Primary tabs
Whereas this Court has received information that John Parke, the Deputy Quartermaster-General of the Army of the United Colonies, and Richard Duff, his Clerk, are arrested at the suit of William Thompson, Merchant, in an action of trespass, whereon the said Thompson complains that the said John and Richard broke and entered his dwelling-house, and made an assault on his person, and broke his household furniture in said house very much; and it being suggested to this Court that the said John and Richard entered said house by order of their superior officers, to quarter soldiers there, and it appearing to said Court that, in the present state of our publick affairs, the producing suits against persons employed in said Army for their entering the houses and enclosures of the inhabitants of this Colony, in support of said Army, would have a tendency more dangerous than the suspending such suits for the present:
It is therefore Resolved, That there shall be no Suit produced or prosecuted, nor any Writ or Precept served on any Officer or private Soldier now in, or that have been in, the Army aforesaid, the last or present campaign, for any entry by them made on Houses or Lands in this Colony, while they were in the service of the said Colonies; and all Sheriffs, and other officers, are commanded to take notice and govern themselves accordingly, and that they do not execute or return any Writ against such person now in their hands, or that shall hereafter be delivered them, until this Court shall further consider of this matter, and reconsider this Resolve.
Whereas his Excellency General Washington has directed the Surgeon-General of the Continental Army to procure what Medicines may be obtained in the Town of Boston, for the use of said Army; and as it appears there are Drugs of various kinds left in the Shops and Stores of Sylvester Gardner and William Perkins, late inhabitants of Boston:
Therefore Resolved, That whatever Drugs and Medicines are found in the Stores or Shops of the above-mentioned Sylvester Gardner and William Perkins, (fled from Boston,) be delivered to Doctor Morgan, Surgeon-General of the Continental Army; and any person or persons who have the care of the said Drugs or Medicines are hereby directed to deliver the same accordingly.
Resolved, That the Commissary-General of this Colony be, and he hereby is, empowered and directed to inform himself with respect to the number of Cannon now lying at Boston and Castle-Island, which are the property of this Colony; and that he cause to be cleared out and repaired all those which he judges can be made fit for use.
Ordered, That Captain Witherton and Mr˙ Whitney be on the Committee appointed to procure Teams to transport the Baggage and Stores of the Army to Rhode-Island.
Adjourned to nine o' clock, to-morrow morning.
Suits against Officers and Soldiers of the Army, for any entry made by them in houses or lands in the Colony, prohibited
v5:1257