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 34
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269
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
large body of men might be marched from the middle of the county of Hampshire to Ticonderoga, in six days ; but to gentlemen so well acquainted with the geography of the two places, we need not dwell on this part of the argument ; and, in short, we have no idea of main- taining the one or the other of the two posts, in time of war with Can- - ada, but either by constantly keeping an army on the spot, or making a fort of sufficient strength for a garrison, to hold out against an at- tack, until an army could be marched from New York or New En- gland, sufficient to raise the seige ; the latter method we suppose most politic, and quite practicable, with regard to Ticonderoga. But, at the same time, we beg leave just to hint, that a fortified station, on the easterly side of South Bay or Lake Champlain, opposite to Ticonde- roga, Crown Point, or still further on, affords great advantages for the maintaining Ticonderoga, and defending the settlements on the east- wardly side of Lake Champlain ; and there is artillery enough to spare, to other places ; and if we abandon the land between the Lakes George and Champlain, we shall give the enemy an opportunity to build, at or near the points, and, by that means, we shall lose the whole of Lake Champlain, and the shipping we now have on that lake, by which we can command the whole of it, and keep the enemy at a distance of a hundred miles from our English settlements, near Otter Creek, &c .; but if that fortress should be maintained, we shall have those very set- tlements, with some aids from the old settlements, to support it, whichi will not be half the charge that it would be to maintain a sufficient number of soldiers, so far from their homes. We have there about four or five hundred hardy mnen, with many families, who, if those grounds should be abandoned, will be driven from their settlements, and leave the Massachusetts and New Hampshire people naked, with- out any barrier, and exposed to the Canadians and savages, who will have a place of retreat at the point, as they had almost the whole of the last war. By abandoning this ground, we give up an acquisition which cost immense sums of money, the loss of many lives, and five campaigns. As to the expenses of maintaining a fortress at Ticonde- roga, this colony will not fail to exert themselves to the utmost of their power. We are under the greatest obligations to your honor, and the general assembly, for the intelligence you have given us, and you may depend, we shall not fail of continuing to communicate to you all im- portant intelligence, with the utmost despatch. The interpositions of Divine Providence, in favor of America, are very obvious, which de- maud our utmost thankfulness. Enclosed is a brief narrative of some of thein.
We are, &c.]
270
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 29, 1775.
[The committee to whom were referred the papers relating to Jona- than Brewer, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
[Resolved, That the papers respecting Jonathan Brewer, be trans- mitted by the secretary to the committee of safety, to be by them acted upon in such a manner as they think fit, so far as to determine on the expediency of recommending, or not recommending him, to this Congress, as an officer of the army now raising in this colony.]
[The committee appointed to draft a letter to the Provincial Con- gress of New Hampshire, reported the following, which was accepted, and ordered to be forwarded :]
[GENTLEMEN :- Enclosed are copies of governor Trumbull's letter to this Congress, enclosing a resolution of the Continental Congress, respecting the fortresses at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, &c., and the resolution of the general committee of association of New York thereon, and a letter from the Connecticut delegates at New York to their assembly.]
['The measure taken by the Continental Congress, if carried into execution, in our humble opinion, will affect those colonies east of Hudson's river in the highest degree; by that you will see that all the lands and waters between the south end of Lake George and Crown Point, together with all Lake Champlain, will be left open for Canadi- ans and savages, if they should be so disposed, to range all that country east, and distress all our river settlements.]
[We have addressed the Continental Congress upon the necessity of keeping a fortress at or near Ticonderoga, and have also most press- ingly desired the colony of Connecticut to exert themselves to effect the maintaining such a fortress. We have also written to New York upon the matter. We now lay the same advice before you, that you may have opportunity to take such measures as you shall think proper. As your colony is so deeply affected, you will, from a concern for that, and a generous regard to the common safety, which you have appeared at all times to have, we trust, take the matter up, and by decent and respectful addresses to the Continental Congress, endeavor to prevail with them to alter a measure so dangerous in its effects.
We are, &c.]
(1) During the sessions from the 23d of May until the dissolution of Congress, commissions were issued to officers in the regiments commanded by colonels Learned, Doolittle, Reed, Thomas, Wal- ker, Whitcomb, Cotton, Ward, Prescott, Gerrish, Danielson, Mansfield, Bridges, Patterson, and Scammond, on the certificates of the committee of safety, that the several corps were filled with a proper complement of men.
