Hidden Concord
Town Meeting 1773-74: A Resounding Stand Is Taken

Though we now have a separation of church and state, the electricity used to illuminate the First Parish's clock is paid for by the town.

Where once the Town Meeting was generally an annual affair, by 1772 Parliament's violation of colonial economic and political rights resulted in more frequent gatherings. Of particular note were the Meetings of December, 1772 and January, 1773 (after the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts and Boston Massacre); January, 1774 (after the Tea Party and Parliament's ban on most Town Meetings); and June 1774 (after the Coercive/Intolerable Acts prior to the Provincial Congress in Concord).* The words spoken and documents produced at these gatherings would bind Concord to the cause of liberty and set the tone for events to occur in April, 1775.

"The Freeholders and Inhabitants" met on December 31, 1772 and chose a committee to draft instructions for General Court representative Capt. James Barrett and also to draft sentiments on rights and privileges as requested in a Boston pamphlet sent the town. Following adjournment, the citizens reconvened on the 11th of January, 1773 at which time the committee report on instructions was "read divers times...cooly, deliberately debated" before it was unanimously accepted (but not signed by Daniel Bliss, a Tory). The paper expressed loyalty to King; concerns for judges being paid (influenced) by the Crown; concern over citizens being removed to England for crime trials; the unconstitutional infringement of rights; and a desire that redress should be sought through the King.

Next, Concordians unanimously accepted the committee's response to Boston's letter (again Bliss refusing to sign). This paper spoke to their rights as men (life, liberty, property), as Christians (worship based on conscience except for Papists) and as subjects (personal security, liberty, private property). No power on earth was to take these rights without consent. Noted Parliamentary infringements included assumption of legislative powers over the colonists without consent, laying of revenue taxes and the appointment and military protection of illegal collection officers.

At the 10th of January, 1774 meeting, it was voted to choose a committee for drafting a response to Boston's Committee of Correspondence letter asking for sentiments regarding the East India Company's tea monopoly and Parliament's duty on that tea. The Town voted not to buy, sell or use any tea from the Company or Great Britain and deemed unfriendly and an enemy to the country anyone so doing. During the reconvened Meeting on January 24th, the committee draft was passed unanimously and entered into the Town Records. Seven resolves were sent to Boston stating alarm over enemies assaulting colonial rights; lack of colonial representation in Parliament which illegally taxes; Concord's ban on tea; a willingness to risk lives and fortunes for King and Charter rights; and contempt for anyone dealing in East India tea.

Finally, the June 20, 1774 meeting considered several letters and papers from the Boston Committee of Correspondence related to the Coercive Acts. Following much dispute, the gathering adjourned and reconvened on June 27th at which time a "Covenant for Suspension of Commercial Relations with Great Britain" was signed by nearly 300 persons upwards of age 21. This document addressed Parliament's violation of natural and Charter rights and the closing of Boston harbor. Expressed was a duty to use all means possible to recover these rights with the only alternative between "the horrors of slavery" or "carnage and desolation of civil war" being the suspension of all commercial activities with Great Britain.

Until all rights were restored and the port of Boston opened, no British merchandise would be bought or sold (weapons, ammunition and medicines for the sick excepted) and anyone doing so would be seen as an enemy and shunned. Merchants would either have to sign the covenant or produce a certified oath that none of their goods were British, otherwise, no citizen would buy from them. The covenant could be voided if a congress representing the colonies adopted measures to address the crisis by more salutary and safe means.

Thus in the span of 18 months in duly warranted or reconvened Town Meetings, the citizens of Concord set to paper in four documents their political views regarding the actions of Parliament, their rights and privileges, and support for their fellow Americans. The spirit of these meetings would resound about the Province and would be in the hearts and souls of the minute men and militia when on April 19, 1775 they came to stand at North Bridge and confront the ministerial troops who "came 3,000 miles...to keep the past upon its thrown".

*Town meetings were held at the Meeting House (First Parish) as there was no separation between church and state at that time.