USA > Virginia > Westmoreland County > Westmoreland County > Westmoreland County, Virginia : parts I and II : a short chapter and bright day in its history > Part 5
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Richard Henry Lee, Will.Robinson,
John Williams, Jolust 5. Woodruck, Jot. Lane,
William Sydner, Rebf Wermaley Carter, John Donlol
Leute Willis
John Monrer.
John Blackwell,
Jelen Newton,
Thos.Lud.Lee, William Cocke,
Samt Washington, Willie, Grayson,
Win. Dronauch,
Cha. Mortimer.
Chas, Washington, Wm Brockanbrough,
Win. Feires,
John Edmondson, ir
Moort Faustloroy. Samt Selden,
John Berryman,
Charles Beale.
Francis Light fiet Lee, Rick 4. Lee,
Peter Grant.
Themas Jones,
Daniel Tibbs,
John Broarte,
Edwed, Sanford,
Jonn.Backwith.
Spencer. M. Hall, Richard Mitehell, John Lee, Joseph Murdock, Francis Waring.
John Upskau
Jelen Auf! Washington
Meriwether Smith, Edud. Ranedali,
Thos. Detfield
Thos. Ruane,
Townshend Dads,
Edycomo Swifete.
John Bluffe
Jae.Webb, JF
W. Brent,
Charles Weeks.
John Edmondson, Francis Foushee,
Jav. Emerson.
Willm.Booth
Jow. Banks,
John Smith Ar
Thes. Lefun, Je.Milliken.
Laur: Ruekington. W. Roane.
Thee. Darnes
Hancock Eustart
William Lee,
Edu. Mountjoy.
Thes.Chilton,
Jan. Booker,
Wrr -J. Mountjoy, Thea, Mountjay.
Max Robinson.
Richard Buckner, Jes.Pierce,
Rich + Jeffries.
John Mountjoy,
Johat OFF.
Will Chilcon.
Citbr. Campbell.
yusted be Westmarwiand Cously through the Clownic Court Mrs. Emily Sieetwas Fisher, Reedville,Vir finis. a Daughter of the American Revolution Cent Ls Fayoit Chapter Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Winder S. Kenner,
WiLE Beatle.Py-
Rodham Ken ner,
Francis Thornton,Ir
Peter Rust,
Jas. Sumford.
JoNTE Beifintel.
W. Smith.
Rich4 Parker, Spence Monroe. John Wa Ele. Nobl Lovell,
Jaw. Edmondson, John Renton,
John Blandt,
Geo. Turberville. Smith Bound, Atsin Moxley. Wm Flood. John Ballatine, 5-Rich + Hod fes.
Newben Marinether, John Richards,
Thes. Douglas.
A. Monta fue.
Charles Chilton, Eduard Samford. Daniel MeCarty. Jer. Rush,
John. Dickson.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Secondly. As we know it to be the Birthright privilege of every British subject (and of the people of Virginia as being such), founded on Reason, Law, and Compact; that he cannot be legally tried, but by his peens ; and that he cannot be taxed, but by consent of a Parliament, in which he is represented by persons chosen by the people, and who themselves pay a part of the tax they impose on others. If therefore, any person or persons shall attempt, by any action or proceeding, to deprive this Colony of those funda- mental rights, we will immediately regard him or them, as the most dangerous enemy of the community; and we will go to any extremity, not only to prevent the success of such attempts, but to stigmatize and punish the offender.
Thirdly. As the Stamp Act does absolutely direct the property of the people to be taken from them without their consent ex- pressed by their representatives, and as in many cases it deprives the British American Subject of his right to trial by jury; we do determine, at every hazard, and, paying no regard to danger or to death, we will exert every faculty, to prevent the execution of the said Stamp Act in any instance whatsoever within this Colony. And every abandoned wretch, who shall be so lost to virtue and public good, as wickedly to contribute to the introduction or fix- ture of the Stamp Act in this Colony, by using stampt paper, or by any other means, we will, with the utmost expedition, convince all such profligates that immediate danger and disgrace shall at- tend their prostitute purposes.
