Message from the Council

v4:1372

The Secretary came in with the following Message from a majority of the honourable Council, viz:

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

The danger that a correspondence would be carried on between a few disaffected inhabitants of this Colony and the enemies of America, through the Town of Hull, to the men-of-war lying in and near Nantasket-Road; and that our enemies might be supplied in that channel, induced the General in July last to cause the inhabitants of said town to be removed, and to place and constantly keep up a guard at the entrance of the beach leading into that town; the guards continued until the 1st of December past, at which time their inlistment expired, and they returned to their several homes in Connecticut. Upon this, and Colonel Lincoln being told, that several persons had been seen to go to Hull, but none being observed to return, he directed a small guard from the Militia in the vicinity to be placed at the entrance of said town, and to continue there until they should receive further orders; he immediately laid the whole matter before the Council. They sent a message to his Excellency General Washington, requesting that he would place a guard there, and relieve the Militia; he gave encouragement to our messenger that he would give orders for that purpose; but it hath been delayed, and now the Council are acquainted that the lines at Cambridge and Roxbury are so thin that no men can be spared for the purpose aforesaid. The Council, therefore, thought it their duty to make this representation to the honourable House, and recommend to them that provision be immediately made, not only for guarding the passage into said town, but, also, that suitable guards be placed in the towns of Braintree, Weymouth, and Hingham.

W˙ SPOONER,
CHARLES CHAUNCY,
CALEB CUSHING,
B˙ LINCOLN,
B˙ CHADBOURN,
MICHAEL FARLEY,
JOHN ADAMS,
S˙ HOTLEN,
JOHN WHETCOMB,
JABEZ FISHER,
JAMES PRESCOTT,
JOHN TAYLOR,
ELDAD TAYLOR,
B˙ WHITE
J˙ PALMER,

Council Chamber, January 4, 1776.

Read, and committed to the Committee appointed to consider some provision for defence of the Sea-Coast.