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 29
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Moved, That a committee of three persons be appointed, to wait on the Rev. Doct. Langdon, and acquaint him that this Congress have made choice of him to preach a sermon to the Congress of this colo- ny on the 31st instant May, and desire his compliance therewith. Col. Gerrish, Mr. Pitts and Doct. Sawyer, were chosen accordingly.
The committee appointed to prepare a resolve respecting the taking a third set of the depositions relative to the battle of Lexington, re- ported, and [the report] was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That William Reed, William Stickney, Thadeus Mason, Jonathan Hastings, Jonathan Cummings, Josiah Johnson, Duncan In- graham, Jonas Dix and Simon 'Tufts, Esqs., be, and they hereby are required, to take a third set of the depositions relative to the battle of Lexington, similar to the two sets already by them taken ; and they are empowered to summon, or cause to be summoned, such inhabit- ants of this colony as they shall think proper, to attend them, at any time and place in this ||ªcounty, || which they shall direct, for the pur- poses mentioned ; and all such persons as shall be summoned by the justices aforesaid, are hereby directed punctually to obey their sum- mons.
Ordered, That Mr. Pitts, Mr. Gill and Mr. Sawyer, be a committee to take into consideration a letter from Mr. John Peck, respecting his
a [{country.]]
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 13,
confinement, to the selectmen of Boston, and the said selectmen's let- ter to this Congress on the same subject.
The committee reported their amendment of the report on the Hon. Enoch Freeman's letter ; referred to the afternoon.
Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.
||The Congress met at three o'clock, P. M.| [Afternoon ]
The report of the committee respecting the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq.'s letter, [was] taken up, amended and [ªaccepted.]1
The committee appointed to consider the petition of the selectmen of the town of Topsham, reported ; the report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Whereas, the town of Topsham being a sea port place, in the east- ern part of the colony, and much exposed to the rage and excursions of our unnatural enemies, and not having a sufficient quantity of gun- powder to defend themselves, in case of an attack, and the town of Wrentham being well stocked therewith ;
Therefore, Resolved, and it is hereby recommended to the select- men of the abovesaid town of Wrentham, to deliver one half barrel of gunpowder to Mr. Prince Rose, for the use of the town of Topsham, he paying them for said powder, which shall be replaced, if needed, as soon as the colony magazine can be supplied.
|| The order of the day was called for , | and Capt. Jonathan Brown, Jonas Dix, Esq. and Deacon Cheever, were chosen a committee to count and sort the votes for a committee to establish post riders ; which committee was chosen ; and the blanks in the resolve respecting post offices, being filled up with said committees' names, the resolve - was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, as the opinion of this Congress, that post riders be imme- diately established to go from Cambridge, and to ride the following roads, viz. : to Georgetown in the county of Lincoln, to Haverhill, to Providence, to Woodstock by Worcester, and front Worcester to Great Barrington by Springfield, and to Falmouth in the county of Barn- stable, and that post offices be kept as followeth, viz .: One at Cam- bridge ; one at Salem ; one at Ipswich ; one at Haverhill ; one at New- buryport; one at ||Kennebunk|| or Welles; one at Falmouth in the county of Cumberland; one at Georgetown, in the county of Lincoln ; one at Worcester ; one at Springfield ; one at Great Barrington ; one
a [accepted, and is as follows : ]
b ||Resolved, That the order of the day, on the subject of post riders, be now taken up.||
c |Kennebeck.||
(1) The report, unfortunately omitted in the journal, is not preserved on the files.
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
at Plymouth ; one at Sandwich; one at Falmouth, in the county of Barnstable.
