Order of United American Mechanics

Members were required to undertake efforts to publicize and campaign against the hiring of cheap foreign labor and to patronize only "American" businesses.

Among this group were Luther Chapin, George Tucker, James Lane, Richard Howell, Ethan Briggs and John Smulling.

Seeing the benefits of organization, on July 4, 1845 these men and others held a meeting at #134 North Second Street in a room above Edward K. Tyrons rifle factory.

The result of this conference was a subscription to rent out Jefferson Temperance Hall on July 8 for a convention to organize a secret society of workingmen.

[7] A female auxiliary, the Daughters of Liberty, began as a local club to assist members of the Columbia Council in Meriden, Connecticut in January 1875.

[9] Over time, the OUAM abandoned its Nativist politics and became a standard insurance society, even dropping the word "Order" from its name to become just the "United American Mechanics".

[10] We, the undersigned American born citizens, having for years, and more particularly of late, felt the peculiar disadvantages under which we are placed from foreign competition and foreign combinations, and believing, from past experience and present appearances of the future, that instead of the evil abating, there is a strong probability, if not a certainty, of its increasing, therefore we feel ourselves bound, by the duty we owe to God, our country, our families, and ourselves, to provide for our own protection by forming ourselves into an association to advance such objects and carry out such principles as shall best promote the interest, elevate the character and secure the happiness of the body of American born citizens.

In the silent watches of the night, a friend will ever be ready to administer to our wants, and if Death lays his cold hand upon us, we shall depart with the assurance that our widowed consorts will be the recipients of the imperishable friendship of our Order, and if needs be, that pecuniary assistance which will soften the asperity of their desolate condition.

The paternal guardianship of this Order will ever bring our fatherless children within their watchful care, and especially will the orphans be protected from the snares of a cold and heartless world, and placed in the path that leads them to honor and usefulness here and to a blessed rest hereafter.

Therefore, for the purpose of advancing such objects and principles, we hereby pledge ourselves as Americans, to use every fair and honorable means consistent with our duty as citizens and our social duties to the human family, and agree to be governed by the following Constitution.In 1903 the rules used by one Doylestown, Pennsylvania group stated that membership was open to "white male citizens, born in the United States".