Materials: Packet of primary source sheets

Study Strands and Learning Standards i
Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework

History Strand
Learning Standard Components for Grades 5 - 8

1. Chronology and Cause. Students will understand the chronological order of historical events and recognize the complexity of historical cause and effect, including the interaction of forces form different spheres of human activity, the importance of ideas, and of individual choices, actions, and character.

Grades 5 - 8

• A. Students understand multiple causes, how forces from different spheres of life can cause or shape an event.
• B. Students understand the power of ideas behind important events.
• C. Students recognize the importance of individual choices, action, and character 

3. Research, Evidence, and Point of View. Students will acquire the ability to frame questions that can be answered by historical study and research; to collect, evaluate, and employ information from primary and secondary sources, and apply it in oral and written presentations; they will understand the many kinds and uses of evidence; and by comparing competing historical narratives, they will differentiate historical fact from historical interpretation and from fiction.

Grade 5 - 8

• A. Students explain differences in the points of view in historical accounts of controversial events.

Assessment:

1. Divide students into home base groups of four. Further divide each homebase group into experts. Each expert is responsible for both sides of one sheet of evidence. Moving to expert groups, students should fill out the charts for their historical accounts.

2. Choose two students to take home the Revere engraving and study it carefully. Let them know that tomorrow they will be directing their classmates into the poses Revere chose for both the soldiers and the Bostonians. Have one student concentrate upon the posing and one on the sounds of the people.

On the second day, as an entire class students will arrange themselves using the "Paul Revere" engraving. One director will re-pose any student(s) who are not in the position shown. A second director will turn on the sound tract, directing his/her classmates to simulate the sounds of the incident.

3. Each expert group will choose two of their accounts which show different points of view of the incident on Kingís Street. As a group, they will then reposition their classmates (using substitutes for crucial actors when necessary) to illustrate the "facts" according to their statements. 

4. Going back to their homegroup, students exchange information from their homegroup, and complete the Boston Massacre Chart Evaluation.

In both 3 and 4 students will be raising questions about why there are so many different versions of the event on King Street. This is the perfect time, either in small groups or as a whole class, to discuss questions of point of view.

5. For homework, the students answer question 12. (Rubric)

6. Give students "Point of View: Writing History Using Documents as Primary Sources."

As a group write, students create the definitive account of what really happened at King Street confining themselves to the average number of words in their textbook account. As they are writing, many questions will arise about how they can tell all they know within so few words. In their small groups, or as an entire class, this is the perfect moment to discuss the importance of using primary source documents in studying historical events. This is a fine occasion for collaboration with your English teacher on the use of carefully chosen vocabulary, and the importance of being concise. (Rubric)

7. The next day, give students the affidavits of Charles Bourgate and Benjamin Church, the Assistant Coroner. Have students act out these two statements so they see where Bourgate was firing from, and the path of the bullet which killed Crispus Attucks. They will have may questions as they reach their own conclusion about what happened on March 5, 1770 based on their reading and interpretation on these fifteen primary sources. (Rubric)

Alexander CruikshanksDocument I

 As the Clock struck 9 I saw two Boys abusing the Centinel. They said you Centinel, damned rascally Scoundrel Lobster Son of a Bitch and desired him to turn out. He told them it was his ground and he would maintain it and would run any through who molested or attempted to drive him off. There was about a dozen standing at a little distance. They took no part. He called out Guard several times and 7 or 8 Soldiers with Swords, Bayonets and one with a large Tongs in his hand came. I saw the two Boys going to the Men who stood near the Centinel. They returned with a new Edition of fresh Oaths, threw Snow Balls at him and he then called Guard several times as before.

John ColeDocument II

I saw the officer after the firing and spoke to the Soldiers and told 'em it was a Cowardly action to kill men at the end of their Bayonets. They were pushing at the People who seemed to be trying to come into the Street. The Captain came up and stamped and said Damn their bloods fire again and let 'em take the consequence. I was within four feet of him. He had no Surtout but a red Coat with a Rose on his shoulder. The people were quarrelling at the head of Royal Exchange lane. The Soldiers were pushing and striking with the Guns. I saw the People's Arms moving but no Sticks.

