|
| Murder Details Discovered in
Servant's Journal by Matt |
| |
March 4, 1770
To my dearest Brother Tim Adams,
I have to sit down to write for it has been a very hard day. You have
probably been hearing about the unrest in the colony of Massachusetts
over in England. If not, let me share the news. On February 22, a mob
of children were outside throwing rocks, sticks and snowballs at the
windows of my shop. I did nothing to stop them because I knew why they
were doing this. It all started with the Townhend Act, a tax was placed
on such things that were documented, especially on tea. The people of
Boston, especially Samuel Adams and other Sons of Liberty, were
protesting against this tax on tea. The tax shouldn’t be happening and
sooner or later we all will be poor. So a group of children gathered
together and came to my master’s shop and started throwing rocks at my
masters bedroom window. I was standing there sweeping and cleaning the
shop. The children were hanging a sign up that was pointing towards the
shop. It said, “Importer”. All of a sudden Ebenezer Richardson, one of
my master’s favorite customers, came in with a musket and went to
Theophilus Lillie, my master, to his aid. When I saw this I thought he
was going to shoot me. Two shots were fired.
The next morning I woke up to a bloody stair well. My master was
calling my name, and he sounded really mad. When I got down stairs he
whipped me. I know why and what I did and didn’t do. He told me to
clean up the blood and care to Richardson while he went to the glass
maker. After I cleaned up the blood from Richardson and cleaned him up
he told me hes ready to leave. He thanked me, but I didn’t say a word
to him. After he left I got back to my daily cleaning which includes
shinning every thing and dusting. When my master came back he handed me
my tools to put the new window in. It took me forever to put the window
in the frame. Finally after I cut my self the window goes in. He tells
me that outside a board on the porch is sticking out. Weeks have past
since Christopher Seiders death, and people are getting angry with the
soldiers. I fear that they shall do something bad to
me.
It was the day of the funeral, and my master let me go to the funeral.
My master Theophillius Lillie is a merchant that snitched on people
smuggling goods in through the ships. There were hundreds of people in
lines. The eleven year old Christopher Seider was not a notable person
but he sure did unite the comunnity of Boston together. We walked down
King street, Milk street, down Marlborough street, turned onto common
street, and into the grannery where he was buried. As we walked down
common street I saw Lobsterbacks in the Boston Common. They looked cold
and worried. I looked closer because I thought I had seen you from a
distance. Please write back brother I hope you are doing well in the
army, please write back..Your young poor brother, worried for you.
-James Adams
March 28, 1770
Dear brother Tim Adams,
Greetings brother, how are you doing in the British army? I hope living
in England is good. What I think about what you and your partners are
doing to the city of Boston is cruel. King George lll put a tax on
every documented thing even tea, and then a young innocent boy was
killed. I hope your trembling right now for what you have done to me,
mom, dad, and yourself. I say if mom and dad didn’t die of small pox
you wouldn’t be in the army. You turn against your promise to dad and
became one of the most hatred people in Boston. Well let me tell thee,
I have kept my promise and didn’t become one of the crown’s slaves what
you call a soldier. I’m mad at my owner for allowing Ebenezer
Richardson to shoot at children and all he had to do was get my owner
out of the way of the rocks, but I have controled my anger. I will do
my 4-7 years of service as an indentured servant.
In the month of February the community was really furious at the
soldiers and Richardson but mostly Richardson. Samuel Adams a person in
Boston who has been organizing everything lately is planning a funeral
for Christopher Seider the innocent boy who got killed on King Street
and his body was brought to the south grannery, but everybody is saying
no. As I’m doing my cleaning two British Soldiers walked on by and a
mob is right behind them. The mob had sticks and stones in their hands.
It wasn’t the worst thing I have seen. The worst was......... well, you
know. I did not holler up to thy master because I knew what would
happen if I did holler. There will be groups of Lobsterbacks coming and
muskets, and there will be blood. As I finished dusting the teapots my
master came running down and asked me, If I saw the soldiers and the
mob go by? I replied yes. He whipped me brother because I did not
tell him about what was happening outside, help me help me.
It was that day that four were killed and one died later. Thee must see
what you and your troops are doing to the town of Boston. I must tell
you that you needs to get away from the crown and live with me. I dare
to say if pa was alive and well you wouldn’t be Loyal to the crown. The
five people that were killed were Sam Grey, Crispus Attucks, Patrick
Carr, James Caldwell, and Sam Maverick. Yes that is what I have to say
to thee and I hope that you will make the right decision. Write back to
me brother.
-Caring brother James
October 31,1770
Brother Tim Adams,
Brother as I sit here I am worried about you. My heart tells me that
you are not alright. I have not received any corrospondence from you. I
ask every day for corrospondence. Where are you brother?
On October 24 Captain Preston, your captain, was arrested for murder
and got sent back to Castle Island. Samuel Adams as I have
mentioned him so many times is leading colonist in Boston against the
British. Samuel Adams is an amazing man I say. You see brother a lot of
excitingthings happen here in Boston. The next couple of weeks after
that dreadful Massacre on King Street were quiet mostly. When I was at
the funeral I saw six children carring the coffin of Christopher Seider.
I sit here brother drinking ale hoping that you are alright. Brother it
is almost my birthday and you have not shown up from England. It
is my duty to not give up on you. Life is harsh when none of your
family is with you. There is nearly enough time before I get traded to
another owner or I get my money, plot of land, and clothing from my
master. When I get my plot of land and all my goods that I deserve I
will come find you and take you home with me. I am turning 17 years old
in a weeks worth of work.Your dearest brother cares for you a lot and
hopes to see you very soon.
-Caring brother James
|
|
Bibliography:
Allison, Robert J. A Short History of Boston.
Beverly, Massachusetts:
Common Wealth Editions, 2004
Colonial Williamsburg. 4-7-06. 2006
<http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/Almanack/life/food/foodhdr.cfm>
Hoose, Phillup. We were
there Too. Newe York. Melaine Kroupa Books.
2001
Millenden, Darathula. Crispus Attucks: First Alladdin Paperbooks edv.
1986
Mullian, Karen. The Albuquerque Genealogical Society. 2003-2006. April
3, 2006
Saari, Peggy. Colonial America Almanac. USA, 2000: Gale Group,
2000
Shoales, Gary Parker, Justice and Dissent: Ready to use Materials
for Recreating Five great Trials in American History. New York
4/28/06
Startford. 2002 Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, Inc.4-3-06
World Book online Encyclopedia: 2004 EditionVersion 8.2.1 Indentured
Servant
|
|
