1Abigail Adams to Edward Dilly, 22 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
of our Sea coasts (about 4 miles from my own habitation) and plundering hay and cattle. Each party are now in actual engagement.: “... each Party have been in Engagement, but as they went upon an Island no Lives were lost, as I can learn. Our People set fire to the Hay about an Hundred Tons and the Marines made their Escape aboard their Cutter.”
2Abigail Adams to John Adams, 24 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
hay. There it was impossible to reach them for want of Boats, but the sight of so many persons, and the fireing at them prevented their getting more than 3 ton of Hay, tho they had carted much more down to the water. At last they musterd a Lighter, and a Sloop from Hingham which had six port holes. Our men eagerly jumpt on board, and put of for the... ...set fire to the Hay which with the...
3To James Madison from William Bradford, 2 June 1775 (Madison Papers)
, 4th ser., II, 375–76, 423, 425, 441, 666, 798, 1735–36). On 23 May 1775 the Massachusetts Provincial Congress took steps to stop the “plunder or purchase” by the British of “Hay, Cattle, Sheep, and many other things” owned by residents of the Boston harbor area (
4Abigail Adams to Eunice Paine, 3 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
These were actions in Boston Harbor on 26–27 May. Provincial troops raided Noddle’s Island (now East Boston) and nearby Hog (now Breed’s) Island, burned British hay stores, drove off and killed a quantity of livestock there, and later blew up a grounded British naval schooner,
5[Dibley & Stringer’s Bill for Care of John Adams’ Horses.] (Adams Papers)
To hay for two Horses 3/ Oats 2/To Ditto to July 2d. 3 days hay 9/ Oats 9/
6Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 3 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
...Health. No reigning Disorder Except the Rash which is in almost every Town. The Season has been very dry—from Boston to Scituate on the Sea Shore extending about 10 Miles back—in Weymouth not more than half the Hay on Upland that was produc’d last Year. Your Land produces Hay in plenty, dry or wet, That I trust You will have enough for Yourself and some for your Neighbours. Your’s, your...
7II. Letter Sent, 10–11 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
..., but it probably contained news of the sailing of the small British convoy that weighed anchor in Boston Harbor on 11 July and sailed up the coast of Maine to Nova Scotia in order to obtain hay and wood. The date of the convoy’s departure indicates that, like the last paragraph in the main body of the letter, this postscript was probably written sometime on 11 July. John Thomas’s...
8To John Adams from Nathan Rice, 14 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
amidst the Enemies Fire and burnd the Buildings and Hay took of
9From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
...General Thomas’s Camp on Wednesday Night went over to Long Island & brought from thence 20 Cattle & a Number of Sheep with about 15 Labourers who had been put on by a Mr Ray Thomas to cut the Hay &c. By some Accident they omitted burning the Hay & returned the next Day at Noon to complete it; which they effected amidst the Firing of the Shipping with the Loss of one Man killed & another...
10Abigail Adams to John Adams, 16 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
to mow the Hay which they had very badly executed. They were all a sleep in the house and barn when they were taken. There were 3 women with them. Our Heroes came of in triumph not being observed by their Enimies.... ...amount of an 100, obtaind leave to go on and distroy the Hay together with the House and barn and in open day in full view of the men of war they set of from the Moon so call’d...