History of the Town of Fitchburg 1836: Part 30


On the22d dayhof Mayul Joseph Fox was chosen a delegate to
attend the Provincial Congress which assembled at teh
meeting houjse in Watertown, on the 31st of the same month.
At the same town-meeting, it was boted to purchase forty
bayonets, (which cost $26) These were probably for the use
of teh standing company which had been formed several years
previous, and of which Ebenezer Woods was commanding
offices.  How these bayonets were made to fit guns of
different calibres, tradition has not informed us.

The wararant for a town-meeting in July deserves more
particular notice, as differing from all previous and
several subsequent ones.  They had ever commenced in this
form --" In his Majesty's name, you are hereby required to
warn," etc.  But this runs in the following manner: "In his
Majesty's name, and in observance to the Provincial and
Continental Congress' Resolves, you are required," etc.
This course was probably dictated by that sound discretion
which suggests the propriety of treating all authorities
with due respsect, they not knowing into whose hands they
might fall.  The town voted not to send a delegate to the
Provincial congress at Watertown, "by virtue of that
warrant."  Several of the succeeding warrants ran in the old
form.  In March, 1776, the town, by order of the General
Court, chose a committee of correspondence, consisting of
Reuben Gibson, Kendall Boutelle, Asa Perry, John Putnam and
Silas Snow.  This was the last occasion on which the people
of Fitchburg acknowledged the authority of "his Majesty's
name."

The warrant for a meeting in May ran thus: "In observance of
the Colony Writ to us directed, -- These are, in the name of
the Government and People of the Massachusetts Bay, to will
and require you," etc.  At this meeting, it was voted not to
send a representative to the General court at Watertown.

The next town-meeting, which was held on the first day of
July 1776, shows what was the disposition of the
inhabitants, when the important question of National
Independence was submitted to them.  The General Court then
in session, had assured the Continental congress that if
they, in their wisdom, should deem it expedient to declare
the Colonies free and independent, the people of this Colony
would undoubtedly support them in the measure.  The state
Legistlature, however, to make the thing certain, passed a
resolve that each town should act individually on the
important question.  By virtue of this resolve, this town
assembled on the first day of July.  The proceedings of this
meeting are as follows:--

"Voted, That if the Honorable Continental Congress should,
for the safety of these United Colonines, declare them
independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, that we, the
inhabitants of the town of Fitchburg, will, with our lives
and fortunes, support them in the measure."  This took place
only three days previous to the adoption of the Declaration
by congress.  The question was introduced there on Friday,
the 7th of June, and was discussed on that day, on Saturday,
and on the following Monday.  Further debate was postponed
till July 1st.  It was during this interval that the
question was submitted to the several towns of this
Province.  On the very day on which the question was resumed
in Congress, the people of Fitchburg declared themselves
ready to peril their lives and furtunes in the cause of
freedom.

The declaration having been adopted, copies were sent by
order of the Council, to the several towns of the State,
where they were read from the pulpit, and then copied into
the town Book of Records -- there to remain as a perpetual
memorial thereof.


(Coming next -- "We are therefore unwilling that the present
House of Representatives, together with the Council, should
make a form of government for this State.")


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