Resolved, That Mr. Borland’s house be appropriated for the use of the Committee of Safety; and the Quarter-Master General is directed to provide Quarters for the Troops now lodged at said house.

Voted, That the Quarter-Master General be directed to remove as many of the three Companies now at Mr. Borland’s, to the house of Doctor Kneeland, as the house can accommodate, and that the three Companies in Mr. Vassal’s house be placed at Mr. Foxcroft’s house, and that Mr. Borland’s house be cleared and cleansed as soon as possible.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Honourable Congress, that the Records of the Probate Office for the County of Middlesex, supposed to be at Mr. Danforth’s and Doctor Kneeland’s houses, be removed to Doctor Minot’s, at Concord, and, that the Records of the County, at Mr. Foxcroft’s office, be removed to said Minot’s house.

The following Certificate was delivered to Mr. John Goddard, viz:

“This is to certify, that Mr. John Goddard has been appointed by the joint Committees of Safety and Supplies as Wagon-Master to this Colony, to convey such articles of Stores from one part of this Colony to another as the publick exigencies shall require, under the direction of the Commissary-General and Ordnance Store Keeper, and that such other Wagoners or Drivers are to be employed, as he shall recommend for that purpose.”

The following Permit was given to Captain Walker:

“Permit Captain John Walker, now on his parole of honour, to pass unmolested to his family at Worcester.”

Mr. John Goddard, Wagon-Master, was directed and empowered, in case of emergency, to impress such Wagons and Cattle as shall be requisite for the publick service.

Voted, That the clearing Mr. Borland’s and Mr. Vassal’s houses be suspended till further orders.

Voted, That Thomas Austin, of Charlestown, be, and hereby is appointed an Armourer for the Army.

Voted, That the above Vote, appointing Mr. Thomas Austin one of the Armourer for the Army, be, and hereby is reconsidered.

May 16. 1775,

In a Letter from Colonel James Barrett, of this day, it is represented, that a prisoner now at Worcester is a Paper-maker, and that Mr. James Boice, of Milton, is in want of such a person in his Paper Manufactory; therefore,

Resolved, That Colonel Barrett be, and he hereby is directed and empowered, to remove said prisoner from Worcester to said Boice’s Manufactory in Milton.

Voted, That Captain Hill, and four men, with four prisoners, have an order for Supplies on the Taverners and Innholders in the Towns they pass through.

Whereas, it is recommended by the Council of War, that fifty-four Whale-Boats be immediately provided for the use of this Colony:

Resolved, That a copy of said Vote of the Council of War be transmitted to the Committee of Supplies, and that they be desired to procure and place said Boats, agreeable to the recommendation of the Council of War.

Voted, That Captain Butler be desired to furnish those men of his own Company with Arms, who are destitute thereof.

By a Resolve of the Provincial Congress, the following is the establishment for ten Companies of Matrosses:

Voted, That Colonel Gridley have one set of Beating Orders, for a Company of Matrosses.

Voted, That Colonel Azor Orne have one of the College Arms, he giving a receipt for the same.

May 17, 1775.

Whereas, it is determined, in Council of War, that ten Swivels be immediately provided for the use of the Army, and delivered in Camp, at Cambridge:

Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing Vote be transmitted to the Committee of Supplies, and that they be desired to procure said Swivel-Guns accordingly.

Resolved, That the three pieces of Cannon, with the Stores, now at Waltham, be immediately removed to Watertown, near the bridge, by advice of the General; and that Mr. Elbridge Gerry, one of the Committee of Supplies, be desired and empowered to remove the same.

Ordered, That Colonel Orne, Doctor Church, and Colonel Palmer, be a Committee to repair to the Provincial Congress, and request, that forthwith the duty of the Committee of Safety be precisely stated, and that said Committee be empowered by Congress to conduct in such manner as shall tend to the advantage of the Colony; and justify the conduct of said Committee, so far as their proceedings are correspondent with the trust reposed in them; and to inform the Congress, that until the path of their duty is clearly pointed out, they must be at a total loss how to conduct, so as to stand justified in their own minds, and in the minds of the people of this Colony.

Mr. William Beman, in Colonel Fellows’s Regiment, is appointed by this Committee to act as an Armourer for the forces posted at. Roxbury.

Resolved, That Mr. Joseph Austin, of Charlestown, be directed to attend upon the Committee of Safety, immediately.

Voted, That Colonel Fellows be directed to procure a Shop and Tools, and every material necessary for an armourer, at Roxbury, to work immediately in the Colony service.

Voted, That the Commissary deliver Mr. Matthew Clark sixty Oars, for the use of this Colony.

Voted, That the carrying any Hay into the Town of Boston, on account of John Borland, Esq., be suspended until further order from this Committee.

Voted, That Mr. Stephen Hall be appointed to inspect the College Walls, and see that they be kept in proper repair.

Voted, That the Selectmen of Cambridge be directed to supply General Ward with four half barrels of Powder, for the use of this Colony.

Whereas, General Gage has not kept his agreement with the inhabitants of the Town of Boston, but, notwithstanding his said agreement, has prevented, and even refused said inhabitants, with their effects, from moving into the country: Therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Congress, that they rescind their Resolution of the 30th ultimo, permitting the inhabitants of this. Colony to remove, with their effects, into the Town of Boston, which Resolution was founded upon said agreement.

Resolved, That Colonel Orne and Colonel Palmer be directed to attend the Congress, with the above Resolve.

Resolved, That in case of an alarm, this Committee will repair to Coolidge’s Tavern, in Watertown.

Upon a motion made, Voted, That Captain How be directed to restore the six sets of Enlisting Papers, which he this day took out without the consent of the Committee, by a fraud practised upon the Chairman.

Voted, That application be made to his Excellency General Ward, that he would order Edward How under guard, until this Committee can have a full hearing of his case.

Whereas, one Mr. Mellicant, of Waltham, who is an officer in His Majesty’s service, under half pay, is suspected, by means of his, said Mellicant’s, wife having free access into and out of the Town of Boston, of communicating such intelligence to our enemies as may have a tendency to injure the important cause we are engaged in, and, in some degree, defeat the plans forming for the salvation of this Colony and Continent: Therefore,

Resolved, That the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Waltham, be, and hereby are directed and empowered to take such effectual methods for (he preventing any intelligence going into the Town of Boston, by means of the abovesaid Mr. Mellicant, or any of his family, as to them, in their wisdom, shall seem meet.