The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1775-05-22 00:00:00, page 1

Eis Majefly's Colony of New-York, and the Territo
ries thereon depending in America, &c. &c.
The humble ADDRESS of the General
Committee of Association for the City
and County of New-York.
May it pleafeyour Honor,
IT frequently happens under every Form of Govern
ment, that the Measures of Administration excite
the just Jealousies of the People, and that the fame
Measures pursued divest them of all Confidence in
those in whose Hands the ordinary executive Powers
are lodged. In such a State of Things it is natural
for the People to cast their Eyes upon those of their
fellow Sufferers on whose Abilities and Integrity they
can rely, and to ask their Advice and Direction for
the Preservation of all that is dear and valuable to
them.
That such is the Frame and Temper of our Inhabi
tants, you have had the fulleft Opportunity to know
in the Course of that Residence with which You have
lately honored Us. This City and County, as well
as the Rest of the Colony, have exercised the greatest
Patience in waiting, tho' in vain, for a Redress of the
many unconstitutional and oppressive Burdens, under
which this whole Continent has groaned for several
Years past. To their iriexpreffible Grief, they have
found that the mod dutiful Applications for Redrels
have not only been rejected Hit have been anlwered
by reiterated Violations of their Rights;
You cannot therefore wonder, Sir, that at this most
interesting Crisis when their All is at Stake, and when
under the Authority of Administration, the Sword
has been drawn, tho' unfuccefsfully, against their
Brtethern of the Massachusetts, for affecting those in
valuable Rights, which are the Common Inheritance
of Britons and Americans ; that the City and County
of New-York have proceeded to associate in the com
mon Cause, and to the Election of a Committee and
Delegates in Congress, to represent them in their
Claims and to dire& their Councils and Condu&, for
the Preservation of those inestimable Privileges to
which the great Creator; the Order of their Being as
rational Creatures, and our happy Constitution, have
given them an tindoumeu litlei
To this important End they have hnanimotifly
inverted Us their Committee, with a Trust which we
are determined with the belt of our Abilities molt
faithfully to dilchhrge, and in the Execution of which
we think it our indilpenfible Duty to declare,
That our Constituents while they cheartully yield
that the Legislative of the parent State, may make
Provisions in their Nature merely calculated to regu
late the Trade of the Empire, yet they claim as their
indefeafible Birth-right a total Exemption from all
Taxes internal and extei hal by Authority of Parlia
ment, and from every Aid to the Grown, buton Royal
Requisitions to their Reprefentatites in Allembly,
constitutionally convened and freely deliberating and
determining upon ev^ry such Requisition.
That they never can nor will submit to the Esta
blishment of unconstitutional Admiralty Jurildic:
tions ; but will ever regard them as Engines that
may be employed for the most Tyrannical Purposes;
That they are determined never to part with their
precious and lately invaded Right of Trial by Peers
of their Vicinage, in any Cale whatsoever.
That they look with the utmost Dread on every
Expedient by Authority of Parliament, or otherwise,
that may tend to secure from condign Punishment,
Offenders against the most essential Rights of human
Nature, by removing them for their Trial to Places
distant from the Scene of Perpetration, at the Discre
tion of a Governor or Commander in Chief.
That they esteem and therefore will by every lawful
Means oppose the late oppressive Restraints upon
Commerce, as subversive in their Nature of the Li
berties of America,
That they regard the hoffile Blockade of the Port
of Borton, the Attack upon the venerable Charter
Rights of the Massachusetts, the Extension of the
Bounds of Quebec, the Establishment of Popery and
an arbitrary Form of Government in that Province,
and theexclufive Privileges virtually given to it in the
Indian Trade as so many heps of an ill-judging Ad
ministration,that molt eminently indanger the Liberty
and Prosperity of the whole Empire.
That they view with inexpressible Horror, the
bloody Standard ere&ed in the Eastern Parts of the
confederated Colonies, and feel as in their own
Bodies, every Stroke which their brave Compatriots
have received from the Hand of their Fellow Sub
je&s, cruelly and unnaturally armed against them by
mistaken ministerial Severity.
In short, that they are determined to equip them
selves for maintaining with fuccefsful Bravery and
Resolution, the unquestionable Rights of English
men.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 16s. per Cent.
A White Loaf of the fineft FLOUP, to weigh
ilb. 130 Z. for 4, Coppers.
Published 3d April, 1,75.
