Knollenberg Bernhard. Growth of the American Revolution: 1766-1775
Подождите немного. Документ загружается.
ters I . Truslow Adams’ statement in Rev. New England that the destruction
of the tea was “an irresponsible piece of reckless bravado designed to precipitate
a crisis” is in conflict with the evidence.
Hutchinson wrote Dartmouth on Jan. , , that the owners and masters of the
tea ships said “they were compelled to bring their ships to the wharffe and to keep
them there unless the Teas imported were sent back to England without payment
of the duty...,” Mass. Arch. XXVI and “Papers relating to the Boston Tea
Party” Harv. Coll. Lib. This is confirmed as to one of the ships, the Eleanor, in a di-
ary entry of Dec. , , by its owner John Rowe, Rowe –.
The Tory writer “Massachusettensis” in a letter published Feb. , , gives the
impression, without explicitly saying so, that the so-called “body” meeting in
Boston ordered the owner of the Dartmouth “to bring her to the wharf” while she
was still outside the port, i.e., before the tea on board her had become liable to
duty. The evidence shows clearly that this was not true.
Hutchinson to Gov. Tryon Dec. , , as printed in Frothingham “Tea Party”
.
Hutchinson’s actual words were “The day before, one of the ships with chests
of tea arrived, and anchored below the castle,” etc., Mass. Arch. XXVII .
First Appendix (Chapter )
Instruction of the Philadelphia mass meeting of May , , for the committee
chosen at the meeting to ask Governor John Penn to call a special session of the
Pa. Assembly, same . The Assembly had adjourned on Jan. , until Sept. , Pa.
Assembly VIII .
Petition of Philadelphia “Freeholders” to Gov. Penn to call a meeting of the Pa.
Assembly to consider action on the Boston Port Act, Force I –. (I have
found no evidence as to whether or not the committee chosen at the Philadelphia
mass meeting of May , with instructions to petition the Governor to call the As-
sembly, had a hand in securing this petition.)
Penn’s reply of June , , same .
Resolutions of the Philadelphia mass meeting of June , , and the names of
the forty-four members of the committee chosen at this meeting, same –. I
have found no evidence as to why three of the members ( Joseph Fox, John Gib-
son, and Thomas Penrose) of the original committee were dropped. The leading
part played by John Dickinson in the meeting of June and throughout the
movement for bringing Pa. into union with the other colonies is detailed in Ja-
cobson Dickinson –.
On June , , Gov. Penn, on news of the Indian outbreak, summoned a spe-
cial session of the Pa. Assembly to meet in Philadelphia July , Force I . (Per-
haps Penn thought that an extralegal convention was inevitable unless the As-
sembly were convened, and he preferred the latter; however, I have found no
evidence that the Indian threat was not the real reason for his decision.)
The Philadelphia committee’s circular letter of June , , calling for a con-
vention to meet in Philadelphia July , Smith Smith I –.
Though the Quakers now were a minority group in Pennsylvania, they retained
:
great influence in the Assembly because the three old counties, Philadelphia,
Bucks, and Chester, where they were chiefly concentrated, had twenty-four rep-
resentatives, while the more populous City of Philadelphia and the eight newer
counties combined had only sixteen, Pa. Assembly VIII . (For the situation in
, which had not greatly changed in the intervening years, Knollenberg Origin
–, , and sources cited therein.)
On May , Thomas Mifflin wrote Samuel Adams that the Friends “universally”
favored a Petition to the King before adoption of a non-importation agreement,
Rossman Mifflin . The “Elders and Overseers” of the several Friends (Quaker)
Meetings in Philadelphia had published a protest in the Pa. Gazette of June , ,
against a statement in the Pa. Packet of May , that “the Members of all Societies
in this city” had unanimously voted to suspend business on June , when the
Boston Port Act was to take effect, Lincoln Rev. Movement in Pa. .
The meeting of the convention at Philadelphia July , , with the names of the
seventy-five delegates, Force IV . The convention was called “The Commit-
tee for the Province of Pennsylvania,” same –. The place of meeting, Car-
penters’ Hall, Christopher Marshall’s diary July , Marshall .
The Pa. convention’s resolution of July , , quoted in the text, Force I .
