Chapter 21

Biographical Sketches; Ancrum, Wm. 208 Appleton, Nathaniel 30 Blowers, S.S. 352 Brattle, Wm. 311 Bruce, Capt. 356 Bull, Wm. 339 Cheever, Ezekiel 46 Church, Dr. Benjamin 26 Clarke, R. 210 Coffin, Capt. 358 Cooper, Sir Grey 212 Cooper, William 43 Copley, John S. 329 Crafts, Thomas 25 Curtis, Obadiah 49 Danforth, Samuel 315 Edes, Benjamin 25 Erving, John 226 Faneuil, Benj. 294 Hall, Capt. James 245 Hatch, Nathaniel 285 Hewes, Daniel 49 Hodgdon, Alex. 79 Hutchinson, Thos. & Elisha 324 Johonnot, Gabriel 27 Kelly, Wm. 269 Knox, Thomas, Jr., 49 Lloyd, Henry 227 Lott, Abraham 226 Lovering, Joseph 49 Morris, John 342 Pownall, John 339 Quincy, Josiah 61 Rotch, Francis 41 Rowe, John 63 Royal, Isaac 311 Savage, Samuel Phillips 57 Scollay, John 37 Tileston, Thomas 50 Wallace, Hugh and Alex 233 Walpole, Thomas 204 Watson, Brook 203 Wendell, Oliver 43 Wharton, Thomas 273 White, Henry 306 Williams, Jonathan 43 Williams, Thomas 230 Winslow, Joshua 223

Ballads of the Tea Party, 172-176

Boston, Opposition to the Tea Act, 19-23, 260-66, 278, 303 Tea-Party, 64-82, 89-94, 95-171 Destruction of the Tea, 58-94, 336-357 Proceedings of the Town, 279-303, 320-36 Proceedings of the Council, 309-20

Clarke R. & Sons, Attack on Warehouse of 28, 266, 284 Residence mobbed, 34 Letter to chairman East India Company, 279-91

East India Company, 11, 189

Franklin, Benjamin 185

Green Dragon Tavern, 66

Hutchinson, Thomas 20

Lamb, John 19

Letters and Documents, 189, 370

Letter from Mr. Wm. Palmer, enclosing Extracts of several Letters from Boston, &c., to show the state of the Tea Trade in America, and estimates of the advantages that will attend the Company's carrying on that trade to that place, 189

Memorial of Mr. Gilbert Barkley, recommending a Plan for carrying on the Tea Trade to America, and offering himself, and Mr. John Inglis, Merchant, of Philadelphia, as agents, 199

Letter from Mr. Brook Watson, to Daniel Wier, Esq., recommending Mr. John Butler, of Nova Scotia, and Messrs. Faneuil and Winslow, of Boston, as agents, 202

A Proposal of the Hon. Mr. Walpole's, for sending Tea to Philadelphia, 203

Plan of Mr. Palmer, for Exportation of Tea to America, 205

Letter from Messrs. Greenwood & Higginson, recommending Messrs. Andrew Lord, and William and George Ancrum, of South Carolina, as Agents, and offering their ship, the "London," Capt. Curling, to carry Tea to that place, 208

Letter from Mr. Fred'k Pigou, Jun., Esq., recommending Pigou & Booth, of New York, and James & Drinker, of Philadelphia, as Agents, and offering vessels for those places, 208

Letter from Mr. Jonathan Clarke, offering Richard Clarke & Sons, of Boston, as Agents, 209

Letter from Grey Cooper, Esq., recommending Mr. Barkley as an Agent, 211

Letter from Messrs. Roberts & Co., recommending Messrs. Willing, Morris & Co., of Philadelphia, as Agents, 212

Letter from Mr. Benjamin Harrison, offering himself as an Agent for Virginia, 213

Letter from Mr. George Browne, recommending Mr. Jonathan Brown, of Philadelphia, as an Agent, 214

