On October 7, 1774, ninety chosen representatives met at Salem in defiance of General Gage’s order. They elected John Hancock to serve as chairman. They resolved to form themselves into “a Provincial Congress…to take into consideration the dangerous and alarming situation of public affairs in this province, and to consult and determine on such measures as they shall judge will tend to promote the true interest of his majesty, and the peace, welfare, and prosperity of the province.” The establishment of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was essentially a coup détat: a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power. The royal government, headed by General Gage, was now isolated and virtually powerless except for the presence of the army and navy in Boston.
Now, 250 years later, Essex County met once again to honor the anniversary of this crucial moment in the lead up to independence. On October 7, 2024, Essex Heritage and the Hawthorne Hotel hosted a gathering to commemorate and discuss the significance of the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress.
Here is the full video of the 250th Provincial Congress event:
- Welcome and Introduction: Jonathan Lane, Executive Director of Revolution 250 Massachusetts
- Brief lecture on the significance of Oct 7, 1774: Alexander Cain, author of We Stood Our Ground: Lexington in the First Year of the American Revolution
- Presentation of the Resolutions: Presentations of the federal, state, and local resolutions commemorating the bravery of those who met at Salem in defiance of the lawful government. See below for a gallery of the resolutions.
- Keynote Address: Robert A. Gross, author of The Minutemen and their World.
In attendance at the 250th event were American Revolutionary War reenactors from the Danvers Alarm List Company and the Lexington Minute Men.
Resolutions from state and local officials:
Essex County Provincial Congress Delegates
Name | City | County | Birthdate | Place of Birth | Death Date | Age September 1774 | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Pickering, Jr. | Salem | Essex | bp March 2, 1731 | Salem, MA | August 23, 1811 | 43 | Lawyer / Farmer |
Jonathan Ropes, Jr | Salem | Essex | December 26, 1718 | Salem, MA | January 18, 1799 | 56 | Coastal Trader |
Dr Samuel Holten | Danvers | Essex | June 9, 1738 | Danvers, MA | Jan 2, 1816 | 36 | Medical Doctor / Farmer |
Michael Farley | Ipswich | Essex | April 24, 1720 | Ipswich, MA | June 20, 1789 | 54 | Tanner / Farmer |
Daniel Noyes | Ipswich | Essex | January 29, 1738 | Ipswich, MA | March 21, 1815 | 36 | Teacher / Postmaster / Public Servant |
Joseph Gerrish | Newbury | Essex | September 10, 1708 | Newbury, MA | May 26, 1776 | 66 | Farmer |
Jonathan Greenleaf | Newburyport | Essex | July 15, 1723 | Newburyport, MA | May 24, 1807 | 51 | Shipbuilder |
Jeremiah Lee | Marblehead | Essex | April 16, 1721 | Marblehead, MA | May 10, 1775 | 53 | Merchant / Import-Export |
Azor Orne | Marblehead | Essex | July 22, 1731 | Marblehead, MA | June 6, 1796 | 43 | Merchant |
Elbridge Gerry | Marblehead | Essex | July 17, 1744 | Marblehead, MA | November 23, 1814 | 30 | Merchant / Public Servant |
Ebenezer Burrill | Lynn | Essex | February 6 , 1703 | Lynn, MA | May 20, 1778 | 71 | Farmer |
John Mansfield | Lynn | Essex | February 29, 1721 | Lynn, MA | April 24, 1809 | 53 | Farmer |
Moody Bridges | Andover | Essex | January 19, 1723 | Andover, MA | July 14, 1801 | 51 | Farmer / Maltster |
Josiah Batchelder | Beverly | Essex | October 2, 1737 | Beverly, MA | December 10, 1809 | 37 | Ship Captain / Merchant / Surveyor |
Nathaniel Mighill | Rowley | Essex | June 2, 1715 | Rowley, MA | March 26, 1788 | 59 | Farmer |
Samuel Smith | Salisbury | Essex | June 18, 1714 | Salisbury, MA | October 25, 1778 | 60 | Farmer |
Samuel White | Haverhill | Essex | September 15, 1718 | Haverhill, MA | August 21, 1801 | 56 | Merchant / Farmer |
Joseph Haynes | Haverhill | Essex | January 25, 1716 | Haverhill, MA | December 20, 1804 | 58 | Farmer / Trader / Shopkeeper |
Peter Coffin | Gloucester | Essex | August 10, 1723 | Gloucester, MA | February 14, 1796 | 51 | Farmer / Shopkeeper |
Samuel Smith | Topsfield | Essex | January 26, 1714 | Topsfield, MA | November 14, 1785 | 60 | Farmer |
Aaron Wood | Boxford | Essex | 1720 | Boxford, MA | January 20, 1791 | 54 | Farmer |
Isaac Merrill | Amesbury | Essex | February 25, 1708 | Newbury, MA | February 7, 1787 | 66 | Farmer |
Daniel Thurston | Bradford | Essex | March 1, 1719 | Bradford, MA | July 14, 1805 | 55 | Farmer / House Builder |
Benjamin Fairfield | Wenham | Essex | October 29, 1708 | Wenham, MA | January 12, 1788 | 66 | Farmer |
Andrew Woodbury | Manchester | Essex | November 7, 1731 | Manchester, MA | July 24, 1808 | 43 | Farmer |
James Ingles | Methuen | Essex | August 30, 1720 | Andover, MA | August 8, 1804 | 54 | Farmer |
Archelaus Fuller | Middleton | Essex | May 4, 1727 | Middleton, MA | August 25, 1776 | 47 | Farmer |