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 56
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" In what manner this deficiency should be supplied ?"
"And it was unanimously agreed, that it ought to be done by sending an officer from each company
1
483
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
The committee appointed to prepare a letter to General Lee, re- ported. The report was accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and sent forward to General Lee, by Doct. Church, Doct. Taylor and Mr. Gerry, a committee for that purpose.
SIR :- The Congress have perused the letter from General Bur- goyne, which you was kind enough to subinit to their inspection. They can have no objection to the proposed interview, from a want of the highest confidence in the wisdom, discretion and integrity of Gen- eral Lee, but beg leave to suggest, that, as the confidence of the peo- ple in their General, is so essentially necessary, to the well conducting the enterprize in which we are engaged, and as a people contending for their liberties are naturally disposed to jealousy, and not inclined to make the most favorable constructions of the motives of conduct which they are not fully acquainted with, whether such an interview might not have a tendency to lessen the influence, which the Congress would wish to extend, to the utmost of their power, to facilitate and succeed the operations of war.
The Congress, agreeably to your request, have, to prevent, as far as we are able, any disagreeable consequences, which may arise from the jealousy of the people on such an occasion, appointed Mr. Elbridge Gerry to attend you at the proposed interview, if you shall think proper to proceed in it ; and as they do not think themselves authorized to counteract the general's inclination, they would submit it to his opin- ion, whether the advice of the council of war might not be taken in a matter of such apparent delicacy.
To the honorable General Lee.
Ordered, That Col. Mitchell, Capt. Batchelder, and Deacon Nich- ols, be a committee to consider the circumstances of the town of Hull, and report what is best to be done.
Ordered, That Mr. Phillips, Deacon Nichols, and Capt. Stone, be a committee to consider the situation of the public stock of powder, and report what shall be done with it.
in the forces raised in Massachusetts Bay, to recruit the regiments to which they respectively be- long, to the establishment fixed by the Provincial Congress, the colonies of Rhode Island and Con- necticut being already engaged in recruiting. And that, in the mean time, his excellency the Gen- eral do apply to the Provincial Congress of this province, for their assistance, in procuring a tem- porary reenforcement, subject to the same military rules as the army now raised, inasmuch as the present extent of lines, and great probability of an carly attack, render such reenforcement indis- pensably necessary."
484
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 10,
Afternoon.
Resolved, That the resolve which passed yesterday, relative to Dan- iel Green, be reconsidered, and that Capt. Stone be appointed to bring in a resolve with regard to him.
Ordered, That Mr. Baker, Mr. Kollock, and Capt. Parker, be a committee to consider an account of Mr. John Gill.
Ordered, That Capt. Vose, Mr. Jewett, and Mr. Bigelow, be a com- mittee to consider an account of Mr. Moses Lammon, for a gun sold Barnabas Evans.
Ordered, That the committee for signing the bills, &c., be directed to sit, and despatch the business, that the soldiers may be paid off, ac- cording to the order of Congress.
Ordered, That Capt. Stone, Mr. Bigelow, and Capt. Harnden, be a committee to consider the account of Mr. Isaac Bissell.
Resolved, That the committee of supplies, be directed to write to the selectmen of Charlestown and Walpole, in the government of New Hampshire, and desire them to inform them, what cannon there are in those towns belonging to this colony, and the said committee are to take into their custody such as they shall find to be the property of this colony.
Resolved, That Mr. Stephen Hall be on the committee in the room of Doct. Gunn, to sign the colony notes.
Mr. Israel Nichols' account was passed upon, and Ordered, that the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay Mr. Israel Nich- ols, the sum of eighteen shillings, in full of his account.
Capt. Stone, agreeably to order, brought in the following resolve, respecting Daniel Green, which was accepted :
Resolved, That the selectmen of Watertown be, and hereby are di- rected, to take Daniel Green, a prisoner, taken in the late battle on the 19th of April last, who is now in this town, and safely convey him to Mr. Jones, prison keeper at Concord; and said prison keeper is hereby directed safely to keep, and properly support the said Green, until further order of the Congress or House of Representatives.
