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Letters Found Reveal Tavern Owner's
View of Seider's Murder by
David T.
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1770,February 15
To My Dear Brother John,
Hello John. I know that we haven’t written to each other in a while. I
have been held up with all the work at the tavern. I heard that you
just had a son; I’m very happy for you and Martha. I’m also doing
well and my two boys have really grown up, but I’m worried for
them because they have run off and gone to the Common to see the
British
soldiers. I don't like them hanging around the British soldiers. I’m
telling you, John, those Lobsterback are nothing but trouble.
I also think there is going to be more trouble. Earlier today some
men came into my tavern and they said they were going to attack
the shop of a tax agent, Ebenezer Richardson. They also were going to
take down a sign that read “Importer”. I just know that something
really bad is going to happen.
You should stay in Vermont because Boston is really turning into a
battleground. The British soldiers are tearing this town apart.
People are boycotting British goods and tea. They tried to burn down my
tavern about one week ago, because everyone was coming to my tavern and
no one stepped into a shop run by a Loyalist. When they tried to burn
it down, I was indeed angry with the King and his troops. But thank God
that the Minutemen came and stopped all the madness. I just want
to get out of Boston and come stay with you. I hate it here. Well, I
hope that you read this letter and write back.
Your Dearest Brother,
George
1770, February 19
To my Dearest brother John,
It’s great to know that you and your family are doing well and its also
good to know that you are writing back to me. Things are going well at
the tavern and my family is doing very well. Linda and I have great
news, we have another baby on the way. I am very happy and hope that we
can go over to visit you some day after Linda has the baby.
Earlier today a British soldier shot a silversmith because the British
soldier had been drunk and started to push the silversmith. Then the
silversmith took a chair and held it above his head and was going to
hit the British soldier, the soldier took his musket and
fired. After, the man fell to his knees. The soldier was taken
away and the silversmith was dead. Like I said, those British soldiers
are causing a lot of trouble around here.
Well, the tavern is going well. Tea is getting sent to us from East
India Tea Company. My two boys John and Tim are going in
town to sell cattle.
Today the people that were thinking about attacking Ebenzer Richardson
the tax agent, came in the tavern and I overheard them say that
they were going to do it and it is going to happen soon. I know that
someone is going to get hurt. Well, I hope that you write back to
me again. It has been nice reading your letter and I hope that
you read this letter. Tell Martha I said hello.
Your Dearest Brother,
George
1770, March
To My Dear Brother John,
February 22 is a day that I will never forget. Remember when I sent you
the letters saying that there is going to be trouble and I said that
there was going to be people attacking Mr. Richardson? Well, a few
weeks ago it happened near my tavern.
People were throwing things at friend’s shop. Ebenezer left the
shop and came back with his musket and he shot into the crowd. When I
heard the gun shot I came out my tavern and ran towards the crowd. When
I got into the crowd I looked around for any people that
were hurt and I saw a boy lying down He had been shot in the
chest. There was blood all over the ground and on his clothes. A couple
of the men and I went to our knees and tried to help the boy. He was
still alive and I had blood all over my hands and clothes.
After, the crowd got smaller and many of the people began to leave.
Some circled around the young boy and moments later the young boy died.
Linda was crying and my two boys had told me that they were
friends with the boy and that his name was Christopher Seider. Days
after I heard a patriot Samuel Adams organized a
funeral for Christopher Seider. I was in my tavern when I went outside
and saw many people go to the funeral of Christopher Seider. The
funeral started at Faneuil Hall and went down to the Granary. It was a
very sad day for all Bostonians. I also heard that Ebenezer
Richardson went to court and all charges were dropped because he was
defending himself against the mob. Later that same day a mob of angry
people came down to his house and took him to the Boston Common and
they tarred him. Hope you write back.
Your dearest Brother
George
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Historical
References:
Daily life In 1621. 6 April.2006
<http://teacher.scholastie,com/than
saving/Plymouth/daily.html
Sholes,Gary Parker. Back Ground Info Violence In Boston Northend.
New York.
April 25 2006. http// Home.att.net/`~Betsy new mark/ BostInfo. html
Beller Provost susan. The Revolutionary War. Terry Town,
New York.2003
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Historical Terms
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Loyalist
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musket
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patriot
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lobsterback
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boycott
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mob
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About the Historian
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My name is David. I'm 14 years
old, and I go to King Middle School. I'm a 7th grader at King. I
play football and basketball for my school.
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