When the dread trump shall sound, the slumbering dust,

Not unattentive to the call, shall wake;

And every joint possess its proper place,

With a new elegance of form, unknown

To its first state."

CHAPTER VI.

1766-1768.

Protest of the People against the Stamp Act-The Sons of Liberty, and their Patriotic Proceedings-Members' Names-Descendants-Imports of Virginia -A Curiosity-The Revolution and its Calamities.

THE people of Norfolk and its vicinity were among the first and the boldest to protest against the Stamp Act, and to assert on the broadest grounds the rights of the Colony. Accordingly, on March 31, 1766, a number of the inhabitants of the town and county of Norfolk assembled at the Court-house, and an association called "THE SONS OF LIBERTY," was duly organized.

The patriotic object of this society was, to oppose, by all suitable means, that detestable Act, and to unite with others in the country, in a dignified and determined effort to prevent the operation of a measure so manifestly unconstitutional and oppressive.

The Rev. Thomas Davis was chosen moderator, and James Holt and Wm. Roscoe Curle, secretaries. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted, and fifty-seven individuals, of pure and unsullied patriotism, in order to show to that and to future generations their faithful devotion to the cause of liberty, signed the manly protest. These proceedings of the Sons of Liberty have been carefully preserved among the archives of Norfolk as

a "monument of their patriotic spirit and love to their country." The following is a copy:

"Having taken into Considerations the evident Tendency of that oppressive and unconstitutional Act of Parliament, commonly called the Stamp Act, and being desirous that our sentiments should be known to Posterity; and recollecting that we are a Part of that Colony who first in General Assembly openly expressed their Detestation to the said Act (which is pregnant with Ruin, and productive of the most pernicious Consequences), and unwilling to rivet the Shackles of Slavery and Oppression on ourselves and Millions yet unborn, have unanimously come to the following Resolutions:

"1. Resolved, That we acknowledge our Lord and Sovereign, King George the Third, to be our rightful and lawful King, and that we will, at all times, to the utmost of our Power and Ability, support and defend his most sacred Person, Crown, and Dignity; and shall be always ready, when constitutionally called upon, to assist his said Majesty, with our Lives and fortunes; and to defend all his Just Rights and Prerogatives.

"2. Resolved, That we will by all lawful Ways and Means which Divine Providence has put into our hands, defend ourselves in the full enjoyment of, and preserve inviolate to Posterity, those inestimable Privileges of all freeborn British Subjects of being taxed only by Representatives of their own Choosing; and of being tryed by none but a Jury of their peers. And that if we quietly submit to the Execution of the said Stamp Act, all our Claims to civil Liberty will be lost, and we and our Posterity become absolute Slaves. For, by that Act, British Subjects in America are deprived of the invaluable Privileges aforementioned.

"3. Resolved, That a committee be appointed, who shall in such manner as they shall think most proper, go upon necessary Business and make public the above Resolutions, and that they correspond as they shall see Occasion with the Associated Sons of, and Friends to, Liberty, in the other British Colonies in America.

Ja. Holt,
Thos. Davis,

Henry Tucker,
Maxln. Calvert,

Lewis Hansford,

Jno. Hutchings, Jun.,
Paul Loyall,
Will. Roscoe Curle,
Anthy. Lawson,
Jos. Hutchings,

Thos. Newton, Sen.,

Jno. Phripp, Jun.,
John Ramsay,
John Gilchrist,
Matthew Godfrey,
Matthew Phripp,
Thos. Newton, Jr.,
Saml. Boush,
Richd. Knight,
James Campbell,
John Lawrence,
Joshua Nickolson,
Nicholas Wonycott,

Fras. Peart,

Samuel Calvert,

Ja. Gibson,

Nicholas Winterton,

Griffin Peart,

Jno. Wilson,

Wm. Skinker,

Matthw. Rothery,

Alexr. Kincaid,

Jacob Ellegood,

George Muter,

Cornelius Calvert,

Chrisr. Calvert."

