AN ACT OF THE GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO CONFIRM AND ESTABLISH THE RESOLVES OF THE SEVERAL PROVINCIAL CONGRESSES OF THIS COLONY, JULY 20, 1775. WHEREAS this oppressed colony has, for many months past, been deprived of the free exercise of its usual powers of government, which has necessarily occasioned the public business thereof to be conducted by Congresses; and as many matters of the greatest importance for the recovery and preservation of that liberty, which God, nature, and compact have given to this people, have been resolved, done, and transacted, by Provincial Congresses, some of which have not yet had their full effect: and whereas, the legality of such resolves, doings, and transactions, may hereafter be called in question, and may occasion much litigation, unless confirmed and established in some known constitutional manner: Be it therefore enacted, by the council and house of representatives of this colony, in general court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that all and every [of] the resolves, doings, and transactions of the several Provincial Congresses of this colony, from and after the fourth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, to the twentieth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, be, and they hereby are confirmed and established, as lawful and valid, to all intents, constructions, and purposes whatsoever, as fully and effectually, as if the same resolves, doings, and transactions, had been done by any general court or assembly of this colony. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that whenever any person or persons shall be sued, or prosecuted, before any superior court of judicature, court of assize, and general gaol delivery, or before any inferior court of common pleas, or any court of general sessions of the peace, or before any single magistrate, for any thing done in obedience to, or in compliance with any of the resolves, doings, recommendations, or other proceed ings of said Congresses, such person or persons shall and may give this act, and the record of the resolves, doings, and transactions of the several Provincial Congresses aforesaid, in evidence, under the general issue, and the same thus given in evidence, shall avail to all intents and purposes, as if the same were specially pleaded: any law, usage, or custom, to the contrary notwithstanding. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the records of the resolves, doings, and transactions of the several Provincial Congresses aforesaid, be immediately lodged, and forever hereafter kept in the secretary's office of this colony, and that the secretary shall copy and authenticate all such records of said resolves, doings and transactions, as shall be demanded of him to be used in any of the courts aforesaid, which copies, so authenticated, shall be received as full evidence, in said courts, of all such resolves, doings, and transactions. INDEX. As the table of contents indicates the principal subjects of this volume, the index refers Abbot, John, 610; Joseph, 666; Joshua, Abington, 11, 80, 177, 278, 444, 445, 447, Absconding Soldiers, 258, 410, 411, 414. Adams, Amos, 284; Daniel, 566, 567; Adjutant General, 379, 404, 446. Aid de Camp, 574. Aikin, Benjamin, 12, 62, 81, 84, 141, 163, Airs, Joseph, 572. Albany, 403, 408, 538, 539, 706, 723, 725. Allen, Benjamin, 575; Ethan, 233, 235, Alsop, John, 739. Ames, Benjamin, 305. Amesbury, 8, 78, 274, 457, 615. Amherst, 10, 79, 177, 276, 336, 351, 430, Aminunition, 28, 29, 30, 98, 99, 157, 158, 197, 215, 240, 249, 250, 256, 299, 337, Andover, 8, 78, 215, 256, 274, 334, 382, Andrews, Joseph, 535. Angel, Abiathar, 313; James, 170. Armstrong, George, 586. Army, 22, 95, 111, 114, 120–9, 135, 148, 163, 700, 701, 703, 703, 709, 710, 711, 717, Artillery. See Train. Arundel, 12, 81, 190, 215, 216, 279, 309, Ashburnham, 14, 32, 177, 336, 351, 429, Ashby, 9, 79, 283. 