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 51
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Also [Resolved,] That each of the officers of which these courts martial shall consist, shall be supplied with a pamphlet, containing said rules and regulations, with these resolves annexed thereto, which shall be read, once a week, by the captain or commanding officer of each company to their respective companies.
By order of Congress,
- -, President.
Attest,
-, Secretary.
a [double. ]
55
434
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 1,
Ordered, That the committee who brought in the foregoing resolves get a number of them printed; and that they also procure as many pamphlets, containing rules and regulations of the army, as they think proper.
A petition from James Fry, requesting that his son might be ap- pointed a deputy commissary, was read : whereupon, Ordered, that the petitioner have leave to withdraw his petition.
Ordered, That Mr. Kollock, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Fox, be a committee to consider a petition and account of Mr. Josiah Stearns.1
A petition from the committee of correspondence for the town of Sandwich was read, and committed to Col. Richmond, Col. Grout, and Col. Mitchell.2
A number more of letters from London were laid upon the table, and committed to the secretary, Mr Langdon, and Col. Richmond.
The committee to whom were committed a number of letters, re- ported, that, in a letter directed to John Rowe, Esq., was enclosed a number of blank bills of exchange, designed for the use of the army at Boston : whereupon, Ordered, that said committee draw up a true state of this matter, and keep the blank bills as vouchers thereof.
Col. Palmer, agreeably to order, reported the following resolve, which was accepted, viz .: Whereas certain rules and regulations for
(1) Josiah Stearns prayed for compensation for services in bringing letters written in London, from the island of Nantucket, where they had been received on the arrival of a vessel commanded by Capt. Seth Jenkins.
(2) The committee of Sandwich requested the advice of Congress in relation to vessels owned by Simeon Wing and Jesse Barlow, captured by the British cruiser Falcon, Capt. Linsey, and retaken by a schooner from Dartmouth, commanded by Capt. Egery. They state these facts :
" Mr. Wing's vessel, commanded by his son Thomas, hath becn plying, as a wood boat, between Sandwich and Nantucket for some years, and it hath bcen the usual practice to settle with the custom house once a year, the officer always giving them their choice of paying twelve pence per trip, or the whole at the year's end : and this hath becn, we find, on examining, the common prac- tise with other vessels which have followed the same business at the same place. Upon Captain Wing's returning from Nantucket through the Vineyard Sound, his sloop was taken by a barge from Capt. Linsey's brig. An Indian fellow, on board of Wing's vessel, informed Capt. Linsey of said Barlow's vesscl, which had brought a cargo lately from the West Indies, and was laden with pro- visions, in Buzzard's Bay. Captain Linsey employed Captain Wing's vessel, putting fourteen men on board, to procecd up the bay and take said Barlow's vessel, which they carried off. The master of the latter vessel was taken with Wing, being then on board as a passenger, so that both vessels, with all the crews and passengers, were taken, and proceeded to the cove to Captain Linsey. Mr. Barlow madc application to some people at Dartmouth, who went with a sloop, one half of which Barlow venturcd, and retook the vessels and men, with their arms, and carricd them into Dart- mouth. Messrs. Wing and Barlow applied to tho Dartmouth people, who took the vessels, for them again : the people offered them their vessels, upon Wing's paying them eight dollars, and Barlow ten dollars, with which they complied, and Wing paid the money ; after which, the Dart- mouth people detaincd the vessels until the orders of Congress could be known, and refuse to give them up, without Barlow and Wing paying forty-five dollars, and giving bonds to indemnify the Dartmouth people."
435
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
the Massachusetts army, were resolved and agreed upon by a former Congress of this colony, but no provision was therein made for the regular reading the saine to the several corps in said army : therefore, Resolved, that said rules and regulations be read, at least, once every month, at the lead of each regiment, or other corps in said army, and that the general be directed to order liis officers to see that this resolve be duly observed.
