Author: Joseph Warren
Date: January 16-17, 1771
Source: Fragment of the Medical Day Book, New York: New York Historical Society, Misc Manuscripts “W.” Two sided day book page fragment in Joseph Warren’s handwriting, no signature. Accompanying notation states, “January 20, 1866 – attest Ellis Ames, Canton Massachusetts.” All presently known surviving fragments of Warren’s lost account books trace provenance to 19th century collector Ellis Ames. See drjosephwarren.com recent entries here, here and here for other such fragments. I will publish additional ones in coming weeks.
Discussion: This account book fragment, not heretofore generally known to historians, confirms that Dr. Joseph Warren provided clinical care to an individual associated with acting Governor Thomas Hutchinson’s household. Conceivably that would have been someone working at Province House, the Governor’s residence in Boston, or a visiting employee from Thomas Hutchinson’s personal estate in Milton. It is unclear whether the account number “176” is that of the individual patient or an account paid by the governor himself. The corresponding account book(s) for late 1768 into 1775 have never been described and apparently do not survive. Warren’s day (i.e. journal or waste) book survives, covering April 1774 through the closure of his Boston medical practice at the outset of the Siege of Boston), at the Massachusetts Historicsl Society. If “176” was the Governor’s account, it would be interesting to note that Dr. Warren would have continued such dealings with a controversial Loyalist leader beyond the March 1770 Boston Massacre and the resulting trial a year afterward.
Joseph Warren apparently had been part of the Patriot delegation confronting Thomas Hutchinson the day following the Massacre, in which Samuel Adams famously challenged Hutchinson to order removal of the British troops from Boston. The dramatic episode was recently the subject of a very successful dramatic portrayal “Blood in the Snow” at the Old State House.
The fragment also lists Boston Alms House patients Warren attended on January 16 and 17, 1771. He also saw private patients “In Town” on January 17th, but their identities are missing in this fragment.
If and when the pages are found covering the period of the Tea Crisis and Destruction of the Tea – November and December of 1773 – historians will have to rewrite the history of that pivotal event to include Joseph Warren’s role with more certainty than is currently possible.
Posted August 14, 2018.
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