The Pennsylvania Gazette article March 22, 1770, on the Boston Massacre

Paul Revere's copper plating of the Boston Massacre March 5, 1770

Below is a very explicit article in the Pennsylvania Gazette of the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770.  On October 2, 1729, Benjamin Franklin and Hugh Meredith purchased the newspaper.  Over the years Ben Franklin's network of cooperating presses and printers quickly distributed news through the colonies without regard to attribution.  This article is so full of information it is as if they personally observed the Massacre, including accurate autopsy information that was released  just a few days after the riot.

As in most accounts, before the actual trials (3), Captain Preston was accused incorrectly of ordering the soldiers to fire.(1)

Imaged below is the actual printed article followed by a modern type translation.

An explanation of the long S used in the early colonies is available by clicking here.

 
Translated into modern type leaving some obvious old English:

'BOSTON, March 12. UR Readers will doubtless expect a circumstantial Account of the tragical Affair on Monday Night last; but we hope they will excuse our not being so particular as we should have been, had we not seen,  that the Town was intending an Enquiry and full Representation thereof.

On the Evening of Monday, being the 5th Current, several Soldiers of the 29th Regiment were seen parading the Streets with' their drawn Cutlasses and Bayonets, abusing and wounding Numbers of the Inhabitants.

A few Minutes after Nine o Clock, four Youths, named Edward Archbald, William Merchant, Francis Arcbbald, and John Leechjun.  down Cornhill  together and separating at Dr. Loring's Corner, the two former were paffing the narrow Alley leading to Murray's Barrack, in which was a Soldier bran - dishing a Broad Sword of an uncommon Size against the Walls out or which he struck  fire plentifully. A person of a mean Countenance, armed with a large Cudgel, bore him Company; Edward Archbald admonished Mr. Merchant to take Care of the Sword, on which the' Soldier turned round, and' struck Archbald on the Arm, then pushed at Merchant, and pierced through his Clothes inside the Arm, close to the Arm - pit, and grazed the Skin. Merchant then struck the Soldier with a short Stick he had, and the other Person ran to the Barrack, and brought With him two Soldiers, one armed with a Pair of Tongs, the other with a Shovel ; he with the Tongs pursued Archbald back through the Alley, collared and laid him over the Head with the Tongs. The Noise brought People together, and John Hicks, a young Lad, coming up Knocked the soldier down, but let him up again; and more lads gathering, drove them back to the Baracks where the Boys stood for some time as it were to keep them in. In less than a Minute 10 or 12 of them came out with drawn Cutlasses, Clubs and Bayonets, and set upon the unarmed Boys and young Folks, who stood them a little while, but finding the Inequality of their Equipment, difspersed. On hearing the Nofe, one Samuel Atwood came up, to see what was the Matter, and entering the Alley from Dock - square, heard the latter Part of the Combat, and when the Boys had disfpersed, he met the 10 or 12 Soldiers aforesaid rushing down the Alley towards the Square,and asked them if they intended to murder people?   They answercd, yes, by G - d, Root and Branch ! With that one of them struck Mr. Atwood with a Club, which was repeated by another, and being unarmed, " he turned to go off, and received a Wound on the Left Shoulder, which reached the Bone, and gave him much Pain. Retreating a few Steps. Mr. Atwood met two Officers, and said, Gentlemen, what is the Matter? They answered, you’ll see by and by. Im - mediately after, those Heroes appeared in the Square, askmg, where were the Boogers ? where were the Cowards ?' But notwith standisg their Fiercenessso naked Men, one of them advanced to wards a Youth, who had a Split of a raw Stave in his Hand, and said. damn them, here is one of them ; but the young Man seeing a Person near him with a dawn sword and good Cane, ready to support him, held up his Stave in Defiance, and they quietly passed by him up the little Alley by Mr. Siliby's to King - street, where they attacked single, and unarmed Persons, till they railed much Clamour, and then turned down Cornhill Street, infsulting all they met in like Manner, and pursuing some to their very Doors. Thirty or forty Persons, mostly Lads, being by this Means gathered in King Street, Captain Preston, with a Party of Men with charged Bayonets, Bayonets, came from the Main Guard to the Commissioners House, the Soldiers pushing their Bayonets, crying, Make Way ! They took Place by the Cuftoms House, and continuing to push to drive the People off, pricked some in several Places ; on which they were clamorous, and, it is said, threw Snow - balls. On this, the Captain commanded them to fire', and, more Snow - balls coming, he again said, Damn you, fire, be the Consequence what it will ! One Soldier then fired," and a Townsman, with a Cudgel, struck him over the Hands with such Force, that he droped his Firelock ; and rushing forward, aimed a Blow at the Captain's Head, which, grazed his Hat, and fell pretty heavy up - jn his Arm. However, the Soldiers continued the Fire, successively till 7 or 8, . or as some say, 11 Guns were discharged.

