USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > Views and description history of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > Views and description history of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts > Part 1
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DIISTORIC VIEWS
EXINGTON
ONCORD
M
Gc 974.402 L59 se 2025200
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Viertone ê. Millet. 4 Faulkner St. Dorchester. Hace .
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 0889
VIEWS AND DESCRIPTIVE HISTORY
Lexington and Concord OF
COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY O. G. SEELEY, PHARMACIST LEXINGTON, MASS. 1901
FOR SALE BY
W. B. CLARKE COMPANY PARK STREET CHURCH PARK AND TREMONT STREETS BOSTON, MASS.
Copyrighted 1901 By O. G. SEELEY
Contents LEXINGTON. MASS.
TOPOGRAPHY OF LEXINGTON
10
EARLY HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
12 16
PAUL REVERE'S RIDE
18
AN ANCIENT HOSTELRY
20
EARL PERCY MEETS THE FUGIHIN !-
2025200
23
THE STORY OF THE " OLD BELFRY
24
THE BATTLEFIELD, LEXINGTON
27
CAPTAIN JOHN PARKER .
28
THE LINE OF BATTLE
3 1
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS' MONUMENT
32
THE BUCKMAN TAVERN .
35
HANCOCK-CLARKE HOUSE
36
THE TOWN HALL, LEXINGTON
CONCORD. MASS.
39
THE GRAY OLD MANSE . -
42
" THE WAYSIDE OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE"
45 46
THE MINUTE-MAN STILL HOLDS ILS GROUND .
49
THE GROUP THAT GAVE TO CONCORD ITS LITERARY ATMOSPHERE ADVERTISEMENT
51
5
THE BATTLE AT THE NORTH BRIDGE
7
THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON
Illustrations
MAP OF LEXINGTON, MAS-
S
MAP OF CONCORD, MASS.
LEXINGTON, MASS.
PAUL REVERE'S RIDE
MUNROE TAVERN
17 19
STONE CANNON
21
OLD BELFRY
22
BATTLEFIELD
25
CAPTAIN JOHN PARKER
26
STONE BOULDER .
29
SOLDIERS MONUMENT
30
BUCKMAN TAVERN
33
LIANCOOK-CLARKE HOUSE
34
CONCORD, MASS.
OLD NORTH BRIDGE
38
THE OLD MANSE " THE WAYSIDE," HAWTHORNE'S HOME THE CONCORD MINUTE-MAN
43
44
47
GROUP OF CELEBRITIES
48
6
Topography of Ievington
EXINGTON lies about 10 miles northwest of Boston and 6 miles southeast of Concord It has an extent of territory of about 12,000 acres and a population of 3800.
It is reached by steam cars from Boston, over the Boston and Maine Railroad (Lowell Division), which leave the North Union Station, Causeway Street, about 25 times daily, passing through Cambridge, Somerville and Arlington, thence to Lexington. It is also reached by two electric car routes from Boston, one leaving the Park Street Subway Station ( Arling- ton Heights car) every 10 minutes ; the other leaving Bowdoin Square in front of Revere House, passing through Cambridge to Harvard College Buildings, and near by the noted " Washington Elm," under which General Washington took command of the Continental troops, July 3, 1775.
In passing through Cambridge and Arlington, many historical tablets may be seen by the roadside, which have been erected to commemorate the thrilling events which transpired along the line of Paul Re- vere's ride.
On reaching Arlington Heights by electric cars, a change is made to cars which run through to Lexington and Concord.
Many of the towns throughout this section of Middlesex County have become noted, not only for the part taken by them in early historic events, but also for the natural beauty of their scenery, and the wealth of their literary and artistic culture.
7
F OLD CEMETERY
TO CONCORD
BEDFORD ST
HANCOCK :ST.
