Whereas it hath happened that many transactions in this Town, relating to our publick grievances hath been carried on much to the contrary of the minds of many of the inhabitants of this Town, by which it hath made many parties and a great division in this Town, and we do look upon it as a great judgment from Heaven upon us for our sins; wherefore it hath been moved by some, that each party would meet and assemble together, to see if we could not unite, both in love and unity, among ourselves with our free countrymen, in standing with them for our rights, liberty, and privileges. And accordingly the two parties did agree, met, and assembled themselves together at the South Meeting-House in Eastham, on the first day of December, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, and then both parties mutually agreed to choose a Committee out of each party, and accordingly proceeded and chose two Committees, one out of each party—seven out of one, and five out of the other—in order to consult and draw up such resolves as they thought most proper and best for peace and unity among ourselves and free countrymen. Accordingly we, the subscribers, being two Committees, did meet at the dwelling house of Mr. Thomas Twining, in Eastham, on Tuesday, the sixth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, at nine o’clock in the morning, and then did resolve, in the first place, to pass by and overlook all past conduct among ourselves and towards our free countrymen, and for all past injuries to be buried in oblivion towards all those that will join in the following Resolves:

In the first place, we, the subscribers, do mutually agree and resolve, that we will freely and willingly unite and join with our free countrymen in defence of our sacred rights, privileges, and liberties.

Secondly. We will unite and join our Continental, Provincial, and County Congresses, and with all others of our Congresses, so far as shall be agreeable to the Continental Congress. That we will do our utmost to uphold and defend our liberties and rights.

Thirdly and lastly. We do and shall look upon all those that will not stand for their rights, liberty, property, and religion, as enemies to their Country, and shall ever deem them so till there be a reformation found in them.

Fourthly. We desire that these our Resolves may be, as soon as possible, published throughout the whole Continent.

At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Eastham, legally warned and assembled, at the North Meeting-House, the 20th of February, A. D. 1775: Deacon Edward Knowles, Moderator.

The Assembly voted to dismiss the Committee of Correspondence chosen at a meeting held at the South Meeting-House, 22d February, 1774, for this Town, and also voted to choose another, viz: Mr. Theophilus Hopkins, Capt. Edward Knowles, Capt. Amos Knowles, Jun., Major Solomon Pepper, and Mr. John Yates.

Voted, also, the Town’s disapprobation and dismission of Messrs. Thomas Paine, Job Crocker, and Isaiah Higgins, from any business as a Committee of Inspection, (who were chosen by the County Congress at their last meeting at Barnstable, for a Committee of Inspection for this Town, to see that the Resolves of the Congresses and Association are observed and put in execution.)

Also, voted to choose a Committee of three men, viz: Messrs. Amos Knowles, Junior, Benjamin Higgins, and John Doane, as a Committee of Inspection, (to join with a former Committee chosen at a meeting held at the South Meeting-House, 3d of January, 1775,) to see that the Resolves of the Congresses and Association are observed and put in execution.

The Town also voted their charge to the abovesaid Committee, that they strictly adhere to their office, and see that all the Resolves of the Congresses are observed and put in execution in this Town which are agreeable to the Continental Congress.

And, also, voted to make null and void the vote which passed in this Town, at a meeting held at the South Meeting-House, 3d of January, 1775, for the Constables, viz: Messrs. Job Crocker and Willard Knowles, Junior, to pay the Province Tax assessed in their bills to Henry Gardner, Esquire, of Stow, taking his receipt.

Attest:

GIDEON BATY, Town Clerk.

The within has been compared by the Committee of Correspondence, and found to be a true copy of an attested copy of said meeting.

ISAAC SPARROW, JOSEPH COLE, JOHN DAVIS, THOMAS TWINING,

Committee of Correspondence.

Eastham, February 24, 1775.

Whereas it appears to us that a number of men in this Town have been, and still are using their influence and power in opposition to the measures adopted by the Americans to recover, preserve, and maintain those rights and privileges which our illustrious ancestors so nobly contended for, and have handed down to us as a fair inheritance: Now, in order to free ourselves as much as possible from the embarrassments of those men, and to convince the world that we are determined to persevere in joining our American brethren in their noble efforts to throw off the yoke of tyranny, we think it highly expedient to form ourselves into an Association. Therefore we, the subscribers, mutually agree and associate ourselves under the name and title of Freeholders and Freemen of the Association of the Town of Eastham; and do hereby pledge our faith to each other that we will abide by the Association resolves, and recommendations of the Continental, our Provincial, and this County Congresses, (so far as they are made publick,) to the utmost of our power; and also, that we will abide by the regulations and regular votes, resolves, and agreements that shall be hereafter made by this Association for the purposes before mentioned, of recovering, securing, and maintaining our just rights and privileges.

Witness our hands:

A true copy, examined:

ISAAC SPARROW, Association Clerk.

Eastham, May 26, 1775.

We, the Committee of Correspondence for the Town and Association of Eastham, in compliance with a Resolve of the Provincial Congress of the 12th of April, 1775, render to the Committee of Correspondence for the County of Barnstable the following, which is a true state of the conduct of the Town of Eastham, with respect to their having executed each plan recommended by the Continental and Provincial Congresses:

The Town of Eastham, at a legal meeting, voted that the Constables for the year 1775 might pay the Province money in their hands to Henry Gardner, Esquire, taking his receipt; but soon after, at a meeting at the North Meeting-House, called by the Selectmen by the request of Amos Knowles, Junior, Gideon Baty, Theophilus Hopkins,