.
JOURNAL
OF THE
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS
OF
Massachusetts,
Convened at Watertown, Wednesday, May 31, 1775 .... Dissolved Wednes- day, July 19, 1775.
JOURNAL.
AT a Congress of Delegates from the several towns and districts in the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, began and held at the Meeting- house, in Watertown, the 31st of May, 1775.
Mr. Samuel Freeman was unanimously chosen Secretary, and the Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq., President.
Resolved, That the Congress will now proceed to hear the returns, and consider the qualifications of the members.
The returns being read, it appeared, that the following gentlemen were elected by the inhabitants of their respective towns, to represent them in this Congress, viz. :
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK.
Boston .- Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq., Mr. Samuel Adams, Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Joseph Warren, Esq., Mr. John Pitts, Benjamin Church, Jr., Esq., Mr. Oliver Wendall.
Roxbury .- Capt. Aaron Davis.
Dorchester .- Col. [Lemuel] Robinson, Mr. James Robinson.
Milton .- Capt. Daniel Vose.
Braintree .- Col. Joseph Palmer.
Weymouth .- Deacon Nathaniel Bailey.
Hingham and Cohasset .- Benjamin Lincoln, Esq.
Dedham .- Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq., Mr. Abner Ellis. Medfield .- Mr. Daniel Perry. Wrentham .- Mr. Jabez Fisher, Mr. Lemuel Kollock. Brookline .- Capt. Benjamin White.
Stoughton .- Mr. Thomas Crane.
Medway .- Capt. Jonathan Adams, Mr. Moses Adams. Needham .- Col. William McIntosh.
Walpole .- Mr. Enoch Ellis.
Bellingham .- Doct. John Corbet. Chelsea .- Deacon John Sale.
35".
274
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 31,
COUNTY OF ESSEX.
Salem .- Hon. Richard Derby, Jr., Esq., Mr. John Pickering, Jr., Capt. Samuel Williams, Mr. Daniel Hopkins.
Danvers .- Doct. Samuel Holten, Capt. William Shillaber. Ipswich .- Col. Michael Farley, Dummer Jewett, Esq.
Newbury .- Joseph Gerrish, Esq.
Newburyport .- Capt. Jonathan Greenleaf, Mr. Stephen Cross.
Marblehead .- Azor Orne, Esq., Mr. Elbridge Gerry, Capt. Jonathan Glover, Mr. Joshua Orne.
Lynn .- Mr. Edward Johnson.
Andover .- Mr. Samuel Phillips, Jr.
Beverly .- Capt. Josiah Batchelder, Jr.
Rowley .- Mr. Nathaniel Mighill.
Salisbury .- Major Nathaniel Currier.
Haverhill .- Mr. Jonathan Webster, Jr.
Gloucester .- Col. Peter Coffin, Major Samuel Whittemore.
Boxford .- Capt. Asa Perley.
Almsbury .- Capt. Caleb Pillsbury.
Wenham .- Mr. Benjamin Fairfield.
Topsfield .- Deacon John Gould. Methuen .- Mr. James Ingalls.
Middleton .- Mr. Archelaus Fuller.
Bradford .- [Col. Daniel Thurston.]
Manchester .- [None.]
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
Cambridge .- Mr. Abraham Watson, Jr., Capt. Samuel Thatcher.
Charlestown .- Mr. Richard Devens, David Cheever, Esq.
Watertown .- Capt. Jonathan Brown.
Woburn .- Josiah Johnson, Esq. Concord .- Col. James Barrett.
Newton .- Abraham Fuller, Esq. Reading .- Mr. John Temple.
Marlborough .- Mr. Peter Bent.
Billerica .- William Stickney, Esq.
Framingham .- Joseph Haven, Esq., Capt. Josiah Stone. Lexington .- Deacon Jonas Stone. Chelmsford .- Col. Simeon Spaulding.
Sudbury .- Deacon Thomas Plympton. Malden .- Capt. Ebenezer Harnden.
1775.]
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
275
Weston .- Col. Braddyl Smith.
Medford .- Mr. Benjamin Hall, Mr. Stephen Hall, 3d.
Hopkinton .- Capt. John Holmes. Westford .- Capt. Joseph Read.
Grolon .- Hon. James Prescott, Esq.
