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Thursday, May 25, 1775. Met according to adjournment. Voted, That Messrs. Samuel Sherburn, Pierce Long, John Dudley, Esq., be a Committee to bring in a draught empowering the Committee of Safety and Committee of Supplies to act in the recess of this Congress; and also to recommend to this body some suitable person for a Commissary. Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Farrar and the Rev. Mr. Stearns be added to the above-mentioned Committee. Voted, That Moses Emerson, Esq., be Commissary for the Army. Voted, That the Congress sit by adjournment from day to day, till the return of the Committee from Cambridge. Friday, May 26, 1775. Met according to adjournment. Voted, The following Instructions to the Committee of Safety: That the Committee of Safety be empowered and directed, in the recess of the Congress, to take under their consideration all matters in which the welfare of the Province in the security of their rights shall be concerned, except the appointment of the Field-Officers, and take the utmost care that the publick sustain no damage; and that they act in the following manner: 1st. That they see to it that whatever plans have been determined upon by the Congress to be immediately carried into execution, which have not been entrusted to the management of any particular persons or Committee, shall be executed by such persons, and in such ways, as the Committee shall judge best. 2d. If any exigence not provided for by the Congress requires immediate attention—such as marching Troops raised to repel an invasion in any part, or directing the motions of the Militia within the Province, or without the Province, with their own consent for the same purpose; or make use of any special advantage for securing Military Stores, or securing any important Post, or preventing our enemies from securing advantageous Posts, or from obtaining Military Stores or Provisions—immediately they shall take the most prudent and effectual method to accomplish the above and similar purposes. 3d. That they be and hereby are empowered and directed to apply to the Committee of Supplies for the necessary Stores, Provisions, &c., for the effectual carrying the aforesaid Instructions into execution. Voted, That a copy of Colonel Fenton’s Letters which have been read in Congress; also, a copy of a Letter from the Congress to Colonel Fenton, be sent to the Towns of Portsmouth, Greenland, and Rye. Adjourned to three o’clock, P. M. Met according to adjournment. Voted, That a Company, not exceeding sixty men, in the Northwesterly parts of this Colony, be forthwith enlisted, to be ready to act as occasion may require; that at present a small party of them, not exceeding ten men at a time, be employed to guard the passes and gain intelligence; and that those only who are in actual service shall be under pay; and that the enlisting and further directing them be referred to the Committee of Safety. Voted, That the Committee of Supplies be empowered and directed to furnish the Commissary with whatever Military Stores and Provisions the Committee of Safety shall think necessary. And that they and each of them be empowered to take up such Stores, &c., on the faith of this Colony, on the best terms, and from such person or persons as they can procure them; and also that they, or the major part of them, be empowered to borrow, on the faith of this Colony, any sum not exceeding Ten Thousand Pounds, lawful money, as the Committee find necessary, to answer the directions from the Committee of Safety. And this Convention, for themselves and constituents, plight their faith and estates to said Committee of Supplies, as their bondmen to all intents and purposes, for the payment of whatever sum they hire or borrow in consequence of this Vote. Adjourned to Wednesday, ten o’clock, A. M. Wednesday, May 31, 1775, Met according to adjournment. Voted, That the division of the two thousand men raised and to be raised in this Colony, into Regiments and Companies, be referred to the Committee of Safety, for them to report their opinion to the Congress as soon as may be. Adjourned to three o’clock, P. M. Met according to adjournment. The Committee of Safety reported as their opinion, that the two thousand men be divided into three Regiments, and each Regiment into ten Companies, as equally as can conveniently be done. Voted, That the foregoing Report be received, and that the Regiments and Companies be divided accordingly. Voted, That the enlisting men in this Colony by persons belonging to any other, is a wrong measure, and ought to be discouraged. A Petition being read, signed by twelve persons, praying that James Read, Esq., might not be commissioned in the Army, as he had, heretofore, shown himself inimical to the liberty of his Country; and no person appearing to prove or enforce the Petition, voted that it be dismissed. Voted, That the thanks of this Congress be given to the party who this day have removed sundry Cannon from the sea-coast in this Colony, to the Town of Portsmouth, and to Doctor Hall Jackson in particular, for assisting in the matter and bringing us the intelligence. Voted, That Major Hobart be Muster-Master to muster Captain Adams’s Company. Adjourned till to-morrow, eight o’clock. Thursday, June 1, 1775. Voted, That two Companies, as soon as they can be properly mustered and equipped, be sent to guard the sea-coast for the present. Voted, That the two Companies first equipped and mustered, be sent to guard the sea-coast. Voted, That there be three Field-Officers appointed for each Regiment exclusive of the General Officers. The complaint of Joseph Reille against Major Hobart, read and considered. Voted, That the Petition or complaint be dismissed. Voted, That Major Hobart be empowered to administer to the same oath to Soldiers in the common service, as has been taken in the Massachusetts service. Voted, That James Reed, Esq., be appointed Colonel of a Regiment. Voted, That Israel Gilman, Esq., be appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of Colonel Reed’s Regiment, Voted, That Nathan Hale be Major of the aforesaid Regiment. Whereas in the course of the present disputes it may be necessary to import on the risk of the Colony a quantity of Military Stores: Resolved, That the Committee of Supplies be, and they hereby are empowered and directed to import or cause to be imported from any place whatever, such and so many Stores aforesaid, not exceeding the value of three thousand Pounds, lawful money, and the same to risk at their discretion, with or without making insurance on the vessels or cargoes which may be so employed, sent out, or imported. Voted, That the Committee of Safety be empowered to give out Enlisting Orders to ten persons to enlist each a company of sixty-two Soldiers, including non-commissioned officers, to make a Regiment, to be under the command of Colonel James Reed. Resolved, That the Committee of Portsmouth, together with Captain Ezekiel Worthen, be desired to provide a number of Fascines; and also to procure proper Carriages for those Guns removed from Jerry’s Point; and also such other materials as they may think necessary for erecting a Battery to hinder the passage of Ships up to the Town; and also that they endeavour, if it can be done with secrecy and safety, to get what Shot may be at the Fort at Newcastle; and that all those matters be done with the utmost secrecy the matter will allow of, and then determine upon some suitable place for a Battery, where the materials, when completed, may suddenly be removed to. Whereas his Excellency the Governour of this Colony, in calling a General Assembly, to meet at Portsmouth in February last, required three new Towns that had never sent Members before to elect persons to represent them in said Assembly, and as said Assembly are to sit by adjournment
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