Windmuller-Heynen Family Tree

THE HEMPSTEAD RESOLUTIONS.

These Resolutions, said to have been written in part by Daniel Kissam, were offered for publication in the Royal Gazette, in the following note from their principal author:

" Mr. Rivington:

"You are requested to publish the following resolutions unanimously adopted at the most numerous Town Meeting which has been held in many years.

" Hulet Peters, T. C."

The Resolutions were published April 6th. In a later number of the paper they are commented on by " A Freeholder of Hempstead," one of those who " think the Union of the Colonies in a general and spirited plan of opposition absolutely necessary to the preservation of our rights."

The Resolutions are as follows1 :

" Hempstead, April 4, 1775.

" At this critical time of public danger and distraction, when it is the duty of every honest man and friend to his country, to declare his sentiments openly and to use every endeavour to ward off the

1 American Archives, series iv., vol. ii., p. 273. impending calamities which threaten this once happy and peaceful land ;

" We, the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Hempstead, being lawfully assembled on the first Tuesday of April, 1775, have voluntarily entered into the following conclusions :

" 1st. That as we have already borne true and faithful allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third, our Gracious and lawful sovereign, so we are firmly resolved to continue in the same line of duty to him and his lawful successors.

'' 2d. That we esteem our civil and religious liberties above any other blessings and those only can be secured to us by our present constitution ; we shall inviolably adhere to it, since deviating from it, and introducing innovations would have a direct tendency to subvert it, from which the most ruinous consequences might justly be apprehended.

"3rd. That it is our ardent desire to have the present unnatural contest between the Parent State and her Colonies amicably and speedily accommodated on principles of constitutional liberty, and that the union of these Colonies with the Parent-state may subsist until Time shall be no more.

'' ^fy. That as the worthy members of our General Assembly, who are our only legal and constitutional representatives, have petitioned his most gracious Majesty, have sent a Memorial to the House of Lords and a Petition to the House of Commons, we are determined to wait patiently for the issue of those measures, and to avoid everything that might frustrate those laudable endeavours.

"Sb■- That as choosing Deputies to form a Provincial Congress or Convention, must have this tendency, be highly disrespectful to our legal representatives and also be attended in all probability with the most pernicious effects in other instances, as is now actually the case in some Provinces—such as shutting up Courts of Justice, levying money on the subjects to enlist men for the purpose of fighting against our sovereign, diffusing a spirit of sedition among the people, destroying the authority of constitutional assemblies and otherwise introducing many heavy and oppressive grievances—we therefore are determined not to choose any Deputies, nor to consent to it but do solemnly bear our testimony against it.

'' 6ly. VVe are utterly averse to all mobs, riots and illegal proceedings by which the lives, peace and property of our fellow subjects are endangered, and that we, to the utmost of our power, will support
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our legal magistrates in suppressing all riots and preserving the peace of our liege sovereign,

" Hulet Peters,

" Clerk."

Could " honest men " and good citizens do less than here resolved ? Yet these Resolutions branded all concerned therewith as "Tories," the synonym of traitor.

From Edward Kissam:

DANIEL 3d was called "Joseph" in his
father's will as he was christened
since his father's death. Of Man-
hasset, born October 13th, 1726.
Vestryman in St. George's Church,
1752— '54. Justice of the Peace
under the Crown. Member of
Assembly, 1764 to 1775. County
Treasurer, 1759-1782. Married
April 20th, 1746, Peggy [born 1728,
died October 7th, 1813,] daughter
of Col. Benjamin Tredwell, [whose
sister Phebe was the grandmother
of the late Rt. Rev. Bishops Henry
U. and Benj. Tredwell Onderdonk.]
Daniel, 3rd died August 4th, 1782.
His will proved September 28th,
1782, and is recorded in Lib. of
Wills 35, page 109.