The committee appointed to prepare a letter to the governor and company of Connecticut, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
May it please your honors :
The distressed situation of the eastern parts of this province, calling for the serious attention of the humane, this Congress beg leave to address you in their behalf. By reason of a number of our friends removing from the sea ports into the interior towns, and a large army before Boston, to support the rights of the colonies, this colony is un- able to spare the necessary supplies of grain and provisions to our friends in the province of Maine; by which means, and an embargo laid upon grain and provisions in your colony, they are reduced to the alternative of starving, or supplying the ministerial troops with lumber, either of which they deprecate.
We would therefore suggest to your honors the expediency of taking off the embargo, so far as to permit the inhabitants of the eastern parts of this province to purchase grain and provisions for themselves, they producing a certificate from any of the committees mentioned in the enclosed list, and giving bonds to your officers, that they will deliver it to such committec.
We are, with the greatest sincerity,
Your honors' most obedient humble servants.
To the honorable the Governor and Company of the colony of Connecticut.
[List enclosed in the foregoing letter.]
Machias ; James Lyon, George Stillman, Jeremialı O'Brian, Ben- jamin Foster, Samuel Scott, Manwaring Beal, Nathaniel Sinclair : Number four ; John Stevens, Phineas Whitten : Goldsborough ; Ben- jamin Glasher, William Shaw: Narraguagus; Joseph Wallis, Alex- ander Campbell : St. Georges ; [blank] : Penobscot ; [blank]: Bris- tol; [blank] : Boothbay ; David Reed, [Joseph] Emerson : Pownal- borough; Timothy Langdon, Ebenezer Whittier, Jolin Getchell, John
436
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [July 1,
Huse, Timothy Parsons : Georgetown ; Dummer Sewall, John Wood : Brunswick; Aaron Hinckley, Esq., Benjamin Stone: North Yar- mouth ; Samuel Stanwood : Falmouth, Casco Bay; Hon. Jedediah Prebble, Esq., Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., Mr. Richard Codman, Capt. John Waite, Mr. John Butler, Mr. Samuel Freeman, Mr. Ben- jamin Winslow: Berwick; Hon. Benjamin Chadburn, Mr. Jolin Hill, Mr. Robert Furnass.
The committee on the account of Mr. Jabez Matthews, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
[Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed to pay Mr. Jabez Matthews or order, the sum of thirty pounds nine shillings and eleven pence, lawful money, in colony notes or bills of credit of this or the other governments, which are, by a resolve of this Congress, made payable on the said treasury, in discharge of an ac- count exhibited by liim to this Congress, for the time and expense of himself and three persons on an embassy to Canada. And the com- mittee of supplies are hereby ordered to furnishı Mr. Jabez Matthews with four pounds of powder, for himself and associates.]
The committee appointed to consider the resolve of the committee of safety, relative to whale boats, reported. The report was recom- mitted.
Afternoon.
Mr. Kollock was appointed, in the room of Major Goodwin, on the committee for making provision for the reception of Generals Wash- ington and Lee.
Ordcred, That Col. Mitchell deliver the 215 spears, which he has procured for the use of the army, to General Thomas, at Roxbury.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Fox, and Capt. Bragdon, be a committee to bring in a resolve, directing how the sick and wounded shall be removed to the hospitals.
Thomas Rice, Esq. was appointed to swear the soldiers in the county of Lincoln, in the room of David Fales, Esq. John Lee, Esq. was appointed to swear the soldiers in the county of Essex, and Rush- worth Jordan for the county of York, in addition to those already appointed.
A petition from the selectmen of Mendon was read, and the petition- ers had leave to withdraw their petition.
The committee appointed to consider how the soldiers shall be supplied with coats, reported, and Tuesday next, at 9 o'clock, A. M., was assigned to consider the report.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the memorial
43
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
from the committee of correspondence of the town of Sandwich, re- ported. The committee were directed to bring in a resolve to recom- mend to the parties in said petition mentioned, to leave the matters in dispute to arbitration.
