Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

“ [162] of Massachusetts Bay, nor to a governor and lieutenant-governor who will not observe the directions of, but endeavor to subvert, that charter; the governor and lieutenant-governor are to be considered as absent, and their offices vacant. And as there is no council there, and the inconveniences arising from the suspension of the powers of government are intolerable, especially at a time when General Gage hath actually levied war, and is carrying on hostilities against his majesty's peaceful and loyal subjects of that colony; that in order to conform, as near as may be, to the spirit and substance of the charter, it be recommended to the Provincial Congress to write letters to the inhabitants of the several places which are entitled to representation in assembly, requesting them to choose such representatives; and that the assembly, when chosen, should elect counsellors; which assembly and council should exercise the powers of government, until a governor of his majesty's appointment will consent to govern the colony according to the charter.” ¹ This advice was accepted, and a General Court was duly organized. Not many months later, Governor Gage fled from the colony, independence was declared, and subjection to British authority and law was utterly renounced. Some new form of government, suitable to a free and independent people, was desired; and the General Court proposed to frame a constitution. the people of Cambridge manifested their disapprobation of this method, and at a town-meeting, June 16, 1777, “Voted, That the Representative of this town be and hereby is instructed not to agree to any attempt that may be made at present to form a new constitution for this State by the General Court, or any other body of men whatever, but to oppose any such attempt with all his influence.” And when the General Court, “acting as a Convention,” agreed upon such a Constitution, Feb. 28, 1778, and submitted it to the people for approval, it was unanimously rejected by the inhabitants of Cambridge. At a town meeting, May 25, 1778, “The plan of a constitution and form of Government for the State of the Massachusetts Bay, as proposed by the Convention, was read and fully debated on; the number of voters present was seventy-nine, all of them being freemen more than twenty-one years of age, and neither ‘a negro, indian, or molatto,’ among them; the question was determined by yeas and nays, when there appeared for the proposed form, none: and against it, seventy-nine.” This constitution was rejected by a large majority of the voters in the Commonwealth.