BRAINTREE, Sept. 14, 1774.
IN consequence of the powder being taken from Charlestown, a
general alarm spread through many towns and was caught pretty soon
here. The report
reached here on Friday, and on Sunday a soldier was
seen lurking about the Common, supposed to be a spy, but most likely
a deserter.
However, intelligence of it was communicated to the other
parishes, and about eight o'clock, Sunday evening, there passed by here
about two hundred men, preceded by a horsecart, and marched down to
the powder house, from whence they took the powder, and carried it
into the other parish and there secreted it.
I opened the window upon their return. They passed without
any noise, not a word among them till they came opposite this house,
when some of them perceiving me, asked me if I wanted any powder. I
replied, No, since it was in so good hands.—The reason they gave for
taking it was, that we had so many Tories here, they dared not trust us
with it.[158]
They had taken Vinton the officer in their train, and upon their
return called upon him to deliver two warrants for summoning juries.
Upon his producing them, they put it to vote whether they should burn
them, and it passed in the affirmative. They then made a circle and
burnt them. They then called a vote whether they should huzza, but, it
being Sunday evening, it passed in the negative.
They called upon Vinton to swear that he would never be
instrumental in carrying into execution any of these new acts. They
were not satisfied with his answers; however, they let him rest a few
days; afterwards, upon his making some foolish speeches, they
assembled to the amount of two or three hundred, and swore vengeance
upon him unless he took a solemn oath. Accordingly, they chose a
committee and sent it with him to Major Miller's to see that he
complied; and they waited his return, which proving satisfactory, they
dispersed.
This town appears as high as you can well imagine, and, if
necessary, would soon be in arms. Not a Tory but hides his head.
The church parson[159] thought
they were coming after him, and ran up garret; they say another jumped
out of his window and hid among the corn, whilst a third crept under
his board fence and told his beads.
