The Pitt Association Pledge of Allegiance

WE the free holders and inhabitants of the county of Pitt and town of Martinborough being deeply affected with the present alarming state of the province and all America do resolve that we will pay all due allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third and endeavor to continue the succession of his Crown in the illustrious House of Hanover as by law established against the present or any future wicked ministry or arbitrary set of men whatsoever at the same time we are determined to assert our rights as men and sensible that by the later acts of Parliament the most valuable liberties and priveleges of America are invaded and endeavor to be violated and destroyed and that under God the preservation of them depends on a firm union of the inhabitants and a sturdy spirited observation of the resolutions of the general Congress being shocked at the cruel scenes now acting in the Massachusetts Bay and determined never to become slaves to any power upon earth we do hereby agree and associate under all types of religion, honour, and regard for posterity that we will adopt and endeavor to execute the measure which the general Congress now sitting at Philadelphia conclude on for preserving our Constitution and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary illegal acts of the British Parliament and that we will readily observe the directions of our general committee for the purpose aforesaid the preservation of peace and good order and security of individuals and private property.

Martinborough 1st July 1775

John SIMPSON, Chairman Amos ATKINSON, Benjamin MAY, Edmund WILLIAMS, John FLEMING, Robert GRIMMER, William ROBSON, Allen SUGG, Samuel BARROW, William TRAVIS, Arthur FORBES, James GORHAM, Richard GRICE, Richard REVES, John ROBSON, Joel SUGG, Richard MOTE, Dennis CANNON, James LANIER, David PERKINS, Nathaniel GODLEY, Simon POPE, Jesse JOLLY, George EVANS, Lazarus PEARCE, Archibald ADAMS, James LOCKHART, John FRY, Edward SALTER, John EVANS, Godfree*********, William GRAVES, Thomas HARDEE, Benjamin BROWN, Thomas GOFF, Mathias MOORE, James ARMSTRONG, Thomas WOLFENDEN, Robert SALTER, ***** MOORE, Henry JONES, James MAY Jr, Patrick LACEY, William OSBURN, John HARDEE Jr, George MOYE, Mathias STURDIVANT, John ENLOE, Robert DIXON, WILLIAM BRYAN, John WILLIAMS, Marcus STOKES, Frederick GIBBIE, William JONES, Joseph GAINER, Absolom RODGER, Thomas ALBRITTON, John MOYE, ROBERT HODGES, John HARDEE, Solomon SHEPHERD, Benjamin BLOUNT, William WHITFIELD, James HANCOCK, George MOYE Jr, Walter DIXON, John CASON, John MOYE Jr, Lemuel CHERRY, John MOORING, John BARBER, Henry WILLIAMSON, Samuel, WARREN, Henry ELLIS, Dempsie GRIMES, William GRANBRAY, John BOWERS, Thomas GWATNEY, Peter RIVES, George F******, John LESLIE, Howell HODGES, John SMITH, James BROOKS, Richard WILLIAMS, William SURNEY, Abraham ADAMS, John TILGHMAN

One year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia these brave patriots assembled in Pitt County Courthouse and in peril of their lives pledged allegiance to the Pitt Association in protest against British tyranny. Their early resolute action place Pitt County in the forefront of the colonial movements for freedom which led North Carolina to become the first colony to vote explicit sanction to American independence. This plaque is hanging in the Pitt County Courthouse.