On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ordered Col. Roberson “to deliver the four brass field pieces, and the two brass mortars now in his hands, the property of the province, to the order of the committee of safety.” Four of these brass field pieces had been hidden away from the British Army in Boston and then smuggled out of the City. On April 19, a large contingent of the British Army would march out of Boston to Concord in an attempt to recover these brass cannon.
Also on that day in Boston, a British officer recorded in his diary:
A Soldier of the 4th Reg who was tried a few days ago for disposing of Arms to the towns people, has been found guilty and sentenced to receive 500 lashes. A Serjeant and two Soldiers of the 38th Reg tried for the same crime, have been acquitted
On this day 250 years ago in Braintree, Massachusetts, Abigail Adams wrote to Mercy Otis Warren:
The die is cast. Yesterday brought us such a Speach from the Throne as will stain with everlasting infamy the reign of Gorge the 3 determined to carry into Execution “the acts passd by the late parliment, and to Mantain the authority of the Legislature over all his dominions.” The reply of the house of commons and the house of Lords shew us the most wicked and hostile measures will be persued against us—even without giving us an opportunity to be heard in our defence. Infatuated Brittain! poor distressed America. Heaven only knows what is next to take place but it seems to me the Sword is now our only, yet dreadful alternative, and the fate of Rome will be renued in Brittain. She who has been the envy of nations will now become an object of their Scorn and abhorance, and as it was said of Rome that she governd other people by her will but her own by Law, they now behold her governd herself by will, by the Arbitary Will of the worst of her own citizens, and arrived at that period which has been foretold when the people co-operateing with the Enimies of the constitution by Electing those to represent them who are hired to betray them, or by submitting tamely when the mask is taken of or falls of, and the attempt to bring beggary and Slavery is avoued or can be no longer concealed. When this happens the Friends of Liberty, should any such remain will have one option still left, and will rather chuse no doubt to die last British freemen, than bear to live the first of British Slaves, and this now seems to be all that is left to americans with unfeigned and penitant suplications to that Being who delights in the welfare of his creatures, and who we humbly hope will engage on our side, and who if we must go forth in defence of our injured and oppressed Country will we hope deliver us from the hands of our enimies and those that persecute us. Tho an hoste should encamp against our hearts will not fear. Tho war should rise against us, in this will we be confident, that the Lord reigneth. Let thy Mercy o Lord be upon us according as we hope in thee.
. . .
Thus far I wrote with a Heart tremblingly anxious . . . I would not have my Friend immagine that with all my fears and apprehension, I would give up one Iota of our rights and privilages. I think upon the Maturest deliberation I can say, dreadful as the day would be I had rather see the Sword drawn. . . . We know too well the blessings of freedom, to tamely resign it—and there really seems to be a ray of light breaking thro the palpable darkness which has for so long a time darkened our hemisphere and threatned to overwhelm us in one common ruin and I cannot but hope with you for more favorable Scenes, and brighter Days. . . . May justice and Liberty finally prevail and the Friends of freedom enjoy that Satisfaction and tranquility which ever attends upright intentions and is the sure recompence of virtue.
Source: “Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 3 February 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0122. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 1, December 1761 – May 1776, ed. Lyman H. Butterfield. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1963, pp. 183–186.]
On this day 250 years ago in Andover, Massachusetts, Col. Samuel Johnson of the 4th Regiment of Essex County Militia mustered the militia of the North and South Parishes of the Town of Andover. Johnson enlisted 50 men in the North Parish Company and 45 men in the South Parish Company. The North Parish Company elected Thomas Poor, Jr. for their captain, Benjamin Farnum as first lieutenant, and Samuel Johnson Jr. as second lieutenant. The South Parish Company elected Capt. Benjamin Ames, First Lieutenant David Chandler and Second Lieutenant Isaac Abbot as officers. The next issue of the Essex Gazette reported that the militia companies
then subscribed a covenant obliging them to conform to the Resolves of the former or any future Congress or General Assembly of the Province that hath or may have Relation to their Duty, and by said Covenant subjected themselves to martial discipline for the term of one year from the time of their enlisting. . . . All being performed with great unanimity, seriousness and decorum, and the soldiers seeming rather to be animated than disheartened by the late disagreeable news contained in the king’s speech.
