“LETTER FROM WRENTHAM.
Wrentham, July 4th, 1774.
Gentlemen,
Filled with the sense of the sad alternative of being reduced to the precarious tenor of the will of others, rouses our attention and awakens every faculty—shocked with those master strokes of politics which mark with infamy the present era, the pillars of the Constitution struck asunder, and the whole body politic all in convulsion, which call for the aid and assistance of every individual—this Province in particular, and the devoted Town of Boston in special, is the first mark of ministerial vengeance.
Permit [us] then, Gentlemen, to assure you we feel the heavy hand of power, and claim a share in your sufferings. We then, a small number of the inhabitants of this Town, being sensible of the difficulties so sudden a stop of all trade must reduce a number of families in your Town, beg leave thus early to offer you our mite towards relieving our more immediate suffering brethren amongst you. AVe therefore send you, by the bearer, Mr. Ezra Ware, one load of grain, to be disposed of, for the purpose aforesaid, as you in your wisdom and prudence shall judge meet, which please to accept as a mark of our sincere regard and entire approbation of the peaceable measures begun and going on in this and the other Colonies, for our relief. We assure you we look on your burthens, ours, and shall at all times be ready, both in public and private, (according to our ability,) to give you every assistance to preserve our civil and religious privileges.
We are, Gentlemen, with truth and regard, your assured friends and fellow-sufferers in one common cause.
LEMUEL KOLLOCK, In the name and behalf of the Donors.
To the Overseers of the Poor of the Town
of Boston and the additional Committee.
19 1/4 bushels rye,
11 3/4 bushels corn,
31 bushels.
REPLY TO WRENTHAM.
Boston, July 5th, 1774.
Sir,
We have to acknowledge your favor of the 4th instant. We are obliged to you for your kind expressions of sympathy and concern for us under our present difficulty. We are truly in distress, and suffering under the heavy hand of power; and as patience, fortitude and perseverance, while we are enduring this oppression for the preservation of the rights of America, seem to be expected from us by our brethren in the country, you must be sensible great numbers of our people must, for want of employ during this conflict, be reduced to the utmost distress, unless they are relieved from the country. We are glad to find you are of this opinion, and kindly thank you for the load of grain you have sent by Mr. Ezra Ware, for the relief of those who are more immediately suffering by the oppression of the Boston Port Bill.
Signed by order of the Overseers of the Poor.
SAM. PARTRIDGE.
To Mr. Sam. [Lem. ?] Kollock, at Wrentham.”
