”At a meeting of the inhabitants of Charles County, held at the courthouse in Port Tobacco, on the 14th of June, ‘to deliberate on the effect and tendency of the Act of Parliament for blockading up the port and harbor of Boston,’ Mr. Walter Hanson was unanimously chosen chairman and the following resolutions adopted:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the Act of the British Parliament passed to block up the harbor and port of Boston, and suspend the trade and commerce of that town, is a violent attack upon the liberty and property of the inhabitants thereof, and in its consequences tends to render insecure, and destroy the rights and privileges of all British America.

That the town of Boston now suffering under the execution of the said act, justly demands the most speedy and effectual assistance of every colony in America to obtain a repeal of the same.

That the inhabitants of this county will join in an association with the several counties of this province, to put a stop to all imports from Great Britain after the first day of August next, except the articles of medicine—until the said act be repealed.

That if the said Act of Parliament is not repealed by the 31st day of October, in the year 1775, that then the inhabitants of this county will join with the several counties of this province, and the principal colonies in America, to break off till commercial connection with Great Britain and the West Indies.

It is the opinion of this meeting that a congress of deputies from the several colonies will be the most probable means of uniting America in one general measure to effectuate a repeal of the said Act of Parliament

That deputies shall be sent from this county to meet at the city of Annapolis on the the 22d instant, and join with the deputies appointed by the several committees in a general, rational and practicable association for this province, and to appoint deputies to attend a congress of those nominated by the several colonies, and to adopt any other measures for relief of the people of Boston, which to them seems fit and reasonable.

That the inhabitants of this county will break off all trade, commerce and dealings with that colony, town or county, which shall decline or refuse to associate in some rational and effectual means to procure a repeal of the said Act of Parliament.

That the inhabitants of this county will adopt and steadily pursue such measures as tend to protect and secure the liberties of this county according to the true principles of the English Constitution, and thereby show themselves loyal and faithful subjects to his majesty, King George the Third.

That Messrs. Walter Hanson, William Smalhvood, Josias Hawkins, Francis Ware, Joseph Hanson Harrison, Thomas Stone, George Dent, Gustavus Richard Brown, John Dent, Thomas Hanson Marshall, Daniel Jenifer, Samuel Love, James Forbes, Robert T. Hooe, Philip Richard Fendall, Zephaniah Turner, James Key and James Craik, or any seven of them be a committee of correspondence to receive and answer all letters, and on any emergency to call a general meeting of the county; and that Messrs. Walter Hanson, William Smallwood, Josias Hawkins, Francis Ware, Joseph Hanson Harrison, Thomas Stone, John Dent, Daniel Jenifer, and Robert T. Hooe, are appointed deputies for the county to attend the general meeting at Annapolis, the 22d instant.

God save the king and constitution. Signed per order,

JOHN GWINN, Clerk.”

Reference Data:

History of Maryland, by John Thomas Scharf, 1879, pages 152-3