The Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre

March 5, 1770

Boston, Massachusetts, Circa 1770

What we know happened.A crowd (or mob) of Bostonians approached and began yell at a group of seven or eight British soldiers and their commanding officer, Captain Thomas Preston.

British soldiers of the time were nicknamed “Lobsterbacks”

What we know happened.Preston and his men were coming to the aid of a lone British Sentry (guard) in front of the Custom’s House (Seaport Tax Office).

The Boston Custom’s House

What we know happened.The crowd (or mob) surrounded the group of soldiers under Captain Preston’s command.Captain Preston’s efforts to get the crowd (or mob) to calm down and disperse (go home) failed.

What we know happened.The crowd (or mob) was calling the soldiers things far worse than “lobsterback”.The crowd started throwing things.

What we know happened.A musket was fired at the crowd (or mob).This first shot was immediately followed by more shots.

What we know happened.The crowd (or mob) quickly went home.The soldiers and Captain Preston went back to their barracks (the buildings where groups of soldiers live).Five Bostonians were dead or dying.

Grave of the five victims

What we know happened.People were angry.

QuestionsDid the soldiers fire with provocation?Did they fire on their own?Was Captain Preston guilty of ordering his men to fire into a crowd of civilians?Was Preston innocent and being used by men like Samuel Adams to confirm the oft-claimed tyranny of England?

Patriots claimed. . . .

A Short Narrative of the Horrid Massacre in Boston.

Printed by Order of the Town of Boston.

THE HORRID MASSACRE IN BOSTON, PERPETRATED IN THE EVENING OF THE FIFTH DAY OF MARCH, 1770, BY SOLDIERS OF THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT

Paul Revere engraved the event.

Paul Revere by John Singleton Copley

Source: www.americaslibrary.gov

Crispus Attucks

This is a mid 1850s depiction of the attack.

Why isn’t Crispus Attucks in the engraving?

Bias?Racism?Personal Animosity?Lack of knowledge?Another reason.

QuestionsDid the soldiers fire with provocation?Did they fire on their own?Was Captain Preston guilty of ordering his men to fire into a crowd of civilians?Was Preston innocent and being used by men like Samuel Adams to confirm the oft-claimed tyranny of England?

What happened after the Boston Massacre?

The soldiers were put on trial.

March 13, 1770A grand jury indicts Captain Preston and eight soldiers are indicted for murder in connection with the massacre.

Queen Street Courthouse

September 7, 1770Preston and the soldiers are formally arraigned on charges of murder.  All plead "Not Guilty."

October 24-30, 1770Captain Preston is tried.  A jury acquits Preston after the evidence fails to establish that he gave the order to fire.

A scene from the Trial

November 27, 1770The trial of the eight soldiers begins.

December 5, 1770Six of the soldiers are acquitted on all charges.  Two soldiers, Montgomery and Killroy are convicted of manslaugter. 

December 14, 1770Montgomery and Killroy plead "the benefit of clergy" to reduce their punishment to branding.  Sheriff Greenleaf brands the two men on their right thumbs.

The Defense Attorney Speaks“The part I took in the Defence of Cptn. Preston and the Soldiers . . . was one of the best pieces of service I ever rendered my Country”“As the evidence was, the verdict of the jury was exactly right.”

John Adams, Patriot and our second President