[New York] Die Lunae 9 HO. A.M. September 25th, 1775.
Francis James, one of the pilots sent out by order of the [Provincial] Congress to observe any fleet that might be approaching any part of this Colony, being returned, gave information that on the 21st inst. they saw several ships, which came out of Boston harbour, steering westward, and the journal kept on board, was delivered in and filed. Thereupon a letter to the committee of East and SouthHampton, was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:
In Committee of Safety For the Colony of New-York,
September 25th, 1775.
Gentlemen ー One of our boats (employed to watch the motions of the fleet and army at Boston,) is just arrived from the eastward, and informs us, that on the 21st inst. in the morning, off the harbour of Chatham, near Cape Cod, they saw a large ship of war standing to the westward; and about three hours after, they saw four ships, one brig and 1 schooner, all standing the same course, over the shoals. Our boatmen could not, with any safety, go near enough to make a perfect discovery, but we apprehend they are part of a fleet destined for Suffolk county, for the purpose of getting more stock. We give you this notice to the end that you may be prepared to protect the stock and prevent their being taken off, if possible . . . Please send copies of this by express, to the committees of Southhold and Shelter island.
New-York, September 25, 1775.
The Petition of Timothy Doughty, John Dop, and others, dated this day, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:
Gentlemen of the Committee of Safety:
Sirs: Our petition of the 21st2 of this month, wherein was contained our grievances, we fear is not come to your hands, wherefore we take this opportunity to acquaint you, gentlemen, of our distress. We have already been confined three weeks, and the reason of it is, we hear, that you have sent for evidence to our parts, which we think is a sufficient time for such evidence to have been here, if there was any. Gentlemen, we beg you would consider our case as your own, and do by others as you would be done by, for therein a man fulfilleth the law of God. We will endeavour to set forth the unhappy condition we are in, confined to a room, which indeed we think a great hardship; spending our money at a great rate, more than our ability will allow; deprived from our business and our families, and our children are not yet capable of maintaining themselves; there are no less than twenty-one children belonging to three of us here confined, and the eldest not exceeding twelve years. Besides, the Esopus people have took Christian and Adam Bergh's sloop from their landing, and, as we are credibly informed, have sold her for the use of the Congress, and God knows whether they have not stripped their families of all; Dop's sloop is burned, with a great many of our wearing apparel; all which has been done before we are brought to trial, and before it is known whether we are guilty of any crime; and, farther, we all have taken very bad colds. If the witnesses have not yet come, we beg you would bring us before you as soon as these shall come to your hands; possibly we may give you satisfaction ourselves.
From your humble servants,
| Christian Bergh, Jr., |
Adam Bergh, |
| Timothy Doughty, |
David Dop. |
| John Dop, |
|
To the Committee of Safety at New-York.
