On this day 250 years ago The Boston Evening Post published resolutions passed by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress on October 26. One resolution lamented that

in Consequence of the present unhappy Disputes between Great Britain and the Colonies, a formidable Body of Troops with warlike Preparations of Every sort, are…arrived at, and others destined for the Metropolis of this Province

The paper also published a resolve from New Haven, Connecticut stating that:

Contributions from…the Towns in this Colony for supplying the Necessities, and alleviating the distresses of our Brethren at Boston, ought to be continued in such Manner as long as their Occasions may require.

The newspaper also reported that “The General Assembly of Pennsylvania has met, and after choosing Edward Biddle, Esq., Speaker, they added John Dickinson, Esq; to the general Congress.” And it published an extract of a letter from the British Colony of Antigua that says: “The People here applaud your unanimity in sympathizing with, and relieving the distressed Bostonians, but they cannot stomach the extension of your non-exportation scheme to the West India Islands.”

Source: https://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/557424?list_url=%2Flist%2Fpolitics

On this day 250 years ago, George Washington arrived back home at Mount Vernon, Virginia from his service at the First Continental Congress.

Source: https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2230%20October%201774%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=1&sr=

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the First Continental Congress adjourned with plans to reconvene in May of the next year. As its final two acts the Congress forwarded the “Humble Petition” adopted the previous day to Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee and William Bollan in London for delivery to the King, and approved and forwarded the “Letter to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec”. 

The Letter to the Inhabitants of Quebec invited that province to send delegates to the Second Continental Congress that would convene in May 1775, but also includes a summary of “the irrevocable rights, to which” the Canadians and all the colonists were “justly entitled”:

The first grand right, is that of the people having a share in their own government by their representatives chosen by themselves, and, in consequence, of being ruled by laws, which they themselves approve, not by edicts of men over whom they have no control. This is a bulwark surrounding and defending their property, which by their honest cares and labors they have acquired, so that no portions of it can legally be taken from them, but with their own full and free consent, when they in their judgment deem it just and necessary to give them for public service, and precisely direct the easiest, cheapest, and most equal methods, in which they shall be collected….

The next great right is that of trial by jury. This provides, that neither life, liberty nor property, can be taken from the possessor, until twelve of his unexceptionable countrymen and peers of his vicinage, who from that neighborhood may reasonably be supposed to be acquainted with his character, and the characters of the witnesses, upon a fair trial, and full enquiry, face to face, in open Court, before as many of the people as choose to attend, shall pass their sentence upon oath against him; a sentence that cannot injure him, without injuring their own reputation, and probably their interest also; as the question may turn on points, that, in some degree, concern the general welfare; and if it does not, their verdict may form a precedent, that, on a similar trial of their own, may militate against themselves.

Another right relates merely to the liberty of the person. If a subject is seized and imprisoned, though by order of Government, he may, by virtue of this right, immediately obtain a writ, termed a Habeas Corpus, from a Judge, whose sworn duty it is to grant it, and thereupon procure any illegal restraint to be quickly enquired into and redressed.

A fourth right, is that of holding lands by the tenure of easy rents, and not by rigorous and oppressive services, frequently forcing the possessors from their families and their business, to perform what ought to be done, in all well-regulated states, by men hired for the purpose.

The last right we shall mention, regards the freedom of the press. The importance of this consists, besides the advancement of truth, science, morality, and arts in general, in its diffusion of liberal sentiments on the administration of Government, its ready communication of thoughts between subjects, and its consequential promotion of union among them, whereby oppressive officers are shamed or intimidated, into more honorable and just modes of conducting affairs.

These are the invaluable rights, that form a considerable part of our mild system of government; that, sending its equitable energy through all ranks and classes of men, defends the poor from the rich, the weak from the powerful, the industrious from the rapacious, the peaceable from the violent, the tenants from the lords, and all from their superiors.

These are the rights, without which a people cannot be free and happy, and under the protecting and encouraging influence of which, these colonies have hitherto so amazingly flourished and increased. These are the rights, a profligate Ministry are now striving, by force of arms, to ravish from us, and which we are, with one mind, resolved never to resign but with our lives.

