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 16
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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 ||read and.||
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
ry into the state of the militia, town stocks, &c., reported; the report was recommitted for amendments.
Afternoon.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to inquiring into the state of the militia, &c., having amended their report, again reported, which [report] was read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be printed, and a copy thereof, attested by the president, sent to each town and district in this province : and is as followeth, viz :
Whereas, it appears necessary for the defence of the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of this province, that this Congress, on the first day of their next session, should be made fully acquainted with the number and military equipments of the militia and minute men in this province, as also the town stock of ammunition in each town and district :
It is therefore, Resolved, That it be and hereby is recommended to the commanding officers of each regiment of minute men that now is or shall be formed in this province, that they review the several com- panies in their respective regiments, or cause them to be reviewed, and take an exact state of their numbers and equipments : and where there is any company that is 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 state of their numbers and equipment : and it is also recommended to the colonels or commanding officers of each regiment of militia in this province, that they review the several companies in their respective regiments, or cause them to be reviewed, and take a state of their numbers and accoutrements, which said state of the minute men and militia, shall be, by said officers, returned, in writing, to this Congress on the first day of their next session after the adjournment.
And it is further Resolved, That it be recommended to the select- men of each town and district in the province, that on the same day they make return in writing, of the state of the town and district stock of ammunition and warlike stores to this Congress.
Mr. Paterson reported a resolve relative to appointing an agent for and in behalf of this province, to repair to the province of Quebec, &c., which was recommitted ; and he, with Mr. Bigelow and Col. Henshaw, are directed to bring in a resolve, directing and empowering the 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.
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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 the defence of the government as they shall think necessary, reported; Ordered, that the consideration of this report be referred to the next session of this Congress.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve empowering the com- mittee of correspondence of the town of Boston, to correspond with Quebec, &c., for and in behalf of 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 are disposed to set up the manufacture of saltpetre, this Congress do engage to purchase the whole quantity that shall be manufactured in this province, within twelve months from this date, at the rate of fourteen pounds, &c., [for each hundred pounds weight.]
3d. That a proper assay master be appointed in every county, to receive and pay for the saltpetre which shall be brought to him with a
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1775.]
satisfactory certificate that the same was actually manufactured in this province.
The committee on the state of the province reported again the form of a receipt, two of the same tenor and date to be signed by the re- ceiver general; one of which is to be lodged with the town or district treasurer or clerk, who shall send their money, and the other to be kept by the constable, collector, or other officer, who shall pay the same to him; which was read and accepted, and is as followeth :
Resolved, That [it] is proper and expedient, that Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of this province, should, for the greater security of the province, give two several receipts for all such sums of money as he ||ªfor the future may receive|| for the use of the province ; and for the greater satisfaction of all such persons as shall make payments to the said receiver general, it is hereby recommended to the said Henry [Gardner,] or his successor in office, that he make both such receipts as near as || may bell to the form following, to wit : - 177-, Received of A-B-, the sum of
being part ||or the whole|| of the province tax set on the town of C- - by the general court in the year 17-, for which sum, I have given the said A- B- another receipt of the same tenor and date with this.
One of which receipts, the person paying the said money, is request- ed to lodge with the treasurer or clerk of the town or district on whose account the money shall be paid, or such other person as the inhabit- ants of such town or district shall appoint.
Ordered, That 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 they are in, from the present disposition of the British ministry and parliament, and that there is reason to fear that they will attempt our sudden destruction : and the importance it is to the in- habitants of this colony to prepare themselves for the last event.
The committee on the state of the province, reported a resolve rela- tive to pedlers, &c., which was read, considered, and accepted ; and ordered to be published in all the newspapers, and is as followeth, viz. :
Whereas, the practice of pedlers and petty chapmen, in going from town to town, selling East India goods and teas, and various sorts of European manufactures, in direct opposition to the good and whole- some laws of this province, whereby they are liable to the forfeiture of all their goods, besides being subject to the penalty of twenty pounds,
a |shall for the future receive.|| b ||possible.| c ||bill.||
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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 ||ªBolton|| be desired to wait on the Hon. John Whitcomb, Esq., with a copy of ||this being elected|| a general officer, and ||"desire|| his answer, whether he will accept that trust, as soon as may be.
||dThe committee appointed in the morning to bring in a resolve holding up to the people the imminent danger they are in, &c., re- ported : the report was read, || accepted, and ordered to be printed in all the newspapers, and is as followeth, viz :
a ||Boston.]]
b ||the resolve electing him.|| c |request.||
d ||Ordered, That the report of the committee appointed to bring in a resolve, holding up to the people the imminent danger they were in, &c., be now read ; which was done accordingly, and|]
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Whereas, it appears to this Congress, from the present disposition of the British ministry and parliament, that there is real cause to fear that the most reasonable and just applications of this continent to Great Britain, for " peace, liberty, and safety," will not meet with a favorable reception; but, on the contrary, from the large reenforce- ments of troops expected in this colony, the tenor of intelligence from Great Britain, and general appearances, we liave reason to apprehend that the sudden destruction of this colony in particular is intended, ||a|| for refusing, with the other American colonies, tamely to submit to the most ignominious slavery ;
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; and it is, upon serious deliberation, most earnestly recommended to the militia in general, as well as the detached part of it in minute men, that they spare neither time, pains, nor expense, at so critical a juncture, in per- fecting themselves forthwith in military discipline, and that skillful in- structors be provided for those companies which may not already be provided therewith : and it is recommended to the towns and districts in this colony, that they encourage such persons as are skilled in the manufacturing of firearms and bayonets, diligently to apply themselves thereto, for supplying such of the inhabitants as may still be deficient.
