Patriot's Day and New England Style

The first shots of the American Revolution were fired on April 19th, 1775 at the battles of Lexington and Concord. From that day to this, Lexington and Concord are quintessential American towns.

Engraving of the Battle of Lexington by Amos Doolittle (engraver) and Ralph Earl (artist), 1775

Detail engraving of the "British Army in Concord" by Amos Doolittle (engraver) and Ralph Earl (artist), 1775

Detail engraving of the "North Bridge Fight"  by Amos Doolittle (engraver) and Ralph Earl (artist), 1775

The Jason Russell house in nearby Arlington, MA still has the bullet holes from that day. This home is the classic New England colonial style home with center entrance and 6 over 9 windows.

Buckman Tavern (originally Muzzey Tavern) in Lexington, built in 1710, was where Paul Revere watched the growing rebellion from the second story. The house sits across the street from the Lexington Green.

The Monroe Tavern (circa 1695) in Lexington was used by the wounded British as a headquarters and hospital. 

The Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington was built in 1737. John Hancock and Samuel Adams were staying in the house prior to the battles of Lexington and Concord. The house was built by the Rev. John Hancock, grandfather of the signer of the Declaration of Independence. This is the only known still standing residence of John Hancock. The house is now a museum that contains some of the Hancock and Clarke family furnishings and has recently been renovated. (image courtesy of LexingtonHistory.org). The architectural style is early Georgian, known for it's symmetry and fine lined detail.

The Wright Tavern in Concord (built 1747) was the rallying point for the men of Concord on the morning on April 19th, 1775.

  The Olde Manse in Concord was built in 1770 for Patriot Minister William Emerson, grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson. The house was within eyesight of the North Bridge where the Battle of Concord was fought.

The Lexington town green today.

The Old North Bridge, Concord, today via Wikipedia

Margaret (Kemble or Kimball) Gage (portrait by George Singleton Copley, circa 1771) was the American born wife of General Thomas Gage, military Governor of Massachusetts and commander-in-chief of 3000 British soldiers was thought to have tipped off the Revolutionaries about the British plans. The beautiful dress and exuberant Chippendale style (if not actual Chippendale) camel back sofa indicate her status and wealth of the day.  Mrs. Gage and her husband were congregants of the Old North Church in the North End of Boston.

Paul Revere  (portrait by John Singleton Copley, 1768) was the messenger notifying the locals of the movements of the British before the battles of Lexington and Concord. Paul Revere was born in Boston's North End (today the Italian neighborhood). As a boy, Paul Revere was part of the Bell Ringers Guild and rang the bells in the Old North Church (built in 1723). 

The Old North Church was Anglican and the "King's Own" church in Colonial Boston. Most of the congregants were loyal to the British Crown. Paul Revere was a member of the Puritan/Congregationalist faith. It is believed that he likely noticed the great view from the steeple when working as a bell ringer.

The chandeliers were brought in from England for the first Christmas services. The Puritan/Congregationalists would have looked down on these for their overt decoration and because the Puritans did not celebrate Christmas at that time.

Paul Revere asked the church sexton Robert Newman to use lanterns to signal the patriots in Charlestown across the river of the British troop movements. Newman agreed and at 10:00PM on the night of April 18th, he climbed the 14 story belltower in complete darkness and then lit the two lamps that signaled that the troops were moving by sea. The British plan was to cross the Charles River to march north to Lexington to surprise the patriots by morning.  The two lamps were lit for less than a minute, enough time for the patriots to get the message, but also enough time to draw the attention of the British Troops, who tried to break into the church to see what was up.  Robert Newman escaped via the window to the right of the alter, which is now known as the Newman window.

Paul Revere, silversmith:

Silver service by Paul Revere, as exhibited in the Museum of Fine Arts, 1906

This graceful tea set was made by Revere in 1799 for presentation to Edmund Hartt and is now owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Sons of Liberty punchbowl, made by Revere in 1768.

The inscription reads:

To the Memory of the glorious NINETY-TWO: Members / of the Honbl House of Representatives of the Massachusetts-Bay, / who, undaunted by the insolent Menaces of Villains in Power, / from a Strict Regard to Conscience, and the LIBERTIES / of their Constituents, on the 30th of June 1768, / Voted NOT TO RESCIND.

 The punch bowl was commissioned by the fifteen members of the Sons of Liberty to commemorate the 92-17 vote by the Massachusetts Assembly not to rescind their declaration that the "Stamp Acts" were un-constitutional because, as James Otis famously declared, there will be "No taxation without representation". 

To this day, the style of the Revere Punch Bowl serves as a traditional presentation bowl to commemorate accomplishments and special events.  I have two -  the "Unsung Hero" silver bowl presented to me for my work for my IFDA New England chapter, and a Tiffany's crystal bowl when I hit my tenth year working at WGBH Boston.


Happy Patriot's Day everyone!





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