Boston Massacre Trial Reenactment 2014
Description: In an effort to learn more about this important event leading to the American
Revolution, the class will reenact the Boston Massacre Trial. After researching and performing
the trial, we will watch the relevant scenes from the John Adams miniseries.
Note: This assignment, written and verbal, will count as a quiz.
Steps:
 Opening statement prosecution
 Opening statement defense
 Witness #1: Captain Prescott
 Witness #2 Hugh White
 Witness #3 Wounded colonist
 Closing statement prosecution
 Closing statement defense
 Jury decision in private
Roles:
Defense attorney – John Adams
 Write opening statement and two questions for each witness
Prosecutors
 Write opening statement and two questions for each witness


Samuel Quincy, a Loyalist and the Solicitor General for the colony, was appointed as
special prosecutor for the trials. Samuel was the handsome and urbane older brother of
defense lawyer Josiah Quincy Jr. Samuel Quincy left Massachusetts with the British in
1776 and died in exile in England in 1789.
Robert Treat Paine, a Patriot and lawyer from Taunton, Massachusetts, was asked by
the town of Boston to prosecute the soldiers. Paine was a prominent attorney who was
later elected to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence.
He also became the first Attorney General for Massachusetts and a justice of the
Supreme Judicial Court.
Judge- rules for the court
British Captain Thomas Preston – statement of his side of the incident
 Thomas Preston was the captain of the 14th regiment, the Officer of the Day who commanded
the British soldiers outside of the Customs House.
British soldier Hugh Montgomery – statement of his experience
 Private Hugh Montgomery was the first British soldier to fire in the Boston Massacre. He was
also identified by many witnesses in the trial as the man who killed Crispus Attucks.
British soldier Hugh White –
 Private White was the soldier on duty outside fo the Customs House on Mar 5 1770 when the
incident started.
The Agitators
Edward Garrick
 A young wigmaker's apprentice who arrived to the Customs House and called out to a British
officer, Captain Lieutenant John Goldfinch, that he had not paid his master's bill.
Bartholomew Broaders
 Broaders was a friend of Edward Garrick. After Garrick was struck on on the side of the head by
Hugh White, Broaders exchanged insults with White. This attracted a larger crowd.
Witness – Theodore Bliss
http://www.bostonmassacre.net/trial/d-bliss.htm
Witness – Benjamin Burdock
http://www.bostonmassacre.net/trial/d-burdick.htm
Witness - Robert Goddard
http://www.bostonmassacre.net/trial/d-goddard.htm
Witness – Loyalist (make up a name)
 Favors the British, sees the mob as dangerous, threatening the British soldiers
Witness – Brother of Samuel Gray (killed)


Mr. Samuel Gray - A rope-maker, died on the spot. Was one of the hardiest brawlers in Boston.
http://www.bostonmassacre.net/players/samuel-gray.htm
Jury/Press – questions for each of the witnesses
Resources:
 Textbook
 ABC-CLIO
 Boston Massacre Historical Society www.bostonmassacre.net
 Massachusetts Historical Society http://www.masshist.org/revolution/massacre.php
 Boston Massacre online game http://www.bostonhistory.org/sub/bostonmassacre/
 Punishments of the 17th- early 20th centuries
http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/static/Punishment.jsp#branding/
7.2
John Adams – Adrien
Defense Attorney – Caroline
Prosecutors: Olivia, James
Captain Preston - Will
Private Hugh White - Thomas
Private Hugh Montgomery - Ari
Agitators: Thomas, Luis
Witness – Theodore Bliss: Isabelle
Witness – Benjamin Burdock - Gabby
Witness – Robert Goddard - Kayla
7.3
John Adams – Sean
Defense Attorney – Andria
Prosecutors: Kelly, Jaden
Captain Preston – Ted F.
Private Hugh White – Sam W.
Private Hugh Montgomery – Jamie
Agitators: Teddy, Marit
Witness – Theodore Bliss: Lily
Witness – Benjamin Burdock – Sam G.
Witness – Robert Goddard - Kenton
Loyalist Witness – Mason
Witness – Brother of Samuel Gray
Court Artist/Reporter - Alex