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 2
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100
Resolutions for the encouragement of the manufacture of saltpetre in the province,
100
Form of receipt to be signed by the receiver general, .
101
Committee to bring in a resolve relative to the danger of the people fromn the disposition of the British ministry towards them, . ·
101
Resolve relative to pedlers and petty chapmen, 101 · John Whitcomb, elected a general officer, 102
Militia and minute men recommended to perfect themselves, forthwith, in military discipline, .
103
Resolve for the encouragement of the manufacture of fire-arms, . ·
103
Votes of Congress approving the conduct of the committees of correspon- dence of Plymouth and other towns, . 103
Address of the selectmen of Plymouth and other towns to General Gage, Committee to confer with a deputation from Connecticut, 105
104
" 16-Committee to correspond with the neighboring governments, .
106
Resolves respecting the business and duty of the above committee, ; . Day of fasting and prayer throughout the province appointed, . Injunction of secrecy on the members removed, .
106
107
108
Resolve providing for the calling together of Congress in case of emer- gency, . 108 .
. Congress adjourned to March 22d, at Concord, . 109 -
96
" 11-Report of the committee appointed to revise the commission of the com- mittee of safety, · 97 97
XV
CONTENTS.
MARCH 22-Met according to adjournment, and Rev. Mr. Emerson appointed chaplain, . 109
Debates and resolutions to be kept secret, 109
Committee to receive the returns of the officers of the militia, · Two members added to the committee on the state of the province, 109
109
" 23-Committee to prepare a resolve declaring the danger to the people should they relax in their preparations for defence, . 109
" 24-Report of the committee,
· 110
27-The committee to prepare rules for the army reported, 111 .
" 28-Report considered and recommitted, ·
111
29-Consideration resumed, recommitted for additions, 111
Committee to bring in a resolve introductory to publishing the names of the mandamus counsellors, 111
" 30-Report of the committee on the state of the province relative to what movement of the troops should make it necessary to call out the militia, Resolve, that on the calling out of the militia, members of Congress re- pair to the place to which they shall be adjourned, . .
112
Committees to sit immediately, that Congress may adjourn,
112
" 31-Mandamus counsellors who have refused to publish a renunciation of their commissions, and resolve for publishing their names, . 113
Constables and collectors required to pay public moneys to the receiver general, immediately, .
113
APRIL 1-Committee to prepare rules for the army report ; report passed, and af- terwards recommitted, .
114
Resolve for furnishing with blankets the Indians who have enlisted as minute men,
114
Address to the Stockbridge Indians, 115
Committee to draught an address to the chief of the Mohawk Indian tribes, .
116
Resolve respecting duty of towns if General Gage should issue precepts for a general assembly, . Resolve for choosing delegates to a new Provincial Congress, .
116
' Committee on an application from the committee of correspondence of Boston, . .
117 117
" 4-Letter to the Rev. Dr. Kirkland, with an address to the Mohawk In- dians, . .
118 120
" 5-Rules and regulations for the Massachusetts army,
Town of Northfield desired to elect an additional member to the Con- gress, .
129
Committee on the application of the committee of Boston and of other towns, report, . 129
" 6-Application to Congress from the committees of inspection of Bristol rel- ative to an apprehended visit from his majesty's troops, 129
Letter to the committees of inspection of the county of Bristol, advising them to keep the militia in the best posture of defence, 130
Application from Billerica and from the committee of Boston, again com- mitted, .
131
131
132
Outrage by British troops in Boston upon Thomas Ditson, of Billerica, . Protest of the selectmen of Billerica to General Gage, against the cruel outrage of his soldiers,
116
" 3-Resolve for collecting intelligence from Great Britain, . Committee to bring in a resolve to require the immediate attendance of absent members,
117
112
xvi
CONTENTS.
APRIL 7-Two members added to the committee on the state of the province, . 132 Committee to confer with Gov. Hopkins upon the present state of public affairs, . 133 Report of the committee on the application from Billerica, and letter to the selectmen, . 133
Letter to the committee of correspondence of Boston and other towns,
134
" 8-Report of the committee on the state of the province relative to raising an army, .
135 Delegates to the provinces of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire,
136 136
Committee to draught a letter to each of the above colonies,
Committee to see what number of men should be raised from the New En- gland governments,
136
" 10-Letter to the colonies of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hamp- shire,
Additional delegates to the neighboring governments,
" 11-Instructions to the delegates appointed to repair to the neighboring col- onics, .
