sired to make enquiry relative thereto, and Report at the Adjourn ment The Committee appointed to prepare a Petition to the Governor in Council relative to the Appointment of Special Justices, Reported a Draft which was accepted, and the Town ordered that the same be presented as soon as may be Upon a Motion made and Voted, that the Representation made by a Committee of the late horred Massacre by the Soldiery in King Street, be printed Mr. William Mollineux informed the Town that the whole of the Troops were now removed to Castle Island, and that he had good reason to think, they would all be soon sent out of the Province [237.] Upon a Motion made the following Vote passed unanimously (Viz'.) - The Merchants not only of this Metropolis, but through the Continent, having nobly preferred the publick Good to their own private Emolument: And with a vow to obtain a redress of the Grievances so loudly and Justly complained of, having almost unanimously engaged to suspend their Importations from Great Britain; a measure approved by all Orders, as legal peaceable and most likely of all others to effect the salutary design in view, and which will be regarded by Posterity with Veneration, for the disinterested and truly publick Spirit appearing in it: The Town cannot but express their Astonishment and Indignation, that any of its Citizens should be so lost to the feelings of Patriotism and the common Interest, and so thoroughly and infamously selfish as to obstruct this very measure, by continuing their Importation. · Be it therefore SOLEMNLY VOTED, that the Names of those Persons, few indeed to the Honor of the Town, viz. — JOHN BERNARD, JAMES Mo. MASTERS, PATRICK Mo. MASTERS, JOHN MEIN, NATHANIEL ROGERS, WILLIAM JACKSON, Theophilus LILLIE, JOHN TAYLOR, AME AND ELIZABETH CUMMINS, ISRAEL WILLIAMS ESQ. & SON OF HATFIELD, AND HENRY BARNES OF MARLBURROUGH, be entred on the Records of this Town that POSTERITY may know who those Persons were that preferred their little private Advantage to the common Interest of all the Colonies, in a Point of the greatest Importance; who not only deserted but opposed their Country in a struggle for the Rights of the Constitution. that must ever do it Honor; And who with a design to enrich themselves, basely took Advantage of the generous self denial of their Fellow Citizens for the common Good also Voted, That the Thanks of this Town be given to all the Towns through the Province that have in their late Meetings with a generous & truly publick Spirit, passed such Resolutions and Votes, as must greatly strengthen and confirm the salutary and necessary Measure of Non Importation entred into by the Merchants and Traders of this and other Maritime Places :-At the same time the Town cannot but express their hopes that the Patriotick Spirit so widely diffused, and so nobly ardent, uniting all parts [238.] Of the Province, and disposing them with Alacrity to aid one another upon all Occasions in the common cause, a Spirit not confined to but extending to all the Colonies, will ensure by the blessing of Heaven the Prosperity of the whole, and soon produce a thorough effectual and permanent relief from our great and common Grievances The Committee appointed on the 13th. Instant to procure Subscriptions to an Agreement not to dispose of Forreign Tea untill the Revenue Acts shall be repealed, having Reported to the Town that their number was too small to answer the end of their Appointment Voted, that Messrs. John Ballard Nathaniel Holmes Samuel Salsbury John Simpkins Samuel Ruggles Jun'. Ebenezer Dorr John Lowell be added to the Committee relative to Tea, who are desired to Report as soon as may be That Article in the Warrant (Vizt.) "To consider of some effectual Methods to prevent unlicensed Strangers and other Persons from entertaining and supplying the Youth and Servants of the Town with spirituous Liquors; for the breaking up of bad Houses; and removal of any disorderly Intruders to the Places from whence they came; and for the further discountenancing of Vice, and promoting a Reformation of Manners;" was read & considered whereupon Voted, that Richard Boynton Esq. John Tuder Esq. John Hill Esq. Capt. John Bradford Mr. Ezekiel Price [239.] Be a Committee to take this Article into their Consideration, and Report as soon as may be Voted, that this Meeting be Adjourned to Monday next being the 26. Instant 9. O'Clock. A: M: At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston legally qualified and warned in publick Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Thursday the 22a. of March A: D: 1770 Warrant for calling the Meeting · read William Phillips Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting and took the Oaths respecting his paying and receiving Bills of Credit of the Governments of New Hampshire and Rhode Island as required by an Act of this Province The Committee chosen at an Adjournment of the last Meeting to take up a suitable Vessel to send to England with such Dispatches as the Committee Appointed to make Representation of the late horred Massacre should have to send Reported that they had agreeble to said Vote hired a Schooner of Capt. Gardner for One hundred Pounds and twenty Pounds Sterling which Vessel would be ready for sayling by to Morrow- - But it being the sense of the Town that the whole transactions at the Adjournment of March Meeting on the 19th. Inst. relative to the taking up a Vessel for the purpose aforesaid, was null and void, as the same had not been inserted in the Warrant for calling said Meeting; it was determined to take up this Matter anew; and [240.] That Article in the Warrant (Viz'.) "To know the Mind of the Town whether a Vessel shall be hired as a Packet to carry the Dispatches to London relative to the late Massacre, being read & considered; it was Voted unanimously, that John Barrett Esq. Mr. William Mollineux be and hereby are appointed a Committee to take up for the Town a suitable Vessel as a Packet to carry such Dispatches to London as the Committee to make Representation &c. of the late Massacre in Boston by the Soldiery may have to send―― Capt. Gardner came into Town Meeting and informed the Town, that he had got a Mate for his Schooner, upon whom he could depend, also a Hand extraordinary; and that if it be the mind of the Town; he would endeavor to secure a Landing upon the first English Ground he might make, and then immediately