I might not be the best teacher that ever teached (ha), but let me share something with you that I have learned: nothing is new. It’s all been done.
These days, thanks to technology, everyone has a megaphone. It’s all been done. It was the same when people figured out that they could draw on cave walls, commit words to paper, and later, save a recording of their voice.
Now it’s social media, blogs, reels, and STILL the written and spoken word. I’m doing it right now. These words that you are reading will outlive me. Someday, no one will read them, and yet on another day, they may be read by many. The blurred and muddy filter that is history decides which words become lost and which become elevated. In all things, some stuff becomes timeless, while other stuff is completely forgotten.
Weird huh? I will not be the one to decide if this blog simply vanishes after I stop writing it at some point in the future. It will be up to you, who is now reading, to decide if it is worth remembering or not. I guess that’s true with everything. I have an example of this from a letter that I will share below. Important during the time it was written, if you were a friend or family member, but now….it matters not.
First, a bit of context:
From April 19, 1775 to March 17, 1776, Boston was under siege. The Continental Army and over 15,000 militia men from all over New England formed a line from Chelsea to Roxbury that cut off access by land. A British blockade in Boston Harbor cut off access by sea.
The siege began following the Battles of Lexington and Concord, when British forces retreated to Boston after being overwhelmed by militiamen in Concord. British military forces had occupied Boston since 1768 so they knew they would be safe there.
But it wasn’t just British soldiers that were trapped in Boston for a nearly a year. Although 9,000 civilians managed to escape at some point, nearly 3,000 remained for the duration of the siege. Here is an actual letter, written on 23 April 1775 (and finished on the 24th).
Boston minister Andrew Eliot describes Boston shortly after the Siege began. Eliot was minister of the New North Church in Boston, and although he made great efforts to get his family safely out of Boston, he stayed to serve the members of the community and his congregation who remained in town. This letter written to one of his sons (most likely his oldest son, Andrew, who was a minister in Connecticut) describes the importance of getting his wife (Andrew Sr.’s wife) out of Boston…
Boston April 23. 1775 10 oclock
My dear Son —
What you feared is come upon us – We are
moving out of Boston – We have been shut up for some daysWe the way is like to be open in a few short time – I know not
what to do, not where to go – At present I think to tarry in
Boston – Whether ever I shall have the pleasure of seeing you
God only knows – I must intreat you to set out immediately
[ . . . ] your Mother & Nancy – I will endeavor to get them to Weston
or further if possible – I am unhapy till they are away – but
cannot possibly bring them. If Capt. Thorp comes I shall
endeavour to send in him Polly, Sally & Eph. & Sukey – I should be
glad there were any other way to conveying them – I hope your
people will have pity upon them, & take them in – Whether
ever I shall be able to remunerate you or them is uncertain –
All property is precarious or rather annihilated. If it is in
my power I shall be willing to make a suitable allowance –
Be kind to your Mother who is the best of Women – your Sister
must get their living as well as they can – I know I put you
to difficulties – but you are the only Asylum I have – poor Boston
May God sanctify our distresses which are greater than
you can conceive – Such a Sabbath of melancholy and
darkness I never knew – Most of the Meeting houses shut up-
the ministers gone – Our Congregation crowded with
Strangers – A Town Meeting in the forenoon – Agreed to
give up their Arms in order to get leave to depart
A provincial Army in Roxbury – Dorchester & Cambridge
College dispersed & – This Town a Garrison – every face
gathering paleness – all hurry & confusion – one going this way
& another that – others not knowing where to go – What to do
with our poor maid I cannot tell – in short after the
melancholy exercises of the day – I am unable to write any-
thing with propriety or connection – Deacon Barretts & his
Family are coming to Mr Burr’s – My dear Son, I wish
you may see good days – I scarce expect to see any
myself. My hope is in God – who doth all things well
– my best Regards to Judge & Col. Silliman – [Mr. Bur
Bathy?] & all friends – in which your distressed Mother
heartily joins – I leave off at present – if any thing
occurs in the Morning – will add it then —
Monday Morng
Every thing distressing – If I could get any place to
preach in among you where I could keep my family
from starving I could come directly – But whether the
post will be permitted to go out or this letter will ever
come to you – I know not – I have seen happy days –
my heavenly Father now writest bitter things.
Blessed be his name. Possibly you may prevail on
some Friend as you come along that will be willing
to come & carry some of your Sister, if any could come
It would be an unspeakable Relief to your affectionate
but distressed Parent Andrew Eliot.
This dude has some books written about him, a wikipedia, and is spoken of in Ken Burns documentary on the American Revolution.
So it seems when he lived, he was an important part of his Boston and his church folk. He also writes, in distress, that the British army is everywhere, citizens of Boston are being made to fled and have agreed to give up their guns. What a mess this must have been. What a miracle that ordinary letters like this have survived. This provides us with a voice from history that was not simply written by “the winners” or “people in charge who decide what parts of the story that we get to learn.”
From this letter, to the present day, stuff like this has always been out there. Take some time and look for it. Take some time to learn about things that interest you and you will find a thread that is common to all humans: support and care for the people you love, and the people who are you neighbors, as well as strangers who need you to lift them up.
Indeed the words of us common people will surely be remembered in good times and in bad.
There’s a lot of noise in our country today. The thread is still true: love, support and care.
It’s all been done before. We have a blueprint for humanity. Keep that in mind.
Stay safe, stay awesome and stay tuned.
Moeschen! 