USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, with a genealogical register of Lexington families > Part 24
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Having no intelligence from General Gage, the Ministry issued the following card :
" Secretary of State's Office, Whitehall, May 30, 1775.
" A report having been spread, and an account having been printed and published of a skirmish between some of the people in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and a detachment of His Majesty's troops, it is proper to inform the public that no advices have as yet been received in the Amer- ican department of any such event.
" There is reason to believe that there are dispatches from General Gage on board the Sukey, Captain Brown, which, though she sailed four days before the vessel that brought the printed account, is not yet arrived."
On the appearance of this card Arthur Lee immediately issued the following note :
" To the Public.
" As a doubt of the authenticity of the account from Salem, touching an engagement between the king's troops and the Provincials in Massachusetts
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EFFECTS OF THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
Bay, may arise from a paragraph in the Gazette of this evening, I desire to inform all those who wish to see the original affidavits which confirm that account, that they are deposited at the Mansion House with the Right Honorable Lord Mayor for their inspection.
" ARTHUR LEE,
" Agent for the House of Representatives of Massachusetts Bay."
General Gage's dispatches arrived in London on the 10th of June, which, instead of allaying rather increased the excitement. For though his account differed from the American account as to the commencement of hostilities, in all other respects the two accounts substantially agreed. He virtually admitted that the expedition was a failure, and that the flower of his army, con- sisting of nearly two thousand men, had been harrassed, and actually driven fifteen miles with a loss of nearly three hundred in killed, wounded, and missing.
The account of the Ministry covering General Gage's dispatch was severely criticized in Great Britain. One writer says : " When the news of the massacre first arrived, the pensioned writer of the Gazette entreated the public 'to suspend their judgment, as the Government had received no tidings of the matter.' The public have suspended their judgment, and the humane part of mankind have wished that the fatal tale related by Captain Derby, might prove altogether fictitious. To the great grief of every thinking man, this is not the case. We are now in possession of both accounts." After comparing them and showing that they agree in all important particulars, the writer adds : "The public have but to ponder on the melancholy truths thus attested by the Government. The sword of civil war is drawn, and if there is truth in heaven, the king's troops unsheathed it. Will the English nation much longer suffer their fellow subjects to be slaughtered ? It is a shameful fallacy to talk of the supremacy of Parliament. It is the despotism of the crown, and the slavery of the people, which the Ministry aim at. For refusing these attempts, and for that only, the Americans have been inhumanly murdered by the king's troops. Englishmen, weigh these things with deliberation ; make the case your own. If the massacre of brethren will not make you open your eyes, they deserve to be forever shut against your welfare."
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
Another writer, alluding to the British account of the affair after Percy had joined Smith, says :
"The Gazette tells us dryly that 'the rebels were for a time dispersed.' They were so dispersed, however, that as soon as the troops resumed their march (not their flight), they began again to fire upon them, and continued it during the whole fifteen miles' march, ' by which means several hundred were killed and wounded.' If this was not a flight, and if Percy's activity was not in running away, I should be glad to know where were the flanking parties of this army on its march, with all this light infantry ? Would any commanding officer suffer such an enemy to continue killing and wounding his troops from stone walls and houses, if it was not a defeat and flight ? I think that when the military lend themselves to fight against the freedom of their fellow subjects, they deserve to be both disgraced and defeated.
" Take then the whole of this account as it stands, and to what does it amount, but that General Gage's army, having marched out of Boston in the night, was attacked by the militia, hastily assembled without a leader, and was driven back with the loss of sixty-five killed and one hundred and eighty wounded, and twenty-eight taken prisoners - making in all two hundred and seventy-three. In fact, this superiority does not arise from any difference between the English and the Americans, but from the one contending in the cause of tyranny, and the other in that of liberty. It has never entered into the hearts of these wretched Ministers and their tools, to feel or conceive the enthusiasm and valor which so good and noble a cause inspires."
