USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : from its earliest settlement to 1832; and of the adjoining towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln, and Carlisle; containing various notices of county and state history not before published. > Part 33
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : from its earliest settlement to 1832 : and of the adjoining towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln, and Carlisle > Part 33
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" Lexington, April 25th, 1775."
" We, LEVI MEAD and LEVI HARRINGTON, both of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New England, and of lawful age, do testify and declare, that on the morning of the nineteenth of April, being on Lexington Common, as spectators, we saw a large body of regular troops marching up towards the Lexington company, and some of the regulars on horses, whom we took to be officers, fired a pistol or two on the Lexington company, which was then dispersing. These were the first guns that were fired, and they were immedi-
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ately followed by several volleys from the regulars, by which eight men belonging to said company were killed, and several wounded. " Lexington, April 25th, 1775."
" Lexington, April 25th, 1775.
" I, WILLIAM DRAPER, of lawful age, and an inhabitant of Col- rain, in the county of Hampshire, and colony of the Massachu- setts-Bay, in New England, do testify and declare, that being on the parade of said Lexington, April 19th, instant, about half an hour before sunrise, the King's regular troops appeared at the meeting-house of Lexington; Captain Parker's company, who were drawn up back of said meeting-house on the parade, turned from said troops, making their escape by dispersing, in the mean time the regular troops made an huzza, and ran towards Captain Par- ker's company who were dispersing, and, immediately after the huzza was made, the commanding officer of said troops (as I took him) gave the command to the troops, ' Fire, fire, damn you, fire,' and immediately they fired, before any of Captain Parker's com- pany fired, I then being within three or four rods of said regular troops ; and further saith not."
" Lexington, April 23d, 1775.
"I, THOMAS FESSENDEN, of lawful age, testify and declare, that being in a pasture near the meeting-house, at said Lexington, on Wednesday last, at about half an hour before sunrise, I saw a number of regular troops pass speedily by said meeting-house, on their way towards a company of militia of said Lexington, who were assembled to the number of about an hundred in a company, at the distance of eighteen or twenty rods from said meeting-house, and, after they had passed by said meeting-house, I saw three offi- cers on horseback advance to the front of said regulars, when one of them, being within six rods of said militia, cried out, 'Dis- perse, you rebels, immediately,' on which he brandished his sword over his head three times ; meanwhile the second officer, who was about two rods behind him, fired a pistol, pointed at said mili- tia, and the regulars kept huzzaing till he had finished brandish- ing his sword, and when he had thus finished brandishing his sword, he pointed it down towards said militia, and immedi- diately on which, the said regulars fired a volley at said militia, and then I ran off as fast as I could, while they continued firing till I got out of their reach. I further testify, that as soon as ever the officer cried, ' Disperse, you rebels,' the said company of militia dispersed every way as fast as they could, and while they were dispersing, the regulars kept firing at them incessantly ; and further saith not."
" Lincoln, April 23d, 1775.
"I, JOHN BATEMAN, belonging to the fifty-second regiment, commanded by Colonel Jones, on Wednesday morning, on the
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nineteenth day of April instant, was in the party marching to Concord, being at Lexington in the county of Middlesex, being nigh the meeting-house in said Lexington, there was a small party of men gathered together in that place, when our said troops marched by, and I testify and declare, that I heard the word of command given to the troops to fire, and some of said troops did fire, and I saw one of said small party lie dead on the ground nigh said meeting-house, and I testify, that I never heard any of the inhabitants so much as fire one gun on said troops."
" Lexington, April 23d, 1775.
" We, JOHN HOAR, JOHN WHITEHEAD, ABRAHAM GARFIELD, BENJAMIN MUNROE, ISAAC PARKS, WILLIAM HOSMER, JOHN ADAMS, and GREGORY STONE, all of Lincoln, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts-Bay, all of lawful age, do testify and say, that, on Wednesday last, we were assembled at Concord, in the morning of said day, in consequence of information received, that a brigade of regular troops were on their march to the said town of Concord, who had killed six men at the town of Lexington : about an hour afterwards we saw them approaching, to the number, as we appre- hended, of about twelve hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the said troops then took possession of the hill where we were first posted ; presently after this, we saw the troops moving towards the North Bridge about one mile from the said Concord meeting-house, we then immediately went be- fore them and passed the bridge, just before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived : They there left about one half of their two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the rest towards Colonel Barret's, about two miles from the said bridge ; we then, seeing several fires in the town, thought the houses in Concord were in danger, and marched towards the said bridge, and the troops who were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took up some of the plank ; we then hastened our march towards the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men, first, three guns one after the other, and then a considerable number more, and then, and not before, (having orders from our commanding officers not to fire till we were fired upon,) we fired upon the regulars, and they retreated ; on their retreat through this town and Lexington, to Charlestown, they ravaged and de- stroyed private property and burned three houses, one barn, and one shop."
