COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE

At a Wrentham town meeting in 1772, it was proposed, “To see whether the town would take into their consideration a circular letter from the worthy citizens of the town of Boston, stating the rights of colonies in their diverse respects and also stating the many grievances the good people of this province had from diverse late acts and resolutions of the British Parliament, imposing duties upon and raising revenues on the inhabitants.” Art 2 stated: “To see if the town will choose a Committee of Correspondence to correspond with the committee of Boston and every other committee of this province, for that purpose.” At the town meeting of January 11 1773 the committee gave their resolves, stating; “Proposed to the town to choose a committee of correspondence to correspond with the committee of Boston and every other committee.” After the debate, it was passed (voted) in the negative. On August 29 1774 the Town of Wrentham, chose a Committee of Correspondence, consisting of Day Stone, Ebenezer Daggett, Jabez Fisher, Lemuel Kollock, John Smith and Joseph Woodward. They wrote and received letters from places where decisions had been made and it was necessary to tell others who had to take action. The few newspapers could not be used for the British would know of the preparations. Speed was of the essence because of the great distances involved, from Maine to Virginia. They tried to convince the English people that Gen Gage’s troops at Concord and Lexington, that the British were the aggressors.  JJM