Massachusetts. Board of War

During the Revolution, the Massachusetts General Court designated the Board of War to administer the war effort on behalf of the colony, including the provisioning of troops.

From the description of Accounts of officers' clothing, 1777-1783. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79151733

Faced with the necessity of organizing the state's response to military hostilities with Britain, the General Assembly of Massachusetts mandated the creation of the Board of War. The board was charged with administering the conduct of the war effort on behalf of Massachusetts. Once hostilities had abated, the legislature arranged for the dissolution of the board.

From the description of Inventory of goods delivered to the commissary general, 1781. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122412309

Faced with the necessity of organizing the state's response to military hostilities with Britain, the General Assembly of Massachusetts mandated the creation of the Board of War. The board was charged with administering the conduct of the war effort on behalf of Massachusetts.

From the description of Return of goods delivered to the Massachusetts regiments from the United States, 1777. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122560347

From the description of General journals, 1776-1782. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122560381

From the description of Daybooks, 1777-1781. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77749874

From the description of Invoices of goods from the agents of the Middle District, 1777. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122613816

From the description of Cashbooks, 1777-1781. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122521164

From the description of Orders drawn on the commissary general, 1776-1777. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122357380

From the description of Subsidiary journals, 1776-1781. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122469513

From the description of Debt register, 1777-1780. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122372717

From the description of Invoice book of captured goods, 1777-1779. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86144209

From the description of Regimental ledgers, 1777-1782 (bulk 1777-1779). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122297708

From the description of Prize ledger for captured vessels, 1777-1780. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122656216

From the description of Receipt books, 1776-1781. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81818769

From the description of Minutes, 1776-1781 (bulk 1776-1780). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122521145

From the description of Waste book, 1776-1777. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122575226

From the description of General ledgers, 1776-1784, bulk 1776-1781. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122564415

From the description of Blotters for daily transactions, 1776-1787, bulk 1776-1781. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122556551

During the Revolution, the Massachusetts General Court designated the Board of War to administer the war effort on behalf of the colony, including the provisioning of troops. The board was assisted by regimental clothiers, by a state clothier (from May 1779), by the Committee for Providing Slops and Small Stores (such as knapsacks, cartridge boxes, and gun belts), and by the commissary general (originally instituted by the Provincial Congress in Feb. 1775), specifically for foodstuffs procured from local merchants or state stores. Provision of clothing had been mandated by resolves of the Continental Congress, first as an expense charged against a soldier's wages (June 19, 1775), and then without charge, or in the form of a bounty to reimburse those who supplied their own (Oct. 8, 1776)

From the description of Returns of clothing, rations, and small stores for various regiments, 1777-1782. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 180701899

From the description of Returns and accounts of clothing and small stores for 6th Regiment, 1777-1783. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 85210931

With the onset of the War for Independence, the Massachusetts Assembly mandated the establishment of a committee, designated the Board of War, in October 1776 (Resolves 1776-7, c 455). In the absence of a governor, the board was commissioned as an executive committee to act for the state in conducting the war effort "with the greatest secrecy, dispatch and economy." Prior to the board's creation, these functions were handled by the Committees of Safety and Supplies (ca. 1774-1775) acting on behalf of the Provincial Congress. Subsequent adjustments (Resolves 1777-8, c 194) were made to the enabling legislation for the board in July 1777, broadening somewhat its authorities.

Consisting of nine members, the board served as the chief administrative agent of the state's war effort. Its primary function was to manage the business affairs and other operational activities of the military establishment of Massachusetts. Preparedness and operations on both land and sea came within the purview of the board. While working in conjunction with the state's commissary general, the Board of War clearly was the superior authority in the administration of military affairs.

The board was authorized to procure, by purchase or impressment, and distribute provisions, clothing, livestock, ordnance, munitions, and other warlike stores for the use of the military. Consistent with need, the board also was responsible for the provision of garrisons and the fitting-out of vessels for the use of Massachusetts military commanders. In meeting these needs, the board utilized various legislative committees and units of the commissary general's department, which it was empowered to oversee.

To support these activities, the board was authorized to draw warrants on the Treasury consistent with appropriations made for those purposes by the legislature. The board also was directed to receive the state's portion of prizes from captured vessels. Additionally, the board was instructed to document its activities with books of entries, returns, and records of proceedings.

The Board of War also exercised broader domestic powers by which economic matters could be influenced. It was empowered to act to prevent the engrossment of materials for price gain, when the materials were necessary for the military. If supplies were not readily available for procurement in the normal fashion, the board could obtain them through importation, or, if necessary, impressment. The board could also undertake privateering activities directed at capturing and/or destroying enemy contraband.

