|
The First Exiles
On March 26,
1776, General George Washington and his officers watch as the British
evacuation fleet of soldiers and fleeing Tories sails off to Halifax,
Nova Scotia. At right, workers salvage cannons left behind.
Library of Congress,
19th-century drawing.
In
early March of 1776, Washington’s Continental Army troops
emplaced cannons on Dorchester Heights, which overlooked Boston
Harbor—and the British troops and warships that occupied the
city. British General William Howe, knowing that he and his men were
looking up at their potential doom, realized that he had to evacuate
the city. And his civilian superiors in London had told him if he
ever had to give up Boston, he had to make sure that “officers
and friends of the government be not left exposed to the rage and
insult of rebels, who set no bounds to their barbarity.”
The Royal
Navy prepared a fleet of 120 ships. On March 17, nearly 10,000
British soldiers departed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, along with about
1,400 men, women, and children—Tories who knew that they would
become targets of vengeance when their British
protectors left. As they
headed for the ships that would take them into
exile, they passed silent glares or heard a
taunting chant:
“The Tories
with their brats and wives
Have fled to save their wretched lives.”
While
Washington watched and waited, the fleet lingered off the harbor and
was hounded by American privateers. Finally, on March 26, ships
picked up the favoring wind and headed north, followed by other ships
that carried Tories who wished to sail under the protection of the
Royal Navy.
The names of scores of Tories have been handed down in a list apparently
made at the time of the boarding. The names are
followed by a number indicating how many people (unnamed) are leaving
with that person. Many names are followed by an occupation, such as
clerk or merchant,
giving posterity a cross section of the first
exiles from an America divided between those who wanted independence
and those who were loyal to the king.
List of the inhabitants
of Boston, who on the evacuation by the British, in March, 1776,
removed to Halifax with the army.*
|
First Name
|
Last Name
|
Occupation
|
Number in Group
|
Comments
|
Notes and Add’l Desc. Of Group Members
|
|
|
Oliver
|
Lt-Governor
|
6
|
|
Servants
|
|
Peter
|
Oliver
|
|
2
|
Council, &c.
|
Niece
|
|
Harrison
|
Gray
|
|
5
|
Council, &c.
|
Family
|
|
Timothy
|
Ruggles
|
|
3
|
Council, &c.
|
Sons
|
|
Foster
|
Hutchinson
|
|
13
|
Council, &c.
|
Family
|
|
Josiah
|
Edson
|
|
1
|
Council, &c.
|
|
|
John
|
Murray
|
|
7
|
Council, &c.
|
Family
|
|
Richard
|
Lechmere
|
|
12
|
Council, &c.
|
|
|
John
|
Erving
|
|
9
|
Council, &c.
|
|
|
Nathaniel Ray
|
Thomas
|
|
2
|
Council, &c.
|
Son
|
|
Alijah
|
Willard
|
|
3
|
Council, &c.
|
Two Sons
|
|
Daniel
|
Leonard
|
|
9
|
Council, &c.
|
Family
|
|
Nathaniel
|
Hatch
|
|
7
|
Council, &c.
|
|
|
George
|
Erving
|
|
6
|
Council, &c.
|
|
|
Henry
|
Hulton
|
|
12
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Charles
|
Paxton
|
|
6
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Waterhouse
|
Secretary
|
7
|
Custom House
|
|
|
James
|
Porter
|
Comptroller Gen'l
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Walter
|
Barrell
|
Inspector Gen'l
|
6
|
Custom House
|
|
|
James
|
Murray
|
Inspector
|
7
|
Custom House
|
|
|
William
|
Woolen
|
Collector, Boston
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Charles
|
Dudley
|
Collector, Newport
|
2
|
Custom House
|
|
|
George
|
Meserve
|
Collector, Piscataq
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Robert
|
Hallowel
|
Comptroller, Boston
|
6
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Arthur
|
Savage
|
Surveyor, &c.
|
6
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Nathaniel
|
Coffin
|
Cashier
|
4
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Ebenezer
|
Bridgham
|
Tide Surveyor
|
8
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Nathaniel
|
Taylor
|
Dep'y Naval Officer
|
2
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Mather
|
Clerk
|
3
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Lloyd
|
Clerk
|
6
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Christopher
|
Minot
|
Land Waiter
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Ward
|
Chipman
|
Clerk Sol.
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Robert
|
Bethel
|
Clerk Col.
