Boston Massacre trial notes [page 1]

File name: 06_01_000710

 

Call no.: Ms.Am.229(23)

 

Title: Boston Massacre trial notes [page 1]

 

Creator/Contributor: Adams, John, 1735-1826 (creator)

 

Creation date: 1770

 

Summary: John Adams's original trial notes from the Boston Massacre.

 

Genre: Manuscripts

 

Transcription:

Evidence of Commotions that Evening.

 

James Crawford: Went home to Bull’s Wharf at dark about 6 o’clock, met numbers of people going down toward the Town House with sticks. At Calf’s Corner, I saw about a dozen with sticks. At Calf’s Corner Saw above a dozen with sticks; in Quaker Lane and Green’s Lane, met many going towards King Street. They had very great sticks, pretty large cudgels, not common walking canes.

 

Archibald Gould: I was going to Crawford’s at Bull’s Wharf at 8pm. At Swing Bridge, the people were walking from all quarters with sticks. I was afraid to go Home, went through Green’s Lane, and met many People the streets in such commotion as I hardly ever saw in my Life. Uncommon sticks, such as a man would pull out of a Hedge. Was at Hancock’s Wharf, [when] the bells begin to ring. Mem., it must have been later.

 

[crossed through] Archibald Wilson, William Hunter, David Mitchelson, James Silking, Archibald Bowman, William Dixion: Six of us were all at our house at Mr. Hunter’s, and all agree in their general account and with witness B. Davis. [end cross through]

 

John Gillispie: At 7pm, went up to the South End to Mr. Silvester’s, met forty or fifty, with white sticks, in small parties of four or five in a Party. This was through the Main Street.

Thomas Knight: At his own Door, eight or ten passed with sticks or clubs and one of them said, “Damn their Bloods. Let us go and attack the main guard first.” The Bell were ringing. One of them made and pause and said, “Let us go and get our guns. I’ll go and get my gun.” He went in and told his wife he believed there would be bloodshed. This was also in the main street.

 

Nat. Russell vid. Mem, if these Witnesses are believed, People were in Motion both in the main street and from the Town House toward the South End and in Quaker Lane, and Greens Lane.

 

Archibald Wilson, Hunter, Mitchelston, Silking, Bowman, Dixon, six of them were all at one House at Mr. Hunter’s in Dock Square, and all agree in their general account, though they don’t all remember

 

Location: Boston Public Library, Rare Books Department

 

Rights: No known restrictions

 

Done