Irish Catholic Immigrant Patrick Carr was a True Hero of the Boston Massacre
Patrick Carr was the last man shot at the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, the last to die on March 14, and the last to be buried at the Old Granary Burying Ground on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. The other four victims were Crispus Attucks, Samuel Maverick, James Caldwell and Samuel Gray. Carr was also the only Irish Catholic immigrant among the five victims. His very presence in Boston had to have been circumspect, because of the longstanding prejudice that Bostonians had against Catholics that dated back to the first Puritans who arrived here in 1630. Religious liberty was not a strong suit of 18th century Massachusetts, and Catholics were despised more than any other religious group. There are several anti-Catholic themes in the Boston Massacre and subsequent trial. Attorney John Adams , who defended the accused soldiers of firing into the crowd at the famous trial, characterized the Bostonians that night as a mob, stating in court,...