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| Constitution of the Original Sons of Liberty of Albany, New York |
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| Written by Sons of Liberty Chapter, SAR |
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As in our present distressed condition, while under the greatest apprehensions of yet threatening Slavery, our surest refuges seem the mercies of God, and our own fixed and unanimous resolution to persevere to the last in the vindication of our dear bought Rights and Privileges, the very Essentials of our peerless Constitution, These, in the awful presence of the Righteous Jehovah, serve to bind us, the Subscribes and public Assentors hereto in the Articles following: That we will choose from our Body a Committee of thirteen men, who are hereby empowered to choose their President and Clerk, to continue as the Committee during good behavior, or till a majority of the Subscribers think proper to call for a new choice; which, when moved, shall be signified to the Clerk for the time being, in writing, and signed by at least such number as may be reasonably taken to represent such majority, who shall thereupon give public notice for a new Election, with all convenient speed. That in all matters relative to the Stamp act in particular, or other thing that shall be thought by us unconstitutional and oppressive, we will make known our grievance to some one or more of said Committee, who are hereby required and directed to meet together and consider the same, and whereinsoever they conceive it necessary to have our general advice and concurrence, to give us public notice thereof, or which occasions we solemnly engage and promise our attendance. That we will countenance no step whatsoever to the disturbance of the public tranquility, nor private peace of any man, nor engage in any one matter or thing under color or pretence of the cause of Liberty, in a separate and detached manner, or without the advice and consent of the President and majority of the Committee, or some one or more person or persons by them publicly appointed to direct; and that in pursuance to all directions by them given, we will behave and deport in the most regular manner, aiming at nothing but the promotion and security of the General Cause. That we will, to the utmost of our power, detect, oppose, and assist in bringing to condign punishment, any person or persons who, taking advantage of the public trouble, would make the same a pretext to injure any person in their Character or Property, or (without, such precaution as above said) shall presume to meddle with or disturb tumultuously any pretence whatsoever., That we will discourage, discountenance and oppose the mean practice of dropping Letters on the Streets, setting up scandalous Libels, Verse, or any other thing detractive of any person's Character thereby to draw on him or them the public Odium and put his person or property in danger; confiding that no legitimate Son of Liberty will be either ashamed or afraid to forward his commands by proper mission, where they may be duly considered and applied. That all persons to whom these Articles shall be proposed for their assent and concurrence to them, and who shall neglect or refuse giving the same or proper and satisfactory reasons for such neglect or refuse giving the same, or proper and satisfactory reasons for such neglect or refusal, shall be considered by us as cold Friends to Liberty, and treated accordingly. That we have the highest esteem of his most sacred Majesty, King George the third, the Sovereign Protector of our Rights, and the succession by Law established, and will bear true Allegiance to him and his Royal house forever. That if any person subscribing or publicly assenting and behaving agreeable to these Articles shall at any time hereafter for such behavior be arrested, taken, prosecuted by any forces civil or military, within our possible reach, that no notice of the same we will do the uttermost for their relief that our persons and fortunes enable; accounting the person are persons denying, refusing, or frivolously excusing himself therefrom after such subscription or assent, a perjured Traytor to Liberty, his King and his Country, for the defense of which and true performance of the above Articles. Help us God. - - signed - - Thomas Young Jer. V. Rensselaer Henry J. Bogert Nanning Visscher David Edgar John De Garmo John Visscher Wm. Benson Barent Ten Eyck John Van Allen Thos. Lynott Robt Henry Harmanus Cuyler Lucas Van Veghten Cornelius Swits Gysbert Fonda John Ten Broeck Peter Williams Ari Lagrange Nicholas Marselis Abr. Ten Eyck Matthew Watson Henry B. Ten Eyck Jacob G. Lansingh Thos. Shipboy Comfort Sever David Smith Isaac Dean Jacob Cuyler Peter Hansen Corns. Wendells B. Visscher Garret A. Roseboom William Pemberton Jos. Young Jacob B. Bogert John F. Pruyn Daniel Winne Goose Van Schaick Henry Ten Eyck Jr. John G. Lansing William J. Hilton Richard Hilton Jacob ______ Anthony Van Schaick John R. Hansen Barnardus Halenbake Gerrit Greverat John J. Fisher John E. Bratt Peter W. Witbeck Abraham Eight Isaac Hogan Jacob Fralick Jacob Evertsen John J. Hansen Joseph French Barent Bogert Win___ Hallenb___ William Lottridge Pieter Van Wie Willem Van Wie Casparus Van Wie William Mc Intosh John Scott John Tillman, Jr. John Cluet Jacob Roseboom John Hooghkerk Thomas Lottridge __(illegible)__ John Whitney Jonathan Rumney Danl. Steel J. Roorbach Abram Lyle Myndt. Roseboom Bart. Roseboom Dirick B.Van Schoonhoven Wm. Van Antwerp Peter Yates John Gansevoort Ph. Lansing Abram Schuyler Barent Van Alen W. Mancius John G. Lansing Saml. Pruyn Dirck Roseboom Dirk Swart Isaac Deforeest Rynier Van Yveren Cornelis V. Veghten John Cluet Junr. John Marselis Click the following link for an excellent web site containing more information on this Constitution and the Original Sons of Liberty of Albany, New York. http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/solconst.html |