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 45
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SIR :- As it appears to this Congress highly probable, that the army of our enemies will speedily make the utinost efforts to force your lines and penetrate into the country, they have judged it absolutely necessary for the strengthening of the army before Boston, that the eight compa- nies now posted in the county of Plymouth, belonging partly to Gen- eral Thomas's regiment, and partly to Col. Cotton's regiment, should immediately join the said army. You are therefore directed, without delay, to give the orders necessary for the marching the said eight com- panies to the said army as soon as may be.
(1) In the original journal, the resolve in relation to the removal of the troops from Plymouth, is repeated, under the date of June 23.
1
377
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Resolved, That [" the colonels] in the Massachusetts army, be and they are hereby directed, im mediately to inform the committee appointed by Congress to examine the surgeons for said army, whom they re- commend for the surgeons and surgeon's mates of their respective regi- ments, and send them to said committee for examination, without de- lay ; except such as have been examined.
Resolved, That George Vincent be, and he hereby is permitted to export from Salem to the West Indies, about forty one barrels of ale- wives, and said Vincent is also permitted to take on board liis vessel, provisions sufficient for his voyage to the said West Indies, and no more, and the committee of safety of the town of Salem, are hereby di- rected to see this resolve strictly complied with.
On a petition of a number of the inhabitants settled on Penobscot river, the inhabitants of Belfast, Majabigwaduce, and Benjamin's river, representing the difficulties and distress said inhabitants are under, in respect to the scarcity of corn and ammunition, and praying for some relief, Resolved, that it be recommended by this Congress, to the com- mittee of safety of the town of Gloucester, or Newburyport, or to the like committees of safety, or correspondence, of any other towns within this colony, to supply Capt. Jonathan Buck, one of the petitioners, for the use of said inhabitants, for their present relief, with two hundred bushels of indian corn, or to that amount in corn and rye, and take, in return for the same, cord wood, or such other payment as the said Buck may be able to make, on his security therefor ; and in case the said Back shall not make satisfaction for the same, in a reasonable time, it shall be allowed and paid, out of the public treasury of this colony, and the said Back shall refund the same as soon as may be: and that Col. Goldthwait deliver up all the public arms and ammunition in his possess- ion, to the petitioners, or a committee appointed by then for that pur- pose : and, as to powder, they shall be reasonably supplied therewith, as soon as the state of our magazine will admit thereof.
FRIDAY, June 23, 1775.
Ordered, That Col. Cushing, Mr. Lothrop, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. Langdon, be a committee to fill up commissions, and . that no one of said gentlemen quit the house without leave.
Ordered, That the officers in Col. Glover's regiment, be commis- sioned, except Capt. Lee and his subalterns.
Ordered, That the pay of the ensigns be augmented to three pounds
a [each colonel.]
48
378
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 23.
ten shillings, and those that are returned as ensigns, be commissioned as second lieutenants.
Ordered, That the petition of Bridget Philips, be dismissed ; that directions be given to General Ward, not to permit Bridget Philips, wife to an officer in Boston, to go into Boston, nor any other person whatever, and that Major Goodwin, be directed to bring in a resolve for that purpose.
Ordered, That a commission be given to Col. Gridley, as chief en- gineer and colonel, with the rank of major general, and that the lieu- tenant colonel of the train have the rank of colonel, and that the ma- jors have the rank of lieutenant colonels; and that the captains [have] the rank of majors, captain lieutenants and first lieutenants the rank of captains ; and that the rank of the other officers be suspended for the present.
Ordered, That the report respecting Col. Phiney's regiment be re- committed, in order to bring in a resolve directing Col. Phiney, to bring to the camp, 400 men with effective fire arms, and in that case [he] to be commissioned as first colonel, with a major under him; and in case he brings up 500 men, all the officers to be appointed; and in case he brings up but 300 men, [he] to receive a commission as lieu- tenant colonel ; also, that his men be brought up to camp at the ex- pense of the government.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to disperse the handbills respecting the due observance of the Lord's day, be directed to make a computation what number are wanted, and order them to be printed, and that one be struck off for each parish.
