Roll of New Hampshire Men At Louisburg, Cape Breton 1745

Edward N. Pearson

Concord, New Hampshire

1896

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 [The following is a selection of 18th-century documents from the book and does not include the comments of Pearson relating to them]

A Journal of the House of Representatives at a General Assembly of his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire in New Engl^d began and held at Portsm^o in s^d Province on Thursday 24 January, Anno Dom: 1745.

                               {Nathaniel Rogers, Esq
Portsm^o                 {Eleazer Russell, Esq
                              {Henry Sherburn, jun.
                              {Coll. Thomas Wallingford
Dover                    {Thomas Millet, Esq.
                              {Capt. John Winget
                              {Sam^l Palmer, Esq.
Hampton Falls    { Mr. Joseph Philbrook
                             {Mr. Meshech Wear
                             {Col. Peter Gilman
Exeter                  {Mr. Zeb Gideons
Stretham               Moses Levitt, Esq.
New Castle           William Frost, Esq.
Rye                        Jonathan Lock
Kingston               Maj^r Eben^r Stevens, Esq.
Greenland            Clement March, Esq.
*Newington         George Walton, Esq.
New Market         Capt. Israel Gilman
Durham                Capt Jonathan Thompson
Londonderry        Mr John Wallace, Sen

Friday Feby 1. Declared by the House, not legally elected, and dismissed.

Feby 12. Mr. Secretary, Coll. Downing & Mr. Wibird came into the House & declaring they were sent to qualify John Fabyan, Esq. adminis^d the oath to him, & he took his place in y^e House being directed thereto by the speaker.

[Journal of the House.]

Fryday, Feb^y 1^st 1745. Met according to adjournm^t & all y^e members present.

Rich^d Wibird Esq. brought down a letter from his Exc^y Gov^r Shirley with some papers Relating to the proceedings of the Gov^t of the Mass. Bay on an intended Expedition to Louisburg.

[Governor Shirley s Communication].

Province of the         }
 Massachusetts Bay }

The Committee of both Houses upon the subject of his Excellency s messages of the 19^th & 22^d instant make the following report, viz.

That they have been attended by two Gentlemen who have lately been prisoners at Louisburg & by others who have been traders there & who are well acquainted with the place, from whom the Committee have received information that the Garrison there does not consist of more than five or six hundred regular Troops & that there are not above three or four hundred fighting men of the Inhabitants, that they have but a small stock of Provisions, that they have no vessels of Force in their Harbour, and that the place is at this time less capable of being defended against an attack than its probable, it will be hereafter.

The Committee therefore are of opinion that it is incumbent upon this Government to embrace this favourable opportunity to attempt the reduction thereof; and they humbly propose that his Excell^y the Capt. General be desired to give forth his Proclamation to encourage the Inlistment of three Thousand Volunteers under such proper officers as he shall appoint, That each person so enlisting be allowed Twenty- five shillings pr month, & that there be delivered to each man a blanket, that one month s pay be advanced & that they be entitled to all the plunder.

That provision be made for the furnishing of necessary warlike stores for the Expedition, That four months provisions be laid in, That a Committee be appointed to procure & fit vessels to serve as Transports to be ready to depart by the beginning of March, and that a suitable naval force be provided for their convoy, as this Court shall hereafter order. That application be forthwith made to the Government of New York, the Jerseys & Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Connecticutt & Rhode Island to furnish their respective Quotas of men & vessels to accompany or follow the Forces of this Province.

In the name & by order of the Committee.

Wm. Pepperell.

In Council, Jan. 25, 1745 - Read & Sent down.

In the House of Represent^s , Jan, 25, 1745 - Read & Accepted. Sent up for concurrence.

T. Gushing, Speak^r.

In Council, Jan. 25, 1745 - Read & concurred.

J. Williard, Sec^y .

Consented to

W. Shirley.

Copy examin^d pr. J. Williard Sec^y.

