USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs > Part 27
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* " A Vindication of the conduct of the House of Representatives," &c. by James Otis, Esq. a member of said house." It was published Nov. 15, 1762.
t Franklin had urged similar arguments to Gov. Shirley, 1754. F. was here, Oct. 1763. # See News-Letter, Dec. 13, 1750, and Ev. Post, Aug. 22, 1763.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
The people of Boston manifested their adherence to the popular side by the re-election of Otis, Tyler, and Cushing, for their representatives, with the addition of Oxenbridge Thacher Jr. instead of Col. Phillips, who had just deceased (April, 26, 1763.) Great efforts had been made to prevent the choice of Mr. Otis ; his motives had been traduced, and his conduct attributed to personal feeling rather than zeal for the publick good. He had however defended himself, in his own name, to the complete discomfiture of his enemies.
Through the remainder of the year there were occasional publications, calculated to keep alive the spirit, which had displayed itself in the Province: there was no torpor to in- vite encroachments upon civil rights by stealth, but rather an excessive anxiety about the course, which government might resolve to pursue, relative to the regulations of trade. The first evidence on this point was 'an act for the further im- provement of H. M. revenue, for the encouragement of offi- cers making seizures, and for the prevention of the clandestine running of goods,' which was published in Boston, Sept. 22d, and followed on the 16th of November, by Gov. Bernard's proclamation for aid and assistance in the execution of it.
In the opening of the year 1764, Boston was visited again with the small pox, which continued its ravages till the end of June .* The melancholy that attended the prevalence of this horrible disorder, was rendered still more sober, by the daily expectation of unwelcome news from England. . Notice of resolutions in parliament proposing duties on various foreign articles imported into the colonies, and a duty upon other arti- cles, the produce of the colonies, exported to any other place than Great Britain, was received early in May. Antici- pating the worst, the people of Boston, having re-elected the same representatives on the 15th of May, appointed Richard Dana, Esq. Mr. Samuel Adams, John Ruddock, Esq. Nathl. Bethune, Esq. and Jos. Green, Esq. a committee to prepare such instructions, to be given to the representatives, as the ex- igencies of the times required.
On the 24th the committee reported and the town approved and adopted their report.
In this paper the town claim 'the constitutional right of ex- pressing their mind' to their representatives ' upon particular matters' and charge them to maintain ' the invaluable rights and privileges of the province-as well those rights, which are derived to us by the royal charter, as those which, being
* It may be noted here, that the population of the town was ascertained by actual enume- ration to be in 1742 16,382 souls, including 1374 blacks.
1752
15,731 "> " 1541 1)
1765 15,520
The gazettes of May, 1764, give the names of twenty physicians, (besides Dr. Jackson of Portsmouth,) who inoculated the poor of the town.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
prior to and independent on it, we hold essentially as free-born subjects of G. B.' Then they prescribe the course they wish to have pursued in relation to members of the General Court holding offices under the crown or the governour, the excise laws, salaries of judges, war expences ; and having mentioned the importance of free trade to the prosperity of the town, and the evils apprehended from the measures of government, they proceed to say,
' There is now no room for further delay, we therefore ex- pect that you will use your carliest endeavours in the General Assembly that such methods may be taken as will effectually prevent these proceedings against us. By a proper represen- tation, we apprehend, it may easily be made to appear, that such severities will prove detrimental to G. B. itself : upon which account we have reason to hope that an application, even for a repeal of the act, should it be already past, will be successful. It is the trade of the colonies that renders them beneficial to the mother country. Our trade, as it now and always has been conducted, centres in G. B. and in return for manufactures affords her more ready cash, beyond any comparison, than can possibly be expected by the most san- guine promoters of these extraordinary methods.
'But what still heightens our apprehensions is, that these unexpected proceedings may be preparatory to new taxations upon us : for if our trade may be taxed, why not our lands ? why not the produce of our lands and every thing we possess or make use of ? This we apprehend annihilates our charter right to govern and tax ourselves. It strikes at our British privileges, which as we have never forfeited them we hold in common with our fellow subjects, who are natives of Britain. If taxes are laid upon us in any shape without our having a le- gal representation where they are made, are we not reduced from the character of free subjects to the miserable state of tributary slaves ?
