Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

[425] March, ‘in the morning, the British evacuated Boston; their rear guard with some marks of precipitancy.’ ‘The troops on the Roxbury side moved over the neck and took possession of Boston, as did others from Cambridge in boats. On the Americans entering the town, the inhabitants discovered joy inexpressible.’¹

I find on the Town Records only three references to the presence of a large army. The town protested, May 29, 1775, against permitting army contractors to become rich at the public expense. In the instructions given to their delegates in the Provincial Congress, they say, ‘As we are informed the honorable Committee of supplies have agreed with a number of persons to supply the Provincial Army with fresh provisions at a stated price, which has caused great uneasiness amongst the inhabitants of this Province in general, and this town in particular, we do instruct you to use your influence that they be paid a reasonable consideration for their services, and no more.’ On the 11th of March, 1776, ‘John Foxcroft and John Wyeth, Esqs. and Deacon Aaron Hill were chosen as a committee to present a petition to his Excellency General Washington, to know what part of our lands he will want for the use of the Army for the present year. The committee made no report to the town of their proceedings.’ Perhaps the committee did not consult General Washington, and had nothing to report; within a week after their appointment, Boston was evacuated by the British, and the American army left Cambridge very soon afterwards. After their departure, the town appointed a committee, May 13, 1776, ‘to estimate the losses sustained by means of or in consequence of the British troops, and report to Col. Palmer and others, a committee appointed by the Great and General Court of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay to receive the same,— keeping separate accounts of the damages sustained by posting the American Army in this town.’

The Records of the Selectmen afford some glimpses of the difficulty with which arms and ammunition were procured at the commencement of the War, and of the ruinous depreciation of the currency at a later period. I select a few items. An order was drawn, March 13, 1775, to pay Col. Thomas Gardner ‘for four half barrels of powder, £ 20. 13. 4.’ To arm the soldiers, it was necessary to obtain muskets from private individuals. The