I haven't seen the original letter, but I have seen it transcribed as "mop," rather than map. It was presumably an instrument to apply the tar, if necessary.


Cathy Hellier
Historian
Department of Training and Historical Research 
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187
757-220-7442



-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jon Kukla
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 4:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: "map" or "tar map" at Williamsburg, November 1774

Two immediately contemporary reports of the intimidation of Scots merchants in Williamsburg, Virginia, in November 1774 mention a "map" or a "tar map."  Any ideas about what the writers were describing?

William Aitchison to James Parker, November 14, 1774 "Every method has been used to every one sign the Association. A large tar map was erected near the Capitol with a Bag of feathers to it and a Barrel of Tar underneath . . . ."

James Parker to Charles Steuart, November 27, 1774 "At Williamsburg there was a Pole erected by Order of Colo. Archibald Cary, a strong Patriot, opposite the Raleigh Tavern upon which was hug a large map and a bag of feathers, under it a barrel of tar. , , ,"

For what its worth (not much since it was not composed by an eye-witness), the well-known London mezzotint "The Alternative of Williams-burgh" has a tar barrel and bag of feathers hanging from a post that bears the motto "A Cure to the Refractory" -- and the Botetourt statue in the left background . . . but nothing visible that suggests a map. . .
Jon Kukla
________________
www.JonKukla.com <http://www.jonkukla.com/>

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