"Consisting of the Aged and Others Exempted From Turning Out" - Massachusetts Alarm Lists Revisited

Last year, the Nerds discussed the role of alarm lists within the Massachusetts militia system.

As you may recall, we noted that Massachusetts colonial laws required men between the ages of sixteen and sixty to serve in their local militia company. Every town maintained at least one militia company, and the units were organized into county-level regiments based on location within the geographic jurisdiction.

Within this militia system were the alarm lists. Alarm lists were essentially the "home guard" or the last line of defense for a community. Generally speaking, most alarm list members were over sixty. However, we have seen hints that some Middlesex and Essex County communities transferred men as young as fifty-five into the alarm list.

In addition to “older” males, alarm lists often included male residents between the ages of sixteen and sixty who did not serve in the town’s militia system. Most likely, these would have included males who were temporarily infirm or disabled or men ordered by the selectmen to serve in the alarm lists.

As we previously mentioned, by 1776, Massachusetts had revised its militia laws. It reduced the age of those men eligible to serve within the alarm list from sixty to fifty and capped service at sixty-five. Those over sixty-five were excused from any form of service.

Photo Credit: Tommy Tringale

However, this wasn’t the first time the age of alarm list men was reduced. In conjunction with Minute Man National Park, the Nerds have been researching the role of alarm lists during the Battles of Lexington and Concord. We recently came across evidence of several towns in 1775 reducing the requisite age for a militiaman to be transferred to an alarm list. From the documentation we’ve reviewed, the typical age was decreased to at least fifty-five, although we have seen a reduction as low as fifty.

For example, at a town meeting in March 1775, Billerica approved a resolution to form a committee to “perfect the alarm List; the Rule to go by is, all above the age of fifty-five." Newton reorganized its alarm list in April 1775. Several thirty-seven men in the reserve unit were between fifty-five and fifty-nine. Five were between the ages of fifty and fifty-four. Chelsea, Methuen, and Medfield reduced their alarm list ages to fifty in 1775.

This brings us to Lexington’s Alarm List. Based on surviving records, there is some evidence that its alarm list age had also been reduced to at least fifty-five. Minute Man National Park and the Nerds have examined the role of alarm lists and artillery. There is evidence that in 1775, several communities, including Westborough and Concord, were turning recently acquired iron guns over to alarm lists to be used by them in the event hostilities broke out with England. In short, the alarm lists were being converted into artillery units, at least on paper.

Lexington was no exception. When it acquired a pair of iron cannons in 1774, it formed a committee charged with repairing the gun and mounting it onto a carriage. The entire committee comprised men between fifty-five and seventy, implying that Lexington’s alarm list would serve as an artillery unit if an armed conflict began.

Of course, Lexington’s cannons never saw action on April 19, 1775. This is likely due to the guns not being fully repaired or lacking ammunition. Instead, elements of the alarm list joined Parker’s Company on the town common immediately before the Battle of Lexington.

So, what do we know about Lexington’s alarm list? According to the Reverend William Gordon, the alarm list mustered in full force with Parker’s Company shortly after midnight.

According to the minister, “Before Major Pitcairn arrived at Lexington signal guns had been fired, and the bells had been rung to give the alarm: Lexington being alarmed, the train band or militia, and the alarm men (consisting of the aged and others exempted from turning out, excepting upon an alarm) repaired in general to the common, close in with the Meeting house, the usual place of parade; and these were present when the roll was called over, about one hundred and thirty of both, as I was told by Mr. Daniel Harrington, Clerk to the company, who further said, that the night being chilly, so as to make it uncomfortable being upon the parade, they having received no certain intelligence of the regulars being upon the march, and being waiting for the same, the men were dismissed to appear again at the beat of drum. Some who lived near went home, others to the public house at the corner of the common.”

The Nerds suspect that upon Parker dismissing his men, many of the alarm list men rushed home to assist their families in evacuating from the British line of march. While there may have been an intention to return, some may have elected to watch over their families, while others were incapable of returning due to familial commitments. 

 

List of some of the alarm list me from Newton, Massachusetts c. 1775

According to statistical research by historian David Hackett Fischer, when Parker mustered his men for a second time shortly before the Battle of Lexington, almost a dozen of the seventy-seven men were from the alarm list. Ensign Robert Munroe, who was sixty-three years old, was the senior-most alarm list officer present. He was also one of three alarm list men who were killed that day, the other two being Jonas Parker, who was shot and bayonetted on the green, and Jedediah Munroe, who was wounded at the morning engagement and killed at Parker’s Revenge that afternoon.

Parker regrouped his battered company and the alarm list in the aftermath of the Battle of Lexington and successfully motivated them to re-enter the fight with over one hundred men. It is likely that a significant portion of the alarm list joined the fight at “Parker’s Revenge” and continued to pursue the British regulars as they retreated toward Boston.

