Tea was expensive. Very expensive!!

The Colonists and Tea

By the time of the Boston Tea Party, tea itself was one of the most expensive commodities traded between Great Britain and her American colonies. It was more than just a commodity. It was a luxury item – but one that was essential to a “civilized” lifestyle.

Tea was an imported crop. British merchants, as far back as the fifteenth century, had been trading with countries in the Far East – China, the East Indies, India, etc. The tea leaves they purchased (and learned to brew) in exchange for British manufactured products became a staple of the good life. This, of course, became an essential traded product with the American colonies.

But it was very expensive. Special locked boxes, or tea-caddies were built, to hold the valuable product, keep it at the required temperature, prevent spillage, and most importantly, from being siphoned off by servants – or even household members.

Thus, the Boston Tea Party

So when a hefty tax was placed on three ships full of the already expensive tea that Britain sent to Massachusetts, the colonists, already resentful of taxes upon taxes, and no say in the matter (i.e. taxation without representation), rebelled.

Following a month of discussions, petitions, waffling and growing anger, an “unidentified” group of Boston citizens, disguised in blankets and face-paint, boarded the ships in the dark of night, and threw the tea overboard.

An irate Great Britain closed the port of Boston until the tea was paid for – some 10,000 British pounds! The other American Colonies then refused to purchase British products. And on and on and on…

John Adams, The Continental Congress and Smallpox

John Adams, a Massachusetts attorney, along with his cousin Samuel Adams, were gaining reputations as political leaders in the Sons of Liberty. They were part of a small contingent that had been elected to the Continental Congress, to meet in Philadelphia with their colonial counterparts to address their mutual political grievances. It was heating up.

By this time – 1775, it was more than just a redress of grievances. Complete independence from Great Britain was gaining ground. Shots had been fired. Lives had been lost. George Washington, a Virginia planter who had spent seven years in the Virginia Militia some years earlier, was named General of a Continental Army.

When General Washington arrived in Boston to take charge of his nascent army, he faced a far more fearsome enemy than the British. Smallpox. It was a deadly (30% mortality) infectious disease that flared up from time to time, decimating thousands before it abated naturally.

But by the mid-eighteenth century, a potentially successful inoculation had become available. It injected dead smallpox pustules into a healthy patient, causing a “light” case. This was a dangerous procedure, and very difficult for many to understand. But if the patient survived, they would be immune for life from any recurrence.

Abigail Adams, John’s wife, bit the dangerous bullet, and decided to have herself and their four young children inoculated.

John Wants to Share The Burden

John Adams had been inoculated for smallpox some ten years earlier, and knew likelihood that success was not guaranteed. He was also serving in Congress during a crucial time in American history. And Philadelphia was some four hundred miles from Boston – a two-week journey. Even letters took weeks before it reached the recipient.

He knew of Abigail’s decision, and agreed wholehearted in favor of the inoculation. But he naturally was worried about the procedure, the incubation period, and the outcome. From his own experience, he knew it took a month or more for the procedure to be administered. Plus the “lighter” case most patients actually suffered!

Since he could not be with his family in this time of peril, he decided to do the next best thing. He would send a gift.

John’s Gift to Mrs. Adams

Adams was not a wealthy man, but this was an extraordinary circumstance. He managed to find a scarce pound of tea – taxed or not. He purchased it immediately – for 14 shilings! A considerable cost! His wife would appreciate a restorative cup of tea after the great ordeal – to include her own inoculation – and nursing their four youngsters through their exhausting sickness. It had taken weeks!

He found a reputable courier named Garry to deliver the package. The man was not known to him personally – but they were acquainted via several mutual friends. He could be trusted. Garry was happy to perform the small service for the illustrious Mr. Adams.

But weeks passed, and Abigail Adams had not acknowledged receiving the package. John Adams was concerned. When he specifically asked his wife about it – she was bewildered. She had not received it.

Tracing the Tea

John Adams immediately sought Garry-the-courier who was supposed to deliver the tea to Mrs. Adams. The man was indignant! He most certainly delivered the tea to Mrs. Adams. But since he was not acquainted with either John or Abigail Adams, he mistakenly delivered it to Mrs. Elizabeth Adams – the wife of Samuel Adams (who, at that time was much better known).

Elizabeth Adams, it is said, was delighted by the surprise box of tea! And Abigail Adams was not about to march over there and demand her rightfully sent gift of tea.

However, in one of those coincidental endings, it so happens that Abigail called on the other Mrs. Adams, who was happy to see her, and invited her for a cup of tea – which she claimed her husband sent her.

At least Abigail Adams got to taste the expensive tea that her husband tried to send her. And, having the last word on the subject, advised John to let her know in advance if any packages were to be expected – and thus avoid the “mistake.”

Sources:

Boller, Paul F. Jr. – Presidential Wives: An Anecdotal History – 1988 Oxford University Press

Butterfield, L.H. (ed.) – Book of Abigail and John (Selected Letters) – Cambridge, MA. 1775

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/12/12/abigail-adams-smallpox-coronavirus-vaccine/

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/samuel-adams-boston-revolutionary.htm