Edward Archer,

There were other resolutions, unanimously passed, in which the most spirited and patriotic sentiments were embodied. The Stamp Act, the result of a strange freak of a misguided though powerful nation-that precipitate measure, which, from its gross injustice, proved worse than a failure, but which thereby gave a wonderful and most desirable turn to the affairs of the worldthat miserable and mistaken policy of Great Britain, was denounced in terms of merited severity. And the noble-souled Sons of Liberty, in their firm determination to assist in preventing it

from going into operation, agreed, if necessary, to "sacrifice their lives and their fortunes.'

With regard to the members of this patriotic association, a learned gentleman, formerly of this city, remarks as follows:

"The two immediate descendants of Paul Loyall and Thomas Newton represented the Norfolk District in Congress for thirtyseven consecutive years; the same gentlemen, and another descendant of Thomas Newton, represented the borough of Norfolk in the General Assembly twelve or more years. The name of Calvert is no longer known as a surname; but his blood runs in a numerous and reputable posterity, some of whom are among the most active business men and public-spirited citizens. James Parker was the ancestor of the mayor of the town in 1806, I believe, and with him, I presume, the present family of Parkers, formerly of Isle of Wight, are connected collaterally. If Colonel Josiah Parker of Isle of Wight is the son of James Parker, the fact would appear that three of the descendants of the Sons of Liberty represented your District in Congress for almost the first consecutive half century after the adoption of the Federal Constitution. The surname of Ramsay no longer exists in Norfolk; but the Steeds, among others, are of his race. A former delegate to the Assembly from Norfolk, but who, to the great regret of all, died before taking his seat, was named John Ramsay Steed. The surname of Joseph Hutchings is extinct; but the most efficient Register of your city bears not only the whole name and the blood of his ancestor, but reflects credit upon them.* A descendant of Lawson I have not seen for some years; there are no doubt some of the race now living in Princess Anne. The Boush family is known to all. The Phripps I have never known; I hope, however, the name exists within the four counties, as it was borne by two patriots at a portentous period. Gilchrist and Lawrence are names not now known; some of our elder citizens may be able to trace the stock. I confess it is with pain that I cannot point to a male descendant of Lewis Hansford. The late Dr. Hansford, a practising phy

* Joseph H. Robertson, Esq., attorney at law, a most ready, forcible, and attractive speaker, and for a number of years the faithful and systematic incumbent of the responsible office mentioned.

sician and an accomplished gentleman, was the last of the name in active life. He died in middle age, about the year 1822, leaving two sons, one of whom, Casey, a promising youth, died before he reached maturity, a midshipman in the navy; the other resides in Philadelphia.

"One of the representatives in the late Convention, Tazewell Taylor,* represents the Taylors and the Tuckers; and, if the late General Taylor be sprung from those of his name in the proceedings, the genealogy of the Sons of Liberty will receive one of its most splendid illustrations. When we regard the number and character of the posterity of the Sons of Liberty, it might well happen, that, if a great crisis in affairs were imminent, and a chairman of a public meeting were called upon to appoint a committee of citizens for the emergency, he would be apt to select some of the descendants of the Sons of Liberty to fill the important trust committed to their fathers.

"Hence it will appear that the posterity of the old inhabitants, in spite of the invitations to go abroad, which federal legislation for fifty years past has held out, still cling to the home of their ancestry. Some have gone abroad, and founded families; but the old patriarch would tell his children of his early and distant home.

"Et dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos."

1768. "A CURIOSITY.-The following is a copy of a bill recently found among the papers of one of our old citizens. The charges for tailoring eighty years ago contrast strangely with the prices now charged. $2 75 for making a coat and vest! and $1 67 per yard for cloth!-but it did not pay duty then, and was probably equal to what is charged $4 00 for now. But the trimmings,-$4 54! Didn't the tailors in those days

Tazewell Taylor, Esq., attorney at law, of this city, has long since acquired judicial distinction. His knowledge of the science of law is extensive and thorough. From an early period, he has devoted himself with great assiduity to the study and practice of his profession, which, with the advantage of an active and vigorous mind, and a ready delivery, have combined to render him deservedly successful and popular as an advocate; while his experience in jurisprudence is considered inferior to that of but few in the State.