Colonies independent of Great Britain, entering into a Confederacy for union and common defence, making treaties with foreign nations for commerce and assistance, and to take such other measures as to them and you may appear necessary for these great ends, promising to support them with the whole force of this Province; always observing, that whatever plan of Confederacy you enter into, the regulating the internal police of this Province is to be reserved to the Colony Legislature.

Ordered, That Ebenezer Howell, of the County of Salem, be commissioned as Major of the Battalion commanded by Colonel Newcomb.

A Petition from the County Committee of Monmouth; read, and ordered a second reading.

A Petition from Stafford Township, in Monmouth County; read, and ordered a second reading.

A Petition from Charles Loveland; read, filed, and ordered a second reading.

Two Petitions from the Township of Woodbridge; read, filed, and ordered a second reading.

Colonel Borden’s Account for the paying of Robert Quigley’s Company; read, filed, and ordered a second reading.

Adjourned to two o’clock, on Monday next.

Monday, June 24, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Two Petitions from the Townships of Middletown and Freehold, in the County of Monmouth, praying that this Congress would immediately establish such mode of Government as shall be equal to the exigencies of this Colony, and fully coincide with the Resolve of the honourable Continental Congress of the 15th of May last; read, and ordered a second reading.

A Letter from the County Committee of Monmouth, enclosing an Association signed by certain disaffected persons; read, and ordered a second reading.

A Representation of the County Committee of Monmouth, giving a detail of Colonel Forman and the Minute-men’s seizing several disaffected persons in that County without the express command of the Committee, though approved by them afterwards; accompanied with an account of the expense attending the seizure of said persons; read, and ordered a second reading.

Ordered, That Mr. Green, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Ogden, Mr. Elmer, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Covenhoven, Mr. Symmes, Mr. Condict, and Mr. Dick, be a Committee to prepare the draft of a Constitution.

Ordered, That Thomas Okeson, charged with supplying the British Men-of-War with Provisions, be committed to the common Jail of Burlington County.

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

Tuesday, June 25, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

The Continental Congress having resolved, “That William Franklin, Esquire, be sent under guard to Governour Trumbull, of Connecticut, who is desired to take his parole; and if Mr. Franklin refuse to give his parole, that Governour Trumbull be desired to treat him agreeable to the Resolutions of Congress respecting Prisoners:”

Resolved, That the President do issue orders, and take such measures as may be necessary to carry the above Resolve into execution.

Brigadier-General Livingston having, by letter, informed this Congress that he could not, for reasons therein mentioned, accept the command of the Militia destined for New-York:

Resolved, That Colonel Nathaniel Heard be, and he is hereby, appointed Brigadier-General of the said forces.

The Committee to whom was referred the Petition from Burlington, praying that the men raised in order to reinforce the Army at New-York, may be subsisted and paid from the time of inlistment, made Report; which was read, and ordered a second reading.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

Memorial of Colonel Stephen Hunt, setting forth that several difficulties have arisen in raising the new levies, &c.; read, and ordered a second reading.

Representation of Richard Robins and Moses Ivins, containing reasons for their refusing to obey the summons of this House; read.

The Congress took under consideration the Memorial of Colonel Hunt; and also the Report of the Committee to whom was referred the Petition from Burlington County, &c.; and after some time spent therein, came to the following determination:

Whereas, by a late Ordinance of this Congress, for. the raising of three thousand three hundred of the Militia to reinforce the Army at New-York, no provision was made for the subsistence of the said Militia from the time of inlistment to the time of marching; and whereas it is highly reasonable that some provision should be made therefor:

It is therefore Resolved, That every commissioned Officer be allowed at the rate of fifteen shillings a week for his subsistence from the time he begins to recruit to the time he begins to march to the place of general rendezvous; and that every non-commissioned Officer and Private be allowed at the rate of seven shillings and six pence a week for his subsistence, computing from the time of his inlistment to the time of his marching for the place of destination or general rendezvous.

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

Wednesday, June 26, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Whereas it appears, from undoubted intelligence, that there are several Insurgents in the County of Monmouth, who take every measure in their power to contravene the Regulations of Congress, and to oppose the cause of American freedom; and as it is highly necessary that an immediate check be given to so daring a spirit of disaffection:

It is therefore Resolved, unanimously, That Colonel Charles Read take to his aid two Companies of the Militia of the County of Burlington, properly officered and armed, and proceed without delay to the County of Monmouth, in order to apprehend such Insurgents and disaffected persons in said County as this Congress shall give in direction to Colonel Read.

Resolved, unanimously, That Colonel Read take, if necessary, to his assistance the Militia of Monmouth.

Resolved, unanimously, That such Officers and Militia as engage in this service shall receive the like pay as the Continental Troops.

Resolved, unanimously, That the said Militia furnish themselves with Provisions, and that this Congress will order payment therefor.

Resolved, That the following Directions, signed by the President, be given to Colonel Read.

Colonel CHARLES: READ:

You are hereby ordered to apprehend Richard Robins and Moses Ivins, and to deliver them unto the keeper of the common Jail of the County of Gloucester, who is hereby commanded to keep said persons in close and safe confinement, until this Congress, or Committee of Safety, shall take further order therein; and you are also to apprehend Anthony Woodward, Jun., Joseph Grover, Guisebert Guisebertson, and Thomas Lewis Woodward, and bring them before this Congress, or, during their recess, the Committee of Safety.

Whereas it appears, from authentick information, that certain disaffected persons in the County of Hunterdon have confederated for the purpose of opposing the measures of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, and have even proceeded to acts of open and daring violence; have plundered and robbed the house of Captain Jones; have beaten, wounded, and otherwise abused the friends of freedom in said County, and now publickly declare, that they will take up arms and engage in behalf of the King of Great Britain, the avowed and implacable enemy of the United Colonies: In order to put an effectual stop to a combination so hostile and dangerous:

It is Resolved, unanimously, That Lieutenant-Colonel Ten Eick and Major Berry take to their aid such a number of the Militia, properly officered and armed, of the Counties of Hunterdon and Somerset, as they may think necessary,