Pepperell .- Capt. Edmund Bancroft.
Waltham .- Mr. Jacob Bigelow. Stow .- Henry Gardner, Esq.
Sherburne .- Mr. Daniel Whitney.
Littleton .- Mr. Abel Jewett.
Townshend .- Mr. Israel Hobart.
Stoneham .- Capt. Samuel Sprague.
Wilmington .- Capt. Timothy Walker.
Dracut .- Deacon Amos Bradley.
Holliston .- Col. Abner Perry.
Acton .- Mr. Josiah Hayward.
Tewkesbury .- Mr. Ezra Kendall.
Dunstable.1-John Tyng, Esq., James Tyng, Esq., Mr. Joel Parkhurst.
Lincoln .- Major Eleazer Brooks.
COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE.
Springfield .- Mr. John Hale, Mr. Edward Chapin.
West Springfield .- Major Benjamin Ely, Doct. Chauncy Brewer.
Northampton .- Joseph Hawley, Esq., Mr. Elias Lyman.
Wilbraham .- Major John Bliss.
South Hadley and Granby .- Capt. Phinehas Smith, [Mr. Noah Goodman.]
Hatfield .- John Dickenson, John Hastings, Elihu White.
Westfield .- Col. John Mosely, Col. Elisha Parks.
Greenfield .- Mr. Samuel Hinsdale.
Hadley .- Col. Elisha Porter.
Sunderland and Montague .- Capt. Israel Hubbart, Doct. Moses Gunn.
Brimfield, Monson and South Brimfield .- Col. Timothy Danielson. Northfield .- Mr. Phinehas Wright.
Blandford .- Deacon William Boies, Capt. William Knox.
Granville .- Timothy Robinson, Esq., Mr. Nathan Barlow.
(1) John Tyng, Esq. and James Tyng, Esq., were returned as delegates from Dunstablo, May 25: as the health of the former was so much impaired as to provent his attendance, and the multiplici- ty of engagements of public and private business compelled the latter to resign his seat, Mr. Joel Parkhurst was elected, to supply the vacancies thus occasioned, Juno 12, 1775.
276
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 31,
Palmer .- Capt. David Spear.
· New Salem .- Lieut. Amos Foster. Belchertown .- Capt. Nathaniel Dwight. Colraine .- Lieut. Hezekiah Smith. Greenwich .- Mr. Joseph Hendrick. Amherst .- Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr. Chesterfield .- Capt. Benjamin Bonney. Shutesbury .- Mr. John Hamilton. Williamsburg .- Mr. Josiah Dwight. Shelburne .- Deacon Samuel Fellows.
Ware .- Joseph Foster, Esq. Ludlow .- Capt. Joseph Miller. Worthington .- Doct. Moses Morse.
Whately .- Mr. Noah Wells, Mr. Salmon White.
Warwick .- Col. Samuel Williams.
COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE.
. Sheffield, Great Barrington, Egremont and Alford .- Mr. William Whiting.
Tyringham .- Major Giles Jackson.
Stockbridge .- Timothy Edwards, Esq., [Jerathmiel] Woodbridge, Esq.
Lenox .- Capt. Caleb Hyde.
Williamstown .- Mr. Samuel Kellogg.
Richmond .- Capt. Elijah Brown.
Sandisfield .- Deacon Samuel Smith.
Tyringham .- Mr. Elijah Warren, John Chadwick, Esq.
Leverett.1-[None.]
COUNTY OF WORCESTER.
Worcester .-. Mr. David Bancroft.
Lancaster .- Doct. William Dunsmore, Deacon Thomas Fair- banks.
Brookfield .- Jedediah Foster, Esq.
[Mendon .- Capt. Thomas Wiswall.]
Oxford .- Edward Davis, Esq.
Sutton .- Capt. Henry King, Mr. Amos Singletary.
Rutland .- Mr. John Fessenden.
(1) The town of Leverett considering " their circumstances as very young and weak," declined returning a member.
277
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Hutchinson .- John Caldwell, Esq.
Oakham .- Capt. Isaac Stone.
Leicester and Spencer .- Deacon Oliver Watson.
Parton.1-Rev. Alexander Thayer.
Westborough .- Capt. Stephen Maynard. Shrewsbury .- Mr. Daniel Hemenway.
Lunenburg .- Doct. John Taylor.
