BOSTON TOWN RECORDS. [FIFTH BOOK, CONTINUED.] [211.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday the 6th. Day of March 1770 11 O'Clock A: M: occasioned by the Massacre made in King Street, by the Soldiery the preceeding Night The Selectmen not being present and the Inhabitants being informed that they were at the Council Chamber, it was Voted that Mr. William Greanleaff be desired to proceed there, and acquaint the Selectmen that the Inhabitants desire and expect their attendance at the Hall; and the Town Clerk acted as Moderator of this Meeting in the Interem The Committee returned and informed that they had delivered the Message of the Town to the Selectmen, who had desired them to acquaint the Inhabitants, that they would give their attendance immediately The Selectmen attend & Moderate Upon a Motion made it was Voted, that if any of the Inhabitants present could give information respecting the Massacre of the last Night, that they be desired to do it in Meeting, that the same might be minuted by the Town Clerk Upon a Motion made and seconded Voted, that Constable Wallace wait upon the Rev. Dr. Cooper, and acquaint him that the Inhabitants desire him to open the Meeting with Prayer Information given in by Mr. John S. Coply, that Mr. Pelham and his Wife and some Persons of Mr. Samuel Wenthrops Family, heard a Soldier to say after the fixing on the last Night, that the Devil might give quarters he should give them none Information given in by Mr. John Scott, that a Lad of M2. [212.] Peirpoints said at M. Cherdons, that a Soldier was heard to say that his Officer had acquainted them, that if they went abroad at Nights, they should go armed and in Companies Mr. Peirpoints informs that before the firing on the last Night he had disarmed a Soldier who had struck down one of the Inhabitants The Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. Chosen Moderator of this Meeting by a Hand Vote Mr. Pool Spear informs, that last Week he heard one Kilson a Soldier of Pharras Company say, that he did not know what the Inhabitants were after, for that they had broke an Officers Win dows (meaning Nathaniel Roger's Windows) but that they had a scheeme on foot which would soon put a stop to our proceedure - that Parties of Soldiers were ordered with Pistols in their Pockets, and to fire upon those who should assault said House again, and that Ten Pounds Sterling was to be given as a Reward, for their killing one of those Persons, and fifty pounds sterling for a Prisoner The Persons that appeared to give Informations relative to the Soldiery, being many, it was found inconvenient to take them in the Meeting, it was therefore Voted, that Mr. William Greanleaff Mr. William Whitwell Mr. Samuel Whitwell be and hereby are appointed a Committee to take the Depositions which are offered respecting the conduct of the Soldiery The Inhabitants having considered of the steps proper to be taken by them upon this alarming occasion Voted that [213.] The Honble. Thomas Cushing, Moderator Mr. Henderson Inches be a Committee to wait on his Honor the Lieut. Governor; and acquaint him; that it is the unanimous Opinion of this Meeting, that the Inhabitants and Soldiery can no longer dwell together in safety; that nothing can be rationally expected to restore the peace of the Town, and prevent blood and Carnage, but the immediate removal of the Troops; and that they therefore most fervently pray his Honor that his power & influence may be exerted for their instant removal. Then the Meeting was dissolved [214.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston legally qualified and warned in publick Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday the 6 Day of March Anno Domini 1770. 3 O'Clock, P:M: The Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting Faneuil Hall not being Capasious enough to receive the Inhabi tants who attended; Voted, that this Meeting be Adjourned to Dr. Sewalls Meeting House The Committee appointed to deliver a Message of the Town to his Honor Leuvitenant Governor, Reported, and laid before the Town the Reply they had received from his Honor in Writing which is as follows Gentlemen I am extremely sorry for the unhappy differences between the Inhabitants and the Troops and especially for the action of the last Evening, and I have exerted myself upon that occasion, that a due inquiry may be made and that the Law may have its course. I have in Council consulted with the Commanding Officers of the two Regiments which are in the Town. They have their Orders from the General at New York. It is not in my power to countermand those Orders. The Council have desired that the two Regiments may be removed to the Castle. From the particular concern which the 29th. Regiment has had in these differences Collo. Dalrymple who is the Commanding Officer of the Troops has signified to me that the Regiments shall without delay be placed in the Barracks at the Castle untill he can send to ye [215.] The General and receive his further Orders concerning both the Regiment and that the Main Guard shall be removed and the 14th. Regiments so disposed and laid under such restraint, that all occasion of future differences may be prevented The foregoing Reply having been read, and fully considered the Question was put Whether the Report be satisfactoryPassed in the Negative almost unanimously (but one dessen tient) It was then moved and Voted, that The Honble. John Hancock Esq. Mr. Samuel Adams Mr. William Mollineux Samuel Pemberton Esq. be and hereby are appointed a Committee to wait on his Honor the Lieut. Governor, and inform him, that it is the unanimous opinion of this Meeting, that the Reply made to a Vote of the Inhabitants presented his Honor in the Morning is by no means satisfactory, and that nothing less will satisfy them, than a total and immediate removal of the Troops. The Committee having waited upon his Honor the Lieut. Governor agreable to the foregoing Vote; laid before the Inhabitants the following Vote of Council, removed from his Honor His Honor the Lieut. Governor laid before the Board a Vote of the Town of Boston passed this Afternoon, and then Addressed the Board as follows Gentlemen of the Council I lay before you a Vote of the Town of Boston, which I have Just now received from them, and I now ask your advice what you Judge necessary to be done upon it [216.] The Council thereupon expressed themselves to be unanimously of Opinion that it was absolutely necessary for his Majestys service and the good order of the Town and the peace of the Province that the Troops should be immediately removed out of the Town of Boston, and thereupon advised his Honor to communicate this advice of the Council to Coll°. Dalrymple, and to pray that he would order the Troops down to Castle William The Committee also informed the Town, that Coll. Dalrymple after having seen the above Vote of Council, said to the Committee That he now gave his word of honor that he would begin his preparation in the Morning, and that there should be no unnecessary delay untill the whole of the two Regiments were removed to the Castle The above Report of the Committee having been read, by the Town Clerk; the Inhabitants could not but express the high satisfaction, which it afforded them The Town having determined that it was highly necessary and expedient to have a strong Watch of our own for the protection of the Inhabitants in the Night, untill the troops would remove, and the Committee who delivered the last Message to the Lieu*. Governor having kindly offered to make themselves a part of the Watch for this Night, their offer was gratefully accepted and said Committee were desired to take such a number of the Inhabitants with them as they might think proper, and also to appoint a Watch for succeeding Nights; and as it was concluded that the Townsmen were now very generally provided with Arms and Ammunition, it was agreed that in case of any disturbance in the Night they should repair to a place they may appoint for a general Muster [217.] Upon a Motion made and seconded-Voted, unanimously That this Town have the greatest abhorrence of one of its Inhabitants vizt. Samuel Water-house, who in defiance of the united sentiment not only of his Fellow Citizens, but all his Fellow Countrymen expressed repeatedly in the Votes and Records of the Honble. House of Representatives of this Province, has continued to accommodate Troops at this time so Justly obnoxious to a free People and abhorrent to a free Constitution, and thereby basely prostituted a once respectable Mansion House to the use of a Main Guard A Copy of one of the Hand Bills posted up the Evening preceeding the horrid Massacre, was read to the Town, and diverse Testimonies relative to that bloody affair Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to the Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. the Moderator for dispatching the Business of this Meeting Then the Meeting was dissolved. At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston legally qualified and warned in publick Town Meet ing Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Monday- the 12th. Day of March Anno Domini 1770 Prayer, was made by the Rev. Dr. Cooper read [218.] Sundry Laws enjoined to be read at this Meeting were accordingly read The Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting, and took the Oaths respecting his paying & receiving Bills of Credit of the Governments of Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, as required by an Act of this Province William Cooper was chosen Town Clerk for the Year ensuing, and having taken the Oath respecting his paying & receiving Bills of Credit of the Governments of Connecticut New Hampshire and Rhode Island, took the Oath of Office for the faithful discharge of his duty, which oaths were Administered to him by one of his Majesties Justices present at the Meeting The Town proceeded to the choice of Seven Selectmen, and the Votes being brought in and sorted, it appeared that Joshua Henshaw Esq. Joseph Jackson Esq. The Honble. John Hancock Esq. Samuel Pemberton Esq. Mr. Henderson Inches Mr. Jonathan Mason were chose Selectmen for the Year ensuing The Town brought in their Votes for twelve Overseers of the Poor, and upon sorting it appeared that John Barrett Esq. The Honble. Royal Tyler Esq. Mr. Benjamin Dolbear Mr. William Whitwell were chose Overseers of the Poor for the Year ensuing - see May 15. The Town brought in their Votes for twelve Wardens, and upon sorting them it appeared that The Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. Joshua Henshaw Esq. Mr. Samuel Adams William Phillips Esq. The Honble. John Hancock. Esq. John Scollay Esq. Mr. William Greanleaff |