19 July 1774. Report of the Committee on Ways and Means. No Dft found. printed: Boston Record Commissioners, 18th Report , p. 181.

John Adams had returned home by 17 July, for he wrote to James Warren on that date from Braintree. How much part he played in the committee's deliberations is problematical.

“The Committee on Ways and Means Reported verbally, that they had been considering of the best Methods to Employ the Poor; and informed the Town, 'That the building a Wharff from the South End, leading to Dorchester Neck, and a House or Two on the Town's Lands, at that Part of the Town was what they thought might be of Service: That they had other Proposals to make in some future Time; but that for the present, the Comittee desired the Sense of the Town, with Respect to the Expediency of employing a Number of Inhabitants now out of Employ, in Carrying on a Wharff.'”

In the morning session, the town voted to accept the committee's recommendation to build a wharf, laying down certain conditions. In the afternoon, however, the town voted to reconsider its vote, decision being post poned to another meeting.

9 August 1774. Report of the Committee on Ways and Means. No Dft found. printed: Boston Record Commissioners, 18th Report , p. 187–188.

The committee's recommendation that the poor of Charlestown who were affected by the closing of Boston's port should share in the donations being made to Boston was promptly accepted by the town, which voted to allow them a share of 7 percent.

The committee “reported further, 'That they had thought it expedient to erect a House at the South Part of the Town, on the Town's Land, for the Employment of Tradesmen, and now out of Work, provided the Town will furnish the Materials wanted for such a Building, upon Condition, that the Committe on Ways and Means defray the whole Amount of the Labour, out of the Donations they have received.'” The motion to accept the report and order the town treasurer to borrow money for buying building materials was voted down. A second motion to permit the Committee on Ways and Means to purchase a piece of town land for its appraised value also failed to pass.