23 Feb 2019 Oak Grove, VA
The Virginia SAR Color Guard forms to begin the ceremony.
On February 27th, 1766, 115 loyal British subjects, who lived in the Virginia Colony, signed a declaration of their displeasure in recent actions by the British Government. Ten years later, the Declaration of Independence would echo their sentiments and two of the signers of the Leedstown Resolves would also sign the Declaration of Independence.
The CMM attendees were led by President Tom Hamill, who presented the chapter wreath, and included Mike Lyman and Bill Schwetke, all three of whom participated in uniform in the Color Guard.
The CMM attendees were led by President Tom Hamill, who presented the chapter wreath, and included Mike Lyman and Bill Schwetke, all three of whom participated in uniform in the Color Guard.
 CMM President Tom Hamill with the chapter wreath. |  James G. Harrison, III, speaking, in character, as President James Monroe. |
CMM past President Mike Lyman, calls the roll for the wreath presentations.
The Leedstown Resolves
(also known as the Westmoreland Resolves)
February 27, 1766
Roused by danger and alarmed at attempts, foreign and domestic, to reduce the people
of this country to a state of abject and detestable slavery by destroying that free and
happy condition of government under which they have hitherto lived,
We, who subscribe this paper, have associated and do bind ourselves to each other, to
God, and to our country, by the firmest ties that religion and virtue can frame, most
sacredly and punctually to stand by and with our lives and fortunes, to support,
maintain, and defend each other in the observance and execution of these following
articles –
FIRST: We declare all due allegiance and obedience to our lawful Sovereign, George
the Third, King of Great Britain. And we determine to the utmost of our power to
preserve the laws, the peace and good order of this Colony, as far as is consistent with
the preservation of our Constitutional rights and liberty,
SECONDLY: As we know it to be the Birthright privilege of every British subject (and
of the people of Virginia as being such) founded on Reason, Law, and Compact; that
he cannot be legally tried, but by his peers; that he cannot be taxed, but by consent of a
Parliament, in which he is represented by persons chosen by the people, and who
themselves pay a part of the tax they impose on others. If, therefore, any person or
persons shall attempt, by any action, or proceeding, to deprive this Colony of these
fundamental rights, we will immediately regard him or them, as the most dangerous
enemy of the community; and we will go to any extremity, not only to prevent the
success of such attempts, but to stigmatize and punish the offender.
THIRDLY: As the Stamp Act does absolutely direct the property of the people to be
taken from them without their consent expressed by their representatives and as in
many cases it deprives the British American Subject of his right to trial by jury; we do
determine, at every hazard, and paying no regard to danger or to death, we will exert
every faculty, to prevent the execution of the said Stamp Act in any instance
whatsoever within this Colony. And every abandoned wretch, who shall be so lost to
virtue and public good, as wickedly to contribute to the introduction or fixture of the
Stamp Act in this Colony, by using stampt paper, or by any other means, we will, with
the utmost expedition, convince all such profligates that immediate danger and
disgrace shall attend their prostitute purposes.
FOURTHLY: That the last article may most surely and effectually be executed, we
engage to each other, that whenever it shall be known to any of this association, that
any person is so conducting himself as to favor the introduction of the Stamp Act, that
immediate notice shall be given to as many of the association as possible; and that
every individual so informed, shall, with expedition, repair to a place of meeting to be
appointed as near the scene of action as may be.
FIFTHLY: Each associator shall do his true endeavor to obtain as many signers to this
association, as he possibly can.
SIXTHLY: If any attempt shall be made on the liberty or property of any associator for
any action or thing to be done in consequence of this agreement, we do most solemnly
bind ourselves by the sacred engagements above entered into, at the risk of our lives
and fortunes, to restore such associate to his liberty and to protect him in the
enjoyment of his property."
In testimony of the good faith with which we resolve to execute this association we
have this 27th day of February 1766 in Virginia, put our hands and seals hereto.
[Signed]
Richard Henry Lee * Will. Robinson * Lewis Willis * Thos. Lud. Lee * Saml.