These are the rights you are entitled to and ought at this moment in perfection, to exercise. And what is offered to you by the late Act of Parliament in their place? Liberty of conscience in your religion? No. God gave it to you; and the temporal powers with which you have been and are connected, firmly stipulated for your enjoyment of it. If laws, divine and human, could secure it against the despotic caprices of wicked men, it was secured before….

Sources: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/on-this-day-the-first-continental-congress-concludes; https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2226%20October%201774%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=1&sr=; https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/first-continental-congress-humble-petition-to-the-king-1774/; https://americanfounding.org/entries/act-i-wednesday-october-26-1774/

Also on this day the Massachusetts Provincial Congress reconvened in Cambridge. Their first act on this day was to reorganize the Massachusetts Militia to create Minutemen companies from each County.

Source: https://mastatelibrary.blogspot.com/2024/09/250-years-ago-this-month-convening-of.html

On this day 250 years ago the women of Edenton, North Carolina, led by Penelope Barker met to sign a resolution pledging to adhere to the North Carolina Provincial Congress’s ban on imports from Britain including linen and tea. This was the first organized action by a group of women in support of the Revolution.

The Eden Resolves state:

As we cannot be indifferent on any occasion that appears nearly to affect the peace and happiness of our country, and as it has been thought necessary, for the public good, to enter into several particular resolves by a meeting of Members deputed from the whole Province, it is a duty which we owe, not only to our near and dear connections who have concurred in them, but to ourselves who are essentially interested in their welfare, to do every thing as far as lies in our power to testify our sincere adherence to the same; and we do therefore accordingly subscribe this paper, as a witness of our fixed intention and solemn determination to do so.

The names of the 51 women who signed these Resolves should be remembered and our commemorations should reflect that this country was founded not only by Fathers but by Mothers too:

Abagail Charlton, Mary Blount, F. Johnstone, Elizabeth Creacy, Margaret Cathcart, Elizabeth Patterson, Anne Johnstone, Jane Wellwood, Margaret Pearson, Mary Woolard, Penelope Dawson, Sarah Beasley, Jean Blair, Susannah Vail, Grace Clayton, Elizabeth Vail, Frances Hall, Elizabeth Vail, Mary Jones, Mary Creacy, Anne Hall, Mary Creacy, Rebecca Bondfield, Ruth Benbury, Sarah Littlejohn, Sarah Howcott, Penelope Barker, Sarah Hoskins, P. Ormond, Mary Littledle, M. Payne, Sarah Valentine, Elizabeth Johnston
Elizabeth Cricket, Mary Bonner, Elizabeth Green, Lydia Bonner, Mary Ramsay, Sarah Howe, Anne Horniblow, Lydia Bennet, Mary Hunter, Marion Wells, Tresia Cunningham, Anne Anderson, Elizabeth Roberts, Sarah Mathews, Elizabeth Roberts, Anne Haughton, Elizabeth Roberts Elizabeth Beasly

Sources: https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/primary-source-edenton-tea; https://mosaicnc.org/edenton-tea-party; https://ehcnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Edenton-Tea-Party-Overview-and-Primary-Sources.pdf

Today and tomorrow the town of Edenton is hosting a full set of events to commemorate the contribution that these women made to our Revolution:

250th Anniversary Edenton Tea Party

https://ehcnc.org/edenton-tea-party-250th-anniversary/

On this day 250 years ago, William Molineux died after an unexpected illness. Although little known today, at the time of his death Molineux was known to both the Loyalists and the Patriots as the leader of the Boston crowds who agitated against the British. Molineux participated in the Boston Tea Party and in almost every street action challenging British rule. Although Molineux was born in Britain he was committed to American liberty, and the Patriots of Boston suspected that he was poisoned by the British. His last words were “O save my Country, Heaven.”

Sources: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/william-molineux.htm

http://www.boston-tea-party.org/participants/William-Molineux.html

Also on this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Peyton Randolph resigned as President of the Continental Congress so he could return to Virginia to resume his duties as Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses. Randolph was succeeded as President of the Congress by Henry Middleton of South Carolina.

Sources: https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/peyton-randolph/;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Middleton