The Nerds, as well as several far more qualified (and admittedly better-looking) historians, chimed in on the topic. The result was a cursory overview of the Massachusetts militia system alarm lists.
But what are alarm lists, and what were their contributions to the wartime buildup on the eve of the American Revolution?
As a preliminary matter, 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 upon location within the geographic jurisdiction. For example, the militia companies of the Merrimack Valley region of Essex County, Massachusetts, were organized into a regiment known as the “4th Essex Regiment of Foot”.
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.
Alarm lists appear to be an 18th-century construct, as 17th-century Massachusetts colonial militia laws do not reference the term or concept. Similarly, early and mid-18th century amendments to the 1697 Militia Act do not reference Alarm Lists. In fact, the first official reference to such a reserve force appears to be in the 1757 Massachusetts Militia Act. However, based on the law's language and the lack of instructions on establishing and organizing alarm lists, the Nerds suspect the 1757 law was most likely a codification of an ongoing practice already in place rather than creating a whole new system. Admittedly, further research is needed, but It is suspected that the alarm list system developed in conjunction with the French Wars moving further west and north away from Massachusetts.
In the late 17th and 18th Centuries, the Massachusetts Colonial Legislature also passed a series of laws dictating how militia and non-commissioned officers were chosen, what arms and equipment militiamen should carry, and how often they should train. For example, the 1697 Militia Act required “That every listed souldier and other householder (except ' troopers) shall be alwayes provided with a well fixt firelock musket, of) musket or bastard musket bore, the barrel not less then three foot and a half long, or other good firearms to the satisfaction of the commission officers of the company, a snapsack, a coller with twelve bandeleers or cartouch-box, one pound of good powder, twenty bullets fit for his gun, and twelve flints, a good sword or cutlace, a worm and priming-wire fit for his gun ; on penalty of six shillings for want of such arms as is hereby required, and two shillings for each other defect, and the like "sum for every four weeks he shall remain unprovided, the fine to be paid by parents for their sons under age and under their command, and by masters or heads of families for their servants, other than servants upon wages.”
Similarly, before the Massachusetts wartime buildup of 1774/1775, militia companies were legally required to hold four training days per year plus two additional days for military “instruction” and “inspection” of arms and equipment.
The laws governing alarm lists generally mirrored those of militia companies. Members of alarm lists were required to hold elections to choose their officers, non-commissioned officers and clerks. They were also expected to acquire the same arms and equipment that a militia company was required to have. For example, a 1776 Massachusetts militia act declared that the men of alarm lists “shall, respectively, provide for, and equip themselves with, such arms and accoutrements as by this act is directed for those of the training- band in the militia, aforesaid”.
However, there were some exceptions and limitations with alarm lists that militia companies did not have.
In the late 17th and 18th Centuries, the Massachusetts Colonial Legislature also passed a series of laws dictating how militia and non-commissioned officers were chosen, what arms and equipment militiamen should carry, and how often they should train. For example, the 1697 Militia Act required “That every listed souldier and other householder (except ' troopers) shall be alwayes provided with a well fixt firelock musket, of) musket or bastard musket bore, the barrel not less then three foot and a half long, or other good firearms to the satisfaction of the commission officers of the company, a snapsack, a coller with twelve bandeleers or cartouch-box, one pound of good powder, twenty bullets fit for his gun, and twelve flints, a good sword or cutlace, a worm and priming-wire fit for his gun ; on penalty of six shillings for want of such arms as is hereby required, and two shillings for each other defect, and the like "sum for every four weeks he shall remain unprovided, the fine to be paid by parents for their sons under age and under their command, and by masters or heads of families for their servants, other than servants upon wages.”
Similarly, before the Massachusetts wartime buildup of 1774/1775, militia companies were legally required to hold four training days per year plus two additional days for military “instruction” and “inspection” of arms and equipment.
The laws governing alarm lists generally mirrored those of militia companies. Members of alarm lists were required to hold elections to choose their officers, non-commissioned officers and clerks. They were also expected to acquire the same arms and equipment that a militia company was required to have. For example, a 1776 Massachusetts militia act declared that the men of alarm lists “shall, respectively, provide for, and equip themselves with, such arms and accoutrements as by this act is directed for those of the training- band in the militia, aforesaid”.
However, there were some exceptions and limitations with alarm lists that militia companies did not have.
Alarm lists were not required to meet four times a year to drill and only had to assemble twice annually to inspect arms and equipment. As the 1757 militia law declared, “Every person borne on the alarm list, and not on the train band, shall, on the first Monday in May, and the last training day in the year, annually, between three and five of the clock in the afternoon, and while the trained bands shall be under arms, carry or send his arms and ammunition into the field to be viewed; and in case any person shall neglect or refuse to carry or send his arms and ammunition into the field as aforesaid, unless unavoidably prevented, he shall be liable to the same penalty for each day's neglect, as if he had not such arms and ammunition.”
