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 54
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The committee appointed to consider the resolve of the committee of safety relative to a new emission of bills of credit, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz .: Whereas, several per- sons have been employed in the service of this colony, and several have supplied small articles, whose accounts amount severally to small sums only, and it appearing to this Congress, that the plates engraved for impressing or striking off the bills for the payment of the soldiers in the service of this colony are still sufficient for the striking off a number of impressions on each plate ; therefore, Resolved, that there be impressed, or struck off, on the plate containing the engraving for notes of ten shillings, eighteen shillings and twelve shillings, six hun- dred and sixty-seven sheets, and no more ; and that there be impress- ed, or struck off, on the plate for notes of sixteen shillings, fifteen shillings and nine shillings, six hundred and sixty-seven sheets, and no more ; and also on the plate for twenty shillings, fourteen shillings, and six shillings, that there be impressed, or struck off, five hundred and forty sheets, and no more : which last number, together with one
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
hundred and twenty-seven sheets, or impressions, already struck off on that plate, and not signed, make the like number of six hundred and sixty-seven sheets, or impressions, which, together, amount to two thousand and one sheets, or impressions, each sheet containing forty shillings, amounting to the sum of ££4002, which, together with the sum of £25,998, already perfected of those notes, make the sum of ££30,000.
We also report, that a committee be appointed to agree with Mr. Revere, or some other suitable person, for the striking off the above number of sheets. Also, that a committee be appointed to authenticate said sheets, when they are struck off.
Ordered, That Deacon Mitchell, Capt. Holmes, and Capt. Stone, of Framingham, be a committee to agree with some persons to strike off the bills, agreeably to the foregoing report.
Ordered, That the chairman of the committee of supplies be direct- ed to attend this Congress with a copy of such resolves as constitute their commission.
The committee appointed to consider the petition of Daniel Murray, &c. reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz .: The committee appointed to take into consideration the letter from his excellency General Washington, to the committee of safety, respecting the petition of Daniel Murray of Rutland, who has requested leave for his sister, and two of his brothers, to go into Boston, which petition the committee of safety have referred to the consideration of this Con- gress, beg leave to report, that it is their opinion, that the aforemen- tioned petition ought not to be granted. That the committee of safety be directed to acquaint his excellency the General, of the resolution of this house, of the 24th of June last, respecting the permitting of per- sons to go into Boston, and that it is their opinion, that said resolution ought not to be receded from in the present case.
Walter Spooner, Esq. was appointed in addition to Col. Richmond, to swear the soldiers to be stationed in the county of Bristol.
The committee appointed to consider the report of the committee, who have been on an embassy to Ticonderoga, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
The committee appointed to take under consideration the report of the committee from Crown point, &c., beg leave to report by way of resolve, as follows, viz. :
Whereas, it appears to this Congress, that the sum of four hundred pounds, received by Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster, and James Sul- livan, Esqrs., of the receiver general, the 14th of June last, for the use of this colony, has been expended by thein for the purpose for which
59
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 7,
it was designed by this Congress ; therefore, Resolved, that the said , Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster, and James Sullivan, Esqrs., be, and they are hereby discharged, from all demands, the said colony at any time liad upon them for the same, and that the receipts produced by them be filed in the treasurer's office.
Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster, and James Sullivan, Es- quires, the sum of twenty-six pounds three shillings and nine pence, for the balance due to them, from this colony, for their time, and ex- penses to Crown point, &c., and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the same sum accordingly.
Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, to Mr. Abijah Merril, the sum of four hundred pounds, to be by him delivered to Col. Easton, for advance pay to two hundred men at Crown point and Ticonderoga, and the said Merril to take a receipt of said Easton therefor, and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the same sum accordingly.
