About
This collection contains the records of the five Virginia conventions that met before the creation of a new state government in 1776. The first convention was held at the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg on May 30, 1774. Twenty-five members of the House of Burgesses gathered to protest the closing of the port of Boston by British authorities as a punishment for the Boston Tea Party in 1773. The convention met in open defiance of Lord Dunmore, the royal governor, who had earlier dissolved the House of Burgesses. The members expressed their support for Boston and called for the creation of a Continental Congress. The conventions continued to serve as an alternative government in Virginia through July 1776. For more information, please see this blog post.
Prior to scanning, the Virginia Revolutionary Conventions, 1774-1776 records were conserved to remove damaging cellulose acetate lamination that was causing the documents to degrade. Additional documents in the collection are currently being conserved. Once completed, images of the documents will be added to the digital collection.
Works
Petition of the inhabitants of Port Royal and the counties of King George, Caroline, and Westmoreland, 1776 June 1 (laid before the Convention).
Collaboration is restricted.
Examinations of persons respecting the situation in Norfolk, ca. 1776 Jan. 3-4.
Collaboration is restricted.
Petition of the Warwick County Committee, 1775 Dec. 6.
Collaboration is restricted.
Petition of John Dixon, 1775 Dec. 5.
Collaboration is restricted.
Report of the Committee of Propositions and Grievances regarding William Christian and Arthur Campbell, 1776 June 22.
Collaboration is restricted.
Minutes of the Convention, 1775 Mar. 25.
Collaboration is restricted.
Committee report regarding the petition of Archibald Campbell, 1776 Jan. 3 (laid before the Convention).
Collaboration is restricted.
Confession of John Goodrich, 1776 June 11 (laid before the Convention).
Collaboration is restricted.
Petition of the committee of Norfolk County, 1776 May 6.
Collaboration is restricted.
Report of the Committee of Propositions and Grievenaces regarding the petition of sundry natives of Great Britain, 1776 June 28.
Collaboration is restricted.