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 25
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" I am much obliged by your favorable sentiments of my personal character ; and assure you, as it has heen my constant wish and endeavor hitherto, so I shall continue to exert my utmost efforts to
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183
.SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Ordered, That a postscript be added to said letter, instructing said delegates, that if their assembly should be dissolved, they tarry there, to treat with the new assembly.
The |Congress then|| adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
A letter was presented to this Congress by Esquire Aikin, from Mr. Lemuel Williams, dated Dartmouth, May 1, 1775,1 to said Aikin, which was read : whereupon, Ordered, that Mr. Batchelder, Esquire Dix, Col. Farley, Mr. Greenleaf and Mr. Bent, be a committee to take the said letter into consideration, and report as soon as may be, and that Esquire Aikin be desired to attend on said committee.
The order of the day [was] moved for.
Resolved, That the further consideration of the precepts for calling a general assembly, be referred to Thursday next, ten o'clock, A. M.
Ordered, That Deacon Cheever, Col. Warren, Mr. Gill, Hon. Mr. Dexter, and the president, be a committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of granting liberty to such persons in Boston as incline to send into the country for their effects, that so another obstacle may be removed to the liberating of the inhabitants of Boston.
||The committee on the letter from Lemuel Williams to Esquire Aikin, reported verbally. The matter was ordered to subside. |
Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, President Warren, Hon. Mr. Dexter, Col. Warren and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to forward an express to the Hon. Continental Congress, with authenticated copies of the depositions, and address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, and letter to Mr. Franklin, lately sent to Great Britain, per Capt. Derby of Sa- lem ; also to send another original set of said papers, by said express, to be forwarded by the vessel in the southern colonies to London, and
protect all his majesty's liege subjects under my carc, in their persons and property. You ask, whether it will not be consistent with my duty to suspend the operations of war on my part, &c. ? I have commenced no operations of war but defensive ; such you cannot wish me to suspend, while I am surrounded by an armed country, who have already begun, and threaten farther to prosecute an offensive war ; and are now violently depriving me, the king's troops, and niany others of the king's sub- jects under my immediate protection, of all the conveniences and necessaries of life, with which the country abounds. But it must quiet the minds of all reasonable people, when I assure you, that I have no disposition to injure or molest quiet and peaceable subjects ; but, on the contrary, shall es- teem it my greatest happiness, to defend and protect them against every species of violence and op- pression.
I am, with great regard and estecm, Sir, your most obedient humblo servant,
THOMAS GAGE." The Hon. Gov. Trumbull.
(1) The enquiry was proposed by Mr. Williams, whether it would be proper for the merchants of Dartmouth to send their vessels to sea. The opinion expressed by the committce was, that they should be restrained in port.
F
184
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 2,
to report an application to be sent by said express to the Continental Congress.
Col. Learned Moved, That the sense of this Congress might be taken, whether the regiment he is now raising may be a regiment of grenadiers : the matter was ordered to subside.
A motion was made and seconded, that a committee be appointed, to take into consideration the expediency of drafting a certain propor- tion of the town's stock of powder, &c., from such towns as they shall think proper, for the present supply of the army now establishing in this colony. The matter was ordered to subside, till the Congress had passed upon a report for giving license to such persons, in Boston, as incline to, send into the country for their effects : which report was read, amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
[IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Watertown, May 2, 1775.]
[ Resolved, That such inhabitants of this colony, as have repaired to the town of Boston, there to take up their residence, and have effects in the other towns of this government, be permitted, each of them, to send out a servant, or other person, without arms, to put up and trans- port, into the said town of Boston, any such goods or effects, except- ing arms and ammunition ; and that the officers appointed for granting permits, at Roxbury and Charlestown, be, and hereby are, directed to provide a suitable attendant to each person so sent out, whose business it shall be to continue with him till he returns, and that permits, agree- able to the intention of this resolve, be granted.]1
The committee appointed to devise ways and means for supplying the treasury, reported as to the first step, and asked leave to sit again.
Ordered, That Mr. Freeman, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Lewis, Col. Dwight and Esquire Gardner, be a committee to consider what measures are proper to be taken for liberating those persons who were taken prison- ers by the troops under the command of general Gage, on the 19th [of April last.]