Theodore Bliss Document III

 

At home. I heard the Bells for fire. Went out. Came to the Town House. The People told me there was going to be a Rumpus with the Soldiers. Went to the Custom House. Saw Capt. Preston there with the Soldiers. Asked him if they were loaded. He said yes. If

with Ball. He said nothing. I saw People throw Snow Balls at the Soldiers and saw a Stick about 3 feet long strike a Soldier upon the right. He sallied and then fired. A little time a second. Then the other[s] fast after one another. One or two Snow balls hit the Soldier, the stick struck, before firing. I know not whether he sallied on account of the Stick or step'd back to make ready. I did not hear any Order given by the Capt. to fire. I stood so near him I think I must have heard him if he had given an order to fire before the first firing. I never knew Capt. Preston before. I can't say whether he had a Surtout on, he was dressed in red. I know him to be the Man I took to be the Officer. The Man

that fired first stood next to the Exchange lane. I saw none of the People press upon the Soldiers before the first Gun fired. I did after. I aimed a blow at him myself but did not strike him. I am sure the Captain stood before the Men when the first Gun was

fired. I had no apprehension the Capt. did give order to fire when the first Gun was fired. I thought, after the first Gun, the Capt. did order the Men to fire but do not certainly know. I heard the word fire several times but know not whether it came from the Captain, the Soldiers or People. Two of the People struck at the Soldiers after the first Gun. I don't know if they hit 'em. There were about 100 People in the Street. The muzzles of the Guns were behind him. After the first Gun the Captain went quite to the left and I to the right.

Benjamin BurdickDocument IV

When I came into King Street about 9 o'Clock I saw the Soldiers round the Centinel. I asked one if he was loaded and he said yes. I asked him if he would fire, he said yes by the Eternal God and pushed his Bayonet at me. After the firing the Captain came before the Soldiers and put up their Guns with his arm and said stop firing, dont fire no more or dont fire again. I heard the word fire and took it and am certain that it came from behind the Soldiers. I saw a man passing busily behind who I took to be an

Officer. The firing was a little time after. I saw some persons fall. Before the firing I saw a stick thrown at the Soldiers. The word fire I took to be a word of Command. I had in my hand a highland broad Sword which I brought from home. Upon my coming out

I was told it was a wrangle between the Soldiers and people, upon that I went back and got my Sword. I never used to go out with a weapon. I had not my Sword drawn till after the Soldier pushed his Bayonet at me. I should have cut his head off if he had stepd out

of his Rank to attack me again. At the first firing the People were chiefly in Royal Exchange lane, there being about 50 in the Street. After the firing I went up to the Soldiers and told them I wanted to see some faces that I might swear to them another day.

The Centinel in a melancholy tone said perhaps Sir you may.

Dr. John Jeffries Document V

Testimony given at the trial of the soldiers, Saturday, December l, l77l.

I was sent for at about ll pm on March 5th and spent the night caring for the shattered arm of one Edward Payne. They next morning I saw Mr. Carr - Patrick Carr, one of my patients. He was clearly dying from a wound caused by a musket ball. I was with him every day until he died. He knew at the time that there was no hope.

I asked him whether he though the soldiers would fire. He told me he thought they were going to fire long before they did.

I asked him whether the soldiers were abused a great deal, after they went down there to King Street. He said, he thought they were.

I asked him whether he thought the soldiers would have been hurt, if they had not fired. He said he really thought they would, for he heard many voices cry out, "Kill them."

I asked him then, whether he though they fired in self-defense. He said he really thought they did fire to defend themselves, and that he did not blame the man that shot him.

General Thomas Gage, Commander of all British soldiers in Boston Document VI

Letter to the British government.

A quarrel happened at a rope walk with a few soldiers of the 29th Regiment. The fight was started by the rope makers though there was probably some fault on both sides. This lead to a more serious uprising on March 5th. The townspeople attacked a few soldiers in a lane near the barracks. The men managed to get to the barracks, but the crowd followed, waving clubs. Part of the mob broke into a meeting house and rang the firebell. This must have been a signal, for many men then came out into the streets, armed with muskets, clubs, and bludgeons.

Different mobs prowled the streets, daring the soldiers to come out. Then the mob proceeded to the Custom House, and attacked the guard posted there. He called for help. Captain Preston, the officer in charge of guard duty that night, sent a sergeant and l2 men to help the guard, and soon afterwards followed himself. The party of soldiers was attacked with bricks, stones, pieces of ice, and snowballs. The crowd dared the soldiers to fire, using very harsh language.

