USA > Massachusetts > The journals of each Provincial congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of safety, with an appendix, containing the proceedings of the county conventions-narratives of the events of the nineteenth of April, 1775 > Part 71
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635
WORCESTER CONVENTION.
Voted, That the resolves accepted in this convention, and the vote about town meetings, be signed by the chairman and clerk, and printed.
Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Chaplain be requested to close the meeting with prayer.
Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of September next, then to meet at the house of Mr. Timothy Bigelow, in Worcester, at 10 o'clock, A. M.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 6, 1774.
The committees of correspondence and delegates of the several towns, met in convention, at the house of Mr. Timothy Bigelow, according to ad- journment.
The Rev. Mr. Chaplain opened the meeting with prayer.
Voted, As the opinion of this convention, that the court should not sit on any terms.
Voted, That the several committees inform the people of their respective towns, of this vote of the convention, and, that they choose one man from each company, as a committee to wait on the judges to inform them of the resolution to stop the courts sitting, if the people coneur therein.
Voted, That the body of the people in this county now in town, assemble on the common.1
Voted, To choose a committee of three persons to inquire of the commit- tees of the towns, how long it will be before they make the determination of the body of the people respecting the courts, known to the judges, and to inform the convention thereof.
Voted, To adjourn to the green beyond Mr. Salisbury's, where the conven- tion proceeded.
Voted, That a committee of three, viz .: Capt. Mandell, Deacon Rawson, and Mr. Samuel Jennison, be a committee to inform the grand jurors of the determination of the county as to the courts being held.
Voted, to adjourn to the court house at two o'clock, P. M.
Afternoon.
Met according to adjournment, and again adjourned to the green, to attend the body of the people.
Voted, To choose a committee of three persons to proceed to wait on the committees of the towns, to inquire the occasion of the delay of the judges in making their appearance before the body of the people.
Voted, That three persons be chosen a committee, to acquaint John Chand- ler, Esq., and the other protesters, that they must follow after the judges
(1) On the invitation of the convention, the people of the county had assembled to the number of about six thousand. 'The companies of the several towns were under officers of their own elec- tion, and marched in military order. Having been formed in two lines, when the arrangements were completed, the royalist justices, and officers, were compelled to pass through The ranks, pausing, at intervals, to read their declarations of submission to the public will. At evening, finding that no troops were on their way to sustain the judicial tribunals, whose constitution had been cor- rupted by the act of parliament, the great assembly dispersed peacefully.
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1 WORCESTER CONVENTION.
through the ranges of the body of the people; that they go immediately after the judges, and read their recantations.1
Voted, That the thanks of the convention be given to the Rev. Mr. Chap- lain, for his attendance with them.
Voted, That it be recommended to the military officers in this county, that they resign their commissions to the colonels of the respective regiments.
Voted, That the field officers resign their offices, and publish their resig- nations in all the Boston newspapers.
Voted, That it be recommended to the several towns of the county, to choose proper officers for the military of the town, and a sufficient number.
Voted, That it be recommended to the several towns and districts of this county, that they provide themselves, immediately, with one or more field pieces, mounted and fitted for use ; and also a sufficient quantity of ammu- nition for the same ; and that the officers appoint a suitable number of men, out of their respective companies, to manage said field pieces.
Voted, To take notice of those justices of the inferior court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace of this county, who aspersed the people in a late address to Gov. Gage.2
(1) Forty-three of the royalist inhabitants of Worcester, had made their protest against the pa- triotic resolutions of that town. This protest having been entered on the municipal records, by the clerk, without authority, he was subsequently compelled, in open meeting, to obliterate the docu- ment ; the work of the pen not being effectual in destroying its former traces, his fingers were dip- ped in ink, and drawn over the page, which still remains in the town book, entirely illegible. Most of the subscribers of the loyal paper were forced to sign recantations of their expressed opinion. To these persons the vote in the text refcrs.
. (2) The address of the justices of the county of Worcester, was presented June 21, 1774, and with the answer of Governor Gage, follows :
To his Excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the proo- ince of Massachusetts Bay, in New England.
