Knollenberg Bernhard. Growth of the American Revolution: 1766-1775
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John Andrews to William Barrell Aug. , , concerning the financial assistance
to Samuel Adams quoted in the text, “Andrews Letters” .
John Adams’ diary for Dec. , , concerning Samuel Adams, quoted in the
text, Adams Papers II . A letter of July , , from Abigail Adams to her sister,
Mary Smith Cranch, Adams Family Corresp. I , gives an impression of Adams
different from that which one gets from the grim visage in Copley’s famous por-
trait of him. “Mr. Samll Adams and wife,” wrote Abigail, “are a charming pair. In
them is to be seen the tenderest affection towards each other, without any fulsome
fondness, and the greatest Complasance, delicacy and good breeding that you can
immagine....”
Appendix (Chapter )
James Duane seconded Galloway’s motion, and John Jay and Edward Rutledge
expressed their approval, John Adams’ notes of debates [Sept. , ,] Burnett
Letters I –. A notation by Duane on a copy of the plan in his papers at the N.Y.
Hist. Soc. states that it was “Seconded & supported by the New York Delegates,”
Boyd Anglo-American Union , meaning presumably all of those present. Gov.
Cadwallader Colden to Lord Dartmouth Dec. mentions Duane having sec-
onded the motion, Colden .
Galloway’s motion Sept. , , for the approval of his Plan of Union, Journals
Cont. Cong. I , –n. I use the word approve, rather than adopt, because there are
two versions of the motion. One of these envisages adoption, but the other, the so-
called Franklin version, states that the motion was not for the Congress to adopt
the plan, but only to approve it and submit it to the several colonial Assemblies to
be by them severally adopted and presented to the King and Parliament, same –
n.
Galloway’s Plan of Union, undated, same –.
Galloway’s authorship of the Candid Examination, which was published without the
author’s name, is known from “Galloway’s Letters –” – and Gov.
Cadwallader Colden of N.Y. to Lord Dartmouth March , , Colden –
, and the date of publication from Colden’s speaking of the pamphlet as “lately
publish’d.”
Galloway’s statements in his Candid Examination –, as to the objections to his
plan, quoted in the text. John Adams’ notes of debates, probably of Sept. , ,
record that Richard Henry Lee made the first objection and Patrick Henry the
second, Burnett Letters I . I have found no evidence as to who made the third.
The citation to the Candid Examination is to the reprint in Jensen Tracts.
The passage in the plan concerning choosing members of the General Council “in
the following proportions,” Journals Cont. Cong. I .
Candid Examination (in Jensen Tracts –) intimating that Galloway proposed
deferment of other action pending action on his plan by the King or Parliament
or both.
Ezra Stiles’ diary for Nov. , , records that Samuel Ward had told him that
day that Galloway’s plan “was almost universally rejected,” Stiles Diary I .
Ward’s diary for Oct. recorded “Met, dismissed the plan for a union, etc., (Mr.
:
Hopkins [Ward’s fellow delegate from R.I.] for the plan), I against it,” Burnett Let-
ters I . I have found no contemporary evidence corroborating a statement by
Galloway in his Historical and Political Reflections . . . (London, ), reprinted in
Journals Cont. Cong. I n., that “all the men of property and most of the ablest
speakers” supported the plan.
Statement in Galloway’s Candid Examination –, as to expunging, quoted in
the text.
Committee chosen by the Congress Oct. , , “to revise the minutes of the
Congress,” Journals Cont. Cong. I . Galloway was named to this committee, but
I have found no evidence that he acted on it.
First Appendix (Chapter )
The Council as an advisory, legislative (and also judicial) body, Labaree Royal Gov-
ernment –; Labaree Instructions I –. Also the text of a typical commission
(in ) to the Governor of a royal colony, New Jersey, in Greene Provincial Gover-
nor –.
The Governor’s authority for appointment of councilors and suspension for “just
cause” quoted in the text, same –. Richard Henry Lee wrote Arthur Lee
Dec. , , that members of the Council of Virginia are “appointed by the
Crown and their places [are] held by the precarious tenure of pleasure only,” Bal-
lagh Lee I , but he gives no evidence for his view that the Crown retained au-
thority to remove members of the Council of Virginia with or without “just cause.”
