1. That they see to it, that whatever plans have been determined upon by Congress, to be immediately carried into execution, which have not been entrusted to the management of any particular persons or Committee, shall be executed by such persons and in such ways as the Committee shall judge best. 2d. If any exigence not provided for by the Congress requires immediate attention, such as marching troops raised to expel an invasion in any part, or directing the motions of the militia within the Province, or without the Province with their own consent, for the same purpose; or make use of any special advantage for securing military stores, or securing any important post, or preventing our enemies from securing advantageous posts, or from obtaining military stores or provisions; they shall immediately take the most prudent and effectual methods to accomplish the above and similar purposes. 3d. That they be and hereby are impowered and directed to apply to the Committee of Supplies for the necessary stores, provisions, &c., for the effectual carrying the aforesaid Instructions into execution." The Committee of Safety thus constituted and instructed, was continued in power, under the first Constitution, which was adopted January 6, 1776, until the close of the Revolutionary war, or to the 29th of May, 1784. During all this period it was in reality, the Executive Power of the government in relation to the conduct of the war, and hence was familiarly styled the "little Congress." Hon. Meshech Weare, who became a member of this Committee July 6, 1775, was chosen President of it Jan. 20, 1776, and annually, afterwards, till the Committee was dissolved. At the same time he was President of the COUNCIL of the State, that is, the chief Executive officer, from the adoption of the temporary Constitution" January 6, 1776, till the new Constitution went into effect in June, 1784, when he was chosen President of the State of New Hampshire.* 66 The following are the names of the Committee of Safety, their residence, terms of service, and, so far as can be ascertained, their death and age.† * For more full information on this subject, our readers are referred to Belknap's History of New Hampshire, and to Historical data in the N. H. Annual Register, 1849 and 1852, by G. Parker Lyon. For many of the facts in this List the editor is much indebted to a List published by the late John Farmer, Esq., in Vol. II. N. H. Hist. Coll., and to the Annual N. H. Register. Term of Service. April 15, 1777, to May 28, 1778; from Aug. 26, 1778, to Jan. 20, 1780;| and from Jan. 31, 1781, to Jan. 2, 1783. April 15, 1777 to June 20, 1777. Benjamin Giles, Newport, June 20, 1777-did not attend. Dec. 9, 1787 70 Jonathan Lovewell, Dunstable, June 20, 1777, to Jan. 5, 1779. Jonathan Blanchard, Dunstable, Jan. 6, 1778-did not attend. Thomas Bartlett, Nottingham, May 28, 1778, to Jan. 5, 1779. John Calfe, Hampstead, Samuel Gilman, New Market, May 28, 1778, to April 7, 1779. Hercules Mooney, May 28, 1778, to June 5, 1779; and from Jan. 22, 1780, to May 29, 1784. May 28, 1778, to Aug. 26, 1778; and from Jan. 5, 1779, to April 7, 1779. For means to publish these Records of the Committee of Safety, completing the 7th volume of its Collections, the New Hampshire Historical Society is greatly indebted to the liberality of the Legislature of the State. In answer to a Memorial of the Society, presented by Hor. W. H. Y. Hackett, John M. Shirley and Samuel D. Bell, in June 1861, an appropriation was made of three hundred dollars" to the New Hampshire Historical Society, to aid in preserving the Manuscript Records and letters relating to Colonial history of New Hampshire; and in publishing such part of the same as said Society shall judge expedient." Grateful for the liberal aid thus afforded, the Publishing Committee proceeded, as soon as practicable, to examine the Colonial Records, and to decide what portion should first be published. They were unanimous in the opinion. that no part of our Records could be more interesting, at this juncture of our National affairs, than that embraced in the transition period from Colonial dependence on the British Crown, to the establishment of an independent State government and as the Records of the COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, in that period, though often referred to, had never been published and were full of interesting details, in relation to the conduct of the war for Independence, the Committee were agreed, that the State appropriation for the Historical Society should be devoted to the publication of these Records. In printing the Records the Committee have judged proper to follow the original copy as nearly as possible, in orthography, the use of Capitals, in abbreviations, and in the writing of names. An Index of the principal matters of business transacted each year by the Committee of Safety, is prefixed; and also a complete alphabetical list of Names of persons mentioned in the Recordwhich latter has been a work of much labor to arrange and complete. The volume is most respectfully submitted to the judgment and patronage of the Honorable Legislature of the State, and to the people of New Hampshire, whose early Records are alike honorable to themselves and their fathers. GENERAL INDEX OF RECORDS OF COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. 1775. Committee of Safety appointed, Names, Their powers, Addition to, Form of pp. 1-4 Orders to Capt. Henry Elkins concerning whale boats and gunpowder, Provis- Cannon shot from the Shoals, Cannon from Fort William and Mary, Orders to Expenses of Committee, Gunpowder and bullets forwarded, 500 fire arms to be Town of Newmarket, Town or Parish accounts, Batteries and guard on Pierce's Minute men, Vessel from Antigua, Sale of flour to pay Seamen of the ship Suspected persons, Damages to the Colonies, Orders to enlist companies, Lib- 25-28 Gold to pay for powder, Census of 1775, 29-35 1776. New Committee of Safety, Bounty money, &c., Liberty to go South, 36-39 Money brought from Philadelphia, Committee of Safety in recess of the Gene- 40-43. Liberty to fit out a vessel for West Indies, Battery at Jerry's Point, New Com- 44-48 |