Vernacular version

From Bpljohnadamsmss

Evidence of Commotions that Evening.

James Crawford: Went home to Bull’s Wharf at dark about 6 o’clock, met numbers of people going down toward the Town House with sticks. At Calf’s Corner, I saw about a dozen with sticks. At Calf’s Corner Saw above a dozen with sticks; in Quaker Lane and Green’s Lane, met many going towards King Street. They had very great sticks, pretty large cudgels, not common walking canes. Archibald Gould: I was going to Crawford’s at Bull’s Wharf at 8pm. At Swing Bridge, the people were walking from all quarters with sticks. I was afraid to go Home, went through Green’s 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. Was at Hancock’s 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: Six 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 7pm, went up to the South End to Mr. Silvester’s, met forty or fifty, with white sticks, in small parties of four or five in a Party. This was through the Main Street. Thomas Knight: At his own Door, eight or ten passed with sticks or clubs and one of them said, “Damn their Bloods. Let us go and attack the main guard first.” The Bell were ringing. One of them made and pause and said, “Let us go and get our guns. I’ll go and get my gun.” He 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 House toward the South End and in Quaker Lane, and Greens Lane. Archibald Wilson, Hunter, Mitchelston, Silking, Bowman, Dixon, six of them were all at one House at Mr. Hunter’s in Dock Square, and all agree in their general account, though they don’t all remember

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the same circumstances. Their general account is many People came from the North End, and assembled in Dock Square, made several attempts in small parties at Murray’s Barracks, but came running hastily back, and as if driven back by the soldiers. Many had staves though many had none. After some time there appeared among them a gentleman with a red cloak and a white wig. He made a speech to them of four or five 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 third up Silsby’s. Alley and several proposed to cry fire. Fire was cried several Times, and the Bells soon after rung. In Confirmation of the Testimonies of these six Scotch Gentlemen, we have the Testimonies of Shubert Hewes and B. Davis. Mr. Hewes says he was in Dock Square, saw by the Market, a Number coming from the N.E. A Number of Lads came along and tried to pull out, and break the legs of the stalls, six or seven of them. Can’t exactly say the Number. Mr. Davis says a number came, three or four and cried “where are any clubs, or cordwood sticks?” They cried, “Fire, Fire, Fire.” This assembly of People in Dock Square was undoubtedly a Riot in that they meant to set off for 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 were thrown, sticks struck the guns. About twelve 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. Numbers were coming down by the Towns House, called them cowardly Rascals, dared them to fire. All the Bells rung. The rattling of a Blow before the firing was very violent. J. Dodge: About fifty People being near the soldiers. Ice and snowballs were 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 club thrown into the soldiers. It hit one of the soldier’s guns. I heard it strike the person who stood at ten yards from the soldiers. The stick was thrown one or two seconds before the first gun, a white birch cordwood stick, an inch thick. B. Burdick: I had a highland broad sword in my Hand. I struck at the soldier who pushed at me, and had I struck two or three 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 two or three feett long, heard a Rattling. R. Williams: Saw the People, heard 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 and it was very prudent, to arm themselves for their defense. Baily thinks Montgomery killed Attucks. That Montgomery fired is clear from this Witness. Mr. Palms: Saw Montgomery Stand back. He did not fall. Montgomery slipped in pushing the third 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 Montgomery fire. Two Persons fell. Attucks at the left of this witness and leaning on his stick. J. Bass and Thomas Wilkinson: The people in the windows were cautioning those in the street not to go there. Soldiers were challenging the People, not apprehensive of danger, were well placed to observe. He must be believed if any witness is. At the striking of the clock, seven went off, one flashed. Saw no pressing, nothing thrown, two or three 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. Eight 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 Dock Square were afraid to go up. Twenty seconds between first and second gun. A little Boy was running and crying fire. The last gun was pointed at him and fired. Ferrister: Three attacks at the Ropewalks. Kilroy and Warren were 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 Kilroy. Marshall: The street was entirely Still. [word crossed through] Fewer People were there than usual. He had been warned not to go out that Evening. The moon was to the north. Saw a party come out of the main guard door. Damn them, we are seven! By Jesus let them come. Boisterous language. The party came from Quaker Lane, and cried fire. It was very probable that the word fire was a watch word. Anyone was out at 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’s story and the manner of his telling it must have struck deep into your Mind. When Struck by a soldier, he tenderly asked him, “Soldier spare my life.” The soldier said, “No damn you we’ll kill you all.” Brother Adams’s social Creature, Here is food enough for the social appetite. It is Immaterial who gives the mortal Blow, where there

