Report of Committee on liberating Prisoners taken by Gen. Gage, the 19th of April, (Note) Resolve on the same subject. [1775-05-03] Massachusetts, Provincial Congress. [S4-V2-p0784] [Document Details][Complete Volume]

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The Committee who were appointed to consider what measures are proper to be taken for liberating those persons who were taken prisoners by the Troops, under General Gage, on the nineteenth of April, reported a Resolve; which was read and accepted, and Ordered, that any Member who desires a copy may have one. ^[*] The Resolve is as follows:

"In Provincial Congress, Watertown,

"May 3, 1775.

"Whereas, a number of the inhabitants of this Colony were taken prisoners by the Troops, under the command of General Gage, on the nineteenth of April last, and are by him so held:

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that an application be sent to General Gage, signed by the wives or nearest relations of such prisoners, and the Selectmen of the Towns to which they respectively belong, desiring that he would discharge their friends from their said imprisonment; and they are empowered hereby to offer to send in to the General an equal number of his Troops, now in the hands of this people, who were taken prisoners on the aforesaid nineteenth of April, upon his liberating their friends as aforesaid."

Adjourned to nine o' clock to-morrow morning.

Notes