USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
" The People were Carfull to Promote men that were Strongly opposed to British Tireny. The Town of Boston Passed a vote to stop all importation from Great Britain and the West Indies.
" Requesting the other Colonies to fall in with the same Resolve, Many of the inhabitants of . . . signed a Resolve not to buy any imported goods. Most Noted Men in Boston that took the lead . . . were James Otis John Hancock and Samuel Adams ; in September 1774 Ninty of the Rep- resentatives of Massachusetts Met at Salem and formed What was Called the Provincial Congress and adjourned to Concord. Here they chose John Hancock President, and drew up a Plan for the immediate Defense of the Province By appointing officers, also Pased a Resolve to get in Readiness to Compose an Army at the shortest Notis and called Minute men. The minute company in Sudbury was commanded by Capt John Nixon afterwards General, the North Melitia Company was commanded [by] Capt. Aaron Haynes The South By Capt. Moses Stone, the orders were for Every man to be supplied with a Gun and Bagnet Cartrege Box and 36 Rounds, our Guns to [be] Kept in Good Repair. The men that were freed by E-e from doing Militory Duty formed themselves into a Company Called the Alarm Company Commanded by Capt. Jabez Puffer. Train- ings were as often as once a week the three fall months, in the winter Not so often. The young Men In the Winter months made a Practis of calling on their officers Evenings and going through the Manual Exercise In Barn Flours. I have exercised many a Night With my Mittens on. Such was the Patriotic sperit that Reigned in the Brest of Every True American Never to stain the Glory of our worthy
364
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Ancestors but like them Resolve never to part with our birthright. To be wise in our deliberations and determined in our Exertions for the preservation of our libertys, being Irritated by Repeated Injuries and Striped of our inborn rights and dearest Priveleges ; The Present Generation may view those Transactions with surprise ; every Rational mind must feel satisfied of the overruling hand of Providence. To bring about the great event here we must Cast our Eyes on the Father of Mercies with a full belief that He would Make his arm beare For us as he did for our Ancestors that we should be Enabled to Defend and Maintain our Rights Boath of a Civil and Religious Nature. With these impressions Strongly impressed in their Hearts on the morn- ing of [the] Ever Memorable 19th of April 1775 Husbands left their wifes and Fathers their daughters Sones their Mothers Brothers their Sisters to Meet a Haughty Foe.
" On this eventful morning an Express From Concord to Thos Plympton Esqr who was then a Member of the Pro- vintial Congress [stated] that the British were on their way to Concord : In 35 Minites between 4 and 5 oclock in the Morning, the Sexton was immadelly Called on, the bell Ringing and the Discharge of Musket which was to give the alarm. By sunrise the greatest part of the inhabitants were Notified. The morning was Remarkable fine and the Inhab- itants of Sudbury Never can make such an important appear- ance Probably again. Every Countenance appeared to Discover the importance of the event. Sudbury Companies were but a short distance From the North Bridg, when the first opposition was made to the Haughty Enemy. The Dye was Cast and the Torch Lit by which means we Have Becom an independent Nation, and may the present gener- ation and those unborn, preserve unimparred the Libertys, sivel and Religious so long as Time Endures -
" On the 19 of April, I was Runing across a Lot where there was a bend in [the] Road in order to get a Fair Shot, at the Enemy, in company with a Scotchman who was in Braddock's Defeat 19 year Before, after we had Discharged our Guns I observed to the Scot who appeared very Com-
THE COMMON. Unitarian Church, Town House and Methodist Church, Sudbury Centre.
365
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
posed I wished I felt as Calm as he appeared to be - [He said] its a Tread to be Larnt,
" Before I served through one Campain I Found the Scots Remark to be a just one -
" The old soldiers Name is John Weighton He informed me he had been in seven Battles and this Eight." (Stearns Collection.)
MILITARY PREPARATIONS.
Nov. 14, 1774, " it was voted, that the town recommend to the several companies of militia to meet for the choice of officers for their respective companies, as recommended by the Provincial Congress. Also voted, that a company of militia on the East side, meet on Thursday next at twelve o'clock at the East meeting house in Sudbury, to choose their officers ; and that the companies on the West side to meet at the West meeting house at the same time and for the same purpose."