Request from the Pa. convention to members of the Pa. Assembly July , ,
quoted in the text, same . The convention’s resolutions and a dissertation by
Dickinson, same –, were published soon afterward in a pamphlet entitled
An Essay on the Constitutional Power of Great Britain....
William Bradford of Philadelphia wrote James Madison Aug. , , that Joseph
Galloway and Charles Humphreys were “known to be inimical to the Liberties of
America,” Madison I . The charge was almost certainly unfair to Humphreys
and probably to Galloway, even though he did later become an active Tory.
Thomas Mifflin, an outstanding member of the Continental Congress, general in
the Continental Army, and a member of the Congressional Board of War, has gen-
erally been given less credit than he deserves as a leader in the Revolution, prob-
ably because of his supposed complicity in the probably non-existent “Conway
Cabal” against Washington, Knollenberg Washington and the Revolution, index un-
der “Mifflin, Thomas.” Also, Rossman Mifflin –.
Pa. Assembly’s election of delegates to the proposed Continental Congress and its
instructions to them quoted in the text, July and , , Force I –.
Second Appendix (Chapter )
Nomination by the Committee of Fifty-One of Philip Livingston, John Alsop,
Isaac Low, James Duane, and John Jay as delegates for N.Y. City and County,
July , , Force I . Isaac Sears, Alexander McDougall, Peter Van Brugh
Livingston, Leonard Lispenard, and eight other members of the committee voted
for John Morin Scott and McDougall, instead of Jay and Alsop, but were defeated,
same. A “Committee of Mechanics,” meeting on July , proposed McDougall and
Lispenard in place of Duane and Alsop, broadside of July , quoted in Becker New
York n.
Vote of support by the N.Y. Committee of Mechanics, July , . As to this com-
:
mittee, Lynd “Mechanics in N.Y.” –; Champagne “Liberty Boys and Me-
chanics” –, and documents in Force I , , , , , , , ,
, . Becker New York states that this committee was “virtually a continua-
tion of the N.Y. Sons of Liberty”; but, unlike the latter, the Committee of Mechanics
apparently represented exclusively mechanics, such as carpenters, masons, coopers,
tailors, shoemakers, butchers, and bakers, described in McKee Labor in Col. N.Y.
–; Bridenbaugh Colonial Craftsman passim; Walsh Charleston’s Sons passim.
Proceedings for election of delegates for N.Y. City and County by all “inhabitants
who pay taxes,” and the election on July , , of the slate nominated by the
Committee of Fifty-One, notices from June to July , Force I , , ,
–.
Circular letter from the New York City and County Committee of Fifty-One to
other counties of the New York province proposing their Selection of delegates,
same .
Albany, Westchester, Dutchess, and Ulster Counties authorized the delegates for
New York City and County to act for them and Orange, Suffolk, and Kings Coun-
ties elected their own delegates, Becker New York –. Six New York counties
—
Charlotte, Cumberland, Gloucester, Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), and
Tr y o n
—apparently did not choose delegates nor authorize those of New York City
and County to act for them. (Gloucester County, in present northeastern Ver-
mont, was so sparsely settled that it should perhaps not be counted.)
The names of the members of the N.Y. Assembly in are in Bonomi Factious
People App. C, unpaged, and Werner N.Y. Civil List .
The offending resolutions referred to by Moore asserted the Assembly’s right to
petition the King and correspond with the Assemblies of other colonies as it saw
fit, protested against any suspension of the N.Y. Assembly other than by the
Crown’s exercise of its prerogative to prorogue or dissolve the Assembly, and in-
structed the Speaker (Philip Livingston) to answer the Massachusetts House’s cir-
cular letter of Feb., , described in Chapter , inviting the Assemblies of other
colonies to join in protesting against the Townshend Act, same –.
Governor Sir Henry Moore’s dissolution of the New York Assembly and state-
ment of his reason for doing so, Jan. , , N.Y. Assembly Journal Oct., , ses-
sion, –.
There are sketches of Philip Livingston (–), a Signer of the Declaration of
Independence, and James De Lancey (–), in D.A.B., and of Jacob Walton
(d. ) and James Jauncey (d. ) in Stevens New York Part .
William Smith to Robert R. Livingston Jan. , , concerning the negotiations
quoted in the text, Bonomi Factious People n. There is a sketch of Smith (–
) in D.A.B. He was a member of the N.Y. Council and closely connected po-
litically with Philip Livingston’s brother, William (Dillon New York Triumverate pas-
sim), and by marriage with their nephew, Peter R. Livingston. (The wives of Smith
and Peter R. Livingston were sisters, daughters of James Livingston, Livingston
Livingston .)
