Agreement of Secrecy

Page one of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November 9, 1775. National Archives.

On Tuesday morning, September 6, 1774, the First Continental Congress, convened in Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall, passed a resolution to keep their proceedings secret:

Resolved, That the door be kept shut during the time of business, and that the members consider themselves under the strongest obligations of honour, to keep the proceedings secret, until the majority shall direct them to be made public.

This resolve was reiterated on May 11, 1775 by the Second Continental Congress, by that time reconvened at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. John Adams mentions he is under an "engagement of secrecy" in a letter to Elbridge Gerry, dated November 5, 1775:

Dear Sir:
I am under such restrictions, injunctions, and engagements of secrecy respecting every thing which passes in Congress, that I cannot communicate my own thoughts freely to my friends, so far as is necessary to ask their advice and opinions concerning questions, which many of them understand much better than I do. This, however, is an inconvenience which must be submitted to for the sake of superior advantages.

Congress adopted an official "Engagement of the Members to Secresy" on November 9, 1775. The manuscript, now in the United States National Archives, is in the handwriting of secretary Charles Thomson, and was signed by the members then present. Other delegates signed the agreement as they arrived, with the last signatures appended on June 5, 1777. George Wythe and the other members of the Virginia Delegation—Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison V, Thomas Nelson, Jr. and Francis Lightfoot Lee—probably signed on or about the 13th of September, when their credentials were presented to and approved by Congress.

The increasing pressure for secrecy during 1774-1775 was in response not only to information leaked in communications from delegates, but to King George III's royal "Proclamation of Rebellion" on August 23, 1775, declaring Congress's activities traitorous, and commanding British "Officers Civil and Military" to suppress rebellion in the Colonies, and "bring the Traitors to Justice."

Manuscript text, 9 November 1775

Page 1

Page one of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November 9, 1775. Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from fold3.

In Congress Nov.^r 9.^th 17 [75]

Resolved   That every member of this Congress considers himself under the ties of virtue, honor and love of his Country not to divulge directly or indirectly any matter or thing agitated or debated in Congress before the same shall have been determined, without leave of the Congress; nor any matter or thing determined in Congress which a majority of the Congress shall order to be kept secret, and that if any member shall violate this agreement he shall be expelled this Congress and deemed an enemy to the liberties of America and liable to be treated as such, and that every member signify his consent to this agreement by signing the same.

B Franklin John Dickinson E Biddle

Jas Duane Lewis Morris Frans Lewis Wm. Floyd Robt R Livingston junr Henry Wisner Step.n Crane Wil: Livingston Tho.s Willing And.w Allen C: Humphreys James Wilson Robt Morris

John Hancock Josiah Bartlett John Langdon Thomas Cushing Saml Adams John Adams Robt Treat Paine Step. Hopkins Sam. Ward Elipht Dyer Roger Sherman Silas Deane

Page 2

Page two of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from fold3.

Page two of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November 9, 1775, National Archives.

Th Johnson Junr Wm Paca Samuel Chase Richard Henry Lee Th: Jefferson Benja Harrison Thos Nelson jr G Wythe Francis Lightfoot Lee John Penn Will Hooper Joseph Hewes Nov. 10.th Tho Lynch Christ Gadsden Edward Rutledge Arch:d Bulloch John Houstoun Thomas Lynch Junr Arthur Middleton Fras. Hopkinson 28 June

Thos M:Kean Geo: Read Cæsar Rodney John Jay Rich:d Smith (Jersey) Philad.a 18 Jany. 1776. Saml Huntington Rob.t Alexander Oliver Wolcott J Rogers Elbridge Gerry T: Stone Jona D Sergeant Geo: Clinton W:m Whipple Mat. Tilghman Carter Braxton Thos Heyward Jun:r { May 20th Lyman Hall { 20th Button Gwinnett William Ellery Jno Witherspoon

Page 3

Page three of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from fold3.

Page four of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775, endorsed by Charles Thomson as "Engagement of the Members to Secresy." Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from fold3.

Abra: Clark Geo Walton John Hart B Rush. 22 July 1776 Wm. Williams, 30 July 1776 Geo. Clymer Chas. Carroll Jonath.n Elmer Mann Page Junr Nathan Brownson Feb 3d 1777 Matthew Thornton James Lovell Tho. Burke W: Smith W:m Duer June 5:th 1777 Nich.s VanDyke Hy Marchant Geo: Frost

External links

• Continental Congress: Agreement of Secrecy, 9 November 1775, Founders Online, National Archives.
• The Order of the Descendants of the Signers of the Secret Pact or Prior Declaration of Independence, at the Internet Archive.