In Council of War June 23d 1777
Resolved that Messrs John Brown John jenckes, Esek Hopkins Thomas Rumrick, & Christopher Lippet be & they or any three of them are hereby appointed a Committee to Propose a Plan for the purchase of Two Vessels for Cruizers & for the Voiages of Three Vessels to be fitted Out by this State to procure such Articles as are necessary for the use of the Inhabitants thereof & the supply of the Army. — that they lay the same before this Council with an Estimate of the Expence that will attend the fitting them out
1. RIHS Manuscripts, vol. 6, 79.