[Ads-l] caucus, Boston

[Stephen Goranson]

Caucus noun (and later a verb) has no certain known etymology. I don't have
the answer but now rehearse some biased notes in case others can improve
the situation. The word evidently began in Boston, among colonists favoring
independence from Britain. I dismiss proposed Algonquian origin, because
Boston, plus neither the spelling nor meaning is a close match. I dismiss
Latin for drinking cup, though, admittedly, in a 1720 election a Boston
tavern owner rewarded preferred votes with drink.

1730s? See 1788

1740 British Evangelist George Whitefield preaches in Boston. Known for
pronouncing Mesopotamia such that folks cry. He is rhotic, unlike the
locals. Pronounced Christ Chroist. Open meeting, but possibly relevant?

1745 A loyalist newspaper, Boston Evening Post, disapprovingly mentions a
West-Corcas political meeting.

[1753, July 9. One British newspaper--once only--reports a ship named New
Caucus, with captain Taggard, set for Nova Scotia. I suggest this may be a
mistake because there was, to my knowledge, no other mention of this ship
name, nor a captain Taggert, nor any previous ship named Caucus for this
one to be New one to in the relevant era. So probably irrelevant here.]

1760, May 5. New and Grand Corcas reported favorably in partisan newspaper,
Boston Gazette.

1762 Corkusmen mentioned [some, not me, associate origin with ship caulkers]

1763 Caucus Club noted in John Adame diary, meeting next door.

1763 Loyalist newspaper against the Petty Corkass/Grand Corkass.

1764, May 14. Letter to Boston Evening post, signed "The Caucus," seeking
votes, says the preferred candidates, opposed to Acts of Trade limiting
shipping to the British ships, will be announced in "OUR
paper...To-Morrow."

1776, May 12. "for God's sake, Caucuss it, before Hand," in a letter to
James Warren, to select the candidate to endorse.

1788 "More than fifty years ago, Mr. Samuel Adams' father, and
twenty others ...used to meet, make a caucus, and lay their plan for
introducing certain persons into places of trust and power." If true, in
the 1730s.

Stephen G.

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