Besides looking after the militia, the town took measures to form companies of minute men. These, as the name implies, were to hold themselves in readiness to act at a minute's warning. The officers received no commissions, but held their positions by vote of the men. Two such companies were formed, one on each side of the river. There was also a troop of horse composed of men from both precincts. Besides these companies of able-bodied men, there was an alarm company composed of men exempt from mili- tary service. The names of the companies were, -
North Militia Co. West Side, Capt. Aaron Haynes 60 men East Militia Co. East Side. Capt. Joseph Smith, 75 men
South Militia Co. (Lanham District) both Sides. Capt. Moses Stone 92 men. Troop of Horse. Both Sides. Capt. Isaac Loker. 21 men. Minute Co. West Side. Capt. John Nixon. 58 men
Minute Co. East Side. Capt. Nathaniel Cudworth. 40 men.
These make, besides the alarm list of Jabez Puffer, six com- panies - three hundred and forty-eight men - in process of preparation for the coming struggle.
The muster rolls of these companies, as present at the Concord and Lexington battle, have for the most part been
366
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
preserved, and are here given as found in State and town documents. They may not, in every case, give the names of all who were on the rolls of either militia or minute men in 1774; and they may also contain names which were not properly of the companies in whose rolls they stand. But this may be explained by the fact that these rolls represent those who were in the Lexington and Concord fight, and that the alarm company and troop were mingled with other companies of the town on that memorable day.
A muster Roll of Militia Company and part of an Alarm Company that marched to Cambridge by Concord on the Alarm on the nineteenth of April last under the command of Capt, Aaron Haynes of Sudbury and returning home.
Aaron Haynes Capt,
Thomas Puffer
Daniel Bowker Lieut,
Rufus Parmenter
James Puffer Lieut,
James
Joshua Haynes Sergt,-
Ebenezer Plympton
Samuel Dakin
Abel Tower
Samuel Puffer
. Francis Green
Jonathan Haynes "
Jason Haynes
Benjamin Smith Corp.
Joseph Haynes
Ashael Balcom
Israel Brigham
Hope Brown
Abel Willis
Ithamon Rice
Isaac Rice
Phineas Puffer, Clark
John Bemis
Aaron Haynes
Moses Noyes
Abel Maynard, Private
David Moore
Micah Maynard
Abijah Brigham
John Maynard
Israel Haynes
Jonas Haynes
Edmund Parmenter
Isaac Puffer
Henry Smith
Oliver Dakin
Dea Thomas Plympton
Silas How
Lieut Dakin
Sworn to by Capt. Aaron Haynes, Jan. 20, 1776
A muster roll of the Company under the Command of Capt. Joseph Smith, in Col. James Barret's Regiment from Sudbury on April 19th 1775, in persuit of the ministerial Troops
: Capt, Joseph Smith Isaac Damon
Lieut, Josiah Farrar
John Tilton Jr.
Lieut, Ephraim Smith John Cutting -
Ensign Timothy Underwood Samuel Tilton Jr,
Sergeant William Bent Amos Addaway
Sergeant Samuel Griffin .- Travis
367
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Sergeant Robert Cutting
Roland Bennett
Sergeant John Bruce
Isaac Stone
Corporal Samuel Tilton
John Stone
Corporal Nathaniel Smith
Isaac Rice Jr,
Corporal Peter Johnson Corporal John Merriam
John Peter Francis Jones
Drumer Thomas Trask
James Sharmon
Timothy Bent
Samuel Sharmon
Micah Rice
Joseph Goodenow
Isaac Gould
John Barney
Jacob Gould
Josiah Allen Elisha Cutting John Dean James Goodenow
Benjaman Dudley
Zachariah Briant Jr,
Ephraim Bowker,
Ebenezer Johnson
Jonathan Cutting
Jonathan Bent
James Davis
Simon Belcher
Jason Parmenter
Joel Stone
Middlesex Dec 21st 1775, The above named Joseph Smith made solemn oath to the truth of the above roll, Before me, Moses Gill, Justice Peace.
These Certify that the mens names hereafter annex'd marched on ye 19th of April last to Head Qrs we being under Command of Lt Colo How of Sudbury and Moses Stone Cap
Moses Stone Capt
Tho" Ames Thomas Burbank
Joseph Goodenow 2 Lt.