There was, at the opening of the Revolution, a large class in Great Britain whose sympathies were in favor of America. Even the king's own brother, the weak but amiable Duke of Gloucester, is said to have had strong feelings in favor of the' Colonies. Soon after the news of the collision at Lexington reached England, he took a tour in France ; and at a public dinner, given in honor of the Duke, there was present a young Frenchman, not then eighteen years of age; he listened with avidity to the story of the uprising of the people of New Eng- land. And from that time America had a true friend in the person of Lafayette.1
Several officers in the British army declined serving against their American brethren and threw up their commissions. Lord North, who at that day was here regarded as the implacable foe of America, but who was in fact averse to many of the measures of Parliament, on the breaking out of hostilities desired to retire from the Ministry ; but the king would neither accept his resigna-
1 Bancroft.
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EFFECTS OF THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
tion, nor relent towards America. The French Minister at the Court of England, who looked with peculiar interest into the affairs of the Colonies, wrote to his own Court : "The Americans display in their conduct, and even in their errors, more thought than enthusiasm, for they have shown in succession that they know how to argue, to negotiate, and to fight. All England is in a position from which she never can extricate herself. Either all rules are false, or the Americans will never again consent to become her subjects."
On the 24th of June, the citizens of London voted an Address to the king, desiring him to consider the situation of his subjects in England, "who had nothing to expect from America but gazettes of blood, and mutual lists of slaughtered fellow-sub- jects." And they prayed for a dissolution of Parliament, and a dismission forever of the present Ministry.
The society for Constitutional Information raised one hundred pounds, "to be applied to the relief of the widows, orphans, and aged parents of our beloved American fellow-subjects, who faith- ful to the character of Englishmen, prefering death to slavery, were for that reason only, inhumanly murdered by the king's troops at Lexington and Concord."
Thus did the events of the 19th of April, 1775, excite a thril- ling interest on both sides of the Atlantic. In America they aroused the patriotism of every Colony, and united them in the great cause of human freedom. And in Europe the effect was equally great. It brought matters to an issue in the British Parliament, and taught the stupid and obstinate king and his lordly flatterers, that neither Acts of Parliament, nor Orders in Council, nor Edicts from the Throne, could compel the submis- sion of the colonists to the arbitrary acts of the Ministry. They saw that their only hope of success lay in the sword, which they had already drawn; and while they had the madness to believe that they should be able to subdue their Colonies, their formidable and sagacious rival, France, plainly saw that inde- pendence was the ultimate portion of the oppressed Colonies in America.
CHAPTER IX. FROM THE COMMENCEMENT TO THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION.
Captain Parker's Company called to Cambridge, on the 6th of May and the 17th of June - Quota of Men furnished by Lexington - Prices of Labor and Other Articles - Confederation - Attempts to form a State Constitu- tion - Objections to the First Constitution - Ratified the Second Constitution with Proposed Amendments - Depreciation of the Currency - Efforts to raise the Quota of Men for the Army - Instructions of Representative relative to the Return of the Tories - People devoted to Law and Order.
THE events of the 19th of April, 1775, had spread a gloom over the town of Lexington. The loss of ten of her citizens on that eventful day, and the fact that ten more were wounded, some of them severely, brought the horrors of war to their own doors. But their patriotism did not falter. They were not only willing to bear their own grief, but to do what they could to relieve the poor of Boston and Charlestown, who were driven from their homes into the adjacent country. Consequently a committee was chosen to assist the. Selectmen " in taking care of the poor or suffering people that may come from the towns of Charlestown and Boston to this place." Nor was the gallant company of Captain Parker, which had suffered so severely on the 19th of April, to be driven from the field by the losses they had experienced, or by any new dangers which should arise.
On the 6th of May, in consequence of an alarm at Cambridge, Captain Parker with a detachment of forty-five of his company, repaired to the head-quarters of the army, where they remained several days, guarding the lines to prevent any further excursions of the king's troops into the country. And on the memorable 17th of June, of that year, when a portion of our militia were engaged with the enemy on Bunker Hill, the gallant Parker with sixty-one of his company, responded to freedom's call, and
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TO THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION.
repaired to Cambridge ; but they were deprived of the honor of participating in that struggle, by being kept at Cambridge from an apprehension that the British might cross the river in their boats, and attack the American camp while so many of our troops were engaged at Charlestown.
