1776: "Boston The Town Was Still Environed By The Enemy"

Anne Hulton had lived in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1767 until 1775. Her brother was the Commissioner of Customs, a disliked official of British colonial rule. In the autumn of 1775, Anne left Boston and sailed to England. In this letter to a friend, she wrote about what she heard from other Loyalist friends about the conditions in Boston during the siege.

Spelling and grammar is original. Some words are in [brackets] to clarify abbreviations.

Chester, Janry 17, 1776

I have Dear Mrs Lightbodys agreable favor of Yesterdays date, and the pleasure to hear that you and your family enjoy health. Pray accept my sincere good wishes for the continuance of your domestic happiness, and my best thanks for your Kind invitation, Be assured it would make me happy to Meet you my Dr [dear] friend anywhere, and to talk over past scenes & events provided the present gloomy scene was dispelled. I suppose you have heard that Mr Tylston talks of going up to London with Miss Lem towards the end of next Month. They ahve almost perswaded your Sister & I to be of the party, This is not determin'd on, but if I don't accompany them I am engaged to go to Mrs Hignets when Mrs T leaves Chester.

The uncertain & anxious state I am in on acct. [account] of my Dr [dear] friends & Connections in America, admists not of spirits to think of Journeys of pleasure, or to write long letters, tho' I have much to say indeed the constant daily engagements we have here allows me not leisure hardly to write to my Bro'r [brother]. By the latest Accounts from Boston The Town was still invirond by the Enemy, who were urged to make a general attack upon it, (by a deputation from the Congress) They had often threatned it & made some efforts. They had a great number of large boats, & one night the lattr [latter/later] end of Octor [October] 7000 men were drawn out to embark in them, Genl [General] Lee had harangued them, but they coud [could] not agree who sho'd [should] go first, on the desperate attempt.

The greatest Mischief they did was to themselves for one of their Guns burst overset or blew up the boat with all the people in it. They are in numerous but in a wretched condition, in Rags, dirt, & vermin with consequent distempers, which were spread thro' all the Towns & it's said 1200 of the fugitvies out of Boston were dead since the Siege.

The Kings Troops endured great fatigues yet were in good spirits, & hoped to drive the Rebels.

Provisions & fuel were scarse & very dear, supplies uncertain, Heavy rains, Tempestuous weather, & the Winter set in very severe, some vessils with Troops & Stores arrived more seen off in the Bay but kept out by contrary winds & it was to be feared some Provision Ships had been taken by the Provincials.

In this dreary situation are my Dr [dear] friends in Boston, judge then what I feel, and there are other aggravating circumstances, whilst they are looking out for present support for themselves, and their little ones, they grieve & lament for the Loss of a most amiable woman Lady Pepperil a great breach it is in their Society, & proves an almost unsupportable Affliction to Sr [Sir] William, left with four small Children. My Bror [brother] says "the ways of Heaven are dark & intricate." That such a heavy affliction sho'd [should] befall so virtuous a Character! for he never met a man of a fairer mind, more uncorrupted by the world, or possess'd of a more benevolent heart. They had been greatly distressd too with a report that the Vessil in which I & fifty passengers sail'd for Engld [England] was lost on one of the Scilly Islands, & that all the crew but eleven had perishd. They had no way of being satisfied to the contrary, but on Enquiry there appear'd no Authority for the report, it was supposed to have arisen from some wicked people, to distress those who had friends on board the Ship. 

Amidst all these alarms dangers & distresses the Small pox spread universaly, which Obliged them to innoculate the Children. Dr [dear] little creatures God preserve them, support their Parents in this day of trial, grant relief to their anxious cares, and deliverence from the impending calamities.

My Bror [brother] says that shps to Boston laden with Provision might make a prodigious Voyage of it, The articles they want are Beef, Pork, pease [dried peas], & Potatoes, Coals, and Oates &c he bought a few bushels of Potatoes out of a Liverpool Ship at 8/Sterlg [sterling] a Bushil Beef sold at 16 d & 18 d a pound & a Goose at 10/Sterlg. I mentioned this desiring you will please to make it known, probably some Merchants may send out Cargos from Liverpl [Liverpool] the sooner this Spring the better. Insurance will be but the same as in Time of War.

I wish to hear when any Vessil goes, I wou'd [would] send out several Articles on freight if I could.

I wrote to Mr R Nicholson on this matter, & he was so boliging to answer me immeditaely, promising to let me know further. please to acquaint him & other gentlemen what things are wanted at Boston, & they may promote the sending of 'em out to the great Advantage of the Owners.

My Bror [brother] rec'd your favor to me wrote at Waringtn [Warington] Augt [August] 23. for which I only can return my thanks bing a stranger to the contents of it, but I doubt not it gave him some pleasure. pray did you ever recieve My Letters wrote in March & in April last.

I am sorry to hear you have so much trouble with my Shoe maker, I shall be glad to have the shoes when they are done, but not to give you trouble about 'em please let me Know how to direct to him.

Mr. G Golquits being drive back is a disagreable circumstance. So many of your friends will be writing to you that I shall not pretend to send you any news from hence at present, but beg my best respects to Mr & Miss Lightbodys & to Mr & Mrs R Nicholson and an interest in your prayers for our friends at a distance, and your Affectt [affectionate] friend and Hble [humble] Servt [servant]

Anne Hulton

Source:

“Anne Hulton to Elizabeth Lightbody [January 1776],” Letters of a loyalist lady, being the letters of Anne Hulton, sister of Henry Hulton, Commissioner of customs at Boston (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1927). Internet Archive. Pages 80- 84