Newport Aug't 29th 1765. Thursday
My worthy Friend,
In my Last I Promis'd to give you the Particulars of Our Transactions here, Concerning the Stamp Affair, Which I now shall Endeavour to do. In the First Place I'll Just Inform you Concerning Mr. Martin Howard Jun'r and Doct'r Moffatt, who was hung in Efigy with the Stamp Master. Mr. Howard and the Doctor you must know have made themselves very Busy with their Pen (By all accounts) In Writing Against the Colonies and in Favour of the Stamp Act etc.
In the Morning of the 27th Inst. between five and six a Mob Assembled and Erected a Gallows near the Town House and then Dispers'd, and about Ten A Clock Reassembled and took the Effigys of the Above Men and the Stamp Master and Carted them up Thames Street, then up King Street to the said Gallows where they was hung up by the Neck and Suspended near 15 feet in the Air, And on the Breast of the Stamp Master, was this Inscription THE STAMP MAN, and holding in his Right hand the Stamp Act, And upon the Breast of the Doct'r was wrote, THAT INFAMOUS, MISCREATED, LEARING JACOBITE DOCT'R MURFY. In his Right hand was a folded Letter with this Direction To that Mawgazeene of Knowledge Doct'r Muffy in Rhode Island, And on the same Arm was WRote, If I had but Rec'd this Letter from the Earl of Bute But One Week sooner. And upon a strip of paper hanging out of his Mouth was wrote It is too late Martinius to Retract, for we are all Aground.
And upon Mr. Howard's Breast was wrote, THAT FAWNING, INSIDIOUS, INFAMOUS MISCREANT AND PARACIDE MARTINIUS SCRIBLERIUS, and upon his Right Arm was wrote, THE ONLY FILIAL PEN. Upon his left Arm was wrote, CURS'D AMBITION AND YOUR CURSED CLAN HAS RUIN'D ME and upon the Same Arm a little below was this, WHAT THO' i BOAST OF INDEPENDANCE POSTERITY WILL CURSE MY MEMORY. And upon one of the Posts of the Gallows was wrote, We have an Heriditary Indefeasible Right to a Halter, Besides we Encourag'd the Growth of Hemp you know. And Underneath that, was a New Song (made upon the Occasion) which I have here Inclos'd. And upon the other Post was wrote that Person who shall Efface this Public Mark of Resentment will be Deem'd an Enemy to liberty and Accordingly meet with Proper Chastisement. And about five A Clock in the Afternoon they made a Fire under the Gallows which Consum'd the Effigy's, Gallows and all, to Ashes. I forgot to tell you that a Boot hung over the Doctor's Shoulder with the Devil Peeping out of it etc. I've Inclos'd you a piece that was Stuck up in the Town House at the Same time. And after the Effigys were Burnt the Mob Dispers'd and we thought it was all Over. But last Night about Dusk they all Muster'd again and first they went to Martin Howard's, and Broke Every Window in his house Frames and all, likewise Chairs Tables, Pictures and every thing they cou'd come across. they also Saw'd down two Trees which stood before his door and Bro'd them and Stuck them upon two Great Guns which have been fix''d at the Bottom of the Parade some Years as Posts. when they found they had Entirely Demolish'd all his Furniture and done what damage they Cou'd, They left his house, and Proceeded to Doctor Moffatts where they Behav'd much in the Same Manner. I Can't say which Came off the Worst, For all the Furniture of Both Houses were Entirely Destroy'd, Petitions of the houses broke down, Fences Level'd with the Ground and all the Liquors which were in Both Houses were Entirely Lost. Dear Doctor this Moment I've Red'd a Peace of News which Effects me so Much that I Cant write any More, which is the Demolition of your worthy Daddy's house and Furniture etc. But I must Jsst let you know thta the Stamp Master has Resign'd, the Copy of His Resignation and Oath I now Send you. I hope, my Friend You'll Send me the Particulars of your daddy's Misfortune. Yours for Ever
W. Almy.
My worthy Friend,
In my Last I Promis'd to give you the Particulars of Our Transactions here, Concerning the Stamp Affair, Which I now shall Endeavour to do. In the First Place I'll Just Inform you Concerning Mr. Martin Howard Jun'r and Doct'r Moffatt, who was hung in Efigy with the Stamp Master. Mr. Howard and the Doctor you must know have made themselves very Busy with their Pen (By all accounts) In Writing Against the Colonies and in Favour of the Stamp Act etc.
