Continuing the story of a chaotic night at Quartermaster John Perkins' tavern, we hear from the victim Mark Quilter:
Mark Quilter, aged about forty-two years, deposed that he went to the quartermaster's to talk with Mr. Jno. Burr upon business. "when I told them I did not care for drinking, some answered & sayd you must kiss the cup then. . . . And I goeing to follow the Quartermaster was stopt by those that satt on eachside of mee: Mr Dudly Broadstreet & Mr Sam1 Jacob on one side; & Elihu wardell & mr Thomas wade on the other side, and goeing to creep under the table was stopt by some holding my Coat behind; till watching my oppertunity gott from behind the Table & makeing Towards the door, it was clapt too, & some Cryed, here is the man, here is the man," etc.-p33
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts: Volume V 1672-1674 Essex Institute, Salem Ma. 1916
That is all the testimony about the incident. I found the description by John Edwards of the behsavior of the men chilling, especially the part about the men snapping their empty pistols at Mark Quilter as they walked out of the room. It does seem like the behavior of Wild West outlaws or of a biker gang in a bad 1950's movie rather than that of Puritans.
What the heck had Mark Quilter done to deserve being ganged up on by his fellow citizens?
This was not the only raucous night at John Perkins' house. There was another case presented at the same court session dealing with another incident. I'll give the details in my next post.
To be continued...
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