From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Chestertown Tea Party
Chestertown Tea Party
tine Geddes in broad daylight and threw its cargo of tea
into the Chester River. The event is celebrated each Me-
morial Day weekend with a festival and historic reenact-
ment called the Chestertown Tea Party Festival.[2]
Relations with England
In 1767 in an effort to raise money for England by taxing
the thirteen colonies, Parliament passed the Townshend
Act. The Townshend Act placed taxes on several impor-
tant items in the Colonial economy including paper,
The famous Boston Tea Party, shown here in an 1846 litho- paint, lead, glass and tea. Reaction to the Townshend Act
graph by Nathaniel Currier. in the thirteen colonies was so negative that on March
5, 1770, Parliament decided to repeal most of the duties,
however, they decided that the tax on tea would remain.
As a result, many colonists refused to buy tea that
came to America from England. Instead they smuggled in
tea from other countries or made their own tea from lo-
cal spices. Soon merchants in England began to lose mon-
ey, especially the East India Company. In order to keep
this company from going bankrupt, Parliament passed
the Tea Act of 1773. For reasons of economics and social
liberty the colonists were outraged and the seeds of dis-
sent began to grow in the New World.
Beginnings in Boston
On December 16, 1773, a group of angry rebels calling
themselves the “Sons of Liberty” protested the Tea Act
and disguised as Mohawk natives boarded three ships in
Boston Harbor loaded with tea and proceeded to dump
over 10,000 pounds of tea into the ocean. King George III
reacted to the “tea party” by ordering the closing of the
port of Boston.
While Boston’s was by far the most famous tea party
that occurred in the colonies, it was only the first of
many protests against the Tea Act that took place along
the Atlantic Coast.
Resolved
Painting by Francis Blackwell Mayer, 1896, depicting the burn-
ing of the Peggy Stewart, known as the Annapolis Tea Party. When news of the closing of the port of Boston reached
the Chesapeake Bay port of Chester Town, (now Chester-
The Chestertown Tea Party was a protest against British town) on the Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the spring of
excise duties which, according to local legend,[1] took 1774, town leaders called a meeting to discuss what ac-
place in May 1774 in Chestertown, Maryland as a re- tions should be taken. The local chapter of the “Sons of
sponse to the British Tea Act. Chestertown tradition Liberty” boldly put forth a list of grievances, which be-
holds that, following the example of the more famous came known as the “Chestertown Resolves”. These stat-
Boston Tea Party, colonial patriots boarded the brigan- ed that it was unlawful to buy, sell, or drink tea shipped
from England.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Chestertown Tea Party
The “Resolves” are a matter of historic record, re- a turning point in relations between England and the
ported in the Maryland Gazette, but for the tossing of thirteen colonies.
tea, no contemporary written historic account has been After these “tea parties”, it was clear that the
found. The earliest dates to the end of 19th century. Ch- colonists were deeply committed to opposing taxes they
estertown’s local tradition is very strong and passionate viewed as unfair. The destruction of British tea was a de-
and Tea Party remains a major part of the town’s history fiant act against Parliament and King George and viewed
and identity. by the Crown as treason. The once distinct and au-
Shortly after these resolves were printed, word came tonomous colonies became united under the resolution
to the citizens that a ship in the local harbor, the brigan- that they would not accept “taxation without representa-
tine Geddes, had come to port with a shipment of tea. tion” in any form, and that they were willing to act force-
As the story is told, on May 23, 1774, a small group of fully to protect that right.
men (unlike their brethren in New England, in broad day-
light and without Indian disguise) forcibly boarded the
ship and threw its cargo into the Chester River.
Historic record and authentici-
ty
Chestertown Resolves The authenticity of the Chestertown tea Party has been
1st- RESOLVED, that we acknowledge his majesty George III, questioned by historians, who have been able to find lit-
King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, to be our rightful and tle record of the event prior to the Nineteenth century.
[3]The first mention of a "tea party" dates from 1899, in a
lawful sovereign to whom we owe and promise all dutiful allegi-
ance and submission. booklet about Chestertown by Fred G. Usilton called His-
2nd – RESOLVED, that no duty or taxes can constitutionally tory of Chestertown: Gem City on the Chester. Usilton was in-
be opposed on us, but by our own consent given personally, or volved with the local newspaper, which was edited by his
by our own representatives. father.
