This is a chronological list of the people and events listed in the Riot Acts database. To download the full data table used to create this project, please visit the About page.
Year | State | Location | Description | Source | Persons Named as Rioters | Persons Named as Targets | Note | ||||||||
1783 | Massachusetts | Middlesex | October: Job Shattuck led a mob whom fell on hapless tax collectors. | Hall. Politics without Parties, p.187 Taylor. Western Mass., p.121 | Job Shattuck | ||||||||||
1783 | New York | NYC | October: Loyalist irritated by the increasing presence of the stars and stripes on ships coming in the NY harbor boarded an American vessel, tore down the flag and carried it in triumph through the streets "attended by a chosen bowditti (??) of Negroes, sailors, and loyal leather aproned statesmen." | Wertenbaker.Father Knickbocker Rebels, p.266 | |||||||||||
1783 | New York | NYC | November: Four days before the British evacuated Ephraim Smith, Inspector of Markets assisted by a party of soldiers cut down the Flymont Bell (??) to prevent the "Rebels" from using it when they took over. However, the commandant was informed of this and ordered Smith to return the bell. | Devoe.Market Book, p.178-179 | Ephraim Smith | ||||||||||
1783 | New York | NYC | November: A mob of women "mostly of the wives of those who had returned from exile" threatened the British Provost, or keeper of prisons, with hanging. His name was Cunningham and he had been very cruel to American prisoners and was believed to have hung some in the dead of night. Cunningham had remained on duty until the American troops arrived and was intercepted by this mob on his way to the river and an awaiting boat. The mob threatened to hang him on the same gallows he had hung Americans on. But "some of the more considerate citizens" and finally George Washington interceded to liberate the man. | "Memoirs of Stephen Allen," p. 36-37 | Cunningham | ||||||||||
1783 | New York | NYC | November: On evacuation day "A few of the old Whigs" amused themselves by going through town pulling down the signs of the Tories, especially the taverns who had the English ensign on their signs. One clever tavern keeper had wisely painted a British flag with the American colors on a ship on his sign. The sailors appreciated this foresight and did not harm that sign. | "Memoirs of Stephen Allen," p.35 | |||||||||||
1783 | New York | NYC | December: A mob led by Sears, Lamb, Willet assaulted Tory printer James Rivington. This was forty-eight hours after the American army had withdrawn to West Point for discharge. | Lynd. "The Revolution and the Common Man," p.176 | James Rivington | ||||||||||
1784 | Pennsylvania | Washington, Penn | January: Jail rescue of Abraham Donne (??) and two women who had opposed state excise tax. | Fennell, p.17-18 | Abraham Donne | ||||||||||
1784 | Vermont | Vermont | Jan and Feb: Serious commotions in Ut. | N.Y. JournalF.19, 1784 | |||||||||||
1784 | Vermont | Vermont | March: Vermonters driving Yorkers from their farms. | GazatteerMarch 31, 1784 (??) | |||||||||||
1784 | New York | Montgomery, Ulster Co. NYC | March: A Tory was shot when he attempted to settle in Whig territory. A Whig mob came to him. He ran and was shot. | NY Gazatteer March 24, 1784 | |||||||||||
1784 | New York | NYC | March: Some sort of disturbance, probably the harassment of English officers, occurred between 1 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Statements of disapprobation appeared by the Which mechanics, the Governor, and the Order of Cincinatti. | NY Independent Journal March 31, April 3, 1784 | |||||||||||
1784 | South Carolina | Charleston, SC | June: Mob gathered at Gaddens' (??) Wharf and Long accused Tory James Cook in effigy. | Klein. Unification, p.125 | James Cook | ||||||||||
1784 | New York | NYC | June: Clinton intervened in person to save two British officers from tarring and feathering by a mob. | Spaulding....George Clintonp.111 | |||||||||||
1784 | South Carolina | Charleston | June: When Tory carpenter Gilbert Chambers returned to town he was threatened and his house attacked by a mob of disguised men. His family was terrified and he announced that he intended to leave the state. | Walsh. Charleston's Sons of Liberty, p.118 | Gilbert Chambers | ||||||||||
1784 | New Jersey | Woodbridge NJ | June: Two Tories tarred and feathered. This occurred on Muster day and was done by the community to drive the Tories out of town. It was a highly organized affair. | N.Y. Gazetteer July 14, 1784 | |||||||||||
1784 | South Carolina | Charleston | July: After the 4th, "a band of innocent, frolicking apprentices were attacked, St. Michael's bells pealed, and street battles ensued between the magistrates with their supporters, the aristocrats, against the Marine Anti-Britanics and mechanics, the Democrats. Horsemen rode recklessly through the streets. Henry Perronean (??), an anti or townie alleged that Colonel Hory (??) leading a mounted band picked on the Whigs. Heated accusations filled the gazettes." Duel challenges followed and for one month there was hot-headed confession. | Walsh. Charleston's Sons of Liberty, p.120-121 | Hory | Henry Perronean | |||||||||
1784 | Pennsylvania | Wyoming Valley, Penn | July: After eviction of Yankees by Pennsylvania forces in May, Yankees retaliate. John Franklin leads Yankees in evicting at least 17 people who settled region under Pennsylvania title. | Bradley."Wyoming," p.190 | John Franklin | ||||||||||
1784 | Pennsylvania | Wyoming Valley, Penn | July: Yankees and Pennamites skirmish. Two Yankees killed ("lost") in the ambush by William Patterson's men (Pennamite with a quasi-legal commission) | Bradley."Wyoming," p.190 | William Patterson | ||||||||||
1784 | Pennsylvania | Wilkes-Barre, Penn. (Ft. Dickinson/Wyoming Valley) | July: John Franklin and Yankees besiege Pennamites under Alexander Patterson. In various battles, two Yankees killed and Franklin wounded. Cease fire arranged on 31st. | Bradley. "Wyoming," p.190-193 | John Franklin | Alexander Patterson | |||||||||
1784 | New York | NYC | August: The mayor, in a charge to the grand jury, cited "the riot and disorder which prevailed in the Sonty Ward (??) of the city." The jury then went to each house in investigation, enquiry the number of inhabitants, the manner in which they got their livelihood, and other circumstances. They recommended "proper steps" should be taken to eradicate vice in the area. With an indictment preferred against a number of dwelling of (??) town the sheriff demolished several houses on September 30. | Stokes. Iconography IV, p.1194 | |||||||||||
1784 | New York | NYC | September: Three persons indicted in O+T court for riot and assault and battery. | "Gen List NYC," p. 19 | |||||||||||
1784 | Pennsylvania | Wilkes-Barre, Penn. (Ft. Dickinson/Wyoming Valley) | September: In August a supposedly neutral militia force convinced both Pennamites and Yankees to lay down arms, but then arrested the Yankees. By September, most of the Yankees were free and determined to use violence. Yankees again attack Ft. Dickinson. After two hour battle, two Yankees wounded, two Pennamites killed, two Pennamites wounded. | Bradley. "Wyoming," p.199 | |||||||||||
1784 | Pennsylvania | Wyoming Valley, Penn | October: John Armstrong led a partisan militia force in an attack on the Connecticut men who defended themselves in a cluster of log houses. Two attackers slightly wounded; one defender mortally wounded. Attackers had to retreat. | Bradley. "Wyoming," p.201-203 | John Armstrong | ||||||||||
1784 | Pennsylvania | Wyoming Valley, Penn | October: Several skirmishes between Yankees and Pennamites, with the latter holding the fort (Fort Dickinson) and the former maintaining possession of their property. | Bradley. "Wyoming," p.203 | |||||||||||
1784 | New York | NYC | November: "Several riots having happened at the door of the Methodist meeting, to the great annoyance, and vexation of the pious and well-inclined, Mr. Aldermon (??) Lott attended on Sunday evening, for the (??) purpose of enforcing a proper discourse, when several bucks beginning to beat up a dust, the ring leaders were taken into custody, and confined for the night in the Provost." | N.Y. Gazetteer, November 30, 1784 | Aldermon Lott | ||||||||||
1784 | Pennsylvania | Wilkes-Barre, Penn. (Ft. Dickinson/Wyoming Valley) | November: After the Pennamites evacuated the fort on November 27, the Yankees destroyed it on the 30th. | Bradley. "Wyoming," p.204-205 | |||||||||||
1784 | New York | NYC | December: Three persons charged with riot and false imprisonment in O+T court. | "Gen List…" p.19 | |||||||||||
1784 | South Carolina | 96 District, SC | December: A returning Tory was arrested and tried before a judge. Acquitted, the ex-Tory was lynched, with all due respect to the laws, after the judge moved on in his circuit. The judge himself was not particularly disturbed by the affair. | N.Y. Journal, July 21, 1785 | |||||||||||
1785 | New York | NYC | February: Two persons convicted and one person charged with riot in Sessions Court. | "Gen List NYC…" p.19 | |||||||||||
1785 | Virginia | Virginia | April: Thomas Coke, a Methodist preacher, was threatened with mob violence and had two bills of indictment present against him for speaking out against slavery in the spring of 1785. | Geasche(??). The Great Awakening in Virginia,p.247 | Thomas Coke | ||||||||||
1785 | New York | Albany Co., NY | April: In easternmost part of the county there was a sharp dispute between the Livingston's and alleged squatters who claimed that the land they settled on belonged to Mass, not NY. After hearing threats to murder one of the "manor lords," Gov. Clinton commanded the sheriffs of Albany and Dutchess county to assist the proprieters in apprehending the "rioters." | Young. Dem Rep in N.Y, p.61 | |||||||||||
1785 | New York | NYC | April: British sailors and Tory sympathizer attacked members of a French packet. This aroused the populace and brought forth legislative action. Rioters include (convicted and sentenced) Jeremiah Watson, Joseph Biggs, and James Watson. | Pomerantz. p.298 | |||||||||||
1785 | South Carolina | SC | April: Crowd forced Justice John F. Grimke to close court. Also produced petition against (??) | Holton. "Federalist Earliest Adventures,"JER, p.25, 385 | John F. Grimke | ||||||||||
1785 | South Carolina | SC | May: Protests against debt collection. In one incident Colonel Hezekinch (??) Mayhem madethe sheriff eat the writ he was attempting to serve. | Szatmary. P.124-125 | Hezekinch Mayhem | ||||||||||
1785 | New York | NYC | May: Six persons charged with riot and assault in May Sessions; 11 persons charged in May O+T, three of these were convicted. | "Gen List NYC…" p.20 | |||||||||||
1785 | New York | NYC | May: Five persons convicted of riot and assault in May sessions court. Could be April 17 riot. | "Gen List NYC…" p.19 | |||||||||||
1785 | South Carolina | SC | June: Farmers assaulted the courthouse, blocked consideration of debt cases and drove the judges out. | Szatmary, p.125 | |||||||||||
1785 | New York | NYC | August: Three different groups charged with riot in August sessions: 1st group, six persons, 2nd group, seven persons, 3rd group, four persons. Three in the last are convicted. | "Gen List NYC…" p.21 | |||||||||||
1785 | Massachusetts | Boston | August: A "fracas" occurred between some British officers and some American citizens. A sailor, who held a grudge against the officer for his service aboard a British ship during the war, bumped into one of the officers. Words ensued and a crowd collected. "Some boys etc." followed the officers in their prudent retreat into State st. There the officers asked for and received protection. But not before they had "gellantly" (??) drew their swords and "bid the crowd keep off." The crowd was, reportedly, unarmed. | N.Y Journal, August 11, 1785 | |||||||||||