The election in of New York City’s representatives in the Assembly and the
vote for John Morin Scott, Champagne “Liberty Boys and Mechanics” ;
Champagne “N.Y. Elections” –; Bonomi Factious People –. Scott tried
:
unsuccessfully to persuade the Assembly to oust his successful opponent, James
Jauncey, from the Assembly on the ground of having corrupted many of those who
had voted for Jauncey, N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) Oct., , session , ,
–. As to Scott, sketch of him in D.A.B. and Dillon New York Triumverate (includ-
ing Scott) passim.
There is a sketch of John Cruger, a leading merchant of New York City, former
Mayor of the City (–) and one of the representatives of New York City and
County in the Assembly (–, –), in D.A.B.
Cruger’s niece, Polly Cruger, was married to Walton, Wilson New-York IV xx, and
his nephew, John Harris Cruger, was married to De Lancey’s niece, Anne De
Lancey, Stevens New York Part . De Lancey and Walton, too, were related by
marriage: De Lancey’s sister, Mary, was the wife of Walton’s brother, William,
same .
The church affiliations of De Lancey, Walton, Jauncey, and Cruger as stated in
the text, “Philo-Patriae” in New-York Gazette Jan. , . The unidentified writer
pointed out that Cruger was a member of the “pure, Orthodox Dutch Church,”
not of the congregation of the Reverend Archibald Laidlie. Members of the
Dutch Reformed Church in New York were at odds over various issues described
in papers of July, , to May, , published in Hastings N.Y. Ecclesiastical Records
VI – passim.
Philip Livingston was a member of the Great Consistory of the Dutch Reformed
Church in New York, which in voted to consent to calling an English-
speaking minister to serve as a collegiate pastor of the Church, Robert F. Williams,
Clerk and Treasurer of Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City
of New York, to the author Jan. , . No evidence is cited for the statement in
the sketch of Livingston in D.A.B. that it was “the Presbyterians with whom he
worshipped,” and I have seen none.
Theodore (Theodorus) Van Wyck was a member of the congregation of the Dutch
Reformed Church of which Laidlie was pastor, Hastings N.Y. Ecclesiastical Hist. VI
, , , –, , , , .
Membership of Peter Van Brugh Livingston and Scott in the Presbyterian
Church, Osgood “Society of Dissenters” , . There is a sketch of P. V. Liv-
ingston in D.A.B.
The N.Y. Assembly election of Jan., , Bonomi Factious People –; Cham-
pagne “N.Y. Elections” –; Champagne “Liberty Boys and Mechanics” .
The vote was: De Lancey, ; Walton, ; Cruger, ; Jauncey, ; Philip Liv-
ingston, , Scott, ; Peter Van Brugh Livingston ; Van Wyck, ; same
. In the vote for the four successful candidates was: Philip Livingston,
,; De Lancey, ,; Walton, ,; and Jauncey ,; same .
The disgust of voters over the Dissenters’ injection into the election campaign of
the issue of Church v. Dissenters and other factors contributing to the victory of
the De Lancey ticket, Bonomi Factious People – and sources cited therein.
Governor Moore wrote Secretary of State Lord Hillsborough June , , that
“a licentious set of Men who call themselves the Sons of Liberty” had had “great
influence on the Elections of Members for this City...,” N.Y. Col. Doc. VIII .
The Sons of Liberty in New York City are discussed in Morais “Sons of Liberty in
:
New York” –; Champagne “The Sons of Liberty...in New York Politics”
passim; Champagne “Sons of Liberty” –; Champagne “Liberty Boys” –
; Champagne “Military Assoc. of the Sons of Liberty” –; Friedman
“Disruption of Family Politics” –; Bonomi Factious People – passim; Maier
Resistance –, –; Becker New York –; Leake Lamb –, –. For a
good account of the Sons of Liberties in other colonies, Maier Resistance –,
– passim.
