Printed Material

Resolution Regarding Requirement that Town Officers Take Oaths

Date:	July 4, 1787
Creator:	J. Warren, Speaker; S. Adams, President; John Hancock
Publisher:	Hampshire Gazette

About this artifact

Town officers were required to take an oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to a law passed March 10, 1787. Some of these officers had taken the oath, but had not signed (subscribed) the declaration to that fact. People were questioning whether the actions taken by these officers were legal and valid, so the legislature acted, saying that if the declarations were signed by July 31, all actions prior would be considered legal.