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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the Wilmington Committee of Safety
Wilmington (N.C.). Committee of Safety
March 06, 1775 - March 07, 1775
Volume 09, Pages 1149-1154

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
Proceedings of the Safety Committee at Wilmington.


Monday, March 6th 1775.

The committee met according to adjournment.

Present: Cornelius Harnett, Chairman, Francis Clayton, Deputy Chairman.

Archibald M'Laine, Alex. Lillington, James Moore, John Robeson, Sampson Moseley, Joel Parish, Timothy Bloodworth, Thos. Bloodworth, James Wright, John Hollingsworth, Samuel Marshall, F. Jones, John Ancrum, James Walker, Wm. Hooper, Samuel Collier.

The following association was agreed on by the Committee, and annexed to the resolves of the General Congress, to be handed to every person in this county and recommended to the committees of the adjacent counties, that those who acceded to the said resolves, may subscribe their names thereto.

We the subscribers, in testimony of our sincere approbation of the proceedings of the late Continental Congress, to this annexed, have hereunto set our hands, and we do most solemnly engage by the most sacred ties of honor, virtue and love of our country, that we will ourselves strictly observe every part of the association recommended by the Continental Congress as the most probable means to bring about a reconciliation between Great Britain and her colonies and we will use every method in our power to endeavor to influence others to the observation of it by persuasion, and such other methods as shall be consistent with the peace and good order, and the laws of this Province, and we do hereby intend to express our utter detestation of all such as shall endeavor to defeat the purposes of the said Congress, and will concur to hold forth such characters to public contempt.

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William Wilkinson reported sundry dry goods imported in the Schooner ——, Yelverton Fowkes, master, from Charles Town, directed to his care by Joseph Robeson, of Deep river, to have their opinion whether the said goods could be landed agreeable to the general resolves.

The committee after examining Mr. Wilkinson and Capt. Fowkes, and such papers as they could produce:

Resolved, That the said goods cannot be disposed of by the said Robeson, or his Factor, till further proof of their having been imported or disposed of agreeable to the general resolves, and that William Wilkinson be allowed six weeks from this time, to procure from the committee of Charles Town, such certificates as shall be satisfactory to this committee; and the said Wm. Wilkinson is to store the goods, and deliver the key to Mr. James Walker, one of this committee.

The committee then adjourned till 3 o'clock this afternoon.

3 o'clock, the committee met according to adjournment.

Present: Cornelius Harnett, Chairman, Francis Clayton, Deputy Chairman.

John Robeson, Samuel Swann, A. Lillington, George Moore, Sampson Moseley, Wm. Jones, L. C., John Colvin, Samuel Marshall, Wm. Jones, W. T., Thos. Bloodworth, Archibald M'Laine, John Ancrum, James Walker, James Wright, Timothy Bloodworth, Samuel Collier, John Hollingsworth, Joel Parish, John Devane, George Merrick, Wm. Hooper, James Moore, Frederick Jones.

Mr. James Kenan, Chairman of the Duplin committee, pursuant to a letter from this committee at their last meeting attended.

Resolved, That all the members of the committee now present go in a body and wait on all Housekeepers in Town, with the Association before mentioned, and request their signing it, or declare their reasons for refusing, that such Enemies to their Country may be set forth to public view and treated with the contempt they merit.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all dances private as well as public, are contrary to the spirit of the 8th Article in the Association of the Continental Congress, and that as such they ought to be discouraged, and that all persons concerned in any dances for the future should be properly stigmatized.

Mr. Harnett desired the opinion of the Committee respecting a Negro fellow he bought in Rhode Island (a Native of that place,) in

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the Month of October last, whom he designed to have brought with him to this Province, but the said Negro ran away at the time of his sailing from Rhode Island.

The question was put whether Mr. Harnett may import the said Negro from Rhode Island.

Resolved, Unanimously, That Mr. Harnett may import the said Negro from Rhode Island, and it is the opinion of this Committee that under the above circumstances, such importation will not be any infringement of the Article of the Resolves of the General Congress.

Ordered, that Mr. Grant, Messenger to this Committee, be paid for his attendance on the committee, 10 days, (including to-morrow) at the rates of 8s. per day.

The Committee then adjourned till 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.


Tuesday, 7th March, 1775.

The Committee met according to adjournment.

Present: Cornelius Harnett, Charman, Francis Clayton, Deputy Chairman.

John Ancrum, Geo. Moore, Wm. Hooper, Samuel Swann, James Moore, Sampson Moseley, Wm. Jones, W. T., Thos. Bloodworth, Alexander Lillington, F. Jones, Geo. Merrick, J. Robeson, Jno. Quince, Jno. Devane, Jno. Colvin, Timothy Bloodworth, Wm. Jones, L. C., Joel Parish, Jno. Hollingsworth, Jas. Wright, Archibald M'Laine.

Resolved, That three members of this committee attend the meeting of the committee at Duplin, on the 18th inst. Mr. Samuel Ashe, Mr. Sampson M seley, and Mr. Timothy Bloodworth, were accordingly nominated to attend the said Committee.

