Battles of Lexington and Concord

250th Anniversary – On April 19, 1775, the first armed conflict of the American Revolutionary War occurred on the village green in Lexington, Massachusetts. Alerted by riders Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott local militia assembled on the Lexington Green to resist the British forces. At dawn, seventy-seven militia members, led by Captain John Parker, faced roughly 800 British soldiers on Lexington Green. Amidst the standoff, a shot was fired, its origin remains unknown, which triggered the British troops to open fire, resulting in the deaths of eight colonists and wounding several others.

Two of my 5th g-grandfathers (paternal), Joseph Simonds and Joel Viles, where two of the seventy-seven men of Captain Parker’s Company of Lexington Militia who engaged the British and were part of the “shot heard round the world.”

Joshua Simonds – When the British came up in front of the meeting-house, Joshua Simonds was in the upper gallery, an open cask of powder standing near him, and he afterward told me, that he cocked his gun and placed the muzzle of it close to the cask of powder, and determined to “touch it off,” in case the troops had come into the gallery. (Ebenezer Munroe – Boston 1775 Blog)

“Accumulation of all powers…in the same hands…may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” James Madison

“In absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king.” Thomas Paine

References:

“Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long! The regulars are coming out!” The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and Some Other Guys

Lexington Green 19th of April 1775 – Painting by Don Troiani, a skilled American academic realist painter, known for his Civil War and American Revolution paintings. I am grateful for his permission to use his amazing painting as the header for my family genealogical blog.

The header for my blog features a painting by American academic realist painter Don Troiani and is titled “Lexington Common.” The painting captures the emotions of the local militia as they prepared to meet the British in Lexington, Massachusetts on the 19th of April 1775. (Mr. Troiani kindly gave me permission to feature his amazing work).

I choose the painting to honor my 5th great grandfathers Joseph Simonds and Joel Viles, two of the seventy-seven men of Captain John Parker’s Company of Lexington Militia who stood bravely before the vanguard of 800 advancing British regulars.

As the British advance guard assembled on the Lexington Common, Captain Parker, vastly outnumbered, ordered his company to disperse. A shot was fired (historians debate who fired the shot) and the British then fired several quick volleys killing 8 and injuring 10 militia. This brief skirmish is regarded as the first exchange of gunfire in the Revolutionary War.

Battle of Lexington by Hammatt Billings
Boston: Smith & Knight, 1861, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum, Lexington, MA

Buckman Tavern – In this later print of the Battle of Lexington (above), Buckman’s Tavern can be seen in the background (left-middle) on the edge of Lexington Green. The initial construction of the tavern was started between 1709-13 by my 7th great-grandparents John Muzzy and wife Elizabeth Bradshaw on land conveyed to him by his father Benjamin. Following is a brief history of Buckman Tavern, which is still standing and a furnished historic site with audio tour and exhibit space managed by the Lexington Historical Society.

The Buckman Tavern is most renowned for its role in the events of April 19, 1775. However, the site is important in other ways. It has been a notable presence in Lexington since it became a tavern in 1713, shortly after it was built. As a “Public House of Entertainment,” the Tavern was faithfully tended by John Muzzy from 1713 to about 1755, *Samuel Stone from 1764 or earlier to 1768, John Buckman from 1768 to 1784, **Joseph Simonds from 1784 to 1794, and Rufus Meriam from 1794 to about 1815 when the building ceased to be used as a tavern. (Source: Historic Structure Report – Buckman Tavern, Lexington Historical Society)

*Samuel Stone, my 6th great-grandfather, married to Jane Muzzy, the daughter of John.

**Joseph Simonds, my 5th great grandfather who fought in the Battle of Lexington, married to Elizabeth Stone, the daughter of Jane and Samuel Stone.

Side Note: After Samuel Stones death, his wife Jane sold the tavern to John Buckman (hence Buckman Tavern) who was the husband of Ruth Stone (who I am guessing was her sister-in-law?)

Comments, corrections and and suggestions appreciated.

“Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long! The regulars are coming out!”

(246th Anniversary) The Shot Heard Round Buckman Tavern