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 26
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Whereas, his excellency general Gage, since his arrival into this col- ony, hath conducted as an instrument in the hands of an arbitrary ministry to enslave this people, and a detachment ||of the troops, || un- der his command, have, of late, been ||by him|| ordered to the town of Concord, to destroy the public stores deposited in that place for the use of the colony : and, whereas, by this clandestine and perfidious
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
measure, a number of respectable inhabitants of the colony, without any provocation ||given by thein,|| have been illegally, wantonly and inhumanly slaughtered by the troops : therefore, Resolved, that the said general Gage hath, by these means, and many others, utterly dis- qualified himself to serve this colony as a governor, and in every other capacity, and that no obedience ought, in future, to be paid by the several towns and districts in this colony, to his writs for calling an as- sembly, or to his proclamations, or any other of his acts or doings; but that, on the other hand, lie ought to be considered and guarded against, as an unnatural and inveterate enemy to this country.
Ordered, That Mr. Gardner, Col. Dwight and Col. Warren, be a committee to bring in a resolve, recommending to the several towns and districts in this colony, to choose delegates for a new Provincial Congress, to be held on the last Wednesday of the present month.
The committee who were appointed to prepare the form of an oath, to be taken by the officers and soldiers of the army now raising in this colony, reported : which report was ordered for the present to subside.
The committee who were this day appointed to bring in a resolve for the purpose of removing an obstruction to the liberating the inhab- itants of Boston, reported : which report was ordered to be recommit- ted, and that Mr. Gill and Mr. Partridge be added to the committee.
The committee who were yesterday appointed to prepare a letter to the assembly of Connecticut, reported a letter, which was read, amend- ed and accepted, and is as follows :
To the Honorable, the Governor and Company of the ||"Colonyli of Connecticut :
GENTLEMEN :- The delegates appointed by your | respectable|| as- sembly, to treat with general Gage on the late unhappy events which have occured in this colony, have favored us with a conference, and communicated the substance of their interview with him. We are greatly alarmed at the unparalleled wickedness of our unnatural ene- mies, in endeavoring to persuade our sister colony, that the inhabitants of this, first commenced hostilities ; a suggestion which, we cannot but think, will appear absurd, when the great inequality of the Lexington company and the detachment of regular troops, which attacked them, is coolly considered.
But to put this matter in the clearest light, we beg leave to enclose you the copies of depositions, taken by order of this Congress, and
25
a |State.|
b ||respectful.||
-
194
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 5,
despatched for London, containing the most incontestable evidence, that the king's troops first fired upon, and killed, several of the inhab- itants of this colony, before any injury was offered to them. We also enclose you the copies of an address to the inhabitants of Great Bri- tain, and of a letter to our colony agent, and think it expedient to sus- pend the publication of the address and letter, until they shall have had their effect in England.
The experience which we have had of general Gage, hath fully con- vinced us, that but little dependence can be placed in his professions. Whilst he has been collecting his forces, fortifying our capital, and in every other respect preparing for war, we have been amused with his pretensions to benevolence and kindness, evidently calculated to retard the measures which we were necessarily pursuing for self defence. And we are constrained to declare, that should he be, at any future time, possessed of forces superior to those raised for opposing him, we should, from his past conduct, have no hopes |left|| of escaping the heaviest vengeance which ministerial tyranny can devise, assisted by the most inveterate enemies to mankind in general, and of this their native country in particular. On the exertions of the colonies, and blessings of heaven, we alone can depend for safety and support. And it is clearly the opinion of this Congress, that the establishment of a powerful army, is the best and only measure left, to bring the present disputes to a happy issue. It is evidently the business of the general, to subjugate these and the other colonies; and, we think, there are the most convincing proofs that, in order to effect it, he is constantly aiming to suspend their ||"preparations|| for defence, until his reenforce- ments shall arrive ; but, although we have been under great apprehen- sions with respect to the advantages which the conference of Connec- ticut, with general Gage, || might|| give our enemies, yet, we have the greatest confidence in the wisdom and vigilance of your respectable assembly and colony, as well as of our other sister colonies ; and have reason to hope, that, while he fails in his intentions to lull and deceive this continent, he can never accomplish his designs to conquer it.
