Report of the Committee Appointed to Bring in an Additional Resolve

Page v2:1392

The Committee appointed to bring in an additional Resolve relative to making provision for the Poor of Boston, reported. The Report was read, amended, and accepted, and ordered to be printed in the Cambridge, Watertown, and Worcester Papers; and is as follows:

Whereas, the provision already made for the removal of the Poor of Boston, suffering by the cruel hand of arbitrary power, has not answered the salutary purposes intended, and it becomes necessary that further provision be made:

Therefore, Resolved, That such suffering Poor shall be allowed to remove into any Town or District in the Colony, other than such Towns or Districts as are already ordered to provide for and receive the number of said Poor to them assigned; and every Town and District in the Colony that shall receive and provide necessary support for such suffering Poor, shall be indemnified in every respect as fully as any other Town or District in the Colony, provided they observe and comply with directions already given relative to said Poor.

And whereas, in the present distressed circumstances and confusion of the Town of Boston, some of said Poor have or may remove Out of said Town without a proper certificate from the Committee of Donations, and the Town to which such persons may remove way refuse to receive them for want of the same,

Page v2:1393

Resolved, That it is recommended to the Selectmen of the several Towns and Districts in this Colony, to which such persons may remove, that such provision be made as is necessary to prevent their suffering, until such certificate can be procured; and such Town or District shall be indemnified as before provided, they observing the directions given in the Resolve passed by the last Congress relative to said Poor; and such persons shall be considered as part of their assignment.

And whereas, it is found extremely difficult for the Committees at Charlestown and Roxbury to remove said Poor to the several Towns and Districts to which they are destined, for want of teams to go such a distance as is necessary in many cases, it is further recommended to the Selectmen of each Town and District in this Colony, that they assist in removing said Poor upon every necessary occasion, when it is in their power, to the several places of their assignment, keeping a particular account of their trouble and expense, and the names of the persons they assisted; and they shall be paid in manner as before provided. And the Committees at Charlestown and Roxbury, who were appointed by this Congress to make provision for such Poor as might come out of the Town of Boston, are desired to procure a list of said Poor from the Committee of Donations for future use; and also to take the advantage of the teams that may come from the westward, for the removal of said Poor by every opportunity in their power.

Report of the Committee appointed to bring in an additional Resolve, to make provision for the Poor of Boston. [1775-06-06] Massachusetts, Provincial Congress. [S4-V2-p1392] [Document Details][Complete Volume]