Rhode Island Delegates to the First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on Monday, September 5, 1774. The colonial delegations were introduced in geographical order, from North to South. The Rhode Island delegates were the third group to introduce themselves and have their letter of introduction read. The delegates who attended the first meeting were:
- Stephen Hopkins
- Samuel Ward
Rhode Island Letter of Introduction
By the Honorable Joseph Wanton, esq., governor, captain-general, and commander in chief of and over the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England in America.
To the Honourable Stephen Hopkins, esq., and the Honourable Samuel Ward, esq., greeting:
Whereas the General Assembly of the Colony aforesaid have nominated and appointed you, the said Stephen Hopkins & Samuel Ward, to represent the people of this Colony in general congress of representatives from this and the other Colonies, at such time and place as should be agreed upon by the major part of the committees appointed, or to be appointed by the colonies in general:
I do therefore hereby authorize, impower, and commissionate you the said Stephen Hopkins & Samuel Ward, to repair to the city of Philadelphia, it being the place agreed upon by the major part of the colonies; and there, in behalf of this Colony, to meet and join with the commissioners or delegates from the other colonies, in consulting upon proper measures to obtain a repeal of the several acts of the British parliament, for levying taxes upon his Majesty’s subjects in America, without their consent, and particularly an act lately passed for blocking up the port of Boston, and upon proper measures to establish the rights and liberties of the Colonies, upon a just and solid foundation, agreable to the instructions given you by the general Assembly.
Given under my hand and the seal of the said colony, this tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord 1774, and the 14th of the reign of his most sacred Majesty George the third, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, & so forth.
Signed, J. Wanton
By his honour’s command, Henry Ward, Secretary
Biographies
Stephen Hopkins
Stephen Hopkins is a Founding Father. Hopkins was a merchant, judge, and politician and was an early opponent of British taxation policies. He wrote The Rights of the Colonies Examined in protest of the Sugar Act. During the Gaspee Affair, he was the Chief Justice of Rhode Island. Hopkins signed the Articles of Association, establishing the Continental Association, and the Declaration of Independence.
Samuel Ward
Samuel Ward was a farmer and politician. As a member of the First Continental Congress, he signed the Articles of Association. Ward was elected to the Second Continental Congress but died in March 1776, before the Lee Resolution was introduced.
Notes
- In their earlier years, Ward and Hopkins were political rivals over the use of paper money. Ward favored hard money — gold and silver coins — while Hopkins advocated paper money.
