ALFORD, BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

At a meeting of the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Alford, legally assembled at the house of Ensign Simeon Harlbut, in said town, on Friday, the 7th day of June, A. D. 1776, at four of the clock in the afternoon on said day, to consider and act on the subject of independence, as the town should think fit, in pursuance of advice from the Great and General Court of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay:

The two following Resolves being laid before the town, in a full meeting, and being separately put, they each of them passed unanimously:

Resolved, (as the opinion of the Town,) That by a number of Acts and Laws made and passed by both Houses of the British Parliament in the reign of George III, and the hostilities commenced in support of said Acts and Laws, the union and connection between Great Britain and the United Colonies of North America are, on the part of Britain, cut in sunder, and that the United Colonies ought to take forfeiture.

Passed in the affirmative, nem. con.

Therefore, Resolved, That should the honourable the Continental Congress declare the United Colonies of North America independent in all respects of the Kingdom of Great Britain, this Town will support the measure with their lives and fortunes.

Passed in the affirmative, nem. con.

NORWICH, HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

At a meeting of the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Norwich, legally assembled, on the 7th of June, 1776:

Voted, (on the article in the warrant respecting independence from Great Britain,) in case the honourable Continental Congress and the body of the United Colonies think best to declare independence from Great Britain, the Town of Norwich votes to join to support and defend the same.

PALMER, HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

At a very full meeting of the inhabitants of Palmer, legally met at the publick Meeting-House, on Monday, the 17th day of June, 1776, at one o’clock in the afternoon. The meeting being opened, Mr. Robert Farrell was chosen Moderator, and then proceeded and voted the following Instructions to the Representative of this Town now at the General Assembly of this Colony, as the sentiments of this Town:

That whereas the Court of Great Britain hath, by sundry Acts of Parliament, assumed the power of legislation for the Colonies in all cases whatsoever, without the consent of the inhabitants; have likewise exercised the assumed power for raising a revenue in the Colonies without their consent: We cannot justly call that our own which others may, when they please, take from us against our will. Have likewise appointed a new set of officers to superintend these revenues, wholly unknown in the Charter, and by their Commissioners invested with powers altogether unconstitutional and destructive to the security which we have a right to enjoy. Fleets and Armies have been introduced to support these unconstitutional officers in collecting these unconstitutional revenues; have altered the Charter of this Colony, and thereby overthrown the Constitution; together with many other grievous acts of Parliament, too grievous to be borne. The peaceable inhabitants being alarmed at such repeated inroads on the Constitution, and gigantick strides of despotick power over the Colonies, the Colonies petitioned the King for redress of grievances; finding that to fail, petitioned generally, begging as children to a father to be heard and relieved; but all to no purpose, the petitions being treated with almost contempt. The United Colonies, finding that no redress could he had from Great Britain, unitedly agreed to an opposition in the most peaceable way they could contrive, being willing to try every peaceable measure that could possibly be invented, rather than break with Great Britain. Great Britain, being bent on her favourite scheme of enslaving the Colonies, declared them Rebels, and treated them as such. The Colonies, being driven to a state of despair of the least relief from them, were obliged, by the law of self-preservation, to take up arms in their own defence, meaning to use them only as such; but the dispute has arisen to so great a height that it is impossible for the Colonies ever to be joined with Great Britain again with the least security and safety to themselves or posterity. We, the inhabitants of this town, do believe it absolutely necessary for the safety of the United Colonies to be independent from Great Britain, and declare themselves entirely a separate State, as we can see no alternative but inevitable ruin or independence. But as there is a General Congress of wise and good men, who sit at the helm of affairs, consulting measures which will be most for the safety and prosperity of the whole, and have the means of intelligence and information in their hands, submit the whole affair to their wise consideration and determination; and if they shall unite in a separation from Great Britain, we do unanimously determine and declare we will support them with our lives and fortunes. We do direct the Representative of this Town to lay these votes before the honourable General Assembly of this Colony, to enable them to communicate our sentiments to the honourable Continental Congress.

ACTON, MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

At a meeting of the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Acton, legally assembled, on the 14th day of June, 1776, the following Instructions were given to the Representative of this Town:

To Mr. MARK WHITE.

SIR: Our not being favoured with the resolution of the late honourable House of Representatives, calling upon the several towns in this Colony to express their minds with respect to the important question of American Independence, is the occasion of our not expressing our minds sooner; but we cheerfully embrace this opportunity to instruct you on that important question. The subverting our Constitution, the many injuries and unheard-of barbarities which these Colonies have received from Great Britain, confirm us in the opinion that the present age will be deficient in their duty to God, to their posterity, and themselves, if they do not establish an American Republick. This is the only form of Government we wish to see established. But we mean not to dictate. We freely submit this interesting affair to the wisdom of the honourable Continental Congress, who we trust are guided and directed in these important affairs by the Supreme Governour of the world; and we entreat you, sir, to give them the strongest assurances that, if they should declare America to be a free and independent Republick, your constituents will defend the measure with their lives and fortunes.

We further entreat you that you do nothing to subvert the laws concerning the settling and maintaining Gospel ministers; but, on the contrary, that you do all you can to uphold them in their full power.

BEDFORD, MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

At a general Town-Meeting, legally assembled, on the 17th day of June, A. D. 1776, the following article was considered, and acted upon, viz:

A resolve of the late House of Representatives, passed May 10, 1776, that the inhabitants of each town in the Colony ought, in full meeting, warned for that purpose, to advise the person who should be selected to represent them in the next General Court, whether, should the honourable Congress, for the safety of the said Colonies, declare them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, then vote that we, the inhabitants of the Town of Bedford, will solemnly engage, with our lives and fortunes, to support them in the measure.

MURRAYFIELD, HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

June 17, 1776.

At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Murrayfield, regularly assembled, on the third article in the warrant with regard to Independency from Great Britain:

Voted, (in a nearly full meeting,) That, under the present circumstances of the Thirteen United Colonies, and the treatment of Great Britain towards America, we view it necessary, and are willing, to a man, to be declared an