Letter from Mr. Wm. Palmer, offering to advance the amount of 200 chests of Tea, on terms therein mentioned, 215

Letter to several American Merchants to meet the Committee, 215

Letter from Mr. Gilbert Barkley, offering some further thoughts upon the Exportation, 216

Letter from Samuel Wharton, Esq., offering an Apology for not attending the Committee, 217

Some Thoughts upon the Company's sending out Teas to America, 218

Letter from Messrs. Watson & Rashleigh, reciting terms on which the Tea Agency may be conducted, and offering Security for their recommendation, 222

Letter from Mr. Jonathan Clarke, on the same, 224

Letter from Mr. Kelly, on the same, and recommending several persons of the different Colonies, as Agents, 225

Letter from Mr. Harrison, that Mr. Kelly will give his Proposals, 227

Letter from Mr. John Blackburn, with an offer of Terms, 228

Letter to Samuel Wharton, Esq., to meet the Committee, 229

Request of Mr. Walter Mansell, for the Agency to South Carolina, 229

Letter from Messrs. Roberts & Co., offering Terms and Security for Willing, Morris & Co., 231

Letter from Messrs. Pigou & Booth, offering Terms and Security for Messrs. James & Drinker, 231

Letter from Mr. John Nutt, recommending Mr. Roger Smith, of South Carolina, as an Agent, 233

Letter from Messrs. Bourdieu & Chollet, recommending several persons as Agents, 233

Letter from Messrs. Gale, Fearon & Co., recommending Mr. Daniel Stephenson, of Maryland, as an Agent, 234

Letter from Messrs. Davidson & Newman, declining any propositions on the present state of the Tea affair, 235

Letter to several American Merchants to meet the Committee, 235

Letter from Mr. Palmer, upon the Rate of Exchange from Boston, 236

Letter from Messrs. Bourdieu & Chollet, declining to offer any further proposals, 236

Letter to sundry American Merchants to meet the Committee, 237

Letter to sundry American Merchants, advising the quantities of Tea ordered to be shipped for the several Colonies, and requesting the firm of the houses they have recommended, 238

Letter from Messrs. Watson & Rashleigh, advising the firm of their recommendation, 238

Securities offered for Mr. Barkley and Mr. Mansell, 239

Letter from Mr. Pigou, with the firm of his recommendation, 239

Letters from Mr. Wharton, Mr. Browne, and Mr. Kelly, 240

Mr. Palmer's Opinion in what mode to ship Tea to America, 241

Letter from Mr. Clarke, with the firm of his house, and offering the "William" for freight, 243

Letters to Geo. Hayley, Esq., Thos. Lane, Esq., and Alexander Champion, Esq., to know if they have any constant traders to Boston or South Carolina, ready to sail, 244

Letter to Mr. Palmer, to point out what sorts of Tea are proper to be sent to Boston and South Carolina, 244

Mr. Palmer's Assortment of Teas for America, 245

Weight of Tea Exported to America, 245

Letters from several Persons concerning Vessels for Carrying the Tea to America, 245

Petition to the Lords of the Treasury, for Licence to Export Teas to America, 246

Licence from the Lords of the Treasury to Export Teas to America, 247

Letters from Sundry Gentlemen relating to Vessels to carry Tea to America, 251

Letter from Mr. Settle to Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Kelly, to come and Execute the Bond, 255

Letters from Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Kelly, in reply, 255

Sundry Freight Bills, for Tea Shipped, 256

_So far concerns the outset of the Tea._

Note from Lord Dartmouth to the Chairman, to attend at Whitehall, on the subject of some Advices from America, respecting the Teas, 258

Letters to American Merchants to communicate what Advices they may have received, 258

Letters from American Merchants, in reply, 259

Letter from Mr. Jonathan Clarke to Mr. Wheler, advising his arrival at Boston, 260

Letter to Abram Dupuis, to communicate advice, referred in Mr. Clarke's Letter, 279