All the committees ||of the Congress were|| enjoined to sit, ||and then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
[WEDNESDAY,] May 3, 1775, [A. M.]
Ordered, That Deacon Cheever be desired to make application to the Rev. Doct. Cooper, to request that he would officiate as chaplain for this Congress during its session in this place.
(1) This resolve is restored to the journal from a copy made by Mr. Secretary Freeman.
185
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Ordered, That Doct, Taylor, Mr. Lothrop and Mr. Paine, be a com- mittee to forward the proclamations, for a fast, into the country, as soon as possible.
Resolved, That this last mentioned order be reconsidered ; and thereupon, Ordered, that the committee who were appointed at Con- cord for dispersing the proclamations, be required to perform their duty with all possible expedition.
On the application from the committee of safety, relative to supply- ing Col. Arnold with one hundred pounds [lawful money,] and sundry warlike stores ;
Ordered, That Mr. Greenleaf, Mr. Gill and Mr. Partridge, be a cominittee to take said application into consideration, and report.
The committee on the application from the committee of safety, re- ported : [the report was] read and accepted, and is as followeth :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Watertown, May 3, 1775.
Resolved, That the within request of the committee of safety be granted, and that the committee of supplies be, and they hereby are directed, to furnish Col. Benedict Arnold with ten horses, two hun- dred pounds of gunpowder, two hundred pounds of lead balls, and one thousand flints, at the expense of the colony, and that said committee draw upon Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, for one hundred pounds, [lawful money,] in favor of said Arnold, and take his receipt for the whole-said Arnold to be accountable therefor to this or some other congress, or future house of representatives.
Ordered, That Col. Warren, Doct. Holten, Mr. Dix, Col. Farley and Doct. Taylor, be a committee to |l'overlook the commission of the committee of safety, and the commission of the committee of sup- plies,|| and to see whether it be necessary that they be invested with other, powers than they now have.
The committee [appointed] to bring in the form of a resolve, em- powering the treasurer to borrow a certain sum of money, and the form of a note, to be by him given to the lender, &c., reported ; the report [was] amended, read and accepted, and is as followeth :
Resolved, That the receiver general be, and hereby is empowered and directed, to borrow the sum of one hundred thousand pounds, lawful money, and issue colony securities for the same, payable with annual interest, at six per cent., June 1, 1777, and that the Continen- tal Congress be desired to recommend to the several colonies to give a currency to such securities.
a ||ascertain the power of the committees of supplies and of safety.||
24
1
186
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 3
Resolved, That the securities given by the receiver general for the moneys borrowed by him, in pursuance of the aforegoing resolve, be in the form following, viz :
No The day of A. D. 177 .
Borrowed and received of A. B. the sum of pounds, lawful money, for the use and service of the colony of the Massachusetts Bay ; and in behalf of said colony, I do hereby promise and oblige myself, and my successors in the office of treasurer or receiver general, to repay to the said A. B., or to his order, on the first day of June, 1777, the aforesaid sum of pounds, lawful money, in Spanish milled dollars, at six shillings each, or in the several species of coined silver and gold, enumerated in an act ||made and passed in the twenty- second year of his late majesty king George the Second, entitled an act|| for ascertaining the rates at which coined silver and gold, English half-pence and farthings, may pass within this government, and accord- ing to the rates therein mentioned, with interest, to be paid annually, at six per cent.
A. B. C. D. E. F.
Witness my hand,
H. G.
The committee on the letter from Mr. Lee to Doct. Taylor, reported verbally, that a copy of said letter be forwarded to our members of the Continental Congress : upon a motion, the question was put, whether the above report be accepted, and passed in the negative.
Resolved, That in all orders for impressing horses and carriages, the horses and carriages of the members of this Congress be excepted, and that a copy of this resolve be sent to the committee of safety and committee of supplies.
Ordered, That at three o'clock this afternoon, the Congress will take into consideration the propriety of establishing pay for a brigade major.
