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 73
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1 BERKSHIRE CONVENTION.
erecting of such mill and the manufacture of paper, that it be recommend- ed to the people of the county to encourage the undertaking by generous contributions and subscriptions.1
CONVENTION OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
AT a meeting of sixty gentlemen, deputies of the several towns in the county of Berkshire, appointed to consult and advise what was necessary and prudent to be done by the inhabitants of this county, in the present alarm- ing situation of our public affairs, met at Stockbridge, July 6th, 1774 :
John Ashley, Esq. was unanimously chosen chairman, and Mr. Theodore Sedgwick, clerk.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Hopkins, being appointed, reported the following resolves, viz. :
Resolved, That king George the third is our rightful king, and that we will bear true allegiance to him.
Resolved, That the inhabitants of his majesty's colonies in Ainerica, are justly entitled to all the rights and liberties that the inhabitants of Great Britain are entitled to, which rights and liberties have been particularly con- firmed to the inhabitants of this province, by charter.
Resolved, That it is one of the grand rights and liberties of said inhabi- tants of Great Britain, that they cannot, constitutionally, be deprived of their property but by their own consent.
Resolved, That the late act of the British parliament, for giving and grant- ing to his majesty, a duty upon all teas imported from Great Britain into America, which duty, by said act, is made payable here, for the purpose of raising a revenue, was made without the consent of the inhabitants of America, whereby their property is taken from them without their con- sent, and therefore ought to be opposed in all legal and prudent ways.
Resolved, That it is an undoubted right of the inhabitants of said colonies, in all actions, to be tried by their peers of the vicinity; and, therefore, that all those acts of the British parliament, that any way respect the collecting the duties aforesaid, whereby the trial by jury is taken away, or whereby the ancient trial by jury is in any way altered, are unconstitutional and op- pressive.
Resolved, That whenever any franchiscs and liberties are granted to a cor- poration or body politic, those franchiscs and liberties cannot legally be ta- ken from such corporations and bodies politic, but by their consent or by forfeiture : that the inhabitants of this province have many great and inval- uable franchises and liberties granted to them by charter ; which franchises
(1) Although meetings of the Worcester County Convention were held at a later date, no regular journal of the subsequent proceedings can be recovered,
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and liberties have not been forfeited or resigned by said inhabitants"; that by the late aets of the British parliament, some of the most valuable of those franchises aud libertics of the said inhabitants are taken from thein, without even the form of a trial : therefore,
Resolved, That it is the indispensable duty of every person, who would preserve to himself and posterity the inestimable blessings of liberty, by all constitutional ways and means in his power, to endeavor to avert the mueh dreaded consequences of these arbitrary and oppressive acts ; and that, for that purpose, it is prudent for the inhabitants of the said colonies to enter. into an agreement not to purchase or consume the manufactures of Great Britain, under such limitations and exceptions as shall be agreed upon ; and that such a non-consumption agreement is neither unwarrantable, hos- tile, traitorous, nor contrary to our allegiance due to the king ; but tends to promote the peace, good order, and safety of the community.
Which said report being maturely considered, it was put to vote, para- graph by paragraph, and each and every paragraph thereof was unanimous- ly accepted.
A committee being appointed to make a draught of a form of a solemn league and covenant, to be recommended to be signed by the inhabitants of this county, to prevent the consumption of the merehandize of Great Brit- ain; the following draught was reported, viz .:
Whereas, the parliament of Great Britain have, of late, undertaken to give and grant away our money, without our knowledge or consent ; and in order to compel us to a servile submission to the above measures, have pro- ceeded to block up the harbor of Boston ; also have vacated, or are about to vacate the charter, and repeal certain laws of this province, heretofore enacted by the general court, and confirmed by the king and his predeces- sors : therefore, as a mean to obtain a speedy redress of the aforesaid griev- ances, we do hereby, solemnly and in good faith, covenant and engage with each other :
1. That we will not import, purchase, or consume, or suffer any person by, for, or under us, to import, purchase, or consume, in any manner what- cver, any goods, wares, or merchandize, which shall arrive in America from Great Britain, from and after the first day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, or such other time as shall hereafter be agreed upon by the American Congress; nor any goods, which shall be ordered from thenee, after this day, until our eliarter and constitutional rights shall be restored, or until it shall be determined, by the major part of our breth- ren in this and the neighboring colonies, that a non-importation and non- consumption agreement will not have a tendency to effeet the desired end, or until it shall be apparent that a non-importation or non-consumption agreement will not be entered into by the majority of this and the neigh- boring colonies ; except such articles as the said General Congress of North , America shall agree to import, purchase, and consume.
