DURING THE YEARS 1774 TO 1776, MORE AND MORE OF THE POWERS OF
GOVERNMENT CAME TO BE EXERCISED BY POPULAR BODIES, THOUGH
THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR WAS STILL ACKNOWI.EDGED UNTIL
EDEN'S DEPARTURE. THESE POPULAR BODIES WERE:

Provincial Convention—Chosen by the Freemen.

June 22-25, 1774. ............. .Matthew Tilghman. ......... President
Nov. 21-25, 1774. ............ .Matthew Tilghman, ......... .President
Dec. 8-12, 1774.. ............. John Hall. .................. .President
April 24—May 3, 1773 ....... .Matthew Tilghman. ........ ..President
July 26—Aug. 14, 1775.........Matthew Tilghman. .......... President
Dec. 7, 1775—Jan. 18, 1776. . . . Matthew Tilghman........... President
May 8—July 6, 1776. ........ .Charles Carl-oil, Barrister. . . . .President
Aug. 14—Nov. 11, 1776........Matthew Tilghman...........President

Councils of Safety Exercising Power in the Intervals
Between Conventions.

Aug. 14, 1775 (first met Aug. 29). This and all other Committees
served from the close of the convention at which they were elected to
the close of the one next succeeding. Eight were from each shore of
the bay. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, President; Matthew Tilghman;
Thomas Johnson; Thomas Smyth; Henry Hooper; William Paca; John
Beale Bordley (declined to serve); Richard Lloyd; Edward Lloyd;
James Hollyday; Charles Carroll, Barrister; Charles Carroll, of Carroll-
ton; Thomas Stone; Samuel Chase; Robert Alexander and Robert
Goldsborough.

Jan. 17, 1776 (first met Jan. 18), Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Presi-
dent; Charles Carroll, Barrister; John Hall; Benjamin Rumsey; James
Tilghman; Thomas Smyth; Thomas Bedingfield Hands.

May 25, 1776 (first met May 27), Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Presi-
dent; Charles Carroll, Barrister; John Hall; Benjamin Rumsey; George
Plater; James Tilghman; Thomas Smyth; Thomas Bedingfield Hands;
William Hayward.

July 5, 1776 (first met July 6), Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Presi-
dent; John Hall; George Plater; Charles Carroll, Barrister; Benjamin
Rumsey; Thomas Smyth; James Tilghman; Joseph Nicolson, Jr.;
Thomas Bedingfield Hands (declined, and Nicholas Thomas appointed
in his place Sept. 17, 1776).

Nov. 10, 1776 (first met Nov. 12), served until March 20, 1777. March
21, Senate adopted a resolution, followed by the House on the 23nd,
dissolving the Council of Safety because the new government was
organized. The Legislature had been in session since Feb. 5. Daniel
of St. Thomas Jenifer; John Hall; George Plater; Brice Thomas Beale
Worthington; Joseph Nicholson; Charles Graham (declined); James
Tilghman (declined); William Rumsey (declined); Thomas Contee
(chosen to fil! Graham's place); Samuel Wilson (chosen to fill Tilgh-
man's place); William Hernsley (chosen to fill Rumsey's place, de-
clined) ; James Lloyd Chamberlaine (appointed by Council Jan. 3, i777»
to fill Hernsley's place, declined); Turbutt Wright (appointed by
Council Feb. 3, 1777. to fill Chamberlaine's place).

STATE GOVERNORS.

Elected Annually by the Legislature, with an Executive Council.
1777—Thomas Johnson. 1785—William Smallwood.
1779—Thomas Sim L,ee. 1788—John Eager Howard.
1782—William Paca. 1791—George Plater, (1)

1. James Brice, of the Governor's Council, Acting Governor upon the death of
Governor Plater in 1792.