Ordered, That General Fry be commissioned as a major general, and that the president be directed to administer the oath to him.
Ordered, That the oath for general officers be altered, and that the words, " or house of representatives, or legislative body of said colony," be added.
Ordered, That Mr. Lane's account for bringing up the Indians, be committed to Mr. Langdon, Capt. Goodman, Capt. Holnies, Capt. Parker, and Capt. Carpenter, to take the same into consideration, and report thereon.
The committee appointed to provide a hospital for the camp in Rox- bury, reported as follows : That they have appointed the house be- longing to Joshua Loring, in said Roxbury, for a hospital, and for the use of said camp. The report was accepted.
Ordered, That the account of Capt. Kirkwood, be recommitted to
379
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
the committee appointed to take that matter into consideration, and that Major Whittemore, and Mr. Glover, be added to the committee.
Ordered, That the consideration of the appointment of quarter mas- ter generals, and adjutant generals, be deferred to four o'clock, P. M., and that Mr. Hobart, be appointed to wait on General Ward, to [re- quest him to] nominate an adjutant general.
Ordered, That to-morrow, eleven o'clock, A. M., be assigned to come to the choice of four brigadier generals.
Ordered, That a committee be appointed to draw up the form of warrants for staff officers, and that the committees appointed to deliver out commissions be appointed for that purpose.
The committee appointed to take into consideration Col. Phiney's regiment, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That Col. Edmund Phiney, heretofore authorized by the committee of safety to raise a regiment for the service of this colony, but [who] has not yet effected it, be directed to proceed, with the greatest diligence and despatch in that business, and in case he slrall, on or before the fifteenth day of July next, join the army of this colo- ny, now before Boston, with four hundred effective men, each armed with a good effective firelock, the said Phiney, shall be entitled to be commissioned as a colonel, on the pay established by this Congress for a chief colonel ; and that there shall be also allowed to the said body, one major, and no other field officers; and in case the said Phiney, shall procure an addition of one hundred effective men, or upwards, and each armed with an effective firelock, by the last day of July next, that, in such case, the said one hundred men shall be joined to the aforesaid four hundred men, and both the said numbers shall constitute one regiment, and then the choice of field officers shall be completed, and a proper number of subordinate officers, commissioned : but in case the said Phiney shall fail of procuring four hundred effective men, armed as aforesaid, but shall ["procure] to be enlisted, and brought to the said army, by the said fifteenth day of July next, a number of ef- fective inen, all arıned as aforesaid, less than four hundred, and not less than three hundred, he shall be entitled to be commissioned as a lieutenant colonel, and that allowance shall hereafter be made of all reasonable expenses in marching said men to the said army. And that the said Phiney, be specially instructed not to march any man to the said camp, who is not furnished with a good effective firelock, and that no man without a firelock, shall be accounted, or reckoned, as going
a [produce.]
380
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 23,
to constitute the numbers above mentioned, which shall entitle him to either of the aforesaid commissions proposed for him.
Ordered, That the secretary be directed to make out a copy of the resolve respecting Col. Phiney's regiment.
Afternoon.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the price of blankets, to be given the soldiers, reported as follows; which [report] was accepted, viz. :
Resolved, That the sum of twelve shillings, lawful money, be the stated price for each blanket allowed to the soldiers in the Massachu- setts army ; and such soldiers as have, or shall be supplied with blank- ets of less value, as may appear by the appraisement of the selectmen, shall have the overplus made up to them by those who supplied said soldiers, and the abovesaid twelve shillings shall be allowed, out of the. public treasury, for each blanket.
Ordered, That nine o'clock, to-morrow morning, be assigned to take into consideration an establisliment for the brigadier generals, and quar- ter master generals, and adjutant generals.
Ordered, That the time assigned for the choice of quarter master generals, and adjutant generals, be deferred to to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, A. M.
Ordered, That a letter from Mr. Hooper of Newburyport, 1 be re- ferred to the committee of supplies, they to make report.
Ordered, That Daniel Noyes, of Ipswich, be appointed a postmaster, in the room of Mr. James Foster, who has resigned that office.
