A+Short+Narrative+of+the+Horrid+Massacre+in+Boston

=About This Document= Eager to share their own version of events with the government in Britain, Boston selectmen appoint James Bowdoin, Samuel Pemberton, and Joseph Warren to prepare an account of the King Street affair. Their narrative -- together with an appendix containing ninety-six depositions -- is published as a pamphlet a few days later, and copies are sent to England to counter Dalrymple's military depositions. Remaining copies are impounded. With the soldiers' trial anticipated in Boston, patriot leaders choose to flaunt their neutrality. Surely they know, however, that even if the Narrative is not distributed in Boston, it will have its effect in England and in versions reimported through other colonial ports. Robert Treat Paine uses the pamphlet presented here as he prosecutes Thomas Preston and his soldiers; Paine's notes appear in the pamphlet's margins (view those in the images of each page at www.masshist.org/revolution.

This document comes courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society. They have preserved and digitally presented this pamphlet in a page-by-page digital reference and the transcription that appears here is theirs. I have simply taken it to create a single searchable page here. I claim no rights to the text or the images of the document and am presenting them for educational purposes only.
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A Short NARRATIVE OF The horrid Massacre in BOSTON, PERPETRATED In the Evening of the Fifth Day of March, 1770, BY Soldiers of the XXIXth Regiment ; WHICH WITH the XIVth Regiment Were then Quartered there ; WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF THINGS PRIOR TO THAT CATASTROPHE. Printed by Order of the Town of BOSTON, And Sold by EDES and GILL, in Queen-Street, And T. & J. FLEET, in Cornhill, 1770.|||| [This page is blank.]|||| Boston, ss. At a Meeting of the Free- holders and the other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, duly qualified and legally warned, in public Town-Meeting assem- bled at Faneuil-Hall, on Mon- day the 12th day of March, Anno Domini, 1770. THAT Article in the Warrant, for calling this Meeting, viz. " What Steps may be further neces- " sary, for obtaining a particular Account " of all Proceedings relative to the Mas- " sacre in King-Street on Monday Night " last, that a full and just Representation " may be made therefore," was read, Whereupon, VOTED, That the Honorable James Bowdoin, Esq; Doctor Joseph Warren, and Samuel Pemberton, Esq; be a Committee for this important Business ; and they are desired to report as soon as may be. Attest. William Cooper, Town-Clerk. THE following Report, containing a Nar- rative of the late Massacre, is submitted to the Town. In the Name of the Committee, James Bowdoin|||| AT the Town Meeting held on the 19th of March, 1770, by Adjournment. The aforementioned Report was Read and Considered, whereupon Voted Unanimously, That the same be accepted, and that it be immediately Printed, and the Committee are desired to transmit Copies thereof, as soon as possible to the following Gentlemen, viz. The Right Honorable Isaac Barré, Esq; one of his Majesty's most Honorable Privy Council ; Thomas Pownall, Esq; late Governor of the Massachu- setts ; William Bollan, Esq; Agent for his Ma- jesty's Council ; Dennys DeBerdt, Esq; Agent for the House of Representatives ; Benjamin Franklin, Esq; L.L.D. and Barlow Trecothick, Esq; a Member of Parliament for the City of London. Attest. William Cooper, Town-Clerk.|||| A short Narrative of the horrid Massacre in Boston, perpetrated in the Evening of the Fifth Day of March, 1770, by Soldiers of the XXIX th Re- giment ; which with the XIV th Regi- ment were then quartered there : with some Observations on the State of Things prior to that Catastrophe. IT may be a proper introduction to this nar- rative, briefly to represent the state of things for some time previous to the said massacre : And this seems necessary in order to the forming a just idea of the causes of it. At the end of the late war, in which this Province bore so distinguished a part, a happy union subsisted between Great-Britain and the Colonies. This was unfortunately interrupted by the Stamp-Act : but it was in some measure restored by the Repeal of it. It was again in- terrupted by other acts of parliament for taxing America ; and by the appointment of a Board of Commissioners, in pursuance of an act, which by the face of it was made for the relief and encouragement of commerce, but which in it's operation, it was apprehended, would have, and it has in fact had, a contrary effect. By the said act the said Comissioners were “ to be resident|||| in some convenient part of his Majesty's do- minions in America". -- This must be understood to be in some part convenient for the whole -- But it does not appear, that in fixing the place of their residence, the convenience of the whole was at all consulted, for Boston being very far from the centre of the colonies, could not be the place most convenient for the whole. -- Judging by the act, it may seem this town was intended to be favoured, by the Commissioners being appointed to reside here ; and that the consequence of that residence would be the re- lief and encouragement of commerce : but the reverse has been the constant and uniform effect of it : So that the commerce of the town, from the embarrassments in which it has been lately involved, is greatly reduced. For the particulars on this head, see the state of the trade not long since drawn up and transmitted to England by a committee of the merchants of Boston. The residence of the Commisssioners here, has been detrimental, not only to the commerce, but to the political interests of the town and pro- vince ; and not only so, but we can trace from it the causes of the late horrid massacre. Soon after their arrival here in November 1767, in- stead of confining themselves to the proper busi- ness of their office, they became partizans of Governor Bernard in his political schemes ; and had the weakness and temerity to infringe upon one of the most essential rights of the house of commons of this province -- that of giving|||| their votes with freedom, and not being accoun- table therefor but to their constituents. One of the members of that house Capt. Timothy Folgier, having voted in some affair contrary to the mind of the said Commissioners, was for so doing dismissed from the office he held under them. These proceedings of theirs, the difficulty of access to them on office-business, and a superci- lious