On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Members of the Continental Congress from Massachusetts — John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine and Elbridge Gerry — wrote to James Warren — the President of the Council of Massachusetts who also served as the President of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts. In the letter they requested reinforcements and arms from the colony for the Continental Army and suggested that Massachusetts impose restrictions on the private ownership of firearms:

We think it necessary to Inform the Genl. Assembly that in some of the Colonies all Persons whatever are Prohibited from Purchasing or selling Fire Arms to be carried from the same. The safety of the Eastern district may Possibly require the like Precaution.

We rejoice at the Success Attending the Measures of Massa: Bay for promoting the Manufacturing of Military Stores and think that a steady perseverance in the same Plan is the wisest Mode that the Colonies can Adopt for a permanent Establishment of their Rights and Liberties; We therefore hope that diligent Enquiry will be made for all the Manufactories of Fire Arms in the Colony, Who from Want of Means or other Circumstances are unemploy’d in this Business, and that Publick Works will be Erected for them with suitable Encouragement to engage them in the Service.

Source: “The Massachusetts Delegates to the President of the Council, 3 April 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-04-02-0034. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 4, February–August 1776, ed. Robert J. Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1979, pp. 104–106.]

On this day 250 years ago in Watertown, Massachusetts, Mercy Otis Warren wrote to John Adams with this wish and prayer:

May the great guardian of the universe . . . inspire with vigour and unanimity the patriots of America. May he make the decision of the present contest, the establishment of virtue, liberty, and truth, fixed on too firm a basis to be undermined by future despots!

May her wish inspire Americans today.

Source: “Mercy Otis Warren to John Adams, 3 April 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-04-02-0036. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 4, February–August 1776, ed. Robert J. Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1979, pp. 108–109.]

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