9
REV SOL. MONUMENT
HANCOCK-CLARK HOUSE
7
6
+
STONE BOULDER
OLD BELFRY
₩ 3
CAPT PARKER STATUE
5
HANCOCK SCHOOL
8
E
CLARK
ST.
BUCKMAN TAVERN
OLD BELFRY CLUB
D
UN
DEPOT EB &MRR.
WALTHAM ST.
B
TOWN HALLE
B & M RR LOWELL DIV.
LEXINGTON.
PAUL REVERE'S RIDE I: MUNROE TAVERN
2- STONE CANNON
3- OLD BELFRY.
4- BATTLEFIELD
A
5- CAPT. PARKER STATUE. 6-STONE BOULDER.
2
S TONE CANNON
WOBURN ST.
C .- DEPOT - B & M. R.R
D. OLD BELFRY CLUB E- HANCOCK SCHOOL. F- OLD CEMETERY
MUNROE TAVERN
1
MAP OF LEXINGTON, MASS. From Mumoe Tavein to Hancock-Clarke House- Dotted surface showing the route taken by Paul Keten
8
MASS.
AVE.
7- REV. SOL. MONUMENT. 8- BUCKMAN TAVERN 9-HANCOCK-CLARK HOUSE. A- RUSSELL HOUSE. B- TOWN HALL
. .. .. . -- TO BOSTON
MERRIAM ST
MUZZEY ST.
BATTLEFIELD
To Bedford
Monument St. OLD NORTH BRIDGE
4 Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
THE Wayside - Hawthorne's Home Orchard House-Alcott's Home School of Philosophy
Old Manse -3
to Lexington
6
to Lincoln
12
Lexington Road
Emersons Home
5
Soldiers Mon. Monument SQ.
Road
Lowell
Walden
B.& MRR Lowell Div
8 M
Emerson School
Road
CONCORD.
I .- MINUTE-MAN
2- OLD NORTH BDG.
3: OLD MANSE
4:SLEEPY HOLLOW CEM
Fitchburg R.R.
5:SOLDIERS' MON.
Station
6.SCH. of PHILOSOPHY 7- THE WAYSIDE
8:EMERSON SCHOOL
9. B&M. STATION
10-FITCHBURG STA. II: ORCHARD HOUSE 12: EMERSON'S HOME.
MAP OF CONCORD MASS
9
15 pulegant
Kungons
Main St.
Minute Man
Is due7 station
Early History of Lexington
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN LIBERTY
THE carly history of Lexington is involved in that of Cambridge, it being in the early days known as the wood-lots and hay-fields of Cambridge, but generally by the more popular designation of " Cambridge Farms."
Ilon. Charles Hudson, the historian of the town, says that no reliable records of the first settlers can be found, but it is probable that Herbert Pelham and John Bridge were the first to take up homesteads in this section, about the year 1642, but it was not until seventy years later that it was set off from Cam- bridge and incorporated as a town.
In those days it " was as unnatural for a typical New England man to live without an able ministry as for a smith to work his iron without a fire." The early settlers were obliged to travel from five to ten miles to attend religious worship, a state of hardship which existed for many years. At last the increase in population at the " Farms" induced the General Court, after numerous petitions, to grant an order allowing the inhabitants of this scattered hamlet to organize a parish and settle "an able Orthodox min- ister for the dispensing of the gospel among them."
10
Early History of Lexington -continued
In 1713 the town was incorporated and became a separate, independent settlement, under the name of Lexington. It took its name from Robert Sutton, who bore the title of Lord Lexington, a British statesman of considerable eminence, who at the time was at the very height of his popularity. The name was suggested by Joseph Dudley, at that time Governor of the Province, and who was a distant relative of the Suttons. Thus was Lord Lexington honored by having his name bestowed upon a town which was to become a watchword of freedom throughout the land.
