[Boston] Tuesday April 21st. 1778
In the House of Representatives. Resolved, that the Board of War be and they hereby are Directed, immediately to employ some suitable person or persons, to build for the service of this State, One Ship to mount Twenty Guns on one Deck,1 taking especial Care to procure the most approved plan from some able Shipwright, or other Person, well acquainted with such Business;2 and to have the said Ship compleated and fixed for Sea as soon as may be, giving timely notice to this Court, that they may appoint some suitable person seasonably to take the Command of her.
In Council Read and Concurred.
Consented to by Fifteen of the Council.
LB, M-Ar, Mass. Archives Collection, vol. 38 (Massachusetts General Court Records, 1777–1778), p. 469.
1. This frigate was named Protector in 1779.
2. The Board of War chose Mr. Stephen Cross & Co. to begin collecting timber and plank for the frigate. See Minutes of the Board of War, 23 Apr., below. On 9 July the Board of War asked Stephen and Ralph Cross and Jonathan Greenleaf, shipbuilders at Newburyport, to supply them with drafts for Continental Navy frigate Boston for their consideration.
