Introduction
Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation was issued in November 1775, just months after fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord. John Murray (1730–1809), Earl of Dunmore and the royal governor of Virginia, had been forced to flee Williamsburg after patriot resistance made his position increasingly untenable. Hoping to weaken the rebellion and bolster British forces, Dunmore declared martial law and offered freedom to enslaved men belonging to patriot masters if they escaped and joined the British army. Although the proclamation applied only to Virginia, it was widely reprinted throughout the colonies, ensuring that both supporters and opponents of independence learned of its dramatic promise. Dunmore’s Proclamation exposed the complex relationship between the Revolution and slavery. For many white Patriots, the proclamation confirmed their fears that Britain intended to incite slave revolts, helping to strengthen support for independence. For thousands of enslaved African Americans, however, it represented an unprecedented opportunity to pursue freedom by escaping to British lines.
Document
Here you have a Proclamation that will at once show the baseness of Lord Dunmore’s heart, his malice and treachery against the people who were once under his government, and his officious violation of all law, justice and humanity; not to mention his arrogating to himself a power which neither he can assume, nor any power upon earth invest him with.
————Not in the legions
Of horrid Hell, can come a devil more damn’d In evils, to top D*****e.
By his EXCELLENCY, &c.
A PROCLAMATION.
As I have ever entertained hopes that an accommodation might have taken place between Great-Britain and this colony, without being compelled, by my duty, to this most disagreeable, but now absolutely necessary step, rendered so by a body of armed men, unlawfully assembled, firing on his Majesty’s tenders, and the formation of an army, and that army now on their march to attack his Majesty’s troops, and destroy the well disposed subjects of this colony: To defeat such treasonable purposes, and that all such traitors, and their abetters, may be brought to justice, and that the peace and good order of this colony may be again restored, which the ordinary course of the civil law is unable to effect, I have thought fit to issue this my proclamation, hereby declaring, that until the aforesaid good purposes can be obtained, I do, in virtue of the power and authority to me given, by his Majesty, determine to execute martial law, and cause the same to be executed throughout this colony; and to the end that peace and good order may the sooner be restored, I do require every person capable of bearing arms to resort to his Majesty’s STANDARD, or be looked upon as traitors to his Majesty’s crown and government, and thereby become liable to the penalty the law inflicts upon such offences, such as forfeiture of life, confiscation of lands, &c. &c. And I do hereby farther declare all indented servants, Negroes, or others (appertaining to rebels) free, that are able and willing to bear arms, they joining his Majesty’s troops, as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing this colony to a proper sense of their duty, to his Majesty’s crown and dignity. I do farther order, and require all his Majesty’s liege subjects to retain their quitrents, or any other taxes due, or that may become due, in their own custody, till such time as peace may be again restored to this at present most unhappy country, or demanded of them for their former salutary purposes, by officers properly authorized to receive the same.
Given on board the ship William, off Norfolk, the 7th of Nov.
