Memorial of Committee for building and equipping sundry Armed Vessels

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Memorial of William Sever and Thomas Durfee, setting forth: That your Memorialists were, by this honourable Court, with others, appointed of a Committee for building and equipping sundry armed vessels, which were proposed to be rigged sloops; that your Memorialists are of opinion the two vessels they are now building for that purpose are of such size that it will be very inexpedient to rig them as sloops. They therefore request that they may be authorized and directed by your Honours to rig and fix the said vessels as brigantines. Your Memorialists would also represent to your Honours, that they are unable to purchase duck for sails for the said vessels; and if your Honours think proper, they pray that the Commissary-General be directed to supply them with eighteen bolts of duck, out of the Colony stores, for each of the said vessels.

Read, and committed to Moses Gill, Esq˙, with Mr˙ Perry and Captain Cutter.

The Committee of both Houses, to whom the foregoing Petition was committed, have considered the same, and are of opinion, that William Sever and Thomas Durfee, Esquires, two of the Committee for building and equipping sundry armed vessels, have leave to rig the two vessels they are now building into brigantines, instead of sloops, as was first intended, brigantines being of more general service, and best answering their intended use. Your Committee are also of an opinion, that it will be expedient for William Sever and Thomas Durfee, Esquires, part of the Committee aforesaid, to receive from Richard Sevens, Esq˙, the Commissary-General of this Colony, thirty-six bolts" of duck, which will be necessary for the furnishing said brigantines with sails.

MOSES GILL. per order.

Read, and accepted, and thereupon

Resolved, That the said William Sever and Thomas Durfee, Esquires, accordingly rig the two vessels they are now building into Brigantines, instead of Sloops, and that they receive from Richard Devens, Esquire, the Commissary-General of this Colony, thirty-six bolts of Duck, wherewith to furnish said Brigantines with sails.