American Theatre from December 1, 1774, to May 20, 1775
Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Colonel Foster, Doctor Holten, Mr. Bragdon, and Captain Batchelder, be a Committee to take into consideration a Letter from the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Falmouth, and such parts of a Letter from the Honourable Enoc Freeman, Esq. to the Secretary, as he may communicate.
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
By Accounts from the best Authorities to the Southward I find that the Rebellion begun in the province of Massachusetts Bay hath spread itself to the Colonies of New York, Pensilvania and Virginia: there is too much reason to apprehend the Infection is general, since even Nova Scotia has shewn Symptoms in burning a Quantity of Hay collected for the use of the Kings Troops. I therefore beg leave... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
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
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
His Excellency Lord Dunmore has pressed me to send a large Ship to Virginia for the preservation of the Lives and properties of the King's faithful Subjects of that Colony Now in the greatest danger from the violent proceedings of the People which evidently tend to a Rebellion. I beg your Excellency will be pleased to acquaint me whether you think, in the present situation of things here, that... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Coll. Abercrombie Adjt. Genl., lately arrived from England, going up Cambridge river this morning in a Man of War's Boat was fired upon by several of the Rebels from the Banks; several balls went thro' the boat but nobody was hurt; they made the best of their way back, and I don't hear that he has been as fond of reconnoitring since.
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
May 1775
Thursday 18
Cape Codd S E B E, 4 or 5 Leagues
at ½ past 10 [A M] fired 2 shot to bring too a Schooner; at ½ past 11 spoke her, from Martinie to Beverly with Molasses, Sugar, Coffee, Cotton and Cocoa . . . P M sent the Lieutenant and 5 Men to carry the Schooner to Boston.
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The battle at Lexington unhappyly desolvd our Correspondence by Letter but Considering that our men Come of[f] Victorious in that Skirmish ー it may not be amiss to begin our Periodical Speculations upon the Scenes which are passing at this day . . . my mind much Confused with Reflections upon the unhappy state we are in who as an Individual must Suffer Equal to what small crum I have as those who... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I received yours of the 17th Inst wherein you inform that you are preparing for the Intended Voyage ー wish you good Success ー it is probable I can Send you the money by Mr [Richard] Law, when he goes home which will be better than for you to come here, as it may give Occasion for People to Conjecture Something, that they Know nothing about, I am [&c.]
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Thursday [May 18, 1775]. After rowing hard all night we arrived within half a mile of the place at sun rise, sent a man to bring us information, and in a small creek, infested with numberless swarms of gnats and muskitoes, waited with impatience for his return.
The man returning, informed us they were unapprized of our coming, though they had heard of the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown point. We... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Capt. Edward Mott and Capt. Noah Phelps, set out from Hartford, on Saturday, the 29 of April, in order to take possession of the fortress of Ticonderoga, and the dependencies thereunto belonging; they took with them from Connecticut 16 men unarmed, and marched privately through the country till they came to Pittsfield, without discovering their design to any person, till they fell in company with... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The late Seizure of the Powder at the Magazine at Williamsburgh, has incensed the Inhabitants of that Province to such a degree against his Excellency Lord Dunmore, their Governor, that the Virginia Gazette, or Norfolk Intelligencer, of the 4th Instant, says, "His Excellency, the Governor, we hear, with his Family have retired on board his Majesty's Ship the Fowey, now lying at York, in... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
As we have great reason to expect the arrival of troops from Britain to be quartered in this Province, we thought it a necessary piece of precaution to ask of the Continental Congress a line of conduct for our inhabitants on that event. We have received their directions on that head as appears by the inclosed2 ー We have also been informed that our brethern of Connecticut, attentive to... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The president laid before the Congress, some important intelligence he receivd last night, by express from New York, relative to the surprising and taking of Ticonderoga, by a detachment from Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut which was read . . .
Upon motion, Agreed, That Mr. [John] Brown, who brought the express, be called in to give an accot of the disposition of the Canadians, 2 the taking of... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Mr [Patrick] Henry did me the favr Yesterday to deliver me your Letter we have as yet had nothing agitated in Congress about Trade I hope and expect that the Time for Exportation will continue as it did though I have some Expectation that it will be moved to shorten it As the Event of any Motion of that Sort ought & I suppose will be allowed to be made public you shall have early Notice ー... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I now send you by the Bearer Mr Samuel Hunting a some of Money which he has signd a Receipt here for; to your Adress to purchase Powder please to give him a Receipt that he may Send it back Sir there is Eight half Johaniss which are light if you Purchase in St Eustatia they will pass for 8 Dollars & save me the Loss here & if not your Capt must Change them to Oblige me & save me the... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Friday 19th
May 1775
Fired a 9 Pounder shotted at a Brigg from Barbadoes. Impressed two Men from her.ー
Date: 19 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir I wrote to You by a Schooner belonging to General [Thomas] Gage the 3d Inst nothing material has happened here since.
Yesterday Governor [John] Wentworth send me a Message by his Secretary acquainting me there was about three hundred Men had assembled, to carry away a Quantity of Masts, that were in a Pond near the Town, I ask'd the Secretary if the Governor desired that I might send my... Continue Reading
Date: 19 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Last Tuesday Evening [May 16] a Barge belonging to the Man of War in this Harbour, rowing up and down the River, to make Discoveries, with two small officers and six Seamen; the Tars not liking the Employ, tied their commanders, then run the Boat ashore, and were so unpolite as to wish the Prisoners good Night, and come off. The Officers soon got loose and rowed themselves back to the ship.
Date: 19 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
A Letter from the Committee of Correspondence of Connecticut, was read, respecting the taking of Ticonderoga; Whereupon,
Ordered, That Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry prepare an answer thereto, informing them what steps this Congress have taken relative to that affair.
Mr. Gerry reported an Answer to a Letter from the Committee of Correspondence of Connecticut, which was accepted.
Date: 19 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I have received your Letter May 15th with its Inclosures; Your Hint respecting the different operations on our parts and that of the Rebels is perfectly understood, I heartily wish we were empowered to act.
It is highly expedient to prevent all Supplies going to Providence. In my last Dispatches you were authorized to seize Provisions and send them to Boston; Arms and Ammunition were before... Continue Reading
Date: 19 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
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