Virginia Revolutionary Conventions, 1774-1776

[illegible] [Whole page is very illegible] Richmond, VA [illegible] [illegible] the [illegible] Dec [illegible] 1773 Present [illegible] [illegible] gate for the [illegible] [illegible] remained the Convention of the [illegible] honorable Peyton Randolph Esq, the late worthy [illegible] which made it necessary to appoint [illegible] Edmund [Pendleton} [illegible] a Gentleman in every respect [illegible] [illegible] important office; He was seconded [by Isaac] Mercer Esq a delegate for the Court by [illegible] and upon a Question [illegible] the [illegible] Edmund Pendleton was elected [President] [and illegible] the Chair accordingly [illegible] whence [illegible] acknowledgements for their [illegible] [distinguished] mark of their favour and [illegible] [illegible] office of such honour and importance [illegible] solicited as unmerited; he [entreated] [illegible] and assistance to enable [his] [illegible] it with propriety in which [he] [illegible] John [illegible] [of this]

[top left corner of page cut off] [illegible] [cut off] the [illegible] of the Troops under [cut off] command and [of those?] under Lord Dunmore [illegible] he had received an offer of assistance in the commanding officer of the Troops stationed in North Carolina not far distant wwhich he had hitherto declined to call for, thinking the force he had at present sufficient, but that he would take his measure a circumstance should occur. Resolved that the President be requested in a letter to Col. Woodford to be sent by Express to desire he will risque the success of his Arms as little as possible and if there is not a moral probability of security with the Troops he hath, he will embrace the offer of assistance from those in North Carolina by sending immediately for them. Ordered that Mr. Francis [Epper] be appointed Messenger to this Convention.

Resolved that Wm. [William] Joseph Prentis, w[illegible] delegate to represent the City of Williamsb[urg] soon and during the necessary absence of [illegible] Wythe Esq: one of the delegates for this Colony in [illegible] General Congress, be admitted into this Convention as a delegate for the said City. The Convention adjourned till Monday next eleven oClock, then to meet in the City of Williamsburg. Williamsburg Monday December 4th 1775. The Convention met according to Adjournment but there not being Members sufficient to proceed to Business, adjourned till tomorrow ten oClock Tuesday Decembr 5th 1775. Resolved that the Reverend Thomas Price be appointed Chaplain, to this Convention and that he be desired to read Prayers every Morning at ten oClock. Resolved that John A. Washington Esq. having accepted the Office of Sherif of the County of Westmoreland, is incapable of sitting and voting in this Convention as a delegate for the said County, and that the President issue his Warrant

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the election of a Delegate for their county and for all other counties and as are not represented in their .... by the necessary attendance of the delegates appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress during their absence.

Ordered that the Committee of Safety de lay their proceedings before this Convention Several Letters received by the Committee if Safety from the Committee for the County of Elizabeth City were presented to the Convention and ordered to be referred to Mr. Mercer, Mr. Bland, Mr. Henry Lee, W. Treasurere, Mr. Joseph Jones, Mr. Holt, Mr. Newton Mr. King, Mr. Ruffins and Mr. Read and they are to report such thereof to this Convention as may concern the Public.

Mr. Bland from the Committee of Safety according to order laid before the Convention that proceedings of the said Committee which were ordered to lie on the Tables.

The President laid before the Convention several Letters received from the delegates of this Colony in General Congress and others which were read and ordered (Resolved) to lie on the Table.

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Resolved, that this Convention will [immediately?] resolve itself into a Committee to take into their Consideration the State of the Colony, and that the Sellers laid before this Convention by their President, together with the Proceedings of the Committee of Safety be referred to the said Committee.

The Committee accordingly resolved itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the Chair and Mr. Treasurer reported that the Committees had according to order had under their consideration the state of the Colony but not having time to go through the same had desired him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, that this Convention will tomorrow resolve itself into a Committee to take into their further consideration of the state of the Colony.

Resolved that the Committee of Safety be received that they continue to excercise their powers with which they were veseter by their several Ordinances until the end of this session. , another is appointed.

Ordered that Mr. Cary Mr. Adams Mr. Parker

{{ PAGE TORN}} arker, W. Banister and Mr. William Cabell be appointed a Committe to examine Charles Robinson who hath been apprenhended as a suspected person together with the several Papers found in his possession and make report.

Adjourned till tomorrow half after 10 oClock

Wednesday December 6th 1775 A proposition from the Reverend John Dixon was presented to the Convention and read setting forth that by several experiments made by .. in the County of Gloucester he finds he can make considerable quantities of salt and desiring the encouragement of the Public in so useful and understanding.

Ordered that the said Proposition do lie one the Table.

Resolved, that the commanding Officer of the forces raised for the protection and defence of this Colony so lay before the Convention a state and

and return of the forces under his Command and of their several Nations.

Resolved, that all intercepted letters which are supposed to concern the Public be transmitted to the Committee of Safety unopend.

Mr. Mercer from The Committee appointed to report such of the Letters transmitted to the Committee of Safety from the Committee of the County of Elizabeth City as concerned the Public reported several of their said Letters.

Ordered that the said Letters be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter from Col. Woodford in answer to one formerly written to him.

Several letters lately received from the Committee for the County of Elizabeth City were presented to the Convention and ordered to be referred to the Committee formerly appointed to report such letters as should be found to concern the Public.

The commanding Officer of the Forces raised for the defence and protection of this Colony laid before the Convention according to order a state and return of the Forces under his Command.

Ordered, that the same be refered to their Committee on the state of the Colony.

The convention then according to the order of the Day resolved itself into a Committee over the State of the Colony and after some time spent therein Mr. President resumed the Chair and Mr. Treasurer reported that the Committee had according to order had under their Consideration the State of the Colony but not having him to go through the same had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, that this Convention will tomorrow resolve itself into the said Committee.

Adjourned till tomorrow half after ten o'Clock.

Thursday

[centered top of page] (3) Thursday December 7th 1775

Resolved, that Col. Woodford of the second Regiment be empowered to employ a Secretary with the same Wages as are allowed to the Secretary of the Col. of the first Regiment.

Ordered, that the Proposition of the Reverend John Dixon for the Manufactory of Salt being referred to Mr. Braxton Mr. Mason Mr Carter of Stafford Mr Thomas Walker and Mr. Clapham and they are to report the same with their opinions thereupon to the Convention.

Mr. Mercer from the Committee appointed to report such of the Letters lately received from the Committee for the County of Elizabeth City as concerned the Public reported several of these said Letters.

Ordered, that the said Letters be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

The Convention then according to the order of the Day resolved itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony and after some time spent

spent therein Mr. President resumed the Chair and Mr. Treasurer reported that the Committee had according to order had under their consideration the State of the Colony and had come to a resolution thereupon which he read in his place and then delivered in at the Clerk's Table where the same was again twice read and agreed to as follows Resolved, that it is the opinion of this Committee that five hundred effective Men three Companies whereof to be rifle men be employed for the protection and defence of the Counties of Northampton and Accomack. Resolved, that this Convention with tomorrow again resolve itself into a Committee to take into their further Consideration the state of the Colony Adjourned till tomorrow half after 10 oClock.