Meshech Weare appointed President pro tempore of the Congress

v4:17

Wednesday, November 15, 1775.

The President being absent,

Voted, That the Hon˙ Meshech Weare, Esq˙, be President pro tempore of this Congress.

Voted, That the Thanks of this Congress be presented to the Hon˙ Matthew Thornton, Esq˙, for his faithful and able conduct as President of this Congress.

Voted, That Colonel David Gilman' s Account, amounting to twenty-seven Shillings, for services done by order of Congress, be allowed and paid out of the publick Treasury.

Voted, That the Rev˙ Mr˙ Woodbridge Odlin be paid out of the publick Treasury fifty Shillings, lawful money, for his good services in attending and praying with this Congress.

Voted, That the Carpenters employed by Captain Wothen, in conjunction with the Committee of Portsmouth, be paid wages according to their agreement.

Voted, That the Hon˙ Matthew Thornton, Esq˙, be paid out of the publick Treasury six Pounds, lawful money, for

v4:18

Voted and Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that Samuel Dyer ought to confine himself to his present place of abode in Berwick, and that it will not be prudent for him to be allowed to pass and repass in this Colony at present.

Voted, To add two persons to the Committee for auditing the Accounts of the Committee for procuring Fire-Arms, and that David Gilman and John McClary, Esq' s, be of that Committee, and that said Committee make a final settlement of said Accounts.

Voted, That a Committee of three persons be chosen, to carry into execution the Resolve of the honourable Continental Congress at Philadelphia, of Thursday, the 26th of October last, respecting exporting to the foreign West-Indies, Provisions, &c˙, for the purpose of importing Arms, Ammunition, Sulphur, and Saltpetre; and that Captain Pierce Long, Samuel Cutts, and Samuel Sherburne, Esquires, be the Committee for that purpose; and that a sum not exceeding two thousand Pounds be employed (for cargo) for the said purposes, at the proper risk of this Colony; and that the said Committee have leave to send, if they think expedient, to any foreign port for the said commodities.

Voted, That Colonel Evans, Mr˙ Sherburne, and Mr˙ Cults, be a Committee to wait on General Sullivan, now in Town, and inform him that at his request this Congress is ready to hear him.

Voted, That a Vote of this Congress, of the 10th of June last, respecting Town Officers, be forthwith printed in handbills, and distributed to the several Towns and places in this Colony.

The subject matter of the Petition of Mark Duty being heard and considered by a Committee of this House, viz: Benjamin Brown, Joseph Bartlett, Abraham Page, Zaccheus Clough, and David Lawrence, the said Committee made report, that the Cow in question be restored to the Petitioner, and the Committee of Safety of Wyndham had no power to try the case, and therefore it ought to stand dismissed, and no cost be paid on either side.

Which Report being read and considered,

Voted, That the same be accepted, and passed into a Resolve of this House.

The Committee of this House, viz: Nathaniel Balch, David Lawrence, Samuel Dudley, Esq˙, Abel Webster, James Knowles, Benjamin Brown, John Cragin, Samuel Chase, Esq˙, and Captain Caleb Page, being appointed to examine into the subject matter of the complaint of a number of the training Soldiers in East-Kingston, against Lieutenant-Colonel Gale, for undue measures taken in the appointment of the Officers in the Militia there, having heard the said parties, report thereon: That the proceedings of Colonel Gale, with respect to the warning, and his proceedings in the choice of their Officers in that Company, were illegal, and not agreeable to the Resolves of the Congress in that respect, and that tire said Company ought to have the benefit of a new choice of Officers.

Which Report being read and considered,

Voted, That the same be accepted, and pass into a Resolve of this House.

Voted, That the Thanks of this House be given to his Excellency General Washington, for his early care and notice taken of this Colony, in sending General Sullivan and other assistance to us, when we were in great fear and distress.

Voted, That the Thanks of this House be given to the Hon˙ General Sullivan, for his great care and pains in assisting us to defend our Harbour and Fortresses, when we were in great fear and distress.

Voted, That the Committee of Safety, or of Correspondence, in each Town or Parish in this Colony, be desired to transmit to the Congress, or to the Committee of Safety for this Colony, the names and places of abode of all such persons as they suspect to be in any ways inimical to this country, with the causes and evidence of such suspicions, and that this vote be printed in handbills, and dispersed through this Colony.

Voted, That the Committee of Safety, appointed by this

v4:19

Voted, That the Committee of Safety attend General Sullivan at Portsmouth, on Tuesday next, to take under their consideration such matters and things as he shall lay before them.