The town became noted for its military spirit at an early day, and was prominent in the Indian and French wars. In the Revolutionary struggle the town was represented, it is said, in seventeen different campaigns, many of her sons being slain on the battlefields. The war of the Rebellion again brought out the patriotic spirit of its inhabitants. Nearly two hundred went into the service, and at the close of the war Lexington's quota was more than full. At no time has Lexington been found wanting in her faith in and devotion to the Republic.
LL
The Battle of Lexington
Our on the " Old Bay Road," now Massachusetts Avenue, about one half hour's ride by steam and about one hour by trolley, is the village green of Lexington, the spot where the first organized resistance to British oppression was made, and the first blood of the Revolution shed.
The heart thrills with a strange emotion as, standing on the park lawn in this town, one recalls the details of that April day in 1775.
History tells us that the morning sun shed its radiance upon a scene of unusual beauty. The ver- dure of spring was seen on every side ; the blossoming trees sent forth their fragrance ; and the whole atmosphere was replete with the freshness of the season's new life. "What a glorious morning for America !" was the exclamation of the patriot Adams as he looked out upon the world. Yes, doubly glor- ious ! With that day came the overt act that filled the hearts of the American colonists to the open stand of resistance and defiance by force of arms resulting in the founding of a new republic, "the home of the brave and the true."
The causes which led up to this resistance or determination of the right of government are well known to every American citizen. The spirit of liberty was early and effectually kindled in the hearts of the people of Lexington. They accepted the teachings of Hancock and Adams, that the only rightful course for the colonists to adopt was to declare themselves entirely independent of the mother country, and
12
The Battle of Lexington -continued
to band themselves together into a permanent union. These teachings being considered seditious acts by the British, General Gage, then Provincial Governor of Massachusetts, commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn to march to Lexington with eight hundred troops for the purpose of seizing these distinguished leaders, and then to proceed to Concord and there destroy the military stores. That com- mission, which the English soldiers looked upon as little less than an excursion party among peaceful citizens, proved to be of mighty import. The holiday pastime was turned into a scene of violence and massacre : it was indeed the opening scene in a drama which culminated in sealing forever the cause of American Liberty and Union.
Although General Gage's orders had been carried out quietly, the movements of the British troops were being carefully watched by General Warren, who had suspicion of their intended march towards Lexington and Concord. Grave fears were entertained for the safety of Hancock and Adams, who were known to be the guests of Rev. Jonas Clarke, and every precaution was taken to guard against their cap- ture. On the night of the 18th of April, Paul Revere and William Dawes had been dispatched to watch the movements of the British, and to alarm the people in case of an advance. A little before eleven o'clock Revere crossed the Charles river in a small boat within sight of the British man-of-war, " Somer- set," and waited on the river bank for the pre-arranged signal to be given by hanging a lantern aloft trom the belfry of the Old North Church,
"One if by land, and two if by sea."
The anxious watcher at last saw the signal, and quickly mounting his horse, sped away on that memo- rable ride, made immortal by its results, and by the commemorative verses written by Longfellow. That
13
The Battle of Lexington -continued
fearless midnight rider, urging his panting steed through the Middlesex towns, typifies, in the minds of this generation, that heaven called devotion of the " Spirit of '76," and symbolizes the earnest, untiring advance which has been a part of the nation ever since.
In passing Charlestown Neck, he came upon two British officers, who attempted his arrest, but wheeling his horse about, he fled back towards Charlestown, and, outriding his pursuers, gained the Med- ford road, alarming the people on his way, and reaching Lexington safely at about twelve o'clock. Imme- diately proceeding to the house of Rev. Mr. Clarke, he warned Hancock and Adams of their danger, and after a strong protest on their part, they allowed themselves to be conducted out of town to a place of safety.
In quick response to the alarm of Paul Revere, the bell clanged sharply ; the drums sounded on the night air ; there was a taking down of muskets by the "minute men," and far-off cries and confusion. Captain John Parker assembled his men at the usual place of parade on the Common, and gave orders for each man to load his musket with powder and ball, but not to fire unless fired upon. The company was then dismissed, with instructions to be in readiness at the first notes of alarm.
