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Details from a Providence (RI) Town Meeting About Quartering of Troops
July 3, 1779
Background
The British Army’s quartering, or lodging, of troops in private homes was one reason Americans sought independence from Great Britain. During the Revolutionary War, American troops were also quartered in private homes because they had no barracks. Weary Rhode Islanders wrote this resolution to Congress demanding that barracks be built. In 1791, the Third Amendment placed restrictions on quartering.
These are the details from a town meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, regarding the issue of troops being barracked upon the population, recorded by town clerk Theodore Foster. It records that the freemen of Providence voted and resolved in their town meeting to appoint a committee to address to their delegates in Congress that accommodation for the troops should be provided at the expense of the United States.
State of Rhode Island
At a Town Meetingo f the Freemen of the Town of Providence, holden by Adjournment at the State House in Providence on the 3rd Day of July 1779—
Whereas many of the Inhabitants of this Town have been at great Expence and have suffered much on account of the Troops having been Barracked upon the Inhabitants Since the Enemy have been in Possession of Rhode Island: and As the whole community of the United States are Equally concerned in and benefited by the War and as far as many be ought Equally to Bear and Support the Burden Thereof and it is Right and Just that the Expence of Providing Barracks for the Troops should be defrayed and borne by the Public in General”
It is therefore Voted and Resolved that Nicholas Brown Esq. Ephraim Brown Esq. and James Mitchel Varnum Esq. be and they herby are appointed a committee to draft a Letter on this Subject to the Delegates in congress from this State representing the situation of the Town and requesting them to use their Endeavours that Barracks be provided at the Expense of the United States for the Accommodation of the Troops in case it shall be necessary that any be Quartered in this Town tho [illegible] Writen–
A True Copy
Attest. Theodore Foster Town Clerk[1]