To the Non. CADWALLADER COLDEN, Est;
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of
Monday, May 22, 1775. TH ^ [No. 1232.]
NRJP.ro R rrai^^c A ZETTE:
WEEKLYM E R C U R Y.
Permit us at the fame Time, Sir, to assure you
in their Behalf, that tho' they are arming, with great
Diligence and Industry, it is not with Design to
oppose, but to strengthen Government in the due
Exercise of Constitutional Authority. It is to be
in a State of Readiness to repel every lawless Attack
by our Superiors, and to prevent the Anarchy and
Confufion to which Ministerial Mifeondua has evi
dently paved the Way. It is to defend the Liberties
of the Subject, and to enable your Honor, and those
in Office under you, e fficacioufly to adminfter the
just Government of this Colony.
Your Honor cannot but fee the sudden Transition
of the Inhabitants of this Capital from a State of
Tumult, occasioned by Hostilities committed against
their Brethren, to Tranquility and good Order,
as the Consequence of our Appointment,
0 Printed by HUGH GAINE, Printer, Bookseller, and Stationer, ^t the Bible and Crown, in Hanover-Squarf.
Gentlemen,
IHave the befi authority to afore you, that our theft
gracious Sovereign and both Houses of Parliament,
have declared their readiness to afford every juf and
reafonahle indulgence to the colonies, whenever they
Jhould make a proper application, on the ground of any
realgrievances they may have to complain of. This de
claration has been followed by a resolution of the House of
Commons, which it watexpelled would have manifefied
the justice, and moderation of Parliament; and a disposi
tion to comfy with every wish of the fa^eds in
America. They offer to forbear foery kind of taxation
or afasment on America, except such as are necessary
for the regulation of commerce ; and only require that
the colonies Jhould make provi/ion, by such ways and
means as are beffuited to their refreaive circumftances\
for contributing a proportion to the common defence of
the empire, and for the support of their own civil
government arid the administration bf jufice; Hit
Majesty's mirtiferi did not doubt this temper in Parlia
ment, would meet with such a return on the part of the
colonies; as would lead to a happy tffue of the present
difputet, and to a re-ejlablijhment of the public tran
quility on grounds uj equity, jufice and moderation. —
Is if not then to be lamented as the srtof unfortunate
event; that the patience oj the people wits exhaufled at
the moment f this profpea of a peaceable and happy
accomplijbmeht of all their wiJhes ? Will not those in
whom they now confide, yet endeavour to obtain it ?
Mu, this country, till now happy and flourijbing be
yond parallel, be involved in toe dreadful calamities
ever attendant on civil war, while there remains one
poffble means untried, by which so great, so cruel an
evil might be averted ?---YoU tell me, gentlemen, that
the people have io, all confidence in the ordinary officers
of Government; and that they have ca, their eyes upon
you for advice and direction. I cannot divest myfclf
of the mo, affeflionate concern for the welfare, the
peace, and prosperity of the people over whom 1 have
so long prefded as the immediate rtprefentative of their
augufl Sovereign ; with whom 1 have lived the term
of a long life, and among whom I leave all that is
dear and valuable to me. lam impelled by my duty,
and a mo, zealous attachment to the intcrc, and faJety
of this people, to exhort you not to irritate the present
enraged,ate of their minds, nor faffer them to plunge
into labyrinths, from whence they can neither ad vance
nor retreat, but through blood and deflation.
His Majefy's minifers have, in the frongef terms,
exprefled the fatisfaEmn with which the King re
ceded the aflurances of the loyalty and affection o, bis
faithful fubjefts in this Government, and of their ar
dent desire for a permanent reconciliation with the
mother country. I cannot then conceive upon what
grounds a suspicion is entertained, that the city of New-
York is to be reducedto the prefeni fate of Boson. 1
have not had the leaf intimation that any Regular
Troops were defined for this province. It is proper
that General Gage Jbould know your sentimentsf entiments on this
fubjeCl, and I foall embrace the sirs opportunity of
communicating your requef to him. At the fame time
I think there is reason to fufpefl, that this report has
been invented to facilitate the introduction of an armed
force from Connecticut, which I am told is meditated.
Will not the apprebenjion cf fueb a design rouse you,
Gentlemen, and every virtuous Citizen, to avert, by
every means inyour power, a measure so humiliating,
so dangerous to the honour, fafety, and freedom of
this colony.