Fourthly. That the last article may most surely and effectu- ally be executed, we engage to each other, that whenever it shall be known to any of this association, that any person is so conducting himself as to favor the introduction of the Stamp Act, that imme- diate notice shall be given to as many of the association as possible; and that every individual so informed, shall, with expedition, re- pair to a place of meeting to be appointed as near the scene of action as may be.
Fifthly. Each associator shall do his true endeavor to obtain as many signers to this association, as he possibly can.
Sixthly. If any attempt shall be made on the liberty or pro- perty of any associator for any action or thing to be done in con- sequence of this agreement, we do most solemnly bind ourselves by the sacred engagements above entered into, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, to restore such associate to his liberty, and to protect him in the enjoyment of his property.
In testimony of the good faith with which we resolve to execute this association we have this 27th day of February, 1766, in Vir- ginia, put our hands and seals hereto.
.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Richard Henry Lee Will. Robinson
John S. Woodcock
Robt. Wormeley Carter
Lewis Willis
John Blackwell
Thos. Lud. Lee .
Winder S. Kenner
Samuel Washington Charles Washington
Wm. Peirce
Moore Fauntleroy
John Berryman
Francis Lightfoot Lee
John Dickson
Thomas Jones
John Broone
Rodham Kenner
Edwd. Sanford
Spencer M. Ball
Charles Chilton
Richard Mitchell
Edward Sanford
Joseph Murdock
Daniel McCarty
Richd. Parker
Jer. Rush
Spence Monroe
Edwd. Ransdell
John Watts
Townshend Dade
Charles Weeks
Francis Foushee
Willm. Booth
John Smith jour.
Geo. Turberville
Wm. Ball
Alvin Moxley
Thos. Barnes
Wm. Flood
Jos. Blackwell
John Ballatine, junr. William Lee
Reuben Meriwether
Thos. Chilton
Wm. J. Mountjoy
Richard Buckner
Thos. Mountjoy
Jos. Pierce
John Mountjoy
Will. Chilton
Gilbt. Campbell
John Williams
Jos. Lane
William Sydnor
John Beale junr.
John Monroe
John Newton
William Cocke
Will. Beale junr.
Wilim. Grayson
Chs. Mortimer
Wm. Brockenbrough
John Edmondson jr.
Saml. Selden
Charles Beale
Richd. Lee
Peter Grant
Daniel Tibbs
Thompson Mason
Francis Thornton, junr. Peter Rust
Jona. Beckwith
Jas. Sanford
John Lee jr.
John Belfield
Francis Waring
W. Smith
John Upshaw
John Augt. Washington
Robt. Lovell
John Ashton
John Blagge
W. Brent
Edw. Mountjoy
Wm. Bronaugh
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Meriwether Smith
Thos. Belfield
Thos. Roane
Edgcomb Suggett
Jas. Edmondson
Henry Francks
Jas. Webb junr
John Bland junr.
John Edmondson
Jas. Emerson
Jas. Banks
Thos. Logan
Smith Young
Jo. Milliken
Laur. Washington
Ebenezer Fisher
W. Roane
Hancock Eustace
Rich. Hodges
John Richards
Jas. Upshaw
Thos. Jett
Jas. Booker
Thos. Douglas
A. Montague
Max Robinson
Rich'd. Jeffries
John Orr."
John Suggett
The Virginia Historical Register and Literary Advertiser, edited by William Maxwell. Vol. II (1849), pages 14-18.
Carefully compared and corrected by
LAWRENCE WASHINGTON.
In 1764, when the liberties of the American people were men- aced by a Stamp Tax, Virginia was among the first of the colonies to memorialize the King in opposition, and the only one to address to the House of Commons a remonstrance against the right of that body to enact such legislation .- History of the United States, Bancroft, Vol. III., page 93.
