Charleston Tea Party Article in the South Carolina Gazette, November 21, 1774
Document Description:
In the months leading up to the American Revolution, the colonies were subjected to taxes they considered unconstitutional under British law. The British constitution stated that there could be no taxation without representation. Revolutionary leaders believed that since the Colonies did not send representatives to Parliament, they could therefore not be taxed by the king. The tax issued on East Indian Company tea was one of the most volatile of the issued taxes and sparked some of the most passionate responses. A general ban on the consumption and shipment of tea was issued throughout the colonies. Boston famously charged a merchant vessel and dumped its cargo of tea into the Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773. While the Boston Tea Party is an intrinsic part of the nation’s Revolution story, it was not the only time colonists stood up to stubborn merchants that insisted on shipping East India tea to American ports.
Charleston had a tea party of its own a year later, though it was decidedly more orderly. The Charleston Committee was notified that a ship in the harbor contained East Indian tea. The captain of the ship, aware of the fate of past tea merchants that attempted to import tea to America, presented a notarized document written in London stating he was a sympathizer to the Colonist’s plight and was forced to transport the tea against his will. While the captain was spared from punishment, the Committee selected a group of men to walk down to the harbor and pour the chests of tea overboard.
Citation:
"Charleston Tea Party," South Carolina Gazette. Page 2. 21 November 1774. Charleston Library Society, Charleston, SC.
Transcription:
CHARLES-TOWN, November 7.
On Tuesday last, Mr. Thomas Broughton jun. was married, to Miss Betsy Lesesne, a very amiable and accomplished young Lady, Daughter of the late Mr. Isaac Lesesne.
The same Day a Number of young Gentlemen from different schools, by waiting on the several families in town, made a considerable Collection of Tea; but found three-fourths of the Houses without any.
The same Day arrived here, in the Ship Britannia, Capt. Samuel Ball, jun. form London (amongst a Number of other Passengers) Samuel Carne, Esq; formerly of this Town; Thomas Attwood, Esq; appointed Chief-Justice of His Magesty’s Bahama-Islands; the Hon. William Gregory, appointed to succeed the late John Muray, Esq; as an assistant-judge and Justice of His Majesty;s Courts in the Colony, and also to a Seat in the Council; Edward Lowndes, Esq; Mr. Gray, Mr. Peele, Mrs. McDonogh, Widow of the late Capt. Terence McDonogh, and Family; Mrs. And Miss Andrews; Mr. Wrong, of Barbados; James Cusack, Esq; and Mrs. Casack; Mr. Zephaniah Kinsley, Merchant; Mr. and Mrs. Holliday.
Before Captain Ball had been many Hours I Port, the Committee of Observation were informed, that he had Seven Chests of Tea on board, subject to that Duty which all America have denied to be constitutionally imposed; and the Minds of the People appeared to be very much agitated. To allay the Ferment which there seemed reason to apprehend, that Committee met early on Wednesday Morning, sent for Captain Ball, who readily attended, and, after expressing to him their Concerns and Astonishment at his Conduct, acquainted him, it was expected the said Teas should not be landed here. He acknowledged having the mischievous Drug on board;---- That 3 chests were shipped frm the House of Messrs. Rofs & Mill, --- and 4 from Messrs. James Graham and Comp.----That 3 were consigned to Mr. Robert Lindsay,--- 3 to Mr. Zephaniah Kinsley, and 1 to Mr. Robert Mackenzie, all Merchants here: --- But declared, that he was an entire Stranger to their being on board his Ship, ‘till he was ready to clear out, when he discovered that his Mate had received them in his Absence: --- That, as seen as he made the Discovery, he did all in his Power to get them relanded, but all his Endeavours, for two Days together, proving ineffectual, he entered the following Protest; which he hoped would acquit him front the Suspicion of having any Design to act contrary to the Sense of the People here, or the Voice of all America.
Copy of the PROTEST.
ON the 29th Day of August, 1774, Before me, David Ewart, Notary-Public, sworn and admitted, dwelling in London, personally appeared, Samuel Ball, jum. Master of the Ship Britannia, now cleared out from London for Charles-Town, South-Carolina, and requested me, Notary, to protest, as by these Presents, I do protest, against the shippers of Three Half-Chests and Four Quarter-Chests of Tea, by the said Ship, without the Knowledge or Consent of him appears, or any application to him in Respect thereof.--- Witness my Nortorial Firm and Seal, the Day and Year above-written.
Samuel Ball, jun.
SURRY
These are to certify, That Samuel Ball, jun. came personally before me, one of His Majesty’s Justuces of the Peace for the Said Country, and made Oath, that the Contents of the above Protest is just and true.
Sworn befor eme, this, 31st of August 1774., Sam. Ball, jun.
N. Leach
Capt. Ball having so far acquitted himself of any design to counteract the Americans, the Committee of Observation made their Report to a very full Meeting of the General Committee the same Evening: when the Importers of the Teas attended, and feverally decalred, that they were ready and willing to do any Thing, which the Committee should be of Opinoin would most effectually contribute to preserve the Peae and Quiet of the Community. Accordingly,
On Thursday at Noon, an Oblation was made to Neptune, of the said seven chests of Tea, by Messrs. Lindsay, Kinsley and Mackenzie themselves; who going on board the Ship in the Steam, with their own Hands respectively stove the Chests belong to each, and emptied their Contents into the River, in the Presence of the Committee of Observation, who likewise went on board, and in View of the whole General Committee on the Shore besides numerous Concourse of People, who gave three hearty Chears after the emptying of east Chest, and immediately after separated as if nothing had happened.
Last Wednesday arrived the Diligence Packet-Boat, Capt. John Forgie, with the Mails from Jamaica and Pensacola.
Thursday least six Chests of Bohen TEA, containing 669 lb. Net, which had lately been smuggled into this Town, were re-shipped for the Port from whence they were brought, with a Caution to the Shipper to venture no more this Way: --- This proves that We do not reject the dutied Teas, in order to countenance the Importation of others.
Correlating Social Studies Academic Standards and Literacy Elements:
Standard 3-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the American Revolution and South Carolina’s role in the development of the new American nation.
Indicator 3-3.1: Analyze the causes of the American Revolution—including Britain’s passage of the Tea Act, the Intolerable Acts, the rebellion of the colonists, and the Declaration of Independence—and South Carolina’s role in these events. (H, P, E)
Standard 4-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the conflict between the American colonies and England.
Indicator 4-3.1: Explain the political and economic factors leading to the American Revolution, including the French and Indian War; British colonial policies such as the Stamp Act, the Tea Act, and the so-called Intolerable Acts; and the American colonists’ early resistance through boycotts, congresses, and petitions. (E, P, H)
Standard 8-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the American Revolution—the beginnings of the new American nation and South Carolina’s part in the development of that nation.
Indicator 8-2.1: Explain the interests and roles of South Carolinians in the events leading to the American Revolution, including the state’s reactions to the Stamp Act and the Tea Act; the role of Christopher Gadsden and the Sons of Liberty; and the role of the four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence—Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, Thomas Lynch Jr., and Thomas Heyward Jr. (H, P, E)