foreseen through the gloomy shadow of impending war, the im- A
.
ii
INTRODUCTION.
portance of the consequences to result from their acts, but they could not realize the value the gratitude of pos- 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 political events of the day, and who soon engaged in the active duties of the field, were dispersed and have perished. Returns had been procured of the mili- tia, munitions of war, manufactures, and resources of the towns. 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 improbable, 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 stores, as well as the strength of its patriotism, were de- stroyed.
The journal of the Second Provincial Congress, which met at Cambridge, February 1, 1775, kept in part by the same careful clerk, and partly by SAMUEL FREEMAN, Esq., suffered mutilation before it was placed in the archives of the Commonwealth. The official records of this assembly, from May 21, 1775, to its dissolution, are
iii
INTRODUCTION.
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 day of May, 1775, and SAMUEL 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 pres- 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 for 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 con-
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 the assemblies conferring the powers exercised for the common good. The journals, preserved with many imperfections, have been inserted in this volume.
The resolutions of the conventions held in the several counties, were of deep interest, and it is hoped, will be deemed appropriate additions to those of the represen- tatives of the state. The whole journal of the local as- sembly held in Worcester, redeemed from the destruc-
V
INTRODUCTION.
tion which has overwhelmed so many of the memorials of the revolution, has been printed with the notices of 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, are filled with pa- pers 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 fathers 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, 1775, a narrative of the events of that memorable day was prepared, sub- stantiated by numerous depositions of witnesses of 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 few papers of interesting character, copied from the files, 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 more easy.
Such are the contents of this volume. It was con- ceived to be the primary purpose of the resolve author- izing the publication, to perpetuate materials for the histo- ry of a glorious era in our national existence. Within the restrictions imposed by its terms, efforts have been made to give to the records the best form which could
.
vii
INTRODUCTION.
be bestowed. It was not the object of the 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 duty of arranging some testimonials of their worth, it is hoped, will be found to have been executed with diligence and fidelity.
WILLIAM LINCOLN.
EXPLANATIONS OF THE REFERENCES.
II || Words in the original journals which have been omitted from the copy in the archives of the Commonwealth, and words different in the original from those in that copy, have been cnclosed by parallels : the reading of the original has been followed in tlris volume ; that of the copy is placed at the foot of the page with appropriate references.
Hla|| The words added to the original journals in the copy before described, have been placed in the margin, and the place they occupied in the public transcript indicated by a letter of reference between parallels.
[ ] Words and passages neither in the original nor copy, inserted in the text of this edition, are enclosed between brackets.
[a] A letter of reference enclosed by brackets, points to some word removed from the text to the margin as being superfluous. Words clearly erroneous in the original or copy have been changed, and those substituted have been enclosed by the same marks, while suitable reference points to the words first used.
CONTENTS.
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF MASSACHUSETTS.
1774.
SEPT. 28-Proclamation of Governor Gage, declaring his intention not to meet the general court at Salem, on the 5th of October, and discharging all persons elected as representatives from attendance, . OCT. 5-Members elected to the general assembly mect at Salem, and organize a convention, .
3
" 7-Their resolutions on the refusal of the governor to meet them and ad- minister the oaths, . Provincial Congress formed at Salem. List of the delegates. Original territorial limits of the county of Suffolk, .
5
. Original extent of the county of Hampshire, . Incorporation of Rutland district by the name of Hutchinson. Procced- ings of the citizens, and of the general court, in relation thereto, .
13
County of Lincoln,-Congress adjourns to meet at Concord,
15
" 11-Provincial Congress meets at Concord, 15
John Hancock elected president, and Benjamin Lincoln secretary. Rev. Mr. Emerson invited to act as chaplain. Monitors chosen, .
16
" 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
" 14-Constables, collectors of taxes, and other officers, advised not to pay over money in their hands to the crown officer ; but to retain it, sub- ject to the order of the towns, Provincial Congress, or general assem- bly,
19
" 17-Congress mects at Cambridge,
20
Answer of Governor Gage to the address of the Provincial Congress, Referred to the committee on the state of the province, .
Intercepted letters of the Rev. Mr. Peters referred to the same committee, Rev. Doct. Appleton appointed chaplain, .
" 18-Sessions of the Congress ordered to be held with closed doors, . The Congress determine to reply to the governor, .
" 19-A committee appointed to inquire into the state and operations of the British army, 22
Reply to the governor, reported, and recommitted ; reported again, and laid on the table, 22 . army. Ordered to lie on the table, 23
" 20-Report of the committee to inquire into the state and operations of the
20 21 21 22 22 22
B
4
7
10
X
CONTENTS.
OCT. 20-Committee to consider what is necessary for the defence and safety of the province, Report relative to the payment and. collection of outstanding taxes,
23
23
" 21-Resolutions relative to the mandamus counsellors, .