Washington * Chas. Washington * Moore Fauntleroy * Francis Lightfoot Lee *
Thomas Jones * Rodham Kenner * Spencer M. Ball * Richard Mitchell * Joseph
Murdock * Richd. Parker * Spence Monroe * John Watts * Robt. Lovell * John Blagge
* Charles Weeks * Willm. Booth * Geo. Turbeville * Alvin Moxley * Wm. Flood *
John Ballatine, Jr. * William Lee * Thos. Chilton * Richard Buckner * Jos. Pierce *
Will. Chilton * John Williams * William Sydnor * John Monroe * William Cocke *
Willm. Grayson * Wm. Brockenbrough * Saml. Selden * Richd. Lee * Daniel Tebbs *
Francis Thornton,Jr. * Peter Rust * John Lee Jr. * Francis Waring * John Upshau *
Meriwether Smith * Thos. Roane * Jas. Edmondson * Jas. Webb. Jr. * John
Edmondson * Jas. Banks * Smith Young * Laur. Washington * W . Roane * Richd.
Hodges * Jas. Upshau * Jas. Booker * A . Montague * Richd. Jeffries * John Suggett
* John S. Woodcock * Robt. Wormeley Carter * John Blackwell * Winder S. Kenner *
Wm. Bronaugh * Wm. Peirce * John Berryman * John Dickson * John Browne *
Edwd. Sanford * Charles Chilton * Edward Sanford * Jos. Lane * John Beale, Jr. *
John Newton * Will. Beale, Jr. * Chs. Mortimer * Wm. Pierce * John Berryman *
John Dickson * John Broone * Edwd, Sanford * Charles Chilton * Edward Sanford *
Daniel McCarty * Jer. Rush * Edwd. Ransdell * Townshend Dade * John Ashton * W .
Brent * Francis Foushee * John Smith, Jr. * Wm. Ball * Thos. Barnes * Jos.
Blackwell * Reuben Meriwether * Edw. Mountjoy * Wm. J. Mountjoy * Thos.
Mountjoy * Gilbt. Campbell * John Edmondsen, Jr. * Charles Beale * Peter Grant *
Thompson Mason * Jona. Beckwith * Jas. Samford * John Belfield * W . Smith *
John Augt. Washington * Thos. Belfield * Edgcomb Suggett * Henry Francks * John
Bland, Jr. * Jas. Emerson * Thos. Logan * Jo. Milliken * Ebenezer Fisher * Hancock
Eustace * John Richards * Thos. Jett * Thos. Douglas * Max Robinson * John Orr
(also known as the Westmoreland Resolves)
February 27, 1766
Roused by danger and alarmed at attempts, foreign and domestic, to reduce the people
of this country to a state of abject and detestable slavery by destroying that free and
happy condition of government under which they have hitherto lived,
We, who subscribe this paper, have associated and do bind ourselves to each other, to
God, and to our country, by the firmest ties that religion and virtue can frame, most
sacredly and punctually to stand by and with our lives and fortunes, to support,
maintain, and defend each other in the observance and execution of these following
articles –
FIRST: We declare all due allegiance and obedience to our lawful Sovereign, George
the Third, King of Great Britain. And we determine to the utmost of our power to
preserve the laws, the peace and good order of this Colony, as far as is consistent with
the preservation of our Constitutional rights and liberty,
SECONDLY: As we know it to be the Birthright privilege of every British subject (and
of the people of Virginia as being such) founded on Reason, Law, and Compact; that
he cannot be legally tried, but by his peers; that he cannot be taxed, but by consent of a
Parliament, in which he is represented by persons chosen by the people, and who
themselves pay a part of the tax they impose on others. If, therefore, any person or
persons shall attempt, by any action, or proceeding, to deprive this Colony of these
fundamental rights, we will immediately regard him or them, as the most dangerous
enemy of the community; and we will go to any extremity, not only to prevent the
success of such attempts, but to stigmatize and punish the offender.
