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 20
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Ordered, That Capt. Osgood, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Mr. Webster, be added to the committee appointed to disperse the hand- bills, &c.
||The Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock.
SATURDAY, April 8, 1775, A. M.
['The] doorkeeper [was] directed to call in the members, and to call none out till the farther order of this Congress.
The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to raising and establishing an army, and that committees be appointed forthwith to repair to Connecticut, Rhode Island and New- Hampshire, to inform them of our resolution, and desire their co-ope- ration, &c.
Resolved, That the report be considered in paragraphs : Ordered, that the members be enjoined to attend.
Adjourned to three o'clock in the afternoon.
Afternoon.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the report made in the forenoon, which passed: present 103 [members :] in favor 96-[which report] is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 8, 1775.
Resolved, That the present dangerous and alarming situation of our public affairs, renders it necessary for this colony to make preparations for their security and defence, by raising and establishing an army, and that delegates be appointed forthwith to repair to Connecticut, Rhode Island and New-Hampshire, informing them that we are con- templating upon, and are determined to take effectual measures for that purpose; and for the more effectual security of the New England colonies and the continent, to request them to co-operate with us, by furnishing their respective quotas for general defence.
136
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[April 10,
Resolved, That there be sent two delegates to each New England colony with the above resolve.
Resolved, That the Congress choose in the first place delegates to repair to Connecticut : accordingly chose Col. Foster and Mr. Bliss.
Resolved, That they choose in the second place delegates to repair to Rhode Island: accordingly chose Col. Timothy Walker and Doct. Perkins.
Resolved, That in the third place the Congress choose delegates to repair to New Hampshire : accordingly chose Mr. Freeman and Capt. Osgood.
Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Adams and Capt. Osgood draught a letter to each of the colonies, viz. : Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Resolved, That the committee on the state of the province take into consideration what number of men, in their opinion, will be necessary to be raised by the four New England governments for their general defence, and report.
Adjourned to Monday next, nine o'clock in the forenoon.
MONDAY, April 10, 1775, A. M.
The committee appointed to draught a letter to the colonies of Con- necticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, reported ; the report [was] read and accepted, and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 10, ||=1775.|
SIR, OR GENTLEMEN :- In consideration of the measures that have been taken by the British administration, to subjugate the North American colonies; the rapidity with which their plans have been hitherto executed; the late very alarming intelligence from Great Britain ; the false and inflammatory accounts that have been laid be- fore our sovereign and his parliament, to induce them to consider this colony as in a state of rebellion, and our sister colonies as counte- nancing us therein, and the violent measures that are ordered, in con- sequence thereof, together with the daily and hourly preparations there are making by the troops under the command of general Gage, in Boston ; this Congress have come to a full conclusion, that very little, if any expectation of the redress of our common and intolerable grievances is to be had from the humble and dutiful petition and other wise measures of the late honorable Continental Congress ; and
a ||1810.||
137
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
therefore have come into certain resolutions to be communicated to you by delegates, appointed for that purpose, in which they are earn- estly desirous of the concurrence of your colony.
Wishing that the American colonies may, at this important crisis, be under the direction of Heaven, I am, in the name and by order of the Congress, [&c.]
Ordered, That the foregoing be signed by the president, in the name and behalf of this Congress.
Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province take into consideration, and report, what number of men, in their opinion, will be necessary for the army [ªproposed] to be raised.
Resolved, That there be ||ban addition of three|| to the delegates ap- pointed to repair to the neighboring governments, and that this Con- gress ||°come to the choice of them|| at three o'clock this afternoon, by ballot.
Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
The order of the day [was] moved for.
Afternoon.
Ordered, That Major Fuller, Capt. Greenleaf and Mr. Ellis, be a committee to count and sort the votes for the gentlemen to be added to the delegates appointed to repair to Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, and that they bring in their votes for a gentleman to repair to Connecticut.
.
Having ||counted and|| sorted the votes, [the committee] reported that the Hon. Timothy Danielson, Esq. was chosen.
Ordered, That votes be brought in for a gentleman to be added to the delegates appointed to repair to Rhode Island.
