Chapter 8 - Bellingham and the Revolution
Aaron Holbrook ->
Jonathan Draper Selectmen
Elias Thayer -> of
Elijha Alden ->Bellingham
Stephen Metcalf ->
Suffolk ss
Bellingham July 3, 1776
By virtue of this warrant I have warned the Inhabitants of this town North of Elias Thayers to meet at time and Place with in mentioned Job Partridge Constable
Suffolk ss
Bellingham July 3, 1776
By virtue of this warrant I have warned the Inhabitants of this town South of Elias Thayers to meet at time and Place apinted Jonathan Thomson Constable"
"Bellingham July 4, 1776 being Publick town meeting
Legally warned & assembled & regulated by the selectmen and the town made choice of Stephen Metcalf Esq moderator for said meeting."
"Voted that in case the Honble Continental Congress should think it necessary for the Safety of the united colonies to declare them independent on Great Britian, the Inhabitants of this town with their Lives & fortunes will cheerfully support them in the measure."
"Voted to ad three pounds to the seven pound, which the Colonie gives to Each man that will inlist to go in to the Continental army. Then the meeting was adjurned for half an hour to this place. Then met according to adjurnment & the above Vote for granting three Pounds as a bounty for those that will inlist into the Continental army is reconsidered by a vote of town."
"The meet is Dismissed."
While today July 4 has immense significance, at the time of this meeting, the meeting of the Continental Congress and its progress toward the Declaration of Independence was not known. It would be many days before word would get to Boston of the action in Philadelphia and several more before the actual Declaration of Independence reached the area. The action of the Bellingham Town Meeting on July 4 was likely typical of meetings being held in towns all across the colony. It clearly shows the inhabitants of the small outlying towns had a clear understanding of what was going on and supported the Continental Congress.