"The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams" Topic

Started on this biography of Sam Adams, "The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams" by Stacy Schiff. I am about half way through it. Interesting how he became radicalized. The British would have been better off if they somehow made him disappear early on.

Schiff writes of a squadron of Royal Navy ships in 1747, had arrived in Boston and a number of the crewman deserted. The squadron commander did what the RN always did in England. He sent out press gangs to grab men off the street and out of taverns. All this was SOP in England. But not in Massachusetts.

In Mass. it was considered kidnapping and was illegal. The press gangs ran into groups of citizen rioters which intended to do bodily harm. The mob chased the press gangs back to their ships. Pitchforks and torches appeared as the mob placed the Deputy Sheriff in the stocks. Royal Naval officers were held in custody. The Sheriff was held prisoner for two days. The Royal Governor's residence was nearly burned down. The fleet beat a hasty retreat to the West Indies.

A good example of why the Crown considered Mass. and specifically Boston, the heart of the revolution and you couldn't blame them for thinking so.

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

The Royal Governor called out the militia to restore order. But most of the militia were among the mobs.