The Nerds are still compiling a running list of men who qualified for Lexington’s alarm list. We will keep you posted with what we find!

"Said Companies Into Battalions, To Consist of Nine Companies Each" - A Snapshot of the Minute and Militia Regiments on the Eve of Lexington and Concord

Recently, members of Captain David Brown’s Company of Concord Minute Men and Captain Edward Farmer’s Billerica Company approached the Nerds about the organizational structure of minute and militia companies on the eve of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Before we delve into the regimental makeup of the Massachusetts forces, we want to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the members from Brown’s and Farmer’s Companies. These veteran reenactors, who faithfully represent the local men who saw combat on April 19, 1775, are a wealth of knowledge. If you encounter either organization at Minute Man National Historical Park, take the opportunity to learn from them. They are passionate about their subject and eager to share their expertise.

So, back to the question. The Nerds were asked whether Massachusetts minute or militia companies had any structural hierarchy above the company level or if the various town units acted independently and were not organized into regiments until the Siege of Boston.

The answer is yes. Minute and militia companies were organized into regiments, typically on the county level, before Lexington and Concord.

The origins of the Massachusetts militia can be traced back to the reign of Edward I when Parliament enacted legislation decreeing that every freeman between the ages of fifteen and sixty was to be available to preserve the peace within his county or shire. In the towns where the freemen were located, they were organized into military units known, by their periodic training, as “trained bands.”

Photo Credit - Sean O'Brien

Under Charles II's rule, when Parliament revised membership requirements, established payment protocols, and appointed officers, the 'trained bands' transitioned into what we now know as 'militias. ' By the 17th century, militias had become one of the cornerstones of English society. Thus, when Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies were founded, the establishment of the militia followed naturally. In both colonies, every man over sixteen automatically became a member. The governor maintained the sole authority to activate the militia during a crisis.

Each time a new town sprung up, a militia company was formed. As a town grew or its population grew, additional militia companies were created. When new counties were formed, the various town militias within each county's borders were organized into regiments.

In the early to mid-17th Century, Massachusetts and Plymouth Counties had one militia regiment per county. However, by the eve of the American Revolution, the various counties of the colony had multiple county-level militia regiments organized along territorial districts.

For example, Essex County had four militia regiments. The 4th Essex Regiment of Foot consisted of militia units from towns within the Merrimack Valley region of the county - Andover, Bradford, Boxford, Methuen, Haverhill, Amesbury, and Salisbury. By comparison, the 1st Essex consisted of towns from the southern part of the county, including Salem, Massachusetts, Beverly, Lynn, and Saugus. The 2nd and 3rd Essex Regiments of Foot were composed of towns in the county's interior or between Newburyport and Ipswich.

Thus, by 1774, all Massachusetts counties had at least two militia regiments, but it was more common for each county to have between four and eight regiments within its respective borders.

Like militia companies, regimental field officers were elected by their men. However, the more common practice was for militia officers to meet annually to elect field officers rather than have the rank and file choose. This practice was followed when, on October 26, 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress moved to wrest control of the Massachusetts militia system away from loyalist officers who commanded it. To achieve this, the Provincial Congress ordered the militias to “meet forthwith and elect officers to command their respective companies; and that the officers so chosen assemble as soon as may be . . . and proceed to elect field officers.”

That same day, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress formally called for creating minute companies by drawing a quarter of men from each town militia company. The men were to be organized into town-level minute companies and regiments. According to the order, “ [The] field officers, so elected, forthwith [shall] endeavor to enlist one quarter, at the least, of the number of the respective companies, and form them into companies of fifty privates . . . who shall equip and hold themselves in readiness, on the shortest notice from the said Committee of Safety, to march to the place of rendezvous . . . said companies into battalions, to consist of nine companies each.”

Photo Credit - John Jasewicz

Like their militia counterparts, minute battalions were organized along county regimental districts.

Returning to the example of the 4th Essex Regiment of Foot, Andover’s Samuel Johnson, the newly elected colonel, appeared before each of his town militia companies to recruit and organize companies of minutemen. On February 2, 1775, he spoke to the four militia companies from Andover's North and South Parishes. According to the Essex Gazette, “Last Tuesday at 2 o'clock p. M. the town foot-companies of the 4th regiment of Militia in the County of Essex, Inhabitants of the North Parish in Andover, being mustered (after attending prayers for the direction of the God of armies), Col. Samuel Johnson, lately chosen first officer of said regiment, addressed himself to the companie and with great zeal recommended to them the necessity of enlisting themselves into the service of the province and in a short time fifty able-bodied effective men, being one quarter part of said companies — more than a third part of whom are heads of families and men of substance and Probity, willingly offered themselves: they were then escorted to an Inn, where they made choice of Capt. Thomas Poor, junr, for their captain, Ensign Benjamin Farnum first lieutenant, and Samuel Johnson junr. for second lieutenant. They then subscribed a covenant obliging them to conform to the Resolves of the former or any future Congress or General Assembly of the Province that hath or may have Relation to their Duty, and by said Covenant subjected themselves to martial discipline for the term of one year from the time of their enlisting. And this day the two companies in the South Parish in this town were mustered at two o'clock afternoon, when after attending prayers for direction, Col. Johnson enlisted forty-five able-bodied men as aforesaid and of the like condition and probity, being one quarter part of said companies last mentioned, who immediately proceeded to make choice of Capt. Benjamin Ames for their captain, Lieut. David Chandler first lieutenant and Isaac Abbot for second lieutenant, and subscribed the covenant aforesaid. All being performed with great unanimity, seriousness and decorum, and the soldiers seeming rather to be animated than disheartened by the late disagreeable news contained in the king's speech.”