Saturday, Feb^y y^e 2^d 1745. Met according to adjournment & the Com^te of both Houses on the subject of Gov^r Shirleys letter & some other papers laid before the House yesterday by his Exc^y having made their Report, it was brought into the House by Mr. Downing & Mr. Solly & read as follows :

Province of New Hamp^r.

The Committee of both Houses on the subject of his Excellency Governor Shirleys letter and some other papers laid before the Assembly this day by his Excellency :

The Committee are of opinion that it is incumbent upon this Province to do all they can to forward & encourage the intended Expedition for the Reduction of Louisburg or Cape Breton, and humbly propose that (if proper methods may be concluded on for defraying the charge which the Committee are of opinion will be about four thousand pounds lawfull money) his Excellency the Captain General be desired to give forth his Proclamation to encourage the enlisting of two hundred & fifty volunteers under such proper officers as he shall appoint ; that each person so en listing be allowed Twenty-five shillings pr month & that be delivered to each man a blanket, that one months pay be advanced and that they be entitled to all the plunder ; That provision be made for the furnishing of necessary warlike stores for the Expedition, that four months provision be laid in, that a Comittee be appointed to procure & fit vessells to serve as transports to be ready to depart by the beginning of March.

Feb^y 1, 1745 - Theodore Atkinson     Peter Gilman
                        Sam^l Smith                 Tho^s Millet
                       John Downing             Hen. Sherburne
                       Sam^l  Solly.                  Moses Leavit.

Voted, That afores^d Report of Com^tee be accepted & sent up for concurrance.

[Cape Breton Expedition Plan of Operations]

MEM^o. In order for the attacking of Louisbourg this Spring by surprise its proposed that 3000 Troops should Embark from hence in Sloops & Schooners and proceed for Canso, well armed which should be a place of Rendezvous it being within 20 Leagues of Louisbourg; and its being uncertain that so many vessels should be able to keep Company together when they are arrived at said Port, to take a favourable opportunity to sail from thence in order to be at Gaberous point by Dusk, from whence it is but 3 Leagues from Louisbourg, then to push into the Bay, and as soon as said vessels are at an anchor to man as many whaleboats as they have & send them along the shore as neare as possible, which will make it the more difficult for them to be discovered, & when they come to the cove which faces the low part of the wall, there to land if the Sea will permit & scale that place if possible, & if otherwise as the Wall breaks off a little on the other side of the East gate, not far from that there are picketts put for a considerable distance across a pond over to the Wall on the Beach on the other side of the Pond, and as this Pond is frozen all the month of March its not very difficult to get over them : but if the weather will not permit their landing in the above place let them proceed along the shore till they come to a long Range of Rocks that goes towards the Island, at the End of which is a Passage where the shallops go through, let them go in there and follow the Ledge of Rocks right back again, then they will land right against the East gate on a point, and as there are some Houses there, it will hinder their being seen, but one Boat ought to go first & surprise the People in those Houses a little time before the others come up, Each whale boat must have two ladders in them fifteen foot long which may be put in the middle of the Boat without hindrance to the men ; but the Boatmen must lay still at this Point till they think the main body is got near the Town, & that a party of as many men as shall be judg'd proper shall be ready to attack the Grand Battery, its necessary it should be low water if no Drift Ice aground along the shore, for the remainder of the men to go round the Picketts that are by the north gate, and when they get round with Ladders of 15 feet long, they can scale the Wall facing the Harbour which is a Quarter of a mile round, and it will be absolutely necessary to appoint a Time to strike the blow all at once, which can be done by agreeing upon a certain hour just before Day, which is the Sleepiest Time, and the Commanding officer of each Detachment to know the time, and when the Time comes by his Watch to begin without further ceremony ; The Enemy finding themselves attacked at so many different places at once its probable it will breed such confusion among them that our men will have time to get in unmolested ; & it is to be observ'd that as the men march from the above point the low wall is on the left hand of the gate, and the Picketts on the right hand; as all the enemy s troops are in the citadel except a small guard or two it will be a considerable time before the men are drest & got ready to march out, and even then it is quite in the other End of the town.

