Instructions to Aaron Willard and Moses Child, 24 November 1775

by

[Cambridge, 24 November 1775]

The Honourable, the Continental Congress, having lately passed a Resolve, contained in the following words, to wit.

“That two persons be sent at the Expence of these Colonies to nova scotia, to inquire into the state of that Colony, the disposition of the Inhabitants towards the American cause, & the Condition of the Fortifications, Docks, Yards, the Quantity of Artillery & Warlike stores, & the number of Soldiers, Sailors & Ships of War there, & Transmit the earliest Intelligence to General Washington.[”]

I do hereby Constitute & appoint you the said Aaron Willard, Esqr.—to be one of the persons to Undertake this business; And as the season is late, & this a work of Great Importance, I intreat & request that you will use the utmost dispatch, attention & fidelity in the Executi⟨on⟩ of it—The necessity of acting with a proper degree of caution & secrecy is too apparent to need recommendatio⟨n.⟩

You will keep an Account of your Expences & upon your return will be rewarded in a suitable ma⟨nner⟩ for the fatigue of your Journey & the services you render your Country by Conducting & discharging this Business with expedition & fidelity. Given under my Hand this 24 day of Nov. 1775.

[See also “A stolen letter written by former U.S. president George Washington led police to arrest a second man in a massive stolen artifacts case in the Halifax area.”, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/stolen-george-washington-letter-leads-to-halifax-arrest-1.1338810?cmp=rss]

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0388

Related posts:

  1. From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 February 1776, Enclosure from Messrs Willard & Child, Report on Nova Scotia Cambridge February the 14. 1776 Sir Through you I beg leave to lay before Congress, the Inclosed Letter from Lord Drummond to General Robertson, which came to my hands a few days agoe in order to be sent into Boston....
  2. From George Washington to John Hancock, 30–31 January 1776 I had the honor of writing you on the 19 of November & then Informed you of having engaged Two persons to goe to Nova Scotia on the business recommended in your Letter of the 10th & also that the...
  3. Committee Report on Petition from Nova Scotia, November 9, 1775 (On 2 Nov. the congress took cognizance of a petition from the inhabitants of Passamaquoddy, Nova Scotia, who had chosen a committee of safety and asked for admission into “the association of the North Americans, for the preservation of their...
  4. From George Washington to John Hancock “This Letter will be deliver’d you by Jonathan Eddy Esq. the Gentlemen from Nova Scotia who I mention’d to you in mine of the 27th Ulto. He seem’d desirous of waiting on the Honorable Congress in Order to lay before...
  5. From James Lyon to George Washington, Dec 25, 1775 Sir, Mechias [District of Maine] Dec. 25. 1775 You doubtless remember to have seen an application from the committee of safety in this place, for leave to go against Nova Scotia, which might probably have been taken then with very...
  6. From George Washington to John Hancock, 1 April 1776 “Sir This Letter will be deliver’d you by Jonathan Eddy Esq. the Gentlemen from Nova Scotia who I mention’d to you in mine of the 27th Ulto. He seem’d desirous of waiting on the Honorable Congress in Order to lay...
  7. 8 July 1776 “8 July. The congress resolved that George Washington have the power to call to New York the continental regiments in Massachusetts not bound for Ticonderoga; that Washington have permission to employ as many Indians as necessary from the St. Johns,...
  8. To John Hancock from George Washington, April 1, 1776 Sir Head Quarters Cambridge 1st April 1776 This Letter will be deliver’d you by Jonathan Eddy Esq. the Gentlemen from Nova Scotia who I mention’d to you in mine of the 27th Ulto. He seem’d desirous of waiting on the...
  9. From George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, Aug 12, 1775 “As to the Expedition proposed against Nova Scotia by the People of Machias; I cannot but applaud their Spirit & Zeal, but after considering the Reasons offered for it several Objections occur which seem to me unanswerable. I apprehend such...
  10. The Edge of the Precipice “I hope the administration will see and be convinced that it is not a little faction, but the whole body of American freeholders from Nova Scotia to Georgia that now complain and apply for redress; And who, I am sure,...