The Stamp Act caused great opposition throughout America. "But," says John Fiske, "formal defiance came first from Vir- ginia."-The American Revolution, Fiske, Vol. I., page 18.
"The Assembly of Virginia," says J. R. Green, "was the first to formally deny the right of the British Parliament to meddle with internal taxation and to demand the repeal of the Act."-A Short History of the English People, J. R. Green, 1883. page 735. "Thus," says Mr. Bancroft, "Virginia rang the alarm bell for the continent."
III.
Famous Resolutions Passed by the Patriots of Westmoreland.
AT THE COURTHOUSE, JUNE 22, 1774, CLAIMING AS A RIGHT TO BE TAXED SOLELY IN OUR PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY BY REP- RESENTATIVES FREELY CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE.
When the Port of Boston was Shut up by Act of Parliament and by a Hostile English Fleet, the Munificence and Bounty of One People to Another-Virginia to Massachusettes. The Famous Resolutions of the Westmoreland County Commit- tee of Safety at the Courthouse, May 23, 1775, Denouncing Lord Dunmore, Governor, for Seizing the Powder in the Magazine at Williamsburg, Va., and Lodging it on Board a Man-of-War.
Beautiful tribute of Senator George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, to Virginia-the two oldest American States :
"Seldom divided in opinion-never in affection."
WESTMORELAND COUNTY (VIRGINIA) RESOLUTIONS.
At a respectable Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabi- tants of the County of Westmoreland, assembled, on due notice, at the Court House of the said County on Wednesday, the 22d of June, 1774.
The Reverend Mr. Thomas Smith, Moderator.
Several papers, containing the Proceedings of the late House of Burgesses of this Colony, and the subsequent determinations of the late Representatives after the House was dissolved, together with extracts of several Resolves of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, &c., being read, the meeting proceeded seriously to consider the present dangerous and truly alarming crisis, when ruin is threatened to the ancient constitutional rights of North America, and came to the following resolves :
1st. That to be taxed solely in our Provincial Assemblies, by Representatives freely chosen by the people, is a right that British subjects in America are entitled to, from natural justice, from the English Constitution, from Charters, and from a confirmation of these by usage, since the first establishment of these Colonies.
2nd. That an endeavor to force submission from one Colony to
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
the payment of taxes not so imposed, is a dangerous attack on the liberty and property of British America, and renders it indispen- sably necessary that all should firmly unite to resist the common danger.
3d. It is the opinion of this meeting, that the town of Boston, in our sister Colony of Massachusetts Bay, is now suffering in the common cause of North America, by having its harbour locked up, its commerce destroyed, and the property of many of its inhabi- tants violently taken from them, until they submit to taxes not imposed by their consent. and therefore this meeting resolve:
4th. That the inhabitants of this county will most cordially and firmly join with the other counties in this Colony, and the other Colonies on this Continent, or the majority of them, after a short day, hereafter to be agreed on, to stop all exports to Great Britain and the West Indies, and all imports from thence, until, as well the Act of Parliament, entitled "An Act to discontinue, in such manner and for such time as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, lading, and shipping of goods, wares, and merchandise, at the town and within the harbour of Boston, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in North America" as the several Acts laying duties on America for the purpose of raising a revenue, and all the acts of the British Legislature made against our brothers of Massachusetts Bay, in consequence of their just op- position to the said Revenue Acts, are repealed; and it is the opinion of this meeting, that such a non-importing and non-ex- porting plan should be quickly entered upon, as well on the evident principle of self-preservation, as to relieve our suffering country- men and fellow-subjects in Boston, and to restore between Great Britain and America that harmony so beneficial to the whole Em- pire, and so ardently desired by all America.
5th. It is the opinion of this meeting that the gentlemen of the law should not (as long as the non-exportation agreement sub- sists) bring any writ for the recovery of debt, or to push to a conclusion any such suit already brought, it being utterly incon- sistent with a non-exportation plan that judgment should be given against those who are deprived of means of paying.