behavior, rendered them disgustful to peo- ple in general, who in consequence thereof treated them with neglect. This probably sti- mulated them to resent it : and to make their resentment felt, they and their coadjutor, Gover- nor Bernard, made such representations to his Majesty's ministers as they thought best calculated to bring the displeasure of the nation upon the town and province : and in order that those re- presentations might have the more weight, they are said to have contrived, and executed plans for exciting disturbances and tumults, which otherwise would probably never have existed ; and when excited, to have transmitted to the ministry the most exaggerated accounts of them. These particulars of their conduct his Majesty's Council of this province have fully laid open in their proceeding in council, and in their address to General Gage, in July and October 1768 ; and in their letter to Lord Hillsborough of the 15th of April, 1769. -- Unfortunately for us, they have been too successful in their said repre- sentations, which, in conjunction with Governor Bernard's, have occasioned his Majesty's faithful|||| subjects of this town and province to be treated as enemies and rebels, by an invasion of the town by sea and land : to which the approaches were made with all the circumspection, usual where a vigorous opposition is expected. While the town was surrounded by a considerable number of his Majesty's ships of war, two regi- ments landed and took possession of it ; and to support these, two other regiments arrived some time after from Ireland : one of which landed at Castle Island, and the other in the town. Thus were we, in aggravation of our other embarrassments, embarrassed with troops, forced upon us contrary to our inclination -- contrary to the spirit of Magna Charta, -- contrary to the very letter of the Bill of Rights, in which it is declared, that the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with the consent of parliament, is against law -- and with- out the desire of the civil magistrates, to aid whom was the pretence for sending the troops hither : who were quartered in the town in direct violation of an act of parliament for quartering troops in America : and all this in consequence of the representations of the said Commissioners and the said Governor, as appears by their me- morials and letters lately published. As they were the procuring cause of troops being sent hither, they must therefore be the re- mote and a blameable cause of all the disturban- ces and bloodshed that have taken place in con- sequence of that Measure.|||| But we shall leave them to their own reflec- tions, after observing, that as they had some months before the arrival of the troops, under pretence of safety to their persons, retired from town to the Castle, so after the arrival of the troops, and their being quartered in the town, they thought proper to return : having answered, as they doubtless thought, the purpose of their voluntary flight. We shall next attend to the conduct of the troops, and to some circumstances relative to them. -- Governor Bernard without consulting the Council, having given up the State-house to the troops at their landing, they took possession of the chambers, where the representatives of the province and the courts of law held their meet- ings ; and (except the council-chamber) of all other parts of that house : in which they conti- nued a considerable time, to the great annoyance of those courts while they sat, and of the mer- chants and gentlemen of the town, who had al- ways made the lower floor of it their exchange. They had a right so to do, as the property of it was in the town : but they were deprived of that right by meer power. The said Governor soon after, by every stratagem and by every me- thod, but a forcibly entry, endeavored to get possession of the manufactory-house, to make a barrack of it for the troops : and for that pur- pose caused it to be besieged by the troops, and the people in it to be used very cruelly; which extraordinary proceedings created universal un-|||| easiness, arising from the apprehension ; that the troops under the influence of such a man would be employed to effect the most dangerous pur- poses ; but failing of that, other houses were pro- cured, in which, contrary to act of parliament, he caused the troops to be quartered. After their quarters were settled, the main guard was posted at one of the said houses, directly opposite to, and not twelve yards from, the State-house, (where the General Court, and all the Law courts for the county were held), with two field pieces pointed to the State-house. This situation of the main guard and field pieces seemed to indicate an attack upon the constitu- tion, and a defiance of law ; and to be intended to affront the legislative and executive authority of the province. The General Court, at the first Session after the arrival of the troops, viewed it in this light, and applied to Governor Bernard to cause such a nuisance to be removed ; but to no purpose. Disgusted at such an indignity, and at the appear- ance of being under duresse, they refused to do business in such circumstances ; and in conse- quence thereof were adjourned to Cambridge, to the great inconvenience of the members. Besides this, the challenging the inhabitants by centinels posted in all parts of the town be- fore the lodgings of officers, which (for about six months, while it lasted), occasioned many quarrels and uneasiness.--|||| Capt. Wilson’s, of the 59th, exciting the ne- groes of the town to take away their masters lives and property, and repair to the army for protection, which was fully proved against him. -- The attack of a party of soldiers on some of the magistrates of the town – the repeated res- cues of soldiers from peace officers – the firing of a loaded musket in a public street, to the en- dangering a great number of peaceable inhab- itants -- the frequent wounding of persons by their bayonets and cutlasses, and the numerous instances of bad behavior in the soldiery, made us early sensible, that the troops were not sent here for any benefit to the town or pro- vince, and that we had no good to expect from such conservators of the peace.