[Broadside]. State of Massachusetts-Bay. In the House of Representatives, February 3, 1778

[BROADSIDE]

STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 3, 1778. NOTWITHSTANDING REPEATED ORDERS HAVE ISSUED FROM THIS COURT CALLING UPON THE … TOWNS … TO MAKE RETURNS OF ALL THE MALE INHABITANTS … ABOVE THE AGE OF SIXTEEN YEARS; AND … OF ALL THE MEN INLISTED INTO THE CONTINENTAL ARMY …. [BOSTON: PRINTED BY POWARS AND WILLIS, 1778] 

Broadside (15 x 9 3/4 in.; 381 x 247 mm). Docket on verso; 3 horizontal folds, some browning and wear, paper loss in lower left corner (not affecting text).

Organizing the draft in Massachusetts. This broadside urgently orders selectmen, Committees of Correspondence, and military officers to count their men, including "those far advanced in Age, sick, decriped, Paupers, those who have been driven from Boston, and other Towns … by the Enemy, Negroes, Indians and Molattoes …, as those who then belonged to the Train-Band and Alarm-List, (except Prisoners of War and the People called Quakers)." Below the text is a sample form for documenting returns of "men raised for the Continental Army."

The manuscript docket on the verso reads, "Ashfield [near Deerfield, Mass.] the Militia Officers and Selectmen are Desired to make their Return … either to Col. [David] Field of Dearfiled [sic] or to my Self in

Sunderland Immediately. [Col.] Daniel Whitmore Feb 13th 1778."

Evans, Ford, Cushing,and ESTC together locate six copies. 

LITERATURE:

Cushing 1022; Evans 15900; Ford 2141