Ordered, That Major Fuller of Middleton, be directed to wait on General Whitcomb, and desire him to attend this Congress, and re- ceive his commission.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Col. Thompson, be a committee to take into consideration the regiment that was moved from Marblehead to Cambridge, immediately, and that the committee be directed to go to Cambridge, and inquire into it, and make report.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to fill up commissions, be directed to fill up a commission for General Whitcomb.
Ordered, That Mr. Nye, be appointed to number the notes signed by Deacon Plympton.
(1) Stephen Hooper, Esq. states, that the committee of Portsmouth had received from Baltimore, fifty barrels of flour, intended as a donation for the inhabitants of Boston : but, as the New Hamp- shire troops needed supplies, they desired to purchase and retain the flour.
381
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Ordered, That Capt. Sprague, Capt. White and Doct. Whiting, be a committee to take into consideration a petition from the town of Malden.
Ordered, That Mr. Hopkins, Capt. Bragdon and Mr. Phillips, be a committee to take into consideration the circumstances of the Rever- end Doct. Langdon, president of the college, and report thereon.
Ordered, 'That a committee be appointed to consider of proper ex- pedients to augment the army, and, in particular, to write to the other New England governments on the subject, and that they be directed to attend the service immediately.
Ordered, That Mr. Nye be excused from attending the service, in numbering the notes signed by Deacon Plympton, and that Mr. Holmes be appointed in his room, and be directed to attend that service imme- diately.
Ordered, That the report of the committee, who were ordered to inquire into the misconduct in the late engagement, lie on the table till they are ready to report in full.
Ordered, That the committee of safety be directed to make out a new list for officers of the train of artillery, and that no person unwor- thy of the office be appointed.
The committee appointed to take into consideration Capt. Lane's account for bringing up the Indians from Penobscot, reported, that his account be allowed, and that the receiver general be directed to pay said account to Capt. Lane, or order ; and likewise, that the sum of nineteen pounds, ten shillings, eight pence, lawful money, be paid by the receiver general to Capt. Lane, to defray his expenses in carrying the Indians back to Penobscot, and that Mr. Langdon be appointed to draft a resolve for that purpose.
The committee appointed to take into consideration a letter from Mr. Stephen Hooper of Newburyport, reported as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That those of the committee of donations of the town of Boston, who have left said town, viz., Messrs. Benjamin Austin, Na- thaniel Barber and - Proctor, be advised to sell the fifty barrels of flour sent from Baltimore for the use of the poor of Boston, now in the hands of the committee of correspondence of Portsmouth, to the same committee, for the use of the New Hampshire troops.1
The committee appointed to take into consideration the request from the town of Malden, reported as follows, which was accepted, viz. : the
(1) The report of the committee to consider what measures should be adopted to strengthen the army before Boston, in relation to the removal of the troops from Plymouth county, inserted in the jouroal of the proceedings of the twenty-second of June, and repeated in the original, has been omitted.
382
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 23,
committee beg leave to report, that the inhabitants of the town of Mal- den be [directed] to make the best use of their artillery they can, for their defence, in case they shall be attacked by the enemy, and that they make their application for assistance to the general of the army, who, doubtless, will furnish them with such detachments from the army, as they shall judge necessary and expedient.
The committee appointed to draft a resolve for the receiver general to pay to Capt. Lane ££19 10s. Sd., for defraying the expense of carry- ing the Indians back to Penobscot, reported as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Mr. John Lane, or order, the sum of £19 10s. d., to pay the expenses of himself, four Indian chiefs, and an interpreter, from Wa- tertown to Penobscot, and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the same accordingly.