* It was not expected however, that such an outrage and massacre, as happened here on the evening of the fifth instant, would have been perpetrated. There were then killed and wound- ed, by a discharge of musquetry, eleven of his Majesty's subjects, viz. Mr. Samuel Gray, killed on the spot by a ball entering his head. Crispus Attucks, a mulatto, killed on the spot, two balls entering his breast. Mr. James Caldwell, killed on the spot, by two balls entering his back. officers on these occasions, chose rather to oppose the civii [civil] au- thority and the laws of the land to such offenders ; and had not the soldiery found means to evade legal punishments, it is more than probable their insolence would have received a check, and some of the most melancholy effects of it been prevented.|||| Mr. Samuel Maverick, a youth of seventeen years of age, mortally wounded : he died the next morning. Mr. Patrick Carr mortally wounded : he died the 14th instant. Christopher Monk and John Clark, youths about seventeen years of age, dangerously wound- ed. It is apprehended they will die. Mr. Edward Payne, merchant, standing at his door : wounded. Messi’rs. John Green, Robert Patterson, and David Parker : all dangerously wounded. The actors in this dreadful tragedy were a party of soldiers commanded by Capt. Preston of the 29th regiment : This party, including the Captain, consisted of eight, who are all com- mitted to goal. There are depositions in this affair which mention, that several guns were fired at the same time from the Custom-House ; before which this shocking scene was exhibited. Into this matter inquisition is now making. -- In the mean time it may be proper to insert here the substance of some of those depositions. Benjamin Frizell, on the evening of the 5th of March, having taken his station near the west corner of the Custom-house in Kingstreet, be- fore and at the time of the soldiers firing their guns, declares (among other things) that the first discharge was only of one gun, the next of two guns, upon which he the deponent thinks he saw a man stumble : the third discharge was|||| [Text transcription unavailable. Rely on clarity of image.]|||| the flashes thereof from out of the house, now cal- led the CUSTOM-HOUSE, as they evidently ap- peared to him, and which he the said deponent at the same time declared to the aforesaid Moli- neux and Simpson, being then near him, saying to them, (at the same time pointing his hand to- wards the custom-house), there they are out of the custom-house. George Coster, being in King-street at the time above mentioned, declares that in five or six mi- nutes after he stopped, he heard the word of command given to the soldiers fire; upon which one gun was fired, which did no execution, as the deponent observed, about half a minute after two guns, one of which killed one Samuel Gray a ropemaker, the other a molatto man, between which two men the deponent stood, after this the deponent heard the discharge of four or five guns more, by the soldiers ; immediately after which the deponent heard the discharge of two guns or pistols, from an open window of the middle story of the CUSTOM-HOUSE, near to the place where the centry box is placed, and being but a small distance from the window, he heard the people from within speak and laugh, and soon after saw the casement lowered down ; after which the deponent assisted others in carrying off one of the corps. Cato, a Negro man, servant to Tuthill Hub- bart, Esq; delcares, that on Monday evening the fifth of March current, on hearing the cry of fire, he ran into Kingstreet, where he saw a number|||| of people assembled before the Custom-House, that he stood near the centry-box and saw the soldiers fire on the people, who stood in the middle of said street ; directly after which he saw two flashes of guns, one quick upon the other, from the chamber window of the CUSTOM-HOUSE ; and that after the firing was all over, while the people were carrying away the dead and wound- ed, he saw the Custom-House door opened, and several soldiers (one of whom had a cutlass) go into the Custom-House and shut the door after them. Benjamin Andrews declares, that being desired by the committee of enquiry to take the ranges of the holes made by musquet balls, in two houses nearly opposite to the Custom-House, he finds the bullet hole in the entry door post of Mr. Payne's house (and which graz’d the edge of the door, before it enter’d the post, where it lodged, two and a half inches deep) ranges just under the stool of the westernmost lower chamber window of the CUSTOM-HOUSE. Samuel Drowne, towards the end of his depo- sition (which contains a pretty full account of the proceedings of the soldiers on the evening of the 5th instant) declares, that he saw the flashes of two guns fired from the CUSTOM-HOUSE, one of which was out of a window of the chamber westward of the balcony, and the other from the balcony ; the gun (which lie clearly discerned) being pointed through the ballisters, and the per- son who held the gun, in a stooping posture with-|||| drew himself into the house, having a handker- chief or some kind of cloth over his face. These depositions shew clearly that a number of guns were fired from the Custom-House. -- As this affair is now enquiring into, all the no- tice we shall take of it is, that it distinguishes the actors in it into Street-Actors and House-Actors ; which is necessary to be observed. What gave occasion to the melancholy event of that evening seems to have been this. A difference having happened near Mr. Gray's ropewalk, between a soldier and a man belong- ing to it, the soldier challenged the ropemakers to a boxing match. The challenge was accepted by one of them, and the soldier worsted. He ran to the barrack in the neighborhood, and returned with several of his companions. The fray was renewed, and the soldiers were driven off. They soon returned with recruits and were again worsted. This happened several times, till at length a considerable body of soldiers was collected, and they also were driven off, the ropemakers having been joined by their brethren of the contiguous ropewalks. By this time Mr. Gray being alarmed interposed, and with the assistance of some gentlemen prevented any further disturbance. To satisfy the soldiers and punish the man who had been the occasion of the first difference, and as an example to the rest, he turned him out of his service; and waited on Col. Dalrymple, the commanding officer of the troops, and with him concerted measures for|||| preventing further mischief. Though this affair ended thus, it made a strong impression on the minds of the soldiers in general, who thought the honor of the regiment concerned to revenge those repeated repulses. For this purpose they seem to have formed a combination to commit some outrage upon the inhabitants of the town indiscriminately ; and this was to be done on the evening of the 5th instant or soon after : as appears by the