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 47
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Ordered, That commissions be delivered to certain officers of Col. Prescott's regiment, agreeably to the recommendation of the committee of safety.
Afternoon.
A draft of a letter to Governor Trumbull, was presented by the com- mittee appointed to prepare one, and was read and accepted, and the committee of supplies directed to forward it by express. [b]1
The committee appointed to consider what steps are proper to be taken for the reception of General Washington, reported ; the report was ordered to lie on the table.
A letter from the committee of Machias was read, respecting the capture of a king's cutter, and committed to the committee which was yesterday appointed to consider a letter on the same subject to Col. Otis.2
a [the county of Duke's county.] b [and is as follows.]
(1) The letter to Governor Trumbull is the same which has already been inserted in the Journal of June 2, page 311.
(2) The letter of the committee of Machias contains the relation of a bold exploit. It was dated June 14, 1775.
" To the Honorable Congress of the Massachusetts Bay."
"GENTLEMEN :- We, the faithful and distressed inhabitants of Machias, beg leave, once more, in the most respectful manner, to approach your presence, and spread before you a just and full representation of our very critical situation."
" On the 2d instant, Capt. Ichahod Jones arrived in this river with two sloops, accompanied with one of the king's tenders. On the third instant, a paper was handed ahout for the people to sign, as a prerequisite to their obtaining any provisions, of which we were in great want. The contents of this paper, required the signers to indulge Capt. Jones in carrying lumber to Boston, and to protect him and his property, at all events : but, unhappily for him, if not for us, it soon expired, after pro- ducing effects directly contrary in their nature to those intended. The next effort, in order to carry those favorite points, was to call a meeting, which was accordingly done. On the 6th, the people generally assembled at the place appointed, and seemed so averse to the measures proposed, that Capt. Jones privately went to the tender, and caused her to move up so near the town that her guns
396
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 25,
Mr. Holmes was appointed in the room of Col. Sawyer, on the com- mittee appointed to bring in a resolve for making the notes of this col- ony, a currency and tender for payment in all cases.
would reach the houses, and put springs upon her cables. The people, however, not knowing what was done, and considering themselves nearly as prisoners of war, in the hands of the common ene- my, which is our enly plea for suffering Capt. Jones to carry any lumber to Boston, since your hon- ors conceived it improper, passed a vote, that Capt. Jones might proceed in his business as usual without molestation, that they would purchase the provision he brought into the place, and pay him according to contract. After obtaining this vote, Capt. Jones immediately ordered his vessels to the wharf, and distributed his provisions among those only, who voted in favor of his carrying lum- ber to Boston. This gave such offence to the aggrieved party, that they determined to take Capt. Jones, if possible, and put a final stop to his supplying the king's troops with any thing. Accord- ingly, they secretly invited the people of Mispecka and Pleasant river to join them ; accordingly, a number of tbem came, and, having joined our people, in the woods near the settlement, on the 11th, they all agreed to take Capt. Jones and Stephen Jones, Esq., in the placo of worship, which they attempted, but Capt. Jones made his escape into the woods, and does not yet appear ; Stephen Jones, Esq., only was taken, and remains, as yet, under guard. The captain and lieutenant of the tender, were also in the meeting-house, and fled to their vessel, hoisted their flag, and sent a message on shore to this effect : " that he had express orders to protect Capt. Jones ; that he was determined to do bis duty whilst he had life ; and that, if the people presumed to stop Capt. Jones's vessels, he would burn the town." Upon this, a party of our men went directly to stripping the sloop that lay at the wharf, and another party went off to take possession of the other sloop, which lay below, and brought her up nigb a wharf, and anchorcd her in the stream. Tho tender did not fire, but weighed her anchors as privately as possible, and, in the dusk of the evening, fell down and came to, within musket shot of the sloop, which obliged our people to slip their cable, and run the sloop aground. In the mean time, a considerable number of our people went down in boats and canoes, lined the shore directly opposite to the tender, and, having demanded her to surrender to America, received for answer, " fire and be damned ;"' they immediately fired in upon her, which she returned, and a smart engagement ensued. The tender, at last, slipped her cable, and fell down to a small sloop, commanded by