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Lost Journal Pours More Truth On
The Tea Party!! By Natasha B
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December 15,1773
Dear Diary,
Slaves do a lot of things like farming, cleaning house, taking care of
the children, and making clothes. Today when I woke up I put on a long
nightgown, pulled up my long black hair with a scarf and to top
it all off I had on black shoes. Then I had to herd the sheep and
feed the chickens. When it was really early I got the little
lambs up for school and made them breakfast. I am very vexed because
seeing them go off school makes me want to learn to read and
write. I think there is hope to know that someday if I am
free I will have little lambs of my own and a husband who will love
me.
Today I have been working on the farm, taking care of the master’s
family, helping make all of the meals, taking care of the house, and
going to the market. I was wearing my daily work clothes, a straw
hat, and black shoes. With me, I had a basket for shopping at the
market.
As I went down the market, I passed by the harbor. There were
ships in the harbor filled with tea. And there was a gentleman talking
to a soldier asking him if he could unload the tea. The people are not
happy with the tax that is on the tea. A mob of angry white folks
tried to convincing the captain to get back on his ship and leave. I
wish I could get on a ship and leave. But it is a good thing my master
said that Betty, his daughter, could teach me how to read and write
because now I know a bit of what is going on.
Sincerely,
Charlean Cooper
Dec. 16, 1773
Dear Diary,
When the sun rose, I got up and started working on the farm and
cleaning Master’s bedroom, I knew I also had to go to the
market. Master told me to serve a snack when a visitor came to
call in the morning. When John Harbor, Master Marty’s friend,
came over I heard them talking about three ships in the Boston
Harbor filled with tea. He said, “A Mr. Rotch, who the captain of one
of the ships, wanted to unload the ships filled with tea into our shops
so that we can sell them.” He also said that there is going to be a
meeting down at the South Meeting House that was of the utmost
importance. Everyone should attend tonight.
While I was down at the market, I overheard people talking about a
public meeting going on at the South Meeting House. This meeting
was supposed to take place to try and figure out what was to be done
with all of the tea on the ships in the harbor.
So that night I went down to listen. I knew I would not be
allowed into the meeting, but I went anyway because I was curious to
find out what was going on. When I arrived, there were so many
people outside the Meeting House that we could not even hear what was
going on inside. A young man listened in through a window and
relayed what was happening to the crowd outside. There was a lot
of arguing and yelling about what was to be done with the tea on the
three ships, the Dartmouth, the Beaver, and the Eleanor. I was
surprised at how many women showed up for the meeting and were standing
outside with the rest of us. Of course woman were not allowed
inside.
There were obviously two sides that were arguing. One side
thought it was fine to pay taxes on the tea. It was only three
pence. The other side agreed that the taxes were not a lot of
money. They were upset that we, as Colonists, were being taxed
without having representation in Parliament. Eight hours went by with
arguing back and forth before I heard a white man named Samuel Adams
get up and say, “This meeting can do nothing more for our
country.” Then behind the trees there were eight shadows. I
followed them down to the harbor and hid behind a barrel of
fish. It smelled, but I did not care at all. I was extremely
interested in what those eight men were up to.
There I saw the men along with others get on the ships and start
dumping what looked to be tea into the Boston Harbor. I could
have sworn that I saw hatchets in their hands and feather sticking out
of their head. I heard a lot of noise. Then I heard a
splash and before I knew it the Boston Harbor was a Tea Pot.
There was a lot of tea in the harbor.
I wish that I had helped dump the tea, because it was for a good
cause. But with no freedom, you can barely do anything at all.
Sincerely,
Charlean Cooper
December 17, 1773
Dear Diary,
Today I washed the clothes. I made food for breakfast, I cleaned the
house and worked on the farm a little. I got the master’s kids up
for school and went down to the market.
There I saw my master and other people talking about what happened. I
overheard them saying that chests and chests of tea were dumped
into the harbor by Mohawk Indians. I knew this was true because I
saw tiny leaves floating in the water, but I do not believe that they
were actual Indians. I believe they were men at the meeting who
were dressed up. I wonder if Sam Adams was the signaler to tell
them to destroy the tea. They only dumped tea, and they did not
wreck the ships. The townspeople now fear whoever dumped it is
going to be in a lot of trouble with the Lobster backs and King George
III.
So now because of the mischief of eight Patriots, Boston Harbor
is going to be closed – no ships in, no ships out. I fear the
Lobsterbacks will be staying with us for quite a while.
All day long I keep thinking about what happened down at the
harbor. All that tea going to waste and all those people wanting
to buy the tea, and now Captain Rotch’s ship is empty. He
had to sell the tea before going back to England and now the tea
is in the harbor. I think that this is one of the most unlikely
place to do something. I think this is
nonsense. Why don’t you just pay the taxes on the tea? I
just hope that all of this will not lead up to war!
Sincerely,
Charlean Cooper
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Historical References:
“Boston Tea Party,” World Book
Encyclopedia,World Book Inc,1996 edition.
Collier,Christopher and Collier, James Lincoln. The America Revolution
1763-1783”,Benchmark Books,New York,1998.
Maier,Pauline, Kenan Jr,William, Boston Tea Party, World Book, 2004.
Stein,R,Conrad Boston Tea Party. New York 1996
The Tea Party Returns To Boston” April 29,
2006
64.226.34.179/About/tea party071703.htm |
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