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Here we see, John Hancock moderating a committee in 1772 that talks about the law of nations and the natural rights of the colonists being a right to life ; to liberty ; to property (two of the three rights that find their way into the Deceleration of Independence a bit more than 3 years later.)

AT a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Boston, duly warned and assembled in Faneuil Hall according to law, on Friday the 20th of November, 1772, then and there to receive and act upon the report of a committee appointed at a former meeting, on the 2d of the same month, and such other things as might properly come under the consideration of the town; the Honourable JOHN HANCOCK, Esquire, being unanimously chosen Moderation, the Chairman of said committee acquainted him that he was ready to make report, and read the same as follows;
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Natural rights of the colonists as MEN.
Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First, a right to life ; secondly, to liberty ; thirdly, to property ; [Edit: Sounds familiar in parts?] together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature.
All men have a right to remain in a state of nature as long as they please; and in case of intollerable oppression, civil or religious, to leave the society they belong to, and enter into another.
When men enter into society it is by voluntary consent; and they have a right to demand and insist upon the performance of such conditions, and previous limitation, as from an equitable original compact . Every natural right, not expressly given up, or from the nature of a social compact necessarily ceded, remains.
All positive and civil laws, should conform, as far as possible, to the law of natural reason and equity.
As neither reason requires, nor religion permits, the contrary, every man living in or out of a state of civil society has a right peaceably and quietly to worship God, according to the dictates of his conscience.
" Just and true liberty, equal and impartial liberty ," in matters spiritual and temporal, is a thing that all men are clearly entitled to by the eternal and immutable laws of God and nature, as well as by the law of nations , and all well grounded municipal laws which must have their foundation in the former.

The importance of the law of nations continues...

A 1777 Congressional resolution regarding (essentially) treason against "these States in North America" and that those offenders "suffer the punishment in such case inflicted by the law of nations"
Printed in the March 14, 1778 Pennsylvania Gazette,

In CONGRESS, November 8, 1777.
Resolved, THAT Major General Heath be directed forthwith to cause to be taken down the name and rank of every commissioned officer, and the name, former place of abode, occupation, size, age and description of every non-commissioned officer and private soldier, and all other persons comprehended in the Convention, made between Lieutenant General Burgoyne and Major General Gates, on the 16th of October, 1777, and transmit an authentic copy thereof to the Board of War, in order that if any officer, soldier, or any other person as abovementioned of the said army, shall hereafter be found in arms against these States in North America, during the present contest, he may be convicted of the offence, and suffer the punishment in such case inflicted by the law of nations .
That Major General Heath be directed to take the parole in writing of the officers, according to the Convention, and transmit authenticated copies of such paroles to the Board of War. In order that if any officer, soldier, or any other person as above mentioned of the said army, shall hereafter be found in arms against these States in North America, during the present contest, he may be convicted of the offence, and suffer the punishment in such case inflicted by the law of nations.