Nath1 Bryant
Joseph Moore Sergt
Israel Maynard
Ephrm Carter Corp1
Tho& Carr jun™
David How
Isaac Moore
Benja Berry
Uriah Moore
Jonª Carter
Abner Walker
Elijah Goodnow
Wm Walker
David How
Abel Parmenter
Ezek1 How jr.
Dan1 Osburn
Jonas Wheeler
Thos Derumple
Isaac Lincoln
The above named were out four days.
Peter Haynes Thos Derumple
Lt Elisha Wheeler
Nath1 Brown
Aaron Goodnow
Uriah Hayden
Thomas Walker
Israel Willis
Eben" Burbank
Calven Clark
The above named were out three days.
Jona Rice Lt
William Dudley
Edmund Sharman
368
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Province of the Massachusetts Dr to Isaac Locker and the men under me by name in ye Colony for service done in defence of the Country on ye 19th day of April to ye 21st of the same when the alarm at Concord. agreable to the General Courts Order - made up this Accot
Isaac Locker
Timº Sharmon
L' Oliver Noyes
Dan1 Moore Jr
Q' M' Ja& Puffer
David Curtis
Corp1 Ja& Noyes
Zachh Heard
Corp Jesse Gibbs
Jacob Jones
Corp1 Abel Smith
Nath1 Knowlton
Dal Wood Moore
Jonas Rice
Eph Moore
Nathan Stearns
Jonas Wheeler
Micah Greaves
Jesse Mossman
Nath1 Jenison
· Rufus Bent
Steph" Locker
Jason Bent
Asaph Travis
W Wyman
Jonas Locker
Jos Rutter
Simon Newton
W." Noyes
David Heard
A List of a Company of Minute Men under the command of Capt. John Nixon, in Col Abijah Pierce's Regiment who entered the service April 19th 1775
David Moore Lieut
Abel Holden
Ashael Wheeler 2ª Lieut
Hopestill Brown Corp.
Micah Goodnow Sergt
Jesse Moore
Elijah Willis
Uriah Wheeler
Jeremiah Robbins "
William Moore
PRIVATES.
Joseph Balcom
Rueben Haynes
Philemon Brown
Joshua Haynes
Samuel Brigham
-Caleb Wheeler
Samuel Cutting
John Weighten
Asher Cutler
Simon Kingman
William Dun
Israel Willis
Aaron Ames
Hopestill Willis
Robert Ames
Ebenezer Wood
Eliab Moore
Jonas Holden
Uriah Moore
Elisha Wheeler
Isaac Moore
Daniel Loring
John Moore
Thadeus Moore
Josiah Richardson
William Maynard
Nathan Read
Daniel Maynard
Charles Rice
John Shirley
James Rice
Peter Smith
Ezra Smith
Abraham Thompson
369
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Samuel Gleason
Daniel Weight
Thomas Goodenow Jesse Goodenow William Goodenow
Nathaniel Rice
Daniel Putman
Micah Grant
Sworn to by Lt. Asahel Wheeler, Feb. 3, 1776.
A muster Role of the Minute Company under the command of Capt. Nathaniel Cudworth in Col. Abijah Pierce's Regiment.
Nathaniel Cudworth Capt.
Samuel Pollard
Thadeus Russel, Lieut.
Daniel Rice
Nathaniel Maynard Ensign
Samuel Whitney
Nathaniel Reeves Sergent
Benjamin Adams
Jonathan Hoar ¥
Samuel Curtis
Caleb Moulton
Richard Heard Jr
Thomas Rutter
Samuel Bent
Joseph Willington Corp.
Samuel Haynes
Thadeus Bond
Joseph Nicolls
David Clough
William Grout
Joshua Kendall
Samuel Merriam
John Trask Drummer
David Underwood
Phineas Gleason Private
Naum Dudley
Ebenezer Dudley
James Phillips
John Noyes Jr
Edmund Rice Jr.
Timothy Underwood
Nathaniel Parmenter
Peter Britnell
David Damon
Zebediah Farrar
David Rice
Jonathan Parmenter Jr
Edward How
Jonathan Wesson
Timothy Sharmon
Sworn to by Nathaniel Cudworth, Feb. 21, 1776.
In 1776, the town " voted to pay each of the minute men one shilling and sixpence for training one half day in a week, 4 hours to be esteemed a half day, after they were enlisted and until called into actual service or dismissed ; and the Captains 3 shilling and Lieutenants 2 shillings and six pence and the ensign 2 shillings."
