The Boston Tea Party
The Night of the Party
On the morning of November 29, 1773, the Bostonians woke to the sound of church bells ringing throughout the city. These signaled an emergency. Many left their homes to file onto the streets to investigate.
A meeting was held at the Old South Meeting House to discuss the arrival of the Dartmouth. More than five thousand attended, and the meeting lasted two days. Although the attendees were cold and smelly, none of that mattered when the fate of the colonies hung in the balance.
Samuel Adams spoke, and explained that the Dartmouth had to be unloaded and taxes paid within twenty days. The Patriots didn’t want the tea, and they didn’t want to pay the taxes. So, the Sons of Liberty stationed guards at Griffin’s Wharf to ensure no chests left the ship. They posted more guards when the next ship, Eleanor, arrived on December 2. The third ship, Beaver, entered port on December 15.
Repeated messages were sent back to Governor Hutchinson, demanding that he send the ships back to Britain, but he was steadfast. Over the next several days, the mood throughout Boston darkened. Tensions flared, and nerves grew tense. Patriots and Loyalists could hardly make eye contact with one another. The Sons of Liberty held secret meetings. And they reached a difficult decision: the tea had to be destroyed.
On December 16, the Bostonians made one last final appeal to Governor Hutchinson. Francis Rotch, whose family owned Dartmouth, was sent to Hutchinson’s home to ask permission to take the ship away from Boston. Again, Hutchinson refused. So, Samuel Adams announced that the meeting could do no more to save the country.
Many Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Native Americans, painting their faces with soot and grease. They meant this to be a symbolic gesture to show the colonists’ loyalty to America, as the Native Americans were native to America. The angry crowd poured onto the street. They carried axes, hatchets, and tomahawks. By the time they reached the Harbor, there were nearly one hundred protesters.
Men like Samuel Adams and John Hancock were too recognizable, so they stayed behind. But others carried out the mission. They all had some sort of disguise, and if they couldn’t find one, they’d simply darken their face with soot so they were unrecognizable. Most of the men who took part in the raid were young; only nine men were older than forty, and sixteen of them were teenagers.
The Patriots quietly reached the ships. Onlookers stood, silent. The Patriots split into three groups, one for each ship. They managed to sneak on board, and using pulleys and ropes, hoisted the huge chests of tea, each weighing up to 320 pounds, onto the deck. They split the chests open with axes, slashed through the canvas bags, and dumped the tea leaves overboard.
The men hardly spoke while they worked. Samuel Cooper, who was sixteen years old, accounts that “No noise was heard except the occasional clink of the hatchet.” By 10 PM, the entire cargo of three ships was thrown overboard.
The men swept the decks clean so there were no more tea leaves. They even removed their shoes and shook them out. But many Patriots looked at the tea wistfully. They all wanted the tea leaves, but no tea meant no tea.
As the Patriots made their way back onto the wharf, one of them pulled a fife out, and began playing a tune. The men were exhausted, but exuberant.
December 16, 1773 – late afternoon
This afternoon, Felicity, Charles, Uncle George, and Father went to a meeting about the ships in Boston Harbor. Nearly 5,000 people were there, angry that the governor wouldn’t send the ships back to England. That night, while walking home, Charles whispers to Felicity that he intends to help toss the tea off the ships. Felicity nods, and says she’ll help too. Charles begins to argue, but Felicity demands that she’s going, and that’s that.
December 17, 1773 – after midnight
Just after dusk on the 16th, Charles and Felicity meet in the stable. Felicity dons her favorite: breeches. Charles and Felicity darken their faces with soot so they’re hard to see and recognize. They rush to join the group headed to Griffin’s Wharf.
They’re ordered to march quietly. Felicity freezes with fear when she sees the British Royal Navy warships patrolling the harbor. There’s nearly one thousand onlookers watching. Charles tells Felicity the onlookers are also there for protection: the British soldiers won’t trouble an innocent crowd.
They group splits into three. Charles and Felicity board the Dartmouth. A familiar voice tells the captain to go belowdecks, and no harm will come to him. The voice is Uncle George!
The group works quietly as shadows. Felicity hears only the creaks of ropes and pulleys hoisting the chests of tea to the deck. Men break open the chests with their axes, and begin tossing the tea overboard. Men in canoes beat down the floating tea so it sinks.
It’s Felicity’s job to sweep the remaining tea off the ship’s deck. Her arms ache and hands begin to blister. But she keeps sweeping until all the tea is gone.
By ten o’clock, it’s over. Felicity hands her broom to a member of Dartmouth’s crew, finds Charles, and descends the gangplank. Together, they trudge home, exhausted. Back in the safety of the stable, they brush the tea leaves off their clothes and scrub the soot from their faces. Felicity is proud of herself—she officially joined the fight for justice.