Fitchburg .- Mr. Joseph Fox.
Uxbridge .- Mr. Abner Rawson.
Harvard .- Mr. Joseph Wheeler.
Bolton .- Capt. Samuel Baker.
Sturbridge .- Capt. Timothy Parker.
Hardwick.2-Capt. William Page.
Grafton .- Doct. Joseph Batchelder.
New Braintree .- Major James Woods.
Dudley .- Major William Learned.
Southborough .- Lieut. William Collins.
Upton .- Mr. Abiel Sadler. Leominster .- Deacon Israel Nichols. Holden .- Mr. John Child.
Western .- Simeon Dwight, Esq.
Douglas .- Deacon Jeremiah Whiting.
Athol .- Capt. John Haven. Petersham .- Col. Jonathan Grout.
Westminster .- Deacon Nathan Wood.
Templeton .- Mr. Jonathan Baldwin. Princeton .- Mr. Moses Gill.
Royalston.3-[None.]
Hubbardston .- Lieut. William Muzzy.
Charlton .- Rev. Caleb Curtis. Northborough .- Mr. Levi Brigham.
(1) The district of Paxton, " to show their dislike of the extravagant wages of some of the offi- cers in the army, in a time of general calamity," instructed their delegate, on his election, to use his influence, that no field officer should receive more than £6 per month, no captain more than £5, and no other person have compensation in a greater proportion.
(2) The inhabitants of Elardwick, on the 22d of May, elected Capt. William Page to represent them in Congress during June and July ; Capt. Stephen Rice to attend during August and Septem- ber ; Col. Jonathan Warner to sit during October and November. The early dissolution of the ses- sion prevented the two last named gentlemen from taking their seats.
(3) The inhabitants of Royalston, May 25, 1775, considering the infancy of the town, the number of men absent in military service, and the inability of the people to maintain a representative, vo- ted not to send a member of Congress at that time, but expressed readiness to comply with what- ever the provincial assembly should recommend for the public good.
278
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [May 31,
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH.
Plymouth .- Hon. James Warren, Esq., Mr. Isaac Lothrop.
Scituate .- Nathan Cushing, Esq.
Duxbury .- Mr. George Partridge.
Marshfield .- Mr. Benjamin White.
Bridgewater .- Col. Edward Mitchell.
Middleborough .- Capt. Joshua White.
Rochester .- Major Ebenezer White.
Plympton .- Capt. Seth Cushing.
Pembroke .- Mr. John Turner, Mr. Jeremiah Hall, Mr. Edward Thomas.
Kingston .- Hon. William Seaver, Esq., Deacon Ebenezer Wash- burn.
Hanover .- Col. Joseph Cushing.
Abington .- Doct. David Jones.
Halifax .- Mr. Ebenezer Thompson.
COUNTY OF BARNSTABLE.
Barnstable .- Col. Joseph Otis, Daniel Davis, Esq.
Yarmouth .- Capt. Elisha Basset.
Sandwich .-.- Mr. Stephen Nye, Col. [Nathaniel] Freeman.
Eastham .- Mr. Amos Knowles.
Wellfleet .- Col. Elisha Cobb.
Harwich .- Mr. Joseph Nye.
Falmouth .- Mr. Moses Swift.
Chatham .- Col. Joseph Doan.
Truro .- Mr. Samuel Harding.
COUNTY OF BRISTOL. -
Taunton .- Robert T. Paine, Esq., Col. George Williams, Capt. [Simeon] Williams.
Rehoboth .- Capt. Thompson Carpenter, Mr. [Ephraim] Stark- weather.
Swanzey .- Col. [Jerathmiel] Bowers, Mr. Philip Slead.
Dartmouth .- Hon. Walter Spooner, Esq., Benjamin Aikin, Esq.
Attleborough .- Capt. John Stearns.
Dighton .- Ezra Richmond, Esq., Doct. William Baylies. Freetown .- Mr. Thomas Durfee.
Norton and Mansfield .- Capt. William Homes.
Easton .- Mr. Benjamin Pettingil.
279
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Raynham .- Mr. Benjamin King.
Berkley .- Mr. Samuel Tobey, Jr.
COUNTY OF YORK.
York .- Mr. Daniel Bragdon.
Kittery .- Edward Cutt, Esq.
Wells .- [None.]
Berwick .- Major Ichabod Goodwin.