The foregoing muster rolls represent about one-fifth of the entire population. The number in actual service at the Concord and Lexington fight three hundred and two. The following report shows to what extent these companies were equipt.
370
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
"Sudbury March ye 27th 1775 :
" The Return of the Severall Companys of Militia and Minute in sd Town viz.
"Capt. Moses Stone's Company - 92 men of them, 18 no guns. at Least one third part ye forelocks unfit for Sarvis others wais un a quipt.
" Capt. Aaron Hayns Company - 60 men weel provided With Arms the most of them Provided with Bayonets or hatchets a boute one quarter Part with Catrige Boxes.
" Capt. Joseph Smith's Company consisting of
75 able Bodied men forty well a quipt twenty Promis to find and a quip themselves Emedetly fifteen no guns and other wais un a quipt
" The Troop Capt. Isaac Locer (Loker) - 21 Besides what are on the minit Role well a quipt.
" Returned by Ezekiel How. Left" Con! " (Stearns Collection.)
It is not strange that, at the time this report was given, the troops had not been fully equipped. It was not easy to provide for so many at once, but the following record may indicate that the town had been endeavoring to supply the deficiency since the preceding fall, Oct. 3, 1774.
To Capt. Ezekiel How for 20 guns and Bayonets 27- 0-2 600 pounds Lead 8-16-0
300 french Flynts [9 or] 19- - 11
Chest for the arms and carting them 7 -- 2- 2
Probably before the 19th of April they were fairly equipped for service, as there is among the town papers a bill to one of the minute companies for ammunition that the town had supplied. Each man mentioned had, for the most part, received about a pound of powder and two pounds of balls for which a charge was made of one pound, one shilling.
In the matter of military drill, the men showed a spirit of perseverance which indicates their expectation of rough work. It was by no dress parade or review on some gala occasion when, with burnished muskets and uniforms gay and bright, they became proficient in the art of defence, but
371
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
on the cold barn floor in their homespun suits, with the mute cattle their only spectators, that these men were fitting for work, and zeal for their object was the tocsin that mustered the clan. To show the regularity with which the minute men met for drill as the crisis approached, we will present Capt. John Nixon's minute company's call roll, which is still preserved among the old documents of Sudbury. We find in it but six blanks ; showing an average of only one absentee each night. We might expect that, when the call of the 19th of April came, these men would be present and ready for work.
A Call Roll of Capt . Jnº Nixon's Company of Minut Men. They Inlisted March ye 13th
March ye March 1Sth 1775
ye 20
March ye 27
April 3
April ye Do ye 17th 10th
Jnº Nixon Capt.
1
1
1
1
1
1
David Moor Lieut.
1
1
1
1
1
1
Asehel Wheeler Do
1
1
1
1
1
Josiah Langdon Clarke
1
1
1
1
1
1
Micah Goodenow Sergt
1
1
1
1
1
1
Augusts Moor Do
1
1
1
1
1
Elijah Willis Do
1
1
1
1
1
1
· Jeremh Robbins Do
1
1
1
1
1
1
Hope1 Brown Corp1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Jesse Moor Do
1
1
1
1
1
1
Uriah Wheeler Do
1
1
1
1
1
1
Willm Moor Do
1
1
1
1
1
1
Daniel Putnam Drum
1
1
1
1
1
Caleb Brown Phiffe
1
1
1
1
1
1
Joseph Nixon Do
1
1
1
1
1
1
Joseph Balcum
1
1
1
1
1
1
Philn Brown
1
1
1
1
1
1
Sam1 Brigham
1
1
1
1
1
1
Hosea Brigham
1
1
1
1
Sam1 Cutting
1
1
1
1
1
1
Asher Cutler
1
1
1
1
1
1
Wm Dun
1
1
1
1
1
1
Aaron Emes Jr.
