The Private Journal of the Elihu Howe

March 8th, 1770

The lobsterbacks have gone too far this time. The massacre of Boston has spread like

wildfire through the colonies. From New Hampshire to Georgia, word has spread about King

George the 3rd & Parliaments most recent assault on our basic liberties. British soldiers killing

British citizens shows just how far the tyrants back in Britain are willing to go. What give’s them

the right to tell us what to do? King George nor any member or Parliament has stepped foot here,

yet they deem it their right to tell us what to do. First, they tried to tax us out of our hard-earned

money. Then tell us who we can and can’t trade with?! Tell us where we can and can’t settle?!

Now they force us to quarter and feed their soldiers in our homes?! The very same soldiers sent

to keep us docile and obedient?! They’ve gone too far.

This proves the worthlessness of ​Virtual Representation​. The members of ​Parliament

don’t care about us, even if they pretend they do. What New Hampshire needs is different from

what Georgia, Quebec, and the Caribbean islands need. Only having our own representatives in

Parliament can ensure that our needs are being heard

As for ​King George the 3rd, he​ would rather pretend to be a farmer before lifting a

finger to help his own people. He can barely find where his own colonies are on a map. All he

wants is our money and obedience.

Things sure have changed here in New Hampshire since the ​French & Indian War ​all

those years ago. Before, New Hampshire used to be the northern frontier between Britain and

France. The frontline for French and Native raiding parties. I remember fighting in the militia

myself, though I never saw too much major fighting. That’s what the lobsterbacks were supposed
to do, go out and fight the French and their allies. But once the war ended, the soldiers didn’t

leave. They stayed here in the colonies. I didn’t mind at first.

After the war, I moved to Portsmouth, opened up a candle shop, and bought a small

apartment in the city. People always need candles, especially with how dark it gets here in the

winter months. In those early years, I earned enough to get by. Then ​Parliament​ started to pass

those taxes. At first, it wasn’t bad. Whatever they taxed, I just ​boycotted​. Whether it be sugar,

tea, glass, I wouldn’t buy anything those politicians back in Britain were trying to tax. Plus I

didn’t exactly have the money to anyways. The ​Stamp Act​ made boycotting nearly impossible.

The stamp act taxed everything, from certificates to playing cards, to blank paper. Everyone

needs paper, whether it be for letters, journals, etc. I couldn’t afford a tax for every receipt I write

and every letter I send. I wasn’t terribly surprised that when the first stamp’s arrived they were

either burned or thrown in the harbor. The difference between that and Boston though was no

one died over it. I’m afraid to see the future for these colonies. I must go now, the infernal

soldier living with me will be back soon.

Most Gracefully & Truly,

Elihu Howe