On February 22, 1775, Johnson visited Boxford. According to the same newspaper, the colonel “addressed himself with great zeal to the two foot-companies of the Fourth Regiment, recommending to them the necessity of enlisting themselves into the service of the Province, and in a short space of time fifty-three able-bodied and effective men willingly offered themselves to serve their Province in defence of their liberties.”

After most towns under Johnson’s command formed minute companies, they elected their field officers, including Andover’s James Frye, as colonel. Thus, the minute companies, raised from the 4th Essex, were organized into Colonel James Frye’s Minute Battalion.

Like the companies under their command, militia and minute regiments assembled in the months and weeks before April 19th to drill and exercise. 

In early 1775, the 4th Bristol Regiment of Militia assembled most of its companies in Mansfield to inspect arms and drill. In March 1775, Middlesex minute and militia battalions assembled for arms inspections and battalion-level drills. On April 11, 1775, Israel Litchfield noted, "three Companies Drew up in Battallion and were Excersised by Major Jacobs.” A little less than a week before the Battles of Lexington and Concord, on April 13, 1775, James Frye’s Minute Battalion held a day-long drill in Andover.

Admittedly, in the aftermath of the Battle of Lexington, most militia and minute companies from Essex, Middlesex, and Norfolk Counties did not wait for regimental orders and immediately mobilized for combat. This is understandable, given that the fighting was either “in their backyard” or a small distance away. By comparison, units from Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, and western Massachusetts counties, all generally removed from the fighting, generally assembled on the regimental level and then marched to war together.

 

 Most Massachusetts militia and minute companies that responded to the “Lexington Alarm” submitted mileage requests seeking compensation for their service. These documents are a treasure trove for identifying regimental designations, including:

Danvers - “Capt. Saml. Flints of ye Militia in the Regiment whereof Timothy Pick’ring Jun Esqr was Colo.”

Acton - “Captain John Hayward’s [Company] in Colonel Abijah Pierce’s Regiment,”

Billerica - “Capt. Edwd. Farmer, of Billerica, in Colo. green’s Regt of Melitia”

Boxford - “Cap William Perly in Colo. James Frye’s Regiment”

Chelmsford - “Capt. Oliver Barron, of Chelmsford … belonging to the Regiment of Militia whereof Colo. David Green Esqr. is Colonel”

Reading - “Capt John Bachellers Company of Minute Men, In Colo Ebenizer’s Bridge’s Regiment”

Sudbury - “Capt. Joseph Smith, in Colo James Barrett’s Regiment”

Woburn - “Capt. Joshua Walker’s Company under the Command of Colonel David Greene of the 2d Middlesex Regiment of Foot”

Dracut - “Capt. Peter Coburn’s Company of minute men under the command of Colo. Bridge”

Cambridge - “Capt. Samuel Thatcher’s Company in Colo Gardner’s Regiment of Militia.”

Brookline - “Under ye command of Capn. Thos. White in Col Wm Heaths Regiment”

Roxbury - “Company under the command of Capt. Moses Whiting, in Colo. John Greaton’s Minut Regiment”

Of course, on a final note, it should be noted that not all provincial military companies in Massachusetts were attached to regiments. In early 1775, Bristol County officials complained there were four minute man companies “not yet incorporated into a regiment.” Similarly, many “independent military companies,” paramilitary units composed of a town’s elite that acted independently of the Colony’s militia system, do not appear to have been organized on the regimental level on the eve of Lexington and Concord.

In the days after Lexington and Concord, the militia and minute regiments outside of Boston manned the siege lines to keep His Majesty’s forces in check. In late April, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress moved to re-organize the army into a “Grand Army.” Preliminary research suggests that many of the minute battalions remained to support the siege and were formally adopted into the Massachusetts Grand Army. In contrast, many of the militia regiments returned home. However, by May 1775, recruiters called on militia regiments to assist in raising additional regiments to support the siege.

An overview of the raising of the Massachusetts Grand Army can be viewed here.

