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| A Milliner's Journal Shines a New
Light on Seider's Death by Alexandria
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February 17,1770
Dear Elisabeth,
How have you been? John and I have been doing well. It seems like
everything I do, touch, feel, or say is crumbling before my very eyes.
I still am very sensitive towards losing my dear Lillie to the disease
rickets. In the early stages of her life it started to attack and
affect her bones. Her bones began to weaken and she tragically died at
the age of two. Weeks have past since her death and I cannot bring
myself to stop mourning. My husband and I loved Lillie oh so very much.
I find it hard living life without having her in it. You would only
understand if you had a child. The pain burns my innards like the flame
in the fire place that I am watching as I write this letter to you.
Elisabeth, you cannot even imagine how I feel. I am losing customers
rapidly and it is all because of those British soldiers. Ever since
they have come business has been going down and it is affecting my
shop. Lately it seems like I cannot earn more than about seven
shillings to make clothes. Now that I am losing customers and I have no
one to make dresses for , no one to make aprons, shirts, shifts, caps,
cloaks, hoods, hats, muffs, ruffles, trim and gowns for. As a milliner
my occupation is to get the latest fashion and material from England so
that the wealthier people in my colony have what they need. Thus town
is chaotic and King George III is all to blame. I
have no idea as to why Sir George would want to place taxes on
all the American trade .
Everything has gone wrong. My dear friend, what shall I do? John has
assured me that all will be done and dealt with in do time. I cannot
wait for those Tories to get what they deserve in the time to come
because with them here life in this town will never be the same again.
Those soldiers deserve a very harsh punishment. I am not sure if
you even understand how they have affected the town of Boston. Life has
been so hard especially since the Townshend Acts were placed on
paint, lead, glass, and tea. Elisabeth, you know how I like my tea.
Your dear friend,
Constance Hutchinson
February 23,177o
Dear Elisabeth,
Did you get my last letter? How is it in England? Oh, do I have loads
to tell you!
Yesterday, on the 22nd of February I was working in my shop helping a
customer with the fitting of a dress when I saw a mob of children
across the street. These children were putting up a hand-shaped sign
with a finger pointing at the shop. The finger said Importer . I dare
say those young lads and lasses were spoiling for a fight. Let me tell
thee that the lads and lasses kept throwing rocks at Theophilus
Lillie’s shop. Theophilus Lillie is a merchant who imports
British goods from England. Ebenezer Richardson, a customs agent who
did not mind the British taxing the American trade but, snitched on
others who disobeyed the law. He immediately ran home, grabbed his
musket and raced back to Lillie’s shop. He ended up on the second floor
at Theophilus’ aid and started firing in to the crowd.
Ebenezer ended up shooting an 11 year old lad named Christopher Seider
in the chest and in the eye. He was killed instantly. A man named
Samuel Adams, who was a leader of the Son’s of Liberty came to the
scene of where the crime had happened. He picked Christopher’s lifeless
and cold body up from off the ground and carried him to Faneuil Hall.
Elisabeth, having to tell you about this tragic incident hurts the pit
of my heart and stomach. I know how it feels to lose a child. Watching
the bird pellets leave the musket and striking that young lad made me
want to gag. I feel for his mother and can only wish the best for her
because no one should have to go through losing a loved one, especially
a child.
Your dear friend,
Constance Hutchinson
March 1st, 1770
Dear Elisabeth,
Thank you for writing back. How are you and Matthew? The children too?
Some weeks ago the funeral procession was held for the boy Christopher
Seider I told you about in the last letter that I wrote to you. Let me
tell you that one of the Son’s of Liberty leaders, Samuel Adams planned
a very long and well thought out funeral procession. Elisabeth,
hundreds and hundreds of people attended, me being one of them. It was
so crowded walking the route that we took. We followed young
Christopher’s body in the casket through the streets of the town
from Faneuil Hall, past the Town house ( where our governor and council
would meet), down to the Liberty Tree, and then up the common and
granary where they buried him. Most of us could barley gasp for air
because there were so many people gathered there. It is just so sad
knowing that an innocent boy died and it was not even his fault.
That awful man Ebenezer Richardson, who shot Christopher Seider at
first was arrested and charged with giving him a very dangerous
wound. Then it was changed to murder. He got the letter “M”
branded on his thumb which meant that if he were to come back to the
town of Boston anybody would have the right to shoot him. I think that
Ebenezer’s deserved the penalty that he was granted.
John and others from the town tortured Ebenezer because of what he had
done to that poor boy Christopher Seider. They put hot burning tar on
him and then some chicken feathers. It was the worst thing that I
had ever seen with my own two eyes and heard with my own two ears. Life
started to get very hard for him and he was in a lot of pain too. So,
Ebenezer acting like a fool tried to peel off the tar early and ended
up ripping his skin all the way down to the bone in the process. He
sent this to King George III with a letter. The letter said this is
what the people of Boston are doing to the loyalists. In my opinion I
do not think that the loyalists have a right to be here so what we are
doing really is not any of his concern. I shall write to you soon.
Your dear friend,
Constance Hutchinson
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Historical References:
Allison, Robert J. A
Short History of Boston. Beverly,
Massachusetts: Commonwealth Editions, 2004
Day, Nancy. Your Travel
Guide to Colonial America. Minnesota:
An imprint of learner Publishing Group, 2001
Hoose, Phillup. We Were
There Too. New York: Melanie Kroupa,
2001
Millenden, Dharathula. Crispus
Attucks: First Alladin Paperbooks
edv.1986
Milliner. April 3rd, 2006
<http://www.spackenkillschools.org/nassau/hhv2/trades. html
milliner>
Shoales, Gray P. Justice and
Dissent: Ready- to use materials for
Recreating Five Great Trails in American history.
The Center ofAppplied Research in Education: New York, 1995
The Milliner. April 3rd, 2006
<http://www.pocantichills.org/tradesmen/milliner.htm>
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Historical Terms
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Faneuil Hall
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Taxes
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Liberty Tree
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Townshend Acts
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Musket
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Loyalists
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About the Historian
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My name is Alexandria. I am a seventh
grader at King Middle School. I love watching baseball. My all time
favorite team is the New York Yankees. Also in my opinion Derek Jeter
th shortstop is the best. In my spare time I love to hang with
friends, talk on the phone, and shop. I participate in school
activities like sports.
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