To George Washington from Joseph Otis, 12 December 1775
From Joseph Otis
Barnstable [Mass.], December 12, 1775— May it please your Excellency: The enclosed letter was sent me by the Governour of Rhode-Island, on the receipt of which, with the advice of the Field Officers of this regiment, I took up the writer, and, with the advice of Colonel Otis, have sent the man to your Excellency, by Lieutenant Lothrop. The two men mentioned in the letter, we talked with, but have dismissed them till further orders, as there was no proof against them but their being mentioned in the letter sent Captain Ayscough.
As to Mr. Lovell’s character and situation, he is one that we have always looked upon as a Tory, and something busy in the Opposition. He has a large family of small children that want his assistance. I pity the man’s folly.1 As I shall be at Head-Quarters this week, with the Militia ordered from this regiment, shall do myself the honour to wait on you further about the matter.2 Should be glad Lieut. Lothrop might have the care of him till I see your Excellency. I am your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,
Joseph Otis.
, 4th ser., 4:1337.
Joseph Otis (1726–1810), a son of James Otis, Sr., became colonel of the 1st Barnstable County Regiment of militia in August 1775 and in 1776 was promoted to brigadier general of the militia.
1. The prisoner was Shubael Lovell. See Nathaniel Freeman to GW, this date. Otis enclosed the letter that Lovell wrote to James Ayscough of the British sloop-of-war Swan on 16 November. See ibid., 1338. “Colonel Otis” is James Otis, Senior.
2. Otis’s militiamen were part of the temporary reinforcement that the General Court had ordered to join the Continental army. See GW to the Massachusetts General Court, 29 Nov., n.1, and GW to Hancock, 4 Dec. 1775.