1. GW left much of the correspondence concerning the fitting out of these vessels to Joseph Reed. On Saturday 30 Sept. Reed discussed the matter with a committee of the Massachusetts house of representatives, and on 2 Oct. he wrote to James Warren: “Pursuant to the Declaration I had the Honour of Communicating to you and the other Gentlemen last Saturday from his Excellency, he has directed 3 Vessels to be immediately equipped: But as he gave the Several Captures to the Disposal of the General Court it may be necessary for them to Signify in some proper way that these Vessels are to be at the Direction of the General or such as he shall appoint: Which may prevent any Obstacles arising with the Committees or other Persons with whom the Management of this Business is intrusted” (DLC:GW).

The General Court resolved on the afternoon of 3 Oct. that the Marblehead committee of correspondence dispose of the captured schooner Industry and the Gloucester committee of safety dispose of the captured brigantine Dolphin by having each vessel appraised by three persons under oath, sending the appraisements to the General Court as soon as possible, and then delivering each vessel “to his Excellency General Washington’s Order, for him to improve her as an Armed Vessel for Defence of the Country, he giving his Receipt for the same accordingly” (Mass. House of Rep. Journal, July–Nov. 1775 sess. and Nov. 1775–Feb. 1776 sess description begins A Journal of the Honorable House of Representatives of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England. Watertown, Mass., 1775. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends , 136–37; see also “Mass. Council Journal,” July 1775–Feb. 1776 sess description begins In Journals, Minutes, and Proceedings, State of Massachusetts Bay, 1775–1780. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records.) description ends , 201–2, and the copies of these resolutions in DLC:GW).

“The Vote of the General Court is at length received,” Reed wrote to John Glover on 4 Oct., “but upon Such Terms & in Such a Manner that his Excellency the General does not chuse to meddle with either of these Vessels—You will therefore on Receipt of this take up two other Vessels the most suitable for our Purpose upon the best Terms you can—let them be prime Sailors, put them into the best Order & loose no Time—A great Number of Transports are hourly expected at Boston from England and elswhere—If you cannot equip them with Guns Suitable from Salem—by going to Newbury Port you may find not only a suitable Vessel but have your Choice of Guns for the Purpose—As you may have more men upon your Hands than you will be able to manage Mr Moyland the Muster Master General is associated with you in this Business & whatever Engagements are entered into by you & Mr Moyland when you may happen to be together or by either in Case one goes to Newbury the General will fully ratify & Confirm” (DLC:GW).

Reed also wrote on 4 Oct. to the Salem and Gloucester committees of safety: “I am directed by his Excellency General Washington to inform you that he has referrd the Disposal of the Cargo of the Vessel lately taken within your District to the General Court of this Colony, to whom he has also recommended the brave Captors for a suitable Compensation. He now proposes to equip the Vessels as Ships of War & immediately to send them on a Cruize, or if these Vessels are not fit for the Service to exchange them for others. For which Purpose he has dispatchd Colo. Glover, & as it will not only be a Protection for the Coast but probably greatly distress the Enemy, his Excellency requests your kind Assistance to Colo. Glover in managing this Business” (ibid.).

2. The Newburyport committee of safety petitioned the Massachusetts General Court on 27 Sept. for an armed vessel to protect the town’s harbor, promising to “procure a Vessell, & Commander & Men” and “if necessary eight or ten Carriage Guns, a number of Swivels, & a small Quantity of Powder & Provissions” (Clark, Naval Documents description begins William Bell Clark et al., eds. Naval Documents of the American Revolution. 12 vols. to date. Washington, D.C., 1964–. description ends , 2:218–19).

3. See the draft of instructions to prize agents and the nearly identical letter-book copy of instructions to William Watson, both dated 17 Oct. 1775 and signed by Joseph Reed by order of GW, in DLC:GW. The latter document is printed, ibid., 492–94.