Wednesday, the 14th of June, 15th Geo. III. 1775.

Excerpt translated By Virginia1774 from the Colonial Long S into Modern English.

{}

Ordered, that leave be given to bring in a Bill for the ease and relief of the People, by paying the Burgesses Wages in Money; and that Mr. Henry Lee do prepare, and bring in the same.

Mr. Cary reported from the Committee, appointed to inquire into the Causes of the late disturbances and Commotions, that the Committee had inquired accordingly, and had directed him to report the Causes of the said Disturbances and Commotions as they appeared to them to the House; and he read the Report in his place, and afterwards delivered it in at the Clerk's Table, where the same was read and is as followeth, viz:

It appears to your Committee by the Testimony of Doctor William Pasteur that on Friday Morning the twenty second of April last there was a Commotion in the City of Williamsburg occasioned by the Governor's removing some Powder from the public Magazine. That a common Hall being assembled, he attended, An Address was presented to his Excellency the Governor and an Answer received as published in the Virginia Gazette. That the People at the Request of the Corporation retired peaceably to their Habitations, That during the Commotion, the Captains Foy, Montague and Collins walked the main Street unmolested. That in the morning of the twenty third of April the said Pasteur attending a Patient at the Palace, accidentally met with his Excellency the Governor, who introduced a Conversation relative to what had passed the proceeding day, and seemed greatly exasperated at the Peoples having been under Arms, when the said Pasteur observed that it was done in a Hurry and Confusion, that most of the People were convinced they were wrong. His Lordship then proceeded to make Use of several rash expressions and said that tho' he did not think himself in Danger yet he understood some injury or insult was intended to be offered to the Captains Foy and Collins, which he should confider as done to himself as those Gentlemen acted intirely by his particular Directions. That his Lordship then swore by the living God that if a Grain of Powder was burnt at Captain Foy or Captain Collins, or if any Injury or insult was offered to himself, or either of them, that he would declare Freedom to the Slaves, and reduce the City of Williamsburg to Ashes. His Lordship then mentioned letting up the Royal Standard, but did not say that he would actually do it, but said he believed, if he did he should have a Majority of white People and all the Slaves on the side of Government, that he had once fought for the Virginians, and that, by GOD, he would let them see that he could fight against them, and declared that in a short Time, he could depopulate the whole Country. That his Excellency desired the said Pasteur immediately to communicate this to the Speaker and other Gentlemen of the Town, for that there was not an Hour to spare, adding also that if Finnie and George Nicholas continued to go at large, what he had said, would, from some Misconduct of theirs, be carried into Execution. That the said Pasteur immediately communicated this matter to the Speaker and several other Gentlemen of the Town, and it soon became publicly known. In Consequence of which two of the principal Gentlemen of the City sent their Wives and Children into the Country. That his Excellency at other times more than once did say, he should not carry these Plans into Execution unless he was attacked. That the Inhabitants of Williamsburg were soon after, informed by an Express from Fredericksburg that the People in that part of the Country were in Motion towards this City. That the next Morning after this Report, the said Pasteur attending a Patient at the Palace again met accidentally with the Governor, who declared to the said Pasteur that if a large Body of People came below Ruffin's Ferry (a place about thirty Miles from this City) that he would immediately enlarge his plan, and carry it into Execution, but said that he should not regard a small number of Men, adding he then had two hundred Muskets loaded in the Palace. The said Pasteur saith, that, to the best of his knowledge, at the time Lady Dunmore and Family removed from Williamsburg on board the Fowey Man of War then laying at York the inhabitants of this City were very peaceable. It appears to your Committee from the Testimony of Benjamin Waller that the morning after the Powder was removed from the public Magazine, the People in the City of Williamsburg were much alarmed and assembled some with and others without Arms, but when, the Corporation reported the Governor's answer to their Address, they, by the persuasion of the Magistrates, and, other principal Gentlemen of the Town dispersed and were quiet, except in the Evening, when a Report prevailed that the Marines were landed, and intended to Town, they expressed great uneasiness and went with their Arms to the Magazine to guard it, but soon dispersed except a few who acted as patrole that Night. That the next Day Doctor Pasteur came to the said Waller's House, and informed him of the Governor's Threatening that if himself his Family or Captain Collins were insulted, he would declare liberty to the Slaves, and lay the Town in Ashes, and that the Governor had desired him to communicate this his Declaration to the Magistrates of the City, for that there was not an Hour to Loose. That these Declarations gave the said Waller and the other Inhabitants of the Town great uneasiness. That several Days afterwards his Excellency came to the said Waller's House on some private business, and in the Course of Conversation, his Lordship said that Captain Collins had only taken fifteen half Barrels of Powder from the Magazine that some was not good and other barrels not full but that he believed that one whole barrel might be got out of three half barrels, whereupon he said Waller took the liberty to mention to his lordship that he was very sorry to tell his Excellency that he had lost the Confidence of the People not so much for having taken the Powder as for the declaration he made of raising and freeing the Slaves to which he answered that he did say to and made no secret