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 […]