In the Morning of the 27th Inst. between five and six a Mob Assembled and Erected a Gallows near the Town House and then Dispers'd, and about Ten A Clock Reassembled and took the Effigys of the Above Men and the Stamp Master and Carted them up Thames Street, then up King Street to the said Gallows where they was hung up by the Neck and Suspended near 15 feet in the Air, And on the Breast of the Stamp Master, was this Inscription THE STAMP MAN, and holding in his Right hand the Stamp Act, And upon the Breast of the Doct'r was wrote, THAT INFAMOUS, MISCREATED, LEARING JACOBITE DOCT'R MURFY. In his Right hand was a folded Letter with this Direction To that Mawgazeene of Knowledge Doct'r Muffy in Rhode Island, And on the same Arm was WRote, If I had but Rec'd this Letter from the Earl of Bute But One Week sooner. And upon a strip of paper hanging out of his Mouth was wrote It is too late Martinius to Retract, for we are all Aground.
And upon Mr. Howard's Breast was wrote, THAT FAWNING, INSIDIOUS, INFAMOUS MISCREANT AND PARACIDE MARTINIUS SCRIBLERIUS, and upon his Right Arm was wrote, THE ONLY FILIAL PEN. Upon his left Arm was wrote, CURS'D AMBITION AND YOUR CURSED CLAN HAS RUIN'D ME and upon the Same Arm a little below was this, WHAT THO' i BOAST OF INDEPENDANCE POSTERITY WILL CURSE MY MEMORY. And upon one of the Posts of the Gallows was wrote, We have an Heriditary Indefeasible Right to a Halter, Besides we Encourag'd the Growth of Hemp you know. And Underneath that, was a New Song (made upon the Occasion) which I have here Inclos'd. And upon the other Post was wrote that Person who shall Efface this Public Mark of Resentment will be Deem'd an Enemy to liberty and Accordingly meet with Proper Chastisement. And about five A Clock in the Afternoon they made a Fire under the Gallows which Consum'd the Effigy's, Gallows and all, to Ashes. I forgot to tell you that a Boot hung over the Doctor's Shoulder with the Devil Peeping out of it etc. I've Inclos'd you a piece that was Stuck up in the Town House at the Same time. And after the Effigys were Burnt the Mob Dispers'd and we thought it was all Over. But last Night about Dusk they all Muster'd again and first they went to Martin Howard's, and Broke Every Window in his house Frames and all, likewise Chairs Tables, Pictures and every thing they cou'd come across. they also Saw'd down two Trees which stood before his door and Bro'd them and Stuck them upon two Great Guns which have been fix''d at the Bottom of the Parade some Years as Posts. when they found they had Entirely Demolish'd all his Furniture and done what damage they Cou'd, They left his house, and Proceeded to Doctor Moffatts where they Behav'd much in the Same Manner. I Can't say which Came off the Worst, For all the Furniture of Both Houses were Entirely Destroy'd, Petitions of the houses broke down, Fences Level'd with the Ground and all the Liquors which were in Both Houses were Entirely Lost. Dear Doctor this Moment I've Red'd a Peace of News which Effects me so Much that I Cant write any More, which is the Demolition of your worthy Daddy's house and Furniture etc. But I must Jsst let you know thta the Stamp Master has Resign'd, the Copy of His Resignation and Oath I now Send you. I hope, my Friend You'll Send me the Particulars of your daddy's Misfortune. Yours for Ever
W. Almy.
Source: William Almy to Elisha Story. August, 29 1765. Massachusetts Historical Society.
Published in Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 55 (1922), 235-236.
Published in Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 55 (1922), 235-236.