[Revolutionary Americana] [Directing the Speedy Resolution of Disputes over Quotas of Men]

STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. In the House of REPRESENTATIVES, February 16, 1779. WHEREAS upon Examination, In Consequence of a Report of the Committee for settling Disputes between the Towns in the several Counties in this State respecting their Quotas of Men in the Continental Army, it appears that the Committees in the Counties of Plymouth, York, Hampshire, Berkshire and Lincoln who were appointed in April last to settle Disputes between the Towns in their in their respective Counties..... have not complied with the Design of their Appointment....Resolved. That the Committees... are hereby directed to compleat the Affair.... [Signed] John Pickering [40 lines of text approximately 320 words]

[Boston: Printed by Thomas & John Fleet], 1779. Broadside. 25 x 19 cm. Signed in type by John Pickering, Speaker, and read and concurred a true copy by John Avery, Dep. Sec'ry. Old fold lines, some tears to edges, with loss at upper corners (as though from being posted), one closed tear along a fold line slightly affecting two words, some overall toning to paper. Thomas and John Fleet inherited the printing business from their father Thomas Fleet who died in 1758. Thomas Fleet Sr. was known to employ enslaved men as printers working "at print and case" in his shop, according to Isaiah Thomas in his "The History of Printing in America," [Worcester: 1810], vol. 1, pp.294-301 & 352-3. Two of the men, Pompey and Cesar, were young when Fleet died "but, they remained in the family and continued to labor regularly in the printing house with the sons of mr. Fleet... until the constitution of Massachusetts, adopted in 1780, made them freemen." ESTC: Huntington, MHS. We add LC. EVANS 16361 [which calls for 2pp., evidently in error]. FORD. Broadsides 2184. CUSHING. Mass. Laws 1060. Item #63924

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