Messrs. Clarke & Son's Letter to Mr. Dupuis, 279

Mr. Faneuil's Letter to Mr. Watson, mentioned in Messrs. Clarke's, 292

Proceedings of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, on the 5th and 6th November, referred to in Messrs. Clarke's and Faneuil's Letters, 295

Note from the Secretary to Mr. Brook Watson, advising the Tea is ordered to Halifax, and desiring the names of the Consignees, 304

Security offered for Messrs. Butler & Cochran, consignees at Halifax, 305

The Agents at New York's Petition to the Governor, referred to in their letter 1st December, 305

Petition of the Agents at Boston, and the Proceedings of the Governor and Council thereon, 309

Proceedings of the Town of Boston on the 29th and 30th November, 320

Letter signed "Anglo Americanus," addressed to Geo. Dudley, Esq., enclosing newspapers, 331

Letter signed "Anglo Americanus," addressed to Geo. Dudley, Esq., advising the Tea's being destroyed, 332

Note from Mr. Pownall, to communicate Advices, and enclosing Letter from Lieut.-Gov. Bull, of Charles Town; also, Lieut.-Gov. Bull's Letter, 339

Letter from Mr. Jo. Morris, to Corbyn Morris, Esq., advising of the Tea's being seized at South Carolina, 342

Letter from Capt. Ellis, advising of the Tea's being seized at South Carolina, 343

Questions proposed to the Boston Consignees, respecting landing the Teas, 344

Protest of Capt. Bruce against said Consignees, for refusing to receive the Teas, 346

Letter from Mr. Rotch, to said Consignees, with an account of Charges and a Protest, 350

Protests of the several Captains against the Destroyers of the Tea, 353

Letters from the Agents at New York, &c., to Capt. Lockyer, and one from him to them, 359

Proceedings of the Inhabitants of Philadelphia, on the measure of Exporting Tea to that place, 361

Liberty Tree, 24

Long Room (Whig) Club, 66

New York. Opposition to the Tea Act, 16-19, 269-271 Arrival of Tea, 84-5 Petition of the Consignees to the Governor, 305 Letter from the Agents to Capt. Lockyer, 358-60

North-End Caucus, 23, 67

Philadelphia lends Opposition to Tea Act, 17 Tea sent back, 84 Proposed Tea Depot in America, 203 Opposition to the Tea Act, 272-277 Resolves and Proceedings of October 18, 361-65

St. Andrew's Masonic Lodge of Boston, 66

Sons of Liberty, 18, 24, 26

South Carolina, Proceedings at 84-65, 339-43

Spurr, John, 164

Tea Act, 12 Introduced into New England, 14 Consignees, 23, 36, 51-53 Guard on Boston tea-ship, 45-50 State of Tea Trade in America, 191-98 Shipments to America, 256-7

Warren, Gen. Joseph, 178

Additions, 367

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Tea Leaves, on cover,

Destruction of the Tea in Boston Harbor, Frontispiece.

Diagram Showing the Route from the Old South Church to Griffin's Wharf, 75

Melvill's Tea Relic, 131

Edward Proctor's Proclamation, 148

Lord North Forcing the Tea down the Throat of America, 155

Location of Tea Wharf, 173

Plan of Boston, 1775, and the Burning of Charlestown, 264

PORTRAITS.

Adams, Samuel 299

Bradlee, Nathaniel 97

Franklin, Benjamin 185

Gage, Gov. Thomas 313

Hancock, John 288

Hutchinson, Gov. Thomas 308

Hewes, George Robert Twelves 117

Kennison, David 122

Lovering, Thomas 182

Melvill, Thomas 133

Melvill, Thomas, Hat on 180

North, Lord 249

Pitts, Lendall 142

Purkitt, Henry 151

Revere, Paul 157

Rotch, Francis 40

Rowe, John 62

Savage, Samuel Phillips 338

Sprague, Samuel 164

Warren, Joseph 48

AUTOGRAPHS.

