USA 250: Nation’s 1st war casualty was boy who stirred nation

By Jason Williams
Oregon 250 Resolution,

This story brought to you by the Oregon 250 Resolution project to honor America’s 250th.

The first victim of the American Revolution was a 12-year-old boy who was shot. Also, a painter Samuel Gore was hit with a different bullet but survived, and became part of the revolution.

Here is their story:

On Feb. 22, 1770, the city saw the killing of an 12-year-old boy outside Theophilus Lillie’s shop in the North End of Boston in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. British customs officer Ebenezer Richardson, determined to quell the crowd protesting outside the Loyalist’s shop, fired a musket through a broken window and mortally wounded young Christopher Seider in the arm and chest. Christopher, the son of poor German immigrants, died that evening and became known as the first colonist killed in the American Revolution.

Swan shot from the musket also struck painter Samuel Gore in the thigh and hand during the same altercation, but he survived. Afterward, Gore carried the lead pellets dug out of him in his pockets. Two thousand angry colonists turned out for Christopher’s large public funeral, arranged by Samuel Adams. Although convicted of murder, Richardson claimed he acted in self-defense and received a royal pardon and another customs position, sparking anger among the American colonists.

Tensions simmered in the city until erupting in early March during what became known as the Boston Massacre.

— Want more? Visit Oregon250.com and read the Oregon 250 Resolution which honors America’s 250th Birthday by recognizing 15 historic American Achievements.  Please read it, print it and share with others.  Nearly 10,000 people have signed a petition in support of the Oregon 250 resolution.