3rd – RESOLVED, that the act of the British parliament of Usilton gives no source for his story. Despite efforts
the 7th of George III, chapter 46, subjecting the colonies to a du- to find primary sources (letters, diaries, news accounts)
ty on tea, for the purpose of raising revenue in America, is un- this remains the earliest account. It was picked up in
constitutional, oppressive and calculated to enslave the Ameri- a state of Maryland publication in 1903. Usilton’s tale –
cas. which could have been nothing more than patriotic em-
4th – RESOLVED, therefore, that whoever shall import, or in broidery to the fact of the Chestertown Resolves – ap-
any way aid or assist in importing, or introducing from any part pears to have gained currency in 1906, Chestertown’s
of Great Britain, or any other place whatsoever, into this town 200th anniversary. In 1915, Usilton published a county
or country, any tea subject to the payment of a duty imposed by history which included the tale.
the aforesaid act of Parliament: or whoever shall willingly and In the 1950s, newspaper editor Bill Usilton (Fred’s
knowingly sell, buy or consume, in any way assist with the sale, son) revived the story for the town’s 250th anniversary.
purchase or consumption of any tea imported as aforesaid sub- Later, Bill Usilton expanded on the 1915 history book and
ject to a duty, he or they, shall be stigmatized as enemies to the the Tea Party tale was included.
liberties of America. Through all those years, however, no additional doc-
5th – RESOLVED, that we will not only steadily adhere to umentation was presented.[4]
the foregoing resolves, but will endeavor to excite our worthy Contemporary news accounts of protests and de-
neighbors to a like patriotic conduct, and to whoever, amongst, struction in 1774 are documented in New York; York-
shall refuse his concurrence, or after complying, shall desert the town, Va., and Annapolis. Chestertown, at the time, was
cause, and knowingly deviate from the true spirit and meaning a major commercial center, but Colonial newspapers are
of these our resolutions, w will mark him out and inimical to the silent about the legendary tea-dumping.
liberties of America, and unworthy member of the community, A strand remains. The "Brigantine Geddes" bears the
ad a person not deserving our notice our regard. name of a respected local merchant and collector of cus-
6th – RESOLVED, that the foregoing resolves be printed, toms, William Geddes. She was built in 1773, in Chester-
that our brothers in the and other colonies may now our senti- town.
ments as therein contained. Surviving port records show the ship was in the Che-
Signed by order of the Committee, W Wright, Clerk sapeake around the time of the legendary tea party, hav-
ing returned from a voyage to Europe that begain the
previous fall. The owner is listed as James Nicholson and
Historic impact the captain, John Harrison.[5]
The events in Chester Town as well as others in port Geddes was in the vicinity between about May 7 and
cities like Boston, Annapolis and Charleston, SC, marked May 24, when she cleared customs outbound for Madeira.
So part of the legend can be documented. There was a
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Chestertown Tea Party
brig Geddes and it was in the area in May 1774. It remains It is the town’s biggest weekend of the year as tourists
uncertain whether tea was aboard. and residents fill the streets strolling among booths filled
with crafts and food and witnessing history.
Tea Party Festival
In the Spring of 1968 the citizens of Chestertown staged
References
the first festival to commemorate the actions of their [1] Goodhart, Adam, Tea & Fantasy, published in The
forefathers. The event that year was very small by cur- American Scholar Retrieved November 2010
rent standards, but included a parade and historic stag- [2] Buescher, John. "Are There Instances of Raids
ing of the events of the fateful day. Similar to the Boston Tea Party?"
With a few years off, the Tea Party Festival has con- Teachinghistory.org, accessed September 24, 2011.
tinued every Memorial Day Weekend in earnest since [3] Goodhart, Adam, Tea & Fantasy, published in The
the Bicentennial year of 1976. The current incarnation is American Scholar Retrieved November 2010
showcased by a large colonial parade down High Street, [4] For a thorough treatment of the Chestertown Tea
featuring numerous fife and drum bands as well as Party and its origins, see Tempest in a Tea Party by
marching Colonial and British Regiments. Craig O’Donnell in Tales of Kent County, Volume 1
Local civic clubs offer indigenous cuisine (favorites (Kent County News, Chestertown Md., 2006) pages
include cold beer, hot corn, crab cakes and funnel cakes). 6 to 10.
Craftsmen from around the country ply their wares while [5] See Maryland ports-of-entry records, 1745-1775.
musicians, puppeteers and dancers entertain the crowds Annapolis, Chester, Oxford, Patuxent, and Pocomoke ...,
of as many as 15,000 until the first day culminates with microfilm at the Maryland Historical Society.
the throng gathering on the bank of the Chester River to
cheer for the historic reenactment of the Storming of the
Geddes. Colonial re-enactors use the schooner Sultana (in
External links
place of the Geddes) and they are thrown overboard with • Chestertown Tea Party Festival Retrieved November
the tea. 2010
Other events at the annual event include a cocktail • Goodhart, Adam, Tea & Fantasy, published in The
party, homegrown music, historic home tours, the toss- American Scholar Retrieved November 2010
ing of a major town figure into the river, 10-mile and 5K • Local Legacies Retrieved November 2010
runs, and a raft race. • Schooner Sultana Project Retrieved November 2010
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chestertown_Tea_Party&oldid=452452169"
Categories:
• Maryland in the American Revolution
• Kent County, Maryland
• 1774 in the Thirteen Colonies
• 1774 in Maryland
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