City, capital of the
State of Massachusetts, commercial metropolis of
New England, and fifth city in the
United States in population under the census of 1900; area, about 40 square miles; municipal income in 1899-1900, $30,969,813; net expenditure, $29,777,897; value of imports of merchandise in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900, $72,195,939; value of similar exports, $112,195,555; total assessed valuation of taxable property in 1900, $1,129,130.762; tax rate, $14.70 per $1,000; population, 1890, 448,477; 1900, 560,892.
On a peninsula on the south side of the mouth of the
Charles River (which the natives called
Shawmut, but which the
English named Tri-mountain, because of its three hills) lived
William Blackstone (q. v.), who went there from
Plymouth about 1623.
He went over to
Charlestown to pay his respects to
Governor Winthrop, and informed him that upon
Shawmut was a spring of excellent water.
He invited
Winthrop to come over.
The governor, with others, crossed the river, and finding the situation there
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delightful, began a settlement by the erection of a few small cottages.
At a court held at
Charlestown in September. 1630, it was ordered that Tri-mountain should be called
Boston.
This name was given in honor of
Rev. John Cotton.
vicar of St. Botolph's Church at
Boston, in
Lincolnshire.
England, from which place many of the settlers came.
The governor, with most of his assistants, remove(d their families to
Boston, and it soon became the capital of
New England.
In August. 1632, the inhabitants of
Charlestown and
Boston began the erection of a church edifice at the latter place.
There were then 151 church-members at the two settlements.
They amicably divided, the church in
Boston retaining
Mr. Wilson as its pastor, and that in
Charlestown invited
Rev. Thomas James to its pulpit.
The Boston church edifice had mud walls and a thatched roof, and stood on the south side of State Street, near where the old State-house afterwards stood.
Mr. Wilson, who had been a teacher only, was ordained pastor of the first church in
Boston, Nov. 22, 1632.
The civil war in
England extended across the sea. The vessels of
London, the seat of Parliamentary power, furnished with privateering commissions, took every opportunity that offered to attack those of
Bristol, and other western ports, that adhered to the
King.
In July, 1644, a London vessel brought a West-of-England prize into
Boston Harbor.
The captain exhibited a commission from
Warwick, High
Admiral of
New England, and they were allowed to retain their prize; but when another
London vessel attacked a Dartmouth ship (September), as she entered
Boston Harbor with a cargo( of salt, the magistrates sent an armed force to prevent the capture.
Because o(f a defect in the commission of the privateer, the prize was appropriated as a compensation for a Boston ship which had been captured on the high seas by a royalist vessel.
Some persons in
Boston declared themselves in favor of the
King, when (March, 1645) such turbulent practices were strictly forbidden.
A law was soon passed assuring protection to all ships that came as friends; and officers were appointed to keep the peace, and to prevent fighting in
Boston Harbor, except “by authority.”
Before the news of the revolution in
England which placed William and Mary on the throne had arrived at
Boston, a daring one was effected in
New England.
The colonists had borne the tyranny of
Andros about three years. Their patience was now exhausted.
A rumor was started that the governor's guards were about to massacre some of the leading people of
Boston.
The people flew to arms, and on April 18, 1688, when the rumor had gone out of the town, the people flocked in with guns and other weapons to the assistance of their brethren.
They did not wait for the governor's troops to move, but instantly seized
Andros, such of his council as had been most active in oppressing them, with, other prisoners to the number of about fifty, confined them, and reinstated the old magistrates.
The rumor of the massacre found readier belief because of a military order which was given out on the reception of the declaration of the
Prince of
Orange in
England.
The order charged all officers and people to be in readiness to hinder the landing of the troops which the prince might send to
New England.
The people first imprisoned
Captain George, of the
Rose frigate, and some hours afterwards Sir
Edmund Andros (q. v.) Was taken at the fort on
Fort Hill, around which 1,500 people had assembled.
The people took the castle on
Castle Island the next day. The sails of the frigate were brought on shore.
A council of safety was chosen, with
Simon Bradstreet as president, and on May 2 the council recommended that an assembly composed of delegations from the several towns in the colony should meet on the 9th of the same month.
