Col. [Abraham] Lott came into the committee and conferred with them relating to his vessel, which is to go to the foreign W. Indies for gunpowder; and the material parts or outlines being fixed, the agreement was left to be completed by Mr. [Comfort] Sands.

Thomas Henderson, Esqr. a major of minute men in Monmouth county, in New-Jersey, attended on the Committee, and informed that he was sent by the Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, with a guard, to conduct several prisoners taken in New-Jersey, being inhabitants of this Colony, who had been proceeding in the sloop Polly and Ann, from this port, to Boston.

Major Henderson delivered to the Committee the affidavit of James Webb, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

James Webb, of full age, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, that in Decr. last, he, this deponent, with his wife, entered on board a small sloop in New-York harbour, called the Polly and Ann, whereof one Hains was captain, bound (as this deponent was then informed) to Boston, which vessel was laden with provisions. That on or about the 20th of said Decr. the said vessel sailed from New-York, and that he never heard that said vessel was bound to any other port than Boston, until said vessel soon after met with bad weather, when it was said on board said vessel that she was bound to the West Indies; that on the 23d Decr. the said vessel was stranded on the Jersey shore; that the captain of the said sloop, one Isaac Gidney master, Bartholomew Hains a passenger, one Palmer who owned part of the cargo, all from Mamaroneck, in Westchester county, Moses Marden, one Graham, this deponent and his wife, with one Sanford and two more, were on board said vessel when she stranded. That this deponent verily believes said vessel was bound to Boston; that since the said vessel was on shore, this deponent observed that the labels on the packages, casks and boxes, were torn off, but that he does not remember tohave taken notice of any marks or labels on any of the freight so as to describe them, before taken off; that most of the persons on board left the said vessel to go by land to New-York, soon after they got on the shore, among whom this deponent went to New-York, from whence he lately returned to this Province for his wife and several small effects he had on board; and further this deponent saith not.

James Webb.

Sworn the 11th Jany. 1776, before me.
John Dennis.

Major Henderson also delivered a copy of the proceedings of the Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, with respect to those prisoners, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

Committee of Safety,
Prince Town, January 11th, 1776.

This Committee received information from the Committee of the county of Monmouth, by Dr. Scudder and Dr. Henderson, and also by letter from the chairman of said committee, that a small sloop called the Polly and Ann, one Hains captain, was, on the 23d of December last, stranded on Squam Beach, on board of which was a quantity of beef, pork, and other provisions; which vessel and cargo is now in the care and custody of Col. Furman, except such articles as were perishable, which the committee directed to be sold by Dr. Scudder and Dr. Henderson; an inventory of which cargo, as well such as were sold as such as remain, was laid before this Committee; and one James Webb, a passenger on board said vessel which is stranded, appeard before this Committee, by whose deposition it appears that said vessel was bound from New-York to Boston, and from all circumstances the provisions on board were destined for the ministerial army. The committee, taking the above matters into consideration, think it proper that the whole of said cargo be immediately sold and the vessel secured, which vessel, with the amount of the sales, after deducting the necessary expenses, be referred to the disposal of the Congress of this Colony at their next sitting; and that Col. David Furman, Dr. N. Scudder, and Dr. Thomas Henderson, be and are hereby authorized and empowered to secure the above said vessel, and complete the sales of the cargo, in some convenient time, and account for their sales and report their proceedings to the Congress of this Province at their next sitting; and may deliver to the seamen and passengers belonging to said vessel, all such clothing and other effects as belong to them, (exclusive of the cargo,) provided they in a reasonable time call for the same; and that the thanks of this Committee be returned to Col. Furman for his extraordinary care and vigilance in securing the said vessel and cargo.

And, Whereas, it appears that the captain, master and passengers of the said sloop Polly and Ann, stranded on Squam Beach, are inhabitants of the Colony of New-York, it is therefore,

Ordered, That the said captain, master and passengers, or such of them as are in this Province, be conveyed under a guard as Col. David Furman may think proper, to New-York, and delivered to the Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety, to be dealt with as they may think proper.

A true copy, By order of the Committee.

Abra. Clark, D. Secy.

James Webb being personally brought before the Committee says, that he intended to go to Britain to take care of a relation and her estate, and expected to be enabled to return to this country at some future time and carry on his business with spirit; that he was going to Boston to obtain a passage from thence to Britain; that he went on board the sloop Polly and Ann before she sailed; that he did not then see the captain, but that a person then on board informed him that the sloop was to go to Boston, and that they would take him and his wife passengers; thereupon he went on board of the vessel the next day, which was the day before she sailed; that the vessel sailed on Wednesday and was stranded on Saturday night following; that the captain told him that his cousin Bartholomew Hains fled from home, and that in running away he fell down and lost either his gun or bayonet or both, and would not stay to take it up.

Major Henderson says that James Webb appeared open and candid in his examination before the Committee of New-Jersey.

James Webb requested a certificate to protect him while he tarries in this Colony. Thereupon a certificate was given to him in the words following, to wit:

This Committee have heard and examined the case of James Webb, in his presence, and nothing appearing against him he is discharged; and this certificate is given to him as a protection whilst he tarries in this Colony and demeans himself well and consistent with the liberties of this Colony.

Major Henderson says that Hains, the captain of the said sloop, broke jail in New-York a few weeks ago, and stole a boat and got on board of the man of war, and was there protected until the vessel sailed, and the said Haines confessed this to one of the guard on the way. to New-York. He farther says, that the casks and boxes found on board of the said sloop had had labels nailed to them, but that all the labels were torn off; that among the labels torn off he found one directed to Genl. How [William Howe], Boston, turnips; another, to Mrs. Ann Wood, Boston; another to Genl. [Timothy] Ruggles, Boston; several to one Willard, at Boston; and a back of a letter directed to Genl. How; that the directions to Genl. Ruggles is lost, but that the directions to Genl. How and Mrs. Wood can be sent here.

That he was informed by Wm. Taylor that several persons who had been passengers in the sloop Poly and Ann had informed John Morris, of Shrewsbury, that three quarter cask of Madeira wine and other things which were on board for Genl. How were shipped by Governor Tryon, and by a bit of an invoice, found it cost £22 10s. per quarter cask.

That John Graham declared he had shipped on board to go to the West Indies, but that he verily believes the sloop was bound to Boston.

Major Henderson says that it appears to him the sloop must have been intended to go only coastwise, for that it is testified by the late master and people on board that they did not keep any reckoning or heave a log-line.

David Rhea says that Capt. Hains told him he was put in jail because he refused to deliver up his arms, and that his punishment had been determined; that he should not eat nor drink until he had delivered them up. That he broke jail by breaking six grates out of a window, and stole a boat about midnight, and got on board of the man of war. That the sloop Polly and Ann was purchased for him about three days or less before the time of her sailing, and that she was purchased of Isaac Gidney.