Committee to repair to Brunswick and other places, to prevent supplies going from them to the enemy, 139
Committee to take the particular state of the town of Boston, into consid- eration,
139
" 12-Resolve for the appointment of county committees, to report a true state of their towns, with respect to their having executed the measures of the Continental and Provincial Congress,
139
Report of the committee relative to exercising the minute men in battal- ions, and paying them for the time they spend in the service, re- jected, .
140
Members of the county committecs, .
140
" 13-Resolve for raising six companies for the train of artillery,
141
Congress resumed the consideration of the report relative to the removal of the inhabitants of Boston, and ordered it to be recommitted,
142
" 14-Resolve for the collection and payment of the tax assessed upon the plantation of New Providence,
142
Committee of donations of Boston recommended to afford assistance to persons desirous of removing into the country, . Cominittee of safety directed to apply to a suitable number of persons to be in readiness to enter the service of the colony, when an army shall be raised,
143
Col. Thomas Gardner chosen a member of the committee of safety, 144
15-Report of committee and resolve recommending a day of fasting and prayer,
144
Resolves for the payment of certain expenses incurred by Congress, .
145
Members on their return to their respective towns, ordered to use their in- fluence to procure the payment of the public taxes, and to promote military discipline, , 146
Resolves for the adjournment of Congress, and for calling together the members in case of necessity, 146
Vote of thanks to the president, 146
Congress adjourns, to mect at Concord, on the 10th of May next, 147
" 17-Circular from the committee appointed for the purpose of convening the Provincial Congress, and summoning the members to repair immedi- ately to Concord, 147
.
136 137 138
142
xvii
CONTENTS.
APRIL 22-Congress meets at Concord, Richard Devens chosen chairman, and John Murray clerk, .
147 Adjourns to Watertown, . 147 Committee to notify the committee of safety of the time and place of the adjournment of Congress, 147 Committee to take depositions relative to the transactions of the British troops in their march to and from Concord, on the 19th of April, 148
" 23-Resolves for immediately raising an army of 30,000 men, 148
Committee of safety directed to report a plan for the establishment of the army to be raised,
148
Four members added to the committee of safety, . 148
Delegates to New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, appointed, 149
Letter from the committee of correspondence of Connecticut, . Committee to draught an answer to the letter,
149 149
Doct. Joseph Warren chosen president, and Col. Joseph Palmer secretary pro tempore of Congress,
149
Committee to draw up a narrative of the massacre of April 19th, . 150
" 24-Committees of safety and supplies empowered to impress horses and teams, .
150
Committee to recommend to the committee of safety persons most suita- ble for officers in the army,
150
Letters from Hartford to the president of Congress, 151
Committee to examine the records and report what parts of them should be made public,
151
" 25-Statement of the treasurer respecting the condition of the treasury, 151
151
Report of the committee appointed to examine the records of Congress, . Letter to the town clerk of Haverhill respecting the representation of that town, . Order for the reduction of the companies to fifty-nine men, and of the reg- iments to ten companies,
152
Memorials from Marblehead and other towns respecting the unprotected state of the sea coast, . ·
152
" 26-Committee to draught a letter to our agent in Great Britain, 153
William Burbeck appointed an engineer of the forces now raising in the colony, .
153
Letter to Benjamin Franklin, .
·
153
Address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, .
154
Resolution of the general assembly of Rhode Island, for raising an army of observation, .
156 156
Protest of the governor and deputy governor against the above resolution, Resolve appointing Richard Gridley chief engineer of the colony forces, 157 Report of the committee appointed to consider the state of the eastern parts of the province with respect to ammunition, 157
Resolves for supplying certain towns with powder, 158
Committee to return the thanks of Congress to the ministers who have of- fered to supply the army as chaplains, 158
Order to Richard Derby to proceed with dispatches to London, .
159
Committee to consider the recommendation of the committee of safety with respect to armorers for the army, 159
" 27-Resolve recommending to the committees of the sea-port towns in the county of Essex, to use their endeavors to have the effects of the in- habitants removed into the country, 160
152
C
xviii
CONTENTS.
