The Siege of Boston and the "Donation People" of 1775 | Katie Turner Getty

In 1775, the British army seethed within Boston as the Continental Army besieged the city, compelling thousands of civilians to flee to the surrounding countryside. General George Washington and the Massachusetts Provincial Congress coordinated efforts to support the influx of displaced persons while attempting to protect the Continental Army from smallpox flaring in Boston. Many refugees-including infirm, ill and elderly individuals as well as mothers and children-were removed and relocated to towns across Massachusetts. Katie Turner Getty discusses the plight of those civilians during the Siege of Boston and the hardships the displaced endured during the outbreak of war.
About the Speaker
Katie Turner Getty is an independent researcher and writer, focusing on the American Revolution with an emphasis on the Siege of Boston. A lifelong Bostonian, she holds degrees from Wellesley College and New England Law Boston. Katie is a frequent contributor to the Journal of the American Revolution and the Doctor Joseph Warren Foundation. She is currently at work on a book project about the siege.
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[@Tony-if3tl]

Ms. Turner Getty is an excellent speaker - engaging and informative. Outstanding presentation.

[@brutusbarnabus8098]

Really enjoyed the presentation. I love the rich history in the founding of our country that Massachusetts has. The presenter’s Boston accent only added to the enjoyment. It was wicked pissah. 😁

[@jasontovar1776]

My 5th Great-Grandfather Daniel Stoy served in the Revolutionary awar and took part in the Siege of Bosten.

[@NoOne-rl2ol]

Thank you.

[@american_cosmic]

Thanks for uploading this, Ms. Turner Getty is very knowledgeable and I enjoyed her presentation. I also enjoyed her lovely Boston accent!

[@evannesbitt7852]

It makes sense that Newburyport would make the request for the Bostonians to be relocated. As a coastal city, the damage of the Port Act, the Stamp, Tea and Townshend Acts would have done much damage to the economy of Newburyport, which at the same time was paying bounties for privateers, of which it was a center and maintaining its militia engaged in the Siege of Boston. It's good they requested the relocation of the Donation People instead of neglecting them and siphoning funds away from them. Of course land towns, less dependent on trade were more capable of hosting the refugees, such as Concord and Reading. The economic damage of the Intolerable Acts and the strain of paying privateers was lesser for them.

[@lefantomer]

Newburyport is beautiful and rich in colonial era architecture, grand mansions which once belonged to sea merchants and probably privateers! I hope Concord wasn't as allergic to crowds as it is today! Our west and north of Boston areas are amazingly rich in Revolutionary War historical sites and it has always been so interesting to live here.

[@jaywinters2483]

Can you imagine what a great conversation could be had having the honor of sitting at dinner with her? “As iron sharpeneth iron…”

[@jerryaylward2784]

That was an excellent presentation

[@stephaniegrable2612]

Learned so much! Thank you for your dedication and sharing your knowledge.

[@user-js7ek9oh3p]

Well Done Ms. Getty..!! and a wonderful "Bahs-Taan" accent..!! I suppose the modern term that can be used, is 'Civilian Refugees'... I'm still amazed that the rebel colonists won this war..!! By all accounts and against all odds, somehow they managed to win..?? I think that England never thought they would be capable of actually succeeding at the organization of an Independent Nation, which was even more unlikely than a victory over the King's Forces.!! The War of 1812 is even more momentous than the American Revolution... The British & Indian Forces were winning and on the verge of victory, then Baltimore and Fort McHenry rallied, and New Orleans completed the come from behind surprise victory..!!

[@thattimestampguy]

0:00 Introduction by Andrew Outten 2:30 Introduction by Katie Turner Getty 6:40 April 18th 1775 9:00 Young Charlestownians flee. 10:20 Jacob Rogers account. 12:45 Americans encircled Boston and layed Siege to Boston. 13:12 14:12 15:16 • civilians left Boston after some diplomacy. British General, Thomas Gage, required Boston Civilians to leave their weapons behind. *Boston Civilians pushed out of their homes by British Redcoat Occupation of Boston* 18:44 Rachel Revere, Paul Revere’s Wife, was among the Boston Civilians fleeing Boston. 20:52 The Provincial Congress try to relocate the Boston Civilians to surrounding towns, using Family Certificates 📑 23:13 They were called “Donation People” a term for Displaced Civilians. 24:13 Some Donation people arrive in Reading Massachusetts. 28:53 Concord accommodated Bostonians. + Lamb 🐑 Pork 🐷 Beef 🥩 🐄 + Butter 🧈 + Corn 🌽 *Chelsea Massachusetts* 31:24 Northeast of Boston, Across Boston Harbor. The Chelsean people could watch Bunker Hill. 33:19 A Ferry Boat arrives. Boston Civilians left town. The Continental Army grew in having to care for displaced Bostonians. 35:17 Boston Mothers with children. *Smallpox* 💀 36:07 Smallpox was in Boston in 1775. 37:51 Smoke Fire Cleansing 40:31 1775 “Getting Smoked” on Boston Neck to prevent outbreak of Smallpox any further than Boston. *300 Poor Sick Bostonians were dumped into Point Shirley/Winthrop Massachusetts* 42:25 November 1775. General William Howe. 45:04 They did not expect to be dumped at Point Shirley. 45:40 George Washington feared Smallpox being brought to The Continental Army. *The End of the 11 Month Siege of Boston, Massachusetts* 49:45 March 1776 Finally The Donation People could come home to Boston.

[@dickfleissner8257]

Thank you for posting.