[Watertown] Saturday June 10th 1775
The Committee appointed to consider what is proper to be done with the Prisoners brought from Arundel, reported as follows, viz.
The Committee appointed to examine the persons and papers sent this Congress by the Committee of the Town of Arundel have attended that service and after due perusal of said Papers Josiah Jones & Jonathan Hicks therein referred to were brought before them and said Jones in his defence says he had no concern with the sloop Polly otherways than as a passenger in her to Nova Scotia. ー notwithstanding which it appears clearly to this Committee, by sd Papers as also by the evidence of Capt [Samuel] Smith Master herewith transmitted, that sd Jones went on board sd Sloop as supercargo in the service of Gen. [Thomas] Gage to bring hay & other articles to Boston to supply our enemies. ー We find by sd Jones's account of himself that he went to Boston soon after the memoriable Lexington Battle of the 19 of April last in company with John Ruggles of Hardwick who was ordered by a Committee of the said Town of Hardwick and that said Jones was . knowing to the proceedings of sd Committee against sd Ruggles before they set out together from Weston to take refuge in Boston, that they left the common road & went in the woods & difficult places to pass the Town of Roxbury. ー This Committee upon the whole have not the least reason to doubt of sd Jones's being a Notorious enemy to his Country & of his having been employed in the actual imployment of our enemies against the Just liberties of the people therefore beg leave to report the following Order.ー
In Provincial Congress 10 June 1775
Ordered that Josiah Jones taken from the sloop Polly be sent with a sufficient guard to the Town of Concord in the County of Midsx and committed to the common Goal there to remain until the further Order of Congress or house of Representatives of this Colony.
Said Jonathan Hicks in his defence says that since the public disputes respecting the liberties of the Country he has not liked the part that has been acted, in many respects, on either side therefore could not see his way clear to join with anyー
Upon examination the Committee find by evidence that at Gardnerstown, while he lived there, he expressed himself highly against the Committee of correspondence &c calling them rebels & using other oprobious language against the people who appeared for liberty and endeavoured to hinder their unity That also while he the said Hicks lived at Plymouth he was esteemed by the good people there inimical to the liberties of his Country by his general conduct and that at certain times he appeared very high and once drew his sword or spear upon certain persons.
Said Hicks upon the whole owns his general conduct has been such as the people for liberty call a Tory, but still he says he is against the oppressive Acts. sd Hicks con£ esses that the evening after the Battle of Lexington aforesaid he left Plymouth & took shelter with the troops at Marshfield not thinking himself safe in the Country, that he went with them to Boston & there remained untill he went on board the Sloop Polly with Jones & says he designed for Hallifax there to tarry if he could find business in order to be out of the noise.ー
Capt Smith Master, of sd Sloop can give no Account of Hick's business on board, all he can say is, he in general appeared inimical calling the liberty People rebels &c ー The Committee therefore beg leave to report the following order
In Provincial Congress, Watertowm, June 10, 1775
Ordered that Jonathan Hicks taken from the sloop Polly be sent with a sufficient Guard to the Town of Concord in the County of Middlesex & committed to the common Goal there to remain untill the further orders of Congress or house of Representatives of this Colony.ー
Ordered, that the Hon. Mr. Sever, Colonel Otis, and Mr. Davis, be added to the Committee who were appointed to consider the expediency of establishing a number of Armed Vessels for the protection of the seacoasts.
Resolved ー That the further Consideration of the Report relative to the establishment of Armed Vessels be put off to 3 oClock in the afternoon, and that the Committee of Safety and Committee of Supplies be notified of this Resolveー