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Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

Manuscript Copy of Remonstrance - 1

To the Honourable John Penn Esq.^rGovernor of the ~~of the~~ Province of Pensilvania & of the Counties of New Castle, Kent & Sussex on Delaware, & to the Representatives of the Freemen of said Province in Assembly [metts]

We ~~William Brown~~ Matthew Smith & James Gibson in behalf of ourselves & his Majesties faithfull & loyal subjects the Inhabitants of the Frontier Counties of Lancaster York Cumberland, Berks & Northampton, humbly beg leave to remonstrate, & to lay before you the following grievances, which we submitt to your Wisdom for Redress.

1^stWe apprehend that as Free Men & English Subjects, we have an undisputable Title to the same Priviligies & Immunities with his Majesties other Subjects who reside in the interior Counties of Philadelphia Chester & Bucks & therefore ought not to be excluded from an equal share with them in the very important [Priviliges] of Legislation. Nevertheless, contrary to the Proprietors Charter & the acknowledged Principles of common Justice & Equity our five Counties are restrained from electing more than ten ~~Members~~ Representatives viz. four for Lancaster, two for York, two for Cumberland, one for Berks, & one for Northampton, while the three Counties & City of Philadelphia, Chester & Bucks elect twenty five, this we humbly conceive is offensive, unequal & unjust, the cause of many of our Grievances & an infringement of our natural privileges of freedom & Equality, wherefore we humbly pray that we may no longer be deprived of an equal number with the three aforesaid Counties to represent is in Assembly

2^dlyWe understand that a Bill is now before the house of Assembly wherein it is provided that such persons as shall be charged with killing any Indians in Lancaster County shall not be tried in the County where the Fact was committed, but in the Counties of Philadelphia Chester or Bucks. This is manifestly to deprive British Subjects of their known Privileges, to cast an eternal reproach upon whole Counties as if they were unfitt to serve their Country in the quality of Jury Men, & to contradict the well known laws of the British Nation in a Point, whereon Life

Contents of this annotation:

Manuscript copy of remonstrance from Matthew Smith and James Gibson to Governor John Penn. They position themselves as representatives of public opinion, submit nine points that decry the perceived underrepresentation of the western counties in the Assembly and bill changing trial location of persons charged with killing Indians, allege that Indians under government protection conspired with others to plan attacks, lament lack of public funds for the care of wounded frontier residents, request new bounties for Indian scalps, request embargo to effect return of captives, accuse private individuals of trading and treating with enemies of the province, and requests Fort Augusta garrison be ordered to take more proactive measures. Handwritten copy, perhaps draft. 13 February 1764. Gift of Paul and Judy Ware, 2009.