134 



In corroboration of the statement made in the foregoing account of 

 the tea smuggled into town by a colored man, I subjoin the following, 

 published in the Essex Giazettc, under date of 



Salem, Oct. 4, 1774. 



Whereas a small cask (said to contain Boliea Tea) was brought from 

 Boston yesterday in a wagon under my care ; in order to justify my 

 conduct in the affair would beg leave to inform the public, that on 

 Sunday the 2d inst., a negro man, belonging to, or employed by Mrs. 

 Sheafi^d of Boston, camr; to me and inquired whether I had a wagon 

 going to Salem the nest day ; I answered, yes ; he said his mistress 

 wanted to send a small cask. I told him the wagon was loaded, and 

 could not carry it ; he replied the cask was small and very light, and 

 that Mrs. Sheafie would take it kind of me to carry it. To oblige that 

 lady, I consented (not knowing the contents) to bring it ; I have 

 likewise the greatest reason to believe that the servants who drove the 

 carriage committed to my care were ignorant of the contents of the 

 cask. 



And furthermore, I most solemnly declare I never saw the above 

 mentioned cask until it was brought into School s-treet, in this town, 

 to be committed to the flames. 



(Signed) Benjamin Jackjian, and sworn before 



Peter Frye, Jus. Peace 



Extracts from an Account dictated hj Mrs. Stort, the mother of the lat€ 

 Judge Story. 



In the year 1774 some of the most influential men in the colonies 

 received information that Gov. Gage had received orders and was 

 determined to disarm the colonists by seizing their arms andamunition. 

 Many persons who were friendly to Great Britain, were determined 

 to resist all acts of usurpation and tyranny on the part of the crown. 

 They did not believe the Governor would attempt to enforce this order, 

 but were very watchful and jealous of every movement made by him. 



Some tories in Salem gave Gov. Gage notice that there were some 

 cannon and military stores in a certain place in Salem which they 

 pointed out and described. On the 26th February, 1775, the Governor 

 ordered from Castle William, Lieut. Col. Leslie with the 64th regiment 

 in a transport, to land at Marblehead, and from thence to march to 

 Salem and seize the cannon and munitions of war. His orders were 

 peremptory — he landed his troops upon Marblehead neck in a very quiet 

 manner, expecting not to be discovered, or his movements suspected in 

 such an obscure spot ; but he little knew the jealous watchfulness of 

 the Americans ; by the time their feet touched the land a man went 

 into the town of Marblehead who saw them land, and the alarm was 

 immediately given by a dozen men running to the door of the nev; 



