Tag: 19 Apr 1775

Before marching to the 2019 Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight in Concord, the Boxborough Minutemen marched to the Old Burying Ground in Boxborough to read the names of the men from Boxborough District who marched on the alarm of 19 Apr 1775.

17 of the men read out are relatives. Thank you to the Boxborough Minutemen for honoring all that marched and keeping alive the story of that day.

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare,
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.

Hymn: Sung at the Completion of the Concord Monument, 19 Apr 1836, a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Abner Hosmer was a Private in Captain Isaac Davis’ company of Acton Massachusetts Minutemen, and marched on the alarm of 19 April 1775. Abner was killed instantly in the first volley at the North Bridge in Concord.

Abner is memorialized through the Isaac Davis Monument on the Acton Town Common. The remains of Isaac Davis, Abner, and James Hayward (an Acton soldier killed in Lexington later that day) were moved and re-interred beneath the monument.

He was born in West Acton, the son of Deacon Jonathan Hosmer and Martha Conant Hosmer.

Memento mori
Here lies the
Body of Mr. Abner
Hosmer son of Deacon
Jonathan Hosmer &
Mrs. Martha his wife,
who was Killed in Concord fight
April 19th, 1775 In the
Defense of the just rights
and Liberties of his Country
being in the 21st
year of his age.

Abner Hosmer headstone, Acton Town Common, Acton, Massachusetts.

To learn more, read these excellent books:

• The Battle of April 19, 1775, in Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Arlington, Cambridge, Somerville and Charlestown, Massachusetts, by Frank Warren Coburn, revised 1912.
• The Minute Men—The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution, by John R. Galvin, revised 2006.

---

Abner Hosmer (1754-19 Apr 1775) is the great-uncle of Stephen Hosmer who married Mary Wetherbee, 4th cousin 5x removed of MKS in the Wetherbee branch.

References:
[1] John R. Galvin, The Minute Men, The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution (Potomoc Books, Inc., 1989).
[2] Wikipedia.

Captain Isaac Davis and his Acton Massachusetts company of Minutemen marched on the alarm of 19 Apr 1775. “When Davis, characteristically, volunteered to lead the march” down the hill at the North Bridge at Concord to face the British Regulars, Major “Buttrick placed him in the van where his marksmen with their solid line of bayonets could be more effective.”

“A gunsmith by trade, he had taken care that all his men were well armed; every man in the company had a good musket, a bayonet, cartridge box, canteen—this was one of the many provincial companies to be complete in accouterments. The men under Davis were good shots, too. Davis had built a firing range out behind his house, where twice a week from November to April he had led his men in firing and drill. Needless to say, the fighting spirit of Isaac Davis rubbed off on his men. His own weapon, a product of his shop, was perhaps the best musket on the field that day.

“Davis was no hothead, but a man of quiet conviction. His wife, many years later, recalled as a very old woman the man she had known in her youth, on the day of the battle: “My husband said but little that morning. He seemed serious and thoughtful; but never seemed to hesitate as to the course of his duty. As he led the company from the house, he turned himself round, and seemed to have something to communicate. He only said, ‘Take good care of the children,’ and was soon out of sight.”

Davis, age 30, was killed in the first volley, along with “one of his men, Abner Hosmer. Both were killed instantly; two or three others were wounded.” Davis was the first American officer killed in the Revolution.

Davis is the inspiration behind The Minute Man, the statue by Daniel Chester French, unveiled on 19 Apr 1875 at the Old North Bridge. The statue was modeled after Davis using photographs of Davis’ descendants.

Davis is also memorialized through the Isaac Davis Monument on the Acton Town Common. The remains of Davis, Abner Hosmer, and James Hayward (an Acton soldier killed in Lexington later that day) were moved and re-interred beneath the monument.

He was born in West Acton, and married Hannah Brown on 24 Oct 1764. They had four children—two boys and two girls.

In Memory of Capt. Isaac Davis
who was Slain in battle at 
Concord April ye 19th 1775 in
the Defence of ye just rights
and Liberties of his Country
Civil & Religious. He was a loving
Husband a tender Father & a
Kind Neighbour an Ingenious
Craftsman & Serviceable to
Mankind died in ye prime of
life Aged 30 Years 1 m & 25 days.
Is there not an appointed time to man
upon ye earth? Are not his days also like
the days of an hireling?
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth
away, so he that goeth down to the grave
shall come up no more.
He shall return no more to his house,
neither shall his place know him any
more. Job VII ver 1, 9, 10.

Captain Isaac Davis headstone, Acton Town Common, Acton, Massachusetts.

To learn more, read these excellent books:

• The Battle of April 19, 1775, in Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Arlington, Cambridge, Somerville and Charlestown, Massachusetts, by Frank Warren Coburn, revised 1922.
• The Minute Men—The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution, by John R. Galvin, revised 2006.

---

Isaac Davis’ (1745-19 Apr 1775) sister married Silas Taylor, uncle of Levi Wetherbee II, 3rd cousin 7x removed of MKS in the Wetherbee branch.

References:
[1] John R. Galvin, The Minute Men, The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution (Potomoc Books, Inc., 1989).
[2] Wikipedia.

Luther Blanchard was a Private and the fifer in Captain Isaac Davis’ company of Acton Massachusetts Minutemen, and marched on the alarm of 19 April 1775. Luther was the first hit by a British bullet at the North Bridge in Concord, wounded in the neck and side. Despite his wounds, Luther joined the pursuers as the British retreated to Charlestown.

Luther was born in Boxborough, in that portion which was formerly a part of Littleton, the son of Simon Blanchard and Sara Fales Blanchard. He had left home to learn the mason’s trade, and was living with Deacon Jonathan Hosmer in West Acton on 19 Apr 1775.

Five days later, 24 April 1775, Luther enlisted in the Army, is listed on the pay roll of Captain William Smith’s company on 7 July 1775, and is listed as a Corporal on the muster roll on 1 Aug 1775. Luther is reported deceased on the company return on 30 Sep 1775. His brother Calvin stated that Luther died of his wounds received at Concord.

Luther is believed buried in an unmarked grave in the Old Burying Ground, Littleton, Massachusetts.

Luther Blanchard
Born in Littleton, June 4, 1756.
Fifer of the Acton Minute Men and
the first man hit by a British
bullet at the North Bridge, Concord
April 19, 1775.
On the muster rolls of the
Continental Army reported dead
September 30, 1775.

Luther Blanchard cenotaph, Old Burying Ground, Littleton, Massachusetts.

He is also memorialized on the town seal of Boxborough, Massachusetts.

To learn more, read these excellent books:

• The Battle of April 19, 1775, in Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Arlington, Cambridge, Somerville and Charlestown, Massachusetts, by Frank Warren Coburn, revised 1912.
• The Minute Men—The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution, by John R. Galvin, revised 2006.
• Commemorative of Calvin and Luther Blanchard, Action Minute-Men, 1775, by Alfred Sereno Hudson, 1899.

---

Luther Blanchard (1756-19 Apr 1775) is the great-uncle of Caroline Blanchard who married Simeon Wetherbee II, half 5th cousin 5x removed of MKS in the Wetherbee branch.

References:
[1] findagrave.com member Denise (photograph).