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CONVENTION OF ESSEX COUNTY.

At a meeting of delegates from every town in the county of Essex, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, held at Ipswich, in the said county, on the 6th and 7th days of September, 1774, viz.: for

Salem-Hon. Richard Derby, Jun. Esq., Mr. John Pickering, Jun., Capt. Jonathan Gardner, Jun., Capt. Richard Manning, Capt. Timothy Pickering,

Jun.

Danvers-Doct. Samuel Holten, Capt. William Shillaber.

Ipswich-Capt. Michael Farley, Mr. John Patch, 3d, Mr. Daniel Noyes, Mr. Jonathan Cogswell, Jun., Mr. Nathaniel Farley.

Newbury-Hon. Joseph Gerrish, Esq., Capt. Joseph Hale, Capt. Moses Little, Samuel Gerrish, Esq.

Newburyport-Capt. Jonathan Greenleaf, Tristam Dalton, Esq., Mr. Stephen Cross, Mr. John Bromfield.

Marblehead Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Azor Orne, Esq., Mr. Elbridge Gerry, Mr. Joshua Orne, Mr. William Dolliber.

Lynn-Capt. John Mansfield, Mr. Daniel Mansfield.

Andover-James Frye, Esq., Mr. Joshua Holt, Mr. Samuel Osgood. Beverly-Capt. Benjamin Lovet, Mr. Samuel Goodridge, Mr. Joseph

Wood.

Rowley-Mr. Nathaniel Mighill, Daniel Spafford, Esq.

Salisbury-Nathaniel Currier, Esq., Mr. Samuel Smith, Mr. Henry Eaton. Haverhill-Samuel White, Esq., Mr. Jonathan Webster, Mr. Isaac Reddington, Mr. Joseph Haynes.

Gloucester-Daniel Witham, Esq., Capt. Peter Coffin, Mr. Samuel Whittemore, John Low, Esq., Mr. Solomon Parsons.

Topsfield-Capt. Samuel Smith, Mr. John Gould, Mr. Enos Knight.

Almsbury-Mr. Winthrop Merrill, Mr. Caleb Pilsbury.

Bradford-Capt. Daniel Thurston, Mr. Peter Russell.

Wenham-Mr. Benjamin Fairfield, Capt. Jacob Dodge, Doct. Tyler Porter. Manchester-John Lee, Esq., Capt. Andrew Masters, Mr. Andrew Wood

bury.

Methuen-Mr. John Bodwell, Mr. John Sergeant.

Boxford-Capt, Asa Perley, Mr. Thomas Perley, Mr. Joseph Hovey. Middleton-Capt. Archelaus Fuller, Mr. Ephraim Fuller, Doct. Silas

Meriam.

Voted, That Jeremiah Lee, Esq., be chairman.

Several papers relative to the situation of our public affairs, and the alteration of our constitution and laws, intended by the late act of Parliament, for regulating the government of this province, as also the said act, being read; after consultation and debate had thereon, a committee of nine persons were appointed to consider and report on the same. The committee reported a number of resolves, which they thought necessary to be entered

into by the county at this time; which resolves, after being read several times, debated on, and amended, were unanimously accepted, the delegates one by one, declaring their assent.

The report is as follows:

The delegates appointed by the several towns in this county, to meet together at this alarming crisis, to consider and determine on such measures as shall appear to be expedient for the county to adopt; deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of this delegation, of the abilities and qualifications necessary for conducting our public affairs with wisdom and prudence, but with the firmness and resolution becoming freemen, with the respect and deference due to the sentiments of our brethren in the other counties of the province, with submission to the future determinations of a provincial assembly, and the decisions of the grand American Congress, do, in the name of the county, make the following resolves, viz. :

1. That the several acts of parliament which infringe the just rights of the colonies, and of this province in particular, being subjects of deliberation before the Continental Congress, renders it expedient for this county to suspend their determinations respecting them; except so far as their immediate operation requires immediate opposition. That the act of parliament, entitled an act for the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, being a most dangerous infraction of our constitutional and charter rights, and tending to a total subversion of the government of the province, and destruction of our liberties; and having been, with uncommon zeal, with arbitrary exertions, and military violence, attempted to be carried into execution; and this zeal, these exertions, and this violence still continuing: from the sacred regard, and the inviolable attachment we owe to those rights which are essential to and distinguish us as Englishmen and freemen; and from a tender concern for the peace of this county, we are bound to pursue all reasonable measures, by which any attempts to enforce immediate obedience to that act may be defeated.