6th. That so soon as the non-exportation agreement begins, we will, every man of us, keep our produce, whether tobacco, corn, wheat, or anything else, unsold, on our own respective plantations, and not carry, or suffer them to be carried, to any public ware- house or landing place, except of grain; where the same be so done, an oath being first made that such grain is for the use of, or consumption of, this or any other Colony in North America, and
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
not for exportation from the Continent whilst the said agreement subsists. And this is the more necessary to prevent a few design- ing persons from engrossing and buying up our tobacco, grain, &c., when they are low in value, in order to avail themselves of the very high price that those articles must bear when the ports are open, and foreign markets empty.
7th. This meeting do heartily concur with the late Representa- tive body of this country to disuse tea, and not purchase any other commodity of the East Indies, except saltpetre, until the grievances of America are redressed.
8th. We do most heartily concur in these preceding Resolves, and will, to the utmost of our power, take care that they are car- ried into execution; and that we will regard every man as in- famous who now agree to, and shall hereafter make a breach of, all or any of them, subject, however to such future alterations as shall be judged expedient, at a general meeting of Deputies from the several parts of this Colony, or a general Congress of all the Colonies.
9th. We do appoint Richard Henry Lee, and Richard Lee, esquires, the late representatives of this county, to attend the gen- eral meeting of Deputies from all the counties; and we desire that they do exert their best abilities to get these our earnest desires, for the security of public liberty, assented to.
10th. And as it may happen that the Assembly now called to meet on the 11th of August, may be porogued to a future day, and many of the Deputies appointed to meet on the 1st of August, trusting to the certainty of meeting in Assembly on the 11th, may fail to attend on the 1st, by which means decisive injury may arise to the common cause of liberty, by the general sense of the country not being early known at this dangerous crisis of American free- dom, we do, therefore, direct that our Deputies now chosen fail not to attend at Williamsburg, on the said 1st of August; and it is our earnest wish that the Deputies from other counties be directed to do the same, for the reasons above assigned.
11th. That the clerk do forthwith transmit the proceedings of this day to the press, and request the Printers to publish them without delay.
By order of the meeting,
JAMES DAVENPORT, Clerk.
The above is a true copy of what is printed in American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol. I., page 438.
H. R. MCILWAINE, Librarian Virginia State Library.
July 16, 1910.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
This Tablet is erected as a tribute.
FIRST- To the patriots of Westmoreland who assembled at the Court-house thereof on Wednesday, the 22nd, day af June 17741 Reverend Them as Smith Moderatori seriously to consider the present dangereus and truly alarminf crisis, where ruin is threatened to the ancient Constitutional rights of North America,and came to THE FOLLOWING RESOLVES!"
Ft." That to be fazed solely in our Provincial Assemblies by Representatives freely chosen by the people, is a right that British subjects in America are entitled lo,from natural justice, from the English Constitution. from Charters, and from a confirmation of these by uange, since the first establishment of these Colonies."
