Rev250 Discover Danvers Celebrates the Nation’s Semiquincentennial

The Danvers Historical Society invites you to explore the people and events leading up to the War of Independence. We will post an account of events or stories important to the struggle for independence, especially those relating specifically to Danvers and the surrounding area of Essex County. Follow along and Discover Danvers!

The following events took place 250 years ago in September, 1774:

September 1, 1774 -- Governor Thomas Gage issues a writ that calls for an election of the General Court. British Troops arrive in Somerville to remove powder from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Powder House.

September 2, 1774 -- 4000 militia men from New England assemble at Cambridge on the “Powder House Alarm” and force Thomas Oliver, Samuel Danforth and Joseph Lee to resign as Mandamus councilor.

September 3, 1774 -- General Gage breaks ground on the fortifications on Boston Neck.

September 6, 1774 – In an act of defiance, Essex County residents call the Ipswich Convention, requiring each town to send 1 or 2 representatives. Though Town meetings were abolished, Danvers appoints Samuel Holten and William Shillaber. It was set to convene on October 5, 1774. Marblehead town meeting votes to have their militia regiment train 4 days a week with arms and ammunition.

September 5 – October 26, 1774 – First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia. Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent a total of fifty-six delegates. Only Georgia was not represented. One accomplishment of the Congress was the Association of 1774, which urged all colonists to avoid using British goods, and to form committees to enforce this ban.

September 7, 1774 – In Ipswich, the Essex County Convention passes the Essex Resolves.

September 8, 1774 -- Letter from the Society of Mechanicks to the same in New York asking them not to help General Gage build fortifications across Boston Neck

September 9, 1774 – In Milton, MA, Suffolk County Convention passes the Suffolk Resolves.

September 10, 1774 – General Gage leaves Danvers and returns to Boston

September 28, 1774 – Following the county conventions and the passage of their resolves, Governor Gage issues a proclamation canceling the earlier writ calling for an election of representatives to the General Court

For the complete 1774 timeline, go to https://www.danvershistory.org...