IX. Committee Assignments

14 September – 4 December 1775

14 September. Eliphalet Dyer, Thomas Lynch, John Jay, JA, Francis Lewis (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 2:250).

A standing committee to devise ways and means for supplying the Continental Army with medicines. This committee left only scattered evidence of its activities and is treated here through August 1776. JA may not have been an active member for this entire period.

Thomas Heyward Jr. and Lyman Hall added to the committee: 18 June 1776 (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 5:463).

Reported on memorial from Dr. John Morgan and report tabled: 12 July; Dft in PCC (same, 5:460–461, 556; PCC, No. 19, IV, f. 181–184).

Resolutions adopted: 17 July (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 5:568–571).

Benjamin Rush added to the committee: 7 Aug. (same, 5:636).

Reported on petition of Dr. Samuel Stringer and resolutions adopted: 20 Aug.; Dft not found (same, 5:661, 673).

Reported on petition of Dr. James McHenry and resolutions adopted: 26 Aug.; Dft not found (same, 5:698, 705).

See also, for other references to the committee, JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 3:261, 344; 5:528, 622, 633.

25 September. Thomas Lynch, Richard Henry Lee, JA (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 3:261).

To prepare an answer to letters from George Washington of 4 and 31 Aug. 1775.

Reported and report agreed to: 26 Sept.; Dft not found (same, 3:263; see John Hancock to George Washington, 26 Sept. 1775, LbC in PCC, No. 12A, I, f. 3–6).

9 October. JA, John Rutledge, Samuel Chase, Robert R. Livingston, Silas Deane (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 3:284–285).

To prepare an answer to letters and enclosures from Philip Schuyler of 19 and 29 Sept.

Reported and report tabled: 10 Oct.; Dft not found (same, 3:287).

Report agreed to: 11 Oct. (same, 3:288; see John Hancock to Philip Schuyler, 11 Oct. 1775, LbC in PCC, No. 12A, I, f. 13–16).

13 October. John Rutledge, Samuel Adams, JA, Samuel Ward, Richard Henry Lee (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 3:294).

To consider memorials from New York and Philadelphia merchants on tea imported before 1 March 1775.

Reported and report postponed: 18 Oct., 13 Nov., 25 Nov.; Dft not found (same, 3:298, 353, 370).

Report rejected: 28 Nov. (same, 3:388–389).

2 November. Thomas Lynch, John Jay, Richard Henry Lee, Silas Deane, JA (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 3:317).

To draw up instructions for the committee to confer with Philip Schuyler.

Letter from Philip Schuyler of 21 Oct. with enclosures referred to the committee: 4 Nov. (same, 3:320).

Report agreed to and instructions printed: 8 Nov.; Dft not found (same, 3:339–341).

17 November. George Wythe, Edward Rutledge, JA, William Livingston, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, Thomas Johnson (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 3:357–358).

To consider the portion of George Washington’s letter of 8 Nov. relating to the disposal of captured ships and goods.

Reported and report tabled: 23 Nov.; Dft not found (same, 3:364–365).

Report debated and deferred: 24 Nov. (same, 3:368–369).

Resolutions adopted: 25 Nov. (same, 3:371–375).

Reported again, modifying second resolution of 25 Nov., after JA had left congress: 19 Dec. (same, 3:437).

Additional duties assigned, 25 Nov.: to consider the portion of George Washington’s letter of 11 Nov. concerning a vessel captured by inhabitants of New Hampshire (same, 3:375).

Report not found.

4 December. JA, Thomas Cushing, Thomas McKean (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 3:406).

To inquire into the facts which caused congress to give permission, on 2 Dec., to Capt. Thomas Jenkins to supply Nantucket.

Reported and report read: 8 Dec.; Dft not found (same, 3:415).

Resolutions adopted: 11 Dec. (same, 3:421–422).