Flushing, April 17, 1775
On the 4th of April, after due notice had been given to the freeholders
of Flushing, at an annual Town Meeting, it was proposed that a Deputy
should be chosen to represent said town. After some debates the business was put
to vote, when Mr. John Talman was by a great majority chosen.
John Rodman, Clerk
Stephen Van Wyck
March 27, 1775, Samuel Townsend, Town Clerk, gave notice by advertisement in the following words: "I have received a letter from the chairman of the committee of New-
York, recommending it to the freeholders of Oyster Bay to choose their Deputies so soon as that they may be at New-York by April 20th, the day proposed for the meeting of the Convention; and as our annual Town Meeting is so near at hand, I thought it best previous
to said meeting to acquaint the freeholders that I should lay said letter before the meeting,
that in the interim they might have an opportunity of thinking whether it will be proper
or not to choose a Deputy on that day."
At the annual Town Meeting, Thomas Smith was chosen Moderator, and after going through the business of the town, Samuel Townsend read the above cited letter and offered
it to the consideration of the freeholders and inhabitants; and it was objected by many against having anything to do with Deputies of Congresses, and insisted by some to choose
a Deputy. The Moderator proposed to go out and separate, but it was objected to and
a poll demanded. The Town Clerk wrote down the votes and at the close of the poll
there appeared on the list for Deputy, 42; against, 205---Oyster Bay Records
Whereas, the unhappy disputes between the mother country and the American Colonies,
we humbly conceive, has arisen from assumed power, claimed by the British Parliament,
to pass laws binding on us in all cases whatsoever, hath given us great uneasiness; and as we conceive unanimity among the inhabitants of the colonies is the only means under Providence to secure the essential rights and liberties of Englishmen, and in order that the inhabitants of the different colonies should know each other’s sentiments and form general plans for the union and regulation of the whole: it is necessary there should be Delegates appointed to meet in General Congress: and whereas the committee of correspondence of New-York did request the people of Queens County to choose Deputies: In consequence thereof there was a Town Meeting at Oyster Bay on April 4th, for the appointing of one Deputy; but there appearing at said meeting a majority against it, yet nevertheless, we, the subscribers, freeholders of Oyster Bay, being determined to do all in our power to keep in unity with you and the colonies on the continent, and desirous of being in some measure
represented at the General Congress, do hereby appoint Zebulon Williams as our Deputy,
giving unto him full power to act in our behalf in the remises aforesaid. In confirmation
whereof we have hereunto set or hand respectively.
Oyster Bay, April 12, 1775.
| George Townsend, | William Latting | Peter Mutty, + mark, |
| Micajah Townsend | Benjamin Latting, | Benjamin Rushmore |
| William Seaman, | Jos. Thorney Craft, | William Wright, |
| David Laton, | William Hopkins, | Isaac Bogart, |
| George Bennet, | Joseph Coles | John Carpenter, |
| Joseph Carpenter, | Albert Albertson, | Samuel Townsend, |
| John Schenck | John Luister, | James Farley (Capt.) |
| Peter Hegeman, | Rem Hegeman, | Gideon Wright, |
| James Townsend, Jr. | Samson Crooker, | Samuel Hare, Jr., |
| John Wright,/td> | Jacobus Luister, | Gilbert Hare, |
| Gilbert Wright, | Albert Van Nostrand, | Benjamin Birdsall, |
| Richard Weeks, | Jotham Townsend, | Benjamin Townsend, |
| James Townsend, | William Laton, Jr. | Joseph Doty |
| William Townsend | William Laton, | Josiah Lattin--43 |
| Prior Townsend |