On this day 250 years ago in Boston, Joseph Warren wrote to Samuel Adams attending the Congress in Philadelphia about mounting tensions between the British Army and Patriots in Boston and the British Army’s actions to acquire arms and supplies from the citizens of Boston. Aside from the mention of the British Navy’s capture of arms being smuggled out of Boston by Samuel Phillips, Warren did not report on the Sons of Liberty’s own efforts to acquire arms, ammunition and supplies including the recent theft of four brass cannon that had been seized by the British Army, and that were then being hidden by the Patriots within Boston until they could be smuggled out of the city:

The fortifications on Boston Neck are carried on without intermission. The troops are availing themselves of every opportunity to make themselves more formidable, and render the people less able to oppose them. They keep a constant search for every thing which will be serviceable in battle; and whenever they espy any instruments which may serve or disserve them, -whether they are the property of individuals or the public is immaterial, – they are seized, and carried into the camp or on board the ships of war. . . .

The treatment which the inhabitants receive from the soldiery makes us think that they regard us as enemies rather than as fellow subjects. Some of our warm advocates can hardly brook the many private insults we receive; and, were it not that your august body had cautioned us against any engagement with them, I fear bloodshed would have ensued before this.

. . .

Mr. Samuel Phillips, jun., of Andover, was this day carrying about a dozen fire-arms over Charlestown ferry. The sloop-of-war lying in the river dispatched a boat, and seized them. A load of straw, said to be the property of Major Goldthwait, was this day bringing to town for the use of the soldiers; but the high sons of Roxbury gave it to the flames.

In particular, Joseph Warren focused on the reactions of Patriots in Boston to she sale of ammunition to the British by one Boston merchant;

Mr. Joseph Scott, of this town, has sold them a number of shells, cow horns, chain shot, &c., to the amount of £500 sterling; and yesterday, about noon, they were carried on board one of the ships. The people are enraged against Mr. Scott, and he keeps incog. About two hundred carpenters were employed the last week in providing barracks for the troops. This week the works are entirely forsaken, – a few hands, indeed, are raised from the regiments, but by no means enough to carry on the buildings with expedition.

The employment was profitable to the tradesmen, and drew cash from the king to circulate in this impoverished town; but, in consequence of the proceedings of the committee, they desisted, and discovered a great aversion to do any thing displeasing their brethren in the country, or that could possibly be injurious to the cause of American freedom.

In another letter written the next day, merchant John Andrews reported that the Sons of Liberty attacked Joseph Scott this night 250 years ago:

The countrymen that happened to be in town seemed to be more enraged than the townspeople, whose passions were full high enough likewise. One of the former, seeing Scott standing near is shop, told him if he would come across the gutter, he would be the death of him, and think in doing so, he should do God service

Sometime last night they gave Scott a Hillsborough treat, and not content with disfiguring the outside of his shop, they by help of a ladder opened his chamber window and emptied several buckets full into it.

A “Hillsborough treat” is a mixture of human and animal waste with mud.

Sources: https://www.drjosephwarren.com/2013/10/tremblingly-alive-all-oer/; https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/mooning-hillsborough-treats-revolution-comes-boil/

Also on this day 250 years ago, William Goddard prepared a petition to the Continental Congress requesting that the Congresss establish his Constitutional Post to replace the Royal Mail. The US Postal Service celebrates this petition as the beginning of the Postal Service.

Sources: https://www.si.edu/object/william-goddards-petition-continental-congress:npm_1984.1127.4; https://thenewhistoria.org/editorial/women-and-word-in-the-world-mary-katherine-goddard/; see also my posts her for Apr. 25, Apr. 29, and July 2, 1774.