Suffolk.-Wrentham, 25; Medway, 10; Bellingham, 6; Walpole, 4; Medfield, 4; . Middlesex.-Marlborough, 20; Littleton, 6; Hopkinton, 9; Westford, 6; Groton, 7; Shirley, 2; Pepperell, 4; Townsend, 4; Dracut, 5; Acton, 5; Dunstable, 5; Tewksbury, 4; Chelmsford, 7; Billerica, 7; Stow, 4; Framingham, 3; Wilming 49 102 Plymouth-Bridgewater, 25; Middleborough, 16; 41 Bristol.-Attleborough, 10; Rehoboth, 15; 25 Worcester, 514; Hampshire, 334; Suffolk, 49; Middlesex, 102; 1065 Resolved, That four o'clock, P. M. be assigned for choosing com. mittees to receive and purchase fire arms agreeably to the foregoing resolve. Afternoon. A letter from the president of the Continental Congress, and a resolve containing several recommendations to this and the other colonies, and two letters, one to the Lieut. Gov. of Rhode Island, and one to the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, brought express by Mr. Fessenden, were read; whereupon, Ordered, that Capt. Morton take charge of the letter to New Hampshire, and Mr. Slead that to Rhode Island, to deliver them immediately, and return to the Congress as soon as may be. Resolved, That the Hon. Col. Warren, Hon. Major Hawley, Hon. Col. Gerrish, Mr. Gerry, Col. Prescott, Deacon Cheever, Capt. Brown, and Capt. Robinson, and the secretary of the Congress, be a committee to notify and call together the members of this Congress in any extraordinary emergency, at any other time, or to any other place, than [that] to which it may stand adjourned. The order of the day [was] moved for: Whereupon, committees were chosen to purchase arms agreeably to the resolve passed in the forenoon the names of the committees chosen are expressed in the following resolve, viz. : For the county of Worcester: Capt. William Page of Hardwick, Capt. Abiel Saddler of Upton, Mr. Hemmenway of Shrewsbury :-For the county of Hampshire: Major Benjamin S. Ely of West Spring field, Major John Bliss of Hadley :-For the county of Suffolk: Capt. Lemuel Kollock of Wrentham :-For the county of Middlesex: Col. Simeon Spaulding of Chelmsford, Capt. Josiah Stone of Framingham: -For the county of Plymouth: Major Ebenezer White of Rochester: -For the county of Bristol: Col. George Williams of Taunton. Adjourned to Sunday morning, eight o'clock. SUNDAY, June 18, 1775. Resolved, That the records and papers of the Provincial Congress be secured and taken care of, at the discretion of the secretary; and that the committee of supplies be, and hereby are directed, to procure a horse for the secretary, that he may have one ready for that purpose on any emergency. A petition from the committee of Waldoborough for powder, was read; whereupon, Resolved, that the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition. Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop appoint some messenger to go to Doct. Church, for the letters it is said he has brought from Philadelphia. Ordered, That Major Hawley, Col. Warren, Mr. Kollock, Mr. Edwards, Col. Gerrish, Doct. Church and Col. Otis, be a committee to prepare a letter to the Continental Congress on the late attack of the king's troops at Bunker's hill, &c., and such other matters as they may think proper, and report to this Congress and also that they take into consideration a letter from the president of the Continental Congress, and several recommendations of the said Continental Congress therein enclosed, received by Mr. Fessenden, and another letter from the said president, with a resolve enclosed relative to a mode of government for this colony; and also to inquire of the committee of supplies, what steps they have taken to procure powder from the other governments of New England.1 (1) The letters of the Hon. John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, with the resolutions enclosed, except that inserted in the journal, are copied below. The despatches for the governments of Rhode Island and New Hampshire, covered transcripts of the same documents. "PHILADELPHIA, June 10th, 1775 "GENTLEMEN :-In consequence of your application to this Congress for advice respecting a form of government to be adopted in the Massachusetts Bay, under your present circumstances, I am directed by the Congress to transmit you their resolution thereon, which is here enclosed. 