In case you missed it, the following was posted to the VA list. There is a reference to John Hancock. Julia > > > A page in the Gentleman's Magazine of September 1776 reports that "a > > declared rebel," Patrick Henry, had been named governor of Virginia. > > > On April 29, 1776, Dixon and Hunter's Virginia Gazette reported > > that Peyton Randolph "had been declared a rebel and that General > > Thomas Gage had a 'commission to try and execute' Randolph and other > > colonial leaders." The clear implication has always been that some > > formal action was taken identifying these men as rebels. > > > Upon reflection, however, aside from the Virginia Gazette story, I > > don't recall ever seeing documentation that either man was in some > > formal way declared to have been a rebel. I've looked in the Van > > Schreeven, Scribner, Tarter Revolutionary Virginia volumes without > > success, though perhaps I've overlooked something. The quote about > > Randolph in the previous paragraph is from the sketch in my Speakers > > and Clerks of the Va House of Burgesses, where the phrase about Gage > > was quoted from the Virginia Gazette.. The statement reflects > > received opinion, but is NOT based on official documents such as > > whatever "commission" General Gage may have had. > > > I've also looked closely at the language of Dunmore's 1775 > > proclamation against Henry and his "deluded Followers" -- which > > wouldn't have applied to Randolph -- but which we often hear cited as > > evidence that Henry was "declared a rebel." Dunmore did not use the > > term "rebel" or rebellion" (nor "outlaw"*). > > > In the British government or military of that day, I'm wondering > > what official would have had authority or cause to declare someone a > > rebel in 1776? what procedure may have been necessary? what form such > > a declaration would have taken? hence what documentation would > > survive? > > > > > Was it necessary to name individuals such as Patrick Henry? Dunmore > > stated in his proclamation of 7 Nov 1775: "...I do, in virtue of the > > power and authority to me given by His Majesty, determine to execute > > martial law, and cause the same to be executed throughout this > > Colony... I do require of every person capable of bearing arms to > > resort to his Majesty's standard or be looked upon as traitors to his > > Majesty's crown and government, and thereby become liable to the > > penalty the law inflicts upon such offences (sic)-- such as forfeiture > > of life, confiscation of lands, etc., etc..." > > > > As to Peyton Randolph, he died in Oct 1775 several months before the > > article in the Gazette. That same month and year saw Gage turn over > > his command to Howe and depart for London. He had no further part in > > American matters. Perhaps the article had been written earlier and > > inserted in the Gazette without reference to the original date, a not > > uncommon practice at that time. Gage issued a proclamation on 12 Jun > > 1775 similar to that of Dunmore's except that he promised a pardon to > > all who would lay down their arms and return to their duties of > > peaceable subjects except for Adams and Hancock. > > > > M. Lee Minnis > > Ancestors in Virginia > > (904) 287-3198 > > lminnis@worldnet.att.net > > http://www.ancestorsinvirginia.com > > > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions > > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html >