May it please your Excellency :- The justices of the court of general sessions of the peace, and justices of the inferior court of common pleas, held at Worcester, on the second Tuesday of June, 1774, beg leave, at our first session, after your safe arrival, to congratulate your excellency thereon, and also, on your appointment to the most important office of first magistrate in this province; in full confidence, from the amiable character your excellency has obtained in your other impor- tant departments in America, you will ever delight in promoting the good of this government. We find a peculiar difficulty in expressing the distress of our minds relating to the unhappy circumstances of this province at this time; and can, with sincerity, say, that we have no doubt, from your well known character, you will do all that is in your power, to extricate us out of our distresses, in every way consistent with the true interest of Great Britain and her colonies, which we hold inseparable. And we do bear our testimony against all riots, routs, combinations, and un- warrantable resolvcs, wbich, we apprehend, have been the unhappy occasion of many of our trou- bles. And as there are now circulating through this province, certain inflammatory pieces, signed by order of the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston ; and in this county, by order of certain persons, calling themselves a committee of correspondence of the town of Worcester, di- rected to the several towns in the county, stimulating the people to break off all connexion with Great Britain, which have still a tendency to alienate tbe affections of the people of this province and county from the motber country, and create discord and confusion, we do assure your excel- lency, that we will do evcry tbing in our power, to discountenance such proceedings, and support the execution of the laws, and render your excellency's administration successful and prosperous.
To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following answer :
1
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WORCESTER CONVENTION.
Voted, That three persons be a committee to require the committee of the day, to make report to the convention, of their proceedings with the judges.
Voted, That the principals in the protest reading their recantation, shall be accepted for all those who signed the recantation.
Voted, That four men be desired to attend, in addition to those who are to walk with Col. Gardner Chandler, sheriff of the county, through the rang- es of the people.
Voted, That it be recommended to the officers of each company of the people assembled, to keep good order : enjoin it on their men not to do the least damage to any person's property : but to marel quietly home : and that the convention have nothing further to lay before them.
Voted, That Deaeon Rawson, Mr. Asa Whiteomb, and Doet. Crosby, be a committee to wait on a number of justices, to give them an opportunity to sigu the declaration, which has been signed by the justices and officers of the inferior court, and is as follows :
WORCESTER, SEPT. 6, 1774.
Worcester, ss. The justices of the inferior court, and justices of the court of general sessions of the peace, for the county of Worcester, to the people of the county, now assembled at Worcester :
GENTLEMEN :- You having desired, and even insisted upon it, that all ju- dieial proceedings be stayed by the justices of the court appointed this day, by law, to be held at Worcester, within and for the county of Worcester, on account of the unconstitutional act of the British parliament, respecting the administration of justice in this province, which, if effected, will reduce the inhabitants thercof to mere arbitrary power ; we do assure you, that we will stay all such judicial proceedings of said courts, and will not endeavor to put said aet into exceution.
THOMAS STEEL, EZRA TAYLOR,
JOSEPH WILDER, JOHN CALDWELL,
ARTEMAS WARD, EPHRAIM WILSON,
TIMOTHY PAINE, SAMUEL WILDER,
JOHN CIIANDLER, JOSHUA UPHAM,
DANIEL HENSHAW, JOIN CHANDLER, JR.,
ABEL WILLARD, DANIEL OLIVER,
CHARLES BRIGHAM, JOSEPH DORR,
ROBERT GODDARD, EZRA HOUGHTON,
FRANCIS WHIPPLE, NATHAN TYLER,
JOSHUA WILLARD, Justices.
GENTLEMEN :- I return you my most sincere and hearty thanks for your very affectionate and truly patriotic address.
Your disavowal of the malevolent labors of a desperate faction, who, by raising groundless fears and jealousies, and using every sort of artifice and fraud, endeavor to delude and intimidate the people, and to create in them an aversion and enmity towards their brethren in Great Britain, is a proof that you hold sentiments the most friendly to your country.
May your designs to diecountenance such proceedings, meet with all the success that every real patriot must hope and wish for ; and I will, at all times, be ready to advance so laudable a work, which alone can give peace and happiness to the province, and restore the union so necessary to be ce- mented with the kingdom of Great Britain.
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WORCESTER CONVENTION
We, the officers of the court, do, for ourselves, give the people the same assurances above.
