On this day 250 years ago in Boston, Joseph Palmer wrote to his neighbor and friend John Adams attending the Continental Congress in Philadelphia regarding the status of the rebellion in Massachusetts:
The spirit of liberty is amazingly increased, so that there is scarce a tory and hardly a neutral to be found in the country. This province seems ripe for a more popular government, if not restrained by congress, who will doubtless give all the encouragement to all that the good of the whole will admit of. Some talk of resuming our first charter, others of absolute independency. Our eye is to the congress—may wisdom direct your every step.—You will see that our government has told us, that the refusing submission to the late acts of parliament is general throughout the province; and that he should lay the same before his majesty: and since that I have received satisfaction that our friends to government are convinced they can’t carry these acts into effect; and are willing, if possible, to keep matters in a state of suspense until they hear from home. At the same time they continue to entrench and fortify the neck, professedly, and I believe really and only, for self-defence.
Palmer was born in England but was a member of the Committee of Safety and a commander in the Massachusetts militia in 1774. He would go on to fight in the Battles of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill and become a general in the Continental Army.
Abigail Adams also wrote her husband on this day about the unrest in Boston but included interesting anecdotes about the response to the Powder Alarm from the town of Braintree where they lived:
about 8 o clock a Sunday Evening there pass by here about 200 Men, preceeded by a horse cart, and marched down to the powder house from whence they took the powder and carried [it] into the other parish and there secreeted it. I opened the window upon there return. They pass’d without any Noise, not a word among them till they came against this house, when some of them perceiveing me, askd me if I wanted any powder. I replied not since it was in so good hands. The reason they gave for taking it, was that we had so many Tories here they dare not trust us with it. They had taken Vinton [a local Loyalist] in their Train, and upon their return they . . . calld upon him to deliver two Warrents. Upon his producing them, they put it to vote whether they should burn them and it pass’d in the affirmitive. They then made a circle and burnt them, they then call’d a vote whether they should huzza, but it being Sunday evening it passd in the negative. They call’d upon Vinton to swear that he would never be instrumental in carrying into execution any of these new atcts. They were not satisfied with his answers however they let him rest. A few Days after upon his making some foolish speaches, they assembled to the amount of 2 and [3?] hundred, swore vengance upon him unless he took a solemn oath. Accordingly, they chose a committee and sent [them] with him to Major Miller to see that he complied, and they waited his return, which proving satisfactory they disperced. This Town appear as high as you can well immagine, and if necessary would soon be in arms. Not a Tory but hides his head.
The same day in Philadelphia, John Adams was writing to his wife:
A Tory here is the most despicable Animal in the Creation. Spiders, Toads, Snakes, are their only proper Emblems. The Massachusetts Councillors, and Addressers are held in curious Esteem here, as you will see. The Spirit, the Firmness, the Prudence of our Province are vastly applauded, and We are universally acknowledged the Saviors and Defenders of American Liberty.
And also on this day five additional delegates joined the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. William Hooper and Joseph Hewes, were the first delegates to arrive from North Carolina. Henry Wisner and John Alsop from New York and George Ross from Pennsylvania also took their seats.
Sources: https://americanfounding.org/entries/act-i-wednesday-september-14-1774/;https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2214%20September%201774%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=1&sr=;
On This Day In The Revolution 
One response to “On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — September 14, 1774”
The more this story progresses, the more intense it becomes. I’m so impressed that the men voted not to shout “Huzzah” on a Sunday. That speaks well, not only of their propriety but of their respect for their leaders.
It is just me or does it seem to you and others that there was a major turning point when the government sent ships to enforce the rule of parliament? All of a sudden the letters seem to increase in both number and unity.
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