Verbatim version

From Bpljohnadamsmss

Evidence of Commotions that Evening.

James Crawford – went home to Bulls wharf at dark about 6 o’clock, – met numbers of People going down towards Town House with sticks. At Calf’s corner saw about a dozen with sticks, – a [sic] Calf’s corner Saw above a dozen with sticks, in Quaker Lane and Green’s Lane, met many going towards Kg. S. – very great sticks, pretty large cudgels, not common walking canes.

Archibald Gould. going to Crawfords at Bulls wharf at 8. At Swing Bridge the people were walking from all quarters with sticks. I was afraid to go Home. went through Greens Lane, and met many People the streets in such commotion, as I hardly ever saw in my Life. uncommon sticks, such as a man would pull out of a Hedge. At Hancocks wharf [when?] the bells begin to ring. – Mem. it must have been later.

[crossed through] Archibald Wilson, William Hunter, David Mitchelson, James Silking, Archibald Bowman, William Dixion, 6 of us were all at our house at Mr. Hunter’s, and all agree in their general account and with witness B. Davis. [end cross through]

John Gillispie. at 7 went up to the S. end to Mr. Silvester’s, met 40 or 50, with white sticks, in small parties of 4 or 5 in a Party. this was thro’ the Main street.

Thomas Knight. – at his own Door, – 8 or 10 passed with sticks or clubs and one of them said D–n their Bloods let us go and attack the main guard first, the Bell ringing – one of them made and pause and said, let us go and get our guns. I’ll go and get my gun, went in and told his wife he believed there would be bloodshed, this was also in the Main street.

Nat. Russell vid. Mem, if these Witnesses are believed People were in Motion both in the main street and from the Town H. toward the S. end and in Quaker Lane, and Greens Lane.

Archibald Wilson, Hunter, Mitchelston, Silking, Bowman, Dixon, 6 of them were all at one House at Mr. Hunter’s in Dock Square, and all agree in their general account, tho’ they don’t all remember

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the same circumstances. – their general account is many People came from the N. End, and assembled in D. Square, made several attempts in small parties at Murrays Barracks, but came running hastily back, and as if driven back by the soldiers. – many had staves tho’ many had none. – After some time there appeared among them a gentleman with a red cloak and a white wigg – He made a speech to them of 4 or 5 minutes, then they proposed to go to the street and attack the main guard. – and the Effect immediately followed, one Party under one Leader went round and up Cornhill, another party up by Exchange Lane, and a 3rd up Silsby’s. – alley and several proposed to cry fire. Fire was cryed several Times, and the Bells soon after rung.

In Confirmation of the Testimonies of these 6 Scotch Gentlemen, we have the Testimonies of Shubert Hewes and B. Davis.

Mr. Hewes says he was in D[ock] Square ~ saw by the Market, a N. coming from the N.E. – a N. of Lads, came along and tryed to pull out, and break the legs of the stalls, 6 or 7 of them, can’t exactly say the Number.

Mr. Davis says. – a number came, 3 or 4 and cryed where any clubs, or cordwood sticks, cryed Fire, Fire, Fire. –

This assembly of People in D. Square, was undoubtedly a Riot in that they meant to set off for K. S. [King Street] to attack the main guard this was an unlawful Design, and End. Dr. Hyrons Very particular, vid. P. 26 Captn. Goldfinch. – p. 28. Gregory Townsend, Esq., p. 37. Patrick Heeton, p. 30. James Thompson, p. 29. Wm. Davis. – p. 31. Benjamin Lee. – p. 34. John Frost p. 34. John Ruddock Esq.

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McCauley, Jona. W. Austin Hartegan J. Danbrook. J. Simpson Carroll J. Baily. Danbrook. Wemms. E. Bridgman. J. Simpson Kilroy. E.G. Langford. F. Archibald. J. Brenner, Ferrister, S. Hemenway White S. Clark. E. G. Langford. J. Baily. J. Simpson Montgomery. J. Baily. R. Palmes. J. Danbrook. J. Bass. Thos. Wilkinson. Warren. E. Bridgeman. J. Dodge. J. Simpson. Ferrister.