Captain Preston stood in front of the soldiers, trying to calm down the mob. When asked if he intended to give the order to fire, he pointed out that he was standing between the soldiers and the crowd.

One of the soldiers received a severe blow, and fired his musket. Captain Preston turned to see who had fired, and was struck on the arm (the blow was aimed for his head). The mob, thinking that the soldier was merely trying to frighten them, attacked even more violently calling out to the soldiers to fire. At last the soldiers, believing their lives were in danger, and hearing the word "fire" all around them, fired, one after the other. Four or five persons were unfortunately killed, and more were wounded.

Joseph Petty Document VII

Sworn statement of at the inquest into the death of Samuel Gray, March 6th, l770.

Between nine and ten of the clock last evening, on hearing the cry of "Fire" and bells ringing, and hearing that the fire was in King Street, I went there. I saw a number of soldiers by the Custom House with their guns levelled. At that instant I heard the word fire, and a number of guns were immediately discharged one after another by the soldiers. I saw three men on the ground dead immediately. One of these people - Samuel Gray, who was shot dead by a musket ball through his head - I helped carry to a house in Cornhill (S)treet. The whole time I was in King Street, I saw no insult or abuse offered the soldiers, except one stick that was thrown at them after the shooting.

James Brewer, Prosecution Witness Document VIII

, December, l770.

Q. Did you see anything thrown at the soldiers?

A. No.

Q. Did you hear anybody call them names?

A. No.

Q. Did you hear any threatening speeches?

A. No, except that the people cried, "Fire! Fire!" The word fire was on everyoneís mouth.

Q. Did you take that to be the cry of fire, or bidding the soldiers fire?

A. I cannot tell now what I thought then.

Q. Did you see anything extraordinary, to induce them to fire that gun?

A. Nothing, but a short stick was thrown, which seemed to go clear over all the soldiersí heads.

Newton Prince, Defense Witness Document IX

A. I ran to the door [of my house] and heard the cry of fire. I went out and asked where the fire was; somebody said it was something better than fire. I met some with clubs, some with buckets and bags, and some running before me with sticks in their hands. . . there were a number of people by the west door of the Townhouse;' they said let's go and attack the main guard . . . After a while they huzzaed and went down King Street; they went down to the customhouse and I went down . . . There were people all around the soldiers . . . I saw people with sticks striking the guns.

Q. Did you hear at the time they were striking, the cry of fire, fire?

A. Yes, [the crowd] said fire, damn you, fire, fire, you lobsters, fire, you dare not fire.

Captain Preston Document X

Affidavit of the commander of the detachment which was called to the Custom House, date unknown.

On Monday night about 8 o'clock two soldiers were beaten. After this the mob broke into two meeting houses and rang the alarm bells. About 9 I was informed that townspeople were gathering to attack the troops, and that the bells were a signal for this purpose. Since I was in charge I went immediately to the main guard-house. On the way I saw a great commotion and heard cruel and horrid threats against the soldiers. In a few minutes after I reached the guardhouse, about a hundred people passed by, heading toward the Custom House, where the King's money is kept. They immediately surrounded the guard posted there, and with clubs and other weapons threatened to carry him off and probably to murder him, I immediately sent a sergeant and l2 soldier to protect the guard and the money, and I went along myself to try to prevent (if possible) all disorder.

The mob grew larger nd were even more outrageous, striking their clubs together and calling out, "You bloody-backs! Fire if you dare, God damn you, fire and be damned. We know you dare not fire." They came right up to the points f the bayonets, and even struck some of the muskets in the hands of the soldiers.

Some well-behaved persons asked me if the guns were loaded; I said yes. They then ask me if I intended to order the men to fire. I answered no, by no means. I pointed out that I was standing in front of the muskets and would be killed if they fired. One of the soldiers, having been hit with a stick, stepped a little to one side and instantly fired. As I turned to ask him why he fired without orders, I was struck by a club on my arm which made the arm numb and useless for some time.

At this point the soldiers were attacked with a great number of heavy clubs and snowballs. All our lives were in great danger. Some persons cried out, "Damn your blood, why don't you fire?" Instantly three or four of the soldiers fired, one after the other; then three more also fired. The mob then ran away, except the three unhappy men who were instantly killed. One more has since died, and three others are dangerously wounded. Four more are also slightly hurt. The whole affair took almost 20 minutes.