And it is further Resolved, That Mr. James Winthrop be appointed post master for the town of Cambridge; Mr. Edward || Norris|| for Salem ; Mr. James Foster for Ipswich ; Mr. | Simon|| Greenough for Haverhill ; Mr. Bulkley Emerson for Newburyport ; Capt. Nathaniel Kimball for Kennebunk; Mr. Samuel Freeman for Falmouth, in Cumberland ; Mr. Jolin Wood for Georgetown ; Mr. Isaiah Thomas for Worcester ; Mr. Moses Church for Springfield; Doct. William Whiting for Great Barrington; Joseph Nye, 3d. for Sandwich ; William Watson, Esq. for Plymouth ; and Mr. Moses Swift for Fal- moutlı, in Barnstable ; and that Capt. Jonathan Brown, Jonas Dix, Esq. and David Cheever, Esq., be a committee to give directions for the setting off and returning of the posts in their several routes, and to appoint the number of riders, and agree with them, and to agree like- -wise with the post masters for their service ; and that the rates of, and duties for postage of letters, &c., be as follow, viz. : for any distance not exceeding 60 miles, 5 1-4 pence ; upwards of 60 miles, and not exceeding 100 miles, 8 pence ; upwards of 100 miles, and not exceed- ing 200, 10 1-2 pence ; upwards of 200, and not exceeding 300, 1 shil- ling 1 penny; upwards of 300, and not exceeding 400, 1 shilling 4 pence; upwards of 400, and not exceeding 500, 1 shilling 6 1-2 pence ; upwards of 500, and not exceeding 600, 1 shilling 9 pence; upwards of 600, and not exceeding 700, 2 shillings ; upwards of 700, and not exceeding 800, 2 shillings 2 1-2 pence; upwards of 800, and not ex- ceeding 900, 2 shillings 5 pence ; upwards of 900, and not exceeding 1000, 2 shillings 8 pence. The above rates to be paid in lawful money of this colony.
The above rates are for the postage of a single letter ; they are to be doubled for all double letters; trebled for all treble letters ; and for every ounce weiglit, four times as much to be charged as for a single letter ; and that the post masters be accountable to the aforenamed committee for what they shall receive; and that the foregoing rules and orders continue, until the Continental Congress, or the congress, or future house of representatives of this colony, shall make some fur- ther order relative to the same.
The committee ||appointed|| to draw a resolve respecting a court of inquiry, reported ; and Ordered, that Monday, three o'clock in the af- ternoon, be assigned for taking the same into consideration.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o'clock.
u |Morris.]]
b |Simeon.||
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 15,
SUNDAY, May 14, 1775, [A. M.]
Met, and adjourned to twelve o'clock. .
At twelve o'clock met, and adjourned to three o'clock. [Noon.]
[Afternoon.]
At three o'clock met again.
Moved, That a committee be appointed to apply to the committee of safety, for a list of such persons as they have given enlisting orders to, that this Congress may commission such as they think proper, without delay.
Resolved, That the further consideration of this matter be referred to to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
[MONDAY,] May 15, 1775, A. M.
- Resolved, That four o'clock in the afternoon of this day, be assigned for making choice of two persons, members of this Congress, to attend the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, on Wednesday next.
The order of the day was moved for, and read.
Resolved, That David Cheever, Esq., for reasons by him offered, be excused from serving in the business, to which he was appointed, by a resolve of this Congress, passed the 12th instant, for establishing post offices and post riders ; and that Mr. William Greenleaf, Joseph Green- leaf, Esq. and Mr. John Pitts, be added to the committee therein ap- pointed.
Resolved, That five o'clock this afternoon be assigned for the choice of a person to serve on the committee of supplies, in the room of Col. Lee, deceased.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to prepare an application to the Continental Congress, be directed to insert a clause therein, desir- ing that the said congress would take some measures for directing and regulating the American forces.
The committee appointed to prepare an introduction to the deposi- tions ["relating to] the late affair at Lexington, reported ; the same was recommitted, for the purpose of examining it, to find if the narra- tive contained in the said introduction be supported by the depositions, and to add such other depositions as may be procured.
My Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Col. Field and Mr. Bullen, be a commit- tee to examine the letters of Governor Hutchinson,1 lately discovered,
a [of.]
(1) The following account of the discovery of the letter books of Governor Hutchinson, contain- ing his correspondence with the ministry, and with private individuals, is copied from Gordon's History of the American Revolution, Vol. I., Page 356.
" When he, [Governor Hutchinson,] quitted the province, all his furniture was left behind at his seat in Milton. After the Lexington engagement, the committee of the town removed
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
and report to this Congress such letters, and extracts, as they think it will be proper to publish.
|| Ordered, That the committee appointed to revise [the commission of ] the committee of safety, sit forthwitlı. |
Ordered, That Col. Warren, Mr. Sawyer and Major Bliss, be a committee to take into consideration the subject of a letter, read in Congress, from William Watson, Esq. to Col. Warren and Mr. Lothrop.