This is what probably may succeed, but least any accident should happen to prevent it, it will be necessary to provide accordingly & in case our People should be discover'd & Repuls'd the above number of men being sufficient to command the field, it will be necessary in order to reduce the place to have what shipping can possibly be got to cruise off the Harbour's Mouth in order to intercept their Provision vessels which they Expect early being at this time very short of Provisions, as likewise to take any transports with men if any should come, and that our men may not be discourag'd at being repuls'd once, it will be necessary to send 12 nine pounders & two small mortars with shells, &c. and a Quantity of Provisions, so to bombard them & endeavor to make Breaches in their Walls & then storm them : and should the shipping be so lucky as to take their Provisions and the land forces take all their cattle & keep them constantly employed, it will be impossible for them to hold the place till the last of July for want of provisions.

In order the better to secure the Retreat in case a superiour naval Force to ours should come from France & drive ours off the Coast, it will be necessary to have two small vessels with about Two hundred men at Canso, & the day after the Fleet is sail d for Louisbourg for them to sail so as to get in by night, and it being but six Leagues from Canso to St. Peters they can get there before day & sur prise that place, which is an exceeding good harbour for small vessels, but has not Water sufficient for vessels of that size which will be able to drive ours off the Coast, so that the vessels for the Retreat will lay there safe, and the Troops be able to go to them by Land ; there will be an advantage besides this in surprising this place as there is always a number of Indians with their Families which keep with a French Priest at a small Distance from the French Inhabitants, and the Booty taken there will pay the Expence & more in taking it. It is to be observed that during the time our Troops lay siege to the Town, it will be in their power to send parties and Destroy all their Fishery on the Island as well as the north side of the Harbour which would ruin their Fishery for four or five years ; and as it is impossible to fail of taking the Royal Battery at least, that would in a great measure lay open their Harbour exposed unto an attack by Sea from England, as the new Batterys in the Town in the greatest part of the Ambrozers, there are no guns & there are two gates that are made in Diamond fashion facing the Harbour that can be beat down in an instant the peices not being but 2 inches & an half thick.

N. B. The full complement of Troops is 700 out of which deductions must be made of 50 for each of the two Batteries, viz. the Royal & Island Batteries, & 50 for Death, sickness &c. which reduce them to 550, and the other fighting men in the Town do not exceed 300, and that the Swiss Troops which are their best Troops are exceeding Discontented & mutinous; also that at St. Peters there may be about 200 men in scattered houses, and in the suburbs of the Town of Louisbourg without the Walls about 200. it is improbable that more than two 30 or 40 Gun ships should come with Mr. Duviver who may be expected the first with Recruits & supplies, and in case the naval Force that comes should be superiour to our naval Force, that our 3000 men would command the Field, & continue so till they could be protected & Reinforc'd from England.

Indorsed, "Cape Britton
Expedⁿ Plan of operation, Feb^y 1, 1745 -"

His Exc^y sent down y e following written Message by Coll. Downing & Mr. Solly :

Gentlemen of the Assembly,

In consequence of your message of the 2^d lust. I express'd a messenger to Boston in order to get the Proclamations necessary to be Dispersed throughout the Province for encouraging the Expedition to Louisburgh printed, which I have this moment received, & as soon as the sheriff attends on me shall order them to be dispersed.

B. WENTWORTH.

Council Chamber, In Portsm^o Feb^y 5^th 1745.

Message of His Excellency.

Gentlemen of the Assembly,

By your message of this day, I find the disposition of the House is to augment the forces to Louisburgh to four or five hundred men, sailors included, which is very pleasing to me; and if the House will send up a Resolve on that subject & in what manner they propose to pay the Expence, it will facilitate the other bill that now lays before me, which at present appears very difficult ; but by no means put off the augmentation or the charge to a further day.

Council Chamber in                                                B. WENT WORTH.
Ports^o Feb^y 12, 1745 -

February 14, 1745, Mr. Secretary came down with the following Message from his Ex^cy : His Ex cy recomends it to the House to pass a vote that the officers & soldiers in y s Province for the Expedition ag^st Louisburg have y^e same pay as in the Massachusetts, w^ch he apprehends would be for the encouraging the affairs going on.

