Liberty Tree

The Night of Riots

                                                                               March 5th, 1770

The screams coming from outside the house sent a cold chill down Elizabeth's spine. She had wandered down the grand staircase, her toes cold even through her thick wool socks, after she  heard the commotion outside. As a child of only ten years old, Elizabeth's curiosity was without end, and she tried her best to peek under the large wooden panels her father and their servants had put in front of their windows, in hopes that she would see why there was such an increase in activity. Suddenly she was jerked backward from the window. 

"Elizabeth!" her mother gasped in horror "Get away from that window!" 

Elizabeth's initial annoyance at her mother's reaction turned to concern once she saw her father and brother's faces. Her father, a usually jovial and verbose man, was silent, with a grim expression on his face. Her brothers Caleb, age 16 and William, age 13, also seemed incredibly troubled by the events taking place just outside of their home. While Caleb stood stoic and motionless, William winced every time a scream was heard. The family stood silently in their nightshirts for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. Elizabeth felt her mother's arms around her tighten.

"I'm going out." her father stated decidedly.

"Oh I will not have such a thing." Mama snapped back. "You believe going out there on your own will really be of any help to the situation?"

"I won't go on my own, I'll take the boys"

"The boys? My boys? Are you out of your mind Elias? Have you lost every ounce of sense I thought you once possessed?" she shrieked, becoming increasingly hysterical.

"Mother, mother, please be quiet, these are dangerous times." William pleaded, soothing his mother. "We will not all go, someone must stay with you and the young one."

"I do not know why we have even waited this long inside, who knows what will unfold out in the streets while we are sitting behind our barricade." Caleb said in an irritated tone. There was a moment of silence. 

"It is decided then. Caleb and I will go out, while William stays behind. Hannah,  I must insist." he reached out and held his wife's shoulder. She said nothing, only giving a curt nod while avoiding his gaze. As Papa and Caleb hurried away to ready themselves, her mother's grip tightened around young Elizabeth. There was then a scream that sounded to be just outside of their window, and both mother and daughter jumped in terror, and William held his arm in front of them, pushing them back from the windows. 

"William, fetch Leonora and Amiel. We will barricade upstairs. This house will be a target if there are riots" Hannah said quietly, her voice wavering only slightly. William nodded quickly to his mother, then hurried towards the basement where the servant quarters were located. "Come now Elizabeth, we must be swift." she finished, her strength coming back to her. Elizabeth was pulled up the stairs, her mother's grip not wavering for a second.  

"Come now do not dawdle, this is not a game!" Mama became more frantic when Elizabeth paused at the top of the stairs looking for the others. 

"Yes, Mama." she said quietly as she followed her mother to the master bedroom. Suddenly there was the sound of gunshots, and heavy running footsteps. Her mother shrieked, grabbing for Elizabeth and gripping her tightly.

"These Bostonians are hot-heads I tell you, mark my words! They may try to kill us all!" the voice was immediately recognized as their cook Nora, who came into the room panting and heaving. Her son Amiel was behind her, the young man stoic and silent, followed by William. The sight of the familiar face led Mama to loosen her grip around Elizabeth and crumple away, her usual strong-willed demeanor starting to crack. The boys proceeded to move the furniture around the room in front of the door, in an attempt to keep any invaders who may come into the home away from the occupants. While Mama's face did wince when the furniture dragged along her beautiful floor and left angry scratches, she said nothing, as it was their only option at this point. 

"You alright Miss Hannah?" Nora tilted her head to look at Mama, pushing some of Mama's stray auburn-red hair back into her cap. Mama leaned against her, curling up like a small child in Nora's arms. Nora had been Mama's nursemaid, and while she had been freed by Papa on her arrival in Boston, had originally been "gifted" as a wedding present to Mama by her father, as he knew Mama was just about hopeless without her. Mama began to quietly sob as Nora held her, a sight Elizabeth had never before been witness to. Her mother had never shown such vulnerability in front of her children, not even when they had lost Elizabeth's baby brother, Mama's last child, five years back. Nora hummed and patted Mama's back, and seeing Elizabeth's concerned eyes, motioned her in closer to hold her in her arms as well.  They sat like this for quite some time, seemly forever in young Elizabeth's eyes. William and Amiel sat guard all night,  not daring to sleep for even a moment. Eventually, the the dark night melted into pale sunlight, and a new day was upon them. Only then would the true nature of that night be revealed, and tempers would flare hotter than they ever had before. 

"It was right in front of the State House," Father eventually let out, his knuckles turning white from his fists being clenched. He had refused to say anything about the events of the night until this moment, insisting when he arrived home that his family return to their beds and be prepared to rise for an early breakfast the next morning. The Riley sisters, who worked as the Laurelson's maids, had failed to report to work this morning, most likely because of the events from the night before, and it had led to the women of the house dressing themselves, and Nora having to serve breakfast, a task she rarely performed. Elizabeth struggled, but eventually was able to assemble herself, save for her stay, which she elected with a spur of rebellion not to wear. Finally put together in her sunny yellow embroidered frock and lace-trimmed cap, she was able to head to the table. As her father spoke, Elizabeth sat quietly and examined the embroidery work, trying to grasp the situation at hand.

"I still cannot believe this happened! The King's men fired upon civilians? That's unthinkable, something must have happened to start this." Mama cried in disbelief.

Caleb looked at her. "We saw it with our own eyes. It happened. Subjects were bleeding and dead. They cannot get away with this."

"Caleb please, the soldiers are here to protect us and the interests of the King himself, they would not have just killed without reason. You've seen how those street dwellers treat them!" 

"Hannah, he has a point. The Crown's best interests may not lie with Boston. The city's been on a decline, and the presence of troops isn't making that easier on the inhabitants." Father responded firmly. Mama looked at him, her eyes narrowing for the quickest second, then turned her attention back to her breakfast.

                                                                            November, 1770 

They called it the Boston Massacre. The city was abuzz with energy and questions as Mama and Elizabeth left to pick up a hat from the milliner's, a excuse Mama had used to push aside Father's concerns, in hopes of going out to find more about the events of that night. As they walked with purpose towards the downtown wharf area, Mama brushed her pale green striped gown and straightened her hat and gloves, making sure every part of her ensemble was perfect. As if on cue, Mrs. Marietta Edmund appeared, quickening her step towards them. 

"Mrs. Laurelson! Have you any news on the events of the trial? I have heard two the King's men have been branded for their actions during the Incident! Is it true Mister and Masters Laurelson were present at the court during the hearing?" Mrs. Edmund called out breathlessly, catching herself as she came towards the Laurelson women. Mama gave a polite smile, before replying, "Ah yes they were, alas I am not privy to such details. 'Tis not my burden to bear." 

"But of course of course. Ah if only, I would have wished to know the inner workings!" Mrs. Edmund added, looking a bit annoyed by the lack of detail, fixing her hair and casting her glance around for a new purveyor of information.

"Mm yes, I would think you would." Mama gave her polite, yet firm smile. "Well we should be off, a good morn to you Mrs. Edmund!" She tugged Elizabeth away, and they quickly walked towards the milliner's shop. As they got closer to the wharf, Elizabeth spotted a group of men, bundled up against the biting cold, obviously looking for work. Their bitter faces relayed a crucial message; there was still unrest in Boston, and the trial of the soldiers wouldn't be enough to solve it. Boston was in more trouble that she had realized, and the years to come would only prove that fact.