A meeting in Hackensack to support a Continental Congress, June 25, 1774

This meeting being deeply affected with the calamitous condition of the inhabitants of Boston, and considering the alarming tendency of the acts of the British Parliament for the purpose of raising revenue in America, resolves that this meeting thinks it their greatest happiness to live under the government of the illustrious house of Hanover and that they will steadfastly and uniformly bear true and faithful allegiance to His Majesty, King George III, in the enjoyment of their constitutional rights and privileges, that they conceive it to be their privilege to be taxed only by their own consent, and that they will heartily unite with others in the colony to elect delegates to attend a general congress from the several provinces of America to try to determine upon some effectual amendment for obtaining a repeal of the acts of Parliament, which appear to the meeting so evidently calculated to destroy that mutual harmony and dependence between Great Britain and her colonies, which are the basis and support of both. (29 NJA 411)

A meeting of some 37 Hackensack neighbors to show “loyalty to their King and lover of their country,” March 14, 1775, resolved:

1. That we are and will continue to be loyal subjects to his Majesty King George, and that we will venture our lives and fortunes to support the dignity of his Crown.

2. That we disavow all riotous mobs whatsoever.

3. That by humbly petitioning the throne is the only salutary means we can think of to remove our present grievances.

4. That we have not, nor (for the future) will not, be concerned in any case whatsoever, with any unconstitutional measures.

5. That we will support his Majesty’s civil officers in all their lawful proceedings. (MPC 98)

At the May 12, 1775 meeting of the Bergen County Committee of Correspondence it was resolved:

that we will not submit to those Acts of Parliament which impose Taxes on us without our consent, and deprive use of our Constitutional Rights and Privileges; and therefore do associate under the Ties of Honor, and Love to our Country, that we will abide by and endeavour to carry into Execution all Constitutional Measures whatsoever, which may be advised by the Continental Congress, and recommended by the Provincial Convention for the Purpose of preserving our Constitution and opposing the several oppressive Act of Parliament (PJFBC 125, 128, 129 - check)

After the Second Continental Congress voted to support a Declaration of Independence in July 1776, a center of upcoming war would involve New York and New Jersey, particularly after the British captured New York City and made it its main base of operations for almost the entire war.

One result was that the people of Bergen County, adjacent to New York City, would be highly contested area and subject to ongoing military movements, military engagements and foraging by both the British and the Americans troops

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