USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Chelsea > Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 2 > Part 48
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WM. HENSHAW, Adjt .- Genl. of the Massachusetts Forces.
To Lt. Coll. Baldwin.
There is another Horse provided for the Duty at Chelsea. Baldwin's Regt., lix. 239.
506
HISTORY OF CHELSEA [CHAP. XLVII
August 8th, 1775. A Return of the 4 Companies, in Colo. Ger- rish's Regiment, Stationed at Chelsea, for provisions :
Capt. Wm. Rogers' Company, 58.
Richard Dodge, 57.
Barnabus Dodge, . *65.
Saml. Sprague, 55.
Colonel, assistant waiter, Surgeon, & waiter, &ca. 235.
Mr. Commissary : the above, is the number of men present here; please send me an account of every article you send.
Your, LOAMMI BALDWIN, Lieut. Col.
Chelsea, Aug. 8th, 1775.2
August 11, 1775.
Bread
Pork
Pease
Rice
Men
Colo. Mess,
18
7
9
3
6
Capt. Rogers,
153
57}
763
251
51
[Capt. Rich.] Dodge,
171
64
85%
28%
57
[Capt.] Barnabas Dodge,
195
73
973
323
65
[Capt. Sam.] Sprague,
168
63
84
28%
56
Pounds
pounds
pints
pints
235 3
September 8th, Chelsea.
Bread pounds
Pork pounds
Coll'n, Doctr., and Capt. Rogers,
56
168
63
Capt. Rich. Dodge,
62
186
69%
Capt. Barn's Dodge,
68
204
763
Capt. Sprague,
63
.
189
71 4
747
Baldwin's Regt., Iviii. 137.
3 Ibid., 139. Besides supplying the companies stationed at Winnisim- met it was necessary to care for those at Pulling Point, as appears from the following number of sheep sent there. Of those of John Searl, 73; of Seth Woods, 17; of Jonathan Belcher, 43; of David Belcher, 156; of An- drew Duksbury [Tewksbury], 73; of Nathaniel Belcher, Jr., 38; of James Duksbury, 89; of John Sargent, 39; of John Duksbury, 63.
thes are the number of the sheep Sent Down to puling point, taken by me in Chelsea.
Chelsea, August 19, 1775. Baldwin's Regt., lix. 184. 4 Baldwin's Regt., Iviii. 160.
WILLIAM ROGERS.
507
CHAP. XLVII] IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
September 15, 1775.
men.
Bread. Pounds.
Rice. ¿ pints.
Pork. pounds.
Soap.
Candles. Fish.
Coln's, Doctrs ,
Capt. Rogers,
58
232
13
[ Capt ] Dodge,
63
252
4
Barn's Dodge,
68
272
Sam Sprague's,
64
256
48
51
2
G
September 19, and 22, 1775, returns are dated at Medford of the four companies of Colonel Gerrish's regiment under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Baldwin, stationed at Chelsea. I am unable to explain this. The only fact of interest is that in the former of these, butter is added to the supplies of the camp.
[No date, ] at Chelsea.
men.
Bread. Pounds.
Pork. Pounds.
Peas. Pints
Number of Loves.
Col. Mess. 6 men.
Doctr, Sugar, 6 Ib ,
27
134
Rogers,
51
229
133%
70
329
Barn's Dodge,
55
247
1441
Rich'd Dodge,
65
2923
170}
Spragne's,
56
252
147
6
In the foregoing returns of camp life at Winnisimmet is a noticeable bettering of soldier fare, to which eandles and soap were added. Doubtless, for cooking fuel, the soldiers had torn down one of Jonathan Green's barns, then standing on the present Naval Hospital grounds; and as winter came on they also needed fuel for warmth. Much of Winnisinnnet was marsh, which prodneed no wood; and at the time of the Revo- lution that on the upland was no more than enough for the tenants of the four great farms into which it was divided, and the unusual demand of the soldiers could only be supplied from the interior towns.