GARDNER CHANDLER, Sheriff. RUFUS CHANDLER, JOHN SPRAGUE, NATHANIEL CHANDLER, Attorneys.
. Voted, To choose a committee of nine persons, to draw up a form of a
vote for administering justice, and to protect the justices in the execution of their offices.
Voted, That Capt. Ward, Capt. Henshaw, Deacon Rawson, Joseph Whee- ler, Samuel Jennison, Lieut. Joseph Baker, Capt. Mandell, Timothy Bige- low, and Lieut. Jonathan Holman, be the committee for that purpose.
Voted, That the above committee be appointed to confer with the justices of the county, to-morrow morning.
Voted, That the consideration of the justices' address to Governor Gage, be committed to the same committee.
Voted, To adjourn till to-morrow, at 8 o'clock, A. M.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1774.
The convention met according to adjournment.
Voted, To accept of the acknowledgment made by Thomas Steel, Joseph Wilder, Timothy Paine, John Chandler, Abel Willard, and Joshua Upham, Esquires, for aspersing the people of this county in a late address to Gov- ernor Gage.
Voted, That the justices who addressed Governor Gage at the last session of the court, be brought before the convention, and make and sign a decla- ration, in writing, of the inadvertence of their proceedings : which is done, and the declaration is as follows :
Whereas, the committees in convention have expressed their uneasiness to a number of the justices of the common pleas and general sessions, now present in the convention, who, in an address to Governor Gage, at their session in June last, aspersed the people of this county ; those justices, in the presence of the convention, frankly declare that they precipitately enter- ed into the measure ; they are sorry for it; and they disclaim an intention to injure the character of any ; and were the same measure again proposed, they should reject it.
THOMAS STEEL, JOSEPH WILDER, TIMOTHY PAINE, JOHN CHANDLER, ABEL WILLARD, JOSHUA UPHAM,
DUNCAN CAMPBELL, JEDEDIAH MARCY,
FRANCIS WHIPPLE,
EZRA HOUGHTON,
ISAAC BARNARD,
The committee on the administration of justice, and respecting the offices
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WORCESTER CONVENTION.
of probate and sheriff, made a report, which was accepted, and is as fol- lows:
Whereas, the late act of parliament respecting the province, is evidently designed to prevent any civil officers holding their places by virtue of the charter of this province, thereby interrupting the course of justice, and it is necessary to have civil officers till further provision can be made: there- fore,
Resolved, That the justices of the peace for this county, who were in said office on the last day of June past, except Timothy Ruggles, John Murray, and James Putnam, Esquires, be hereby desired to act in said offices, as single justices, except in judicial proceedings merely civil : also, that the judge of probate, sheriff's, and coroners, who were in office on the last day of June past, exercise their respective offices till the rising of the Provincial Congress, proposed to sit at Concord, on the second Tuesday of October next, notwithstanding any proposed supersedeas that may be sent to them, or any of them, or any proclamation designed to prevent them from hold- ing and exercising their said offices. And we, hereby, also recommend, to the people of this county, that they consider and treat them as being in their said offices, and support and defend them in the execution thereof, ac- cording to the laws of this province.
Voted, To put the laws in execution respecting pedlars and chapmen.
Voted, That the Norfolk exercise be adopted.
Voted, To take notice of Mr. Samuel Paine, assistant clerk, for sending out venires.
Voted, That Mr. Samuel Jennison go to Mr. Samuel Paine forthwith, and desire his immediate attendance before this body, to answer for his sending venires to the constables, commanding their compliance with the late act of parliament.
Mr. Paine appeared, and stated that he felt bound by the duty of his office to comply with the act.
Voted, That Mr. Paine has not given satisfaction, and that he be allowed to consider till the adjournment of this meeting.