Instructions as to appointing to the Council persons of “good life,” “good estates,”
etc., Labaree Royal Instructions I –. (The instructions to the Governors of N.H.,
Nova Scotia, and S.C., for reason or reasons unknown to me, omitted the words
“of good estates,” same .)
There is no mention of tenure in what is probably a typical mandamus for the ap-
pointment of a councilor, the mandamus from the King to the Governor of N.Y.
May , , stating: “We being well satisfied of the Loyalty Integrity & Ability
of our Trusty and well beloved William Smith Junr, Esqr have thought fit hereby
to signify to you our Will and Pleasure that forth with upon Receipt hereof you
swear and admit him...to be of our Council for our Colony of New York...,”
Smith Memoirs I .
Richard Henry Lee to Arthur Lee Dec. , , complained of the councilors
holding their office “by the precarious tenure of pleasure only,” Ballagh Lee I .
See also the case of Councillor William Wragg of South Carolina, Sirmans “S.C.
Royal Council” –.
Conflicts between the Council and the Assembly in the Carolinas and Georgia are
described in Main Upper House –, –, –, –; and in South Car-
olina in McCrady South Carolina –, –, –; Smith S.C. –
passim, –; Sirmans South Carolina passim; and Greene “Bridge to Revolution”
–.
Resolution of S.C. Assembly in December, , for payment to be made by the
provincial treasurer, quoted in the text, Smith S.C. . The Speaker was Peter
:
Manigault, same . The other six members named in the resolution included
Christopher Gadsden and John Rutledge, who were later delegates from S.C. to
the First Continental Congress. The £, in S.C. currency was the equivalent
of £, sterling.
The money was to be paid by the assemblyman designated to receive it to the Sup-
porters of the Bill of Rights Society, Committee of the Assembly to correspondents
in London, Dec. , , “Garth” XXX () –. John Wilkes’ struggle to
be seated in the House of Commons and the Society’s part in this, Rudé Wilkes &
Liberty –.
Payment of the money by the treasurer as directed by the Assembly’s resolution
and its passage in April, , of a bill to repay the treasurer the money paid by
him, Smith S.C. ; Greene “Bridge to Revolution” –.
Passage by the Assembly at subsequent sessions from August, , to of bills
containing this item, same –. The controversy over the Wilkes item had been
intensified by issuance of an instruction of April , , from the Crown to Gov.
Bull not to assent to any bill appropriating money “for defraying any expense in-
curred for services or purposes not immediately arising within or incident to our
said province unless upon special order from us,” Labaree Instructions I .
Appointment of “placemen”
—men holding places at the pleasure of the Crown—
to the Council of South Carolina, Main Upper House –, –; Sirmans
“S.C. Royal Council” –; Weir “S.C. Politics” –.
Appointment of numerous placemen to the Council in Georgia and North Car-
olina, Main Upper House , –, , .
Sec. of the Massachusetts Regulating Act of , Geo. III , provided that
members of the council were to hold office only “for and during the pleasure of
his Majesty....”
Statements expressing fear over growing Crown control over the Council, had
been made in , , and by Richard Henry Lee of Va., William Henry
Drayton of S.C., and George Mason of Va., Greene Quest for Power . The
Crown’s intention to ensure Crown control of the provincial Councils was soon
further indicated by a Crown instruction to the Governor of Quebec, Jan. , ,
to appoint councilors in Quebec to serve “during Our Will and Pleasure...and
not otherwise,” S & D Doc. II .
Appendix (Chapter )
Resolutions of Boston town meetings of May and May , , described in
the text, Boston Records (for –) , .
Circular letter of June , , of the Boston Comm. of Corresp. enclosing forms
of covenant, Matthews “Solemn League” –. Two forms apparently were
circulated, but each called for non-importation of all kinds of British goods after
Aug. , , same –. This gives both forms, one of which also is in Force I
–.
The term “Solemn League and Covenant” had a special significance because this
was the title of the key document of in the revolution that overthrew Charles
:
I. A copy of the covenant of Sept. , , signed by many members of the En-
glish House of Commons, is in Adams Select. Doc. –.