The Essex County Militia would soon join the Patriot army fighting the British on their retreat from Concord, at Bunker Hill and in the Siege of Boston, and later in the Saratoga campaign.
On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Second Massachusetts Provincial Congress convened. About 200 towns, from all but two Massachusetts counties, sent delegates to the Congress. Some of the delegates, such as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Lincoln and Elbridge Gerry, are well-remembered in American history, but most are known only by their descendants even though they should be honored for their service to American liberty. For example, the Town of Royalston in Worcester County sent Nahum Green as its representative to the Provincial Congress. After Lexington and Concord, Green would march off to join the Patriot army besieging Boston, but would contract smallpox and pass away on July 29, 1775, as Royalston’s first citizen to die in service of our Country.
Also on this day in Savannah, Georgia, Governor Sir James Wright forwarded to Lord Dartmouth the Council’s message that the Georgia Assembly and Council would continue to raise the Colony’s “Numerous Grievances” because it was “highly necessary that the Constitutional Rights of American Subjects may be Clearly defined and firmly established.”
On this day 250 years ago in Massachusetts, the Essex Gazette reported that
Yesterday a Vessel arriv’d at Marblehead from Falmouth, in which, London Papers were brought to the 12th of December, which were immediately sent to the Committee of Correspondence of this Town, containing
the King’s speech of November 30, 1774 and related actions in the British Parliament rejecting the Colonies’ pleas for repeal of the Intolerable Acts. The Essex Gazette copied the texts of the King’s speech and related actions in Parliament from the broadside printed in Providence including the broadside’s commentary that:
Thus it appears that the continued and anxious Suspence of the Colonies is at an End. With what Solicitude did we wait for and expect Relief from the Wisdom, and Justice of this new Parliament? And how fatally we are disappointed must appear from their Resolution to proceed without the necessary Means of Information in a Matter of such infinite Importance as the Preservation of America. Good GOD! What Spirit of Folly and Precipitation presides in the British Councils!—The Dye seems to be cast—the Fortitude, the Wisdom, and the Virtue of Americans, with a firm Confidence in the Assistance of that Divine Being, whoever vindicates the Cause of the Oppressed, are now our only Resources—May the united Colonies be directed to such Measures, as will eventually terminate in the defeat of Tyrants, and the Redemption of this devoted Country.
On this day 250 years ago in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Mercy Otis Warren wrote to her good friend John Adams:
How much Longer sir do you think the political scale Can Hang in Equilibrium. Will not justice and Freedom soon preponderate till the partizans of Corruption and Venality (Even Backed with the Weight of Ministerial power) shall be Made to kick the Beam. . . .
Let me add my Fervant Wishes that you and the other Gentlemen of the Ensuing Congres may be Endowed With Wisdom and Resolution Equal to the Difficulties of the Day and if you Attempt to Repair the shattered Constitution or to Erect a New one May it be Constructed with such symetry of Features, such Vigour of Nerves, and such strength of sinew that it May Never be in the power of Ambition or Tyrany to shake the Durable Fabrick.
Source: To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 30 January 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-02-02-0074. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 2, December 1773 – April 1775, ed. Robert J. Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1977, pp. 388–391.]
For the last 250 years of American history the symmetry of features and strength of sinew of the new Constitution constructed by our Founding Fathers have held, but I fear that the power of Ambition and Tyranny can “shake the Durable Fabrick” of our Constitution today.
Also on January 30, 1775, in Providence, Rhode Island, John Carter published broadsides of the Kings Speech to Parliament on November 30, 1774 coupled with Carter’s commentary:
Good GOD! What Spirit of Folly and Precipitation Persists in British Councils! — The Dye seems to be cast. . . . May the united Colonies be directed to such Measures as will eventually terminate in the Defeat of Tyrants, and the Redemption of this devoted Country.
Source: Norton at 312; see my blog for January 29, 1775
On this day 250 years ago a copy of the King’s speech to Parliament on November 30, 1774 arrived by ship in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The King had proclaimed
that a most daring spirit of resistance, and disobedience to the law still unhappily prevails in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and has in divers parts of it broke forth in violences of a very criminal nature. These proceedings have been countenanced and encouraged in other of My Colonies and unwarrantable attempts have been made to obstruct the commerce of this kingdom by unlawful combinations. I have taken such measures, and given such orders, as I judged most proper and effectual for carrying into execution the laws which were passed in the last session of the late Parliaments the protection and security of the commerce of Subjects, and for the restoring and preserving order and good government, in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay; and you may depend upon my firm and stedfast resolution to withstand every attempt to weaken or impair the supreme authority of this Legislature over all the dominions of my Crown
The word soon spread throughout the Colonies that the King fully supported the Intolerable Acts passed by Parliament, inflaming American resistance.