depositions of the following per- sons, viz. William Newhall declares, that on Thursday night the first of March instant, he met four soldi- ers of the 29th regiment, and that he heard them say, there were a great many that would eat their dinners on Monday next, that should not eat any on Tuesday. Daniel Calfe declares, that on Saturday even- ing the 3d of March a camp-woman, wife to James McDeed a grenadier of the 29th, came in- to his father's shop, and the people talking about the affrays at the rope-walks, and blaming the soldiers for the part they had acted in it, the woman said, the soldiers were in the right ; add- ing, that before Tuesday or Wednesday night they would wet their swords or bayonets in New En- gland people's blood. Mary Brailsford declares, that on Sabbath evening the 4th of March instant a Soldier came to the house of Mr. Amos Thayer where she then was. He desiring to speak with Mr. Thayer was told by Mrs. Mary Thayer, that her bro-|||| ther was engaged, and could not be spoke with. He said, your brother as you call him, is a man I have a great regard for, and I came on purpose to tell him to keep in his house, for before Tuesday night next at Twelve o'clock, there will be a great deal of bloodshed, and a great many lives lost : and added, that he came out of a particular re- gard to her brother to advise him to keep in his house, for then he would be out of harm's way. He said, your brother knows me very well : my name is Charles Malone. He then went away. -- Of the same import, and in confirmation of this declaration, are the depositions of Mary Thayer and Asa Copeland, who both live with the said Mr. Thayer, and heard what the soldier said as abovementioned. It is also confirmed by the deposition of Nicholas Ferriter. Jane Usher declares, that about 9 o'clock on Monday morning the 5th of March current, from a window she saw two persons in the habit of soldiers, one of whom being on horse back appeared to be an officer's servant. The person on the horse first spoke to the other, but what he said, she is not able to say, though the win- dow was open, and she not more than twenty feet distant : the other replied, He hoped he should see blood enough spilt before morning. Matthew Adams declares, that on monday evening the 5th of March instant between the hours of 7 and 8 o'clock, he went to the house of corporal Pershall of the 29th regiment, near Quaker-lane, where he saw the corporal and his|||| wife, with one of the fifers of said regiment. When he had got what he went for, and was coming away, the corporal called him back, and desired him with great earnestness to go home to his master's house as soon as business was over, and not to be abroad on any account that night in particular, for the soldiers were determined to be revenged on the ropewalk people ; and that much mischief would be done. Upon which the fifer (about 18 or 19 years of age) said, he hoped in God they would burn the town down. On this he left the house, and the said corporal called after him again, and begged he would mind what he said to him. Caleb Swan declares, that on monday night the 5th of March instant, at the time of the bells ringing for fire, he heard a woman's voice whom he knew to be the supposed wife of one Montgomery, a grenadier of the 29th regiment, standing at her door, and heard her say, it was not fire ; the town was too haughty and too proud ; and that many of their arses would be laid low before the morning. Margaret Swansborough declares, that a free woman named Black Peg, who has kept much with the soldiers, on hearing the disturbance on monday evening the 5th instant said, the soldiers were not to be trod upon by the inhabitants, but would know before morning, whether they or the inhabitants were to be masters. Joseph Hooton, junr. declares, that coming from the South-end of Boston on Monday even-|||| ing the 5th of March instant, against Dr. Sewall's meeting he heard a great noise and tumult, with the cry of murder often repeated. Proceeding towards the town-house he was passed by several soldiers running that way, with naked cutlasses and bayonets in their hands. He asked one of them what was the matter, and was answered by him, by God you shall all know what is the matter soon. Between 9 and 10 o'clock he went into King-street, and was present at the tragical scene exhibited near the Custom-house; as particularly set forth in his deposition. Mrs. Mary Russell declares, that John Brails- ford a private soldier of the fourteenth regiment, who had frequently been employed by her (when he was ordered with his company to the Castle, in consequence of the murders committed by the soldiers on the evening of the 5th of March) com- ing to the deponent's house declared, that THEIR regiment were ORDERED to hold themselves in readiness, and accordingly was ready THAT EVE- NING, upon the inhabitants firing on the soldiery, to come to the assistance of the soldiery. On which she asked him, if he would have fired upon any of the inhabitants of this town. To which he replied, yes, if he had orders : but that if he saw Mr. Russell, he would have fired wide of him. He also said, it's well there was no gun fired by the Inhabitants, for had there been, WE should have come to the soldiers assistance. By the foregoing depositions it appears very clearly, there was a general combination among|||| the soldiers of the 29th regiment at least, to commit some extraordinary act of violence upon the town ; that if the inhabitants attempted to repel it by firing even one gun upon those sol- diers, the 14th regiment were ordered to be in readiness to assist them ; and that on the late butchery in King-street they actually were ready for that purpose, had a single gun been fired on the perpetrators of it. It appears by a variety of depositions, that on the same evening between the hours of six and half after nine (at which time the firing began) many persons, without the least provocation, were in various parts of the town, insulted and abused by parties of armed soldiers patrolling the streets : particularly -- Mr. Robert Pierpont declares, that between the hours of 7 & 8 in the same evening, 3 armed soldiers passing him, one of them who had a bayonet gave him a back-handed stroke with it, on complaint of this treatment he said the deponent should soon hear more of it, and threatened him very hard. Mr. Henry Bass declares, that at 9 o'clock a party of soldiers came out of Draper's alley lead- ing to and from Murray's barracks, and they being armed with large naked cutlasses, made at every body coming in their way, cutting and