1 am also to inform you that the Congress have been so pressed with business, that they have been prevented determining upon the other matters mentioned in your letters to them: but they will very soon come under their consideration, and their resolutions thereon shall be forwarded to you." "I also enclose you a resolve of Congress, for furnishing our army with flour; this you will keep secret, at least as far as the nature of it will admit, as the publication may give an alarm, which may prevent the good effects of it." "Last evening, Mr. Fessenden, your express, arrived, with your despatches of June 4th, which I Ordered, That the committee of supplies be directed to write to Rhode Island and New Hampshire, touching the article of powder; also to send to each of said governments a copy of the recommendations of the Provincial Congress. shall this morning lay before the Congress, and, when considered by Congress, their determination shall be immediately transmitted you." "I am, with much esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant, "To the gentlemen of the Provincial Congress, Massachusetts Bay.” "IN CONGRESS, June 9th, 1775. "Resolved, That the Provincial Convention of New York be requested to convey, as soon as possible, to Providence, in Rhode Island, or to any port in the government of Massachusetts Bay, five thousand barrels of flour, for the use of the continental army." "That the committee of correspondence at Providence, or in the government of Massachusetts Bay, where the said flour may be carried, be desired to receive the same, and to forward it to the camp before Boston, as soon as may be, and to lodge such parts thereof as cannot immediately be sent thither, in places of security." "That this Congress wili make provision for defraying the expenses incurred for this service." "Secret as the nature of it will admit, for fear of an alarm being given, and a stop. J. H." "PHILADELPHIA, June 10th, 1775. "GENTLEMEN :-By order of the Congress, I transmit you the inclosed resolutions, passed by the Congress this morning. The necessity of the present emergency requires a speedy compliance with the first, and I need not inform you that the nature of the service requires it to be done with as much secrecy as possible." "I am also directed by the Congress to request you will please to transmit to them, as soon as may be, an estimate of the powder, arms, and ammunition in your colony, including private as well as public stocks." "By Doctor Church, this morning, I forwarded you the resolution of Congress respecting the mode of government." "I am your most obedient servant, JOHN HANCOCK, President." "The inclosed letters for the lieutenant governor of Rhode Island, and the gentlemen of New Hampshire, please immediately, on receipt, to send off by express; pray don't fail." "To the members of the Provincial Congress, Massachusetts Bay." "IN CONGRESS, June 10, 1775. "The Congress earnestly recommend to the several colonies of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and the internal towns of the Massachusetts Bay, that they immediately furnish the American army before Boston, with as much powder, out of their town and other public stocks, as they can possibly spare, keeping an exact account of the quantity supplied, that it may be again replaced or paid for by the continent: this to be effected with the utmost secrecy and despatch." "Resolved, That it be recommended to the committees of the several towns and districts of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and the eastern division of New Jersey, to collect all the saltpetre and brimstone in their several towns and districts, and transmit the same, with all possible despatch, to the Provincial Congress of New York." "That it be recommended to the Provincial Congress of New York, to have the powder mills in that colony put into such a condition, as immediately to manufacture into powder, for the use of the continent, whatever materials may be procured in the manner above directed." "Resolved, That it be recommended to the several inhabitants of the colonies, who are possessed of saltpetre and sulphur for their own use, to dispose of them, for the purpose of manufacturing gunpowder." "Resolved, That the saltpetre and sulphur, to be collected in consequence of the resolves of Congress for that purpose, be paid for out of the continental fund." "A true copy from the minutes. CHA'S THOMPSON, Sec'y." [Afternoon.] Ordered, That Col. Thurston, Col. Parks and Doct. Corbett, be at committee to consider a petition from Egamagon Reach; and also a petition from Deer Island, [for supplies of provisions.] Adjourned to Monday morning, eight o'clock. MONDAY, June 19, 1775. Ordered, That Mr. Bonney, Mr. Foster and Col. Thompson, be and hereby are appointed a committee to repair immediately to Cambridge, and inquire what methods are taking to supply the army at the intrenchments with victuals and drink, and take effectual care that they be well supplied without delay. Ordered, That Col. Parks, Deacon Fairbanks and Doct. Whiting, be, and hereby are appointed a committee to take into consideration a letter from General Ward, respecting the supplying the soldiers with blankets and other articles lost in battle, also for providing spears for