the two latter taking the place of John Goldsborough and James Dickinson.

The first Assembly held after the issuing of the Proclamation was convened 2 October 1771, but the proceedings of the Lower House being in direct opposition to the proclamation, the Assembly was prorogued from time to time for two years.

In May 1773, a new election was held under great excitement, and resulted in the complete triumph of the anti-proclamation party, and a unanimous House in favor of the rights and liberties of the people. Matthew Tilghman, Nicholas Thomas, Edward Lloyd and James Lloyd Chamberlaine being re-elected from Talbot County.

This was the last election ever held under the Proprietary Government, and the Assembly then chosen continued by frequent prorogations to the meeting of the Provincial Convention in June 1776, when it expired by proclamation of the Governor dissolving the Assembly and ordering a new election, which was not obeyed. The last Session of the Assembly under the Proprietary Government, commenced 23 March 1774 and ended 19 April 1774.

After the passage in March 1774, by the British Parliament of the Act known as the "Boston Port Bill," suggested by Lord North, and which blocked up the port and harbor of Boston, intense and bitter feeling was aroused in Maryland, as well as in all the Colonies. In order, therefore, to give more effective opposition to the Act, the freemen in the various counties assembled for the purpose of expressing their disapproval of it.

On 24 May 1774, the citizens of Talbot County met at Talbot Court House, and "took into serious consideration the part they ought to act, as friends to liberty and to the general interest of mankind," and "determined calmly and steadily,

He married 16 May 1757, Henrietta Maria Robins of "Peach Blossom." Member of the Lower House of Assembly, 1771-1776. Member of the Committee of Observation of Talbot County, 1775-1776. Member of the Provincial Conventions, 1775 and 1776. He died about 1793.

to unite with their fellow subjects, in pursuing every legal and constitutional measure to avert the evils threatened by the last Act of Parliament for shutting up the port and harbor of Boston," and "to support the common rights of America."

The following deputies were thereupon appointed to attend a meeting of similar Committees of other Counties of the Province, at Annapolis, to be held 22 June 1774, Matthew Tilghman, Edward Lloyd, Nicholas Thomas and Robert Goldsborough, 4th.1

The Convention assembled at Annapolis, 22 June 1774, ninety-two members being present from the several Counties of the Province. Hon. Matthew Tilghman of Talbot County, was elected President and John Duckett, Clerk. This Convention at once assumed the duties and responsibilities of a Provisional Government and it became the sovereign power of the people of Maryland.

Mr. McMahon, in his History of Maryland, (1831), says "Never was there assembled in Maryland a body of men more distinguished by their talents, their efficiency, or the purity of their purposes. Their names should be recorded in the memory of every citizen, and their proceedings are too important a portion of our history to be abridged."

The resolutions adopted by this distinguished and patriotic body showed a determined opposition to the demands of Great Britain. Matthew Tilghman, President of the Convention, Thomas Johnson, Jr., Robert Goldsborough, 3rd, William Paca

'Hon. Robert Goldsborough, 4th, was born at "Myrtle Grove," Talbot County, Md., 8 November 1740, the son of Robert and Sarah (Nicols) Goldsborough and grandson of Robert and Elizabeth (Greenberry) Goldsborough. He married 22 September 1768, Mary Emerson Trippe, daughter of Henry Trippe of Dorchester County. He graduated at Philadelphia College, studied law and was admitted to the bar of Talbot County in 1762. Member of the First Provincial Convention, 22 June 1774. Appointed an Associate Judge of the General Court, 20 January 1784, to fill a vacancy created by the death of Judge Nicholas Thomas. He died 31 December 1798. His son, Hon. Robert Henry Goldsborough, was United States Senator from Maryland, 1813-1819 and 1835-1838.

'Hon. Robert Goldsborough, 3rd, was born in Dorchester County, Md., 3 December 1733, the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Ennalls) Goldsborough, and grand

and Samuel Chase, were appointed Deputies for this Province, to attend a General Congress of Deputies from all the Colonies, and they were instructed" to effect one general plan of conduct, operating on the commercial connection of the Colonies with the mother country, for the relief of Boston, and preservation of American liberty."

The Continental Congress met 5 September 1774, at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, and issued a plan of association for carrying into effect non-importation, non-consumption and non-exportation, to be used as a means for a restoration of American rights.

