Scope and Content: The Continental Congress passed a resolve, Apr. 6, 1776, recommending that colonies appoint officers responsible for overseeing trade regulations.  In response, on Oct. 16, 1776, Massachusetts Resolves 1776-77, c 394 directed the appointment of naval officers for the various ports in Massachusetts and Maine, to track exports and imports and otherwise ensure compliance with trade laws.  Details of the naval office and functions of the naval officer were expounded in St 1776-77, c 22 (Nov. 20, 1776), including amount and type of fees to be collected, and specifying that appointed naval officers should give bond to the treasurer and swear an oath.  Resolves 1776-77, c 559 (Nov. 22, 1776) directed that the naval officers be appointed by the legislature in the same manner as the field officers of the militia, for one year.  Terms were extended per Resolves 1777-78, c 450 (Oct. 18, 1777), until officers were renamed or replaced.  A series of specific appointments was made by House ballot on Jan. 27, 1778 (Resolves 1777-78, c 669 to c 682), and by additional resolves in Jan. 1780. –St 1783, c 19 (Oct. 22, 1783) provided for the support and maintenance of Massachusetts lighthouses by charging a duty (known as light money) to be collected from vessels clearing Commonwealth ports (with separate provisions for coasting/fishing vessels) by a port’s naval officer, of which he received a percentage. The naval officer was required to pay collected monies to the state treasurer every three months and to submit a corresponding account annually. The naval officers were required to submit a bond of 1,000 pounds in compliance with this act. –St 1784, c 14 (July 1, 1784) established seaport naval offices and required their naval officers to submit a bond (to the treasurer) and an oath (to the Secretary), for performance of various duties including the tracking of incoming and outgoing cargoes, collecting fees, and seizure of illegal goods.  Resolves 1785, May Session, c 44 (June 23, 1785) required naval officers to send sworn quarterly accounts to the treasurer.  Resolves 1786, Sept Sess, c 129 (Nov. 17, 1786) continued operations by current naval officers.  St 1787, c 3 (June 22, 1787) opened additional naval offices and chapter 4 (June 25, 1787) updated the fees charged.  Resolves 1787, Oct Sess, c 7 (Oct. 23, 1787) required naval officers to submit sworn annual accounts to the treasurer of fees collected. –The first federal revenue bill after adoption of the U.S. Constitution, passed July 4, 1789, authorized collections of impost; federal collection of light money was assumed that August.  St 1789, c 30 (Feb. 6, 1790) repealed the requirement for naval offices, although allowing current officers to pursue outstanding accounts.
Arrangement :Arranged chronologically
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