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The Committee who were appointed to consider what measures are proper to be taken for liberating those persons who were taken prisoners by the Troops, under General Gage, on the nineteenth of April, reported a Resolve; which was read and accepted, and Ordered, that any Member who desires a copy may have one.
"In Provincial Congress, Watertown,
"May 3, 1775.
"Whereas, a number of the inhabitants of this Colony were taken prisoners by the Troops, under the command of General Gage, on the nineteenth of April last, and are by him so held:
"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that an application be sent to General Gage, signed by the wives or nearest relations of such prisoners, and the Selectmen of the Towns to which they respectively belong, desiring that he would discharge their friends from their said imprisonment; and they are empowered hereby to offer to send in to the General an equal number of his Troops, now in the hands of this people, who were taken prisoners on the aforesaid nineteenth of April, upon his liberating their friends as aforesaid."
Adjourned to nine o' clock to-morrow morning.
Report of Committee on liberating Prisoners taken by Gen. Gage
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Notes
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The Committee who were appointed by this Congress to consider what measures are proper to be taken for liberating those persons who were taken prisoners by the Troops under General Gage, on the nineteenth of April, beg leave to report, they are of opinion, that if an application were sent to General Gage, signed by the wives or nearest relations of such prisoners, and the Selectmen of the Towns to which they respectively belong, who are empowered hereby to offer to send in those names, it would be the most effectual method which could be taken for their release; but if such application should be unsuccessful, they think it would be highly expedient for this Congress to consent to an exchange of prisoners; further, to take such measures in assistance to the friends of those unhappy captives as, in their wisdom, they may think will be proper to be taken for that purpose.