Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington, Massachusetts is a sacred place of American mythology, the “Birthplace of American Liberty.” But what actually happened here, and why was this small town the spark that set off the Revolutionary War? Get some of your most pressing questions answered here.
What happened at the Battle of Lexington?
Lexington was the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War on April 19th, 1775. At this time, Massachusetts had been feuding with Great Britain for several years. The tensions culminated with the Boston Tea Party and subsequent curbing of colonial rights as punishment for it. A Provincial Congress then formed in opposition to British rule and prepared for an escalation, securing supplies for an army of 15,000.
Military governor Thomas Gage was under pressure to quash the rebellion. He ordered about 750 soldiers to seize a weapons depot in Concord in the early morning of April 19th. Along the main road was Lexington, harboring Patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams. News of the impending raid quickly arrived, and the Lexington militia prepared to make a stand on the town common to show that they would not be intimidated by the British army. A similar demonstration in Salem had led to the soldiers leaving empty-handed.
When the British troops approached at dawn, a standoff ensued between the two groups. John Parker, captain of the militia, ordered his men to disperse, as they were outnumbered. In the ensuing confusion, a gun was fired. Historians have not uncovered who fired the fatal first shot, but we do know that the British soldiers then opened fire without orders. The militia attempted to fight back, also without orders, before British officers were able to corral their soldiers and end the melee. In the ensuing battle, eight Americans were killed, and ten Americans and one British soldier were wounded.
The British then continued their march to Concord, where they were met with further opposition at the Battle of Concord. As they retreated, fighting continued all along the road back to Boston, including an ambush by the surviving Lexington men at the edge of town, now known as Parker’s Revenge.
Who fought in the Battle of Lexington?
Accounts vary in how many militiamen were present at the battle. Word of the British march reached Lexington at midnight, and in the ensuing hours many were given permission to go home on the assumption that the news was a false alarm. As a result, not all of Captain Parker’s roughly 150 men were present when the British arrived. The current estimate is around 81.
The following is a list of confirmed participants at the dawn battle, although research is still ongoing to confirm further claims, and many more participated in combat later in the day. The Lexington Minute Men reenactment group has conducted extensive research on most participants, which can be found by clicking on their names below.
Clerk Daniel Harrington
Jonathan Harrington, Fifer
John Brown - killed
Jonathan Harrington Jr. - killed
Ebenezer Munroe, Jr. - wounded
John Munroe, Jr.
William Monroe, 3rd
John Muzzey
Asahel Porter (Woburn) - killed
On the British side, approximately 750 soldiers were sent from Boston on the mission to seize arms in Concord. Six companies of light infantry soldiers (about 300 men) were sent ahead of the main column once it became clear that their secret mission to Concord was no longer secret. It was these soldiers who encountered the Lexington Militia on the town common. Another 1000 reinforcements arrived from Boston in mid-afternoon, and engaged with militia from across Massachusetts during the last and bloodiest part of the day in Menotomy (Arlington) and Cambridge.
What is the difference between the First Shot and the Shot Heard ‘Round the World?
The “First Shot” of the Revolutionary War was fired by an unknown soldier on Lexington Green at dawn on April 19th, 1775. It was the first of thousands that day.
Following the Battle of Lexington, the British soldiers continued to Concord, where a second battle took place. At this battle, Major John Butterick of Concord gave the order to return fire, the first time such orders were given that day. Some count this as the first “official” resistance of the day. In 1836, Concord writer Ralph Waldo Emerson was tasked with crafting a poem as part of a monument unveiling at the site. This poem, “Concord Hymn,” refers to “the shot heard ‘round the world” being fired there.
Both shots, and both battles, were interconnected and integral parts of the Revolutionary War’s opening day.
What is a Minuteman?
All towns in colonial Massachusetts were required by law to have a militia, a town army consisting of all able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 tasked with defending the town in case of an emergency. Militia groups met a couple of times a year to brush up on military drills, but were not considered professional soldiers and were not paid. In the leadup to war, beginning in autumn 1774, local towns were encouraged to create “minute companies” from within their militia units. These smaller groups were generally younger and more enthusiastic soldiers who were willing to train multiple times per week, often for pay, and were instructed to be prepared for combat at a moment’s notice, hence the term “minutemen.”
Lexington, likely for monetary reasons, did not form a minute company. They did, however, have a group known as the “alarm list,” consisting of men who had aged out of the militia but were still willing to help during times of crisis, such as on April 19th.
What is the story behind the Minuteman statue on the Green?
“The Lexington Minuteman” was created for the 125th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, unveiled on April 19th, 1900. Local sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson was chosen as the artist. He used several models, most notably Arthur Mather, an athlete from Medford, to represent Captain John Parker of the Lexington militia. No extant images of Parker survive, and he was not the young, athletic man pictured in the monument. The sculpture originally functioned both as a memorial and as a fountain, offering travelers the ability to water their horses when visiting the town center. This fountain has recently been restored.
Where does the name Lexington come from?
Lexington was first formed as the village of Cambridge Farms, within the town of Cambridge. In 1713 it became the independent town of Lexington. The origin of the name is not clear. One theory is that it was named after Laxton, Nottinghamshire, UK, which had an earlier Anglo-Saxon name similar to Lexington. Another theory is that it was named after Robert Sutton, Lord Lexington, an English peer, who may have been related to the governor of Massachusetts at the time the town was incorporated. The exact reason for the name was not documented at the time.
Where can I learn more about my Lexington ancestors?
The definitive genealogy is History of the Town of Lexington Massachusetts, Volume II, Genealogy, by Charles Hudson, 1913. The book is out of print but copies are available in local libraries as well as at the Buckman Tavern gift shop. Also, a complete, searchable electronic version of the book can be viewed on Google Books here. Another useful reference is Lexington Epitaphs: A Copy of Epitaphs in the Old Burying-Grounds of Lexington, Massachusetts, by Francis H. Brown, M.D., 1905. It is also out of print but available through Google Books here.
Further limited information may be found in Lexington Historical Society’s archives. If you would like to make an inquiry about a particular family, please refer to our Research page to learn how to contact us.
Does Lexington Historical Society control what renovations I can do to my house?
No, we are a private nonprofit organization. We do not work for the town of Lexington. If your home is within a historic district, your home renovations may need to be approved by the town’s Historic Districts Commission. More information about this process can be found here.