American seamen at her own personal expense, refusing an offer
of reimbursement made by Benjamin Franklin; and
WHEREAS, In 1779, a Portuguese court refused to allow the
British to retain a captured ship, in what has come to be called
the Amity incident; and
WHEREAS, In 1780, HM Queen Maria I issued a decree expelling
all privateers from her ports and requesting the departure of
all British vessels; and
WHEREAS, In 1783, before the conclusion of the Treaty of
Paris, HM Queen Maria I issued a royal decree formally opening
Portuguese ports to American ships; and
WHEREAS, His Serene Highness Dom Filipe Alberto Folque de
Mendóça, Count of Rio Grande (HSH Dom Filipe), is a direct
descendant of HM Queen Maria I and dynast of the Constitutional
branch of the Royal House of Portugal; and
WHEREAS, HSH Dom Filipe is a member in good standing of the
Washingtonburg Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the
American Revolution (PASSAR); and
WHEREAS, PASSAR was instituted to, among other things, honor
the memory of those individuals who, in the military, naval and
civil service of the colonies and of the Continental Congress,
by their acts or counsel, helped to achieve the independence of
this country; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania honor Her Majesty Queen Maria I of
Portugal for her assistance to Pennsylvania in the cause of
freedom during the American Revolution and honor her direct
descendant, His Serene Highness Dom Filipe Alberto Folque de
Mendóça, as a member in good standing of the Washingtonburg
Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the American
20230HR0134PN1412 - 2 -
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