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House. Select Comm. on Petition of B. Fenwick and J.D. Peakes. Report, 1835
SEE ALSO 52726 House No. 37 Report on the petition of Benedict Fenwick and others re the destruction of the Ursuline convent and school by a
lawless mob. Since the Ursulines had always lived quietly and paid taxes, but fire and law enforcement failed to protect them and their property from
destruction, then by right they should receive compensation. There was a history of the order and its place in Massachusetts. There were many
anti-Catholic, unfounded rumors circulating. A mob came to the convent at 9pm, making threats, but a local selectman was able to dissuade the group. The mob
retired to a nearby field, but at 11:00 pm, the people broke in, sacked and torched the convent and other buildings, and drove 60 nuns and students
into the night. No one helped to stem the tide. The Committee did not agree to a claim by right, but they did try to come up with a way to offer the
Ursulines an unnamed sum. There was a dissenting report that agreed the riot was a terrible deed, but the Ursulines had no claim on the state because
the they were Catholics and gave allegiance to the Pope in Rome. (Digitized from a microfilm copy of title originally held by the Massachusetts State
Library).
Title:   The select committee, to whom was referred the petition of Benedict Fenwick and others, and the petition of James D. Peakes and others, in aid thereof, submit the following report.
OCLC Number:   1406988976
Available Volumes
NameFiche CountOnlinePaper Backup
Vol. 1YesNo