After counting and sorting the votes, [the committee] reported that the Hon. James Warren, Esq. was chosen.
Ordered, That votes be brought in for a gentleman to be added to the delegates appointed to repair to New Hampshire.
After counting and sorting the votes, [the committee] reported that Mr. Elbridge Gerry was chosen.
Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province be di- rected to draught such instructions as they shall think necessary to be given to the delegates appointed to repair to the neighboring govern- ments, and report.
The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve, rela- tive to exercising the minute men in battalions, and that they be paid
a [prepared.]
b ||three added.[] c ||choose them .!!
18
138
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[April 11,
out of the public treasury, &c. : Ordered, that the consideration of this report be deferred till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.
||Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
TUESDAY, April 11, 1775, A. M.
The committee on the state of the province reported instructions to the delegates appointed to repair to Connecticut, &c .; [which report was] read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be signed by the presi- - dent, and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 11, 1775.
GENTLEMEN :- The thorough knowledge you have of our public affairs, and the distressed circumstances of this devoted province, makes it unnecessary to be particular in any instructions with regard to the important trust committed to your care.
We would, notwithstanding, in general, give you some hints, which may serve to cement and continue that union which has so happily taken place in this continent. In order to effect these desirable ends, [we in- struct you] that, ||as|| soon as may be, you repair to Connecticut, and en- deavor to obtain such an early conference with the governor and com- pany of that colony as the pressing exigencies of our affairs may demand : and as an immediate exertion of our united efforts to recover and main- tain those invaluable blessings of liberty, which are, in part, wrested from us by the hands of arbitrary power, and of which we have no other prospect of a restoration, under God, but by the firm and unsha- ken resolutions and conduct of America; and as ministerial ven- geance appears to be levelled at the north east colonies in particular, it is of the utmost importance, that immediate measures, such as are consonant with the union of all the colonies, be pursued for their mu- tual defence ; and that you would endeavor to obtain an explicit and full answer, so that we may unitedly exert our strength in the common cause for the salvation of our country ; and to this end we would re- commend your continuance there until this important purpose may be effected, which we presume will be as soon as circumstances will ad- mit; you will, however, govern yourselves with respect to time and conferences, as to you, in your wisdom, shall seem meet ; and may God bless your endeavors for the common good.
Ordered, That the letter to New Hampshire be directed to the Hon. John Wentworth, Esq.
A letter from Mr. Barber [was] read ; thereupon Ordered, that it be
1775.]
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 139
committed to Doct. Holten, Mr. Sargeant and Col. Pomeroy, to con- sider thereof and report. The committee thereon reported verbally, that Col. Thompson be desired immediately to repair to Brunswick, Casco Bay, Woolwich, Georgetown, and other places, and take the most effectual measures to acquaint the people that one Mr. Perry is in the eastern part of the country, endeavoring to supply our enemies with masts, spars and timber, and to make use of all proper and effec- tual measures to prevent their aiding him in procuring said articles.
Moved, That the propriety of this Congress advising the inhabitants of the town of Boston to be moved from thence, be now taken into consideration. After a long debate thereon, Resolved, that a commit- tee be appointed to take into consideration the particular state of the town of Boston, and report. Accordingly, Mr. Sargent, Mr. Murray, Col. Henshaw, Capt. Stone, Mr. Cross, Major Fuller of Middleton, Doct. Taylor and Col. Prescott were chosen.
Ordered, That [Mr.] Murray be joined to the committee on the state of the province.
Adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning.
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 1775, A. M.
The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve, rela- tive to appointing county committees to receive returns from the com- mittees of correspondence, of the state of their towns, &c., [which was] read and accepted, and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 12, 1775.
Whereas, the preservation of our county from slavery depends, un- der God, on an effectual execution of the continental and provincial measures for that purpose :
Resolved, That there be now appointed for each county in this col- ony, a committee, consisting of five persons, any three of whom to be a quorum, whose business it shall be to receive from the committees of correspondence in their respective towns, a state of the conduct of the towns and districts with respect to their having executed the con- tinental and provincial plans, as aforesaid ; and it shall be the duty of said committees to meet on the first Wednesdays of May, July, Sep- tember, November, January and March, and prepare a report of the same, to be laid before the Congress at its then next session, that any neglect of such towns and districts in executing such plans may be speedily and effectually remedied.