Sixty-six persons met, and having confirmed the new government, another convention of representatives was called to meet in
Boston on the 22d.
On that day fifty-four towns were represented, when it was determined “to resume the government according to charter rights.”
The governor (
Bradstreet) and magistrates chosen in 1686 resumed the government (May 24, 1688) under the old charter, and on the 29th King William and Queen Mary were proclaimed in
Boston with great ceremony.
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In 1697 rumors spread over
New England that a French armament from
Europe and a land force from
Canada were about to fall upon the
English colonies.
Such an expedition had actually been ordered from
France; and it was placed under the command of the
Marquis of Nesmond, an officer of great reputation.
He was furnished with ten men-of-war, a galiot, and two frigates; and was instructed to first secure the possessions in the extreme east, then to join 1,500 men to be furnished by
Count Frontenac, and proceed with his fleet to
Boston Harbor.
After capturing
Boston and ravaging
New England, he was to proceed to New York, reduce the city, and thence send back the troops to
Canada by land, that they might ravage the New York colony.
Nesmond started so late that he did not reach
Newfoundland until July 24, when a council of war decided not to proceed to
Boston.
All
New England was alarmed, and preparations were made on the seaboard to defend the country.
the Peace of
Ryswick was proclaimed at
Boston Dec. 10, and the
English colonies had repose from war for a while.
Nearly a tenth part of
Boston was consumed by fire on March 20, 1760, in about four hours. It began, by accident, at
Cornhill.
There were consumed 174 dwelling-houses, 175 warehouses and other buildings, with merchandise, furniture, and various articles, to the value of $355,000; and 220 families were compelled to look to their neighbors for shelter.
The donations from every quarter for the relief of the sufferers amounted to about $87,000.
As soon as intelligence of the introduction of the Stamp Act into Parliament reached
Boston.
a town-meeting was called (May, 1764), and the representatives of that municipality were instructed to stand by the chartered rights of the colonists: to oppose every encroachment upon them; to oppose all taxation then in contemplation; and concluded by saying, “As his Majesty's other Northern American colonies are embarked with us in this most important bottom, we further desire you to use your best endeavors that their weight may be added to that of this province, and that, by the united applications of all who are aggrieved, all may happily obtain redress.”
Symptoms of violent ferment in the public mind appeared in several places before the arrival of the stamps in
America.
In Boston was a great elm, under which the “Sons of liberty” held meetings, and it was known as “Liberty tree.”
On its branches the effigies of leaders among the supporters of the
British ministers were hung.
The house of
Secretary Oliver, who had been appointed stamp-distributor, was attacked by a mob (Aug. 15, 1765), who broke his windows and furniture, pulled down a small building which they supposed he was about to use as a stamp-office, and frightened him into speedy resignation.
At that time
Jonathan Mayhew, an eloquent and patriotic preacher in
Boston, declared against the Stamp Act from the pulpit, from the text, “I would they were even cut off which trouble you.”
The riots were renewed on Monday evening after this sermon was preached.
The luse of Story, registrar of the admiralty, was attacked (Aug. 26) and the public records and his private private papers were destroyed; the house of the comptroller of customs was plundered; and the rioters, maddened by spirituous liquors, prcceeded to the mansion of
Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson, on North Square, carried everything out of it, and burned the contents in the public square.
Among his furniture and papers perished manly valuable manuscripts relating to the history of
Massachusetts, which he had been thirty years collecting, and which could not be replaced.
The better part of the community expressed their abhorrence of the acts, yet the rioters went unpunished, an indication that they had powerful sympathizers.
Indemnification for losses by the officers of the crown was demanded by the
British government and agreed to by
Massachusetts.
Hutchinson received $12,000;
Oliver, $645; Story, $255;
Hallowell, $1,446.
The commissioners of customs arrived in
Boston in May, 1768, and began their duties with diligence.
The sloop
Liberty, belonging to John Hancock, arrived in
Boston Harbor June 10, with a cargo of wine from
Madeira.
It had been determined by leading merchants and citizens
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to resist these custom-house officers as illegal tax-gatherers, and when the tide-waiter, as usual, went on board the
Liberty, on her arrival, just at sunset, to await the landing of dutiable goods on the dock, he was politely received and invited into the cabin to drink punch.
