- Jeff -
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- Here is some information on Dr. Samuel Prescott who actually
completed the ride Paul Revere started!
- DEO VINDICE/SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!!!
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- Charles David Prescott, III
- (a cousin-a number of times removed)
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- Paul Revere, Lighting, Riding, Fighting and Other Thoughts
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- In 1774 and on into the spring of 1775, Paul Revere acted
as an express rider. He was employed by various committees of the Massachusetts
government to carry news, messages, copies of resolutions and other government
documents as far away as New York and Philadelphia.
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- In addition, he was active in the "Sons of Liberty",
an American Patriot group desiring independence from England.
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- In the days prior, Paul Revere and others had observed
British troops assembling and had suspected that something was about to
happen.
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- On the evening of April 18, 1775 Dr. Joseph Warren summoned
Paul Revere and instructed him to ride to Lexington, Massachusetts. He
was to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were marching
to arrest them.
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- Several associates rowed him across the Charles River
to Charlestown. There he borrowed a horse from his friend Deacon John
Larkin. And, he verified that the local "Sons of Liberty" committee
had seen the pre-arranged signal.
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- Paul had arranged for these signals because he was afraid
he might be prevented from leaving Boston.
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- There were two possibilities. The British could march
"by land" out Boston Neck. Or they could row "by sea"
across the Charles River to Cambridge.
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- One lantern hung in the steeple tower of the North Church
would indicate "by land". Two lanterns would indicate that the
British intended to come "by sea".
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- Robert Newman, the church sexton, snuck out of his house
and went to the church where he was joined by John Pulling. John locked
him in the church. He hung the lanterns for only a minute so that the
British would not become suspicious. After hanging the lanterns, he left
through a window. The British subsequently questioned Newman about the
incident but no charges were filed.
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- On the way to Lexington, he reportedly stopped at each
house "alarming" the country-side. He arrived in Lexington about
midnight. Approaching the house where Adams and Hancock were staying,
a sentry reportedly asked that he not make so much noise. Paul Revere is
reported to have replied: "Noise! You'll have more noise than this
before long. The regulars are coming out!"
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- After delivering his message, he was joined by William
Dawes, a second rider sent on the same errand by a different route, who
reportedly arrived about 12:30. They decided on their own to continue
to Concord, Massachusetts where weapons and supplies were hidden and left
about 1:00 AM.
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- On the way, they were joined by a third rider, Dr. Samuel
Prescott. It seems that he had been visiting his girlfriend at a Lexington
tavern. The story is that she was the tavern owner's wife and that he
was discovered with her and fled the tavern when he met up with Revere
and Dawes.
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- Shortly after that, British troops stopped and arrested
all three. Prescott immediately escaped. Dawes escaped soon after. Revere,
however, was held some time before being released.
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- As he had no horse, he returned on foot to Lexington
in time to witness part of the battle on Lexington Green on April 19, 1775.
It was the first battle in which British troops were killed.
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- Dawes also did not make it to Concord. He got lost in
the dark and unfamiliar surroundings.
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- The only one who actually made it all the way to Concord
was Dr. Samuel Prescott.
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- Every year Boston celebrates the anniversary of the lanterns
that set the Revolutionary War in motion at a candlelit ceremony featuring
typically featuring costumed Colonists, patriotic music and some famous
actor as Paul Revere.
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- 1999 highlights included David Connor as Paul Revere,
an opening procession with the USS Constitution color guard and a bell-ringing
performance by the Old North Guild of Change Ringers. Ethan Warren, a descendant
of Paul Revere, read Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul
Revere."
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- _____
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- Samuel Prescott
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- Prescott, Samuel , 1751 - c.1777, American Revolutionary
figure, born Concord, Mass. On the night of Apr. 18, 1775, he, Paul Revere,
and William Dawes set out to warn the countryside of the British advance
toward Concord. Revere was captured on the way, but Prescott got through
with the news. He was later captured and died in prison.
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- _____
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- More About Paul Revere
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- Paul Revere's Ride: This poem, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
helped make Paul Revere's ride famous. However, the poem does not mention
Dawes or Prescott.
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- The Midnight Ride of William Dawes: In 1896 Helen F.
Moore wrote this parody of Longfellow's poem and published it in Century
Magazine. Of course, even this poem didn't get it completely right. Dr.
Samuel Prescott still doesn't seem to have a poem.
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- Paul Revere House: The House, maintained by the Paul
Revere Memorial Association, is a historic landmark. The house is open
to visitors and the association has national memberships available. The
house includes a 900 pound bell, a small mortar and a bolt from the USS
Constitution, all made by Paul Revere & Sons. &laqno;&laqno;»»
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- Early America Review (Fal.1996), "Sons of Liberty:
Patriots or Terrorists?": This article provides great background
on the Sons of Liberty and discusses their role in the American Revolution.
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- Sidewalk Boston: A site with information about Boston
events, including annual Revolutionary War celebrations.
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