Richard Palmes Document XI

Statement of to the Boston town committee investigating the massacre. Date unknown, but before March l2, l770.

Between the hours of nine and ten on the fifth of March, I heard one of the bells ring, which I supposed was because of the fire. When I got to the town pump, we were told there was a rumpus at the Custom House door. I immediately went there and saw Captain Preston at the head of six or eight soldiers in circular form, with guns bre[a]st high and bayonets fixed. I went immediately to Capt Preston and asked him if the guns were loaded; his answer was yes. I then said to him, I hope you do not intend to fire; his reply was, by no means. Then I saw a piece of snow or ice fall among the soldiers, at which point one soldier stepped back and fired his gun. After a space of some seconds, another soldier fired, and then others one after another. After the first gun was fired, I heard the word fire, but who said it I know not. After the first gun was fired, Captain Preston had full time to forbid the other soldiers to fire, but I did not hear him speak. Turning to my left I saw one man dead, about six feet away. Having a stick in my hand, I swung it at the soldier who had fire, and knocked his musket out of his hand. I swung also at the Captain, but I slipped and I hit him on the arm, I think. I managed to run away. I looked back and saw three persons laying on the ground. To the best observation there were not seventy people in King Street at the time of the firing and they were very scattered.

Jane Whitehouse Document XII

A Man came behind the Soldiers walked backwards and forward, encouraging them to fire. The Captain stood on the left about three yards. The man touched one of the Soldier's upon the back and said fire, by God I'll stand by you. He was dressed in dark colored clothes...He did not look like an Officer. The man fired directly on the word and clap on the Shoulder. I am positive the man was not the Captain...I am sure he gave no orders...I saw one man take a chunk of wood from under his Coat throw it at a Soldier and knocked him. He fell on his face. His firelock was out of his hand...This was before any firing.

Andrew, a slave, Defense Witness1 Document XIII

On the evening of the 5^th of March, I was at home. I heard the bells ring, and went to the gate. I saw one of my acquaintances, and we ran down to the end of the lane. We saw another acquaintance come up, holding his arm. I asked him, "What's the matter?" He said the soldiers were fighting. They had got cutlasses and were killing everybody. One of them had struck him on the arm and almost cut it off. He told me I had best not go down. I said a good cub was better than a cutlass. I went to the Town House and saw the sentinels placed at the main guard. Numbers of boys across the street were throwing snowballs at them. The sentinels were enraged.

I turned about and saw the officer standing before the men. One or two persons were engaged in talk with him. A number were jumping on the backs of those who were talking with the officer, to get as near as they could. I went as close to the officers as I could. One of the persons who was talking with the officer turned about quick to the people. He said, "He is going to fire." Upon that they gave a shout and cried out, "Fire. Who cares for you? They dare not fire." They began to throw snowballs and other things, which then flew very thick.

Q. Did they hit any of them?

A. Yes. I saw two or three of them hit. One struck a soldier on the hat. The people had sticks. And as the soldiers were pushing with their guns, they struck with their guns. One hit a soldier on the fingers. A number of people were crying, "They dare not fire. We are not afraid of them.í One of these people, a stout man with a long cordwood stick, threw himself in, and made a blow at the officer. I saw the officer try to ward off the stroke. The stout man then turned round and struck the soldierís gun. He knocked his gun away and struck him over the head. The stout man cried, "Kill the dogs. Knock them over." This was the general cry. The people then crowded in. . .

I was between the officer and the soldier. I turned to go, when I heard the word "fire". At the word "fireí" I thought I heard the report of a gun. I then saw the soldier swing his gun and fire it.

Q. Do you know who this stout man was?

A. I thought and still think it was Crispus Attucks who was shot.

Q. Do you know the soldiers who fired.

A. I then thought it was Kilroy. I now think it was he, but can't positively swear to it. 

The Boston Gazette, March l2, l770 Document XIV

A few minutes after nine o'clock, four youths, names Edward Archbald, William Merchant, Francis Archbald, and John Leech, came down Cornhill together. The two former were passing the narrow alley leading to Murray's barracks, in which was a soldier brandishing a broad sword of an uncommon size. A person of mean countenance, armed with a large [club], bore him company. Edward Archbald admonished Mr. Merchant to take care of the sword, on which the soldier turned round and struck Archbald on the arm, then pushed at Merchant and pierced through his clothes and grazed the skin. Merchant then struck the soldier with a short stick he had, and the other person ran to the barrack and brought with him two soldiers, one armed with a pair of tongs the other with a shovel. He with the tongs pursued Archbald back thro' the alley, collard, and laid him over the head with the tongs.

