Thursday, February 27, 2014

A Humble Petition 1776 (part 8)

The petition from 1776 continues form (part 7)...

"Upon the whole we Cheerfully submit to the Authorities and Jurisdiction of this House, not doubting but you will take us under your protection, and give us such direction by our Representatives, as you in your great Wisdom may think Best, and your petitioners as in Bound &c.

     Herrodsburg, June 7 - 15th. 1776
     Signed by order of the Inhabitants
                                                                                           Abraham Hite, Jr.
                                                                                             Clerk."

A note in Robertson's text p. 38 reads: This was sent first to the committee of Fincastle County and by them to the Convention.

It is important to notice that the Hite family plays an important role in the early settlement of Kentucky.  Isaac Hite is involved in the future settlement of what was to become Danville.

Friday, February 21, 2014

A Humble Petition 1776 (part 7)

The petition of 1776 continues from (part 7)...

"And as we sincerely concur in the measures established by the Continental Congress and Colony of Virginia, And willing to the utmost of our abilities to support the present laudable cause, by raising our Quoto of men and bear a proportionable share of Expense that will necessarily accrue in the support of our common Liberty.  And that good order may be observed we proceeded to Elect a Committee consisting of Twenty one members, already some in West Augusta and which precedent we rely upon to justify our Procedings to the world, for without Law or authority, Vice here could take its full scope having no Laws to Restrain or Power to Controul."

The Continental Congress and Colony of Virginia appear to be the focus of authority being sought by the folks in these parts of Fincastle County during the year of 1776.  It would seem that they were in agreement to the "present laudable cause" and in "in the support of our common Liberty".

Saturday, February 15, 2014

A Humble Petition 1776 (Part 6)

The petition of 1776 continues from (part 5)...

"And therefore willing to acquit our conscience and not entail Slavery upon our posterity by submitting to the pretensions and impositions of the pretended proprietors, We the Inhabitants of the North and South Sides of Kentucke River having assembled togather after preparatory notice on the Eight day of June 1776 and continued to poll till the 15th of said Instantin....[illegible] a majority has chosen Captain John Gabriel Jones and Captain George Rodgers Clark, and hope ye Honorable the Convention will receive them as our Delegates from this the Western parts of Fincastle County."

In June 1776 these folks were faced with the issue of slavery.   As a group, they would "not entail Slavery".  They identified themselves as "inhabitants" of the "North and South Sides of Kentucke River", being the western part of Fincastle County, Virginia.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

A Humble Petition 1776 (Part 5)

The petition continues from (Part 4)...

"But should our Infant Settlement become the object of your deliberations, and be taken under your protection and Direction unto whom we justly conceive to Belong, Every Obstacle would be Removed, Population increase and of consequence a Barrier to the interior parts of Virginia from the Indians.  A new source of wealth would then be opened, as Trade and Navigation under the auspices of Virginia would Flourish, in the Western world.  And therefore willing to acquit our conscience and not entail Slavery upon our posterity by submitting to the pretensions and impositions of the pretended proprietors,..."

The basic argument of this "Infant Settlement" was that if Virginia would officially claim this new settlement area; 1) every obstacle would be removed, 2) the population would increase, 3) provide a "Barrier" to the most western parts of Virginia against the Indians, 4) a new source of wealth would be opened, and 5) trade and navigation would flourish "in the Western world".  Wow, who could refuse such an opportunity. 

Sunday, February 2, 2014

A Humble Petition 1776 (Part 4)

The petition from 1776 (Part 3) continues...

"Virginia, we conceive, can claim this country with the greatest justice and propriety, its within the Limits of their Charter, They Fought and bled for it.  And had it not been for the memorable Battle at the Great Kanaway, these vast Regions had yet continued inaccessable. Nor can we conceive how it is practicable for those men who stile themselves Absolute proprietors, to settle this Country at so great a Distance from all the Colonies and in a Neighborhood of some Enemy Indians."

The battle at the "Great Kanaway" was at the junction of the Kanawha and the Ohio known as "Point Pleasant".  Many of those signing this petition fought in this battle.  [See previous post of Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 titled: "Point Pleasant 1774".]