Richard Burdick contends that he is a descendant of Benjamin Burdick who was a witness in the Boston Massacre trial in 1770

BOSTON MASSACRE TRIAL

Key Players:
Justice Edmund Trowbridge
Justice Peter Oliver
Samuel Quincy
Robert Paine
John Adams
Josiah Quincy

Witnesses for the Prosecution Witnesses for the Defense Private Hugh White John Hancock
Captain Thomas Preston Edward Garrick
Private Hugh Montgomery
Dr. John Jeffries
Benjamin Burdick

Queen Street Courthouse

. . . . .

S. Quincy - Our last witness is Benjamin Burdick. (Burdick to the witness chair.)

Justice Trowbridge - Mr. Burdick, do you swear before this court to tell the truth, all of the truth, and nothing other than the truth, so help you God?

Burdick - I do.

S. Quincy - Mr. Burdick, you were in the crowd that fateful night, were you not? Please tell the Court what you saw and heard.

Burdick - I came into King Street and saw the soldiers with their guns and asked if they were loaded, and I was told they were. This gave me reason to fear as I had many times witnessed soldiers’ cruel treatment of Boston’s citizens. I was looking in the direction of the soldiers, very nearby, when I saw a dark-skinned man grab for a soldier’s bayonet, upon which the soldier yelled “Fire!” and then shot directly at the man.

S. Quincy - Do you, Sir, see that soldier in this courtroom? Burdick - Yes, Sir, I do. It was Private Montgomery, who testified before me. S. Quincy - And what did you observe then?

Burdick - After that other soldiers also began firing. One I recognized as Matthew Killroy, whom I had seen before. A blast from his gun hit Samuel Gray, who was standing with his hands in his pockets. The blast blew a hole in the man’s head as large as a hand. In less than two minutes five people lay dead or dying with more wounded. Finally Captain Prescott shouted to stop the firing.

S. Quincy - No further questions.

Justice Oliver - Would the defense care to question this witness?

Adams - Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Burdick, you said you recognized Matthew Killroy. How did you know him?

Burdick - We had words about a week or a fortnight ago. It was obvious to me that he disliked the people of Boston. Adams - And you obviously dislike him. Thank you, Mr. Burdick. No more questions. (Burdick leaves the witness chair.)

Justice Oliver – Now, will the defense call its first witness?