This demand was met, in part at least, by Jonathan Green,
6 Baldwin's Regt., Iviii. 145. " Ibid., 154.
508
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLVII
who, during the occupancy of his estate by the Main Guard, apparently lived in his ancestral home at Stoncham, whenec he carted wood to Winnisimmet. Some of his accounts are as follows :
Novr. ye 22d, 1775: the Officers of the Companies Stationed at Chelsea, to Jonathan Green, Dr, to wood Delivered by him to the Soldiree, at the Gard house, at winnesiminit, Since the first Day of Last month, at Sundry times, in all, - - - 3 Cords & 5 feet.
Dated ye 25 of Novr.
3 feet of wood, Nov' ye 25th, 1775 . 4 feet. .
4 Ditto,
3 Ditto, . Total, 4 Cords & 1 foot.
3 Ditto,
4 Ditto, . To one walnut tree, 0
- 5 feet.
12 Ditto,
29 feet : '
Total,
4 Cords & 6 feet.
4 feet,
33 feet.
Deer. ye 23d, 1775: the Officers of the Companies Stationed at Chelsea, to Jona. Green, Dr. To two Cords, one foot & a half of wood; Delivered at the Gard house, at winnesemmit, for the use of the Gard, Since the first day of this Instant.
JONA. GREEN.7
December 16, 1775. The House resolved, that the several towns in the schedule annexed, furnish hay, and cause the same to be conveyed to the eamp at Cambridge, for the use of the army, at the rate of £5 per ton, for English, and 40s. per ton, for salt hay. Chelsea, 10 tons Salt Hay.8
January 5, 1776. Whereas, his excellency General Washington has represented to this Court, the necessity of providing blankets for the army, and has requested the immediate assistance of this Court in this interesting affair,
Therefore, Resolved, That there be collected from the several towns hereafter named, aeeording to the sehedule annexed, Four thousand blankets.
And, whereas it is of great importance that said blankets should be speedily in Camp:
" The following paper, without date, doubtless refers to the above accounts :
" This may eertify that I, Jonathan Green, Live in the town of Stone- ham, and that the within Eighteen eords of wood, I Cut and Carried off my Land in said Stoneham, and Delivered it at Chelsea, for the use of said army, since the first day of Last October."
8 House Jour., 1775-6, 50.
509
CHAP. XLVIII IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
It is also resolved, that a committee be appointed to repair to the selectmen of the several towns mentioned in the schedule. And the selectmen in each of said towns are hereby earnestly desired to use their ntmost endeavors in aiding and assisting the Committee, in affecting the above business. And that the sum of £2,600 be delivered into the hands of the said committee, in the following proportions: - | names ] - to enable them to pay for said blankets, etc.
And it is further resolved that the price which shall be agreed upon by the above committee and selectmen, together with the name of the town, where such blankets are furnished, be by them affixed to cach blanket. Connty of Suffolk, 260; Chelsea, -9. [ Deacon Sale, was one of the Committee for Suffolk. ]"
In the regimental files at the State Honse are accounts of soldiers for the price or the use of their guns, which indicate that it was not unusual for those whose terms of service had expired, to sell or loan their mmskets to the regiment or to the state or to the Continental Army; and this was doubtless owing to the scarcity of arms at the commencement of the war. I give several of these papers:
Gen. Heath writes, from Cambridge, Dee. 29, 1175, to Col. Baldwin, at Chelsea, to select three men of good judgment to appraise the soldiers' arms, which apparently were numbered.1º
Feb. ye 2d, 1776. Reed. of Colo. 1. Baldwin, thirteen Dollars, to pay Thomas Cheever and John Knight, for there gounes that ware stoped and 'Prised. By me, RICHD. DODGE, Capt.11
To Colo. Loammi Baldwin. Sir: please to pay unto Nathan Emery, for my gun, mumber 76, and you will oblige your humble servt., THOMAS SARGENT. 12
March 25, 1776. Colo. Baldwin. Sir : please pay to Capt. John Wood the money for my Gun, markt. 106, price, 2-5-0, & you will oblige, Your humble Servi., STEPHEN TWISS. 13
To Colo. Baldivin, Esqr: a Return of the Guns & Bayanets. Purchased By me, the Subscriber, for the use of the Continental Army, and also the Price of Each gun & Bayenets, according as they are Numbered.