At about 9 P. M. he was confined below.
while the wine was landed without entering it at the custom-house or observing any other formula.
Then the tide-waiter was sent on shore.
In the morning the commissioners of customs ordered the seizure of the sloop, and
Harrison, the collector, and
Hallowell, the comptroller, were directed to perform the duty.
The vessel was duly marked, cut from her moorings, and placed under the guns of the
Romney, a British ship-of-war, in the harbor.
The people were greatly excited by this act, and the assembled citizens soon became a mob. A large party of the lower class, headed by
Malcolm, a bold smuggler, pelted
Harrison with stones, attacked the office of the commissioners, and, dragging a custom-house boat through the streets.
burned it upon the Common.
The frightened commissioners tied for safety on board the
Romncy, and thence to Castle William, in the harbor.
The Sons of Liberty, at a meeting at Faneuil Hall (June 13), prepared a petition, asking the governor to remove the war-ship from the harbor.
The Council condemned the mob, but the Assembly took no notice of the matter.
The British troops in
Boston were a continual source of irritation.
Daily occurrences exasperated the people against the soldiers.
The words “tyrant” and “rebel” frequently passed between them.
Finally an occurrence apparently trifling in itself led to riot and bloodshed in the streets of
Boston.
A rope-maker quarrelled with a soldier and struck him. (Out of this grew a tight between several soldiers and rope-makers, when the latter were beaten; and the event aroused the more excitable portion of the citizens.
A few evenings afterwards March 5, 1770) about 700 of them assembled in the streets for the avowed purpose of attacking the troops.
Near the custom-house a sentinel was assaulted with missiles, when
Captain Preston, commander of the guard, went to his rescue with eight men. The mob attacked these soldiers with stones, pieces of ice, and other missiles.
daring them to tire.
One of the soldiers who received a blow fired, and his companions, mistaking an order, fired also.
Three of the populace were killed and five were dangerously wounded.
The leader of the mob (who was killed ) was a powerful mulatto or Indian named
Crispus Attucks.
The mob instantly retreated, when all the bells of the city rang out an alarm, and in less than an hour several thousands of exasperated citizens were in the streets.
A terrible scene of bloodshed might have ensued had not
Governor Hutchinson assured the people that justice should be vindicated in the morning.
They retired, but were firmly resolved not to endure military despotism any longer.
The governor was called upon at an early hour to fulfil his promise.
The people demanded the instant removal of the troops from
Boston and the trial of
Captain Preston and his men for murder.
Their demands were complied with.
The troops were removed to Castle William (March 12), and
Preston, ably defended by
John Adams and
Josiah Quincy, two of the popular leaders in
Boston, was tried and acquitted, with six of his men, by a Boston jury.
This loyalty to justice and truth, in the midst of unreasoning public excitement, gave the friends of the
Americans in
England a powerful argument in favor of being just towards the colonists.
The Boston tea party is a popular name given to an occurrence in
Boston Harbor in December, 1773.
To compel
Great Britain to he just towards her American colonies, in the matter of enforced taxation in the form of duties upon articles into the colonies, imposed by English navigation laws, the merchants of the latter entered into agreements not to import anything from
Great Britain while such oppressive laws existed.
The consequence was British manufacturers and shipping merchants felt the loss of the
American trade severely.
The Parliament bad declared their
right to tax the colonists without their consent; the latter took the position that “taxation without representation is tyranny,” and resisted.
The quarrel had grown botter and hotter.
Some of the duties were removed under pressure: but several articles,
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among them tea, were still burdened by duties in 1773.
The English East India Company felt the loss of their American customers for tea, of which they had the monopoly, most severely, and offered to pay the government, as an export duty, more than the threepence a pound exacted in
America, if they might deliver it there free of duty.
The government considered itself in honor bound to enforce
its laws, just or unjust, instead of conciliating the
Americans by compliance.
It allowed the East India Company to take their tea to
America on their own account free of export duty.
As this arrangement would enable the
Americans to procure their tea as cheaply as if it were duty free, the ministry supposed they would submit.
But there was a
principle which the colonists would not yield.