Ordered, That the foregoing letter be fairly || transcribed|| and au- thenticated, and committed to the care of Col. Dwight, together with a copy of the depositions respecting the late hostile proceedings of general Gage's troops, attested by the secretary, to be delivered by Col. Dwight to the governor and company of Connecticut as soon as may be. Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.
a ||operations.||
b |may.||
c |copied.||
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
[Afternoon ]
The committee who were to bring in a resolve for the purpose of removing an obstruction to the liberating the inhabitants of Boston, again reported : which report, being read and accepted, it was Order- ed, that Mr. Partridge carry the same immediately to | Gen.| Ward. · It is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That the following letter be sent to Gen. Ward, and a copy of the same to the selectmen of Boston.
SIR :- By the enclosed papers you will see, that the liberation . of our good friends in Boston is greatly obstructed : therefore, Sir, you are directed to examine into the matter, and give such orders as shall be effectual, for the future, strictly to execute the resolutions of this Congress, respecting permits into the country, and protection of all persons thus permitted ; and also communicate your doing hereon to the selectmen of Boston, with all possible despatch, that our friends may not be detained any longer : and also, that you give directions to your officers carefully to execute the resolves of Congress, in all mat- ters in which they are to act, without any levity, or indecency of ex- pression or behavior.
To the Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq. :
P. S .- The pass given by the selectmen must be in strict conform- ity to the resolve of Congress, viz. : that the bearer is sent out, to put up and transport into the town of Boston, the goods and effects of such persons as have repaired to Boston, there to take up their resi- dence.
On a petition from Charles Glidden and others, for a supply of pow- der, &c. : Ordered, that Doct. Taylor inform said Glidden, now in waiting, that this Congress would gladly comply with their request, did not the present exigencies of the colony make it necessary that all their stock of ammunition be retained in the colony magazine.
The committee who were appointed to bring in a resolve recommend- ing the choice of delegates for a new Provincial Congress, reported the following : which was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Whereas, the term for which this present Congress was chosen, ex- pires on the 30th instant, and the exigencies of our public affairs ren- der it absolutely necessary, for the safety of this colony, that a new Congress be elected and convened, to consider of, and transact, the public affairs thereof: Resolved, that it be, and it is hereby recom- mended to the several towns and districts in this colony, that they each
& ||Mr.]
196
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 5,
of them do, forthwith, elect and depute as many members as to them shall seem necessary and expedient, to represent them in a Provincial Congress, to be held at the meeting-house in Watertown, on the 31st day of May instant, to be chosen by such only as are qualified by law to vote for representatives in the general assembly, and to be contin- ued by adjournment, ||a|| as they shall see cause, until the expiration of six months from their being first convened on the 31st of this instant May, and no longer ; and consult, deliberate and resolve upon such further measures, as, under God, shall be effectual to save this people from impending ruin, and to secure those inestimable liberties derived to us from our ancestors, and which it is our duty to preserve for pos- terity.
Ordered, That this last mentioned resolve, together with the resolve passed in the forenoon, respecting general Gage's precepts, be printed in hand bills ; and that Major Fuller, Capt. Batchelder and Esquire Dix, be a committee to get the same printed, and dispersed to the sev- eral towns and districts in this colony.
The gentlemen who were appointed delegates for this colony to the colony of Connecticut, reported, that they had attended the business to which they were appointed, and had brought a letter from the speaker of the Connecticut assembly, which they laid before this Con- gress.1
Resolved, That the vote which passed in Congress this day, respect- ing a petition made by Charles Glidden and others, for powder and ball, be reconsidered, and that the committee of supplies be, and here- by are ||'directed, || to furnish the said Charles ||Glidden,|| for the use of the subscribers to said petition, one half barrel of powder, and such a quantity of lead as will be proper and proportional thereto.