I have beheld with inexprefible anxiety, the fate of
tumult and disorder which raged in the Metropolis of
this province ; and lam sorry that a recent infance,
face your appointment, revives the threatening profpeC?
of insecurity, to which the inhabitants are reduced.
I exhort you to carry into effeCt the assurances you give
me, that , qu are.determined to improve.t@f^uff^^
It is our ardent Wilh, Sir, that the fame Tran
quility and good Order may be permanent. We
look forward therefore with deep Concern at the
expected Arrival of Troops from Great-Britain,
an Event that will probably be attended with in
numerable Mifchiefs. Their Piefence will doubtless
revive the Resentment of our Inhabitants, at the
repeatedly avowed Designs of subjugating the Colo
nies by Military Force. Mutual Jealousies may
break out into reciprocal Violence. Thousands
will in that Case, be poured in upon us from our
other Counties and the neighbouring Colonies, who,
we are well assured, have resolved to prevent this
City from being reduced to the present Situation of
Borton. Thus, instead of being a secure Garrison
Town and Place of Arms, as is vainly expected
by some, the Streets of New-York may be deluged
with Blood. Such a dettru&ive Evil, we are well
assured, your Honour will do every Thing in your
Power to avert. Permit us then, Sir, to beseech
you to apply to General Gage for Orders that such
Troops as may arrive from Great-Britain or Ireland,
do not land or encamp in this City and County ;
and in Case of their Arrival before your Honor shall
receive the General's Answer, to follicit their Com
manding Officer to the fame Purpose.
Give us Leave, Sir, to conclude by assuring you,
that we are determined to improve that Confidence
with which the People have honoured us, in strength
ening the Hands of the Civil Magistrate in every
lawful Measure calculated to promote the Peace and
just Rule of this Metropolis, and confident with that
jealous Attention which, above ail Things, we are
bound to pay to the violated Rights of America.
We are, Sir,
With the greatest Refpe&,
Your Honor's
Most obedient and humble Servants.
Ordered unanimously by the Committee,
HENRY REMSEN, D. Chairman.
New-York, May 11, 1775.
His Honor's ANSWER.
Monday, 37 Min. after 4
Tuesday, 25 Min. after 5
Wednefday,ii Min. after 6
Thursday, 57 Min. after 6
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week.
Friday, 47 Min. after 7
Saturday, 33 Min. after 8
Sunday, 10 Min. after 9
Neco-Moon the 29th.
with which the people bate honoured,on, in frengtb
„ing the bands of the civil magi, rates. Let this be
clone immediately, and with impartial,rmnejs onelery
occasion ; that the Houses, Persons, and Property 0/
your fellow citizens, may not be attacked and insulted
with impunity, and every degree of domestic security
and happiness sapped to the foundation.
Cadwallader Coldeii.
May 13th,
PHILADELPHIA, May i 5.
AFFIDAVITS and DEPOSITIONS,
Relative to the Commencement of the late Hos
tilities in the province of Massachusetts
Bay : Together with an ADDR ESS from
the Provincial Convention of said province,
to the Inhabitants oj Great-Britain;
transmitted to the CONGRESS how fitting
in this city, and publifbed by their order.
WE SOLOMON BROWN, JONA
THAN LORING, and ELIJAH
SANDERSON, all of lawful age, and of
Lexington, in the County of Middlesex, and Co
lony of the Maflachufetts-Bay, in New-England;
do teftify and declare, that on the Evening of the
18th of April, instant, being on the froad between
Concord and Lexington, and all of us mounted
on horses, we were about ten of the clock suddenly
furprized by nine Persons, whom we took to be Re
gular Officers, who rode up to us, mounted and
armed, each having a pittol in his hand, and after
putting pistols to our breads, and seizing the bridles
of our horses, they swore that if we stirred another
step, we should be all dead men ; upon which we sur
rendered ourlelves. They detained us until two
o'clock the next mbrnirg, in which time they searched
and greatly abused us, having firft enquired about the
magazineat Concord, whether any guards were ported
there, and whether the bridges were up, and Gid four
or five regiments of regulars would be in pbffeffion of
the stores soon. They then brought us back to
Lexington, cut the horses bridles and girts, turned
them Idofe, and then left us.
Lexington, SALOMON Brown;
April Is, 1775; Jonathan Loring,
Elijah Sanderson.