The noise brought people together. John Hicks, a young lad, knock'd the soldier down, but let him get up again; and more lads gathering, drove them back to the barrack, where the boys stood some time as it were to keep them in.

In less than a minute l0 or l2 of them came out with drawn cutlasses, clubs and bayonets, and set upon the unarmed boys and young folks, who stood them a little while, but finding the inequality of their equipment dispersed . . . Immediately after, those heroes [the British soldiers] appeared in the square, asking where were the boogers: Where were the cowards? One of them advanced towards a youth who had a . . . stave in his hand, and said damn them here is one of them.

Thirty or forty persons, mostly lads, being by this means gathered in King Street, Capt. Preston, with a party of men with [fixed] bayonets, came from the main guard to the Commissioner[']s house, the soldiers pushing their bayonets, crying, Make way! They took place by the custom-house, and continuing to push to drive the people off, pricked some in several places; on which they were clamorous, and, it is said, threw snow-balls. On this the Captain commanded them to fire, and more snowballs coming, he again said, Damn you, Fire, be the consequence what it will! One soldier then fired, and a townsman with a [club] struck him over the hands with such force that he dropt his firelock; and rushing forward aimed a blow at the Captain's head, which grazed his hat and fell pretty heavy upon his arm. However, the soldiers continued the fire, successively, till 7 or 8, or as some say ll guns were discharged.

By this fatal maneuver, three men were laid dead on the spot and two more struggling for life; but what showed a degree of cruelly unknown to British troops, was an attempt to fire upon or push with their bayonets the person who undertook to remove the slain and wounded?

"Paul Revere" Engraving XV

Primary Document Analysis
Name1 2 3 4
Name/Title of Document
Where Written:		Date of Document::
Author(s):
Is there an obvious point of view? Explain it.
Time and Place Rule	Did the source participate in the event?		Yes/No
	Is the source close in time to the event?		Yes/No
	Is the source close in space to the event?		Yes/No
Summarize the documentís content:
What was the purpose of the document? Why was it written?
What evidence in the document helped you to know when it was written? Quote the words.
List two things the author stated that are important and explain why.	1
	2
List two things that the document told you about life at the time it was created:	1
	2

Poster Analysis
Name:1 2 3 4
1. Name or title of the poster:
2. Author/Artist/Developer:
3. What is the purpose of the poster?
4. When was the poster produced? If there is not date, what is the historical period?
5. Who was the intended audience?
6. The most effective posters use symbols that are unusual, simple, and direct. What symbols are used and are they clear? You may describe the symbols with words or sketch them.
7. Are the messages in the poster more visual or verbal? Describe them.
8. What action does the author hope that the audience will take after viewing the poster?
9. What purpose(s) of the author is/are served by the poster?
10. Is this an effective poster? Why or why not?

	Alexander CruikshanksI	John ColeII	Theodore BlissIII
Date of Document
Kind of Document
Eyewitness: Location
Arrival at Scene
Soldiers: How many?
Who fired?
Conversation?
Preston: Order to fire?
Standing where?
Conversation
Weather conditions
Crowd: Number
Anything thrown?
Voices?
RopewalkPresent? Y/N
Number killed
Any other information you found that you have a hunch might be important later? Write it here or on another pape

	Benjamin Burdick IV	Dr. John JeffriesV	General Thomas GageVI
Date of Document
Kind of Document
Eyewitness: Location
Arrival at Scene
Soldiers: How many?
Who fired?
Conversation?
Preston: Order to fire?
Standing where?
Conversation
Weather conditions
Crowd: Number
Anything thrown?
Voices?
RopewalkPresent? Y/N
Number killed
Any other information you found that you have a hunch might be important later? Write it here or on another paper.

	Joseph Petty VII	James Brewer VIII	Newton Prince IX
Date of Document
Kind of Document
Eyewitness: Location
Arrival at Scene
Soldiers: How many?
Who fired?
Conversation?
Preston: Order to fire?
Standing where?
Conversation
Weather conditions
Crowd: Number
Anything thrown?
Voices?
Ropewalk Present? Y/N
Number killed
Any other information you found that you have a hunch might be important later? Write it here or on another paper.

