Sons & Daughters of Liberty
The Daughters of Liberty were instrumental to upholding the non-importation agreements of British goods, many signed petitions vowing not to buy tea until the Townshend Acts of 1767 were repealed. In Boston, over 300 women signed a pledge not to purchase nor drink any British tea offered to them. The Boston Evening Post published the agreement on January 31, 1770:
The Daughters Boycott Tea
“At a time when our invaluable rights and privileges are attacked in an unconstitutional and most alarming manner, and as we find we are reproached for not being so ready as could be desired, to lend our assistance, we think it our duty perfectly to concur with the true Friends of Liberty, in all the measures they have taken to save this abused country from ruin and slavery; And particularly, we join with the very respectable body of merchants, and other inhabitants of this town, who met at Faneuil Hall the 23d of this instant, in their resolutions, totally abstain from the use of tea: And as the greatest part of the revenue arising by virtue of the late acts, is produced from the duty paid upon tea, which revenue is wholly expanded to support the American Board of Commissioners, we the subscribers do strictly engage, that we will totally abstain from the use of that article (sickness expected) not only in our respective families; but that we will absolutely refuse it, if it should be offered to us upon any occasion whatsoever. This agreement we cheerfully come into, as we believe the very distressed situation of our country requires it, and we do hereby oblige ourselves religiously to observe it, till the late Revenue Acts are repealed.”
To see the reprinted copy of the agreement in the February 12, 1770 edition of the Boston Evening Post, click here.
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