Also, Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is strongly recommended
-
140
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 12,
to the committees of correspondence in the several towns and districts in this colony, sometime before the first Wednesdays in May, July, September, November, January and March aforesaid, to render to any one of the members of their county aforesaid, a true state of the conduct of their respective towns and districts, with respect to their having used each plan, recommended by the Continental and Provin- cial Congresses, and to use their utmost diligence for this important purpose.
And, whereas, some towns and districts in this colony may be desti- tute of so excellent an institution as committees of correspondence :
Resolved, That it be and it hereby is strongly recommended to such towns and districts forthwith to choose the committees of correspond- ence, and to afford them assistance, at all times, in effectually suppress- ing the efforts of the enemies of America whenever they shall make them.
||Also,| Resolved, That the county committees are hereby required to render their account quarterly, to this Congress, that they may re- ceive an order therefor on the public treasury of the colony.
Resolved, That at three o'clock this afternoon the Congress will come to the choice of the county cominittees.
Resolved, That the members from each county be together, and agree on gentlemen to constitute their county committee.
The Congress renewed the consideration of the report of the com- mittee on the state of the province, relative to exercising the minute men in battalions, and paying them for the time they spend in that service. After a long debate the question was put, whether the report be accepted ; it passed in the negative.
Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
The order of the day [was] moved for.
The county of SUFFOLK having nominated, the Congress chose Mr. John Pitts, Mr. Nathaniel || Bailey, || Col. Aaron Davis, Mr. Moses Bullen and Mr. Abner Ellis.
ESSEX .- Joseph Gerrish, Esq., Col. Michael Farley, Major Samuel Holten, Capt. Samuel Osgood, Capt. Josiah Batchelder.
MIDDLESEX .- James Prescot, Esq., Major Eleazer Brooks, Mr. Richard Devens, Col. Simeon Spaulding, Capt. Jonathan Brown.
WORCESTER .- Col. Jedediah Foster, Esq., Capt. Timothy Bigelow, Mr. Edward Rawson, Capt. Samuel Brooks, Col. Jonathan Grout.
a ||It is further.li
b ||Baylies.||
141
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
BRISTOL .- Doct. David Cobb, Benjamin |"Aikin, || Esq., Doct. Wil- liam Baylies, Capt. William Holmes, Capt. Thomas Carpenter.
BARNSTABLE .- Daniel Davis, Esq., Capt. Stephen Nye, Mr. Moses Swift, Mr. Benjamin Freeman and Mr. Naaman Holbrook.
BERKSHIRE .- Mr. Samuel Brown, Mark Hopkins, Esq., Capt. Charles Goodridge, Major Jonathan Smith, Capt. Caleb Hyde.
PLYMOUTHI .- Hon. James Warren, Esq., Col. Edward Mitchel, Capt. Joshua White, Doct. Jeremiah Hall, Mr. Ebenezer White.
LINCOLN .- James Howard, Esq., Mr. Timothy Langdon, Mr. Dum- mer Sewall, Mr. [Samuel] Cobb, Mr. Joseph Waldo.
NANTUCKET .- Josiah Coffin, Esq., Grafton Gardner, Esq., Mr. Jo- siah Barker, Timothy Folger, Esq., Mr. Stephen Hussey.
DUKES COUNTY .- Joseph Mayhew, Esq., John Summer, Esq., Col. Beriah Norton, Shubael Cottle, Esq., Mr. Ranford Smith.
CUMBERLAND .- Solomon Lombard, Esq., Mr. Samuel Freeman, Mr. John Lewis, Col. Samuel Thompson, Mr. Timothy McDaniel.
YORK .- Charles Chauncy, Esq., Capt. Daniel Bragdon, Mr. Eben- ezer Sawyer, James Sullivan, Esq., Major Ichabod Goodwin.