Voted That the Collonel, Lt. Collonel & Major, Captains & all under officers that are or shall be appointed to command the voluntiers voted by the Gen^l Assembly to go on the Expedition ag^st Louisburg have the same allowances made them pr month as are allowed by the Government of the Mass: Bay on y^e s^d Expedition, provided each Company consists of forty men or upwards, & that the Captains have the same allowance for enlisting men in proportion to the number of men in each Company & that no Capt. be entitled to the bounty lor enlisting men untill his Company be compleated;

Voted, That the same encouragement be given to private Centinalls & sailors that will enlist as voluntiers on y^e Expedⁿ ag^st Louisburgh as is given in y^e Prov. of Mass^a Bay,

Establishment of the officers' Pay in Massachusetts on the
Expedition against Louisbourgh, 1745.

Generall pr month ...........................................   £ 15 :
Collonell ...........................................................     12
Lt. Coll ..............................................................     10
Major .................................................................      8
Adjutant ............................................................       4 : 10
Capt ...................................................................       4 : 10
Lieut ..................................................................       3
2^d Lieut .............................................................       2
Sergent ..............................................................       1 : 10
Corporal ............................................................       1 : 8
Clerk ..................................................................      4
Surgeon Gen^ll ...................................................       5
Under Surgeon ..................................................      4 : 10
Drum Major ......................................................      1 : 12
Comon Drum 1 .................................................      1
Chaplain ...........................................................       4 : 10
Capt of y^eArtillery ............................................       9
Lieut .................................................................       4 : 10
Qr. Gunner ........................................................      2
2 Bombarders ...................................................       4
Do Assistance ...................................................       1 : 12
Armorer ............................................................       1 : 12

Incouragement for the men that Inlist, viz.

To each man besides what is mentioned in the
     Proclamation by way of Bounty, old Tenor.     £ 4 :
To Billiting money from the Time of Inlisting
     pr. week to pay from the time of Inlisting           1 :
To each Capt. over & above his pay for his
     Expences in Visiting his Company, old
    Ten^r ............................................................         25 :

Further to Incourage men to Inlist it is proposed that the Widows or nearest relatives of any offcer or soldier that is slain or shall otherwise loose his life in the service, shall be entitled to four months pay.

And that the wives of any officer or soldier in the Expedition or any other person that appears with a power of Attorney duly authenticated, shall at the end of every month receive out of the Treasury half or all the wages of such officer or soldier as he appears for which will greatly encourage the present Expedition.

Boston Feb^y 26, 1745.

Sir -

I am extremely glad to hear of your good prospect of completing your Regiment in time: All things will be ready here for the Imbarcation of our fleet by the end of the week as the committee informs me, so I should be glad of your being ready with yours as soon as may be; what ever you want for the 150 men to go w^th my commissions & in the pay of this government, be pleased to send to me for it by Express and you shall have it instantly.

I think the essential thing is the number of men in the whole ; and y^t it is not absolutely necessary y^t there should be exactly 50 men in each company, if there are 40 in one and 60 in another, all the things may be set right by pro portioning the service in the field ; and indeed if a company does not consist of less yⁿ 40 men I think we ought not to be critical.

I am w^th much & respect
                  y^r Excelencys most
                          Obedient humble servant
                                                          W. SHIRLEY.

His Exc^y . Gov^r Wentworth.

Boston, March 27, 1745.