2. We do further covenant and agree, that we will observe the most striet
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obedience to all constitutional laws, and authority, and will, at all times, ex- ert ourselves to the utmost, for the discouragement of all licentiousness, and suppression of all mobs and riots.
3. We will all exert ourselves, as far as in us lies, in promoting love, peace, and unanimity among each other ; and for that end we engage to avoid all unnecessary lawsuits whatever.
.
4. As a strict and proper adherence to this present agreement will, if not seasonably provided against, involve us in many difficulties and inconven- iences ; we do promise and agree, that we will take the most prudent care for the raising and preserving sheep, for the manufacturing all such cloths as shall be most useful and necessary ; for the raising of flax and manufac- turing linens. Further, that we will, by every prudent method, endeavor to guard against all those inconveniences which may otherwise arise, from the foregoing agreement.
5. That if any person shall refuse to sign this or a similar covenant, or, after having signed it, shall not adhere to the real intent and meaning there- of, he or they shall be treated by us with all that neglect justly deserved.
6. That if this or a similar covenant shall, after the first day of August next, be offered to any trader or shop-keeper in this county, and he or they shall refuse to sign the same, for the space of forty-eight hours, that we will not, from thenceforth, purchase any articles of British manufactures, from him or them, until such time as he or they shall sign this or a similar cove- nant.
Witness our hands, this - day of July, Anno Domini, 1774.
Which being several times distinctly read, it was put paragraph by para- graph, and accepted.
This Congress, in deference to the resolves of the late house of represen- tatives, in imitation of the pious example of the reverend pastors of the as- sociated churches in the town of Boston, and from a sense of their depend- ence on God for every mercy, do earnestly recommend to all denomina- tions of christians in this county, to set apart and observe Thursday, the fourteen day of July current, as a day of public fasting and prayer, to im- plore the divine assistance, that he would in mercy interpose and avert all those evils with which we are threatened.
And each and all the members of this Congress are enjoined to inform the several ministers of the several religious assemblies to which they be- long, hereof.
Voted, That the several members of this Congress, do recommend to the charity of the inhabitants of the several towns and places to which they be- long, the distressed circumstances of the poor of the towns of Boston and Charlestown, and that whatever shall be collected for them, be remitted in fat cattle in the next fall, by such ways and means as shall be hereafter agreed upon.
Voted, unanimously, That thanks be given Col. Ashley, for his constant attendance, uprightness, and impartiality, as chairman.
Voted, That the clerk be enjoined to make a fair copy of the proceedings
-
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of this meeting, and transmit the same to the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston.
Voted, To dissolve this meeting; and it was dissolved accordingly.
THEODORE SEDGWICK, Clerk.
N. B .- The proceedings aforesaid were preceded by an animated prayer, made by the Rev. Mr. West.
CONVENTION OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
AT a meeting of the following gentlemen, chosen by the several towns in the county of Cumberland, held at Falmouth, in said county, on the 21st day of September, 1774, at the house of Mrs. Greele, viz. :
Falmouth-Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., Stephen Longfellow, Esq., Mr. Richard Codman, Capt. John Waite, Mr. Enoch lisey, Mr. Samuel Freeman.
Scarborough-Capt. Timothy McDaniel, Capt. Reuben Fogg, Mr. Joshua Fabyan.
North Yarmouth-Mr. John Lewis, David Mitchel, Esq., Mr. Jonathan Mitchel, Mr. John Gray, Mr. William Cutter.
Gorham-Solomon Lombard, Esq., William Gorhain, Esq., Capt. Edmund Phinney, Capt. Briant Morton, Mr. Joseph Davis.
