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commissioned to inlist a suitable number of men, as artillerymen, to manage said cannon; that ....... may be, appointed a Field-Officer, to command the troops stationed here, and the Militia, when necessary; and, honourable sirs, we are humbly of opinion, could we have one hundred men sent, in addition to those already stationed here, exclusive of artillerymen, or have liberty to inlist them where we can find them, on the same terms of the sea-coast meen,' might be sufficient to make a good defence, otherwise we fear what our fate may be. But we leave the matter to the great wisdom of the honourable Court, to act as they think fit, referring for particulars and the great importance of this port to the general cause we are now engaged in, to the honourable Committee "sent by the Court to view our situation, and should only add, that our necessity for some speedy relief must apologize for troubling the honourable Court so often. But last night was brought into this harbour, a brigantine, loaded with ordnance stores, from Great Britain, by Capt. Manly, of a privateer, of great value and consequence. We therefore, now, stand in need of instant assistance to defend so valuable a cargo, as the enemy will endeavour to regain it."
In the House of Representatives: Considering the importance of the Harbour of Gloucester to this Colony, the exposedness of the same to the enemy, it appears necessary that, in addition to the provision already made, that more men should be stationed there to complete and defend the fortifications already erected and erecting: Therefore,
Resolved, That there be two Companies immediately raised, consisting of fifty men each, including officers, upon the same establishment as the forces raised for the defence of the sea-coasts; one Company of which to be employed to manage the artillery; and that suitable officers be commissionaied to raise and command the same. The above Companies to continue in said service till the first day of April next, unless discharged before that time by order of this Court,
And it is further Resolved, That a General Officer be appointed to take the command of the forces stationed at Gloucester, who shall be empowered to call in the neightouring Militia, upon any emergency, as he shall judge necessary, and discharge them again, as soon as the service will admit ofhe same, and that the above officers be chosen, by joint ballot, of the honourable Board and this House,
In Council: Read, and concurred.
Adjourned to ten o'clock, to morrow morning.*
Wednesday, December 13, 1775.
Present in Council: Honourables William Sever, Benjamin Greenleaf, Walter Spooner, Caleb Cushing, Joseph Gerrish, John Whetcomb, Jedediah Foster, James Preacott, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoln, Charles Chauncy, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Jabez Fisher, Moses Gill, John Taylor, Benjamin White, Esquires.
In consequence of a Resolve passed the General Court, December the 9th, 1775, respecting Edward Raud, of this town, the Committee directed that he should be put under "guard, was done immediately and his person secured; the Committee then examined his papers, opening each singly, and find" none that have any reference to his political conduct, or that have the most distant relation to the charge in said Resolve. At the desire of Mr. Raud, he is sent to Watertown, and submitted to the direction of this Court.
J. LOWELL, Chairman, P. T.
In Council: Read, and Ordered, That Samuel Holten, Esq., with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to examine into the character and conduct of the said Edward Raud, touching the charge alleged against him, and make report.
In the House of Representatives: Read, and concurred, and Mr. Caldwcll and Mr. Hopkins are joined.
Mr. Story came up with a message from the honourable House, informing the Board that the coming to the choice of Delegates for the American Congress, which was assigned to this afternoon, is postponed to Friday next, ten o'clock, A. M.
Samuel Holten, Esq., went down with a message to the honourable House, to inform them that the Board had agreed to the foregoing proposal.
In the House of Representatives: Whereas, there are a number of persons in the several Towns in this Colony that have left Estates, both real and personal, and have left no person to occupy the same, have taken refuge in Boston and elsewhere, and joined themselves to our inveterate and unnatural enemies, and thereby rendered themselves justly odious to all true friends of this country," Therefore,
Resolved, That the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence in the several towns where such Estates may be found, be, and they hereby are, empowered to take into their care all such personal estate, and suffer no waste to be made thereon, and to sell or dispose of all such stock as cannot be kept on such Estates, by reason of the scarcity of fodder; and to take care of all the produce, and dispose of the same to the best advantage, wherever it may be found, on such Farms or Estates, except such as are improved for the immediate use of this Colony or Continent, and that the said Selectmen and Committees take care of all such personal estate and produce as they shall not dispose of, and keep an account of their doings therein, until the further orders of this Court, and lay their accounts, on oath, before them, when required, that justice may hereafter be done to the publick, as, also, to those individuals, when due inquiry can be made into their conduct; and that Mr. Watson procure this to be printed in the several newspapers of this Colony.
In Council: Read, and concurred.
In the House of Representatives: Resolved, That Mr. Putnam, Captain Parker, and Mr. Singletary, be, and they hereby are, appointed a Committee to purchase so much land, and such a part of the stream of water in the Town of Sutton, as may be fully sufficient for the erecting a Mill in the said Town of Sutton, for the manufacturing Gunpowder.
And it is further Resolved, That the Committee aforesaid are hereby authorized and empowered to purchase the remains of a Gunpowder-Mill, in the Town of Sutton, with so much of the land and stream adjoining the same as may be sufficient to prepare said Mill for the manufacturing Gunpowder; and the said Committee are hereby empowered to employ such skilful persons as manufacturers, as may be sufficient for that purpose, and to lay the bills of the expenses thereof before this Court; and that the said Committee contract for a sum not exceeding six hundred Pounds.
In Council: Read, and concurred.
Adjourned till ten o'clock, to-morrow morning.*
I am, may it please your Honours, your Honours' most obedient servant,
TIMOTHY PICKERING, JR.
To the Honourable the Council of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay.
IN COUNCIL, December 12, 1775: Road, and ordered to be entered on the files of Council.
PEREZ MORTON, Secretary.
* COUNCIL-CHAMBER, December 13, 1775: SIR: It appears to tho Board, that in a recommendation to your Excellency, dated the 31st day of October last, in favour of several officers in Colonel Doolittte's Regiment, Mr. Jacob Miller was recommended to be commissionated as an Ensign, which appears to have been a clerical error, who was ordered to have been recommended as Major of said regiment. Also, in the same letter, Mr. Nathaniel Caussers was recommended to receive an Ensign's commission, which was also a clerical mistake, and should have been Nathaniel Cousens. Another person was recommended as a Captain, by the name of Abner Capron, which should havo been Oliver Capron. The Council have thought fit to mention to your Excellency the above mistakes, and desire they may not operate to the disadvantage of the persons interested.
In the name and by order of the Council.
W. SEVER.
To His Excellency General Washington
NORTON, December 4, 1775. ——MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: I gratefully acknowledge the honour you have done me, by appointing me to several offices within the County of Bristol, shall endeavour, by my conduct, to deserve both your and the publick approbation, and do assure you of my hearty attachment to the rights and interest of my country.
I desire your Honours would excuse me from acting as one of the Justices of the Inferior Court within the same County.
That the God of wisdom may direct yon in the difficult day, and that your endeavours for the publick good may be crowned with success, is the sincere desire and prayer of your most obedient and humble servant,
GEORGE LEONARD, JR.
To the Honourable Council.
In GENERAL COUNCIL, December 13, 1775: Read, and ordered to bo entered on the files of Council.
PEREZ MORTON, Dep'y Sec'y.
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