Attack, Assault, and Insult, Crown Witnesses

E. Bridgeman. ~ A number of Twigs, Ice or snow thrown, sticks struck the guns. – about 12 with sticks surrounded the Party and struck their guns with their sticks. several Blows. when the soldiers were loading. – the People went up quite to them within the lengths of their guns, before the firing. – N. were coming down by the Towns House. – called them cowardly Rascals. – dared them to fire. – all the Bells rung – the ratling of a Blow before the firing very violent.

J. Dodge. about fifty People being near the soldiers – Ice and snowballs thrown, sticks rattled upon their guns – the balls seemed to come from close before them. –

J. Bailey. – The boys hove Pieces of Ice at sentry as big as your fist, hard and large enough to hurt a Man. Montgomery was knocked down, and his Musket fell out of his Hand, by a club or stick of wood by one of the Inhabitants, and as soon as he got up he fired. – the Club was not thrown, but I saw him struck with it. – He fell down and the gun fell out of his Hand, the Blow was very violent.

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R. Palmes – saw a piece of Ice or snow or something white strike Montgomery’s gun – it stuck the Grenadier and made a Noise. – He fell back and fired.

J. Danbrook – saw a little stick fly over their Heads, a Piece of rattan or some such Thing.

J. Bass. Saw a stick knocked to knock up Montgomery’s gun it knocked it up five or six inches.

J. Simpson. Saw one man going to throw a club – but he did not. saw one clubb thrown into the soldiers. – it hit one of the soldiers guns. – I heard it strike. – the person who stood at 10 yards from the soldiers. – the stick was thrown 1 or 2 seconds before the 1st gun, a white birch cordwood stick, an inch thick.

B. Burdick – had an highland broad sword in my Hand. – I struck at the soldier who pushed at me, and had I struck 2 or 3 inches further I should have left a Mark that I could have sworn to. – I struck the cock of his Gun, saw a short stick thrown about 2 or 3 foot long heard a Ratling.

R. Williams. Saw the People some huzzaing, some whistling. – somebody said don’t press upon the Guard. – the People seemed to be pressing. – some saw snow Balls thrown.

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Ferrister testifies that he was at the Ropewalks and that Gray was there too, and both active in the affray there. – These Circumstances must remove all doubt of the fact and of the Genesis of Crime.

Archibald – J. Brewer. – Saw no abuse more than was common. met Dr. Young with a sword. – Dr. said every Man to his own Home – perhaps some use may be made of this circumstance. There was a general alarm – every Body had a Right & it was very prudent, to arm themselves for their defense.

Baily. – thinks Mont. killed Attucks. – that Montgomery fired is clear from this Wit.

Mr. Palms. Saw Montgomery. – Stand back, he did not fall. – Montgomery slipped in pushing the 3rd time at him and fell. – in probability he killed Attucks, and continued the same mischievous spirit in pushing.

Danbrook. – Saw a Piece of Rattan. – saw M. fire. – two Persons fell. – Attucks at the left of this witness and leaning on his stick.

J. Bass. – Thos. Wilkinson. – the people in the windows cautioning those in the street not to go there. ~ Soldiers challenging the People. – not apprehensive of danger, well placed to observe. – He must be believed if any witness is – striking of the clock, 7 went off, one flashed. – saw no pressing, nothing thrown, 2 or 3 cheers before noon after the party came down.

J. Simpson. Curious handle case, support the arms. there is something like these in the words of command behind the soldiers. 8 guns.

N. Frosdick. – Pushing behind him with bayonets in his back – thrust, and pushes in the breast and arm.~

S. Hemenway ~ Kilroy not in anger or in Liquor –

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Hilyer. People in D. S. afraid to go up. – 20 seconds between 1. and 2.d gun. a little Boy running & crying fire, the last gun was pointed at him and fired.~

Ferrister. – 3 attacks at the Ropewalks. – Kilroy and Warren in the last battle at the Ropewalks –

B. Burdick – spoke to the bald Man, he thinks Yes by the God intention to fire. Mem vid test.

Williams. The guns followed the people as they ran.

Quincy. no doubt with me, they did it sedato animo, the person he killed was in Peace, no Insult offered to K.