Meanwhile the British troops were advancing, never suspecting that the people had been warned of their approach. Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, who led the advance with about eight hundred grenadiers, infantry and marines, had not proceeded far when he discovered that the country was up and alarmed ; and detaching six comp.mies under the command of Major Pitcairn, gave orders for a quick march with the intention of destroying the bridges at Concord. This was the body of soldiers which the messengers, sent out to detect the approach of the enemy, discovered within a mile and a half of the town, the news of
14
The Battle of Lexington - continued
which caused the alarm guns to be fired and the drums beat to arms. The mulima, a prere handful of fitty or sixty men, formed in two ranks a little north of the meeting-house, while spectators gathered near by, some of them armed with muskets. "But," says Hudson, "what was to be done? What could this devoted little band do in the face of what they then believed to be twelve or fifteen hundred veteran troops? To attack them would, from a military point of view, be the height of madness ; to stand their ground in case they were attacked by such overwhelming numbers would be exposing themselves to certain destruction. They stood there not merely as soldiers, but as citizens ; nay, almost as statesmen, having the destiny of the country in their hands." They stood ready, on that morning of April 19, 1775, to redeem their pledge: " To sacrifice their estates and everything dear to life - yea, and life itself - in support of the common cause."
When Major Pitcairn appeared upon the scene, he must have gazed on that little band of hardy minute men, drawn up in line as if to resist the advance of the brilliant British army, with something of amazement and no little irritation. Riding forward, he shouted : " Disperse, ye rebels! Lay down your arms and disperse !" The patriots moved not. Pitcairn, exasperated by their stolidity, rushed forward, ordering his men to fire, to which no response was made. The determination and bravery displayed by the sturdy yeomen undoubtedly deeply impressed King George's troops ; and it was not until the second command was given, accentuated by the discharge of his pistol, that his men responded with a murderous volley, which killed seven and wounded nine of Captain Parker's gallant company. Before the close of the events of that day, ten of their number had sealed their devotion to the cause with their precious lives,
Thus the first blood of the Revolution was shed.
15
Paul Revere's Ride.
* *
A hurry of hoofs in a village street,
A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark, And beneath, from the pebbles, in passing, a spark Struck out by a steed flying fearless and fleet ; That was all ! And yet, through the gloom and the light, The fate of a nation was riding that night : And the spark struck out by that steed in his flight, Kindled the land into flame with its heat.
It was twelve by the village clock When he crossed the bridge into Medford town. He heard the crowing of the cock, And the barking of the farmer's dog. And felt the damp of the river fog. That rises after the sun goes down.
It was one by the village clock When he galloped into Lexington. lle saw the gilded weathercock Swing in the moonlight as he passed, And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare, Gaze at him with a spectral glare, As if they already stood aghast At the bloody work they would look upon.
You know the rest. In books you have read, llow the British Regulars fired and Hed, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farm-yard wall, Chasing the red-coats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.
So through the night rode Paul Revere ; And so through the night went his cry of alarm To every Middlesex Village and farm, - A cry of defiance and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door ; And a word that shall echo forevermore ! For, borne on the night-wind of the Past, Through all our history, to the last, In the hour of darkness and peril and need, The people will waken and listen to hear The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed, And the midnight message of Paul Revere.
LONGFELLOW.
16
PAUL REVERE ENTERING
TeRLL
PALI. REVARE'S RIDE.