Sir -

I should have mentioned y^t this morning Donahoe sail'd with another sloop under his convoy having on board a company of 50 men to reconnoitre the Coast. &c. and to clear it ag^st the arrival of the Fleet, and if it should happen y^r your Transports should get the start of ours, I am advis'd y^t it would be safest for 'em to stop at Whitehead Harbour ab^t 5 or 6 Leagues short of Canso, till the arrival of ours y^t there may be as little danger as is possible of occasioning intelligence being convey d to the Enemy by any little vessell to the Eastward of Canso, w^ch may discover 'em ; and if you approve of it I shall be glad if you order it accordingly. I am inform'd y^t Mr. Sparhawk has got some very good cutlasses and some firelocks w^ch it is doubted are not extraordinary : If you will be pleas d to take the trouble of appointing some skillfull person to view both of 'em, and in case they or either of 'em are approv'd of, desire him to put such as are approv'd on board one of your Transports for the use of our Troops as spare arms, I shall be oblig'd to you, and our Committee will pay him for 'em. But if they are not good I would not have 'em. We forgot to put up among the Stores for our 150 men in your Regiment Gunpowder and Ball : If you will be pleas d to supply em with three half barrels of powder and a like proportion of Ball for their passage, I shall be oblig'd to you, and will repay you by the first opportunity : The Blankets and money not used be pleas'd to return by a convenient opportunity. I must beg the favour of you to indulge Mr. Bollan in his Inclos'd request, if no inconvenience will attend it. I have so much fatigue y^t I w^th great difficulty hold out, but not without having impair d my health.

God send us both a good riddance of our Trouble and an happy Event to the Expedition.

I am sincerely,

Your Exc^ys faithfull, humble servant

W. SHIRLEY.

To his Exc^y Gov. Wentworth.

Boston May-13-1745

Sir

As to the agreement your Excellency mentions to be made between you and me, that the Companies to be rais'd in your Government should consist of 40 men each, and that three companys of 50 men each should at all Events be rais'd by you to be in the pay of this Government & added to your companies, I am apt to think may be a mistake.

It is certain that I always intended and understood the agreement to be that you should if you pleas d raise as many men to be in the pay of this Province as would make up your 350 a Regiment of 500 men.

I can't pretend to recollect every expression which may have dropped from my pen on this affair between us; But I am satisfied the agreement you mention is so foreign to my intention that upon perusing my letters again and com paring 'em with your own you will find the real agreement to be, that all the men not exceeding 150 to be raised by you over and above the Quota of 350 Voted by your Assembly, should be paid and subsisted by this Government. The reason of my mentioning to you the vote of the Assembly of this Province for reducing our Companies from 50 men in each to 40, was to remove the difficulty of their first vote which I was afraid might ly in your way as it did in mine here, by which no Captain that had not raised 50 men was entituled to have his Company received into pay ; whereas by the second vote fourty men was to be received as a Company, which 1 found an ease to me in raiseing my own Levies, but whatever I have said in that respect was not designed in the least as a proposal or agreement that your Companys should be only eight in number and consist of no more than 40 men Each, and that at all events this Province was to pay & subsist 150 men of New Hampshire Regiment. But upon the whole I ever understood that this Government was to pay and subsist as many men not exceeding 150 as you should raise within your Province over and above your own Governments Quota of 350 & no more.

I am with great respect
          Sir - your Excellencys most obedient
                                                 humble servant

W. SHIRLEY.

His Exc^y Gov^r Wentworth.

[Letter from His Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq., Governor of New Hampshire, to Lt. General Pepperell.]

March 23^d 1745.

SR.

I herewith transmitt to you a List of the Transports employ d by this Government for the service of the Expedition against the French at Louisburg, also what Trans ports are employ'd to transport the one hundred & fifty men, in the pay of the Massachusetts Government, which are aggregated to the Regiment, whereof I have appointed Sam^l Moore, Esq. Colonel. Also I think proper to acquaint you that I have appointed Capt. Fernald Commander of a Sloop fitted out by this Government, in a warlike manner, to annoy his Majesty's Enemies, and to guard and convoy the Transports. I have also appointed the said Jn^o Fernald a Capt of a Company in Col. Moore s Regiment to act either by Land or by sea, as the service may require it. I have thought it necessary, in order to preserve the Command you are appointed to, that you have the intire command and disposition of the Regiment and Transports, also of the Sloop of War, And I do hereby put the same absolutely under your command, hereby requiring them to obey you, as their Commander-in-Chief, and to follow such orders and commands as from time to time they or either of them shall receive from you.