2. That the judges, justices, and other civil officers in this county, appointed agreeably to the charter and the laws of the province, are the only civil officers in the county whom we may lawfully obey; that no authority whatever, can remove these officers, except that which is constituted pursuant to the charter and those laws; that it is the duty of these officers to continue in the execution of their respective trusts, as if the aforementioned act of parliament had never been made; and, that while they thus continue, untainted by any official conduct in conformity to that act, we will vigorously support them therein, to the utmost of our power, indemnify them in their persons and property, and to their lawful doings yield a ready obedience.

3. That all civil officers in the province, as well as private persons, who shall dare to conduct in conformity to the aforementioned act, for violating the charter and constitution of the province, are, and will be considered by this county, as its unnatural and malignant enemies; and in the opinion of this body, such men, while they persist in such conduct, and so contribute to in

volve the colonies in all the horrors of a civil war, are unfit for civil society; their lands ought not to be tilled by the labor of any American, nor their families supplied with clothing or food.

4. The fourth resolve, which respected Peter Frye, Esq., was omitted by the direction of the delegates of Salem, Marblehead, and Danvers, they supposing his frank and generous declaration inserted in the papers would give full satisfaction to the county, and render a publication of this resolve superfluous and improper.

5. That a committee be raised to wait on the honorable William Browne, Esq, of Salem, and acquaint him, that with grief this county has viewed his exertions for carrying into execution acts of parliament, calculated to enslave and ruin his native land; that while the county would continue the respect for several years paid him, it firmly resolves, to detach from every future connection with all such as shall persist in supporting, or in any way countenancing the late arbitrary edicts of parliament; that the delegates, in the name of the county, request him to excuse them from the painful necessity of considering and treating him as an enemy to his country, and therefore, that he would resign his office as councillor on the late establishment, and decline as a judge, and in every other capacity, to execute the late acts of parliament, and all others deemed by the province unconstitutional and oppressive.

6. That in the opinion of this body, all town meetings in this county, ought to be called agreeably to the laws of the province and the ancient usage of the county.

7. That it is the opinion of this body of delegates, that a provincial congress is absolutely necessary in our present unhappy situation; and, that as writs are now issued for the election of representatives for a general assembly, to be held at Salem, on the fifth day of October next, the representatives so elected will properly form such provincial congress. And it is further our opinion, that these representatives should be instructed by their several towns, to resolve themselves into a provincial congress accordingly; if when assembled, they shall deem it necessary or expedient; in order to consult and determine on such measures as they judge will tend to promote the true interest of his majesty, and the peace, welfare, and prosperity of the province.

8. Deeply affected with a sense of the miseries and calamities now impending over the colonies, and this province in particular, we are compelled to form these resolutions; which, as we apprehend, being founded in justice and necessity, on the principles of our natural, essential, and unalienable rights, we are determined to abide by. At the same time, we frankly, and with sincerity declare, that we still hold ourselves subjects of his majesty king George the third; as such, will bear him true allegiance; and are ready with our lives and fortunes, to support and defend his person, crown, and dignity, and his constitutional authority over us. But, by the horrors of slavery, by the dignity and happiness attending virtuous freedom, we are constrained to declare, that we hold our liberties too dear to be sported with,

and are therefore, most seriously determined to defend them. This, in the present dispute, we conceive may be effected by peaceable measures. But, though above all things, slavery excepted, we deprecate the evils of a civil war; though we are deeply anxious to restore and preserve harmony with our brethren in Great Britain; yet, if the despotism and violence of our enemies should finally reduce us to the sad necessity, we, undaunted, are ready to appeal to the last resort of states; and will, in support of our rights, encounter even death, "sensible that he can never die too soon, who lays down his life in support of the laws and liberties of his country."

