History of Tea in America

Peter Stuyvesant was the last Dutch Director General of the colony of New Netherlands from 1647 until it was conditionally surrendered to the English in 1664. Around 1650 General Stuyvesant brought tea to New Amsterdam. When the English acquired the colony, they found the small settlement consumed more tea than all of England.

It wasn’t until around 1670 that English colonists in Boston became aware of the tea, but it didn’t become available for sale to the general colonies until the end of the century when teahouses in New York and Boston were selling the drink to the public. Tea Gardens were opened in New York City. By 1720 tea was a general staple of trade to the American colonies from Mother England as it was greatly favored by colonial women.

The French and Indian War was fought from 1754 to 1763. The British claimed this war was fought to free the American colony from French influence and to stabilize trade. Consequently, Parliament thought it was reasonable that the American colonies be responsible for the majority of the cost of the war since, from the British view, it was to their benefit.

Charles Townsend proposed tax measures that imposed higher taxes on newspapers, which they considered to be far too outspoken, tavern licenses (also too much free speech there), legal documents, marriage licenses, and docking papers. The colonists rebelled against the repressive taxes imposed upon them. Subsequently, new heavier taxes were leveled for their rebellion.

In June 1767, the tea tax was the final straw, The American colonists decided to boycott the taxed products. Contraband tea was smuggled in and herbal teas from the Indians began to be consumed. Colonial merchants openly purchased imported tea from the Dutch.

The revenues of the John Company and the East India Company were already in decline. They pleaded with the Crown to help them. The Lord of the Treasury granted them permission to sell directly to the colonists. This would bypass the merchant and the tea companies would pocket the difference. England was counting on the American woman’s passion for tea, but they were wrong. The American women pledged to not drink English tea until their rights were restored.

British ships arrived in the harbors loaded with tea, but the colonists’ demonstrations would force the ships to leave without unloading their goods. Ultimately, the port of Boston was closed. On December 16 the men of Boston, dressed as Indians, threw hundreds of pounds of tea into the harbor. This act was historically named The Boston Tea Party.

The following is an eyewitness account by George Hewes (1742-1840) who was the oldest known living Revolutionary War veteran.

Boston Tea Party

Eyewitness Account by a Participant

" The tea destroyed was contained in three ships, lying near each other at what was called at that time Griffin's wharf, and were surrounded by armed ships of war, the commanders of which had publicly declared that if the rebels, as they were pleased to style the Bostonians, should not withdraw their opposition to the landing of the tea before a certain day, the 17th day of December, 1773, they should on that day force it on shore, under the cover of their cannon's mouth.

On the day preceding the seventeenth, there was a meeting of the citizens of the county of Suffolk, convened at one of the churches in Boston, for the purpose of consulting on what measures might be considered expedient to prevent the landing of the tea, or secure the people from the collection of the duty. At that meeting a committee was appointed to wait on Governor Hutchinson, and request him to inform them whether he would take any measures to satisfy the people on the object of the meeting.

To the first application of this committee, the Governor told them he would give them a definite answer by five o'clock in the afternoon. At the hour appointed, the committee again repaired to the Governor's house, and on inquiry found he had gone to his country seat at Milton, a distance of about six miles. When the committee returned and informed the meeting of the absence of the Governor, there was a confused murmur among the members, and the meeting was immediately dissolved, many of them crying out, "Let every man do his duty, and be true to his country"; and there was a general huzza for Griffin's wharf.

It was now evening, and I immediately dressed myself in the costume of an Indian, equipped with a small hatchet, which I and my associates denominated the tomahawk, with which, and a club, after having painted my face and hands with coal dust in the shop of a blacksmith, I repaired to Griffin's wharf, where the ships lay that contained the tea. When I first appeared in the street after being thus disguised, I fell in with many who were dressed, equipped and painted as I was, and who fell in with me and marched in order to the place of our destination.

When we arrived at the wharf, there were three of our number who assumed an authority to direct our operations, to which we readily submitted. They divided us into three parties, for the purpose of boarding the three ships which contained the tea at the same time. The name of him who commanded the division to which I was assigned was Leonard Pitt. The names of the other commanders I never knew.

We were immediately ordered by the respective commanders to board all the ships at the same time, which we promptly obeyed. The commander of the division to which I belonged, as soon as we were on board the ship appointed me boatswain, and ordered me to go to the captain and demand of him the keys to the hatches and a dozen candles. I made the demand accordingly, and the captain promptly replied, and delivered the articles; but requested me at the same time to do no damage to the ship or rigging.

We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard, and we immediately proceeded to execute his orders, first cutting and splitting the chests with our tomahawks, so as thoroughly to expose them to the effects of the water.

In about three hours from the time we went on board, we had thus broken and thrown overboard every tea chest to be found in the ship, while those in the other ships were disposing of the tea in the same way, at the same time. We were surrounded by British armed ships, but no attempt was made to resist us.

We then quietly retired to our several places of residence, without having any conversation with each other, or taking any measures to discover who were our associates; nor do I recollect of our having had the knowledge of the name of a single individual concerned in that affair, except that of Leonard Pitt, the commander of my division, whom I have mentioned. There appeared to be an understanding that each individual should volunteer his services, keep his own secret, and risk the consequence for himself. No disorder took place during that transaction, and it was observed at that time that the stillest night ensued that Boston had enjoyed for many months.

During the time we were throwing the tea overboard, there were several attempts made by some of the citizens of Boston and its vicinity to carry off small quantities of it for their family use. To effect that object, they would watch their opportunity to snatch up a handful from the deck, where it became plentifully scattered, and put it into their pockets.

One Captain O'Connor, whom I well knew, came on board for that purpose, and when he supposed he was not noticed, filled his pockets, and also the lining of his coat. But I had detected him and gave information to the Captain of what he was doing. We were ordered to take him into custody, and just as he was stepping from the vessel, I seized him by the skirt of his coat, and in attempting to pull him back, I tore it off; but, springing forward, by a rapid effort he made his escape. He had, however, to run a gauntlet through the crowd upon the wharf nine each one, as he passed, giving him a kick or a stroke.

Another attempt was made to save a little tea from the ruins of the cargo by a tall, aged man who wore a large cocked hat and white wig, which was fashionable at that time. He had sleightly slipped a little into his pocket, but being detected, they seized him and, taking his hat and wig from his head, threw them, together with the tea, of which they had emptied his pockets, into the water. In consideration of his advanced age, he was permitted to escape, with now and then a slight kick.

The next morning, after we had cleared the ships of the tea, it was discovered that very considerable quantities of it were floating upon the surface of the water; and to prevent the possibility of any of its being saved for use, a number of small boats were manned by sailors and citizens, who rowed them into those parts of the harbor wherever the tea was visible, and by beating it with oars and paddles so thoroughly drenched it as to render its entire destruction inevitable.

George Hewes "

Tea History
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