1774 - Biddeford Joins the Rebellion

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Biddeford and Saco were united, with complete unanimity, on the subject of the differences with the Mother Country.

The leading individuals were of the Whig party, and defended to the fullest extent the measures taken by the provincial congress: cutting of any interaction with Great Britain.  The following resolutions express a tone of determination and shows that great as the sacrifice might be, the inhabitants were early on prepared to bear their part in the unequal struggle...

Minutes from the town Meeting on July 30, 1774:

"At a meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Biddeford the 30th day of July, 1774 - Resolved,

1st.  Whereas the Parliament of Great Britain has for the Express purpose of raising a Revenue and an Unconstitutional Tax, on the English American Colonies, made Several Acts highly Distressing to said Colonies in General and this Province in Particular; by which acts the Metropolis of this Province is Blocked up and distressed: the Civil Government of the Province Altered (as far as by said act it can be) in the most Material and Privileged Points thereof: and particularly the Invaluable Right of a Trial by an uncorrupted Jury Entirely Destroyed:

2nd.  Therefore Resolved that the Inhabitants of this Town now Assembled will in a Resolute, manly and determined manner, pursue all such Legal and Constitutional methods as shall by the other towns of the Province be thought Conducive to the restoration of our natural Rights as men and our Political Rights as Englishmen, and that no inconvenience however injurious to the private interest of any of us, shall be a sufficient cause to break this Resolution: and whereas the comittee of correspondence for the Town of Boston as Transmitted to us Papers to be sighted by the inhabitants of this Town, which papers contain certain Covenant Oaths and Agreements that the subscribers thereto shall break off all commercial interaction with the Island of Great Britain until the Oppressive Acts aforesaid are totally repealed: and the inhabitants of this Town being very sensible that there is no method yet pointed out which tends so much to the advancing opulence of this Country and happy extrication of it from its present difficulties and distresses as the Universal coming into and the Religious Observation of those Covenant Oaths and Agreements, or Others Somewhat Similar thereto:

3d.  It is Therefore Resolved that if the comittee appointed by the late Honorable House of Representatives of this Province to meet the Delegates of the other Colonies in General Congress at Philadelphia or Elsewhere, and the other members of said Congress shall advise to a Universal Withdrawment of our commerce with the Island of Great Britain until the aforesaid Oppressive acts of Parliament shall be replealed, we will strictly adhere thereto, and as our dependance under God is chiefly placed in the steady pursuance of such wise measures as shall be recommended by the Congress --

We therefore Resolve that whatever measure shall be by said Congress Advised to and complied with by the majority of the other towns in this Province, shall be literally and strictly adhered to by us--

And we further Resolve that if any person among us shall demean himself contrary to any plan that shall be laid for our Deliverance by the Congress and agree to by this and the majority of the other towns in the Province, we shall have no society, trade or commerce with such person, but will Esteem and Treat him as an Enemy to his Country.

Rishworth Jordan, Town Clerk."

Also at that meeting, a committee was assembled to stockpile 6 barrels of powder, 5 "weights" of lead shot, and a "sufficiency of flints", in addition to the creation of an Alarm List and the "Train Band", which was the militia.

Apparently, they knew what this resolution would lead them to.

This resolution had a unanimous vote.