Massachusetts. Provincial Congress

As of Aug. 1, l774, Gov. Thomas Gage had replaced the Council chosen from among the members of the General Court with one appointed by royal writ of mandamus. On Sept. 1 he called for the election of representatives to a General Court to meet in Salem on Oct. 5, but on Sept. 28 discharged them. Nevertheless ninety elected representatives met as scheduled, protested Gage's action, and on Oct. 7 resolved themselves into a Provincial Congress. They then adjourned until Oct. 11 in Concord, where 250 elected delegates assembled as a governing body of Massachusetts in opposition to the crown-appointed governor and council.

John Hancock was chosen president and Henry Gardner receiver general, with taxes to be paid to him instead of to the royal government. A Committee of Safety was appointed Oct. 26, 1774; with the congress it was responsible for military organization and provisioning of supplies and ordnance. The congress dissolved on Dec. 10, 1774, followed by a second, Feb. 1-May 29, 1775, and a third beginning May 31, 1775.

Replying to a request of the second congress, on June 9, 1775 the Continental Congress resolved that the 1691 Massachusetts Bay charter had been abridged and that the offices of Governor, Lieutanant Governor, and councillors were vacant; it advised the Provincial Congress to request towns to elect representatives to a General Court, which would choose councillors. The third Provincial Congress dissolved itself on July 19, 1775, when the General Court convened as the official and permanent government of Massachusetts. St 1775-76, c 1 confirmed the resolves of the preceding congresses.

NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency described above can be found by searching the following access point for the time period stated: 1774-1775--Massachusetts. Provincial Congress.