State of Masstts Bay
In Council [Boston] April 23. 1777.
Whereas an Act passed the 27th March AD 1777 for securing and making Provision for the support of Prisoners who may be taken by any American Armed Vessel and brought or sent into any port of this State, and it is Necessary that some suitable Person should have the Command of sd Guard Vessel with a sufficient Number of Men to take care she is, from Time to Time, properly Moor'd, and that her Stores with such Prisoners as may be put on board the said Vessel are kept secured. And Whereas the aforesaid Act has impowered the Council from time to time to appoint as there may be occasion, such suitable Person for a Commissary to take care of and provide such Victuals and other Necessaries for the Prisoners confined on board such prison Ship or other Vessel or on any Island, as the Council may Order and direct, and the Council as aforesaid are thereby further impowered to cause such Vessel or Vessels to be procured as may be proper to answer the purpose designed by this Act, and to draw on the Treasurer of this State for such sums from time to time as will be sufficient to have this Act carried into execution, and to make all other Necessary regulations for guarding such prisoners and for carrying this Act in all its parts effectually into Execution —
Therefore Ordered that the Brigantine Rising Empire belonging to this State be improved for this purpose and that Ezra Weston ー be and hereby is appointed Master of the same for the purpose beforementioned and that three other persons be employed by him in assisting in taking care of said Guard Ship and that the Captain be allowed the sum of Six pounds P Month and the Men Two pounds Ten shillings P Month as Wages, The Captain to be allowed three Rations and the Men one ration each, the allowance for rations to be the same as is allowed the Continental Navy.
And that Robert Peirpont, be and hereby is appointed Commissary of Prisoners to take care of and provide Victuals and other Necessaries for them while confined o:r:i board such prison Ships —
Read & Accepted Jno Avery Dpy Secy