" Lexington, April 23d, 1775.
" We, NATHAN BARRET, Captain ; JONATHAN FARRER, JOSEPH BUTLER, and FRANCIS WHEELER, Lieutenants ; JOHN BARRET, Ensign ; JOHN BROWN, SILAS WALKER, EPHRAIM MELVIN, NATHAN BUTTERICK, STEPHEN HOSMER, Jun., SAMUEL BARRETT, THOMAS JONES, JOSEPH CHANDLER, PETER WHEELER, NATHAN PIERCE, and
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EDWARD RICHARDSON, all of Concord, in the county of Middlesex, in the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, of lawful age, testify and declare, that on Wednesday, the 19th instant, about an hour after sunrise, we assembled on a hill near the meeting-house in Concord aforesaid, in consequence of an information that a num- ber of regular troops had killed six of our countrymen at Lexing- ton, and were on their march to said Concord, and about an hour after we saw them approaching, to the number, as we imagine, of about twelve hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the aforesaid troops then took possession of the hill where we were first posted. Presently after this, we saw them moving towards the North Bridge, about one mile from said meet- ing-house ; we then immediately went before them, and passed the bridge just before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived ; they there left about one half of those two hun- dred at the bridge, and proceeded with the rest towards Colonel Barrett's, about two miles from the said bridge; we then, seeing several fires in the town, thought our houses were in danger, and immediately marched back towards said bridge and the troops who were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took up some of the planks; we then hastened our steps towards the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men, first, three guns, one af- ter the other, and then a considerable number more, upon which, and not before, (having orders from our commanding officers not to fire till we were fired upon,) we fired upon the regulars, and they retreated. At Concord, and on their retreat through Lexington, they plundered many houses, burnt three at Lexington, together with a shop and a barn, and committed damage, more or less, to almost every house from Concord to Charlestown."
" Lexington, April 23d, 1775.
" We, JOSEPH BUTLER and EPHRAIM MELVIN, do testify and declare, that when the regular troops fired upon our people at the North Bridge, in Concord, as related in the foregoing depositions, they shot one, and, we believe, two of our people, before we fired a single gun at them."
" Concord, April 23d, 1775.
"I, TIMOTHY MINOT, Jun., of Concord, on the nineteenth day of this instant April, after that I had heard of the regular troops firing upon the Lexington men, and fearing that hostilities might be committed at Concord, thought it my incumbent duty to secure my family : After I had secured my family, some time after that, returning towards my own dwelling, and finding that the bridge on the northern part of said Concord, was guarded by regular troops, being a spectator of what had happened at said bridge, de- clare that the regular troops stationed on the bridge, after they saw the men that were collected on the westerly side of said
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bridge, marched towards said bridge, then the troops returned towards the easterly side of said bridge, and formed themselves, as I thought, for a regular fight, after that, they fired one gun, then two or three more, before the men that were stationed on the westerly part of said bridge fired upon them."
" Lexington, April 23d, 1775.
" I, JAMES BARRETT, of Concord, Colonel of a regiment of mili- tia in the county of Middlesex, do testify and say, that on Wed- nesday morning last, about day-break, I was informed of the ap- proach of a number of the regular troops to the town of Concord, where were some magazines belonging to this province, when there was assembled some of the militia of this and the neighbour- ing towns, when I ordered them to march to the North Bridge, so called, which they had passed and were taking up ; I ordered said militia to march to said bridge and pass the same, but not to fire on the King's troops unless they were first fired upon ; we advanced near said bridge, when the said troops fired upon our militia, and killed two men dead on the spot, and wounded several others, which was the first firing of guns in the town of Concord ; my de. tachment then returned the fire, which killed and wounded several of the King's troops."
" Lexington, April 23d, 1775.
" We, BRADBURY ROBINSON, SAMUEL SPRING, THADDEUS BAN- CROFT, all of Concord, and JAMES ADAMS, of Lincoln, all in the County of Middlesex, all of lawful age, do testify and say, that on Wednesday morning last, near ten of the clock, we saw near one hundred of regular troops, being in the town of Concord, at the North Bridge in said town (so called), and, having passed the same, they were taking up said bridge, when about three hundred of our militia were advancing toward said bridge, in order to pass said bridge, when, without saying any thing to us, they discharged a number of guns on us, which killed two men dead on the spot, and wounded several others, when we returned the fire on them, which killed two of them, and wounded several, which was the beginning of hostilities in the town of Concord."
