I (Ernest Argyle) have received letters from a number of readers asking for information, or giving it, regarding the ships on the Boston Tea Party issue of the United States. This information does not always tally, and to put the matter right, here are the facts as recorded in the book "Tea Leaves", by Francis S. Drake, originally published in 1884, and now reprinted by The Singing Tree Press, Detroit.
The English vessels concerned were the Dartmouth, Eleanor and Beaver.
The Dartmouth sailed into Boston on Sunday, November 28, 1773 and anchored, awaiting orders. The Eleanor arrived on December 2nd.
The two vessels then moored at Griffin's Wharf where they were allowed to unload untaxable cargo, but the tea had to stay in the holds.
On December 16th, the Beaver had arrived and there was a mass meeting of the citizens of Boston, for the following day was the deadline date for paying the taxes on the ship's cargo of tea. If the tax was not paid, the tea cargo would be unloaded and stored.
After the meeting the Bostonians, disguised as Mohawk Indians, went down to Griffin's Wharf, boarded the three ships in three separate parties and ordered the captains and crews to open the hatches and hand over the hoisting tackle and ropes, as they were going to unload the tea themselves.
The ships' crews and officers were ordered below.
The Tea Party then commenced. Bostonians who had jumped into the hold sent up the chests of tea to the deck, where they were promptly smashed open with axes, raised to the ships' sides and dumped into the harbour. The whole operation was completed in about two hours.
The result was that eventually the British Government closed down the port of Boston, an act that had even more severe repercussions, for it pushed all the colonies into further struggles with the Government for independence.
A replica of Beaver, a 2 masted brig of 75ft sailed across the Atlantic for the 200th anniversary celebrations. This bicentenary however did not go quite as well as planned, for this time the Bostonians were apparently divaded themselves, pro-and anti-U.S. Government.
Sea Breezes March 1974.
USA SG1501-1504