' We therefore earnestly recommend it to you to use your utmost endeavours to obtain in the Gen. Assembly all neces- sary instruction and advice to our Agent at this most critical juncture * * that he may be able in the most humble and pressing manner to remonstrate for us all those rights and privileges, which justly belong to us either by charter or birth : in acknowledged dependence upon and subordination to G. B. As H. M.'s other N. American colonies are embark- ed with us in this most important bottom, we further desire you to use your endeavours that their weight may be added to that of this province, that by the united application of all who are aggrieved, all may happily obtain redress.'
The acts were passed, which had been recommended, ex- cept that by which it was proposed to lay a stamp duty on
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
all written or printed papers, in the colonies : this was defer- red for one year's consideration, and to obtain the opinion of the colonists respecting it, The legislature instructed the Agent in very strong terms, and Mr. Otis published, (July, 23,) a tract entitled . The Rights of the British colonies asserted and proved,' which was followed on the same side (Sept. 3,) by ' The Sentiments of a British American' written by Mr. Thacher. These two publications gave an importance to the questions between the 'mother country' and the colonies, which led to a closer examination of the subjects, on both sides of the water.
CHAPTER XLV.
" First of your kind ! Society divine !"
WHATEVER other subjects may have engrossed the general attention, there never has been a period when the people of Boston lost their interest in those of a religious nature. The letters of Robert Sandeman to Mr. Hervey had excited a de- sire in some people to see the former in this quarter of the world. Pressing solicitations were sent to him from different parts of New England by letter from some of the clergy as well as of the laity, and he arrived in Boston on the 18th of October, 1764, in the Ship George and James, Montgomery, from Glasgow. On the next sabbath he performed religious service at Masons' hall. 'Those who first associated with him in Boston were, Edward Foster, Alford Butler, and Geo. Oglevie with their respective wives and families; and very soon after, Edw. King, Henry Capen, Adam Chizeau, Ebene- zer Allen, Barnabas Allen, Hopestill Capen, Benjamin Davies, Isaac Winslow, Colburn Barrell, Walter Barrell, Mr. Peck, Han- nah Robinson, Susanna Davies, Mary Cotton, Mary West, Ke- siah West, Mrs. Staigner and some others of both sexes. Mr. Joseph Howe and Samuel Harris and wife joined the soci- ety at a later period.
' 'They first met in a large room at Mr. Foster's house in that part of Prince St. called Black Horse lane, but as much attention was excited, they removed to the Long Room at the Green Dragon. They soon built a house at the bottom of a lane leading to the mill pond, somewhere between the two Baptist meeting houses. . It was erected for the sole purpose of
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
a meeting house, by assistance from many friends.' This house was burnt in a fire which happened on Sunday, April, 4, 1773, at 4 o'clock P. M. in a building belonging to Mr. Alex- ander Edwards, cabinet-maker, and in a short time extended to several other shops and sheds in the neighbourhood. The spot has since been occupied as a bake-house, and is now within the premises of Mr. Joseph Veazie. Engine house, No. 3, stands at the head of the passage way.
The Sandemanian society afterwards convened at Mr. Townsend's in Cross-st. They subsequently built a house in the rear of Middle-street, where they met till within two years, when the attendance became so thin as to occasion the discon- tinuance of their meetings. A primary school is now kept in the same building.
As to church officers, they always had two elders (teach- ers) and deacons : no deaconesses are recollected. Daniel Humphreys, esq. (brother to the late Col: Humphreys) was early a deacon here, but soon removed to Danbury, Conn. to officiate as an elder. Mr. H. is still living and resides at Portsmouth, N. H. being Dist. Attorney of the U. S. He is an elder in a small society there, of which Mr. Butler abovena- med is also a living member. Mr. Sandeman died at Danbu- ry, April 2, 1771, æt. 53.
CHAPTER XLVI.
Canterbury. " -- That self bill is urg'd Which, in the eleventh year of the last king's reign
Was like, and had indeed against us pass'd, But that -
Ely. But how, my lord, shall we resist it now ?
Cant. It must be thought on."