Col. Barrett, who was appointed to take a deposition at Concord, reported; the deposition reported was ordered to be committed to the committee who were appointed to prepare an introduction to the depo- sitions.
The cominittee appointed to take into consideration extracts of a letter from the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., reported a letter to the eastern tribes of indians, which was accepted, and ordered to be au- thenticated, and sent to Mr. John Lane, tò be communicated to them. It is as follows, viz. :
FRIENDS AND GOOD BROTHERS :- We, the delegates of the colony of the Massachusetts Bay, being come together in congress, to con- sider what may be best for you and ourselves to do, to get rid of the slavery designed to be brought upon us, have thought it our duty to write you the following letter.
BROTHERS : the great wickedness of such as should be our friends, but are our enemies, we mean the ministry of Great Britain, has laid deep plots to take away our liberty and your liberty ; they want to get all our money ; make us pay it to them, when they never earned it; to make you and us their servants ; and let us have nothing to eat, drink, or wear, but what they say we shall ; and prevent us from having guns and powder to use, and kill our deer, and wolves, and other game, or to send to you, for you to kill your game with, and to get skins and fur to trade with us for what you want : but we hope soon
it, in order to save it from being totally ruined. Mr. Samuel Henshaw, desirous of seeing how the house looked when stript of all the furniture, repaired thither with the gentleman who had the key. He went, at length, up into a dark garret, where he discovered an old trunk, which, he was told, was left behind, as it contained nothing but a parcel of useless papers. Curiosity led him to examine them, when he soon discovered a letter book of Mr. Hutchinson's, which lie secured, and then posted away to Doct. Warren, to whom he related what had happened : on which, an order was soon sent to Gen. Thomas, at Roxbury, to possess himself of the trunk. It was hrought to his quarters : and there, through the imprudent exultations of some about the general, the contents were too often exposed to persons resorting thither, and some single letters conveyed away; one [was suppressed] for the public good; it being thought, that if the same was generally known, it might be of disservice in the present moment, as it had not a favorable aspect upon the staunch patriotism of Mr. Hancock. The letter hooks, and other papers, were afterwards taken proper care of."
These interesting manuscripts were depositod, and are still retained, in the archives of the state.
29
-
226
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 15,
to be 'able to supply you with both guns and powder, of our own making.
We have petitioned to England for you and us, and told them plain- ly we want nothing but our own, and do not want to hurt them; but they will not hear us, and have sent over great ships, and their men with guns, to make us give up, and kill us, and have killed some of our men ; but we have driven them back and beat them, and killed a great many of their men.
The Englishmen of all the colonies, from Nova Scotia to Georgia, have firmly resolved to stand together and oppose them ; our liberty and your liberty is the same; we are brothers, and what is for our good is for your good ; and we, by standing together, shall make those wicked men afraid, and overcome them, and all be free men. Capt. Goldthwait has given up Fort Pownall into the hands of our enemies ; we are angry at it, and we hear you are angry with him, and we do not wonder at it. We want to know what you, our good brothers, want from us of clothing, or warlike stores, and we will supply you as fast as we can. We will do all for you we can, and fight to save you, any time, and hope that none of your men, or the indians in Canada, will join with our enemies. You may have a great deal of ||good|| in- fluence on them. Our good brothers, the indians at Stockbridge, all join with us, and some of their men have enlisted as soldiers, and we have given them that enlisted, each one, a blanket and a ribbon, and they will be paid when they are from home in the service; and if any of you are willing to enlist, we will do the same for you.
We have sent Capt. John Lane to you, [to consult with you] for that purpose, and he will show you his orders for raising one company of your men to join with us in the war with your and our enemies.
BROTHERS : we beseech that God who lives above, and that does what is right here below, to be your friend and bless you, [and] to prevent the designs of those wicked men from hurting you or us.
BROTHERS : if you will let Mr. John Preble know what things you want, he will take care to inform us, and we will do the best for you that we can.