Resolved, That the assembly of Connecticut be supplied with the rules and regulations which have been recommended to be observed by the army now raising in this colony.
a ||from day to day.||
b ||desired.||
(1) Governor Jonathan Trumbull replies to the letter of the Provincial Congress, from Hartford, May 4, 1775, in behalf of the colony of Connecticut :
" Your letter of the second of May instant," he writes, " is received. You need not fear our firmness, deliberation and unanimity, to pursue the measures which appear best for our common de- fence and safety, and in no degree to relax our vigilant preparations for that end, and to act in union and concert with our sister colonies. We shall be cautious of trusting promises which it may be in the power of any one to evade. We hope no ill consequences will attend our embassy to gene- ral Gage. We should be glad to be furnished with the evidence, duly authenticated, concerning the attack, on the 19th of April last, at Lexington, which it is presumed you have taken. Althoughlı we are at a distance from the most distressing scenes before your eyes, yet we are most sensibly affected with the alarming relations of them."
The letter from the speaker stated, that preparations were made for raising an army of fifteen hundred men, in the colony of Connecticut.
197
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
On a motion made by Capt. McCobb, that some measures might be ta- ken to preserve a number of large inasts, plank, &c., now lying in Kenne- beck river, and to prevent their being carried to Halifax, where they might be ||ªappropriated|| to the injury of this country : Ordered, that the consideration thereof be referred to the committee of safety, and that Capt. McCobb be desired to attend the said committee, and give them all the information he can relative thereto.
A resolution of the committee of safety, giving it as their opinion, that government, in full form, ought to be taken up immediately, was read : whereupon, Ordered, that the consideration of this matter be referred to Tuesday next, at three o'clock, P. M.
||Then|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
[SATURDAY,] May 6, 1775, A. M.
Resolved, That the committee of || supplies|| be, and they are here- by empowered, to procure powder, in such quantities as they shall think necessary, not only at Connecticut and Rhode Island, but at New York, or any other colony on the continent.
Ordered, That Mr. Sawyer, Capt. Stone and Doct. Taylor, be a committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of appointing two offi- cers, one in each camp of the colony army, whose business it shall be to pass muster on the soldiers, and draw for them, out of the treasury, their half month's pay.
Ordered, That the president, Col. Dexter, Col. Warren, Doct. Hol- ten and Mr. Mills, be a committee to take |['under|| consideration the letter received yesterday from the speaker of the general assembly of Connecticut.
A form of a pass, and resolve thereon, brought in by Col. Warren, was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
TO THE GUARDS OF THE COLONY ARMY :
Pursuant to a resolve of the Provincial Congress, you are hereby ordered to permit a member of said Congress, to pass and repass, with his company, at all times.
May 1775.
President pro tempore.
Resolved, That the general officer of the army of this colony be, and hereby is directed to give orders to his officers, to pay obedience to all permits of the foregoing form, signed by the president of this Congress.
a ||used.|| b ||safety.| c flinto.Il
198
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 6,
Resolved, That Col. Dwight proceed with the letters and depositions as ordered by this Congress, with all possible speed, to Hartford, there to tarry, if at his discretion he thinks necessary, till he receives an an- swer to said letter, and a copy of the letter sent by general Gage to the assembly at Connecticut ; and to inform the said assembly of the alteration made by this Congress in the pay of the field officers of the army now raising in this colony.
Ordered, That Mr. Whiting, Major Fuller, Col. Thurston, Doct. Taylor, Col. Field, Doct. Sawyer and Col. Warren, be a committee, to bring in a resolve containing a reconsideration of the resolve passed yesterday, respecting the choice of delegates for a new Congress, so far as to determine what towns should send members, and how many members each town and district ought to send. This last order reconsidered : whereupon, Ordered, that Mr. Rawson of Mendon, Col. Gardner, Mr. Thurston, Esquire Davis and Mr. Sawyer, be a commit- tee to take into consideration an equal representation of this colony, and report thereon.
Ordered, That Col. Thurston, Esquire Dix and Mr. Lothrop, be a committee to take into consideration the form of an establishment for the train, and report a resolve thereon.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for the appointment of muster masters, reported.
Resolved, That three o'clock this afternoon be assigned for choosing two muster masters, and that they be chosen by ballot.
