Sparks Journal

March 1st, 1770

Dearest Mother and Father,

How are you? I am fine, but I am also sort of disappointed. A young boy named Christopher Seider was killed in February by a man named Ebeneezer Richardson. A very large funeral was held for the small lad. I believe it was so big because a Loyalist killed him.

Adam and I got married in December of 1768 and now live on King Street with our two children, John Williams and Elisabeth Williams. I have realized that I have not written to you in a while but I have been paying attention to the British too much. They are really making our town a wreck. I don’t realize why the British have to invade our town. They are ruining our lives.

We have just made some new wig blocks at the shop. Also we got a silversmith to make some pounders and got a comb from Adam’s mother. She gave it to Adam and I as a wedding gift. I was so happy when she moved close by to help watch the kids, as we were at work. Maybe you should move out here. You have not met Adam or his family yet. You have only talked to our children through letters. When are You going to come out and visit the family and I? I really do miss you.

I was doing my work around the house that I always do when I get home from the wig shop, when the children came in crying. I asked them what was wrong. That's when they said that a person got hit on the head with a stick by a British soldier. I was very upset.

I was just curious how you were doing and I think I may be coming down with a cold so I am going to make some rice, chicken, and tea for dinner and then go to bed. I hope you are doing well. Write back as soon as you can.

Yours Dearly,
Hannah Williams

March 4th, 1770

Dearest Mother and Father,

How are you? I am fine, I am over my cold and now feeling much better. I was doing my chores like I always do when I heard a snap. My necklace that you had given me has snapped and is now broken. It was the oddest thing because I was just holding the broom looking out the window at the children playing and it snapped. The blue and white stone shattered on the cold, brown, wooden floor. I am very sorry that this stone that you bought for me for my fourteenth birthday has broken. You spent you own hard earned money on it.

When I was going to the market, I was walking past the Customs House and I saw about four young boys harassing the sentry on guard. I knew at that moment that this was not going to turn out very well. When I was coming back from the market, they were running away from the sentry. One of the young boys had a spot of blood over his right eye. I felt so bad for that lad. I was very mad at the British soldier. At least I believe it was from him.

The tension in Boston is very tight right now. Nobody is delighted to have the British soldiers in Boston. I particularly don’t care about having the soldiers here. There is a reason for them to be here. The town would be really torn apart if they were not here. But one thing is, it is torn apart now even though they are here!

Yours Dearly,
Hannah Williams

March 6th, 1770

Dearest Mother and Father,

Now that I have time to sit down and write, I am sitting next to the fire, thinking of how they British can do this to us.

The most horrid thing happened yesterday. A few Bostonians were killed and at least one got hurt. It all started when six or seven young boys were throwing rocks and stones at the sentry on duty in front of the Customs House. I heard yelling a few seconds before the throwing started. All of a sudden the North Church bells started to sound. People started to come out of their houses with buckets and bags to put out the fire, and soon realized that there was no fire.

So by now everybody was yelling at the British soldiers for being in Boston. I was thinking this cannot turn out to be good. I had a feeling of fright. The sentry yelled for backup and no sooner did Captain Preston and seven other soldiers rushed to his side. People were taunting the British soldiers by saying “FIRE” and “Come on, fire you Bloodybacks.” All of a sudden the British soldiers fired into the crowd. Hugh Montgomery, a very good friend of mine was the first to fire into the crowd. My thoughts exactly were how could this occur in this orderly town?

A few men were lying in the blood stained snow right in front of me. A few were almost dead and one young boy who people thought he would not make it. By now the mob was gone. I was watching out the window with the window opened slightly so I could hear what was going on. I was not going to stick around to find out what happened next.

They have started to call it The Massacre on King Street. I am very disappointed in the British soldiers. How do they dare to invade our colony, disrespect us, and kill a few of our Bostonians? Those LobsterBacks. The people of Boston are holding a large funeral and the victims are going to be buried in the Granary Burying Ground. I am going to attend.

Yours Dearly,
Hannah Williams

Historical References:

Beller Provost, Susan. The Revolutionary War. New York: Benchmark Books. 2002.

Hakim, Joy. From Colonies To Country. 1735-1791. New York: Oxford University Press. 2003.

The Boston Massacre. 1/26/06.http://www.earlyamerica.com
/review/winter96/massacre.html

Weirsema, Garry. The Boston Massacre. 4/27/06. http://
odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/d/1751-1775/Boston Massacre/anon.htm

Artist's Rendering

Historical Reenactment

Historical Terms
Lobsterback	Loyalist
Massacre	Sentry
Musket	Granary Burying Ground

About the Historian
Hello, my name is Allison and I attend King Middle School in Portland, Maine. This school is an expeditionary learning school. I like to play backetball and softball. This school is a really fun school to play sports at. I also like to hang out with my friends. I hope you have enjoyed my journal entries.