Hi Listers:
This is MaryLou and I am back home from the Re-enactment
of the Chestertown Tea Party and I have returned to the
lists.
In case you never heard I will give you a short lesson
on American History:
In December of 1773 the local residents of Boston were
fed up with taxes without representation. So they had a
tea party and boarded the British ships in harbor that
were carrying tea as their cargo and dumped it all in
the bay. In March of 1774, the British passed the
Boston Port Act closing the Port of Boston until
complete restitution had been made for the tea that had
been destroyed. This action caused a wave of anger in
all the colonies.
The news of the Boston Port Act reached Chestertown, MD,
four months later and immediately caused anger and
resentment amongst the local residents. On the heels of
the news that the Port of Boston had been closed by the
British, the Brigantine 'Geddes' dropped anchor at
Chestertown port on May 13, 1774.
word passed quickly that in the hold of the Geddes was a
small amount of the "hated tea" and on the very day of
the ship's arrival word went out for a public meeting to
deal with the tea on board. Local residents at the
meeting passed a set of RESOLVES which held that it
would be unlawful and forbidden to bring in tea, sell
it, consume it or in any way assist in its sale.
Residents acting contrary to the above proscriptions
were considered as ENEMIES TO THE LIBERTIES of America.
On May 23rd, anger reached a peak and local residents
boarded the Geddes and consigned this shipment of tea to
the Chester River. There was absence of detail about
the party for if the names of the participants were
disclosed, there would have been swift punishment from
angry Royal Officials. And to this day they continue to
commemorate the occasion.
In light of the high taxes we now pay in America WITH
representation, I rather think I would opt for the
small taxes without representation. Besides, I like tea.
See you somewhere along the way,
MaryLou