Letters Reveal a Story of the Riot on King Street-1775

                                                                                                                                                                                                              February 25, 1770

Dear Abigail,
    I am very sorry about not writing in a while, but there have been so many people demanding new wigs! I believe it has been about two years since I last wrote. Boston now is much different than you last heard. The British have arrived and they have caused much commotion. In the streets there are many brawls between the colonists and the British soldiers. Bostonians are extremely rude to the soldiers and the children taunt them constantly. People call them "Bloodybacks" and "Lobsterbacks". Woman ignore the British, but men just look for trouble with them.
    It has been a very harsh winter in Boston. Nights are cold and we try our best to stay warm. The water in the harbor has a thin layer of ice and just looking at it sends chills throughout my body. My family is growing. I welcomed a baby girl, Jane, into the world one year ago from the Sabbath. Unfortunately, I fear Jane is getting ill. Paul, as you may remember, is soon to be seven years of age and is schooling at home with our nursemaid. My husband Philip continues his occupation as a shipbuilder. He is a very determined man. Once he starts something he must finish it!    
    As I run my daily errands on King Street and to the market, I overhear the colonists talk about the death of Christopher Seider. Three days ago, an innocent boy got shot two times and died. An angry mob was attacking a Loyalist merchant shop because of the tax on tea, when Ebenezer Richardson shot a gun to calm the crowd down. The gun then accidentally hit Christopher, killing him. Samuel Adams then brought his body to Faneuil Hall using him as a martyr, and organized a funeral that thousands of people attended. Colonists carried his body around Boston, then to the Granary Burying Ground. I think that this was a terrible experience for all of Boston. As I try to fall asleep at night thoughts run through my head: Will this happen again? How will we recover if something does happen? Will the tension finally break? All of these questions, and more make me worry. Now, I am sure that the British will become targets of the Bostonians.
    I must retire to my chamber now, for I have many errands to run and need to be in my shop before dawn to finish wigs tomorrow. I promise I shall write to you within a fortnight.

            Your dear friend,  
                Susannah

                                                                                                March 6, 1770

Dear Abigail,
    The tension has exploded! Last night was one of the biggest nights in history. The riot on King Street has occurred, and it makes me fear that my safety is in danger. Five colonists were killed last night by the British soldiers. I now feel my loyalty to King George is questionable.
    I strongly believe that killing those colonists was very unnecessary. Let me describe the event to you.Yesterday after sunset, around eight o'clock, the bell started to ring, signaling a fire. There was already a small brawl outside, and I was not sure why. The people had buckets, and adding to the small group it made the crowd in front of the Town House immense. I noticed the commotion from my shop, as I was working late making a wig for Mr.Cunningham. I hastened up Long Wharf and on to King Street. Within the moment, I heard a gun fire and saw a young black man fall to the ground. After that, I witnessed four more people fall. The most shocking and scary moment for me was when my apprentice was nearly one of those five victims. As I walked around King Street in fright, I saw my apprentice Timothy lying on the ground in pain. I was sure he was dying. I left him there for I knew there was nothing I could possibly do and I feared for my own safety.  I prayed to God for him, as well as all of the other victims that were still suffering.
    To add to the stress in Boston, right now I am dealing with the sickness of my dearest daughter, Jane. As I told you, I feared that she was getting ill and she is, with Rickets! I worry much and I do not doubt that I am at fault. I have had to bring her along with me to my shop, for our nursemaid has left Boston and as you know the shop is in a dark, cold basement. She continues to see a doctor and it is apparent that she will recover.
    Now, I think that I support the cause of the Sons of Liberty for the events of last night have had me thinking long and hard about my loyalty to the King. Though I realize that it was not the King himself who killed those colonists, it was him who sent the soldiers that did.  They are not necessary and have disrupted life here.  I just tend to Jane now and calm myself from the shocking evening yesterday.  It was the worst riot I ever did see.

            Your frightened friend,
                    Susannah
                                                   

                                                                                                March 22, 1770

Dearest Abigail,
    I write to you in great distress. The Boston as I knew it is in the past. Many shops are closing, trading is becoming difficult, and all of our friends are leaving Boston. This is all due to the riot on King Street.
    I worry that my shop will also close down because of the riot. The business is slowing down and many other shops around me are closing. I feel that it is just a matter of time before mine closes, as well. If this were to happen, I don't know what I shall do, for my husband's occupation is also in great danger. Since trading has become difficult the shipbuilding business has slowed down very much. My only hope is that everything goes back to the way it was.
    The eight British Soldiers and Captain Preston who did the shooting earlier this month are in jail awaiting trial. They are all being charged with murder until they are proven otherwise in court. I don't agree with sending the guilty soldiers to the gallows, but I do believe that they should be punished. There is not a day I don't wonder what the outcome will be, I pray that they go back to England so that the mess in Boston can be cleaned up.
    My daughter Jane seems to be healing well. Now I have added home remedies to her weekly visit to the doctor. I have been feeding her a broth with lemon balm and actinite. It seemed to work well and the doctor suggested that she spend two to three hours outdoors everyday. I am so grateful that I didn't loose her. My apprentice Timothy is also recovering nicely. I remember the night distinctly. Seeing him lying there on the cobblestone road. I just despise my memories of that night. I am thankful that he has survived.
    Boston's atmosphere is fearful. Most of the colonists are conscious of every step they take. We are all concerned about what will happen in the near future. Shops are still continuing to close, though mine has not yet. My husband's work is also functioning, but has never been as slow. Though I hate to say it, we fear the possibility of leaving Boston.
    I am thinking of where and what I will have to do. Tis not a comforting feeling. As I write to you, in the flickering candle light, I worry for my family's safety, for my safety. I wish that this terrible riot had not happened.

            Your worried friend,
                    Susannah