Resolved, That there be paid, out of the public treasury of this col- ony, the sum of two hundred and fifty-two pounds eleven shillings and one penny half penny, to Lieut. William Satterlee, or order, being the balance of the pay roll of Capt. Herrick's company, from the 3d of May to the 25th June last, and the receiver general is hereby directed to pay the same sum accordingly. And the said Herrick and Satterlee are hereby discharged from all demands which Col. Arnold, or this province had, for the sum of twenty-three pounds twelve shillings, re- ceived by said Herrick and Satterlee of said. Arnold, for the use of the company of said Herrick.
Col. Grout was appointed to accompany Mr. Merril to the receiver general, to know of him if he can pay him the &400, agreeably to the above resolve.
Ordered, That Mr. Shillaber, Capt. White, and Mr. Crane, be a committee to consider the account of Mr. Edward Mitchell, and any other accounts that may be rendered of the expense of procuring spears for the army.
Ordered, That Col. Robinson, Major Brooks, and Deacon Bayley, be a committee to procure a steward for his excellency General Wash- ington.
Afternoon.
Leave of absence was granted to the receiver general, till the begin- ning of next week.
The committee appointed to consider the letter of Mr. Joseph Hal-
.
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
let, dated New York, June 26, 1775, reported verbally, that the same be referred to the committee of supplies.1 The report was accepted.
Mr. Batchelder was appointed in the room of Mr. Sullivan, to con- sider what grant was proper to be made for the services of the sec- retary.
Ordered, That Mr. Johnson, Major Perly, and Mr. Hemmenway, be a committee to procure stores for depositing the fish, which the committee of supplies may purchase for the use of the colony, either by hire, or by building new stores, as they may think best.
Ordercd, That Mr. Phillips, Mr. Kollock, and Deacon Gould, be a committee to consider the subject of a letter, this day received from General Ward, and to inquire of the committee of supplies what pro- vision is made for supplying the army with the articles [of clotli- ing] therein mentioned.
Col. Grout informed the Congress that he had accompanied Mr. Merril to the receiver general's office, and that the receiver general informed them, that there was not money in the treasury, sufficient to pay said Merril the sum which the Congress have directed the said receiver general to pay him.
Ordered, That Col. Dwight, Col. Robinson, and Deacon Williams, be a committee to prepare a letter to Col. Easton, informing him, that the state of the treasury is such, that Mr. Merril cannot, at present, be supplied with the sum of ££400, which this Congress has this day di- rected the receiver general to pay him.
Ordered, That Capt. Holmes be directed to inquire of Mr. Revere, how many sheets of notes or bills of credit can be struck off, from the plates he now has by him, more than six hundred and sixty-seven, which were directed to be struck off, by a resolve of this Congress, this day passed.
Resolved, That to-morrow morning, eight o'clock, be assigned for the consideration of a request made by Col. Danielson, in behalf of the officers of the army, that they might have a month's pay advanced.
The committee appointed to consider the letters from General Green, reported. The report was recommitted, and Mr. Robinson added to the committee.
Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Langdon.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to procure a steward for General Washington, be directed to procure him likewise two or three women, for cooks.
(1) The letter was in relation to flour, sent from the southern colonies for the army.
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 7,
Ordered, That the committee appointed to inquire how General Washington's table should be furnished, be a committee to bring in a resolve for the purpose of complying with the requisition of General Washington relative thereto, and that Mr. Hopkins be added to this committee in the room of Col. Bowers.
Ordered, That the Hon. Major Hawley, Col. Grout and Col. Rob- inson, be a committee to wait upon General Lee, to know of him what provision he expects should be made by this Congress for the furnish- ing his table.
The committee who were appointed to consider what sum should be granted the secretary for his services, again reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz .: The committee appointed to take into consideration the allowance that ought to be made Mr. Sam- uel Freeman, for his services as secretary of the Congress, to the present time, beg leave to report, that they find there has been much business done by the said Freeman in the service of the colony, and the said Freeman has been obliged to employ several clerks to assist him, which he agrees to pay ; he has also been at considerable ex- pense to be furnished with books, paper, ink, quills, and house to hold his office in, as secretary ; for all which they beg leave to report the following resolution, viz. :
Resolved, That the receiver general of this colony be, and he hereby is directed, to pay Mr. Samuel Freeman, out of the public money of said colony, the sum of thirty pounds eight shillings and six pence, for his services as secretary to the Congress, and that those further servi- ces, which he may have to perform, in recording the proceedings of this Congress, when performed, be exhibited to some future house of representatives of this province, for their consideration and allowance.