HAMPSHIRE .- Major [Joseph] Hawley, Col. Timothy Danielson, Mr. Noah | Goodman, || Col. Elisha Porter, Col. John Mosley.
Resolved, That the resolve recommending the aforesaid committees, be printed in hand bills, and sent to all the towns and districts.
Ordered, That Mr. Devens, Capt. Rawson and Col. Davis, be a committee to || disperse|| the hand bills. Ordered, that the committee be enjoined to sit and |ªperfect this.|
An application from the plantation of New Providence [was] read ; committed to Col. Dwight, Capt. Goodridge, Col. Pomeroy, Col. Pater- son and Mr. Crane.
Adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning.
THURSDAY, April 13, 1775, [A. M.]
Ordered, That the last resolve in the report, which was last night or- dered to be published, be not printed.
The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve, [for] engaging six companies of the train, and keeping them constantly in exercise, and paying them, &c., [which was] read, considered and accepted, and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 13, 1775.
Resolved, That the committee of safety be directed to engage a
a ||Atkin.[] b ||Goodwin .!!
c |distribute.||
d |[complete the business.][
142
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [April 14,
suitable number of persons, and form six companies of the train for the artillery already provided by this colony, to immediately enter on discipline, and constantly be in readiness to enter the service of the colony, when an army shall be raised; and that the committee be, and they are hereby empowered, to draw on the public treasury for paying said companies a suitable consideration for their services.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the propriety of removing the inhabitants from the town of Boston, reported.
The consideration thereof [was] deferred till three o'clock this af- ternoon.
Afternoon.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the report deferred ; after a long debate thereon, Ordered, that it be recommitted.||2||
FRIDAY, April 14, 1775, A. M.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the petition from the plantation called New Providence, reported : the report was read and accepted, and is as followeth :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, April 14, 1775.
Resolved, That Major Joseph Bennet, be advised to pay Henry Gardner, Esq. the full sum assessed on the plantation of New Provi- dence for the year 1774, taking a proper and suitable receipt of said Henry Gardner, for the collector appointed by the town of Lanesbo- rough to collect said sum, and that said collector be advised to dis- charge the several persons' proportion of said tax, in said plantation, and collect the same.
Per order of committee: SIMEON DWIGHT, Chairman.
The [report of the] committee appointed to take into consideration the removal of the inhabitants of the town of Boston, was ||bread and accepted,|| and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 14, 1775.
Whereas, the late accounts of the hostile intentions of the British parliament towards this colony, have so greatly agitated the minds and raised the fears of many good people in the town of Boston, as to in- duce many of those, who are able, to remove with their effects into the country ; which in the opinion of this Congress is a prudent step ; and as there is no prospect of the repeal of the cruel port bill, where-
a ||Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning.Il
b ||reported, which report was accepted.||
143
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
by many poor, industrious persons, if continued in that place, must be still great sufferers, notwithstanding the generous donations; and as the season of the year is now approaching, in which they may be, in some measure, serviceable to themselves and families in such parts of the country as can find them employment in their several occupations :
It is therefore recommended to the committee of donations, that they afford to such poor persons, who are anxious to remove themselves and families into the country, such assistance as may enable them to do it.
Voted, That the members of the town of Boston be desired to com- municate this recommendation, with the schedule, to the committee of donations.
The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve, rel- ative to appointing a committee to apply to a suitable number of per- sons to be in readiness to enter the service of this colony, as officers, when an army shall be raised.
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be referred to three o'clock, P. M.
Ordered, That at four o'clock, P: M. the Congress will come to the choice, by ballot, of a person to serve on the committee of safety, in- stead of Doct. Fisher, who was excused.
||The Congress|| adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.
Afternoon.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the report referred, agreeable to the order of the day : after some debate thereon, it pass- ed, and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 14, 1775.
Resolved, That a committee be now appointed to apply to a suita- ble number of persons, to be in readiness to enter the service of this colony, to act as field officers : such field officers, in conjunction with the committee, to apply to proper persons as captains, and they to de- termine on such subaltern officers, as may be necessary for each regi- ment, when an army shall be raised ; the committee and officers ceteris paribus, to give the preference to persons who have been chosen offi- cers in the regiments of minute men.
