24 Articles of Association

We, his Majesty’s most loyal subjects of the Delegates of the several Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, The Three lower counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina deputed to represent them in a continental Congress held in the city of Philadelphia on the fifth day of September 1774. avowing our allegiance to his Majesty, our affection and regard for our fellow subjects in Great Britain and elsewhere affected with the deepest anxiety and most alarming apprehensions at those grievances and distress, with which his Majesty’s American subjects are oppressed, and having taken under our most serious deliberation the state of the whole continent find that the present unhappy situation of ourselves is occasioned by a ruinous System of colony administration adopted by the British Minority about the year 1763 evidently calculated for enslaving these colonies and with them the British Empire. In prosecution of which by various acts of parliament have been passed for raising a Revenue in America, for depriving the American subjects in many instances of the constitutional trial by jury, exposing their lives to danger by directing a new and illegal trial beyond the seat of crimes alledged to have been committed in America: And in prosecuting of the same system, several late cruel and oppressive acts have been passed respecting the form of Boston and the Massachusetts Bay and also an act for extending the province of Quebec so as to border the western frontier of the colonies, establishing an arbitrary government therein and discouraging the settlement of British subjects in that wide extended country, then by the influence of civil principles and ancient prejudices to dispose the inhabitants to act with hostility against the free protestant colonies, whenever a wicked minority shall [[shure?]] so to direct them.

To obtain redress of these grievances, which threaten destruction to the lives, liberty and property of his Majesty’s subjects in North-America we are of opinion, that a non-importations, non-consumption and non-exportation agreen faithfully adhered to will prove the most speedy, effectual and peaceable measure:  And therefore we do for ourselves and the inhabitants of the several colonies whom we represent firmly agree and associate under the sacred ties of virtue, honour, and love of our country as follows.

1. That from and after the first day of December next we will not import into British America from Great B Island, any Goods, wares or merchandize whatsoever or from any other place any such goods, wares, or merchandize as shall a been exported from Great-Britain or Ireland; nor will we after that day import any East India Tea from any part of the World, n any Mollasses, Syrups, [[panels?]] Coffee or Piemento from the British Plantation, or from Dominica, nor Wines from Maderia or the Western Islands nor foreign Indigo.

2. That we will neither import nor purchase any Slave imported after the first day of December next, and after which tim we will wholly discontinue the Slave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves, nor will we hire our vessels nor sell our commodities or manufacturers to those who are concerned in it.

3. As a non-consumption agreement strictly adhered to will be an effectual security for the observation of the non-importation we as above solemnly agree and associate, that from this day we will not purchase or use any Tea imported on occasions of the East India Company, or any on which a duty hath [[been?]] or shall be paid, and from and after the first day of March next we will not purchase or use any East India tea whatsoever, nor will we nor shall any person for or under us purchase or use any of those goods, wares or merchandize we have agreed not to import, which we shall know or have cause to suspect were imported after the first day of December except such as come under the rules and directions of the tenth article hereafter mentioned.

4. The earnest desire we have not to injure our fellow subjects in Great-Britain, Ireland or the West-Indies induces us to suspend a non-exportation until the tenth day of September 1775. at which time if the said acts and parts of acts of the British Parliament are not repeated we will not directly or indirectly export any merchandize or commodity whol [[are?]] to Great-Britain, Ireland or the West-Indies. [[underlined]] except [[/underlined]] Rise to Europe.

5. Such as are merchants and are the British and Irish trade will give orders as soon as possible to these factors, Agents and Correspondents in Great-Britain and Ireland not to ship any goods to them on any pretence whatsoever as they can not be received in America, and if any merchant residing in Great-Britain or Ireland shall directly or indirectly ship any good, wares or merchandize for America in order to break the said non importation agreement or in any manner contravene the Same

Same, on such unworthy conduct being well attested it ought to be made public, and on the same being so done, we will not from them forth have any commercial connection with such merchant.,_______

6.    That such as are owner of vessel will give positive order to their Captains or masters not to receive on board their vessels any goods prohibited by the said non-importation agreement on pain of immediate dismission from their service. _______

7.    We will use our utmost endeavors to improve the breed of Sheep and increase their number to the greatest extent and to that end we will kill them as sparingly as may be especially more of the most profitable kind nor will we export any to the West-Indies or elsewhere and those of us who are or may become overlooked with or can conveniently spare any Sheep will dispose of them to our neighbors espe

-cially [especially] to the poorer soul upon moderate terms. __________

8.    That we will in our several stations encourage frugality, economy and industry and promote agriculture, arts and the ma-

-nufacturer [manufacturer] of this country, especially that of wool, and will discountenance and discourage [[strikethrough]] by example [[/strikethrough]] every species of extravagance and

dissipation especially all horse racing and all kinds of gaming, cockfighting, exhibitions of plays, shows and other expensive diversions and entertainments – And on the death of any relation or friend none of us or any of our families will go into any further mourning dress than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat for Gentlemen, and a black ribbon & necklace for Ladies, and we will discontinue the giving of gloves and scarfs at funerals. _________________

9.    That such [?] are vendors of goods or merchandizes will not take advantage of the scarcity of goods that may be occasioned by this asso-