APRIL 27-Committee to confer with the officers of the army relative to the re- duction of their pay,
160
Committee to obtain an account of the number of men killed and wound- ed on the 19th instant, . 160 .
28-Committee to confer with the deputies from New Hampshire, ·
161
Mr. Samuel Freeman appointed secretary pro tempore, . 161 .
. Letter to the convention of the colony of New Hampshire, 161 . Committee to consider the expediency of establishing post riders between the Massachusetts forces and the town of Worcester, 163
Committee to consider the propriety of recommending to the towns to take no notice of Gen. Gage's precepts for calling a general assem- bly,
163
Committee to prepare a commission for the officers of the army, 163
Committee to draught rules for the observance of the members of Con- gress,
163
Committee to bring in a resolve empowering the committee of supplies to procure supplies for the army, 163
Committee to bring in a resolve for reducing the pay of the field officers of the army, 163
29-The subject of the liberation of the inhabitants of Boston referred to the committee of safety, 164
Day appointed for the meeting of the county committees, . .
164
Rules and regulations to be observed by Congress, 164 .
Monitors ordered to enforce their observance, 165
Resolve empowering the committee of supplies to procure provisions and military stores for the army, . 165
Letters to the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, of Rhode Island, . 165
Order for sending British prisoners to Providence, to be used for the lib- eration of Mr. John Brown, 166
Resolve for reducing the pay of the field officers of the army, . 167
Resolve for altering the time of the county committees' meetings, 168 - Committee to consider some method for supplying the treasury, . 169
Letter from Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, respecting the capture and detention of Mr. John Brown, 169
Letter from James Angell, respecting supplies from Rhode Island, 170
Letter from John Hancock to the committee of safety, giving information of the arrival of intelligence from Europe, 170
" 30-Account of the cannon and ordnance stores of the province,
171
Officers to command the companies of artillery, 171
Order of Congress, and letter to the committee of safety, requesting their immediate report respecting the liberation of the inhabitants of Bos- ton,
172
Committee to enquire into the conduct of the towns relative to the prison- ers of war, 172
Report of the committee of safety respecting the liberation of the inhab- itants of Boston, 172
Committee to consider what steps are necessary for assisting the poor of Boston to move into the country,
173
MAY 1-Extracts from the papers of Congress ordered to be published, 173
Commissions for the officers of the army to be signed by the president of Congress, 174
Letter from Major Hawley respecting the bearer of despatches to Gene- ral Gage,
174
.
CONTENTS.
xix
MAY 1-Mr. Gerry directed to bring in a resolve granting leave to the members to pass the guards of the colony army, .
Form of a commission for the officers of the colony army,
Form of a pass for the members of Congress reported by Mr. Gerry, and accepted,
Report of the committee to consider measures for assisting the poor of Boston to move out of said town,
Apportionment of the poor inhabitants of Boston among the towns of the province,
176 176 Committee of supplies ordered to furnish provisions; to certain persons who liad sustained losses from the British troops at Lexington,
178
Committee to consider what should be done with respect to furnishing the army with necessaries,
" 2-Col. Joseph Warren chosen president of Congress,
Committee to consider the propriety of taking measures to secure the records of the counties exposed to danger, .
178 178 179
Committee to draught a letter to the delegates from Congress to Connec- ticut,
179
Committee to draw up the form of an oath for the officers and soldiers of the army,
179
Letter to the delegates of Congress in Connecticut respecting the arrival of gentlemen from that colony with a commission to treat with Gen- eral Gage,
179 180 181
Letter from Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut to General Gage, Reply of General Gage,
Committee to take into consideration a letter from Dartmouth respecting sending vessels to sea, . . 183
Committee to bring in a resolve for granting liberty to persons in Boston to send into the country for their effects,
183
Committee to forward an express to the Continental Congress with copies of papers transmitted to Great Britain, .
183
Resolve granting license to persons in Boston to send into the country for their effects,
184
3-Rev. Doct. Cooper requested to officiate as chaplain,
Resolve for supplying Col. Benedict Arnold with money and warlike stores, . Committee to overlook the commissions of the committees of safety and supplies, and see what additional powers they should have, . 185
Resolves authorizing the receiver general to borrow money, and prescrib- ing the form of the security to be given to the lender, 185
Resolve for exempting the horses and carriages of members of Congress from being impressed, . 186
The receiver general directed to issue no notes for a less sum than four pounds, lawful money, .
