Isle of Wight County, VA - Committee on Safety, 1775

Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

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Committee of Safety of Isle of Wight

     R. S. Thomas

     William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vo. 6, No. 4
(Apr., 1898), pp. 205-206

                                    WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE
                               QUARTERLY HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

Vol. VI                           APRIL, 1898.                         NO. 4

                          COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OF ISLE OF WIGHT.

                                                  BY R. S. THOMAS.

     On the 13th of January, 1775, the Committee of Safety con-
sisted of John Scarsbrook Wills (chairman), Josiah Parker, Brewer
Godwin, Arthur Smith, the Rev. Henry John Burgess, John Mal-
lory, Tristam Norsworthy, Jr., William Davis, Goodrich Wilson,
and Nathaniel Burwell; Francis Young (clerk).
     On the 17th of January there also appeared Richard Hardy,
Thomas Pierce, John Day, and Timothy Tynes.
     On the 15th of May there was added John Driver, Joshua
Council, Thomas Fearne, Mills Wilkinson, Edmund Godwin, Joseph
Cutchin, Henry Pitt, Jethro Gale, William Jordan, and Thomas
Smith.
     July 27, 1775, "George Purdie, merchant of the town of Smith-
field, charged at a former meeting with violating the Continental
Association, and being summoned to appear here this day to an-
swer the said charge, he informed the committee he would appear,
but that he had been informed that he was to be tarred and
feathered, guilty or not guilty."
     I was surprised to find that the only charges against him were
"for selling three or four yards of crown rolls for 1 shilling per
yard current money"; also two yards of do. for 1 shilling, three
scanes of thread for ------, some pins for 1s, 6d., and some needles
at double price; and "that he had told William Flake that every-
body who signed the association would be sent to England to be
hanged."
     There were witnesses against him as to these charges.  The
committee thought they ought to be inquired into, and so again
summoned him to appear, and assured him that the threat he
mentioned had not been entered against him.  Robert Tynes and
John Sym were also ordered to appear at the next meeting of the
committee.  John Armstrong seconded expressions "inimical to

Page 206

the interests of North America."  There were no further proceed-
ings against any of the parties mentioned, or any others at any
time, from which I conclude the country was "solid" in its patriotism.