Although many would argue that the American Revolution began in earnest with the Boston Massacre in March of 1770, blood was spilled two months earlier at Golden Hill in New York City.
Massachusetts born Isaac Sears was approaching his fortieth birthday. He was a successful merchant living in New York City, and an outspoken opponent of the taxes and trade restraints being imposed by the British. During the Stamp Act troubles Sears became an original member of the Sons of Liberty in New York, and a year later formed a Committee of Correspondence to coordinate resistance against the British. The establishment considered Sears one of the most active leaders and agitators of the rebellion. Not one to hide his political position, it is said that Sears issued an open death threat to anyone violating the non-importation agreement. Although it never came to such, he and the Sons of Liberty actively protested British rule, both publicly and through clandestine acts of intimidation. The group raised Liberty Poles, and posted numerous broadsides, all the while encouraging townspeople to assemble and vent their anger against the British government. In what would later, with some dramatic flair, be called the ‘Battle of Golden Hill’, on January 19, 1770 Sears took it upon himself to prevent several British soldiers from posting broadsides near the East River seaport. It is said that Sears seized the soldier posting the broadside by the neck and demanded to know what business he had to put up ‘Libels against the inhabitants’. Sears and his men took the soldiers hostage, and forced them to march towards the Mayor’s office. As the crowd grew, one of the soldiers broke away and sounded the alarm for reinforcements. In the most contemporary report of the fighting, the New York Gazette reported “a considerable number of had gathered in front of the Mayor’s, when about twenty Soldiers with Cutlasses and Bayonets from the lower Barracks made their Appearance”. The soldiers were greatly outnumbered and quickly surrounded, but nevertheless tried to rescue their comrades being held captive in the mayor’s office. The soldiers drew their weapons and demanded the release of the soldiers held in custody. Some of the British drew their swords and tried to enter the house by force. Upon seeing the British soldiers draw their weapons, the townsmen quickly retreated and armed themselves. Despite attempts by local officials to defuse the crowd, violence ensued. In the fighting, several soldiers received bruises and one suffered a “bad cut on the shoulder”. A citizen was wounded in the face and had “two of his Teeth broke by a Stroke of a Bayonet”. Another was stabbed and later died of his wounds. Although the claim that one man died in the skirmish has been questioned by some historians, in addition to the above report from the New York Gazette, a letter dated 22 January was published in the St. James Chronicle which claimed that “One sailor got run through the body who has since died, &c.” In either case, it now it had become clear to most that personal sacrifice and bloodshed would be the price of liberty. Six weeks later more violence would erupt on the streets of Boston.
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Michael WoodHistorical milestones in our fight for liberty 1765-1783 Archives
February 2022
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