About
This collection contains the records of the five Virginia conventions that met before the creation of a new state government in 1776. The first convention was held at the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg on May 30, 1774. Twenty-five members of the House of Burgesses gathered to protest the closing of the port of Boston by British authorities as a punishment for the Boston Tea Party in 1773. The convention met in open defiance of Lord Dunmore, the royal governor, who had earlier dissolved the House of Burgesses. The members expressed their support for Boston and called for the creation of a Continental Congress. The conventions continued to serve as an alternative government in Virginia through July 1776. For more information, please see this blog post.
Prior to scanning, the Virginia Revolutionary Conventions, 1774-1776 records were conserved to remove damaging cellulose acetate lamination that was causing the documents to degrade. Additional documents in the collection are currently being conserved. Once completed, images of the documents will be added to the digital collection.
Works
Letter of William Woodford, 1775 Nov. 26.
Letter of William Woodford, 1775 Dec. 13.
Letter of William Woodford, 1775 Dec. 14 (laid before the Convention on 1775 Dec. 19).
Ordinance for erecting salt works in this Colony and for encouraging the making of salt, 1776 June 28.
Ordinance to supply certain defects in a former ordinance of this Convention for raising six troops of horse, 1776 June 19.
Report of the Committee of Privileges and Elections regarding Charles Henley, 1776 June 17.
Report of the Committee of Propositions and Grievances regarding the petition of John Ballendine and John Reveley, 1776 May 22.
Report of the Committee of Privileges and Elections regarding the qualification of Gabriel Penn, 1776 May 22.
Petition of the inhabitants and freeholders of Norfolk County, 1776 May 28.