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

John Rowe was a very humble citizen of Boston. The list of civic positions and functions he supported was extensive. Here’s a short list[i];
              Selectman
              Relief Committee as Ombudsman for the Poor
              Treasurer of the Charitable Society
              Officer of Trinity Church (a spin-off of his Kings Chapel church on Washington St.)
              Freemason, deputy then Grand Master of all of North America
              Son of Liberty
              Boston Tea Party (he was a tea drinker)
              Fire volunteer and fire warden
Political committees to express grievances but never to suggest independence
              Merchants committee to address price fixing
              Boston representative to the General Court (State of Mass)
              Adopted parent

Yesterday, John Rowe was active as a fire warder(sic) suppressing and witnessing the Gaol (jail) fire.

Here is his diary entry logged the next day;

" Last night I was awakened by the cry of Fire   it was the County Goal which was burnt down & the neighbourhood very much in Danger. The officers & Army behaved extremely clever on this Occasion & ought to have the Publick thanks of this town.   I can truly say they were the means of saving it---- I waited on Brigadier Pomroy and Colo. Kerr and thanked them for their Behaviour." . . .

Please click here, for a brief chronology of the major fires in Boston. Combined with the several severe hurricanes, the landscape of Boston was significantly changed. Our tours will provide additional background on nature's imprint on Boston; even on the deceased of Boston.

https://www.walkbostonhistory.com/the-boston-massacre-lesson-plan.html

https://www.walkbostonhistory.com/history-blog/john-adams-1st-of-three-legal-victories-a-murder-on-the-hms-rose-316-days-before-the-boston-massacre

https://www.walkbostonhistory.com/history-blog/christopher-snyder-seider-was-killed-246-years-ago-by-ebenezer-richardson-eleven-days-before-the-boston-massacre-of-march-5-1770

https://www.walkhbostonhistory.com/history-blog/-yankee-doodle-dandy-not-a-patriotic-song

[i] Letters and Diary of John Rowe: Boston Merchant, 1759-1762, 1764-1779 By John Rowe, Edward Lillie Pierce, 1-20 edited by Anne Rowe Cunningham ; introduction Edward Lillie Pierce. Published W. B. Clark Co., 1903

John Rowe's fire bucket. Compliments to the Boston Fire Historical Society

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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

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.

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.