Sign or Die

During the turbulent 1770s, there was much contention between those citizens who were in favor of independence from England and those who remained loyal to the crown. Ministers at St. Michael's Church who were Loyalists were ejected from the church, and citizens were forced to sign a commitment to the independence movement. Anyone who refused to sign was sequestered in town and many were tarred and feathered. In one instance, as an angry mob was carrying one poor soul to his torturous punishment, the crowd allegedly threw a bag of feathers on the porch of another Loyalist and yelled for him to take care of it until they returned for him.