The Committee sent for Mr. John McDonnell, an importer and purchaser of sundry dry goods, as appears by the Journal of this committee, the 3d February last, to demand the sum of £8 0s. 2d, Sterling Money, which he became liable for to the committee. The said Jno. McDonnell having made it appear to the satisfaction of the committee, that the goods he purchased were damaged in such a manner as not to be worth the first cost and charges: It is the opinion of this committee that the aforesaid sale is void, and that the said Jno. McDonnell be excused from paying the above sum.

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Doctor Thomas Cobham, Messrs. Jno. McDonnel, Jno. Walker, jr., John Slingsby, Thomas Orr, Jno. Cruden, Wm. Mactier, and Wm. McLeod, merchants, Wm. Whitfield, planter, and Kenneth McKenzie, and Dougal McNight, Tailors, all of the Town of Wilmington, appeared before the committee, and having refused or declined, under various pretences, to sign the association of the Continental Congress;

Resolved and agreed, That we will have no trade, commerce, dealings, or intercourse whatsoever with the above mentioned persons or any others connected with them, or with any other person or persons who shall hereafter violate the said association, or refuse to subscribe hereto; but will hold them as unworthy of the rights of freemen and as inimical to the liberties of their country, and we recommend it to the people of this colony in particular, and to the Americans in general, to pursue the same conduct.

Resolved, That a copy of the above Resolve be given to Adam Boyd, to print in handbills, and distribute through this province.

The committee being informed that a vessel arrived in the River from Glasgow, with Bale Goods, desired the Chairman to write the following Letter to R'd Quince, Esq., Chairman of the Brunswick Committee:

Sir: From the Captain of a vessel from Hispaniola, just come to town, we learn that a snow has arrived from Glasgow, laden with Bale Goods, Bricks, Wines, &c; you are sensible, Sir, that these Goods, agreeable to the Articles of Association, ought to be returned; and take this very early opportunity of putting you in mind that she is a subject of your attention, having committed a breach of said Association within your limits.

The names of the Captain and Vessel are not known, but supposed to be the snow Relief, Dougal McGregor Master. You will please communicate the proceedure of your committee in this affair, I am, &c.

Signed,
CORNELIUS HARNET.

The Committee then adjourned till afternoon.

———


Tuesday, 4 o'clock.

The Committee met according to adjournment.

Present: Cornelius Harnett, Chairman, Francis Clayton, Deputy Chairman.

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Jno. Quince, Jno. Devane, Thos. Bloodworth, Timothy Bloodworth, Wm. Jones, W. T., Wm. Hooper, Jno. Ancrum, James Moore, F. Jones, Arch. McLaine, Wm. Jones, L. C.

Resolved, Unanimously, That as the measures which this Committee must be under an absolute necessity to adopt, in case any persons should mark themselves as objects of distinction, in opposition to the general American cause, must be greatly detrimental in their present operation and future consequence to them; We, therefore, in order to give full opportunity to those who have not yet subscribed their names as a testimony of their concurrence in the continental Association have thought fit to delay till Monday next carrying into execution those signal marks of contempt which the Continental Congress have thought fit to consign to those who are so far lost to public virtue, as to oppose the measures which that body proposed as a cement of allegiance to our sovereign, and as having a tendency to promote a Constitutional attachment to our Mother Country.

Resolved, unanimously, Also, that if any person who, upon application having been made to him, to sign the Association, has hitherto refused, if he shall make known that he has altered his Resolution, and shall be desirous to set his name to the said Association, he will find it in the hands of the Chairman, deputy Chairman or Secretary of this Committee, till Monday next, before or at which time he may apply and save the dangerous consequence that may ensue from a longer neglect.

Account of Money received by the Secretary for the Committee, to be disposed of agreeable to the Resolves.

£ s. d.
From Arch. Maclaine, Corn'l Harnett, Al. Lillington, Sam'l Swann, Samp. Mosely, Fred'k Jones, G. Moore, Wm. Jones Joel Parish, Jno Devane, Jno. Robeson, at 8s. each, for not attending the committee as sum'd
4
8
0
From Mr. Crowther, for sale of goods, on the 21st Feb'y, 1775
4
8
9
From Alexander Hostler, for do. 31st Dec. 1774
3
0
0
do John Slingsby for do. at sundry times
14
10
0
do Wm. McTier, for do. 31st Dec. 1774
2
0
0
do John Cruden, for do. 31st Dec. 1774
8
8
do Thos. Orr, for do. 31st Dec. 1774
15
0
do J. McDonnel, a gift to the Bostonians
3
0
0
£32
10
0
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Account of Money paid by order of the committee.

£ s. d.
To James Grant, Messenger to the Committee for his attendance, 10 days including to-day at 8s. per day
4
0
0
To Owen Kenan for Dickson in full for the balance due him by the committee appointed to receive donations for the Bostonians, for carrying expresses to the Northern counties
5
0
0
£9
0
0

The committee adjourned to the next occasional meeting.

———

At a meeting of the Freeholders of Wilmington this day, Wm. Purviance, Esq., Messrs. R'd Player, James Blythe, And'w Ronaldson, Wm. Ewins and Henry Young, were unanimously chosen an addition to the Wilmington committee.