Resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and hereby is directed to pay to Mr. Jacob Bigelow the sum of thirteen Pounds, for sundry Axes, Shovels, and Spades, and for procuring and carting the same for the use of the Army, agreeable to the directions of this Congress.

Resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and he is hereby directed to pay Jonathan Brown the sum of five Pounds, two Shillings, for sundry Axes, and for collecting the same, for the use of the Army, agreeable to the direction of this Congress.

Resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and he is hereby directed to pay Major A. Fuller seven Pounds, two Shillings, and eight Pence, for Axes, &c., as above.

Resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and he is hereby directed to pay Deacon Jonas Stone the sum of eighteen Pounds, twelve Shillings, and eight Pence, for Axes, &c., as above.

Resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and he is hereby directed to pay Mr. Enoch Ellis the sum of eight Pounds, three Shillings, and seven Pence, for Axes, &c., as above.

The Committee appointed to confer with the General relative to the number of men necessary to be raised for a temporary re-enforcement, reported a Letter from him,* which was committed to the Committee appointed to devise means of raising such re-enforcement, to which Committee Colonel Porter, Mr. Glover, and Captain Parker, were added.

Resolved, That Dr. Church, Dr. Taylor, and Dr. Whiting, be a Committee to take into their custody all the Medicines, Medical Stores and Instruments which are or may be provided for the use of the Army of this Colony, and to dispense them at their best discretion, so that no peculation or needless waste be made of the Medicinal Stores belonging to the publick.

Resolved, That the President have leave to go home in the afternoon.

Adjourned to three o’clock, P. M.

Afternoon.

The Committee appointed to consider the situation of the publick stock of Powder, reported. The Report being amended, was drawn anew, accepted, and is as follows, viz:

This Congress taking into consideration the situation of the publick stock of Powder that is now in Watertown,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committee of Supplies to make a division of said Powder into two or more parcels, as they shall judge requisite; that they deposite one part in this Town, and the remainder in such other Town or Towns as they shall think most expedient.

Ordered, That Col. Lincoln, Mr. Gill, and Captain Stone, be a Committee to examine fifteen persons taken prisoners at Long-Island, and sent to this Congress, by the Committee of Safety.

Ordered, That Dr. Taylor, Mr. Phillips, and Major Fuller, be a Committee to enlarge the commission of the Committee of Safety.

A Letter from the Committee of Safety, requesting this Congress to appoint a Special Committee to make provision for the Poor of Boston and Charlestown, was read. The matter, after debate, was ordered to subside.

The Report of the Committee, for devising means of raising a temporary re-enforcement, was taken into consideration, and after much debate, was recommitted, and Colonel Palmer and Mr. Phillips were added to the Committee.

The Committee appointed to examine the fifteen Prisoners sent to the Congress by the Committee of Safety, reported, verbally, facts as they found them. Whereupon,

Ordered, That Jonathan Winship and Jacob Whipple, two of the prisoners, be discharged immediately; that Jacob Davis, another of the prisoners, be sent to the main guard at Cambridge, the Congress having great reason to suspect that he enlisted in, and deserted from the Army raised by this Colony, and that the officers of the guard be certified in writing of what crime the said Jacob now stands charged; that John Freeman, a negro man, said to be the servant of Mr. Joseph Howett, of Newburyport, be sent to the Jail at Cambridge, there to continue till further orders; that the other prisoners, with the said Jacob and John, be committed to Captain Crafts, to be kept under guard until further orders.

Ordered, That Captain Brown cause suitable provision to be made for the said prisoners.

Ordered, That Mr. Learned be directed to charge the expenses of keeping Mr. Likely, and the guard that attend him, to this Colony.

Ordered, That Major Fuller, Mr. Kollock, and Mr. Crane, be a Committee to consider what is a proper establishment of Salt for the Army, and report.

The Committee appointed to consider a Letter from Captain James Noble to Walter Spooner, Esq., reported a Resolve and a Letter, which were accepted, and are as follow:

Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., Receiver-General, be, and hereby is ordered to pay to Captain James Noble, or order, one hundred Pounds, as part of his Pay-roll as Captain in Colonel Benedict Arnold’s Regiment, in the late expedition against the posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, for the use of said Company.

SIR: We received yours of the 3d instant, by Mr. William Barber, together with your account of expenses, and a muster-roll of your Company, whilst in the service of this Colony under the command of Colonel Benedict Arnold; but before your account can be passed with propriety, it must be examined and adjusted by indifferent persons. Therefore, it is ordered that the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Pittsfield be a Committee for that purpose; and it is further ordered, that you make oath to the truth and justice of your muster-roll, and see that the same be right cast; then charge yourself with the £27 7s. 1d which you received of Colonel Arnold, as advance pay for your Company; also, with the one hundred Pounds now sent you by Mr. Barber, agreeable to your order; then return said roll and account; and when you comply with the above, you will receive the balance due.

To Captain James Noble.

Lieutenant Zachariah Gurney having conducted fifteen persons, who were taken at Long-Island, to this Congress, and the Congress having ordered eleven of them under a guard of this Town, and dismissed the other two, the said Gurney is discharged from further attendance.

The Report of the Committee on Mr. John Gill’s Account was taken up, and accepted, and is as follows, viz:

The Committee on the Account of John Gill beg leave to report, by way of Resolve, as follows:

Resolved, That the Receiver-General be, and hereby is directed to pay to the within named John Gill, the sum of six Pounds, seventeen Shillings, and eight Pence, in full of his services on several journeys, horse hire, expenses, &c.

The Committee appointed to devise means for raising a temporary re-enforcement, again reported. The Report was amended, accepted, and is as follows, viz:

IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, July 12, 1775.

Whereas the great accession of strength to our enemies, by the re-enforcement lately arrived, the extent of the ground we arc obliged to defend against them, and the expectation we have of another attack, makes it absolutely necessary for the safety of this Country, that our own Army should be immediately re-enforced in a more expeditious manner than by filling up the Regiments already in the field by recruits in the common, way of enlistments; therefore,

Resolved, That there be immediately called from the Militia in the several Counties of Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex, Hampshire, Plymouth, Worcester, Barnstable, and Bristol, one thousand Men, to serve as a temporary re-enforcement, so long only as the General Assembly of this Colony shall judge the publick safety shall require them, in the following proportion, viz: Suffolk 75; Essex 75; Middlesex 175; Hampshire

* HEADQUARTERS, CAMBRIDGE, July 12, 1775.

SIR: Upon a conference with the other Generals, respecting the Militia, it has been concluded that one thousand men, to be stationed in and about Medford, will be sufficient for the present service.

His Excellency has also directed me to request of the Congress in his name, that they would urge the Committees in the several Towns to forward and promote the new levies as much as possible, and that they would exert themselves to send to the camp such soldiers as have staid beyond their furloughs, or have left the service, and may be returned to their former homes.

I am, Sir, with much respect, your most obedient humble servant,

JOSEPH REED, Secretary.

*