Kicking off the celebration of the Nation’s 250th Anniversary, events were held in Boston and around the county commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, which took place on December 16, 1773. That date is regarded by many as the beginning of the American Revolution.
One such event was held at the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg on December 16, where, according to a display in one of the court buildings, the courthouse bell was rung in 1773 to honor the Boston Tea Party.
The Leesburg event was sponsored by the Sgt. Major John Champe Chapter of the Virginia Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), and included participation from various DAR and SAR chapters from Virginia and Maryland. It included a symbolic re-enactment of pouring tea into a blue container labelled “Boston Harbor,” and then replenishing the tea cups with coffee.
The original Boston Tea Party spurred similar actions around the colonies, including some in this area:
Oct. 19, 1774 — Annapolis MD: The Peggy Stewart was burned, in what became known as the “Annapolis Tea Party.”
Nov. 7, 1774 — Yorktown VA: Patriots climbed aboard the ship Virginia and emptied two half chests of tea into the York River.
Early August, 1775 — Georgetown MD (now DC): The tea ship Mary and Jane was prevented from landing in Georgetown by the Frederick County Committee of Correspondence, and was forced to sail back to England.
As noted above, the Lovettsville Historical Society will kick off its 2024 lecture series with an event on the Boston Tea Party, to be held on February 18.