The fact that this company was so prompt at every call of duty, may be accounted for in part from the strict rules and regulations they adopted as early as 1773. The following is a paper in the handwriting of Edmund Munroe, containing the Rules and Regulations of the Lexington company of minute-men, under which they acted in 1775, found among the papers of the late Edmund Munroe of Boston.
"We, whose names are hereto subscribed, having agreed to associate ourselves together to improve ourselves in the art of Military, do agree and bind ourselves to the following rules, viz :
" 1. To choose a Captain, Lieutenant and Ensign once a year.
" 2. To choose Sergeants and a Clerk once a year.
"3. To meet in order for discipline four times a year.
"4. We agree that every one of us absent, when the Roll is called, being duly warned, shall pay a fine of eight pence, unless a good excuse can be given to the satisfaction of the Company for his absence.
"5. That any person of the Company that shall interrupt the Captain or Commanding Officer, while under arms, by talking, laughing or any inde- cent behavior, shall pay a fine of three shillings.
" 6. That if any person of the Company shall interrupt the clerk, when calling the Roll, or not answering when they are called, shall pay a fine of two shillings.
" 7. That none shall enlist into said Company, if under age, without the consent of their parents or master.
"8. That if any refuse to pay a fine, when properly demanded, they shall be dismissed from the Company, forthwith.
"9. That any person desiring to be admitted into said Company, or dismissed therefrom, shall have a vote of the Company for the same.
" 10. That all fines recovered of delinquents shall be applied to the sole use of the Company - paying the Clerk a reasonable sum for collecting the same.
" 11. That the Captain, failing of his duty in not calling the Company together four times a year, and disciplining them three hours at each meet- ing, shall pay a fine of four shillings, unless he can give a reasonable excuse for the same to the satisfaction of the Company."
Such sound and wholesome rules, voluntarily adopted in times of peace, would hardly fail to make prompt and efficient soldiers in time of war.
33
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
During the winter of 1775-6, the town of Lexington, in response to a call from the Provincial Congress, furnished a large supply of wood and a quantity of hay for the army stationed at Winter Hill.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Lexington, held March 18, 1776, the following persons were chosen a Committee of Cor- respondence and Safety, agreeably to a Resolve of the General Court : - Deacon Jonas Stone, Captain John Bridge, Lieutenant Edmund Munroe, Lieutenant Joseph Simonds, and Lieutenant Franeis Bowman.
At a meeting, called for the purpose, May 23, 1776, it was "Voted, That if Congress should, for the safety of these Colo- nies, proclaim them independent of Great Britain, we stand ready with our lives and fortunes to support them in that measure." By pledges like these, coming from almost every town and Colony, Congress was emboldened to put forth that immortal Declaration which marks an era in our history.
Lexington having pledged herself to devote life and fortune to the cause of Independence, met the numerous calls made upon her with fidelity. In the first campaign of 8-months' men in 1775, she furnished 20 men ; in the second campaign of the 12-months' men, she furnished 19 men ; in the campaign to Ticonderoga in 1776, she furnished 28 men ; to White Plains the same year, 13 men, and to the Jerseys, 21 men. In the following year she sent 22 men ; besides these she furnished her full quota to the Continental army in the first instance, and among those who enlisted in 1780, for three years or during the war, Lexington furnished about 30. We have in this place passed over those who served from two to six months at Cambridge, and Dorchester, and Providence, because these will be treated of more fully in another chapter.
In July, 1776, the town voted the sum of £1 6s. 8d. as an additional bounty to every non-commissioned officer and private, who should enlist from the town in the expedition to Canada.
