[Watertown] Thursday, July 13, 1775
The following Instructions, reported to be given Captain Davis, were considered.
Captain Davis
Sir: You are hereby desired to repair to Stonington, in Connecticut, and take charge of the Brig Nancy and cargo, lying in said harbour, upon receiving the consent of his Honour Governour [Jonathan] Trumbull; to take account of said cargo, and make sale of such part or parts thereof, as shall be sufficient to discharge the portage bill, and such other incidental charges as may necessarily arise. You are then directed to secure the remaining part of said cargo in good and sufficient stores, at the place above mentioned, and to make a return of your doings to this Congress or House of Representatives to be convened. Which cargo is to be appropriated to the use of this Colony and to be draughted at the discretion of the Committee of Supplies.
By order of Congress.
After debate, the Report was ordered to be dismissed.
Afternoon
The Committee appointed to consider what is best to be done with the ten Prisoners brought from Machias, reported. Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Commanding Officer of the Town of Watertown be desired to appoint some officer with a guard of not more than eight men, to conduct the said Prisoners to the Jail in Worcester to-morrow morning; that Captain [Edward] Crafts be desired to take care of the said Prisoners till that time, and that the officer who may be appointed to conduct said Prisoners to Worcester, be empowered to draw on Captain Brown, the Commissary in this Town, for so much Provisions as may be necessary for their support to Worcester, and Captain Brown is directed to supply them accordingly.
The Report above mentioned was reconsidered, amended, and accepted, and is as follows, viz:
Resolved, That Thomas Skinner, a seaman, William Nurse, a marine, John Burrows, a seaman, Nicholas Durham, a marine, Peter Larcher, a sailor, Thomas Crispo, Joseph Temple, sailors, William Bishop, a sailor, and John Pardoa, a marine, Prisoners, all taken aboard the armed schooner called the Margaretta, commanded by Matthew Moor, near Machias, be all sent under a proper guard, the common Jail in the County of Worcester; and the Jail keeper is hereby directed to receive them therein, and provide for them, and detain them there till the further order of this Congress, or the House of Representatives of this Colony.
Whereas the Hon. Jedediah Preble and the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esquires, have employed some persons to build a number of Whale Boats for the service of the publick, therefore,
Resolved, That the Committee of Supplies be, and hereby are directed to deliver to Captain Briant Morton, or order, to be by said Morton delivered to said Preble and Freeman, such a quantity of Nails and Provisions, as they think will be necessary to complete the building said Boats.