"The Boston Tea Party"

[Newsletter]

"The Boston Tea Party"
By: Ah1Tom

Editors Note: This month's article covers the events leading up to the Boston Tea Party and the Tea Party itself. The 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party will be taking place on Saturday, December 16, 2023

In an effort to settle the debts incurred during the French and Indian War (Seven Years War), Parliament enacted various tax measures, such as the Sugar Act, The Stamp and Quartering Acts, and the Townshend Acts. These initiatives faced significant opposition and rebellion in the American Colonies. In response, Parliament introduced the Tea Act of 1773, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies. This move aimed to address two issues: the company's need to sell 17 million pounds of surplus tea and the potential to generate extra revenue for the government by taxing the 1.2 million pounds of tea consumed annually by the colonists.

The tax on the tea had to be paid immediately upon unloading, within twenty days of the tea's arrival. Failure to meet this deadline would result in the seizure of the ships and their British East India Company Tea cargo by authorities.

The arrival of the Dartmouth on November 28 marked the beginning of the unfolding events. Colonists communicated to the Custom house, urging the ship's departure without tea payment. The Collector of Customs rejected this request. On November 29, a meeting was convened at Faneuil Hall, later moved to the Old South Meeting House due to the large attendance. At the meeting, the colonists unanimously agreed to send back the tea and refuse payment of the tax. They appointed 25 men to guard the docks and prevent the ships from docking until the meeting reconvened the next day.

Subsequently, the Eleanor arrived on December 2, followed by the Beaver on December 15. Each of these ships, namely the Beaver, Dartmouth, and Eleanor, carried over one hundred chests of British East India Company Tea.

In response to these events, the colonists posted a broadside and distributed leaflets declaring their stance.

Brethren, and Fellow Citizens! You may depend, that those odious Miscreants and detestable Tools to Ministry and Governor, the TEA CONSIGNEES, (those traitors to their Country, Butchers, who have done, and are doing every Thing to Murder and destroy all that shall stand in the Way of their private Interest,) are determined to come and reside again in the Town of Boston.I therefore give you this early Notice, that you may hold yourselves in Readiness, on the shortest Notice, to give them such a Reception, as such vile Ingrates deserve.
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                         

        JOYCE, jun.
                                                        (Chairman of the Committee for Tarring and Feathering.)

                                                    If any Person should be so hardy as to Tear this down, they
                                                    may expect my severest Resentment.              J. jun.

On the 16th of December, a gathering of Suffolk County citizens took place at a Boston church. The assembly aimed to discuss potential actions to hinder the tea's landing and protect the public from duty collection. During this meeting, a committee was formed to approach Governor Hutchinson and seek clarification on whether he intended to address the concerns raised.

Although the Governor pledged a response by 5 pm, when the designated time arrived, the committee convened at the Governor's residence only to find him absent. "Let every man do his duty, and be true to his country," declared the members before they adjourned the meeting.

On that evening, a group of more than 100 individuals, including members of the Sons of Liberty, donned attire resembling that of "Indians," specifically adopting the ponchos and soot markings reminiscent of soldiers during the French and Indian War. Armed with hatchets, axes, and pistols, they clandestinely boarded the ships (though historical accounts vary, with estimates ranging from 30 to 130 individuals, and Bostonteapartyship.com referencing 116 names from various reports).

Upon reaching the pier, the group divided into three factions, each led by unidentified figures. Co-conspirators and commanders remained anonymous to the participants. Boarding the ships, they demanded hatch keys from the captains. The men operated under strict orders not to inflict harm and to execute the rebellious act in an oddly orderly manner. The sound of boxes being chopped resonated on the slumbering ships, as chests were ripped open, and tea contents were flung into Boston Harbor, resulting in scattered tea leaves.

Remarkably, no one sustained injuries, and apart from the tea, the sole recorded damage was a broken padlock. The ships and their crews emerged unscathed, and the Sons of Liberty executed the organized protest without injury or arrest, save for one individual. Just as swiftly as they arrived, the men disappeared.

In the aftermath, nearly 100,000 pounds of tea, valued at 9,000 pounds sterling or almost $1.5 million in today's currency, lay in the harbor. This daring act subsequently became renowned as the Boston Tea Party.