Colonel Thomas Goldthwaite to Thomas Cushing, April 16, 1775

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Fort Pownall April 16th 1775

Sir,

I have only time by this conveyance to advise you that there arrived here yesterday two Armd schooners & a detachment from the 64th Regt with orders to me from his Excelly the Governor to deliver the Commanding officer of this party all the Artillery & spare Arms belonging to this Fort which I accordingly have done. There now remains for the use of the Fort only 26 Arms besides a few at the Armourers unfit for use, about half a hundd wt of musket ball, & a small quantity of Powder. The establishment for the Garrison being near expired; the people murmering at not being paid as usual; & much discontent among the Indians on account of the english settlers encroaching too near their town, makes it expedient for me to ask your advice which I shall be glad to receive by the first opportunity

I am [&c]

Tho Goldthwaite

I have dd Sixteen peices of Cannon of all sorts together wth Carriages Beds Quoins &c.

308	6 pound Shott	13	Boxes Grape Shott
176	4 pound Do.	15	Do Canister Do.
6	Rammers with Spunges	5	Do Cohorn Shell charges
7	Wormers	45	small Arms
7	Ladles

I have since dd the arms at were at the Armourers Shop to repair2

1. Gage Papers, CL.

2. W. Molineux, who was a gunner at the fort, gave his account of the affair, as follows:

On Friday Eveng the 13th Apl came into penobscott river a Top sail Schooner which Anchor'd near Fort Pownall, which myself and others took to be a Merchantman going up the River to purchase Lumber and early next Morng we saw Another Schooner who came too & Anchored near the Former soon after came ashore some sailors from the first mentioned Vessel to beg some Milk for their Breakfast and said they were going up the River to get Lumber ー Immediately after came on Shore an Officer who enquired for the Commander of the Fort and on seeing him presented an Order from Genl [Thomas] Gage, for the cannon & spare Arms. he then return'd on board and immediately appeared a large Number of Soldiers on the Deck (which before was not seen) who directly got into Boats & came ashore & March'd into the Fort and went to work in Getting out the Cannon wch was carry'd on board ー I am Convinc'd at that time it was not in Colo [Thomas] Goldthwaits power to have prevented them with the least Degree of success having only 6 or 8 Men in the Fort and but half a Barl powder which the Gunner shew me in the Magazine ー I further declare that I remain'd at said Fort 'till the news came of the Battle at Lexington immedeatly on which (tho' late at Night) Colo Goldthwait dispatched a Number of Men in his Barge to go 20 Miles up the River and advise the people of the News and recommend to them to Immedeately Call a Meeting to consider what was most Eligible to be done ー the Meeting was accordingly held the 6 day of May when Colo Goldthwait presided as Moderator thereof I attended the Meeting myself, and found, that after Colo Goldthwait's conduct was represented to them that they were Universally satisfy'd wch they manifested by a General Vote during the whole of. the above transactions I was at the Fort, and look'd on Colo Goldthwait to be a Strong Advocate for the Liberties of his Country

The above if Requir'd, am ready to make Oath to

W Molineux

I would further add that the Officer which Commanded the party said that if Colo G. refus'd delivering the above Canon &c 'twas his Orders to destroy the Fort &c immediately

Watertown 23 Octr 75

Mass. Arch., vol. 180, 211a.

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1775 April 16

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