The Provincial Convention was again assembled 21 November 1774, and after approving of the action of Congress, adjourned to 8 December 1774, when the proceedings of the Continental Congress were again read, considered and unanimously approved, and it was resolved "to carry into execution the association agreed on by the Continental Congress." Steps were also taken to organize the militia in the several counties for the general defence.

At the adjourned Convention 24 April 1775, one hundred members from the several Counties were present, and renewed preparations were made for an armed resistance to Great Britain, for the War of the Revolution had begun.

The Continental Congress met again 10 May 1775, and on 15 June 1775, Colonel George Washington was nominated by Thomas Johnson, Jr., of Maryland, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Forces. Two days afterwards the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought and the Colonists were more deeply aroused than ever.

son of Robert and Elizabeth (Greenberry) Goldsborough. Studied law and was admitted to the Middle Temple, London. He married in England 27 March 1755, Sarah Yerbury, daughter of Richard Yerbury of Bassing Hall Street, London. Member of the Provincial Conventions, 1774, 1775 and 1776, and one of the Committee elected by the Convention of 14 August 1776, to prepare a Declaration of Rights and a form of Government for the State. Deputy to the Continental Congress, 1774-1776. He died 22 December 1788.

The Provincial Convention was assembled 26 July 1775, one hundred and forty-one members being present, those from Talbot County being, Matthew Tilghman, President of the Convention, Edward Lloyd, Nicholas Thomas and James Lloyd Chamberlaine.

A temporary form of Government for the Province was established, and articles of association, known as the "Association of the Freemen of Maryland," were drawn up and signed by all the members of the Convention. Under this association the supreme power was vested in the Provincial Convention and the executive power confided to the Council of Safety, clothed with great powers and responsibilities, elected by the Convention, to serve from convention to convention. There were also Committees of Observation for each of the Counties elected by the freemen, which assisted the Council of Safety, and for that of Talbot County Nicholas Thomas was a member in 1775, and Chairman in March 1776.

Mr. Thomas was also a member of the Convention of 7 December 1775, convened by the Council of Safety, his colleagues from Talbot County being Matthew Tilghman, President of the Convention, James Lloyd Chamberlaine, Edward Lloyd and Pollard Edmondson.1

This Convention on assembling set about the formation of a military force for the protection of the Province. On 3 January 1776, Mr. Thomas was elected by the Convention Quartermaster of the 4th Battalion of Talbot County Militia, of which Christopher Birkhead was elected Colonel, Peregrine Tilghman, Lieutenant Colonel, Jeremiah Banning, First Major, and Robert Lloyd Nicols, Second Major.

The commission of Mr. Thomas, which is in the possession of the Maryland Historical Society, is as follows:

'Hon. Pollard Edmondson was born in Talbot County, Md., the son of John and Margaret (Pollard) Edmondson. He married 5 March 1738, Mary Dickinson. Member of the Lower House of Assembly, 1751-1768. Member of the Provincial Conventions, 1775 and 1776. He died in 1794. He was the maternal great grandfather of Hon. Severn Teackle Wallis of Baltimore.

"The Delegates of the Freemen of Maryland in Convention. To Nicholas Thomas, Esquire.

"We reposing especial trust and confidence in your fidelity, courage, good conduct and attachment to the Liberties of America, Do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be Quartermaster of the Fourth Battalion of the Militia of this Province. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the trust reposed in you. And you are to follow all such Orders and Directions as you shall from time to time receive from this or a future Convention, the Council of Safety or the Brigadier-General or Commanding Officer of the said Battalion.

"This Commission to be in force until revoked by this or some future Convention of the Delegates of the Freemen of Maryland, or by the Council of Safety of Maryland, for the Time being, according to the Powers and Authorities in such Council of Safety vested by such Convention.

"Given in Convention at Annapolis this third day of January Anno Domini 1776.

Per order

Mat. Tilghman, President."

The Independence of the Colonies was now engrossing public attention, but the members of the Convention were not yet prepared to take any steps in that direction, but only " to obtain a redress of American grievances," and on 12 January 1776, the Convention instructed the Deputies representing this Province in the Continental Congress "not to assent to any proposition to declare these Colonies independent of the Crown of Great Britain, nor to any proposition for making or entering into any alliance with any foreign power, nor to any union or confederation of these Colonies, which may necessarily lead to a separation from the mother country," without the previous knowledge and consent of the Convention of this Province.