A protest signed by Boston merchants and others, dated June , , is in
Force I –, and another signed by John Andrews and eight others in the Mass.
Gazette & Post-Boy of July . For additional evidence, Schlesinger Col. Merchants ;
Samuel Adams to Comm. of Corresp. of Colrain July , Cushing S. Adams III ;
Rowe’s diary for June , Rowe .
Forms of covenant somewhat similar to the Boston Committee’s were approved
by conventions of Berkshire, Worcester, Suffolk, Bristol, and Plymouth Counties,
July to Sept. , , Mass. Congress Journals , , , , .
Schlesinger Col. Merchants , n. names Worcester and thirteen other towns in
Mass. that adopted non-consumption agreements; Gov. Thomas Gage was suffi-
ciently worried over the movement to issue a proclamation June ordering the
prosecution of anyone signing or abetting signing of the covenant, M.H.S. Proc.
XII (–) ; and on July , Andrews wrote Barrell of the “amazing progress
the non-consumption agreement has made through this country [Mass.]...,”
“Andrews Letters” .
Action of Boston town meeting of June and , , described in the text,
Boston Records (for –) .
Salem Comm. of Corresp. to Falmouth Comm. July , , rejecting the pro-
posed covenant, quoted in the text, Matthews “Solemn League” –.
Marblehead and at least six other towns took action similar to Salem’s,
Schlesinger Col. Merchants –.
First Appendix (Chapter )
Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway concerning John Jay and Joseph Galloway
Feb. , , quoted in the text, Smyth Franklin VI .
William Lee to Francis Lightfoot Lee Feb. , , concerning Jay, quoted in the
text, Jensen Founding n. I agree with Jensen’s supposition that F .L. Lee was the
addressee. There is a sketch of William Lee, former sheriff of London and in May,
, elected an Alderman of the City, in D.A.B.
John Vardill’s statement concerning Jay, James Duane, and others, quoted in the
text, Einstein Divided Loyalties . D.A.B. has a sketch of Vardill (–), a
Church of England clergyman, who left New York late in or early in and
thereafter lived in England.
Vardill to Duane Sept. , , inviting a statement of his “sentiments,” quoted
in the text, Alexander Duane n.
Jay to Vardill Sept. , , while Jay was at the First Continental Congress,
quoted in the text, Jay Papers, Columbia U. Lib. Jay had been corresponding with
Vardill concerning the possibility of securing a Crown appointment for Jay as a
judge in N.Y., Monaghan Jay –. When Vardill left N.Y., Jay had been a mem-
ber of the “Protestant” (Anglican) party, but he had later joined the “Blue Skin”
(Presbyterian) party, as William Laight disgustedly wrote Vardill March , ,
same –. Matthews Dictionary I , II gives the interpolated meanings.
:
To his letter to Vardill of Sept. , , quoted in the text, Jay added a postscript,
“Pray inform me whether you ever see or hear of my Brother James;...we have
received no Letters from him for some time past; be so kind as to forward the en-
closed to him,” Jay Papers, Columbia U. Lib.
Thomas Hutchinson’s diary entry of Nov. , , concerning his talk with John
Pownall, states that, in speaking of “the proceedings of the Congress,” Pownall
said “there was a private correspondence, and every step had been communi-
cated,” Hutchinson Diary I .
Second Appendix (Chapter )
The activities of London merchants for a peaceful solution, including their peti-
tion to the House of Commons, Dec., –March, , Sosin Agents –,
–. David Barclay (–), grandson of Robert Barclay, the famous
apologist for the Quakers, and son of David Barclay (–) of D. Barclay and
Company, merchants and bankers, had long been active in business with Pa.,
Labaree Franklin IX n., XI n.
Benjamin Franklin’s appointment in , as London Agent for the Mass. House
of Representatives, Thomas Cushing to Franklin Oct. , , Mass. Papers ;
his appointment as London Agent for the Pa. Assembly in , for Ga. in ,
and for N.J. in , Sosin Agents, –.
