One Month' s Pay to be Advanced to the Regiment

v4:1405

Sabbath-Day, January 21, 1776.

The House met at twelve o' clock, according to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to confer with General Washington on the subject of raising men to go into Canada, reported verbally, that his Excellency was of opinion it would not be expedient to pay a bounty to them.

On a motion, Resolved, That there he advanced to the non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the Regiment to be raised for a reinforcement of the Army in Canada, one month' s Pay, over and above that which will be paid to them by his Excellency General Washington.

The Committee appointed to divide into Regiments the four thousand three hundred and sixty-eight men to be raised from the Militia in this Colony, to serve in the American Army before Boston, reported. Read, and recommitted.

Ordered, That Mr˙, Speaker and Mr˙, Cooper be of the Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve for raising the Regiment to go into Canada.

Ordered, That a message go to the honourable Board, informing them that this House has nothing special to say before them at this time, but propose to adjourn to four o' clock, in the afternoon.

Then the House adjourned to four o' clock.

The House met according to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to bring in a Resolve for raising the Regiment to go into Canada, reported. Read, and accepted.

Whereas, it is of very great importance to our brethren, the inhabitants of Canada, and to the inhabitants of the Untied Colonies, especially to the western and northern Counties thereof, that the advantages gained under the smiles of Providence by the American arms, during the

v4:1406

It is, therefore, Resolved, That a Regiment, consisting of seven hundred, and twenty-eight men, be raised, for the purpose aforesaid, in the Counties of Hampshire and Berkshire, and to be under the command of Elisha Porter, Esq˙, as Colonel; Thomas Williams, Esq˙, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and Abner Morgan, Esq˙, as Major; who have been unanimously chosen by the General Court of this Colony to those offices, respectively. And that the commanding officer of each company of Militia in the towns of the said Counties of Hampshire and Berkshire, hereafter mentioned, chosen agreeable to the direction of the Provincial Congress, be, and hereby is directed to cause his company, without delay, to be mustered, and that, out of the company or companies in such town, they cause to be voluntarily inlisted the number of effective men herein affixed to such town, respectively, to serve the United Colonies on the Continental establishment, and under their Generals, until the first day of January next, if the service shall require it. And that each officer and soldier shall be allowed and paid for their service, respectively, the same sum, by the calendar month, as is allowed to other officers and soldiers in the establishment aforesaid, the time of service to be computed from the time of his inlistment or entering the same, to the time of his discharge, and allowing sufficient time for his return home; that is to say, accounting one day for every twenty miles' march; also, one penny per mile, to compensate his expenses on his march to and from the camp, for so many miles as he shall bear his travelling expenses in the march aforesaid. And each non-commissioned officer and soldier shall be allowed a blanket, or twelve shillings to pay for the same if he finds it himself.

And whereas, the season is severe, and the service both important and necessary:

It is further Resolved, As a further encouragement to such non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers as shall appear to inlist for the succour of their brethren in Canada, and for the defence and support of the just cause of America on this occasion, that, in addition to one month' s advance wages to be paid them by his Excellency General Washington, there shall be paid them, also, out of the publick Treasury of this Colony, one other month' s advance wages, upon their passing muster, by a Mustermaster to be appointed by his Excellency, in full confidence that the justice of the Congress will order the same to be reimbursed. And the Treasurer is hereby ordered to pay the sum of thirteen hundred and ninety-eight Pounds eight Shillings to Colonel Porter, for that purpose, he to be accountable to this Court for the same.

And the Selectmen, and Committees of Correspondence and Safety of each of said towns, are requested, without fail, to afford their immediate assistance, fully to effect this business with the utmost despatch, as they regard their country' s and their own safety and welfare.

