Champion with Words: Leisel Tackles a New Pursuit
I am proud to share that we have another writer in the family and we’re celebrating her recent top award for the DAR History Contest.
Leisel was acknowledged in the local news paper as well. Click here to read the article.
The Boston Massacre
Crispus Attucks and the Other Patriots Who Sparked the American Revolution
Leisel Katherine Maher
Jackson Hole Classical Academy
Davey-Jackson Chapter
Words: 510
March 6, 1770
Dear Nancy and Prince,
Yesterday was a day like no other. I’m sorry, something tragic has happened. Even if this doesn’t find you together, I would like to tell you that I am Crispus’ friend, Preston. As black men, we both escaped slavery and found each other later, spending time making ropes. He was a brave man, and if I were one of you (his parents) I would be very proud of him.
It all started on King Street in Boston when Crispus was in an angry mob. British soldiers were there. Crispus was shot once and then another time. The second musket ball cut deep into his chest. He was the first to die in the skirmish. Four other people perished yesterday- Partick Carr, Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick and James Caldwell. Also, three more suffered injuries.
My family, my wife Krista and daughter Georgia, discussed how this could happen. We were mad at the British for letting the crowd get out of hand. The British occupants were competitive with our Bostonians for work. All of a sudden it does not seem logical to be under a ruler, the British King who is so far away. This injustice, losing our Colonists, including your son, has sparked our anger and ignited our desire for independence from the British and its Parliament. This is what we are going to do...honor our dead and fight back.
Samuel Adams is part of the Sons of Liberty. When he moved your son’s body and some others in a formal procession there was a public funeral (over half of Boston came...can you believe it was 10,000 to 12,000 Bostonians?) My wife and I left Georgia at home. On King Street in Boston, we headed to the Granary Burial Ground, and we were holding candles and flowers. I could smell the flowers but also the wax from the candles as they melted. Worse, I could remember the harsh smell of the dirt and blood from yesterday’s skirmish. I felt my dry throat, because I was sad and grieving from the needless death of my friend. Sounds floated around. The crowded groups were singing gospel, and there were sad and angry voices. In the darkness, I saw four coffins and a lot of people who were crying.
I mentioned the Colonists were aggravated: frowning, complaining, stomping their feet. We don’t know whether Crispus was provoking trouble or fighting for a good cause. What we do know is that it was the perfect forum as we all assembled to speak with each other about unity. This skirmish has fueled our desire for independence from Britain. Paul Revere and Samuel Adams can be our leaders. Those who died in the riot are heroes for liberty. They have changed the way that liberal and moderate Colonists think and are now swayed by radicals to fight.
I wish Crispus could have lived longer than middle-age. Your son planted the seed for our fight for freedom and the creation of our new nation.
Sincerely,
Preston
Bibliography
“Africans in America/Part 2/Crispus Attucks.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p24.html.
“Crispus Attucks.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispus_Attucks.
Kiger, Patrick J. “8 Things We Know About Crispus Attucks.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 3 Feb. 2020, www.history.com/news/crispus-attucks-american-revolution-boston-massacre#:~:text=Crispus Attucks, a multiracial man,killed in the American Revolution.&text=On the evening of March,Five colonists were killed.