Ordered, That at five o'clock this afternoon, the Congress will come to the choice of a committee of three [persons,] by ballot, to procure a copper plate for printing the colony notes, and to countersign them.
Ordered, That the committee who reported a resolve relative to bor- rowing money, &c., bring in a resolve that no note be given by the receiver general for a less sum than four pounds.
Adjourned till three o'clock, P. M.
Afternoon.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve that no note be given
187
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
by the receiver general for any sum less than four pounds, reported ; and the report was amended and accepted, and is as follows :
Whereas, inconveniences may arise by the receiver general's issuing notes for small sums : therefore, Resolved, that the receiver general be, and he hereby is directed, not to issue any notes for a less sum than four pounds, lawful money.
The report of the committee appointed to take into consideration the advance pay to the soldiers, was taken up and read ; but as part of the report is superseded by a resolve in the morning, therefore, Or- dered, that the report be recommitted, and that part thereof which hath been superseded be left out, and that each soldier be allowed twenty shillings, lawful money, in advance.
The order of the day [was] moved for.
Resolved, That Capt. Parker, Col. How and Col. Farley, be a com- mittee to take into consideration the propriety of establishing pay for a brigade major.
The above vote was reconsidered.
The committee appointed to report the form of an oath, reported : the report was read, and recommitted.
Ordered, That Major Fuller, ||Capt. Brown|| and Capt. Brown of Watertown, be a committee to count and sort the votes for a commit- tee to procure a copperplate for printing the colony notes, and to countersign them. The committee having attended that service, re- ported, that the Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq., Doct. Joseph Warren and Mr. Moses Gill, were chosen.
Mr. Cheever, who was appointed to wait on the Rev. Doct. Cooper, and desire his attendance on this Congress, to officiate as their chap- lain, reported, that he had attended the service assigned him, and that the state of the Doctor's affairs was such, that he could not attend ac- cording to the desire of the Congress.
The committee appointed to report a letter to the Continental Con- gress, reported. The report was read and accepted, and ordered to be copied, and forwarded as soon as may be, and is as follows, viz. :
To the Honorable American Continental Congress, to be convened at Philadelphia, on the tenth of May instant :
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONORS :- The Congress of this colony, im- pressed with the deepest concern for their country, under the present critical and alarming state of its public affairs, beg leave, with the most respectful submission, whilst acting in support of the cause of America, to request the direction and assistance of your respectable assembly. ·
188
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 3,
The enclosed packet, containing the copies of depositions which we have despatched for London, also an address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, and a letter to our colony agent, Benjamin Franklin, Esq., are humbly submitted to your consideration.
The sanguinary zeal of the ministerial army, to ruin and destroy the inhabitants of this colony, in the opinion of this Congress hath rendered the establishment of an army indispensably necessary. We have accordingly passed an unanimous resolve for thirteen thousand six hundred men, to be forthwith raised by this colony ; and proposals are made by us to the congress of New Hampshire, and governments of Rhode Island and Connecticut colonies, for furnishing men in the same proportion. The sudden exigency of our public affairs preclu- ded the possibility of waiting for your direction in these important measures ; more especially, as a considerable reenforcement from Great Britain is daily expected in this colony, and we are now reduced to the sad alternative of defending by arms, or submitting to be slaugh- tered.
With the greatest deference, we beg leave to suggest, that a power- ful army, on the side of America, hath been considered by this Con- gress as the only mean left to stem ||a|| the rapid progress of a tyrannical ministry. Without a force superior to our enemies, we must reasona- bly expect to become the victims of their relentless fury : with such a force, we may still have hopes of seeing an immediate end put to the inhuman ravages of mercenary troops in America, and the wicked au- thors of our miseries brought to condign punishment, by the just in- dignation of our brethren in Great Britain.
. We hope that this colony will, at all times, be ready to spend, and be spent, in the cause of America. It is, nevertheless, a misfortune, greatly operating to its disadvantage, that it has a great number of sea port towns exposed to the approach of the enemy by sea, from many of which the inhabitants have removed, and are now removing their families and effects, to avoid destruction from ships of war : these, we apprehend, will be generally distressed from want of subsistence, and disabled from contributing aid for supporting the forces of the colony; but we have the greatest confidence in the wisdom and ability of the continent to support us, so far as it shall appear necessary for support- ing the common cause of the American colonies.