Cape Elizabeth-Doct. Clement Jordan, Mr. Peter Woodbury, Mr. Samuel Dunn, Capt. Jeduthan Dyer, Doct. Nathaniel Jones, Mr. George Strout.
Brunswick-Mr. Samuel Thompson, Mr. Samuel Stanwood, Capt. Thomas Moulton.
Harpswell-Mr. Joseph Ewing, Capt. John Stover, Mr. Andrew Dunning.
Windham-Mr. Zerubabel Honeywell, Mr. Thomas Trott, Mr. David Bar- ker.
New Gloucester-Mr. William Harris, Mr. Isaac Parsons.
The Hon. Enoch Freeman, E'sq., was chosen chairman, and Mr. Samuel Freeman, clerk.
A coinmittee from the body of the people, who were assembled at the entrance of the town, waited on this convention, to see if they would choose a committee of one member out of each town, to join them, to wait upon Mr. Sheriff Tyng, to see whether he would act in his office, un- der the late act of parliament for regulating the government. On a motion made, Voted, that a messenger be sent to the said Sheriff Tyng, to desire his attendance at this convention. A messenger then waited upon Mr. 'Tyng, with the following billet, viz. :
Mr. Sheriff Tyng's company is desired at the convention of the county now sitting at Mrs. Greele's.
SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk. Wednesday, Sept. 21st, 1774, 11 o'clock, A. M.
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Mr. Tyng accordingly attended, and, after some interrogations, subscribed the following declaration, viz .:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, FALMOUTH, SEPT. 21, 1774.
Whereas, great numbers of the inhabitants of this county are now as- sembled near my house, in consequence of the false representations of some evil minded persons, who have reported that I have endeavored, all in my power, to enforce the late acts of parliament, relating to this province : I do hereby soleinnly declare, that I have not, in any way whatever, acted or endeavored to act, in conformity to said acts of parliament ; and, in com- pliance with the commands of the inhabitants so assembled, and by the ad- vice of a committee from the several towns in this county, now assembled in Congress, I further declare I will not, as sheriff of said county, or other- wise, act in conformity to, or by virtue of, said acts, unless by the general consent of the said county. I further declare, I have not received any com- mission inconsistent with the charter of this province, nor any commission whatever, since the first day of July last.
WILLIAM TYNG.
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND .- At the convention of committees from the several towns in the said county, held at the house of Mrs. Greele, in Fal- mouth, in said county. September 21st, 1774, Voted, that the foregoing, by William Tyng, Esq., subscribed, is satisfactory to this convention.
Attest : SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk.
The convention then formed themselves into a committee, to accompany Mr. Tyng to the body of the people, to present the above declaration, and adjourned to the old town house, at three o'clock, P. M., the deliberation to be in public.
The committee accordingly went with Mr. Tyng, who read the declara- tion to the people, which they voted to be satisfactory, and after refreshing themselves, returned peaceably to their several homes.
Afternoon.
Met according to adjournment.
Voted, That Mr. Samuel Freeman, Solomon Lombard, Esq., Stephen Longfellow, Esq., David Mitchel, Esq., Mr. John Lewis, Capt. John Waite, Mr. Samuel Thompson, Capt. Timothy McDaniel, Doct. Nathaniel Jones, Mr. Isaac Parsons, Enoch Freeman, Esq., Mr. David Barker, and Capt. John Stover, be a committee to draw up the sentiments of this convention, and report the same at the adjournment.
Then adjourned to Thursday morning, eight o'clock, September 22.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1774.