And for the encouragement of American || manufacturers|| of fire arms and bayonets, it is further Resolved, that this Congress will give the preference to, and purchase from them, so many effective arms and bayonets as can be delivered in a reasonable time, upon notice given to this Congress at its next session.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the address from the committee of correspondence of the town of Scituate, and other towns in that vicinity, reported : their report was read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be published in the newspapers, and is as follow- eth, viz :
Voted, That the Congress do highly approve of the vigilance and activity of the selectmen and the committees of correspondence of the several towns of Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury, Pembroke, Hanover, and Scituate, in detecting the falsehoods and malicious artifices of certain persons belonging to Marshfield and Scituate, not respectable either in their numbers or their characters, who are, with great reason, supposed to have been the persons who prevailed upon General Gage to take the imprudent step, of sending a number of the king's troops
a |merely.||
b |manufactures.||
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
(1) The petition, upon which the votes of Congress were founded, has not been preserved. An address from the same towns, to General Gage, probably contains the substance of the memorial presented to the assembly of delcgates. 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 onr apprehensions ex- tremely : and, in the representation of facts, we promise to pay that 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, have made application 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 werc entirely groundless, that no design or plan of molestation, was formed against them, or existed but in their own imaginations, their own declarations, and their actions, which have a more striking language, abundantly demonstrate. Several men of unquestionable veracity, resid- ing in the town of Marshfield, have solemnly called God to witness, before one of his majesty's justices of the peace, that they not only never heard of any intention to disturb the complainants, but repeatedly saw them after they pretended to be under apprehensions of danger, attending to their private affairs, without arms, and even after they had lodged their arms a few miles from their respective houses. They frequently declared, in conversation with the deponents, that they were 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 his life by adjoining himself to thre peti- tioners, 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 hear any one of them say that he was. It appears as evident, as if written with a sunbeam, from the general tenor of the testimony, which we are willing to lay before your excellency if desired, that their expressions of fear, were a fallacious pretext, dictated by the inveterate enemies of our constitution, to induce your excel- lency to send troops into the country, to augment the difficulties of our situation, already very dis- tressing; and, what confirms this truth, if it needs any confirmation, is, the assiduity and pains
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Ordered, That Mr. Adams, Mr. Gerry, Hon. Mr. Cushing, Mr. Paine, Hon. Col. Ward, Col. Prescot, and Major Holten, be a com- mittee to wait on the Hon. Col. Williams, and [Nathaniel] Wales, Esq., and informn them that the Congress have had notice of their being in town as a committee from Connecticut, in order to have a conference with us; and that we are ready to confer with them by a committee, at such time and place as shall be most agreeable to them.
Ordered, That no member of this Congress depart therefrom until the conference with the committee from Connecticut is over.
The committee appointed to wait upon the gentlemen from Connec- ticut, reported, that they had attended that service, and delivered the message with which they were charged; and that the gentlemen pro- pose this evening to meet the committee from this Congress at such place as you shall appoint.
Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province be the committee from this Congress, to meet the gentlemen from Connecti- cut, this evening, at Capt. Stedman's, for the proposed conference.
||The Congress then|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
THURSDAY, February 16, 1775, A. M.
Adjourned to twelve o'clock, at noon.
Met ||ªupon 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 colonies.
Resolved, That at three o'clock this afternoon the Congress will come to the choice, by ballot, of a committee to correspond with the neighboring governments.
Afternoon.
Ordered, That Mr. Pitts, Mr. Gill, and Major Fuller, be a commit-
a ||agreeably to.||
which wehave taken to investigate it. We have industriously scrutinized into the cause of this alarm, and cannot find that it has the least foundation in reality."
" All that we have in view in this address is, to lay before your excellency a true state of facts, and to remove that opprobrium, which this movement of the military reflects on this country : and as a spirit of enmity and falsehood is prevalent in the country, and as every thing which comes from a gentleman of your excellency's exalted station naturally acquires great weight and impor- tance, we earnestly entroat your excellency to search into the grounds of every report, previous to giving your assent to it."
The troops stationed at Marshfield were detached from the Britishi regiments in Boston, January 23, 1775.
14
1
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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-
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1775.]
fit [be] carried into execution without a previous knowledge of the general disposition of the colonies ;1
Resolved, That the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Hon. Mr. Cushing, Mr. Adams, Mr. Gerry, 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, to consult with, and make propo- sals to such committees as now are or shall hereafter be appointed as committees of correspondence in the several American colonies, and to make report of their doings to this Congress at their next sessions.
'The report of the committee recommending a day of fasting and prayer to be kept throughout this province, which was ordered to lie on the table, [was] now taken up, considered, and accepted, and is as followeth, viz :
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