Isaac Sears, John Lamb, and others wrote Nicholas Ray Oct. , , of “the dis-
solution of our society [Sons of Liberty]...immediately upon the repeal of the
Stamp Act,” same . A New York City broadside dated July , , announced
the formation of a new Society, “the United Sons of Liberty,” to support the non-
importation agreement and secure repeal of the Townshend Act duties, Am. Revo-
lution in N.Y. –, but gave no evidence of who promoted or composed the
Society.
There is a sketch of Sears (b. about ; d. ), outstanding leader of the more
zealous Whigs in New York City from to , when he retired to his native
Conn., in D.A.B. and an unpublished dissertation, Robert Jay Christen “King
Sears: Politician and Patriot . . .” (), in the Columbia U. Lib. Sears was a
member of the New York City Chamber of Commerce, composed of leading
merchants of the city, Stevens New York Part –, and of the important com-
mittee of merchants chosen to enforce the New York City merchants’ non-
importation agreement of –, Pitkin , .
Sears’ outstanding leadership of the Sons of Liberty in N.Y. against the Stamp
Act, Capt. John Montresor’s diary, Feb. to Aug. , , Montresor , , ,
, ; Champagne “Military Assoc. of the Sons of Liberty” –.
Sears’ support of the De Lancey ticket in the election, Champagne “N.Y.
Elections” and sources cited therein. Sears was a vestryman of Trinity Church
(Episcopal) –, Dix Trinity Church IV , which suggests that he probably
was an Anglican in .
The New-York Journal of Nov. , , reported: “On Monday last [Nov. ]...
Effigies of Governor Bernard and Sheriff Greenleaf of Boston...made their ap-
pearances in the Streets, hanging on a Gallows...attended by a vast Number of
Spectators...after which they were publickly burnt....”
Gov. Moore’s proclamation offering a reward for the arrest and conviction of the
ringleaders in the demonstration of Nov. , and his message to the Assembly Nov.
, , requesting a vote of funds to pay the offered reward, N.Y. Assembly Journal
(for –) Oct., , session, .
Adoption Nov. , , of a motion to grant funds to pay the reward, by a vote of
to , same .
The resolution against the N.Y. Suspending Act, presented to the Assembly Dec.
, , failed explicitly to name the act, N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) Oct.,
, session, . De Lancey’s motion was for an amendment explicitly to denounce
the act. (Wilson New York II and Becker New York state that De Lancey’s mo-
tion was designed “to cut out the [Assembly’s] resolution with respect to the right
of correspondence,” i.e., was pro-British; but neither Wilson nor Becker cites evi-
dence to support the statement, which is discredited by the Assembly’s minutes.)
:
De Lancey’s motion was defeated to , N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) Oct.
, session, .
Peter R. Livingston (–) was the son of Philip’s oldest brother, Robert R.
Livingston, Jr. (–), third and last lord of Livingston Manor. There is a
sketch of Peter R., a Harvard drop-out, in Shipton Harvard Graduates XIV –.
Abraham Ten Broeck was a brother of Philip Livingston’s wife, born Christina
Ten Broeck. Pierre Van Cortlandt’s wife (born Joanna Livingston) and Philip Liv-
ingston had a common grandfather, Robert Livingston (–), first lord of
Livingston Manor. Sketches of Philip Livingston, Ten Broeck, and Van Cortlandt
are in D.A.B. and genealogical data in Livingston Livingston passim.
Peter R. Livingston wrote Philip Schuyler Feb. , , that “for the sake of the
Family, as Philip was Speaker, have given him up my Place,” Bancroft transcripts,
N.Y.P.L. The initial plan had been for Ten Broeck to step aside to permit Philip’s
election as member for Rensselaerwyck Manor; but this had miscarried, same.
Election of Cruger as Speaker of the Assembly, April , , N.Y. Assembly Journal
(for –), April, , session, .
Philip Livingston’s ouster from the Assembly, May , , by a vote of to ,
same . The N.Y. Election Act of May , , referred to in the text provided
that representatives “shall be Dwelling & Resident within the Cittys, Countys &
Manors” for which elected, N.Y. Col. Laws I . There apparently was no ques-
tion that Philip Livingston was not a resident of the Manor. Non-residents had
sometimes been permitted to sit, Bonomi Factious People –, but improperly
so in view of the Act of .
