The riots in Boston over the Stamp Act were a direct threat to civil order and an affront to His Majesty, King George III. Such unrest should not be tolerated, and the mobs should not be allowed to rule by intimidation. It was with this in mind that Hutchinson braced for the worst as the fists pounded at his door and the shouts of the mob outside demanded he come forth.
Seeing the tumult next door, a neighbor of the lieutenant governor's called out to the boisterous crowd, informing them that he had seen a carriage ride off just a few minutes before. He presumed it was the lieutenant governor and his family. With this information, the crowd dissolved, believing that they were not home, leaving Hutchinson and his family in peace.
The rest of the week passed quietly, and many of Boston's citizens began to think things were returning to normal. They were mistaken. Monday evening, August 26, brought sounds of "Liberty and property!" as a mob gathered once more on King Street. Governor Bernard heard the commotion, but once again felt powerless to do anything about it.
Led by Ebenezer Mackintosh, a Boston ruffian, the mob attacked the living quarters of William Story, an official with the Vice-Admiralty Court. Then they marched on the home of the comptroller of customs, and proceeded to rip off windows and doors, destroy his official papers, and steal the wine from his cellar. They were not finished.
As was the case the last time the mob came to his house, Hutchinson was dining with his family. He had heard rumors that a mob might attack the Customs House or the Admiralty offices, but these same rumors led him to believe his estate was not to be a target. Seated at the Hutchinson table were his sister-in-law, three sons, and two daughters.
Suddenly, a friend burst into the house, frantically warning the chief justice and lieutenant governor that a crowd was heading his way. He sent the children out of the house, and then bolted the doors and shutters, determined to wait out the tumult as he had done before. But one of his daughters returned and demanded that her father come with her, or she would stay in the house and await the mob with him. Hutchinson heard the crowd coming closer, looked at his daughter, and decided to play it safe. He followed his daughter out the back, and they made their escape quietly into the night.
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