Lendall Pitts was the youngest of three sons of prominent Boston merchant James Pitts. Like his father, Lendall had become a merchant by the time of the Boston Tea Party in 1773.
Pitts was not one for standing on the sidelines receiving orders. He took on several leadership roles in early revolutionary events. He served as a prominent officer of Hancock’s Corps of Cadets until it was disbanded in 1774 for protesting the replacement of Governor General Thomas Gage.
Pitts also took on a leadership role as a boarding party captain for the brig Beaver during the “destruction of the tea” at Griffin’s Wharf on December 16, 1773. Pitts was tasked with organizing the offloading of the tea without resorting to violence or destruction of property on the vessel. It is reported that after the job was finished, Pitts assembled his boarding party and, along with the other commanders, marched back to the center of town to the tune of a fife. Lendall’s brother, Samuel Pitts, joined him in the tea’s destruction that night as well.
Lendall Pitts did not serve in any military role during the Revolutionary War and therefore paid a fine to excuse himself from that service. He instead held an administrative town office in Boston throughout much of the conflict.
Lendall Pitts died on December 31, 1787.
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