On Dec. 16, 1773, Dr. Elisha Story snuck through the back door of Chase and Speakman’s Distillery in Boston, after its proprietors had closed for the night. He found dozens of men assembled there, including carpenters, shoemakers, blacksmiths and coopers.
They organized into gangs to carry out a clandestine mission: proceed to Griffin’s Wharf and dump the East India Company’s tea into the sea. The men put on disguises inside the distillery.
Story rubbed burnt cork on his face and placed a hump in his back made out of a quilted petticoat sewn by his aunt, Anna Marion.
Story became a gang captain and led 50 men to Griffin’s Wharf, where they boarded the Dartmouth. Hearing footsteps on the deck, second officer Alexander Hodgken went above and discovered the rebels. Story advanced on him with a tomahawk and ordered Hodgken below, using a piece of copper in his mouth to disguise his voice.
Story’s gang carried out their orders in silence. Some men opened the chests, while others hoisted them over the side and dumped the tea overboard. Over the course of the night, three gangs destroyed 342 chests containing 90,000 pounds of tea.
Dr. Story rushed to his home in Boston, removed his disguise, washed his face and hands, and walked to the home of James Otis, Jr. on Bowdoin Square. Buoyant with enthusiasm, Story began to tell Otis of the night’s events. Otis interrupted him, warning, “No names, if you please. Remember, I am the King’s Attorney. I may be called on to prosecute in this case. I do not know you.” Of course, Otis had been intimately involved with the Sons of Liberty; his law office was the site of frequent meetings, where he advised the rebels on strategy and tactics.
Story moved to Marblehead, 104 Washington St., in 1778. Story’s role in the Boston Tea Party is remembered thanks to his son, Joseph, who wrote down his father’s reminiscence in the 19th century. The papers are now in the Marblehead Museum’s collection.
Jarrett Zeman is the assistant director of the Marblehead Museum. “From the Vault” is a partnership between the Marblehead Museum and the Current.