Voted, That the former vote respecting the removal of the library, apparatus, and other valuable effects of Harvard College, be reconsid- ered, and that the following resolve be accepted, viz. : Whereas, it is expedient that those apartments in Harvard Hall, under the immediate charge of the professor of philosophy and librarian of Harvard College, be evacuated : Resolved, that the library, apparatus, and other valuables of Harvard College, be removed, as soon as may be; that Mr. Samuel Phillips, Mr. Daniel Hopkins and Dummer Jewett, Esq., be a commit- tee to consult with the reverend, the president, the Hon. Mr. Winthrop and the librarian, or such of them as may be conveniently obtained, and, with them, to engage some suitable person or persons in the town of Andover, and such other places as they may think best, to receive and take the charge of the above mentioned effects ; that said commit- tee join with those gentlemen, in employing proper persons for packing said library, apparatus, and such other articles as they shall judge ex- pedient, and take all due care, that it be done with the greatest safety and despatch; and, as the packages shall be completed, that they take due care for their transportation : the charges to be laid before this, or some future Congress, or house of assembly of this province.
Ordered, That Mr. Hale, Capt. Parker and Capt. Bragdon, be a com- mittee to take Capt. Lane's account of his time into consideration, and report thereon.
Resolved, That Winthrop Sergeant of Gloucester, merchant, be al- lowed to ship off for the West Indies, a quantity of old Jamaica fish, not exceeding forty hogsheads, it appearing to this Congress, that the said fish, if stopped, will be of little or no service to this colony ; and the committee of safety for Gloucester are directed to cause this resolve
383
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
to be so carried into execution, as that no other provisions, except for the vessels' use, be shipped off in the same.
Voted, That the receiver general be directed to pay to the Reverend Doct. Langdon, president of the college, £100, lawful money, in bills of credit of this colony.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to consider by what means the army before Boston, may be effectually and most expeditiously strengthened, be directed to write a letter to General Ward; who re- ported a letter to General Ward, directing him to call on the eight companies stationed in the county of Plymouth.1
The committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of Robert Haskell, beg leave to report by way of resolve: Resolved, that the petitioner, Robert Haskell, be permitted to proceed from Beverly to Nova Scotia in a fishing vessel, nbout seventeen years old, that he hath procured for that purpose, also to carry three or four persons with him, and the following provisions, viz. : one barrel of pork, two hundred [pounds] of bread, sixteen gallons of rum, sixteen gallons of molasses, half a bushel of beans or peas, and two bushels of salt, but no more provisions of any kind whatever : and that such proceeding will not be contrary to the resolve passed by the grand American Congress, the 17th of May last, or any other resolve that honorable Congress have yet published.
Resolved, That the committee of safety be directed to make out a new list for officers of the train of artillery, that no person unworthy of office be appointed.
SATURDAY, June 24, 1775.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Col. Sawyer and Capt. Batchelder, be a committee to consider some method for regulating trade with the Indians.
Major Fuller, Doct. Bailey and Capt. Goodman, [were] appointed a committee to consider the expediency of part of Col. Phiney's regi- ment being stationed in the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln.
Ordered, That Mr. Langdon, Col. Sawyer and Capt. Goodman, be a committee to consider what is further necessary to be done respect- ing the bills of credit of this colony.
Voted, That there shall be two surgeons and two mates appointed for each hospital, and commissioned accordingly.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to examine the surgeons, be desired to report an establishment for surgeons of hospitals.
(1) This paragraph seems, in making up the journal, to have been inadvertently inserted, the sub- ject having been disposed of on the preceding day.
384
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 24,
The committee appointed to consider an establishment for the sur- geons of hospitals, reported : the report was accepted, and is as fol- lows, viz. : that it is their opinion, that the establishment of the chief surgeons should be at the rate of eight pounds per month, and each mate, four pounds, ten shillings, per month.
