draw his order, urging that D Elliot, in order to accommodate our people, was to preach in said Meetinghouse next Sabbath, or the Sabbath after and that the person they proposed was a Man of infamous character, which had it been otherwise, I should not oppose it &c. And I desired his Excellency would consider of it. He told me he would and that I might keep the Key, and if he sent for it he expected I would deliver it, - so left him. I had not been, I believed 20 minutes from him, before the Provost came with a written order to deliver the Key immediately, which I did accordingly. When I at first urged the Governor to excuse my delivering the Key for the reasons given - he replied that a number of creditable people had applied to him, and he saw no reason why that house should not be made use of as any other. Gen' Robinson (when I mentioned the preacher being of an infamous character) said he knew no harm of the man, but this he knew that he had left a very bad service and taken up with a good one. The next day the Provost came to my shop, I not being there, he left word that he came for the apparatus of the Pulpit and that he must have the Key under the pulpit, supposing the curtain and cushions were there. The Provost the same day came again. I chose not to be there. He left orders to send him the aforesaid and swore most bitterly that if I did not send them, he would split the door open - and accordingly I hear the same was forced open and that if Dr Cooper and Dr Warren were there, he would break their heads and that he would drag me in the gutter, &c. &c. &c. This being Saturday afternoon, I chose not to be seen - spent the evening at Major Phillips's - consulted with a few friends - advised still to be as much out of the way as possible. — Dr Elliot invited me to come very early in the morning (being Lords day) and breakfast with him and also dine, which I did and returned home after nine at night - found Serjent with a Letter had been twice at our house for me - Thus ends a Sabbath which exclusive of the perplexities and insults before mentioned, has has been a good day for me.

P. S. Capt. Erving and myself being the only persons of the Committee remaining in town, I acquainted him of the demands of the General, who advised me that if the

Gen' insisted on the delivery of the Key, to deliver the same. The next week several of our Parish thought proper to petition the Gen'. I advised with Foster Hutchinson Esq', who thought it very proper, and accordingly at my desire he drew a petition, but upon further consideration and hearing of the opinion of the General, he thought it best not to present it.

14th Began taking down houses at the South end, to 19th. {build a new line of Works

{

A good deal of cannonading on both sides the lines for many days past. SevCapt.

eral shots came thro' houses at the South end.

Poulet lost his leg, &c. &c. &c.

27th. These several days past have been tolerably quiet. The works at the Southward go on. Yesterday the Cerberus Man of war arrived in 7 weeks from London brings advices of coercive measures by Administration 5 Regiments - one thousand Marines, another Admiral with a fleet of men of war &c. - and General Gage called home.

3d October. This morning two bomb Ketches and several armed vessels with some soldiers sailed on a secret expedition, it is said to demand a Ship belonging to Portsmouth, retaken by our whale boats, and carried into Cape Ann - also to demand of that town 40 seamen which they took from the man of war - if not delivered in 24 hours to bombard the town.

6th. The Provincials from Lams Dam discharged their cannon at the Regulars, as they relieve guard at the lines - One Corporal killed with a cannon ball.

10th. A negro man belonging to

wheeling a barrow

load of in the Streets, the Provost came up to him and caned him to a great degree. The negro conscious of his innocence asked him why he did so - he was told it was for wheeling his barrow at the side of the street and not in the middle. General Gage sailed this day for London and left several thousand Inhabitants in town who are suffering the want of Bread and every necessary of life.

13th. Colonel Birch of the Lighthorse Dragoons went to view our Meetinghouse* which was destined for a Riding

School for the Dragoons. It was designed to clear the floor, [and] to put two feet of tan covered with horse dung to make it elastic. - But when it was considered that the Pillars must be taken away, which would bring down the roof, they altered their mind, - so that the Pillars saved us.

17th. Two floating batteries from the Provincials from Cambridge river, fired a number of cannon into the camp at the Common, the shot went thro houses by the Lamb Tavern &c. -A deserter who came in this morning, says one of the Cannon split, and killed and wounded several. 5 or 6 hats, a waistcoat and part of a boat came on shore at the bottom of the Common.

25th. Several nights past the whole army was ordered not to undress the cannon all loaded with grape shot from a full apprehension the Provincials would make an attack upon the town. The streets paraded all night by the Light Horse.