186
The committee appointed to consider the subject of advance pay to the soldiers, reported. The report was recommitted, 187
Committee to procure a copperplate for printing the colony notes, and to countersign them, . Letter to the Continental Congress, .
187
187
1
174 174 175
Committee to consider what shall be done for the liberation of the Amer- ican prisoners taken on the 19th of April, : 184 184 185
XX
CONTENTS.
MAY 3-Rev. Mr. Gordon requested to officiate as chaplain,
Report of the committee appointed to consider measures for liberating the prisoners taken by General Gage's troops on the 19th of April, . 189
" 4-Report of the committee appointed to take into consideration the advance pay to the soldiers,
189 Committee to bring in a resolve for reconsidering a former resolve, and recommending to the towns and districts not to obey the precepts of General Gage for calling a general assembly, . 190
Committee to examine the towns' and districts' stocks of powder, 190
Committee to hold a conference with the delegates from Connecticut to General Gage, .
191
Report of the committee appointed to inquire into the conduct of the towns towards the prisoners of war, .
191
Report of the committee appointed to confer with the Connecticut dele- gates, . · Committee to prepare a letter to the assembly of Connecticut, .
191 192
" 5-Committee to bring in a resolve relative to an obstruction to the removal of the inhabitants of Boston, .
192
Report of the committee respecting General Gage's writs for calling a general assembly,
192
Committee to bring in a resolve for the choice of delegates to a new Pro- vincial Congress,
193 193
Letter to the governor and company of the colony of Connecticut,
Report of the committee, and letter to General Ward relative to an ob- struction to the removal of the inhabitants of Boston,
195
Resolve for the election of delegates to a new Provincial Congress, 195
Letter from Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut, .
Resolve for supplying the assembly of Connecticut with the rules and reg- ulations of the army, .
196 196
" 6-Committee of supplies empowered to procure powder in any of the colo- nies,
197
Committee to bring in a resolve for the appointment of two muster mas- ters,
197
Committee to take into consideration the letter from the speaker of Con- necticut,
197
Form of a pass through the guards of the army for members of Congress, Col. Dwight ordered to proceed to Hartford, with letters and depositions for the general assembly of Connecticut,
197
Committee to take into consideration the subject of an equal representa- tion of the colony, ·
198
Committee to consider the form of an establishment for the train, ·
198
Resolve empowering the committee of supplies to import military stores, 'Two muster masters appointed, and report of the committee respecting their appointment,
199
Committee to enquire what number of province arms are in the province, and what number of fire-arms have been procured by the committee of supplies,
199
Establishment for the companies of the train, 200
7-Committee of supplies directed to procure such a number of fire-arms as they may think necessary, . .
200
Resolve for supplying the town of Harpswell with powder, . 200
189
198
198
xxi
CONTENTS.
MAY 8-Committee to transcribe the narrative of the proceedings of the king's troops, on the 19th ult.
201 Committee to prepare an answer to a letter from the selectmen of the town of Hopkinton,
201 201 Form of an oath for the officers and soldiers of the Massachusetts army, Committee to draw up a resolve for disarming such persons as will not give an assurance of their good intentions to the country,
202
The muster masters empowered to administer the oath to the officers and soldiers of the army, .
202
Committee to examine surgeons for the army, .
Letter from the committee of correspondence of Portsmouth, . Answer of Congress to the same, .
Committees to collect the province arms in the counties of Hampshire and Berkshire,
Report of the committee appointed to bring in a resolve recommending the disarming certain persons in the colony, .
Committee to bring in a resolve, recommending to the inhabitants to save their straw,
206
Committee to confer with the committee of safety with respect to settling the appointment of field officers, and to enquire into the state of the army,
206
Letter to General Ward respecting certain outrages upon private prop- crty, .
206
" 9-The receiver general directed to give public notice of the resolve of Con- gress for borrowing money, .
Resolve for furnishing supplies to the soldiers,
Committee to prepare an application to Gencral Gage respecting his treatment of the inhabitants of Boston,
Col. Asa Whitcomb chosen a muster master in place of Col. Jolin Whit- comb who declined the trust, . · 208
Committee to consider the expediency of establishing post offices and riders in the colony, · 208
Report of a committee appointed to consider a false account of the late excursion of the king's troops to Concord, .