Arundell .- Mr. John Hovey.
Biddeford .- James Sullivan, Esq.
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND.
Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth .- Mr. Samuel Freeman.
Gorham .- Capt. Bryant Morton.
Brunswick .- Col. Samuel Thompson.
North Yarmouth .- David Mitchel, Esq.
[Scarborough.]]-[None.]
COUNTY OF LINCOLN.
Pownalborough .- Mr. Timothy Langdon.
Georgetown and Woolwich .- Capt. Samuel McCobb.
Topsham .- [Mr. James Fulton.]
Gardinerston .- Mr. Joseph North.
DUKES COUNTY.
Chilmark .- [None.] Tisbury .- James Athearn, Esq. Edgarton .- Mr. Beriah Norton.
COUNTY OF NANTUCKET.
[Sherburn. ]-[None.]
31st May, 1775. Ordered, That Doct. Holten, Mr. Watson and Col. Lincoln, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Doct. Langdon, and
(1) The inhabitants of Scarboroughi represented, that " they thought themselves not able to sup- port the charge of a member of Congress, said town having no money to pay any tax whatever : lumber was the chief trade; that being done, the crops having been very short, and no supplies coming from the southern colonies, they wero in great distress for want both of money and provis- ions : but they were willing to exert themselves to the uttermost to support good government and defend just rights and privileges." They added their " prayers, that God might bless the counsels of Congress, and, in the end, confirm that liberty which our forefathers came into these regions to enjoy."
280
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[May 31,
inform him that this Congress are now ready to attend divine service, and request his attendance.
Resolved, That four o'clock this afternoon be assigned for the con- sideration of the returns of members from Hardwick, Eastham,1 and several other towns.
Ordered, That Mr. Brown, Doct. Taylor and Col. Sayer, be [a] committee to wait on the commanding officer of the militia of this town, to thank him for his polite offer to escort the Congress to the meeting-house, and to inform him, that, as this Congress are now sit- ting, the Congress think it needless to withdraw for that purpose : but will, with the reverend gentlemen of the clergy, attend them to Mrs. Coolidge's, if they please to escort them thither, when the Congress adjourns.
[Afternoon.]
Ordered, That Mr. Gill, Doct. Whiting, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Jewett and Col. Lincoln, be a committee to return the thanks of this Congress to the Rev. Doct. Langdon, for his excellent sermon delivered to the Congress in the forenoon, and to desire a copy of it for the press.2
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Pitts and Mr. Greenleaf, be a com- mittee to consider some method for supplying the soldiers immediately with advance pay, and also to consider a letter from Gen. Thomas on that subject.
Resolved, That a copy of the resolve of the last Congress, relative to providing the army with chaplains, be laid before the reverend gen- tlemen of the clergy, now in convention, at Watertown.
The order of the day [was] moved for.
Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Col. Bowers, Col. Gerrish, Mr. Bayley . and Mr. Slead, be a committee to consider the two returns of mem- bers from Eastham.
The returns of three members from Hardwick, who are to attend this Congress severally, each two months, was approved of.
The committee appointed to consider Gen. Thomas's letter, reported verbally ; the report was accepted, and ordered to be committed to
(1) A remonstrance was presented against the return of Mr. Amos Knowles, Jr., one of the members returned from Eastham, with testimony tending to prove, that he had used expressions re- flecting on the wisdom and fidelity of Congress, and that he entertained sentiments unfavorable to its policy and measures. These charges were denied, and the origin attributed to personal or party bostility by the respondent. The election of the members from Eastham and Williamsburg was contested, on the ground that the town meetings were not properly notified.
(2) The sermon of Doct. Langdon was from ISAIAH i. 26. "And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning ; afterwards thou shalt be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." The discourse was printed at Cambridge.
281
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
writing, and one copy sent to the camp at Cambridge, and another to the camp at Roxbury.
Ordered, That Col. Palmer, Mr. Williams and Deacon Cheever, be a committee to introduce to this Congress a committee from the rev- erend gentlemen of the clergy, in convention at Watertown, now at the door.
The committee were accordingly introduced, and informed the Con- gress that the said convention would be glad of the use of the meeting- house to-morrow morning, at eight o'clock. Then the said committee withdrew.