The committee appointed to consider a letter from William Watson, Esq., of Plymouth, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, and ordered to be printed, and dispersed to the several towns in the colony, and is as follows, viz. :
Whereas, some of the inhabitants of this colony, and most of them such as have been inimical to the constitution and interest of the same,
1775.]
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
227
are now, after having united themselves with our enemies, in reducing us to the distresses and difficulties we are laboring under, taking steps to remove themselves and effects out of this colony, into the govern- ment of Nova Scotia, and elsewhere, in order to avoid their propor- tion of burdens necessarily incurred for our defence, to prevent which, it is Resolved, that no person be, from this time, permitted to move his goods and effects out of this colony, unless he shall obtain the permis- sion of the committee of correspondence of the town he belongs to ; or if no such committee be there appointed, of the selectmen, or the majority of them, under their hands, for that purpose, but by the leave of this or some future congress; and the several committees of cor- respondence, or selectmen, where there are no such committees, are hereby directed to be very vigilant in observing the motions of all such persons who they may have reason to suspect, and to see that this resolve be carried into full execution.
Then adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.
[Afternoon.]
The committee appointed to consider the extracts of a letter from the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., reported a resolve respecting an em- bassy to Canada, which being read and amended, was accepted, a copy ordered to be authenticated, and sent to the selectmen of Falmouth, and is as follows, viz. :
Whereas, it is absolutely necessary for the interest and safety of this colony, in its present unhappy situation, that the inost certain in- telligence, from Canada, of the designs and manœuvres of the inhab- itants of that colony should be obtained as || frequently || as possible : and whereas, the selectmen of the town of Falmouth, having been alarmed by reports which had prevailed in the eastern parts of the col- ony, that the Canadians would soon attack them on their frontiers, and thereby bring not only themselves, but the whole colony, into a still more deplorable situation ; and judging it of the utmost importance, that the truth or falsity of such reports be known without delay, have employed Mr. Jabez Matthews and Mr. David Dinsinore, to go across the woods to Quebec, in order to observe the motions of the people there, and, as far as possible, to gain a knowledge of their intention ;
Therefore, Resolved, That this Congress do approve of the care and attention of the selectmen of Falinouth, to the general interest of the colony. And it is hereby recommended to the said selectmen, that they transmit the intelligence they may receive by them, together with the expenses of the said embassy, to this or some future congress of
a |speedily.||
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 15,
this colony, with all convenient speed, that the account of their ex- penses may be adjusted and allowed out of the treasury of the colony.
The order of the day [was] moved for.
The report of the committee appointed to bring in a resolve for es- tablishing a court of inquiry, was read; after debate, the question was put, whether said report be accepted, and it passed in the negative.
Ordered, That the committee who reported a letter to the eastern tribes of indians, be directed to prepare instructions to Mr. John Lane, who is appointed to communicate the letter to them, and enlist a com- pany of them in the service of the colony.
Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Bliss and Mr. How, be a committee to sort and count the votes for two persons, members of this Congress, to repair to the congress of the province of New Hampshire.
The committee last mentioned, reported, that the Hon. Joseplı Ger- rish, Esq. and Col. Ebenezer Sawyer, were chosen.
Ordered, That Col. Dexter, Col. Warren and Col. Foster, be a com- mittee to bring in a resolve for supplying the soldiers with two twenty shilling bills each, for a month's advance pay, and they are directed to draw up a form for said bills, and employ an engraver to prepare a plate for [ªprinting] the same, without delay, and Resolved, that to- morrow morning, ten o'clock, be assigned for the consideration of the report of said committee thereon.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to prepare an application to the Continental Congress, sit forthwith.
Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Mr. Bliss and Mr. How, be a committee to sort and count the votes for a member of the committee of supplies, in the room of Col. Lee, deceased.
The committee last mentioned, reported, that Mr. John Pitts was chosen.
Ordered, That Col. Barrett, Esquire Rawson and Mr. Webster, be a committee to take into consideration a petition to this Congress, from Mr. Boice and Mr. McLean, of Milton.1
Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop, Col. Warren and Mr. Jennison, be a committee to draw up some instructions to the delegates appointed to go to the Congress of New Hampshire.
Adjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow morning.
a [engraving.]
