Letter from Thomas Bourk to the Council of Safety

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Cambridge, July 19, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have to acquaint you that we have not met with the wished-for success in raising the company you ordered us to raise in this County. The Militia having been discharged till after harvest, we have not had an opportunity of recruiting the men; add to this, that on my returning from Annapolis, the Cambridge Blues were ordered to march to the straits, where the enemy was said to have landed; unwilling to desert them at a time of danger, I commanded them on that occasion, so that it has not been in my power to exert myself as yet. Mr˙ Lynch has made up his complement; they are here, and are a likely set of men. We have about forty or fifty men engaged; in Somerset there were none willing to engage. I expect some next week from Worcester, I wait to know how many, which, when informed of, shall proceed to Annapolis, to receive your orders whether I shall continue to inlist or not. Our Militia companies will meet next week, when we shall have a better opportunity of completing our number. Could I have engaged to take the men into immediate pay, the company would have been nearly completed. Mr˙ Lynch carries our warrants.

I am, gentlemen, your obedient humble servant,
THOMAS BOURK.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland, Annapolis.