" Concord, April 23d, 1775.
"I, JAMES MARR, of lawful age, testify and say, that in the evening of the 18th instant,. I received orders from George Hutchinson, Adjutant of the fourth regiment of the regular troops stationed in Boston, to prepare and march, to which order I attend- ed, and marched to Concord, where I was ordered by an officer, with about one hundred men, to guard a certain bridge there ; while attending that service, a number of people came along, in order as I supposed, to cross said bridge, at which time a number of regular troops first fired upon them." .
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" I, EDWARD THORNTON GOULD, of his Majesty's own regiment of foot, being of lawful age, do testify and declare, that on the evening of the 18th instant, under the order of General Gage, I embarked with the light infantry and grenadiers of the line, com- manded by Colonel Smith, and landed on the marshes of Cam- bridge, from whence we proceeded to Lexington ; on our arrival at that place, we saw a body of provincial troops armed, to the num- ber of about sixty or seventy men ; on our approach they dispersed, and soon after firing began, but which party fired first I cannot exactly say, as our troops rushed on, shouting, hazzaing, previ- ous to the firing, which was continued by our troops so long as any of the provincials were to be seen. From thence we marched to Concord ; on a hill near the entrance of the town, we saw another body of provincials assembled, the light infantry com- panies were ordered up the hill to disperse them ; on our approach they retreated towards Concord, the grenadiers continued the road under the hill towards the town, six companies of light infantry were ordered down to take possession of the bridge which the provincials retreated over ; the company I commanded was one of the three companies of the above detachment, went forward about two iniles ; in the mean time the provincial troops returned, to the number of about three or four hundred ; we drew up on the Concord side of the bridge, the provincials came down upon us, upon which we engaged, and gave the first fire : this was the first engagement after the one at Lexington ; a continued firing from both parties lasted through the whole day : I myself was wounded at the attack of the bridge, and am now treated with the greatest humanity and taken all possible care of, by the provincials at Medford.
" Medford, April 20th, 1775."
" A paper having been printed in Boston, representing that one of the British troops killed at the bridge at Concord, was scalped and the ears cut off from the head, supposed to be done in order to dishonor the Massachusetts people, and to make them appear to be savage and barbarous, the following deposition was taken, that the truth may be known.
"' WE, the subscribers, of lawful age, testify and say, that we buried the dead bodies of the King's troops that were killed at the North Bridge in Concord, on the nineteenth day of April, 1775, where the action first began, and that neither of those persons were scalped, nor their ears cut off, as has been represented.
" ' ZECHARIAH BROWN, "' THOMAS DAVIS, Jun. " ' Concord, May 11th, 1775.' "
" HANNAH ADAMS, wife of Deacon Joseph Adams, of the second precinct in Cambridge, testifieth and saith, that on the nineteenth
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day of April last past, upon the return of the King's troops from Concord, divers of them entered our house, by bursting open the doors, and three of the soldiers broke into the room in which I then was, laid on my bed, being scarcely able to walk from my bed to the fire, not having been to my chamber door from my being delivered in child-birth to that time. One of said soldiers imme- diately opened my curtains with his bayonet fixed, pointing the same to my breast. I immediately cried out ' For the Lord's sake do not kill me ;' he replied, ' Damn you ; ' one that stood near said, ' We will not hurt the woman, if she will go out of the house, but we will surely burn it.' I immediately arose, threw a blanket over me, went out, and crawled into a corn-house near the door, with my infant in my arms, where I remained until they were gone ; they immediately set the house on fire, in which I had left five children and no other person, but the fire was happily extinguish- ed, when the house was in the utmost danger of being utterly consumed.
" Cambridge, Second Precinct, 17th May, 1775."
" Cambridge, May 19th, 1775.
" We, BENJAMIN COOPER and RACHEL COOPER, both of Cam- bridge aforesaid, of lawful age, testify and say, that in the after- noon of the 19th day of April last, the King's regular troops, under the command of General Gage, upon their return from blood and slaughter, which they had made at Lexington and Concord, fired more than an hundred bullets into the house where we dwell, through doors, windows, &c. ; then a number of them entered the house, where we and two aged gentlemen were, all unarmed ; we escaped for our lives into the cellar, the two aged gentlemen were immediately most barbarously and inhumanly murdered by them, being stabbed through in many places, their heads mauled, skulls broke, and their brains out on the floor, and walls of the house ; and further saith not." *
* In March, 1834, while these sheets were passing through the press, the Rev. Dr. Ripley, with his characteristic patriotism and liberality, presented to the town of Concord, a lot of land of convenient size with a passage-way to it, where the Battle at the North Bridge took place, and where the first British soldier was killed and buried, on condition that the town erect a suitable monument, there to commemorate those events, with- in three years from the 4th of July next. The town accepted this gener- ous donation, and chose Daniel Shattuck, Ephraim Merriam, and Josiah Davis, a Committee to accomplish the wishes of the donor.