Furthermore, in times of emergency or threats, such as the Lexington Alarm of 1775, alarm lists could mobilize, leaving the confines of a community to serve side by side with its sister militia company in the field. When such a scenario occurred, Massachusetts militia laws implied that the officers of alarm lists were subordinate to their fellow officers from their community’s militia company. Curiously, the requirement to mobilize with a sister militia unit became voluntary once an alarm list member reached sixty years of age. According to the 1776 Massachusetts Militia Act, “no person above sixty years of age … shall be compelled to march out of the town wherein they have their usual place of abode.”
The January 1776 Massachusetts militia law, entitled An Act For Forming And Regulating The Militia Within The Colony Of The Massachusetts Bay, In New England, And For Repealing All The Laws Heretofore Made For That Purpose, made the most significant change to the alarm list system during the American Revolution by restructuring age requirements of both organizations. Specifically, it restructured the service eligibility of militia and alarm lists. Unless excused by law, those between sixteen and fifty were required to serve in the militia. Men between the ages of fifty and sixty-five were assigned to the alarm lists. Those over sixty-five were outright excused from any service.
With all that said, what role did alarm lists play during the buildup to war or the Battles of Lexington and Concord?
The short answer is that the alarm's "older men" significantly contributed to the war effort. On September 26, 1774, Lexington selectmen ordered the “alarm list meet for a view of their arms” as part of its wartime effort. On March 6, 1775, the Town of Westborough ordered that men from the alarm list be attached to Captain Brigham’s Minute Company and train on an artillery piece Westborough acquired in the Fall of 1774. By April 3rd, the Reverend Ebenezer Parkman noted the two units were frequently drilling together. Chelmsford ordered in March 1775 that its alarm list be “be equipt with fire arms and ammunition” in preparation for war. Haverhill, Andover and Newburyport’s alarm list companies were routinely “exercising” and “showing arms” with its sister militia and minute man units.
Although most alarm list companies remained behind to protect their communities during the Battles of Lexington and Concord, several alarm lists did mobilize to meet the British threat. As Lexington militiaman Daniel Harrington recounted during the early hours of April 19th, “the train band or Militia, and the alarm men (consisting of the aged and others exempted from turning out, excepting upon alarm) repaired in general to the common, close in with the meeting-house, the usual place of parade; and there were present when the roll was called over about one hundred and thirty of both.” When the Lexington men reformed later in the morning, elements of the alarm list were present with Parker’s men.
Although most alarm list companies remained behind to protect their communities during the Battles of Lexington and Concord, several alarm lists did mobilize to meet the British threat. As Lexington militiaman Daniel Harrington recounted during the early hours of April 19th, “the train band or Militia, and the alarm men (consisting of the aged and others exempted from turning out, excepting upon alarm) repaired in general to the common, close in with the meeting-house, the usual place of parade; and there were present when the roll was called over about one hundred and thirty of both.” When the Lexington men reformed later in the morning, elements of the alarm list were present with Parker’s men.
it is almost certain that alarm list companies from Cambridge, Lincoln, Concord and other communities mobilized in response to the British incursion into the Middlesex countryside as well.
According to various accounts, Mentomy’s alarm list successfully intercepted a supply wagon meant for the British expedition en route to Concord. Danver’s alarm list quickly mobilized and engaged in a forced march to intercept the British column as it retired towards Boston. Period accounts suggest the age men of Danvers fought side by side with their younger relatives and neighbors during a brutal hand-to-hand fight with His Majesty’s forces in Menotomy.
More research needs to be conducted regarding the contribution of alarm lists during the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Nerds would like to direct our readers to the only known organization in the New England area portraying an alarm list … the Danvers Alarm List. This organization does a great job memorializing Danvers's contributions to the American Revolution, and they are all-around amazing people. Be sure to follow them on social media.
But that said, we will also ask the obvious … why aren’t there more older reenactors organizing and portraying Massachusetts alarm lists?
According to various accounts, Mentomy’s alarm list successfully intercepted a supply wagon meant for the British expedition en route to Concord. Danver’s alarm list quickly mobilized and engaged in a forced march to intercept the British column as it retired towards Boston. Period accounts suggest the age men of Danvers fought side by side with their younger relatives and neighbors during a brutal hand-to-hand fight with His Majesty’s forces in Menotomy.
More research needs to be conducted regarding the contribution of alarm lists during the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Nerds would like to direct our readers to the only known organization in the New England area portraying an alarm list … the Danvers Alarm List. This organization does a great job memorializing Danvers's contributions to the American Revolution, and they are all-around amazing people. Be sure to follow them on social media.
But that said, we will also ask the obvious … why aren’t there more older reenactors organizing and portraying Massachusetts alarm lists?
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