However small the tax, if levied
without their consent, they
regarded it as oppressive. They refused to allow any cargo of tea even to be landed in some of their ports.
Vessels were sent immediately back with their cargoes untouched.
Two ships laden with tea were moored at a wharf in
Boston, and the royal governor and his friends attempted to have their cargoes landed in defiance of the popular will.
An immense indignation meeting of the citizens was held in the
Old South Meeting-house, and, at twilight, on a cold moonlit evening, on Dec. 16, 1773, about sixty men, disguised as
Indians, rushed, by preconcert, to the wharf, boarded the vessels, tore open the hatches, and cast 340 chests of tea into the waters of the harbor.
See
Hutchinson, Thomas.
When intelligence reached
London of the destruction of tea in
Boston Harbor there was almost universal indignation, and the friends of the
Americans were abashed.
Ministerial anger rose to a high pitch, and Lord North introduced into Parliament (March 14, 1774) a bill providing for the shutting — up of the port of
Boston and removing the seat of government to
Salem.
The measure was popular.
Even
Barre and
Conway gave it their approval, and the Bostonians removed their portraits from Faneuil Hall.
Violent language was used in Parliament against the people of
Boston.
“They ought to have their town knocked about their ears and destroyed.”
said a member, and concluded his tirade of abuse by quoting the factious cry of the Romans, “
Delenda est Carthago.”
Burke denounced the bill as unjust, as it would punish the innocent for the sins
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of the guilty.
The bill was passed by an almost unanimous vote, and became a law March 31, 1774.
The
King believed that the torture which the closing of the port would inflict upon the inhabitants of that town would make them speedily cry for mercy and procure unconditional
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View of the lines on Boston Neck. |
obedience.
Not so. When the act was received at
Boston, its committee of correspondence invited eight of the neighboring towns to a conference “on the critical state of public affairs.”
At three o'clock on the afternoon of May 12, 1774, the committees of
Dorchester.
Roxbury,
Brookline,
Newtown.
Cambridge,
Charlestown,
Lynn, and
Lexington joined them in Faneuil Hall.
Samuel Adams was chosen chairman.
They denounced the
Boston Port act as cruel and unjust, by accusing, trying, and condemning the town of
Boston without a hearing, contrary to natural right as well as the laws of civilized nations.
The delegates from the eight towns were told that if
Boston should pay for the tea the port would not be closed; but their neithbors held such a measure to be uncalled for under the circumstances, and the humiliating offer not worthy to be thought of. They nobly promised to join “their suffering brethren in every measure of relief.”
Alarmed by warlike preparations everywhere in 1774,
General Gage began to fortify Boston Neck, for the purpose of defence only, as he declared.
The Neck was a narrow isthmus that connected the peninsula of
Shawmut, on which
Boston stood, with the mainland at
Roxbury.
He also removed the seat of government from
Salem back to
Boston.
The work of fortifying went slowly on, for British gold could not buy the labor of
Boston carpenters, though suffering from the dreadful depression, and workmen had to be procured elsewhere.
Workmen and timber shipped at New York for
Boston for carrying on the fortifications were detained by the “Sons of liberty” in the latter city.
Finally the fortifications were completed, and became the source of great irritation among the people.
They stretched entirely across the isthmus, and intercourse between the town and country was narrowed to a passage guarded by a military sentinel.
The fortifications consisted of a line of works of timber and earth, with port-holes for cannon, a strongly built sally-port in the centre, and pickets extending into the water at each end.
With the efficient aid of
General Gates,
adjutant-general of the
Continental army,
Washington determined to prepare for a regular siege of
Boston, and to confine the
British troops to that peninsula or drive them out to sea. The siege continued from June, 1775, until March, 1776.
Fortifications were built, a thorough organization of the army was effected, and all that industry and skill could do, with the materials in hand, to strike an effectual blow was done.
All through the remainder of the summer and the autumn of 1775 these preparations went on, and late in the year the
American army around
Boston, 14,000 strong, extended from
Roxbury, on the right, to
Prospect Hill 2 miles northwest of
Breed's Hill, on the left.
The right was commanded by
Gen. Artemas Ward, and the left by
Gen. Charles Lee.
