Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-19
Rare Old Documents.

General stephen Thomas has a very rare
and valuable collection Of old revolutionary
documents. Among these is a commission
from tho Congress Of the Colony Of Massa-
chusetts to Reuben Dickinson, as a Captain
In Colonel benjamin Ruggcs Woodbridres
Regiment Of Foot, to which is appended the
autographs Of Joseph Warren, President. T..
T., and Samuel Freeman, Secretary, 2. r..
This commission is dated just one hundred
years ago to-day--less than one month before
General Warcn's death at Bunker's Hill.
Another is commission from "The dele.
gates Of the United Colonies Of New IIamp-
shire, Massachusetts, Bay, Rhode Island, Con
necticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl
vana the counties Of New Castle, Kent and
Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina aud South Carolina" to this
same gentleman for the same position. II is
signed by John Hancock, President. and
Charles Thomson, Secretary, and bears date
July !, l77j The above are in an admira.
BILE state Of preservation, every letter being
rs clear and distinct as the day ON which
they were issued
But perhaps the most valuable document,
as showing the earlier disanoction of the
Colonists, is an agreement drawn up in l77L
to be signed 10y the inhabitants Of the sew
eral towns, as follows:
We the subscribers, inhabitants Of the town
o., having taken into our serious consid.
Grafton the precarious state of the liberties OF
North America, and more especially the present
distracted condition Of this nsultod province, en-
barrassed AZ It is by several acts Of the b itish
Parliament tending 10 the entire subverslon Of
our natural and charter rights, among which is
the act for blocking up the harhor OF Boston and
being fully sensible Of our indispensable duty to
lay hold ON every means IN our power to preserve
and recover the much injured constitution Of our
country, and conscious at the same time Of no al
Tentative between the horrors Of slavery or the
carnage and desolation ola civil war but a suspen-
sion Of all commercial intercourse with the island
Of Great Britain DO in the presence Of God, sol
elnnly and In good faith covenant aud engage
with each other, ist That from hcnceiorth we
will suspend all commercial intercourse with the
said island Of Great Britain until the said act for
blockadug up the said harhor be repealed and
full restoration Of our charter rights be obtained
And,
IDLY, That there may be the less temptation to
Others to continue in tho said, now dangerous
commerce we do IN like manner solemnly cove
nant that we will not buy, purchase or consume,
or suffer any person. by, for or under us to pur-
chase OF consume, in any manner whatever, any
goods, wares or merchandise which shall arrive
A.. &. ~ ia
after the last day Of August next ensuing Aud
in order as much as in ms lies 10 prevent our being
interrupted and defeated in this only peaceable
measure, entered into for the recovery and preser
walton Of our rights, we agree to break OF all
trade, commerce and dealings whatever with all
persons who prefering their own private interest
TO the salvation of their now perishing country,
shah still continue to import goods from Great
Britain, or shall purchase Of those who do import
3dly, That such persons may not have it in their
power to impose upon MS by any prcteuco what
ever we further agree to purchase no article OF
merchandise from them, or any Of them, who
shall not have signed this, or "a similar covenant,
OF will not produce an oath, certified By mags-
trate to be by them taken TO the following pur-
pose. riz. -- Of --- in the county Of - do
solomuly swear that the goods have now on
hand and propose for sale have not to the best Of
my knowledge been imported from Great Britain,
into any port OF America since the last day of Au-
gust, one thousand seven hundred and seventy
four, and that will not, contrary 10 the spirit Of
an agreement entering into through this province,
import or purchase Of any person so importing any
goods ns Aforesaid until the port or harbour Of
Boston, shall be opened, and we are fully restored
to the free use OF our constitutional and charter
rights And,
Lastly, we agree, that after this, or similar
covenant has been offered to any person and they
refuse to sign it, or produce the oath, aboyesad |
we will consider them as contunacious importers
and withdraw all commercial connexions with |
them, so far rs not to purchase Of Them any ar
ticle whatever and publish their names to the
world
lie has also many other early documents
of no little value, which we trust he win feel
it to be his duty to safely deposit in the IL
brary of the Historical Society for preser-
walton.