Colonists who had protested earlier attempts at taxation began harassing the “consignees” even before the arrival of tea shipments in Boston Harbor.
The merchants have been “cruelly insulted in their persons and property.”
- Tea consignees to Governor Hutchinson and the Governor’s Council, 1773
”Back to the Liberty Tree
During the Stamp Tax crisis of 1765 radicals demanded that the stamp agents appear and resign their commissions beneath the Liberty Tree, the scene of many demonstrations organized by the Sons of Liberty. In the early morning hours of November 2, the tea consignees were rudely awakened when messengers knocked on their doors and delivered letters demanding that they also resign under the Liberty Tree. Their refusal led to increasing harassment.
- Massachusetts Archives
- Houghton Library, Harvard University
Escalation
After merchant Jonathan Clarke refused demands for resignation at the Liberty Tree, the Clarke warehouse was attacked by a mob. The merchant family barricaded themselves in an upstairs counting room. On November 17th a crowd surrounded the Clarke home smashing windows and shattering door frames as the family took shelter on a second floor. One family member fired a pistol. Fortunately, no one was struck. Two Clarke sons would later retreat to the protection of the British garrison on Castle Island.
The Copley Connection
Artist John Singleton Copley preferred art to politics, painting the portraits of “Patriots” like Samuel Adams, and “Tories” including British General Gage. His father-in-law Richard Clarke was a merchant who preferred money making to politics. Clarke’s son Jonathan was selected to receive the tea. As the crisis deepened Copley attempted to mediate but his efforts were unsuccessful
- National Gallery of Art