Roland Gray outlined the origins of this text.
The occasion for this lively political song was the Massachusetts election of 1806, when the District of Maine was still a part of that state. In Massachusetts proper (“Old Massachusetts”) the Federalists were in the majority, but Maine was Democratic or Republican (then synonymous terms). The vote was uncomfortably close for the Federalists, and the returns from Maine, which came in slowly, suggested a Democratic victory. It was thought that, if there proved to be no choice by the people, the [Massachusetts] Democrats (reinforced by the members from Maine) would carry the day in the General Court. On April 30 the Columbian Centinel (Federalist) indulged editorially in a petulant outburst. “The question now is, shall the squatters of Maine impose a Governor on Massachusetts?” Next day the Boston Independent Chronicle (Democratic) quoted this sentence, remarking “This is the gentlemanly language of the Centinel of Yesterday, it evinces the true spirit of federalism,” etc. In the same number the Chronicle rings the changes, with elaborate irony, on the word squatters. The song, it will be observed, was composed by some Democrat in the same ironical vein. It purports to be an exhortation to the Federalists to defend “old Massachusetts” against the wicked Maine squatters in the legislature. (142)
The satiric lyric appeared in the Boston Independent Chronicle on May 19, 1806, written by a Democrat whose language is certainly not typical of most broadside songwriters. The meter of the text and the use of the word “sirs” in the second verse suggests that the intended tune was “Yankee Doodle” (see The Yankees Return From Camp). The humorous satire in most texts set to “Yankee Doodle” enhance the author’s critical intentions for this song.
Also on this broadside is “Tom Bowling,” which appears as “Tom Bowline’s Epitaph” on The Boston Frigate’s Engagement. Following “Tom Bowling” is a prose filler, a joke on the phrase “Let somebody else do it.” It is the only one of its kind in the Thomas collection.
