any equivocation or mental reservation. So help us God."

From the commencement of the troubles with the Mother Country up to 1774, there were those in Rowley who favored the royalists, not because they were actually enemies to the best interests of the Colonies, but because it would in the end, (in their opinion,) prove worse than in vain for the Colonies at that time to contend with Great Britain. All such declined signing the Whig Covenant, and were denominated tories, enemies to their country, &c. It is believed, however, that, during this year, nearly all such persons, in Rowley, made and signed their recantations, which were published in the prints of the day, and their persons restored to favor. Their recantations were variously expressed, one or two of which follow, viz.

"Whereas there have been several acts passed of late, by the British Parliament, contrary to our natural and charter rights, which have occasioned some measures to be entered into by the people in general in the American Colonies, in order to defeat such pernicious bills, which are so dangerous in their consequences, from taking place; among which was a Covenant from the Committee of Correspondence in Boston to the towns in this Province, tending to a general non-importation from, and exportation to the island of Great Britain; and said Covenant has been offered to us to sign, and we have refused it. Therefore we now take this method to inform the public, that we are heartily sorry for our so refusing, and do now solemnly promise, that we will sign said Covenant the first opportunity we have. We further solemnly promise, to agree to and be assisting in carrying into execution, as far as in us lies, any measures

that shall be thought most proper, and be entered into by the people in general, or by the result of the General Congress of these United Provinces. And we do further humbly ask the pardon, and beg forgiveness for our so offending, of the honorable gentlemen now present, and of all the people who are friends of American liberty, as we are deeply sensible we have behaved directly contrary to the welfare and prosperity of the insulted. Provinces of North America.

"Rowley, October 7, 1774."

Another;

"Whereas I, the subscriber, have, in my conduct of late, been acting in direct opposition to the welfare and prosperity of North America, I am deeply sensible I have thereby merited the just displeasure of every friend to American liberty. I do therefore freely acknowledge, that all those charges, which the committee have alleged against me, are true; and therefore do humbly ask the pardon, and beg forgiveness of this committee, and of this respectable body, and of every other person who is a true friend to these insulted Provinces of North America, all of whom I am deeply sensible I have offended. I do likewise solemnly promise, that I do abhor and do detest all the late proceedings of the British Parliament, tending to a new form of government in this Province, as I am deeply sensible they are contrived by wicked and designing men, and have a direct tendency to bring on the most abject slavery. I do further solemnly promise, that, for the future, I will never take any commission under the new form of government, nor act in conformity thereto, but be assisting in carrying into execution, (as far as in me lies,) any measures that shall be

thought most proper by the General Congress now sitting in Philadelphia, and hope hereby to be restored to the favor and friendship of the American sons of liberty, and that my future conduct shall be agreeable to our royal charter.

"Rowley, October 14, 1774."

These recantations or submissions were usually made and signed in the presence of a voluntary meeting of the citizens, called for the purpose.

At these meetings it was their practice, in Rowley, to proceed to organize themselves by the choice of a clerk and a committee, who were to draw up articles that had been alleged against the individual or individuals then before them for examination and trial. The articles being drawn up and read to the meeting, witnesses were then examined, and a vote taken, to see if the evidence was sufficient to support the charges. It was usually decided in the affirmative, as the accused found it difficult to prove the negative side of the question. The committee then prepared a paper, containing the terms of submission and confessions of political transgressions, which the accused were required to sign, by a force too. powerful to admit of a refusal.

In one instance, however, in Rowley, an individual was presented to one of these self-created tribunals, who was found so difficult to handle, that "the said respectable body took no further notice of him, than to unanimously vote, that he was not worthy of any public notice." This individual afterwards proved to be one of the stanchest friends of liberty the town afforded. He commanded a company several campaigns during the war, and had the reputation of a good officer.

1772, December 30. At a town meeting held for the purpose of taking into consideration a letter from Boston, and a pamphlet enclosed therein; in which pamphlet there is an exposition of the rights of the colonists, and of this Province in particular, as men, as Christians, and as subjects; and a list of infringements and violations of rights; and to pass such votes and Resolves thereon, as the town shall judge proper.

The selectmen laid before the town the letter and pamphlet, both of which being read, and after debate thereon, the town voted, That Humphrey Hobson, Esq., Richard Thurston, Stephen Mighill, Daniel Spofford, Moses Hobson, Nathaniel Mighill, Samuel Northend, Thomas Lancaster, Moses Chaplin, Eliphalet Spofford, Nathaniel Tenney, and Thomas Mighill, be a committee to take into consideration the said letter and pamphlet, and to report to the town, at an adjourned meeting, what they shall think proper for the town to do relative thereto.

The meeting was then adjourned to the 20th day of January.

The town met according to adjournment, and further adjourned to the 3d day of February.

The town met according to adjournment, and the committee reported the following answer to the letter from Boston, viz.

"Gentlemen, Your letter to the selectmen of this town, with the papers accompanying it, has by them been laid before us, and the important matters therein contained, seriously considered by us; and we are fully of opinion that the statement you have given of our religious and civil rights and privileges is very just, and that the

infringements made upon them are very alarming, and give just cause of great uneasiness and complaint.

"Gentlemen, - Your readiness on all proper occasions to exert yourselves in the cause of liberty, merits our grateful acknowledgments; and we do hereby assure you, that the high esteem we have of those our invaluable rights and privileges, and the deep sense we have of the grievances we labor under in consequence of the violation of those rights, will at all times dispose us, with the utmost cheerfulness, to join you, and the rest of our brethren of this Province, in every constitutional measure for the redress of those grievances, for the securing to ourselves and posterity the free and full enjoyment of those precious privileges, for which our fathers expended so much blood and treasure, and in humble supplications to Almighty God for his direction, assistance, and blessing."

Which answer being read, was adopted in a very full meeting, (one only voting in the negative,) and thereupon ordered, "that an attested copy thereof be transmitted to the committee of correspondence in Boston."

The committee also reported instructions to Humphrey Hobson, Esq., the Representative of this town in the General Court, as follows, viz.

"To Humphrey Hobson, Esq.

“Sir, — We, his Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, freeholders and others, inhabitants of the town of Rowley, in town meeting legally assembled, think fit to let you know, that, in a day of infringements, threatening to those our chartered rights and privileges, which we deem to be sacred, and which no man or men have a just right to take them, or any part thereof, from us or

ours,