(1) John Boice and Hugh Mc Lean represented, that they were engaged in the business of manu- facturing paper ; that four apprentices, well skilled in the employment, had enlisted in the army ; that their services were necessary for the operation of the mills ; and prayed that these soldiers might be discharged from military service.
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
[TUESDAY,] May 16, 1775, A. M.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Greenleaf and Capt. Dix, be a committee to apply to the committee of safety, for a list of such per- sons as they have given enlisting orders to; and, in particular, [for] a list of such as have completed, or nearly completed, their respective regiments ; and as far as can be speedily obtained, the number of men each officer has enlisted, that this Congress may commission such per- sons as they think proper, without delay.
The committee appointed to consider a petition of Messrs. Boice and McLean, reported. A long debate was had thereon, and it was finally determined, that the petitioners have leave to withdraw their pe- tition.
Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Capt. Stone, Col. Farley, Major Brooks and Doct. Rawson, be a committee to take into consideration a verbal information of the capture of three vessels, by a king's cutter, at Dart- mouth, and the retaking two of them, and fifteen marines prisoners.
Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.
[Afternoon.]
Henry Gardner, Esq. having renewed his request, that this Congress would excuse him from serving the colony in the office of receiver general, Resolved, that the determination of this matter be referred to to-morrow morning, ten o'clock; and if Mr. Gardner should then in- sist on being excused, that then the Congress will proceed to the choice of some other person to supply his place.
The committee appointed to prepare an application to the Continen- tal Congress, reported the following, which was read paragraph by paragraph, and accepted, viz. :
Resolved, That Doct. Church be ordered to go immediately to Phil- adelphia, and deliver to the president of the honorable American Congress, there now sitting, the following application, to be by him communicated to the members thereof; and the said Church is also directed to confer with the said congress, respecting such other mat- ters as may be necessary to the defence of this colony, and particularly [as to] the state of the army therein.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONORS :- That system of colony adminis- tration which, in the most firm, dutiful and loyal manner, has been in vain remonstrated against, by the representative body of the united colonies, seems still, unless speedily and vigorously opposed, by the collected wisdom and force of all America, to threaten ruin and de- struction to this continent.
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SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 16,
For a long time past this colony has, by a corrupt administration in Great Britain and here, been deprived of the exercise of those powers of government, without which, a people can be neither rich, happy or secure. The whole continent saw the blow impending, which, if not warded off, must inevitably have subverted the freedom and happiness of each colony. The principles of self-defence, roused in the breasts of freemen by the dread of impending slavery, caused to be collected the wisdom of America, in a congress, composed of men who, through time, must, in every land of freedom, be revered, amongst the most faithful assertors of the essential rights of human nature.
This colony was then reduced to great difficulties, being denied the exercise of civil government, according to our charter, or the funda- mental principles of the English constitution ; and a formidable navy and army, not only inimical to our safety, but flattered with the pros- pect of enjoying the fruit of our industry, were stationed, for that pur- pose, in our metropolis. The prospect of deciding the question, be- tween our mother country and us, by the sword, gave us the greatest pain and anxiety ; but, we have made all the preparation for our neces- sary defence, that our confused state would admit of; and as the ques- tion equally affected our sister colonies and us, we have declined, though urged thereto by the most pressing necessity, to assume the reins of civil government, without their advice and consent : but have, hitherto, patiently borne the many difficulties and distressing embar- rassments necessarily resulting from a want thereof. We are now compelled to raise an army, which, with the assistance of the other colonies, we hope, under the smiles of Heaven, will be able to defend us, and all America, from the further butcheries and devastations of our implacable enemies.
But, as the sword should, in all free states, be subservient to the civil powers, and as it is the duty of the magistrate to support it, for the people's necessary defence, we tremble at having an army, although consisting of our own countrymen, established here, without a civil power to provide for and control it.
We are happy in having an opportunity of laying our distressed state before the representative body of the continent, and humbly hope you will favor us with your most explicit advice, respecting the taking up and exercising the powers of civil government, which we think abso- lutely necessary for the salvation of our country ; and we shall readily submit to such a general plan as you may direct for the colonies; or make it our great study to establish such a form of government here,
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