Met according to adjournment, when the committee presented the follow- ing report, which, after being read paragraph by paragraph, was unanimous- Jy accepted, viz. :
The great concern with which the people of this county view the increas-
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ing differences, which now subsist between the mother country and the col- ouies, and the dark prospect which some late ucts of the British parliament have, in particular, opened to them, have occasioned the several towns herein to choose committecs for this convention, "to consider what incas- ures it would be thought expedient to adopt for the general interest of the county, in the present alarming situation of our public affairs." We, there- fore, the said committees, pursuant to the request of our respective towns, guided by a strong attaelunent to the interest of our oppressed country, think it proper, with respect and deference to our brethren in the other counties, to make known our minds as follows:
We think it the indispensable duty of every subject of the English con- stitution, for his own sake, as well as that of future generations, to use his utmost care, and endeavor, according to the station lie is in, to preserve the same inviolate and unimpaired ; for we regard it, not only as the foundation of all our civil rights and liberties, but as a system of government the best cal- culated to promote the people's peace and happiness : and we lament, that in the present administration, there are men so lost to all the principles of honor, equity, and justice, as to attempt a violation of the rights whieli we have long enjoyed, and which, while we profess ourselves, as we now declare we do, faithful subjeets to George the third, our rightful sovereign, we have a right still to enjoy entire and unmolested : and it is a melancholy considera- tion, that the acknowledged head of this respected state should be induced to pass his sanction to such laws as tend to the subversion of that glorious freedom, which preserves the greatness of the British empire, and gives it reputation throughout all the nations of the civilized world. It is too appa- rent, that the British ministry have long been hatching monstrous aets to break our constitution, and some they have at length brought forth. We think the colonies deserve a better treatment from his majesty than this which he assents to. We are his loyal subjects, and merit his regard, and cannot help thinking that if he would pursue his own unbiassed judgment, and lay aside the selfish counsel of wieked and designing men, he and his subjects would be mutually happy, and provocations on both sides ceasc. But since the ministry have borne their tyranny to such a length, as to endeavor to execute their wicked designs, by military force, in our me- tropolis, we fear it is their aim to introduce despotie monarchy. But though their tyranny and fell oppression seem now, with hasty stridcs, to threaten all the colonies with ruin and destruction, we hope no vengeance will affright, or wiles allure us to give up our dear bought liberty, that choicest boon of Heaven, which our fathers came into these regions to enjoy, and which we therefore will retain while life enables us to struggle for its bless- ings. We believe our encmics supposed we must submit, and tamely give up all our rights. It is true, a vigorous opposition will subject us to many inconveniences, but how much greater will our misery be, if we relinquish all we now enjoy, and lay our future carnings at the mercy of despotic men? We cannot bear the thought. Distant posterity would have cause to curse our folly, and the rising generation would justly exccrate our meill-
83
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ory. We, therefore, recommend a manly opposition to those cruel acts, and every measure which despotism can invent to abridge our English lib- erties, and we hope that patience will possess our souls till Providence shall dissipatc the gloomy cloud, and restore us to our former happy state. The late act for regulating the government of this province, we consider, in particular, as big witlı mischief and destruction, tending to the subversion of our charter and our province laws, and in its dire example, alarming to all the colonies. This, through the conduct of some enemies among our- sclves, will soon bring us into difficulties, which will require some able counsel to remove. We therefore recommend to each town in this county, to instruct their several representatives to resolve themselves, with the other members of the house, at their approaching session, into a provincial congress, for this purpose.
To this congress we shall submit the general interest of the province, but for the particular benefit of this county, we do advise and recommend :
1. That the justices of the sessions, and court of common pleas, and every other civil officer in this county, whom no authority can remove but that which constituted them, agreeably to charter and our own provincial laws, would religiously officiate in their several departments, as if the afore- said act had never bcen invented, and that every private person would pay a strict obedience to such officers, be always ready to protect and to sup- port them, and promote a due observance of our own established laws ; and if any persons whatsoever should, henceforth, in any manner, dare to aid the operation of the said tyrannical act, they should be considered as ma- lignant enemies to our charter rights, unfit for civil society, and undeserving of the least regard or favor from their fellow countrymen.
2. That every one should do his utmost to discourage lawsuits, and like- wise compromise disputcs as much as possible.
3. That it be recommended to the honorable Jeremiah Powell, Esq., and Jedediah Preble, Esq., constitutional councillors of this province, residing in this county, that they should take their placcs at the board the ensuing session as usual.
, 4. We cannot but approve of the recommendation given by the convention of Suffolk county, to the several collectors of province taxes, not to pay one farthing more into the province treasury, until the government of the prov- ince is placed on a constitutional foundation, or until the Provincial Con- gress shall order otherwise, and we recommend the same to the several col- lectors in this county ; but we think it the duty of the several collectors of county, town, and district taxes, to perfect their collections, and pay the same into their several treasuries as soon as possible. And, here we think it proper to observe, that though we do not coincide in every in- stance with our Suffolk brethren, which may be owing to a want of know- ing all the circumstances of affairs, yet we highly applaud their virtuous zeal and determined resolution.
