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"On March 5, 1770, in front of the
Old
State House, five men were shot and killed out of a mob that attacked a group of British Soldiers. In the excited state of the public mind at that time, a chance
encounter between a sentry and some youths quickly developed into an attack with stones, clubs, and snowballs, which led to retaliation by the soldiers.
The result was the death of five individuals. It is said the British sentry that was initially attacked was stationed in front of the
custom house, and he had to load his gun and retreat up the custom house steps and shout
for help. A corporal and six privates of the main guard stationed near the head of
State Street, were ordered to his relief, and fired upon the crowd only when they
themselves were pressed and attacked by it.
The massacre threw the town into great excitement. Immediately after the
incident, bells were rung, and drums beat to arms; and a further more serious event was
feared. But the troops were ordered to their barracks, and quiet was in great
part restored. The next day came the great town meetings at
Faneuil Hall and then the
Old South Meeting House, with the demand by
Samuel
Adams and a committee of 15 citizens, that the troops be removed. Governor Hutchinson eventually complied with the request. The
five victims of the Boston Massacre, Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James
Caldwell, Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr, were buried with great
solemnity at Granary Burying Ground, after a parade from
the Old State House (refer also to the Christopher Snider page).
Trivia: What was the Boston Massacre originally called?
Answer: The Bloody Massacre [in King Street], from the title of the famous Paul Revere
engraving of 1770, and often called the State Street Massacre in the early 1800s.
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