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NOTE 27. New England Ready for Independence

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Volume 4, Chapter 27, New England Ready for Independence

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In a sense, the situation of Connecticut and Rhode Island was the most clear cut in the colonies,

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for these two colonies had been uniquely free of any royal governor or royal arm of government at home.

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Virtually independent, while colonies, they needed no political or constitutional change

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for change to equip them for the struggle with Great Britain or for possible independence.

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Hence, with the exception of the ouster of the Tory Governor, Wanton, by the Rhode Island

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Assembly, there was no need for confrontations or political upheaval.

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Since Wanton was closely associated with the Hopkins faction, however, his overthrow meant

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The Eclipse of the Hopkinsites and the Taking of Complete Power by the More Radical Ward

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Faction.

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The new Governor, Nicholas Cook, was a leading Wardite, as was brilliant young Continental

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Army General Nathaniel Greene, scion of one of the first families of Rhode Island.

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Rhode Island was galvanized in early November by the burning of Falmouth to denounce the

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of the British and to declare it high treason to correspond with, supply or aid the British

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forces, a virtual commitment by Rhode Island to American independence. Indeed, in that

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same month, Samuel Ward, leader of the ward party and one of the colony's delegates to

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the Continental Congress, openly opted for American independence, working tirelessly

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for that cause from then on. Thus by the end of 1775, Rhode Island and Connecticut were

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essentially ready for independence. But the key to New England, of course, was Massachusetts.

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And if that great spearhead of radicalism would not take the lead for independence,

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the cause would be lost. While Massachusetts had lost none of its fervor for measures against

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in East Britain, its delegation to the Continental Congress was grievously hobbled throughout

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1775. Voting in Congress was by province, and hence an elementary requisite for Massachusetts

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leading a move toward independence was the ability to command the vote of its own delegation.

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And yet, this the Massachusetts radicals could not do. The Addresses were, of course, two

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Two of the brightest stars of the radical firmament, but the conservatives Thomas Cushing

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and Robert Treat Payne opposed any drive toward independence.

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The fifth, or swing, member of the delegation was the vain and flighty John Hancock, who

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clung to his largely honorific post of President of the Continental Congress.

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He never forgave the Adamses for nominating Washington for Army Commander in Chief in

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instead of himself. And bearing that grudge, he broke with the radicals and veered sharply

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rightward. Allowing himself to be feted by the Dickensons and Dwaynes, the luxury-loving

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Hancock acquired the derisive sorbraque of King Hancock among the radicals. This meant

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and an effective vote of three to two against independence, and thus Massachusetts radicalism

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was stymied. Sam Adams and the Frustrated Radicals began to threaten openly a separate

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independent New England, unshackled by the dilatoriness of the other colonies. The critical

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turning point in this unhappy situation came on December 20, when the Massachusetts Provincial

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General Congress turned Thomas Cushing out as delegate and replaced him with the brilliant

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young radical and follower of Sam Adams, Elbridge Gary of Marblehead.

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This gave the radicals a majority in the Massachusetts delegation, effective the following February

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when Gary was to take his seat.

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Soon afterward, in mid-January, the Massachusetts Congress authorized the delegates to do whatever

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Here they thought necessary to establish the right and liberty of the American colonies

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on a base permanent and secure.

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Here was a virtual endorsement of American independence.