Col. Lincoln brought in a resolve, empowering the committee of supplies to import military stores from such place, and in such ||a|| quantities as they shall judge proper : which was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Whereas, in the course of the present disputes with Great Britain, it may be necessary to import, on the risque of the colony, many kinds of military and other stores :
Resolved, That the committee of supplies be, and they hereby are empowered and directed, to import, or cause to be imported, from any place whatever, such and so many stores aforesaid, as they shall judge necessary for the defence of the colony, and the same to risk, at their discretion, with or without making insurance on the vessels and car- goes which may be so ||employed,|| sent out, or imported.
Ordered, That this resolve be kept an absolute and entire secret by every member of this Congress.
Resolved, That four o'clock this afternoon be assigned to consider
a |manner and.||
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
if any method can be taken for settling the appointment of the field officers.
||Then|| adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.
[Afternoon ]
The order of the day [was] read.
Ordered, That Mr. Dix, Mr. Gill and Doct. Sawyer, be a committee to sort and count the votes for two inuster masters.
Il"The committee appointed to sort and count the votes for two mus- ter masters,|| reported, that Gen. John Whitcomb and Col. Benjamin Lincoln, were unanimously chosen.
The report of the committee respecting the appointment of muster masters was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That Gen. John Whitcomb and Col. Benjamin |Lincoln, || be, and hereby are appointed muster masters in the Massachusetts army, whose business it shall be to pass muster on every soldier that [shall] be enlisted into said army, and by no means to accept of any but such as are able bodied, effective men ; and also to examine if their arms and accoutreinents are in proper order : and said muster masters are hereby directed and empowered to receive from Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, or his successor in office, twenty shillings, lawful money, for each and every non commissioned officer and private soldier thus mustered and sworn, who shall appear with their arms and accoutrements ; and shall give bonds to said receiver general, with sufficient surety, for such monies drawn out of the treas- ury ; and shall forthwith pay out said sum of twenty shillings, as ad- vance pay, to each and every non commissioned officer and private soldier, and on producing receipts from them to said receiver general, said bonds shall be cancelled.
Resolved, That the consideration of the pay of the muster masters be referred to some future time.
Ordered, That Col. Thurston and Mr. Sawyer be a committee to apply to the committee of safety for a list of all such persons to whom they have given encouragement to receive commissions as field officers of the army now raising in this colony; and they are directed to in- quire of said committee of safety, what field officers they expect will be most likely to succeed in filling up their regiments.
Ordered, That Esquire Rawson, Mr. Partridge, Major Brooks, Mr. Webster, Col. Mosely, Mr. Bliss and Capt. Stone ||of Oakham, || be a committee to inquire what number of province arms there are in the province, and in what place; and, in particular, that they apply to the
a |who.|f
200
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS
[May 7,
committee of supplies, to know what number of fire arms they have procured, and how they have disposed of them.
The committee who were appointed to consider the form of an es- tablishment for the train, reported verbally, that the pay was in their opinion reasonable, but, as to the number of matrosses, they were not proper judges. The establishment was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
An establishment for the company of the train, as'fixed upon
by the committee of safety :
1 captain,
£6 10s per month.
2 lieutenants, each,
4 10
1 lieutenant fire worker, . 3 10
4 serjeants, each,
2 10 66
4 corporals, each,
2 6
32 matrosses, each,
23
66
1 drummer,
2 6
66
1 fifer,
2 6
66
46 men, officers included, in each company of matrosses; a blanket and coat, as for the rest of the army.
WILLIAM COOPER, Secretary.
||The Congress then|| adjourned to to-morrow morning, eight o'clock.
SUNDAY, May 7, 1775, A. M.
Resolved, That the committee of supplies be, and they are hereby empowered and directed, to procure at Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, or any other colony on the continent, such a number of fire arms and bayonets, for the use of this colony, as they shall think necessary.
The committee appointed to make application to the committee of supplies, to know what number of fire arms they had procured, report- ed verbally, that they had not procured any.
On an application made to this Congress, by Capt. Benjamin Dun- ning, of Harpswell, for powder, this Congress passed the following re- solve, viz. :
Whereas, the district of Harpswell, in the county of Cumberland, lies exposed to the ravages of the enemies, and is unprovided with a supply of powder : therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended, |land it is hereby accordingly recommended,|| to the selectmen of the town of Haverhill, that they deliver to Capt Nehemiah Curtis and Mr. Ben- jamin Dunning, for the use of the said district of Harpswell, one half
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
barrel of powder, they paying for the same : which shall be replaced, if needed, as soon as the colony magazine can be supplied.