1785 | Pennsylvania | Wyoming Valley, Penn | August: Yankees drive off last vestige of Pennsylvania authority when they expelled Justice David Mead from his house and property. Mead had one time held a Conn. Title, but had switched sides after the Treston decision. | Bradley. "Wyoming," p.213-215 | David Mead | ||||||||||
1785 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | August: A "fracas" occurred between the N.E. ship Friendshipand the Marie Victorie, a French vessel, at the old Ferry Wharf. It occurred at 2:00pm and was triggered over and argument concerning an open slot at the wharf. The French ship had arrived first and N.E. crew, sans the captain, attacked the French twice. The N.E. crew numbered 12 or 14 men. Four of them were afterwards arrested but only three were arraigned to be tried at the September session of the court of O+T. | N.Y. Journal, August 18, 1785.N.Y. Packet, August 18, 1785. | |||||||||||
1785 | New York | NYC | September: Twelve persons charged with riot et.c in September O+T; two are convicted. Higden and La Fon were convicted of the riot, for abusing, ill-treating Richard Jarrick, the mayor in his duty. | "Gen List NYC…" p.22 | La Fon; Higden | Richard Jarrick | |||||||||
1785 | New Jersey | Somerset Co., N.J. | October: Returning Tory from Nova Scotia was mistreated and has his ear cut off. | N.Y. PacketOctober 20, 1785 | |||||||||||
1786 | New York | NYC | February: Three groups charged with riot. The first group has six persons, four are convicted; the second group has twelve, process quashed; the third group has but four, no result. | "Gen List NYC…" p.22 | |||||||||||
1786 | South Carolina | Charleston | March: When two "moorish" men appeared mysteriously in town and cold answer questions put to them by a young lawyer (in the street) a mob immediately assembled and the men were taken up. But when carried to a woman who could speak their language it turned out that they were two Jewish men from Algiers who had traveled from Virginia overland. | N.Y. Journal, April 6, 1786 | |||||||||||
1786 | New York | NYC | April: Joseph Forbes convicted of riot at April Term (O+T) | "Gen List NYC…" p.23 | Joseph Forbes | ||||||||||
1786 | Pennsylvania | Cross Creek Village, Washington Co., Penn | April: William Graham, state excise Commissioner seized by about 12 "bowdittie" of blackened men disarmed him and forced him to ritually deface his papers. They also cut off half his hair and the cook of his hat and otherwise insulted. He was then marched to the border with Westmoreland Co. amidst a crowd. | Fennell, p.21-22 | William Graham | ||||||||||
1786 | New Jersey | New Jersey | May: Effigies of the governor, of Colonel Nathaniel Ogden, a council member, and of Livingston burnt because of their opposition to the emission of paper money. | Daily Advertiser, May 22, 1786 | Nathaniel Ogden; Livingston | ||||||||||
1786 | Maryland | Charles Country Court | June: Riot, and Federalist reaction (fear of anarchy - Frederick Country recruit troop of horse to defend Annapolis) | Renzalli, p.35, 37-38, 39, 48 | |||||||||||
1786 | Rhode Island | Newport | June: Food riot. Merchants had closed stores because of paper money. This enraged "the lower class of people" that they distributed "all the corn and flour they could violently lay their hands on." The crowd used clubs and fists for 15 minutes before the merchants fled. | Szatmary, p.57-59 | |||||||||||
1786 | New Jersey | Elizabethtown, NJ | July: Farmers assaulted the debtor court, "planted a stake in the ground and impaled an effigy of Governor William Livingston on the pole." | Szatmary, p.125 | William Livingston | ||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Northampton, Mass | August: Almost 1500 farmers closed the Court of Common Pleas | Szatmary, p.58 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Worcester, Ma | September: Over 300 close debtors court. | Szatmary, p.58 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Great Barrington | September: 88 Berkshire Regulators close court. | Szatmary, p.59 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Concord, Ma | September: 300 stop debtors prison. | Szatmary, p.59 | |||||||||||
1786 | New Hampshire | New Hampshire | September: "Two years after the adoption of the constitution, the scarcity of money and clamour for paper currency, united with other minor complaints, led to open insurrection; and the rioters, finding their petition rejected by the assembly, placed sentinels at the doors, and held the members prisoner till the evening, when they were dispersed by the militia of Exeter. The leaders received pardon from the court, on giving security for their future allegiance." | D.B. Warden.Account of the U.S. of North America(1819), p.387 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Concord, Ma | September: Mob in Concord - of about 200 took possession of courthouse in Concord. | New Haven Gazette and Connecticut Magazine, September 21, 1786, p.250 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Springfield, Ma | September: 1,500 Shaysites occupied court house. | Szatmary, p.59 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Tanston, Ma | October: 150 Regulators close court. | Szatmary, p.59 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Berkshire Co., Ma | October: 200 Regulators close court | Szatmary, p.59 | |||||||||||
1786 | New York | NYC | October: The marshal of the admiralty attempted to seize a vessel for failure to pay wages. The crew resisted and paraded on the deck, armed. They set sail, but were pursued and overtaken by the British packet acting for the Marshal. | N.Y. JournalOctober 26, 1786;N.Y. Daily AdOctober 20, 1786 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Boston (??) | October: Mr. Ennis, a glazier, suffered having his new frame house destroyed by "the lawless sons of riot" a few nights before the 25th. | N.Y. Journal, November 2, 1786. | Ennis | ||||||||||
1786 | Vermont | Windsor Co., Vermont | October: 35 farmers close court on the 31st and continue to harass judges thereafter. | Szatmary, p.59 | |||||||||||
1786 | New York | NYC | November: David Marsh and John Boston charged with riot in November sessions. | "Gen List NYC…" p.23 | David Marsh; John Boston | ||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Worcester, Ma | November: 150 Shaysites close down Court of Common Pleas | No source provided | |||||||||||
1786 | Vermont | Rutland Co., Vermont | November: 150 disrupt court proceedings. | Szatmary, p.59 | |||||||||||
1786 | Pennsylvania | York, Penn | November: About 200 farmers, some 20 armed with guns and the rest with clubs, marched into town and attempted to rescue property and (??) seized for taxes. | Szatmary, p.126 | |||||||||||
1786 | New Hampshire | Grafton Co, N.H. | December: Farmers burned court house to the ground. | No source provided | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Worcester, Ma | December: Shaysites close court. | Szatmary, 95 | |||||||||||
1786 | Massachusetts | Springfield | December: Shaysites close Hampshire County Court. | Szatmary, 95 | |||||||||||
1787 | New York | NYC | January: Joseph Forbes convicted of riot in January term. | "Gen List NYC…" p.23 | Joseph Forbes | ||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Springfield and Northampton | January: Large Shaysite force harass shopkeepers, capturing several. They also commandeered about 4,000 bushels of grain, etc. from a West Springfield merchant. | Szatmary, p.101 | |||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Springfield | January: About 1500 Shaysites approach arsenal and battle begins. Artillery made the difference; Shaysites lost four dead and 20 wounded. | No source provided | |||||||||||
1787 | Pennsylvania | York, Penn | January: Farmers attacked the house of Justice Sherman, where a sale of cattle taken for taxes was due. They succeeded. | Szatmary, p.126 | Sherman | ||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | South Hadley, Ma | January: Shaysites captured four retailers. Two Shaysites lost their lives in the process. | Szatmary, p.103 | |||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Berkshire Co., Ma | January: Theodore Sedgewick confronted about 100 local Shaysites on their way to Springfield, fought with them. The result was two Shaysites killed. | Szatmary, p.103 | Theodore Sedgewick | ||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Westerfield | January: Shaysites captured another storekeeper and held him for 12 days. | Szatmary, p.103 | |||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Springfield, Ma | January: Shaysites set out to capture Jonathon Dwight, but carried off a young man Dwight left to protect his family instead. They also attacked some stores and confiscated property in Springfield. | Szatmary, p.103-104 | Jonathon Dwight | ||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Leicester/New Braintree, Ma | February: Shaysites capture two Worcester store owners in Leicester and take them to New Braintree. There, they confront 120 government troops. Shots exchanged, two government men wounded. | Szatmary, p.104 | |||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Petersham, Ma | February: General Lincoln surprise march in snow from Pelham compelled Shaysites to disperse into countryside. Lincoln had 3,000 men plus artillery; Shaysites had only 2,000 men. | Szatmary, p.104-106 | Lincoln | ||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Stockbridge etc. | February: About 120 farmers from Mass left New Lebanon, NY on the 20th for Western Mass. On the 27th they reached Stockbridge, and harassed local storekeepers. They ransacked 17 houses and took 20 prisoners. They then went to Barrington and captured 19 men there. Outside of Sheffield, however, a party of government troops caught up with them. In the ensuing battle the Shaysites lost 30 men killed or wounded, government three dead, 12 wounded. | Szatmary, p.109-111 | |||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | South Hadley, Ma | March: Shaysites barred Josiah Woodbridge's glassmaking factory down. | Szatmary, p.112 | Josiah Woodbridge | ||||||||||
1787 | New York | Nobletown, NY | March: Shaysites burn down a store owned by two Mass. Merchants in Sheffield. | Szatmary, p.112 | |||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Westfield, Ma | April: Shaysites try to burn down store of Enoch Loomis. | Szatmary, p.112 | Enoch Loomis | ||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Greenfield, Ma | April: Shaysites burned store of William Moore. | Szatmary, p.112 | William Moore | ||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Westfield, Ma | April: Shaysites attack property of Major General William Shepard. They burned his fences and woodlands, mutilated and killed two horses. | Szatmary, p.113 | William Shepard | ||||||||||
1787 | Pennsylvania | Wyoming Valley, Penn | April: Public meeting among Yankees to discuss Pennsylvania' efforts to settle dispute with the Confirming Law (which only confirmed earliest titles). Timothy Pickering spoke in support of the law; John Franklin against it. Towards the end of the meeting a brawl broke out between the two sides with sticks, etc. | Brady. "Wyoming," p.249-250 | |||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Becket, Ma | May: 20 Shaysites cross over from NY, raid representative Nathaniel Kingsley's home. | Szatmary, p.113-114 | Nathaniel Kingsley | ||||||||||
1787 | Massachusetts | Lowesboro, Ma | June: Party of farmers from NY - Shaysites - raid Rep. John Starkweather's home, manhandling him. | Szatmary, p.114 | John Starkweather | ||||||||||
