teaservants

Becoming Americans: Tea and Servants
by: Julia A. Moniz

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�And I�m telling you for the last time, King George will not rest until they have been punished. Disobeying the King�s law, destroying personal property � this isn�t a protest Benjamin, it�s a crime, pure and simple,� William Ellison shouted at his son Benjamin.

�While I agree, Father, that they had no right to destroy personal property, the Bostonians had every right to protest the tea tax. Their methods may not have been well guided but at least they�ve done something. They�ve made the King take notice.� In sharp contrast to his father�s shouting and agitaition, Benjamin Ellison, or Ben as everyone else called him, was a picture of calm as he and his father discussed the latest happenings from Massachusetts Bay. They sat in the elder Ellison�s office as they waited for preparations to be completed for Ben�s journey to meet with the Burgesses in Williamsburg. His journey from his father�s home in Hanover County would take nearly a week to complete.

�At what cost I ask you. And by what right do they have to �make the King take notice�. Since when do we dictate to His Majesty what he may and may not do?� queried the father.

�Since His Majesty has stopped treating the people of Massachusetts Bay, indeed all of his colonies, as British Citizens. He treats us as if we were his bastard children. King George and his ministers by the very duties and taxes they levy against the colonies have determined our response.� Now, Ben�s anger and temper was becoming a match for his father. Though they held differing positions on politics in the colonies there would be no mistaking that in temper they could be the same.

�Your problem, Benjamin, is that you�ve had far too much of an association with that hothead Patrick Henry. Ever since he began representing Hanover County in the House of Burgesses nine years ago he has caused nothing but trouble. Mark my words, son � that man�s words or deed are going to get him turned off the cart for treason. I just hope to God you don�t swing with him�

�While I admit that Mr. Henry is oft times hot headed, he has the right of it. The king, his ministers, Parliament � they have no right to tax us without our consent. I serve Hanover County in the House of Burgesses. We are the only representative body in Virginia � it falls to us to levy taxes and duties on our fellow Virginians � not a group of bullies 3,000 miles across the sea.�

�How dare you,� shouted the enraged father, �speak of your king like that? I don�t understand you, Benjamin. Ever since you�ve begun to associate with those radicals in the Burgesses you�ve changed. Where do you loyalties lie?�

�My loyalties,� Ben replied calmly, �lie with the people of Virginia. As their elected representative, I will do everything in my power to protect them from these foreign ��

�Enough!� shouted William. �I�ll not have you speak these treasonous words under my roof.�

Unbeknownst to the men, while they had been arguing Phillip Livingston, a 24 year old indentured servant, had come in and was waiting patiently by the door for one of the Ellisons to notice him.

�What do you want, boy,� William shouted when he caught sight of Phillip by the door.

�Uh, um par-pardon me Master Ellison, I, uh, I,� stammered the young man.

�Well spit it out boy, I don�t have all day. What you see in this simpleton I�ll never understand Benjamin�

�What is it Phillip, what do you need,� Ben gently asked the flustered younger man.

�I came to tell you that your horse is ready, Master Benjamin.� He always felt more at ease addressing the younger master. Master Benjamin was always nice to him. If it hadn�t been for Master Benjamin, he probably would have never learned to read.

�I�ll be right out Phillip. Wait for me outside, please�

�Yes sir.� Bowing to the Ellisons, Phillip turned and left the room.

�Father, in the future I�d prefer you not call Phillip a simpleton,� Ben asked of his father.

�Why would that be, Benjamin. Is the boy a hidden genius that we�ve yet to discover? You put far too much faith in that boy. He�s just a servant and as soon as his indenture�s up he�ll take his freedom dues and be far gone from here without even a thank you.�

�Father, I�d rather not argue with you any more. I�ll take my leave now. Good day, Father,� and offering his father his courtesy Ben turned and left the house without a look back.

Ben had to admit his father was correct about one thing � since meeting men such as Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and George Wythe he had changed. He had become more outspoken in his belief that King George was unfairly treating the colonists. In the past he had kept his beliefs to himself but now he openly challenged his father about his blind loyalty to the king. He had sworn to represent his constituents in the Burgesses and if that meant publicly questioning the king in order to fairly represent his people � that�s what he�d do.

