June 5, 1776

William Franklin, the royal governor of New Jersey and son of Continental Congress delegate Benjamin Franklin, called a meeting of the New Jersey Assembly for June 20 in Perth Amboy. This proclamation proved his undoing. A new convention assembled in New Jersey in mid-June in the wake of the Congress’s May 15 Resolution recommending new governments in every colony. On June 14, these representatives resolved that Governor Franklin’s proclamation dated May 30 “ought not to be obeyed.” The following day, they decided that Franklin had “acted in direct contempt and violation of the resolve of the Continental Congress of the fifteenth day of May last” by calling a meeting of the old assembly. By doing so, Franklin had “discovered himself to be an enemy to the liberties” of New Jersey. The convention decided that he should be taken into custody and that his salary as governor “ought from henceforth to cease.”

The Pennsylvania Gazette
Printed by Hall and Sellers

By his Excellency WILLIAM FRANKLIN, Esq; Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over the province of New-Jersey, and territories thereon depending in America, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral in the same, &c.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS I have matters of great importance to communicate to the General Assembly of this province; I have therefore thought fit, with the advice of his Majesty’s Council, to appoint a meeting of the General Assembly of New-Jersey to be held in the city of Perth-Amboy, on Thursday the twentieth day of June next, and to publish the same by this Proclamation, to the end that all persons whom it may concern may have notice thereof and govern themselves accordingly.

GIVEN under my hand and seal at arms, in the city of Perth-Amboy, the thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six. Wm. FRANKLIN.

By his Excellency’s Command,
Charles Pettit, D. Sec.