1787 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | July: A woman accused of bring a witch was carried through the streets and hooted and pelted with stones as she passed. Apparently she died a few days later. | Cited by Herrill (??) Jonson "The Sovereign States" | |||||||||||
1787 | Virginia | Greenbrier Co., Virginia | August: 300 farmers stormed the court and stopped its proceedings. | Szatmary, p.120 | |||||||||||
1787 | Virginia | Amelia Co., Virginia | August: "Disorderly people" obstructed the debtor's court. | Szatmary, p.126 | |||||||||||
1787 | New York | NYC | October: Dr. Carrol, American Catholic religious leader came to NYC and founed Andrew Nugent, pastor of the Catholic congregation there. He decided that Nugent was misguided and annulled his faculties. Nugent opposed this and refused to yield possession of St. Peters. The matter was placed before the Grand Jury who found Nugent guilty of riot. A new pastor was appointed by Carrol. | Shea, ed.Catholic Churches of NYC, p.591; Bennett. Catholic Footsteps…, p.381-383;N.Y. Journal, N.19, 1787 - oblique reference | Andrew Nugent | Carrol | |||||||||
1787 | Delaware | Lewes, Delaware | October: A group that called themselves whigs drove off their opponents - called the New Party, but containing many ex-tories from the polls. Some blows exchanged. | Kern. "Election Riots" | |||||||||||
1787 | Delaware | Vaughan's Furnace, Del | November: New Party supporters arm themselves, camp near the poll and intimidate would-be whig voters. | Kern. "Election Riots" | |||||||||||
1787 | Pennsylvania | Carlisle | December: Federalist procession meets anti-Federalist. Threats lead to blows. Anti-Feds threw pieces of wood at Feds and then drove them from street with staves and bludgeons. | Cornell. "Atristocracy Assailed," JAH (1990) p.1152 | |||||||||||
1787 | Pennsylvania | Carlisle | December: Anti-Fed procession with effigies of James Wilson and Thomas McKeon. Effigies whipped, hanged and burnt. | Cornell. "Atristocracy Assailed," JAH (1990) p.1152-1153 | James Wilson; Thomas McKeon | ||||||||||
1788 | Pennsylvania | Huntington Co., Penn | January: Anti-Fed effigy parade (used in my book) | Cornell. "Aristocracy Assailed," JAH (1990) p.1169-1170 | |||||||||||
1788 | New Jersey | Huntingden Co., NJ | March: A number of people of the town of "Standing Stone," disappointed in the Federalist faction ignoring their petitions (tearing them up), paraded through town with the effigies of the Federalist leaders upon the backs of scabby old ponies. One of the Federalist so ridiculed was John Cannon, a judge who was then holding court. Believing that the dignity of the bench was blemished when this procession passed outside the courthouse, Cannon ordered his partisans to arrest and jail the effigymen. Those persons, though in jail, did not have long to wait before "the county took alarm, assembled, and liberated the sons of liberty." | N.Y. Journal, March 21, 1788 | John Cannon | ||||||||||
1788 | New York | NYC | April: Three persons charged with riot in April term (O+T) (Doctor's riot?) | "Gen List NYC…" p.23 | |||||||||||
1788 | North Carolina | Western NC | April: Disturbances over state of Franklin. | "N.Y. Independent Journal," April 23, 1788 | |||||||||||
1788 | New York | NYC | April: Doctor's Riot objecting to dissection of bodies. Militia used, killing three people. | Ponerantz, p.401-402 | |||||||||||
1788 | South Carolina | SC | June: Anti-Federalist riot. | Cornell. "Aristocracy Assailed," n. Aedowus Burke to John Lamb, June 23, 1788, John Lamb Paper | |||||||||||
1788 | Pennsylvania | Wyoming Valley, Penn | June/July: In retaliation for the arrest of John Franklin, his supporters seized Timothy Pickering and briefly held him captive. The kidnappers had blackened faces. They held him captive for 15 days and chained him to a tree for some of that time. | Brady. "Wyoming," p.258-264; Taylor. "Agrian Indepedence," p.222-266 | John Franklin | Timothy Pickering | |||||||||
1788 | New York | Hudson | July: Violence against anti-Feds. | Young.Dem-Rep. of N.Y., p.120 fn.34 | |||||||||||
1788 | Rhode Island | RI | July: Anti-Fed riot. | Cornell. "Aristocracy Assailed," JAH (1990) p.1149 | |||||||||||
1788 | New York | Albany Co., NY | July: A clash between Federalist and anti-Federalist paraders led to a "general battle - with swords, bayonets, clubs, stones, etc., which lasted for some time, both parties fighting with the greatest rage and determined obstinacy." | Young.Dem-Rep. of N.Y., p.119 | |||||||||||
1788 | New York | Albany Co., NY | July: In a ceremony at the Battery an Anti-Fed crowd gave vent to "its feeling by burning the Constitution, which resulted in several altercations with defenders of that document." | Pomerantz, p.102 [is wrong]; fn. Isaac Q Leake.Memoir of the Life and Times of Governor John Lamb, p.331-332 | |||||||||||
1788 | New York | NYC | July: Mob destroys Greenleaf's press. Led by William S. Livingston. | Gilje.Road to Mobocracy | Greenleaf | ||||||||||
1788 | New York | NYC | July: Mob attacked Greenleaf; printing office led by Colonel William S. Livingston, a deputy Good (??) Marshal of the parade William had an ax in his hands. After gutting the place the mob marched to the home of Governor Clinton, who was not there. They then went to General Lamb's house - Young Sam Lamb was fully prepared and the apparent readiness for defense dissuaded the mob from further action. | Young.Dem-Rep. of N.Y., p.120-121 | Sam Lamb; Governor Clinton; Greenleaf | ||||||||||
1788 | New York | NYC | July: When, in the evening of the 26th, it was learned that NY had joined the Union, a Federalist mob, intoxicated with joy, stormed the office of Greenleaf'sN.Y. Journaland wrecked the press that had dared to question the wisdom of ratification. The mob went on to wreck vengeance on that old Son of Liberty, General John Lamb, collector of the port; but before any damage was done to the patriot's home, cooler heads dissuaded the crowd. | Pomerantz, p.102-103 | John Lamb; Greenleaf | ||||||||||
1788 | New York | NYC | August: Two groups of three men each charged with riot in August sessions. | "Gen List NYC…" p.23 | |||||||||||
1788 | New York | Albany Co., NY | August: Federalist celebration of passage of Constitution was opposed by a small group of Anti-Feds. Federalist horsemen charged the anti-Feds who met the onslaught of swinging cutlasses and bayonets with a round of paving stones and bricks. Before the day was over, a Federalist mob attacked Peter Yates, who was lucky to escape alive, and Abraham Lowsing, even though he had counciled his supporters to moderation. | Young.Dem-Rep. in N.Y., p.119-120 | Peter Yates; Abraham Lowsing | ||||||||||
1788 | Maryland | Maryland | Fall: Maryland election campaign 1788 marked by some riot and violence. Gay St. riot, Sept. 5 and later at courthouse. | Renzulli.Maryland: The Federalist Years, p.107-111 | |||||||||||
1788 | Maryland | Balto | September: Fight broke out when Fed supporters descended on an Anti-Fed meeting in Gay St. Several weeks later the Fed toughs broke up a Chase-McMahon rally at the court house, beat up a number of the antis, and attempted to storm Chase's house. | Charles G. Steffon, "Between Revolutions…," p.162 | Chase | ||||||||||
1789 | Maine | Waldeborough, Me | January: Crowd led by John Fitzgerald drives George Ulmer from town. Ulmer supports Henry Tanoz' (??) claims. | Taylor, p.265 | George Ulmer | ||||||||||
1789 | Massachusetts | Boston | February: Bluet. Evangelist John Marrant describes how he was harassed by a mob of about 40 who interrupted his preaching in the West end of Boston. Marrant escaped immediate harm, returned to his home, followed by the crowd who then pelted rocks on his house. | Brooks. "Emergence of a Black Print Counterpublic,"WMQ, 3rd ser., 62 (2005), 76 | John Marrant | ||||||||||
1789 | Maine | Washington Plantation/Mount Vernon, Me | June: Armed settlers drive out Mr. Sawyer, a surveyor for Kennebeck Proprieters. | Taylor, 264. | |||||||||||
1789 | Massachusetts | Boston | December: Dispute over who was the priest in the one Catholic congregation led one group of malcontents to disrupt services, overturn pews and generally misbehave. | Coghimo.No King, No Pope, (??) p.135-136 | |||||||||||
1790 | New York | Grewville, Washington Co., NY | March: Some sort of riot for which William Town was arrested. | The Papers of Aaron Burr, Series III, Legal Papers on Microfilm; Reel 15, M231 recognizance, People v Wm Town Mr. 8, 1790 | William Town | ||||||||||
1790 | New York | North Bedford, NY | April: James Golden, William Pellham, and Simeon Piper rioted, breaking into the house of Gilbert Palmer, assaulting him and Martha McKeow who was there. | The Papers of Aaron Burr, Series III, Legal Papers on Microfilm; Reel 16, M230 | Gilbert Palmer; Martha McKeow | ||||||||||
1790 | New York | North Castle, Westchester Co., NY | May: Riot at Mount Pleasant in which Smith Pine and Benjamin Smith and others broke into the house of Isaac Read. They beat his wife Mary, dragged her by her hair, and pulled her out of the house. | The Papers of Aaron Burr, Series III, Legal Papers on Microfilm; Reel 16, M293 | Mary Read; Isaac Read | ||||||||||
1790 | Conneticut | Litchfield, Ct | August: Nathaniel Walker, Thomas Johnson, and Eliphalet Worthington sentenced for burglary. The men, with blacked faces, had attacked Obadiah Wheeler with large clubs, but stole no property. Sentenced to life with hard labor. | Gazette of the United-States. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]), 22 Sept. 1790. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | Obadiah Wheeler | PTH | |||||||||
1790 | Massachusetts | Boston | November: "On Friday a fellow attempted to raise a balloon of thirty feet diameter from the Common. After several trial [he] could not effect it, which excited the mobility to such a degree that they entirely destroyed it, and the fellow to get of[f] with a skin. You will observe it was on the 5th of November." | H. Jackson to H. Knox, Nov. 7, 1790, Boston, H. Knox Ms (MHS) from Alan S. Taylor | |||||||||||
1791 | New York | N.Y. | October: Sheriff Cornelius Hogenboon killed by Mr. Arnold at Nobletown. Other mob actions at the time as well. 12 men were tried afterward and acquitted. Feb 1792: Claverack: armed mob throughout decade prevented auctioning of goods of evicted tennants. Gov. Jay remonstrated about such actions to the state legislature and received their authorization to enforcement. | Ellis.Landlords and Farmers, p.32-36 | Arnold | Cornelius Hogenboon | |||||||||
1791 | Pennsylvania | Pigeon Creek, Washington Co., Penn | September: Gang of 16 men dressed in women's clothing capture Robert Johnson, collector of excise for Washington and Allegheny counties, cut off his hair, tarred and feathered him, took his horse, and let him go. | Baldwin, p.82; Fennell, p.5 | Robert Johnson | ||||||||||
1791 | New York | NYC | January: Two men and then six men tried in January Term for riot, assault and battery. Three in the latter group were convicted. | "Gen List NYC…" p.23 | |||||||||||
1791 | New York | NYC | January: "Upwards of thirty foreign sailors, armd with Bludgeons" unsuccessfully attacked the city watch. It was Irish and English sailors. | Pomerantz, p.300 | |||||||||||
1791 | Maine | Passomaquoddy Bay, Me | March: Disturbance over the collection of taxes; residents claim they are in Canada but the sheriff broke it up. | N.Y.Daily Ado., March 30, 1791 | |||||||||||
1791 | New York | Cambridge and Easton NY | March: Distrubed by the dismemberment of their towns, residents here burnt an effigy of John Williams, the senator from the Eastern district, and sent a remonstrance to the legislature. | N.Y.Daily Ado., March 4, 1791 | John Williams | ||||||||||
