29 Francis Bernard, Massachusetts Governor Describes a Riot against the Stamp Act, 1765
Francis Bernard, Massachusetts Governor Describes a Riot against the Stamp Act, 1765
Introduction to Primary Source:
Francis Bernard was the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony during the early protests against Parliament’s Stamp Act. In August of 1765 leaders of the growing opposition to the Stamp Act organized a public protest in Boston that targeted the businesses and residences of imperial officials charged with implementing the new laws and collecting and enforcing various duties, particularly Peter Oliver, the local stamp distributor. Bernard witnessed the crowd’s actions over a series of days, which he characterized as “riotous proceedings” by a “mob” with no respect for order or either public or private property. Virtually powerless to stop the crowd, Bernard wrote an account of what happened to apprise ministers in England of the breakdown of law and order in the colony. While biased against their cause, Bernard’s letter is nonetheless a remarkable account by an eyewitness to the actions of a crowd of protestors on the streets of Boston in the early days of the American Revolution.
Document:
Excerpts from a LETTER [from Governor Francis Bernard] to the Lords of Trade, dated August 15, 1765.
Yesterday morning, at break of day, was discovered hanging upon a tree, in a street in the town, an effigy, with inscriptions, shewing that it was intended to represent Mr. Oliver the secretary, who had lately accepted the office of stamp distributor. Some of the neighbours offered to take it down, but they were given to know, that would not be permitted. Many gentlemen, especially some of the council, treated it as a boyish sport, that did not deserve the notice of the governor and council. However, the lieutenant-governor [Thomas Hutchinson], as chief justice, directed the sheriff to order his officers to take down the effigy; and a council was appointed to meet in the afternoon, to consider what should be done, if the sheriff’s officers were obstructed in removing the effigy.
Before the council met, the sheriff reported, that his officers had endeavoured to take down the effigy, but could not do it without imminent danger of their lives. The council met, represented this transaction as the beginning of much greater commotions, and desired their advice what should be done upon this occasion. A majority of the council spoke in form against doing any thing ; but upon very different principles: some said it was a trifling business, which, if let alone, would subside of itself; but if taken notice of, would become a serious affair. Others said, it was a serious affair already: that it was a preconcerted business, in which the greatest part of the town was engaged: that there was no force to oppose it, and making an opposition to it, without a power to support the opposition, would only enflame the people, and be a means of extending the mischief to persons not at present the objects of it. The sheriff was ordered to assemble the peace-officers, and preserve the peace; a matter of form, rather than real significance.
It now grew dark; when the mob, which had been gathering all the afternoon, came down to the town-house, bringing the effigy with them; and, knowing that they were sitting in the council-chamber, they gave three huzzas, by way of defiance, and passed on. From thence they went to a new building, lately erected by Mr. Oliver to let out for shops, and not quite finished: this they called the stamp-office, and pulled it down to the ground in five minutes. From thence they went to Mr. Oliver’s house, before which they beheaded the effigy, and broke all the windows next the street. Then they carried the effigy to Fort Hill, near Mr. Oliver’s house, where they burnt the effigy in a bonfire, made of the timber they had pulled down from the building. Mr. Oliver had removed his family from his house, and remained himself with a few friends, when the mob returned to attack the house.
Mr. Oliver was prevailed upon to retire, and his friends kept possession of the house: the mob finding the door barricaded, broke down the whole fence of the garden towards Fort Hill; and coming on, beat all the doors and windows of the garden front, and entered the house, the gentlemen there retiring. As soon as they had got possession, they searched about for Mr. Oliver, declaring they would kill him. Finding that he had left the house, a party set out to search two neighbouring houses, in one of which Mr. Oliver was; but, happily, they were diverted from this pursuit by a gentleman telling them, that Mr. Oliver was gone with the governor to the castle; otherwise he would certainly have been murdered. After eleven o’clock, the mob seeming to grow quiet, the lieutenant-governor, chief justice, and the sheriff, ventured to go to Mr. Oliver’s house, to endeavour to persuade them to disperse: as soon as they began to speak, a ringleader cried out, “The governor and the sheriff! to your arms, my boys!” Presently after a volley of stones followed, and the two gentlemen narrowly escaped, through favour of the night, not without some bruises. I should have mentioned before, that a written order was sent to the colonel of the regiment of militia, to beat an alarm: he answered, that it would signify nothing, for as soon as the drum was heard, the drummer would be knocked down, and the drum broke: he added, that probably all the drummers of the regiment were in the mob. Nothing more being to be done, the mob were left to disperse at their own time, which they did about twelve o’clock. Whilst I am writing, I saw a bonfire burning on Fort Hill, by which I understand the mob is up, and probably doing mischief; I shall therefore discontinue this letter till I can receive information of what is done this night.
August 16. In the afternoon of yesterday, several gentlemen applied to Mr. Oliver, to advise him to make a public declaration, that he would resign the office, and never act in it; without which they said his house would be immediately destroyed, and his life in continual danger; upon which he was obliged to authorize some gentlemen to declare in public, that he would immediately apply for leave to resign, and would not act in the office (as indeed it was impossible for him to do) until he received further orders.
