Falmouth Monday 16. October 1775,  The Canceaux Ship of 16 Guns Commanded by Capt Mowatt, a large Ship, Schooner and a Sloop Armed, anchored before the Town the 17th at 3 P.M. they weigh'd & came up and anchored within Gun Shott and immediately Capt Mowatt sent a Letter on Shore to the Town, giving them two Hours to move their Families out, as he had Orders to Fire the Town; The Town immediately choose a Committee of three Gentlemen and sent them on Board, to know the reason of that Town's being sett on Fire, he returned for Answer that his orders were to set fire on all the Sea Port Towns between Boston and Halifax and that he Expected New York was then Burnt to ashes;² he further sayed that when he received orders from the Admiral he desired that he might shew some favor to the Town of Falmouth, which the admiral Granted (I suppose as Capt Mowatt was under particular obligations to some Gentn in Falmouth, for Civilities shewn him when in Captivity amongst them) which favor was to spare the Town till 9 oclock Wednesday Morning, in case we would send off Eight Small Arms, which the Town immediately did. Wednesday Morning being the 18th, the Committee went on Board Capt Mowatt again in order to save the Town, he said he would save the Town, till he heard from the Admiral, in case we would send off four Carriage Guns, deliver up all our Small Arms, ammunition &c and send Four Gentlemen of the Town as Hostages, which the Town would not do, at half past Nine in the Morning he began to fire from the four Armed Vessels, and in five Minutes set fire to Several Houses; ー he continued firing till after dark the same day, which consumed the largest part of the Town. ー he farther informed the Committee, that he should proceed to Portsmouth and Destroy that Place also

The foregoing is as near the Facts as I am able to remember, as Witness my hand,