24
Committee to put lish the names of the mandamus counsellors, .
·
Committee to report a non-consumption agreement,
25 25
Committee to report a resolve for the total disuse of India teas, .
Committee to examine Rivington's newspaper,
25 Resolution for the disuse of India tea,
" 22-Report of the committee on the defence and safety of the province, con- sidered, and recommitted,
26 27
Consideration of the propriety of sending an agent to Canada referred to the next meeting of the Congress, .
27 27
Day of public Thanksgiving recommended,
Report on the safety and defence of the province, amended, and recom- mitted, .
28
" 24-Committee to report the most proper time to provide a stock of powder, ordnance, &c. .
28 28
29
Consideration of the report on the safety and defence of the province re- sumed, and the report recommitted, . ·
29 29
" 25-Committee on the non-consumption agreement, ordered to sit forthwith, Committee to inquire into the state of the stores in the commissary gen- eral's office,
29
Report on the quantity of powder and ordnance stores necessary for the province, . All proceedings of Congress to be kept secret,
30
“ 26-Report on the safety and defence of the province, considered and ac- cepted, .
31
Committee to consider what military exercise will be best for the people to adopt,
34
" 27-Committee of safety appointed, . 35
Five commissaries (committee of supplies) appointed,
35 35
Committee to sit during the recess of Congress,
Members of the governor's constitutional council, .
List of mandamus counsellors,
Reply to the governor's answer recommitted for amendments,
Members of the governor's constitutional council desired to attend the next session of this Congress, .
"
28-Hon. Samuel Dexter appointed receiver general, and excused from ser- ving, at his own request,
37
Report of the committee relative to the removal of the inhabitants of Bos- ton, recommitted,
37
Henry Gardner, Esq. appointed receiver general, 38
Mr. Benjamin Hall chosen, in place of Mr. Greenleaf, of the committee of supplies, .
38
Report relative to collecting and paying outstanding taxes, .
38
Committee to report a resolve relative to a non-consumption agreement, 40
36 36 36 36 37
Three general officers appointed, .
30
Committee report that now is the most proper time for the province to provide a stock of powder, ordnance, &c. . Committee to determine what quantity shall be provided, and estimate the expense,
29
. Debates to be kept secret by the members,
25
xi
CONTENTS.
OCT. 28-Committee to bring in a resolve relative to an equal representation of the province in Congress, - . Resolve inviting the constitutional counsellors to attend the next Con- gress, - - .
40
Resolve for a non-consumption agreement,
40
Report on the warlike stores in the commissary general's office, - 41 - 29-Report on a system of military exercise for the province, 41
Consideration of the state of the executive courts referred to the next Congress,
41
Committee of safety directed to write to the Continental Congress, show- ing the grounds and reasons of the proceedings of this Congress, - Reply of the Congress to the governor's answer. A committee appoint- ed to present it,
42
Committee to extract such parts of the proceedings of Congress, passed on the 26th and 28th, as are necessary to be published, 45
Their report,
-
45
Two members added to the committee of safety, - 48
Congress adjourned to the 23d day of November,
48
Nov. 23-Congress meet according to the adjournment, - 48
Walter Spooner, one of his majesty's constitutional council, desired to attend the Congress, 48
John Adams and Robert Treat Paine desired to attend, - -
49
Representatives of Massachusetts in the Continental Congress, - -
49
24-Members of the Continental Congress desired to report their proceed- ings, - -
49
Rev. Doct. Appleton appointed chaplain, 49
Proceedings of the Continental Congress, reported, and committed,
Petition from the officers of minute men in the northwest part of the county of Worcester,
49 50
Committee to prepare a plan for the defence and safety of the govern- ment, required to sit forthwith,
50
Committee for publishing the names of the mandamus counsellors, to pre- pare a report forthwith, .
50
". 25-Members of the constitutional council invited to take seats in the Pro- vincial Congress,
51
" 26-Committee to devise means for keeping up a correspondence with Mon- trcal and Quebec,
51
Committee to draw the form of an order with respect to the treasurer's giving bonds, -
51
28-Committee to take into consideration the state of manufactures in the province, and how they may be improved, - 52
29-Committee to make an estimate of the injury to the province by the operation of the Boston port bill,
52
Committee to state the amount of the sums which have been extorted from us, since 1763, by the operation of certain acts of the British parliament, .
52
" 30-Resolves for the appointment of five members to attend the Continental Congress, . Committee to bring in a resolve, expressing the thanks of Congress to the other colonies, for their donations to the poor of the town of Bos- ton, and to prepare a brief, 53
53
Letters from Dr. Franklin to Mr. Cushing referred to the provincial com- mittee of correspondence, 53
40
42
xii
CONTENTS.