After Philip Livingston’s ouster, Robert R. Livingston, described in note below,
was repeatedly elected for the Manor, but each time was rejected by a majority in
the Assembly on the ground of the impropriety of a judge of the N.Y. Supreme
Court sitting in the Assembly, same –. Finally, Peter R. Livingston was re-
elected member for the Manor and, on February , , was accepted as its
member by vote of the Assembly, N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) Jan., ,
session, .
Judge Robert R. Livingston (–), a judge of the N.Y. Supreme Court and
one of the two members in the Assembly for Dutchess County from to ,
was defeated for election in and again in , Bonomi Factious People , ,
n. There is a sketch of him in D.A.B. He was the father of the better-known
Chancellor Robert R. Livingston (–) and a first cousin of Philip Liv-
ingston, Livingston Livingston –, .
The tenants of Henry Beekman and R. G. Livingston whose votes defeated Judge
Livingston presumably had leases for life which, under a N.Y. Election Act of Oct.
, , put the leasee on the same footing in voting for representatives in the As-
sembly as an owner of land in fee, N.Y. Col. Laws I .
The Assembly’s grant of supplies for the troops at the April, , session was
made without a division at any stage, minutes of the Assembly April to May ,
N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) April, , session, – passim.
Peter R. Livingston to Schuyler Feb. , , concerning the defeat of Judge Liv-
ingston and the possibility by proper management of forcing a dissolution of the
Assembly and a new election, Bancroft transcripts, N.Y.P.L.
:
Message of Acting Governor Cadwallader Colden to the Assembly Nov. , ,
asking for the supplies for the British troops required by the British Quartering
Act, N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) Nov., , session, . Colden had suc-
ceeded Moore upon the latter’s death Sept. . There are sketches of Moore (–
) and Colden (–) in D.A.B.
The votes of supplies for the troops since , without a single division, can be
followed in N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) passim. The required supplies had
been voted as recently as May , , same, April, , session, –.
Vote of supplies for the troops out of proposed new issue of paper currency, Dec.
, , same, Nov., , session, .
A motion for the bill to issue £, in paper currency, effective April , ,
was adopted Dec. , , and the bill was passed Dec. , same , . It was con-
curred in by the provincial Council Jan. , , N.Y. Legislative Council Journal II
–, and signed by Colden the next day, Colden to Hillsborough Jan. ,
, N.Y. Col. Doc. VIII . Colden pointed out in this letter that if the Crown dis-
approved the act, it could be disallowed before it was to take effect. The act is in
N.Y. Col. Laws V –.
Motion on Dec. , , by William Nicoll of Suffolk County to supply the troops
as described in the text, N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) Nov., , session, .
(Perhaps Colden intimated to Nicoll or other members of the Assembly that he
would sign the proposed currency act only on condition that at least part of the
money for the troops be voted from existing funds; but I have found no evidence
of this.)
John De Lancey, member for Westchester Borough, was a first cousin of James De
Lancey and a grandson of Colden, Jones Hist. of N.Y. I . But neither John De
Lancey nor other members of the Assembly, except those from New York City,
voted together with such consistency as to constitute a bloc. However, votes in the
New York provincial Council, recorded in Smith Memoirs I –, indicate that
there was a group voting together in the Council, including James De Lancey’s
uncle, Oliver De Lancey, which might be considered a “De Lancey” bloc.
Vote on Nicoll’s motion, N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) Nov., , session,
. All those voting in favor of the motion were from lower New York; those vot-
ing against it were about equally divided between upper and lower New York.
Many residents of lower New York benefited directly from the sale of supplies to
the British forces in New York City, headquarters of the British army in North
America, and were, therefore, particularly interested in having the Assembly
grant the funds to pay for these supplies.
Gerlach Schuyler gives evidence that Schuyler was incapacitated from gout in
early December, , and probably he was absent from the Assembly on De-
cember . When the bill for the proposed grant was presented for its second read-
ing on Dec. , he voted against the bill, N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) Nov.,
, session, .
The bill to grant funds to supply the troops passed Dec. , , by a vote of
to , same . The act for the supplies, dated Jan. , , is in N.Y. Col. Laws V –
. In subsequent grants of supplies, only George Clinton and Nathaniel Wood-
hull consistently opposed the grants, N.Y. Assembly Journal (for –) passim.
