Letter from William Black of the Committee of Correspondence, James River County, Virginia, to the Boston Committee of Donations (copy in letterbook volume 2), 22 December 1774, pages 94-95
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[ This description is from the project: Coming of the American Revolution ]
In this letter, William Black lets the Boston Committee of Donations know to expect a delivery of "wheat, corn & flour" as well as rum, molasses and butter, from his hometown of James River, Virginia, despite the possibility of his schooner the Dunmore "being froze up at Boston". He also reports on acts of resistance in the Annapolis, Maryland port, where "a ship from London who had only two half chests of Lyson Tea on bord was sent back again to England in Ballast and the Tea thrown into York River".
Depend on the Virginians
As the fall of 1774 passes into winter, American colonists are left to wonder how Britain will respond to the recent activities of the Continental Congress. Delegates have proposed a comprehensive plan of commercial resistance known as the "Continental Association." Seeing no harm in trying multiple approaches, delegates also send a petition to King George III, asking him to intercede in Parliament on the colonies' behalf. Meanwhile, the Coercive Acts are still in force in Massachusetts, and Bostonians still struggle to survive despite the closure of their harbor. Fortunately, their sister colonies continue to send physical and moral support throughout the winter of 1774-1775. The question still remains: Will Parliament repeal the Coercive Acts?
View the Letter from Samuel Adams of the Boston Committee of Donations to William Black of James River County, Virginia.
Questions to Consider
1. 1. What goods are sent as donations?
2. What is rumored to be preventing exports from going south?
3. What colonel has taken command of 1,000 Virginian volunteers?
4. What was thrown into York River?
Further Exploration
5. How might the continued closure of Boston's ports affect daily life? Would market prices change? How would households have to adapt?