General Washington’s Letter, and desire him to return the Powder lent him; and that Captain Long and Colonel Badger be the Committee for that purpose.

Voted, To raise a Regiment consisting of seven hundred and twenty-five men, including officers; to be raised in any part of this Colony, excepting from the Towns of Portsmouth, Rye, Northampton, Hampton, Greenland, Newington, and Stratham; to be on the lines at Piscataqua as soon as possible; also, to raise one Company of Artillery, consisting of forty-two men, exclusive of officers, to be on the lines immediately, and continue in the service until the last of December next, unless sooner discharged; and that their pay be the same as the Provincials had the past year.

Voted, To raise three Companies, consisting of one hundred, men each, including officers, out of each of the following Regiments, viz: Portsmouth, Dover, and Hampton, to be on the lines at Portsmouth immediately, with arms and ammunition complete, and there to continue till further orders, their pay to commence at the time of their marching, and to be the same as the Provincials had the past year; and that Colonel Steven Evans be Colonel of said Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Joshua Wentworth be Lieutenant-Colonel, and Major Enoch Page be Major, of said Regiment.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Tuesday, March 12, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Voted, That Mr. John Smith be, and hereby is, appointed to join with Dr. Nichols and Mr. Baldwin, (in the room of Colonel Walker,) as a Committee, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer together and make a form of a Proclamation for a Publick Fast throughout this Colony; also, a Proclamation of the Publick Officers appointed for this Colony.

The Council sent down the following Vote from the Board:

“In Council, March 12, 1776: Voted, That a Regiment of men, consisting of three hundred, be raised with all speed, to be stationed at or near Portsmouth, and to be continued in the service (unless sooner discharged) until the last day of December next; the persons appointed to inlist the men to be so chosen as that the men may be as equally taken, as possible, out of the Towns in the Counties of Rockingham, Strafford, and Hillsborough; to be paid the same wages as the Officers and Soldiers in this Colony service received last year. Also, that a Field-Artillery Company at Portsmouth (of the same number as that which served last fall) be raised immediately. That Lieutenant-Colonel Wentworth, Colonel Evans, Colonel Moulton, and Colonel Gilman, be directed to warn all the Militia under their comnand to hold themselves in readiness to march at a minute’s warning, properly equipped, and with five days’ provision; which Militia, in case of their going into actual service, are to be paid as other Troops.

“That Sentries be fixed at Newcastle and Hampton, who, on appearance of the enemy’s Fleet, are to give the most special notice.

“Also, that; persons be agreed with to hold themselves in readiness, on order from proper authority, to notify General Washington, and alarm the country, in case of the enemy’s appearance. Likewise, that an express be sent off to Cambridge, to gain intelligence of General Howe’s movements, and request, a restoration of the Powder lent General Washington.

“Sent down for concurrence:

“E. THOMPSON, Secretary.”

In the House of Representatives, March 12, 1776: The above Vote of Council being read,

Voted, That the same be, and hereby is, concurred.

P. WHITE, Speaker.

Voted, That Colonel Walker, Mr. Cutts, Captain Worthen, Deacon Knowles, Captain Harriman, Dr. Nichols, Colonel Badger, and Major Tash, be a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to consult about officering and commissioning the Regiment now to be raised, and make report to this House as soon as may be.

Upon reading a Petition of the majority of the North-Company of New-Market, for removing Lieutenant-Colonel Folsom from his office, &c.,

Voted, That the Petitioners be heard thereon to-morrow afternoon before this House, and that the Petitioners, at their own cost, serve the said Lieutenant-Colonel Jeremiah Folsom with a copy of the Petition and Order thereon, that he may appear and show cause, if any he have, why the prayer thereof should not be granted.

Upon reading a Petition of the Inhabitants of New-Market, praying that Lieutenant-Colonel Folsom may be dismissed from his office, &c.,

Voted, That the Petitioners be heard thereon to-morrow, at three o’clock, afternoon, before this House; and that the Petitioners, at their own cost, serve the said Lieutenant-Colonel Jeremiah Folsom with a copy of the Petition and Order thereon, that he may appear and show cause, if any he have, why the prayer thereof should not be granted.

Voted, To choose a Committee of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer together on the expediency of sending a Committee to Coos, to examine about the Troops raised for Canada, &c.; and that Colonel Badger, Dr. Dearborn, Captain Long, and Dr. Nichols, be the Committee of this House for that purpose.

Voted, That the Pay-Roll of Captain Stephen Clark, amounting to seventy Pounds four Shillings and seven Pence, be allowed and paid out of the Treasury; and that the President of the Council give order on the Treasurer for payment thereof.

Voted, That the following Instructions be given to Colonel Gerrish, viz:

To Colonel GERRISH:

You are desired to proceed to Orford and deliver the letters you are intrusted with to Colonels Morey and Bedel; to inquire into the reason of the long delay of Colonel Bedel’s Regiment from marching, and endeavour to collect the sense of the people through that part of the country, as well as those immediately concerned in fitting them off, what has occasioned the delay; also, to find what number of men is inlisted; what number marched; and what number soon to march, with the names of the officers commanding the parties marched, and the companies they belong to, and make return of your doings, as soon as may be, to this Court, or Committee of Safety, if the Court should not be sitting.

Adjourned to eight o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, March 13, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Voted, To choose a Committee of twelve Members of this House, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer about officering the Regiment now to be raised and commissioned for the defence of this Colony; and that Dr. Dearborn, Major Tash, Mr. Sherburne, Colonel Gilman, James Betton, Esq., John Dudley, Esq., Colonel Evans, Deacon Knowles, Colonel Badger, Dr. Nichols, Matthew Patton, Esq., and Deacon Amos Dakin, be the Committee of this House for that purpose; and are to nominate to this House three persons for chief Colonel, out of which one is to be appointed; and, also, three persons for a Major, out of which one to be appointed; and to make report to this House as soon as may be.

Voted, That Captain Nathaniel Sartel Prentice forthwith repair to Cambridge, and carry the Letter now prepared to General Washington, and request of him to return the Powder lent by this Colony for the Continental Army.

Voted, That a Committee be chosen, to join a Committee of the honourable Board, to confer upon the expediency of making Copper Coin, and make report to this House; and that Captain Pierce Long, Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., and Deacon Nahum Baldwin, be Committee for the above-mentioned purpose.

The Committee of both Houses, appointed to confer upon the expediency of making Copper Coin, made report as follows, viz:

That they find it expedient to make Copper Coin for the benefit of making small change; and as the Continental and other bills are so large, that William Moulton be empowered to make so many as may amount to one hundred pounds weight, subject, when made, to the inspection and direction