Voted, To adjourn till the 20th of September instant, to ineet at the court house, in Worcester, at 10 o'clock, A. M.1
(1) On the day following the adjournment of the county convention, a mecting of the black- smiths of the county of Worcester was held. Their resolutions, which were published in a hand- bill, and subscribed by forty-three persons, follow :
Whereas, at a meeting of the delegates from the countics of Worcester, Middlescx, and Essex, with the committee of correspondenco of tho town of Boston, in behalf of the county of Suffolk, holden at Boston the 26th day of August, 1774, it was resolved-That all such officers or private persons as have given sufficient proof of their enmity to the people and constitution of this coun- try, should be held in contempt, and that those who are connected with them ought to separate from them : laborers to shun their vineyards ; merchants, husbandmen, and others, to withhold their commerce and supplies :
In compliance, therefore, to a resolution of so respectable a body as aforesaid, so reasonable in its contents, and so uccessary at this distressing day of trial, we, the subscribers, being deeply impress-
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WORCESTER CONVENTION. 1
SEPTEMBER 20, 1774.
The convention met, according to adjournment, and was opened with prayers.
Voted, To defer the consideration of the expediency of adjourning to the superior court, for the present.
Voted, That the sheriff send out precepts to the towns for the choice of representatives.
Voted, That Capt. Joseph Henshaw, Capt. Thomas Denny, Capt. Whit- comb, Mr. Timothy Bigelow, and Capt. Tyler, be a committee, to report in relation to giving instructions to the representatives.
Voted, That the same committee take into consideration the choice of field officers.
Voted, As the opinion of this convention, that the sheriff adjourn the su- perior court appointed by law to be held this day, and that he retain such as are, or may be committed as criminals, in his custody, until they have a trial.
Voted, That the plan for military organization be recommitted to the same committee who have reported, to make further additions and amend- ments.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock, A. M.
ed with a sense of our duty to our country, paternal affection for our children and unborn millions, as also for our personal rights and liberties, solemnly covenant, agree and engage to and with each other, that from and after the first day of December, 1774, we will not, according to the best of our knowl- edge, any or either of us, nor any person by our directions, order or approbation, for or under any or either of us, do or perform, any blacksmith's work, or business of any kind whatever, for any per- son or persons whom we esteem enemies to this country, commonly known by the name of tories, viz. : all councillors in this province appointed by mandamus, who have not publicly resigned said office, also every person who addressed Governor Hutchinson on his departure from this province, who has not publicly recanted : also every officer exercising authority by virtue of any commission tending to carry any of the late oppressive acts of parliament into execution in America : and, in particular, we will not do any work for Timothy Ruggles of Hardwick, John Murray of Rutland, and James Putnam of Worcester, Esquires : nor for any person or persons cultivating, tilling, im- proving, dressing, hiring, or occupying any of their lands or tenements. Also, we agree to refuse our work of every kind, as afuresaid, to all and every person or persons wbo shall not have signed tbe non-consumption agreeement, or have entered into a similar contract or engagement, or that shall not strictly conform to the association or covenant agreed upon and signed by the Continental Congress lately convened at Philadelphia.
We further agree, that we will not do any work for any mechanic, tradesman, laborer, or others, tbat sball work for, or in any ways, or by any means whatever, aid, assist, or promote the business, or pecuniary advantage, pleasures or profits of any the said enemies to this country.
Resolved, That all lawful ways and means ought to be adopted by the whole body of the people of this province, to discountenance all our inveterate political enemies in manner as aforesaid. Therefore, we earnestly recommend it to all denominations of artificers, that they call meetings of tbeir respective craftsmen in their several counties, as soon as may be, and enter into associations and agreements for said purposes : and that all husbandmen, laborers, &c. do the like : and that whoever shall be guilty of any breach of any or either of the articles or agreements, be held by us in contempt, as enemies to our common rights.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Clerk.
ROSS WYMAN, Chairman,
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WORCESTER CONVENTION.
SEPTEMBER 21, 1774.
The convention met according to adjournment, and was opened with prayer.
A paper was sent by Mr. Samuel Paine, clerk of the inferior court, which is as follows :
To the several gentlemen of the committees of correspondence for the county of Worcester, now convened in Worcester.
