Samuel Mulford, Alongshore Whaler it 



of freedom from such a tax, was bad enough, 

 particularly as the levy was made without any 

 pretence of a return to them for what was thus 

 to be taken; but fully to understand their indig- 

 nation in the matter, it must be remembered that 

 they had been, practically, republicans, making 

 laws for themselves, at least in local matters, and 

 paying very little in the way of taxes save as they 

 made levies upon themselves for the benefit of 

 the community. 



After the sheriff came among them with his 

 orders to "seize all whalefish whatsoever," some 

 few of the whalemen paid the tax. Others, more 

 indignant, ceased fishing for whales. Of neither 

 of these classes, however, was Samuel Mulford. 

 With his two sons, Timothy and Matthew, and 

 enough Indians to complete the crew of the boat, 

 he went to sea whenever the lookout reported 

 a whale, and he disposed of the catch according 

 to the ancient custom under which the "capters" 

 had "all they killed." 



In the days before Governor Hunter levied on 

 the product of the whale fishery, Samuel Mulford 

 had served his neighbors as a civil justice and as 