Adams, Samuel 299

Bradlee, Nathaniel 97

Bradlee, David 97

Bass, Henry 96

Church, Benjamin 26

Cheever, Ezekiel 46

Chase, Thomas 102

Clarke, Benjamin 103

Crane, John 108

Franklin, Benjamin 185

Faneuil, Benjamin, Jr., 294

Frothingham, Nathaniel 111

Green, Nathaniel 114

Grant, Moses 113

Gore, Samuel 113

Hodgdon, Alexander 79

Hancock, John 288

Hutchinson, Thomas 308

Inches, Henderson 27

Kennison, David 122

Lovering, Joseph 182

Lincoln, Amos 125

Lee, Joseph 124

Molineux, William 137

Melvill, Thomas 135

Newell, Eliphelet 138

Purkitt, Henry 150

Prentice, Henry 146

Pitts, Lendall 145

Peck, Samuel 140

Palmer, Joseph P. 139

Proctor, Edward 149

Russell, John 159

Revere, Paul 154

Rowe, John 63

Rotch, Francis 41

Swan, James 168

Sprague, Samuel 164

Sloper, Samuel 162

Shed, Joseph 161

Sessions, Robert 160

Savage, Samuel Phillips 57

Urann, Thomas 169

Winslow, Joshua 223

Williams, Jonathan 43

Warren, Joseph 30

Wyeth, Joseph 171

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Dr. Holmes, the annalist, says, that tea began to be used in New England in 1720. Small quantities, must, however, have been made many years before, as small copper tea-kettles were in use in Plymouth, in 1702. The first cast-iron tea-kettles were made in Plympton, (now Carver,) Mass., between 1760 and 1765. When ladies went to visiting parties, each one carried her tea-cup, saucer, and spoon. The cups were of the best china, very small, containing about as much as a common wine-glass.

[2] Hist. of Mass., iii. 422.

[3] This body, which originally consisted of sixty-one members, with Dr. Thomas Young for its president, was organized by Dr. Joseph Warren, who, with one other person, drew up its regulations. Its usual place of meeting was at William Campbell's house, near the North Battery, though its sessions were sometimes held at the Green Dragon tavern. Here the committees of public service were formed, and measures of defence, and resolves for the destruction of the tea, discussed. It was here, when the best mode of expelling the regulars from Boston was under consideration, that John Hancock exclaimed, "Burn Boston, and make John Hancock a beggar, if the public good requires it."

[4] Thomas Crafts was, in 1789, a painter and japanner, opposite the site of the great tree (corner of Boylston and Washington Streets). He became a member of the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew in 1762.

[5] Benjamin Edes, journalist, born in Charlestown, Mass., Oct. 14, 1732; died in Boston, December 11, 1803. In 1755, he began, with John Gill, the publication of the "Boston Gazette and Country Journal," a newspaper of deserved popularity, unsurpassed in its patriotic zeal for liberty,--the chosen mouth-piece of the Whigs. To its columns, Otis, the Adamses, Quincy and Warren, were constant contributors. Their printing-office, on the corner of Queen (now Court) Street and Dassett's Alley (now Franklin Avenue), was the place of meeting of a party of the "Mohawks," on the afternoon of December 16, 1773. During the siege of Boston, the "Gazette" was issued at Watertown. It was discontinued September 17, 1798. At the opening of the war, Mr. Edes possessed a handsome property, which was wholly lost by the depreciation of the currency. Edes was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1760, and a prominent "Son of Liberty."

[6] Dr. Benjamin Church, physician, orator and poet, grandson of the famous Indian fighter of the name; born in Newport, R.I., August 24, 1734; was lost at sea in May, 1776. He graduated at Harvard College in 1754; studied medicine in London, and after his return to Boston, became eminent as a surgeon. For several years previous to the Revolution, he was a conspicuous and leading Whig. He was a representative, a member of the Provincial Congress of 1774, and physician-general to the patriot army. Pecuniary embarrassment is supposed to have led to his defection from the cause of his country. In September, 1775, an intercepted letter of his, in characters, to Major Cain, in Boston, was deciphered; and October 3, 1775, he was convicted by a court martial, of which Washington was president, of "holding a criminal correspondence with the enemy." Confined in jail at Norwich, Conn., he was released in May, 1776, on account of failing health; sailed for the West Indies, and was never afterwards heard from.

