Committees of correspondence were organized by towns, counties, and colonies before and during the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783). The first committee of correspondence was appointed by the town of Boston in 1772 at the suggestion of Samuel Adams. The committee’s purpose was to keep in touch with other Massachusetts towns in their struggle to uphold the rights of the colonists. The first colonial committee was appointed by Virginia in 1773. The committees played an important part in drawing the colonists together for their struggle with Britain. See also Committees of safety .