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| Letters of a Blacksmith Found:
Murder Revealed by Abdelghani |
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Oct. 5, 1770
Boston, MA
My Dearest Brother Franklin,
How are you doing in London? How are your children doing and how is
your wife doing? I am doing fine. I got married two years ago. Now I
have two children, one boy and one girl. The girl’s name is Abigail and
the boy’s name is Jonathan. My wife’s name is Jana. Her family
owns a blacksmith shop. Her dad taught me how to be a blacksmith. But I
am still learning from him. lately my father-in-law has been teaching
me about the tools that we use.
The tools that we use in the shop are very important. One of them is
called the hammer. The hammer is used to cut or make a bend in a piece
of iron. Another one is called a sledge hammer. A sledge hammer is used
to strike objects with great force.
I use these tools to fix houses or make weapons for people. Also I make
pots and metal fences. These tools are very heavy to carry. You have to
be careful to work with these tools. The sledge hammer is heavier than
the hammer and stronger than the hammer.
When the British came to Boston everything changed. It’s hard for me to
pay taxes on the thing that I buy. The British also are taxing people
on the tea. Now the people in Boston are boycotting British goods. It
was hard for me to get customers because the Lobsterbacks are in front
of my shop.
The people in Boston are upset about King George III taxing them
without asking . Bostonians are angry about paying the tax without
representation. I am also heated because I have to pay tax on the
metals. I hope you are having a great time with your family. Take
care.
Feb. 23, 1770
Boston, MA
To my Dearest Brother Franklin,
I know that I haven’t written to you in these couple of weeks. How are
mother and father doing? And how are you and your wife doing? Tell
mother and father that I dare say that I miss them.
In Boston things are getting harder since the British came. They still
have the tax on tea. The Bostonians have been boycotting the British
good and they have no respect for them, for good.
The people in Boston are upset because hundreds of Redcoats are
here. Yesterday I was in front of my shop and I saw the
most horrible thing. I saw Christopher Seider getting shot by Ebenezer
Richardson. There was a group of young lad throwing rocks at a
shop that sells British goods. One of the customs merchants, a
loyalist named Ebenezer Richardson, was also there. He was a merchant
that supported the British taxing American trade. He got hit on
the head with a rock. So he went home, got his musket, returned,
and shot Christopher Seider. He was shot in the eye and the
chest. He was dead that day. I dare say it was the worst
thing I ever did see. It was the saddest day in Boston.
Your Dearest Brother,
William
April 1 1770
Boston, MA
Dear Brother,
How are you doing and how is sister doing? Lately I miss all of
you. In Boston things are not going too well. A couple weeks ago it was
the death of Christopher Seider and now, not too long ago, a bloody
massacre happened.
The Boston Massacre happened on March 5th. British Private Hugh White
was standing sentry duty on a snowy day on a street near the Custom
House. He was facing an angry mob of people who live in the town. He
called for help. Captain Thomas Preston and some other soldiers
came for help. Then the bell rang out from the nearby the Brick Church,
which usually meant that there was a fire in town. So everyone in
town thought there was a fire and came running. They all asked,
where’s the fire?!
At the Custom House the crowd began to throw ice and rocks at the
soldiers and the soldiers got angry. The towns people made the soldiers
fire their muskets. They were afraid to fire their muskets without
orders from a civil magistrate. Private Hugh Montgomery got knocked
down by one of the angry mobsters. Then someone yelled “fire!” The
soldiers shot into the crowd, killing five people and wounding
six. I was a little scared when they fired their muskets.
After the shooting I went back home to my wife and children. I
was
sad and worried, but felt comfortable being with my family. I’m
nervous about what this past day will bring.
Your dearest Brother,
William
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Historical References:
“Blacksmith”. Colonial Williamsburg. 4/3/06.
<www.Colonialwilliamsburg.com>.
”Blacksmith.” Grosse Pointe Public Schools District Site.
4/3/06 <www.Gpschools.org>.
Justice and Dissent ready to use materials for Reereating Five
Great Trials in American History. 4/26/06.
<www.Home.att.net/betsynew>.
The Blacksmith. 4/6/06. <www.crabtree books.com>.
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