The committee appointed to prepare a letter to Col. Easton, report- ed the following, which was accepted :
SIR : The committee appointed by the Congress to settle matters at Ticonderoga, having given you encouragement, that they would send, by the first opportunity, the £400 due from this colony, on advance pay, to the men under your command, it gives us pain that we are obliged to say, we have not the whole of the money in the treasury ; but you may depend, Sir, that so soon as the notes can be struck off, and properly authenticated, the same will be immediately remitted to you. The embarrassments under which the province labors, will, we [trust,] apologize for our not being ready by the first opportunity. We rely upon you, Sir, that you will do all in your power to make the
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1775.]
troops under your command easy, as the good of the colony so much depends thereon.
To Col. Easton, at Ticonderoga.
The committee appointed to consider some method to prevent sup- plying our enemies with provisions, &c., reported. The report was accepted, and ordered to be printed in the newspapers, and is as fol- łows, viz. :
Whereas, complaints have been made to this Congress, of the in- habitants of some of the sea port towns frequently supplying our ene- mies with butter and cheese, fresh provisions, &c., also, [it is] sus- pected, that intelligence has been given them, therefore, Resolved, that it be, and hereby is recommended, to the committees of safety, corres- pondence and inspection, and where there are no such committees, to the selectmen of the sea port towns and districts in this colony, that they, forthwith, exert themselves to prevent any person or persons from supplying our enemies with any kind of provision whatsoever, or intel- ligence. And it is further recommended to the committees or select- men as aforesaid, of each town and district, not to suffer any vessel or boat of any kind, to go from the shore on board any vessel or vessels of any size whatsoever, in the service of our enemies, without first ob- taining a permit, in writing, of the committees or selectmen aforemen- tioned, for that purpose, and that no boats be suffered to land from men of war, tenders, or any other vessels employed to distress the sea coasts and trade of this country, without permit obtained as aforesaid.
The committee appointed to consider the account of Col. Mitchell, relative to the expense of providing spears, reported. The report was ordered to lie on the table till Col. Mitchell produced a receipt from General Thomas, or the committee of safety, for the delivery of them.
The committee appointed to inquire of the committee of supplies what provision they had made for shirts, breeches, &c., reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz .: The committee appoint- ed to make inquiry of the committee of supplies, what provision they have made of the articles of shirts, breeches, stockings and shoes, and consider whether it is requisite to take any further care to procure those articles, have attended the service, and beg leave to recommend, that persons be immediately despatched to the neighboring counties, to collect such a proportion of the above mentioned articles from the ser- eral towns in said counties, as may be judged proper.
Ordered, That the cominittee who brought in the above report, be a committee to bring in a list of those towns from whence the articles
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 8,
above mentioned ought to be procured, and the proportion each town shall supply.
[The committee appointed to consider the subject of supplying the island of Nantucket with provisions, reported. The report was ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. : ]
Whereas, by the act of parliament called the restraining act, the in- habitants of Nantucket are exempted from the restrictions in said act mentioned. And whereas, the Continental Congress, on the 17th of May last, took the matter under consideration, and thought it expedi- ent, to prevent the Newfoundland fishery from being supplied with provisions through Nantucket, to prohibit the exportation of provisions from any of the colonies to that island, excepting from this : And whereas, the inhabitants of Nantucket have by them, large quantities of provisions in their stores, and are fitting out a large fleet of whaling vessels, whereby they intend to avail themselves of the act aforemen- tioned, and the provisions they have by them may be unnecessarily ex- pended, in foreign and not domestic consumption : therefore, Resolved, that no provisions or necessaries of any kind be exported from any part of this colony to the island of Nantucket, until the inhabitants of said island shall have given full and sufficient satisfaction to this Con- gress, or some future house of representatives, that the provisions they have now by them, have not been, and shall not be, expended in for- eign, but for domestic consumption. And the several committees of correspondence, inspection and safety, in their respective towns, are required to see that this resolve be not contravened.
