Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 7, 2025 ~ The Old Sachem ~ When Massachusetts prepared for war against England By Bill Stewart n 1765 the Massachusetts Assembly protested the Stamp Act and called a meeting of representatives of the other colonies. It was held in New York City in the fall of I 1765. The Massachusetts Assembly drafted a letter in June 1765 to discuss the Stamp Act. They also notified Richard Jackson, who was their agent in England, of the proposed meeting. They also wrote to the British Governor of the colonies, Francis Ber8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! nard, about their dismay of the Stamp Act. The colonies adopted 14 resolutions that were sent to the King, the Commons, similar to our House of Representatives, and the Lords, which is similar to our Senate. The colonists declared that taxation without representation was null and void in their estimation. The Stamp Act Congress was a www.810bargrille.com Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! Owned & Operated by the Conti Family since 1958 “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! group of landowners – educated men that represented the political elite of the colonies. The Sons of Liberty were formed in the summer of 1765 to express their protest of the Stamp Act. On August 14 the Sons hanged Massachusetts Distributor of Stamps, Andrew Oliver, in effigy using a crude figure as a representative of him. The protesters went on to stone and ransack Oliver’s house. Oliver resigned the next day. The protesters went on to the house of the Lieutenant Governor, Thomas Hutchinson, to protect his house from the British, as he stood up for the protesters’ argument. Meanwhile a women’s group, the Daughters of Liberty, were also protesting the Stamp Act, and refused to purchase British goods and encouraged others to also refuse. An article in The Boston Chronicle, the main newspaper of the day, on April 7, 1766, stated that the 18 Rhode Island Daughters also determined to not drink English tea and not purchase British goods. This gave women a new and active role in protest. Back in England word of the colonists’ protests was not well received and a political situation prevailed. Prime Minister George Grenville, who presented increased domestic taxes, was dismissed by the King. Parliament favored the colonial reforms, but merchants were against the reforms. In March 1766 the new Prime Minister, Lord Rockingham, had Parliament repeal the Stamp Act. Colonists were jubilant about the repeal, and Boston merchant John Hancock treated the entire town to drinks. But Lord Rockingham also proposed the Declaratory Act, which stated that Parliament’s power was supreme and that any laws the colonies were to pass, or had already passed, were null and void. The colonists were not allowed to govern or tax; only England could accomplish these. The Province of Massachusetts was established in 1774 in the Massachusetts Bay and a provisional government created the colonial charter, which controlled rebellious factions that supported the British forces in the land. When the British forces withdrew from Boston in March 1776, it became the government of the area. The government declared independence from England in 1776 and continued to govern for several years. On May 20, 1774, the Parliament of England passed the Massachusetts Government Act with the theory that they could assert better authority in the Bay “The Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) Colony. The Act stated that effective August 1, 1774, the members of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council would not be elected by the people of the colony, but would be named by the King of England. It led to a refusal of a constitution by the Continental Congress in 1778 and of the successful resolution that produced a constitution for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1780. The Provisional Congress ended with the elections of October 1780. And so, before long, the colonies moved to battle the English forces and the King, which led to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, became the Revolutionary War, the battle for independence, and a new nation, the United States of America. (Editor’s Note: Bill Stewart, who is better known to Saugus Advocate readers as “The Old Sachem,” writes a weekly column – sometimes about sports. He also opines on current or historical events or famous people.) Spring is Here!
5 Publizr Home