The committee on Capt. Lane's account, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay John Lane, the sum of three pounds six shillings, for horse hire, and expenses, from Falmouth to Watertown, and back again, in be- half of the Penobscot tribe of Indians.
Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay to Mr. Simon Hastings, the sum of eight pounds four shillings,
485
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
for attending this Congress as a door-keeper, for forty-one days, the present session.
Adjourned to Tuesday morning, eight o'clock.
TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1775.
A letter from -- , of New York, to the committee of donations for the town of Boston, was read; upon which, the Con- gress assumed the consideration of a report relative to such donations, which was accepted, and ordered to be printed in the newspapers, and is as follows, viz :
Whereas, the poor of Boston and Charlestown, who have been as- signed to the several towns in this colony, and have been, and still are supported at the public expense, for reasons that are obvious; there- fore, Resolved, that the money, grain, flour, &c. that have, or shall be generously given for the support of said poor, and lodged within this colony, ought to be considered as belonging to the public stock of this colony, for the use aforesaid ; and the committee of supplies are hereby directed to take care of such donations accordingly, till the further or- der of this Congress, or House of Representatives; and when any town shall, by order of said committee, or otherwise, receive or make use of such donations, or any part thereof, the selectmen of such town are hereby ordered to exhibit an exact account thereof, to this Con- gress, or some future House of Representatives, as credit to their ac- counts of charges for the support of the poor abovesaid.
A resolve of the committee of safety, relative to soldiers who had enlisted a second time, was read, and committed to the committee who were yesterday appointed to inquire into the subject of General Wash- ington's letter.
Resolved, That if this committee is not ready to report to the Con- gress at its present session, that they be directed to report to the next General Assembly or House of Representatives.
Ordered, That Doct. Church, Capt. Stone, and Mr. Woodbridge, be a committee to inquire into the subject of a resolve of the commit- tee of safety, relative to Mr. Winslow's employing one William Lightly, to carry a load of molasses from Connecticut to New York.
Resolved, That this Congress has no objection to Mrs. Mary Greenwood having a permit to go into Boston.
The committee appointed to consider the circumstances of the town of Hull, reported. The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
The committee appointed by this Congress to consider of a request of a committee from the town of Hull, setting forth that they are now
486
. THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 11,
invested by an armed vessel, and expect that the communication be- tween them, and their neighbors, will soon be cut off, beg leave to report the following resolve, viz. :
Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby accordingly recommended to the selectmen and committees of correspondence of the town of Hing- ham, and district of Cohasset, that they cause all convenient assistance to be given to the inhabitants of Hull, in removing their effects from that place, and securing and removing the crops of grain, and other produce, from said town, to some secure place for the use of the pres- ent proprietors of the same.
Mr. Pickering, by leave of Congress, presented the following resolve in behalf of Capt. Samuel Williams, which was accepted :
On an application made to this Congress, setting forth that a number of gentlemen at Salem, in this colony, have employed Capt. Samuel Williams of that town, to procure for them, at their cost, a number of barrels of powder, at New York, or elsewhere to the southward : Re- solved, that the intention of those gentlemen is agreeable to this Con- gress, and that Capt. Samuel Williams appears to be a friend to his country, and possesses the confidence of his townsmen, and that if he executes his commission, it will be of great service to this, and the other colonies.
Resolved, That the persons employed in cutting the grass on the land of the refugees, be allowed half a pint of rum, each, per day.
Afternoon.
Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Phillips, and Col. Porter, be a com- mittee to repair immediately to General Washington, and know of him what number of men he would have this Congress raise, for a tempo- rary reinforcement of the army; and to inform the General of the powers vested by this Congress, in the committee of safety, and to confer with the General, at large, on the state of the army, and in par- ticular, with respect to some soldiers of, the army who have enlisted twice.
Ordered, That the president, Col. Palmer, Mr. Jewett, Capt. Stone, and Col. Farley, be a committee to devise some means of raising speedily a temporary reenforcement of the army, and to bring in an establishment.
