Officers of the Armed Vessel (the Brig Minerva) appointed

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Thursday, August 3, 1775.

The Governour and Committee met according to adjournment.

His Honour laid before the Council a Letter he had prepared to General Schuyler, at Ticonderoga, moving him to allow and direct Mr. Ichabod Fitch, or some other person, to collect and send down a number of Gun-barrels and disordered Guns, &c., which, on representation of said Fitch, are lying useless there, and at Crown Point, in order to their being repaired and made fit for use, and that the value of them shall be accounted for. Which Letter is approved, and was sent by said Fitch.

After further consultation about the Armed Vessels, &c., the following Bill and Resolve was prepared and passed, viz:

Whereas the General Assembly of this Colony, at their session in July last, resolved that two Armed Vessels, of suitable burden, be immediately fitted out and armed with a proper number of cannon, swivel-guns and small-arms, and furnished with necessary warlike, stores, and well officered and manned for the defence of the sea-coasts in this Colony, under the care and direction of his Honour the Governour and Committee of Council appointed to assist him in the recess of the General Assembly, who are hereby authorized and directed to procure, furnish and employ the same accordingly:

In pursuance of said resolve and direction, the Governour and Committee aforesaid, having taken all proper steps and care to find how and in what manner the said resolve may be most properly carried into execution, are of opinion, that a certain Brig, called the Minerva, belonging to Captain William Griswold, and now lying in Connecticut River, at Rocky Hill, is one proper vessel to be employed for the service aforesaid; and do therefore agree and resolve to take up and employ said Brig in the service of this Colony as aforesaid, during such term as said Assembly or this Committee shall find needful to employ her in said service. And do hereby appoint Titus Hosmer and Ezekiel Williams, Esqs., and Captain Giles Hall a Committee to take up and retain said Brig in the service aforesaid; to finish the contract for the hire or charter of said Brig, and execute proper writings; to cause the same

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to be justly appraised, with all her furniture and tackle proper to be retained and used as an armed vessel, and make a proper inventory thereof. And the said Committee are further directed and empowered to furnish, procure and provide all necessary additional sails, rigging and furniture, and also all proper and necessary ship stores and provisions; and furnish from the Colony stores, as far as may be necessary, cannon, swivels, small-arms, pistols, shot powder, &c., taking further needful directions from time to time from his Honour the Governour and said Committee. And the Committee of the Pay-Table are hereby directed to draw on the Treasurer of this Colony in favour of said Committee for such sums of money as they shall find necessary to enable them to accomplish the service aforesaid, and they to render their accounts of their disposition and disbursements thereof to the General Assembly, or to the Governour and said Committee, at the same time, &c.

The Governour and Council having concluded to take up and employ the Brig Minerva, belonging to Captain Griswold, for an Armed Vessel, &c., according to Act of Assembly, &c., do appoint Captain Giles Ball to be Captain and commander of said Brig, and he to be allowed £7 per month; Thomas Horsey, of Derby, to be First Lieutenant, his wages £5 per month; James Hopkins, Second Lieutenant, £4; Master, £4; Mate, £3; Gunner, £3; Gunner' s Mate, £2 8s.; Boatswain, £3; Boatswain' s Mate, £2 8s., each; Timothy Larabee to be Steward, wages £3; Sylvanus Backus to be Cook, wages £3. To be one Carpenter at 60s. per month, and one Pilot. And that the said Vessel be manned with forty seamen and forty soldiers or marines, exclusive of officers; to have and be allowed, viz: the Seamen £2 5s. per month, and the Marines not exceeding £2 per month. And Captain Hall is hereby instructed and directed forthwith to raise said forty seamen, and forty marines or soldiers, by voluntary enlistments, and to encourage and engage forty-five Shillings per month to the seamen, and not exceeding forty Shillings per month to the soldiers or marines, during their continuance in said service, and to have one month' s pay advanced before they enter into and proceed on any cruise in said service. And said Captain Giles Hull is hereby appointed Paymaster of said, seamen and marines, or vessel' s crew, and is authorized to draw money out of the Colony Treasury for that purpose, in manner as the Land Officers are enabled to do, giving sufficient bond with surety as by law provided for the Paymasters of the Troops in the land service. And his Honour the Governour is hereby desired to give proper commissions and warrants to the necessary officers on board said vessel.

At the same time passed the following Instructions to Titus Hosmer, Esq., Ezekiel Williams, Esq. and Captain Giles Hall, a Committee, &c.:

Gentlemen: The Governour and Committee of Safety, by a Sub-Committee, have agreed with Captain Griswold, owner of the Brig Minerva, to charter said Brig for the use of the Colony, as an armed vessel, at the rate of four shillings per month L. M. per ton, with condition, that if we should charter any other vessel at the same rate, for which we must furnish more sails or rigging than will be necessary for his, the interest of the expense of furnishing the other with sails, &c., more than will be requisite for said Brig, is to be allowed to said Griswold, in addition to said four Shillings. That said Brig be appraised by indifferent good judges with all the requisite tackle and furniture, at our receiving her, and an inventory thereof be taken; and that whatever betterments shall be made to or on said Brig by the Colony shall be received by the owner on her return, if we choose it, and an allowance be made by him for the full value of such betterments, so far as the vessel is rendered more valuable or useful to him; and if any special damage is done to said Brig, beyond the necessary decay and wear by time, the same to be allowed the owner in addition to the charter party. The Colony to risk the vessel.

Said Committee to observe the above agreement.

And said Committee are further instructed to employ said Captain Griswold to do any service in and about the necessary additional rigging and furnishing said Brig, which can be properly done by him, at a reasonable price beyond it may be best done by Captain Hall and his men.

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Said Committee are further instructed and desired to inquire and look out and recommend to us proper persons for the following officers, viz: Master and Mate, Gunner and Gunner' s Mate, Boatswain and Boatswain' s Mate, and Carpenter.

Copy of the three foregoing given, &c.

The Committee of New-London, &c., having requested that some Soldiers may be stationed there, on the Men-of-War appearing off there, &c.,

It is Voted and Ordered, That two Companies, viz: Major Lattimer' s and Captain Shipman' s, be stationed there for the present, for their defence, &c.; and the Governour desired to give orders accordingly.

Also, Voted and Ordered, That four of the six-pound Cannon with the Carriages now at New-London, be delivered to Colonel Jabez Huntington, or order, of Norwich, for their defence, &c.

Order given accordingly.

Adjourned to Monday next at 9 o' clock in the morning.

Officers of the Armed Vessel (the Brig Minerva) appointed, Committee to make further arrangements for fitting out the Vessel, Two Companies stationed at New-London, on the request of the Committee of that place. [1775-08-03] Connecticut, Committee of Safety. [S4-V3-p0264] [Document Details][Complete Volume]