Chelsea, feby 5th, 1776.
JOHN NOYES, Lient .-
' House Jour., 1775-6, 114, 115.
10 Baldwin's Regt., lix. 276.
11 Ibid., 291.
12 Ibid., 193. 13 Ibid., 195.
510
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
ICHAP. XLVII
34 guns, 18 Baynts., equal to 26184 Dollers, or 78: 11: 6 Expenses : - horse hire, - a man and horse to bring 1: 12: 0
guns into Camp, 1: 4: 0 81: 7:61
An Abstract of the Subsistence Money, due to Capt. Moses Green- leaf's Comp'ny, In Colo. Ebenezer Franeis' Battall., from the Time of their Inlistment Respectively, untill the day of their arrival at Bennington. The Chelsea men were as follows:
Inlisted.
Miles travel.
Days.
Rating.
Total.
Nathan Cheever,
Feb. 6, '77.
230
50}
£1. 7.4}
Syphan Carry,
Do.
Do.
Do.
1 Do.
Do.
Jethro Townsend,
Feb. 10.
Do.
461
Do.
1. 5. 22
Jonas Dinson,
" 17.
Do.
393
Do.
1. 1. 43
Thomas Renken,
" 24.
Do.
325
- 17. 74
Silas Clark, Ist Lieut.,
Dec. 31, '76.
230
1162
2. 61
£6. 6. 2}
Sworn to, March 13, 1777.
May 26, 1777. Voted to add five to the former committee to proeure wool to make blankets for the use of soldiers when ealled for, Capt. Samuel Sprague, Mr. John Tewksbury, Mr. Joshua Cheever, Mr. Andrew Tewksbury, and Mr. David Beleher.
That no person be allowed to sell any sheep's wool out of the town, till the inhabitants of the town be supplied with wool, both for their own use and for the use of the soldiers.15
May 28. Paid Samuel Sprague £2, Cash paid for a Drum for Chelsea Company.
June 6th, 1777.
Colo. Baldwin :
Sir: The Inelosed Aeeount was handed me by Mr. Harris, who lives on Hog Island. Shall be obliged to you to put us in the Way to proeure our Pay. With Compliments to yr. Friends.
Am Sir, yr Huml. Servt.,
OLIVER WENDELL 16
14 Baldwin's Regt., lix. 242.
15 Town Records, ii. 14.
16 Baldwin's Regt., lix. 256. Coll. Baldwin to Jona. Jackson & Oliver Wendell. Dr.
1776, Feby. 7, to March 21. To 24 Cord of Wood, Supply'd Coll. Baldwin's Regiment, from Hog Island. - £.
Please to put down ye usual price you allowed at Chelsea. Ibid., 258.
1
511
CHAP. XLVII] IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
June ?th, 1777.
In Addition to ye Account I gave you, Mr. Harris has Sent me the inclosed, which please to add to ye former Account, & you'l Oblige.
Yr. Huml. Servt., O. WENDELL. 17
Novbr. the 23, 1775/6.
brought of[f] Hog Island, by Order of Col. Baldwin, two Cord, & a 1/2, of Wood.
January 2. To one cord of Wood.18
June 27, 1777. David Belcher, £16, for 80 Weight of Sheep's Wool to make Blankets for the Soldiers.
Boston, 28 June, 1777.
The Select Men of Chelsea. Bot.
of Richd. Devins, Esq., in behalf of this state.
500 flints,
6/d 1. 10 -
to 100 Leaden Ball,
9 3. 15. 10
the Box for the Ball. £5: 5- 10
Contents Received.
RICHP DEVENS, Comy Gen.
July, 1777. Due Capt. Samuel Sargeant 12 s., for going to Water-Town, to get Powder for Town's Stock, and expenses. Order for payment, Feb. 5, 1778.