And it is further Resolved, That the Captains, Subalterns, and non-Commissioned Officers of the several companies, shall be chosen by the companies, respectively, from those inlisted, or others, and commissioned by the Council, and that the Committee appointed by this Court, in conjunction with the Field-Officers aforesaid, distribute the men inlisted as aforesaid, into companies.

v4:1407

Mr˙, Story, agreeable to order, reported. Read, and accepted.

Whereas, this Court, at the request of his Excellency General Washington, have thought it necessary that a temporary reinforcement of the Army should be made with all possible despatch, and, to effect the same, have proportioned among the several towns in this Colony such a number of men as they apprehend each town ought to raise, upon the present emergency; and (A) whereas, this Court, That the men agreed to be furnished by this Colony should be raised with all expedition, (B) have appointed a Committee out of each County to assist in raising the men, and forming them, when raised, into companies, which Committee are as follows, viz:

For the County of Suffolk: Mr˙, Guild, Colonel Lovell, Colonel McIntosh.

Essex: Mr˙, Phillips, Mr˙, Jewelt, Mr˙, Hopkins, Major Cross.

Middlesex: Colonel Spaulding, Major Brooks, Colonel Perry, Captain Sartle, Mr˙, Bryant.

Plymouth: Captain Cushing, Colonel Cushing, Captain White, of Middleborough.

Barnstable: Colonel Otis, Colonel Cobb.

Bristol: Captain Hodges, Mr˙, Starkweather, Doctor Baylies.

Worcester: Captain Parker, Mr˙, Fessenden, Mr˙, Allen, Mr˙, Rice, Colonel Hill.

York: Colonel Sayer, Mr˙, Sullivan, Major Goodwin.

Cumberland: Mr˙, Fabyan, Captain Cutter.

Lincoln: Captain Howard, Colonel Jones.

Therefore, Resolved, That the persons aforenamed, for each of the several Counties aforesaid, be, and they hereby are directed to use their utmost endeavours with the Committees of Correspondence and Safety, and Selectmen of each town, to have the several proportions of men affixed to each town in their several Counties raised with all possible expedition, and, when raised, to form them into Companies of ninety men each, including officers, and, as soon as each Company has chosen their several officers, that they cause them to march forthwith to the camp at Cambridge or Roxoury, as his Excellency General Washington shall direct.

Ordered, That the following gentlemen be a Committee to see that the men to be raised from the Counties of Hampshire and Berkshire be divided into Companies, and equipped with all expedition, viz:

For the County of Hampshire: Colonel Field, Mr˙, Dickenson, Major Pyncheon, Major Ely, Major Bliss, and Colonel Howe.

For the County of Berkshire: Doctor Whiting, Captain Goodrich, and Major Smith.

Ordered, That Colonel Otis get four hundred of the

v4:1408

Ordered, That Captain Brown, of Watertown, get one hundred of the Resolves which respect the raising a Regiment in Hampshire and Berkshire, printed as soon as possible, and to see that the press is corrected, and that the following Form of an Inlistment be printed on one side by itself, and when printed to deliver the same to the Committee above-mentioned.

Form of an Inlistment.

"We, the subscribers, do hereby severally inlist ourselves into the service of the United American Colonies, until the 1st day of January next, if the service should require it; and each of us do engage to furnish and carry with us into the service aforesaid, a good effective fire-arm and blanket; (also, a good bayonet, cartridge-pouch, and a hatchet, or tomahawk, or cutting-sword, if possible;) and we severally consent to be formed by such person, or persons, as the General Court shall appoint, into a company of ninety men, including one Captain, two Lieutenants, one Ensign, four Sergeants, four Corporals, one Drum, and one Fife, to be elected by the company, and commissionated by the Council, and when formed, we engage to march into Canada, with the utmost expedition, and to be under such Field-Officers as the General Court have appointed, or shall appoint; and we further agree, during the time aforesaid, to be subject to such Generals, or superior officers, as are or shall be appointed, and to be under such regulations in every respect as are provided for the Army aforesaid.

"Dated the ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ of ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ A˙ D˙ 1776."