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No. II. (SEE PAGE 124.)
NOTICES OF MILITARY SERVICES PERFORMED BY THE PEOPLE OF CONCORD IN THE REVOLUTION.
The numbers and dates refer to the Table of Campaigns, on pages 124 and 125 of the text.
2. April 20, 1775. The officers in the regiment, to which these men were attached, were, John Nixon, Colonel ; Thomas Nixon, Lieutenant-Colonel ; John Buttrick, Major. The officers of two companies, of 84 and 103 men, belonged to Concord. Joseph Butler was Captain ; Silas Walker, Lieutenant ; Edward Richard- son, Ensign ; Moses Richardson, Wareham Wheeler, Joseph Chesley, and Edward Heywood, Sergeants of one : and Abishai Brown was Captain ; Daniel Taylor, Lieutenant ; Silas Mann, Ensign ; and Nathan Stow, Ephraim Minott, John Cobs, and Bradbury Robinson, were Sergeants of the other. Rev. William Emerson was Chaplain a part of the time; and Dr. Joseph Hunt was mate to Dr. Foster in Cambridge hospital. The men enlisted the last week in April, and the officers were com- missioned June 5th. At the battle of Bunker Hill, Captain Butler's company, under command of Lieutenant Walker, were engaged at the northern declivity of the hill by the " rail fence"; and a part of the other company were on guard, and not ordered on in season to take part in the battle. Benjamin Ball received a mortal wound, of which he died in Boston. John Meers was killed. Amos Wheeler, Ephraim Minot, and some others, were wounded ; the first died of his wounds at Cam- bridge, a short time after. As soon as the news of the battle arriv- ed, the whole of the militia marched to Cambridge, but returned after a few days. A chest of clothing, and other articles neces- sary for the wounded, were contributed by the " patriotic ladies " in Concord, and sent to the hospital in Cambridge, for which they received public thanks. " This instance of their humanity and public spirit," says a public notice, " does honor to the town, and will, we hope, induce others to imitate so good an example." During this campaign, Danforth Hayward and William Buttrick died.
4. Jan. 20, 1776. Middlesex was ordered to raise a regiment of 571 men ; Concord 26, Bedford 6, Acton 13, Lincoln 8. Concord, however, furnished 36. John Robinson was Colonel; John Buttrick,
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Lieutenant-Colonel ; Samuel McCobb, Major ; Joseph Thaxter, Chaplain ; Nathan Stow, Quarter-master ; Jabez Brown, Adjutant. The Captains' names were, John Ford, Simon Edgel, Josiah Warren, Asahel Wheeler, Benjamin Edgel, Job Shattuck, and John Lamont. Silas Mann was a Lieutenant there under Wheeler.
A new organization of the militia was made in February, 1776, and Concord, Lexington, Weston, Acton, and Lincoln were assigned to the 3d Regiment. Oliver Prescott was then chosen Brigadier-General, Eleazer Brooks, Colonel of this regiment, Francis Faulkner, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Nathan Barrett, Ist Major ; Samuel Lamson, 2d Major ; and Joseph Adams, Surgeon.
The following were the officers of the several companies :
co. LOCATION.
CAPTAIN. George Minott, Jonathan Fiske,
1st LIEUT.
2d LIEUT.
1. Concord.
Edward Wright, Emerson Cogswell.
2. Weston.
Matthew Hobbs, Josiah Severns.
3. Lexington. John Bridge,
William Munroe, Ebenezer White.
4. Concord. Thomas Hubbard, Ephraim Wheeler, Amos Hosmer.
5. Acton.
John Heald, Jr. Benj. Brabrook.
6. Lincoln.
Simon Hunt, Samuel Farrar,
Samuel Hoar, James Parks.
7. Concord.
Thomas Barrett,
Samuel Heald,
Asa Green.
Col. James Barrett was appointed to raise men in this county December 2d, 1775 ; and was muster-master from December 28th, 1776, till his death. Capt. Joseph Hosmer succeeded him in 1780.