Major Hawley, by leave of Congress, brought in a resolve, directing the receiver general to pay out of the treasury, the bills of credit of the other colonies. The resolve was accepted, and is as follows :
Resolved, That the receiver general of this colony, be, and he hereby is directed, as far as shall be in his power, to pay and satisfy any drafts and orders of this Congress, or of any person or persons, who are, or shall be empowered by this Congress to draw ou him for any sum or sums whatsoever, in such notes or bills of credit of any of the American colonies, which, by a resolution of this Congress, passed on the 28th day of June last, are made payable into the treasury of this colony, where such orders do not expressly direct the payment of silver or gold,
The committee appointed to devise means for the better accommo- dation of the sick and wounded of the colony army, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz .: In order that all the sick and wounded in the army may be provided for, and taken care of, in the best way and manner possible, Resolved, and it is hereby Ordered, that when any person in the army is so ill, either by a wound or oth- erwise, that the surgeon of the regiment, to which the sick or wounded person belongs, finds the sick or wounded as abovesaid cannot be properly taken care of in the regiment to which he belongs, said sur- geon shall send the sick or wounded as abovesaid, to the hospital pro- vided for the use of the camps to which they belong, and a certificate of the man's name, and the company and regiment to which he belongs; and in that case, the surgeon of the said hospital shall receive said sick or wounded under his care; and in case said hospital shall become too full, in that case, the surgeon of said hospital shall send such of his patients as may with safety be removed, to the hospital in Watertown, and a certificate setting forth the man's name, what company and regiment each belongs to; and in that case the surgeons of the Water- town hospital shall receive said sick or wounded under his care.
Ordered, That a copy of the last mentioned resolve be sent to Gen- erals Ward and Thomas.
The report of the committee upon the account of Mr. Paul Revere, was considered and not accepted.
Ordered, That Major Hawley, Mr. Dexter, and Mr. Pickering, be a committee to draw up a resolve to be prefixed to the addresses to Gen- erals Washington and Lee, which are as follow.
438
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 1,
To His Excellency George Washington, Esq., general and com- mander in chief of the continental army :
May it please your excellency :- The Congress of the Massachu- setts colony, impressed with every sentiment of gratitude and respect, beg leave to congratulate you on your safe arrival, and to wish you all imaginable happiness and success in the execution of your elevated station.
While we applaud that attention to the public good, manifested in your appointment, we equally admire that disinterested virtue, and dis- tinguished patriotism, which alone could call you from those enjoy- ments of domestic life, which a sublime and manly taste, joined with a most affluent fortune can afford, to hazard your life, and to endure the fatigues of war, in the defence of the rights of mankind and the good of your country.
The laudable zeal for the common cause of America, and compas- sion for the distresses of this colony, exhibited by the great despatch made in your journey hither, fully justify the universal satisfaction we have with pleasure observed on this occasion, and are promising presa- ges, that the great expectations formed from your personal character and military abilities, are well founded.
We wish you may have found such regularity and discipline already established in the army, as may be agreeable to your expectations. The hurry with which it was necessarily collected, and the many dis- advantages, arising from a suspension of government, under which we have raised and endeavored to regulate the forces of this colony, have rendered it a work of time; and though, in great measure effected, the. completion of so difficult, and at the same time so necessary a task, is reserved to your excellency, and we doubt not will be properly consid- ered and attended to.
We would not presume to prescribe to your excellency, but suppos- ing you would choose to be informed of the general character of the soldiers who compose the army, beg leave to represent, that the great- est part of them have not before seen service; and although naturally brave, and of good understanding, yet, for want of experience in mili- tary life, have but little knowledge of divers things most essential to the preservation of health and even life. The youth of the army are not possessed of the absolute necessity of cleanliness in their dress and lodging, continual exercise, and strict temperance, to preserve them from diseases frequently prevailing in camps, especially among those, who, from their childhood, have been used to a laborious life.
We beg leave to assure you, that this Congress will, at all times, be
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
ready to attend to such requisitions as you may have occasion to make to us; and to contribute all the aid in our power, to the cause of Amer- ica, and your happiness and ease in the discharge of the duties of your exalted office.
We most fervently implore Almighty God, that the blessings of Divine Providence may rest on you ; that your head may be covered in the day of battle ; that every necessary assistance may be afforded, and that you may be long continued, in life and health, a blessing to mankind.