Capt. Toby, and lashed herself to her for the remainder of the night. In the morning of the 12th, they took Capt. Toby out of his vessel, for a pilot, and made all the sail they could to get off, as the wind and tide favored ; but, having carried away her main boom, and meet- ing with a sloop from the Bay of Fundy, they came to, robbed the sloop of her boom and gaff, took almost all her provision, together with Mr. Robert Avery of Norwich, in Connecticut, and proceed- ed on her voyage. Our people, seeing her go off in the morning, determined to follow her. About forty men, armed with guns, swords, axes, and pitch forks, went in Capt. Jones's sloop, under the command of Capt. Jeremiah O'Brian : about twenty, armed in the same manner, and under the command of Capt. Benjamin Foster, went in a small schooner. During the chase, our people built them breastworks of pine boards, and any thing they could find in the vessels, that would screen them from the enemy's fire. The tender, upon the first appoarance of our people, cut her boats from the stern, and made all the sail she could ; but, being a very dull sailor, tbey soon came up with her, and a most obstinate engagement ensued, both sides being determined to conquer or die : but the tender was obliged to yield ; her captain was wounded in the breast with two balls, of which wounds he died next morning ; poor Mr. Avery was killed, and one of the marines, and five wound- ed. Only one of our men was killed, and six were wounded, one of whom is since dead of his wonnds, The battle was fought at the entrance of our harbor, and lasted for near the space of one hour. We have in our possession, four double fortified tbree pounders, and fourteen swivels, and a number of small arms, which we took with the tender, besides a very small quantity of ammunition, &c. Thus we have given your honors as particular an account of this affair as possible. We now apply to you for advice, and for a supply of ammunition and provisions, the latter of which we have petitioned your honors for already, which, if we could be fully supplied with, we doubt not but, with the blessing of heaven, we should be prepared to defend ourselves. We purpose to convey the pris- oners to Pownalborough jail, as soon as possible, there to await your orders."
" We are, with deference, your honors' most obedient, humble servants."
" By order of the committee, JAMES LYON, Chairman. GEORGE STILLMAN, Clerk."
" Machias, June 14th, 1775."
,
397
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Mr. Davis was appointed, in the room of Capt. Stone, on the com- mittee who were appointed to consider the petition from Edward Parry.
Adjourned to Monday morning, eiglit o'clock.
MONDAY, June 26, 1775.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to consider the petition of Mr. Edward Parry, and the report of Col. Thompson relative to his conduct at Kennebec, be directed to consider his the said Thompson's conduct at Falmouth, with respect to Capt. Mowat and Capt. Coulson, and his laying Mr. Bernard under bonds.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to deliver out commissions, be directed to draw a fair list of all those officers in the army, who have been commissioned, which list shall be attested by the secretary, and transmitted to General Ward.
A letter from the committee of safety, proposing that the Congress should appoint two persons to superintend the supply of the army, was read, and committed to the committee who have under consideration the regulation of the army.
Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Mr. Nye and Mr. Fisher, be a com- mittee to inquire into the state of the towns' stocks of ammunition, in the counties of Worcester and Hampshire, and that said committee sit forthwith.
Ordered, That all the commissions for the officers of the train, be forthwith signed by the secretary, except John Wiley's, Samuel Grid- ley's and John Callender's, and sent to the committee of safety.
Ordered, That no handles be made to spears, or other weapons of war, or any tools for the use of the army, of chesnut, or any other brittle wood.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to inquire into the grounds of a report which has prevailed, that there has been treachery in some of the officers of the army, be directed to proceed in their inquiries.
Ordered, That Col. Porter, Col. Gerrish and Capt. Thatcher, be a committee to consider and report, to whom the arms obtained by a committee of Congress, shall be delivered, and, when distributed, how the persons receiving them shall be made accountable.
Resolved, That every person who has in possession any of the pre- cepts lately issued by this Congress for calling a general assembly, be desired to dele the word " warn," and in its stead insert the word " cause," and that Mr. Edes be desired, in his next paper, to give no- tice of the mistake made by printing the said word " warn" instead of the word " cause."
398
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 26,
Resolved, That Major Fuller be desired, immediately, to go home, to get the returns of the towns' stocks of ammunition.