In the unsettled state of things at the commencement of the Revolution, it was all-important that public sentiment should be known, and that those who were intrusted with the management of public affairs, should have some assurance that the people would stand by and sustain them in the bold measures which the crisis
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TO THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION.
seemed to demand. Being sensible that our public men, whose position would expose them to the vengeance of Great Britain in case of the failure of our cause, took upon themselves a vast responsibility, the people in every part of the Province were will- ing to encourage their rulers, and assured them in advance that they would share with them the labors and the dangers involved in the contest. By putting their names to solemn instru- ments, by covenanting with each other in a public manner, that they would resist the measures and the military forces of the common enemy of the Colonies and share the common fate of their brethren, a few patriotic citizens could do much to encour- age their rulers, and to confirm the wavering in their own neigh- borhood. The sturdy inhabitants of Lexington were willing to put their names to such an instrument, though it might prove their death-warrant.
The following instrument, signed by some of the leading citi- zens, declaring " before God and the world," that they would be true to the cause of liberty, and to each other, does honor to the character and patriotism of our fathers, and may be regarded as their Declaration of Independence. The instrument was found among the papers of Captain Edmund Munroe, who fell at Mon- mouth in 1778. The spirit of the document and the original signatures of so many of Lexington's patriotic sons, render it worthy of preservation ;- we give, as a curiosity, a fac-simile of their signatures.
" Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1776.
"We, the subscribers, do each of us severally for ourselves, profess, testify and declare before God and the world, that we verily believe that the war, resistance and opposition in which the United American Colonies are now engaged against the fleets and armies of Great Britain, is, on the part of the said Colonies, just and necessary. And we do hereby severally promise, covenant, and engage to and with every person of this Colony, who has or shall subscribe this declaration, or another of the same tenor and words, that we will not, during the said war, directly or indirectly, in any ways, aid, abet, or assist any of the naval or land forces of the king of Great Britain, or any employed by him, or supply them with any kind of provisions, military or naval stores, or hold any correspondence with, or communicate any intelligence to any of the officers, soldiers or marines belonging to the said army or navy, or enlist or procure any others to enlist into the land or sea service of Great Britain, or take up or bear arms against this or either of the United Colonies, or undertake to pilot any of
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
the vessels belonging to the said navy, or in any other way aid or assist them. But, on the contrary, according to our best power and abilities, will defend by arms the United American Colonies, and every part thereof, against every hostile attempt of the fleets and armies in the service of Great Britain, or any of them, according to the requirements and direc- tions of the laws of this Colony, that now are, or may hereafter be pro- vided for the regulation of the militia thereof.
Josiah Smitty Nehemiah efterrock Thomay Parker Jenson cedens. John Gandler Joseph Dimonds Philip Rufsel Daniel Harington Francis Brown
Jonathan Smith
John Simonly "
Hammond Red Jasamich Crof by Iothrew Band 8dm mumo
Samle Fidd
Robert Reed
This Defender
Henry Harrington Tiv Jonas Stone Jaseph FesheJuni Jevi Mead Isaur Blodgett John Bridge
Henry turn my ten
But while the Colony of Massachusetts Bay was actively engaged in the war of the Revolution, and was shedding her blood freely on almost every battle-field in the country, she felt, in a serious manner, the want of a more efficient Government ;
259
TO THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION.
and hence the General Court submitted to the towns the question, whether they should be empowered to form a Constitution of Government. When this subject was brought before the inhab- itants of Lexington, they chose a committee, who, at an adjourned meeting, held October 21, 1776, submitted the following able and patriotic report, which was adopted unanimously :
" That always desirous of being impressed with the fullest sentiments of the wisdom, integrity and fidelity of so respectable a body as the Honor- able House of Representatives of the State in the high department assigned them by their constituents, it is with the most peculiar anxiety, we feel ourselves obliged in faithfulness to ourselves and posterity, to withhold a cheerful compliance with any resolve or proposal of theirs, as we are con- strained to do upon the question before us, by the following considerations, which to us, at least, appear interesting and important.