Marshall. – The street entirely Still. – [word crossed through] fewer People there than usual. – He had been warned not to go out that Evening. Moon to the north. – Saw a party come out of the main guard door. d–m em we are 7! by Jesus let em come. – boisterous language. – the party came from Quaker Lane, & cried fire. – very probable that the word fire was a watch word anyone was out? the Meeting House, steps in, at a cry of fire. And set the bell a ringing. –

Mr. Thayer heard a cry of fire and supposed it a watch word.

Bart Kneeland. – one pointed his Bayonet at his Breast. Mr. Appleton. and little Master. his story and the manner of his telling it. must have struck deep into your Mind. Struck by a soldier – tenderly asked him “Soldier spare my life.” no damn you we’ll kill you all. – Brother Adams’s social Creature. – Here is food enough for the social appetite~ Immaterial who gives the mortal Blow, where there

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are a N. of Persons together. all present, aiding, abetting, are guilty. no Man shall be an avenger of his own Cause unless from absolute Necessity.

J. Trowbridge. you ought to produce all your Evidence now.

Josa Quincy. 3 main Divisions, under the last, there will be many sub divisions – 1st whether any killed, 2. who Killed em? whenever a Doubt the bias is in favor of the Prisoner. – 3d. last & main Division, is what are the facts to allege to justify, excuse, or alleviate. – under this are many minute divisions. – I need not remind you of the importance to the Prisoners. – nor to the Community. important that the Dignity of Justice and to the country, that the same rules should prevail. a prejudice prevails that the life of a soldier is less valuable than that of a subject. – the Criminal Law extends itself to every Individual of the community. – it views man possessed of appetite and Passions. –The Law attends to mankind as we find em surrounded with all their infirmities and all their Passions. – whatever will justify an inhabitant in firing upon an Inhabitant, will justify a soldier. – and a soldier, need not have a civil magistrate any more than an inhabitant. – a general opinions, almost universal thro this continent, that their Rights and Liberties were invaded – believed that the soldiers came here to enforce these acts. Mankind act from Feelings more than from reasoning.~ The object of Resentment was out of Reach, and it fell upon the Instrument. – The People thought the soldiers the Instruments for fastening the Shackles that had been forged. – The soldier felt himself touched in the Point of Honor, and in the Pride of Virtue, when he saw and felt these Marks of Disrespect.

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[You] are not sitting here as Statesmen or Politicians. you have nothing to do with the injuries your Country has just received. – The town is not concerned. This cause has attracted the attentions of this whole continent if not all Europe. – you ought to be carefull to give a Verdict which will bear Examination of Time, when the Pulse which now beats shall beat no more. – do nothing which shall hereafter bite like a serpent and sting like and adder. all the colours of the canvass that Pictures, the Publications. everything that could possible, stimulate, and inflame. – An high water mark, – the Passions, so high that the[y] can go no higher.

The fact of killing has not been proved with Regard to some of em~ and others are left in the doubt.~ A Person producing a Witness is never to discredit him. – A Person swearing a Positive is to be believed, cæteris paribus rather than one swearing a negative, person upon guard have a particular Habit. [therefore] probably, C. Marshall was mistaken. in that Temper of Mind, that frame of Disposition, which prevailed thro the whole Continent. – These Persons were upon their Duty, and their Lives in Danger if they moved from their Stations.~

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[Fragment, likely part of the testimony of B. Burdick.]

…who pushed at me and had I struck 2 or three Inches further. I should have left a Mark that I [could] have sworn to – this was before the firing. I struck the Cock of the Gun. – the Man I struck was the 4th Man from the corner abt the Middle. – I saw but one thing thrown, that was a short stick, abt 2 or 3 foot long. I heard a rattling. – I took it up knocked their guns together they were continually Pushing at people, and it was pretty slippery. – I went afterwards to take up the dead – and they began to present and cock their guns – The officer came before and knocked up their guns – and said don’t fire any more. Cant ascertain the number of guns. – believe 5 or 6. I saw no Blows struck by others, for I had not time, to see before, I drew my own sword.

