Date: May 4, 1768
“The Article in the Warrant Viz. ‘To consider of some proper Representations to be made respecting the Difficulties the Trade labour under by means of the late Regulations, and Methods to be taken for our Relief’ was read – whereupon Voted, that
Mr. Henderson Inches
Joshua Henshaw Esq
The Honble. James Otis Esq
Dr. Joseph Warren
Dr. Benjamin Church
Mr. Samuel Adams
The Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq
John Rowe Esq
be and hereby are appointed a Committee to take the same into Consideration and Report at the Adjournment –“
Source: I note in my files an incomplete microfilm reference: Records of the Town of Boston, reel 5. The published version of town records does not include it under the expected date. See Records Relating to the Early History of Boston: Report of the Record Commissioners, Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, Vol. 20, 1889.
Commentary: Joseph Warren was appointed to a Town of Boston committee to explore ways of resisting the Townshend duties. He was often on the forefront of economic measures opposing Ministerial tax policies made without Provincial representation. Through such town meeting appointments Warren worked with leading Whigs. He did not hold elective office until late in 1774.
Among other Whigs on this committee was moderate John Rowe, a wealthy merchant. At this time John Rowe’s Masonic Lodge of St. John’s Moderns had been disparaging the legitimacy of Joseph Warren’s St. Andrews’ Ancients. At various times John Rowe was Warren’s patient, as were Samuel Adams, James Otis, and members of Joshua Henshaw’s and Thomas Cushing’s households.
The “late regulations” obliquely refers to the Townshend Duties.
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