The report of the committee appointed to consider what steps are proper to be taken for the reception of General Washington, was again considered, amended, and accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That Doct. Benjamin Church and Mr. Moses Gill,1 be a committee to repair to Springfield, there to receive Generals Washing- ton and Lee, with every mark of respect due to their exalted characters and stations ; to provide proper escorts for them, from thence, to the army before Boston, and the house provided for their reception at Cambridge ; and to make suitable provision for them, in manner fol- lowing, viz. : by a number of gentlemen of this colony from Spring- field to Brookfield ; and by another company raised in that neighbor- hood, from there to Worcester ; and by another company, there pro- vided, from thence to Marlborough ; and from thence, by the troop of horse in that place, to the army aforesaid : And [to make suitable provision for] their company at the several stages on the road, and to receive the bills of expenses at the several inns, where it may be con- venient for them to stop for refreshment, to examine them, and make report of the several sums expended at each of them, for that purpose, that orders may be taken by the Congress for the payment of them : and all innkeepers are hereby directed to make provision agreeably to the requests made by the said committee : and that General Ward be notified of the appointment of General Washington, as commander in chief of the American forces, and of the expectation we have, of his speedy arrival with Major General Lee, that he, with the generals of the forces of the other colonies, may give such orders for their honora- ble reception, as may accord with the rules and circumstances of the army, and the respect due to their rank, without, however, any expense of powder, and without taking the troops off from the necessary atten- tion to their duty, at this crisis of our affairs.
Resolved, That three o'clock in the afternoon, be assigned for the purpose of choosing three persons as a committee to repair to Spring- field, to receive Generals Washington and Lee, agreeably to the fore- going resolution.
Resolved, That the president's house in Cambridge, excepting one room reserved by the president for his own use, be taken, cleared, pre- pared, and furnished, for the reception of General Washington and
(1) In making up the journal of the proceedings of the day, the names of the gentlemen elected to receive the generals of the army at Springfield were inserted in the report of the committee, al- though they were not elected to discharge that duty until after the report had been accepted.
399
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
General Lee, and that a committee be chosen immediately to carry the same into execution.
The committee appointed to consider what preparations are proper to be made for the reception of General Washington, reported tlie [^foregoing] resolve, which was accepted, and Capt. Partridge, Capt. Thatcher, and Mr. Philips, Major Goodwin, and Mr. Caldwell, ap- pointed a committee for the purpose therein mentioned.
Mr. Crane was appointed, in the room of Mr. Hall, on the commit- tee chosen to consider Mr. Revere's account.
Resolved, That the committee appointed to prepare letters to the several governments in New England for a reenforcement of men, omit preparing one for the colony of New Hampshire.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Capt. Goodman, and Mr. Philips, be a committee, to bring in a resolve for the purpose of preventing all im- position on the committee who liave been lieretofore directed to exam- ine those persons who may be suspected as inimical to their country, by any person whatever.
The committee to consider the letter from Machias reported : the report was accepted, and is as follows, viz :
Resolved, That the thanks of this Congress be, and they are hereby given to Capt. Jeremiah Obrian, and Capt. Benjamin Foster, and the other brave men under their command, for their courage and good conduct in taking one of the tenders belonging to our enemies, and two sloops belonging to Ichabod Jones, and for preventing the minis- terial troops being supplied with lumber ; and that the said tender, sloops, their appurtenances and cargoes, remain in the hands of the said Captains Obrian and Foster, and the men under their command, for them to use and improve, as they shall think most for their and the public advantage, until the further order of this, or some future Con- gress, or house of representatives : and that the committee of safety for the western parish in Pownalborough, be ordered to convey the prison- ers taken by the said Obrian and Foster, from Pownalborough jail to the committee of safety or correspondence, for the town of Brunswick ; and the committee for Brunswick, to convey them to sonie committee in the county of York, and so to be conveyed from county to county, till they arrive at this Congress.
Afternoon.
Ordered, That commissions be delivered to Ezra Badlam, captain of the train of artillery, in the room of John Wiley ; Jolin Sibley, lieutenant ; Samuel Dagget, second lieutenant ; and John Blanchard,
a [following.]
400
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 26,
second lieutenant ; agreeably to the recommendation of the committee of safety.
