Local minister’s diary sheds light on April 19
April 19, 1775 certainly stands out as an important date in local history.
And, the names of famous patriots and Sons of Liberty who helped make history on the 19 th fill written accounts of that day on Lexington Green.
But what about the lesser known of that day?
Burlington’s own Rev. John Marrett was certainly not a John Hancock or Sam Adams or Paul Revere, but if you turn to his diary, you find a sparse, yet valuable outline of events before and after April 19. It sheds some small light on how residents in the countryside saw the historic events of the day.
Many of Marrett’s diary entries refer to his sermons, visits to other towns, administering to the sick, officiating at both weddings and funerals, and current weather conditions. But in between those everyday items, were his observations about the colonies’ growing unrest. Here’s a sampling:
April 4: “Rode to Wilmington and Reading. Heard Mr. Stone preach a sermon to the minute men.”
April 8 : “People moving out of Boston on account of the troops.”
April 9: “Mr. Marston came up from Boston to get a place for his wife & children.”
April 19: “Fair, windy & cold. A distressing day. About 800 Regulars marched from Boston to Concord as they went up, they killed 8 men at Lexington meetinghouse; they huzzard & then fired as our men had turned their backs. Who in number were about 100 & then they proceeded to Concord. The adjacent country were alarmed the later part of the night preceding. The action at Lexington was just before sunrise. Our men pursued them to and from Concord on their retreat back. Several killed on both sides but much the least on our side as we picked them off on their retreat. They (the British) burned 3 houses in Lexington and one barn & did other mischief to buildings they were pursued to Charlestown where they entrenched on a hill just over the neck. Thus commences an important period.”
April 20: “Rode to Lexington, saw the mischief the Regulars did and returned home.”
April 21: “Rode to Concord. The country coming in fast to our help.”
April 22: All quiet here. Our forces gathered at Cambridge and towns about Boston. The Regulars removed from Charlestown to Boston the day before yesterday.”
April 23 : Soldiers traveling down and returning brought their arms with them to meetinghouse with warlike accoutrements. A Dark Day. “
April 24: “A dull time, packing up my most valuable effects to be ready to move on any ‘sudden occasion.’”
April 25 : “Rode to Cambridge. Our forces very numerous there.”
April 26 : “Returned home via Lexington Many houses on the road pillaged by the Regulars between Lexington and Charlestown.”
May 17: Saw about 9 p.m. a great fire towards Boston. Went up a hill and saw a blaze. Just before the fire, heard a great noise.”
May 18 : “The fire last night was in Boston. Burnt a number of stores. It began in one of the barracks.”
May 27: “All day and in the night heard the cannon at Boston. A skirmish, I suppose, between the troops under General Gage and our forces. “
May 31 : “Rode to Watertown, Dr. Langdon preached to the Congress.” (Dr. Samuel Langdon was president of Harvard College, and was a favorite of the Sons of Liberty. He was speaking to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress which was meeting in Watertown, away from Boston and the British.)
June 1: “Rode to Watertown. Heard Mr. Stevens preach Convention sermon.”
June 10: “Mr. Marston and wife and children moved from Boston here.”
June 16 : “Mr. Marston of Boston arrived here. He escaped in a fishing boat.”
June 17 : “Preached at home, very thin meeting. The men gone down to the Army on the alarm yesterday. Last night 3000 of our army went to Charlestown and entrenched on a hill. But before they had prepared their cannon the shipping and Regulars by land attacked them. After much fighting, we were obliged to quit the entrenchment and the town. Many killed and wounded on both sides. The town laid in ashes! 1000 of the Regulars killed & wounded not more than 200 of ours.” (Battle of Bunker Hill)
June 22: “Attended the funeral of Jesse Wyman, aged 21, mortally wounded in the battle at Charlestown.”
June 24: “Just heard that our army had entrenched last night nearer the enemy on Bunker’s Hill and that the enemy this morning appeared with their horse in battle array and in readiness at the bottom of the hill in Charlestown Neck to drive our forces away, but after a while, they withdrew. The heavy cannon are now playing. The firing is smart and very plainly heard.”
July 13 : “Rode to Roxbury, Cambridge and to Prospect and Winter hills and viewed the fort and entrenchments. Well executed and strong. Prayed in evening with Col. Gerrish’s regiment.” (It is likely this is Col. Richard Gerrish who led a unit of minutemen at the Battle of Bunker Hill, but is described by historians as not being brave during the battle.)
July 20 : “A General fast appointed throughout British America by the Continental Congress at Philadelphia.” (George Washington took command of the troops July 22.)
July 22: “At Cambridge. At evening, prayed in the army.”
Submitted by Judy Wasserman for the Burlington Historical Commission, March, 2008
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