1
1
1
1
1
1
Robert Emes
1
1
1
1
1
1
Dan1 Goodenow
1
I
1
1
1
1
Sam' Gleason
1
1
1
1
1
1
Thos Goodenow
1
1
1
1
1
1
Jesse Goodenow
1
1
1
1
1
1
Wm Goodenow
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
372
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
March ye March 13th 1775
ye 20
March ye 27
April 3
April ye Do ye 17th 10th
Reuben Haynes
1
1
1
1
1
1
Joshua Haynes
1
1
1
1
1
1
Jonas Holden Jr
1
1
1
1
1
1
Abel Holden
1
1
1
1
1
1
Simeon Ingersol
1
1
1
1
1
1
Daniel Loring
1
1
1
1
1
1
Thadeus Moor
1
1
1
1
1
1
Wm Maynard
1
1
1
1
1
1
Daniel Maynard
1
1
1
1
1
1
Hezekiah Moor
1
1
1
1
1
1
Eliab Moor
1
1
1
1
1
1
Uriah Moor
1
1
1
1
1
1
Isaac Moor Jr.
1
1
1
1
1
1
John Moor
1
1
1
1
1
1
Josiah Richardson
1
1
1
1
1
1
Nathaniel Reed
1
1
1
1
1
1
Charles Rice
1
1
1
1
1
1
Oliver Rice
1
1
1
1
1
1
Jonas Rice
1
1
1
1
1
1
Asahel Reed
1
1
1
1
1
1
Ezra Smith
1
1
1
1
1
1
John Sheirley
1
1
1
1
1
1
Peter Smith
1
1
1
1
1
1
Abel Thomson
1
1
1
1
1
1
Daniel Weight
1
1
1
1
1
1
Caleb Wheeler
1
1
1
1
1
1
John Weighton
1
1
1
1
1
Elisha Wheeler
1
1
1
1
1
1
Israel Willis
1
1
1
1
1
1
Hopestil Willis
1
1
1
1
1
1
Ebenezer Wood
1
1
1
1
1
1
It was becoming more and more evident that a collision with the King's forces was close at hand. A considerable quantity of Continental supplies had been deposited at Con- cord ; there also was a centre of strong patriotic influence ; at that place, therefore, the blow was liable to fall first. March 29, a report came that the British were about to proceed to that place. The Committee of Safety for the Province met at Cambridge, and ordered the removal there- from of stores. The order was carried out and the stores sent in several directions. To Sudbury were sent fifty
373
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
barrels of beef, one hundred of flour, twenty casks of rice, fifteen hogsheads of molasses, ten hogsheads of rum, and five hundred candles, fifteen thousand canteens, fifteen thousand iron pots ; the spades, pickaxes, bill-hooks, axes, hatehets, crows, wheel-barrows, and several other articles were to be divided, one-third to remain in Concord, one-third to be sent to Sudbury, one-third to Stow, and one thousand iron pots were to be sent to Worcester. (Shattuck.)
The rumor at this time proved false, yet a little later the event came about. General Gage, who was stationed in Boston as Commander-in-chief of the British troops, took measures to send a detachment to Concord for the destruc- tion of Continental stores. For the accomplishment of this purpose he sent out spies to examine the land. Two of these secret messengers, Captain Brown and Ensign D'Ber- nicre, went to Worcester in February, and to Concord, March 20. They went by way of Weston and Sudbury, stopping in the former town at the Jones Tavern, which still stands on the main street of Weston, and passed through East Sudbury by way of the South bridge. Having received the report of these spies, the British · prepared to advance. General Gage detached eight hundred of light infantry, grenadiers and marines from the ten regiments under his command, and, on pretence of instructing them in a new military exercise, took them from regular duty on April 15. His plan was for the troops to cross Charles River by night, and at daybreak be far on their way toward Concord and thus take the place by surprise. But there were those who were watching his wary course, and a sly, swift courier was to precede him on his way: A previous arrangement had been made by which a lantern was to be displayed in the belfry of the old North Church when the British began their march. Paul Revere, at the signal, was to start with the news and proclaim it from place to place. About that messenger, his mission, his midnight ride, it is unnecessary for us to relate. The oft-told tale is very familiar, how Paul Revere went forth and " spread the alarm through every Middlesex village and farm."
374
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
THE MUSTERING AND MARCH.