slashing, and that he himself very narrowly es- caped receiving a cut from the foremost of them, who pursued him. Samuel Atwood, declares, that 10 or 12 sol- diers armed with drawn cutlasses, bolted out of|||| the alley leading from Murray's barracks into dock-square, and met the deponent, who asked them if they intended to murder people ? they answered, yes, by God, root and branch ; saying here is one of them ; with that one of them struck the deponent with a club, which was re- peated by another : the deponent being unarm- ed turned to go off; and he received a wound on the left shoulder, which reached the bone, dis- abled him, and gave him much pain. Having gone a few steps the deponent met two officers, and asked them, gentlemen, what is the matter ? they answered, you will see by and by ; and as he passed by Col. Jackson's he heard the cry, turn out the guards. Capt. James Kirkwood, declares, that about nine of the clock in the evening of the fifth day of March current, he was going by Murray's barracks : hearing a noise he stopt at Mr. Rhoads's Door, opposite the said barracks, where said Rhoads was standing, and stood some time and saw the soldiers coming out of the yard from the barracks, armed with cutlasses and bayonets, and rushing thro’ Boylstone's alley into cornhill, two officers, viz. Lieuts. Minchin and Dickson came out of the mess house, and said to the soldiers, my lads come into the barracks and don't hurt the inhabitants, and then retir’d into the mess house. Soon after they came to the door again, and found the soldiers in the yard ; and directly upon it, Ensign Mall came to the gate of the barrack yard and said to the soldiers, turn|||| out, and I will stand by you ; this he repeated frequently, adding, Kill them ! stick them ; knock them down; run your bayonets thro’ them, with a great deal of language of like import. Upon which a great number of soldiers came out of the barracks with naked cutlasses, headed by said Mall, and went thro' the aforesaid alley; that some offi- cers came & got the soldiers into their barracks, and that Mall, with his sword or cutlass drawn in his hand, as often had them out again, but were at last drove into their barracks by the afore- said Minchin and Dickson. Mr. Henry Rhoads's declaration agrees with Capt. Kirkwood's. Mr. Matthias King of Halifax in Nova Scotia, declares, that in the evening of the fifth day of March instant about nine of the clock, he was at his lodgings at Mrs. Torrey's near the town pump, and heard the bells ring and the cry of fire ; upon which he went to the door and saw several sol- diers come round the south side of the town house, armed with bayonets, and something which he took to be broad swords ; that one of those people came up almost to him and Mr. Bartholomew Kneeland ; and that they had but just time to shut the door upon him ; otherwise he is well assured they must have fell victims to their boundless cruelty. He afterwards went into the upper chamber of the said house, and was looking out of the window when the drum and the guard went to the barrack, and he saw one of the guards kneel and present his piece,|||| with a bayonet fixed, and heard him swear he would fire upon a parcel of boys who were then in the street, but he did not : He further de- clares, that when the body of troops was drawn up before the guard house (which was presently after the massacre), he heard an officer say to ano- ther, that this was fine work, and just what he wanted ; but in the hurry he could not see him, so as to know him again. Robert Polley declares, that on monday even- ing the 5th instant, as he was going home, he observed about ten persons standing near Mr. Taylor's door; after standing there a small space of time he went with them towards Boylston's alley opposite to Murray's barracks ; we met in the alley about eight or nine arm’d soldiers, they assaulted us, and gave us a great deal of abusive language, we then drove them back to the barracks with sticks only ; we looked for stones or bricks, but could find none, the ground being covered with snow ; some of the lads dispersed, and he the said Polley with a few others were returning peaceably home, when we met about nine or ten other sol- diers armed : one of them said, " Where are the sons of bitches": They struck at several persons in the street, and went towards the head of the alley. Two officers came and endeavored to get them into their barracks ; one of the lads proposed to ring the bell ; the sol- diers went thro’ the alley, and the boys huzza’d, and said they were gone thro’ royal exchange lane into Kingstreet.|||| Samuel Drowne declares, that about nine of the clock of the evening of the fifth of March current, standing at his own door in Cornhill, he saw about 14 or 15 soldiers of the 29th re- giment, who came from Murray's barracks arm’d with naked cutlasses, swords, &c. and came upon the inhabitants of the town, then standing or walking in Cornhill, and abused some, and vio- lently assaulted others as they met them ; most of whom were without so much as a stick in their hand to defend themselves, as he very clear- ly could discern, it being moon light, and him- self being one of the assaulted persons. All or most of the said soldiers he saw go into King- street, (some of them through Royal Exchange lane) and there followed them, and soon dis- covered them to be quarrelling and fighting with the people whom they saw there, which he thinks were not more than a dozen, when the soldiers came there first, armed as aforesaid. Of those dozen people, the most of them were gen- tlemen, standing together a little below the Town-House, upon the exchange. At the ap- pearance of those soldiers so arm’d, the most of the twelve persons went off, some of them being first assaulted. The violent proceedings of this party, and their going into King-street, " quarrelling and fighting with the people whom they saw there" (mentioned in Mr. Drowne's deposition), was im- mediately introductory to the grand catastrophe. These assailants, who issued from Murray's|||| barracks (so called) after attacking and wound- ing divers persons in Cornhill, as above men- tioned, being armed, proceeded (most of them) up the Royal Exchange lane, into King-street ; where, making a short stop, and after assaulting and driving away the few they met there, they brandished their arms and cried out, where are the Boogers ! where are the Cowards. At this time there were very few persons in the street beside themselves. -- This party in proceeding from Exchange lane into King-street must pass the centry posted at the