Wednesday, January 24, 2024

The 'Newton Resolves', Massachusetts, 1774


On our visit to Boston we passed through Newton, a very beautiful residential suburb which looked to me like a movie set. I have found that, following the Boston Tea Party of 16 December 1773, the community of Newton issued a set of 'Resolves'. Here is the manuscript but it appears to be undated, and with no location specified, but evidently the people at Digital Commonwealth have seen fit to make an informed decision on both the place and the date. Below is the text, with two words italicised which I wasn't totally sure about from the handwriting.

Once again, these people are not yet appealing for independence, but their full British rights and liberties.

.............

Resolved that the People of this Province, and as we conceive, of every other British Colony, are by their several Charters and other Institutions of Civil Government, Entitled to all the Rights and Liberties of the British Constitution which is Eminently Founded in Nature and has the Right of Nature so far as consists(?) with the original Design of Government which is the Good of the whole Community for its object. 

Resolved that it is an essential principle of the British Constitution adopted by our Fore Fathers in the Several Charters of this Province to be Governed only by such laws as are or shall be made by their own Consent in Person or by Representatives of their own free Election.

Resolved that the acts of the British Parliament made to tax the Americans to which they have not and could not give their Consent are infractious of the Rights of the British Constitution, and of the Charter of this Province and Destructive of Freedom.

Resolved that the acts of Parliament made in the Last Session empowering the East India Company to ship their teas to America Subject to a Duty for the purpose of Raising a Revenue appears to have been Designed to Confirm and establish the Grievance the Americans have so long and justly Complained of.

Resolved that this town Do approve of the opposition to the landing the East India Companys teas made by the people of Boston and other other adjacent towns was manly and necessary that their endeavours to preserve the Said tea and Return it Safe to London was manly and just and that whoever obstructed and frustrated their Rational and Laudable Efforts Reduce the people to the necessity of Either Destroying the property of the East India Company or Suffer that to be the means of Revisiting (?) their slavery.

Resolved that the use of tea while it is Subject to a Duty as aforesaid in the opinion of this town argues a total want of publick virtue and ought to Be condemned.

Resolved that we the Subscribers of this town Carefully avoid Purchasing any kind of articles of Such Shopkeepers as do or hereafter shall practice the Selling of Tea while it remains Subject to a Duty imposed or is for the purpose of Raising a Revenue without the Consent the Representations of this Province in General Court assembled.

Resolved that we will treat with the utmost Contempt all such people as shall attempt, abet, advise, Consent, or in any way whatsoever Design or endeavour the introducing into America or vending or selling any tea Charged with this Detestable Duty Looking upon them as inveterate Enemies of our Common Rights and Liberties . 








1 comments:

Rosemary said...


Mark - you may remember we were in touch some years ago about our mutual interest in George Francis Savage Armstrong. I'm currently working on an entirely different family from your neck of the woods in which I know you have some interest, but can't locate your email address. Could you kindly get in touch with me at rraughter@gmail.com and I'll get back to you?
Hope all is well and look forward to hearing from you. Rosemary

(I changed my own provider a couple of years ago so please note my own current email address.)