[Williamsburg] Monday the 7th October 1776.
Robert Brown, Josiah Foster, Joel Foster, George Brookes & Henry Knight appeared before the Board and severally undertook for' the sum of One hundred and seventy Pounds to Build each of them a flat Bottom'd Boat for the use of this Common Wealth for the purpose of Transporting Troops of the following Dimensions, to wit, Forty feet Keel, fourteen feet Beam, three Feet four Inches Deep to the Top of the Gunnell, Eight Inches wash Board to be Ceiled in the same manner as the Boat lately Built by Mr Herbert, to be Built with good white Oak Plank one Inch and a half thick, the ceiling to be of Pine Plank clear of Sap three Quarters of an Inck thick; to Row with Twenty Oars fixed upon Iron Swivels, to befitted with proper (Stern Sheets and every other Thwart Bound, to be Built after the manner of the Boat lately Built by Mr Herbert except the Gun Carriages, to be properly Tar'd and finished in a Workman like manner and delivered to the Board with proper Oars for each Boat, on or before the fifteenth day of December next. For the Performance of which Contracts the said; Robert Brown, Josiah Foster, Joel Foster, George Brookes & Henry Knight respectively entered into and acknowledged their Bonds which are Ordered to be Recordedー
Lieutenant Thomas Merriwether of the Marines lodged a Complaint with the Board against Lieut George Rogers of the Brig Liberty in the following Words, to wit, "The Language of Lieut George Rogers to the Marines is the most Scurrilous, Abusive & Profane, wholy unbecoming an officer & Gentle-man. That he has at different Times Struck them, Particularly John Reynolds with a piece of Iron when unwell and excused from Duty by the Commanding Marine Officer." Ordered that the said Rogers be summoned to appear before the Board at the Capitol in the City of Williamsburg on Wednesday next to answer the said Complaintー
A Letter from Miles Cowper Esqr informing the Board of a Quantity of Tarr and Turpentine he had sent to Messrs Smith and Roan for the use of the Navy agreeable to a request of the Board. ー Ordered that the said Smith & Roane Acct be Debited therewith to the Amount of One hundred & Eighty four pounds ten shillings.ー
Adjourned till tomorrow morning nine of the Clock.
Signed,
Thomas Whiting 1st Comsr