History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1775.] REVOLUTION—PRELIMINARY EVENTS. 357
appointed to call it together when circumstances demanded,
issued a summons for its immediate assembling. This
extraordinary session was opened at Concord on the 22**,
and at once adjourned to Watertown. Col. Seth Ponieroy
and Major Joseph Hawley were again members from
Northampton. The most vigorous and comprehensive
measures were adopted for defence and protection. An
army of 30,000 men was voted to be raised by the colony,
and 13,600 by this Province.
Third Session of The Third Provincial Congress assembled
the Provincial ^t Watertowu, Wednesday, May 31, and
ongress.
dissolved July 19, 1775. Northampton was
represented by Major Hawley and Mr, Elias Lyman.
About the middle of May, the Second Provincial Congress
applied to the Continental Congress for advice concerning
some method of civil government, inasmuch as the colony
was denied the exercise of that right, "according to our
charter, or the fundamental principles of the English constitution."
In June the resolve of the Continental Congress
was adopted by the Third Provincial Congress, and
in accordance therewith letters were sent to the several
towns requesting them to hold meetings of all the inhabi-
tants "that have an estate or freehold in land within this
province or territory, of forty shillings per annum, at
least, or other estate to the value of forty pounds sterling "
and elect one or more deputies to represent them "in a
great and general court or assembly, to serve till the day
next preceding the last Wednesday of the next May to be
held at Watertown on the 19 of the July next ensuing."
The resolve of Congress specified that the assembly
"should elect councillors, which assembly and council
should exercise the powers of government, until a government
of his Majesty's appointment will consent to govern
the colony according to its charter." Even at this time
when the war was in vigorous prosecution, there were
hopes of a reconciliation with the mother country.
The General Court Most of the towus responded to this resolve.
again Convenes. "Yhe Great and General Court which had
been supplanted for a brief period by the
Provincial Congress, was again established, and the old