THIRDLY: As the Stamp Act does absolutely direct the property of the people to be
taken from them without their consent expressed by their representatives and as in
many cases it deprives the British American Subject of his right to trial by jury; we do
determine, at every hazard, and paying no regard to danger or to death, we will exert
every faculty, to prevent the execution of the said Stamp Act in any instance
whatsoever within this Colony. And every abandoned wretch, who shall be so lost to
virtue and public good, as wickedly to contribute to the introduction or fixture of the
Stamp Act in this Colony, by using stampt paper, or by any other means, we will, with
the utmost expedition, convince all such profligates that immediate danger and
disgrace shall attend their prostitute purposes.
FOURTHLY: That the last article may most surely and effectually be executed, we
engage to each other, that whenever it shall be known to any of this association, that
any person is so conducting himself as to favor the introduction of the Stamp Act, that
immediate notice shall be given to as many of the association as possible; and that
every individual so informed, shall, with expedition, repair to a place of meeting to be
appointed as near the scene of action as may be.
FIFTHLY: Each associator shall do his true endeavor to obtain as many signers to this
association, as he possibly can.
SIXTHLY: If any attempt shall be made on the liberty or property of any associator for
any action or thing to be done in consequence of this agreement, we do most solemnly
bind ourselves by the sacred engagements above entered into, at the risk of our lives
and fortunes, to restore such associate to his liberty and to protect him in the
enjoyment of his property."
In testimony of the good faith with which we resolve to execute this association we
have this 27th day of February 1766 in Virginia, put our hands and seals hereto.
[Signed]
Richard Henry Lee * Will. Robinson * Lewis Willis * Thos. Lud. Lee * Saml.
Washington * Chas. Washington * Moore Fauntleroy * Francis Lightfoot Lee *
Thomas Jones * Rodham Kenner * Spencer M. Ball * Richard Mitchell * Joseph
Murdock * Richd. Parker * Spence Monroe * John Watts * Robt. Lovell * John Blagge
* Charles Weeks * Willm. Booth * Geo. Turbeville * Alvin Moxley * Wm. Flood *
John Ballatine, Jr. * William Lee * Thos. Chilton * Richard Buckner * Jos. Pierce *
Will. Chilton * John Williams * William Sydnor * John Monroe * William Cocke *
Willm. Grayson * Wm. Brockenbrough * Saml. Selden * Richd. Lee * Daniel Tebbs *
Francis Thornton,Jr. * Peter Rust * John Lee Jr. * Francis Waring * John Upshau *
Meriwether Smith * Thos. Roane * Jas. Edmondson * Jas. Webb. Jr. * John
Edmondson * Jas. Banks * Smith Young * Laur. Washington * W . Roane * Richd.
Hodges * Jas. Upshau * Jas. Booker * A . Montague * Richd. Jeffries * John Suggett
* John S. Woodcock * Robt. Wormeley Carter * John Blackwell * Winder S. Kenner *
Wm. Bronaugh * Wm. Peirce * John Berryman * John Dickson * John Browne *
Edwd. Sanford * Charles Chilton * Edward Sanford * Jos. Lane * John Beale, Jr. *
John Newton * Will. Beale, Jr. * Chs. Mortimer * Wm. Pierce * John Berryman *
John Dickson * John Broone * Edwd, Sanford * Charles Chilton * Edward Sanford *
Daniel McCarty * Jer. Rush * Edwd. Ransdell * Townshend Dade * John Ashton * W .
Brent * Francis Foushee * John Smith, Jr. * Wm. Ball * Thos. Barnes * Jos.
Blackwell * Reuben Meriwether * Edw. Mountjoy * Wm. J. Mountjoy * Thos.
Mountjoy * Gilbt. Campbell * John Edmondsen, Jr. * Charles Beale * Peter Grant *
Thompson Mason * Jona. Beckwith * Jas. Samford * John Belfield * W . Smith *
John Augt. Washington * Thos. Belfield * Edgcomb Suggett * Henry Francks * John
Bland, Jr. * Jas. Emerson * Thos. Logan * Jo. Milliken * Ebenezer Fisher * Hancock
Eustace * John Richards * Thos. Jett * Thos. Douglas * Max Robinson * John Orr
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