The centre, at
Cambridge, was under the immediate command of
Washington.
The enlistments of many of the troops would expire with the year.
Many refused to re-enlist.
The
Connecticut troops demanded a bounty; and when it was refused, because the
Congress had not authorized it, they resolved to leave camp in a body.
Many did go, and never came back.
But at that dark hour new and patriotic efforts were made to keep up the army, and at the close of the year nearly all the regiments were full, and 10,000 minute-men in
New England stood ready to swell the ranks.
On Jan. 1, 1776, the new army was organized, and consisted of about 10,000 men. The British troops in
Boston numbered about 8,000, exclusive of marines on the ships-of-war.
They were well
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supplied with provisions, and, having been promised ample reinforcements in the spring, they were prepared to sit quietly in
Boston and wait for them.
They converted the
Old South Meeting-house into a riding-school, and Faneuil Hall into a theatre, while
Washington, yet wanting ammunition to begin a vigorous attack, was chafing with impatience to “break up the nest.”
He waited for the ice in the rivers to become strong enough to allow his troops and artillery to cross over on it and assail the enemy; but the winter was mild, and no opportunity of that kind offered until February, when a council of officers decided that the undertaking would be too hazardous.
Finally
Colonel Knox, who had been sent to
Ticonderoga to bring away cannon and mortars from that lace, returned with more than fifty great guns.
Powder began to increase.
Ten militia regiments came in to increase the strength of the besiegers.
Heavy cannon were placed in battery before
Boston.
Secretly Dorchester Heights was occupied by the
Americans, and fortified in a single night.
Howe saw. for the first time, that he was in real danger, for the cannon at
Dorchester commanded the town.
First he tried to dislodge the provincials.
He failed.
A council of war determined that the only method of securing safety for the British army was to fly to the ocean.
He offered to evacuate the town and harbor if
Washington would allow him to do so quietly.
The boon was granted, and on Sunday, March 17, 1776, the British fleet and army, accompanied by more than 1,000 loyalists, who dared not brave the anger of the patriots, whom they had oppressed, left the city and harbor, never to return in force.
the event gave great joy to the
American people, and the Continental Congress caused a medal of gold to be struck, with appropriate devices, and presented to
Washington, with the thanks of the nation.
When the
British rearguard left
Boston, the vanguard of the
American army marched in, and were received by the inhabitants with demonstrations of great joy. They had endured dreadful sufferings for more than sixteen months--hunger, thirst, cold, privations of every kind, and the outrages and insults of insolent soldiers, who treated them as rebels, without rights which the
British were bound to respect.
The most necessary articles of food had risen to enormous prices, and horse-flesh was welcomed, when it could be procured, as a savory dish.
For a supply of fuel, the pews and benches of churches and the partitions and counters of warehouses were used, and even some of the meaner uninhabited
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dwellings were demolished for the same purpose.
In 1822
Boston was first incorporated a city, and
John Phillips was elected the first mayor.
It then contained about 50,000 inhabitants.
The 1st of May was appointed by the charter the beginning of its municipal year, and the ceremonies of inducting the mayor and other officers into their official places were attended at Faneuil Hall.
After an introductory prayer by
Rev. Dr. Baldwin,
senior minister of the city,
Chief-Justice Parker administered the oaths of allegiance and office to the mayor-elect, who ad ministered similar oaths to other officers.
The chairman of the selectmen then arose, and, after an address to the mayor, delivered to him the city charter, contained in a superb silver case, with the ancient act incorporating the town nearly 200 years before.
Since becoming a city
Boston has had but one serious interruption in its prosperous advance.
On the evening of Nov. 9, 1872, a fire broke out which swept over 65 acres of ground, in which the principal wholesale warehouses were located, and created a loss of over $75,000,000. In less than three years afterwards the whole of this district was rebuilt in a substantial manner.
the principal thoroughfares being enlarged and otherwise improved.
Among the notable works of municipal improvements in recent years, the most important are the recovery and building up of the “back bay” district; the annexation of numerous suburban towns; the completion of a new system of water-works; the extension of its magnificent public-park system; and the construction of the “subway,” or underground railway.