Ordered, That Capt. Brown, Mr. Glover, and Major Fuller, be a committee to procure three couriers by ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
Resolved, That the receiver general be empowered and directed to employ some person to number the colony notes,
487
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Ordered, That Mr. Fox, and Mr. Bigelow, be added to the commit- tee, who were appointed to consider what was proper to be done with the public stock of powder.
Ordered, 'That Col. Lincoln bring in a resolve, determining what is best to be done with the whale-boats.
Ordered, That Mr. Shillaber, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Brown, be a committee to see that the fish, procured by the committee of supplies for the use of this colony, be properly taken care of.
A memorial of William Hunt was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Major Barber's account was allowed, and the receiver general di- rected to pay it.
Col. Lincoln, agreeably to appointment, brought in the following resolve, relative to whale-boats, which was accepted :
Whereas, the Congress, sometime past, directed and empowered, in the absence of Capt. Joshua Davis, Capt. Edmund Soper to take care of a number of whale-boats, then lying in the river at Braintree, pur- chased by said Davis for the use of the colony, and as he hath procured and brought there, a very considerable number more, which require his care and inspection ; and as one person is sufficient to have the care of the whole of them : therefore, Resolved, that, as Capt. Davis is now returned, Capt. Edmund Soper be excused from any care of said boats, until further orders ; that he give information to said Davis, where they are lodged, and if he hath delivered any of them to the order of the officers in the army, to whom they were delivered, in order to his receiving them into his possession, as soon as the public service will admit of it.
Adjourned to eight o'clock tomorrow morning.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1775.
The committee appointed to consider a resolve of the committee of safety, relative to Mr. Winslow's employing one William Lightly to carry a load of molasses to New York, &c., reported the following letter to Governor Trumbull, which was accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and sent forward :
May it please your honor :
The brigantine Nancy, now in the harbor of Stonington, in Con- necticut, being laden with molasses, the property of the late Joshua Winslow of Boston, a noted, and active friend to administration ; which, as we are well informed, is now directed to be conveyed to New
· 488
1 THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 11,
York, and from thence as we conjecture, from sundry suspicious cir- cumstances, to be sent to Boston; the master who has undertaken this business, being now in custody, having given the information before- mentioned, the Congress of the Massachusetts Bay beg leave to ob- serve to your honor, whether prudence and good policy do not suggest to detain said ship and cargo, or such part of it as belongs to said Winslow, for the use of the colonies, rather than to suffer them to fall into the hands of General Gage, where they will be improved to the support of our enemies, and to augment the distress of these colonies.
We have the honor to be, &c.
To the Hon. Governor Trumbull.
Resolved, That said William Lightly be confined in Concord jail, and that Mr. Davis be dismissed, and that Mr. Woodbridge bring in a resolve for this purpose.
Ordered, That Mr. Crane, and Mr. Fox, make out warrants for several surgeons and surgeons' mates, agreeably to a list this day ex- hibited by Doct. Taylor, and that such warrants, when made out, be transmitted to the committee of safety.
Mr. Glover, by leave of Congress, brought in a resolve, recommend- ing to such able-bodied men as have left their sea-port towns to return ; which resolve was accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
Whereas, many able-bodied men, who were inhabitants of the sea- port towns of the colony, have removed their families into the country, and have themselves left said towns, and carried with them their arms and ammunition ; therefore, Resolved, that this Congress do approve of the conduct of such persons, so far as it respects the removing the women, and children, and valuable effects. It is recommended to the male inhabitants, fit to bear arms, that they return to their respective towns, and there continue with that dignity and firmness which ought ever to distinguish an American, and to defend them from the ravages of the enemy, until it shall be judged by the inhabitants of such towns, at a meeting for that purpose, expedient to vacate the same.
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Capt. Stone, and Col. Moseley, be a committee to consider the subject of a letter from Capt. Noble, dated Pittsfield, July 3, 1775, and report.1
Mr. Woodbridge, agreeably to appointment, brought in the following resolves, which were accepted.
(1) Capt. Noble asked the allowance of the pay roll of his company engaged in the public service, under Col. Benedict Arnold.
