To the Honourable Provincial Congress of MASSACHUSETTS, now sitting at WATERTOWN, within the County of MIDDLESEX, this twelfth day of JUNE, 1775:

The Memorial of HENRY HOWELL WILLIAMS, humbly sheweth:

That your memorialist hath, for eleven years last past, dwelt on an island in Boston Bay, commonly called Noddle’s Island, at a very high rent, and in order to pay the same was obliged to keep a large stock of horses, cattle, sheep, &c.; and that during all the years aforesaid hath paid very large taxes for said island, stock, &c., for the support of Government; and hath always endeavoured faithfully to discharge his duty, as a good member of society, towards all men, and all that was theirs. That, on Saturday, the 27th day of May last, a number of armed troops, commonly called Provincials, came on to said island, by way of Hog Island, and did then and there kill or carry away eight horses and three cows, part of the aforesaid stock, and also burnt and destroyed one dwelling-house and barn, with all the household goods therein contained, Wearing apparel, &c. That on Monday, the 29th of May, the same or another number of said armed troops, came again on to said island, and then and there did burn and destroy two other dwelling-houses, goods, &c., and three barns; and at the same time did take away and drive off from said island about five hundred old sheep, and about three hundred and forty lambs, with between thirty and forty head of horned cattle, the property of your memorialist, together with a further number of horses, hogs, &c., &c. And that on Tuesday, the 30th day of May aforesaid, they entered again on to said island, and then and there proceeded and burnt your memorialist’s mansion house, with all the barns, corn-houses, and store houses, stores, provisions, goods, house furniture, wearing apparel, liquors, and utensils of all sorts, to a very considerable amount and value: And on Saturday, the 10th day of June, instant, entered again, and burnt and destroyed the warehouse, the last building on said island, by which means your poor memorialist is stripped almost naked, and destitute of any place to lay his head, with a very large family of children and servants, to the amount of between forty and fifty in number, that are destitute of any business or supplies but from your memorialist.

These are therefore to request your Honours, will take his most distressed circumstances into your wise consideration, and make such order thereon as in your wisdom shall seem meet, and, as in duty bound, will pray.

HENRY HOWELLWILLIAMS.

SPRINGFIELD (MASSACHUSETTS) COMMITTEE.

Springfield, June 12, 1775.

Whereas, the Committee of Correspondence for this Town have signified to me, that many suspicions have been conceived of me, in this and other parts of the Country, respecting my disposition and conduct, in regard to our publick affairs; and have therefore, agreeable to the order of the Provincial Congress of the 8th of May last, thought proper to inquire into the same, and have called upon me for the assurance and satisfaction therein mentioned: in conformity to such request, I have assured said Committee, and beg leave respectfully to assure the publick, that I have always conceived a most tender regard for the liberty and privileges of my Country, and the greatest concern at every prospect of its injury or oppression; that however I may, as very probably I have, committed many errours and mistakes in the little part I have had in the publick affairs of the Province, yet that I never entertained a sentiment, or did any thing knowingly, that was unfriendly to its interest, but always endeavored, according to my ability, with good conscience to promote it.

That wherein I have heretofore in any of those matters, unhappily thought differently from many of my brethren, I humbly apprehend I thought with modesty, and acted with integrity, moderation, and decency, and in some good degree as became one who realized the account he was to give of his conduct. That as a private member of society, I have long since submitted myself to the publick sense and opinion; that I have always conformed myself to the regulations of the former Continental Congress; that I will by no means obstruct any measures that may be taken for the common defence; that I am determined to conform myself to all such future regulations as may be dictated by the wisdom of the Continent; and to join my countrymen, on all occasions, according to my abilities, in defence of the rights and liberties of America.

JOHN WORTHINGTON

This Committee having examined John Worthington, Esq., with respect to his principles and conduct, agreeable to the order of the Provincial Congress of the 8th of May last, and having received full and ample assurance of his friendly disposition to his Country, and of his readiness to join in defence of its rights and liberties; hereby declare their full satisfaction and confidence therein; and recommend him to the favourable opinion of the publick, and to the treatment and respect due to a friend of his Country.

By order of the Committee:

NATHANIEL BREWER, Chairman.

N. B. This Town in town-meeting having heard him on the same matters, voted themselves also satisfied therewith.

COMMITTEES OF CHELMSFORD, ETC., MASSACHUSETTS.

Chelmsford, June 12, 1775.

Whereas, I, Timothy Brown of Tewksbury, have been suspected as an enemy to the liberties of America, I do hereby acknowledge that I have in times past said something (though with no inimical design) that were taken as of an inimical nature. I am heartily sorry I said those things, and desire the forgiveness of all persons that I have offended thereby; and do declare myself a friend to the Charter privileges of my Country, and that I will use all lawful endeavours to maintain and defend the same.

TIMOTHY BROWN.

The above written, acknowledgment was accepted by the Committee of Correspondence for the Towns of Chelmsford, Billerica, and Tewksbury, and they do hereby recommend the above named Timothy Brown to the charity and friendship of the good people through the Country.

In the name and by order of the Committee of said Towns:

SIMEON SPALDING, Chairman.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, now sitting at WATERTOWN, in said Province:

The Petition of the Committee of Safety for and in behalf of the Town of KITTERY, humbly sheweth:

That the Committee of Safety for this Town earnestly desire the favour of making a representation to your Honours of the distresses and insults we are daily subjected to, from the hands of our enemies, being constrained thereto by the duty and regard we owe to said Town, our families, and the community.

Such threatenings being sent on shore, by letters and otherwise, from the Captains of the Scarborough and Canceaux men-of-war, as would disgrace us as Englishmen and rational beings, should we tamely pass over. We are told, that our houses shall be beat down, and the inhabitants made prisoners of, whenever it is in their power, with all the horrours of bloodshed and butchery laid before us. Three cannon-shot have already been fired upon the side opposite to this Town, among the houses, but providentially no lives lost. Although we keep a regular Watch, night and day, we are in expectation every moment, on the least pretence, of having our habitations and effects demolished, and our persons seized as aforesaid.

We are already cut off from all provisions, salt, and molasses, by water; and notwithstanding our being in some measure prepared to defend with musketry, we are destitute of the necessaries for the use of cannon, of which we have two very good ones, and a prospect of obtaining more, having also a very advantageous place for a battery, under some considerable improvement, erected by the late Sir William Pepperell, on the news of the Chebucta Fleets appearing on the Nova-Scotia shore. The inhabitants are willing and ready to exert themselves for the honour of