Barclay’s talk with Franklin, Dec. , , described in the text, Franklin to
William Franklin March , , hereafter cited as Letter to W. F., Smyth Franklin
VI –.
Dr. John Fothergill and Barclay to Franklin Dec. , , proposing a meeting of
the three, same . As to Fothergill, D.N.B. and Lettsom Fothergill passim.
Franklin’s talk with Barclay and Fothergill Dec. , , Letter to W. F. –.
Franklin’s “Hints” described in the text, presented by him to Barclay and
Fothergill Dec. , , same –.
Conference of Franklin with Barclay and Fothergill Dec. , , described in the
text, same . Fox Fothergill states that Fothergill visited Lord Dartmouth
“daily at this time in his medical capacity” and, though Fox gives no source for his
statement, I suppose it is substantially true. As to Lord Hyde (Thomas Villiers), a
member of the House of Lords and of the Privy Council and Chancellor of the
Duchy of Cornwall, D.N.B. and Namier and Brooke Commons III –.
Franklin sends Barclay a copy of his “Hints,” revised to incorporate suggestions of
Barclay and Fothergill, Dec. , , Letter to W. F. –.
Barclay tells Franklin Dec. , , that Hyde thinks his “Hints” are “too hard,”
same .
Fothergill tells Franklin, probably in Jan., , that Dartmouth thought some ar-
ticles of Franklin’s “Hints” “appear’d reasonable, but others were unreasonable or
impracticable,” same . Both Hyde and Fothergill had reviewed the “Hints” with
Dartmouth, Donoughue Brit. Politics ; Dartmouth () ; Letter to W. F. .
Barclay and Fothergill on Feb. , , present Franklin with a paper of “Obser-
vations,” which Franklin tells them is unacceptable, same –; and Fothergill
:
to Dartmouth Feb. , Fothergill –. Sosin Agents n. calls attention to dis-
crepancies between Franklin’s and Dartmouth’s versions of the ministerial reac-
tion to Franklin’s “Hints,” indicating that the Ministry and Franklin were even
further apart than he understood.
Barclay and Fothergill ask Franklin for another conference, and on Feb. , ,
present him with a counterplan; the counterplan and Franklin’s commitment as
to payment for the destroyed tea, Letter to W. F. –.
Fruitless final meeting of Barclay, Fothergill, and Franklin Feb. , , same –
. Franklin had drafted some further papers, same –, but did not present
them, same .
Fothergill’s letter to Franklin condemning the Ministry, quoted in the text, deliv-
ered to him just before he sailed for America in the latter part of March, , same
.
Franklin to Joseph Galloway Feb. , , quoted in the text, opposing a closer
union with Great Britain, Smyth Franklin VI . The passage quoted by Franklin
is from Book VIII of the Aeneid, which Dryden, in his translation of the Aeneid, ren-
ders: “Till choak’d with stench, in loath’d embraces ty’d, The ling’ring wretches
pin’d away and dy’d.”
Franklin and the Honorable Mrs. Caroline Howe meet through a common ac-
quaintance Dec. , , and Franklin’s parties of chess with her, same , –
. There is a note on Mrs. Howe, sister of the Howe brothers and widow of John
Howe, in Lewis Walpole XVII n.
Sketch of Col. George Augustus Howe, D.A.B.; sketches of Admiral Richard Lord
Howe and Gen. William Howe, D.N.B.
Mrs. Howe brings Lord Howe and Franklin together at her home Christmas
night, and Howe’s statement to Franklin as to disposition of “some of the Min-
istry” for “any reasonable Accommodation,” Letter to W. F. –.
Franklin’s conference with Howe Dec. , , and statements of Howe quoted
in the text, same –, .
Franklin’s revised plan given by him to Mrs. Howe “a Day or two” after Dec. ,
, for delivery to Lord Howe, same –. The Albany Congress of re-
ferred to by Franklin is described in Labaree Franklin V –.
Howe’s message of Jan. , , to Franklin as to the “difficulty” concerning his
plan, quoted in the text, Letter to W. F. .
Howe’s conference with Franklin Feb. , , at which he suggested that
Franklin confer with Hyde, same , –.