1791 | New York | NYC | April: Samuel Clark and Effy Clarck charged with riot in April Term (O+T). | "General List NYC…" p.24 | Samuel Clark; Effy Clarck | ||||||||||
1791 | New York | NYC | April: Possible rioting around Easter. It might be connected to the holiday or it might be related to the election. The source is very unclear. | N.Y. Journal, January 2, 1791 | |||||||||||
1791 | New Jersey | Baskingridge, Somerset Co., NJ | Jan: Vigilante association formed to act against horse thieves and others active in area. | N.Y. Journal, January 2, 1791 | |||||||||||
1791 | Pennsylvania | Mifflin Co., Penn | September: Riot prevents Judge Bryson from setting at country court. Well organized and led by big shots armed and in militia uniform. Good example of Revolutionary tradition in action. No real harm done but a lot of threats. Relatives, etc. seem to have been involved and had to do with a dispute between counties. | N.Y. Journal, September 28, 1791 | Bryson | ||||||||||
1791 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co., Penn | October: Deranged man pretended to be an excise officer. One night a disguised mob took him from his bed, carried him five miles to a blacksmith shop. They stripped him, burned his clothes, seared him with hot iron and tarred and feathered him. | Baldwin, p.83 | |||||||||||
1791 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co., Penn | October: Deputy Marshall Joseph Fox used a messenger to serve warrants in September 1791 riot case. A crowd whipped the messenger, tarred and feathered him, robbed him of his horse and money and left him tied in the woods for five hours. | Baldwin, p.82-83 | Joseph Fox | ||||||||||
1791 | New York | Hillsdale and Noblestown Col. Co., NY | October: Young says a jacquire (??) occurred. Philip Schuyler attempted to have evicted some yankee squatters. Jonathon Arnold was threatened with an execution by the county sheriff. On the day of the sale "the Noblestown people assembled and with threats detered the deputy from proceeding with the vendue (??)." A few days later the county sheriff, Cornelius Hogeboom, and the county judge, Stephen Hogeboom, appeared with a deputy. After waiting all afternoon for another deputy to arrive with the necessary papers and after "a number of people assembled in a riotous manner" they began to leave. At that point Arnold fired a pistol; 17 men in Indian dress appeared firing and marching after them. Sheriff Hogeboom thought it was only meant to frighten them. One of the Indians, along with Arnold, rode up to him and shot him dead. The Indians fled and the deputies retreated to Federalist Hudson and organized a posse. Thirteen men including Arnold were eventually arrested and placed in a heavily guarded jail. But with anti-Fed judges no one was convicted. Young says the conflict was Fed vs Anti-Fed. | fn.Albany Gazette, October 31, 1791; Franklin Ellis.The History of Columbia Co., NY, (1878) p.62,236;Albany Register, October 24, 1791 | Jonathon Arnold | Philip Schuyler; Cornelius Hogeboom; Stephen Hogeboom | |||||||||
1791 | Pennsylvania | Western Penn | December: When a man named Roseberry said that if cresteiners (??) did not obey the law they could hardly expect protection from the government; he was tarred and feathered. | Baldwin, p.82 | Roseberry | ||||||||||
1792 | Conneticut | Goshen, CT | March: Two men - Hurd and Stanly - along with others rioted at the home of Brewin Baldwin in Goshen, Connecticut. The crowd, armed with stones and clubs, broke into Baldwin's house, destroyed his furniture and garden fence, and prevented people from passing by, attacking those who attempted. The violence was accompanied by singing, bell-ringing, and horn-blowing. | Root Jesse. Reports of Cases Adjudged in the Superior Court and Supreme Court of Errors. Hartford, Printed by Hudson and Goodwin. | PTH | ||||||||||
1792 | New York | NYC | April: Four persons charged with riot and assault and battery in April Term (O+T). Three of those were acquitted. A fifth, Tom, a negro slave of Job Travels was tried and convicted. | "Gen List NYC…" p.24 | |||||||||||
1792 | New York | NYC | April: William Duer threatened by mob in 1792 after his financial collapse. | Miller.Federalist Era, p.67-68 | William Duer | ||||||||||
1792 | Pennsylvania | Germantown, PA | May: An excise officer put a sign over his door announcing that this was a place of inspection. The next day some citizen pulled it down. Three or four days later the four quarters of a carrion were hung up in the place of the board that contained the notification. | N.Y. Journal, 1792 | |||||||||||
1792 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia - Delaware River | May: During the Philadelphia Pilot's Strike some violence was threatened. Ships were boarded by pilots both 1st rate and less experienced. One sloops was boarded, its captain was seized, and he was forced to accompany the pilots to their shallop (??). A red faced man presented the captain with a Bible and insisted that he swear upon it that he would not bring ships up and down the river. When the Captain refused he was told that he would be tried and kept with several other prisoners he had onboard. Another pilot swore that he had a cutlass and "would cut the damned rascal's shoulder off." | K. Keller. "Philadelphia Pilot's Strike" | |||||||||||
1792 | Kentucky | Lexington, Ky | July: An effigy of John Jay was guillotined and summarily exploded | Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 01 Dec. 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | John Jay | PTH | |||||||||
1792 | Maine | Mount Vernon, Me | August: Settlers destroy marks made my surveyors for Kennebeck Proprietors. | Taylor, p.265 | |||||||||||
1792 | Pennsylvania | Washington, Penn | August: A band of about 30 men with blackened faces, probably from Mingo Creek, rode into town and surrounded William Faulkner's house, which Faulkner had allowed to be used as an excise office. They threatened him, tore down the excise notice, and riddled the sign (of a tavern) with bullets - it was a picture of J.W. They wanted Faulkner to resign. | Baldwin, p.85 | William Faulkner | ||||||||||
1792 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | September: About 9 o'clock in the evening about 20 black people assembled "in a riotous manner" in Catherine St. They threw some fire into a stable but two or three citizens interceded and chased the black people away - all escaped and not much damage was done. The fire was taken from a bonfire some children had set at the corner of Almond St. | N.Y. Diary, October 3, 1792 | |||||||||||
1792 | Maine | Bristol, Me | October: Armed settlers (with muskets) interrupt Elijah Crocker, a surveyor for an Indian Deed Proprietor. | Taylor, p.265 | Elijah Crocker | ||||||||||
1792 | New York | NYC | November: John B. Hicks and Hicks Sr. and others charged with riot and assault and battery. Hicks acquitted. Hicks Sr. not prosecuted in November Sessions. | "Gen List NYC…" p.24 | John B. Hicks; Hicks Sr. | ||||||||||
1793 | New York | NYC | October: In the evening "boys, negroes, apprentices and sailors" completely demolished two houses of ill fame. Three persons were injured by defenders using small arms and mayor injured in trying to disperse the people. They damaged several other houses. Extra watchmen were used to quell the riot. | Stokes.Iconography V, p.1301;Daily Advertiser, October 16 and 17 | |||||||||||
1793 | Virginia | Montogmery Co. Courthouse, VA | March: Soldiers under the command of Captain William Preston interfere in an election for the benefit of Francis Preston, brother to the captain. This was a congressional election, and Preston was facing Abraham Trigg. The soldiers prevented people from voting, and knocked down a Justice of the Peace. | Gazette of the United States & Evening Advertiser, 05/03/1794 and “To George Washington from the Magistrates of Montgomery County, Virginia, 29 April 1794,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-15-02-0537. | Abraham Trigg | PTH | |||||||||
1793 | Pennsylvania | Fayette Co., Penn | April: Attack on the home of Benjamin Wells, excise officer for Fayette and Westmoreland counties. | Baldwin, p.90; Fennell, p.64 | Benjamin Wells | ||||||||||
1793 | Maine | Waldo Tract, Maine | April: Some riotous activity by squatters including the Ulmer's Mill dam on the Ducktrap River. | Taylor. "Disciples of Samuel Ely,"Maine Historical Society Quarterly, Faill 1986, p.78-79 | |||||||||||
1793 | Maine | Ducktrap Plantation/Lincolnville, Me | April: Samuel Ely leads a crowd that destroys the mill dam belonging to George and Philip Ulmer, supporters of Knox's crowd claim. | Taylor. "Disciples of Samuel Ely,"Maine Historical Society Quarterly, Faill 1986, p.78-79, 265 | George Ulmer; Philip Ulmer | ||||||||||
1793 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | May: Apparently there were a number of riotous scuffles between English and French sailors in this port. It even drew a comment from the British consul there requesting English sailors to keep the peace and a special charge to the Philadelphia Grand Jury. | N.Y. Daily Advertiser, June 13, 1793 | |||||||||||
1793 | New York | NYC | June: The Towtine Coffee House was the scene of several frays between whigs and tories. | Alex Anderson.Diarium...(??) June 11,12,13,14 1793 | |||||||||||
1793 | Georgia | Savannah | July: After the French schooner Antigone ran aground, the crew made it to safety to Savannah. However they were arrested and brought before a Justice. He released them but in the meantime a mob had formed to inflict its own sentence. The body of the French crew were protected by the civil authority but one American, a deputy collector of the customs who was apparently involved in the Antigone venture, was turned over to the mob, taken to a wharf and duly tarred and feathered. | N.Y. Daily Advertiser, August 19, 1793 | |||||||||||
1793 | New York | NYC | August: A fight occurred between French and English sailors near Dover St.; also at the lower end of King St. Some bloodwas spilled as the combatants were armed with clubs. The watch took off several of them from the house in which the quarrel arose. | Alexander Anderson.Diarium…, August 18, 1793;N.Y. Journal, August 21, 1793 | |||||||||||
1793 | New York | NYC | September: Pierre Savarain charged with riot and acquited in September O+T. | "Gen List NYC…" p.24 | Pierre Savarain | ||||||||||
1793 | New York | September: Pierre Lousen charged with riot in September O+T. | "Gen List NYC…" p.24 | Pierre Lousen | |||||||||||
1793 | North Carolina | Petersburg, Beaufort Co., NC | September: Rioters, unhappy with the outcome of an election, sieze an destory the ballot box | Gazette of the United-States. [volume], September 14, 1793, Page 538 | PTH | ||||||||||
1793 | New York | NYC | October: A mob destroyed two houses of ill fame. | Pomerantz, p.300 | |||||||||||
1793 | Delaware | Milford, DE | September: A crowd, terrfied of Yellow Fever, seized dry goods coming from Philadelphia, and, afraid of the possibility of contagion, burned the load. A woman in the wagon was stripped and tarred and feathered. A black man, who drove the wagon, escaped "with the utmost difficulty." | National gazette. [volume], October 02, 1793, Page 387, Image 3 | PTH | ||||||||||
1793 | New York | NYC | November: Anthony Clawson charged separately for riot and assault and battery. Convicted for both in November Sessions. | "General List NYC…" p.24 | Anthony Clawson | ||||||||||
1793 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | November: Mayor Matthew Clarkson was indignant over the riotous attack of a number of French refugees from St. Domingo against a fellow refugee for alleged crimes while on St. Domingo. This occurred on a docked boat. | N.Y. Daily Advertiser, November 13, 1793 | |||||||||||