209
Resolve for furnishing the soldiers who are destitute, with arms and equipments,
209
" 10-General officers directed to call in all the soldiers who arc enlisted in the army, .
210
Committee to take into consideration the proceedings of the town of Bris- tol, . Resolve recommending to the inhabitants of the colony to save their straw, .
211 211 211 211
Committee to transcribe the depositions taken, relative to the proceedings of the king's troops on the 19th ult.,
Resolve for the security of the county records,
Report of the committee on the establishment of post offices made, and recommitted, .
212
Committee to consider the propriety of establishing a regiment of the train of artillery,
· 212
207 207 203
Letter to the sclectmen of Hopkinton, respecting the removal of disaffect- ed inhabitants, . 202 203 203 204 204 205
xxii
CONTENTS.
MAY 10-Committee to consider a resolve of the committee of safety relative to establishing a court of enquiry, . Committee to inquire into the complaint made by the selectmen of Wor- cester against individuals of that town,
212
212 Remonstrance to Gencral Gage against the treatment of the inhabitants of Boston,
212 213
Resolve for the establishment of a regiment of artillery, . Petition from Timothy-Langdon respecting the imprisonment of Edward Parry,
214
Report of the committee upon the complaint from the selectmen of Wor- cester, . 214
Committee to consider applications from the eastern parts of the province for arms and ammunition,
215 215
" 11-Report of the committee on said applications,
Committee to prepare a letter to the committee of correspondence of New York, relative to the sailing of men of war from Boston to New York, Letter of the committee,
216 216 217
" 12-Letter from Hon. Enoch Freeman respecting the Penobscot Indians, and an agent to Quebec,
Letter from General Jedediah Preble, respecting an attack upon a king's ship in Falmouth harbor,
217
Committee to take into consideration the expediency of raising a compa- ny of Indians,
218
Resolve for aiding the Rev. Mr. Gordon in examining aud taking deposi- tions of the British prisoners, .
218
Committee appointed to consider measures for establishing post offices and riders, reported. The subject postponed,
219
A committee raised to make application to the Continental Congress, for obtaining their recommendation for this colony to take up and exer- cise the powers of civil government, .
219
Committee appointed to estimate the damages done to private property by the king's troops at Concord,
220 220
" 13-Petition from the town of Topsham for a supply of powder, committed, . Rev. Doct. Langdon chosen to preach the election sermon,
221
Resolve for taking a third set of depositions relative to the battle of Lex- ington, .
221
Report of the committee appointed to consider the petition of the select- men of Topsham, ·
222
Resolves for the establishment of post offices and post riders, 229
" 15-Ordered that a committee be directed to desire the Continental Congress to take measures for directing and regulating the American forces, . The committee appointed to prepare an introduction to the depositions relating to the affairs of Lexington, reported. The report was re- committed, ·
224
Account of the discovery of Gov. Hutchinson's letters, . Committee to examine them,
.
224
Letter to the Penobscot Indians,
225
Resolve for preventing persons inimical to the colony from removing with their effects out of the colony without permission of the committee of the town to which they belong, 226
Resolve respecting an embassy to Canada, .
227
.
224.
Resolve for an establishment for a train of artillery,
220
xxiii
CONTENTS.
MAY 15-Report of the committee appointed to bring in a resolve for establishing a court of inquiry, made and rejected, . 228 228
Delegates to repair to the Congress of New Hampshire, . . Committee to bring in a resolve for supplying one month's advance pay to the soldiers, .
228 228
Mr. John Pitts chosen on the committee of supplies in place of Col. Lee, Committee to draw up instructions to the delegates to the Congress of New Hampshire,
228
" 16-Committee to apply to the committee of safety for a list of persons who have received enlisting orders, and the number of men each officer has enlisted,
229
Instructions to the delegates to the New Hampshire Congress,
Doct. Benjamin Church chosen to go to Philadelphia with the application to the Continental Congress,
Resolve respecting the organization of the train of artillery in the pro- vincial army,
232
Committee to consider what measures should be taken relative to the prisoners in Boston and the inhabitants there kept in duress, . Report of the committee appointed to apply for a list of officers,
232 232 233 233
" 17-Committee to take into consideration certain letters giving an account of the taking of the fortress at Ticonderoga,
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