At a meeting of a Number of the members of the Committee of Correspondence, & Inspection, of the Town of Sandwich, on January the 12th 1776. Mr Stephen Nye was chosen Chairman, and Benja Fessenden Clerk, Present Mess Stephen Nye, Eliakim Tobey, Lieut. John Dillingham, Capn Simeon Fish, Elisha Pope, Nathl Fish, Seth Freeman, Esq, Lot Nye, & B. Fessenden.
Whereas these Committees, or at least a Number of each, were sometime past informed that a certain Sloop reputed to be owned by Soln Nye of Falmouth, Levi Barlow, Jesse Barlow, & Obed Barlow of this Town, was preparing to go on a Voyage to the West Indies contrary to the recommendations of the Continental Congress, & Provincial Assembly. And in Consequence thereof chose one of their Number to make enquiry into the affair; and in case it was found necessary to make application to the Commanding officer of the Troops stationed in this County for orders for them to Stop Said Vessell, Or something Similar to it, the proceedings at which meeting the Committee cannot now come at. In consequence of which Sd Member went & recd Assurances from the above Solomon Nye, & Jesse Barlow, that said Vessell s[hould no]t proceed on Sd Voyage without Liberty from the General C[ourt:] Notwithstanding which we Last Week recd Information that s[aid sloop] had Loaded & Sailed on Said Voyage but meeting with contrary W[inds] was returned & then at Anchor. On which a Number of [said Committee] past the following Vote, Viz. That Capn Ward Swift [blotted] to repair on Board Said Vessell with Such Aid as he [blotted] necessary and Strip her of her Sails or take som[e good] Effectual method to put it out of their Power to Prosecute [s]d Voyage until they shall obtain Liberty. In Consequence of which Capn Swift hat attempted with a File of men to Stop Sd Vessell but before he could get on Board she came to Sail and is gone off.
Therefore Voted That Benja Fessenden be desired to write to the Speaker of the Honble House of Representatives & enclose to him a Copy this Vote.
Unanimously agreed to a true Copy from the minutes
att B. Fessenden
