MASSACHUSETTS RESOLVES, &c., NOVEMBER, 1776.

Representatives for the State of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, in General Court assembled :

The Petition of MOSES MORSE and PETER WERDEN, in behalf of the Towns of WORTHINGTON, PARTRIDGEFIELD, GAGEBORO', NEW-PROVIDENCE, and EAST-HOOSUCK Plantation, humbly showeth :

That whereas the road passing through the aforesaid towns to Ticonderoga (commonly called the Middle Road) is about forty miles nearer, or less travel, to Ticonderoga than the lower road which passes by Albany : And whereas it is of great importance to this State that said middle road should be amended and put into suitable repair for the convenient passing of teams and carriages to and from this State to Ticonderoga, as well as for the immediate benefit of the inhabitants of the several afore-mentioned towns : We, the aforesaid petitioners, therefore, to encourage a work so beneficial to the publick will cheerfully engage to use our utmost endeavours that said Middle Road shall be amended for the convenient passing of teams and carriages through the several towns above-mentioned, provided that one hundred and fifty pounds may be granted us for that purpose out of the publick Treasury. We therefore pray your Honours would please to make us the aforesaid grant, we being accountable for the faithful disposing of the same for the purpose aforesaid, or otherwise cause said road to be repaired as in your wisdom shall seem best. And, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

MOSES MORSE,
PETER WERDEN.

Watertown, November 8, 1776.

PETITION OF TRISTRAM DALTON AND OTHERS.

State of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY :

To the honourable the Council now sitting in WATERTOWN :

The Petition of TRISTRAM DALTON, of NEWBURY, JOSEPH RUSSELL, JOSEPH BARREL, and JOB PRINCE, of BOSTON, humbly showeth :

That your petitioners, owners of the sloop Satisfaction, burthen ninety tons, armed with fourteen carriage guns, four-pounders, twelve swivels, seven hundred weight of powder, with shot in proportion, navigated by one hundred men, John Stevens, Captain ; Joseph Drinkwater, First Lieutenant ; John Bartlet, Second ; Samuel Broom, Master ; has on board as provisions five tons bread, seventy barrels beef and pork, twenty bushels peas. Said sloop is intended to cruise against the enemies of the United States.

Your petitioners would therefore humbly request your Honours to commission said sloop and commander for the purposes above-mentioned. And, as in duty bound, shall every pray.

JOHN STEVENS,
In behalf of the owners.

Boston, November 4, 1776.

IN COUNCIL, November 9th, 1776.—Read, and Ordered, That the prayer of the above Petition be granted, and a Commission be issued out to the above-named commander, he complying with the resolves of the Congress.

JOHN AVERY, Deputy Secretary.

RESOLVE FOR SUPPLYING TRUCKMASTER AT PENOBSCOT WITH POWDER, &C., FOR THE INDIANS.

Passed November 9, 1776.

Resolved, That the Commissary-General be directed to supply Jonathan Lowder, Truckmaster to the Penobscot Tribe of Indians, with two hundred weight of Gunpowder, at five shillings per pound, and two hundred weight of Lead, at six pence per pound, for the purpose of supplying the Penobscot Tribe of Indians, he paying for the same.

RESOLVE FOR THE DELIVERY OF SALTPETRE FOR MR. LIVINGSTON'S POWDER-MILL, IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.

Passed November 9, 1776.

Resolved, That the Commissary-General of this State be directed to put in barrels the Saltpetre designed to be transported to Mr. Livingston's Powder-Mill, in the State of New-York, and to deliver the same to the Wagonmaster of this State for the Northern department.

RESOLVE ON COLONEL FOSTER'S PETITION.

Passed November 9, 1776.

On the Petition of Colonel Benjamin Foster, in behalf of the Sixth Regiment of Militia, in the County of Lincoln, praying for a supply of Ammunition for said Regiment,

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be so far granted that the Commissary be directed to furnish the petitioner with three hundred and fifty pounds of Gunpowder, at six shillings per pound, and seven hundred pounds of Leaden Balls, at six pence per pound, for the use of his regiment, taking his security for the same, to be paid in one year ; the petitioner to distribute Powder and Lead in due proportion to the Committees of Correspondence, &c., of the several places to which the regiment belongs, and to be kept as publick stocks.

RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF THE COMMITTEE OF MACHIAS.

Passed November 9, 1776.

On the Petition of Benjamin Foster, in behalf of the Committee and inhabitants of Machias,

Resolved, That the account of bringing a considerable number of Prisoners from Machias to Watertown, in August, 1775, be committed to the Committee on Accounts.

Resolved, That Captain Stephen Smith, Truckmaster at Machias, be directed to pay the sum of £5 14s. 2d. to Mr. Jonas Farnsworth, in full of his account for supplies delivered the Indians there the 29th December last.

Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence, &c., of Machias, proceed agreeable to a resolve of this Court respecting Tories' Estates, and serve Stephen Jones, of said Machias, with a copy of this Resolve.

RESOLVE RELATIVE TO THE UTENSILS LEFT BY THE SEA COAST FORCES AT FALMOUTH.

Passed November 9, 1776.

Resolved, That William Frost, Commissary of the seacoast forces, stationed at and near Falmouth, be and he is hereby ordered and directed, when the troops there, or any part of them, are dismissed, to take care of and store the utensils belonging to this State, and which are now in the use of the said troops ; and that Mr. Noyes, a member of this House, be directed to serve the said Frost with an attested copy of this Resolve.

RESOLVE FOR REPAIRING THE MIDDLE ROAD TO TICONDEROGA.

Passed November 9, 1776.

Resolved, That there be paid out of the publick Treasury of this State, to Mr. Hitchcock, Mr. Gates, and Mr. Wright, the sum of £150, for the purpose of amending and putting into suitable repair the Middle Road (so called) to Ticonderoga, through the towns of Worthington, Partridgefield, Gageborough, New-Providence, and East-Hoosuck Plantations, as to the said Committee shall seem most for the publick benefit ; said Committee to be accountable to this Court for the same.

EZRA SARGEANT APPOINTED A COMMISSARY.

The House made a choice, by ballot, of Mr. Ezra Sargeant as a Commissary for the Southern department, agreeable to a resolve which passed the House the 29th of October last, in the room of Mr. Whittemore, who declines serving.

Concurred by Council, November 9, 1776.

RESOLVE FOR SUPPLYING EDWARD BROWN WITH GUNPOWDER.

Passed November 5, 1776.

On the Petition of Edward Brown, about purchasing Gunpowder for breaking stone,

Resolved, That (he prayer of the above petition be granted, and that the petitioner have leave to purchase one quarter hundred weight of Gunpowder out of the publick store of this State, for the purposes above mentioned, and the Commissary-General is hereby directed to sell the same at six shillings per pound.