"Countenancing, Aiding, and Assisting Them in the Robberies and Murders Then Committed" - A Theory on the Arms and Equipment of the Loyalist Guides of April 19, 1775

The April 19, 1775 events involved many participants, including militia and minute men, British soldiers, civilians caught in the storm of war, the clergy, children, and yes ... loyalist guides.

Last week, Neil Sorenson of the loyalist reenactment organization King’s Rangers contacted the Nerds to discuss the role of “Tory Pilots” on April 19, 1775. Specifically, Neil wanted to know what equipment loyalist guides carried as they marched with Smith Column to Concord or Percy’s relief force dispatched to Lexington. He also wanted to know if the guides were armed with firelocks or other weapons during the mission.

The Nerds have written several blog posts and published two research articles on the role of loyalist guides during the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The most commonly accessed research article, published by the Journal of the American Revolution, can be viewed here.

When Lt. Colonel Smith and his troops marched to Concord, the expedition had approximately six guides, including Daniel Bliss, Daniel Leonard, and William Warden. The guides were interspersed amongst the column and were responsible for guiding the troops to Concord and identifying any persons of interest they encountered en route to their destination. In addition to leading the column to Concord, the guides were responsible for assisting search parties in locating military stores. “The troops renewed their march to Concord, where, when they arrived, they divided into parties and went directly to several places where the province stores were deposited. Each party was supposed to have a Tory pilot.”

Colonel Percy’s relief column is believed to have eight loyalist guides accompanying it as it marched from Boston to Lexington. These guides included George Leonard, Abijah Willard, and John Emerson. Of the eight, at least half were mounted. Emerson was tasked with delivering “despatches from the British headquarters in Boston to Earl Percy, then covering the retreat of the troops from Concord.” Willard, a veteran of the Siege of Louisbourg and French and Indian War, was positioned before the column to identify any “ambush laid for the troops.”

Not all of the guides returned from their mission. Two, Samuel Murray and John Bowen, were captured by provincial forces.

Photo Credit: Jonathan R. Beckerman

So, with that background, let’s dive into Niel’s questions. First, were the guides armed? The answer is yes, but to what extent do we know? We have not encountered any hard evidence besides a newspaper account from May 3, 1775, suggesting that at least one of the guides was armed with a firelock. According to the Massachusetts Spy, “A young man, unarmed, who was taken prisoner by the enemy, and made to assist in carrying off their wounded, says, that he saw a barber who lives in Boston, thought to be one Warden, with the troops . . . he likewise saw the said barber fire twice upon our people.”

A pair of period accounts also implies some guides may have been armed.

When loyalist guide Walter Barrell volunteered to assist Percy’s relief column, he noted, “when the Lexington affair of the Rebells firing on His Majesty’s troops occurred, he voluntarily associated with a number of friends to Government who offered their services to General Gage in any capacity to oppose the rebels.” The Nerds suspect Barrell’s use of the term “in any capacity” included the proposition of offering armed resistance against the Massachusetts minute and militia companies that engaged the retiring column that day.

Similarly, a Massachusetts Provincial Congress resolution implies that the guides actively participated in the fight against minute and militia companies along the Bay Road. Specifically, on June 16, 1775, the Congress proposed to pardon all enemies who surrendered, except General Gage, Admiral Graves, “and all the natives of America, not belonging to the navy or army, who went out with the regular troops on the nineteenth of April last, and were countenancing, aiding, and assisting them in the robberies and murders then committed.” That phrase implies that many guides were armed and firing at their opponents during the retreat back toward Boston.

Unfortunately, without more evidence, the Nerds can only speculate that some, but likely not all, of the “Tory Pilots” were armed that day.

 

If they were armed, what equipment were they carrying? 

 

In addition to personally owned muskets and fowlers, the Nerds theorize that the guides who were armed likely only carried shot pouches and powder horns as there is no evidence that these individuals were supplied with King’s arms, cartridge boxes, bayonets, and belting when they departed Boston for the Middlesex County countryside.

We suspect mounted guides, if armed, were only equipped with a sidearm in the form of a sword or cutlass. We highly doubt they carried any other weapon as their role, particularly in the afternoon of April 19th, was highly mobile - scouting ahead of the retreating column and maintaining open lines of communication with Boston. It seems improbable that these guides had the time, let alone the inclination, to halt, dismount, fire a musket, reload, remount their horse and continue with their assigned tasks.

What about packs and blankets? The Nerds suspect that unlike their minute and militia counterparts, the guides fielded without packs or blankets. 

 

Why? It comes down to an operational mindset.

When Massachusetts provincial forces mobilized on April 18, 1775, they were responding to what they believed were acts of war and marched for what they believed would be an extended campaign. As a result, Massachusetts men fielded with full campaign gear, including packs and blankets.

By comparison, Gage’s forces saw themselves, at least on paper, as a rapid strike force whose mission was to march to Concord, destroy identified rebel supplies, and quickly return to Boston. Percy’s relief force had similar operational parameters.

