Virginia Revolutionary Conventions, 1774-1776

13. Commotions or Insurrections they pledged their Faith at the Risk of their lives and Fortunes jointly with, their Fellow subjects of this Colony to defend the Country and that in case of an attack from the Troops of Great Britain they would not aid in any manner or communicate Intelligence to them by Letter or otherwise that they wished not any Exemption from the hardships and Burthens to which the People of the Country are [engrosed] from the civil Contest subsisting with the parent state but were willing and ready to participate in all instances esccept taking up Arms. against the People among whom they were born and with whom perhaps they are connected by the nearest Ties of Consangunity that they intreated the impartial and favourable attention of the Convention to that Circumstance and begged that a line of Conduct might be marked out by which is this dangerous Crisis they might move in as useful Members of the Community without being held to the necessity of shedding the Blood of their Countrymen and Act at which nature recoiled and which evry feeling of humanity

humanity forbid which Petition the said Convention immediately took under their most serious Consideration and although it appeared unusual that any particular set of Men in a Society should have the full enjoyment of all the Benefits arising therein and not bear an equal share of the Dangers to which it might be exposed yet the Convention in hopes of satisfying the Petioners and quieting their Fears resolved unanimously that the said Petitioner was reasonable and recommended it to the Committees of the several Counties and Corporations and others the good People of this Colony to treat all such Natives of Great Britain resident here as did not shew themselves Enemies to the common Cause of America with Lenity and Friendship to protect all Persons whatever in the just enjoyment of their civil Rights and Liberties to discountenance all national Reflections to preserve to the utmost of their Power internal peace and good order and to promote Union Harmony and mutual good will among all ranks of People.

And whereas notwithstanding the favourable and kind disposition shown by the Convention and the natives of this Colony and the extraordianary and unexampled Indulgence by them held out to the natives of Great Britain residing in this Colony many of these have lately become strict adherents to the Lord Dunmore and the most active promoters of all his cruel and arbitrary Persecutions of the good People of this Colony not only by violating the Continental Association to which they had solemnly subscribed in many the most flagrant Instances not only by giving Intelligence to our Enemies and furnishing them with Provisions but by propagating as well in Great Britain as this Colony many of the most glaring Falsehoods to the great Prejudice and dishonor of this country and more over many of the said Natives of Great Britain instead of giving their assistance in suppressing Insurrections have contrary to all Faith solemnly plighted in their said Petition excited our Slaves to Rebellion and some of them have daringly led them in arms against our Inhabitants The Committee having

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and to amend an Ordinance intituled an Ordinance for regulating the Election of Delegates and ascertaining their allowances and also for regulating the Election of Committee-men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony and for other purposes therein mentioned

An Ordinance for amending an Ordinance intituled an Ordinance for providing Arms and Ammunition for the use of this Colony was read a second time and ordered to be Committed to Mr. Mercer Mr. Adams the members for Loudoun Frederick Augusta Botetourt Chesterfield Henrico Prince George Dinwiddie and Surry.

Ordered that a Committee be appointed to inquire into the Services of Mr. James Wood who was deputed by the House of Burgesses at their last session to go among the several tribes of Indians on the Western frontier of this Colony and invite them to the late treaty held at Fort Pitt and to report what those Services deserve and that Mr. Bland and Mr. Andrew Lewis Mr. Thomas Walker Mr.

Mr. Peyton Mr. Richard Lee Mr. Henry Lee Mr. Blackburn Mr. Clapham the Reverend Mr. Thruston Mr. Bassett and Mr. Banister be of the said committee. The Orders of the Day for the convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the colony and on the Ordinances for raising any additional number of forces for the defence and protection of this Colony and for amending an ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient force for the defence and protection of this colony and for establishing a mode of making Tobacco paiments during the discontinuance of the Inspection law being read. Resolved that the same be put off till tomorrow. Ordered, that Mr. Read Mr. Lawson Mr. Cocke Mr. Fauleon Mr. Parker and Mr. Thomas Tabb be added to the terms of the Continental association and to consider of and report a proper method for the distribution thereof. Adjourned till tomorrow half after 10 'o Clock.

Friday December 29th 1775.

The President laid before the Convention a letter from Col. Howe inclosing a letter from Capt. Bellew of his Majesty's Ship the Liverpool desiring to be informed if he still persisted in his Resolution to restrain his Majesty's Ships from supplies of Provision with his answer thereto which being read were referred to the Committee on the State of the Colony.

