Title: Crispus Attucks The First Black to Fall in the American Revolution.
1 Crispus AttucksThe First Black to Fall in
the American Revolution.
2 Attucks Family Background
-
- Little is known about the early years of
Crispus Attucks. He was born a slave around 1723
probably in the colony of Massachusetts. His
father Prince Yonger was an African and his
mother Nancy Attucks was an Indian and possible
descendant of John Attucks a member of the
Natick Indian tribe. - John Attucks was executed for treason in 1676
during the King Philip War. The word attuck in
the Natick language means deer. In 1750 Crispus
was a slave of William Brown of Framingham.
3 The Escape of Attucks
- Crispus was an expert trader of horses and
cattle and did business with white men. He kept
the money he made and tried to buy his freedom
from his owner William Brown. However his owner
refused to purchase his freedom because of
Crispus value to him. Because Crispus wanted his
freedom he ran away from his owner. His owner
desperately wanted him back and printed a
fugitive slave notice in the October 2 1750
issue of the Boston Gazette it read - Ran away from his master William Brown of
Framingham on the 30th of Sept. last a mulatto
fellow about 27 years of age named Crispus 6
feet and 2 inches high
4short curld hair his knees nearer together than
common and had on a light colourd beaver skin
coat plain new buckskin breeches blue yarn
stockings and a checked woolen shirt. Whoever
shall take up said runaway and convey him to his
aforesaid master shall have 10 pounds old tenor
reward and all necessary charges paid. And all
masters of vessels and others are hereby
cautioned against concealing or carrying off said
servant on penalty of law.
5 A New Beginning
- Attucks was never caught and nothing is known
of the twenty years before he resurfaced again.
Historians surmise that he escaped to Nantucket
Massachusetts and sailed as a harpoonist on a
whaling ship. During those twenty years the
American colonies were in conflict with England.
The colonies resented the fact that they had to
buy almost everything from England and were
unhappy about the lack of free trade. The most
outspoken colony was Massachusetts. British king
George III sent two regiments into the Boston
Harbor in the fall of 1769. The British
occupation resulted in many conflicts with the
citizens of Boston. According to historian John
Fiske the soldiers did many things that greatly
annoyed the people. They led brawling riotous
lives and made the quite street hideous by night
with their drunken shoutsOn Sundays the soldiers
would race horses on the Common or would play
Yankee Doodle just outside the church-doors
during the services.
6 The Boston Massacre
- Crispus Attucks was living in Boston during
this time. On March 5 1770 Crispus was eating
dinner when he became aware of a fight between
Boston men and British soldiers. He went to Dock
Square to investigate. He picked up a stick and
shouted to the crowd gathered there to follow him
to King Street. When they arrived at King Street
Attucks went to the front of the crowd and struck
at one of the British Soldiers. The soldier fired
and hit Attucks with two musket balls. Four other
men were killed and six others were wounded. -
7The next day Attucks body was taken to Faneuil
Hall and two days later all the businesses were
closed for his and the other victims funeral.
The funeral was attended by the largest crowd
known to have assembled in North America. Attucks
was buried in the Old Granary Burial Ground. This
traumatic event is known as the Boston Massacre.
8 An Unjust Trial
- The British soldiers were placed on trial for the
murders and the charge stated that Attucks had
been attacked with force and arms feloniously
willfully and of malice aforethought. The
soldier who had attacked Attucks was found not
guilty and two other soldiers were found guilty.
The guilty soldiers received a punishment
consisting of having their hands branded with a
hot iron. The citizens of Boston were outraged at
the verdict. But Crispus Attucks became a hero
and has been honored as a man who died fighting
for his freedom and that of others.
9 In Memory Of Crispus Attucks
- In 1888 a Crispus Attucks monument was erected
on Boston Common. At the unveiling John Fiske
said the Boston Massacre was one of the most
significant and impressive events in the noble
struggle in which our forefathers succeeded in
vindicating for themselves and their posterity
the sacred right of self-government. In 1996
President Clinton enacted a Black Patriots Coin
Law to commemorate African American contributions
to the founding of America.
10The coin was struck in 1998 the 275th
anniversary of the birth of Crispus Attucks the
first black man to die for Americas freedom.
According to Philip Diehl Director of the U.S.
Mint The Black Revolutionary War Patriots
Silver Dollar will recall and commemorate history
by focusing on Crispus Attucks sacrifice as a
symbol of the commitment of all Black American
patriots.