Ordered, That Col. Porter, Mr. Fisher, and Capt. Goodridge, be a committee to consider a letter from General Ward, this day received.
Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Doct. Whiting, and Major Brooks, be a committee to receive, sort and count the votes for three gentlemen to go to Springfield to meet Generals Washington and Lee.
The committee having attended that service, reported, that Doct. Church, Mr. Gill, and the Hon. Major Hawley, were chosen.
The Hon. Major Hawley moved, that he might be excused from that service, and, having offered his reasons, the question was put, and he was excused accordingly.
Resolved, That the vote for choosing three persons to go to Spring- field to meet Generals Washington and Lee, be reconsidered, so far as that only two persons should be appointed to repair thither on that service.
Resolved, That Capt. Mc Kinster, and Capt. Porter, who have each of them raised a company at New York and Connecticut, be permit- ted to join Col. Patterson's regiment, provided their companies are complete and equipt : and that Major Goodwin bring in a resolve for this purpose.
Resolved, That General Whitcomb's commission be dated the 21st day of June.
Resolved, That the president be desired to administer to General Whitcomb the oath appointed to be administered to the general offi- cers of the army.
The president delivered to General Whitcomb a commission, as a major general of the Massachusetts army.
A petition from the committee of correspondence for the town of Plymouth was read,1 whereupon, Resolved, that the prayer thereof
(1) The committee of Plymouth earnestly remonstrated against the removal of the detachments of troops stationed along the coast to afford protection to the inhabitants. The petition follows :
To the Honorable the Provincial Congress, now sitting at Watertown :
The petition of the committee of correspondence for the town of Plymouth humbly sheweth, that your petitioners have this day received intelligence that a vote passed your house the instant, determining to remove to head quarters, that part of Col. Cotton's regiment, which has been, by order of your most respectable body, stationed in this place, for the security and protec- tion of the lives and property of this greatly exposed and much threatened town ; we, your petition- ers, have lately received undoubted intelligence by one of our townsmen, who has been taken hy a tender, and carried into Boston, that Admiral Graves made particular inquiry into the circumstan- ces of this town, and said that we were a rebellious people, and that, in consequence of our build- ing a fort in opposition to the king's troops, it should not be long before he would blow tbe town about our ears. Your petitioners are very sensible, that, should the troops be called away from
401
THIRD. PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
be granted, and that General Ward be directed to countermand his orders for drawing off the forces stationed at Plymouth.
On a motion made, Voted, that this last resolve be reconsidered, and Ordered that the petition from Plymouthi be committed to Capt. Par- ker, Col. Lincoln, Col. Davis, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Webster.
Ordered, That commissions be delivered to the officers of Col. Lit- tle's regiment, agreeably to a list recommended by the committee of safety.
A list of the officers and soldiers of Capt. Samuel Sprague's compa- ny, was presented to the Congress : whereupon, Ordered, that com- missions be delivered to the said officers, viz : Samuel Sprague, cap- tain ; Joseph Cheever, lieutenant ; William Oliver, [ensign] ; and that the company be joined to Col. Gerrish's regiment.
Mr. Goodwin, agreeably to order, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, viz : Whereas, Capt. Mackinster of Spencer, and Capt. Porter of Becket, have enlisted, each, a company of men, on the establishment of this colony, and not joined as yet to any regiment, Resolved, that the said companies be joined to Col. John Patterson's regiment, now stationed at Cambridge, immediately ; provided said companies are full, or near full, and that each man is equipt with a good and sufficient firelock, and [that they] join their regiment as soon as may be.
Ordered, That commissions be delivered to Capt. Reuben Dow, and Lieut. John Goss, as officers, agreeably to the respective titles affixed to their names in Col. Prescott's regiment.