The Convention then according to the order of the Day resolved itself into the said Committee and after some time spent therein Mr. President resumed the Chair and Mr. Cary reported that the Convention had according to order had under their Consideration the state of the Colony and had come to the following Resolution which he read in his place and afterwards delivered in at the Clerks Table where the same was again twice read and agreed to.

Resolved, that Col. Howe be informed in answer to his Letter of the 25th that this Convention are fully sensible of the Hardships which many innocent persons onboard his Majesty's Ships may be exposed to for want of regular Supplies of fresh Provision

Provision which we would not wish to withhold unless compelled by the Duty we owe to the Country loudly calling upon us to use every Exertion for the Defence of its Inhabitants. That Capt. Bellews who probably is a stranger to us and our situation should be informed that this Country hath ever till of late considered the Officers and Men of his Majesty's Navy as their Friends and have always had great Pleasure in shewing them every Mark of Hospitality and Civility; but many very recent and unwarrantable Instances of the hostile Behaviour of some of the Navy towards our Inhabitants justify us in suspicions we would not otherwise entertain. Who are the innocent and helpless whose Blood Capt. Bellew would not wish to shed we cannot from his Expressions determine but they carry with them the strongest Implication that the Effusion of the Blood of some of our Country men is the object of his Voyage to this Country. That the Convention have the warmest wishes to find themselves mistaken in these apprehensions and if Capt. Bellews can condescend to satisfy them or Col. Howe that he is come to Virginia on a friendly Errand this Convention will take every opportunity

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opportunity of paying proper respect to a gentleman in his station and use every means in their power to make his stay here as agreable as possible, but that if on the contrary Capt. Bellews's design is to further the view of our Enemies and assist in prosecuting these unjustifiable and cruel measures already set on foot in this Country he must excuse the Inhabitants of Virginia if they totally decline contributing towards their own destruction.

Mr. Cary from the Committee appointed reported that the Committee appointed for that purpose had according to order proceeded to proportion the Salt taken by the Cruisers in Hampton in the pay of this Colony amounting to 3600 Bushels which necessary of life the Inhabitants of sundry Counties are in great want of occasioned by the many illegal seisures of Vessels laden with that article by His Majestys ships of War - and sundry Piratical Vessels fitted out by Lord Dunmore.

Resolved therefore that 599 Bushels of the said Salt be with all convenient speed sent up James River

River to Richmond to the care of the Committee of the County of Henrico for the use of the following Counties to wit

For the County of Augusta 214 Bushels For the County of Henrico 82 Bushels For the Count of Goochland 63 Bushels For the County of Albemarle 144 Bushels For the Counto of Amherst 96 Bushels -------- 599

And that 1260 Bushels of the said Salt be sent as aforesaid to the Care of the Committee of the County of Chesterfield to be landed at Manchester for the use of the following Counties to wit.

For the County of Chesterfield 140 Bushels For the County of Cumberland 133 Bushels For the County of Prince Edward 81 Bushels For the County of Pittsylvania 162 Bushels For the County of Bedford 162 Bushels For the County of Fincastle 214 Bushels For the County of Botetourt 297 Bushels For the County of Buckingham 71 Bushels ---- 1260

And that 985 Bushels of the said salt be sent as aforesaid to Petersburg and Jordans on Appomattox River for the use of the following Counties and to be left to the Care of the Committee of the Counties of Prince

Prince George and Dinwiddie

To the County of Amelia 162 Bushels To the County of Mecklenburg 122 Bushels To the County of Lunenburg 63 Bushels To the County of Charlotte 114 Bushels To the County of Halifax 128 Bushels To the County of Prince George 81 Bushels To the County of Brunswick 193 Bushels To the County of Dinwiddie 122 Bushels --- 985

And that 387 Bushels of the said Salt be sent as aforesaid to Cumberland Town and New Castle up York River and to be left to the care of the Committee of the Counties of Hanover and New Kent respectively for the use of the following Counties to wit.

To the County of Hanover 162 Bushels To the County of New Kent 81 Bushels To the County of Louisa 56 Bushels To the County of King William 88 Bushels --- 387

And that 272 Bushels of the said Salt be sent as aforesaid to be landed at Hampton under the care of the Committee for the County of Elizabeth City for the use of the following Counties to wit.

To the County of Gloucester 128 Bushels To the County of Elizabeth City 31 Bushels