IT was in vain that all the colonies, in their separate ca- pacities, remonstrated against the passage of the proposed Stamp Act. The king gave his assent to it on the 22d of March, 1765, and an unofficial copy of it was received in Boston on the 26th of May .* It consisted of fifty-five sec- tions, each proposing a stamp duty, from half a penny to twenty shillings, ' on every skin of vellum or parchment or sheet or piece of paper,' on which any thing should be en- grossed, written, or printed, which it was possible to imagine could be of any use to any person, to have written, printed,
* Otis's Botta, Ilist. Rev. vol. i. 73, contains a copy.
33
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
or engrossed. The Mutiny Act was passed at the same ses- sion, which required the colonies to provide for quartering the king's troops, while on service in the colonies. The Virginia legislature were in session when the Stamp Act arrived : it is well known that they immediately adopted (May 29th) the resolutions of Patr. Henry, which fact has given to that state the honour of having been foremost in opposition to the pre- tensions of parliament.t The Massachusetts legislature con- vened on the 30th of May, and by resolutions on the 8th of June, proposed a congress of deputies from all the colonies, to be held in New York on the first Tuesday of October ensu- ing. The Stamp Act was to commence operation on the first of November.
At this critical moment the cause of liberty lost one of its worthiest advocates by the death of Oxenbridge Thacher jr. esq. on the 9th of July. His place in the house of represen- tatives was supplied by the choice of Samuel Adams.
The gazettes of July abounded with articles, from all quar- ters, exciting the people to watchfulness, and ' it began to be said that some provinces resolve not to pay the stamp duties.' But no business can be legally transacted without the stamps : the courts cannot proceed, without stamps upon their writs and processes : no vessel can enter and no clearance can be had without a stamp : no collegiate diploma can be issued without a stamp : no marriage can be celebrated without a stamp upon the clerk's certificate : cards must be stamped ; newspapers must be stamped ; almanacks must be stamped ; every thing, in fine, must bear this mark of slavery, or the execution of the act must be prevented. What then shall be done ?
While the considerate part of the community were ponder- ing this important question, information was received in Bos- ton, that the secretary of the province, Andrew Oliver, esq. was appointed distributor of stamps for Massachusetts, and that a cargo of the papers might be daily expected to arrive in the harbour. Popular feeling could no longer be suppres- sed ; and what calm reasoning could not decide, passion, the love of liberty without restraint, brought to a determination.
Near the head of Essex-street there used to be a grove of ' those majestick elms, of the American species, that form one of the greatest ornaments in the landscape of this country,' which obtained the name of Hanover-square, or the neigh- bourhood of the Elms. On one of these, which stood in front of a house opposite the Boylston Market, on the edge of
t Aug. 11, 1766. At a celebration in Boston the following toast was given : " The noble Virginians, who first asserted their rights with decent firmness." B. Gaz.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
the street, there was discovered hanging, at break of day, on the 14th of August, an effigy representing Mr. Oliver, and a Boot (the emblem of Lord Bute, a promoter of American tax- · ation) with the devil peeping out of it, having the stamp act in his hand, besides various other satirical emblems .* Some of the neighbours offered to take it down, but they were given to know, that would not be permitted. The Lieut. Gov. as chief justice, directed the sheriff to order the effigy to be ta- ken down, but his officers reported that they could not do it without imminent danger of their lives.
Business was almost laid aside during the day, and multi- tudes from the country as well as the town flocked to witness the sight. As soon as it began to grow dark, the mob, which had been gathering all the afternoon, came down in proces- sion to the Town-house, bearing the effigy with them ; and knowing that the Governour and Council were in session, they gave three huzzas by way of defiance, and passed on towards Kilby-street, where Mr. Oliver had lately erected a building, which people supposed was designed for a stamp office. That they instantly demolished, and bearing each man a portion of the ruins upon his shoulder, they moved in solemn pomp to Fort-hill, where they made a bonfire in view of Mr. Oliver's house, and burnt the effigy upon it. Mr. O. had removed his family, but remained himself with a few friends till the mob approached, when he was persuaded to withdraw. The mob got possession of the house, broke the windows and tore down the garden fences.
