Resolve to notify the adverse party of the prayer of said Petition.

The Petition of Joseph Palmer, read, and referred over to the next session,

Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee respecting the Oaths proper and necessary to be taken by the several Officers of this Colony.

Read and concurred, and Ordered, That Major Hawley, Mr. Cushing, and Colonel Dwight, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to bring in a Bill accordingly.

A Memorial of Enoch Freeman, Esq., setting forth that the Selectmen of Falmouth had supplied the Soldiers stationed there with a quantity of Powder, Ball and Flints, and praying that the same may be replaced or paid for: also praying for three or four barrels of Powder, by way of loan or otherwise, for the defence of said Town, was read, and committed to Major Cross, Deacon Nicholls, and Colonel Cutt.

Moses Gill, Esq., brought down a Bill for ratifying the Resolves of the several Provincial Congresses. Read a first and second time, and ordered to lie till Monday morning.

The Advertisement, directing all persons possessed of any duplicates or Receipts given by Henry Gardner, Esq., for any publick Moneys paid him, which was read the tenth instant, was again read, and accepted.

Sent up for concurrence.

A Petition of Thomas Goldthwait and others, late of the Garrison at Fort Pownall, praying for pay for their services, was read, and committed to Colonel Lovell, Colonel Perry, and Deacon Rawson.

The Committee appointed to consider the Resolves of the Continental Congress relative to manufacturing Saltpetre, was read, and recommitted to Major Hawley, Dr. Whiting, Captain Partridge, Mr. Cushing, and Captain Goodman.

Joseph Reed, Esq’s. Letter, brought down yesterday, relative to William Minns, was read, and thereupon,

Ordered, That Colonel Freeman and Colonel Otis, with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to examine the said William Minns, and report what is proper to be done with him.

Resolved, That the Committee of Supplies be, and they are hereby directed to deliver to Joseph Batchelder, Jun., two half-barrels of Powder, for the use of the Town of Beverly, it being to replace the two half-barrels lent the Colony the 18th June last.

In Council, August 19, 1775: Read and concurred.

Benjamin White, Esq., brought down the Advertisement for calling in the Receipts given by Henry Gardner, Esq.

Passed in Council, with amendment, viz:

“In, Council, August 19, 1775: Read and concurred, with the amendment, viz: dele the words “without any fee or reward therefor.”

Sent down for concurrence.

Read and non-concurred, and the House adhere to their own vote.

John Taylor, Esq., brought down the Report of the Committee appointed to consider what is proper to be done with Governour Hutchinson’s Letters, viz:

“ In Council, August 19,1775.

“ The Committee above-named report, that it is of great importance that the Letters and other papers of the late Governour Hutchinson be carefully preserved, as they contain documents for history of great moment, and that evidence in the handwriting of a man, whose nefarious intrigues and practices have occasioned the shedding of so much innocent blood, and brought such horrid calamities on his native Country, may be preserved for the full conviction of the present and future generations; and therefore that such of the Letters and papers aforesaid as are not now in the custody of the Honourable Samuel Dexter, Esq., of Dedham, be delivered to him, and, together with those already under his care, faithfully kept by him, until the further order of this Court, and that such of them be published from time to time as he shall judge proper.

“JOHN ADAMS, per order.”

Read and concurred.

The Report of the Committee appointed on the Petition of Messrs. Obrian and Foster, in behalf of the Inhabitants of Machias. Read, and ordered to lie on the table till the afternoon.

Benjamin White, Esq., brought down from the Board the Resolve upon the Petition of the Selectmen of the Town of Watertown, respecting the removal of the Poor of the Town of Boston.

Ordered, That Monday, ten o’clock, be assigned for the choice of a Committee to prepare an estimate of the charges which have arisen to this Colony in the defence of the common cause.

Ordered, That Mr. Hopkins, Colonel Orne, and Major Brooks, be a Committee to consider what provision shall be made for the Indian Chief of the Tribe of St. Fran†ois, on his journey from this place to Ticonderoga.

Afternoon.

Ordered, That a Message go to the honourable Board, to know if they have passed upon the Bill for the emission of an Hundred Thousand Pounds; and if they have, to know whether they have concurred.

Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., came down and informed the House, that the honourable Board had not concurred in the Bill for the emission of One Hundred Thousand Pounds.

Ordered, That the Secretary be directed to bring down the said Bill to the House.

The Bill was accordingly brought down, and read.

Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., brought down from the Board their Resolve for appointing a Standing Committee of Intelligence, and also a Letter to General Schuyler, relative to one of the Chiefs of the St. Fran†ois Indians.

Upon a motion made by Major Fuller, requesting some instructions with regard to the articles of Clothing received in accordance to the Resolve of the 9th of July last,

Ordered, That the whole cost necessarily arising upon said Clothing be put upon those articles.

John Colvill’s Account, recommitted to the Committee on Accounts.

The Bill for an emission of One Hundred Thousand Pounds was read again the second time, and amended, and ordered to be read again on Monday morning, nine o’clock.

Then the House adjourned till Monday morning, nine o’clock.

Monday, August 21, 1775.

An Account of the Selectmen of Newton, for thirty-three Shovels and thirteen Spades, delivered at the Ordnance Store, was read, and committed to the Committee on Accounts.

The Report of the Committee on the Petition of Benjamin Foster and Jeremiah Obrian, of Machias.* Read and accepted.

Whereas the Inhabitants of Machias have been at considerable expense in fixing two Armed Vessels for the defence

*To the Honourable the Council and House of Representatives of the Colony of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, assembled at WATERTOWN, the 19th day of JULY, A. D. 1775:

The Petition of Benjamin Foster and Jeremiah Obrian, in behalf of the inhabitants of Machias, humbly sheweth: That whereas your Petitioners have been at great expense in fixing a Privateer for the defence of the place, and its situation is such that it may be easily blocked up by a small vessel and stop all communication. We entreat with submission that there may be commissions for the officers, and some men stationed on board of her, to be ready on any emergency, to take the Troops on board that are stationed there, when thought proper by our Committee: otherwise, we humbly conceive that if said Privateer should engage an Armed Vessel, and be taken, (which we are determined by divine assistance never to be,) we shall be deemed and treated as pirates. We would also inform your Honours that there is an estate belonging to Ichabod Jones, formerly of Boston, in the hands of Stephen Jones, of Machias. Your Petitioners humbly beg that your Honours would take it into consideration, and order said estate to be taken care of by the Committee of Safety at Machias, or some proper person that your Honours shall point out; and that the income of said estate may defray some of the charges that have arisen by reason of said Jones being an enemy to his Country. We would inform your Honours that in taking the first tender, one of the men that was killed has left a poor helpless widow and six small children, entirely destitute of the necessaries of life; and a number of wounded men have lost their whole summer by being wounded, and will stand in great need of some relief. If your Honours, after consideration, would be pleased to give directions so that the profits of said Jones’s estate may be applied for the benefit of those that have met with these misfortunes, your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

BENJAMIN FOSTER.
JEREMIAH OBRIAN.