S^r - y^r Hum : ser^t

B. WENTWORTH.

Friday-June-8-1745.

The House met according to adjournment.

Voted, That Eleaz^r Russel Esq. Mr. Henry Sherburne Jan. & Tho^s Bell Esq. be a Com^tee of this House to join with such as may be appointed by y^e Hon^ble Council to consider of y^e subject matter of his Excel^y Gov^r Shirly & Lieut. Gen^l Pepperells Letters relating to a Reinforcement  of our army at Louisburg & to consider what is proper for this Province to do & to make Report to the Gen^l Court as soon as may be.

The Com^tee for considering the subject matter of his Exc^y Gov^l Shirlys & Lieut Gen^l Pepperrells Letters relating a Reinforcement of the Army before Louisburgh, report as follows :

The Com^tee are humbly of opinion that (when proper methods may be agreed upon by the Gen^l Assembly for defraying the charge) his Exc^y the Capt. Gen^l be desired to issue forth his Proclamation for the Encouraging the enlisting of one hundred voluntiers under such proper officers as he may think proper to be employ d in the Expedition against Louisburgh giving them the same Encouragement as was given to y^e last voluntiers inlisted for said Expedition.

Prov. of     } In ye House of Represent June   } Jotham Odiorn}
N. Hampr } 10th 1745, Read and accepted & } R. Wibird          }
                    sent up for concurrence              } Saml Solly         } Com                                                                             Eleazr Russell   } mittee
                                                                           Hen. Sherburne }
                                                                           Thos Bell            }

Wednesday June 12th 1745.

The House met according to adjournment.

Mr. Secretary Atkinson came into the House & inform them that y^e vote on Louisburgh Expedition, Com^tees Report for one Hund^d men were concurr'd & assented to by the Governor.

Tuesday July 2^d 1745.

The House met according to adjournment.

Mr. Secretary bro't into y^e House a written message from his Excellency representing the Probability of 20 men being raised more than are voted for & Desiring to know whether y^e House would have them Embark'd &c. and then the House adjourned for two Hours.

[His Excellency Message.]

Gentlemen of the Assembly

It is very probable that about twenty men more than what are voted to be raised for the reinforcement of our troops now before Louisburgh, may appear, in which case I shall be glad to have your Resolve whether it will not be expedient to Imbark them, as it will greatly relieve the Forces now there from the hard duty they have so long undergone.

I shall also be glad to have your mind signified whether it be your Intent to have the Reinforcement Imbarked in case news should arrive before Imbarkation of the reduction of Louisburgh.

B. WENTWORTH.

Council Chamber in
Portsmouth, July 2d. 1745.

Saturday July 6^th 1745.

Met according to adjournment.

In answer to his Excll^ys message by Mr. Secretary to know y^e opinion of y^e House about sending the Reinforcement for the army at Cape Britton & whether if twenty men more than y^e hundred appear'd the House were willing they should be sent,

Voted, That the Reinforcement be sent away with all possible Dispatch & that if twenty men more or any smaller number appeared as voluntiers they also be sent with them at the publick expense.

[Statement of the Condition of the Men at Louisburg, 1745.]

To His Excellency the Governor, the Honorable the Council, and House of Representatives, of His Majesties Province of New Hampshire.

As we are refer'd to, in the proceeding Memorial, to give further Information, touching the State of our Soldiers; and authorized thereby, to Sollicit the Honorable Court in their behalf; we humbly crave Leave, to offer this, as a Supplement thereto.

