Oyster Bay, Dec. 30, 1774
"In December, 1774, there was a notification, signed by several of the principal freeholders, and set up in different parts of Oyster Bay, requesting the freeholders to meet at George Weeks’, on the 30th, to take into consideration the resolves of the Continental Congress.

"On that day, a number of freeholders appearing, they made choice of Samuel Townsend, Town Clerk, for Moderator. A motion was then made for taking into consideration the resolves of the Continental Congress; and there being present but a small part of the freeholders, the meeting was adjourned to the annual town meeting."--O.B. Records.

At a meeting for choosing a committee for Oyster Bay, December 30, 1774, about ninety freeholders assembled to take into consideration the present unhappy dispute between the mother country and her colonies; when there appears such a number of friends to our happy, regular, established government, under the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain, as to deem that meeting illegal and void, and that no business could with propriety, be done; and the meeting was adjourned till a future time, when it is hoped it will be so conducted as to convince the world that his Majesty is not without friends here who will support his government.

Te resolutions of the Congress were publicly read; after which, Justice _______, exerted himself with that prudence and firmness becoming a magistrate, by arguing the impropriety and illegality of such meetings, in so masterly a manner, as to have the desired effect of preventing any business being done till the legal day of calling town meeting, on the 1st Tuesday in April.

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