' After eleven o'clock, the people seeming to grow quiet, the Lieut. Gov. and the sheriff ventured to go to Mr. Oliver's house, and endeavour to persuade them to disperse. As soon as they began to speak, a ringleader cried out, " The Governour and the sheriff, to your arms, my boys :" and presently a volley of stones followed, and the two gentlemen narrowly escaped, through favour of the night, not without some bruises. Nothing more being to be done, the mob were
* This exhibition was not an original : it was probably an imitation of one in Devonshire, of which a Boston paper of Aug. 20, 1763, gave the following account :- ' About two miles below Honiton there was suspended on an apple-tree, that grew over the road, a figure as big as life, dressed in Scotch plaid, with something to resemble a ribbon over one shoulder, and on a painted board, affixed to the tree, were these lines :
' Behold the man who made the yoke, Now Britons all, join heart and land,
Which doth Old England's sons provoke, And now he hangs upon a tree,
Hlis sly-schemed project to withstand,
That all our sons, as well as we,
An emblem of our liberty.
May lave our Cider go scot free.'
' LIBERTY, PROPERTY, AND NO EXCISE.'
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
left to disperse at their own time, which they did about twelve o'clock.'
In the afternoon of the next day, ' several gentlemen ap- plied to Mr. Oliver, to advise him to make a publick declara- tion, that he would resign the office, and never act in it ; without which they said his house would be immediately de- stroyed. and his life in continual danger ; upon which he was obliged to authorize some gentlemen to declare in publick, that he would immediately apply for leave to resign, and would not act in the office (as indeed it was impossible for him to do) un- til he received further orders.'
An officer addressing the lords of trade, writes thus :- 'After the demolition of Mr. Oliver's house was found so practicable and easy, that the government was obliged to look on, without being able to take any one step to prevent it, and the principal people of the town publickly avowed and justi- fied the act, the mob, both great and small, became highly elated, and all kinds of ill-humours were set on foot.'
' On Monday, August 26, there was some small rumour, that mischief would be done that night ; but it was in general disregarded. Towards evening some boys began to light a bonfire before the Town- house, which is an usual signal for a mob. Before it was quite dark, a great company of people gathered together, crying, Liberty and Property ; which is their usual notice of their intention to plunder and pull down an house. They went first to Mr. Paxton's house, who is marshall of the court of Admiralty, and surveyor of the port ; and finding before it the owner of the house (Mr. Paxton be- ing only a tenant) he assured them, that Mr. Paxton had quit- ted the house with his best effects, and that the house was his ; that he had never injured them, and finally, invited them to go to the tavern and drink a barrel of punch : the offer was accepted, and so that house was saved. As soon as they had drank the punch, they went to the house of Mr. Story, reg- ister-deputy of the Admiralty, [opposite the North corner of the Court-house] broke into it, and broke it all to pieces, and took out all the books and papers, among which were all the records of the court of Admiralty, and carried them to the bonfire, and there burnt them ; they also looked about for him with an intention to kill him. From thence they went to Mr. Hallowell's, comptroller of the customs, broke into his house, [recently the mansion house of Hon. John Coffin Jones, in Hanover-street, where the new Trinitarian Church is now building] and destroyed and carried off every thing of value, with about 301. sterling, in cash. This house was lately built by himself, and fitted and furnished with great elegance.
' But the grand mischief of all was to come. The Lieuten- ant-governour had been apprized, that there was an evil spirit
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
gone forth against him ; but, being conscious that he had not in the least deserved to be made a party, in regard to the Stamp-act or the Custom-house, he rested in full security that the mob would not attack him ; and he was at supper with his family when he received advice that the mob was coming to him. He immediately sent away his children, and deter- mined to stay in the house himself : but, happily, his eldest daughter returned, and declared she would not stir from the house, unless he went with her; by which means she got him away, which was undoubtedly the occasion of saving his life. For, as soon as the mob had got into the house, [it was that now occupied by William Little esq. in Garden-Court street] with a most irresistible fury, they immediately looked about for him, to murder him, and even made diligent enquiry whither he was gone. They went to work with a rage scarce to be exemplified by the most savage people. Every thing moveable was destroyed in a most minute manner, except such things of value as were worth carrying off ; among which were near 10001. sterling, in specie, besides a great quantity of family plate, &c. But the loss to be most lamented is, that there was in one room, kept for that purpose, a large and val- uable collection of manuscripts and original papers, which he had been gathering all his life-time, and to which all persons, who had been in possession of valuable papers of a publick kind, had been contributing, as to a publick Museum. As these related to the history and policy of the country, from the time of its settlement to the present, and was the only collection of its kind, the loss of the publick is great and irretrievable, as it is to himself, the loss of the papers of a family, which had made a figure in this province for a hundred and thirty years. As for the house, which from the structure and inside finish- ing, seemed to be from a design of Inigo Jones or his suc- cessor, it appears that they were a long while resolved to level it to the ground : they worked three hours at the cupola be- fore they could get it down, and they uncovered part of the roof ; but I suppose, that the thickness of the walls, which were of very fine brick-work, adorned with Ionic pilasters worked into the wall, prevented their completing their pur- pose, though they worked at it till daylight. The next day, the streets were found scattered with money, plate, gold rings, &c. which had been dropped in carrying off. The whole loss in this house is reckoned at £3168. 17s. 9d. lawful.'