Statements by Franklin and Hyde, quoted in the text, at their conference March
, , terminating the negotiations, same –.
Appendix (Chapter )
The New York Assembly, summoned to meet by Acting Governor Cadwallader
Colden, met on Jan. , , Force I –. The last general election for the
Assembly was in ; it had last convened in Jan.–March, . The names of the
members of the Assembly, –, their constituencies, and dates of sitting,
Bonomi Factious People App. C, unpaged.
:
Defeat of motion of Abraham Ten Broeck, Jan. , , concerning the Conti-
nental Congress, quoted in the text, Force I –. The vote was to .
Defeat of motions of Feb. and , , concerning the Continental Congress,
described in the text, by votes of to and to , respectively, same , .
Vote on John Thomas’ motion, Feb. , , concerning election of delegates to
the proposed Second Continental Congress, same . Tryon, Charlotte, and
Gloucester Counties and the district of Schenectady apparently had no members
in attendance at this session, and Cortlandt Manor apparently not before March
, , same –. Livingston Manor, long unrepresented, had regained rep-
resentation by the admission of Peter R. Livingston in Feb., , Bonomi Factious
People App. C, unpaged. John Cruger of N.Y. City and County, presiding as
Speaker, did not vote.
An exchange of letters in July, , between a committee of N.Y. citizens and four
of the five delegates to the Congress from the City indicates that the delegates ex-
pected, and were expected, to support an agreement for non-importation only,
Force I .
The Suffolk Resolves and the proceedings of the First Continental Congress con-
cerning them (Sept., ) are in Journals Cont. Cong. I –.
There is a copy of Sauthier’s map of N.Y. () showing the county and manor
boundaries of the colony in in the large () edition of N.Y. Doc. Hist. I fac-
ing p. and a tracing in Brown King’s Friends . The Highlands of the Hudson
ran from east to west through Westchester and Orange Counties. The other coun-
ties mentioned in the text are wholly south of the Highlands.
The pamphlets referred to in the text (reprinted in Vance Letters of a Westchester
Farmer) are Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of the Continental Congress...(); The Con-
gress Canvassed...(); A View of the Controversy...(); and An Alarm to the Legis-
lature...of New York...().
I follow the introduction to Vance Letters of a Westchester Farmer passim and Adams
Bibliography , , , , for the reasons given there, in attributing the pam-
phlets to Samuel Seabury, rector of West Chester parish (N.Y.), despite his state-
ment, in a petition in for release from confinement, that he had not “written
pamphlets and newspapers against the liberties of America,” Beardsley Seabury .
As to the life and writings of Seabury, first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in Conn., Vance, Beardsley, and Seabury Seabury.
Appointment Jan. , , of a committee of the N.Y. Assembly to prepare a
statement of grievances, Force I –. The committee’s statement presented
March , , same .
The solution quoted in the text, Philip Schuyler’s proposed amendment, and the
vote on this, same .
The steps taken by the New York City Committee of Fifty-One in March, , to
convene a N.Y. provincial convention, same II , –.
Convening of the N.Y. provincial convention April –, , and election by it
of delegates to the Second Continental Congress on April , same II –. The
N.Y. delegation comprised all the delegates to the First Congress except Isaac
Low, with the addition of Philip Schuyler, George Clinton, Lewis Morris, Francis
Lewis, and Robert R. Livingston, Jr.
:
Appendix (Chapter )
[Samuel Johnson] Taxation no Tyranny (London, ), Force I , “how is it that
we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?”
Examples of the outcry of leading colonial Whigs against alleged British attempts
to enslave the colonies are in Jefferson A Summary View of the Rights of British America
(Williamsburg, ), draft in Boyd Jefferson I ; Quincy Observations on...the
Boston Port-Bill (Boston, ), in Quincy Memoirs ; and John Adams’ letter of
Jan. , , in Novanglus and Massachusettensis –.
John Camm’s Critical Remarks (Williamsburg, ) . Camm’s statement was in
reply to Richard Bland’s The Colonel Dismounted (Williamsburg, ) . The pam-
phlet controversy between Camm and Bland and Landon Carter is discussed in
Knollenberg Origin –, .
