104 



from beino; brought into Salem, and was instrumental in disc'ov- 

 ering and destroying it on one or more occasions. 



Salem also possessed at this time, many other prominent sons 

 of liberty, who were distinguished for their high minded patri- 

 otism, their influence, and the esteem of their fellow citizens. 

 Among them, I need only mention Timothy Pickering, jr., 

 then recently chosen colonel of the first Essex regiment. He 

 was ever active in stimulating and encouraging his townsmen 

 to resist all the attempts of Great Britain to grind their liberties 

 beneath the iron heel of despotism. Through the various 

 public offices afterward filled by Mr. Pickering, the whole 

 country has been made familiar with the uncompromising 

 integrity of his character. 



In November, 1774, Colonel Mason received an appointment 

 of Engineer from the "Massachusetts Committee of Safety," 

 which his memoir states to have been the first military appoint- 

 ment in the Revolutionary War. He was from this time, 

 actively engaged in collecting military stores for the use of the 

 country, and making secret preparation for the approaching 

 contest, which now appeared inevitable. His memoir further 

 relates, that in prosecution of this design he purchased a number 

 of cannon (believed to be seventeen,*) from Mr. Derby, of 

 Salem, which he committed to the care of Captain Robert 

 Foster, a blacksmith, to affix the iron work to the carriages, 

 and have them otherwise properly prepared for the service of 

 resisting British aggression, if occasion should require. They 

 were twelve-pounders, and had originally belonged to the 

 Erench, in Nova Scotia, from whence they were brought after 

 the war there, and were captured, as it was understood, from 

 the enemy. The work shop of Captain Eoster was on the 

 north side of the North River, over which was a draw-bridge, 

 and the cannon were secreted in and about the premises as 

 securely as circumstances would permit. Eive thousand flannel 

 cartridges were also prepared for these cannon by the wife and 

 daughters of Colonel Mason. 



About the last of Eebruary, 1775, a number of these carriages 

 were completedf and the guns mounted. Intelligence of this 



* Mr. Samuel Gray states the number to have been twelve. 



t A portion of these carriages were made at the New Mills, m 

 Danvers. 



