| Citation |
NHG-P.766.003
10 Jan 1766:41,42 (484)
The following is from a paper published the 10th of last
month at Maryland, intitled, An Apparition of the late
Maryland Gazette, (which is not dead, but only sleepeth.)
. . . [22 lines]
Frederick-Town, Saturday Nov 30, 1765. The Stamp Act having
received a mortal wound by the hands of justice, on Saturday
last gave up the ghost, to the great joy of the inhabitants
of this county. The lifeless body lay exposed to publick
ignominy 'till yesterday, when it was thought proper, for
preventing infection from its stench, to bury it in the
following manner:
The Sons of Liberty assembled at the house of Mr.
Swearingen, and the coffin was taken up at 3 o'clock, and
proceeded in the following form:
1. The colours of the town company,
2. Drums.
3. The banner displayed, with this inscription in large
characters, Constitutional Liberty asserted by the
Magistrates of Frederick County, Nov. 23 1765.
4. The cap of liberty mounted on a staff, with the several
following inscriptions, Magna Charta--Charter of
Maryland--Trials by Juries restored--Oppression
removed--Liberty and loyalty.
5. The conductors.
6. The coffin, with this inscription
. . . [15 lines giving the inscription]
7. Z----h H----d, Esq; as sold [sic] mourner, carried in
an open chariot.--His countenance pale and dejected, --his
dress disorderly, unsuitable, to his rank, and betraying
great distraction of mind [3 more lines]
8. Sons of Liberty two and two during the whole
precession, which marched thro' the principal streets till
it arrived at the gallows erected on the Court-House Green,
the bells continued ringing; and on every huzza by the
crowd, or loud laugh of female spectators, Z---- H----, Esq;
was observed to nod, or drop his head into his bosom, in
token of the utmost sorrow and confusion. On his arrival at
the gallows, under which the grave was dug, the drums
ceasing, and proclamation made for silence, Z---- H----d,
Esq; was observed to be struck with such astonishment, that
tho' he seem'd to demand audience by a weak motion of his
hand, he was not able to utter a words, and his features
were fixed as death.
. . . [10 lines, 10 lines on the reading of the funeral
oration for the Stamp Act]
No sooner had the person appointed to read it come to the
Oh! Oh! &c. than Z----- H-----, Esq; was seen to sink
suddenly down and tumble out of the chariot, his body
becoming instantaneously cold and stiff, so violent an
assault had grief made on all his vital faculties, and left
him a lifeless figure, scarce resembling humanity.--As he
was falling, a Son of Liberty, with a voice like thunder,
cried out--Let him die like a dog.--A loud huzza & ruff of
the drums immediately followed,--and, according to his own
request, his corpse was deposited in the earth together with
that of his beloved.
The grave being filled up, and acclamations repeated, the
company marched in their former order, with colours, banner,
&c. to the house of Mr. Samuel Swearingen, where an elegant
supper was prepared, and a ball given to the ladies, who
made a brilliant appearance on the occasion;--many loyal and
patriotic toasts were drank, and the whole concluded with
the utmost decorum.
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