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William Shepherd Attempts to
Collect Customs Duties
1769 Having obtained the inspector general's
leave of absence for the recovery of my health, I returned here on the 13th
instant. I now in obedience to your commands signified to me when I had the honour to attend the board, do lay before your honours the following account of the disturbances which
happened at Philadelphia, viz. On Saturday 1st instant, about ten
o'clock in the morning, a seizure was made by the collector in consequence of
an order from the inspector general, of near fifty pipes of Madeira wine,
which was lodged in a store belonging to Mr. Andrew Hodge. . . . I waited
upon the inspector general and acquainted him that I had great reason to
suspect that it was the intention of some of the inhabitants to rescue the
wines from the officers. He told me that he would take care to prevent it. I
informed the collector of my not being able to get the key of the store, and
with my apprehensions of the design of the inhabitants, and recommended the
wines being removed as soon as possible. He told me that he had no stores to
put them in and that if he had, it was not in his
power to get it removed on account of the rain. The rain was over about four
o'clock in the afternoon, when the collector went down to the store but was
denied admittance therein by a man unknown who had armed himself with
pistols, and swore that if he pretended to enter it he would blow his brains
out, or words to that effect; upon which the collector retired and went to
the chief justice and procured a writ of assistance, and a number of constables
to assist him in the execution of his duty, and they returned to the store
about five o'clock in the afternoon, but they were not able to afford him any
help, the mob being so numerous. They ordered the constables off of the
wharf, though I think they tarried there long enough to read the Riot Act or
writ of assistance, but which I do not know. They likewise prevented the
collector's executing his duty, obliging him to go away, swearing they would
shoot him if he attempted it. They pelted him with stones, glass bottles,
etc., one of which struck him in the lip and hurt it considerably. . . .
[T]he lock which the collector put on the store was broke off by the mob, and
the door forced open and all the wines therein taken out and put on board
three lighters or shallops and carried up the
river. All the time they were transacting this matter they swore revenge and
destruction against me, taking it for granted that I was the cause of making
the seizure. . . . Some particular persons told me they thought it would be
dangerous for me to venture out. The gentleman that I boarded with was
advised not to let me tarry in his house; that if he did it would be in
danger of being pulled down, but he kindly said that he would run the risque of it. I could not be persuaded that my person was
in danger, and thought that if I appeared to be intimidated, the inhabitants
would think it arose from a consciousness of guilt. I therefore went out as
usual. I spent the evening out, taking care for fear I should be insulted, to
put a pair of pistols in my pockets. Upon my return home about a quarter past
ten o'clock, two men of a sudden came up to me, one of them without saying a
word to me, struck me as hard as he could in the pit of my stomach, which
immediately deprived me of breath and I fell down. He took the advantage of
some weapon, I apprehend a knife, and slit my nose. . . . As I passed through
the streets I was the object that everybody stared and gazed at. I at present
think myself unable to persevere any longer at Philadelphia, for the trouble
and abuse I meet with there appears to be impossible for me to encounter
with, and yet my desires are so great to be continued and fixed in it, that
notwithstanding their opposition, I can't think of quitting the field. Therefore
if the honourable board should think it most for
his Majesty's service to order me to return, I am determined to obey them, if
the consequence should be the loss of my life, which I really apprehend may
be the case. . . . William
Shepherd to Boston Commissioners of Customs," April 1, 1769,
Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections (Boston, 1806-),
4th Series, vol. 10, pp. 611-617. |