A handwritten 18th ~ In 1776, the town of Charlestown, Massachusetts was left devastated after British troops set fire to the town during the Battle of Bunker Hill. More than 450 families were affected by this destruction, resulting in a total of £117,882 in claims for lost homes, land, and possessions.

Recently, a handwritten document from the 18th century has been discovered shedding light on the extent of these losses. Titled "Account of Loss Sustained by David Newell by the Troops of George the Tyrant of Britain Burning and Destroying the Town of Charlestown on the 17 of June 1775," this document lists items destroyed in the fire such as a dwelling house, barn and outhouse, chairs, kettles, loom and weaving wheel, gauging instruments, casks, fruit trees, fencing and tables. The total loss is calculated at £264-14-0 and is signed by David Newell.

What makes this document even more intriguing is the commentary included about the British troops and expressions of exhaustion from those who submitted their claims. It also provides insights into the personalities and educational levels of these individuals through their submissions ranging from short dejected slips of paper to carefully drawn tablature and details about personal items.

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The discovery of this document was part of a larger project that began in November 2023 to identify who was living in Charlestown at the time of the battle. This led researchers to Boston Public Library's Special Collections where they found hundreds of fragile handwritten claims documenting the aftermath of the fire.

One significant finding from these claims was that two free people of color had also submitted claims. In a town where most people of color were enslaved at that time, these claims provide valuable insight into their lives. One such individual was Margaret Thomas who had purchased a small house in Charlestown in 1773 but lost it two years later in the fire. She filed a claim for £68 and records suggest she may have once been enslaved. Margaret went on to work as a laundress for General George Washington's household during the siege of Boston and later married his enslaved valet, William Lee. Her fate after 1784 remains unknown.

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The digitization of these claims has also shed light on other notable Charlestown residents, including John Larkin Sr., who is said to have loaned his horse to Paul Revere for his famous Midnight Ride; Elizabeth Moore, who was renting a room at the Three Cranes Tavern on the day of the battle; John Codman Jr., whose father was killed by his enslaved people, leading to one man being hanged at Charlestown Neck and becoming known as "Mark in chains"; Cato Hanker, a shoemaker who rented a home and shop in town; and the Lamson family, who were renowned gravestone carvers.

Despite resubmitting their claims for over 50 years, the residents of Charlestown were never compensated for their losses. This serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of war on individuals and communities.

To learn more about these claims and the ongoing research, visit https://www.boston.gov/.../archaeo.../boston-25....

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