Adjourned to eight o'clock, to-morrow morning.
SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1775.
A list of surgeons examined by a committee appointed for that pur- pose, was exhibited to Congress, and warrants ordered to be made out agreeably thereto.
Ordered, That Major Hawley, Major Bliss, and Col. Gerrish, be a committee to inspect the commissions of the committee of safety and the committee of supplies, and report to this Congress, what is expedi- ent to be done relative thereto, more especially in the recess of the Congress.
Ordered, That Capt. Stone be appointed in the room of Mr. Sulli- van, on the committee who were directed to bring in a resolve, explan- atory to the resolve of Congress relative to the refugees.
A petition of several field officers in the army, was read, relative to
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1775.]
the appointment of commissaries for the regiment from the county of Essex.
Ordered, That the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition.
Ordered, That Capt. Holmes, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Perry, be a com- mittee to consider a petition from a number of the inhabitants of Frenchman's Bay, [for supplies of provisions.]
Ordered, That Mr. Fessenden, Mr. Walker, and Capt. White, be a committee to examine and consider all accounts that may be rendered to this Congress, relative to the expenses of procuring axes and shovels for the use of the army.
A committee of this Congress, agreeably to their appointment, re- ported the following resolve, which was accepted, and ordered to be printed in the several newspapers.1
Ordered, That Mr. Hayward, repair to the receiver general, at Stow, and direct him to attend this Congress, immediately.
Ordered, That Capt. Carpenter be, and hereby is, appointed to de- sire Col. Timothy Walker to pay what public monies he has in his hands, into the treasury, immediately, and the committee of supplies are directed to employ some person to be sent express to Col. Walker, for this purpose.
Ordered, That Mr. Woodbridge, Col. Robinson, and Deacon Nich- ols, be a committee to consider a proposal of exempting the soldiers in the army from paying the postage of letters, and to report thereon.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Major Brooks, and Mr. HIall, be a committee to examine and consider an account of Major Bliss ; and also, an account of Doct. Church.
Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Hall, and Col. Robinson, be a committee to countersign and number the new emission of bills, who are likewise empowered and directed to superintend the impression of said bills.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve for the purpose of complying with the requisitions of General Washington, reported the following order, which was accepted, viz. :
Ordered, That Col. Robinson, Major Brooks, and Deacon Bailey, be a committee to make inquiry forthwith, for some ingenious, active, and faithful man, to be recommended to General Washington, as a steward ; likewise, tò procure and recommend to him some capable
(1) No resolve corresponding to that mentioned in the record is preserved on file, or was publish- ed in the newspapers of Cambridge, Watertown, or Worcester. The entry on the journal is proba- bly intended to refer to the resolve for restraining the sale of spirituous liquors, passed on the same day.
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 8,
woman, suitable to act in the place of a house-keeper, and one or more good female servants.
The report of the committee on the account of Mr. Daniel Taylor, was read, and ordered to lie upon the table.
The committee on the petition of Col. Jonathan Brewer, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That the prayer of Col. Brewer's petition be so far grant- ed, that said Col. Brewer be allowed to recruit men sufficient to com- plete his regiment, or so far as he can complete his said regiment in twenty days, he not to enlist any person as a soldier who shall not furnish himself with a good and sufficient fire-arm.
Resolved, That three o'clock, in the afternoon, be assigned, to con- sider the expediency of appointing a surgeon general for the Massachu- setts forces.
The committee appointed to consider the artificers' accounts, report- ed the following resolve on Mr. Clark's account.
- Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he hereby is directed to pay to Mr. Matthew Clark, or order, the sum of nine pounds six shil- lings and six pence, in full discharge of his account for time and mate- rials, in repairing boats for the use of this colony.