westerly corner of the Custom House, which butts on that lane and fronts on that street: This is needful to be mentioned, as near that spot and in that street the bloody tragedy was acted, and the street-ac- tors in it were stationed : Their station being but a few feet from the front side of the said Custom House. -- The outrageous behavior and the threats of the said party occasioned the ringing of the meeting house bell near the head of King- street : which bell ringing quick as for fire, it presently brought out a number of the inhabi- tants, who being soon sensible of the occasion of it, were naturally led to King-street, where the said party had made a stop but a little while before : and where their stopping had drawn to- gether a number of boys, round the centry at the Custom-House. Whether the boys mistook the centry for one of the said party, and thence took occasion to differ with him, or whether he first affronted them, which is affirmed in several depo-|||| sitions, -- however that may be, there was much foul language between them : and some of them in consequence of his pushing at them with his bayonet, threw snowballs at him:* [Asterisk reference mark indicates note below.]which occa- sioned him to knock hastily at the door of the Custom-House. From hence two persons there- upon proceeded immediately to the main guard, which was posted (opposite to the State-house) at a small distance, near the head of the said street. The officer on guard was Capt. Preston, who with seven or eight soldiers with fire arms, and charged bayonets, issued from the guard house, and in great haste posted himself and his soldiers in the front of the Custom House, near the cor- ner aforesaid. In passing to this station the soldiers pushed several persons with their bay- onets, driving through the people in so rough a manner that it appeared they intended to create a disturbance. This occasioned some [Asterisk reference mark]* Since writing this narrative, several depositions have appeared which make it clear, that the centry was first in fault.--He overheard a barber's boy, saying that a captain of the 14th (who had just passed by) was so mean a fellow as not to pay his bar- ber for shaving him ; upon this the centry left his post and followed the boy into the middle of the street, where he told him to shew [show] his face ; the boy pertly reply'd, I am not asham'd to shew [show] my face to any man : Upon this the centry gave him a sweeping stroke on the head with his musket, which made him reel and stagger and cry much. A fellow apprentice asked the centry what he meant by this abuse? He reply'd, damn your blood, if you do not get out of the way I will give you something ; and then fixed his bayonet and pushed at the lads, who both run out of his way. This dispute collected a few persons about the boy, near the custom-house. Presently after this, the party above-mentioned came into kingstreet, which was a further occasion of drawing people thither, as above related. (See deposition of Benja. Broaders and others.)|||| snow balls to be thrown at them : which seems to have been the only provocation that was given. Mr. Knox (between whom and Capt. Preston there was some conversation on the spot) declares, that while he was talking with Capt. Preston, the soldiers of his detachment had attacked the people with their bayonets ; and that there was not the least provocation given to Capt. Preston, or his party : the backs of the people being towards them when the people were attacked. He also declares, that Captain Preston seemed to be in great haste and much agitated ; and that according to his opinion there were not then present in Kingstreet above seventy or eighty persons at the extent. The said party was formed into a half circle, and, within a short time after they had been posted at the Custom-House, began to fire upon the people. Captain Preston is said to have ordered them to fire, and to have repeated that order. One gun was fired first : then others in succession, and with deliberation, till ten or a dozen guns were fired ; or till that number of discharges were made from the guns that were fired. By which means eleven persons were killed, and wounded, as above represented. These facts with divers [diverse] circumstances attend- ing them, are supported by the depositions of a considerable number of persons : and among others, of the following, viz. Messir’s. Henry Bass, Samuel Atwood, Samuel Drowne, James Kirk-|||| wood, Robert Polley, Samuel Condon, Daniel Usher, Josiah Simpson, Henry Knox, Gillam Bass, John Hickling, Richard Palmes, Benjamin Frizzel, and others ; whose depositions are in the appendix. Soon after the firing, a drum with a party from the main guard went to Murray's and the other barracks, beating an alarm as they went, which with the firing had the effect of a signal for action. Whereupon all the soldiers of the 29th regiment, or the main body of them, appeared in Kingstreet under arms ; and seem- ed bent on a further massacre of the inhabi- tants, which was with great difficulty prevented. They were drawn up between the State House and main guard : their lines extending across the street and facing down Kingstreet, where the town-people were assembled. The first line kneeled ; and the whole of the first plattoon [platoon] pre- sented their guns ready to fire, as soon as the word should be given. They continued in that posture a considerable time. But by the good Providence of God, they were restrained from firing. That they then went into Kingstreet with such a disposition will appear probable by the two following depositions. Mrs. Mary Gardner, living in Atkinson street, declares, that on Monday evening the 5th of March current, and before the guns fired in Kingstreet, there were a number of soldiers as- sembled from Green's barracks towards the street, and opposite to her gate ; that they stood very|||| still until the guns were fired in Kingstreet, then they clapped their hands and gave a cheer, say- ing, this is all that we want. They ran to their barrack, and came out again in a few minutes, all with their arms, and ran towards Kingstreet. William Fallass declares, that (after the mur- der in Kingstreet) on the evening of the 5th instant, upon his return home, he had occasion to stop opposite to the lane leading to Green's barracks, and while he stood there, the soldiers rushed by him with their arms, towards King- street, saying, this is our time or chance : and that he never saw men or dogs so greedy for their prey as those soldiers seemed to be, and the sergeants could hardly keep them in their ranks. These circumstances with those already men- tioned, amount to a clear proof of a combination among them to commit some outrage upon the town on that evening ; and that after the enor- mous one committed in Kingstreet, they intend- ed to add to the horrors of that night by mak- ing a further slaughter. At the time Capt. Preston's party issued from the main guard, there were in Kingstreet about two hundred persons, and those were collected there by the ringing of the bell in consequence of the violences of another party, that had been there a very little while before. When Captain Preston had got to the Custom-house, so great a part of the people dispersed at sight of the sol- diers, that not more than twenty or thirty then remained in Kingstreet, as Mr. Drowne declares,* [Asterisk reference mark indicates note below.] [Asterisk reference mark]* See his Deposition.