I ELIJAH SANDERSON, above-named,
do further teftify and declare, that 1 was on Lexington
Common the morning of the 19th of April aforefaid,
Having been difmifled by the Officers above-mentioned,
and law a large body of regular troops advancing
towards Lekingtoh Company, tnahy of whom were
then diverting; I heard one of the regulars; whom
I took to be an Officer, fay, " damn them we will
have them," and immediately the regulars Shouted
aloud, run add fired bn the Lexington cohipany, which
did not fire a gun before the regulars dilcharged on
them; Eight of the Lexington Company weiekilled
while they were difperfirig, and at a considerable dif
talite from each other, and many wounded, ahd altho'
a fpe&ator; I narrowly escaped with my life.
Lexington, April 2 ;d, i/7f
I THOMAS RICE WILLARD, of lawful
age, ^ teftify and declare, that being in the house
of Daniel Harrington, of said Lexington, on the
nineteenth instant in the morning, about half an hour
before fun-rife, looked but at the window of said
hotife; and fnw (as I luppofe) about four hundred
regulars in one body, coming up the road and marched
toward the North part of the common back of the
meeting^houfe of said Lexington, and as soon as said
regulars were against the ealt end of the meeting
boule, the commanding officer said something, what
I know not, but upon that the regulars ran till they
came within eight or nine rods of about an hundred
of the militia of Lexington who were collected on
said common, at which time the militia of Lexington
dispersed, then the officers made an huzza, and
the private lolditrs fuceeded them, dirtily after
this an officer rode before the regulars, to the
other fide of the body, and hallooed after the militia
of said Lexington and said " Lay down yohr arms,
damn vou, why don't you lay down your arms," and
that there was not a gun fired till the militia of
Lexington were dispersed, and farther faith not.
Thomas Rice Willard.
Lexington, 25th of April, 1775.
SIMON WINSHIP, of Lexington, in the
County of Middlesex, and Province of Massa
chusetts-Bay, New-England, being of lawful age
teftifieth and faith, that on the nineteenth of April
instant, about four o'clock in the morning, as he was
puffing the public road in said Lexington, peaceably
and unarmed, about two miles and an half distant
from the meeting-house in said Lexington, he was met
by a body of the King's regular troops, and being flop
ped by some officers of said troops, was commanded
to dismount, upon asking why he muff dismount, he
was obliged by force to quit his horse and ordered to
march in the midst of the body and being examined
whether he had been warning the minute men, he
answered no, but had been out and was then return
ing to his father's. Said Winflnpfurther testifies, that
he marched with said troops till lie came within about
half a quarter of a mile of said meeting-house, where
an officer commanded the troops to halt, add then to
prime apd load, this being done the said troops
marched on till they came within a few rods of Capti
Parker's company, who were partly colle&ed on the
place of parade, when Did Winfhip observed an
officer at the head of said troops, flourishing his f.vord,
and with a loud voice .giving the word fire, fire,
which was instantly followed by a difeharee of arms
from said regular troops, and said Winfhip is positive
Elijah Sanderson;
Lexington; April 25, 1775.
Wheatpet Buffiel, 6s. od.
Flour, to. od.
Brown Bread; 15s. od.
Wert-India Rum; 3s. 4d.
New-England, do. zs. 6d.
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mulcovado Sugar, 645. od;
Single refin'd ditto, ^ is, id.
Molasses, is. od.
Beef per Barrel; 48s. od.
Pork, 65s.be!;
ahd in the most solemn manner declares that there
was do discharge of arms on either fu e till the word
fire was given by said officer as above.
, Simon Winsihp.
Lexington,, April 25, 177^.
I JOHN PARKER, of lawful age, and Com-
Mandel- of the Militia in Lexington, do teftify
and declare,, that on the 19th infant, in the morning;
about one of the clock; being, informed that there
were a number of regdlai Officers riding up and
down the road; flopping and insulting people as they
passed the road ; ana allo wa^ informed that a num
ber of regular troops wae on their match from Borton,
In order to take the province stores at Concord,
ordered our Militia to meet on the Common in said
Lexington, to cchfult whit to do, and concluded
hot to be 'difeovered, nor meddle of make with
said regular troops (if they fhoUld approach) unlel^
they should insult br molest us ;---and upon their
sudden approach I immediately ordered ohi Mmiia
to disperse and not to lire.- Immediately laid
troops made their appearance and rushed furioufly,
fired Upon and killed eight of our party; without
receiving any provocation therefor from os.
John Parker,
„ Lexington; April 24th, 1775.