of it and that he would do that or any thing else to have defended himself in case he had been attacked. That his Lordship further observed that some Slaves had offered him their Service at the time the Hanover Men were coming down but that he had sent them away. The said Benjamin Waller further says that several young Gentlemen of the Town and others had formed themselves into a Company by the name of an independent Company to learn the Military exercise and elected the Colonel of the Militia for their Captain and that they usually mustered once a Week. That when his Excellency returned from the Indian Expedition last fall many of the said Company waited upon him in their uniform to congratulate his Lordship on his Return but the said Waller heard they were cooly received. That the said Waller says that he never heard of any Powders' being lodged in the Magazine from the Rippon Man of War until since the removal of the Powder and then only from Report of the truth of which he doth not know. It also appears to your Committee from the Testimony of John Randolph, Esquire, Attorney General, of the City of Williamsburg that the Morning after the Removal of the Powder many of the People were under Arms at the Court House. That he does not recollect he heard the Governor expressly say he would proclaim Freedom to the Slaves, but is well satisfied such was his Lordships intention, if it had been necessary for him to take up Arms in defence of his Person. That he does not recollect he ever saw any of the People under Arms, (except on the Removal of the Powder) but the voluntier Company, when exercising, which Company had been formed a considerable time before the disturbance happened. That he thought Lady Dunmore had no reason but the Timidity of her Sex, to suspect any Injury would be done her or her Family, nor did he know that Lord Dunmore had just Cause to apprehend Danger, unless he gave Credit to the Reports conveyed to him, which were of such a Nature as to justify an Opinion that his Person was not safe. That he is of Opinion, and that he informed the Governor to, when he, with other Gentlemen, waited upon him, with the Address of the House, that his Person was in no danger. That his Lordship was almost every Day at his the said Randolph's House, distant above a quarter of a Mile from the Palace, and in particular the Evening of his Departure, and that his Lordship received no insult as he knows of, in passing to and from thence. The said Randolph says that he understood from the Governor, in case armed People came to Williamsburg, he would fix up the Royal Standard, to distinguish the Friends of Government from its foes, and that if Negroes on that Occasion offered their Service they would be received. That the Governor informed him some Negroes (by one of his Servants) had offered their Service, but he ordered his Servant to bid them go about their Business. That the Morning after the Removal of the Powder the said Randolph saw Captain Collins Captain Foy, and he believes Captain Stretch pass through the People unmolested. It also appears by the Testimony of John Dixon, Esquire, Mayor of the City of Williamsburg, That in the Opinion of the Inhabitants the Militia of the City being on a different footing and having heard of an independent Company established at Norfolk, were desirous of forming one in Williamsburg. That such Company was accordingly formed and although he does not know the Governor was ever present when they were exercised, the said Dixon never heard he disapproved of it, that his Honor the President, while the Governor was out on the Indian Expedition, directed the Keeper of the Public Magazine, to furnish the Company with Muskets. That a Committee was chosen in the City agreeable to the directions of the Congress, but not to Act as he knew of, under the Committee. That upon the Governor's return from the Indian Expedition, one of the Company waited upon his Excellency to inform him the Company intended to pay their Compliments to him the next Morning before the Palace, if agreeable to Lady Dunmore, who was then indisposed, but his Lordship being out of the way, the person who went left his Compliments of the above import. That the next Morning the said Dixon as Captain with part of the Company, drew up in Palace Street and paid the usual Compliments. That his Lordship did not come out to meet them, but some time afterwards there was a Message delivered by Mr. Blair from his Excellency, that he would have done himself the pleasure of waiting upon them if they had staid a little longer, as he did not expect they would have finished their Exercise so soon. That the Morning after the Powder was removed, many of the inhabitants being much alarmed and greatly incensed against Captain Foy and Captain Collins, assembled at the Court House under Arms but does not believe nor has he heard any injury or insult was intended to the Governor. That some time after the Governor's answer to the Address of the Corporation was read, the People, upon the interposition of the Magistrates and other Gentlemen, were satisfied and returned Home in quiet. That after the Governor had declared what Captain Collins had done was by his order, their resentment against Captain Collins subsided. That the same Evening the Powder was removed, a Report prevailed that a number of armed Men from Captain Collins' Schooner had landed at Burwells Ferry about four Miles from Williamsburg with design as was supposed to remove the Arms from the Magazine, whereupon many of the Inhabitants repaired to the Magazine to prevent such design being executed but by the advice of some Gentlemen they all dispersed except such as had patroled that Night. That the Inhabitants appeared to be in perfect tranquility til a Report was spread by his Excellency's throwing out some threats respecting the Slaves, when there seemed to be great uneasiness but nothing more was done but doubling the usual Patrole. That after the Alarm was over the first day, he remembers to have seen Captain Foy and Captain Montague walk the Streets and he believes without insult and frequently saw them, Captain Collins and other Officers do the same without their Swords, unmolested by the Inhabitants.