1
489
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Resolved, That the receiver general be, and hereby is directed, to pay to Mr. Jacob Biglow, the sum of £13, for sundry axes, shovels, and spades, and for procuring and carting the same, for the use of the army, agreeably to the directions of this Congress.
Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed to pay Jonathan Brown, the sum of £5 2s. for sundry axes, and for collecting the same for the use of the army, agreeably to the direction of this Congress.
Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed to pay Major A. Fuller, £7 2s. 8d. for axes, &c., as above.
Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed to pay Deacon Jonas Stone, the sum of ££18 12s. 8d. for axes, &c., as above.
Resolved, That the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed to pay Mr. Enoch Ellis, the sum of £8 3s. 7d. for axes, &c., as above.
The committee appointed to confer with the General, relative to the number of men necessary to be raised for a temporary reenforcement, reported a letter from him, which was committed to the committee ap- pointed to devise means of raising such reenforcement, to which com- inittee Col. Porter, Mr. Glover, and Capt. Parker, were added.
Resolved, That Doct. Church, Doct. Taylor, and Doct. Whiting, be a committee to take into their custody all the medicines, medical stores and instruments, which are, or may be provided for the use of the army, by this colony, and to distribute them at their best discretion, so that no peculation or needless waste be made of the medicinal stores belonging to the public.
Resolved, That the president have leave to go home in the afternoon. · Adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.
Afternoon.
The committee appointed to consider the situation of the public stock of powder, reported. The report being amended, was drawn anew, accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
This Congress taking into consideration the situation of the public stock of powder that is now in Watertown: Resolved, that it be recom- mended to the committee of supplies, to make a division of said powder into two or more parcels, as they shall judge requisite; that they de- posite one part in this town, and the remainder in such other town or towns as they shall think most expedient.
Ordered, That Col. Lincoln, Mr. Gill, and Capt. Stone, be a com- mittee to examine fifteen persons, taken prisoners at Long Island, and sent to this Congress by the committee of safety.
62
490
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 11,
Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Phillips, and Major Fuller, be a committee to enlarge the commission of the committee of safety.
A letter from the committee of safety, requesting this Congress to appoint a special committee to make provision for the poor of Boston and Charlestown, was read. The matter, after debate, was ordered to subside.
The report of the committee for devising means of raising a tem- porary reenforcement, was taken into consideration, and after much debate was recommitted; and Col. Palmer, and Mr. Phillips, were added to the committee.
The committee appointed to examine the fifteen prisoners, sent to the Congress by the committee of safety, reported, verbally, facts as they found them : whereupon, Ordered, that Jonathan Winship, and Jacob Whipple, two of the prisoners, be discharged immediately ; that Jacob Davis, another of the prisoners, be sent to the main guard at Cambridge, the Congress having great reason to suspect, that he en- listed in, and deserted from the army raised by this colony, and that the officers of the guard be certified, in writing, of what crime the said Jacob now stands charged ; that John Freeman, a negro man, said to be the servant of Mr. Joseph Howett of Newburyport, be sent to the jail at Cambridge, there to continue till further orders; that the other prisoners, with the said Jacob and John, be committed to Capt. Crafts, to be kept under guard, until further orders.
Ordered, That Capt. Brown cause suitable provision to be made for the said prisoners.
Ordered, That Mr. Learned be directed to charge the expense of keeping Mr. Lightly, and the guard that attend him, to this colony.
Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Kollock, and Mr. Crane, be a committee to consider what is a proper establishment of salt for the army, and report.
The committee appointed to consider a letter from Capt. James No- ble to Walter Spooner, Esq., reported a resolve, and a letter, which were accepted, and are as follow, viz. : Resolved, that Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, be, and he is hereby ordered to pay to Capt. James Noble, or order, £100, as part of his pay roll, as captain in Col. Benedict Arnold's regiment, in the late expedition against the posts of Ticonderoga and Crown point, for the use of said company.