The principal citizens, perceiving that such outrages must infallibly injure a cause they considered just, were very strenuous to distinguish this tumultuous conduct from the truly noble opposition which they wished to manifest to the imposition of internal taxes by authority of parliament.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
A town meeting was held, as early as possible on the next day, and the town expressed their ' detestation' of the vio- lent proceedings of the past night, and unanimously voted, that the selectmen and magistrates be desired to use their ut- most endeavours to suppress such disorders for the future.
In the month of September* a quantity of the stamps arri- ved, and Gov. Bernard, finding that Mr. Oliver could ' not safely meddle with them,'.asked the advice of the Gen. Court, in order that they might be preserved safe and secure, but the Court excused themselves from giving any advice or as- sistance on the subject, and the stamps were deposited in the Castle for safe keeping.
The first of November had been appointed as a sort of Ju- bilee, before the riot of the 26th of August happened, and it had for many years been customary to celebrate the fifth of November. The following account of the events of those two days, in 1765, are from the Mass. Gazette, and convey a strong idea of the publick excitement.
' Last Friday being the day the stamp-act was to take place, the publick were not much alarmed or displeased at the morn- ing's being ushered in by the tolling of bells in several parts of the town, and the vessels in the harbour displaying their colours half mast high, in token of mourning : and though some previous steps had been taken by authority to prevent any pageantry, fearing lest tumult and disorder might be the consequence, yet the people were soon informed that the Great Tree at the South part of the town (known by the name of the Tree of Liberty ever since the memorable 14th of Aug- ust) was adorned with the effigies of the two famous or rather infamous enemies of American Liberty; G-ge G-no-e and J -- hn H-sk -. The figures continued suspended without any molestation till about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when they were cut down in the view and amid the acclamations of sev - eral thousand people of all ranks, and being placed in a cart, were with great solemnity and order followed by the multi- tude, formed into regular ranks, to the Court-house, where the Assembly was then sitting ; from thence proceeding to the North end of the town and then returning up Middle Street, they passed back through the town to the gallows on the Neck, where the effigies were again hung up, and after continuing some time were cut down, when the populace, in token of their
* Sept. 11. There was a general rejoicing on the change of ministry, of which news was received, and ' On the body of the largest tree was fixed with large deck nails, that it might last (as a poet said, like oaken bench to perpetuity,) a copper plate [2 1-2ft. by 3 1-2} with these words stamped thereon in golden letters ; The tree of liberty, Aug. 14. 1765.'
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
utmost detestation of the men they were designed to repre- sent, tore them in pieces and flung their limbs with indigna- tion into the air. This being donc, three cheers were given, and every man was desired to repair to his home, which was so punctually performed, that the evening was more remark- able for peace and quietness than common ; a circumstance that would at any time redound to the honour of the town, but was still more agreeable, as the fears of many were great lest it should prove another 26th of August ; for the horrid violences of which night we hope the good order of this will in some measure atone, as it is a proof such conduct was not agreeable to the sentiments of the town, but was only the lawless ravages of some foreign villains, who took advantage of the over-heated temper, of a very few people of this place, and drew them in to commit such violences and disorders as they shuddered at with horror in their cooler hours.'
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