We took a day trip into Boston to tour just a few of the Revolutionary war sites: Old North Church, Copp's Hill Burial Ground, Paul Revere's house and Lexington.
The first stop was Old North Church where Robert Newman held the two lanterns in warning of the British troops advance. Capt'n Tess thought it was the coolest thing that we could actually go to the place where the lanterns were held and Paul Revere had been. I love the fact that here on the East Coast we can visit so many of these historical places.
This is a statue of Paul Revere. I have found it interesting to learn about this period of time. I wanted to make sure that my children understood the sacrifice of ALL the men that fought and gave of their efforts during this time, not just Paul Revere. I have come to understand that it was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who brought Paul Revere to the status he is in today. Though the poem elevates him to a higher status, there were many men that rode and many others that risked their lives.
Here we are outside of the Old North Church in the North End, Boston, Mass. I love walking in the North End. There is still a sense of old world, though sadly it seems to be becoming overrun with uppity development and is losing it's Italian charm.
Here we are sitting in Paul Revere's Pew in the church. The sign says, "Revere Pew -- Paul Revere's son Joeseph Warren Revere bought this pew in 1808 (?). It is still owned by his decendents."
If you look at the top of this picture you will see 4 white pillars. Each pillar has an angel on top of it. The surprised expressions on the kids faces are because these 4 angels are actually stolen! A privateer, a legal pirate given permission by the government to attack enemy ships, attacked a french ship and looted it's contents. These 4 angels were a gift to the church from this privateer. So really, they belong to the french, but we still have them; hence the shocked expressions!
Each pew was enclosed in order to keep in the heat during cold winter months. Families bought and owned their pew outright and therefore were allowed to decorate and furnish it as they saw fit. (Shhhh. The children are praying.)
Our next stop was Copps Hill Burial Ground. We went on a hunt to find the oldest grave in the ground, and found it. Dated 1661, it is a double headstone and grave marker to two small boys: David Copp, 2 weeks old and Thomas Copp, 2 years old (I think).
This one is so cool. This is the grave of Robert Newman, the man who held the two lanterns in the church tower. He held the lanterns for under a minute. But not only did the riders see them, the British also saw them and headed for the church to see what was going on. They were banging on the doors trying to get in. Robert Newman had to escape out a side window. It didn't take the British long to figure out that the only man with the keys to the church was probably the one who had been up in the tower. This would have been Newman as he was the grounds keeper. Newman was arrested the next day, but there was not enough evidence to convict him.
The grave says,
HERE RESTS
ROBERT NEWMAN
Born in Boston, Mch 20, 1752
Died in boston, May 26, 1804
Patriot who hung the signal lanterns
in the church tower, April 13, 1775
Legend says that the British used this particular grave for target practice. We don't know if that is really true, but it's sure fun to dream! The grave says,
Here lies buried in a
stone grave 10 feet deep
Cap Daniel Malcom
who departed this life
October 23, 1769
Aged 44 years
A true son of liberty
a friend to the publick
an enemy to opposition
and one of the foremost
in opposing the revenue acts
on America
Just me and Eric the Enforcer! Capt'n Tess took this pic. Pretty good! In the back ground you can see over the river to Bunker Hill where the famous battle took place.
And one more by Eric the Enforcer!
A plaque in memory of Paul Revere (I cut off his name) and William Dawes who rode warning others that the "regulars" were on the way!
Next stop -- Paul Revere's house. No pictures were allowed inside. Very well restored, but odd to see it in the middle of so many large and modern buildings!
Our last stop was Lexington to see where the first shots were fired in the war (technically!). It was really amazing to just stand there and imagine 200 some years ago what had happened there.
This is the memorial to the battle and the minutemen who lost their lives.
"The remains of those who fell in the
Battle of Lexington were brought here
from the old cemetary April 20,
1835, and buried within the railing in
front of this monument."
Seeing it all first hand sure gives you a different perspective on it. Give me liberty, man!
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