It also appears by the Testimony of Joseph Hutchings Colonel of the Militia of the Borough of Norfolk, that some years ago the inhabitants judging it would be a means of their greater Security, proposed raising an independent Company, that by their being more regularly trained, they might be more capable of acting upon an Emergency. That some time afterwards his Excellency Lord Dunmore being at Norfolk, the said Hutchings informed him of the intention of the inhabitants and asked his advice how to act as to granting Commissions the Company intending to choose their own Officers that his Lordship highly commended the proposal advised the said Hutchings to encourage and grant Commissions to such Officers as might be chosen and expressed his Wishes that the example might be followed throughout the Country; that about two Years afterwards his Lordship was again at Norfolk when the Company was completely formed and Regimented and having drawn them up his Lordship marched through the lines in order to review them and again expressed great satisfaction.

Your Committee then proceeded to examine several Gentlemen Merchants natives of Great Britain who reside in different parts of this Colony respecting the disposition of its People and its internal peace, the Causes of the late Commotions and the progress thereof, and it appears to your Committee from the Depositions by them taken, as follows:

It appears from the Testimony of Hugh Hamilton of the County of Westmoreland that the Courts of this Colony have always proceeded in criminal Business as usual, but declined trying civil Causes immediately on the lapse of the Fee bill which together with the nonexportation Agreement was in his Opinion, the Cause of stopping that Business rather than an inclination of withholding Justice, his Acquaintances having the same inclination to pay their Debts as before the stoppage of the Courts. That Committees have been chosen within these twelve Months and independent Companies formed in his and the neighboring Counties about the Month of February last, for the Defence of the Colony, and that he never heard they were designed to protect the Committees. That in his County the Gentlemen, have been at proper pains to preserve Order. And it has been recommended to the Militia to acquire a knowledge of the military Exercise. That the people within his Acquaintance have been very orderly and that he never saw any Commotion before the Powder was taken from the Magazine. That there was an alarm concerning the Slaves prior to this transaction, which was greatly increased by the Report of the Governor's intention to declare them free. That he never discovered the smallest inclination in any of the Inhabitants to be independant of Great Britain, but on the contrary a most eager desire for a Connection as it stood prior to the Acts of Parliament imposing Taxes on America, and he is persuaded a Redress of the Grievances complained of would establish a perfect Tranquility throughout this Colony, and produce a Reconciliation with the parent State.

It appears from the Testimony of Thomas Mitchell of the County of Louisa that the lots of the Fee Bill is generally assigned and he believes, was the immediate Cause of stopping the civil proceedings in the Courts of Justice, but apprehends their not being returned is owing to the commercial Mode of Opposition. That no independent Company was formed in the said County until the eighth of May 1775 or thereabouts, nor a Committee chosen until some Months after the Association entered into and it is his opinion that the said Company was raised with a view to put the Colony into a state of Defence, but believes it would assist their Committee, if called on. That no Commotions have happened in the said County, but that the Governor's Declaration to give Freedom to the Slaves greatly inflamed the Minds of those who believed it, but does not think that belief was general. That he does not think the Colony with to be independent of Great Britain, and is satisfied a Redress of the Grievances complained of, would restore Tranquility and Reconciliation.

