The Mysterious Role of a Housewife During the Boston Massacre

1770 March 1
Dear Diary,  
    
    This is the first time I've ever written in a diary and I look forward to keeping notes on my life. I am Jane Hall and I have two children, William Hall, who is ten, and Bridget Hall, nine. My husband's name is Robert Hall. I have a household slave whose name is Lavinia. My life as a housewife is just taking care of my family, my house and also my household slave. Lavinia has three children because she is in love with another slave whose name is Alexander Joseph. They are not allowed to get married, but I do like the father of her children. My husband is mad though because that means more mouths to feed.  Lavinia's children are named Alexander, who is six, Joseph, three, and Jedidiah, four.
    Today my husband told me that he saw tension between the Redcoats and the people of Boston. A few Lobsterbacks and Bostonians were fighting because of all the taxes that the King of England is making us pay.  He also told me that the Redcoats want to get local jobs (because they only get paid two cents a day) and Bostonians were mad about that.  I feel annoyed because we need those jobs.  So this is another reason the Redcoats are bothering us.
    I spent all day long helping Lavinia make candles. We sell them to make more money for our family. My husband is a carpenter so we have enough money to live, but I like to work and help him.  Oh, how I love my family!   
Signed, Jane Hall

1770 March 3
Dear Diary,

I got up today and Bridget was sick. Alas, I think she has a fever. Lavinia said that Ms. Bridget has pox. So I told Lavinia to fetch an apothecary. Mr. James Lucas (an apothecary) came a few hours ago and said that she has a very bad illness, but she may get better, because she has pox. James Lucas also gave her a medicine that he said she has to take every four hours. He also said that she has to take a bath every once in a while, so she has a chance to recover.
    Lavinia swore that she was going to a stay awake all day and night so she could watch Bridget. When my husband bought Lavinia, she said that she would be helping me around. I always counted her as my sister that I never had.
    Yesterday my dearest friend Isabel came unannounced and kept crying. I asked her what is the matter. She said that she misses her son Christopher Seider. A few weeks ago a mob attacked a loyalist merchant (Ebenezer Richardson) and there was a mob throwing things into his shop. So her son was there too. Then suddenly a shot of a gun was heard and a boy got shot in the head. He was Christopher Seider. After his death a man named Samuel Adams took the body to Faneuil Hall and organized a funeral made for him.  Christopher Seider was just an ordinary boy, but he became really important after his death. Samuel Adams said that Christopher Seider was a martyr, because he died for the cause of liberty. Two thousand people marched with his body from Faneuil Hall to the Granary Cemetery. This funeral made everyone feel hatred towards the British. This makes me feel sad for Christopher's family, and I'm also worried about my children. I need to talk to them about not taunting the British soldiers and being careful around here. I am scared of losing my children. My husband is part of the Sons of Liberty, which means that he meets with this group of people and they talk about how they could achieve liberty, so he wants the British to leave us alone!

Signed, Jane Hall
                                           
1770 March 5

Dear Diary,
   
    Before I was going to braid Bridget's hair, Lavania came to me running and said that the Bostonians were arguing with the Redcoats and they are throwing things at each others. I told her its all right and that they always do that. But I was wrong. Later that evening a terrible event happened. My house is next to King Street which was where the terrible event took place. Six hours ago the bells rang which meant that there was a fire. I ran so I can could get my children, and Lavinia and her children outside. When we got outside I heard people saying, "Where is the fire?!" and I was wondering too. Then I saw a mob, throwing things at the Redcoats. I couldn't see what was going on,  but I heard the fire of a gun, then  another shot of a gun. A few minutes later my husband came and said to me to go home. Lavania had her kids and my kids all together outside so I just looked for her, so we could leave before anything else bad happened. I am feeling so bad about today because that will be always in me, and I will never forget it.

Signed, Jane Hall

1770 November  20

Dear Dairy,

    After this troublesome event on King Street, people of Boston have been quiet about it. Everybody is just worried for their children and family. The British soldiers didn't get killed. Only two of them were found guilty of manslaughter at their trial. Before the jury decided that they were guilty, everyone was nervous about the verdict. My feelings about all this fuss so far is fear. Everyday when my husband goes to work and leaves me alone I feel so scared, that I can't wait until he walks through the door and comes and hugs the children, and says good evening to me and asks me how my day was. But now when he does not come back as usual (he's at a Sons of Liberty meeting) I feel nervous. Right now, the children are with Lavinia, so I have time to write. Writing helps me figure out my feelings.    Everyone keeps talking about the fighting that is going to happen. My husband wants freedom from the British, and the King George III. He wants our colonies to be free so that they can vote and rule themselves. The Patriots want to make their own decisions about what is best for all of us that live here in America. My husband probably will go to fight against the British army. I am petrified. I hope we get our life back, and not to be ruled by anyone except ourselves. I am afraid that my life will fall apart and I will loose my husband because of the British.           

Signed, Jane Hall