[The] order of the day [was] moved for.
Ordered, That Major Hawley bring in a resolve for the payment of a month's pay to the officers of the army, as soon as provision can be inade therefor.
The committee on the account of Major Bliss, reported. The re- port was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That Major John Bliss be allowed, and paid out of the public treasury of this colony, the sum of £5 7s, in full discharge of the above account, and the receiver general of this colony, is hereby or- dered to pay the aforesaid sum of £5 7s, to the said John Bliss, or or- der, accordingly.
Major Fuller, agreeably to order, brought in the following resolve.
Resolved, That there be paid out of the public treasury, the sum of twelve shillings to Mr. John Cook, for the use that Mr. Paul Revere made of his house, whilst he was striking off the colony notes therein.
The committee appointed to consider a proposal for exempting the soldiers of the army from the postage of letters, reported. The report was ordered to subside.
Major Fuller brought in a resolve, directing what notes each of the committee should sign, which was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That Abraham Fuller, Mr. Stephen Hall, Jun., and Col.
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Robinson, the committee appointed to countersign the colony notes, now ordered to be struck off, countersign and number said notes of the following denominations, viz. : said Abraham Fuller countersign and number the notes of eigliteen shillings, twelve shillings, and ten shil- lings; said Stephen Hall countersign and number the notes of sixteen shillings, fifteen shillings, and nine shillings ; said Col. Robinson coun- tersign and number the notes of twenty shillings, fourteen shillings, and six shillings.
Afternoon.
The report of the committee on the letter of General Green was read, and recommitted to Col. Robinson, Major Brooks, and Col. Gerrish.
Major Hawley, agreeably to appointment, reported the following re- solve, relative to advance pay to the officers of the army, which was accepted.
Whereas, application has been made lately to this Congress, in be- half of the commissioned officers of that part of the continental army before Boston, raised by this colony, that, for the relief of the present necessities of the said officers, there might be immediately advanced and paid to them, one full month's pay, according to the establishment lately made by Congress for the army; and the Congress, having taken the said application into due consideration, do Resolve, that it is expedient and proper, that there should be advanced and paid unto the said commissioned officers, one month's pay, in notes or bills of credit of this colony, as soon as provision can be made therefor by a further emission of notes or bills of credit, than has been already or- dered by Congress.
The committee appointed to consider how stores may be procured for the reception of fish, reported. The report was ordered to sub- side.
The committee appointed to agree with Mr. Paul Revere, for strik- ing off a new emission of colony notes, reported. The report was ac- cepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That there be eighteen hundred seventy-four sheets im- pressed and struck off, according to the resolve of this Congress, passed the 7th instant. And that Mr. Paul Revere be employed to do said service, at the rate of six shillings for each hundred sheets so struck off, provided said Revere find ink, and house room, and procure suit- able paper, the colony paying only the prime cost of said paper.
[The] committee [was] instructed to direct Mr. Revere to alter the date of the notes to July 8th, if it can be done.
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THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 8,
Ordered, That Mr. Hall, Capt. Batchelder, and Mr. Ellis, be a com- mittee to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, recommending to this Congress to make an establishment for four master armorers.
Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Sanger, Mr. Johnson, and Deacon Wy- man, be added to the committee who were appointed to give passes for removing the poor of Boston, and Charlestown, to the towns in the county of Worcester, and that Major Fuller be excused from serving on said committee.
Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Capt. Brown, and Col. Smith, be a committee to revise the resolves of Congress relative to the poor of Boston and Charlestown, and report what they think proper to be done thereon.
Agreeably to the recommendation of the committee of safety, Re- solved, that Mr. Jonathan Hastings be, and he hereby is appointed, post- master for the town of Cambridge, in the room of Mr. James Winthrop.
The committee appointed to examine several accounts of the expense of procuring axes and shovels, reported. The reports were accepted, and Mr. Woodbridge was appointed to bring in a proper resolve for the paying of the several accounts, agreeably thereto.
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