380 | To Richard Saltonstall and Francis Miller

    Instructions to Col Richard Saltonstall and Lieut Francis Miller.

    Whereas in pursuance of the advice of his Majesty’s Council I have authorised you by my Warrants to raise & inlist a number of Men not exceeding sixty to be formed into an independent company, to serve in his Majesty’s Castle William, in addition to the Garrison there; The following are your instructions for the execution of such Warrants.

    1. 1st. You shall be careful to inlist no Man but whose courage & fidelity you have just reason to depend upon.
    2. 2d. Each person is to be inlisted to serve for 4 months only & to be dismissed sooner if the Special Service shall cease.
    3. 3d. The Pay is to be the same as was allowed to the Provincial Soldiers in the last Campaign with the Same provisions as are allowed to the present Garrison.1
    4. 4th. Each person so inlisted is to have a bounty of 8 dollars to be paid him upon his arrival at Castle William.
    5. 5th As Soon as you shall have inlisted a considerable Number of Men, You shall return them to Castle William under the command of one of you by the best rout or conveyance which you shall be able to contrive; & the rest shall follow as soon as may be.

    Instructions to Richard Saltonstall and Francis Miller, 29 Aug. 1765. Page 1. Original manuscript from the Saltonstall Family Papers. Courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society. This set of orders was personally delivered to Col. Saltonstall by Lt. Miller. Gov. Bernard entrusted both men with the task of raising a company of militamen from Essex County for the purposes of reinforcing the garrison at Castle William, where Bernard had decided to store the stamped papers when they arrived from Britain.

    Instructions to Richard Saltonstall and Francis Miller, 29 Aug. 1765. Page 2. Original manuscript from the Saltonstall Family Papers. Courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

    Map of Castle William. “A General and Particular Plan of the Island of Castle William near Boston, shewing the Works in their Original and present state, together with Sections through the same,” 1771. By John Montresor. MR 1/19, PRO. By permission of The National Archives of the UK: Public Record Office, London. The Castle fortifications and buildings were repaired in 1765 and altered again the late 1760s. Bernard and his family often spent their summers here, enjoying the tranquility of the governor’s gardens (Z). Their apartments would have been in the governor’s bastion (B), and here they took refuge during the Stamp Act riots.

    1. 6th. The Men will enter into pay and billeting from the time of their being inlisted & attested.
    2. 7th In all doubtful Matters you are to apply to me for further orders

    Given at Castle William under my hand this 29th day of August 1765

    Fra Bernard

    Ms, RC MHS: Saltonstall Family Papers.