Andrew’s Account of the Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, a confrontation between Boston’s townspeople and a group of soldiers erupted into a confusing and violent affair. What became known as the Boston Massacre resulted in a number of injuries and the death of several people.

In October of 1770, an enslaved man named Andrew testified at the trials of Captain Thomas Preston and other soldiers. His testimony provides a detailed account of the event, and was accepted as legitimate evidence of what happened, proving invaluable to the defense of Captain Preston, whom he insisted had not ordered his men to fire.¹

While not referred to by name, Andrew’s testimony also mentioned Crispus Attucks, a Massachusetts sailor of African and Native ancestry. Attucks would play a large role in the history of the Boston Massacre, as he would become known by some as the first person to be killed in the American Revolution. Though this isa statement used by various groups and people throughout United States history for their own points, it’s not without dispute.²

The excerpt below comes from a transcript of the second trial, created by the stenographer John Hodgson.

(Line breaks have been added to the first part of the testimony to help with readability)

Testimony From the First Trial:

Hearing the bells ring came out. I met one of my acquaintance at the bottom of School Street holding his Arm. He said the Soldiers had begun to fight and were killing every body. One had struck him with a Cutlass and almost cut his arm off. He advised me not to go. I told him a good club was as good as a Cutlass and he had better go and see if he could not cut too. Went to the Main Guard. Saw two Centinels much enraged with the People who were crying who buys Lobsters. I stood two or three minutes, saw the People, about 20, some with sticks run down by Jacksons corner. We went on towards the whipping Post.

Some threw Snow balls at the People round the Custom house. They returnd none. Some boys who stood near the middle of the street said they have got his Gun away and now we will have him. I then heard them give 3 cheers round the Custom house. Then run up to the Town house to see if the Main Guard would not turn out. I went to the corner and 7 or 8 Men came out. Were in a line with an Officer before ’em, with a Sword in his hand, a laced hat on, and a red Coat, and I remember Silver on his Shoulder. They then filed and went to the Custom house. The Men seemed to be in great rage. The Officer was either on the Northerly side of ’em or else before ’em. I was behind them. I did not see the Officer after he passed the corner of the Town house. I stood at Peck’s corner. The Soldiers had got down. The People gave 3 cheers. The Boys at Pecks corner kept pelting snow balls over that way.

I jumped off a Post on which I stood. Went over. Crowded through. Heard the people halloo here comes Murray with the Riot Act.15 They turned about and pelted somebody who ran thro’ Pudding lane. I ran to Phillips’s corner. I went from thence to try to get to the Custom house and get through the People. When I was at the head of Royal Exchange I heard the Grenadier who stood next the corner say damn your blood stand off, or back.

The People without were crowding in to see those within forcing themselves from the Grenadier who was pushing his Bayonet at ’em. A young fellow said Damn you, you bloody back Lobster are you going to stab me. He said by God will 1. A number said come away, let ’em alone, you have nothing to do with ’em. Turning round to see who there was I saw the Officer and two Men were talking with him. Some jumping upon their backs to hear what was said. I heard somebody I took to be the Officer say stand off and something I could not understand. I then heard somebody say Damn him he is going to fire and then they all began to shout, gave three cheers, clapd hands and said Damn them they dare not fire and began to pelt Snow balls at the Soldiers. I saw Snow balls thrown and saw the Soldiers dodging and pushing their Bayonets. I saw several Snow balls hit them.

I was crowding to get as near to the Officer as I could. A Person who stood near behind me with trowsers on as the Grenadier pushed at him in his station struck the Gun aside with a long stick. The Grenadier told ’em to draw back. If he had stepd from his Station he might have killed me. I was just out of his reach. Some that stood round me endeavoured to go back. Some people came from Jacksons corner Damn ’em, knock over we are not afraid of ’em. A stout man forced his way through came up between me and the Grenadier. He had a stick in his hand. I saw him strike at the Officer. Persons were talking with him. I saw him dodge and try to fend off the blow with his arm. He then began to strike on the Grenadiers Gun who stood about a yard and a half from the Officer on the right. I saw the Grenadier attempt to stick him with his Bayonet. He put it aside with his left hand, step’d in and gave a lick upon the Grenadiers neck or Shoulder with his Club. It was a cord Wood stick not very long.

As he struck I turnd about, looked at the Officer. There was a bustle. The stout man had still hold of the Bayonet. After the Molatto was killed I took him to be the man. While I was looking at the Captain the People crowded me on between the Soldiers, upon the Mans having the advantage of the Grenadier, crying kill ’em, kill ’em, knock ’em over. Thereupon the Grenadier step’d back relieved himself and began to pay on the people with his Gun to beat them back. They rush’d back very quick making a great noise or screeching huzzaing and bid the Soldiers fire damn you, you dare not fire.

I jump’d back and heard a voise cry fire and immediately the first Gun fired. It seemd to come from the left wing from the second or third man on the left. The Officer was standing before me with his face towards the People. I am certain the voice came from beyond him. The Officer stood before the Soldiers at a sort of a corner. I turned round and saw a Grenadier who stood on the Captain’s right swing his Gun and fire. I took it to be Killeroy. I look’d a little to the right and saw a Man drop. The Molatto was killed by the first Gun by the Grenadier on the Captains Right. I was so frightened, after, I did not know where I was. The first place I found myself in was Dehone’s entry

Sources

1. Eric Hinderaker, Boston’s Massacre (Belknap Press, 2017), 195–97.
2. Mitch Kachun, First Martyr of Liberty: Crispus Attucks in American Memory (Oxford University Press, 2017), 15, 17.