Betsy Ross Flag - Network Design



 Protocols of Liberty: Communication, Innovation, and teh American Revolution [Book Banner from Title Page Image] Betsy Ross Flag - Network Design
William Warner [Author Name]
The University of Chicago Press [Publisher Name]
Overview [Link]
Introduction [Link]
Chapter 1 [Link]
Chapter 2 [Link]
Chapter 3 [Link]
Chapter 4 [Link]
Chapter 5 [Link]
Chapter 6 [Link]
Conclusion [Link]

The Three-Fold Letter Received by the Virginia
Committee of Correspondence on Sunday 29 May 1774

LINKS: Networking -- The Towns Respond to the Boston Committee -- Linking Virginia & Boston -- Three-fold Letter of May 1774
On May 13, 1774, the town meeting of Boston held an emergency meeting to deliberate upon on the Boston Port Bill. It passed a "Vote" that conveyed a sense of the town. (See right, below). It then requested its Committee of Correspondence, the chair of which was Samuel Adams, to communicate this appeal for support to the Whig committees in each of the towns and provinces of the American colonies. Its letter of May 13, 1774 was carried by Paul Revere to the major towns to the south: Hartford, New York, Philadelphia. From there it was sent south to Annaloplis and Williamsburg. It was this "chain letter" that was received by Peyton Randolph by sunday morning May 29th. The packet of letters became the the basis upon which a group of 25 Burgesses changed the direction of Virginia's response to the political crisis. The group requested that each county elect delegates to a Convention to meet in Williamsburg upon its own authority (rather than with the sanction of Governor Dunmore) on the first of August, 1774.
Annapolis, 25 May 1774
We this morning received a letter from the committee of correspondence of Philadelphia inclosing their resolutions with a copy of a letter and vote of the town of Boston.  … we shall anxiously expect your resolutions, in the mean time we propose the sense of the people be taken at their meetings on the following heads. [1:an  immediate stop to all exports; 2: the Association by on Oath; 3: no suits for any debts due; 4 this province will break off all trade with violating colonies.]   We have the most sanguine hope, that Maryland will cheerfully cooperate with your colony to any extent of non-important and non exportation. Signed--Charles Carroll, Thomas Johnson, Samuel Chase, J. Hall, William. Paca, Matthias, Hammond, Stephen West.
Philadelphia, 21 May 1774
To collect a sense of this large city is difficult….A respectable number of the inhabitants of this city was, however assembled last evening in order to consult what was proper to be done…the inclosed resolves were passed.  By what means …a reconciliation, and future harmony with our mother country on constitutional principles may be obtained is indeed a weighty question; whether by the method you [of Boston] have suggested of non important and non exportation agreement, or by a general congress of deputies form the different colonies, clearly to state what we conceive our rights, and make a claim or petition of them to his Majesty in firm but decent and dutiful terms, …are now the great points to be determined; the latter we have great reason to think, would be more agreeable to the people of this province…the former may be reserved as the last resource should the other fail.
Your most humble servants, Signed in behalf and by order of the Committee of Correspondence
Boston, 13 May 1774
GENTLEMEN:
The Town of Boston is now suffering the stroke of vengeance in the common cause.  I hope they will sustain the blow with a becoming fortitude; …It is expected by their enemies, and feared by some of their friends, that this town singly will not be able to support the cause under so severe a trial; as the very being of every colony, considered as a free people, depends upon the event, a thought so dishonorable to our brethren cannot be entertained, as the town will now be left to struggle alone.  …I have inclosed a copy of the Town’s Vote for each of the colonies southward of your province, which I beg you to forward with all possible dispatch, together with your own sentiments thereon.
        Your humble servant., Samuel Adams

At a meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston…on Friday 13 May 1774.
Voted, that it is the opinion of this town that if the other colonies come into a joint resolution, to stop all Importations from Great Britain and Exportations to Great Britain and every part of the West Indies till the act for blocking our harbor be repealed, the same will prove the salvation for North American and her liberties; on the other hand if they continue their exports and imports there is high reason to fear, that fraud, power, and the most odious oppression, will rise triumphant over right, justice, social happiness and freedom.          Attested: William Cooper, Town Clerk.
 
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