[7] Gabriel Johonnot, born in Boston, 1748; died in Hamden, Me., October 9, 1820. Zacharie, his father, a Huguenot, was a distiller and merchant. His dwelling-house and store was on Orange Street, and his distillery on Harvard Street, directly opposite. At the bottom of the street was his wharf, wooden distillery, storehouses, etc. The mansion house and store were burned in the great fire, 20th April, 1787. Gabriel was a member of St. John's Lodge, Boston, 1780, and a charter member of Hancock Lodge, Castine, Me., 1794. He was chairman of a committee appointed by the company of Cadets, of Boston, August 15, 1774, to proceed to Salem, and return to Governor Gage, the standard presented to them; and was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 14th Regiment of the Massachusetts line, known as the Marblehead regiment, commanded by Colonel Glover. He removed to Castine, Me., soon after the Revolutionary war; took a prominent part in town affairs, and at one time represented the town of Penobscot in the Massachusetts Legislature.

[8] Nathaniel Appleton, Commissioner of Loans for the State of Massachusetts, a resident of Atkinson (now Congress) Street, son of Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Appleton, of Cambridge; died in June, 1789, aged 66.

[9] The Scollays were an old Scotch family. A John Scollay, the first mention of whom is found here, in 1692 leased the Winnisimmet ferry for one year. John, whose name is conspicuous in the early Revolutionary records of Boston, was a merchant, and was chairman of the Board of Selectmen, from 1774 to 1790. His portrait, by Copley, represents a portly, florid man, with a powdered wig, seated, his hand resting on a ledger. Thomas Melvill married one of Scollay's daughters. Col. William Scollay, apothecary and druggist, son of John, resided at first on or near the spot where the Museum stands, and his garden extended back to Court Square. He was associated with Charles Bulfinch and others, in the improvement of Franklin Place, now Franklin Street, where they erected the first block of buildings in Boston. Col. William was commander of the Independent Company of Cadets.

[10] Francis Rotch, a Quaker merchant, part owner of the "Dartmouth" and the "Beaver," was born in Nantucket, Mass., 30th September, 1750, and died in New Bedford, in May, 1822. Joseph, his father, the founder of a family of eminent merchants, was born in Salisbury, England, in 1704, and died in New Bedford, 24th November, 1784. In early life he settled in Nantucket, and rose from poverty to affluence by his industry, energy and enterprise, gaining, at the same time, universal esteem for his integrity. These characteristics he transmitted to his sons, William, Joseph and Francis,--especially to William, whose commercial transactions were of the most extensive character. All were largely concerned in the whale fisheries of Nantucket, of which they may almost be said to have been the founders. Francis was in England for a short time in 1773, but had returned home before his tea ships arrived. This affair was a very troublesome one for a young man of twenty-three to manage, as there was a tremendous pressure brought to bear upon him by Samuel Adams, and other influential patriots, to return the teas to England. He yielded temporarily to this pressure, promising the meeting of November 30th, that the tea should go back; but, probably after consultation with his counsel, Sampson Salter Blowers and John Adams, decided to withdraw his promise. Rotch pleaded that a compliance would ruin him, and as he could not obtain a pass for his ships, they would either have been sunk by the British batteries, or captured and confiscated under the revenue laws. He succeeded eventually in escaping loss in the affair, as the East India Company paid him the freight due on the cargoes of teas. His ship, the "Bedford," is said to have been the first to display the American flag on the Thames, after the war. The family settled in New Bedford, in 1768. He married his cousin, Nancy Rotch, who, at the time of her death, 24th April, 1867, was nine-two years of age. The accompanying portrait is copied from a silhouette, by Miers, profile painter, 111 Strand, London, apparently about 1795. It is very delicately painted, on a hard plaster surface. The features are well marked, and the lace ruffle at the bosom, and the queue, are exceedingly well done. It is now in the possession of Mr. George H. Allan, who received it from his uncle, A.A. Rotch.

