Josiah Bartlett appointed a Delegate to the Continental Congress

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Wednesday, August 23, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

Voted, To send only one Delegate more, for this Colony, to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, to attend the same with Captain John Langdon, our other Delegate, in the name and behalf of this Colony.

Voted, That Josiah Bartlett, Esq˙, be our Delegate at the said Continental Congress.

Voted, That the Hon˙ Meshech Weare, Josiah Bartlett, Matthew Thornton, Ebenezer Thompson, and William Whipple, Esquires, be a Committee to draw up instructions for our Delegates to the Continental Congress.

The Petition of Hugh Tallant, being read and considered, was referred to the Committees of Safety of Salem, Pelham, and Nottingham-West.

Voted, That all Men in this Colony, from sixteen to fifty years of age, be formed into Regiments and Companies, according to the recommendation of the Continental Congress.

Voted, That the Regiments or Battalions of Militia in this Colony consist of the same limits as when last commissioned, until further orders of this Congress.

Voted, That the Delegates of the several and respective Towns and places within the limits of each Regiment consult together and recommend to this Congress three persons, as suitable, in their opinion, either of them, to be Colonel of their respective Regiments, if elected by the Congress; and in like manner for their Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors.

Whereas the Regiment lately commanded by Colonel Josiah Willard appears to be large, and sufficient to be divided in two, and the people of that Regiment being desirous thereof: Therefore it is

Voted, That the said Regiment be divided into two, and commissionated accordingly; and that the first contain the Towns of Winchester, Hinsdale, Westmoreland, Chesterfield, Richmond, Swanzey, Keene, Surry, and Gilsum; and that the other contain the Towns of Charlestown, Walpole, Claremont, Newport, Unity, Acworth, Savile, Alstead, Lempster, and Marlow.

Voted, That this Congress shall determine what Wages each Member shall receive of his constituents, for his service in Congress.

Voted, That the Wages shall be six Shillings per day.

Voted, That Mr˙ Secretary Thompson be paid, out of the Publick Treasury, six Shillings per day, for his services to this Congress, as Secretary.

Voted, That all the Members of the present Congress be paid for their service in attending the same, from the time of the commencement thereof until their dissolution, by their several and respective constituents; and that each Member be paid, out of the Publick Treasury, by the Receiver-General, two Pence per mile for travelling to and from this Congress to their several places of abode, and for every time of their adjournment for a longer time than from Saturday to Monday — their travel to be certified by the Secretary.

The Petition of James Gilmore being read and considered,

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It is ordered by this Congress, That the said James Gilmore be liberated from his confinement, and that he appear, to be heard and tried before this Congress, on the second day of their sitting after the twenty-sixth day of this instant; and that Aaron Huyes, named in said Petition, be notified to appear on said day, and prosecute his complaint against said Gilmore. And Captains Stephen Evans and Shadrach Hodgdon recognise to this Congress, in the sum of twenty Pounds, for the appearance of the said Gilmore on said day.

Voted, That all such persons as were heretofore excused, by the law of this Province, from training on publick training days, be excused from training, according to said law.

Voted, That there be paid, by the Receiver-General, to Josiah Bartlett, Esq˙, one of our Delegates appointed to represent us at the Continental Congress, the sum of one hundred and forty Pounds, lawful money, out of the Publick Treasury, to be by him accounted for.

Voted, That Nathaniel Folsom, Esq˙, be the General Officer over the Militia in this Colony.

Voted, That Captain William Whipple be appointed Colonel of the First Regiment of Militia in this Colony, and Joshua Wentworth, Esq˙, his Lieutenant-Colonel, Benjamin Parker his First Major, and Ephraim Pickering his Second Major.

Voted, That Captain Stephen Evans be appointed Colonel of the Second Regiment in this Colony, and Samuel Chesely his Lieutenant-Colonel, Joshua Wingate his First Major, and Paul Wentworth his Second Major.

Voted, That Colonel Jonathan Moulton be Colonel of the Third Regiment of Militia in this Colony, and Christopher Toppan, Esq˙, his Lieutenant-Colonel, and John Lane, Esq˙, his First Major.

Voted, That Colonel Nicholas Gilman be appointed Colonel of the Fourth Regiment of Militia in this Colony, and Capt˙ Jeremiah Folsom his Lieutenant-Colonel, Lieutenant Thomas Bartlett his First Major, and Captain Stephen Claris his Second Major.

Voted, That Col˙ Jos˙ Bartlett be appointed Colonel of the Regiment late commanded by Colonel Jonathan Greely, and Jacob Gale, Esq˙, Lieutenant-Colonel, Joseph Welch, Esq˙, his First Major, and Lieutenant John Webster his Second Major.

Voted, That Col˙ Joseph Badger be appointed Colonel of the Regiment of Militia lately commanded by himself, and Ebenezer Smith, Esq˙, his Lieutenant-Colonel, Captain David Copp his First Major, and Captain Bradbury Richardson his Second Major.

Voted, That Capt˙ Daniel Moore be appointed Colonel of the Regiment of Militia lately commanded by Colonel John Goffe, and David Gilman his Lieutenant-Colonel, Moses Kelly his First Major, and Samuel Page his Second Major.

Voted, That Thomas Stickney, Esq˙, be appointed Colonel of the Regiment of Militia lately commanded by Colonel McMillan, Captain Henry Gerrish his Lieutenant-Colonel, Nathan Batchelder, Esq˙, his First Major, and Isaac Chandler his Second Major.

Voted, That Samuel Ashley, Esq˙, be appointed Colonel of the first part of the Regiment lately commanded by Colonel Josiah Willard, and Captain Joseph Hammond his Lieutenant-Colonel, Isaac Bulterfield his First Major, and Timothy Ellis his Second Major.

Voted, That Benjamin Bellows be appointed Colonel of the second part of the Regiment lately commanded by Colonel Willard, and Samuel Hunt, Esq˙, his Lieutenant-Colonel, William Haywood his First Major, and John Bellows his Second Major.

Voted, That Colonel David Hobart be appointed Colonel of the Regiment lately commanded by Colonel John Fenton, and David Webster, Esq˙, his Lieutenant-Colonel.

Voted, That Israel Morey, Esq˙, be appointed Colonel of the Regiment lately commanded by Colonel John Ilurd, and Charles Johnson, Esq˙, his Lieutenant-Colonel, Jonathan Child his First Major, and Jonathan Hull his Second Major.

Voted, That the Committee of Safety immediately give such directions as they judge necessary, for fortifying and supplying materials, raising Matrosses, &c˙, for defending Piscataqua Harbour.

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Upon the complaint of Dennis Pendergast against Owen Orke, for stealing from him a number of Dollars and Crowns, a warrant issued from this Congress to apprehend the said Owen Orke; who being apprehended and brought before this Congress, the matter of said complaint is referred to a Committee, viz: Samuel Chase, James Betton, David Lawrence, Benjamin Giles, John Dudley, Ebenezer Smith, Enoch Hale, and Ichabod Rawlings, Esq˙, the Reverend Messrs˙ Abiel Foster and Stephen Farrar, and Deacon Samuel Brooks, and Deacon James Knowles, who are to hear, try, and determine the same.