Colony of Massachusett's-Bay, 1776 : We the subscribers, do each of us severally for ourselves, profess, testify and declare, before God and the world, that we verily believe that the war, resistance and opposition in which the United American Colonies are now engaged, against the fleets and armies of Great-Britain, is on the part of said colonies, just and necessary. And we do hereby severally promise, covenant and engage ...