represented at the General Congress, do hereby appoint Zebulon Williams as our Deputy, giving unto him full power to act in our behalf in the premises aforesaid. In confirmation whereof we have hereunto set our hands respectively. Oyster Bay, April 12, 1775. 18. The Deputies from the several counties met at the Exchange, city of New-York, April 20, when the Convention resolved "that the gentlemen from Queens county, viz., John Talman, Joseph Robinson, Zebulon Williams, and Col. Jacob Blackwell, be allowed to be present at its deliberations, and will take into consideration any advice they may offer but cannot allow them a vote; with which those gentlemen declare themselves satisfied and say they do not think themselves entitled to vote. Nevertheless, they are at liberty to signify their approbation or disapprobation of every matter, after the same shall be determined." (MS. Jour. XL. 10.) So they had no voice in electing Delegates to the Continental Congress, but gave their assent as follows: We, the subscribers, do, in behalf of ourselves and those freeholders of Queens county, at whose request we attended the Convention, signify our assent to, and approbation of, the above Delegation. Signed, JOHN TALMAN, JACOB BLACKWell, JOSEPH ROBINSON. 19. The day after the Convention broke up, April 23, the news of the battle of Lexington reached New-York, and created such a sensation that on the 28th the New-York. committee again sent a circular and a form of association to the several counties, requesting them to choose Deputies to a Provincial Congress, to assemble May 24th, and “deliberate on and direct such measures as may be expedient for our common safety." 20. May 18, 1775.-The address of the citizens of NewYork was presented to Lt. Gov. Colden at Jamaica, requesting him to intercede with Gen. Gage and the King to stop their violent measures. His reply was unsatisfactory, though given with tears. [From Oyster Bay Town Records.] 21. "We whose names are hereunto subscribed, being of the number of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for Queens County, and freeholders in the town of Oyster Bay, hearing ' of anonymous advertisements being set up in this township to notify the people to appear at Jamaica, Monday, 22d inst., to choose Deputies to form a Convention to carry the resolves of the Continental Congress into execution, do take this method to perpetuate to posterity that we pay no regard to anonymous advertisements, nor to any other matter contrary to the sacred oath we have taken to keep the peace of the county, as far as we are able. Signed by us, May 19, 1775. Justice. [L.S.] JOHN TOWNSEND, Justice. [L.S.] 22. Daniel Kissam was chairman of a meeting of a number of freeholders in Queens County, held pursuant to public notice at Jamaica, May 22, 1775, in compliance with the above circular, who elected unanimouslyCol. Jacob Blackwell, N. Jona. Lawrence, N. Dan'l Rapalje, Esq., N. Joseph French, Esq., J. Joseph Robinson, J. Sam'l Townsend, Esq., O. Capt. Rich'd Thorne, H.* *Hicks and Thorne were intended to represent Hempstead; but at the election three gentlemen delivered a message from the freeholders of Hempstead saying they had held a meeting a few days before, and determined to have nothing to do with electing Deputies, but to wait till they knew the effect of the petition of the General Assembly. It was then proposed that no Deputies should be appointed for Hempstead, but it was overruled, as in that case the County would be partially represented. 23. May 24, 1775.-The Congress was opened every morning with prayer at 9, by the city clergy, viz.: Dr. Auchmuty, Dr. Rogers, Mr. Ganno, Mr. Inglis, Dr. Laidley, Mr. Mason, Mr. Treat, Dr. Livingston, Mr. Moore, Mr. Bowden. 24. May 29.-Congress recommends to all the counties. to appoint county committees and sub-committees* for their respective towns without delay, to carry into execution the resolutions of the Continental and Provincial Congresses; and that the committee tender the association to every inhabitant within their district, and return the associations and the names of the recusants to this Congress by the 15th July next. * List of acting Committeemen, so far as ascertained, from written documents. COUNTY COMMITTEE formed before March, 1776. GEORGE TOWNSEND, of Norwich, Chairman and Treasurer. Daniel Duryea. Form of Association recommended April, 1775. 25. "Persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depends, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend the dissolution of the powers of government: We, the freemen and freeholders and inhabitants of Cow Neck, Great Neck, &c., in Queens County, who lately belonged to the company of Capt. Stephen Thorne, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts Bay, do, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves; and do associate under all the ties of religion, honor and love of our country, to adopt and endeavor to carry into execution whatever measure may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or resolved on by our Provincial Convention, for the purpose of preserving our constitution and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America, on constitutional principles, (which we most, ardently desire*) can be obtained; and that we will in all things follow the advice of our general committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of individual and private property. Dated at Cow Neck, Jan., 1776." [This paper has thirty names, and is the only one relating to our county I can find. The others have been, doubtless, lost or destroyed.]-Ed. John Farmer, Tho's Williams, Jr., Capt. Jacob Mott, Jackson Mott, Jores Rapalje, Adam Mott, Sr., Andrew H. Onderdonk, Tho's Townsend, Wm.Hutchings, weaver, Richard Townsend, Jr., Timothy Townsend, Joseph Smith, * "A few keen-sighted men had other views, and were prepared from the beginning to go all lengths. Their number was small and their sentiments kept concealed."-Sparks. 26. June 4th, Congress order that the state of Queens county be taken into consideration to-morrow. June 22d, Resolved, That Thomas Hicks, Joseph French, and Daniel Rapalje, Esq., elected deputies, and who have have not yet attended, be requested to take their seats on Tuesday next, or assign their reasons for neglect. June 26, letter received from Joseph French. He declines to attend, |