|||| and at the time of the firing not seventy, as Mr. Palmes thinks.*[Asterisk reference mark indicates note below.] But after the firing, and when the slaughter was known, which occasioned the ringing of all the bells of the town, a large body of the inha- bitants soon assembled in Kingstreet, and conti- nued there the whole time the 29th regiment was there under arms, and would not retire till that regiment and all the soldiers that appeared, were ordered, and actually went, to their bar- racks: after which, having been assured by the Lieutenant Governor, and a number of the civil magistrates present, that every legal step should be taken to bring the criminals to justice, they gradually dispersed. For some time the appear- ance of things was dismal. The soldiers out- rageous on the one hand, and the inhabitants justly incensed against them on the other : both parties seemed disposed to come to action. In this case the consequences would have been ter- rible. But by the interposition of his Honor, some of his Majesty's council, a number of civil magistrates, and other gentlemen of weight and influence, who all endeavored to calm and pa- cify the people, and by the two principal officers interposing their authority with regard to the soldiers, there was happily no further bloodshed ensued ; and by two o'clock the town was re- stored to a tolerable state of quiet. About that time, Capt. Preston, and a few hours after, the party that had fired, were committed to safe custody. [Asterisk reference mark]* See his Deposition.|||| One happy effect has arisen from this melan- choly affair, and it is the general voice of the town and province it may be a lasting one -- All the troops are removed from the town. -- They are quartered for the present in the barracks at Castle-Island ; from whence it is hoped they will have a speedy order to remove intirely [entirely] out of the province, together with those persons who were the occasion of their coming hither. In what manner this was effected, it is not fo- reign from the subject of this narrative to relate. The morning after the massacre, a town-meet- ing was held ; at which attended a very great number of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town. They were deeply impressed and affected by the tragedy of the preceding night, and were unanimously of opinion, it was incom- patible with their safety that the troops should remain any longer in the town. In consequence thereof they chose a committee of fifteen gentle- men to wait upon his Honor the Lieutenant- Governor in Council, to request of him to issue his orders for the immediate removal of the troops. The message was in these words : That it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that the inhabitants and soldiery can no longer live together in safety ; that nothing can ratio- nally be expected to restore the peace of the town and prevent further blood and carnage, but the immediate removal of the troops ; and that we therefore most fervently pray his Honor, that his power and influence may be exerted for their in- stant removal.|||| " His Honor's reply, which was laid before the town then adjourned to the old south meeting- house, was as follows: Gentlemen, I am extremely sorry for the unhappy differences between the inhabitants and troops, and especially for the action of the last evening, and I have ex- erted myself upon that occasion, that a due enquiry may be made, and that the law may have its course. I have in council consulted with the commanding officers of the two regiments who are in the town. They have their orders from the General at New York. It is not in my power to countermand those orders. The Council have desired that the two regiments may be removed to the Castle. From the particular concern which the 29th regiment has had in your differences, Col. Dalrymple, who is the commanding officer of the troops, has signi- fied that that regiment shall without delay be placed in the barracks at the castle, until he can send to the General and receive his further orders concerning both the regiments, and that the main- guard shall be removed, and the 14th regiment so disposed, and laid under such restraint, that all oc- casion of future disturbances may be prevented. The foregoing reply having been read and fully considered -- the question was put, Whether the report be satisfactory? Passed in the Negative (only one dissentient) out of upwards of 4000 voters.|||| A respectable committee was then appointed to wait on his Honor the Lieutenant Governor, and inform him, that it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting, that the reply made to a vote of the inhabitants presented his Honor in the morning, is by no means satisfactory ; and that nothing less will satisfy, than a total and immediate removal of all the troops. The committee having waited upon the Lieut. Governor, agreeable to the foregoing vote, laid before the inhabitants the following vote of Council received from his Honor. His Honor the Lieutenant Governor laid be- fore the Board a vote of the town of Boston, passed this afternoon, and then addressed the Board as follows : Gentlemen of the Council, " I lay before you a vote of the town of Boston, which I have just now received from them, and I now ask your advice what you judge necessary to be done upon it." The Council thereupon expressed themselves to be unanimously of opinion, " that it was absolutely necessary for his Majesty's service, the good order of the town, and the peace of the province, that the troops should be immediately removed out of the town of Boston, and thereupon advised his Honor to communicate this advice of the Council|||| to Col. Dalrymple, and to pray that he would order the troops down to Castle William." The committee also informed the town, that Col. Dal- rymple, after having seen the vote of Council, said to the committee, " That he now gave his word of honor that he would begin his preparations in the morning, and that there should be no unnecessary delay until the whole of the two regiments were removed to the Castle." Upon the above report being read, the inha- bitants could not avoid expressing the high sa- tisfaction it afforded them. After measures were taken for the security of the town in the night by a strong military watch, the meeting was dissolved.