defence.1 Doct. Hall, Doct. Jones and Mr. Bigelow, were appointed a committee to consider the expediency of establishing another hospital for the sick and wounded of the army, and ordered to sit forthwith. Deacon Bailey, Capt. Goodman and Mr. Fisher, were appointed a committee, to inquire of the committee of supplies, how far they have proceeded to supply the soldiery with blankets, &c., and make report. Capt. Goodrich, Mr. Aikin and Capt. Dwight, were appointed to consider a letter from the Hon. Jedediah Preble and Hon. Enoch Freeman, respecting Col. Phiney's regiment being commissioned for the defence of the sea coasts.2 (1) Two letters were received from Gen. Ward, on the 19th of June, addressed to the president of Congress. "CAMBRIDGE, June 19, 1775. "SIR:-The honorable Congress are hereby informed, that, in the late action, many of the soldiers lost their blankets and clothes; they are now in a very suffering condition on that account, and must, in order to fit them for duty, be immediately supplied, especially with blankets; and many that were not in the action are destitute of blankets." "It is requested, that the troops may be supplied also with a large number of spears or lances, for defending the breast works. In the late action, spears might have saved the intrenchment. By order of the general. JOSEPH WARD, Sec'ry." "HEAD QUARTERS, June 19, 1775. "SIR-I must earnestly entreat the Congress to furnish the train of artillery, with a company of artificers immediately, as the army suffers greatly for want of them. This ought to have been one of the first establishments, and I hope the Congress will not delay the matter a day longer. I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, ARTEMAS WARD." (2) The letter from the Hon. Jedediah Preble and Hon. Enoch Freeman follows: "FALMOUTH, June 14, 1775. "HONORED SIR :-These wait on you by Colonel Phiney, who informs us, he has ordered the The committee appointed to consider the expediency of establishing certain officers for taking care of the ordnance stores, viz., storekeeper, conductors, and clerk; also, the establishment of a company of artificers, &c., reported: the report was amended and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : The committee appointed to consider the expediency of establishing certain officers for taking care of the ordnance stores; also what artificers, and the number, that may be necessary for the army, and in what way they shall be established, have attended that service, and beg leave to report as follows: That, in addition to the storekeeper already appointed by this Congress, there be established four conductors of stores, and two clerks for the ordnance department; and a company of artificers, to consist of a master carpenter or overseer, with 49 privates; and the committee of safety be desired to recommend to this Congress, fit persons for the offices abovenamed; and if any such privates, who are now engaged in either of the regiments of the Massachusetts army, are inclined to join the abovesaid company, they may have leave so to do, they relinquishing their pay as soldiers, from the time they engage as artificers, and be equipt with fire arms, and accoutrements; and the overseer, when appointed, be ordered to consult the chief engineer with respect to the number of each kind of artificers that may be necessary, and that he complete his company, and make return thereof to this Congress, with all possible despatch. Your committee, furthermore, beg leave to report an establishment for the officers and privates above mentioned, viz,: The storekeeper, $80 per month: four conductors, each $48 do. : one master carpenter, or overseer, $80 do. : two clerks, each $48 do. : 49 privates, they to find their own tools, $50 do. each. All which is humbly submitted. ELISHA PARKS, per order. Resolved, That three o'clock, P. M., be assigned for the choice of a president of this Congress, in the room of the Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq., supposed to be killed in the late battle of Bunker Hill. The committee appointed to take into consideration the resolve of men lately enlisted in this county, to guard the sea coasts and islands within said county, to secure the cattle and sheep from the ravages of cruisers from the navy but, as no provision is made for their subsistence, it cannot be expected they can continue to do duty without. We refer you to Colonel Phiney for particulars. Four Indian chiefs arrived here this day, with Captain Lane, from the Penobscot tribe. We hope their expectations will be answered, which will lay a foundation for the securing to our interest the whole tribe." "We are, honored sir, your most obedient, humble servants, JEDEDIAH PREBLE, Hon. Joseph Warren, Esq., to be communicated. |