SIEGE OF BOSTON – NEWELL, Timothy (c.1718-1799). Autograph manuscript, [Boston], 19 April 1775-16 March 1776.

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SIEGE OF BOSTON – NEWELL, Timothy (c.1718-1799). Autograph manuscript, [Boston], 19 April 1775-16 March 1776.

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SIEGE OF BOSTON – NEWELL, Timothy (c.1718-1799). Autograph manuscript, [Boston], 19 April 1775-16 March 1776.

22 pages, 160 x 198mm. Disbound, edgewear to first and final leaves affecting a few letters.

Timothy Newell, Boston Selectman, describes the battles of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill as well as the Siege of Boston, written while inside the British-occupied city. Newell was one of seven Boston Selectmen overseeing the town of Boston at the start of the Revolutionary War. Unlike fellow Selectman John Hancock who left the city to join the Provincial Congress at Lexington, he remained in Boston during the siege, offering a unique perspective on the nearly year-long siege of British-occupied Boston. Newell was a moderate, but his entries betray a decided bias toward the rebel cause.

Newell's journal opens with the events of 19 April 1775, including the Battles of Lexington and Concord: “Last night the King’s Troops marcht out from the Bottom of the common, crost over to Phip’s farm marcht on till they came to Lexington where they fired and kill’d 8 of our people, and proceeded to Concord where they were sent to destroy magazines of Provisions and after doing some damage ... they halted and were soon attackt by our people, upon which they retreated ... upon their retreat they were found by a Brigade commanded by Lord Piercy who continued the retreat and were beat by our people from there down to Charlestown which fight was continued till Sunset. Our people behaved with the utmost bravery....” Newell also records the first large-scale battle of the war, the Battle of Bunker Hill of 17 June 1775: “The Provincials last night began an Entrenchment upon Charleston (Bunker) Hill before sunrise. Men of War & the Battery from Cops hill began a cannonade about two o’clock A.M. Genl Howe with [?] cannons and 3 Thou men landed on Charles point and marched up to the Redoubt after a great slaughter killed and wounded 112 officers...1325 of the Regulars and of the Provincials 50 killed 180 wounded ... The Garrison gave way. A constant fire from the Men of War all ye nights following.”

Newell records daily life in the occupied city as the siege of Boston continued. By the start of August, food was becoming scarce. On 1 August 1775, Newell observed, “Very trying Scenes. This day was invited by two Gentlemen to dine upon Ratts.” Newell also describes how British troops began to turn people out of their homes for quartering and the plundering of church pews for a pig-sty (on orders of General Burgoyne). Finally, in March 1776, as Washington prepared to occupy Dorchester Heights, which would allow the rebels to bombard Boston with artillery, the British decided to evacuate. His entries for 13-16 March 1776 captured the scene: “The General sent to the selectmen and desired their immediate attendance which we did accordingly. It was to acquaint us that as he was about retreating from the town and it was his advice for all the inhabitants to keep in their houses and that his orders were to injure no person. He could not be answerable for any irregularities of his troops. The General told us that the Man of War would continue in the harbour loaded with Carcases & combustibles that in Case the King’s Troops met with any Obstructions in their retreat; he should set fire to the Town ... that he thought it his duty to destroy much of the property in the town to prevent it being useful to the Rebel Army....” It appears that Newell wrote the present copy sometime after the event, likely to consolidate information. The complete transcript—nearly all of which relates specifically to the siege, cannonade, and skirmishes with the Provincials, and other matters—is available on request. Newell’s journal was published by the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1852 and frequently cited thereafter. See, for example: Berger, Diary of America, 1957; Humphrey, Voices of Revolutionary America, 2011; Carr, After the Siege, 2005; Winsor, Memorial History of Boston, 1882; and more. [With:] 525 x 420 mm. oil portrait of Newell, housed in a gilt frame (690 x 575 mm). With identifying label affixed to reverse of frame.

Further excerpts from Newell's journal can be found at christies.com.

Lot Essay

20 July 1775: the near-execution of a suspected spy. “Mr. Carpenter was taken by the night patrole upon examination he had swam over to Dorchester and back again was tried here that day and sentence of death pronounced him and to be executed the next day. His coffin brought into the gaol yard, his hatter brought, and dressed as criminals are before execution. Sentence was appealed and few days after he was pardoned....”

October to November 1775: British troops fortify the town amidst a fuel shortage: “The spacious old So. Meeting House taken possession of by the Light Horse 17 Regmt ... The beautiful carved Pew with ye Silk furniture of Deacon Hubbards, was taken down and carried to [?] house by an Officer & made into a Hogg sty: the above was Effected by ye Solicitation of General Burgoyne” (October 25). “Many people turned out of their houses for the troops to enter. The keys of our meeting house cellar demanded of me by Major Sheriff, by order of General Howe. Houses, fences, trees are pulled down and carried off for fuel. My wharf and barn pulled down by order of General Revington...” (November 16).

February-March 1776: Washington fortifies Dorchester heights, threatening Boston with bombardment. “From the accounts of Dr. Gilson and some other deserters from the continental army great preparations were making to attack the town, causing very alarming apprehensions and distress of the inhabitants...” (February 25). “The last night and this day the troops are very heavily employed in removing their stores and cannon, ammunition. Some of the dragoons on board...ship their goods. The selectmen write to the command officer in the earnest desire of the inhabitants and Roxbury by permission of General Howe...” (7 March)

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