	Captain Thomas Preston X	Richard Palmes XI	Jane WhitehouseXII
Date of Document
Kind of Document
Eyewitness: Location
Arrival at Scene
Soldiers: How many?
Who fired?
Conversation?
Preston: Order to fire?
Standing where?
Conversation
Weather conditions
Crowd: Number
Anything thrown?
Voices?
RopewalkPresent? Y/N
Number killed
Any other information you found that you have a hunch might be important later? Write it here or on another paper.

	AndrewXIII	Boston Gazette XIV	"Revere" engraving XV
Date of Document
Kind of Document
Eyewitness: Location
Arrival at Scene
Soldiers: How many?
Who fired?
Conversation?
Preston: Order to fire?
Standing where?
Conversation
Weather conditions
Crowd: Number
Anything thrown?
Voices?
RopewalkPresent? Y/N
Number killed
Any other information you found that you have a hunch might be important later? Write it here or on another paper.

Read a textbook account of the Boston Massacre. Name of your textbook:

Average # of lines_______________ words _________

Person #1__________ Person #2____________ Person #3____________ Person #4___________

Total # of words ____________________

 Do not run off these next four documents with the packet which you give to your students. Keep them until your students have finished the writing activity on the Primary Document Analysis.

Indictment, charges against the soldiers involved in the incident on King Street, March 5, 1770

 The jurors for the said Lord the King at the last term of the said Superiour Court for this county held in March last upon their Oath presented that Thomas Preston, Esq: William Wemms, Labourer, James Hartegan Labourer, William McCauley, Labourer, Hugh White Labourer, Matthew Killroy Labourer, William Warren Labourer, John Carroll Labourer, and Hugh Montgomery Labourer, all then resident in Boston in the county of Suffolk not having the fear of God before their eyes but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil and their own wicked hearts did on the fifth day of this month of March, at Boston aforesíd. Within the county aforesíd: with force and Arms feloniously willfully and of their malice aforethought assault one Samuel Maverick then and there being in the peace of God and of the said Lord the King and that the said Matthew Killroy a certain handGun on the value of twenty shillings which he the said Matthew Killroy then & there held in both his hands charged with gunpowder & a leaden bullet then and there feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did shoot off and discharge at and against the said Samuel Maverick and that the said Matthew Killroy with the leaden bullet aforesaid out of the said handGun then and there by force of the said gunpowder so shot off & discharged as aforesaid did then and there feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought strike, penetrate and wound the said Samuel Maverick in and up on the Belly of him the said Samuel Maverick one mortal wound, six inches in depth and one width; of which said mortal wound the said Samuel Maverick there languishíd and languishing did live from that time until the sixth day of then instant March, & then at said Boston died of the said mortal wound, so given him by the said Matthew Killeroy as aforesaid, and that the aforesaid Thomas Preston, William Wemms, James Hartegan, William McCauley, Hugh White, William Warren, John Carroll, and Hugh Montgomery, at the time of giving the said wound as aforesaid feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought, were there present aiding, helping, abetting, assisting, comforting and maintaining the said Matthew Killroy to do and commit the felony and murder aforesaid And so the said jurors upon their oath aforesaid, do say that the said Thomas Preston, William Wemms, James Hartegan, William McCauley, Hugh White, Matthew Kllroy, William Warrne, John Carroll, and Hugh Montgomery, then and there in manner and form aforesaid and by the means aforesaid, feloniously, willfully and of their malice aforethought did kill and murder the said Samuel Maverick against the peace of the said Lord the King his Crown and dignity, and from the said term in March last, the said Indictment (with four other capital indictments found at the same term against the said Thomas Preston, for being present aiding and abetting the murder also of Samuel Gray, Crispus Attucks, James Caldwell and Patrick Carr at the time and place and in the manner sett forth in the said four other Indictments) was continued to this Court, and now the said Thomas Preston was brought and sett to the Bar, and arraigned, and upon his arraignment pleads to each of the Several Capital indictments, not guilty, and for trial put himself upon God and the Country.