As a result, British soldiers who saw action on April 19, 1775, were not burdened by packs, blankets, and other equipment that typically would have been carried or worn on a long-term campaign.

The same operational principles apply to the guides. It makes no sense that Smith and Percy’s guides were heavily equipped for a short-term military operation, especially considering their assigned duties on April 19th. Thus, if the loyalist guides carried any provisions, they likely utilized market wallets or similar bags.

Of course, issuing provisions and supplies to the Loyalist guides on April 18, 1775, is a separate topic that will warrant a future analysis. In short, we have uncovered no evidence that British military authorities issued rations, ammunition, or other supplies to Loyalist guides on April 18-19, 1775.

"Bringing Up Leade From Boston and Running the Bullets" - How Massachusetts Towns Likely Provided Musket Balls for Its Minute and Militia Companies

Minute Man National Historical Park has been abuzz with activities over the past week. These activities center around the rare and significant discovery of five musket balls, a momentous event that history enthusiasts and park visitors are privileged to witness.

According to the New York Post, “Five musket balls were discovered and believed to be fired at British forces by colonial militia members during the North Bridge fight, Jarrad Fuoss, Minute Man park ranger and historic weapons specialist, confirmed to Fox News Digital. The ammunition was found in an area where British soldiers formed up to resist the river crossing, and analysis indicates that each one was fired from the opposite side of the river, not dropped during the process of reloading, according the National Park Service (NPS) … ‘These musket balls can be considered collectively as ‘The Shot Heard Round the World,’ and it is incredible that they have survived this long. It is also a poignant reminder that we are all stewards of this battlefield and are here to preserve and protect our shared history,’ [Jarad] Fuoss said. Fuoss said the musket balls were made of lead, which was very common at the time period, as others could be comprised of different metals.”

The Nerds had an opportunity to view these amazing artifacts on display yesterday at the North Bridge Visitor’s Center. While there, JArad Fuoss and NPS Museum Curator Nikki Walsh explained that the balls range in size from approximately.40 caliber buckshot to almost .75 caliber in size. The balls have markings and deformations consistent with being rammed down a musket barrel and fired.

This discovery is significant because it was made on the eve of the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

That said, last week, the Nerds received an inquiry about how Massachusetts minute and militia companies acquire ammunition in preparation for war with England. Did they purchase the musket balls “as is,” or were they making them themselves?

As a preliminary matter, both local communities and the Massachusetts Provincial Congress were actively encouraging its soldiers to equip themselves with, among other items, musket balls. Congress ordered, “The improvement of the militia in general in the art military has been therefore thought necessary, and strongly recommended by this Congress. We now think that particular care should be taken by the towns and districts in this colony, that each of the minute men, not already provided therewith, should be immediately equipped with an effective firearm, bayonet, pouch, knapsack, thirty rounds of cartridges and balls” 

Similarly, on December 26, 1774, Roxbury ordered "Militia minutemen [to] hold themselves in readiness at a minutes warning, compleat in arms and ammunition; that is to say a good and sufficient firelock, bayonet, thirty rounds of powder and ball, pouch and knapsack.”

Many (but not all) local communities and the Committee of Supplies successfully stockpiled ammunition for Massachusetts troops.  For example, before Westborough’s minute, the company mobilized in response to the Lexington alarm and accessed the town's ammunition stock, it distributed musket balls and gunpowder to its men based on the caliber of the weapons they carried. A post-Battle of Lexington inspection of Chelmsford’s militia and alarm list companies revealed the men had “3043 Bulletts,” while a Bristol County militia regiment reported it had “pounds powder—244 1/2, Bullets—11934.”

That said, the question posed to the Nerds was whether towns were purchasing bullets “pre-made” or making musket balls themselves. While it is conceivable that representatives from various towns could have bought "pre-made" musket balls, from the limited documentation we have reviewed, the more common practice appears to be that towns would often purchase lead, often in "brick" form, melt it down themselves, and make bullets based on the various calibers of firearms within their community. The town would then either distribute the balls to the respective militia and minute men of their town or store them in the community's ammunition stock.

An example of this practice can be found in Lexington. On November 10, 1774, the town voted to acquire musket balls for its militia company. “Voted. That two half barrells of powdere be addede to the Town stocke. Also Voted that a sufficiency of ball for sd powdere be provided. Votede. That there be a suitable quantity of Flints provided for the Towne if there be found a deficency.”

Shortly after passing this resolution, Lexington charged two residents, Joshua Reed and “Ensign Harrington,” with acquiring lead bricks to make musket balls. The pair traveled to Waltham and Boston and purchased sufficient lead to make musket balls for Captain John Parker’s Company.