March 20, 1778. Voted to draw money out of the town's treas- ury for to procure shirts, stockings, and shoes for the use and benefit of the town's quota of soldiers who are enlisted in the Continental army for three years, and that each soldier be furnished with one shirt, one pair of stockings, and one pair of shoes, it being agreeable to a resolve of the General Court of this state.
May 12. Paid William Oliver £2, for one Shirt, and, July 13, William Low £6, for three Shirts for. Continental Sokliers.
Jan. 19, 1779, the town treasurer ordered the payment for shoes. shirts, stockings, and wool to make them £82-12. of which £63-02 was to Capt. Samuel Sargeant; £3 to James Floyd: £3-12 to William Low; £3-12 to Mrs. Elizabeth Pratt : £ ?- 14 to Daniel Pratt: and £6-12 to Capt. Samll. Green, treasurer for the town.
April 14, - Jan. 20, 1780, Jonathan Green furnished
17 Baldwin's Regt., lix. 257. is Ibid., 259.
512
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLVII
10 shirts, for ye Soldery, at 45 dollers each, . £135. " Time Spent in Gitting & Delivering Shirts for the Soldery,"
215 days, 37 dollers & 72, .
£ 10.5
Money paid for 3 Guns & Bayonets, £ 18. 4 3 pair of Shoes, £ 25.4
Spinning, weaving, & fulling 2 Blankets £ 16.10.6 £204.19. 6
1778, May 8. Chelsea Dr. to Samuel Sargeant, One day to Boston, to meet Mr. Abner Ellis, on account of shoues for the Soldirs, 12/ Expensce of fearreages 10/3-, 1-2-3. May 12. One day to Boston to Carrey Shoues, Shirts, & Stock- ens, mySelf & Hors, 1-5-0.
May 25. Part of a day to Nodel Isalend to get men for the war, 0-5-0.
May 26. half a day at Bostoon to get men for the war,
6/, to cash Expended for my Self & three more,
1-0-0, 1-60.
To a beag to Cearrey Shoues for the Sholddiers to Mr. Ellis, 0-80.
May 24. Paid Richard Shute £5. 10., for two Shirts and two pairs of Stockings for the Soldiery.
Chelsea, September ye 14, 1779. The Town of Chelsea to Daniel Pratt, Dr.
for 11 pound of Wool, for Stockings for the Soulders,. 13 - 4 - 0
October ye 7, Dr., for Spining and kniting 14 pair, at 7 Dolers pr. pair, . 29 - 8 - 0
to Daniel, one Week at the Castle, at 10 Dolers, pr. Day, .. 21 - 0 - 0 to 3 Guns, at 20 Dolers cach, for 12 Shillings for feching, . 18 -12 - 0
82 - 4 - 0
Dec. 28. The town paid William Oliver £3-10, for one " Shurt," found for the Soldiers.
Feb. 10, 1780. Paid Capt. Samuel Sprague £476-2-8, for two blankets for the soldery, & for meal, meat & money paid ye docter for Brceden, & for money paid to ye Soldiers; and Hugh Floyd 36 s., for his son finding his own Gun and Blanket when he went to the Continental Army.
1780, April 23. The proportion of Chelsea of the state tax of £72,000, for a fund for the redemption of Bills ordered to be emitted by Act, April 24, 1780, was £170.
May 9. Voted, Mr. Joshua Cheever take care of the town's guns and ammunition.
Oct. 23. Voted, raised, and granted, £10,000., lawful money, to purchase 5,700 weight of Beef for the Continental armny, any overplus of money, after paying for the beef, to be paid into the
513
CHAP. XLVII] IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
town treasury. Committee chosen the 27th, to purchase same, Capt. Samuel Sargeant, Joshua Cheever [was excused], Mr. Samuel Floyd, Mr. Richard Shute, Capt. Joseph Pratt, and Capt. Jonathan Green, and to give security in behalf of the town.