The news thus started by Paul Revere reached Sudbury between three and four o'clock in the morning. As the town is eight miles southwestward of Concord, intelligence of the approaching column was received later than at towns on the Boston and Concord highway. But, notwithstanding the distance, the sun was not yet arisen when the summons arrived in town, and then followed a scene of activity un- paralleled in the annals of Sudbury. The course taken by the various companies to reach Concord was, probably, not the same, as they started from different parts of the town. Two companies from the West Side - the minute company and the North Militia - would go by the road through North Sudbury, while the East Side men would, most likely, go by way of Lincoln. Captain Nixon's company started from the West Side meeting-house. The companies of Nixon and Haynes designed to cross the Concord River by way of the old South bridge, or "Wood's bridge," on the site of the county bridge near the Fitchburg Railroad. From doing this, however, they were deterred by an order which reached them when about half a mile away, and by which they marched on to the North bridge. The appearance of this host of town's people, on an errand like that before them, must have been imposing and sad. The gathering and the start were enough of themselves to stir the idlest spectator, and move the most indifferent soul. The morning was peaceful and lovely. Nature was advanced for the season. The fields were green with the grass and grain which even waved in the April breeze, and the buds were bursting, prophetic of early spring. But, in strange contrast, the souls of the people were stirred as if swept by a tempest. The appearance of that hurrying pageant as it swept through the town was at once solemn, strange, and sublime. Their haste was too great to admit of a measured or dignified pace. They were impatient to arrive at the front. Daniel Putnam may be excused if no drum taps are heard save the "long roll " at the very start. Caleb Brown may put by his " Phiffe " until he hears from Luther Blanchard, at the old
375
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
north bridge, the strains of "The White Coekade." The music of the morning was made by the quickened heart- throbbing in those patriotic breasts, as in double-quick they strode over the old north road to be on hand at the ap- proach of the foe. Along the route, mothers and children appeared, to catch a glimpse of the loved ones, who fast flying were soon lost to view. A kiss lovingly cast into the morning air, the passing benediction of word or look, and the crowd rushed by. The loved ones were left to sad conjecture as to what the dread issue might be. We have heard a great-granddaughter of Captain Nixon say that she has been told by her grandmother that a messenger came at night to the house and said, " Up, up! the red-coats are up as far as Concord !" that Mr. Nixon at once started off on horseback, and that sometime during the day Mrs. Nixon went out of the house, which was on Nobscot hillside, and putting her ear to the ground could hear the sound of distant guns.
The north militia and minute company, as we have stated, designed to reach Concord village by way of the old south bridge, but when about half a mile from it were ordered to proceed to the north bridge by Col. James Barrett, the commander of the minute regiment, whose son Stephen had been sent to convey the message to the approaching com- panies. By obeying this order, the Sudbury companies would join a force already assembled on the north side of the village, and also avoid speedy contact with the Britishı guard that already held the south bridge.
When the British arrived at Concord by way of the Lexington road, which leads from the easterly into the town, Colonel Smith, the commander, made a threefold division of his force of eight hundred men. The light infantry were sent in two detachments to guard the bridges and destroy the stores on the village outskirts, while the grenadiers and marines he detained with himself and Major Pitcairn at the centre. In the execution of this plan, Capt. Lawrence Parsons took possession of the north bridge, Capt. Mundy Pole did the same at the south bridge, and each sent detachments from their force to destroy Continental stores.
376
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
The Americans, meanwhile, were powerless to prevent this occurrence. As yet, but comparatively few Continental troops had arrived. It was only about seven or eight o'clock in the morning, and but a few hours since the general alarm. They knew not positively about the work at Lexington Common, nor that the British had come with a deadly intent. They wanted to know just what was right, and waited for strength to enforce the right ; while thus waiting, they with- drew over the river beyond the north bridge. To this vicinity were the Sudbury men sent. But there was, at least on the part of one of the company, a reluctance to turn from their more direct course. They were in the country's highway, and this one person, perhaps, felt like Captain Davis of Acton, who before leaving that town said, " I have a right to go to Concord on the King's highway, and I intend to go if I have to meet all the British troops in Boston." The person referred to as reluctant to turn from his course was Deacon Josiah Haynes, who was eighty years - old. It is stated that he was " urgent to attack the British at the south bridge, dislodge them, and march into the village by that route." Had his opinion prevailed, the battle might have been then and there, and the old south rather than the old north bridge have been the place of note forever. But the south bridge was avoided. In accordance with Colonel Barrett's command, Captains Nixon and Haynes with Lieut. Col. Ezekiel How started, as we have stated, for the old north bridge.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.