According to town records, Ensign Harrington purchased enough lead to make approximately 104 pounds of musket balls. As Lexington town records note, “Granted an ordere to pay Ensign Harrington £2.12.10 in full . . . for 104 lbs. of bullets & . . . for going to Walthame for powdere & to Bostone for leads.”

Similarly, Joshua Reed was also securing ammunition for Parker’s Company. According to town records, Reed was compensated “in full for his bringing up leade from Boston and running the bullets.”

The Nerds suspect the term “running the bullets” refers to melting lead to make musket balls.

As we dug further, we encountered similar accounts from Methuen, Amesbury, and Bradford. In each community, the residents agreed to form committees to purchase lead and cast musket balls. 

We also found a July, 776 Massachusetts legislative order instructing towns within the colony to turn over any spare window lead weights so they could be melted and made into musket balls. The order appeared in the July 12, 1776 edition of the Essex Journal And New Hampshire Packet.

We’ll keep you posted as we continue researching the matter.

"There Are Under the Care of the Selectmen and Overseers" - A Sampling of Local Community Concerns in the Shadows of the 1774 Coercive Acts

2024 marks the 250th anniversary of implementing the “Coercive Acts,” General Gage’s arrival in the colony, the formation of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, and the buildup to war with England. With the passage of the Boston Port Bill and related acts, Massachusetts' opinions ranged from fear of economic ruin to resentment over the restriction of “English liberties.” As the weeks passed, a common belief amongst many colonists emerged that an immoral British government, having exhausted opportunities for plunder and profit in England and Ireland, was now seeking a dispute with the American colonies as an excuse to enslave and deprive them of their wealth and liberties. Parliament had hoped to accomplish this goal quietly, but the furor aroused in the colonies by England’s economic policies had given the government a temporary setback. Now, these mysterious men, who controlled Parliament and the king’s ministers, were undertaking to openly incite a war, declare American rebels, and enslave them.

For example, a Lexington town resolution noted, “[Our] Charter Rights & Liberties are in danger, are infringed and upon a most careful, Serious & mature Consideration of them . . . and are comparing them with Acts of the British Parliament, & Measures adopted by the British Court, Ministry & Government . . .some of which have been carried into Execution amongst us, We are clearly of opinion that . . . the Plan of Oppression is begun, & so far carried on that, if our Enemies are still Successful, and no Means can be found to put a Stop to their Career, . . . we have just Reason to fear That the Eyes of the Head of Government being blinded, the Sources of Justice poisoned and Hands of administration bribed with interest, the system of slavery will soon be compleat.”

"An Ale House Interior" by George Morland, c. 1790

While colonists were keenly aware of the political, economic, and constitutional threats of the “Intolerable Acts,” the Nerds had to ask, were there other daily concerns that took priority and occasionally overshadowed the constitutional crisis throughout the Summer of 1774?

Naturally, the answer is “of course.”

In Amesbury, residents were concerned about the condition of the roadways that passed through their town and voted to raise “￡80 … for the repairing of highways.” Lexington selectmen spent much of the summer addressing multiple notices centering on the arrival of several apprentices, children who were either orphans or separated from their families, and pregnant young women. On one such occasion, Thomas Harrington notified Lexington selectmen that he had taken in “a child named Sarah Harris, who came from “low circumstances.”

In Methuen, residents bickered over how best to improve a bridge that spanned over the Spicket River. After a considerable debate, the residents agreed to hire “Mr Henery Bodwell for plan to cover Spicket Bridge near Caleb Halls” and purchase wood planks from John Whittier Jr. and Abner Morriel. In Bedford, residents were outraged that a recent 1774 tax valuation had more than tripled their property taxes since 1770.

Along the Merrimack River, the seaport community of Newburyport received reports of an earthquake that had recently rattled Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Like Lexington, Newburyport residents were primarily focused on a growing influx of poor children and teens who required public assistance and care. According to an August 31, 1774 advertisement in the Essex Journal and Merrimack Packet, the town’s selectmen announced, “There are under the care of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Newbury Port two young men and a number of boys and girls, from six years old to eighteen, many of them likely children; Persons who incline to take any of them as apprentices may know who they are, and upon what terms they will be bound out, by applying to the Selectmen or Overseers of said town.”

"The Haycart" by Francis Wheatley, c. 1779

In Westborough, the Reverend Ebenezer Parker spent much of his summer “haying,” visiting members of his flock, selling a horse, repairing fencing, writing correspondence to friends and associates, and reading and borrowing books.

In Rowley, colonists argued over an appropriate salary for the town’s minister. Several residents held out because they believed including twelve cords of wood per year as part of Reverend Bradford’s pay was excessive. At the same time, residents of Lynn were upset over the property once owned by “Joseph Gould, a Quaker” that had fallen into disrepair and was “Unfit for use.”

In Plymouth, when residents weren’t dragging the famed “Plymouth Rock” through town to relocate it near the town meeting house, they likely noticed that the community’s fishing fleet had expanded to seventy-five vessels, many of them schooners.

