America will be celebrating its 250th birthday on Independence Day 2026. The Historical Society will be posting Chelmsford’s involvement in these events on Facebook and our website. Introducing our 250th logo, seen above, that will accompany these postings.
If we started this endeavor 10 years ago, you would already have read about the financial cost to Great Britain for defending the American territories in the French and Indian war (1754-1763). Parliament instituted the Sugar, Quartering, Stamp, and Townshend Acts, just to name a few, to raise money and keep a standing army in the colonies. As there were no representatives from the colonies in the British Parliament, you would have heard shouts of “No Taxation without Representation!” as the colonists protested and boycotted to retain their liberty. With little success, there was increased mob intimidation and riots. By 1774 the tide was starting to turn towards revolt.
As the result of the destruction of tea back in December, in mid-May, Boston received notification of The Boston Port Act1 which closed the port of Boston to all trade and moved the official customs office to Salem, MA effective June 1st, until such time that the East India Trade Co is reimbursed for the loss of tea. Boston’s Committee of Correspondence sent letters right away to inform everyone in all the Colonies and ask for a boycott on British Trade. How will Chelmsford react?
Excerpts of Chelmsford’s town meeting to discuss the news sent from Boston’s Committee of Correspondence, that contained “matters of as great importance as ever came before a town meeting.” - The Boston Port Act.
“It is the opinion of this town, that the present day is as dark and distressing a day as this country ever experienced. Perhaps, the liberties of the land, in no period, from the first settlement of our fathers, were ever so endangered as at present.
"... whoever is acquainted with the annals of America must know. That there never was a time when it was not our ambition to expend life and treasure for the service of Great Britain.
(This) “act of Parliament, which we must say is as cruel, and severe an act as ever originated in the breast of any minister in the worst of times. An act, that not only ruins that town, but must in the end prove the destruction of us all.
“In this dangerous and critical situation, after cool and serious thought, these are our sentiments ... Taxation without representation we have no conception of, and as we suppose it to be productive of absolute slavery so we must be justified in never submitting to it ... When once a people have yielded the right of granting their won monies and permitted the king to exercise this power, when and in what manner he pleases, that moment they become slaves.
“The present act respecting the blocking up the port of Boston, we esteem dangerous and destructive ... we are determined to support with all our power the town of Boston in defense of rights common to us all - and while we are sensible our cause is right, we are resolved never to submit to the iron hand of despotism and oppression.
“In fine, when we consider acts of parliament sent over to enslave and because resisted, threatened to be dragooned into obedience ... our hearts bleed within us. What can be thy policy O Britian by this conduct ... we are determined in a manly, firm, virtuous, and joint way, to secure and defend those liberties, purchased for us by our ancestors ... and before they are wrenched from us, to struggle hard, very hard for them, considering ourselves as the guardians of unborn millions. And O our God! In the midst of this struggle, which we think is agreeable to thy will, we would look up for thy direction and assistance. May the liberties of America still flourish under thy smiles as they eminently did in the days of our fathers. May we look up to thee in every step we take, and do thou give us a head to contrive and a heart to execute. And grant in the most adverse situation of our public affairs, we may trust in thee, and may this be the prevailing sentiments of us all.
“In Freedom we’re born and in Freedom will die.”
Soon after the Boston Port Act, more Acts arrived from Parliament designed so Britain could have more control over the colonies. Collectively, these acts were called the Coercive Acts (and were also known as the Intolerable Acts by the colonists). Boston responded with the Solemn League and Covenant, an agreement to boycott British goods, which was inspired by the similarly named 1643 pledge between Scotland and England. It was drafted so that it could be adopted by other towns and included spaces for filling in the name of the town, acceptance date, and individual signers. It was published on June 5, 1774.
Chelmsford held a town meeting on June 27, 17742 to discuss “certain papers sent up from Boston to the Committee of Correspondence of this town, containing proposals for a Plan Supposed to be the most Likely method to Prevent either absolute Slavery or the Troubles of a Civil War”.
Here are some excerpts:
“The papers being Read (and considered of) Sent up from Boston to the Committee of Correspondence of this town.
"Voted That the paper, Signed by the Inhabitants of this Town, Shall be Kept in the Town Clerks office of this Town until Such Time as we are Informed that the Town of Boston and the other Towns in this Province Shall have Signed Similar papers otherwise This Signing to be of none Effect.
"Voted to Choose a Committee to offer the paper above mentioned to be Signed, to Such of the Inhabitants of this Town as have not as yet Signed the Same.
"Voted that the Committee of Correspondence of this Town, be the Committee to offer Said paper to Such Persons as have not Signed the Same and Return the Said paper to the town at the next public town meeting in Said Town.
"Then the meeting was Dismissed.
"Recorded by David Spaulding Town Clerk”
It has been eight months since the Boston Tea Party occurred in December 1773. To keep the unruly Bostonians in line, Parliament closed the port on June 1st and the only land entrance to the city was fortified and guarded. The Boston Common was covered in white tents, and soldiers were on patrol everywhere creating a military state throughout the city. From Wilson Waters’ "History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts," we learn: “The people of Chelmsford manifested their sympathy for the sufferers at Boston by collecting sheep and cattle and sending them to their relief. Samuel Howard and Captain Samuel Stevens drove them to Boston, for which the Town paid them at a later date.”
The big discussions over the summer were about two new acts, The Massachusetts Government Act3 and The Administration of Justice Act4. These acts revoked the colonists’ rights by annulling key provisions of the provincial Charter of 1691, replacing local elections with royal appointments, limiting town meetings, and allowing government officers to be tried for crimes in other colonies or in Great Britain instead of locally. The civil government was almost completely shut down. Everywhere people were discussing the appropriate response to these parliamentary measures and there was an increasing conviction that the restoration of their rights may not happen without a call to arms.
Delegate conventions were held in each county. The Middlesex County Delegate Convention met in Concord on August 30-31, 1774 “to consult upon measures proper to be taken at the present very important crisis." Chelmsford sent: Simeon Spaulding, Benjamin Walker, Zacheus Wright and Jonathan Williams Austin as four of the 150 delegates.
Austin was chosen chairman of a committee of nine delegates appointed to take into consideration these latest two acts and report back to the convention. The committee presented the Middlesex Resolves which is printed in the History of Middlesex County by Samuel Adams Drake on pages. 107-109. It is assumed to have been drafted by Austin and states the desire to stay loyal to the king. However, the charter of 1691 places responsibilities on both parties (king and colonist) and Parliament has broken that agreement with these two acts. It lists 19 detailed resolves concerning:
How the agreement is broken: “by passing acts, which hold up their absolute supremacy over the colonists…and by enforcing all these iniquitous acts with a large armed force, to dragoon and enslave us.”
How it affects us: “That it is our opinion these late acts, if quietly submitted to, will annihilate the last vestiges of liberty in this province and therefore we must be justified by God and the world in never submitting to them.”
And how we shall oppose them: “If any officers shall accept a commission under the present plan of arbitrary government ... we will consider them having forfeited their commissions, and yield them no obedience.”
The document concludes with the need for a Provincial Congress and a determination to defend the laws and liberties of this country even unto death.
These Middlesex Resolves5 were adopted at the convention by a vote of 146 – 4 and sent to the 1st Continental Congress in Philadelphia, PA, which was to meet in the fall of 1774.
Upon information of William Brattle of Cambridge, major-general of the province militia, General Gage, on the morning of (Thursday) September 1, 1774, sent an armed force to seize the province powder, stored in an ancient windmill, now standing in the city of Somerville. At the same time a detachment went to Cambridge and brought away two field-pieces belonging to the Middlesex regiment, with which they safely returned to Boston. The news spread like wildfire. All Middlesex was in commotion. The next morning the freemen of the county towns marched for Cambridge with arms, provisions, and ammunition. Friday morning some thousands of them having first left their guns outside the limits, entered the town. The committees of Charlestown and Boston, being notified, immediately repaired to Cambridge.
The assembled freemen first proceeded to the court-house, where they demanded and received the resignation of the venerable Samuel Danforth as a member of Gage’s council. The resignation of Joseph Lee was next obtained. Then the High-Sheriff of the county, Colonel David Phips, was required to sign a pledge not to execute any precept that might be sent to him under the new acts of parliament, and to recall all the venires sent out by him under the new order of things. Later in the day the resignation of Lieutenant-Governor Thomas Oliver, also a resident of Cambridge, as president of the obnoxious council, was exacted. He was permitted to say in it that the act was not a voluntary one.
No act of violence was committed by the four or five thousand men whom his honor, the lieutenant-governor, described as not a mad mob, but the freeholders of the county.
Source: Yale Center for British Art
After securing the compulsory resignations of the crown officers, the sturdy yeomanry were provided with food, and returned to their homes well satisfied with their day’s work.
The Port of Boston has been closed almost four months and is overrun with soldiers. As conditions worsen for the citizens of Boston, Chelmsford comes to their aid with food and offers of sanctuary.
“Besides the sheep and cattle already mentioned, Chelmsford sent forty bushels of rye to Boston for the relief of the sufferers by the Boston Port Bill. This letter was sent at the same time. Chelmsford, 26th September 1774. Gentlemen, We, the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Chelmsford, take this opportunity of transmitting a quantity of grain, collected for the use of your poor. We are happy to have it in our power, by any means to show our affection for a Town, who are so eminently suffering in the Common Cause. As we entertain the highest esteem of your Conduct, we are willing not only to sympathize but share with you in your troubles and should you by the hand of power, be driven from your habitations, we welcome you to our own; and trust, that in these, at present, abodes of peace and liberty, you enjoy a superior satisfaction to those who are aiming "to raise their greatness on their country's ruin.