"1. It appears to us that as all government originates from the people ; and the great end of government is their peace, safety and happiness; so it is with the people at large, or where that is impracticable, by their Representatives freely and equally elected and empowered for that purpose, to form and agree on a Constitution of government, which being considered and approved by the body of the people, may be enacted, ratified and established.
"2. That the present House of Representatives were not elected for the purpose of agreeing upon, and enacting a Constitution of government for this State ; neither had their constituents the least intimation of anything of this kind in the precepts upon which they were elected; and therefore, their proposing themselves to the people, and asking their consent as constit- uents for this service, appears to us to be a clog to that freedom of election, which ought always to be exercised by a free people in matters of this importance, more especially in an affair of such lasting concernment as this.
"3. That no provision is made in the Resolve for those towns which have not chosen so many Representatives as they have a right to send, to choose others to complete their number upon this important occasion ; by which it may happen, not through the neglect of the people, but for want of opportunity, the representation may be unequal.
"4. That in case we do not see our way clear to consent as proposed in the question before us, it does not appear that any provision is made in the Resolve for our having any voice at all in the matter, as our Represen- tative will not be considered as empowered by his constituents for this purpose.
"5. That it is greatly to be feared, if the proposal in the Resolve is complied with by the people of this State, upon this most important occa- sion, it will be pleaded as an established precedent in all future time, for the decency and propriety of persons offering themselves candidates for the election of the people to offices of trust and importance - a practice which
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
hath always been held by the judicious and virtuous, as dangerous to the liberties of the people, and a practice by which corrupt and designing men in every age have too often availed themselves of places of power and authority, to the great disadvantage of those who elected them, if not to the gross violation of their most sacred rights.
"6. Lastly, that though the Resolves give us to expect a publication of the proposed form of government for the perusal of the inhabitants, before the ratification of the same ; yet it does not appear clear from thence that there is any just provision made for the inhabitants as towns, to express their approbation or the contrary, in order to such ratification.
"For these obvious reasons therefore, we cannot see our way clear to comply with the proposal of the Honorable House of Representatives in the question before us.
"Voted and Resolved, That as our former Constitution (the Charter) is at an end, and a new Constitution of government, as soon as may be, is absolutely necessary, if not to the being, yet to the well-being of the State, and as the present General Court are considered as the eyes of the people, and the guardians as well as watchmen of the State; it be most earnestly recommended to our worthy Representative, and he hereby is instructed to use his utmost endeavors and influence, that, either by precepts for a new assembly, empowered for this purpose, or by special notification for the choice of persons for the express purpose of forming a new Constitution, or in any other way which their wisdom may direct, consistent with the liberties of the people, measures may be taken to give the people an oppor- tunity to carry this matter into effect ; and as soon as may be consistent with the exigency of the public affairs, freely to give their votes for such persons as they judge will best serve the public, themselves, and posterity, in the commencement of a work of so great importance to the present and all succeeding generations."
No one can read this document without seeing the patriotism and prudence of the writer and those who adopted this report. They were patriots, jealous of their rights, and determined to guard them, not only against the encroachments of a foreign foc, but also against all ambitious and designing men, that might spring up among themselves. The patriot priest was too well versed in the history of the past to suffer any dangerous practice to grow into precedent, and thereby jeopard in any degree the rights and liberties of the people.
In March, 1777, when the duties imposed upon these officers were arduous and responsible, in consequence of the peculiar situation of affairs, Daniel Harrington, Josiah Smith, Thomas Parker, Joshua Reed, and Philip Russell, were chosen Select- men, and Dea. Benj. Brown, John Parkhurst, Captain Francis
*
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TO THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION.
Brown, Daniel Harrington and Amos Muzzy were chosen Com- mittee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety.
At the same meeting a Committee was chosen "to compute the cost of a suitable and decent Monument to set over the grave of our brethren in this town who fell the first victims to British Tyranny on the morning of the 19th of April,' 1775, and to make a Report at May Meeting."
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