Lord Dunmore's Proclamation November 7, 1775
This is an image of John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore's November 7, 1775 proclamation made from Norfolk, Virginia. Also called Lord Dunmore, he was then royal governor of the Virginia Colony. Dunmore made the proclamation while he was aboard a British navy ship. In the proclamation, Dunmore promised freedom (or emancipation) for enslaved people who would leave enslavers who supported the Patriot cause to join the British army. His proclamation also commanded that if Virginia residents did not support the British, they would be declared traitors. Dunmore was the last royal governor of Virginia.
The original print item is in the collections of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Virginia. By his Execellency the Right Honourable John Earl of Dunmore, his Majesty's Lieutenant and Governour-General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and Vice-admiral of the same. A proclamation Declaring martial law and to cause the same to be. Norfolk, 1775. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbpe.1780180b/.
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