Ordered, That Col. Freeman, Col. Farley and Capt. Stone, be a committee to get the resolve for a fast printed, and one sent to each religious society in this colony : [which is as follows, viz. : ]
[Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God, the wise and good Governor of the Universe, in his righteous providence, for our many sins, to suf- fer the sword of the British troops to be unsheathed against the inhabi- tants of this colony, in such a cruel and unnatural manner as must give the world the most indisputable proofs of the wicked designs to destroy or enslave this whole continent : as in the unprovoked and unnatural instances of hostilities, cruelty and barbarity, of the ever . memorable 19th of April last, whereby so many of the brave and inoffensive in- habitants of this colony were murdered : and the several attacks which have since been made by the said troops on us between that day and the 17th instant, when our country resounded with the roar of cannon from the once peaceful shores and harbor near the capital, when there was scarce aught but smoke, fire, and blood, to be seen there, whereby the lives of many of our countrymen, bravely fighting in defence of the rights of America, were lost; together with their laying the opulent town of Charlestown, in a most savage manner, in ashes :]
[And whereas, some more late oppressive acts of the British parlia- ment are designed by them soon to be enforced upon the Americans ; and as large reenforcements are arrived and arriving to join our ene- mies in Boston, which will probably induce them to make another trial of military prowess, to penetrate into the country ; and we, being taught, not only by these sore trials, but also by the great mercies of our God, who has hitherto so remarkably covered the heads of our people in the day of battle, to be deeply impressed with a sense of our absolute dependance upon the Lord of Hosts, and God of Armies, for success in this important war, into which we are driven by our enemies, do re- nounce all confidence in our own strength ; but, being fully assured our cause is just, and relying on the mercy of God for his divine protection and assistance therein : therefore, Resolved, that Thursday, the 13th day of July next, be observed as a day of public fasting and prayer, throughout this colony, that we may all, at one time, sincerely humble ourselves before the searcher of hearts for all our many sins, as a peo- ple, and as individuals, and humbly and earnestly beseech his forgive-
385
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]'
ness, and his blessing on us : that he would graciously afford his divine direction and assistance in our military operations, and speedily cause our enemies to be at peace with us upon a just and permanent founda- tion, that not only a stop may be put to the wanton effusion of human blood, but that Great Britain and these colonies may again rejoice in the free and undisturbed exercise of all those rights, liberties and priv- ileges, civil and religious, for the enjoyment of which our pious ances- tors braved every danger, by which they have rendered their memory dear to us, their posterity, and set an example worthy the imitation of all succeeding generations : that he would grant us health in our army and in all our habitations, succeed us in all our lawful employments, give us rain from heaven to water the dry and thirsty earth, and fruitful seasons, and fill our hearts with food and gladness : that he would be- stow his blessing upon the various means used for the recovery and preservation of our just rights, particularly on the congresses and houses of assembly of this and the sister colonies, and especially on the American Congress, that they may all be inspired with that wisdom that is necessary in this day of difficulty and distress : that he would smile on the measures taken for the exercise of civil government in this colony : above all, that he would sanctify to us the various dispen- sations of his righteous providence, that we may be prepared for what- ever he may call us to do or suffer, be a peculiar people to himself, and our persons and services accepted of him through Christ our Re- deemer. And it is hereby earnestly recommended to each and every religious society, of whatever denomination, in this colony, strictly to abstain from all servile labor and recreation on said day, to mix their fasting with humble thankfulness for the many signal and undeserved mercies we enjoy, and observe said day in a religious manner, by turn- ing every one from his evil ways to God, that so he may turn unto us and not forsake his heritage.]
The committee appointed to take into consideration the wages of Capt. John Lane and Mr. Gilmore, for their attendance in bringing up four Indians from Penobscot, reported. [The report is as follows, viz. : ] The committee for examining the account of Mr. John Lane, have attended that service, [and] found the said Lane's account well supported, excepting a few inaccuracies in casting ; they therefore beg leave to report by way of resolve, viz. :
Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Mr. John Lane, the sum of forty-seven pounds, eighteen shil- lings, and eleven pence half penny, for his expenses in bringing up to the Congress four of the chiefs of the Penobscot tribe of Indians, with
49
386
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 24,
an interpreter ; and the receiver general of this colony, is hereby di- rected to pay the said John Lane, or order, the aforesaid sum of forty- seven pounds, eighteen shillings, eleven pence half penny.
Mr. Freeman, and Capt. Bragdon, were added to the committee ap- pointed to consider the expediency of stationing part of Col. Phiney's regiment in the county of Cumberland.
Ordered, That Capt. Lane be admitted on the floor of the house, in order to answer such questions as the Congress shall propose to him.
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