As part of the North Carolina’s American 250 commemoration, the State Archives of North Carolina and Tryon Palace Historic Site and Gardens will exhibit the original minutes of the First Provincial Congress on August 24, 2024. The exhibit will be held at the North Carolina History Center (529 S. Front Street, New Bern) along with other events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the congress and the New Bern Resolves. The volume will be on display from 10am – 3 pm. We encourage you to come and participate in the Palace’s activities and view this special volume. Additional information on the event schedule can be found on Tryon Palace’s website.
Here's a brief history of the events of summer 1774 leading up to and including the First Provincial Congress.
Calls for the First Provincial Congress
In the summer of 1774, the political climate in North Carolina prompted inhabitants of the Cape Fear region to call a meeting to discuss and document their grievances with British government and plan steps to address these issues. William Hooper presided over the July 21,1774 meeting. Those in attendance determined it to be “highly expedient” that a Provincial Congress, separate from North Carolina’s colonial assembly, be held so representatives from the province could work together to plan how to address their grievances with the British government.
During the meeting the following resolutions were passed and distributed throughout the province. They called for a “provincial congress” to be held in August; they voiced support for their “Sister Colony of the Massachusetts Bay;” and, concurred that an “American Congress” should be held in Philadelphia in September. The letter stated:
The Call for the First Provincial Congress.
At a General Meeting of the Inhabitants of the district of Wilmington in the Province of North Carolina held at the Town of Wilmington, July 21st 1774
Resolved that …a Committee to prepare a circular Letter… Counties of this Province expressive of the sense of the Inhabitants of this district with respect to the several acts of Parliament lately made for the oppression of our Sister Colony of the Massachusetts Bay for having exerted itself in defence of the constitutional Rights of America.
Resolved, That it will be highly expedient that the several Counties of this Province should send deputies to attend a General Meeting…to debate upon the present alarming State of British America and in concert with the other Colonies to adopt and proseeute such measures as will most effectually tend to avert the miseries which threaten us.
Resolved, That we are of opinion in order to effect an uniform Plan for the conduct of all North America that it will be necessary that a General Congress be held… that such regulations may then be made…to produce an alteration in the British Policy and to bring about a change honourable and beneficial to all America.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting that Philadelphia will be the most proper place for holding the American Congress…
Resolved, That we consider the cause of the Town of Boston as the common cause of British America and as suffering in defence of the Rights of the Colonies in general; [and]…our sincere Intentions to contribute by every means in our power to alleviate their distress and to induce them to maintain, with Prudence and firmness the glorious cause in which they at present suffer.
When the Wilmington District meeting adjourned, a letter circulated requesting counties select delegates for a “General Meeting” to be held in late August in order
“…to debate upon the present alarming State of British America and in concert with the other Colonies to adopt and prosecute such measures as will most effectually tend to avert the miseries which threaten us…”
A Call for a Meeting of the Friends of American Liberty in Craven County On August 9, 1774, inhabitants of Craven County met in New Bern and appointed delegates to attend the August “General Meeting,” which became known as the Frist Provincial Congress. Here is an excerpt from the advertisement that circulated announcing the individuals appointed to represent Craven County at the provincial congress.
…This day a considerable number of the Inhabitants of Newbern met at the Court House and appointed Abner Nash and Isaac Edwards, Esqrs, Deputies, to act for them in the General Meeting to be held here on the 25th Instant for the purpose of taking into
consideration the present alarming state of British America and the late Acts of Parliament relating to the Port of Boston and Province of Massachusetts Bay...
The First Provincial Congress
On August 25, 1774, the First Provincial Congress convened in New Bern with 71 delegates present. Separate from the North Carolina colonial Assembly and without the Royal Governor’s consent, it was the first such Congress conducted in the American colonies in defiance to Crown authority.
The Congress met from August 25 – 27. While the delegates voiced their allegiance to the Crown, they made it clear through their resolutions that they expected the rights granted to all British citizens under the British Constitution, especially full representation in government affairs. The Congress adopts resolutions that:
· Denounced laws that persecuted Massachusetts
· Avowed colonists’ rights as Englishmen
· Endorsed the proposal for a Continental Congress to be held, and selected William Hooper, Joseph Hewes and Richard Caswell as delegates
· Adopted a nonimportation agreement against any East India Company or British manufacturers’ goods after January 1, 1775, unless the laws were rescinded
· Adopted a nonexportation agreement that stipulated that no exports of tobacco, pitch, tar, turpentine or any other article to Great Britain unless American grievances were redressed before October 1, 1775
· No commerce with anyone who does not abide by the results of the Continental Congress to be held in Philadelphia
· Adopted the principle of voting by counties and towns to resolve differences with representation of 5 delegates each.
· Ordered no outside purchase or importation of slaves in North Carolina after November 1, 1775
· Established county committees of safety to execute and monitor adherence to the resolves
The First Provincial Congress initiated the erosion of Royal authority in North Carolina as their thoughts shifted from “restoring their rights as Englishmen” to “governing themselves as independent Americans.” This event led to North Carolina dispatching delegates to the Continental Congress held in Philadelphia, Pa. from September 5 – October 26, 1774.
Resources:
The full transcription of these documents can be found in William L. Saunder’s comprehensive multi-volume set entitled, The Colonial Records of North Carolina.
Saunders, William L., The Colonial Records of North Carolina. “Resolutions by inhabitants of the Wilmington District concerning resistance to Parliamentary taxation and the Provincial Congress of North Carolina, July 21, 1774.” Volume 09, Pages 1016-1017.
Saunders, William L., The Colonial Records of North Carolina. “Letter from inhabitants of Wilmington to inhabitants of Craven County, July 1774.” Volume 09, Pages 1017-1018.
Saunders, William L., The Colonial Records of North Carolina. “Advertisement concerning delegates to the Provincial Congress of North Carolina, August 09, 1774.” Volume 09, Pages 1026-1027.
Secretary of State. Records of Provincial Conventions and Congresses, February 1774 - August 1774, State Archives of North Carollina, SR.12.13.