. It was one by the Village Clock when he galloped into Lexington
An Ancient Hostelry
Ix the trolley ride hom Boston to Lexington, one of the first tablets to be seen within the borders of the town is the one designating the "Old Munroe Tavein," situated about a mile southeast of Lexington Green. Like many another hostelry of " ye olden times," this one has an interesting history of its own ; but in this volume only reference can be made to that period of which we are relating, -the Revolution. Nea. this spot, Earl Percy, with his reinforcements, succeeded in holding back the American patriots, meanwhile converting a portion of the tavern into a hospital. We are told that Earl Percy allowed his soldiers to loot and pillage the place to their heart's content. In the bar-room, which was located on the right hand side of the front door, is to be seen in the ceiling a bullet hole made by a British musket ball. And in this bar-room is a chair in which George Washington sat on his visit to Lexington in 1789, and in the dining hall in the southeast end of the second story he was royally entertained upon the same occasion.
When the British were about to retire from the place and continue their retreat, a fire was kindled in the bar-room, but fortunately was extinguished before serious damage was done. For several years a portion of the house was used for Masonic lodge rooms. It is well preserved, and has undergone few alterations since the colonial days.
18
MUNROE TAVERN-LEXINGTON MASS
MUNROE TAVERN. LEXINGTON, MASS Built in. Earl Percy's Headquarters and Hospital Gen. George Washington was entertained hel Vet
Earl Percy Mects the Fugitives
IT was two o'clock in the afternoon when the British fugitives were met by Earl Percy. One of his field-pieces was planted near the site of the old Town Hall, which was later used as a High School, and the other upon the high ground above the Munroe Tavern. Here, with his guns trained upon the Americans, wherever they could be discovered, he held them in check for a brief time. One of the shots passed through the meeting-house and out at the pulpit window, burying itself in the ground, on the back part of the Common. The cannon from which this shot was fired is supposed to have been on the high ground where the lligh School building stands, and at this point a stone cannon has been placed by the Lexington Historical Society, to mark the spot where Percy came to the relief of his fleeing army.
The ball was preserved for some time, when it was transmitted to Harvard College, and by some neglect was allowed to disappear.
20
.NEAR THIS SPOT EARL PERCY
WITH RE.ENFORCEMENT
PLANTED A FIELD.PIECE
TO COVER THE RETR AT OF THE BRITISH TROOPS APRIL 19 1775
STONE CANNON LEXINGTON
STONE CANNON, LEXINGTON WAS. Marking the spot where karl Pony come to the rolefor je doene 000
OLD BELFRY
CUSTOR.
Fium this belfry was rung out the alarm on the morning of the ninth of April ag, nodone (- " Minute-Men " to assemble im the Common
The Story of the "Old Belfry"
At the time the pitch was set off from Cambridge, a new meeting-house was built on the spot now marked by the Meeting-house Monument on the battle-ground. The house having no steeple, a belfry was built near it, and the bell which was presented by the town of Cambridge was bung in it. In 1761 a new bell was presented to the town by Isaac Stone, and a belfry was built for it on a hill which rises within five or six rods from the scene of the battle. In 1768 this belfry was removed to the Common and placed near the meeting-house. It was the ringing of this bell that aroused the inhabitants on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, and for thirty years thereafter it was used to summon the people to worship, and tolled a solemn requiem for the departed. Its changing notes also reminded the householders of their duty to keep the fires well raked up and to go to bed at a prescribed hour. In 1796 the belfry was removed to the Parker homestead in the south part of the town, and nearly a century thereafter, in 1891, it was donated to the Lexington Historical Society, and by that society placed on its present site, now known as " Belfry Ilill."
The bell has long since become a thing of the past, but the tongue, which sounded the notes of alarm on that never-to-be-forgotten morning, is now preserved among the valuable relies of the Historical Society.
23
The Battlefield (Lexington)
THE ground known as the Battlefield, or the Common, contains about two acres, and is marked an imperfect parallelogram, situated at the junction and lying between the roads leading to Concord and to Bedford. It is nearly level, with the exception of a gentle swell on the southerly side, on which slight elevation stands the monument erected by the State in 1799, and now overgrown with ivy.