proceed to London in order to deliver with his own hand the Packets he may be intrusted with, to the Gentlemen to whom they shall be directed The Article in the Warrant (Vizt.) "To determine whether the Town will employ any Person beside the Captain of the Packet to be the Carrier of the Dispatches," was read, and considered, and the Question being accordingly put passed in the Negative Whereas Capt. Samuel Dashwood at a former Meeting of the Town generously offered to proceed to London with the Dispatches of the Town relative to the late horred Massacre, without fee or reward therefore Voted, unanimously, That the Thanks of the Town be given to Capt. Dashwood for the above generous offer, [241.] Altho' the Town are since of Opinion that it is not necessary to employ any other Person for that purpose beside the Capt. of the Packet The other Article in the Warrant (Vizt.) "To Agree upon some method of raising Money" for defreying the Charges that may be occasioned by sending a Vessel to England with Dispatches; was also read and considered-whereupon Voted, that the Town Treasurer be and he hereby is impower'd and directed to borrow upon Interest the Sum of One hundred and fifty Pounds Sterling for which he is to give his Negotiable Note or Notes in order to defrey the Charge of Vessels hire and other Expences that may arise upon the sending and delivery of the Towns Dispatches to the Gentlemen to whom they will be directed Upon a Motion made Voted, that The Honble. James Bowdoin Esq. Dr. Joseph Warren Samuel Pemberton Esq. Appointed a Committee to make Representation of the late horred Massacre by the Soldiery in Boston be desired to transmit by the Packet to his Grace the Duke of Richmond, General Conway, and such other Gentlemen as they may think proper, one or more of those Representations so soon as they are printed Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to William Phillips Esq. the Moderator for dispatching the Business of this Meeting Then the Meeting was dissolved [242.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston at Faneuil Hall by Adjournment from March 19 to March 26th 1770. 9. O'Clock A: M: The Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. the Moderator being obliged to attend the General Court setting at Cambridge, and Richard Dana Esq. chosen a Pro. Temp. Moderator during his absence being now confined by sickness - the Inhabitants were directed to withdraw and bring in their Votes for another, when it appeared that Joshua Henshaw Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting Pro. Temp. and took the Oaths respecting his paying and receiving Bills of Credit of the New England Governments as required by an Act of this Province The Committee appointed "to consider of some effectual Methods to prevent unlicensed Strangers and others from selling Spirituous Liquors; for the breaking up of Bad Houses &c. and for the further discountenancing of Vice and promoting a Reformation of Manners" - Reported, that it was their Opinion, that full and ample provision is made in the Laws of this Province for those purposes. And in order more effectually to put said Laws in execution, the Committee recommend that twelve Tything Men one in each Ward of the Town be chosen whose duty is particularly pointed out in the Laws, and if executed properly, may in a great measure answer the good intentions of the Town - which Report having been considered the Question was put - Whether the same shall be accepted - Passed in the affermative: And the Committee were desired to set again and Report further at May Meeting The Town were directed to withdraw and bring in their Votes for twelve Tything-Men and upon sorting them it appeared that Mess: John Preston William Fallass Andrew Oliver [243.] Nicholas Bowes Stephen Whiting Thomas Kemble Benjamin Gooding Daniel Parker were chose Tything-Men for the Year ensuing The Committee appointed to "consider what further steps are necessary to strengthen the Non Importation Agreement; discountenance the Consumption of Tea and for employing the Poor by encouraging Home Manufactures, and to Report to the Town from time to time the most likely means to answer these good purposes" now Report That the best method of employing the Tradesmen and poor People in this Town is in the natural branch of Ship building which has been the staple and principal means of employing of the People; and that they have the pleasure and satisfaction to Report, that there will be three Vessels set up for that purpose in this Town - which Report being put passed in the affermative by a unanimous Vote The Committee appointed to prepare a true state of facts relating to the execrable Massacre perpetrated on the Evening of the 5 Inst., in order that the same be transmitted to Great Britain, having accordingly Reported; and the Report being accepted by the Town and ordered to be printed-And whereas the publishing said Narrative with the Depositions accompanying it in this County, may be supposed by the unhappy Persons now in custody for tryal as tending to give an undue Byass to the minds of the Jury who are to try the same— therefore Voted, that the Committee reserve all the printed Copies in their Hands excepting those to be sent to Great Britain 'till the further orders of the Town [244.] Voted, that the Town Clerk be directed not to give out Copies or deliver any of the Original Papers respecting the late horred Massacre; till the special order of the Town, or the direction of the Selectmen The Committee appointed by the Town to get the Sellers of Tea subscribe not to sell any more Teas, till the late Revenue Acts are repealed - Reported That they had attended that service, and that the Sellers of Tea have very generally signed not to sell, a few Persons excepted, who say they will not be singular, but will sign if its general Mem. 212 Sellers have signed The Votes and Resolutions of the Town of Charlestown respecting Tea delivered in to this Meeting, were read and considered of Upon a Motion made and seconded Voted, that Richard Dana Esq. Samuel Pemberton Esq. be a Committee to supervise the Laws relative to breaking into Houses and Stores; as also other Laws that have appeared difficient & Report such Amendments as they think proper at the May Meeting Voted, that this Meeting be Adjourned to Tuesday 4. O'Clock P: M: Tuesday March 27. 1770. 4 O'Clock P: M: Met according to Adjournment |