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Rallying the patriotic spirit... A rare newspaper from Williamsburg, Virginia...
Rallying the patriotic spirit... A rare newspaper from Williamsburg, Virginia...
Item # 654780
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March 09, 1775
THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE, Williamsburg, March 9, 1775 One of the very rare titles from the colonial era. This title printed only from May 16, 1766 until Feb. 3, 1776. It was begun by William Rind & upon his death in 1773 it was published by Clementina Rind, his widow, she becoming the first woman printer & editor in Virginia.
Clementina would die in 1774 and John Pinkney printed subsequent issues: "For the Benefit Of Clementina Rind's Children" as noted in the masthead.
The content is terrific. One-third of page 2 is taken up with a document headed: "New England - In Provincial Congress, Cambridge, February 9, 1775" which is an address: "To the Inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay" which begins: "Friends and fellow sufferers, When a people, entitled to that freedom which our ancestors have nobly preserved, as the richest inheritance of their children, are invaded by the hand of oppression, and trampled on by the merciless feet of tyranny, resistance is so far from being criminal that it becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual...". It continues with terrific rhetoric on the duties of the "friends & suffers" of Massachusetts to be steadfast in their efforts to preserve their freedom & resist the oppressions of the British. It concludes with: "...you never will submit your necks to the galling yoke of despotism prepared for you; but, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which Heaven gave, and no man ought to take from you." with the letter signed in type by the President: John Hancock.
This is followed by a terrific letter concerning the American cause, one bit noting: "...that the real design of keeping a standing army in America was not protecting, but enslaving, the colonies; the second think thus demonstrated is, that the colonies do not need or desire protection from these standing armies, but are able & willing to defend themselves..." and much more. There is then a report from Newport which includes: "...there was but one tory in all New Shoreham...at which time the sons of liberty had a meeting, & requested him to renounce his wicked principles, but he refusing, they began to enquire for some tar and feathers, which not being ready at hand, they took some fish gurry and made a beginning to give him a new coat; upon which he frankly confessed he was a TORY..." with more.
Much more fine content, too much to detail here,but there are two more documents from the Mass. Provincial Congress, each signed in type by: John Hancock, one noting in part: "Whereas it has pleased Almighty GOD, the just and good governor of the world, to permit so great a calamity to befall us as the present controversy between Great Britain and these colonies...", calling for a day of a day of thanksgiving and prayer, etc. The other notes in part: "...that the great law of self-preservation calls upon the inhabitants of this colony immediately to prepare against every attempt that may be made to attack them by surprise...recommended to the militia in general, as well as the detached part of it in minute men, that they spare neither time, pains, nor expence at so critical a juncture in perfecting themselves forthwith in military discipline..." and more.
The back page has: "A Proclamation" by the governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore.
Four pages, never-trimmed margins, very nice condition.
Category: Revolutionary War
No Longer Available