With the dimunition of war activities in the early 1780's, the need for the Board of War was reduced correspondingly. In February 1781, the legislature resolved (Resolves 1780, Jan 1781 Sess, c 62) to discontinue the board and arrange for the settlement of its accounts. Acknowledging that responsibility for military affairs had been lodged in the office of the governor by the constitution of the Commonwealth (1780), this resolve also directed the appointment of Caleb Davis to serve as the state agent in the completion of the unfinished business of the board.

In November 1781, the General Court appointed a committee to settle the accounts of the board. Several subsequent enactments led to the final settlement of accounts, as well as the delivery of the same to the treasurer of the Commonwealth in 1784. Thereafter, military administration in Massachusetts increasingly became the responsibility of the adjutant general.

From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145429183

The Board of War was a committee created by the Massachusetts Legislature per Resolves 1776-77, c 455 (Oct. 29, 1776). The board's main function was to manage the administrative and business transactions of the state's war effort during the War for Independence. Changes were made to the enabling legislation for the board in July 1777, increasing its discretionary authority (Resolves 1777-78, c 194 (July 7, 1777)). After the Board of War was dismantled following passage of Resolves 1780, Jan 1781 Sess, c 62 (Feb. 8, 1781), its affairs were settled by Caleb Davis, as state agent, who was in turn succeeded in that function per Resolves 1782, Sept Sess, c 34 (Oct. 21, 1782), by the Commissary General.

The board was instructed by the Provincial Congress to procure provisions, cannon, arms, ammunition, clothing, and all other articles necessary to carry on the war by sea and land. The board also was responsible for the provision of garrisons and fitting out of vessels for the use of Massachusetts military commanders.

From the description of Revolutionary War Bills, 1776-1781. (Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Archives). WorldCat record id: 700943321

During the Revolution, the Massachusetts General Court designated the Board of War to administer the war effort on behalf of the colony, including the provisioning of troops.

Under the Board of War, from July 1776 to 1783 the Boston Laboratory served as both a workshop and a storage and redistribution center for the regiments of the Continental Army. It (1) purchased, stored, and redistributed materials needed by the regiments including saddles, bridles, horse collars, bayonets, coal, and rum (2) manufactured goods from raw materials purchased including wagon spokes, tools, flints, carriage tires, timber, powder, iron, rubber, canisters, belts, thread, and tubes (3) delivered finished goods to colonels, generals, and ships of the Continental Army including carriages, weapons, wagons, cartridges, and ammunition (4) provided laboratory workers (carpenters, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, and ironworkers) with supplies, provisions, and salaries.

The laboratory's surviving records show that the laboratory, apparently located at the fort on Castle Island (known as the Castle) in Boston Harbor, was active from mid-1776, under the supervision of Col. Thomas Crafts, head of the artillery regiment stationed there. Resolves 1777-78, c 881 (Mar. 12, 1778) directed that the Council determine how many from the regiment be devoted to laboratory work. Resolves 1777-78, c 1044 (Apr. 28, 1778) provided for the legislative appointment of a commissary of military stores, with the laboratory among his responsibilities, for which he should appoint a clerk and conductor and make return of the stores under his keeping to the Board of War.

Resolves 1778-79, c 127 (June 23, 1778) appointed a committee to examine the improper condition of the laboratory; Resolves 1778-79, c 286 (Oct. 15, 1778) admitted failure of the procedure instituted the previous April, and provided for legislative appointment of a comptroller of the laboratory, who would commission a master fire-worker and appoint a clerk; Col. Crafts was again ordered to provide laboratory staffing.

Per Resolves 1778-79, c 586 (Feb. 26, 1779), Col. Crafts and his officers resigned, and c 587, passed the same day, required the Board of War to settle accounts with Crafts for the funds and supplies furnished to the laboratory while the fort had been under his command. Meantime Col. William Burbeck had been appointed comptroller (see Resolves 1781, Sept Sess, c 196, Sept. 29, 1781, per which Caleb Davis was made the governor's agent in delivering materiel to the laboratory), and Joshua Bentley clerk (Resolves 1780, May-Sept Sess, c 107, June 22, 1780). Resolves 1781, c 483 (Mar. 1, 1782) removed Burbeck's title and pay because of diminished call on the laboratory's resources, but supplemented his pay as captain-lieutenant of the Castle (Resolves 1779-80, c 430, Oct. 6, 1779) to continue superintending the laboratory, while Davis would sell excess assets for the benefit of the state. Resolves 1783, May Sess, c 27 (June 19, 1783) effectively closed the laboratory by directing the commissary general to receive its stores, to be either sold or deposited at the Castle, after which the fire worker and clerk were to be discharged.

From the description of Records of the Boston Laboratory, 1776-1785. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78253091