We also enclose several resolves for empowering and directing our receiver general to borrow the sum of £100,000, lawful money, and
a ||the torrent and.||
189
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
to issue his notes for the same; it being the only measure which we could have recourse to for supporting our forces ; and we request your assistance, in rendering our measures effectual, by giving our notes currency through the continent.
Ordered, That Col. Davis be desired to wait on the Rev. Mr. Gor- don, and desire that he would attend on this Congress, and officiate as their chaplain, during their session in the town of Watertown.
The committee who were appointed to take under consideration the advance pay to the soldiers, reported. The report was recommitted, and Capt. Stone ||of Framingham|| and Doct. Taylor, added to the committee.
[The committee who were appointed to consider what measures are proper to be taken for liberating those persons who were taken prison- ers by the troops, under general Gage, on the 19th of April, reported a resolve, which was read and accepted, and Ordered, that any mnem- ber who desires a copy may have one. The resolve is as follows :]
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Watertown, May 3, 1775.
[Whereas, a number of the inhabitants of this colony were taken prisoners by the troops, under the command of general Gage, on the 19th of April last, and are by him so held :]
[ Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress that an applica- tion be sent to general Gage, signed by the wives or nearest relations of such prisoners, and the selectmen of the towns to which they re- spectively belong, desiring that he would discharge their friends from their said imprisonment ; and they are empowered hereby to offer to send in to the general an equal number of his troops, now in the hands of this people, who were taken prisoners on the aforesaid 19th of April, upon his liberating their friends as aforesaid.]
||The Congress|| then adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning.
[THURSDAY,] May 4, [1775, A. M.]
Col. Davis, who was appointed to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Gordon, to desire that he would officiate as chaplain to this Congress, reported, that he had waited upon Mr. Gordon, and that Mr. Gordon informed him he would attend accordingly.
The committee who were appointed to take into consideration the advance pay to the soldiers, again reported ; which report was read, amended and accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and sent forthwith to head quarters. It is as follows :
190
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 4,
Whereas, the distressed state of this colony, at this alarming crisis, calls for its utmost exertions, that the army now to be raised be forth- with completed : therefore, Resolved, that each non commissioned offi- cer and private soldier, who has, or shall, enlist himself into the ser- vice of this colony, shall have twenty shillings paid him out of the re- ceiver general's office, as advance ||pay ;|| and that the commanding officer of each regiment who shall be, ||and hereby is, || empowered to act as muster master for his said regiment, shall draw from the receiver general's office the sum of twenty shillings, for each non commissioned officer and private soldier in his said regiment, and pay the same, ac- cording to the tenor of this resolve, as soon as said men shall have en- listed themselves, and be duly sworn, and give his bond, with suffi- cient surety, to the receiver general, therefor ; said bond to be dis- charged by a receipt produced, by said officer, from each non commis- sioned officer and private soldier, that he has received the same.
On an application made to this Congress, for an order on the com- mittee of supplies, for one barrel of powder, for the use of the inhab- itants of Falmouth, in Casco Bay ; Ordered, that this matter be refer- red to the said committee of supplies, they to act thereon as they think best.
The order of the day [was] moved for.
The absent members were ordered to be called in.
On a motion made, that a committee be appointed to bring in a re- solve containing a reconsideration of a resolve, passed by this Con- gress, at Concord, the first of April last, giving it as their opinion, that " if writs should be issued for calling a general assembly, to be held on the last Wednesday of May next, that the several towns in this colony ought to obey such precepts, and to bring in a resolve re- commending to the several towns and districts in this colony not to obey such precepts,"-after a long and serious debate, the question was put, and it passed in the affirmative: for the question, 94: the whole number of the house, 107.
Col. Warren, Mr. Gerry, Col. Gerrish, Doct. Holten and Col. Man- dell, were accordingly appointed for this purpose.
