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250th Anniversary of New Bern Resolves August 24, 2024
The first Provincial Congress to be held in America in open defiance of royal authority was conducted in the Craven County Court House, New Bern, NC during August 25 – 27, 1774 and was a significant contribution to the American Revolutionary movement. The courthouse was located at the current intersection of Middle & Broad Streets until destroyed by fire in January 1861. Seventy-one (71) elected delegates representing 30 of 36 counties and 6 of 9 boroughs met in defiance of the British Royal Crown at the 1st North Carolina Provincial Congress to discuss the grievances against numerous taxes and laws imposed on the Colonists by the Royal Crown and the British Parliament.
Twenty-eight (28) resolutions or “resolves” focusing upon “the rights of British American subjects” and “economic sanctions against Great Britain and their trading partners” were issued in response to the unjust taxes and laws, especially those outlined in the Intolerable Acts. William Hooper, Joseph Hewes and Richard Caswell were elected as delegates to the 1st Continental Congress and were instructed to present the “resolves” to the 1st Continental Congress as actionable redress of grievances against the Royal Crown. These “resolves” were presented and discussed at the 1st Continental Congress held in Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia, PA during September 5, through October 26, 1774. They helped form the basis of the Continental Association (aka Articles of Association or just The Association) that was signed on October 20, 1774, and are recognized as one of our nations six (6) founding documents.
Join us on August 24th, 2024, as we celebrate the NEW BERN RESOLVES!
The schedule of events follows:
9:30 a.m. – Parade from Bate Commons, down Metcalf Str., turn left onto Pollock Str. and then through Palace front gates (15 min. to walk the route)
Tryon Palace Fife and Drum, 1st Regiment NC Continental Line, New Bern and State SAR, Richard Dobbs Spaight chapter of the DAR, St John’s Masonic Lodge #3, the SAR Color Guard, Scouting of America, Alamance Battleground participants, National Sojourners – “Heroes of 1776,” and other patriotic and civil organizations.
10:00 a.m. – Tryon Palace Historic Site South Lawn – Ceremony to include speakers, memorials, cannon firing
- 10 a.m.: Posting of Colors, Pledge of Allegiance, Keynote Address (Supreme Court Justice, Paul Newbie) Rendering of Honors to the 71 Delegates and the Resolves of the 1st NC Provincial Congress
- 11 a.m.: Two shots of the Verbruggen cannon
- 11:05 a.m.: Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps perform to close the event
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Family-friendly Activities and Lecture at the North Carolina History Center Children’s activities in Mattocks Hall, and light refreshments in Wainwright Activity Room.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – One Day Wonder – Resolves original document from North Carolina Department of Archives and History