Today I researched the Boston Tea Party at The Family History Library in Salt Lake City. I was hoping to find the names of the participants and find our Patrick Cragun named as one of them.
Good luck and bad luck for the story of Patrick.
The good luck is the legend can still live on. The bad luck between the two books about 64 people are named as participants. Neither names Patrick Cragun with any spelling.
However, there was a pact of secrecy about them for fear of reprisal by Britain. One of them, David Kennison is credited as being the last one of them who died, age 115. He affirmed their pledge to not reveal their names.
Also, perhaps more than 72 men boarded the 3 ships.That would be a greater number than the two books name. Additionally, there were up to 2000 people on the docks with the possibility that hundreds assisted. Patrick could have been one of these people.
If you search the index at the library the journals of Reverend John Ballantine are offered. I read it in great detail and found no reference that helped.
Two other publications were awesome. The first, "The Boston Tea Party of December 16, 1773 by Caleb A Wall was mostly a talk and a 25 year reunion of the Boston Tea Party. It talks a lot about Captain Peter Slater who is credited with being the leader. It tells us about the 342 chests of tea on the 3 ships worth about $100,000.00 (Reference # 974.461H2w
It is a Patriotic booklet explaining the defiance of the citizens. England was violating what were to them sacred principles. They were resisting tyrants and thus were being obedient to God. The Boston Tea Party was the first deliberate act against British authority. It explains how King George 3rd reacted that he must keep up the right. Our whole Country was aflame with anger.
I loved this song and its history that was in the book:
In 1773 this song appeared in response to the incident known as the Boston Tea Party. The colonists objected to the tax imposed on the importation of tea into the colonies, while the tax on the exportation of it had been rescinded. In cities all along the eastern seaboard shiploads were either simply refused permission to unload their cargoes, or it was destroyed. In Boston, on 16 December, 1773, upwards of 8,000 people disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and boarded the ship, Dartmouth. They broke open 342 chests of tea and dumped their contents into Boston Harbor.
This song was published soon after the Boston Tea Party in the Pennsylvania Packet under the name of A New Song, but it became known as The Taxed Tea. The song was sung to the tune of Hozier’s Ghost.
As near beauteous Boston lying,
On the gently swelling flood,
Without jack or pendant flying,
Three ill-fated tea-ships rode.
Just as glorious Sol was setting,
On the wharf, a numerous crew,
Sons of freedom, fear forgetting,
Suddenly appeared in view.
Armed with hammers, axe and chisels,
Weapons new for warlike deed,
Towards the herbage-freighted vessels,
They approached with dreadful speed.
"Soon," they cried, "your foes you’ll banish,
Soon the triumph will be won;
Scarce shall setting Phoebus vanish,
Ere the deathless deeds be done."
Quick as thought the ships were boarded,
Hatches burst and chests displayed;
Axes, hammers help afforded;
What a glorious crash they made.
Captains! once more hoist your streamers,
Spread your sails, and plough the wave;
Tell your masters they were dreamers,
When they thought to cheat the brave
My favorite book was "Boston Tea Party, Trigger of Revolution. It had more detail and was like it were a compilation of stories of the time. It was pretty comprehensive. Reference # 974.4.H2bo a Q book.
All of these referenced were on the US Canada Floor.