|||| [This page is blank in the original.]|||| In the concluding Paragraph of the foregoing Nar- rative it is said, that the Town-Meeting was dis- solved after the measures were taken for the security of the Town in the night, by a strong military watch. Our implacable enemies, in pursuance of their plan of misrepresentation, have taken pains to misrepresent this most necessary measure, by declaring it to have been contrary to the mind of the Commander in Chief, and against law. This matter will be judged of, by stating the fact, and producing the Law. When the Committee, who had waited on the Lieutenant Governor, had reported to the Town, that the Troops would be removed to Castle-Island, (at which time it was near night) it was thought necessary for the safety of the Town, and for preventing a rescue of the persons committed to goal [jail] for firing upon, and killing a number of, his Majesty's subjects, that there should be a military watch : and divers [diverse] Gentlemen were desired to take the needful steps for that purpose. It being then night, it was impossible a regular no- tification should issue from the officers of the militia : a con- siderable number of respectable persons therefore offered themselves voluntiers [volunteers], and did the duty of a military watch under the direction of the Lieutenant-Colonel, who attend- ed that service with the approbation of the chief Colonel of the Boston regiment. The next day, with two of the Select- men of the Town, the chief Colonel went to the the Lieutenant- Governor, & they informed him it was apprehended absolute- ly necessary for the safety of the Town, there should be a mili- tary warch kept ; and that the Colonel then waited upon him to receive his orders. The Lieutenant Governor declined giving any orders concerning it, but said the Law was clear, that the Colonel, as chief officer of the regiment, might order a military watch ; and that he might do about it as he thought fit. In conseqience of this, and knowing the Law gave him such a power, the Colonel issued his orders for that purpose, & a regular watch was kept the following night. The|||| next day the Lieutenant Governor sent for the Colonel, and let him know, that he was in doubt about the legality of the appointment of the military watch : and recommended to the Colonel to take good advice, whether he had a right by Law to order such a watch. This being quite unexpected, occasioned the Colonel to express himself with some fervor. He also said, he had already taken advice, and had no doubt of his own power ; but had the preceding day waited upon his Honor as Commander in Chief to receive his orders : which as his Honor had declined giving, and left the matter with himself, he had appointed a military watch : and judged it a necessary measure to quiet the fears and apprehensions of the town. The interview ended with the Lieut. Governor's recommending again, that the Colonel would take care to proceed according to law ; and without his forbidding a military watch. This military watch was continued every night, till Col. Dalrymple had caused the two Regiments under his command to be removed to the barracks at Castle-Island. During the continuance of the watch, the Justices of the Peace in their turns attended every night : and the utmost order and regula- rity took place through the whole of it. This is the state of the fact, upon which every one is left to make his own observations. Now for the Law : with respect to which nothing more is necessary than just to recite it. It runs thus, " That there be military watches appointed and kept in every town, at such times, in such places, and in such numbers, and under such regulation, as the chief military officers of each town shall appoint, or as they may receive orders front the chief officer of the regiment."*[Asterisk reference mark indicates note below.] -- This needs no comment. It clearly authorizes the chief officer of the regiment to appoint military watches. The late military watch in Boston being founded on such an appointment was therefore according to Law. [Asterisk reference mark]*See a Law of the Province for regulating the Militia, made in the 5th year of William and Mary, Chap. 7. Sec. 10.|||| APPENDIX Containing the several Depositions referred to in the preceeding NARRATIVE ; and also other Depositions relative to the Subject of it. (No. 1.) I John Wilme of lawful age, testify that about ten days be- fore the late massacre, Christopher Rumbly of the 14th regiment was at my house at the north part of the town, with sundry other soldiers ; and he the said Rumbly, did talk very much against the town, and said if there should be any interruption, that the grenadiers company was to march up King-Street; and that if any of the inhabitants would join with them, the wo- men should be sent to the castle, or some other place ; and that he had been in many a battle ; and that he did not know but he might be soon in one here ; and that if he was, he would level his piece so as not to miss ; and said that the blood would soon run in the streets of Boston ; and that one Sumner of the same regiment did say that he came here to make his fortune ; and that he would as soon fight for one king as ano- ther; and that the two gaps would be stop'd, said one of the soldiers; and that they would soon sweep the streets of Boston. And further saith [sayeth], that he heard a soldier's wife, named Eleanor Park say, that if there should be any disturbance in the town of Boston, and that if any of the people were wounded, she would take a stone in her handkerchief & beat their brains out, and plunder the rebels. -- And further I say not. JOHN WILME. Suffolk, ss. Boston, March 21, 1770. John Wilme above- named, after due examination, made oath to the Truth of the aforesaid Affidavit, taken to perpetuate the remembrance of the Thing. Before, JOHN RUDDOCK, Just. Peace & of the Quorum. And, JOHN HILL, Jus. Peace.||||
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