Mercy Adams Writes

  Encyclopedia Virginia tells us Patrick Henry was the author of the Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act written in 1765: Patrick Henry wrote the following five resolutions against the Stamp Act and introduced them to the House of Burgesses on May 29, 1765. The House passed them after a heated debate, but rescinded the fifth resolution the following day. This iteration of the Virginia Stamp Act resolves comes from a handwritten document that was found inside a small envelope that Henry included with his last will and testament. Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act - Encyclopedia Virginia Here is the full text of that marvelous document: Resolved , That the first Adventurers and Settlers of this his Majesties Colony and Dominion brought with them and transmitted to their Posterity and all other his Majestie’s Subjects since inhabiting in this his Majestie’s said Colony all the Priviledges, Franchises & Immunities that have at any Time been held, enjoyed, & possessed by the ...

Image Source:  Gen Thomas Polk (1730-1794) - Find a Grave Memorial "The Resolves were a bold set of anti-British resolutions, adopted on May 31, 1775, at a meeting in Charlotte organized by Thomas Polk and they helped to fire a spirit of independence." (Source: Mecklenburg Resolves | NCpedia )  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story gives us this brief biography of Thomas Polk: "In 1755, surveyor Thomas Polk (1732-1794) built his home where two Indian trading paths met. Many years later this crossroads would become the Square, the intersection of Charlotte's busy Trade and Tryon streets. Polk married Susannah Spratt, whose family was one of the first to make their way through the wilderness to what would become Charlotte Town. With Abraham Alexander and John Frohock, Polk bought 360 acres of land from Britain's Lord Augustus Selwyn. The land lay where the future downtown Charlotte would flourish. "In the 1770s, conflicts grew between settlers an...

Resolves Adopted in Charlotte Town, Mecklenburg County,  North  Carolina,  May 31, 1775 This Day the Committee met, and passed the following RESOLVES: Whereas by an Address presented to his Majesty by both Houses of Parliament in February last, the American Colonies are declared to be in a State of actual Rebelion, we conceive that all Laws and Commissions confirmed by, or derived from the Authority of the King or Parliament, are annulled and vacated, and the former civil Constitution of these Colinies for the present wholly suspended. To provide in some Degree for the Exigencies of the County in the present alarming Period, we deem it proper and necessary to pass the following Resolves, viz. 1. That all Commissions, civil and military, heretofore granted by the Crown, to be exercised in these Colonies, are null and void, and the Constitution of each particular Colony wholly suspended. 2. That the Provincial Congress of each Province, under the Direction of the Great Co...

Mecklenburg County Courthouse  Source:  History of Mecklenburg County and the city of Charlotte - from 1740 to 1903  - Wikimedia Commons Previously we looked at Rev. Hezekiah James Balch  believed to be one of the committee of three who wrote the Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence . The other two men believed to be on the committee are William Kennon and Dr. Ephraim Brevard. Today we will take a closer look at these men of liberty and freedom: The website The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story tells us: "William Kennon (circa 1735 - ?) was one of the original signers of the Meckenburg Declaration of Independence. Although most of the signers were Presbyterians, William Kennon was Anglican and not even a citizen of the county. Although born and raised near Petersburg, Virginia, he went to the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University, to finish his formal education. "After his time there, he moved to Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina. Why he was in...

"There can be no freedom without order! Oh for the order which is in Christ, that we might have that freedom which is in him also!"   ~Motto of Rev. Hezekiah James Balch  (Source:  Rev Hezekiah James Balch (1745-1776) - Find a Grave Memorial ) I found this account of Rev. Hezekiah James Balch by David T. Myers posted at This Day in Presbyterian History.   It's important for us to remember men like Rev. Balch and how Providence used them at such an important, foundational time in American history, which is really His-Story.  May the Lord bless you as you read this man's story and may his name be honored and remembered among God's people, amen.  - Mercy Adams Unwavering Devotion to Christ and Country by David T. Myers Here and there in these posts, you have read about Presbyterian clergy who were instrumental in preparing and molding the popular minds of Americans for the great struggle of the American Revolution. From both pulpit and battle field worsh...

  From the Declaration of Independence by the Citizens of Mecklenburg County… (Raleigh: Published by the Governor, 1831), 13-14. 1. Resolved, That whoever directly or indirectly abetted, or in any way, form or manner, countenanced the unchartered and dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to this country – to America – and to the inherent and inalienable rights of man. 2. Resolved, That we the citizens of Mecklenburg county, do hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us to the Mother Country, and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown, and abjure all political connection, contract, or association, with that nation, who have wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties — and inhumanly shed the innocent blood of American patriots at Lexington. 3. Resolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and self–governing Association, under ...

"On October 25, 1774, women in Edenton resolved to stop buying English tea and cloth to protest taxation without representation. The event became known as the Edenton Tea Party ." Source:  Women of Edenton Resolve to Forego English Tea, 1774 | NC DNCR (ncdcr.gov) Mr. Bert Dunkerly writes this of the Tea Tax concerns and the ladies involvement in protesting it during the period before the War for Independence at the Emerging Revolutionary War Era blog : "Examples of women’s political participation in the Revolutionary movement are hard to find. Women were not permitted to be politically active in the eighteenth century, yet many got involved anyway and pushed back against prevailing social norms. There are two examples of women organizing protests within six months of each other in 1774, both in North Carolina. Unfortunately, few details exist of these happenings. Primary sources on many colonial-era events are limited, and they are even more so with these two examples. ...

George Washington's Mount Vernon has a biography of Betty Washington Lewis which tells us something of her character and that of the Washington children; they were a hard-working, moral. loyal and patriotic family.  Please read Betty's biography here . I've also posted some select excerpts below.   ~Thank you, Mercy Adams ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Betty Washington Lewis was more than just the only sister of George Washington to survive to adulthood; she was also a patriot. Lewis and her husband, Fielding, contributed a considerable amount of their personal wealth and time toward the American Revolution. Their devotion and loyalty to the wartime effort and to its leader, George Washington, inadvertently led them to financial hardship. "Born on June 20, 1733, Betty Washington was the second child and only surviving daughter of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington . Christened Elizabeth, Betty was most likely named after her mother’s beloved half-sister, Elizabet...

Portrait of George Washington (1732–1799) Source:  George Washington - Wikipedia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Description:   George Washington is central to understanding America's founding. He was the crucial figure in winning the American Revolution, in creating the Constitution, and in establishing the precedents for effective self-government as our first president.  (Full Documentary - 1 hour and 34 minutes) Direct Link:  The Father Of America | The First American | Full Documentary | Documentary Central - YouTube