Actually, it was well before Lexington and Concord: In response to news
of the Boston Port Act, the House of Burgesses resolved on May 24, 1774
that June 1, 1774-the day Boston harbor was to be closed-was to be a day
of fasting, humiliation, and prayer to show solidarity with Bostonians.
Many Virginians observed the occasion. GW, for example, still in
Williamsburg on June 1, wrote in his diary "Went to church and fasted
all Day." 

According to Jefferson, the resolution itself had been "cooked up" by
Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, himself, and
others on the night of May 23. To whom did they turn to introduce the
resolution on May 24 in the House? Robert Carter Nicholas, of course.
Jefferson wrote that "To give greater emphasis to our proposition, we
agreed to wait the next morning [May 24th] on Mr. Nicholas, whose grave
and religious character was more in unison with the tone of our
resolution, and to solicit him to move it." (Lends weight to the
nomination of RCN for outstanding 18th century figures!) 

 


Linda H. Rowe
Historical Research
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
757-220-7443

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html