the 29th regiment under arms, between the town-house and
main-guard, their lines extending across the street and facing
down
kingstreet, where the town's
people were assembled,
and that the first rank was kneeling down, and the whole of the first
platoon was presented, ready for firing on the word being given, and
continued a considerable time in that posture, but by the
provi-
dence of God they were restrained from firing.
EBENEZER DORR.
Suffolk, ss.
Boston,
March 21. 1770. Ebenezer Dorr,
above-
named, after due examination, made oath to the truth of
the aforesaid affidavit, taken to perpetuate the remem-
brance of the thing.
Before JOHN RUDDOCK, Jus. Peace
and of the Quorum.
JOHN HILL, Just. Peace.
(No. 83.)
I Edward Crafts, of lawful age, testify and say, that on
Mon-
day evening the fifth instant, between 11 and 12 o'clock,
Mr. Joseph Ayers met me at my gate, and I asked him where
he was going. He answered to call Mr. Thomas Theodore
Bliss to attend at the council-chamber, to give evidence of the
captain's giving the
soldiers orders to fire on the inhabitants.
On leaving Mr. Bliss's door, there passed by us two
corporals
with about twenty soldiers with muskets and fixed bayonets,
and on their observing our moving towards the town-house,
the soldiers halted, and surrounded us, saying we were a pack
of damn'd rascals, and for three coppers they would
blow our brains
out. One of the corporals (viz. Eustice) gave orders for one
half
the soldiers to cock, and the rest to make ready. On which we told
them, we had nothing to say to them, but were on other bu-
siness. The corporal, Eustice, struck Mr.
Haldan, then in com-
pany, and turning to me aimed a blow at my head with his firelock,
which I took upon my arm, and then, with all his might he made a
pass at me with his fixed bayonet, with full intent to take my life, as
I thought. This I also parried with my naked hand. Then a sol-
dier step'd out from among the rest and
presented his musquet to my
breast, and six or seven more at about 8 or 10 feet distance also
pre-
sented. Upon this I called corporal McCan, who came to
me
with a drawn sword or cutlass in his hand, and pushed the gun
from my breast, saying, this is Mr. Crafts, and if any of you
offer to touch him again I will blow your brains out. Corporal
Eustice answered and said, he is as damn'd
a rascal as any of