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APPENDIX.
I.
The patriotic efforts of Henry Crugar, whilst Mayor of Bristol and member of Parliament, in behalf of his native oountry, are set forth in the following communications to “Niles's National Register,” as well as the services of his uncle, John Cruger,[1] whilst Mayor of New-York:
THE FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT-THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF THE REVOLUTION.
To Jeremiah Hughes, Esq., Editor Niles's Weekly Register:
Dear Sir: In passing through Baltimore, last month, I had the pleasure of a short conversation with you on the subject of the early incidents of our country, during and previous to our glorious Revolution. I then referred you to a most remarkable and precious old record, preserved in that rare and valuable work of Mr. Niles, entitled, “The Acts and Principles of the Revolution.” This antique record establishes a fact in our early history which appears to be almost (if not entirely) unknown to our citizens, namely: that the very first movement of the Revolution was made in the city of New-York, by the convoking and holding a Convention of the Colonies, as early as March, 1765, to remonstrate and protest against the oppressions of the Mother Country. In this venerable Journal of that Convention no mention is made of the master-spirits in the city of New-York who first suggested and carried through this most important movement, which may most properly be termed the fountain spring of our Revolution and Independence. But, fortunately, I can afford you that information from authentic tradition in some of our oldest families in New-York, which establishes the fact that the first great movement originated with, and was carried through, by two gentlemen of this city, who were much distinguished in their day and generation. These gentlemen
- ↑ The first emigrant of this (Cruger) family, in 1660, came to America purely from love of freedom and independence, this family in Bristol being of great wealth, and tracing their decent from Sir Philip Crueiger, (Cross-bearer) who went with King Richard to the Crusades.