Ordered, That the committee of safety be the committee to apply to a suitable number of persons to act as officers, as recommended in the foregoing resolve.
Ordered, That the Congress now proceed to the choice of a gentle- man to serve on the committee of safety in the place of Mr. Fisher.
144
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[April 15,
Ordered, That Mr. Cushing, Col. Palmer, and Mr. Bigelow, be a committee to count and sort the votes : [which committee] reported, that Col. Thomas Gardner was chosen.
Ordered, That the committee on the state of the province take the late newspapers from England into consideration, and report what there is relating to this province.
Ordered, That the Rev. Mr. Murray, Mr. Mayhew, and Col. Pome- roy, be a committee to bring in a resolve recommending a day of fast- ing and prayer.
Congress adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning.
SATURDAY, April 15, 1775, A. M.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve recommending a day of fasting and prayer, reported, [which report was] amended and ac- cepted, and is as follows :
Whereas, it hath pleased the Righteous Sovereign of the universe, in just indignation against the sins of a people long blessed with ines- timable privileges, civil and religious, to suffer the plots of wicked men, on both sides of the Atlantic, who, for many years, have incessant- ly labored to sap the foundation of our public liberties, so far to suc- ceed, that we see the New England colonies reduced to the ungrateful alternative of a tame submission to a state of absolute vassalage to the will of a despotic minister, or of preparing themselves speedily to de- fend, at the hazard of ||alife, || the unalienable rights of themselves and posterity against the avowed hostilities of their parent state, who open- ly threaten to wrest them from their hands, by fire and sword ;
In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as men and christians, to reflect, that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, or prepare to act a proper part under them when they come; at the same time, all confidence must be with- held from the means we use, and reposed only on that God, who rules in the armies of heaven, and without whose blessing, the best human councils are but foolishness, and all created power vanity.
It is the happiness of || his|| church, that when the powers of earth and hell combine against it, and those who should be nursing fathers become its persecutors, then the throne of grace is of the easiest access, and its appeal thither is graciously invited by that Father of mercies, who has assured it that when his children ask bread he will not give them a stone :
Therefore, in compliance with the laudable practice of the people of
a ||their lives.|}
b |this.||
145
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
God in all ages, with the humble regard to the steps of Divine Providence towards this oppressed, threatened, and endangered people, and espe- cially in obedience to the command of Heaven, that ||ªbids|| us to call on him in the day of trouble.
Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, recommended to the good peo- ple of this colony, of all denominations, that Thursday, the eleventh day of May next, be set apart as a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that a total abstinence from servile labor and recrea- tion be observed, and all the religious assemblies solemnly convened, to humble themselves before God, under the heavy judgments felt and feared, to confess the sins that have deserved them ; to implore the for- giveness of all our transgressions, a spirit of repentance and reforma- tion, and a blessing on the husbandry, manufactures, and other lawful employments of this people; and especially, that the union of the American colonies in defence of their rights, for which, hitherto, we desire to thank Almighty God, may be preserved and confirmed ; that the Provincial, and especially the Continental Congress, may be di- rected to such measures as God will countenance : that the people of Great Britain and their rulers may have their eyes open to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the nation and all its connec- tions : and that America may soon behold a gracious interposition of Heaven, for the redress of her many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latest generations.
Ordered, That ||bit|| be copied, authenticated, and sent to all the re- ligious assemblies in this colony.
Ordered, That Mr. Devens, Mr. Cheever, and Mr. Stephen Hall, be a committee to get the resolves printed and dispersed.
Adjourned to three o'clock [in the afternoon.]
Afternoon.
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 15, 1775.
Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of the pro- vince of the Massachusetts Bay, be, and hereby is, directed to pay to Messrs. Edes and Gill, printers, the sum of thirty-six pounds, six shil- lings, and ninepence, lawful money, for printing for said province, to the twenty-seventh of March last.
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 15, 1775.
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