1. RECORDS OF THE N. H. COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

2.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER, N. H.

3. THE VALLEY OF THE MERRIMACK.

Publishing Committee, 1862.

SAMUEL D. BELL,

NATHANIEL BOUTON,

EBENEZER E. CUMMINGS.

Printed by P. B. Cogswell.

THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

The ORIGIN, OBJECTS and POWERS of the Committee of Safety may be sufficiently understood by the following historical state

ments:

In May (10,) 1774, the General Assembly of New Hampshire met at Portsmouth under the authority of JOHN WENTWOTRH, who was commissioned as Governor of the Province, by his Majesty, George the III, of England, in 1767. During this session. notwithstanding a strong remonstrance by the Governor, the House of Representatives-in sympathy with the people generally throughout the colonies-appointed a Committee of Correspondence for the purpose of interchanging important information with Committees in other colonies appointed or to be appointed for similar duties. The policy of the Governor was in favor of the crown; but the Representatives, jealous of their liberties, thwarted his measures. By letters sent to all the towns in New Hampshire, a Convention was called, which met in Exeter, July 21, 1774, composed of eighty-five delegates, who appointed NATHANIEL FOLSOM and JOHN SULLIVAN to attend the Congress which was to meet at Philadelphia in September following. A second Convention of deputies met in Exeter, January 25, 1775; a third in April 21, 1775, two days after the battle of Lexington.

On the 17th May, 1775, still another Convention met at Exeter, numbering one hundred and fifty-one delegates, from all or nearly all the towns in the Province; and, animated with one spirit, adopted decisive measures in defence of their liberties and rights. They styled themselves the FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS of New Hampshire. Matthew Thornton, Esq., was chosen President, Ebenezer Thompson, Secretary, and the Convention was opened with prayer by the Rev. Josiah Stearns, of Epping. This Congress continued in session till September 2d, when they adjourned to October 31st; and then continued until November 16, when the time expired for which they were elected. In the mean

time, Governor Wentworth, attempting in vain to control the action of the Representatives, had withdrawn, first to the Fort in Portsmouth harbor; and then to the Isle of Shoals. In September, 1775, he issued a Proclamation, adjourning the Assembly to April next. "This was the last act of his administration, and the last time he set his foot in the Province."

By this first First Provincial Congress a COMMITTEE OF SAFETY was appointed on the 19th of May consisting of Hon. Matthew Thornton, Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Nathaniel Folsom, and Ebenezer Thompson, Esqrs. On Saturday, May 20th, the Congress adopted the following Preamble and Resolutions:

"Whereas, by the late acts of the British Parliament and conduct of the Ministers in pursuance thereof, it appears very evident that a plan is laid and now pursuing to subjugate this and the other American Colonies to the most abject slavery; and the late hostilities committed by the British Troops in our sister Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, leaves us no doubt in determining that no other way is left us to preserve our most darling Rights and inestimable Privileges, but by immediately defending them with arms: Reduced therefore by this most terrible necessity, this Convention, after the most solemn deliberation thereon, have

1. Resolved, That it is necessary to raise immediately two thousand effective men in this Province, including officers and those of this Province already in the service, and that the time from their inlistment continue to the last day of December, unless the Committee of Safety should judge it proper that a part or the whole be discharged sooner.

2. That every member pledge his honor and estate in the name of his constituents to pay their proportion of maintaining and paying the officers and soldiers of the above number while in their service.

3. That application be made immediately to the Continental Congress for their advice and assistance respecting means and ways to put the above plan into execution."

On the 26th of May the Provincial Congress voted the following instructions to the Committee of Safety:

"That the Committee of Safety be empowered and directed in the recess of the Congress, to take under their consideration all matters in which the welfare of the Province, in the security of their Rights, shall be concerned, except the appointment of the Field officers; and take the utmost care that the public sustain no damage, and that they act in the following manner.