This monument, erected to the memory of the first Revolutionary martyrs, is pointed to with pride by the present residents as the memorial of the first stroke for freedom, and is probably the oldest monu- ment of the Revolution in the country. Upon its face is inscribed the names of those who fell in battle, with an elaborate eulogy of the men, written by Rev. Jonas Clarke, an eminent divine of that period, a fac- simile of which will be found on another page. In a stone vault in front of this monument rests the remains of these patriot sons of Lexington.
The line of battle is marked by a large stone boulder placed about ten rods north from the Meeting- house Monument. This latter monument was erected to designate the site of the first three meeting- houses in town. On this is inscribed the names of the first seven ministers of the parish. A few feet in the rear of this is the centennial elm planted by General Grant, April 19, 1875. Near the center of the Common is the liberty pole, bearing the inscription :
"THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN LIBERTY."
24
BATTLEFIELD ~ LEXINGTON MASS.
BATTLEFIELD, LEXINGTON, MASS.
The Birthplace of American liberty The spot where the first organized resistance to British oppression was made, and the first blood of the Revolution sheil
CAP'T. PARKER Ny. LEXINGTON MASS.
CAPTAIN JOHN PARKER. Surmounting the " Haves Memorial Fountain." Commander of the Minute-Men, at the batth on I . - ington Green, April 19, 1725
HENRY HUDSON KITSON (Sculptor ).
Captain John Parker
Ar the time of the opening of the Revolution, Captain John Parker was living at the old homestead, located in the southwest part of the town, and which has been in the Parker family sine @ 1710. He was succeeded in the ownership of the tarm by his son John, and here in ISto his grandson, Theodore Parker, was born.
The fact that Captain Parker was selected to command the minute men is evidence that he was a man of more than average character. His firmness and coolness on that trying occasion when he faced the foe with an injunction from his superiors not to allow his men to fire unless fired upon is worthy of the highest praise. It was a responsibility few men would have cared to assume in moments which must have been fraught with the most intense excitement. Says Ripley, in his history of the fight at Concord, "The military company under Captain Parker were prompt, patriotic, and courageous to admnation. That a single company should parade in an opposing attitude, directly in the face of nearly a thousand of the picked troops of Great Britain, places their courage and firmness beyond all controversy." Upon the return of the enemy from Concord, Captain Parker met them with his company, and poured a deadly fire into their ranks. On the 6th of May he repaired with a detachment of forty-five of his command to the headquarters of the army, to assist in the prevention of any further incursion of the king's troops into the country. And on the occasion of the memorable battle of Bunker Hill, he marched with sixty-one of his company to Cambridge, where they were stationed to prevent the British crossing the Charles river.
He did not live to witness the termination of a struggle in the opening chapters of which he was one of the foremost actors. He died September 17, 1775, aged forty-six years. His grave may be seen in Old Cemetery.
27
The Line of Battle (Stone Boulder )
ON the battlefield, about ten rods from the Meeting-house Monument, has been placed a large boulder to mark the line of the minute-men- that Spartan band who stood firmly at their post on the 19th of April, 1775, when the impetuous Pitcairn, cursing the "rebels," ordered them to " disperse."
" No muscle moved, but every ear was tense "
To hear the word which Captain Parker had been commanded not to give " until fired upon." Is it a won- der, under the circumstances, that some of the men should seem to falter? That the firm voice of the leader had to admonish them that he would have the first man shot down who should quit the ranks or leave his post without orders ? Thus they stood, bravely, obediently, within sight of their homes and permitted themselves to be shot down by the enemy's merciless muskets. When the order was given by Captain Parker for them to disperse, seven of the minute men had been slain and the British were coming upon them in front and from both sides of the meeting-house.
This huge boulder well symbolizes the spirit of the men whose deeds it has been placed here to con- memorate. It is estimated to weigh from twelve to fifteen tons. On its face is carved an old musket with a powder horn thrown over it, pointing in the direction of the line of battle. Beneath are inscribed the words of Captain Parker to his men: " Stand your ground ; don't fire unless fired upon ; but if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
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