The Washington times., 1903-04-16
ANNAPOLIS TEA PARTY
SUBJECT OF ADDRESS
President General Warfeld, S. A. R, Delivers an
Interesting Discourse.

Maryland In the Revolution" was
The subject Of an interesting address de-
Uvered before the District Sons of the
American Revolution, at Rauscher's.
last night. by Edwin R WarfeId. Of
Baltimore, president general of the pa
triotc organization.
The address was devoted chiefly TO
events which have never been discussed
by historians, and have been discovered
by Sons Of the American Revolution by
research among family records and
documents. 10 which writer's Of history
have had no access. Mr.. WarffeId's de-
scription OF the destruction at Annapo-
lis of the Peggy Stewart revealed to
the large audience a page of RevoIu-
tionary history which is even more fas-
cinating than the story of the Boston
tea party.
Mr. WaTdeld is especially interest ed
in the history of the burning of the
Peggy Stewart. as one of mis- ances-
tors. DIT. Charles Alexander WarfieId led
the indignant colonists. who forced the
owner of the vessel, Anthony Stewart,
TO burn his vessel loaded with tea upon
which he had paid the British tax that
was so distastefuI to Marylanders.
This Maryland tea party took place
on October Il, f774. 1t was rumored
in Annapolis that Anthony Stewart. a
Scotch merchant of that city. had paid
the British tax on a cargo of tea he had
just imported on his brig. the Peggy
Stewart The news spread among the
countrymen about Annapolis The
wealthy and influential citizens OF the
town urged the excited coIonists to take
no action which would give offense to
the King. but the young men from out
side the city could not be quoted
Stewart was induced by prominent
citizens to say ne vas sorry he had
paid the hateful tax, but this did not
satisfy the ardent sons of liberty. Head
ed by Dr. Charles Alexander WarfeId
the young patriots erected a scafoId in
front of Stewards home. and gave him
the choice between hanging and setting
fire TO the Peggy Stewart" with his
own hands He valued his life above
/ the cargo OF tea. The brig was run
aground near Annapolis, and the IN
willing Scotch merchant was taken
/ aboard and compelled 10 fire the craft
/ When the young MaryIanders were
about 10 take Stewart from his home
Judge Chase. who was the merchant
attorney. addressed the eGraged pa
/ tTiots. and tried TO persuade them to dc
nothing which would be distasteful tC
/ the King. Judge Chase was d prominent
! Wing who had previously denounced the
! oppression of England many times il
public meetings The crowd reminded
him of the sentiments he had expressed
and he said no more. Judge Chase was
one of the sianers OF the Declaration
/ OF Independence.
Many Maryland families who have
I since become famous were in the mon
! The GTinths Dorseys. Browns. anC
/ Hobbs we're we'll represented in ths
party that offered opposition 10 the an
/ thority OF the King. \ letter Of Cap
tain Hobbs was one of the chief source.
/ from which Mr. Warfeld gathered III,
I account of the tea party. The state
+ ments in the Hobbs letter are corrobo-
rated by description of the event by
an English officer. and By an article il
] a Baltimore paper
Mr. WarfeId contrasted the Maryland