[The following answer was returned by General Washington :]
Gentlemen :- Your kind congratulations on my appointment and ar- rival, demand my warmest acknowledgments, and will ever be retain- ed in grateful remembrance.
In exchanging the enjoyments of domestic life for the duties of my present honorable, but arduous station, I only emulate the virtue, and public spirit of the whole province of the Massachusetts Bay, which, with a firmness and patriotism without example in modern history, has sacrificed all the comforts of social and political life in support of the rights of mankind, and the welfare of our common country. My high- est ambition is, to be the happy instrument of vindicating those rights and to see this devoted province again restored to peace, liberty and safety.
The short space of time which has elapsed since my arrival, does not permit me to decide upon the state of the army. The course of hu- man affairs forbids an expectation, that troops formed under such cir- cumstances, should, at once, possess the order, regularity, and disci- pline of veterans. Whatever deficiencies there may be, will, I doubt not, soon be made up by the activity and zeal of the officers, and the docility and obedience of the men. These qualities, united with their native bravery and spirit, will afford a happy presage of success, and put a final period to those distresses which now overwhelm this once happy country.
. I most sincerely thank you, gentlemen, for your declaration of read- iness, at all times, to assist me in the discharge of the duties of my sta- tion. They are so complicated and extended, that I shall need the as- sistance of every good man and lover of his country ; I therefore repose the utmost confidence in your aids. In return for your affectionate wish- es to myself, permit me to say, that I earnestly implore that divine be- ing, in whose hands are all human events, to make you and your con-
440
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 1,
stituents, as distinguished in private and public happiness, as you have been by ministerial oppression, by private and public distress.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
To the Honorable Charles Lee, Esq., major general of the continen- tal army :
Sir :- The Congress of the Massachusetts colony, possessed of the fullest evidence of your attachment to the rights of mankind and regard to the distresses, which America in general, and this colony in particular, are involved in, by the impolitic, wicked, and tyrannical system adopted by administration, and pursued with relentless and savage fury, do, with pleasure, embrace this opportunity to express the great satisfaction and gratitude they feel on your appointment as a major general in the American army. We sincerely congratulate you on your safe arrival here, and wish you all possible happiness and success in the execution of so important a trust.
We admire and respect the character of a man, who, disregarding the allurements of profit and distinction his merit might procure, en- gages in the cause of mankind, in defence of the injured, and relief of the oppressed. From your character, from your great abilities, and military experience, united with those of the commander in chief, un- der the smiles of providence, we flatter ourselves with the prospect of discipline and order, success and victory.
Be assured, sir, that it will give us great pleasure to be able to con- tribute to your happiness. May the favors and blessings of Heaven at- tend you. May Divine Providence guard and protect you, conduct you in the paths of honor and virtue, grant you the reward of the brave and virtuous here, the applause of mankind, and the approbation of your own conscience and eternal happiness hereafter.
[The following answer was returned by General Lee :]
To the Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts :
Gentlemen :- Nothing can be so flattering to me, as the good opin- ion and approbation of the delegates of a free and uncorrupted people. I was educated in the highest reverence for the rights of mankind, and have acquired, by a long acquaintance, a most particular regard for the people of America. You may depend, therefore, gentlemen, on my zeal and integrity ; I can promise you nothing from my abilities. God Almighty grant us success equal to the righteousness of the cause. I
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
thank you, gentlemen, for an address which does me so much honor, and shall labor to deserve it.
Ordered, that the sum of fifty pounds be paid to Mr. Paul Revere, in full, for engraving four plates, and printing 14,500 impressions, and that Mr. Langdon bring in a resolve for that purpose.
Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Col. Grout, and Mr. Crane, be a com- mittee to devise means for supporting the poor of the towns of Boston and Charlestown to the places of their destination.
Ordered, That the committee for procuring and furnishing a house for Generals Washington and Lee, be directed to purchase what things are necessary, that they cannot lire.
Ordered, That Mr. Goodwin and Col. Richmond be added to the committee last mentioned.
Ordered, That the last mentioned committee be directed to procure somne refreshment for the Generals, Washington and Lee.