5. We recommend to every town in this county, charitably to contribute to the relief of our suffering brethren in our distressed metropolis.
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G. Lest oppression, which makethi even wise men mad, should hurry some people into tumults and disorders, we would recommend, that every individual in the county use his best endeavors to suppress, at all times, riots, mobs, and all licentiousness, and that our fellow subjects would con- sider themselves, as they always aro, in the presence of the great God, who loveth order, not confusion.
7. That when a general non-importation agreement takes place, we shall look upon it to be the duty of every vender of merchandize, to sell his goods at tho present rates; and if any person shall exhiorbitantly enhauco the prices of his goods, we shall look upon him as an oppressor of his country. And in order to prevent imposition in this respect, we recom- mend that a committee be chosen in each town, to receive complaints against any who may be to blame herein : and if he shall refuse to wait on such committee, on notice given, or be found culpable in this respect, his namo shall be published in the several towns of the county, as undeserving of the future custom of his countrymen.
8. That every one who has it in his power, would improve our breed of shcep, and, as far as possible, increase their number ; and also encourage the raising of flax, and promote the manufactures of tho country.
9. As the very extraordinary and alarming act for establishing the Ro- man catholic religion, and French laws, in Canada, may introduce the French or Indians into our frontier towns, we recommend that every town and individual in this county, should be provided with a proper stock of military stores, according to our province law, and that some patriotic mili- tary officers be chosen in each town, to exercise their several companies, and make them perfect in the military art.
10. Our general grievances being the subject of deliberation before the Continental Congress, renders it inexpedient to consider them particularly ; on their wisdomn we have a great dependence, and we think it will be our duty to lay aside every measure to which we have advised, that may be va- riant from theirs, and pay a duo regard to their result.
And now we think it proper to declare, that as we have been recounting the hardships we endure by the machinations of our enemies at home, wo cannot but gratefully acknowledge our obligation to those illustrious wor- thies, our friends of the minority, who constantly opposed those wicked measures, and would heartily wish, some great and good men would invent and mark out somo plan that will unite the parent state to these, its colo- nies, and thereby prevent the effusion of christian blood.
Then, Voted, That every member of this convention bo severally interro- gated, whether he now has, or will hereafter, take any commission under the present act of parliament, for regulating the government of this prov- ince.
The members were accordingly interrogated, and each and every one of them answered in the negative.
Voted, That the several committees which compose this convention, or the major part of each, be, and hereby are, desired to interrogate tho civil
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officers, and other persons whom they may think fit, in their respective towns, whether they now have, or will hereafter take, any commission un- der the aforesaid act.
Voted, That the whole proceedings of this convention be, by the clerk, transmitted to the press, and also to the town clerks of the respective towns in this county, as soon as may be.
Voted, That this convention be continued, and that the committee of Fal- mouth, or the major part of them, be, and hereby are empowered, on any occasion that in their opinion requires it, to notify a meeting of the dele- gates thereof, at such time and place as they may think proper, setting forth the occasion thereof.
Voted, That the thanks of this convention be given to the Hon. Enoch Freeman, Esq., for his faithful services as chairman.
SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk.
NARRATIVES
OF THE
EXCURSION OF THE KING'S TROOPS,
APRIL 19, 1775.
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, MAY 22, 1775.
Resolved, That the following narrative of the excursion and ravages of the king's troops, under the command of General Gage, on the nineteenth of April last, together with the depositions taken by order of the Congress, to support the truth of it, be sent to the press for publication.
SAMUEL FREEMAN, Secretary.
A NARRATIVE OF THE EXCURSION AND RAVAGES OF THE KING'S TROOPS, UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL GAGE, ON THE NINETEENTH OF. APRIL, 1775: TOGETHER WITH THE DEPOSITIONS TAKEN BY ORDER OF CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE TRUTHI OF IT. PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.1
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