27th. The spacious Old South Meeting house, taken possession of by the Light horse 17th Regiment of Dragoons commanded by Lieu Col° Samuel Birch. The Pulpit, pews and seats, all cut to pieces and carried off in the most savage manner as can be expressed and destined for a riding school. The beautiful carved pew with the silk furniture of Deacon Hubbard's was taken down and carried 's house by an officer and made a hog stye. The above was effected by the solicitation of General Burgoyne.

to

30th. A soldier, one of the Light-horse men was hanged at the head of their camp for attempting to desert. Proclamation issued by General Howe for the Inhabitants to sign an Association to take arms &c.

November 4th. A Proclamation issued for people to give in their names to go out of town, but before the time limited expired a stop was put to it. This like others of the kind seems only designed to continue the vexation of the people.

9th. Several Companies of Regulars from Charlestown went over to Phips's farm to take a number of Cattle feeding there. The Provincials came upon them and soon drove them on board boats after an engagement - it is said several are and none killed, but they supposed many of the Provincials killed. 4TH S. - VOL. I. 34

16th. Many people turned out of their houses for the troops to enter. The keys of our Meeting house cellars demanded of me by Major Sheriff by order of General Howe. Houses, fences, trees &c. pulled down and carried off for fuel. My wharf and barn pulled down by order of General Robinson. Beef, Mutton, Pork at 1/6 p' pound, Geese 14/ Fowls 6/8. L. M.

19th. A large ship arrived from Plymouth in England with almost every kind of provisions dead and alive, hogs, sheep, fowls ducks, eggs, mince meat &c. Ginger-bread &c. Memorandum 25 Regiments of Kings troops now in this distressed town.

24th November. A transport Ship carried about 400 of our Inhabitants to Point Shirley. One poor Dutch woman attempted to carry with her about 60 dollars. Morrison the deserter seized them and carried them to the town Major. Ten dollars was stopped by him.

1st December. A large Brig' with ordnance stores, a very valuable prize from London taken by Capth Manly in a Schooner Privateer from Beverly.

3d. A Transport Ship sailed for Point Shirley, with about three hundred Inhabitants.

7th. A Brigt Privateer called the Washington bro' in here Martindale, Captain, with six carriage guns and seventy five men taken by the Fowey man of war. The People sent to England in a man of war.

8th. Three Ships, from London, Glasgow and Liverpool, with stores for the army - a Brig from Antigua with Rum, taken by the whale boats &c. in our Bay.

13th. News of several more Store Ships being taken by the Continental Privateers and whale boats.

17th. Sabbath morning was discovered new works going on at Phips's farm very near - upon which a cannonade and bombardment ensued and continued the 18, 19, and 20, from the Battery's of Charlestown and Boston Point. The man of war of 32 guns which lay opposite kept a constant fire. The first day a shot from Millers hill took her quarter and went thro' and thro' her - a shot the next day passed my house and struck young Dr Paddocks hat upon his head, as he was on Dr Lloyd's hill, the ball fell into his yard. The man of war slipt away in the night.

28th. Several Transports with Troops sailed on an Expedition.

30th December. Admiral Shuldam arrived from England in the Chatham man of war of 50 guns to supercede Admiral Graves. The Kings speech arrived.

1776. January 8th. Monday at half past 8 P.M being dark weather the Provincials attacked Charlestown, burnt the houses, remaining at Neck of land, carried off a serjent and a number of Men.

1776. January 8th. Just as the farce began at the Playhouse of the Blockade of Boston - which with much fainting, fright, and confusion, prevented the scene.

16th. The Old North Meeting house, pulled down by order of Gen'. Howe for fuel for the Refuges and Tories.

2nd February. Just at 11 oclock at night, some wanton soldier or officer fired a bomb from the battery, at New Boston, which bursted in the air, did no harm, but made such an alarm as occasioned a great blustering.

4th. At half past nine in the evening, 3 cannon fired from the lines at Charlestown and a number of small arms at the Soldiers pulling down the Mills - say two men killed and one wounded. The next day many cannon fired.

13th. This night a large body of the Troops about 3. oclock set off on the Ice from the fortification, landed at Dorchester Neck and set fire to all the houses and barns, bro' off six prisoners who were Centinels. Colo Lesslie from the Castle, assisted with the Troops there, and returned at seven o'clock - No engagement ensued - The Provincials guards run off.

Thursday 25th. * From the accounts of Dr Gilson, and some others Deserters from the Continental army, great preparations were making to attack the Town, - caused very alarming apprehensions and distress of the Inhabitants.

2nd March Saturday night half past 11, began from the Country, Bombardment and cannonade which continued on both sides till morning and then ceased and began again Lords day evening at 9 and so continued all the night, and tho' several houses were damaged and persons