-ciation [association] but will sell the same at the rates we have been respectively accustomed to do for twelve months last [?] – And if any vendor of goods or merchandizes shall sell any such goods on ^[[insertion]] on [[/insertion]] higher terms or shall in any manner or by any device whatsoever violate or depart

from this  [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] agreement no person ought nor will any of us deal with any such person or his or her factor, or Agent at any time there after for any commodity whatever. ___________

10.       In case any merchant, Trader or other person shall import any goods or merchandize after the first day of December [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] and before the first day of February next the same ought forthwith at the election of the owner to be either whipped or delivered up to the Committee of the County, or town wherein they shall be imported, to be stored at the risque of the importer [?] the non-importa[?] agreement shall cease, or be sold under the direction of the Committee aforesaid and in the last mentioned case the owner or owners of such goods shall be reimbursed out of the sales / the first cost and charges, the profit if any to be applied to wards relieving and employ-

ing such poor inhabitants of the town of Boston as are immediate sufferers by the Boston Port Bill, and aparticular account of all goods to be returned, stored, or sold to be inserted in the public papers; And if any goods or merchandizes shall be imported after the said first day of February the same ought forthwith to be sent back again without breaking any of the packages thereof. ____

11.     That a Committee be chosen in every County, City and Town by those who are qualified to vote for representation in the legislature, whose business it shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all persons touching this association and when it shall be made ^[[insertion]] to [[/insertion]] appear to the satisfaction of a majority of any such Committee that any person within the limits of their appointment has violated this association that such majority do forthwith cause the truth of the case to be published in the Gazette to the end that all such foes to the rights of British America may be publickly known and universally contemned as the enemies of American liberty and thence forth we respectively will break of all dealings with him or her. ____

12.     That the Committee of Correspondence in the respective colonies do frequently inspect the entries of their Custom House and inform each other from time to time of of the true state thereof and of every other material circumstance that may occur relative to their association. _____

13.     That all manufactures of this country be sold at reasonable prices so that no undue advantage be taken of a future scarcity of goods. _____

14.    And we do further agree and resolve, that we will have no trade, commerce, dealings or intercourse whatsoever, with any Colony or province in North-America, which shall not accede to, or which shall hereafter violate this association, but will hold them as unworthy of the rights of freemen, and as inimical to the liberties of this country. _____

And we do solemnly bind ourselves and our Constituents under the ties aforesaid and to adhere to this association until such parts of the several acts of parliament passed since the year 1763  ^Close of the last War as impose or continueduties, on Tea, Wine, Mollasses, Syrups, paneles, Coffee, Sugar, Pimento, Indigo, foreign

^Close of the last War [inserted to replace struck through year 1763]

foreign paper, glass and painters colours imported into America, and extend the power of the admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American subjects of trial by jury authorize the judges certificate to indemnify the prosecutor from damages, that he might otherwise be liable to from a trial by his peers, require oppressive security from a claimant of Ships or goods such as, before, he shall be allowed to defend his property, are repealed — And until that part of the Acts of the 12 G. 3 ch. 24 entitled “an Act for the better securing his Majesty’s dock yard, magazines, ship’s ammunition and stores” by which any person charged with committing any of the offenses therein described, in America, may be tried in any shire or county within the realm is repealed.  And until the four acts passed in the last session of Parliament Viz. that for stopping the port and blocking up the harbour of Boston — that for altering the charter and government of the Massachusetts Bay — and that which is entitled [[insertion]] an act [[/insertion]] for the better administration of Justice Etc, and that for extending the limits of Quebec [[act?]] are repealed.  And we recommend it to the provincial conventions and to the committees in the respective colonies to establish such farther regulations as they may think proper for carrying into execution this association.  —-

The foregoing association being determined upon by the Congress, was ordered to be subscribed by the several Members thereof and thereupon we have here unto set our respective names accordingly.

In Congress, Philadelphia October 20th. 1774. —-

Peyton Randolph President

New. Hamp.Shire – {
John Sullivan
Nathaniel Folsom

Massachusets Bay {
Thomas Cushing
Sam Adams
John Adams
Robt. Treat Paine

Rhode Island {
Steph. Hopkins
Sam: Ward

Connecticut {
Eliph Dyer
Roger Sherman
Silas Deane

New: York {
Isaac Low
John Alsop
John Jay
Ja Duane
Phil Livingston
Wm Floyd
Henry Wisner
S: Boerum

New Jersey {
J. Kinsey
Wil: Livingston
Stepn. Crane
Richd Smith
John DeHart

Pensylvania {
Jos. Galloway
John Dickinson
Cha Humphreys
Thomas Mifflin
E Biddle
John Morton
Geo: Ross

the Lower Counties New Castle {
Caesar Rodney
Tho. McKean
Geo: Read

Maryland {
Mat Tilghman
Th: Johnson Junr
Wm Paca
Samuel Chase

Virginia {
Richard Henry Lee
Go. Washington
P. Henry Jr.
Richard Bland
Benj Harrison
Edm Pendleton

North Carolina {
Will Hooper
Joseph Hewes
Rd Caswell

South Carolina {
Henry Middleton
Th Lynch
Christopher Gadsden
J. Rutledge
Edward Rutledge^[1]