The movements before of individual Quakers and Quaker meetings in En-
gland and the colonies against Negro slavery and the slave trade are described in
Weeks Southern Quakers and Slavery, – and sources cited therein; Drake Quakers
and Slavery in America passim; and Klingberg Anti-Slavery Movement in England passim.
Anthony Benezet’s comment on colonial slaveholding quoted in the text, Benezet
Caution and Warning (Philadelphia, ) . Benezet wrote Elias Boudinot April ,
, “how strange it is to see the southern Colonies take such a lead in what they
call the cause of liberty, while the most horrible oppressions, even under the Sanc-
tion of their Laws, is continually practiced among them...,” Bruns “Benezet”
. There is a sketch of Benezet in D.A.B. and a good biography, Brooke Benezet.
The efforts of the Mass. Legislature to “free themselves from Slavery,” referred to
in the passage quoted in the text, probably was the protest in resolutions adopted
by the Mass. House July , , against the payment by the Crown of the Gov-
ernor’s salary from duties imposed by Parliament on the colonies, Bradford Mass.
Papers –.
Circular letter of April , , from Peter Bestes, Sambo Freeman, Felix Hol-
brook, and Chester Joie to members of the Mass. House of Representatives in
John Allen’s Oration upon the Beauties of Liberty...Delivered at the Second Baptist Church
in Boston...Dec. d th ed. (Boston, ) appendix –. I have found no
record of the slaves’ letter in the proceedings of the House or any evidence as to
who, if anyone, helped them prepare it.
Brief Considerations on Slavery (Burlington [N.J.], ) , quoted in the text. I have
not identified the author but I think he probably was a New Jersey Quaker. Addi-
tional passages in writings at this period pointing out the irony of the outcry of co-
lonial Whigs against British enslavement of the colonies and their continuing
ownership of black slaves, Bailyn Pamphlets I –.
For facts concerning Allen, a wandering Baptist preacher who came to America
from England about , same n. Love Fast Days quotes the New-London
Gazette of Dec. , , as reporting “Last Thanksgiving .., Mr. Allen, a British
Bostonian, preached a sermon [the Oration] at the Rev. Mr. Davis’s [Baptist]
Meeting House. . . .” (Weiss New Eng. Col. Clergy , gives information con-
cerning the regular ministers at this period, but none concerning Allen.)
Allen The Watchman’s Alarm (Salem [Mass.], ) quoted in Bailyn Pamphlets I .
:
I follow Adams Bibliography , in ascribing this pamphlet and the earlier Ora-
tion to John Allen. (The ascription in Heimert Religion of the Oration to “Joseph”
Allen is almost certainly erroneous.)
Granville Sharp Declaration (New York, ) quoted in Bailyn Pamphlets I . The
numerous reprints of this popular pamphlet, published first in London, are de-
scribed in Adams Bibliography –. There is a sketch of Sharp in D.N.B.
Abigail Adams to John Adams Sept. , , concerning slavery quoted in the
text, Adams Family Corresp. I .
Adams to Abigail Adams Oct. , , acknowledging and replying in part to her
“kind favours,” but not referring to her remarks on slavery, same I –.
Even the ban on the importation of slaves in the Continental Association adopted
by the First Continental Congress Oct. , , Journals Cont. Congress I , –,
like all the other prohibitions in the Association, was to remain in force only so
long as colonial grievances were unredressed.
Patrick Henry to Robert Pleasants Jan. , , quoted in the text, Meade Henry
–. Thomas Jefferson, too, was very outspoken in condemnation of slavery,
but he manumitted only a few of his slaves, Freehling “Slavery” – at and
Jordan White over Black, passim. As to the related question of discouragement of the
slave trade in Va., Wax “Negro Import Duties” –.
The development of George Washington’s attitude toward Negro slavery is well
described in Flexner Washington IV –, –, –. Numerous details
concerning the slaves of Washington and his stepson, John Parke Custis, will be
found in Knollenberg Washington , –, , , –, , .
Washington’s will, dated July , , is in Fitzpatrick Washington XXXVII –
. The provisions for manumission of and support for his slaves are in same –
.
