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Crown Resistance Day VotedIn Acton October 3,1774Crown Resistance Day, as it, is observed in Acton, commemorates the day nearly 200 years ago, when the voters of the town of Acton cast their vote in favor of resisting Great Britain. At the town meeting of October 3, 1774, the town took three important steps. In the first place, Josiah Hayward was elected as representative to the general court, when and if Governor Gage dared to call it into session. Secondly, Francis Faulkner, and Ephraim Hapgood were chosen as delegates to a provincial congress held at Concord on October 11. Thirdly, Ephraim Hapgood, Francis Faulker, John Hayward, Mark White, and Cap’t. Samuel Hayward were elected as a committee of correspondence for the town.All towns in the area which attended the Provincial Congress in Concord held similar meetings in the same general time interval, and voted committees of correspondence, if this hadn’t been done before, as well as electing representatives to the congress.The Provincial Congress, which was headed up by John Hancock, in effect took the place of the General Court which had been scheduled to open in Salem on October 5. Ftowever, it had become obvious to Governor Gage that opening the General Court in that town, which he had ordered as a punishment to the town of Boston for the boycott of British goods which it inspired among the colonies, would be a farce. Furthermore, he was to pay little attention to the grievances submitted by the Provincial Congress.The main significance of the Congress was its leadership in reorganizing the militia and its instructions, through delegates, lor the formation of minutemen companies.In consequence, a company of minutemen was raised by volunteer enlistment in Acton in November of 1774. Issac Davis, a gunsmith by trade, and a man of sound judgement, well respected by his contemporaries, was elected captain, and by mutual agreement, the company met twice each week ior instruction and drill.On January 4, 1775, a committee consisting of Lt. Billing, Cap’t. Samuel Hayward, Lt. John Heald, Josiah Piper, Deacon Brooks, Joseph Robbins, and Francis Faulkner was selected to see that the resolves oi the Continental Congress were strictly observed in the town.By the middle of January, the people had become aware that it was their duty to support theMinutemen. On the 18th, it was voted to pay 30 men, if so many shall mlist, eight pence per day twice in a week they to spend in exersising three hours in each day untill the first day of may next, also voted that any man that does not attend his duty on said day for exercise within half and hour of the time prefixed shall not be intitled to any pay for that day.”Evolution of the MinutemenIt had become readily ap- to...Selectmen of all townsDarent to the leaders of the were told to insure an adequate
Newspaper Details
Acton Assabet Valley Beacon
Acton, Massachusetts, US
Thu, Sep 26, 1974
Page 41
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
TN, USA 08 Jan 2020
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