1793 | Pennsylvania | Fayette Co., Penn | November: At least six men with blackened faces attack collector Wells house. They forced him to resign and insisted that he publish that resignation. | Baldwin, p.91; Fennell, p.64,82-83; Gazette of the United States & evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 27 Feb. 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | Benjamin Wells | PTH Edits | |||||||||
1794 | Massachusetts | Newburyport | April: A peaceful show of strength in which "A large number of jovial tars with outcum cockades in their caps and the American standard displayed attended by military music paraded the streets in a peaceable and orderly manner." Evoking the spirit of '76 it was said that here was a militant group ready when called upon "those lawless depredations which our insidious enemies - the British - have been wontonly committing upon our trade and commerce." | Labaree.Patriots and Partisans, p.108; fn.Morning Star, 8 15 April 1794 | |||||||||||
1794 | Maryland | Baltimore | March: Riot in which two British sailors were attacked. After na investigation Judge Samuel Chase ordered the arrest as "ring leaders" two men of prominent standing in the community - David Stodder, shipbuilder and captain in militia, and William Reeves, both popular with a powerful political faction. Their refusal at first to pay a bond and the threat of more mob violence caused a precarious situation. Ultimately they offered the surcity, but were never arraigned by the Grand Jury, instead that body offered a presentment against Judge Chase for censuring sheriff and jury. | M.P. Andrews.History of Maryland, p.412-419 | |||||||||||
1794 | South Carolina | Charleston, SC | January: Two white men, Thackman and Mayson, broke into the plantation of a Colonel Gervais sometime around midnight, in the January of 1794. Thackman was a deputy sheriff, and had orders to recover the human “property” of one Purvis from Gervais. Accompanying Thackman and Mayson was an enslaved African American man, who was armed. The three were charged with riot. The defense argued that the African American, being a slave, did not qualify under the law as a person capable of committing riot, and therefore the charge could be, at worst, trespass. The court disagreed, and held that a black person "was, in contemplation of law, such a person as was capable of committing a riot, in conjunction with white men.” The defendants were found guilty, but, as they were there for a lawful purpose, only fined five shillings each. | Reports of the Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of South Carolina (St. Paul: West Publishing Co., 1922), 144 | Thackman; Mayson | Colonel Gervais | PTH | ||||||||
1794 | New Jersey | Burlington, NJ | January: A riot took place in opposition to the law imposing fines for non-performance of military duties. It was quelled without much difficulty. | N.Y. Journal, January 29, 1794 | |||||||||||
1794 | Maine | Islesborough, Me | January: A crowd armed with clubs and loyal to Samuel Ely assaults Prince Holbrook, a General Knox supporter. | Taylor, p.265 | Prince Holbrook | ||||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Norfolk | February: The British ship Dedalus detained two men from a N.E. captain. The captain, joined by a number of inhabitants, attempted to burn the frigate in retaliation for their refusal to release. The men were later released. The British captain, out of revenge, fired (??) at the N.E. vessel, killing a horse and doing other damage. The citizens met and resolved not to allow the Dedalus to sail before she unloaded her cargo of provisions for the British fleet and that the French had taken possession of her as the British had taken possession of a ship in neutral Genoa. The whole affair, it is said, was amicably settled. | N.Y. Journal, March 1, 1794 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co., Penn | March: Party of 60 pursue Neville and Robert Johnson. Don't get them, but attack a distiller, James Kiddloe, who complied with the excise law. They riddled his still with bullets and tried to set fire to his still house. | Baldwin, p.102 | Neville Johnson; Robert Johnson; James Kiddloe | ||||||||||
1794 | Maryland | Baltimore | March: Tar and feathering of Captain Ramsdell and a young man named Sentonn by a mob at Fell's Point for flying his ship's flag at half mast at the expiration of the 30 day embargo. Several leading men arrested David Stodder, captain of the artillery company and popular with Fell Pointers, William Reeves, Robert Towsend (captain of the Night watch at Fell's Point), Thomas Trimble, Morris Job, John Weaver, and a Mr. Raburg. The big hassle with Justice Samuel Chase ensued. | Scharf.History of Baltimore, p.780-78(??) | William Reeves; Robert Towsend; Thomas Trimble; Morris Job; John Weaver; Raburg; Sentonn | Ramsdell | |||||||||
1794 | South Carolina | Charleston, SC | March: Effigies of W.S.F.A.B. Arnold and the Devil holding United States stock, bank checks, etc., were burnt in consequences of the debates in Congress over Madison's propositions. | N.Y. Journal, April 16, 1794 | Benedict Arnold | ||||||||||
1794 | South Carolina | Charleston, SC | March: Some French sailors treated women poorly at the theater, which led to their explusion. Angry, they returned to the harbor and reported that one of their own had been murdered. A contingent of sailors and officers and one citizen return and attack the patrons and horses. Military and armed citizens called out, who put the riot down. Several injured, including a rioting lieutinant. | Gazette of the United States & Evening Advertiser, 04/02/1794 | PTH | ||||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Norfolk | April: Disorders in which the English and destitute Santo Domingans were bothered by "the menacing gestures of Frenchmen in red caps" and by "nocturnal parades of armed Frenchmen" annoyed both state and local authorities although there may have been no real violence committed. | Childs.French Refugee Life in the U.S., p.82 | |||||||||||
1794 | Maryland | Baltimore and elsewhere | April: Threats of violence in Baltimore to British vice-consul Thornton persuaded Consul Phineas Bond to order him out of the city. Baltimore citizens were incensed over the trial of Captain Barney in Jamaica over customs violations. Bond in Philadelphia and the vice-consul in Norfolk were also threatened. | Phineas Bond to Lord Grenville, April 17, 1794; "Letters of P. Bond,"AHA Report, 1897 p.546 | Thornton | ||||||||||
1794 | New York | Ulster Co., NY | April: Republicans burned on effigy of their congressman (Federalist), Peter Van Gaasbeck, alongside of the French traitor General Dumourier and another of Benedict Arnold. | Young.Dem-Rep in N.Y. | Peter Van Gaasbeck; Dumourier; Benedict Arnold | ||||||||||
1794 | New York | NYC | April: Sailors on a Portuguese Brig, in honor of Good Friday, hanged Judas in effigy from the ship. The effigy was dunked in the water, before being dragged through the streets while beaten with clubs. Provided amusement to boys and spectators. | Gazette of the United States & evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 22 April 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | Judas | PTH | |||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Norfolk | April: An American was tarred and feathered in punishment for causing the death of M. Gauspin killed by the discharge of a gunman that was saluting the frigate commerce. | Moreau St. May's Journal, (1793-1798) p.44 | |||||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Norfolk | April: An American who had spoken disrespectfully of the French was tarred and feathered and rode around in a cart through the streets all that day. This despite the mayor's publically requesting the mob to desist. | Moreau St. May's Journal, (1793-1798} p.59 | |||||||||||
1794 | Maryland | Baltimore | May: Crowd tarred and feathered a man for disrespecting the American flag by reversing it. Hanged British flag above | Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume], August 23, 1794, and | PTH | ||||||||||
1794 | Maryland | Baltimore | May: Crowd tarred and feathered an American sailor who had served on a British privateer. He was paraded through the streets with a large sign that read "American Pirate" | Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume], August 23, 1794 and Gazette of the United States & evening advertiser. [volume], May 06, 1794, Image 3 and https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov | PTH | ||||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Norfolk | May: Crowd siezed vessels belonging to two British privateers, who were tarred and feathered and paraded through the streets | Gazette of the United States & evening advertiser. [volume], May 06, 1794, Image 3 | PTH | ||||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Dumfries | May: After a "swinish multitude" threated to tar and feather a man, a judge refuses to bring down the hand of the law, because the threatened party had never actually been wrapped in the "American coat of mail" and only threatened. | Gazette of the United States & evening advertiser. [volume], May 30, 1794, Image 1 | PTH | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co., Penn | June: Whiskey Boys take coupling distiller James Kiddoe's (??) parts. | Baldwin, p.102 | James Kiddloe | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Washington Co., Penn | June: Party of men break into Deputy Collector John Lynn's house, seized him, took him into the woods, cut off his hair, and gave him a coat of tar and feathers. They made him swear never to reveal the names of his assailants, nor serve as an excise officer. Lyon treated like a joke. | Baldwin, p.103-104; Fennell, p.64-65,83 | John Lyon | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Washington Co., Penn | June: A few days after he had been tarred and feathered a mob attacked John Lyon's house again and partly pulled it down. | Baldwin, p.104; Fennell, p.64-65 | John Lyon | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co., Penn | June: Whiskey Boys riddle William Cochran's still full of bullets. | Baldwin, p.102; Fennell, p.109 | William Cochran | ||||||||||
