COMMITTEE OF OBSERVATION MEETING - 27 JUNE 1775

The following excerpt is from the Massachusetts Provincial Congress Correspondence and Proceedings - Brookhaven Committee.

The Committee met, pursuant to appointment, at Coram, on the 27th of June, 1775. Present: John Woodhull, Esquire, Thomas Helme, Esquire, Mr. John Robinson, Mr. Thomas Fanning, Lieut. William Brewster, Mr. Noah Hallock, Mr. Joseph Brown, Mr. John Woodhull, Jun., Mr. Nathaniel Roe, Jun., Captain Jonathan Baker, Mr. Daniel Roe and Mr. Samuel Thompson, of the Manor of St. George's; Mr. William Smith and Mr. Jonah Hulse, of the Patentship of Moriches; Capt. Josiah Smith.

John Woodhull, Esquire, chosen as Chairman and Mr. Samuel Thompson as Clerk and entered into the following Votes and Resolutions.

First. Resolved, nemine contradicents, That, we express our loyality to His Majesty King George the Third, and acknowledge him our rightful Lord and Sovereign, as settled on Revolution principles, being of legal descent from the illustrious house of Brunswick, to the utter exclusion of the family of the Stuarts, who, by the despotick and tyrannical principles, were deservedly banished and rendered unfit to sway the British sceptre.

Second. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee that the above Resolution was the opinion of the Continental Congress that set last year; and is also the opinion of the Continental Congress and our PrOvincial Congress now sitting; and that it is also the opinion of very far the greater pArt of the English inhabitants of this most extensive Continent.

Third. Resolved, unanimously, That it is te opinion of this Committee that the several acts passed in the British Parliament for the express purpose of raising a revenue in America; also, the acts for stopping the Port of Boston; for altering their Charter and Government; for establishing the Roman Catholick religion, and abolishing the equitable system of English laws, and erecting in their stead French despotick Government in Canada;--as also the act for restraining the New-England fishery, and many other acts of a similar nature; and further declaring they have power vested in them to make laws binding on us in all cases whatsoever, are contrary to the Constitution, and subversive of our legal rights as English freemen and British subjects.

Fourth. Resolved, nemine contradicents, That we will use our utmoste endeavors, as far as in us lies, and we will earnestly recommend it to our constituents, strictly and invariable to abide by and adhere to the determinations and resolutions of honourable the Continental Congress, and also strictly to comply with the injunctions of our Provincial Convention, which (under God) we hope is the most effectual means to obtain a redress of our present publick grievances, and save us from impending ruin.

Fifth. We do unanimously make this our apology to the respectable publick, and to our several Congresses in particular, that we have come so late into Congressional measures, and hope a veil may be cast over our past conduct, for we can assure the publick in general that our remissness was not for want of a patriotick spirit in a number of our individuals, but because that opposition ran so high in some parts of this Town, that an attempt of this kind would perhaps have answered no vauable purpose, but we verily believe that the past opposition arose in a great measure from want of better information.

Sixth. It is unanimously resolved by us at this meeting, that we will keep a strict watch that no Provisions or necessaries be transported from within the bounds of our constituents, so as designedly or accidentally to fall into the hands of those we have just cause to esteem and treat as our enemies.

Seventh. Ordered, That the resolves and proceedings of this Committee be printed by Mr. John Holt.

Signed by order of the Committee:

John Woodhull, Chairman