Adjourned to twelve o'clock this day.
[Noon.]
Met at twelve o'clock, and adjourned to four o'clock, P. M.
[Afternoon.]
Met at four o'clock, and adjourned to to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
MONDAY, May 8, 1775, A. M.
Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Partridge, Mr. Mills, Mr, Whiting, Capt. Stone, Col. Howe, Col. Mandell, Col. Mosely, Col. | Piercell and Col. Thurston, be a committee to transcribe the narrative of the proceedings of the king's troops, on the 19th ult., together with depo- sitions thereof accompanying, to be transmitted to Mr, Thomas for immediate publication.
A letter from a number of the inhabitants of the town of Hopkin- ton, was read : whereupon, Ordered, that Doct, Church, Col, Foster and Deacon Rawson, be a committee to prepare an answer to the se- lectmen of that town, giving the opinion of the Congress on the sub- ject thereof.
The form of an oath, to be administered to the officers and private soldiers of the army now raising ||bin|| this colony, was read and ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That all officers and soldiers of the Massachusetts army now raising for the defence and security of the rights and liberties of this and our sister colonies in America, shall each and every of them, excepting only the general officers, repeat and take the following oath, viz. :
I, A. B., swear, I will truly and faithfully serve in the Massachusetts army, to which I belong, for the defence and security of the estates, lives and liberties of the good people of this and the sister colonies in America, in opposition to ministerial tyranny, by which they are or may be oppressed, and to all other enemies and opposers whatsoever ; that I will adhere to the rules and regulations of said army ; observe and obey the generals and other officers set over me ; and disclose and make known to said officers all traitorous conspiracies, attempts and designs whatsoever, which I shall know to be made against said army, or any of the English American colonies. So help me God.
Ordered, That Col. Warren, Col. Gerrish and Col. Foster, be a
a |Prince .!! h ||for the defence of.||
26
+
202
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 8,
committee to prepare the form of an oath to be administered to the general officers,
Ordered, That Col. Warren, Esquire Dix and Col. Foster, be a committee to draw up a resolve, recommending to the committees of correspondence of the several towns and districts in this colony, and to the selectmen of towns and districts who have no such committees, to take effectual care to ||ªdisarm| all such persons, in their respective towns, who will not give them an assurance of their good intentions and regard to the interest of this country ; and also to recommend to the people of this colony to take effectual measures to oblige all who are liable by law to appear in arms in the militia, to appear, when properly called upon by their officers.
Resolved, That the muster masters be, and hereby are empowered and directed, to administer the oath to the officers and private soldiers of the army now raising in this colony, agreeably to the form pre- scribed by this Congress,
The committee who were appointed to prepare a letter to the select- men of the town of Hopkinton, reported the following, which was read and accepted, and ordered to be dated, signed, and delivered to the messenger in waiting :
" GENTLEMEN :- Your favor of the 7th instant was duly considered in Congress. We cannot but regret that any persons, who have here- tofore evidenced their attachment to the rights and liberties of their country, should, in this day of trial and hazard, be so far influenced by an inordinate attachment to their personal safety, or the security of their property, as to desert the common interest, and basely refuse to contribute of their wealth, or assist, personally, in that struggle, which they are conscientiously led to approve, Nevertheless, gentlemen, such is the peculiar delicacy of our situation, that true policy suggests we should act with extreme caution respecting these fugitives. A vio- lation of the natural right of an individual to remove his person and effects wherever he pleases, ||we apprehend|| would ill become those who are contending for the unalienable right of every man to his own property, and to dispose of it as he pleases. We would likewise sug- gest, that, should we restrain any inhabitant from conveying his goods to Philadelphia, our brethren there might justly arraign us of selfish- ness in such a transaction, and it would evidence such a distinction of interests in the two colonies, as might have a tendency to disunite us, at a time when the safety of the whole must ultimately depend upon
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