July 1774 was an expensive month for Haverhill. At a town meeting, the residents voted to round up “those to whom the Town is indebted, to bring in their Claims - in order to be allowed.” Shortly afterward, it resolved to “see what Money the Town will Vote to Raise to defray Town Charges in the present Year.” Finally, the residents agreed to continue to finance two schools in the town, “the one a Grammar School, and the other an English School.”

Image of August 29, 1774 Pepperell Town Meeting Minutes (Town of Pepperell)

Of course, the Nerds would be remiss if we didn’t come full circle and return to the colony’s objections to the Coercive Acts. We recently found a fascinating account from an August 29, 1774, town meeting in Pepperell, Massachusetts.

According to surviving minutes, “This being a time when the civil liberty of this province are unjustly infringed upon, when the ministry of Old England have endeavored to take away our Charter rights and privileges and the people of this province very much disturbed, every one looking after English liberties as departing from North America when congresses are appointed and appointing and the struggles very high, the people of this District prepared and raised a pole by the name of Liberty Pole the height of which was one hundred feet on the common directly before the Publick Meeting House door on the 29th day of August A.D. 1774 with a flag of Blew and red cloth five yards long and four bredths wide with convenience to hoist it to the top of the pole with ease.”

"A Continual Riding to all the Enemies of America" - Twenty-Four "Patriotic" Toasts Used in 1774 Essex County

Earlier this week, the Nerds shared their research findings on the political and military mood in Essex County (MA) in 1774. The event was held at Meredith Farm in Topsfield, MA, and sponsored by Essex Heritage.

One intriguing aspect discussed with guests after the presentation was the evolution of “patriotic” drinking toasts in 1774. As a starting point, historian Timothy Symington, in his book “Huzza! Toasting a New Nation, 1760-1815”, points out that toasts were a common social practice, often reflecting the prevailing social and political mood of the time.

Symington's research reveals a significant shift in toasting traditions. Pre-1776 American toasts, he notes, typically began with a pledge of loyalty to the King, Queen, and royal family, followed by toasts to Parliament and military leaders. The sessions usually concluded with anti-Catholic sentiments and a wish for prosperity. However, by 1770, toasts with a more rebellious or patriotic tone emerged, particularly in New England.

The Ale-House Door, a painting by Henry Singleton. c. 1790

However, by 1770, toasts seen as “rebellious” or “seditious” by royal officials and embraced by Massachusetts colonists started to creep into American toasts, particularly in New England. 

One example is a September 27, 1774 toast John Adams recorded a Dr. Cox made: “May the fair dove of Liberty in this Deluge of Despotism, find rest to the sole of her foot in America.” Another, which appeared in the January 19, 1774 edition of the Essex Journal And Merrimack Packet called for “A cobweb pair of breeches, a Hedge Hog saddle, a hard trotting horse and a continual riding to all the enemies of America.”

Curiously, Massachusetts colonists appeared to tread cautiously while in the presence of General Thomas Gage. When Gage arrived in Boston in late May 1775 to assume control of Massachusetts Bay Colony, several balls and celebrations were held in his honor. On May 25, 1774, the Essex Journal And Merrimack Packet reported, “Many loyal toasts were drank, and the harmony and decorum observed.” On June 1st, the same newspaper reported a second celebration took place, where “many loyal toasts were drank, the guns in the several batteries were fired on the occasion.”

Conspicuously absent in either account were any reports of “patriotic” or seditious toasts.

Of course, “patriotic” toasts became increasingly commonplace as Massachusetts moved closer to war. On September 21, 1774, a Newburyport newspaper reported a military company from the town’s Independent Marine Society spent the day drilling and visiting various taverns. According to the article, “after spending a few very agreeable hours with a number of gentlemen (whom Mr. 'Feel had invited) in conversation, repast, and drinking a number of loyal and patriotic toasts, the society again rally, march to the town-house, and after firing three vollies lodged their arms. All was conducted with the greatest order and good humour.” 

 Approximately a month later, the Newburyport Company of Artillery assembled to drill. Once finished, “they then marched to General Wolf’s tavern where an elegant supper was provided at the expense of the company, and a few agreeable hours were spent with drinking forty-five loyal and patriotic toasts.”

So, with all this said, do we know what some patriotic toasts, particularly in Essex County? In our best Mona Lisa Vito voice, we can happily say, “we do!”

In addition to the Massachusetts two toasts described above, we have a collection of twenty-four toasts from Newburyport’s Independent Marine Society. The Essex County military company gathered on mid-October 1774 to drill and practice various “firing modes.” Once finished, they retired to a nearby tavern for a social gathering.

According to a local newspaper account, the men gave a series of toasts that started with professing loyalty to the King and Queen and rejecting Catholicism. Almost immediately, the remainder of the toasts delved into what some would interpret as seditious statements. The toasts included praise of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, a call for the “reformation [of] all tories” and “more of a military spirit.”