It appears from the Testimony of James Lyle and Robert Donald of the County of Chesterfield that the Reason assigned for stopping the Courts in civil proceedings, was the expiration of the Fee Bill, and they are of opinion, that their refufing to proceed now, is owing to the adopted Mode of commercial Opposition. That no independent Company was formed in Chesterfield till a few Weeks ago, and that they were intended for the general Defence of the Country, and not, as they know, designed for the Protection of the Committee, or to be under their Direction, but they believe they would protect the Committee if required. That the inhabitants were quiet and peaceable prior to the Removal of the Powder, and were greatly alarmed and exasperated at the Governor's Declaration of giving Freedom to the Slaves, since which uncommon diligence has been used in training the independent Company and the Militia to Arms, but the People have always behaved themselves orderly, paying the greatest Regard to the prudent Advice of their Officers. That they have no reason to believe the people with an independance of Great Britain, and firmly believe a Redress of the present Grievances would establish a general Tranquility throughout this Colony and a Reconciliation with Great Britain.

It appears from the Testimony of Thomas Hodge and James Robinson of King George County, Charles Yates and Henry Mitchell of Spotsylvania, and Robert Gilchrist and Patrick Kennon of Caroline, That the Expiration of the Fee Bill was the immediate Cause of stopping the Courts in civil Causes, That it has been since considered as a political means of obtaining redress of Grievances, by interesting the british Merchants, who have property here; in our behalf, and that since it has been determined to discontinue the Exports, it has been thought necessary, but the Courts proceed in criminal Cases as usual. That Committees have been established to inforce the Resolutions of the General Congress, and independent Companies formed to learn the Use of Arms, at different Periods. In Spotsylvania sometime last Winter, in Caroline, in February or March last, and in King George, since the last Colony Convention in March. They don't know that they were established to protect the Committees, but believe the defence of the Colony was the first and principal Motive. That some of the independent Company of Spotsylvania have acted under the direction of their Committee, but the Caroline Company refused to inlist unless they were to be solely under the Direction of Officers of their own choosing. That there never was any Commotions among the People, till after the Powder was removed from the Magazine, in Consequence of that transaction there was a great Assemblage of armed Men at Fredericksburg and adjacent places, but they were very orderly and peaceable, and upon the advice of a Council they appointed, and some of the Delegates of this Colony, they all retired to their respective Homes. That about this time they understood the Governor had made a Declaration of Freedom to the Slaves, which was not generally believed, but as far as it gained Credit, it tended greatly to inflame the People. That they do not believe any part of this Colony with an independence of Great Britain, though they cannot undertake to judge of the views of individuals, and they hope and think a redress of the present Grievances would restore Tranquility here and produce a Reconciliation with the parent State.

It appears from the Testimony of Archibald Ritchie of the County of Essex that the cause generally assigned for stopping the proceedings of the Courts in civil Causes, the criminal proceedings going on as usual, was the Expiration of the Fee Bill, but that he believes the measure was politically adopted for carrying more effectually into Execution the purposes of the Association.  That the Voluntier Company in the County of Essex was formed about three Weeks ago, not merely for protecting the Committees, but believes they would be to if required. That previous to the Seizure of the Powder the State of the Colony as far as his observation extended was a general Acquiesence in the Resolves of the provincial and General Congress, and that in Consequence thereof, no Commotion happened in that County. That he does not know of any one that wishes Independence of Great Britain, but on his Oath cannot say there are none such. That he has not the least doubt, if the Grievances complained of were redressed a perfect tranquility would be established between them. Great Britain and the Colonies.

It appears from the Testimony of Charles Duncan of the County of Chesterfield near the Towns of Petersburg and Blandford, that the lots of the Fee Bill, in his Opinion, was the immediate Cause of the Stop to the Proceedings in the Courts in civil Causes, the criminal going on as usual. That a Voluntier Company in the said County was formed some time after the Convention at Richmond, and in his Opinion solely for putting the Country into a posture of Defence without any Regard to the protection of the Committee. That the state of the Colony before the Removal of the Powder, was peaceable and orderly, and a strict Compliance with the Resolves of the continental and provincial Congress, was he thinks the Cause of maintaining that good order so little to be expected in a Country deprived of so essential a part of its laws. That the removal of the Powder certainly occassioned the Commotions complained of, and he believes so far as the Governor's declarations gained Credit, they contributed to those Disturbances but there were none such in the Neighborhood where he lives. That he never heard any Person with any independance of Great Britain, and is clearly of Opinion a Redress of the present Grievances would immediately produce a hearty Reconciliation.