Ordered, That Col. Palmer, Mr. Williams and Deacon Cheever, be a committee to inform the reverend gentlemen of the convention, that this Congress comply with their request, and that the committee lay before the said convention, a copy of the resolve of the last Congress, respecting chaplains.
Resolved, That Mr. Hastings, who attended the last Congress as door-keeper, be desired to attend this Congress till further orders.
Ordered, That the papers relative to the fortresses at Ticonderoga, &c., be laid before the Congress.
The papers being read, Resolved, that Mr. Phelps, who was the bearer of some of them, be introduced to the Congress.
After information from Mr. Phelps, Ordered, that the president, Mr. Glover, Col. Nicholson, Doct. Taylor, Mr. Edwards, Col. Dwight, Doct. Wheeler, Mr. Hale and Doct. Whiting, be a committee to take said papers into consideration, to sit forthwith, and report as soon as may be.
Ordered, That the Hon. Mr. Spooner, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Greenleaf, Capt. Batchelder and Col. Otis, be a committee to consider a letter from the committee of correspondence of the colony of New Hamp- shire, to the committee of correspondence of Newburyport.1
The Congress then adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning.
(1) The following letter, from the committee of correspondence of New Hampshire, was received in Newburyport May 30th, and immediately forwarded to Congress :
PORTSMOUTH, 29th May, 1775.
" GENTLEMEN :- We had two provision vessels seized at the mouth of our harbor the last night, by the Scarborough : and upon application to Capt. Barclay for their release, find he has positive orders from the admiral to take possession of all vessels laden with provisions, salt, or molasses, and send them to Boston ; and he says further, those orders are circular through the continent. We give this earliest intelligence for your government, and also inform you, that the Canceaux, a small ship of six or eight guns, sails, the first fair wind, to convoy the two vessela already seized, to Boston, and are sorry to find ourselves unable to prevent it, as we have our harbor blocked up, by a twenty gun ship, and have no vessel of force able to retake them. One reason of our mentioning this cir-
36
282
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 1,
THURSDAY, June 1, 1775.
The committee appointed to consider Gen. Thomas's letter, brought in the following report, which was accepted, and a copy of it ordered to be sent to the muster master at Cambridge, and another to the mus- ter master at Roxbury, viz. :
The committee appointed to consider a letter from Gen. Thomas, relative to immediately paying the army the advance pay, have attend- ed that service, and beg leave to report, that they have waited on the receiver general, to know of him how soon he can furnish the muster masters with the notes proposed for the army ; and were informed by the receiver general, he now had several hundred notes ready to de- liver ; and that he had provided all necessary helps, and would make the greatest despatch possible ; and that he should be able, at least, to pay off one regiment every day, and perhaps more ; and that he would, from day to day, deliver one half of said notes to the muster master at Cambridge, and the other half to the muster master at Roxbury.
Ordered, That a copy of the, above be sent to the muster masters. Ordered, That Col. Jones and Mr. Orne, be added to the committee who were appointed to consider the returns of members from Eastham.
Resolved, That the following members be, and hereby are appoint- ed, monitors in this Congress, viz .: Ist. Col. Gerrish : 2d. Mr. Durfee : 3d. . Col. Farley : 4th. Doct. Taylor : And that the divis- ion of the house be as follows, viz. :
First Division : the pews at the right hand of the pulpit, and all the pews on the west and south part of the meeting-house, from the aisle that bounds the seats and the body pews :
Second Division : the pews on the left hand of the pulpit, and all the pews on the north and east part of the house, from the aisle that bounds the seats and the body pews :
Third Division : all the body pews and seats on the left hand of the broad aisle :
Fourth Division : all the body pews and seats on the right hand of the broad aisle.
Resolved, That this Congress will adopt and observe the rules and orders established by the last Congress.
cumstance, and sending an express this night with it, is, because we have just heard that you have an armed vessel in your port."
" We have ordered two small vessels to cruize off and on, and, if possible, give this intelligence to all vessels bound to this or any other port, and trust you will do the same.
By order of the Committee. Your most humble servant,
H. WENTWORTH, Chairman."
To the Committee of Correspondence, Newbury.
283
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Ordered, That Col. Prescott, Mr. Slead, Col. Barrett, Mr. Thatcher, and Mr. Partridge, be a committee to consider what number of the poor of the town of Boston should be sent to the town of Ashby, or other towns, not mentioned in the schedule annexed to a resolve passed in the last Congress.
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