The first provincial congress in America was held in the Craven County Court House, New Bern, NC from 25-27 August 1774. It was a significant contribution to the Revolutionary movement. Seventy-one delegates representing 30 of 36 counties and 6 of 9 boroughs met to discuss grievances against taxes and laws imposed on the Colonists by the Royal Crown and the British Parliament. They agreed on 28 resolves focused on non-importation, non-exportation, and non-consumption economic sanctions against Great Britain and its trading partners if demands were not met. Richard Caswell, William Hooper and Joseph Hewes were elected as delegates to the 1st Continental Congress in Philadelphia between September 5 and 26 October 1774. They were instructed to present the resolves to the 1st Continental Congress as actionable redress of grievances.
The New Bern Resolves had a significant influence on the “Articles of Association” at the 1st Continental Congress. The Articles of Association or “The Association” was one of the first attempts at redressing grievances against the Royal Crown and British authority. Committees of Safety were established throughout the provinces to enforce the sanctions and citizens were encouraged to sign an oath of allegiance in support of the Association. This further polarized citizens loyal to the Crown (“Loyalists”) and those known as “Patriots.”
A commemoration for the 250th Anniversary of America’s First Provincial Congress will be held on Saturday, 24 August 2024, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. on the Tryon Palace South Lawn in New Bern, NC. The event aims to honor the bravery of the 71 delegates and the importance of the 1st NC Provincial Congress in North Carolina and American history, particularly its significance toward the outcome of the “Articles of Association” and the American Revolution.
The 250th observance will include the marking of five Patriot graves (Levi Gill, James Green, Jr., Richard Cogdell, John Wright Stanly, and James Davis) on Friday, 23 August 2024 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church grounds. This will be followed by a buffet supper at the Harrison Center, 311 Middle Street, New Bern, NC.
On Saturday, 24 August 2024 at 930 a.m., a procession will move north on Metcalf Street from the NC History Center through the Tryon Palace Main Gate on Pollock Street to the South Lawn. The procession will include members of the Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, St. Johns Masonic Lodge #3, the SAR Color Guard, Fife & Drum Corps and Tryon Palace’s 1st Regiment of the NC Continental Line, Scouting America, National Sojourners “Heroes of 1776,” Scottish Rite, York Rite and other patriotic and civic organizations.
The ceremony at the Tryon Palace Historic Site will include a keynote address by Chief Justice Paul Newby, NC Supreme Court. It will conclude with a rendering of honors for the 71 Delegates and Resolves of the 1st North Carolina Provincial Congress. An open reception with light refreshments will follow at the NC History Center, Mattocks Hall located at 529 South Front Street, New Bern, NC. The 1st Provincial Congress Journal will be on display in Mattocks Hall for one day, on loan from the NC Archives. Other activities and displays will be available to the public in Mattocks Hall.