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
|
Skinner
|
Clerk
|
1
|
Custom House
|
Listed as Skinner, Cookson, and Evans, Clerks
(3)
|
|
|
Cookson
|
Clerk
|
1
|
Custom House
|
Listed as Skinner, Cookson, and Evans, Clerks
(3)
|
|
|
Evans
|
Clerk
|
1
|
Custom House
|
Listed as Skinner, Cookson, and Evans, Clerks
(3)
|
|
James
|
Barrick
|
Clerk Insp.
|
5
|
Custom House
|
|
|
John
|
Ciely
|
Tidesman
|
4
|
Custom House
|
|
|
John Sam
|
Petit
|
Tidesman
|
6
|
Custom House
|
|
|
John
|
Selby
|
Clerk
|
2
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Edward
|
Mulhall
|
Tidesman
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Hammond
|
Green
|
Tidesman
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
John
|
Lewis
|
Tidesman
|
6
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Elkanah
|
Cushman
|
Tidesman
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Edmund
|
Duyer
|
Messenger
|
3
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Chadwel
|
Tidesman
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Sparhawk
|
Clerk
|
5
|
Custom House
|
|
|
---
|
Chandler
|
Land Waiter
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
---
|
Patterson
|
Land Waiter
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Isaac
|
Messengham
|
Coxwain
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Owen
|
Richard
|
Coxwain
|
1
|
Custom House
|
|
|
Joseph
|
Ashley
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Barret
|
Andros
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Atkinson
|
Merchant
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Gibbs
|
Atkins
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Eleanor
|
Ayres
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Ebenezer
|
Allen
|
|
8
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Bowes
|
Merchant
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Brinley
|
Merchant
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mary
|
Burton
|
Milliner
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Bowen
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Blair
|
Baker
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Archibald
|
Bowman
|
Auctioneer
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Broderick
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
James
|
Butter
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Brown
|
Merchant
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Rev'd
|
Byles
|
Doctor, Reverend
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Barnard
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Black
|
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John, Jun'r
|
Baker
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Moses
|
Badger
|
Reverend
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mary
|
Beath
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Gilliam
|
Butler
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Brandon
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Brattle
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Coffin
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Andrew
|
Cazneau
|
Lawyer
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Cednor
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Connor
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
A.
|
Cummins
|
Milliner
|
2
|
Refugees
|
Listed as A. and E. Cummins (3)
|
|
E.
|
Cummins
|
Milliner
|
1
|
Refugees
|
Listed as A. and E. Cummins (3)
|
|
William, Jun'r
|
Coffin
|
Merchant
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Ebenezer
|
Cutler
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Campbel
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Rev'd
|
Caner
|
Doctor, Reverend
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Robert
|
Cook
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John, Esq'r
|
Chandler
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Rufus
|
Chandler
|
Lawyer
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Nathaniel
|
Chandler
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Chandler
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Melzer
|
Carver
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Cooley
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Courtney
|
|
11
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Carr
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Gilbert
|
Deblois
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Doyley
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Daniel
|
Dunlap
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Danforth
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Philip
|
Dumaresq
|
Merchant
|
8
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Lewis
|
De Blois
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Alexander
|
Duncan
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Francis
|
Doyley
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Nathaniel
|
Dickenson
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Margaret
|
Draper
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edward
|
Dougherty
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Adam
|
Dechezzan
|
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Duelly
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Emerson
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Peter
|
Etter
|
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Wilfree
|
Fisher
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Foster
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Benjamin
|
Faneuil
|
Merchant
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Fitch
|
Lawyer
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edward
|
Foster
|
Blacksmith
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Full
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edward, Jun'r
|
Foster
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
James
|
Forest
|
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Flucker
|
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Gilbert
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Antill
|
Gallop
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Andrew
|
Gray
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Gray
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Goldsbury
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Sylvester
|
Gardiner
|
Doctor
|
8
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Benjamin
|
Gridley
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edmund
|
Grison
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Martin
|
Gay
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Gilbert
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Grozzart
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mary
|
Gray
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Francis
|
Green
|
|
8
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Greenwood
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
James
|
Grant
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Griffith
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Gore
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edmund
|
Griffin
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Hill
|
|
17
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Rebecca
|
Hallowel
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Luke
|
Hall
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
James
|
Henderson
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Joseph
|
House
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Hughes
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Jacob
|
Hooper
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Hicks
|
Printer
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Richard
|
Hurlston
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Benjamin Mulberry
|
Holmes
|
|
11
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Hawes
|
Hatch
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Hale
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Hester
|
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Hutchinson
|
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Henry
|
Horn
|
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Jane
|
Hefferson
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Heath
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mary
|
Jones
|
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Robert
|
Jarvis
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Inman
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Joy
|
|
8
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Ireland
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Jeffries
|
Doctor
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Peter
|
Johannot
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Jones
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Margaret
|
Knutter
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edward
|
King
|
|
6
|
Refugees
|
Listed as Edward and Samuel King (7)
|
|
Samuel
|
King
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
Listed as Edward and Samuel King (7)
|
|
Samuel
|
Lazarus
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John, Sen'r
|
Lovel
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
George
|
Leonard
|
|
9
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Liste
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Theophilius
|
Lillie
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edward Goldston
|
Lutwiche
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Byefield
|
Lyde
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Henry
|
Leddel
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Henry
|
Laughton
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Henry
|
Lloyd
|
|
10
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Alexander
|
Linkieter
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Charles
|
Lowe
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Joshua, Jun'r
|
Loring
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Murray
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John, Jun'r
|
Moody
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
McKown
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
McAlpine
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Moody
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
McKown
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
(of Boston)
|
|
Dennis
|
Macdonald
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Mackay
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
David
|
Mitchelson
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Archibald
|
McNeil
|
|
13
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Benjamin
|
Marston
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Moore
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Miller
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Patrick
|
Mulcainy
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
MacKinstrey
|
|
12
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Morrison
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Patrick
|
McMaster
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
Listed as Patrick and Daniel McMaster (3)
|
|
Daniel
|
McMaster
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
Listed as Patrick and Daniel McMaster (3)
|
|
Alexander
|
McMullen
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Mitchelson
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Nathaniel
|
Mills
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Nathan
|
McClintock
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Lazarus
|
Nevin
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
Wife
|
|
Joseph
|
O'Neil
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William Sanford
|
Oliver
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Peter
|
Oliver
|
Doctor
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Powel
|
|
8
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Martha
|
Philips
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
David
|
Phipps
|
|
11
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Henry
|
Pelham
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
James
|
Putnam
|
|
7
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Paine
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Nathaniel
|
Perkins
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Patterson
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Ebenezer
|
Philipps
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Adine
|
Paddock
|
|
9
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Benjamin
|
Pollard
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
George
|
Patten
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William Lee
|
Perkins
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Benjamin
|
Price
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
George
|
Page
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Richard
|
Rummer
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Jeremiah Dummer
|
Rogers
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Samuel
|
Rogers
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Miss
|
Richardson
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Peter
|
Rose
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Charles
|
Read
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Ramage
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Richard
|
Roath
|
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Henry
|
Rhodes
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Nathaniel
|
Russell
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Richards
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Ruggles
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
Listed as John and Richard Ruggles
|
|
Richard
|
Ruggles
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
Listed as John and Richard Ruggles
|
|
Henry
|
Smith
|
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
George
|
Sullivan
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Serjeant
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Joseph
|
Scoit
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Simonds
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edward
|
Stow
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Elizabeth
|
Sterling
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Benjamin Ferdinand
|
Sterling
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Simpson
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Jonathan, Jun'r
|
Simpson
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Robert
|
Semple
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Abigail
|
Stayner
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Jonathan, Jun'r
|
Stearns
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Abraham
|
Savage
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Leveret
|
Saltonstal
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Robert
|
Service
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Jonathan
|
Snelling
|
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Batholemew
|
Sullivan
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Edward
|
Smith
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Ebenezer
|
Spooner
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
James
|
Selknig
|
|
6
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Scammel
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Joseph
|
Shepard
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
James
|
Thompson
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Mrs.
|
Taylor
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Zebedee
|
Terry
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Terry
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Taylor
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Isaac
|
Winslow
|
|
11
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Pelham
|
Winslow
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John
|
Winslow
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Hannah
|
Winslow
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
Listed as Mrs. Hannah Winslow
|
|
Edward
|
Winslow
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Seth
|
Williams
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
David
|
Willis
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Wittington
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
William
|
Warden
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Job
|
Williams
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Abraham
|
Warren
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Abel
|
Willard
|
|
4
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Joseph
|
Warden
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Abijah
|
Willard
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Obadiah
|
Whiston
|
|
3
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Joseph
|
Wheelwright
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
John, Jun'r
|
Winnert
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Daniel
|
Wright
|
|
2
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Peter
|
Welsh
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Gideon
|
White
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Archibald
|
Wilson
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
James
|
Welsh
|
|
1
|
Refugees
|
|
|
Thomas Grooby
|
Worral
|
|
5
|
Refugees
|
|
**
Taken from a paper in the handwriting of Walter Barrell from the
Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society., vol.
18, page 266. Reprinted in The Loyalists of Massachusetts and
the Other Side of the American Revolution by James H. Stark,
published by W. B. Clarke co., 26 Tremont Street, Boston, 1910,
pages 133-136. Transcribed by Judy Stevens 06/03/98.
|