Ordered, That Capt. Stone of Framingham, Mr. Bent and Major Fuller, be a committee to examine the returns of tlie several town and district stocks of powder, and to bring in a resolve recommending to such towns as they think proper, which are not immediately ex- posed, to furnish the towns of Falmouth and Arundel with one barrel of powder each.
Then adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
,
191
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Afternoon.
Resolved, That Gen. Putnam and Col. Porter, who were, with other of the committee of safety, appointed by the said committee of safety, and the council of war, to lay some special matters before this Con- gress, be admitted into this house, and that Col. Warren, Mr. Devens and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to introduce them ||accordingly.||
'The left hand front pew was assigned them to sit in.
The absent members were directed to attend.
The said committee having accordingly attended this Congress, they informed the Congress, that the gentlemen delegated by the as- sembly of Connecticut, to execute an embassy to general Gage, had come out of Boston, with letters from him to the assembly of Connec- ticut, of which they thought it proper to inform this Congress, that they might take order thereon, if they thought fit: whereupon, Or- dered, that the president, Col. Warren, Doct. Holten, Col. Gerrish, Col. Palmer, Doct. Baylies, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Partridge, Mr. Gerry and Mr. Mills, together with the committee froin the com- mittee of safety, and council of war, be a committee to hold a confer- ence with the said Connecticut delegates, and to attend forthwith.
The committee appointed to enquire into the conduct of the several towns, relative to the prisoners of war, reported : whereupon, Ordered, that Mr. Wyman apply to the committee of safety, desiring that they would take such measures with respect to the colony stores, and two regular officers, with their waiters, now at Woburn, as will remove the necessity of keeping so large a guard as is now placed there to guard the same.
The committee appointed to confer with the Connecticut delegates, reported, that they had conferred with them on the subject of their embassy, and of the letter to their assembly from general Gage, but that they thought it inconsistent with their honor, and the interest of the colonies, to open it; but that they would use their influence, when they returned, to have the contents of it communicated to this colony
Moved, That the delegates from Connecticut be desired to attend this Congress : after debate the matter was ordered to subside.
Ordered, That the president, Col. Warren, Col. Dwight, Mr. Gerry and Col. Holten, be a committee to return the compliments to the gen- tlemen from Connecticut, for their patient attendance to the inquiry made of them by this Congress, respecting their embassy to general Gage.
Moved, That the resolve passed yesterday, respecting advance pay for the soldiers, be reconsidered, so far as it respects muster masters,
192
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 5,
and that two muster masters be appointed by this Congress. After de- bate [the matter was] ordered to subside.
Ordered, That the president, Mr. Gerry and Col. Warren, be a com- mittee to prepare a letter to the assembly of Connecticut, respecting their late application to general Gage.
Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Mr. Mills, Capt. McCobb, Doct. Per- kins, Col. Grout and Mr. Kollock, be directed to copy the depositions of the late hostile proceedings of general Gage's troops, to be trans- mitted to Connecticut.
Then adjourned to to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
[FRIDAY,] May 5, 1775, [A. M.]
Ordered, That Deacon Stickney and Mr. Webster be added to the committee who were appointed to examine the returns, and districts' stock of powder, &c., May 4th, A. M.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Batchelder and Doct. Holten, be a committee to bring in a resolve relative to an obstruction to the remov- ing the inhabitants of Boston, as expressed in a letter to this Congress from the selectmen of Boston, and other papers: and that said re- solve, when passed, together with the resolve which passed this Con- gress the 2d instant, giving license to those persons in Boston, who incline, to send a servant out for their effects, be authenticated, and transmitted to Gen. Ward.
The committee who were appointed to bring in two resolves respect- ing general Gage's writs for calling an assembly, reported : both of which were read and accepted, and are as follow, viz. :
Whereas, this Congress did, at their session at Concord, on the first day of April last, resolve, as their opinion, that if writs be issued in form as the law directs, for calling a general assembly, to be held on the last Wednesday of May next, that such writs should be obeyed, &c .; and whereas, many reasons now prevail to convince us that con- sequences of a dangerous nature would result from the operation of that resolution : therefore, Resolved, that the said vote and resolution be reconsidered, and it is hereby reconsidered, and declared null and void.
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