Boston History Blog from 1768 to 2004

Who's Who in Colonial Boston

1/28/2017

The extent of Colonial Boston’s town structure is quite the eye-opener to a 21st Century citizen. We have attached the town register collated by Robert Francis Seybolt. There are some well known and highly influential citizens listed on the registry.

How about John Rowe again? Listed as a “fireward” in 1769. Additional “esquires” with notable assignments were;

John Hancock, Selectman, resume well known.
Joseph Belknap Overseer of the Poor, a credible witness deposed on the Boston Massacre.
John Singleton Copley, Clerk of the Market. Famous portrait painter and Tory.
James Otis, Moderator, “taxation without representation is tyranny.”
Samuel Adams. (note, there is no Esq. after his name).
John Gray, Surveyor of Hemp and Flax. The owner of Gray’s Rope Walk, site of the pre-Boston Massacre brawls. Learn more about the importance of hemp and rope to Colonial Boston here. (Read from the seventh paragraph, for an overview of the three ropewalk brawls immediately befoe the Boston Massacre).

The title of “Esq” appears after several distinguished names. In the 20th Century, it was a suffix used to designate lawyers that passed the bar exam. It meant nothing of the same in the 18th Century. It was a very elevated acknowledgment of a person’s position in life. We could not find an exact standard for the title that permitted others to refer to you as Esquire. Paul Revere sought this acknowledgment his entire life. Often it drove him into industries and positions that he felt would elevate him, such as Coroner of Boston, printer of the currency, Grand Mason of the Freemasons, colonel of the artillery, a provider of copper to the U. S. Navy and express rider for the Continental Congress. It simply was not enough for Paul to earn the respect of the upper class.

We might suggest that the number of town citizens assigned to a function was indicative of its importance. Firewards seemed to point to the constant threat of fire on the well-fare of Boston. For an overview of Boston’s eleven major fires click here to visit our blog.

Have some fun researching the several other functions; Fence Viewers, Sealers of Leather, Informer About Deer, Clerks of the Market and Cullers of Staves. After the libel trial of John Hancock, a function of Purveyor of Madeira Wine should have been added.

John Hancock’s Admiralty Trials End Feb 1769

1/25/2017

January 31, 1769, John Rowe’s Diary Entry Mostly About Yesterday’s Fire at the Jail 398 days before the Boston Massacre

1/22/2017

--------------Too Many Boston Fires--------------

1/19/2017

An Elaboration on John Rowe’s Part in the Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773

1/15/2017

John Rowe, of Rowe’s Wharf fame, was an avid tea drinker and owned one of the three tea ships, the Eleanor. He is quoted by several participants at the Old South Meeting House the night of the Party, “perhaps salt water and tea will mix tonight”. John Rowe kept an extensive diary with 2,294 entries. Here is his entry for the night of the tea party; perhaps intentionally defensive.

Dec. 16. — I being a little unwell staid at home all day and all the
evening. The Body meeting in the forenoon adjourn'd untill afternoon.
Broke up at dark. Several things passed between JNIr. Rotch^ and them.
A number of people appearing in Indian dresses went on board the three
ships Hall, Bruce, and Coffin (sic); they opened the hatches, hoisted out the
tea, and flung it overboard ; this might, I believe, have been prevented.
I am sincerely sorry for the event. Tis said near two thousand people
were present at this affair.[iv] (See an image of the original entry below.)

Other estimates suggest 7,000 people surrounded the three tea ships that night while 100-125 Colonial Mohawks did their deed.

John Rotch, owner of the other two ships and contents, attended the Old South Meeting House, rode to Governor Hutchinson at his Milton home and tried desperately to save his tea. The Governor did not act. Sam Adams did.

January 11, 1769, Wednesday, the British Soldier is Offered Meat in Lieu of Hard Currency 418 days to the Boston Massacre

1/12/2017

January 10, 1769, Tuesday, The British Army Seems to Have Run Out of Hard Currency 418 Days before the Boston Massacre

1/10/2017

January 7, 1769, The Admiralty Court Case Against John Hancock Closed the Court Room from the Public. 422 Days before the Boston Massacre

1/7/2017

January 6th, 1769, Boston Overwhelmed by Strangers

1/6/2017

A Very Complex Member of the Secret Six that Financed John Brown; Samuel Gridley Howe

1/6/2017

Fifth of Six Articles about those that Financed John Brown - Samuel Gridley Howe

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Local Bostonians engulfed in the unique history of our town. We enjoy walking and talking history, it is more interesting than historical fiction. We will tailor any tour to the nature of your group, college, high school/middle school, international, retirees, history buffs, general public wishing to walk beyond the Freedom Trail., Tours can be adjusted to be ADA compliant.

Date: Fri, jun 22, 2018, 3:57 pm
subject: re: walk boston history Tour
to: n>

The tour of the freedom trail with the emphasis on Paul Revere was very informative. We started at the state house and learned about its architecture. We continued through Boston Commons and past the burial grounds. We then continued to the north end and Paul Revere’s house. At each stop Mitch had many interesting and little known facts to tell us. We were surprised by the number of occupations Paul Revere had. During our walk through the north end Mitch pointed out various restaurants to eat in. The tour was about 2 miles of walking and lasted about 1 hour 45 minutes and was most enjoyable. We would definitely take another tour with Mitch in the future.
Betsy, florida

6/5/2018

9/5/2017
Hi Sheila,

I just wanted to tell you and Mitch how very much I enjoyed today. Mitch is passion for history comes through loud and clear in his delivery.

I learned new facts about Paul Revere that I had never known before.

Mitch was so well-prepared including all of the pictures and it was obvious that heput a lot of time and effort into this tour and the presentation.

So thank you so much for the invitation
He did a great job!
leslie b, Natick

10/18/2017Hi Mitch, finally getting to say thank you for such an enjoyable day and tour of Paul Revere etc.. I truly learned so much and loved walking through so much of historic Boston! PHYLIS, nh

9/5/2017
Hi Beth,
Thanks for asking us to go on your tour, Mitch, of Boston’s historic sites. Your enthusiasm and love of history is contagious. You made history come alive. Sorry I had to leave early. I bet the tour of the North End was equally exciting! You put your all into it.
sarah r. Wellesley

6/15/2017 gxxxxen@snhu.edu Comment 6/1/2017, Your remarks about John Hancock really painted a historical image of the man.

6/1/2016
Hi Mitch, resume services reviews has just posted a comment on your blog post, Why Did Paul Revere Become a Coroner at the Age of Sixty-two? : This is a very interesting piece of historical information. I was never aware of this information before. I didn't even know how relevant Paul Revere is in the history of Boston. It seems that he is a very important figure on Boston's foundation. I'm definitely going to dwell further into matter and research more about him. Comment actions:

Irishman1987
I was there that day with members of Jerusalem lodge #104 Keene NH, I am so glad I had the chance to attend this event and pay my respects.

6/3/2017 GS, SNHU,edu, Mitch your remarks about John Hancock really painted an historical image of the man.

10/15/2016 Thank you so much for the Boston Massacre Tour. I never knew it was such a complicated affair. I particularly liked the incidental historical stops about Colonial Boston. I hadn't been downtown for years. You opened up so much for me. June, Natick Ma.