1794 | Massachusetts | Boston | June: Mobs were active for several nights and destroyed several buildings. Several hundreds were involved. (reason obscure) | N.Y. Journal, July 5, 1794 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co., Penn | June: Whiskey Boys pay second visit to Cochran's house and tore his bolting cloth, took away his sawmill and loose iron and left him a threatening note. | Fennell, p.109-110 | William Cochran | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Bower Hill, Penn | July: Whiskey Boys militia surround home of John Neville. Neville shot one man who later died, and a 25 minute battle ensued. Supposedly Neville's slaves joined the battle and drove the attackers off. | Baldwin, p.115-117; Fennell, p.66-68 | John Neville | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Bower Hill, Penn | July: About 500 men came to Neville's house. Some soldiers there. Another gun battle ensued. One Whiskey Rebel leader killed. Defenders burn some outbuildings. Fear of fire forces them to surrender. The Whiskey rebels gut house, steal possessions, shoot horses, drink liquor, and burn house. Grain and fences destroyed, all told 3,000 hours of work lost. | Baldwin, p.117-121; Fennell, p.66-68,104-105 | John Neville | ||||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Morgantown, Virginia | August: Anonymous note on door warned collector to resign or his property would be destroyed. The collector nailed his resignation on the door and left. When 30 rioters appeared, with blackened faces, they left peacably. | Baldwin, p.206-207; Fennell, p.112-113 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Bedford Co., Penn | August: Whiskey Boys capture collector John Webster. He submissively tore up his own papers. They burnt his haystacks and stables, but then put the fire out. He was made to stand on a stamp, shout hurrah for Tom the Tinker, and let go. | Baldwin, p.165-166; Fennell, p.112-113 | John Webster | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Westmoreland Co., Penn | August: 300 Whiskey Boys attack Philip Reagan's house - deputy collector Reagan agreed to surrender his commission if no more property were destroyed. His hand had been burned a few days earlier. He treated them to whiskey. They held him captive, went to collector John Wells' house, which they burnt to the ground. Reagan escaped. Wells, captured the next day, agreed to all the rioters demands and was let go. | Baldwin, p.165; Fennell, p.83,105,172 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Redstone Meeting, Penn | August: About 20 men from Cumberland township marched to the Redstone meeting and tried Samuel Jackson, a prominent miller and merchant from their area. | Fennell, p.161 | Samuel Jackson | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Pittsburg, Penn | August: After Braddock's field meeting some 5,000 Whiskey Boys march through town as militia. Some rowdyness and intimidation of locals accompanied this action, but most were restrained. Whole affair very organized. Whiskey Boys burn barn belonging to Alexander Kirkpatrick and grain stack. | Baldwin, p.140-164 | Alexander Kirkpatrick | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Greensburg, Penn | August: Crowd attacks two storekeepers and raise liberty pole. | Fennell, p.120 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Western Penn | August: James Brison was driven into exile by Whiskey Boys (others had, too). Two days after he left, a mob search the house of a state deputy attorney that Brison had stayed in the first night out. They also chased a "Mulatto" woman they believed was Brison in disguise. | Baldwin, p.168 | James Brison | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Carlisle, Penn | August: A party of men with blackened faces visited the collector of Cumberland County and forced him to resign. | Baldwin, p.209 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Brownsville, Penn | August: 70 armed men from Washington Co. arrive to burn house and farm building of Quaker who called Parkinson's Ferry meeting a scrub congress. Local committee struggled to avoid violence, had the Quaker taken into custody. | Baldwin, p.193-194 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Northumberland, Penn | September: Opponents of both the draft and the excise erected a liberty pole. They also broke into the arsenal and seized weapons. They controlled the town for a couple of days until a company of militia from Lancaster arrived and dispersed them with a bayonet charge. | Baldwin, p.208 | |||||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Winchester, Virginia | September: One man "damned the Congress and cried 'God save King George'" was tarred and feathered. | Baldwin, p.224 and Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume], September 13, 1794, Image 3 | PTH Edits | ||||||||||
1794 | Maryland | Hagenstown, Maryland | September: When militamen called into service, they beat off their officers and put up a liberty pole in celebration; the next day magistrates cut down the pole, whereupon the militia put it up aain, swearing to kill anyone who disturbed it. Militia marched on Frederick to seize arms there, but were turned back by locals. | Baldwin, p.207-208; Fennell, p.262-264 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Cumberland Co., Pa | September: In the evening a number of men with their faces blackened entered the house of Mr. Hewlings, collector of the revenue and forced him to give up all the papers relative to his office. This occurred 10 miles outside Carlisle. | N.Y. Herald, September 4, 1794 and Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 02 Sept. 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | Hewlings | PTH Edits | |||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Morgantown, Virginia | September: Residents band together to oppose encroachment by Whiskey Boys. Reported to have engaged with the Whiskey Boys several times, and to have driven them back. | Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 02 Sept. 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Greensburg, Penn | September: Commissioners from government on return cast harassed by crowd who shouted insults and threw stones, breaking one window. General Irvine threatened to shoot them and they dispersed. | Baldwin, p.200; Fennell, p.119 | |||||||||||
1794 | Virginia | Martinsburg, Virginia | September: Crowd erected a liberty pole, attacked and scattered by the militia. | Baldwin, p.207 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Carlisle | September: Whiskey Boys erect liberty pole. After it was cut down the next morning they reassembled and erected another pole. For several nights they celebrated their triumph with noise and shooting. They collected money from passersby for whiskey. Also burned Chief Justice in effigy. | Baldwin, p.208 and Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 16 Sept. 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH Edits | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Washington Co. | September: Armed men threaten to kill or tar and feather their officers. They insulted civil authority and cursed the country's government. | Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 15 Sept. 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH | ||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Western Penn | September: Popular vote to be held on submission. Rebel militia disrupted several polling places and demanded ballots at others. | Fennell, p.72 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Unity Township, Westmoreland Co., Penn | September: Meeting to sign submission at William Findley's house terrorized by Whiskey Boys and the paper with signatures of those submitting snatched from presiding officials hand. | Baldwin, p.210 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co., Penn | September: An armed party took the submission forms from an official who had agreed to distribute them. | Baldwin, p.210 | |||||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Nottingham, Washington Co., Penn | September: When Judge Edgar attempted to speak on submission, the crowd hissed, pelted mud and stones, took away the table provided for official use during meeting. | Baldwin, p.210 | Edgar | ||||||||||
1794 | New York | NYC | November: Seven persons charged with riot and assault and battery in November Sessions. All convicted. | "Gen List NYC…" p.24 | |||||||||||
1794 | New York | Whitestown, NY | November: British agents William Johnson and a Mr. Street were allegedly persuading Native Americans to take up arms against the United States. Americans told Col. Pickering if he did not arrest the agents, they would tar and feather the British agents themselves. | Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 18 Nov. 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH | ||||||||||
1794 | Vermont | Vermont | November: The legislature passes a motion attacking the Federal government for its action against the Whiskey Boys. The next day, the body passed another motion erasing the vote of the previous day from their records. An angry crowd retaliated by burning in effigy Mr. Samuel Paine, who had been chosen as a federal senator a few days prior. | Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 24 Nov. 1794. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | Samuel Paine | PTH | |||||||||
1794 | Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh | December: Officer abuse a man, probably Stephen Bayard, demanding food and drink, refusing to pay for it, and then disrupting his house. | Baldwin (no page given) | Stephen Bayard | ||||||||||
1795 | Massachusetts | Boston | September: Anti-Jay treaty mobs, peaked Sept. 14 when Jay burned in effigy, an attempt to put down riot failed and six nights of mob rule followed. Gov. S. Adams refused to call out militia. | Wheeler.Urban Politics, p.372 | John Jay | ||||||||||
1795 | New York | NYC | January: Six men charged and convicted of riot and assault and battery in January term (O+T). | "Gen List NYC…" p.25 | |||||||||||
1795 | New York | NYC | May: A drunken Englishman stole a French flag and liberty cap. A mob formed to find and punish the man, but he escaped. | Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 22 May 1795. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH | ||||||||||
1795 | Massachusetts | Boston | June: Belief that Nova Scotian ship was a Bermudan privateer led to the distribution of handbills calling on the citizens to gather at the Long Wharf and dismantle the ship. About 9 o'clock Saturday night a considerable number appeared and attacked the sloop Speedwell of Halifax. She was dismantled and the crowd angered because of the weapons found in the hold twoed her off into the stream about midnight and set fire to her. The blaze threatened other shipping at anchor, as well as Charlestown but some citizens found edge. Governor Samual Adams issued a proclamation against the riot the next day and the legislature soon followed suit offering a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of any of the rioters or encouragers of the riot. | N.Y. Argus, June 29, 1795 | |||||||||||
1795 | South Carolina | Charleston, SC | July: Anti-Jay Treaty protest. A mob marched on Senator Drayton's house, burned a copy of the treaty and knocked at the door with sticks, threatening to burn the house. | Klein.Unification, p.219 | John Drayton | ||||||||||
1795 | South Carolina | Edgefield, SC | July: Anti-Jay treaty mob burned Jay and Senator Jacob Reed in effigy. | Klein.Unification, p.220 | John Jay; Jacob Reed | ||||||||||
1795 | New York | NY | July: Mass meetings opposing treaty saw Hamilton attempt to address and then be harassed by the mob. | Wheeler.Urban Politics, p.269-272; Bayard.Travels of a Frenchman, p.134 | Alexander Hamilton | ||||||||||
1795 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | July: Philadelphia reaction to Jay treaty also riotous. Jay was burned in effigy; mass meetings were unruly, and British ministers, his charge and senator William Bingham had the windows of their homes broken and copies of the treaty were publicly burned. | Wheeler,Urban Politics. P.97-99 | John Jay; William Bingham | ||||||||||
1795 | South Carolina | Charleston, SC | July: Anti-Jay treaty mob beat pro-Jay treaty person and chased several others. | Klein.Unification, p.219-220 | |||||||||||
1795 | New York | NYC | July: Anti-Jay treaty riots - on the 18th a mass meeting abused Mayor Larick and stoned Hamilton as they attempted to defend the treaty. While the Chamber of Commerce endorsed the treaty at "the most respectable" meeting "ever held" on July 21, irate demonstrators burnt it at the Battery and hung Jay in effigy. | Pomerantz, p.119 | Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; Larick | ||||||||||
1795 | New Hampshire | Portsmouth, NH | September: Anti-Jay treaty riots - Ringleaders were arrested and Governor Gilmon threatened to use the militia if need be. | S. Higginson to T. Pickering (??) in Letters to Stephen HigginsonReport of the AHA for 1876, p.795 | |||||||||||
