Letter from Major Frazer to the President of Congress enclosing lists of Vessels and Ordnance and Ordnance Stores left by the enemy in Boston

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[Read May 7, 1776.]

Boston, April 14, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: I have taken the liberty to enclose you copies of the lists of vessels, and ordnance, and ordnance stores, left by our enemy in this town, all of which I have properly secured since they evacuated it. A more particular account of the cargoes found in the vessels, with an account of all other King' s stores, I will forward as soon as I can ascertain the amount of each article. I was ordered in here by the Quartermaster-General the same day the enemy left the town, in order to take an account, and secure all King' s stores; which I have been constantly employed about ever since, and hope to finish in about two weeks, when I shall render an account of the whole of my proceedings to Colonel Mifflin, Quartermaster-General. The amount of King' s stores alone will, I am sure, be worth upwards of fifty thousand pounds sterling, besides a number of cables and anchors taken up out of the harbour, in three or four fathom of water. The anchors weigh from thirty-five hundred down to five hundred; some very large cables almost new. The value of these two articles, that I have already got, is computed, by good judges, to be worth three thousand pounds sterling. I have only had twelve hands employed in this work two weeks; they are men that I hired belonging to the town, who are very well acquainted with the harbour. I hope, in two weeks' more, to clear the harbour, and get out a number more of anchors and cables, &c. The men expect to be allowed salvage, besides their pay, for every thing taken beyond low-water mark, as well as for the cargoes of salt, which would all have been lost had we not used the greatest industry to have got it out, as the vessels were all left scuttled. Your Honours will judge whether this demand is reasonable, and please to let me know your

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JOHN G˙ FRAZER,

Assistant Quartermaster-General.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

P˙ S. The Quartermaster-General has fixed upon Jonathan Williams, Esq˙, of Boston, as agent to dispose of all stores found here, except what we want for our Army. He has already sold, to a large amount, horses, wheat, flour, &c.