*************

As Ben exited his father�s house into the bright sunshine he saw Phillip waiting by their saddled horses. Phillip�s mother, Naomi, had been one of William�s indentured servants. She became with child while she was in her last year of her indenture. In keeping with the law, Naomi�s indenture was lengthened by the time she could not work due to her pregnancy and complications from the birth of her child. Phillip would remain William�s indentured until his 31st birthday.

From an early age Ben had noticed an intelligence shining behind the boys eyes. When Phillip turned 7 and Ben was 12, Ben began to teach him to read. He found Phillip to be an apt pupil who learned quite quickly. In front of William, however, Phillip tended to get flustered would begin to stutter, appearing simple minded in William�s eyes.

Ben mounted his horse and with Phillip by his side began his journey to the capital city of Williamsburg.

�So, Phillip, how much of what my father and I were��discussing� did you overhear,� Ben asked.

�Not much,� responded Phillip. �I was only there for a little while. But I am curious, Master Benjamin��

�Ben,� came the gentle correction. When we�re away from everyone else you may call me Ben.

�Alright, Ben, what do you think the king�s going to do to Boston? Do you think it�ll be bad like your father said?�

�I think, Phillip, that there will be the devil to pay for what�s been done in Boston. German George won�t rest until Boston�s been punished. I fear the reprisal will be quite stern indeed.�

�And what will Virginia do?�

�Virginia?�

�Yes. What will Virginia do? Will we support Boston or the king?�

�That will depend.�

�Depend on what?�

�On how King George sees fit to punish Boston. I wouldn�t be surprised if there isn�t news when we get to Williamsburg. I�m sure Mr. Henry will be crying from the rooftops that we should do anything we can to avenge any wrongs done our sister colony. Mr. Randolph will be counseling that we try to make our grievances known to His Majesty as peacefully as possible. And I�m sure that Col. Washington will sit there quietly and take it all in. I�m not sure who�s more silent � him or Mr. Jefferson.�

�And you Ben, where will you stand. With Mr. Henry, Mr. Speaker or the Loyalists?�

�As always, Phillip, I will stand where my constituents, the people of Virginia, will gain the most benefit. But enough of this talk. As I�ve said, we�ll have plenty of it and more when we arrive in the capital city.

�And I dare say, Phillip, you�ve impressed me yet again. You�re grasp of the situation in Boston is much more than I would have expected.�

�Sir, you�ve put me to the blush with your compliment. I�ve only listened as you and your father and your guests have discussed what�s happened recently and if I may be so bold I do believe I understand why the Bostonians dumped that tea. In many respects I feel as if I know exactly how those men feel. Denied the full rights of an Englishmen because of where they were born and live. It�s not fair that one man should be able to tell another he is less than what he really is just because of something that�s beyond his control.�

�Just like you?�

�Sir?�

�Come now Phillip, due to a simple accident of birth you�re my father�s indentured until you 31. That�s half a lifetime. And through no fault or cause of your own. Can you honestly tell me that you feel no resentment that your rights have been taken away simply because your mother was indentured when you were born?�

�I�ve known no life but as an indentured. While your father has never seen me as anything more than his property I�ve found kindness in you. If you�re asking if I�d want to be free today then the answer is yes. I�d rather honestly call you friend and never have to hide it but I know that the only way I could gain my freedom right now, today, would be to run away. I would have to turn my back on a very dear friend and right now that�s not something I want to do.�

"Now you've put me to the blush, Phillip. But enough of this gloomy talk. I trust you've brought your fiddle with you. I dare say there will be time for you to play it at any number of assemblies and subscriptions. You know how Mr. Southall values your talent when he hosts a subscription."

"Yes, Ben, I've brought it with me. Although I'll never be a rival to Mr. Jefferson when it comes to playing the violin."

"Yes, and I'll never be able to touch Col. Washington when it comes to stepping a minuet."

As they continued to ride up the road the two men continued to talk of the diversions which awaited them when they reached the Capital City. But more than just diversions awaited them, for 3,000 miles away word of the Boston Tea Party had reached King George and Parliament. Even as they rode on east toward Williamsburg, a ship was bringing word from England that Parliament had passed what would be known as the Intolerable Acts. But that is a story for another day.