2nd." That an endeavor to force submission from one Colony lo the payment of taxes not so imposed.is a dangerous atlach on the liberty and property of British America. and renders it indispensably necessary that all should firmly unite foresist the Common danter" Ord. It is the opinion of this meeting that the town of Boston in our sister Colony of Massachusetts Bay,is now suffering in the Common cause of North America, by havingits harbour locked up.its Commerce destroyed, and the property of many of its inhabitants violently taken from them. until they submit to taxes not imposed by their consent "(ALL ofthe resolutions ( these being part) found in American
Archives "4th. series Vol.1.P. 435 recorded in Order Book Cireull Court of Westmoreland 1910 No.2.P.130)
SECOND To the Westmoreland County Committee of Safety at a meeting in the Court-house thereof,on Tuesday, the 3ist, day of January 1115, who after Richard Henry Lee, and Richard Lee. Esquires, were unanimously Cheren Delegates to the Colony Convention in the town of Richmond on the 20th, of March neul, instructed the same" that itis ourfirm determination to stand or fall with the liberties ofour Country."Y.dll of the Resolutions I these being pureifound in America» Archives" 4th, Series Pol.1.7. 1203 recorded in the Grider Book Circuit Court of' Westmoreland (510 /6 2.). 123. THIRD To the Westmoreland County Committeeof Safety at a meeting at the Court-lease thereef on the 23rd. dayof May 1175!Reverend Thomas Smith, Chairmaniwho declared. The writing the powder, confe wwwdly placed in the Magazine for the defence and protection of this Colony, by erder of his Excellwney(Leed Duanmoreithe Covernaor.was & step by no means fo be justified. evn upon the supposition of ily hoind Jedfel these fewin ou heard a Man-of War, as his Lordship bes in his proclamation asserted.although in his verbal anther to the Address of the Citizens of Williamshar th, hn bas tantly Acnewirdfed the powder in belong to the Country by adzeving in Antiver it up: thed is the some powder iley demamed as the Country's and we home been inforused flint the Country had powder in lar Matssine, which cannot now be found fhere: We therefore consider the removing the powder privatefy. wod when that part of the Country was.as his Lordship Confesses. in a very erilest situstora. 60 bn & part of frat croni and Anterminad plan of winked administration In wisslave the Calories by first depriving them af the means of ponieinne /fff ofthe
Chruil Court in10 aS & P.439
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
WESTMORELAND COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.
At a Meeting of the Freeholders, after due notice, at Westmore- land Court House, on Tuesday, the 31st day of January, 1775, Richard Henry Lee and Richard Lee, Esquires, were unanimously chosen Delegates to represent this County in Colony Convention, at the Town of Richmond, in Henrico County, on the 20th of March next.
After they were chosen, the following Instructions were pub- lickly read to them by the desire of the people :
To Richard Henry Lee and Richard Lee, Esquires :
The Freeholders of Westmoreland County having often experi- enced your fidelity, abilities, and firm attachment to the cause of liberty, have now appointed you to represent them in a Colony Convention proposed to be held at the Town of Richmond, on the 20th of March next; and as we are convinced, from the maturest deliberation, that the safety and happiness of North America de- pend on the united wisdom of its Councils, we have no doubt you will comply, on your parts, with the recommendation of the late Continental Congress, to appoint Deputies from this Colony to meet in Philadelphia on the 10th day of May next, unless the re- dress of American Grievances be obtained before that time; and as it is our firm determination to stand or fall with the liberties of our country, we desire that you may consider the people of West- moreland as ready and willing to join with their countrymen in the execution of such measures as may appear to the majority of their Deputies assembled at Richmond, wise and necessary to secure and perpetuate the ancient, just, and legal rights of this Colony and of British America.
At the same time and place the following gentlemen were chosen a committee to see the Association faithfully observed in this County, according to the direction of the Continental Con- gress : the Reverend Mr. Thomas Smith, Philip Smith, Richard Henry Lee, John Augustin Washington, John Turberville, Daniel McCarty, William Pierce, Joseph Pierce, Thomas Chilton, William Bernard, Richard Parker, Beckwith Butler, Fleet Cox, Daniel Tebbs, George Steptoe, John Ashton, William Nelson, Richard Buckner, Burdett Ashton, Benedict Middleton, George Turberville, John Middleton, William Bankhead, John Martin, Joseph Fox, John Ashton, Jr .. Samuel Rust, William Berryman, James Daven- port, Woffendel Kendel, Daniel Fitzhugh, Benjamin Weeks, Rich- ard Lee, Thomas Fisher, and Edward Sandford.
JAMES DAVENPORT, Clerk.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
The above is a true copy of what is printed on page 1203 of American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol. I.