Besides the almost Naked Condition of those of our Troops, who went first to Cape Breton ; Some of them are So enfeebled, by reason of the Length and Hardships of the Siege, & for want of necessary Comforts, in the Time of it, as renders them unfit for further Service, till Recruited ; others are Languishing under Sicknesses, of Various kinds, and most of them, are overrun with Lice, for want of Change of Apparel, which renders their Case still more uncomfortable, Whereupon, we humbly recommend, those Poor but brave men, to your Excellency's & Honour's wise, Just, and Compassionate Consideration, Earnestly beseeching, that Such of them as desire it, may be immediatly dismissal, and bro't back to their Native Country, their Families, & Friends ; that it may never be Said, they bravely fought themselves into a Prison ; for, what Else can be Said of it If they are Compell d to tarry, after the Expedition is Ended, as we apprehend it is, and that in a most Compleat and effectual Manner : For that, His Excellencys Proclamation of the 2 of February Last, proposed an Expedition, for the Reduction of the French Settlements, on the Island of Cape Breton, & not for the garrisoning of them ; and the Enlistment, was in Consequence thereof, (namely,) for Reducing, & not for garrisoning, and we humbly appeal, to your Excellency's & Honors Judgment, whether, reducing and garrisoning, be not two things, quite different, and Distinct from each other; and if so, whether the Troops of the first Embarkation, mayn't demand a discharge, as a Right and Justice due to them, instead of Solliciting for it, as an Act of Grace. But, on the other hand, if it Should be Said, that by the Expedition was meant and intended, that Louisbourg Should be garrison'd (in case of Success,) by those who should reduce it ; It may be Answer'd, that Such Intention, cant Rationally be Extended further, than till other Troops, might be rais'd to relieve them ; and more than three Months, is already Pass'd, Since the Surrender; a Space doubly Sufficient for that Purpose.

We take Leave further to Propose, that in Consideration, the Plunder (which was expected would be great,) turns out, to be but a very Triffle, they May have an additional Grant of Bounty, as a further Reward, of their Toil, Hazard, and Bravery, as the Massachusetts Troops have al ready had. -

As to those, whose Lot may be to tarry over the Winter, Whether by Choice, or Compulsion, (if any Should be Compell'd so to Do,) We humbly propose, that besides an Augmentation of their Wages, and a Grant of Apparell, and Bedding, Suitable for the Climate and Season ; they May have an Augmentation of their allowance of Rum & Molasses, to half a Pint of Each, for Each Man _P Day, and a Couple of Quarts of Small Beer also, the Waters there, being exceeding bad, and very unwholesome to Drink : that there may be a Surplus of Stores, of all kinds, to be Purchased of the Commissary, at a Stated Price, and that there may be a Provision of Physic, as well as of Food & Cloathing; and that Each Cap^t may have a Copy, of the Invoices of the Stores & Cloaths Sent for the Soldiers, with the Prices of those Commodities, that they may be Sent for Sale ; that the Care, the Justice, & the goodness of the Honorable Court, may be made known to every individual Man.

As the Season of the year is far advanced, and the Soldiers greatly distress'd ; Some For Want of a Discharge, and other for want of Necessarys and Conveniences, to make their Lives Comfortable, We humbly Pray, that what we have offered, may have the earliest Consideration & Dispatch, that is Possible.

And your Memorialists as in Duty bound Shall Ever Pray

                                                                                                                                                                      T. W. Waldron
Portsmouth Sep^t 24 1745                                                                                                                            Jonathan Present

[Shirley to Wentworth.]

Boston, March 4, 1745.

Sir, As it will be uncertain where M^r Vaughan will be upon the arrival of this I am obliged to trouble you with 100^lb N. Ten our (by the bearer) to pay to those men, w^ch he shall have enlisted over & above the 150 to be aggregated to your Regiment, and to desire him to see y^t the men are march'd to Boston instantly to fill up the Incomplete Companies belonging te Colonel Hale's Regiment, w^ch will be there by the time those men get to Boston, or if he marches 'em to Charleston it will do: I must refer you for everything else at present to M^r Bastide, who will dine w^th you on Monday 1 am sorry I am obliged to trouble you w^th the Letter w^ch accompanies this, at this improper time ; But I could not avoid, from the Importunity of the Council, and expectation of the assembly, doing it longer I will write you further upon it by next post and must now sub scribe my self in much haste and Truth

Your Exc^ys most obedient Humble servant

W. Shirley

His Exc^y Gov^r Wentworth