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are a Number of Persons together. All present, aiding and 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. Josiah Quincy: Three main Divisions, under the last. There will be many subdivisions. First: whether any were killed. Second: who Killed them? Whenever there is a Doubt the bias is in favor of the Prisoner. Third: last and 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. It is 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 them 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. General opinions, almost universal through this continent, that their Rights and Liberties were invaded. It is believed that the soldiers came here to enforce these acts. Mankind acts 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 careful 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 colors of the canvas that Pictures, the Publications, everything that could possible, stimulate, and inflame. A high water mark – the Passions, so high that they can go no higher. The fact of killing has not been proved with Regard to some of them, 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, a person upon guard has a particular Habit. [Therefore] probably, C. Marshall was mistaken in that Temper of Mind, that frame of Disposition, which prevailed through the whole Continent. These Persons were upon their Duty, and their Lives were 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 two 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 fourth Man from the corner about the Middle. I saw but one thing thrown, that was a short stick, about two or three feet 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. I can’t ascertain the number of guns, believe five or six. 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 were there, some huzzaing, whistling, some leaning over their sticks. Somebody said, “Don’t 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 third 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 snowballs – no sticks. I cautioned them not

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[to] press upon the soldiers breast. They should Press the People upon the Points of the Bayonets. They were within two feet. I was not there at most a minute, saw no Blows. Bartholomew Kneeland: I lived at Mrs. Torrey’s by the Town Pump. At about a quarter after 9pm, the Bells were ringing. I went to the Door and saw a Number of soldiers. One came up to me. “Damn you. [What] do you do there?” He put his Bayonet at my breast and put it there sometime. Mr. Thayer: There was a terrible swearing. Cutlasses and clubs were going. The soldiers came from the Town House without any coats or like wild creatures. Damn them. Where are they? Cut them to Pieces. At a little after 9 – I can’t say who they were – the people below cried 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. Mr. Nathaniel Appleton: At 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, ten or twelve, short clothes on, with 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: At about 9 o’clock, I was sent of an errand, in King Street. I was going home. At Jenkins alley were about 20 soldiers. One came to me with his Cutlass. I cried, “Soldier spare my Life.” “No, damn you, we’ll kill you all,” and struck me upon the shoulder. I dodged or he would have hit me on the Head. Colonial Thomas Marshall: Nobody at Dock Square, nobody in Kings Street at 9. King Street was never clearer. I some time after heard a distant Cry of “Murder.” A party from the Main Guard came out, and “Damn them where are they? By Jesus let them 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. Josiah Crosby: Kilroy’s bayonet appeared to be covered with Blood, five or six inches, the next day. James Carter: The next morning, I observed Kilroy’s Bayonet to be bloody. I am satisfied it was bloody. I was as near to it as to Mr. Paine.

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Jonathan. Cary: Four of my sons, Maverick, and another Lad were at supper in my kitchen, when the Bells rung. And I told them there was fire, then said they’d eat a few mouthfuls 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. Two Things I must prove: the Identity, and the Fact. Goes over all the Names and 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. Austin’s Testimony. Then Eb. Bridgham’s the last Man aimed 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 sentries, told him the boys should not hurt him. Gray came up, said, “What’s here?” “I don’t know but some thing will come of it by and by.” Gray stood with his Hands folded. He was leaning on his stick. He spoke to Kilroy. “Damn you, you ain’t a going to fire. Kilroy presented at Gray, and shot 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 though upon a sudden occasion.

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Assault upon the Sentry Pages 14-21 [blank]