The Massachusetts Banishment Act was a special law passed in September 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. Its main goal was to stop certain people from coming back to Massachusetts or other American states. These were people who had left and joined the British, who were seen as "enemies" of the new United States. More than 300 individuals were named in this law. Many of them were important officials from the time when Massachusetts was a British colony, known as the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
People Who Couldn't Come Back
The Banishment Act listed many individuals who were not allowed to return to Massachusetts. These people were often loyal to the British Crown during the war. Here are some of the well-known people who were banished:
- Sir Francis Bernard, a former governor of the Massachusetts colony
- Daniel Bliss, a lawyer and judge
- Jonathan Bliss, a lawyer and justice of the peace
- Sampson Salter Blowers, a lawyer and friend of Benedict Arnold
- Benjamin Church, a doctor
- Thomas Cutler, a lawyer
- John Fleming, a printer, publisher, and bookseller
- Thomas Flucker, a former secretary of the Massachusetts colony
- Sylvester Gardiner, a doctor and merchant
- Bradford Gilbert, a merchant
- Harrison Gray, the treasurer of the Massachusetts colony
- Joseph Green, a poet and businessman
- John Howe, a printer and writer
- Thomas Hutchinson, another former governor of the Massachusetts colony
- John Jeffries, a doctor and military surgeon
- Ephraim Jones, a military supply officer
|
- Richard Lechmere, a person whose name is now used for Lechmere Square
- Daniel Leonard, a lawyer
- Joshua Loring, a member of the Governor's Council
- Daniel Murray, a soldier in the King's American Dragoons militia
- Peter Oliver, the Chief Justice of the highest court in Massachusetts
- Thomas Oliver, a former lieutenant governor of the Massachusetts colony
- Robert Pagan, a merchant involved in building ships
- William Paine, a doctor
- Sir William Pepperrell, a merchant
- Benjamin Pickman Sr., a merchant
- James Putnam, a lawyer and former Attorney General
- Isaac Royall, a real estate investor
- Timothy Ruggles, a member of the Stamp Act Congress
- Jonathan Sewall, a lawyer and former Attorney General
- Joshua Upham, a lawyer
- Edward Winslow, a government official and peace officer
|
