Your favour of blank Date came Safe to Hand ー We are much pleased that Capts [Nicholson] Broughton & Selliman are Sailed not only on Account of their probably meeting with greater Success in their Destination but on that of a piece of Intelligence we lately had from Boston, viz ー That a Transport with 1200 Bbls of Powder on board without Convoy or Force has been missing Some Time & they... Continue Reading
About 10 Days ago two floating Batteries were ordered down Cambridge River to fire into the Enemy's Camp on Boston Common & alarm the Troops there.2 It had the expected Effect, but was attended with an unfortunate Circumstance. A 9 Pounder the Sixth Time it was discharg'd burst, & very badly wounded 7 of the Men. It reduc'd the Batterie to a perfect Wreck. She was however... Continue Reading
To the Honourable the General Assembly of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay
The Petition of Thomas Goldthwait Esq & others late of the Garrison of Fort Pownall
Humbly shews
That your Petitioners served in the said Garrison from the first day of June 1774 for the time they inlisted for or untill the said Garrison was dismissed agreable to the establishment made for the said Garrison by the... Continue Reading
On the Petition of Thomas Goldthwait, Esqr and others ー
Resolved that there be paid out of the publick Treasury of the Colony, to the non-commission'd Officers and Soldiers nam'd in a Pay Roll herewith exhibited, the Sum of Three hundred and thirty eight Pounds, in full for their Services ー And that the Treasurer of said Colony is directed to pay to each of said Officers and Soldiers nam'd in... Continue Reading
I received a Card from our Friend Doctr [Benjamin] Franklin, assuring me a friendly Visit before he returns to Philadelphia ー If he can spare Time to take a View of the Harbor I hope to convince him of the Practicability of stoping up the Narrows, and forcing our Enemies to ask our Leave to return home. If you can procure, & send me a Model, or at least a perfect Draft of the Machine you... Continue Reading
Pray how many more burnings of towns are we to be abused with by the British Barbarians, ere the long suffering of the Congress is concluded, & every manly exertion of power & wisdom is to be exercised in opposing our Enemies! By a Captain arrived from one of the French ports we are told, that the French are ready to trade with us, & to defend such trade. The Buccanners of America... Continue Reading
Octr 1775
Wednesday 25
At Single Anchor Entce Cape Codd Harbor
at 3 A M Heard the report of Several Musquets to windward made the Signal to shorten sail at 7 Saw Pidgeon Hill N W b W five Leagues ー the two Sloop Prizes was missing lay too under the Mizzen & fore stay sail hauld Fore & Main Tack on board stood to the S W Strong Gales Saw a Ship of War to Sd standing to the Northd... Continue Reading
Capt. Whipple returned here from his voyage to Bermuda, on Friday last [October 20]. He had received authentic intelligence of the arrival of the packet at New York before the first time limited for his cruise was expired, and immediately sailed for Bermuda. He had light flattering winds for several days, and when near the island met with a violent gale, which drove him three or four degrees to... Continue Reading
25 [October, 1775]. Set out & Reachd Bristol by 5 oClock, Waited on the Committee, who told me the Guns belongd to Capt [Simeon] Potter, & that he might dispose of them at his Pleasure.
I beg Leave to remind Congress of the necessi[ty] of an immediate Attention to what I said in m[ine] of the 5th instant respecting the paying of the Troop[s,] at least so far as concerns those who are willing to receive the Continental Pay here, or at such P[lace] where they may be discharged or reinlist, when Soldiers find that they must return home withou[t] their Pay, or are not paid off when... Continue Reading
October 1775
Wednesdy 25
Thursday 26
Moord between the Battery & Oyster Island
Fresh Breezes & fine Wr P M Arriv'd the King Fishers tender A M sent some Arms & Amunition on board her for Lord Dunmore at Noon she Sailed for Virginia
The Commee of Safety of Pensylvania laid before the Congress sundry papers, being enclosed, instmctions given by G[eneral] Gage to one Duncan Campbell of Duchess County N.York, an examination of sundry persons who came from Boston in the Transport Rebecca and Frances, Hastings, master, and who upon the vessels being cast away on Brigantine Beach, were seized by order of Sd Comee of Safety and are... Continue Reading
Pray inform me if [Jeremiah] Obrian and Carghill were or were not commissioned by some Vote of the general Court ー and whether they cant be put into the Continental service. An order is gone to Genl. Washington to that Purpose if it can be done.
A few days ago an English frigate cast anchor in the harbour of Fort-Royal, under the cannon of the fort, and sent some armed men in her boats to seize a New-England vessel which lay in that harbour, whose crew they made prisoners, then plundered the vessel, and afterwards left her to the mercy of the waves. ー The Count de Nozieres being then at Guadaloupe, the Sieur de Sablonet, commandant in... Continue Reading
You will have heard long before this of the inhuman busyness of Falmouth ー the tragedy acted by these hell hounds of an execrable Ministry with a more accursed Tyrant at their head now calls out for decision, for Heaven' sake, My Dr Sir, let your city no longer hold the honest in suspense by these shilly shally mode of conduct, is this a time when whole communities are laid waste by the Dogs of... Continue Reading
Sir The General thanks you for your Care & Diligence in the Enterprize ー the Success of which we are just now informed of ー You will endeavour to get the Vessels to Plymouth as soon as possible ー where you will find Mr Watson who is Agent for the Continent & wili advance you what Moneys may be necessary for the Satisfaction of those who have assisted you ー The General will notice you... Continue Reading
Sir Major [Benjamin] Tupper will deliver you two Vessels late belonging to Tories in Boston which are taken and detaind by the General's Order's together with their Cargoes & other Property of which the Major will give you an Account ー Such articles as are perishable, you will immediately dispose of to the best Advantage ー & take Care of the Vessels 'till farther Orders. ー If Major Tupper... Continue Reading
We have had no Event of any Consequence in our Camp for some Time, our whole Attention being taken up with Preparations for the Winter, and forming the new Army, in which many Difficulties occur. The Enemy expect considerable Reinforcements this Winter and from all Accounts are garrisoning Gibraltar and other Places with foreign Troops, in order to bring the former garrisons to America. The... Continue Reading
Upon a Motion, Ordered, That Colo Thompson, Colo Woodbridge, Mr Hopkins, & Colonel Norton, be added to the Committee for considering the expediency of ordering that any part of the Powder and Arms lately arriv'd in the Province of Main should remain in those parts.
Afternoon
On the Petition of Jerathmeel Bowers, Esqr in behalf of one John Shardon, the Committee Reported ー Read and accepted.... Continue Reading
26 [October, 1775]. Waited on Capt Potter. found 10.4 [prs] & 10 Swivels which he refusd to Lend or Let, & askd 1000 Dollars for the Guns exclusive of the Swivels, Which price I thought, too extravagant. So Went to Head Qrs, 2 miles this Side of N Port, Where I found Several Cannon Suitable but was told by Genl [Esek] Hopkins that I could Not have them Without an Ordr from the Lt Governor... Continue Reading