[Boston] 23d [January, 1775]
The Diana Schooner sailed with a party of the Kings own Regiment on board2 to the Succour of a Number of well affected Inhabitants of the Town of Marshfield, and had Orders to proceed to North River and there to remain eight days or longer if the Magistrates should request it and there should be a necessity for so doing.
1. Graves's Conduct, I, 49, 50, MassHS Transcript.
2. "Last Week a Detachment of about 120 Soldiers from the Army in this Place, under the Command of Capt. Burflour were embarked in armed Vessels for Marshfield, about 40 Miles from this Capital. We are at a loss for the Occasion of this extraordinary Manoeuvre, as all our Accounts from Marshfield agree, that the People in that Vicinity were peaceable and no Injury had been offered to any of the Tories. A few Persons there it is said, who had rendered themselves disagreeable and contemptible to their Neighbours, had taken it into their Heads to make Application to General Gage, for Military Protection: In this ,they engaged a Number of idle young Persons and some Negroes to join them. The Letters from thence agree that the Number and Quality of the Petitioners are despicable. Some Inhabitants not unfriendly to the Tory Cause, signified their disapprobation of this Measure; it was then however encouraged it is said, by a Mandamus Counsellor, lately belonging to that Place, and some of his particular Connections. The sending the Soldiers alarms and irritates the Country; but what Service the Tory Cause is to receive from this step, Time will discover." Boston Gazette, January 30, 1775.
