Primary Source: Lexington Town Clerk Record Book
(Image courtesy of the Lexington Archives)
This page is from a transcription of the original town record book of Lexington's Town Clerk of 1773. As a result of The Tea Act, the entry of 7 December reads, in part: meeting of selectmen to discuss "relating to the tea sent out of the East India Company to be sold in America subject to a duty imposed by Act of Parliament." Six days later, the entry of 13 December records that the meeting of freeholders and other inhabitants of the town comittee reported the following which being repeatedly read was Voted by the town: "That the Intelligence transmitted by the Committee of Correspondence in the Town of Boston to the Committee of Correspondence for this Place...it appears that the enemies of the Rights and Liberties of Americans, greatly disappointed in the success of the Revenue Act, are feeling to Avail themselves of a new and if possible yet more detestable Measure to distress Enslave and destroy Us.- Not enough that a Tax was laid upon Tea which should be imported by Us for the sole Purpose of raising a Revenue to Support Task Masters, Pensioners, in idleness and Luxury. But by a late Act of Parliament to Appease the Wrath of the East Indies Company...We are alarmed at this masterful effort of Iniquitous Policy as...under the cover of an Act of Parliament and for the unrighteous Purpose of raising and securing a Revenue for the Crown out of the Purses of Industrious Americans." (See Timeline.)
Here's how this can be applied in the elementary classroom: Lesson 19g
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