Voted, That Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Doct. Samuel Holten, and Mr. Elbridge Gerry, be a committee to wait on the Hon. William Browne, Esq., agreeably to the fifth resolve.

Voted, That a committee be chosen to notify the members of this body to assemble again when they shall think it necessary; and that the members from Salem and Marblehead, be this committee; and that they, or the major part of them, be and they are hereby empowered to issue notifications accordingly.

JOHN PICKERING, Jun., Clerk.

Salem, Friday, September 9, 1774.

Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Doct. Samuel Holten, and Mr. Elbridge Gerry, waited on the honorable William Browne, Esq., at Boston, with the fifth resolve of the delegates of this county, and received the following answer, viz. :

Gentlemen :-I cannot consent to defeat his majesty's intentions, and disappoint his expectations, by abandoning a post to which he has been graciously pleased to appoint me; an appointment made without my solicitation or privity, and accepted by me from a sense of duty to the king, and the hopes of serving my country. I wish therefore, to give him no cause to suspect my fidelity, and I assure you, I will do nothing without a true regard to its interest. "As a judge, and in every other capacity," I intend to act with honor and integrity, and to exert my best abilities; and be assured, that neither persuasions can allure me, nor shall menaces compel me to do any thing derogatory to the character of a councillor of his majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bay.

Boston, September 9th, 1774.

WILLIAM BROWNE.

To Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Doct. Samuel Holten, and Mr. Elbridge Gerry.

CONVENTION OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY,

Ar a Congress of committees from every town and district within the county of Hampshire, and province of the Massachusetts Bay, excepting

Charlemont and Southwick, held at the court house, in Northampton, within the said county, on the 22d and 23d days of September, 1774, to consult upon measures proper to be taken at this time of general distress in the province, occasioned by the late attacks of the British parliament on the constitution of the said province, whereby they have endeavored to sap and destroy its most fundamental rights, and reduce the inhabitants thereof to a state of vassallage and slavery:

Mr. Ebenezer Hunt, Jun., of Northampton, was chosen clerk of said congress, and Mr. Timothy Danielson, of Brimfield, chairman,

After divers observations made upon the late acts of the British parliament, for taxing the American colonies, and for subverting the constitution of this province, a committee of nine persons, members of the said congress, were appointed to consider and report thercon; which committee reported as follows:

The committees appointed by the several towns in this county, to meet together at this alarming crisis, to consider and determine on measures expedient for the county to adopt, with the respect and deference due to the future determinations of a provincial congress, and the decisions of the grand American Congress, as they are not able to make any resolves respecting the rights and liberties of the people of this province, more agreeable to their own sentiments than such as have been made by their brethren in the other counties, do, on mature deliberation, make the following, for the most part similar to theirs, viz. :

1. That as true and loyal subjects of George the third, king of Great Britain, &c., we by no means intend to withdraw our allegiance from him, so long as he will defend and protect us in the free and full exercise and enjoyment of our charter rights and liberties.

2. That the charter of this province is a most solemn stipulation and compact between the king and the inhabitants thereof; and that it ought to be kept sacred and inviolate by each party, and that it cannot, in any respect, be varied or altered by one party only, without a most criminal breach of faith, and that they know of no instance, wherein the inhabitants of this province, on their part, have violated the said compact.

3. That the several acts of the British parliament, which infringe the just rights of the colonies, and of this province in particular, being subjects of deliberation before the Continental Congress now sitting, renders it expedient for this county to suspend their determination respecting them, except so far as their immediate operation requires our immediate resolutions thereon.

4. That whereas, his excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., lately appointed by his majesty, governor of this province, did, at the last session of the great and general court, wholly decline and refuse to accept the grant for his support, then made him by both houses of assembly; and has since, by his proclamation, bearing date 23d of August last, and otherwise, manifested and declared his full resolution and determination to execute a late act of the British

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