Sir William Phips was the first royal governor of Massachusetts under the charter of William and Mary. As governor, he would implement the notorious Court of Oyer and Terminer that led to the executions of 20 innocent people during the Salem witch hysteria. But long before he was a royal governor, he was a poor shepherd boy in rural Maine, who dreamed of Spanish gold. Eventually, he made that dream a reality, leading one of the most successful treasure hunts in history and amassing one of the continent’s greatest fortunes.
Legend of Governor’s Gold
- The story of William Phips as told by Cotton Mather in the Magnalia Christi Americana.
- Search Samuel Sewall’s diary for “Sir William,” “Lady Phips,” or “William Phips.”
- Alice Lounsberry’s 1941 biography of Phips.
- Enoch Pond’s 1847 dual biography of William Phips and Increase Mather.
- The Rise of William Phips, by Viola Barnes.
- The Treasure Expedition of Captain William Phips to the Bahama Banks, by Cyrus Karraker.
- William Phips and the Big Jackpot, by Bernard Weisberger.
- Notes on treasure hunting.
- Notes on enslaved divers.
Come see us at Boston Public Library
Hosts Nikki and Jake will be giving a brief talk at the main branch of the Boston Public Library on Friday, March 29 at 7:30pm. It’s part of a program marking the 150th anniversary of the Grand Peace Jubilee, held in Copley Square in 1869. You can get more details about the Jubilee in episode 102, but it was a giant musical extravaganza celebrating the end of the Civil War. The anniversary event is going to feature some of the same music that was performed at the original, as interpreted by a brass band from the New England Conservatory of Music. We’ll give the historic context, Boston’s poet laureate Porsha Olayiwola will give a reading, and the keynote address will be delivered by Theodore C. Landsmark. Because the event is being held at the library after hours, advanced registration is required.
Boston Book Club
Our pick for the Boston Book Club this week is… another podcast. Last week’s episode of The American Revolution Podcast covered the evacuation of Boston in March 1776, which means the focus will be shifting to other areas. But in the show’s run up to this point, We’ve counted at least 30 episodes primarily about events in and around Boston.
Host Michael Troy tells the story of the revolution in a way that’s very engaging and easy to follow, while at the same time being very thorough. He’s so thorough, in fact, that his podcast about the American Revolution doesn’t get to Paul Revere’s ride and the battles at Lexington and Concord until episodes 53 to 56. That’s right, there are over fifty episodes before the first shots of the war ring out. Instead of jumping straight into the battlefield glory, Troy spent a year laying the groundwork, explaining what the status quo for the American colonists, British, French, Spanish, and Native American populations in North America was like in the 1750s. Then, he did a long series on the French and Indian War, introducing the people, places, and events that would eventually come to bear on our Revolution. Then finally, he covered the growing American crisis in the 1760s and early 1770s.
Along the way, he produced episodes on the Stamp Act riots and repeal, John Hancock’s ship Liberty, the occupation of Boston, the Massacre, the Tea Party, and dozens more events large and small that led up to the outbreak of war. Over the past few months, he has produced shows about the large battles and small skirmishes around Boston, from Bunker Hill to Chelsea Creek. And in the past weeks, he explained how Washington’s forces managed to fortify Dorchester Heights in a single night, and why that forced the British to give up their occupation of Boston.
It’s a great show, and I’m sure the folks who wish we would spend more time on Boston’s revolutionary era history will be happy with the long run of Boston-centric episodes that are available. Plus, we’re not ashamed to say that we lifted our idea for the Boston Book Club From Mr Troy’s American Revolution Book Club segment.
You can find the American Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts or whatever app you use to listen to our show. Or just go to amrevpodcast.com.
Upcoming Event
And for our upcoming event this week, we have another revolutionary era callback. After the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, the town of Boston commemorated the event with a public oration at Old South Meeting House each year. Speakers extolled liberty and excoriated the ministerial army that had committed the atrocity. Crowds were often enthusiastic, but usually contained some number of Tories, or even British Regulars, who might interrupt or heckle the speaker. It was a high form of public performance, and delivering the massacre oration was an honor. Twice, it was delivered by our favorite patriot, Joseph Warren, and once each by James Lovell, John Hancock, and Benjamin Church, who would later betray the patriot cause. The honor was offered to John Adams in 1773, but he felt that after successfully defending the soldiers in court, he should not appear to argue both sides of the issue.
From his orations, it’s easy to see what a gifted writer and speaker Joseph Warren was. Even almost 250 years later, his 1772 oration for the anniversary of the Massacre still stirs the blood.
The voice of your fathers’ blood cries to you from the ground; MY SONS SCORN TO BE SLAVES! in vain we met the frowns of tyrants; in vain, we crossed the boisterous ocean, found a new world, and prepared it for the happy residence of LIBERTY; in vain, we toiled; in vain, we fought; we bled in vain, if you, our offspring, want valour to repel the assaults of her invaders! Stain not the glory of your worthy ancestors; but like them resolve, never to part with your birthright; be wise in your deliberations, and determined in your exertions for the preservation of your liberties. Follow not the dictates of passion, but enlist yourselves under the sacred banner of reason; use every method in your power to secure your rights; at least prevent the curses of posterity from being heaped upon your memories.
If you, with united zeal and fortitude, oppose the torrent of oppression; if you feel the true fire of patriotism burning in your breasts; if you, from your souls, despise the most gaudy dress that slavery can wear; if you really prefer the lonely cottage (whilst blest with liberty) to gilded palaces, surrounded with the ensigns of slavery, you may have the fullest assurance that tyranny, with her accursed train, will hide their hideous heads in confusion, shame and despair; if you perform your part, you must have the strongest confidence that THE SAME ALMIGHTY BEING who protected your pious and venerable forefathers, who enabled them to turn a barren wilderness into a fruitful field, who so often made bare his arms for their salvation, will still be mindful of you their offspring.
After the fifth anniversary had passed, war broke out in Massachusetts. The anniversary in 1776 came and went while the British Regulars were hastily loading everything they could carry onto ships for their impending evacuation of Boston. With the troops gone and the new nation ensnared in a war for an uncertain future, Bostonians didn’t celebrate the Massacre anniversary with orations again after 1775. However, Old South Meeting House has recently revived this tradition. 2019 will mark the fifth year of their Speak Out! Boston Massacre anniversary event. Here’s how their website describes it:
Each year from 1772 to 1775, massive gatherings of men, women, and children here held at Old South Meeting House to commemorate the anniversary of the Boston Massacre, with rousing speeches by John Hancock, Benjamin Church, and Dr. Joseph Warren. Join us to hear excerpts of these speeches, performed by an inter-generational group in the same hall where the orations took place 240 years ago! This year’s program will include excerpts from the “Crispus Attucks Memorials” delivered in 1858 by William Cooper Nell and Dr. John Sweatt Rock, which zeroed in on the institution of slavery in relation to the rhetoric of liberty. Audience members will have the option to read selected excerpts; prizes will be awarded to the most rousing orators in youth and adult categories!
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.