Revolution250.blog

250 years ago today brought a moment of personal decision…

“I am absolutely terrified.

The situation here in Massachusetts has been building since before my family came here from Scotland, even before the dreadful Massacre in ’70. But the Act that Parliament passed last May is proving too much to bear, not for anyone who respects their rights as English men. And the publishing of Hutchinson’s letters showed us there’s no hope for us, no one’s listening, no one’s going to hear us. We have no choice, other than to drink more coffee.

The arrival of the Dartmouth at the end of last month seems to have brought it all to a head. So many people came out in protest that when Sam Adams called us to Faneuil Hall we overran the place and had to move the whole crowd over to the South Church. And did it matter that thousands of us signed a resolution demanding that her cargo of tea be sent back to England, like others had done in Philadelphia and Charleston? No! Our beloved Governor demanded we pay the tax anyway! And so the Sons assigned several dozen men to close down the wharf, and prevent her from unloading. She’s been docked there ever since.

And now two more ships have arrived, Eleanor and Beaver, loaded not with whale oil but with the King’s damn tea. Another protest is planned for tomorrow, and nobody is expecting it to end well. The Sons have called for us to meet afterwards at the Liberty Tree, and if our demands are not met, we may decide to take action. God knows what that might mean. But we’ll be ready.

As for me, the only consolation is we’ve been told to dress as Mohawks. I don’t know if that will scare anybody, but at least it will make it harder for anyone to identify us. Perhaps.

My name is James Swan. I am nineteen years old. I am a Scotsman, I am an American, but first and foremost I am an Englishman. And tomorrow I’m willing to die for my rights as an Englishman.”