The Concord Light Infantry was organized soon after, (of which Joseph Hosmer was Captain ; Samuel Jones, Lieutenant ; and Samuel Hosmer, 2d Lieutenant) ; and attached to this regiment.
5. March 1, 1776. This was a detachment of nearly all the militia, to take possession of Dorchester Heights just before the British evacuated Boston. The officers of the 3d Regiment abovementioned were generally there. An attack on Boston was anticipated, and a considerable quantity of lint and bandages was sent from Concord to the hospital.
6. April 9, 1776. This was an enlisted company for the pur- pose of fortifying and defending Boston and its vicinity. Officers ; - Josiah Whitney, of Harvard, Colonel ; Ephraim Jackson, of Newton, Lieutenant-Colonel ; John Miller, Major. For the Middlesex company, - Abishai Brown, Captain ; Abraham An- drews, 1st Lieutenant ; Silas Proctor, 2d Lieutenant ; Jeremiah Williams and Edward Heywood, all of Concord, were Sergeants. They were stationed at Hull. This company assisted in taking Col. Campbell, about three hundred Highlanders; and several 45
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provision ships. They left Concord June 1st, and were dis- charged December 1st. Thaddeus Blood, Esq., is the only per- son now living in Concord who belonged to this company.
8. June 25, 1776. Dr. John Cuming was appointed Com- mander in this expedition, but declined. The whole consisted of five thousand men. One company, consisting of ninety-four men, was commanded by Capt. Charles Miles, of Concord. Edmond Munroe, was Lieutenant ; Matthew Hobbs, 2d Lieutenant ; and Jonas Brown, Ensign. They were attached to Col. Jonathan Reed's regiment. His muster-roll gives sixty-one from Concord, (differing from the report from which the above is compiled) ; Weston, twenty-seven ; Lexington, four ; and two from Tycon- terage. Being ready to march, they were paraded on the com- mon in Concord, with several other companies from the adjoin- ing towns, and attended religious services in the meeting-house. Rev. William Emerson preached from Job v. 20, and afterwards went as Chaplain, sacrificed his life to his patriotism, and never returned. Another Company, commanded by Capt. Asahel Wheeler, whose Lieutenant was Samuel Hoar, of Lincoln. Samuel Osburn was 2d Lieutenant, and Daniel Hosmer, Ensign.
9. Sept. 12, 1776. This embraced one fifth of the Militia under fifty years of age, not in actual service. The drafts from this county formed one regiment, which was commanded by Eleazer Brooks, of Lincoln. Rev. Moses Adams, of Acton, was Chaplain ; Dr. Joseph Hunt, Surgeon ; and Samuel Hartwell, of Lincoln, Quarter-master. Concord furnished twenty-three men ; Lexington, sixteen ; Acton, fifteen ; and Lincoln, twelve, which formed one company, whose officers were Simon Hunt, of Ac- ton, Captain; Samuel Heald, of Concord, Lieutenant ; Ebenezer White, 2d Lieutenant. They were in the battle of White Plains. A return after the battle gives forty-two fit for duty, seven sick, four wounded, two of whom, David Wheeler and Amos Buttrick, belonged to Concord. Thomas Darby, of Ac- ton was killed. Col. Brooks's Regiment behaved bravely on that occasion.
10. These were part of a company of eighty-nine men, taken from nearly every town in this county, commanded by John Minott, of Chelmsford, and attached to Col. Dykes's Regiment. John Hartwell, of Lincoln, was Lieutenant. Acton furnished five ; Lincoln, four ; and Bedford, three.
11. Nov. 21, 1776. This was one fourth of the Militia in Middlesex County, and formed one Regiment of six hundred and seventy men, commanded by Col. Samuel Thatcher, of Cam- bridge. Cyprian How, of Marlborough, was Lieutenant-Colonel ;
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Joseph Bryant, of Stoneham, Major. Concord furnished thirty- four ; Weston, eighteen ; Lexington, fourteen ; Acton, thirteen ; Lincoln, thirteen, which composed one company. John Bridge, of Lexington, was Captain ;' Jacob Brown, of Concord, Lieu- tenant ; and Josiah Stearns, of Weston, 2d Lieutenant ; William Burrows, Orderly Sergeant. They marched to New-York and New-Jersey before they returned, and were stationed at Wood- bridge. Dissolved March 6th.
12. Dec. 1, 1776. It appears from a roll of this company in the Secretary's office, that Capt. John Hartwell was commander of it. Thirteen in this and six in other companies were from Lincoln. They were attached to Col. Dykes's Regiment.
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