Here are images of the toasts, which can be found in the October 26, 1774 edition of the Essex Journal And Merrimack Packet:

On June 15th and 16th, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Salem, Massachusetts, will host “By His Excellency's Command,” a living history event commemorating the 250th anniversary of General Thomas Gage's arrival in Salem. Salem Maritime has invited some of New England’s finest living history practitioners to portray Salem's soldiers, officers, legislators, and loyalist and patriot citizens.

Be sure to visit this amazing event and try out some of the above toasts on the loyalist and "patriot" residents of 1774 Salem!

"65 ½ Gallons of N.E. Rum" - What a Newburyport Minute Company Brought To War

This past April 19th, the Nerds sponsored a “real-time campaign” of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Admittedly, we were humbled by the overwhelmingly positive feedback and encouragement from new and long-term followers. After reviewing our analytics for our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages, we discovered we had amassed over one million views between April 17th and 20th. For the entire month of April, we received over six million visits!

We can't thank you enough for being part of our nerdy community. (We’re not crying; you’re crying!!)

Anywho, during our real-time campaign, the Museum of Old Newbury shared with us a neat document attributable to an April 19th Newburyport Minute Man Company.

On the eve of the American Revolution, the seaport community of Newburyport had nine military companies. These included four militia companies, two minute-man companies, an independent marine company composed of the community’s merchants, ship owners, and captains, a uniformed artillery company, and a private military body known only as the “independent company.”

Throughout the Fall of 1774, the nine units were in complete wartime preparation mode, acquiring weapons and accouterments, reviewing drill manuals and gathering supplies for an anticipated military campaign.. By the Spring of 1775, Newburyport merchant ships were sailing to French colonies in the West Indies to acquire firelocks and artillery pieces.

On April 19, 1775, an alarm rider arrived midday in Newburyport to alert the community of the British advance on Concord. Surprisingly, the town refused to believe the message and sent a rider toward Salem to confirm the report's veracity. When he reached Danvers, the rider discovered not only that His Majesty’s forces were advancing toward Concord but had massacred a militia company in Lexington. In response, the rider raced back to Newburyport.

By 5 PM, all nine of Newburyport’s military units had assembled and marched off to war. By midnight, the troops had arrived in the Menotomy District of Cambridge. The men encamped near the horrific aftermath of the Menotomy fight, which was a vicious hand-to-hand struggle between Massachusetts and British troops and left dozens dead and wounded. 

The next day, the nine units joined the Siege of Boston.

To celebrate the 249th Anniversary of Newburyport’s response to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Museum of Old Newbury posted an image of a period document in its collection on its social media pages. The document was an expense receipt from Captain Moses Nowell’s Minute Company of Newburyport for food and drink acquired as the unit advanced toward Boston.

Most expense documents submitted by Massachusetts forces following Lexington and Concord include mileage costs. A few requests for reimbursement, particularly for units from Western Massachusetts, include expenses incurred from room and board. 

Image Courtesy of The Museum of Old Newbury

The neat thing is that this is the second account the Nerds are aware of, which describes what Massachusetts forces consumed in the field as they advanced to intercept British troops.

The first account is from Andover minuteman James Stevens. According to his journal entry, "April ye 19 1775 this morning about seven aclok we had alarum that the Reegerlers was gon to Conkord we getherd to the meting hous & then started for Concord we went throu Tukesbary & in to Bilrica we stopt to Polords & eat some bisket & Ches on the comon.”

The Newburyport document includes similar food items. For example, Nowell’s men purchased “ship’s bread,” “white bread,” and “cheese.” However, the men also obtained additional items in preparation for a prolonged campaign, including a “½ quintal fish.” 

A half quintal of fish was approximately fifty-six pounds of dried codfish.

Nowell also retained Newbury chocolatier Anthony Davenport's services to acquire twenty-five pounds of chocolate for his men.

Of course, there are two eye-raising items on the expense receipt submitted by Captain Nowell. First, the unit purchased “65 ½ gallons of N.E. rum, " roughly the equivalent of a hogshead.  Admittedly, the Nerds are curious whether the Newburyport men distributed this rum via canteen rations or transported a hogshead in a cart as the unit advanced toward Boston. 

The other entry lists “entertainment for men.”  The Nerds are curious about the exact “entertainment” provided to the Newburyport minute company before departing to Boston and did unleash an occasional snicker. However, based on the invoice, we suspect Anthony Davenport likely entertained Nowell’s Company while they waited for the town’s rider to return from Salem.

The minute company submitted this invoice for reimbursement in November 1775. We are unsure if the request for compensation was allowed.

The Nerds encourage our followers to visit the Museum of Old Newbury, located on High Street in Newburyport, Massachusetts.