1795 | North Carolina | North Carolina | September: The Jay treaty elicited several protest meetings throughout the state. A few meetings were held in favor of the treaty - one such meeting was held at Newbern. Sometime after it, however, Republicans held "a certain riotous and tumultary meeting" denouncing the treaty which was deplored by the Grand Jury of the Newburn district as not "countenanced by any person of reflection or respectability." | Gilpatrick.Jeffersonian Democracy in N.C., p.67-68 | |||||||||||
1795 | South Carolina | Edgefield, SC | September: Effigies of John Jay and Jacob Reed (S.C. senator who voted for the Jay treaty) were hung and the Jay treaty publically burnt. Many other communities held meetings to express their opposition to the treaties. | Wolfe.Jeffersonian Democracy in S.C., p.80-85 | John Jay; Jacob Reed | ||||||||||
1795 | Maine | Balltown/Jefferson, Me | October: Settlers armed with muskets interrupt Ephraim Ballard's attempt to survey the Plymouth Patent SE corner for Kennebeck Proprietors. | Taylor, p.265 | Ephraim Ballard | ||||||||||
1795 | Maine | Balltown/Jefferson, Me | October: Armed settlers again interrupt Ephraim Ballard's renewed attempt at a survey. | Taylor, p.265 | Ephraim Ballard | ||||||||||
1795 | Maine | Balltown/Jefferson, Me | November: Armed settlers obstruct B. Poor's third attempt to run survey lines. | Taylor, p.266 | Benjamin Poor | ||||||||||
1795 | Maine | Balltown/Jefferson, Me | November: Armed settlers obstructed Benjamin Poor's renewed survey attempt. | Taylor, p.266 | Benjamin Poor | ||||||||||
1795 | Maine | Balltown/Jefferson, Me | November: A dozen armed and blackened settlers surprise Ephraim Ballard's camp, and destroy his survey plans and papers. | Taylor, p.265-266 | Ephraim Ballard | ||||||||||
1795 | Maine | Balltown/Jefferson, Me | November: Armed settlers obstruct and chase away Benjamin Poor suspected of being a surveyor for Kennebeck Proprietors. | Taylor, p.266 | Benjamin Poor | ||||||||||
1795 | Maine | Clentoume (??) | December: Settlers destroy survey marks made on behalf of Kennebeck Proprietors. | Taylor, p.266 | |||||||||||
1796 | Maine | Minot, Me | January: Settlers harass and plunder loggers working for Pejepscot Proprietors. | Taylor, p.266 | |||||||||||
1796 | New York | NYC | February: Three men charged with riot and assault and battery; one, Gilbert Kersher, was convicted in February Sessions. | "Gen List NYC…" p.25 | Gilbert Kersher | ||||||||||
1796 | New York | NYC | March: When William Ketelas was called before the Assembly to answer for his attacks on Federalists, triggered by the Ferrymen incident, he was accompanied by a great crowd (2,000). They made a great clamour at the Assembly house and escorted Ketelas to jail in good Wilkite style, when the Assembly ordered him there. They dispersed more or less peacefully. | N.Y. Journal, March 8, 11, 1796 | William Ketelas | ||||||||||
1796 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co. | March: Christian Bugher, David Gilliland, Barnabas Gilliland, and William Ryan attacked John Watt in a land claim dispute. Bugher had settled and built a cabin on land previously claimed by Watt. Bugher and his companions threatened to shoot Watt, or tie him to a log-chain and drag him out with a horse unless he abandoned the land. Then, with Watt still in his cabin, they lit the building ablaze. The court found Bugher, David Gilliland, and Ryan guilty, as “To burn a house, the habitation of a man, and with a man in it, is an outrage not to be justified.” | Addison Alexander, Reports of Cases in the County Courts of the Fifth Circuit, and in the High Court of Errors and Appeals of the State of Pennsylvania, and Charges to Grand Juries of Those County Courts (Philadelphia: Kay & Bro. 1883), 295-296. | John Watt | PTH | |||||||||
1796 | New York | NYC | April: When Ketelas was released from prison a crowd escorted him home and again it was very Wilkite in behavior and attitude. Ketelas complimented the crowd on its dedication to law, the Constitution, and liberty. Symbols were used. | Young.Dem-Reps in N.Y., p.489-490 | William Ketelas | ||||||||||
1796 | Maine | Pittson, Me | July: Settlers attack deputy sheriff bearing writs for the Kennebeck Proprietors. | Taylor, p.266 | |||||||||||
1796 | Maine | New Milford/Alna, Me | July: Isacee Prince led settlers mobbing John Trueman, agent (??) for the Draper heirs and destroy his papers. July: Mr. Trueman, going from Mr. Stacy's to Mr. Clark's, was attacked by five men with blacked faces. A gun was pointed at Trueman, who was led into the bushes, where he was robbed, stripped naked, and tortured, with his ears being cut. They then discusses murdering Truemen, but decided against it. Truemen allegedly knew three of the attackers. | Taylor, p.266-267 and Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 27 July 1796. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | John Trueman | PTH Edits | |||||||||
1796 | North Carolina | Wilmington, NC | July: French privateer La Bellona came into port. The captain and crew had several run-ins with the citizens and American seamen of the town. These culminated in a "sailor's brawl" (Gilpatrick's phrase) in which an American seaman was killed, the privateer guns thrown overboard, and the French tricolor trampled undefoot. The Americans believed that the privateer was enlisting American seamen and planning to molest American shipping leaving Wilmington. There was a trial of the French privateer afterward. | Gilpatrick.Jeffersonian Democracy in N.C., p.83 | |||||||||||
1796 | New York | NYC | October: Prison riot in which 30 criminals rose in an attempt to escape. Armed with a broad axe they cut their way through the windows. The alarm was sounded and most of them were quickly recaptured. | [Greenloaf's]N.Y. Journal, November 1, 1796 | |||||||||||
1796 | New York | NYC | November: Five men charged with riot at the theatre, four of them convicted in November Sessions. | "Gen List NYC…" p.25 | |||||||||||
1796 | Pennsylvania | Allegheny Co. | Winter: John Huston possessed a 1794 improvement on some land, but had no survey or warrant. The next winter, Felix Welsh settled on the claim and built a house under a survey. Huston warned Welsh not to settle past a certain boundary. Welsh built a new home past this boundary. While Welsh and his wife were absent, Huston threw out belongings, including beds still containing Welsh’s children, and “threw down the house.” While the court held that Huston should not have used force, and should have gone through legal channels, a verdict of not guilty was handed down. Daniel Carter and William Wilson are listed as co-defendants. | Addison Alexander, Reports of Cases in the County Courts of the Fifth Circuit, and in the High Court of Errors and Appeals of the State of Pennsylvania, and Charges to Grand Juries of Those County Courts (Philadelphia: Kay & Bro. 1883), 297-299 | John Huston | PTH | |||||||||
1797 | Maine | New Milford/Alna, Me | March: A crowd of armed settlers extorts provisions from Thomas Fairservice, a proprietary supporter in their community. | Taylor, p.267 | Thomas Fairservice | ||||||||||
1797 | New York | NYC | March: The proprietors of the Tontine Coffee House removed the tri-colored emblem of French from the Assembly room, claiming it had created disturbances when some persons attempted to rip it down. News of this brought an unruly mob to the doors of the Tontine intending toresotre it. Anticipating this the proprietors had called the watch which dispersed the mob and hustled several persons off to jail. | Bernstein. "Rise of Dem. Rep…," p.205-206 | |||||||||||
1797 | New York | NYC | March: A Francophile patron entered into the Tuntine Tavern and tore down a card with the British and American flags on it. A disturbance resulted. | Deconde. (??), p.20 | |||||||||||
1797 | Maine | Wiscasset, Me | March: Over 200 settlers from New Milford and Balltown march into Wiscasset, surround the jail and rescue prisoners held for mobbing John Trueman in July 1796. | Taylor, p.267 | John Trueman | ||||||||||
1797 | Maine | New Milford/Alna, Me | May: At night six to eight men break windows in the house belonging to Stuart Hunt, a leading man who supported claims of Draper heirs. | Taylor, p.267 | |||||||||||
1797 | New York | NYC | July: "A considerable riot…at Topsail Tavern" in the evening. 20 persons arrested and taken to Bridewell. Local residents probably aided the police. | N.Y. Gazette, July 3, 1797; N.Y.Minerva, July 3, 1797 | |||||||||||
1797 | New York | NYC | August: As the war scare subsided the Army became a liability and brawls and disturbances became frequent. Even the officers former "clubs" one called "Knights of the Dagger" was particularly infamous. | Bernstein. "Rise of the Dem. Rep. Parliament," p.380 | |||||||||||
1797 | New York | NYC | October: Five men charged and convicted of riot and assault and battery in October sessions. Sentenced January session, 1798 | "Gen List NYC…" p.26 | |||||||||||
1797 | Maryland | Upper Marlborough | October: Election riot with brick bats and stones. One man was killed. Over sheriff election. | N.Y. Journal, October 21, 1797 | |||||||||||
1797 | Maine | Pittson, Me | November, Settlers from Balltown harass house of Ebenezer Pratt, a proprietary supporter. | Taylor, p.267 | Ebenezer Pratt | ||||||||||
1797 | New York | NYC | December: Dr. Nicholas Romaine became immersed in a political controversy when some of his thoughts were quoted in a letter printed in the papers. This led to a scuffle between him and Benjamin Winshop and later to a mob attack on Romaine. A few days later Romaine was attacked by Capt. Armstrong, retired from British service. | N.Y. Journal, D. 27, 30, 1797 | Nicholas Romaine | ||||||||||
1797 | Virginia | Pittsylvania Co. Va | December: William Munford reports that an election, at which he was a clerk, became rowdy and violent. The crowd pushed the sheriff and clerks around. The court house was cleared and occupied once or twice before the clerks and sheriff were forced to retreat. The candidates seemed to encourage the crowd, or at least did not do enough to suppress it. | Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 01 Jan. 1798. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH | ||||||||||
1798 | Massachusetts | Dedham | December: "The liberty pole in this town (Dedham) was cut down by some Federal young men of Dedham, who were attacked by the seditious, and one of their number seized. To get his liberty, he very indiscreetly paid the mob guard, of five, twenty dollars. One of the persons concerned in raising the pole, an opulent farmer, has been arrested and bound over. The defended are awed by this measure, but the effect is not as great as their intemperance and folly merit. The powers of the law must be used moderately, but with spirit and decision, otherwise great risk of disorders will be incurred. | Fisher Ames to Timothy Pickering - November 22, 1798; Ames ed.,Works of Fisher Ames, 1854 ed., Vol 1; p.242 | |||||||||||
1798 | Virginia | Williamsburgh | July: William and Mary - a commencement day young enthusiasts marched through town exhibiting a representative of John Adams as though receiving an address from congress. John Marshall on a visit to Fredericksburg was insulted in the theatre and all but pat (??) out to the tune of the rouges march. | Anderson.William Branch Giles | John Adams | ||||||||||
1798 | Vermont | Walingford, Vt | January: A liberty pole was erected by Republicans who used abusive language against Congress, the president. Soon after some Federalists collected, cut down the polt, burnt it and scattered the ashed in the wind. | N.Y. Spectator, Januray 31, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | New York | NYC | January: Four men charged and convicted of riot and assault and battery in January Sessions. | "Gen List NYC…" p.26 | |||||||||||