TJOHN ROBINS being; of lawful age, do
JL teftify and fay, that on the i§th inst. the company
tinder the command of Capt. John Parker, being
drawn up (fometirte before fun rife) on the green or
conimon, arid I being in the front rank, thete sud
denly appeared a number of the King's troops, about
a thodfand as I thought, at the diftanceot about 60
or 70 yards from us; huzzaing oh a quick pace
towards us; with three officers in their ftont on horse
back and on full gallop towards us; the formed of
which cried; throw down your arms ye villains, ye
rebels, tipon whibh said company dil'perfing; the
foremoft of the three officers ordered their men; fay
'hs file, by God fire; at which moment we received
a very heavy and close fire from them, at which
infant; being wounded I fell, and several of our men
weie foot dead by me; Capt Parker's men I believe
had not then fired a gun, and fuithC ithe deponent
faith not. John Robins.
WE BENJAMIN TIDD, cf Lexing
ton, and JOSEPH ABBOT; of Lin
coln, in the County of Middlesex, and Colony of
MalGchufetts-Bay, in New-England; of lawful age,
do teftify anti declare, that on the morning of the igih
of April inftaht; about five o'clock, being on Lex
ington Common; arid mounted on horfts, we law a
body cf regular troops marching tip to the Lexington
Company; which was then dilpufingi Soon after
the legulars fired; firft a few guns, which we took:
to be pistols, from some of the regulars who were
mounted on horses, ahd then the said regulars fired
a volley or two, before any guns were fired by the
Lexington Company ; our horses immediately Parted,
and we rode off. Arid further fay not.
Lexington; Benjamin Tidd,
A P ril % b f /7^ Joseph Abbot.
WE Nathaniel Mbtiekin, Philip Russel, Martes
Harrington, jun. Thoffias and Daniel
Harrington, William Grimes, William Tidd, Isaac
Hartings, Jonas Stone, jum James Wyman, Thad
deus Harrington, John Chandler, Joshua Reed, jun.
Joseph Simonds, Phineas Smith, John Chandler,
jun. Reuben Lock, Joel Viles, Nathan Reed,
Samuel Tidd, Benjamin Lock, Thomas Win/hip,
Simon Snow, John Smith, Motes Harrington the
3d; Joshua Reed, Ebenezer Parker, John Harring
ton, Enoch Willington, John Hormer, Isaac Green,
Phineas Stearns, Isaac Durant, arid Thomas Hea
day, jun. all of lawful age, and inhabitants of Lex
ington, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of the
Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, do teftify and
declare, that on the I,th of April inti, about one or two
o'clock in the morning, being informed that several
officers of the regulars had the evening before been
riding up and down the road, and had detained and
irifulted the inhabitants parting the fame; and also
tinderftanding that a body of regulars were marching
from Bolton towards Concord, with intent (as it
wa^ supposed) to take the stores belonging to the
Colony in that town, we were alarmed, and having
met at the place of our company's parade, were dif
mifled by our Captain, John Parker, for the present,
with orders to be ready to attend at the beat of the
drum. We further teftify and declare, that about
5 o'clock in the morning, hearing our drum beat, we
proceeded tbwards the parade, and soon found that a
large body of troops were marching towards us :
Some of our company were coming up to the parade,
and others had reached it, at which time the com
pany begati to disperse : Whilst our backs were
turned on the troops we were fired on by them, and
a number of our men were instantly killed and
wounded. Not a gun was fired by any person in otir
company on the regulars to our knowledge, before
they fired on tis, arid they continued firing Uhtil.we
had all made our escape.
Signed by each of the above deponents.
Lexington; April 25, 177,
WE Nathaniel Parkhuirt, Johas Parker, John
Munroe, junior, John Winfhip, Solomon
Pierce, John Muzzy, Abner Meeds, John Bridge;
jun. Ebenezer Bowman, William Muhroe, the 3d,
Micah Hager, Samuel Satinderfon, Samuel Hastings,
and fames Brown, of Lexington, in the County of
Middlesex, and Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, in
New-England, and all of lawful age, do teftify and
fay, that on the morning of the 19th of April' inst„
about one or two o'clock, being informed that a
number of regular officers had been riding up and
down the road the evening and night preceding, and
that some of the inhabitant as they wete passing,
Fine Salt, 3s. 3d
Coarse Salt, 3s. od
Bohea Tea, 4s. 6d
Indian Cofnpbrßu. 3s. 4<l