The President informed the Board, that in consequence of information received from the secret committee, informing that two ships of war and one transport had sailed from Rebellion Road, 2 which, there was good reason to believe, was destined to this Province in order perhaps to plunder it of life stock, &c., or to support the merchants in the exportation of produce contrary to the... Continue Reading
Answer'd his Letters of the 5 & 6th instant desired he woud purchass the Guns from Capt [John] Darby belonging to the Lee schooner if not he must give them to him, to be alert in fitting the vessells our &c
Ordered, that Mr. [Dummer] Sewall, Doctor [Asaph] Fletcher, and Capt. [Timothy] Parker, be a Committee to bring in a Bill for establishing the Fees of the Courts of Admiralty in this Colony.
January [17]76
Monday 8
Moored at Boston Harbour
at ½ past 7 PM Discover'd Some houses on Bunkers hill on fire at 9 we found the fire to be on Charles Town Neck & heard the report of Several great Guns & Platoons of Small Arms. hoisted out all the Boats & got the ships Company all under Arms and Sent the Boats Mann'd & Arm'd to row Guard between the North Battery & Charles... Continue Reading
You being appointed Master of the Sloop Diamond, fitted out and laded on Account of the Colony of Rhode Island, are hereby orderd to embrace the first good Weather and Opportunity to sail from this Port to Martinique. Upon your Arrival there apply to His Excellency the Governor for Permission to sell your Cargo, and to purchase Gunpowder, small Arms, Lead, Duck, Saltpetre, Sulphur, Twine, and... Continue Reading
I did myself the Honor by Mr. Paul Allen to address myself to Your Excellency in a Letter upon the Contest between the Colonies and Great-Britain. Lest that Letter Should by Some Misfortune fail of being put into Your Hands, I now Subjoin a Copy of it by Capt. Samuel Soule, who goes by Permission to Guadaloupe, to purchase Powder and warlike Stores, and whom I beg Leave to recommend to Your... Continue Reading
It is voted and resolved, that Capt. John Grimes be commander of the row-galley, to be fitted out, at the wages of £9, lawful money, per month, to commence from this day; and to be commodore of both row-gallies.
That the wages of Capt. Benjamin Page be raised to £9, lawful money, per month, commencing from this time.
That each of the said gallies be manned with fifty men, including officers; and... Continue Reading
At a Meeting of the Committee appointed to Build two ships for the Service of the Continent of America.
Present the Honble Nicholas, Cooke Esqr
Nicholas Brown
William Russell
Joseph Russell
Daniel Tillinghast
Joseph Brown
John Innis Clarke
John Brown
Joseph Nightingale
John Smith
Jabez Bowen 2
Voted. That the Honorable... Continue Reading
January 1776 Monday 8
Moor'd in Rhode Island Harbour AM at 11 was taken in the Jolly Boat by the Rebels Mr Henry Stevenson and 2 Seamen.
Jany 1776 Mondy 8
Single Anchor of[f] Warwick Point ½ past 3 [P.M.] hove up the Bt Br and came to sail turning to Windward spoke with the Tender belonging to the Glasgow from Boston Bore away running up Conanicut fird at the Rebbels 14 teen 6 Pounders Shotted and 4 Swivels at 5 P M Came too off Warwick Point in 3 fms water with the Bt Bower it Bearing N B W Prudence E to N West off Shore 2... Continue Reading
The Comte of Correspondence & Safety in this place, to whose Consideration Your Excellency, by letter dated the 27th of Novr last was pleased to refer the Affair of one [John] Denny, and his captur'd Vessel 2 & Cargo; having on the first of December transmitted to You Their Proceedings relative thereto; beg leave now to report further ー that (having notified all Persons... Continue Reading
Agreable to your Directions I have taken all the Flower that is come to hand paid ⅓ frt wich is Customary from N York to this Port ー a Small Sloop Load Mr [Thomas] Mumford has taken and paid the Skipper 1/6 frt by whose order I know not & is Shipt it for the West Indias his giving 1/6 has made sum trouble among the others that brought ー shall Send it up to Norwich as Soon as the River Opens ー... Continue Reading
Whereas Mr. Isaac Governeur has imported into this Colony 465 quarter casks, contain 116 cwt. and 25 lb. or gun-powder, and by Mr. William Cannon, his consignatory, sold the same to this Committee, for public use: And Whereas the Honble. the Continental Congress by their resolve of the 15th day of July last past, that every vessel importing gunpowder within nine months from the date thereof,... Continue Reading
The Congress, taking into consideration the report of the Committee on General Schuyler's letters, thereupon came to the following resolutions:
Resolved, That shipwrights be immediately sent from New York and Philadelphia to General Schuyler, or the Commander in chief of the forces at Ticonderoga, to be employed by him in constructing a number of batteaus, not exceding one hundred, for... Continue Reading
Votes of Saturday read as were lettets from Gens [Philip] Schuyler and [Richard] Montgomery, the latter, it seems, was before Quebec the 5th of Decr. & expects Success in his intended Storm, he demands 10,000 Men to defend Canada... Gadsden moved and was seconded by Me that Col [Benedict] Arnold may be made a Brigadier Gen. and receive the Thanks of the Congress for his extraordinary March... Continue Reading
... this morning arrived Via New-york the Kings Speech to both houses of Parliament 27th Octr 1775 also accot of 300 large bbs of Gun Powder Landed not far from New york to the Eastward,... this afternoon News Came of the Schoner, Charming Polly's Arrival at ches[ter,] with 60 Tunn of Salt Petre, & Sloop Tryal with 1000 lbs of Powder ー
Since I wrote yesterday, Several Vessels have Arived from one of the foreign Islands and brought in Seven Tons of Powder the Master of one of them informs that he left fifteen sails of Vessels all waiting for that Article, that they had the fullest assurance that 150 Tons were hourly expected at those Islands which had been sent for on purpose to supply the Americans. another Vessel is Just... Continue Reading
You have seen the King's speech, which you wou'd suppose, must convince everybody of the bloody intentions of the King & Ministry, but it is far from being the case in this City; for there is a certain Ld Drumond who perswades the Fools who are gaping after a reconciliation, that he is in the secret of the inner Cabinet, that the sincere wish is, to make up with America, upon her own terms,... Continue Reading
The Congress have ordered the Secret Committee to purchase and bring in for the use of the Navy and Army sundry articles which were under consideration before you left the Congress. At my request, the Committee have directed me to inform you, that they are willing one vessel should be sent from our Colony for that purpose if a proper loading for the European market, such as fish, potash, bee's... Continue Reading
Upon Motion Resolved, That no Person shall, after the Publication hereof, & under any Pretence or Direction whatever, presume to load any Vessell, or, after being loaded, shall attempt to depart this Port, without proper Permits from this Committee, as they shall answer to the contrary ー
Ordered, That the above be published in the Papers ー