Paid Samuel Sargeant, £195, for five "peare of men's Shoues, found for the Soldiers," at £39, £195.
Oct. 27. Paid Richard Shute, £309, lawful money, for 5 pair of shoes & 5 pair of " Stockens ". for the Soldiery.
Dec. 6, 1780. The town of Chelsea to Daniel Pratt, Dr.,
To two pa'r of Solders Stockins, 42-12-0
To making Six Shirts, at 20 Dolers, pr Shurt, 36- 0-0
January ye 12, 1781. To mending a gun that I lent to the Solders, 30- 0-0 to Sundry things for the Soldiers, as Blankets, Shirts, &c., &c., and for Carrying ye Same, 72-15-0
Dec. 16. Paid Samll. Mansfield 80 Dollars, for making 4 Shurts for the Soldiers. For Sundries found for the Solders, as Shirts & Blankets, £72.15.
Dee. 18. Paid Lieut. Samuel Pratt £358, for " Shoes, Stock- ens, toc Cloath," & other items.
Dec. 18. Paid Elizabeth Pratt £67. 16, for three pairs of Stokins for the Solders, at 76 Dolars apair.
January 4, 1781. Voted £20,000, to be assessed on the polls and Estates of the town of Chelsea, to purchase beef for the army, agreeable to a Resolve of the General Assembly.
Feb. 5. Paid Daniel Pratt, for board and cloathes for Marcy and Joseph Robbins, and for Stockens, Shorts, and Blankets for Soldiers, etc., £787.13.
Feb. 5, 1781. Samuel Pratt received of the town £45-15s., for clothing one of John Robbins' children within the last year, said Robbins being a soldier in the Continental army during the war, and his family unable to support themselves.
March 5, 1781. Paid the following for Sundry things for the Soldirie, as Blankets, Shirts, and delivering same :
Jonathan Williams, 72 : 15: 0 Jonathan Green, 72 : 15: 0
Joseph Green,
72 : 15: 0
Capt. Samuel Spragne, . 72: 15: 0
To 80 Dollars, for making
4 Shurts for the Soldiers, . 24 : 0 : 96 : 15 : 0
1781. Jonathan Green paid to buy blankets for the soldiers £450-0-0.
VOL. II .- 33
514
HISTORY OF CHELSEA [CHAP. XLVII
For Shoes, Stockens, Shirts, & Blankets, 1,684-0-0.
Paid Joseph Pratt, to hire soldiers with, 210-0-0
July 6, 1781. Voted, raised, and granted, £150., hard money, or paper money equivalent thereto, to purchase beef for the Con- tinental army. Voted, as a committee, Capt. Samuel Clark, Capt. Jos. Pratt, and Licut. Jonathan Williams, to purchase blankets, shirts, Stockings and Shoes for the Continental army.
Sept. 3, 1781. Reconsidered the vote to raise £150, to purchase beef for the Continental army, and then Granted £80, Hard money, to purchase said bcef.19
Sept. 26, 1781. Agread with Capt. Stowers, to purchis Beaf, at 4 pence pr. pound, and to Render an account to the town of the first Cost, and to be Droue to the Eugents [ agents ?] on the townn's Cost.
Oct. 19, 1781. Voted, Raised, and Granted £27:10:0, Lawfull money, to be assessed on the Polls & Estates in Chelsea for the porpus Gitting Blankets, Shirts, Stockings, and Shoues for the Contanantal Solders.20
On the passage of the Boston Port-Bill, contributions were re- ceived by the inhabitants from the Southern colonies; and this fact seems to have been remembered seven years later, when South Carolina and Georgia were sufferers by the war.21
Boston, Decr. 14, 1781.
Receiv'd from the congregation of Chelsea nine pounds, four- teen shillings & 4d, for the destressed inhabitants of South Car- ilino & Georga who are driven from their habitation by the British Troop.
in behalf of Isaac Smith, Esqr.
NATHLL. AUSTIN.
£9-14-4.