By this fatal Manoeuvre, three Men were laid dead on the Spot, and two more struggling for Life j but what shewed a Degree of Cruelty, unknown to British Troops," at least since the House of Hanover has directed their Operations, was an Attempt to fire upon, or push with their. Bayonets the Persons, who undertook to remove the slain and wounded !

Mr. Benjamin Leigh, now Undertaker in the Delph Manufactory, Manufactory, came up, and after some Conversation with Captain Preston, relative to his Conduct in this Affair, advised him to draw of his Men, with which he complied. . The Dead are Mr. Samuel Gray, killed on the Spot, the Ball entering his Head, and beating off a large Portion of his Skull. A Mulato Crispus Attucks, who was born in

The Pennsylvania Gazette,  22 Mar 1770, Thu,  Page 2

Framingham but lately Belonged to New ProvIdcnce, and was here in order to go for North - Carolina, also killed instantly ; two Balls - entering - his Breast, one of them especially goring the Right Lobe the Lungs, and a great Part of the Liver most horribly. ' Mr. James Caldwell, Mate of Captain Morton’s Vessel, in like Manner killed, by two Balls entering his Back. Mr. Samuel MavericK, a promising youth, Son of the Widow Maverick, and an Apprentice to Mr. Greenwood, Greenwood, Ivory Turner, mortally wounded, a Ball went through his Belly, and was cut out at his Back : - He died the next Morning. A Lad, named Christopher Monk about 17 an apprentice to  Mr. Walker. Shipwright wounded, a Ball enteredhis.Back, about 4 Inches above the Left Kidney , near the spine and was cut out of the breast on the same side apprehended he will die. A Lad named John Clark 17 Years of Age, whose parents live in Medfield apprentice to Captain Samuel Howard of this Town, wounded a Ball entered just above his groin and came out of his Hip, on the opposite side, apprehended he will die.

Mr. Edward Payne, of this Town, Merchant, stlanding at his Entry Door, received a Ball in his Arm, which shattered some of the Bones.
 - Mr. John Green, Taylor, coming up Leverett's Lane, received a Ball just under his Hip, and lodged in the under Part of his Thigh, which was extracted.

 - Mr. Robert Patterson, a Seafaring - Man, who was the Person that had his Trowsers shot through in Richardfon's Affair, wounded ; a Ball went through his Right Arm, and he suffered great Loss of Blood,

Mr. Patrick Carr, about 30 Years of Age, who worked with. Mr. Field, Leather - Breeches - Maker in Queen - Street, wounded by a Ball entered near his Hip, and went out - at his Side.

A Lad, named David Parker,' an Apprentice to Mr. Eddy the Wheelwright, wounded by a Ball entered in his Thigh.
 The People were immediately alarmed with the Report of this horrid Massacre, the Bells, were set a Ringing, and great Numbers soon assembled at the Place where this tragical Scene had been acted : their Feelings may be better conceived than expressed : and while some were taking Care of the Dead and Wounded; the Rest. were in Consultation what to do in. those dreadful Circumstances. But so little intimidated were they notwithstanding their being within a few Yards of the Main - Guard, and feeing the 29th Regiment under Arms, and drawn, up in King Street ; that they kept .their Station and appeared, as an Officer the Rank expressed it, ready to run upon the very Muzzles of their Mufskets. The Lieutenant - Governor soon came into the Town - House, and there met some of his Ma jesty’ s Councile and a Number or his Magistrates ; a consierable Body of People immediately entered the Council Chamber, and expressed themselves to his Honour with a Freedom and Warmth becoming the Occasion. He used his utmost Endeavours - to pacify them, requesting that they would let the Matter subside for the Nighty and promising to do all in his Power that Justice would be done, - . and the Law have its Course ; Men of lnfluence and Weight with the People were not wanting on their. Part to procure their Compliance with his Honour Request, by expressing the horrible Consequences of a promiscuous and rash Engagement in the Night, and alluring them that such Measures should be entered upon in the Morning, as would be agreeably to their Dignity, and a more likely Way of obtaining the best: Satisfaction for the Blood of their Fellow - Townsmen. The'. Inhabitants attended to these Suggestions, and the Regiment under Arms being ordered to their Barracks, which was insfisted - upon by the People, they then separated, and returned to their , Dwellings by One o'Clcck. , At 3 o'Clock Captain Preston was committed, as were the Soldiers who fired, a few Hours after him.

