other meeting; and it is supposed that they intended always to have kept them; and the good people would have remained in ignorance about them until this time had it not been by accident that it was whispered abroad, so that Doctor Reuben Jones, of Rockingham, and Captain Azariah Wright, of Westminster, heard of it, and took proper care to notify those Towns.

A meeting was called in the two Towns aforesaid, and a Committee was chosen by each Town to wait on the Supervisors at their meeting in September, to see if there were any papers that should be laid before the several Towns in the County, and they found that there were papers come from the Committee of Correspondence that should have been laid before the Towns in June. The Supervisors made many excuses for their conduct; some plead ignorance, and some one thing and some another: but the most of them did seem to think that they could send a return to the Committee at New-York, without ever laying them before their constituents, which principle, at this day, so much prevails, that it is the undoing of the people. Men at this day are so tainted with the principles of tyranny, that they would fain believe that as they are chosen by the people to any kind of office, for any particular thing, that they have the sole power of that people by whom they are chosen, and can act in the name of that people in any matter or thing, though it is not in any connection with what they were chosen for. But the Committees would not consent to have a return made, until every Town in the County had Mr. Low’s letters laid before them, which was done, and a County Congress was called, return was made, a Committee was chosen to see that it was put in print, but, through interest or otherwise, it never was published in any of the papers.

Immediately after the people of the County aforesaid received the Resolves of the Continental Congress, they called a County Congress, and did adopt all the Resolves of the Continental Congress as their Resolves, promising religiously to adhere to that Agreement or Association. There was a Committee of Inspection moved for, to be chosen by the County according to the second Resolve of the Association aforesaid; but being much spoken against by a Justice and an Attorney, and looked upon by them as a childish, impertinent thing, the Delegates dared not choose one. At this time there were Tory parties forming, although they were under disguise, and had laid a plan to bring the lower sort of the people into a state of bondage and slavery. They saw that there was no cash stirring, and they took that opportunity to collect debts, knowing that men had no other way to pay them than by having their estates taken by execution and sold at vendue. There were but very few men among us that were able to buy, and those men were so disposed that they would take all the world into their own hands without paying any thing for it, if they could by law, which would soon bring the whole Country into slavery. Most or all of our men in authority, and all that wanted Court favours, seemed much enraged, and stirred up many vexatious lawsuits, and imprisoned many contrary to the laws of this Province and the statutes of the Crown. One man they put into close prison for high treason, and all that they proved against him was, that he said if the King had signed the Quebeck Bill, it was his opinion that he had broke his coronation oath. But the good people went and opened the prison door and let him go, and did no violence to any man’s person or property.

Our men in office would say that they did like the Resolutions of the Continental Congress, and they ought to be strictly adhered to until our General Assembly voted against them. Then they said that this would do for the Bay-Province, but it was childish for us to pay any regard to them. Some of our Court would boldly say that the King had a just right to make the Revenue Acts, for he had a supreme power, and he that said otherwise was guilty of high treason, and they did hope that they would be executed accordingly. The people were of opinion that such men were not suitable to rule over them, and as the General Assembly of this Province would not accede to the Association of the Continental Congress, the good people were of opinion that if they did accede to any power from or under them, they should be guilty of the breach of the 14th Article of that Association, and may justly be dealt with accordingly by all America. When the good people considered that the General Assembly were for bringing them into a state of slavery, (which did appear plain by their not acceding to the best method to procure their liberties, and the Executive power so strongly acquiescing in all that they did, whether it was right or wrong,) the good people of said County thought it time to look to themselves; and they thought that it was dangerous to trust their lives and fortunes in the hands of such enemies to American liberty, but more particularly unreasonable that there should be any Court held, since thereby we must accede to what our General Assembly had done, in not acceding to what the whole Continent had recommended, and that all America would break off all dealings and commerce with us, and bring us into a state of slavery at once. Therefore, in duty to God, ourselves, and posterity, we thought ourselves under the strongest obligations to resist and to oppose all authority that would not accede to the Resolves of the Continental Congress. But knowing that many of our Court were men that neither feared or regarded men, we thought that it was most prudent to go and persuade the Judges to stay at home. Accordingly there were about forty good true men went from Rockingham to Chester, to dissuade Colonel Chandler, the Chief Judge, from attending Court. He said he believed it would be for the good of the County not to have any Court as things were, but there was one case of murder that they must see to, and if it was not agreeable to the people they would not have any other case. One of the Committee told him that the Sheriff would raise a number with arms, and that there would be bloodshed. The Colonel said that he would give his word and honour that there should not be any arms brought against us, and he would go down to Court on Monday the 13th of March instant, which was the day that the Court was to be opened. We told him that we would wait on him if it was his will. He said that our company would be very agreeable; likewise he returned us his hearty thanks for our civility, and so we parted with him.

We heard from the Southern part of the State that Judge Sabin was very earnest to have the Law go on, as well as many petty officers. There were but two Judges in the County at that time, Colonel Wells being gone to New-York. There was a great deal of talk in what manner to stop the Court, and at length it was agreed on to let the Court come together, and lay the reasons we had against their proceeding before them, thinking they were men of such sense that they would hear them. But on Friday we heard that the Court was going to take the possession of the house on the 13th instant, and to keep a strong guard at the doors of said house, that we could not come in. We being justly alarmed by the deceit of our Court, though it was not strange, therefore we thought proper to get to Court before the armed guards were placed, for we were determined that our grievances should be laid before the Court before it was opened. On Monday the 13th of March instant, there were about one hundred of us entered the Court-House about four o’clock in the afternoon. But we had but just entered before we were alarmed by a large number of men, armed with guns, swords and pistols. But we in the house had not any weapons of war among us, and were determined that they should not come in with their weapons of war except by the force of them.

Esquire Patterson came up at the head of his armed company, within about five yards of the door, and commanded us to disperse; to which he got no answer. He then caused the King’s Proclamation to be read, and told us that if we did not disperse in fifteen minutes, by G—d he would blow a lane through us. We told him that we would not disperse. We told them that they might come in if they would unarm themselves, but not without. One of our men went out at the door and asked them if they were come for war; told them that we were come for peace, and that we should be glad to hold a parley with them. At that, Mr. Gale, the Clerk of the Court, drew a pistol, held it up, and said, d—n the parley with such d——d rascals as you are; I will hold no parley with such d——d rascals but by this—holding up his pistol. They gave us very harsh language; told us we should be in hell before morning, but after a while they drew a little off from the house and seemed to be in consultation. Three of us