374, 376, 458. Aspinwall, Thomas, 605. Assay Masters, 100. Athearne, James, 279, 479. Atherton, Eliakim, 432. Athol, 14, 82, 177, 277, 336, 351, 429, 459, Atkins, Benjamin. See Aikin. Auchmuty, Doct. 21. Austin, Benjamin, 36, 381; John, 572; Bacon, Jacob, 449, 678; John, 679. Badlam, Ezra, 399, 576. Baker, John, 536; Joseph, 633; Remem- Ball, Epaphrus, 698. Ballard, Joseph, 9; William Hudson, 567, 577. Baltimore, 380, 381. Bancroft, David, 276, 479, 647, 618, 619; Baptists, 65, 67. Bar, Aaron, 578. Barber, John, 591; Nathaniel, 304, 381, Barnard, Isaac, 638; John, 203, 402, 405; Barnes, Edward, 9, 19, 20, 67, 610. Barnstable County, 12, 23, 62, 72, 80, 141, Barrett, James. 9, 16, 61, 78, 109, 146, 148, Bass, Jonathan, 535. Batchelder, Joseph, 277; Josiah, 8, 28, 29, 62, 78, 94, 106, 113, 140, 153, 160, 163, Bates, Barnabas, 621; Joseph, 587. Baylies, William, 12, 81, 83, 141, 157, 159, Bell, Daniel, 432; Joseph, 679; Thomas, Bellingham, 8, 77, 176, 273, 337, 352, 457. Benson, Benoni, 623; Robert, 711. Berkley, 12, 81, 177, 279, 458,626. Bernard, Mr. 397, 402; Col. 683. Berwick, 12, 81, 279, 313, 411, 436, 458. Beverly, 8, 78, 274, 364, 411, 412, 457,615, Biddeford, 12, 81, 158, 279, 411, 430, 458. Bigelow, Jacob, 9, 52, 275, 355, 393, 404, Billerica, 9, 78, 113, 131, 132, 133, 134, 176, 274, 352, 457, 573, 679. Bills of Credit, 186, 187, 246, 255, 256, 257, Bishop, Samuel, 239; William, 500. Blanchard, John, 399; Samuel, 449; Tim- Bland, Richard, 740. Blandford, 10, 80, 177, 275, 337, 351, 458. Bleeker, Henry, 718; John N. 711. Bliss, John, 10, 29, 79, 94, 117, 136, 149, Blodget, Nathan, 691; Samuel, 609. Bodwell, John, 78, 615. See Whale Boice, James, 7, 549, 604; John, 228, 229, Bolton, 14, 82, 102, 177, 256, 277, 336, 351, Bond, Elijah, 610; Henry, 14; Joshua, 690; Nathaniel, 555; Col. 239, 581, 585; Bonney, Benjamin, 276, 355. Borland, John, 532, 538, 548, 549, 551, 567. Boston, 7, 24, 26, 42, 72, 73, 77, 86, 99, 100, British Army at, 31, 43, 85, 86, 87, Army before, 376, 482, 726. Poor of, 29, 53, 54, 55, 59, 143, 175, Removal of Inhabitants, 37, 48, Boston Evening Post, 4, 68, 104; Gazette, 4. Boston Port Bill, 52, 54, 59, 95, 735, 736. Bowdoin, Elizabeth, 753; James, 36, 49. Bowers, Jerathmiel, 12, 36, 81, 84, 152, Bowman, Ebenezer, 668; Thaddeus, 610. Boynton, James, 576; Nathaniel, 610. Bradford, Gamaliel, Jr. 401; Thomas, 49; Bradish, Isaac, 532, 544; John, 628; Mr. Bradley, Amos, 275. Bragdon, Daniel, 12, 29, 81, 141, 237, 279, Brewer, Chauncey, 10, 79, 275; David, 327, 338, 339, 341, 349, 563, 570, 584; Brickett, James, 248, 538. Bridge, Ebenezer, 9, 56, 61, 270, 414, 418, Bridges, Moody, 8. Bridgewater, II, 80, 177, 256, 278, 337, Briggs, Ebenezer, 621; Seth, 621. Brigadier Generals, 350, 360, 363, 379. Brimfield, 10, 80, 177, 275, 337, 351, 430, Bristol, 15, 177, 211, 216, 435, 459. Bristol County, 12, 23, 62. 72, 81, 117, 129, British Goods, 25, 27, 40, 57, 58, 66, 101, British Troops, 31, 43, 46, 47, 71, 85, 86, Broad, Hezekiah, 9, 610. Brookfield, 13, 82, 177, 256, 276, 298, 299, Brooks, Ebenezer, Jr. 610; Eleazer, 10, Browne, Samuel, 83, 102, 106, 141; Wil- Brunswick, 15, 83, 139, 216, 279, 399, 413, Buckman, Edward, 610. Buckminister, Richard, 341; Col. 301. Bullard, Jonathan, 14; Samuel, 9, 610. Bullock, Stephen, 575. Bunker's Hill, 353, 365, 409, 423, 463, 543, Burbeck, William, 153, 373, 569. Burgoyne, General, 481, 483. Burrows, John, 500. Burrill, Ebenezer, 8. Butler, John, 436; Joseph, 672, 673; Capt. Butterfield, Joseph, 610. Buttrick, Nathan, 672, 673. Byard, Robert, 349, 350. Caldwell, John, 277, 321, 399, 405, 420, 96 |