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Crispus Attcuks. Little is known about Crispus Attucks’ early years. He was born a slave around 1723, probably in the colony of Massachusetts . His father, Prince Yonger , was an African and his mother, Nancy Attucks, was an Native American. .
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Little is known about Crispus Attucks’ early years. He was born a slave around 1723, probably in the colony of Massachusetts . His father, Prince Yonger, was an African and his mother, Nancy Attucks, was an Native American.
In 1750, Crispus was a slave of William Brown of Framingham. Crispus did business with white men and was an expert trader of horses and cattle. He kept the money he made and tried to buy his freedom from his owner, William Brown. However, his owner refused to purchase his freedom because of Crispus' value to him. Because Crispus wanted his freedom, he ran away from his owner. His owner desperately wanted him back and printed a fugitive slave notice in the October 2, 1750 issue of the Boston Gazette. It read…
Attucks was never caught and nothing is known of the twenty years before he resurfaced again. Historians surmise that he escaped to Nantucket, Massachusetts and sailed as a harpoonist on a whaling ship.
During those twenty years, the American colonies were in conflict with England. The colonies resented the fact that they had to buy almost everything from England and were unhappy about the lack of free trade. The most outspoken colony was Massachusetts. British king, George III, sent two regiments into the Boston Harbor in the fall of 1769. The British occupation resulted in many conflicts with the citizens of Boston. According to historian John Fiske, "the soldiers did many things that greatly annoyed the people. They led brawling, riotous lives, and made the quite street hideous by night with their drunken shouts…On Sundays the soldiers would race horses on the Common, or would play 'Yankee Doodle' just outside the church-doors during the services."
Crispus Attucks was living in Boston during this time. On March 5, 1770 Crispus was eating dinner when he became aware of a fight between Boston men and British soldiers. He went to Dock Square to investigate. He picked up a stick and shouted to the crowd gathered there to follow him to King Street. When they arrived at King Street, Attucks went to the front of the crowd and struck at one of the British Soldiers. The soldier fired and hit Attucks with two musket balls. Four other men were killed, and six others were wounded. The next day, Attucks' body was taken to Faneuil Hall, and two days later, all the businesses were closed for his and the other victims' funeral. The funeral was attended by the largest crowd known to have assembled in North America. Attucks was buried in the Old Granary Burial Ground. This traumatic event is known as the Boston Massacre.
Four other men were killed, and six others were wounded. The next day, Attucks' body was taken to Faneuil Hall, and two days later, all the businesses were closed for his and the other victims' funeral. The funeral was attended by the largest crowd known to have assembled in North America. Attucks was buried in the Old Granary Burial Ground. This traumatic event is known as the Boston Massacre.