The committee appointed to consider and report to whom the arms procured by a committee of this Congress should be delivered, &c., reported the following resolve, which was read and accepted, viz :
this station, the town of Plymouth, as well as the adjacent villages, will lie open to the ravages of our enemies, and that it will be no difficult matter for them to plunder and destroy us. The poor of this town are already much distressed, by reason of the stop put to the fishery, and can scarcely subsist upon what they get out of the clam banks, and by fishing in boats, and should they be driven from their huts into the barren country that surrounds us, they must, (for aught we see,) perish with hunger, and for want of habitations, there not being houses within twenty miles suf- ficient to receive them. These poor people consist principally of women and children, their hus- bands and parents having enlisted themselves into the servico of the colony. Your petitioners are very far from desiring to create any unnecessary expense to the colony, but, at the same time, think it necessary that said troops remain with us, and are of opinion, that, should they be with- drawn, the town will be immediately evacuated, and, for the abovo reasons, your petitioners as in duty bound, &e. For and by order of the committee of correspondence for the town of Plymouth. ANDREW CROSWELL, Clerk, GAMALIEL BRADFORD, JR., JOHN GRAY, by order."
" The committee of correspondence for the town of Duxbury and Kingsten which lie on Plymouth Bay, join in the general prayer of the above petition."
51
402
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[June 26,
Whereas, this Congress has ordered a number of fire arms to be fur- nished from several towns and districts in this colony, to be forwarded to the army, to supply those who are destitute of arms; but no provi- sion is made for delivering them out, and taking proper receipts for the same, therefore, Resolved, that all the small arms that are, or-may be procured by the above order, be delivered to Major Nathaniel Bar- ber, military storekeeper at Cambridge ; he to give his receipt for the same, to the person fromn whom he receives them ; that the same be delivered out to such officers as shall produce orders therefor from the Hon. General Ward, they giving receipts for the same to the said Ma- jor Barber, to be returned in good order, unless lost in the service of the colony. And every soldier who shall receive any such fire arms, shall give his receipt for the same to the officer from whom he shall receive it, to be returned as aforesaid ; and in case the same shall not be returned, at the close of the campaign, or sooner, the value of the said fire arm shall be deducted out of the wages of the person receiv- ing the same; and also that the sum of six shillings shall be deducted out of the wages of each soldier, who shall receive such fire arm, for the use of the same, in case he return it again in good order.
The committee on the petition of Edward Parry, &c., reported. The report was read, amended, and [ªaccepted].1
The committee on the petition from Plymouth reported : the report was read but not accepted.
Ordered, That the Hon. Col. Gerrish, Capt. Bragdon, Col. Thomp- son, Col. Freeman, and Mr. Lothrop, be a committee to consider what measures are proper to be taken for the defence and protection of the sea coasts.
Ordered, 'That the committee last chosen, consider several petitions which were committed to the committee sometime since appointed to consider the state of the sea coasts, and that said committee first consi- der the case of the town of Plymouth, as represented in the petition from that town.
The committee appointed to consider the conduct of Col. Thomp- son, at Falmouth, with respect to Capt. Mowat, reported. The report was ordered to subside. [It was as follows :]
[The committee appointed to consider the conduct of Colonel Thompson at Falmouth with respect to Capt. Mowatt, &c., and his laying Mr. Bernard under bonds, are of opinion, that said Thompson's
a [accepted and is as follows.]
(1) The report referred to in the text is neither entered on the journal, nor preserved on the files of Congress.
403
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
conduct was friendly to his country, and the cause of liberty : and that said Barnard's conduct appears to have been inimical to both.]
Adjourned to Tuesday morning 8 o'clock.
TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1775.
A letter from the committee of Albany was read, whereupon Order- ed, that Doct. Whiting, Mr. Greenleaf, and Mr. Hopkins, be a com- mittee to consider the same and prepare an answer thereto.1
Resolved, 'That four persons be added to the committee of supplies, and that 11 o'clock this forenoon, be assigned for the choice of them.
The committee appointed yesterday to consider General Ward's letter, reported a resolve,2 which was accepted, and ordered to be printed in hand bills, and dispersed throughout the colony, and there- upon Ordered, that Capt. Goodridge, Mr. Partridge, and Mr. Caldwell, be a committee for that purpose.
A letter from Isaac Stone relative to Francis More, a baker, was read and ordered to be transmitted to the committee of supplies.3
Ordered, that the resolve just now past, in consequence of General Ward's letter be reconsidered, and that it be recommitted, together with the resolve passed relative to absconding soldiers, to Mr Part- ridge, Mr. Hopkins and Capt. Goodrich.
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