There were colonial protests against the Stamp Act in 1766. Some residents of eastern North Carolina and many colonial leaders signed a pledge. They vowed not to pay the tax. Their pledge was published in a Wilmington newspaper on February 26, 1766. It was called the North-Carolina Gazette. Read the primary source transcription below. It includes notes and historical comments.

We the subscribers, free and natural born subjects of George the third, true and lawful King of Great Britain and all its Dependencies (whom God preserve) whose sacred person, crown and dignity, we are ready and willing, at the expense of our lives and fortunes to defend, being fully convinced of the oppressive and arbitrary tendency of a late Act of Parliament, imposing Stamp duties on the inhabitants of this Province, and fundamentally subversive of the liberties and Charters of North America; truly sensible of the inestimable blessings of a free Constitution, gloriously handed down to us by our brave Forefathers, detesting Rebellion, yet preferring death to slavery, Do, with all loyalty to our most gracious Sovereign, with all deference to the just Laws of our Country, and with a proper and necessary regard to ourselves and Posterity, hereby mutually and solemnly plight our faith and honour, that we will at any risque whatever, and whenever called upon, unite, and truly and faithfully assist each other, to the best of our Power, in preventing entirely the operation of the Stamp Act.

Witness our hands this 18th day of February 1766.