SIR : We received yours of the 3d instant, by Mr. William Barber, together with your account of expenses, and a muster roll of your company, whilst in the service of this colony, under the command of
491
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
Col. Benedict Arnold, but before your account can be passed with propriety, it must be examined, and adjusted by indifferent persons. Therefore, it is Ordered, that the committee of correspondence for the town of Pittsfield, be a committee for that purpose; and it is further Ordered, that you make oath to the truth and justness of your muster roll, and see that the same be right cast; then charge yourself with the £27 7s. Id., which you received of Col. Arnold, as advance pay for your company ; also with the &£100 now sent you by Mr. Barber, agreeably to your order ; then return said roll and account, and when you comply with the above, you will receive the balance due.
To Capt. James Noble.
Lieut. Zachariah Gurney having conducted fifteen persons who were taken at Long Island, to this Congress, and the Congress having ordered eleven of them, under a guard of this town, and dismissed the other two, the said Gurney is discharged from further attendance.
The report of the committee on Mr. John Gill's account was taken up, and accepted, and is as follows, viz. :
The committee on the account of John Gill, beg leave to report by way of resolve, as follows: Resolved, that the receiver general be, and he is hereby directed, to pay to the within named John Gill, the sum of &6 17s &d, in full, of his services on several journeys, horse hire, expenses, &c.
The committee appointed to devise means for raising a temporary reenforcement, again reported. The report was amended, accepted, and is as follows, viz. : Whereas, a speedy augmentation of the army is wanted, and has been requested by the general, to serve as a tempo- rary reenforcement until the new levies now raising to fill up the regi- ments in the field, can come in, and until they shall be discharged by the general of the army, or the assembly of this colony, therefore, Rc- solved, that it be, and hereby is most earnestly recommended to the in- habitants of town, that they immediately raise and send to the camp at Cambridge, - men, provided with a good fire-lock, ammu- nition, and a blanket, eachlı, who shall be detained not longer than one month, at farthest, from the beginning of their march, and shall be honorably paid for their service by the colony, all due regard being had to the present urgency of farming business, and the inconvenience of complying with such a requisition at this juncture. And the milita- ry officers, selectmen, and committees of correspondence, are desired to see this resolve executed without delay, and that they be paid ac- cording to the following establishment ;
492
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[July 13,
N. B. The above is copied from the original report on file, which has been altered and still appears to be incorrect. The following is a copy of the printed one on file :
To the military officers, selectmen, and committees of correspon- dence in the town of -
Gentlemen :- You are hereby most earnestly requested to procure the execution of the subsequent resolve, with the greatest possible ex- pedition.
In Provincial Congress, Watertown, July 12, 1775.
Whereas a very speedy augmentation of the army is indispensably necessary, and has been requested by his excellency General Washing- ton, to serve as a temporary reenforcement until the new levies now raising to fill up the regiments in the field may be completed : There- fore, Resolved, that it be, and it is hereby mnost earnestly recommended to the commanding officer of every company in the town of -, that they immediately raise, and send to the camp at Cambridge, - able bodied men, each provided with a good fire-lock, ammunition, and blanket, who shall be detained not longer than one month, at farthest, from the beginning of their march, and be paid honorably for their service ; all due regard in the pay being had to the difficulty of com- plying with this requisition in the present urgency of the business of husbandry. Those who are required from - together with others who are called from -, will form one company, under the com- mand of such officers as the field officers of that regiment from which the greatest number of said company is taken, shall appoint. And the field officers above mentioned, or the major part of them, are desired accordingly, without delay, to appoint one captain, and two lieuten- ants, of persons who now are, or have been in command, well calcula- ted to serve the public in these departments.
By order of Congress.
A true copy. Attest.
Resolved, That the resolve passed this forenoon, recommending to all able bodied men, who have left their sea-port towns to return, be reconsidered.
Adjourned to eight o'clock, to-morrow morning.
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1775.
A letter from General Washington's secretary, dated nine o'clock, P. M., July 12, 1775, was read ; whereupon, Resolved, that the re-
493
THIRD PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
solve passed yesterday, for raising a temporary reenforcement, be re- considered.1
A petition from the selectmen and committee of Harpswell, was read, and committed to Mr. Jolinson, Mr. Perry, and Deacon Baker.
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