[11] Jonathan Williams, a distinguished merchant and patriot, captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, in 1751; died March 27, 1788. Jonathan, his father, was a member of the Artillery Company in 1711.

[12] Judge Oliver Wendell, son of Hon. Jacob Wendell, was born in Boston 5th March, 1733; died, 15th January, 1818. Harvard College, 1753. His daughter, Sarah, married Rev. Abiel Holmes, the father of the poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes.

[13] William Cooper, son of Rev. William, and brother of Rev. Samuel, of the Brattle Street Church, and forty-nine years town clerk of Boston; died November 28, 1809; aged 89. The brothers were both active patriots of the Revolution.

[14] Ezekiel Cheever, the great grandson of the famous schoolmaster of that name, in the early days of New England, was born in Charlestown, Mass., in May, 1720. He was by trade a sugar-baker (confectioner), and from 1752 to 1755 was a selectman of Charlestown. Removing to Boston he joined the Sons of Liberty, and was active in the ante-revolutionary movements of the town, and prominent in its public meetings. He was appointed commissary of artillery in the army before Boston, May 17, 1775. He died a few years after the conclusion of the war. His brother, David, also a prominent Son of Liberty, was appointed moderator of the Old South meeting of December 14, but declined. Ezekiel was a member of the Committee that waited on the consignees and requested their resignation.

[15] Probably the following handbill is referred to:

"Brethren and Fellow Citizens!

You may depend that those odious miscreants and detestable tools to ministry and government, the TEA CONSIGNEES, (those traitors to their country--butchers--who have done and are doing everything to murder and destroy all that shall stand in the way of their private interest,) are determined to come (from the castle) and reside again in the town of Boston! I therefore give you this early notice that you may hold yourselves in readiness on the shortest warning, to give them such a reception as such vile ingrates deserve.

(Signed), JOYCE, Junior,

_Chairman of the Committee for Tarring and Feathering._

--> If any person shall be so hardy as to tear this down, he may expect my severest resentment.

J., Jun."

[16] A merchant and a former selectman of Boston, member of the Provincial Congress, President of the Massachusetts Board of War during the Revolution, and from Nov. 2, 1775, till his death, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Middlesex County. He died at Weston in December, 1797; aged 79.

[17] Quincy visited England in 1774, and died on the passage home, in sight of his native land, April 26, 1775. He was a lawyer, and in conjunction with John Adams, defended the perpetrators of the "Boston Massacre."

[18] Lord Mahon, a candid British historian, thinks this concession unwisely denied.

[19] John Rowe, a prominent merchant and patriotic citizen of Boston, died February 17, 1787; aged 72 years. He was many years a Selectman, Overseer of the Poor, and representative to the General Court, and was chairman of the committee chosen June 16, 1779, to fix the prices of merchandise, and to bring to punishment all offenders against the act against monopoly and forestalling. He was a member of the First Lodge of Freemasons, Boston, in 1740; master of the same Lodge in 1749, and fifth Provincial Grand Master in 1768. When, in 1766, Rowe was proposed for representative, Samuel Adams artfully suggested another, by asking--with his eyes on Mr. Hancock's house--"Is there not another John that may do better?" The hint took, and the wealth and influence of Hancock were secured on the side of liberty. Rowe's mansion,--subsequently that of Judge Prescott, father of the historian,--stood on the spot lately occupied by Dr. Robbins' church, in Bedford Street. A wharf and street once bore the name of this true friend of his country, but the wharf alone retains the title. Since 1856, Rowe Street has been absorbed in Chauncy Street.

[20] This punch bowl is now in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society.