:
The more zealous Whigs in New York, among whom Sears was most often named,
were usually referred to as Sons of Liberty. In his journal, William Smith referred
initially to radical Whigs as “Sons of Liberty,” later (from December, , onward)
as “Liberty Boys,” Smith Memoirs I –; –. A handbill of January, ,
signed “th Regiment of Foot,” refers to the radical Whigs as “S
—— of L ——” in
one place, as “L
—— B——” in another, Dawson Sons of Liberty –n.
The handbill dated Dec. , , signed “A Son of Liberty,” addressed “To The
Betrayed Inhabitants Of The City And Colony Of New York,” is in N.Y. Doc. Hist.
III –. An undated handbill signed “Legion,” published about this same
time, called for a meeting of citizens “to avert the Destructive Consequences of
the late base inglorius Conduct of our General Assembly...,” same –. As to
Colden’s role in N.Y. politics, Shammas “Colden” –.
Alexander McDougall’s support of Philip Livingston in the election of ,
Bonomi Factious People and sources cited therein. There are sketches of Mc-
Dougall (–), a merchant in New York City, later a general in the Revolu-
tionary War, in D.A.B. and Bonomi Factious People –, –. Having been
captain of a privateer in the Seven Years’ War, McDougall was commonly called
“Captain.” He was among the leading Presbyterian members in the founding of
the Society for Dissenters in Feb., , Osgood “Society of Dissenters” .
Petition of Jacobus Van Zandt, Sears, Joseph Bull, Joseph Drake, and Alexander
McDougall to the Mayor of New York City (Whitehead Hicks) Jan. , , ask-
ing for allotment of public land for erection of a new liberty pole, and refusal of
the City Council to grant the petition, Stokes Iconography IV –.
Peter R. Livingston to his father, Robert Livingston, Jr., Feb. , , as to having
provided the land for erection of a new liberty pole, Bonomi Factious People .
The location of the new pole and the elaborate ceremony accompanying its erec-
tion are described in Stokes Iconography IV .
Colden’s proclamation of Dec. , , quoting the Assembly’s resolution of
Dec. , and offering a reward of £ to anyone “who shall Discover” the author
of the Sons of Liberty handbill, N.Y. Doc. Hist. III –.
James Parker’s identification, Feb. , , of McDougall as having hired him to
print the Sons of Liberty handbill, Stokes Iconography IV , Smith Memoirs I .
The build-up of McDougall as the American Wilkes, Dillon New York Triumvirate
–; Jensen Founding –; Bonomi Factious People –. John Wilkes’
career from to as the champion of liberty in England is described in
Rudé Wilkes & Liberty , his influence in the colonies in Maier “Wilkes” –
; and Maier Resistance –, –, –, – passim. Maier “Pop-
ular Uprisings in America” – also is pertinent, though not dealing particularly
with McDougall or Wilkes.
Philip Livingston and Nicholas Bayard each furnished bail of £ for Mc-
Dougall April , , Dillon New York Triumvirate , citing papers in The King v.
McDougall in the minutes of the N.Y. Supreme Court of Judicature, Hall of Rec-
ords, New York City.
Scott was McDougall’s lawyer in his defense against the charge of criminal libel,
Dillon New York Triumvirate , citing the papers described in note above and
New-York Gazette May , .
:
Peter R. Livingston to Oliver Wendell concerning his support of McDougall’s
cause, Feb. , , Bonomi Factious People .
Philip and Peter Van Brugh Livingston are not included in the long list of names
of those in New York City favoring dilution of the non-importation agreement
published in the Boston Gazette of July , ; and I have found no other evidence
that they favored the dilution. Alexander Colden to Anthony Todd, July , states
that Sears and McDougall led the opposition to the dilution, but does not men-
tion the Livingstons, N.Y. Col. Doc. VIII –.
Application Dec. , , by Philip Livingston, Sears, McDougall, and others to
William Smith to use his influence with Governor Tryon not to assist in landing
the East India Company’s tea, Smith Memoirs I .
All four of the New York City members are included in the list of those in New
York City favoring the dilution of the merchants’ non-importation agreement,
published in the Boston Gazette of July , , and Colden to Hillsborough Oct.
confirms this, N.Y. Col. Doc. VIII . Launitz-Schürer “De Lanceys” cites
McDougall’s diary for July as stating that De Lancey and Walton were among
the leaders in the movement for dilution.
I have found no evidence of any of the New York City members of the Assembly
having taken part in opposition to the landing in New York of the East India Com-
pany’s tea. One or more of them may, of course, have done so secretly.