GENTLEMEN :- I thought I gave you all the satisfaction, relative to my issuing the warrants, at your last meeting, which could reasonably be ex- pected : still, you have demanded of me more. As I considered myself, in that matter, as acting merely officially, and, as suchı, had no right to judge of the propriety or impropriety of the act of parliament, and my issuing the warrants gave the people, who were the only judges, an opportunity to determine for themselves whether they should be complied with or not, upon this representation, I hope I shall stand fair in the eye of my country- men. Should not this be a sufficient excuse for me, you must know, gell- tlemen, that I was regularly appointed clerk of the peace for this county, by the justices, in September last, and, as the said justices of the court of gen- eral sessions of the peace, as well as the inferior court of common pleas for this county, whose servant I am, on the sixth day of September current, did give assurance to the body of the people of this county, then assembled at Worcester, that they would not endeavor to put said act in execution, so, gentlemen, I give you the same assurance.
Your devoted servant,
SAMUEL PAINE.
Voted, That the paper sent by Mr. Paine is not satisfactory, and that the same be committed to Mr. Joseph Henshaw, Mr. Bigelow and Mr. Doolittle, who reported, after some time, as follows :
The committee to whom the convention referred the consideration of a letter addressed to thein, signed Samuel Paine, have had the same before them, and beg leave to report :
The letter appears to have been written by a young man, who, by his connections, has lately started into the office of clerk of the sessions and inferior court, through the indulgence of the bench of justices. The letter is affrontive to the convention, and in no respect answers their reasonable requisitions. Considering the person who wrote it, the committee are of opinion, it is of too small importance to be noticed any further by the convention, and therefore recommend, that said letter be dismissed, and the person treated with all neglect.
By order of the committee,
JOSEPH HENSHAW, Chairman.
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WORCESTER CONVENTION.
Voted, To take notice of Mr. Sheriff Chandler, for carrying an address to Governor Gage, and that a committee wait on liim, and request his attend- ance before this body, forthwith.
Voted, That Doct. Dunsmore, Mr. Drury, and Mr. Clapp, be a committee to inform the sheriff of this vote of the convention respecting his conduct.
Mr. Sheriff came in, and presented the following declaration, which was accepted :
Whereas, the convention of committees have expressed their uneasiness to the sheriff of this county, now present before the convention, for pre- senting, with others, an address to Governor Gage, he frankly declares it was precipitately done by him: that he is sorry for it : and disclaims an in- tention to do any thing against the minds of the inhabitants of this county : and, had he known it would have given offence, he would not have present- ed said address.
GARDINER CHANDLER.
Resolved, That as the ordinary courts of justice will be stayed, in conse- quence of the late arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British parliament, we would earnestly recommend to every inhabitant of this county, to pay his just debts, as soon as possible, without any dispute or litigation, "and if any disputes concerning debts or trespasses should arise, which cannot be settled by the parties, we recommend it to them to submit all such causes to arbitration ; and if the parties, or either of them, shall refuse to do so, they ought to be considered as co-operating with the enemies of the coun- try."
The committee on instructions submitted their report, which was accept- ed, and is as follows :
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several towns and districts, that they instruct their representatives, who may be chosen to meet at Salem, in October next, absolutely to refuse to be sworn by any officer or officers, but such as are or may be appointed according to the constitution, or to act as one branch of the legislature in concert with any others, except such as are, or may be appointed, according to the charter of this province : and that they refuse to give their attendance at Boston, while the town is invested with troops and ships of war: and should there be any thing to prevent their acting with such a governor and council as is expressly set forth in the charter, that they immediately repair to the town of Concord, and there join in a provincial congress, with such other members as are or may be chosen for that purpose, to act and determine on suchi measures as they shall judge to be proper to extricate this colony out of the present uuhap- py circumstances.
Voted, That it be again recommended to the several towns and districts in this county, that they provide themselves immediately with one or more field pieces, mounted and fitted for use, and also, a sufficient quantity of
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WORCESTER CONVENTION.
ammunition for the same, and that the officers appoint a suitable number of men, out of their respective companies, to manage said field pieces.
Whereas, the people of this county are under solemn obligations not to purchase any goods imported from Great Britain, after the last day of Au- gust, 1774, which they determine sacredly to adhero to, until our many grievances bo redressed, therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended, and we do earnestly recommend it to tho committees of correspondence or se- leetmen, in the several seaport towns in this province, to appoint, or cause to be appointed, committees to inspect the imports that have been, or shall be made, since the last day of August, aforesaid, and publish all such in the Boston newspapers, with the names of tho importers, that so we may care- fully avoid all such persons in our dealings for the future.
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