Common Council of Williamsburgh, Virginia

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At a Court of Common Council for the City of Williamsburgh, held the eighth day of May, 1775:

Whereas it hath been represented to this Hall, that on the fourth instant, in the night time, some person or persons unknown, had broke into the publick Magazine, and taken from thence sundry Fire-Arms belonging to His Majesty:

We, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the said City, being desirous to maintain peace, order, and good government, do hereby declare our abhorrence of such unlawful proceeding, and do require the inhabitants to use their utmost endeavours to prevent the like outrage in future, and exhort all persons who may be in possession of any of the said Arms, to return the same immediately, to be replaced in the Magazine.

And it having been recommended to this meeting, by the Governour and Council, to appoint a guard to protect the said Magazine, they are of opinion that they have no authority to lay any tax for that purpose, but that if some trusty person should be appointed by his Excellency the Governour to be keeper thereof, and care taken to strengthen it with proper bars, there probably would be a stop put to violences of that nature; and they do humbly recommend to his Excellency Mr. Gabriel Maupin, who lives near the Magazine, as a person worthy of that trust.

MATTHEW DAVENPORT, Town Clerk.