The New York City delegation to the First Continental Congress included not
only Philip Livingston, but two of his nephews by marriage
—James Duane, mar-
ried to a daughter of Philip’s brother, Robert Livingston, Jr., and John Jay, mar-
ried to a daughter of Philip’s brother, William.
Fourth Appendix (Chapter )
Thomas Hutchinson to Lord Dartmouth Oct. , , concerning Samuel
Adams’ “defalcations.” There is a similar, better-known later statement by
Hutchinson in his Hist. of Mass. III , written during the war.
The statements of Peter Oliver in his Origin , written in and by William
Gordon in his History I , published in England in .
The assessors of taxes in Boston were authorized to abate the taxes of poor per-
sons, bankrupts, and others found to be unable to pay the taxes assessed against
them, and, if the assessors failed to make all permissible abatements, the Collec-
tors could, on proper showing, secure additional abatements. As to these proce-
dures, records of the town of Boston listed under “Taxes, abatement of” in the in-
dex to Boston Records (for –) .
Statement by Boston town committee May , , quoted in the text, same –
. The names of committee members, appointed March , by the moderator,
James Otis, same , . (The figure “” on same is a misprint for ,. I have
made the correction in the text.)
The statement in the text as to the Boston Collectors collecting for the town,
province, and county, each with its own treasurer, same .
Boston town committee chosen March , , to examine the state of the town
treasury and its report May , same , –.
:
Boston town committee’s report of March , , on the state of the treasury and
recommendation that the bonds of delinquent Collectors “be put in suit,” same
–. I have found no evidence that the amounts due from the Collectors to
Suffolk County as its share of the taxes collected in Boston were not paid in full.
Suit on Adams’ bond as Collector for taxes for – and judgment against
him by the Mass. Superior Court March , , Goodell “Samuel Adams” .
A copy of the bond dated Nov. , , is in same n.
Adams’ petition to the town of Boston March , , for deferment of proceed-
ings by the town treasurer on Adams’ bond, Cushing S. Adams I –, and the
town’s favorable action on the petition, Boston Records (for –) .
Vote of Boston town meeting March , , appointing a committee “to wait
upon the Province Treasurer and Mr. Sheriff Greenleaf to desire that the Warrant
of Distress or Execution issued by the Province Treasurer against the said Mr.
Samuel Adams a defective Collector for this town be stayed for Six Months,”
same .
Reply quoted in the text of Harrison Gray, treasurer of Mass., March , , to
Boston town committee’s request for deferment of proceedings against Adams,
Goodell “Samuel Adams” .
Adams’ undated petition, quoted in the text, presented to a Boston town meeting
March , , New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg. () –.
Undated “List of subscribers towards Mr. Adams’ debt,” New Eng. Hist. & Gen. Reg.
XIV .
Acceptance of Adams’ offer of settlement at a Boston town meeting, March ,
, Boston Records (for –) . Robert Pierpont as surety on Adams’ bond
for , Goodell “Samuel Adams” n. An act to enable Pierpont to enforce
payment of tax debts owed to Adams was passed by the Mass. Legislature July ,
, Chap. of Acts of –, Mass. Acts V and editorial note concerning
this, same –.
Report of committee to Boston town meeting March , , concerning the de-
ficiencies referred to in the text, Boston Records (for –) . The committee
had been elected the preceding May, same . The committee’s report dealt ex-
clusively with Adams’ accounts with “the town.” I have found no evidence con-
cerning the amounts, if any, still owed by him to the county and province as their
shares of the taxes for the collection of which he was responsible.
Vote of March , , quoted in the text, Boston Records (for –) –.
Under the terms of their employment, Boston Collectors of taxes were entitled to
fees only if they turned over to the town, county, and province treasurers within
specified times the amounts they were responsible for collecting
—e.g., Boston
town minutes for March , , same (for –) .
Black’s Law Dictionary discusses various legal definitions of “embezzlement.”
Adams’ election as one of Boston’s four representatives in the Mass. House in
and his reelection every subsequent year through , Boston Records (for –
) , , , , ; (for –) , , , , , evidences his pop-
ularity with the voters at Boston town meetings. Adams was reelected nearly
unanimously in every year after , except in , when he received votes
out of a total of , same (for –) .
: