The Mystery Of The Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party, which took place on the frigid evening of December 16, 1773, was a pivotal act of defiance against British rule. Thinly disguised as Mohawk Indians to conceal their identities, a group of Patriots boarded three British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. This daring action destroyed almost $2 million (in 2024 money) of British property. The Tea Party was a direct protest of the despised British Tea Act. Many colonists saw the Act as an unfair way for the British government to tax the colonies without allowing them representation. The Boston Tea Party is one of American history’s most famous and iconic moments. Yet, despite its significance in igniting the American Revolution, a fascinating mystery surrounds this historic event. What is the mystery of the Boston Tea Party? To this day, no one knows how many men boarded the ships that night or even who they were!

The Mystery Of The Boston Tea Party

Despite countless contemporary observations and numerous articles and books published since the event, researchers cannot accurately say who the men who boarded the boats were or how many were involved! One obvious reason is that the organizers took great pains to conceal their actions and identities. The Sons of Liberty, the group behind the protest, were well aware of the potential repercussions from British authorities. They took extensive measures to protect themselves. They swore all participants to secrecy, and many records that could have provided detailed accounts were deliberately destroyed or never kept.

Although crowds of Bostonians watched the Tea Party as it happened, none cooperated with the British investigations. The participants’ wearing of disguises further compounded this secrecy, adding another layer of anonymity to their actions.

Why Don’t We Know?

Contemporary speculation and exhaustive historical research have suggested that several notable figures may have been involved in the Boston Tea Party. Paul Revere’s biographers point to long-term speculation that he was aboard the ships during the dangerous and secretive mission.

However, concrete evidence remains elusive. Interestingly, some of the most prominent leaders of the Sons of Liberty, such as Samuel Adams, attended a meeting in Boston during the same time as the tea dumping. This provided them with a convenient alibi. The ruse allowed them to distance themselves from the event publicly while still orchestrating it from behind the scenes. The use of such alibis and the participants’ reluctance to come forward even years later contributed to the enduring mystery.

Speculation

Historical speculation suggests that the number of participants in the Boston Tea Party ranged from about 60 to 200 men. The Tea Party itself lasted for approximately three hours. The participants began boarding the ships anchored at Griffin’s Wharf around 7 PM and dispersed by around 10 PM.

Unless some long-forgotten and long-concealed document is discovered, we’ll never have a conclusive answer. The mystery itself reveals much about the mindset and determination of the Sons of Liberty. Individual rights were considered less important than the common good during that revolutionary time. By keeping the protesters’ identities secret, they and their supporters risked their lives to protect the community and the country they loved.

ANOTHER SURPRISE!

In our mind’s eye, we imagine the men aboard the British ships picking up the tea and dumping it into the harbor.

That’s actually not quite what happened!

The tea chests were far too heavy to be picked up by a man. Skilled laborers used blocks and tackles to put the chests on the deck. Then, men using axes split them open and through the tea and the chests into the harbor. There was so much tea in the harbor that it stretched all the way to offshore islands!