It appears by the Testimony of Archibald Bryce of the County of Henrico that the Expiration of the Fee Bill was the Reason assigned by the Court for stoping the Proceedings in civil Cases, the Criminal going on as usual, and he believes the commercial Mode of opposition is the reason why the Business of the Courts is not returned. That the Suspension in civil proceedings took place in June 1774, and sometime in the fall a Committee was chosen agreeable to an Article of the General Association. That the independent Company of Henrico has not been formed above six Weeks, and he believes the principal Design of their Institution was to put the Colony in a proper state of Defence. That he knew of no Commotions in the County before the seizure of the Powder, and as very few took up Arms upon that occasion, he was informed that at the request of one of the Representatives of the County, they returned to their Habitations. That he thinks, as far as the Governor's declaration gained Credit with the People it served to irritate their Minds, and might possibly be a means of continuing the Commotions in the Country. That he believes the Colony in General do not with an Independance, and that a Redress of Grievances would establish tranquility and produce a Reconciliation.

It appears by the Testimony of Thomas Montgomery of the County of Prince William, That previous to the Powders being seised, Committees of Correspondence and of Observation to carry into effect the Resolutions of the Congress, Voluntier Companys were formed, Military Discipline was taught, Arms and Ammunition were industriously procured. That upon the Report of the Governor's having seised the Powder, many People marched to Fredericksburg, where, upon a Meeting of several Counties, it was determined in Consultation, they should return to their respective Homes. That the Court proceeds in Criminal Cases.  In Civil Cases Proceedings are stopped, owing as he thinks to the expiration of the Fee Bill, but not to the determination against imports and Exports, which he thinks did not necessarily produce that effect:  Having observed the same inclination in the People to do Justice to their Creditors as usual, he thinks the above Steps do not proceed from an inclination to withhold Justice. That no other Commotions or disturbancies have happened in the County but what were produced by the alarm of seising the Powder, and these subsided soon and the People returned to their own Habitations: That the political Measures are adopted by all Classes of Men. That the independent Company was formed in that County about September, and its design was to protect the Colony, in General, and the County in particular, and that he has heard it observed, this institution would aid the Execution of the Resolutions of the Committee, That he believes few, if any Person, in the Colony wish an independence of Great Britain; but on the Contrary is of Opinion that a Redress of Grievances would establish Tranquility here and a perfect Reconciliation with the Mother Country, as he thinks they entertain not a desire, but of dependance on the Mother Country on Constitutional Principles.

It appears by the Testimony of Archibald Govan, Thomas Evans, John Johnson and George Braickenridge of the County of Hanover, That Proceedings in Criminal Cases went on as usual. That all civil law proceedings, except motions against Sherifs and other Public Officers were f topped in June 1774. In November a Committee, in conformity to a Regulation of the Congress, was chosen, to carry into execution the American Association, an Independent Company enlisted, but not embodied. That for the interruption of Suits in civil Cases, they assign the expiration of the Fee Bill as the Principal cause, and do not attribute that Measure, to the adoption of the Commercial opposition, as this Political Plan took place, tome Months after the Courts had stopped their Proceedings. That as to Commotions they say, none have occurred except in one instance, which proceeded from the Governor's seising the Powder, which was heightened and encreased by his threatening to enfranchise the Slaves; That those Causes induced the Independent Company to choose their Officers and march out about twenty Miles towards Williamsburg, but how they conducted themselves on their March they can give no Information. That they think the Independent Companies were formed to put the Country into a state of defence, yet they suppose they would have aided the Committee. That this Colony in their Opinion desires not an independence of Great Britain, and that a Redress of the present Grievances would reestablish Tranquility, and produce a Reconciliation with the Parent State. It appears to your Committee from the Testimony of Andrew Sprowle, Archibald Cambpell and James Ingram of the County of Norfolk and Samuel Donaldson of the County of Nansemond, That in these Counties the Courts as usual proceed in Criminal Cafes. For the Causes of stopping the Proceedings in civil suits, they assign the expiration of the Fee Bill as the primary one, but as a secondary Cause, they think this Measure was adopted to carry the Purposes of the Association more effectually into execution, which, by distressing the Merchantile part of the British Nation, was intended to interest them in favour of the Colony and to produce in the end an Accomodation. That the Town of Norfolk as yet, has no independent Company but one formed before the existance of Committees, with the approbation of the Governor, and under his Commission; in Nansemond County an independent Company was formed in May last, not for the avowed purpose of protecting Committees, but in Conformity to the direction of the last Convention. That before the Seizure of the Powder a general acquiescence under the Resolutions of the General and Provincial Congress, marked the political Character of this Colony and in the above mentioned Counties no Commotions were excited by this Conduct of the Governors, since in neither did the Report, that an Insurrection was intended by the Slaves, produce that Effect. That they think it the universal wish, to have a Constitutional dependance on Great Britain; and that a Redress of Grievances will immediately establish Tranquility and be productive of a Reconciliation with the Parent State.

Ordered, that the said Report do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

Source: Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1773-1776.