H. R. MCILWAINE, Librarian Virginia State Library. July 16, 1910.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.
At a Meeting held for Westmoreland County, February 8, 1775, Ordered, That every itinerant or casual Vender of Goods, who shall be found selling Goods in the County, be obliged to produce proof to the Committee, that the said Goods were imported into North America before the first day of February, 1775, according to the directions of the Continental Congress.
JAMES DAVENPORT, Clerk.
The above is a true copy of what is printed on page 1222 of American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol. 1.
H. R. MCILWAINE, Librarian Virginia State Library. July 16. 1910.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.
At a meeting of the Committee of Westmoreland County, held at the Court-House the 23d of May, 1775, present the Rev. Thomas Smith, Chairman, and fifteen other members of said Committee.
This Committee having taken into consideration the Address of the citizens of Williamsburgh, presented to his Excellency the Gov- ernour, on the 21st of April last, and his Excellency's verbal an- swer thereto, as also his Lordship's Speech to the Council, the 2d of May, and the Proclamation issued the next day, in consequence of the advice given him by a majority of the said Council, look upon themselves as indespensably bound to declare their sentiments thereon, as well to expose the inimical measures of men in high office, for a long time steadily pursued against the just rights of a loyal people, as to take off the odium they have endeavoured by some late proceedings to fix upon this Colony.
The seizing the powder, confessedly placed in the Magazine for the defense and protection of this Colony, by order of his Excel- lency the Governour, was a step by no means to be justified, even upon the supposition of its being lodged there from on board a man-of-war, as his Lordship has in his Proclamation asserted, although in his verbal answer to the Address of the citizens of
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Williamsburgh, he has tacitly acknowledged the powder to belong to the Country, by agreeing to deliver it up: that is, the same powder they demanded as the country's; and we have been in- formed that the Country had powder in the Magazine, which can- not now be found there: We therefore consider the removing the powder privately, and when that part of the Country was, as his Lordship confesses, in a very critical situation, to be a part of that cruel and determined plan of wicked administration to enslave the Colonies, by first depriving them of the means of resistance, and do Resolve,
1st. That the dissatisfaction discovered by the people of this Country, and late commotions raised in some parts thereof, pro- ceeded, not as his Lordship in his Proclamation has injuriously and inimically charged, from a disaffection to His Majesty's Gov- ernment, or to a design of changing the form thereof, but from a well-grounded alarm, occasioned altogether by the Governour's late conduct, which clearly evinced his steady pursuit of the above mentioned ministerial plan to enslave us.
2d. That so much of His Excellency's Proclamation which de- clares "the real grievances of the Colony can be only obtained by loyal and constitutional application," is an insult to the under- standing of mankind, inasmuch as it is notorious that this and the other Colonies upon the Continent have repeatedly heretofore made those applications, which have ever been treated with contumely, and as his Lordship, since the late unhappy differences between Great Britain and the Colonies have subsisted, hath deprived us of the constitutional mode of application, by refusing to have an Assembly.
3d. That so far from endeavouring or desiring to subvert our ancient, and to erect a new form of Government, we will, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, support and defend it, as it existed and was exercised until the year 1763, and that his Lordship, by misrepresenting the good people of this Colony, as well in his let- ter to the British Minister as in his late Proclamation, has justly forfeited their confidence.
4th. That His Majesty's Council, who advised the Proclamation before-mentioned have not acted as they were bound to do from their station in Government, which ought to have led them to be mediators between the first Majestrate and the people, rather than to join in fixing an unjust and cruel stigma on their fellow-sub- jects.
.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
5th. That the thanks of this Committee are justly due to the Delegates of the late Continental Congress, and to the Delegates from this Colony particularly, for their prudent, wise, and active conduct, in asserting the liberties of America; and that design of Government which, in some instances, we are informed, has already been carried into execution, to deprive them of all offices, civil and military, tends manifestly to disturb the minds of the people in general; and that we consider every person advising such a measure, or who shall accept of any office or preferment, of which any of the noble asserters of American liberty have been deprived, as an enemy to this Country.
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