A131 - A Plan of Boston Harbor

Unknown

h44" x w45"

L

This 'plan' is currently under research. It was compiled by members of Samuel Holland's team of surveyors who were working south down the Eastern seaboard of Canada and North America on behalf of the Lords of the Board of Trade and Plantations. By 1774 the team had started working south from their headquarters at Portsmouth N.H. and Holland's attention turned to Boston, along with the land southward including Cape Cod and Rhode Island.

 

It is the first of many subsequent maps, plans and surveys of Boston Harbor and is especially important as it, effectively, became something of a template for subsequent maps of the area. The detail and accurracy of the geographic, topographic and hydrographic information it includes is impressive.

 

Of particular historical note is the inclusion of a single ship just off the eastern side of the town of Boston at the centre of the 'plan'. That ship, on close inspection, would apprear to be firing its guns. The likelyhood is that the ship in question is His Majestey's Armed Sloop, Canceaux. The Canceaux was the ship provided for Samuel Holland's survey team from 1765 through to 1766, which provided a victualling service for the team.  

 

In his logbook Captain/Master Henry Mowatt records 'Fired 21 guns being the Kings birthday' on Saturday June 4th whilst moored in Boston harbor. There is a further  possiblity that the firing of the guns may be related to the 26th October 1774 where Mowatt records 'At 1 pm fired 17 guns being his Majesty assesion'. 

 

The depiction of the town of Boston itself very simple with detail of the docks and the common but no streets. The only surrounding towns of Cambridge, Charlestown and Roxbury are named, but only loosely detailed. 

A Plan of Boston Harbor completed in 1774 by Samuel Holland and his survey team working for the Lords of the Board of Trade and Plantations.