Mr. Langdon, agreeably to order, brought in the following resolve, which was accepted, viz. :
Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Mr. Paul Revere, or order, the sum of fifty pounds, in full, for procuring and engraving four plates, and printing 14,500 impressions of colony notes; and the receiver general is liereby directed to pay the same sum accordingly.
The committee appointed to consider of means for securing sundry whale boats, procured for the use of this colony, and now lying at Weymouth and Braintree, beg leave to report : That Capt. Edmund Soper, of Braintree, be empowered to take charge of the same, and with the assistance of Capt. Seth Turner's and Capt. Vinton's compa- nies, now posted in Braintree, to convey and secure them in some safe and convenient place, where they will not be exposed, either to the enemy, or the weather, and there to remain till the further order of this or some future Congress, or House of Representatives.
Adjourned till eight o'clock, tomorrow morning.
SABBATH DAY, JULY 2, 1775.
Ordered, That Mr. Bliss and Mr. Cutt, be of the committee for de- vising means for the support of the poor of the towns of Boston and Charlestown, to the places of their destination, in the room of Mr. Phillips and Mr. Crane.
The report of the committee for securing the lamps of the light houses, was read, accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
56
442
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 2,
The committee appointed to consider the expediency of removing and securing the lamps, with the oil, &c., from the several light houses within this colony, have attended that service, and beg leave to report as follows, viz. :
That it be recommended to the committee of correspondence, or se- lectmen of the town of Chelsea, to remove and secure, if practicable, the lamps and oil from the light house at the entrance of Boston har- bor, with all the appurtenances thereto belonging; also, that it be recommended to the committee of safety of the town of Gloucester, that the same measures be taken with respect to the light houses on Thatcher's Island, so called, and that the keeper of said lights, with the several boats, cattle, &c., be also removed from thence.
Furthermore, that it be recommended to the committee of corres- pondence for the town of Plymouth, to remove and secure the lamps, oil, &c., from the light house at the Gurnet, so called, with all the ap- purtenances thereto belonging; and, that the keepers of the several . light houses as above specified, be discharged from the service of this colony, till the further order of this or some future Congress, or House of Representatives.
Ordered, That three copies of the last mentioned report be sent to the places in said report mentioned, and that the committee, who drew the report, forward the copies.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Pickering, and Mr. Greenleaf, be a committee to write to Mr. Russell, desiring him to pay the money due from him to the treasury, immediately.
The petition of Joseph Barrell for himself and others, [was] read, and ordered to lie upon file.1
(1) This petition bears date June 30, 1775, and is as follows :
" The petition of Joseph Barrell, late of Boston, humbly shewetli, that in the fire in Boston, which began in the soldiors' barracks, on the evening of tho 17th of May last, his store, together with his effects to a very considerable amount, were consumed. Your petitioner humbly appre- hends, that this loss is entirely occasioned by the cruel oppression of the British administration ; as, at the general desiro of the friends of the country, he removed with his family from Boston, that scene of distress, and, by tho chicanery of General Gage, was prevented from carrying his effects with him ; as he, with his distressed townsmen, were shamefully deceived by the fairest promises of a speedy removal, with their effects, without molestation, until the end of the capitulation on the side of the general was fully answered, and then they were insulted, by the most cruel perversion of that comprehensive, plain English word effects, confining it to a few trifles, which, when they were suffered to depart, was clogged with such restrictions as will forever disgrace him. But, not- withstanding all this, still your petitioner had been safe, in all probability, bad not the General, by an order, as extraordinary as it was new, secured from the inhabitants the fire engines, and given the use of them to his troops ; whereby, as your petitioner is informed, it was a very considerable timo before they were in use at all, and then were conducted with sueli consummate ignorance as to be of no service ; in which time, the flames raged to that degree, that no human help could prevent them ; and your petitioner is further informed, that some of his effcets, saved from the fire by his friends, were afterwards wantonly destroyed by the savage order of the officer of the army.
443
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
The letter of Mr. Alexander Sheppard, Jun., to the committee of safety [was] read.1
The report of the committee for devising means for the support of the poor of Boston and Charlestown, to the places of their destination, was read, and accepted, and is as follows :
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