allowance for Pockets, Thread, and Staying, Worsted or Mohair, for Button-Holes, as they shall judge reasonable, and also for transporting the Coats to Watertown, having proper regard to the weight thereof; that they be directed to purchase Blankets for the Colony, on reasonable terms; that they make compensation to those Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers that suffered loss at Bunker’s Hill, who have not already received recompense agreeable to the Resolve of Congress of the 19th of June last, hereto relating; that said Committee be directed to keep the Coats that shall be brought in to them from each Town separate; that they deliver them out to the Soldiers, or their order, by any of their Officers, as they shall apply, endeavouring, as nearly as is convenient, to conform to the encouragement at first given; that they allow each a Coat to the value of twenty-five Shillings, and where any cost less, that they make up the deficiency in Cash; if any Coats that shall be brought appear to be more ordinary than common, that the Committee take more particular care that such be delivered according to these directions; and, in order to prevent all injustice to the Colony and Soldier, that said Committee be directed to keep a fair account of the names and places of all Soldiers who shall receive Coats or Money, showing to whom they were delivered; and that, in their accounts, they use care to keep the respective Companies in each Regiment distinct.

In Council, October 23, 1775: Read and concurred.

The Committee on a Message from the Board of the 4th instant, recommending an appropriation for certain contingent charges, reported; read, and accepted, with amendment.

Resolved, That the honourable Council be, and they are hereby empowered to draw out of the publick Treasury the sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds, to be applied in defraying the charges which have or may arise by the bringing of persons before the Council who are taken in Vessels and otherwise.

In Council, October 21, 1775: Read and concurred.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Field, Captain Hodges, Captain Lock, Colonel Woodbridge, and Colonel Howe, be a Committee to consider and report the most feasible method of supplying Coals to the Soldiers in Col. Easton’s Regiment, on the Western Expedition, agreeable to engagement.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Walker, Mr. Jewett, Colonel Lovell, Colonel Otis, and Mr. Story, be a Committee to consider the state of a Schooner, belonging to George Erving and Captain Wormwell, and her Cargo, and report concerning the disposal of three-quarters of the Cargo, viz: that belonging to said Erving.

Afternoon.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That a Message go to the honourable Board, desiring that the Militia Bill may be sent down.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Thurston, Mr. Singletary, Colonel Otis, Mr. Cooper, and Capt. Hatch-elder, be a Committee to inquire into the state of the Treasury.

Resolved, That Tuesday, eleven o’clock, be assigned for the consideration of a Report relating to the Pay of the Militia and Minute-Men who marched on the 19th April.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Cooper go to the honourable Board, and acquaint them that the House has determined to proceed to the choice of a Commissary-General on Tuesday next, at ten o’clock, forenoon, if agreeable to the Board. Who returned that he had delivered the message.

Colonel Prescott came down to acquaint the House that the Militia Bill is recommitted, and in the hands of the Chairman; and, that the Board agrees to come to the choice of a Commissary-General at the time and in the manner proposed by the House.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Freeman, Col. Bowers, Major Hawley, Major Ely, and Mr. Gerry, be a Committee to bring in a Bill for regulating the Militia.

A Petition of Henry Howell Williams, setting forth the losses he suffered by fire and otherwise, on Noddle’s Island, by a number of armed Provincial Troops, on the 27th of May, and at other times, and praying for relief; read, and committed to Capt. Bragdon, Col. Lovell, Capt. Stone, Mr. Starkweather, and Mr. Jewett of Littleton.

The Committee on the Petition of Simon Learned, in behalf of the Second Lieutenants in the Fourth and Ninth Regiments of Foot, commanded by Colonel Learned and Colonel David Brewer, reported. Read, and

Ordered, That the Petition be committed to a Committee on the Petition of Cary McLellan and other Second Lieutenants.

Monday, October 23, 1775.

Colonel Prescott brought down a Petition from the Selectmen and Committee of Truro, setting forth that their inhabitants are greatly exposed to the enemy, and praying for Powder. Read, and committed to Mr. Nye, Captain Toby, and Colonel Thompson.

The Speaker communicated to the House a Letter received from Dr. Church, wherein he expresses a desire to resign his seat in the House of Representatives.

Ordered, That the same lay on the table, till the Committee who are directed to consider a proper method for bringing Dr. Church before the House shall report; and that Colonel Bowers be on the Committee for that purpose, instead of Mr. Sullivan, who is absent.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Colonel Otis be of the Committee on the Militia Bill, in the room of Major Hawley, on other duty.

Ordered, That Mr. Gerry bring in a Resolve for supplying Powder to Jedediah Preble, Esq., with some Powder lately arrived near Kennebeck River.

On the Petition and Account of William Pyncheon, by order of the Selectmen of Springfield, *

Resolved, That there be granted and paid out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, to Major William Pyncheon, or order, for the use of the Selectmen of the Town of Springfield, the sum of three Pounds, one Shilling, in full discharge of the annexed Account.

In Council, October 24, 1775: Read and concurred.

The Committee for considering a Grant to Benjamin Franklin, Esq., late Agent for this Colony, reported. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That there be granted and paid out of the publick Treasury of the Colony, to the Hon. Benjamin Franklin, Esq., late Agent for the House of Representatives of the said Colony in Great Britain, in full for his services and disbursements in the said agency, from October 31, 1770, to the 1st of March, 1775, when his agency determined, the sum of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four Pounds, sterling; and that Henry Gardner, Esq., Treasurer of this Colony, be, and he is hereby directed to wait on the said Benjamin Franklin, Esq., now at Cambridge, and pay the said sum to him, taking his receipt for the same.

In Council, October 23, 1775: Read and concurred.

Mr. Gerry, agreeable to order, brought in a Resolve for supplying the Hon. Jedediah Preble, Esq., with Powder. Read and accepted.

Resolved, That Capt. William Johnson, of the Schooner Britannia, chartered by the Committee of Supplies of this Colony, and now said to be arrived at Townsend, near Kennebeck River, be, and he hereby is directed to deliver to Tristram Dalton, Esq., or order, for supplying the Truckmaster of Penobscot, four half-barrels of Powder; he paying for the same five Shillings per pound.

In Council, October 23, 1775: Read and concurred.

Upon a motion, Ordered, That Mr. Jones, Mr. Moody, and Mr. Webster, be a Committee to consider the propriety

*Petition of William Pyncheon, Jun., in behalf of the Selectmen of the Town of Springfield, humbly sheweth: That the following is a true account of services by them done for the said Colony, in aiding and assisting General Washington, on his way through Springfield, to the Camp at Cambridge, and to his servants on their return therefrom, on their way to New-York; also, in transporting a quantity of powder through said Town of Springfield, on the way to the Camp at Cambridge, which arrived in said Town of Springfield from Philadelphia. The said Selectmen therefore pray that a just and suitable reward may be made therefore, and that the same may be ordered out of the publicit Treasury of this Colony, to said Selectmen, in discharge thereof. And they, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.