Resolution of Providence, R.I., town meeting May , , for gradual emanci-
pation of slaves, quoted in the text, Force I .
The four Providence representatives in the Rhode Island General Assembly in
June, , headed by Stephen Hopkins, are listed in R.I. Col. Rec. VII .
Hist. Statistics gives R.I. a Negro population in of ,, most of whom
probably were slaves.
The act quoted in the text prohibiting importation of slaves into R.I. was passed
at the June, , session of the R.I. General Assembly, R.I. Col. Rec. VII –.
The act provided that slaves illegally imported were to have their freedom.
Appendix (Chapter )
Mass. Committee of Safety’s undated circular letter to the towns of Mass. con-
cerning the events of April , , and calling for troops, Mass. Journals . (The
editor of the Journals dates the letter April , but the reference to the murders
committed “Wednesday, the th instant,” rather than “yesterday,” suggests that
the letter was written later.) The Committee of Safety also sent (April ) an ap-
peal for help to N.H. and Conn., same –n.
Depositions dated April and , , concerning the killing of members of the
Lexington militia and other events of April th, and the accompanying account
:
sent by the Mass. Congress to London Agent for publication, Journals Cont. Cong.
II –. The swift voyage to England of the schooner Quero, John Derby of
Salem, captain, and delivery of the papers to Arthur Lee (Benjamin Franklin’s
successor as London Agent for the Mass. House of Representatives) two weeks be-
fore Gen. Gage’s version reached the British Ministry, Rantoul “Cruise of the
Quero” –.
The Mass. Congress’ statement of April , , including the passage concern-
ing alleged British atrocities quoted in the text, Journals Cont. Cong. II –. This
statement and accompanying depositions were presented by John Hancock,
leader of the Mass. delegation to the Second Continental Congress, to the Con-
gress on May , same . On May , the Mass. Congress ordered the publication
of a somewhat similar statement for home consumption, “A Narrative of the Ex-
cursion and Ravages of the King’s Troops,” with accompanying depositions,
Mass. Journals –.
Murdock Nineteenth of April (); Tourtellot William Diamond’s Drum –, –
(); and Barton “Lexington” – () suggest that Parker stationed
his men in the path of the British advance by the direction or advice of Samuel
Adams, who wished to provoke bloodshed as a means of uniting the colonies
against the British. Parker’s deposition gives no hint of this, and, as brought out in
Knollenberg “Samuel Adams” – (), no substantial evidence to support
this sensational hypothesis has been adduced.
Captain John Parker’s deposition April , , quoted in the text, Journals Cont.
Cong. II . It will be observed that Parker describes himself as “Commander of the
Militia in Lexington,” not as commander of a company of “minute men.” All the
contemporary statements concerning the incident at Lexington refer to this com-
pany simply as the “Lexington company,” “Captain Parker’s company,” or the
“Company of Militia at Lexington”; the description by later writers of the com-
pany as “minute men” apparently is unwarranted.
The list of members of the Lexington company present on April , in Coburn
Battle, unnumbered page following page , gives William Diamond as the com-
pany drummer. His name is not among those signing any of the depositions con-
cerning the Lexington affair, presumably because he was under “lawful age.”
Deposition of Nathaniel Mulliken and thirty-three other members “of lawful age”
of the Lexington company of militia April , , Journals Cont. Cong. II –.
Maj. John Pitcairn to Gage April , , concerning the firing at Lexington,
French Gage’s Informers .
Lieut. William Sutherland’s statement of April , , concerning the firing at
Lexington, Sutherland – at . (Sutherland’s statement which I follow is from
the papers of Sir Henry Clinton at the Clements Library in Ann Arbor, Mich. An-
other version, dated April , differing somewhat but not substantially as to this
point, in the Gage Papers in the same library, is printed in French Gage’s Informers
–, –, –.)
Lieut. John Barker’s diary entry for April , , concerning the firing at Lex-
ington, Barker . Col. Lord Percy, who was not an eyewitness, wrote his father, the
Duke of Northumberland, April , that “there can now surely be no doubt of
: