December 22, 1774
On the night of December 22, 1774, the patriots of Greenwich revolted against the British Tea Tax. More than 40 members of Greenwich and a few neighboring towns gathered together at the house of Richard Howell, rode four miles to the house of Philip Vickers Fithian, and dressed up as Native Americans. From there, they broke into the house of Daniel Bowen where a shipment of tea was being held. The patriots removed the tea from Daniel Bowen's cellar and burned it in Market Square.
Of course, the owners of the tea shipment were not happy about the patriots burning it. They went to Governor William Franklin, and he told Sheriff Jonathan Elmer to arrest the known participants of the tea burning. The participants were now being sued by the East India Company and Daniel Bowen. Sheriff Elmer was sent to pick the jury for the trial of the "fugitives". Little did Governer Franklin know that two of the tea burning participants were Sheriff Elmer's brothers. So, Sheriff Elmer made sure that the tea burners were found innocent. Then, Governer Franklin became disappointed in Sheriff Elmer and removed him as Sheriff, making Daniel Bowen the new Sheriff. There was yet another trial, but this time the jury was mostly patriots so the tea burners were found innocent again. The loyalists, Governer Franklin, and the East India Tea Company finally gave up.