Massachusets Archives Superior Court of Judicature 1770, document 54

Charles Bourgate, Apprentice to Edward Manwaring

Charles Bourgate, of lawful age, an indented servant to Edward Manwaring, Esq.; being at my master's lodgings at Mr. Hudson's at the north end, on the night of the horrid massacre in King-street, on the 5th instant, heard the bells ring, which I took to be for fire (about half an hour before the bells rung, my master, with one Mr. Munroe, said they would go to the Custom-house and drink a glass of wine); then I went out, there being nobody in the house I know of, but Mr. Hudson and wife; then I went up to the Custom-house door and knocked, when a young man, which I have since heard was named Hammond Green, let me in, and locked the door; when I saw my master and Mr. Munroe come down stairs and go into a room; when four or five men went upstairs, pulling and hauling me after them, and said, "My good boy, come;" when I was carried into the chamber, there was but one light in the room, and that in the corner of the chamber, when I saw a tall man loading a gun (then I saw two guns in the room), my master not being in the chamber, there was a number of gentlemen in the room. After the gun was loaded, the tall man gave it to me, and told me to fire, and said he would kill me if I did not; I told him I would not. He drawing a sword out of his cane, told me, if I did not fire it, he would run it through my guts. The man putting the gun out of the window, it being a little open, I fired it side way up the street; the tall man then loaded the gun again. I heard the balls go down. The man then laid it on the window again, and told me to fire it. I told him I would not fire again; he told me again, he would run me through the guts if I did not. Upon which I fired the same way up the street. After I fired the second gun, I saw my master in the room; he took a gun and pointed it out of the window; I heard the gun go off. Then a tall man came and clapped me on the shoulders and said, that's a good boy, I'll give you some money tomorrow. I said, I don't want any money. There being a light in the lower room, and the door being upon the jar, I saw it was the tall man that clapped me on the shoulder, then the young man Hammond Green let me out of the door, there being two or three people in the entry; when I got out of the house, I saw a number of people in the streets. And I ran home as fast as I could, and sat up all night in my master's kitchen. And further say, that my master licked me the next night for telling Mrs. Waldron about his firing out of the Custom-house. And for fear that I should be licked again, I did deny all that I said before Justice Quincy, which I am very sorry for. And further saith not.

Charles Bourgate, his mark

Boston, March 23, 1770

Benjamin Church, Jun., Coroner

 I, Benjamin Church of lawful age, testify and say, that being requested by Mr. Robert Pierpont, the Coroner, to assist in examining the body of Crispus Attucks, who was supposed to be murdered by the soldiers on Monday evening the 5th instant, I found two wounds in the region of the thorax, the one on the right side, which entered through the second true rib within an inch and a half of the sternum, dividing the rib and separating the cartilaginous extremity from the sternum, the ball passed obliquely downward through the diaphragm and entering though the large lobe of the liver and the gall-bladder still keeping its oblique direction, divided the aorta descendens just above its division into the iliacs, from thence it made its exit on the left side of the spine. This wound I apprehended was the immediate cause of his death. The other ball entered the fourth of the false ribs, about five inches from the linea alba, and descending obliquely passed through the second false rib, at the distance of about eight inches from the linea alba; from the oblique direction of the wounds, I apprehend the gun must have been discharged from some elevation and further the deponent saith not.

Boston, March 22, 1770

Verdict of the Jury in the matter of the soldiers involved in the incident on King Street, March 5, 1770.

 A jury was thereupon Sworn to try the said several issues Mr. William Forbisher foreman and fellows, namely Joseph Prescott, Neal McIntire, Thomas Mayo, Josiah Sprague, Joseph Guild, Jonathan Parker, Gilbert Deblois, Phillip Dunaresque, William Hill, William Wait Wallis, and James Barrick who having fully heard the Evidence for the King with the Prisoners defence went out to consider thereof and returned with their Verdicts and upon their Oath said that the said Thomas Preston is not guilty of aiding and abetting the murder of Samuel Maverick; and that he is not guilty of aiding and abetting the murder of Samuel Gray, and that he is not guilty of aiding and abetting the murder of James Caldwell, and that he is not guilty of aiding and abetting the murder of Patrick Carr and that he is not guilty of aiding and abetting the murder of Crispus Attucks. It is therefore Considered by the Court the said Thomas Preston go without day.

Massachusets Archives Superior Court of Judicature 1770, document 54