Robert Williams. – in Dock Square it was said there: had been an affray – Some went to the north, some one way, some another – I went to the street. People there some huzzaing, whistling, some leaning over their sticks, somebody said dont press upon the Guard, I repeated the words The people seemed to be pressing as I was to get among the thickest of them – I heard a flash of a Gun. It made a Noise like a Pistol, a small Report. another gun went off, at the right, a man fell. – the 3rd gun was fired, I saw the flash, and heard the Report on my knees. The people were running away – and the guns seemed to move after the people. – I saw People jumping upon the Backs of others, trying to get in as I had been. Saw several snow Balls – no sticks – I cautioned them not

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[to] press upon the soldiers brest they shod. Press the People upon the Points of the Bayonetts – they were within two foot – I was not there at most a minute, saw no Blows.

Bartholomew Kneeland. – I lived at Mrs. Torrey’s by the Town Pump. – about ¼ after 9. The Bells ringing I went to the Door and saw a Number of soldiers. – one came up to me, d—n you [what] do you do there – He put his Bayonet at my breast and put it there sometime.

Mr. Thayer – a terrible swearing – cutlasses & clubs were going, The soldiers came from the Town House without any coats or like wild creatures – damn them. where are they cutt them to Pieces. a little after 9. – I can’t say who they were. – the people below cryed fire. – Soon before – I took it for a signal for the soldiers to come help the others. The cry of fire was by Justice Quincy’s –

Mr. Nathaniel Appleton. – a little after 9. – it was said at my door the soldiers and inhabitants were fighting. a Party of soldiers came down from the southward, 10 or 12, short clothes on ~ white arms – I stood – I saw the course of the soldiers began to bend towards us, – and when they got about half a rod off, they lifted up their weapons and retreated – They rushed on with uplifted weapons, and I though myself in danger if I did not retreat.

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John Appleton. – abt 9 o’clock I was sent of an errand, in K. street. I was going home. – at Jenkins alley about 20 soldiers, one came to me with his Cutlass. I cried soldier spare my Life, no d—m you – we’ll kill you all – and struck me upon the shoulder, I dodged or he would have hit me on the Head.

Coll Thomas Marshall. No Body at Dock Square, no Body in Kings Street at 9. – K. Street never clearer. I some time after heard a distant Cry of Murder. a party from the Main Guard came out, & damn em where are they? by Jesus let em come: I went in and came out again, and another party came out of Quaker Lane – I saw their arms glitter and heard much such expressions as before.

Jos. Crosby. Kilroys bayonett appeared to be covered with Blood, 5 or 6 inches, next day.

James Carter. The next morning I observed Kilroy’s Bayonett to be bloody. I am satisfied it was bloody, I was near to it as to Mr. Paine.

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Jona. Cary. – 4 of my sons, Maverick & another Lad were at supper in my kitchen, when the Bells rung. & I told them there was fire, then said they’d eat a few mouthfulls more and go.~ John Hill Esq. was struck at the Ropewalks.

Mrs. Gardiner.

Mr. S. Quincy. – It is my Province to apply the Evidence. – It is complex and in some places perhaps difficult. – 2 Things I must prove – the Identity, and the Fact – goes over all the Names & mentions the Witnesses who swore to each of them.– could wish that the fatigues of yesterday and the Circumstances of my family would have allowed me to have arranged the evidence more particular, to have extracted the most material Parts of it.– considers J.W. Austins Testimony. – then Eb. Bridgham’s the last Man aim’d at a running Lad. – did not apprehend any Danger.

Dodge. – Clark. – Langford. – as particular as any witnesses on the part of the Crown. – Boys were damning the sentrys, told him the boys should not hurt him. Gray came up, what’s here? I dont know but some thing will come of it by & by – Gray with his Hands folded. – He leaning on his stick. He spoke to Kilroy. d—m you, you ain’t a going to fire. – K. presented at Gray, & shoot him dead upon the spot – and then pushed at Langford with his Bayonet. – Here is Evidence of a Heart desperately wicked – bent, deliberately bent on mischief – compared with the testimony of Hemenway, – This is Malice, a distinction bet. malice and hatred. Keyling 126, Elmer 62, Mawgrigges case. Envy, Hatred and Malice he that doeth a cruel Act voluntarily doth it of malice prepensed tho’ upon a sudden occasion.

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Assault upon the Sentry Pages 14-21 [blank]