1781. Paid £450 to buy blankets for the Soldiery, and had the Commonwealth's receipt in favor of Chelsea Collectors, being for shoes, stockings, shirts, and blankets, £1684.
January 22, 1782. Paid Jonathan Williams £7.4, for 10 Blankets, and Samuel Sargeant £9. 16, for 19 pair of shoes for the Continental Army.
March 4. Paid Samson Bassett 4 s., for his wife making two Shurts for the Continental Soldiers.
April 1. The selectmen received of Jonathan Green a receipt,
1º Town Ree., ii. 65, 66.
20 Ibid., 67.
21 2 Proe. Mass. Hist. Soc., ix. 105, 169. Supp. to the Acts and Resolves, Mass. (Bacon,- 1896), i. 87, 127.
515
CHAP. XLVII] IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
in favor of Collector Wm. Boardman for £113-14-6; that he took from the State's treasury for the 6 months' soldiers' wages, and another receipt in favor of Richard Shute, that Green took of sd. Treasurer for Cloathing that Chelsea Selectmen provided for Con- tinental Soldiers last year,- £25 . 13.
April 10. The Selectmen received of Jonathan Green 53 dol- lers, 2s., 4d., in State Treasury Certificates, for the town of Chelsea.
July 4, 1782. The General Court, with a preamble, setting forth the inspiring prospects of affairs, save in respect to finance, informed the towns that the notes of the newly created national bank, as well as those of Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance, would be received in payment of the late tax, resolved upon the appointment of Commissioners to receive the same, and sent a Circular Letter to the towns.
Feb. 23, 1784. The town paid Capt. James Stowers nine pounds of species, it being for money paid by him for two heffers the town owed to John Syckes for going into the war for three years.
July 22. To see what the town will do respecting a circular letter sent from Boston, concerning the army.
Voted, to show the rates made last to the inhabitants of Chelsea, and let the people know the necessity of having this money inne- diately for the army.
August 30, 1784. Order to Mr. Joshua Pierce, of Salem, for 24s., for 23 pound of musket ball the town had of him in 1225.
April 28, 1786. The seleetmen gave Phineas Blodgett an order for 9s. 7d., in full for making four shirts for soldiers.
516
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLVIII
CHAPTER XLVIII
CHELSEA IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Alarms and Signals
C YHELSEA, the extreme outpost of Washington's army, was protected from marauding parties of the British, and, as has been said [ante, p. 456], on the top of Powder Horn Hill was a signal station, communicating with one similar on Winter Hill, in Somerville, to which all movements of Howe's forces in the harbor were signalled, and thence to Washington at Cambridge. These precautions were continued for some time after the evacuation of Boston by the British, lest they should return.
I now give, in order of time, such observations as I have gathered, save those respecting the small-pox, which will follow.
The following order, neither dated nor signed, was prob- ably by Colonel Gerrish's direction, as it is endorsed on a re- port, addressed to him, July 23, 1775:
Guard on Duty to be paraded in the Highway leading to Mr. Cary's Hous. When the Guard is paraded, three soldiers to be de- tached to join the guard at Capt. Dodge's Quarters, the Centry of this department to be posted on Powderhorn hill, to watch the motions of our enemy, and make a return every releavc of all the discoveries he has made by Land or water.1
August 3, 1775. Resolved, That Mr. William Greenleaf, Joseph Greenleaf, Esq., and Dr. Peter Roberts, be, and hereby are, im- powered to repair immediately to Chelsea to take care, and make provision for, the poor distressed inhabitants of Boston, now com- ing over Winnesimet Ferry.2 .