DEC. 1-Report of the committee on the proceedings of the Continental Congress read, and recommitted, , Resolve expressing the thanks of Congress to the other colonies, for their donations to the town of Boston, - Committee to apply to the secretary for a list of the mandamus counsel- lors, -
54
54
55
" 2-Members to represent the province in the Continental Congress, - - Committee on the state of the province reported, - -
55
" 5-Committee to prepare an address to the clergy of the province, desiring -
56
them to exhort the people to sustain the Congress, - - Report on the proceedings of the Continental Congress, - -
-
56
" 6-Committee to correspond with the inhabitants of Canada, - Brief to be circulated through the province to promote donations for the suffering inhabitants of Boston and Charlestown, 59
59
Address to the clergy,
60
Mandamus counsellors who have not published a renunciation of their commissions, - -
61
7-Committee to determine the recompense of the delegates to the Conti- nental Congress, 61
Resolve for taking the number of inhabitants, and the quantity of the ex- ports and imports, and of the manufactures of the province, 61
Committee to prepare a census of the inhabitants and a true state of the exports and imports, -
62
" 8-Report of the committee and resolutions of Congress relative to the en- couragement of manufactures, - - Two general officers chosen,
62 65
" 9-Committee to bring in a resolve relating to an address from the Baptists to the Congress, - Report of the committee relating to the public moneys in the hands of constables and others,
65
Committee to bring in a resolve relative to an article in the association of the Continental Congress respecting foreign goods, wares, and mer- chandise, and their report,
66
Committee to consider a plan of military exercise proposed by Capt. Timothy Pickering, - 67
Report of the committee on the address from the Baptists, -
67
Thanks of Congress to the chaplain, and to the proprietors of the meet- ing-house,
Committee on a letter from the town of Hardwick, -
-
67 68 68
Report of the committee relative to assuming civil government, taken up, and laid on the table, - 72
Resolve, and committee for procuring returns of the number of officers and men of the militia, and of the minute men of the province, - Report of the committee on the state of the province, I
72
73
Resolves relative to the dissolution of this Congress, and meeting of the next, - -
73
Report of the committee on the plan of military exercise proposed by Capt. Pickering, read, and accepted, -
1
67
" 10-Report on the letter from Hardwick, -
Form of association intended for the signature of the royalists, - Address of Congress to the freeholders and other inhabitants of the towns and districts of Massachusetts Bay, - 69
65
55
- " 3-Report considered,
56
74
CONTENTS.
xiii
DEC. 10-Expense of transmitting address to the Canadians to be paid by the gov- ernment, · · .
74
The Congress dissolved,
. 74
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF MASSACHUSETTS.
1775.
FEB. 1-Meets at Cambridge, 77
List of the Members, ·
77
John Hancock chosen president, and Benjamin Lincoln, secretary, .
84
Committee to take into consideration the state of the province, 84
" 2-Rev. Doct. Appleton appointed chaplain, . 84
Monitors appointed,
84
" 3-Committee to extract from the journal of the last Congress what relates to the public taxes and the militia, and cause it to be printed, 84
Committee to consider the representations of committees of Boston 'and other towns, that many of the inhabitants are employed in working for the army in Boston,
85
" 4-Debates and resolutions of Congress to be kept secret, 85
Committee to publish in a pamphlet some of the doings of the last Con- gress, and to prepare an address to the inhabitants of the province,
85
" 6-Delegates to the Continental Congress to hold their offices to the 31st day of December, .
86
Resolution concerning the delegate from Waltham,
86
Troop of horse raised in Rowley, . .
Secretary empowered to adjourn Congress in the absence of the presi- dent,
86 86
7-Inhabitants recommended not to supply the troops in Boston with any thing that may enable them to annoy the people, 86
Committee to consider the accounts of the late delegates to the Continen- tal Congress,
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 to act under the authority of the committee of safety, 90
Elbridge Gerry, chosen on the committee of supplies, 91
Address to the inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay, 91
Address from Scituate in relation to British troops in Marshfield, . 93
Committee to bring in a resolve empowering the committee of safety to take possession of the warlike stores of the province, .
93
Committee to bring in a resolve directing how the ordnance of the prov- ince shall be used, · .
94
Committee to make returns of the militia and minute men, to report as soon as possible,
91
xiv
CONTENTS.
FEB. 9-Committee to report a resolve for the publication of the names of the mandamus counsellors, . . . Resolve recommending the preservation of rags for making paper, .
94
94
" 10-Committee to watch British troops said to be on the road to Cambridge, 94 Committee to sit in the recess of Congress to prepare rules and regula- tions for the 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 supplies, . 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 Berkshire, ,
96
· Resolve authorizing the appointment of a commissary,
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- tía,
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 state of the militia, 99
" 15-Committee of correspondence of Boston directed to open a correspon- dence with the inhabitants of Quebec,
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