August 22. I come now to pursue the subject of my letter, dated the 15th and 16th instant.—It is difficult to conceive the fury which at present possesses the people of Boston, of all orders and degrees of men: if a gentleman, in common conversation, signifies his disapprobation of this insurrection, his person is immediately in danger. A gentleman having said, that, notwithstanding what was passed, he would accept of the stamp-office, a day was fixed for pulling down his house; it was prevented not without difficulty. Another gentleman having mentioned his expectation, that some regular forces would be sent into town, was obliged to make intercession to prevent his being mobbed. A minister of the Church of England having, in his sermon, obliquely condemned these proceedings, has been threatened with the resentment of the people. On the other hand, a minister of one of the principal meetings told Mr. Oliver, that though he was sorry this mischief had fell upon him, yet it was a very proper and necessary proceeding, and he quite approved of it. Another congregational minister, well known by his late polemical writings, has, as I have been told by several persons, justified this proceeding in his sermon, and prayed for its success: but there are congregational ministers, I doubt not, (and I know some) who condemn it, but they dare not speak out, which is the case of every one who does not approve of it. I would not willingly aggravate matters, but I really fear much worse to come than is passed: the sheriff of this county, a prudent and resolute man, has told me, that he was applied to by some friends, who would have persuaded him to resign his office, for it would soon become dangerous for a civil officer to appear; and that both his deputies at Boston had applied to resign . . .
August 31, 1765. It is with the utmost concern that I am obliged to continue the subject of my last letters of the 15th and 16th, and of the 22nd instant, the disorders of the town having been carried to much greater lengths than what I have informed your lordships of.
After the demolition of Mr. Oliver’s house was found so practicable and easy, and that the government was obliged to look on, without being able to take any one step to prevent it, and the principal people of the town publicly avowed and justified the act; the mob, both great and small, became highly elated, and all kinds of ill-humours were set on foot; every thing that, for years past, had been the cause of any unpopular discontent, was revived; and private resentments against persons in office worked themselves in, and endeavoured to exert themselves under the mask of the public cause.
On Monday, August 26, there was some small rumour, that mischief would be done that night; but it was in general disregarded. Towards evening, some boys began to light a bonfire before the town-house, which is an usual signal for a mob. Before it was quite dark, a great company of people gathered together, crying ‘Liberty and Property’; which is their usual notice of their intention to plunder and pull down a house. They went first to Mr. Paxton’s house, who is marshall of the court of admiralty and surveyor of the port; and finding before it the owner of the house (Mr. Paxton being only a tenant), he assured them that Mr. Paxton had quitted the house with his best effects, and that the house was his; that he had never injured them, and finally, invited them to go to the tavern and drink a barrel of punch: the offer was accepted, and so that house was saved. As soon as they had drank the punch, they went to the house of Mr. Storey, register-deputy of the admiralty, broke into it, and broke it all to pieces, and took out all the books and papers, among which were all the records of the court of admiralty, and carried them to the bonfire, and there burnt them: they also looked about for him with an intention to kill him. From thence they went to Mr. Hollowell’s, comptroller of the customs, broke into his house, and destroyed and carried off every thing of value, with about thirty pounds, sterling, in cash. This house was lately built by himself, and fitted and furnished with great elegance. But the grand mischief of all was to come.
The lieutenant-governor had been apprized, that there was an evil spirit gone forth against him; but, being conscious that he had not in the least deserved to be made a party, in regard to the Stamp Act or the Custom-house, he rested in full security that the mob would not attack him; and he was at supper with his family when he received advice that the mob was coming to him. He immediately sent away his children, and determined to stay in the house himself: but, happily, his eldest daughter returned, and declared she would not stir from the house unless he went with her; by which means she got him away, which was undoubtedly the occasion of saving his life. For, as soon as the mob had got into the house, with a most irresistible fury, they immediately looked about for him, to murder him, and even made diligent enquiry whither he was gone. They went to work with a rage scarce to be exemplified by the most savage people. Every thing moveable was destroyed in the most minute manner, except such things of value as were worth carrying off; among which were near 1,000 l. sterling in specie, besides a great quantity of family plate, &c. But the loss to be most lamented is, that there was in one room, kept fo’ that purpose, a large and valuable collection of manuscripts and original papers, . . . As for the house, which, from its structure and inside finishing, seemed to be from a design of Inigo Jones, or his successor, it appears, that they were a long while resolved to level it to the ground: they worked three hours at the cupola before they could get it down, and they uncovered part of the roof; but I suppose, that the thickness of the walls, which were of very fine brick-work, adorned with Ionic pilasters worked into the wall, prevented their completing their purpose, though they worked at it till day light. The next day, the streets were found scattered with money, plate, gold rings, &c, which had been dropt in carrying off. The whole loss in this house is reckoned at 3,000 l. sterling. It was now becoming a war of plunder, of general levelling, and taking away the distinction of rich and poor: so that those gentlemen, who had promoted and approved the cruel treatment of Mr. Oliver, became now as fearful for themselves as the most loyal person in the town could be. When first the town took this new turn, I was in hopes that they would have disavowed all the riotous proceedings; that of the first night, as well as the last. But it is no such thing; great pains are taken to separate the two riots : what was done against Mr. Oliver is still approved of, as a necessary declaration of their resolution not to submit to the Stamp Act; and even the cruel treatment of him and his family is justified by its consequences, the frightening him into a resignation : and it has been publicly hinted, that if a line is not drawn between the first riot and the last, the civil power will not be supported by the principal people of the town, as it is assured it shall be now. So that the present authority of the government is only exercised upon condition, and with prescribed limitations.
Source: The Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803, vol. XVI: 1765–1771 (London, 1813), pp. 126–28.