An account of Winthrop Gray, for cash he paid for horse hire, in procuring teams for carrying people from the ferry at Chelsea,
1 Baldwin's Regt., Iviii. 22, 152.
2 House Jour., 38.
517
CHAP. XLVIII] IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
from Aug. 3, to Oct. 7, and for his attendance and expense of sup- porting himself during that time. Read and committed to the Committee on accounts, 8 Jan. 1776.3
August 4. Detail of the Persons whou Landed at winesimet fary, on August ye 4th, 1775, signed, ROBERT DODGE, Capt., " the thourd Bote, Elesebuth Chumberlin, Hannah Gouldthrite, Snrah Gould- thrite, Negrow Combel Gouldthrite." 4
August 5. Three women, who came over Winnesimet Farry from Boston yesterday, were brought under guard to the Court, by Capt. John Wood. Resolved, That the ladies above mentioned be delivered to Capt. Craft, and he is hereby directed to receive them into custody, to carry them to some suitable house for enter- tainment, and there keep them at their own expense, with a suit- able gnard, until Monday next and the further order of this Court.5
August 7. The committee appointed to examine the three women, from Boston, | brought to this Court, on Saturday, last ] report that Mrs. Joseph Goldthwait may be permitted to go to Stafford to endeavor the Recovery of her Health, to be under the care of the Selectmen of Stafford during her stay there. The others have given such an open, full account of matters, and appear so friendly, that your committee think they may without Danger be freed from confinement."
Same date. Committee to examine into the characters and cir- cumstanees of all such persons as may arrive from Boston at the said Chelsea ; and, if upon Enquiry, any of said Persons shall appear to be Enemies to the Country, then the said Committee are directed to keep in Custody all such suspected Persons until a proper Representation shall be made to this Court and order given thercon.7
A Return of the Observations of the Day, August 2th, 11:5.
3 House Jour., 1775-6, 124.
' Baldwin's Regt., lix. 985. These seem to have been of the family of Major Joseph Goldthwait, of the British army, and nephew of Colonel Thomas Goldthwait, some time a citizen of Chelsea, and both noted loyalists.
January 30, 1776. Resolved to lodge £60, " Property of Joseph Gold- thwait, a noted enemy to the Rights of America, and now aetnally employed in the Ministerial Army in Boston," in the hands of Henry Gardner, Esq., for further order of General Court. His estate was eontiseated in 1779, and his return to Mass, forbidden. Acts and Laws, v. 1056. Hlouse Jour., 1775. Nov. Sess., 225, 227.
õ Honse Jour., 49.
@ Ibid .. 52.
" Ibid., 1775, 50.
518
HISTORY OF CIIELSEA
[CHAP. XLVIII
From 2 to 4 Yesterday the floting Batterys Went up to penny ferry, and Set one hause and a Barn a fire, and From 4 to 8, 19 Boats Went from Boston to Charlestown, Laden with Men, and 9 Boats Went back Ampty, and one Sloop Came in from Sca. From 4 to 8 this Morning 11 Boats Went from Boston to Charles- town, Laden with Men, and 13 from Charlestown to Boston. At 9 o'clock Saw one Ship off, Standing in for the Light hause; a' 10 o'clock 13 Boats went from Boston to Charlestown, Laden with Men and horses, and one Boat, From Boston to the ferry, With the inhabatance. A' 12 o'clock 16 Boats went from Boston to Charles- town, Laden with Men, and 11 went back again, and one Ship and a Sloop went out to Sea; a' 2 o'clock one Ship Came in from Sca, and 6 Boats Went From Boston to Charlestown, Laden with Men and horses. [No signature.] 8
August 7. Benjamin White, Esq., brought down the report of the Committee on his Excellency General Washington's Letter relative to such persons as may come out of Boston, and a Resolve thereon, viz. :
In Council, August 7, 1775
Resolved, that Joseph Greenleaf, Capt. Edward Proctor, and Mr. Ephraim May, be a committee, whose duty it shall be to give constant attendance at the place where the people coming out of Boston to Chelsea shall land, and strictly examine into the characters and circumstances of all such persons as may arrive from Boston at the said Chelsea, and if upon inquiry any of the said persons shall appear to be enemies to this country, then the said committee are directed to keep in Custody all such suspected persons until a proper representation shall be made to this court and order given thereon.
Sent up for concurrence.9
Aug. 8th. Capt. Samuel Sprague, as Officer of the Day, visited guards by day and night; found all well.10
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