Original Documents
Attleborough's Solemn Covenant
Prior to the Rcvolutionary War, Attleborough, which was then part of Rehoboth, on June 13th, 1774, pledged not to purchase or import any goods from Great Britian. Notably, this document was signed by John Daggett. The text reads as follows:
"We the Subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Attleborough having taken into serious consideration the precarious state of the liberties of North-America, and more especially the present distressed condition of this insulted province, embarrassed as it is by several acts of the British parliment, tending to the entire subversion of our natural and charter rights; among which is the act for blocking up the harbor of Boston; and being fully sensible of the our indispensable duty to lay hold on every means in our power to preserve and recover the much injured condition of our country; and conscious at the same time of no alternative between the horrors of slavery, or the carnage and desolation of a civil war, but a suspension of all commercial intercourse with the island of Great Britian. Do, in the presence of God, solemnly, and in good faith, covenant and engage with each other, 1st. That henceforth we will suspend all commercial intercourse with the said island of Great Britian, until said act for blocking up the said harbour be repealed, and a full restoration of our charter rights be obtained. And,
2 ldy, That there may be the less temptation to others to continue in the said, now dangerous commerce, we do in like manner solemnly covenant that we will not buy, purchase, or consume, or suffer any person, by, for,or under us to purchase or consume, in any manner whatsoever, any goods, wares, or merchandise which shall arrive in America from Great Britian aforesaid, from and after the last day of August next ensuing. And in order as much as in us lies to prevent our being interrupted and defeated in this only peaceable measure, entered into the recovery and preservation of our rights, We agree to break off all trade, commerce and dealings whatever with all persons, who prefering their own private interests to the salvation of their now perishing country, shall still continue to import goods from Great Britian, or shall purchase of those who do import. (continued)
3 rdly, That such persons may not have it in their power to impose upon us by any pretense whatever, we further agree to purchase no article merchandise from them, or any of them, who shall not have signed this, or similar covenant, or will not produce an oath, certified by a magistrate to be by them taken to the following purpose: vis. I, _____ of ______in the country of ________ do solemnly swear that the goods I have now on hand, and propose for sale, have not, to the best of my knowledge, been imported from Great Britian, into any port of America sinces the last day of August, one thousand seven hundred and seventy four, and that I will not, contrary to the spirit of an agreement entering into through this province import or purchase of any person so importing any goods as aforeesaid, until the port or habour of Boston, shall be opened, and we are fully restored to the free use of our constitutional and charter rights.
Lastly, we agree, that after this, or similar covenant has been offered to any person and they refuse to sign it, or produce the oath, abovesaid, we will consider them as contumacious importers, and withdraw all commercial connexions with them, so far as not to purchase of them, any article whatever, and publish their names to the world.
Witness our hands, June 13, 1774"
Among the signers were Joseph Bacon, Amos Carpenter, Phineas Claflen, John Daggett, Joseph Foster, Caleb Richardson, Joseph Capron, Stephan & Sam Draper, Daniel Tiffany, Stephen Richardson, Jacob & Amos Ide, Joseph Stearns, and Moses Wilmarth.
