[Boston] Wednesday July 8th. 1778
On motion Ordered that 11 o'Clock be assigned for the choice of a Captain to command the Brig Tyrannicide in the room of Jonathan Harraden resigned—1
Agreeable to the Assignment of this Morning the Board proceeded to the choice of a Captain to command the Brig Tyrannicide by ballot & ordered that John Pitts Esqr.2 be a Committee to collect, count & sort the Votes who reported that the number of Votes were thirteen and that Allen Hallet had Nine Votes & was accordingly chosen to command said Brig Ordered that the Secretary acquaint him with said Appointment immediately—3
D, M-Ar, Mass. Archives Collection, vol. 22 (Council Records, January-October, 1778), p. 310. Marginal notation: "Order assigning a time for/the choice of a Captain of/Brig Tyrannicide—; Allen Hallet made/ choice of to command/the Brig Tyrannicide."
1. On 30 June the Council had appointed Capt. John Clouston to command Massachusetts Navy brigantine Tyrannicide, but he declined to serve on 7 July, necessitating this choice of a new captain. LB, M-Ar, Mass. Archives Collection, vol. 22 (Council Records, January-October, 1778), pp. 291, 304–5.
2. John Pitts was a member of the Massachusetts Council.
3. On 11 July, Hallet informed the Council that he would "with pleasure" accept command of Tyrannicide. Ibid., vol. 168, fol. 441.
