129 



Mr. Samcel Gray's Accounl. 



Mr. Gray was at the time in his 10th year — was 10 tlie next June. 

 Lived Avith his grandmother in St. Peter street. The family had all 

 gone to meeting, except himself and grandmother. Was out in the 

 yard — while there heard a drum and fife — went in and told the old lady 

 of it — she thought he was mistaken — but he was convinced of it and 

 took his cap and went in the direction of the music — had reached the 

 N. E. corner of Essex and Washington streets, when he saw the troops 

 coming round the corner of School, now "Washington street, from Mill 

 street. They marched up to the Town House and halted a few min- 

 utes—does not know what took place there — did not notice any thing in 

 particular. When the troops recommenced their march followed close 

 to them, was near enough to touch Colonel Leslie most of the time. — 

 The Colonel was a fine looking ofiicer, rather stout with agreeable 

 features ; followed them through Lynde street to the North Bridge ; 

 should think the platoons about twelve deep, and when they halted ac 

 the draw of the bridge, they reached from there to Colonel Sprague's 

 distillery ; should think there could not have been less than 3U0 men. 

 AVhen they came to order they formed a line on the west side of the 

 street facing to the eastward. Saw that the Colonel was quite discon- 

 certed to find the draw of the bridge up; noticed his impassioned 

 manner, but cannot recollect any thing he said ; don't know that he 

 heard any words he uttered. Saw his minister, Mr Barnard, in the 

 crowd, and saw him speak with Colonel Leslie ; don't know that he 

 heard what he said, but was afterwards told, that when Mr Barnard 

 heard the Colonel say that he icomW pass the bridge, that he addressed 

 him in these words: '• I desire you would not fire on those innocent 

 people;" (meaning those collected on the north side of the bridge,) at 

 this Colonel Leslie turned short round and said to him " Who are you, 

 sir 1 " Mr. Barnard replied, " I am Thomas Barnard, a minister of the 

 gospel, and my mission is peace." Saw three gondolas laying aground ; 

 saw the people jump into them for the purpose of scuttling them ; 

 recognized Frank Benson and Jonathan Felt — saw Frank Benson open 

 his breast to the soldiers ; did not hear what he said. Did not know 

 Capt. John Felt at the time, and cannot therefore say anything of my 

 own knowledge of the part he took ; knew him afterwards — he was a tall, 

 muscular, well-made man ; knew Capt. Robert Foster, and recognized 

 him conspicuous among the crowd on the norih side of the bridge. 

 Colonel Leslie had given some orders, and the soldiers were doing some- 

 thing to their muskets ; cannot say what ; but being a small boy it 

 frightened him, and he with two or three others about his age, ran off 

 and lay down under the fish flakes which covered almost the whole 

 southern bank of the river from north bridge to what is now Conant 

 street ; did not return ; it was a very cold day, and he was almost 

 frozen, while laying down upon the ground under the flakes ; did not 

 see the troops leave town. 



The affair caused considerable talk at the time ; heard a great many 

 things said ; among them, that Colonel Sargent was seen on the top of 

 his house, near the first church, waving his handkerchief and pointing 

 in the direction of the north bridge ,• he was suspected of having given 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. 17. 