On this day 250 years ago in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Mercy Otis Warren wrote to Abigail Adams that “It is and Ever has been my poor Opinion that justice and Liberty will finally Gain a Compleat Victory over Tyrany.” She then added an interesting observation:
we have yet one Advantage peculier to ourselves. If the Mental Faculties of the Female are not improved it may be Concealed in the Obscure Retreats of the Bed Chamber or the kitchen which she is not often Necessitated to Leave. Whereas Man is Generally Called out to the full display of his Abilities but how often do they Exhibit the most Mortifying instances of Neglected Opportunities and their Minds appear Not with standing the Advantages of what is Called a Liberal Education, as Barren of Culture and as Void of Every useful acquirement as the most Triffling untutored Girl.
On this day 250 years ago in Bristol, England, merchants wrote to Richard Randolph in Virginia:
We are very sorry to inform you that there seems little prospect of a speedy reconciliation between the Government here and the Colonies, for by a Letter received this day from our WJ (who with another Gentleman) was deputed from this City to attend their Petition to the House of Commons, he writes that the Ministry carry every thing in the House by a great Majority, and that from the best information he can procure, they are determin’d to enforce those cursed Acts which have caused these unhappy differences, and for that purpose more Men of War and Troops are order’d for America; what will be the consequence of these measures God only knows. Heaven grant that some Friends to their Country may yet start up and be enabled to bring about an happy reconciliation.
Source: “XX. Farell & Jones to Richard Randolph, 27 January 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-15-02-0620-0021. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 15, 27 March 1789 – 30 November 1789, ed. Julian P. Boyd. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1958, pp. 668–669.]
On this day 250 years ago the people of Pittsylvania County, Virginia met to organize a Committee to enforce the Continental Association’s boycott of trade with Britain. The Committee would become the governing body of Pittsylvania County when the War began. The meeting also adopted the Pittsylvania Resolves:
THE freeholders of the county of Pittsylvania, being duly summoned, convened at the courthouse of the said county, on Thursday the 26th of January, 1775, and then proceeded to make the choice of a committee, agreeable to the direction of the General Congress, for enforcing and putting into execution the association, when the following Gentlemen were chosen members for the same, VIZ. Abraham Shelton, Robert Williams, Thomas Dilliard, William Todd, Abraham Penn, Peter Perkins, Benjamin Lankford, Thomas Terry, Arthur Hopkins, Hugh Challus, Charles L. Adams, James Walker, William Peters Martin, Daniel Shelton, William Ward, Edmund Taylor, Isaac Clements, Gabriel Shelton, Peter Wilson, William Shore, Henry Conway, John Payne, sen. Joseph Roberts, William Witcher, Henry Williams, John Salmon, Rev. Lewis Gwillam, Richard Walden, Peter Saunders, John Wilson, and Crispin Shelton. The committee then proceeded to make choice of Robert Williams for their Chairman, and William Peters Marcin their Clerk. During the time of choosing the said committee, the utmost good order and harmony was observed, and all the inhabitants of the county then present (which was very numerous) seemed determined and resolute in defending their liberties and properties, at the risk of their lives, and, if required, to die by their fellow sufferers (the Bostonians) whose cause they consider as their own; and, it being mentioned in committee, that their county had never contributed their proportionable part towards defraying the expenses of the Delegates, who attended on our behalf at the General Congress, that sum was immediately and cheerfully raised and deposited in the hands of Peter Perkins and Benjamin Lankford, Esquires, the Representatives for the said county, to be transmitted by them, to whom it ought to have been paid; after which the committee rose, and several loyal and patriotick toasts were drank, and the company dispersed, well pleased with the behaviour of those people they had put their confidence in.
Today, January 26, 2026, at 2:00 pm the people of Pittsylvania County will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the formation of the Pittsylvania Committee at the Old Callands Courthouse and Gaol on Sago Road in Callands.
