On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress adjourned. Before adjourning, the Provincial Congress prepared an address “To the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Towns and Districts of Massachusetts Bay” that requested that the militia prepare for war:

The improvement of the militia in general in the art military has been therefore thought necessary, and strongly recommended by this Congress. We now think that particular care should be taken by the towns and districts in this colony, that each of the minute men, not already provided therewith, should be immediately equipped with an effective firearm, bayonet, pouch, knapsack, thirty rounds of cartridges and balls . . . [that], as the security of the lives, liberties and properties of the inhabitants of this province, depends under Providence, on their knowledge and skill in the art of military, and in their being properly and effectually armed and equipped, it is therefore recommended, that they immediately provide themselves therewith; that they use their utmost diligence to perfect themselves in military skill.

For the previous two months the Massachusetts Provincial Congress had acted as the government of all of Massachusetts outside of Boston. After the adjournment, the Executive Standing Committee and Committee of Safety would continue until the Provincial Congress was scheduled to reconvene in the next year.

Sources: https://historicalnerdery01.blogspot.com/2019/04/ye-villains-ye-rebels-disperse-damn-you.html; https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.journalsofeach177417mass/?sp=139&st=image