"We are, Gentlemen, with much esteem, Your humble servants, Jonathan Williams Austin, Chairman, by order of the Committee [Massachusetts Historical Society Collection Fourth Series, Volume IV, page 92.]” 6
The following was received in reply: “Boston October 3d 1774. Sir, To commiserate the Afflicted to Sympathize with the oppressed Sufferer, to reach out the bounteous hand for the Comfort, Relief & Support and the Distressed are sacrifices well pleasing and acceptable to God thro' Christ our Savior. Our Worthy Friends and Brethren of Chelmsford have in this way done honor to the Gospel of our divine Redeemer and by so doing have greatly honored themselves.
"We have an evidence hereof in the very kind Donation of Forty Bushels of Rye from the patriotic Inhabitants of that Town; it has been received and housed in the Granary, and shall be disposed of agreeable to the benevolent Intent of the generous Donors. It affords us great satisfaction to find that the Conduct of this much abused Town meets with their approbation; we greatly value it; and trust that by the same gracious directing and supporting Hand, which hath brought us hitherto, we shall not be left to do anything which may incur a forfeiture of that Affection and Esteem. How can ye help us at such a time as this more effectually than by carrying our Cause daily to the God of all Grace and employing his Mercy and Favor for us—They are inclusive of all Good.
"Your invitation to make your Houses our Homes is very engaging should we at length be forced out of those once peaceful Habitations we think ourselves very happy that we are like to be so well provided for; but should we be obliged even to remove off fifteen times the distance of Chelmsford, yet the Consciousness of a cordial Attachment to the invaluable civil and religious Liberties of our Country, which we believe to be the Cause of Truth and Righteousness, would yield us content and Satisfaction far superior to that which those can experience who are ungratefully seeking to 'build their Greatness on their Country’s Ruin.'
"With grateful Acknowledgments. I am Sir Your truly obliged Friend & Servt David Jeffries pr order of the Committee of Donations, Mr Jonathan Williams Austin.” 7
On September 1st, 1774, appointed royal governor General Thomas Gage called on the individual provinces of Massachusetts Bay to elect representatives to reconvene the Massachusetts Provincial Assembly he had previously dissolved. The newly elected representatives were to meet at Salem on October 5, however, by September 28 Gage changed his mind and decided not to convene the Assembly because of “the many tumults and disorders which have since taken place.”
On October 5, ninety elected representatives met as scheduled anyway, with Simeon Spaulding having been voted at town meeting to represent Chelmsford. These were his instructions for the meeting:
"Voted the following Instructions for the Representative of this town. As we have now Chosen you to Represent us in the great and general Court to be holden at Salem on Wednesday the fifth Day of October next ensuing.
“We do hereby Instruct you that in all your Doings as a member of the house of Representatives you adhere firmly to the charter of this Province granted by their majesties R. William & Q. Mary and that you Do no act which can Possibly be Construed into an acknowledgement of the Validity of the act of the British Parliament for altering the government of the Massachusetts bay. More especially that you acknowledge the Hon. Board of Councilors Elected by the general Court at their Sessions in May Last, as the only Rightful and Constitutional Council of this province.
“We do hereby Empower & Instruct you to Join with the members who may be Sent from the other towns in the province & to meet with them at a time to be agreed on, in a general provincial Congress to act upon Such matters as may Come before you in Such a manner as shall appear to you most Conducive to the true Interest of this town and province and most Likely to preserve the Liberties of all America.”
On October 7 they agreed to continue as a Provincial Congress and adjourned until October 11 in Concord.
On October 5, 1774, Chelmsford’s Simeon Spaulding joined 90 other delegates in Salem for a Massachusetts Provincial Assembly, which was formed in response to the dissolution of the colonial government. By October 7th, they voted to establish themselves into a Provincial Congress, to be joined by representatives of each town, and adjourned until October 11th.
On October 11th, Mr. Simeon Spaulding, Mr. Jonathan Williams Austin, and Mr. Samuel Perham joined 288 delegates in the Concord meeting house for the first Massachusetts Provincial Congress. The Congress met in multiple locations throughout October, November and December. By the end of October, the delegates had corresponded with General Thomas Gage, the last royally appointed governor of Massachusetts, concerning the removal of the fortress at the entrance of Boston to which the governor replied in the negative and labeled the assembly as “in violation of your own constitution” and required them to “desist from such illegal and unconstitutional proceedings”.
Nonetheless, delegates persisted by setting up committees to review the state of the province, to inquire into the operations of the army, and to consider what was necessary to be done for the defense and safety of the province. The Committee of Safety was to oversee the organization of the militia and recommended the formation of soldiers who “shall equip and hold themselves in readiness, on the shortest notice”–what became known as Minute Men. The congress also resolved that tax money should continue to be collected as usual but not be paid to the royal treasurer, Hon. Harrison Gray, Esq. Collectors of taxes should hold on to it until further advice of a Provincial Congress.
REFERENCES:
- American Battlefield Trust website The Boston Port Act
- Internet Archive website Handwritten Minutes May 30, 1774
- American Battlefield Trust website The Massachusetts Government Act
- American Battlefield Trust website The Administration of Justice Act
- Chelmsford Historical Society website The Middlesex Resolves
- "History of Chelmsford Massachusetts" by Wilson Waters, page 205
- "History of Chelmsford Massachusetts" by Wilson Waters, page 206
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