Committee of Inspection of Pownalborough, East Precinct (New-York)

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To deprive a man of the benefits of society, by holding him up to the world as an enemy to his Country, is a task that must be disagreeable to humanity; but the duty incumbent on every person who is intrusted with power, to prevent the violation of the American Association, makes it necessary to publish the following facts:

At a meeting of the Committee of Inspection for the East Precinct of Pownalborough, on the 20th day of May last, they sent for Abiel Wood, against whom some complaints were made, and the following facts were proved against him, viz:

1. That when the result of the Continental Congress was made publick, the said Wood declared his disapprobation of the same in every respect, and reported that the Members of said Congress drank thirty bumpers of wine a piece before they passed their Resolves, and added, if said Resolves were adhered to, the Country would be ruined; and said Wood declared he would not abide by said Resolves.

2. That said Wood did order out Cordage, Sail-Cloth, and Salt, after he had read the Continental Association.

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3. That the said Wood spoke disrespectfully of the method recommended by the Provincial Congress for choosing Officers, and said the Officers were rebels and traitors, and discouraged the men in this Parish from exercising under said Officers, saying they would be hanged if they should learn to exercise.

4. That the said Wood brought from Boston certain pamphlets, entitled "An Address to all reasonable Americans," and spread the same, and extolled the pamphlet, saying it contained nothing but the truth, and was the best book that was ever wrote; and the said Wood, speaking of a pamphlet wrote in England, entitled "Considerations on Measures now carrying on in America," said it began with a lie and ended with the same.

5. That the said Wood was a Selectman in 1774, and being applied to, to call a Town-Meeting in order to choose a Committee of Inspection, he would not grant a warrant for so doing, saying it was against law, and there was an Act of Parliament against Town-Meetings.

6. That said Wood reported for truth, that the Province of New-York, and twelve Towns in this and Connecticut Provinces, had voted not to abide by the result of the Continental Congress, and thereby endeavoured to discourage the people of this Parish from approving of the same.

7. That the said Wood declared the Acts of Parliament for raising a revenue in America were not grievances, but ought to be submitted to; and that the Act for blocking up the Port of Boston was a just punishment; and said that John Hancock, Esquire, Samuel Adams, and Josiah Quincy, were the cause of all the disturbances and difficulties we are involved in.

8. That the said Wood declared the Provincial Congress of this Province ought not to be minded, for the greatest part of said Congress were damned villains, and that they destroyed the tea, and acted only to deceive the people and stir up rebellion; and that the Resolves recommending the choosing the Officers in this Province was high treason.

9. That the said Wood commended the coasters for carrying timber to the Troops.

10. That the said Wood being asked why he did not carry timber to the Troops, said, because he was afraid of the people: and added, it was time now to throw off fear, for he had lost thousands by fearing to supply the Troops; and on being informed the Provincial Congress had forbid supplying the Regular Troops, said Wood declared most of the Congress were damned villains, saying there was Hancock, Adams, and others, acted out of selfish views in destroying the tea; and being informed Mr˙ Hancock did not destroy the tea, the said Wood offered to give his oath before any Justice of the Peace, that Mr˙ Hancock was the first man that went on board the vessel to destroy the tea, and that the devil had made them believe that one of them should be a King, another a Governour, and that they should be in some great places of honour and profit, and their views were to stir up the people to sedition, in older to accomplish their designs. This was spoke concerning Mr˙ Hancock and the Provincial Congress, in April, 1775.

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The Committee thereupon voted, that Abiel Wood, was an enemy to his Country.

On the 24th of May last the Ship Christian, Christopher Williamson, master, arrived here, having on board one hundred and ninety-eight coils of Cordage, one hundred and seventy-eight bars of Flat Iron, and six Anchors, which were shipped by John Hatly, of Whitehaven, on the 20th day of February last, on account and risk of Abiel Wood, and to be delivered to him at said Pownalborough, the dangers of the seas only excepted.

The Committee ordered the Cordage, Anchors and Iron should be sent back forthwith.

The said Ship sailed the 28th following, and Abiel Wood went in said Ship to Nova-Scotia. A Sloop of said Wood sailed about the same time, and at sea said Wood had part of the Cordage taken out of said Ship and put on board his Sloop. Said Wood had all the Cordage, Anchors and Iron above-mentioned carried to Nova-Scotia, and there landed and disposed of the same. Said Wood has also made another trip to Nova-Scotia, (since he carried the Cordage,) with Salt, and on the 8th instant arrived here, having cleared out from Nova-Scotia to New-York for Provisions.

The Committee therefore think it their duty to, and they hereby publish the said Abiel Wood as a violator of the American Association, and an enemy to this Country, and that he ought to be treated as such, notwithstanding a late publication in Mr˙ Hall' s paper, by the Committee of Correspondence, to the contrary.

By order of the Committee of Inspection for the East Parish in Pownalborough:

TIMO˙ LANGDON, Chairman.

East Precinct, Pownalborough, August 17, 1775.