The Paxton Boys were frontiersmen of Scots-Irish origin from along the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania who formed a vigilante group to retaliate in 1763 against local American Indians in the aftermath of the French and Indian War and Pontiac's Rebellion. They are widely known for murdering 20 Susquehannock in events collectively called the Conestoga Massacre.
Following attacks on the Conestoga, in January 1764 about 250 Paxton Boys marched to Philadelphia to present their grievances to the legislature. Met by leaders in Germantown, they finally agreed to disperse on the promise by Benjamin Franklin that their issues would be considered.
Read more about Paxton Boys: Attack On Susquehannock, March On Philadelphia, In Fiction
Famous quotes containing the words paxton and/or boys:
“Mr. Marriott: I’m afraid I don’t like your manner.
Philip Marlowe: Yeah, I’ve had complaints about it but it keeps getting worse.”
—John Paxton (1911–1985)
“People always blame the girl; she should have said no. A monosyllable, but conventional wisdom has always been that boys can’t manage it.”
—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)