Preston Boston 18th May 1775
Sir
I shall be obliged to you to make it as publickly known as possible that all Vessels with Provisions of any Kind, Lumber, Spars, Firewood &c for Fleet or Army, may come directly to Boston without touching at Salem, and that as soon as they have disposed of their Cargoes they shall all be allowed to return without any Molestation or their Seamen being prest.
I am &c
Saml Graves
Wm. Tyng Esqr., High Sheriff of the County of Cumberland, Province of Massachusetts Bay
1. Graves's Conduct, Appendix, 418, 419, MassHS Transcript.