1798 | New York | NYC | January: Ten men with blacked faces, black wigs, and waggoner's frocks robbed Mrs. Temple's home on Greenwhich road, while her husband was absent in Europe. The leader of the gang claimed to have known Mrs. Temple in Boston, and treated her in a genteel manner, going so far as to prepare for her a cordial. Some 2000 dollars were stolen. | Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 02 Feb. 1798. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | Mrs. Temple | PTH | |||||||||
1798 | New York | Livingston, NY | February: Land riots - rioters excluded proprietors from land. Legal processes resisted. Jay against it. | Lincoln, ed.Messages of The Govs I, p.411 | |||||||||||
1798 | Pennsylvania | Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, Pa | Feb: Supporters of Israel Israel violently interput and occupy a rival political meeting | Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 20 Feb. 1798. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH | ||||||||||
1798 | Pennsylvania | Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, Pa | Feb: Supporters of Israel Israel again violently interput and occupy a rival political meeting | Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 20 Feb. 1798. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH | ||||||||||
1798 | Massachusetts | Mass | April: Federalists publically burned Republican paper in Mass; same controversy, threat of tar and feathers (p.252, Smith) | Ind. Chronicle, April 1798; Smith.Freedom's Fetters, p.249,252 | |||||||||||
1798 | New York | NYC | April: An attempt was made to tear down the Cap of Liberty from the Toumary Meeting Hall. One Republican wrote: "Such a thing as a cap of liverty must truly be disgusting to such gentlemen, their order requires no symbol of liberty but a sceptre and a crown." | Paulson, "Tommy Society,"NYH(1953) p.75-76 | |||||||||||
1798 | New York | NYC | May: Threat of mob action at Debating Society. | N.Y. Gazette, May 2, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | New Jersey | Newark, NJ | May: A liberty cup which had recently been "despoiled" by "the aristocrats" was recaptured by a party of the militia assembled, under the discharge of three rounds. | N.Y. Journal, May 5, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | May: On May 7 1200 young men, in the midst of the XYZ affair, marched through Philadelphia to the president's house to offer their lives for the country. That night they mobbed the residence of Benjamin Franklin Bache, Rep New York - editor. On May 9, which Adams had set as a day for national fast, Federalist youths wearing the Black Cockade fought in the streets with Republicnas wearing the red. The light (??) were called out, a guard was posted at the Resident's House and the streets were patrolled at night. | Novak.Rights of Youth, p.39-40 | Benjamin Franklin Bache | ||||||||||
1798 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | May: Street fights broke out between Republicans and Federalists on John Adams day of fast. The trouble began with a scuffle in the state house yard. | Deconde. (??), p.20 | |||||||||||
1798 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | May: French cockade mobs roam the streets at night. The mayor, Secretary of State, Atty-Gen, and an alderman intercepted one such mob, dispersed it, and arrested one man. Cavalry patrolled the streets at night, "young men" volunteers guarded the military stores and the mint. | NY.Daily Advertiser, May 12, 1798; N.Y.Gazette, May 12, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | New York | NYC | June: Thirteen men charged with assault and bettery with intent to murder and with Breaking Prison Convicted on both accounts, June Sessions. | "Gen List NYC…" p.27 | |||||||||||
1798 | New York | NYC | July: Several incidents of Federalists and Republicans brawling and rioting in the streets. A particularly large such disturbance ocurred at the Battery on July 27. | N.Y.Spectator, July 4, 1798; N.Y.Time Piece, July 27, 30, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | Virginia | Williamsburgh | July: William and Mary student paraded the streets and burned an effigy of the President in which he was shown receiving a "Royal Address" and searching frantically through a batch of ready made responses for an appropriate reply. | Novak.Rights of Youth, p.44 | |||||||||||
1798 | New Jersey | Hackensack, NJ | July: Federalist celebration of the 4th included stripping the Liberty Pole of its cap and placing the American Eagle in its stead. They interred the cap. Some Republicans attempted to prevent this but were beaten back by the militia. | N.Y.Gazette, July 11, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | Virginia | Williamsburgh | July: "Our noble president was burnt in effigy in Williamsburgh on the fourth of July by the student of William and Mary College and a troop of cavalry. He was exhibited in threat of receiving a loyal address, and looking among a budget of ready made answers for one in return." | Argus(Putny, Vermont), August 9, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | Georgia | Savannah | August: The crew of a Spanish privateer was harassed and the vessel taken up river and burnt by a number of men about midnight. The Spanish vessel had taken two American ships which the Spanish government had later released. | NY.Time Piece, August 30, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | New Jersey | Mendham, NJ | August: About 11 o'clock in the morning, when most of the men were working in the fields, 23 Federalists, wearing black cockades, armed with swords, clubs, and pistols, came riding into town from New Brunswick. They attacked the liberty pole in front of Dr. Lipton's house, erected on July 4th and ornamented with a liberty cap and American flag. They harassed several citizens, mostly women, had a quick drink at the Black Horse tavern (which they amply paid for), fired several pistols, and after threatening some more people they rode off with the liberty cap. | N.Y.Argus, August 24, 27, 1798 | |||||||||||
1798 | New York | NYC | August: A fracas between Mr. Burke's foreman and Mayor MacDougal occurred on August 21. Two different accounts appeared in other papers, but theArgus, which did not have the facts refuses to say anything about it. | N.Y.Argus, August 27, 1798 | Burke; MacDougal | Burke; MacDougal | |||||||||
1798 | Maryland | Baltimore | September: Baltimore Congressional election of 1798 represented a real challenge for Samuel Smith. Smith relied heavily on the support of his militia. On August 3rd, several militia companies ostentatiously marched through the streets of Baltimore to Smith's home, where they were provided with ample quantities of alcoholic beverages. September 27 saw Smith personally lead a mob attack on a pro-Winchester rally. Although unsuccessful in dispersing that rally, the threat of mob action became so serious that the election judges ordered all weapons confiscated from persons in the vicinity of the polls. smith won the election and the Federalists blamed Republican mob violence. | Cassell.Merchant Congressmen…, p.87-89 | Winchester | ||||||||||
1798 | Maryland | Baltimore | September: Smith led a crowd to a Winchester rally and attempted to expell the Federalists. | Steffen. "Between Revolutions…," p.169;190 | |||||||||||
1799 | Pennsylvania | Merion, PA | January: A group of men, including a servant of Nathan Suplee, go to Merion to destroy a "sedition pole." Chief Justice mistakenly attempts to prosecute Suplee in the aftermath. | Gazette of the United States & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser 10/05/1799. | PTH | ||||||||||
1799 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | February: United Irish riot - minor confrontation - long court case involving William Duane. | Smith.Freedom's Fetters, p. 279-282 | William Duane | ||||||||||
1799 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | February: Riot when Irish oppose proposed Alien Act. | Shear, July '95 | |||||||||||
1799 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | February: Intruders William Duane, Samuel Cummings, Dr. James Reynolds and Robert Moore arrested for inciting riot. May be the same riot as above. | Wheeler. Urban Politics, p.121 and William Cobbett. Porcupine's Works; Containing Various Writings and Selections, Exhibiting a Faithful Picture of the United States of America; of Their Governments, Laws, Politics, and Resources; of the Characters of Their Presidents, Governors, Legislators, Magistrates, and Military Men; and of the Customs, Manners, Morals, Religion, Virtues and Vices of the People: Comprising Also a Complete Series of Historical Documents and Remarks, from the End of the War, in 1783, to the Election of the President, in March, 1801 (1801). | William Duane; Samuel Cummings; James Reynolds; Robert Moore | PTH Edits | |||||||||
1799 | Vermont | Vergennes, Vermont | February: A group of Federalists celebrate Washington's birthday, with toasts to tar and feathing French tories. Other toasts against slavery and Republicans. | Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 20 March 1799. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. | PTH | ||||||||||
1799 | New York | NYC | March: Effigy paddies cause disturbance on day of celebration for St. Patrick in Harmon Street. One man was killed. | N.Y. Argus, March 20, 1799 | |||||||||||
1799 | New York | Huntington, LI | March: The "Jacobins" had raised a "sedition pole" on the 26th. "The friends of government" led by some local big shots "prostrated the idol of sedition to the ground." The liberty pole had been adorned with a tri-colored flag. | N.Y. Spectator, April 3, 1799 | |||||||||||
1799 | New York | NYC | April: Seven men charged and convicted of riot in April sessions. Probably St. Patrick's day riot. | "Gen List NYC…" p.28 | |||||||||||
1799 | Pennsylvania | Reading, Penn | May: Several men with German names complain about deprecations from 15 members of the Lancaster Horse who terrorized locals and cut down liberty poles. | N.Y. Journal, May 29, 1799 | |||||||||||
1799 | New York | NYC | June: There was some sort of riot at the new prison involving about 100 "mechanics," 300 troops were called out to meet the emergency. The attampted break-out was unsuccessful. A less riotous and more successful break occurred a few days later. | N.Y.Spectator, June 15, 1799; N.Y.Daily Advertisor, June 14, 1799 | |||||||||||
1799 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | June: About 11:00, a number of officers from the US frigate, with others in and out of uniform, including an officer of the US District Court for Penn, went down South street upsetting a cart, a chair before James Carr's door, atatcking first three women sitting before their doors, pulling up their clothes and laying hold of them, then another woman across the street was like abused. They tried to force Mr. Cornelius into the street - when he refused, one man drew a dagger and lurched at him. Luke Cossin was also obliged to try. When Mr. Darnell, a constable living nearby, came out to order them to keep the peace, he was attacked and stabbed with a dirk. By this time a number of citizens had gathered and carried the nine rioters before Alderman Jennings. One man offered bail for the whole group, at $500 a head. | N.Y.Argus, June 28, 1799 | James Carr; Luke Cossin; Darnell; Cornelius | ||||||||||
1799 | New York | NYC | July: Ten men variously charged with riot and inciting a riot. Five of these are in a group. One, Isaac Carpenter, charged with Riot and assault and battery, was acquitted. The rest were convicted (except one recog ) in July O+T | "Gen List NYC…" p.28 | Isaac Carpenter |