Tuezday Morning prezented a most mocking Scene, the Blood our fellow citizens running liKe water tnrougn  the streets - and the Merchants Exchange, the principal Spot of the Military - Parade for about 18 Months past. Our Blood might also be tracked up to the Head of Long - Lane,. and through divers other streets and pasages.

 At 11 o'Clock the Inhabitants met at Faneuil - Hall, and after some animated Speeehes becoming the Occasion, they chose a. Committee of 15 resfpetable Gentlemen to wait upon the Lieutenant –Governor in Council to request of him to issue his order for the immediate Removal fo the Troops.

That is the unanimous Opinion of this Meeting that the inhabitants and Soldiery can no longer live together in Safety; that nothing can rationally be expected to restore the Peace of. the Town, and prevent further Blocd and Carnage, but the immediate Removal of the Troops: and that we therefore most fervently pray his Honour that his power and influence may be exerted tor their insant Removal. ",; His Honour's Reply j which was laid before the Town::, - then djournd to the Old South Meeting House
Gentlemen, 1 I AM extremely sorry for the unhappy Differences between the' Inhabitants and troops, and especiaily for the Action of the last Evening, and I have exerted my self upon the Occasion, that a' due Enquiry may be made, and that the Law may have its Course; I have in Council conferred with the Commanding Officers of the two Regiments who are in the Town. They have their Orders from the General at New York. It is not in my Power to coun termand those Orders. Thee Council have desired that the two Regiments may be removed to the Castle. From the particular Concern which the 29th Regiment has had in your Differences. CoL Dalrymple, who is the commanding Officer of the Troops, has signified that without delay the regiment shall be placed in the Barracks at the Castle, until he can send to the General, and receive his further Orders concerning both the Regiments, and that the Main Guard (shall be removed, and 14th Regiment so disfposed, and, laid under full Recstraint, that all Occasfion of future Disturbances may be prevented. ;
 
That foregoing Reply having been read, and fully.considered the Question was put, Whether the Report be satisfactory ? pFassed in. the Negative (only 1 Diffentient) out of upwards of 4000 Voters. ' It was then moved 2nd voted, John Hancock,"Esq Mr. Samuel Adams, Mr. William Molineux, William Philips Esq, Dr. Joseph Warren, Jonathan Henshaw, Esg. and Samuel Pemberton, Esq; be a Committee to wait on his. Honour the Lieut. Governor, and. inform him, that it is the unanimous Opinion of this Meeting, that the Reply made to a Vote of the Inhabitants pressed his Honour in the Morning, is by no Means satisfactory ; and that nothing less will satisfy, than a total and immediate Removal of all the Troops.

The Committee having waited upon the Lieut. Governor, agreeable to the foregoing Vote, laid before the Inhabitant the following Vote of Council, received from his Honour.

His Honour the Lieut. Governor laid before the Board a Vote of. the Town of Boston, passed this Afternoon, and then addressed the Board as follows.

 Gentlemen of the Council, " I lay, before you a Vote of the Town of Boston, which I have just now received from them, and I now ask your Advice what you judge necessary to be - done upon it."

The Council thereupon expressed themselves to unanimous of Opinion, " that it was absolutely necesary for his Majesty's service, the good Order of the Town, and the Peace of the Province, that the troops should be immediately removed out og the Town of Bodton, and thereupon advided his Honour to communicate this Advice of the Council to Col. Dalrymple, and to pray that he would order the Troops down to Castle Willam. The Committee also informed the Town, that Col. Dalrymple, after havingseen the - Vote of Council, said to the Committee, That he now gave his Word of Honor that he would begin his Preparations in the Morning, and that there should be no unnecessary Delay, until the whole of the two Regiments were removed to the Castle."

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17835018/pa_gazette_boston_massacre_p2/

(1) ​​www.walkbostonhistory.com/history-blog/what-could-be-wrong-with-paul-reveres-engraving-of-the-boston-massacre

​  John Adams hand written notes on the aftermath of the Boston Massacre ​https://www.walkbostonhistory.com/history-blog/-the-boston-massacre-abstract-1

https://www.walkbostonhistory.com/history-blog/-a-short-history-of-the-long-s​ Boston finally gave up on the Long S near the end of the 18th Century
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