Upon the complaint of Dennis Pendergast against Owen Orke, for stealing from him a number of Dollars and Crowns, a warrant issued from this Congress to apprehend the said Owen Orke; who being apprehended and brought before this Congress, the matter of said complaint is referred to a Committee, viz: Samuel Chase, James Betton, David Lawrence, Benjamin Gilts, John Dudley, Ebenezer Smith, Enoch Hale, and Ichabod Rawlings, Esq., the Reverend Messrs. Abiel Foster and Stephen Farrar, and Deacon Samuel Brooks, and Deacon James Knowles, who are to hear, try, and determine the same.

Friday, August 25, 1775.

Voted, That the balance of General Folsom’s Account for his services as a Delegate for this Colony, as settled by a former Congress, be paid by the Receiver-General out of the Publick Treasury, by an order from the Committee of Safety.

Voted, That George Jaffrey, Esq., late Treasurer of this Colony, be and hereby is directed to lay his Treasury Accounts before this Congress (in order that the same may be settled) on Tuesday next, if the Congress be then sitting, or on the second day of the sitting of the Congress after that time.

Voted, That the Members of the late Houses of Representatives of this Colony be paid by the Receiver-General, out of the Publick Treasury, for their travel to and from the General Assembly, at the same rate as usual; and the Clerk six Shillings per day for his services as Clerk, upon a certificate from the Clerk of the said Houses of Representatives, and that their constituents pay them for their attendance six Shillings per day.

This vote passed the 23d, and was reconsidered the 25th.

Voted, That the vote of the 23d inst., relating to the Pay of the Members of this Congress, be reconsidered.

Voted, That the vote respecting the Pay of the two late Houses of Representatives and their Clerk, be reconsidered.

Voted, That the Members of this Congress have five Shillings per day for their attendance at this Congress.

Voted, That the Members of this Congress receive their Pay for their attendance of the Receiver-General, out of the Publick Treasury, by a certificate from the Secretary, and that the several and respective sums so paid shall be added to the other publick Tax, to be laid on their several and respective constituents by a precept, to be issued by the Receiver-General, for assessing the next Colony Tax, and that said Pay be made to the said Members at the end of the sitting of this Congress.

Voted, That the Members of this Congress be paid by the Receiver-General, out of the Publick Treasury, two Pence per mile for their travel to and from their respective places of abode, to this Congress, by a certificate from the Secretary, for every time they travel to this Congress, if it be adjourned for a longer time than from Saturday to Monday.

Whereas, by order of this Congress, under certain conditions then expressed, a barrel of Gunpowder was put into the hands of Colonel David Webster, of Plymouth; it is now Voted, That said Webster, for the present, have custody thereof, and not part with it to any person, unless by order of the Congress or Committee of Safety, or in case of an attack from the enemy.

Voted, That Captain Ezekiel Worthen proceed immediately to Portsmouth, as an Engineer, and there take care and have, in conjunction with the Committee of Safety at Portsmouth, the oversight and direction of laying out and erecting Batteries for the defence of Piscataqua Harbour, and get the Guns fixed and mounted therein, and all other necessaries for completing the Batteries.

Voted, That Captain Shadrach Hodgdon proceed immediately to procure Fascines for building Batteries for the defence of Piscataqua Harbour, and convey the same to Capt. Ezekiel Worthen, or the Committee of Portsmouth, as soon as may be.

Voted, That the Committee of Safety at Portsmouth be presented with the Thanks of this Congress for their care in forwarding a Plan for the security of Piscataqua Harbour, and their early intelligence of those matters, to this Congress; and that they be informed that this Congress have given a number of directions to several persons for providing Fascines and other implements for erecting Batteries, appointed an Engineer immediately to attend there, and ordered a number of barrels of Powder down, with many other directions, and shall proceed to do every thing that they possibly can for securing the Harbour; and that they be desired to procure persons immediately to remove the Platform, and every other useful implement, from Fort William and Mary, and forbid any person or persons from destroying the buildings there; and further inform the Committee that it is the opinion of this Congress that no Fish ought to be exported out of this Colony.

Saturday, August 26, 1775.

The Petition of Richard Champney, for leave to export Fish out of this Colony, being read and considered

Voted, That the prayer thereof should not be granted.

Voted, That the establishing the Officers of the Sixth Regiment be postponed until the second day of the sitting of this Congress after the 15th day of September next.

Voted, That the appointment of the Majors of Colonel David Hobart’s Regiment be postponed to the next sitting of this Congress.

Adjourned to Monday next, three o’clock, afternoon.

Monday, August 28, 1775.

It having been represented to this Congress that there is a quantity of Fish shipping off from Gosport, in this Colony, contrary to the repeated Votes of this Congress; and as it is supposed that no Committee of Inspection has been chosen there; therefore, to prevent the shipping of Fish from thence, it is hereby earnestly recommended to the Committee of Safety at Portsmouth, to use all prudent methods to hinder any Fish from being exported from said Gosport.

Voted, That the Officers and Soldiers of the Company of Artillery to be raised by Captain Titus Salter be allowed and paid the following Wages per month, viz: Captain, six Pounds, lawful money; First Lieutenant, four Pounds; Second Lieutenant, three Pounds ten Shillings; each Sergeant, two Pounds eight Shillings; each Corporal, two Pounds four Shillings; a Fifer, two Pounds four Shillings; a Drummer, two Pounds four Shillings; and each Private, two Pounds. And each Non-Commissioned Officer and Soldier to be paid one Dollar for the use of a Blanket, to be found by himself; and that they be enlisted to serve until the last day of December next, unless dismissed sooner by order of Congress or the Committee of Safety, under whose direction they are to be; and each man to provide himself a good Fire-Lock.

Tuesday, August 29, 1775.

Voted, That Major Hubbard, Benjamin Giles, Esq., and Thomas Sparhawk, Esq., be a Committee to settle the rank of Timothy Bedel, Esq., as commander of the Companies of Rangers raised in this Colony, one of which he now commands as Captain, and also fill up his Commission, and make report to this Congress as soon as may be.

Voted, That in case General Schuyler shall make requisition of more Troops from this Colony, that if the Congress should not be then sitting, the Committee of Safety be and hereby are empowered to raise and equip such Forces, and give orders for marching them in the recess of the Congress.

Voted, That Colonel William Whipple, Colonel David Gilman, Major Joseph Welch, Major Samuel Hobart, and Thomas Sparhawk, Esq., be a Committee to form and bring in a Vote for perfecting the regulation of the Militia in this Colony.

Voted, That the Ranging Companies be allowed billeting at the rate of nine Pence per day, for the time they shall be on duty in marching to Coos, when they are embodied there; and each Officer and Soldier, who have not received a month’s pay, to be paid it there; and that Israel Morey, Esq., be appointed Paymaster, who is directed to return a proper Roll of such payments to the Committee of Safety.

Voted, That Colonel Bedel’s Company of Rangers be

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