liberty of raising eight of those Companies. Likewise, that there be raised in the County of Bristol, including the Towns of Wareham and Rochester, two Companies, consisting of fifty men each, to be stationed, one Company in Dartmouth and the other Company in Wareham and Rochester, equally, and to be under the direction of the Committees of Correspondence of the respective Towns. Also, that there be raised in the County of York four Companies, consisting of fifty men each, to he stationed in that County, according to the agreement of a Joint Committee, consisting of one member from each of the Towns upon the sea-coast in that County, to be chosen for that purpose; when stationed, to be under the direction of the Field-Officers in that County. Also, that there be raised in the County of Cumberland five Companies, consisting of fifty men each, to be stationed as shall be agreed upon by a Joint Committee appointed by each Town upon the sea-coast, viz: two members to be chosen by the Town of Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth, one by Scarborough, one by North Yarmouth, one by Brunswick, and one by Harpswell; and after the division and station is ordered, to be under the direction of the Committees of the respective Towns where they shall be stationed. And, also, that there be raised in the County of Lincoln three Companies, consisting of fifty men each, to be stationed by a Committee consisting of members to be chosen, one by each Town upon the sea-coast in said County, as they shall agree, and then to be under the direction of the Committees of Correspondence of the respective Towns and Plantations where they shall be stationed, and of the Assessors, where no such Committees are appointed.

Also, Resolved, That a Committee of three persons be appointed in each County, to give out Enlisting Orders in their respective Counties where such men are to be raised, and to muster them; and, also, that Colonel Phinney be directed to march the whole of his Regiment, who are equipped with arms, to the Camp at Cambridge, and those who are not equipped, to dismiss.

Likewise, further Resolved, That the thirty men ordered to be raised from the Town of Falmouth, and stationed on the Elizabeth Islands, be augmented to fifty, officers included, and under the same wages and subsistence as is hereafter provided, and to remain there for protection of the Stocks on those Islands; and that each private soldier of the several Companies herein mentioned shall be entitled to the sum of thirty-six Shillings per month, and subsistence, as the other Companies raised for the Colony service, till the further order of this or some future Congress or House of Representatives; and that the pay of the officers be reduced in the same proportion as the pay of the soldiers, viz: Captain’s pay, five Pounds, eight Shillings; First Lieutenant, three Pounds, twelve Shillings; Second Lieutenant, three Pounds, three Shillings; Sergeants, two Pounds, four Shillings; Corporals, Fifers, and Drummers, two Pounds.

Resolved, That each Soldier who shall enlist, shall furnish himself with a good and sufficient firelock, and that no man shall be mustered as a Soldier who is not so furnished accordingly.

Also, Resolved, That each Town where Soldiers shall be stationed as above, shall furnish them with Ammunition out of their stocks, for which they shall be paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony.

A Petition of Robert Shillaber was read, and committed to Captain Batchelder, Captain Goodman, and Major Fuller of Middleborough.

Ordered, That Deacon Bayley, Major Goodwin, Mr. Batchelder, Colonel Coffin, and Colonel Gerrish, be a Committee to consider what method would be most expedient by which to supply the Soldiers to be raised for the defence of the sea-coasts with Provisions.

Ordered, That Dr. Taylor, Captain Stearns, and Mr. Starkweather, be a Committee to consider the Petition of several Officers in Colonel Prescott’s, Colonel Fry’s, and Colonel Bridge’s Regiments.

The Report of the Committee relative to absconding Soldiers was again considered, and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

Whereas, in consequence of an application made to the Provincial Congress sitting in this Town in May last by the Officers of the Army, that some effectual method should be taken for the speedy return of absconding soldiers, or such as should tarry beyond the time limited by furlough, it was then resolved that it should be, and accordingly was recommended to the Committees of Correspondence in the several Towns and Districts in this Colony, or to the Selectmen, where no such Committees were appointed, that they should take effectual care that such absconding or delinquent soldiers should be sent back immediately to their respective Regiments, yet it appears to this Congress that the above resolution has not in every instance had the desired effect; therefore,

Resolved, That it be further recommended to the several Committees of Correspondence in each Town and District in this Colony, or to the Selectmen, where no such Committees are appointed, that they take the most speedy and effectual care that said Resolve be strictly adhered to and punctually executed; and it is also recommended to the good people in the several Towns and Districts aforesaid, to give their utmost aid and assistance to said Selectmen or Committees in executing said Resolve, as the existence of the Army very much depends thereon.

And it is further Resolved, That all necessary expenses which may accrue by returning said absconding or delinquent soldiers to their respective Regiments, be paid, and deducted out of the wages of said soldiers.

Ordered, That the foregoing Resolves be printed in the Cambridge, Watertown, and Worcester Papers.

The Committee appointed to consider what preparations are necessary to be made relative to making paper Bills of Credit, reported. The Report was ordered to lie till there is a fuller House.

Ordered, That Colonel Lincoln, Major Fuller of New-ton, Mr. Singletary, Mr. Durfee, and Mr. Dexter, be a Committee to consider what method is best to be taken for providing each of the soldiers with a coat.

The form of a Warrant for the Surgeons was read, and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

“The Congress of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY to A. B., greeting:

“Being informed of your skill in Surgery, and reposing especial trust and confidence in your ability and good conduct, we do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, the said A. B., to be Surgeon of the Regiment of Foot, whereof . . .  . . . . is Colonel, raised by the Congress aforesaid for the defence of said Colony. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Surgeon to the said Regiment in all things appertaining thereunto, observing such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from the Colonel of said Regiment, according to military rules and discipline established by said Congress, or any your superiour officers, for which this shall be your sufficient warrant.

“By order of the Congress:

“. . . . .  . . . . . . President.

“Dated at Watertown.”

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to make out Commissions for the Officers of the Army, be directed to make out Warrants for the Surgeons, agreeable to the above form, as soon as they have been examined and appointed.

Ordered, That Deacon Fisher, Colonel Thompson, and Mr. Wiswall, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve, for the purpose of preventing the unnecessary expenditure of Gunpowder.

The Committee appointed to consider the Petition of Mr. Obrian, reported, verbally, that the petitioner be served with a copy of the Report of this Congress on the Petition of a number of the inhabitants of Machias. The Report was accepted, and the petitioner had leave to withdraw his Petition.

The Report of the Committee relative to making the Notes and Bills of Credit of this and the other Colonies a tender, being amended, was accepted, and ordered to be authenticated, and printed in the Cambridge, Watertown, and Worcester Papers, and is as follows:

Whereas a former Congress of this Colony, ordered their Receiver-General to issue Notes and Bills upon the credit of this Colony, for the payment and supply of their