Fort Barton - Tiverton, Rhode Island
In December of 1776, the British army seized control of Newport and eventually began to occupy all of Aquideck Island. To combat this, The legislature voted to raise three regiments in an effort to release themselves from the grasp of Great Britain. In march of 1778, Congress appointed Major General John Sullivan to manage the Continental Army's efforts. Sullivan then began to collect weapons and planned an attack on the British. In 1778 the 1st Rhode Island Regiment a specifically African-American troop was corralled in order to help the state meet its obligations for manning the Continental Army. In the end, the fighting cost Sullivan the lives of 30 soldiers and left 138 soldiers wounded.

A Portrait of Puritan Life in Boston

 Archaeological excavations on this site revealed a stirring portrait of Puritan Life in Boston in 1660.
Imagine resident Katherine Nanny Naylor dressed in fine silk with lace trim, playing a game of bowles (lawn bowling). Katherine Nanny Naylor was a wealthy widow who, in 1671 divorced her second husband after accusing him of abuse and adultery. This was her home site where she lived until 1700. In addition to a lawn bowle and silk lace fragments, archaeologists recovered ceramics from Spain, Portugal, Germany, and England; Venetian glass; olive pits; coriander seeds; coconut shells; and seashells from the world's oceans illustrating the particularly cosmopolitan and international character of Boston in the 17th century.

 Interestingly, this stone inscription found in the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway in Boston by the North End describes a woman, Katherine Naylor, who was an independent widow, able to divorce her husband on her own will, a striking story of women's rights during the 17th century at the very start of Boston. I gained a greater appreciation for the colonial Boston that was more cosmopolitan than I would have guessed before.

 I doubt many people have noticed this rather obscure inscription in the middle of a bordering stone placement on the Greenway. After some research I found that the articles of linen and other artifacts had been found in a privy, (the outside toilet) that was sealed with clay, preserving these remnants to have been discovered today. (http://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/boston/)

Another interesting piece unrelated to the archaeological finding was this "Little Free Library" where people are able to take-out or add-in books.

When I was younger, I used to have snow ball fights in the back of Rev. John Hale's yard.  I had no idea about the history of Rev. John Hale and his involvement in the Salem Witch Trials. Rev. Hale witnessed, as a child, the very first victim of the trials, Margarete Jones.  With the craze of witch hunting being a social norm, he probably thought the woman deserved it.  He joined the militia in 1690 and when he returned he got himself involved in the Which Trials.  Supposedly many girls were being tormented by witches. Historyofmassachusetts.org says that, "Reverend Hale was among the foremost ministers intent upon seeking out and and eliminating the witches responsible." He like, many others, believed that the girls were being tormented  by witches. However as more and more people were being accused of being a witch, he became less involved.  When his wife Sarah was accused of being a witch, he stopped all involvement.  He also wrote the book, “A Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft”. 

I was at first angry that he only stopped getting involved because someone personal to him got accused.  Its kinda a big, "I don't care about you", to everyone else accused. His back yard was fun to play in.

http://historyofmassachusetts.org/reverend-john-hale-of-beverly/

Lyannough Statue

This beautiful statue is located in Main street Hyannis, MA.  While walking on the town of Hyannis during my honeymoon, I founded this statue very eye catching, it is such a beautiful work of art! It has a very rich and dark brown color; the material is very soft to the touch.  However, this statue represents “Lyannough”, he was very famous for his kindness, hospitality, to the Pilgrims, and for having a tragic destiny.  “Lyannough” was the leader of the Native American Tribe called the (Mattakeese). He is related to the period we studied in chapter 2 of our book, “The Beginnings of English America”.  In this chapter we learned about the “Pilgrims” and how they landed on Cape Cod Instead of Virginia.

http://www.talesofcapecod.org/node/1062

Fort Sewall - Marblehead, MA

It is far beyond me to comprehend the idea of a foreign nation attacking us on our own soil, let alone a mile away from where I live.  Every war in my lifetime has been fought abroad, mostly in the middle east.  War is essentially a concept rather than a reality to me.  I have family members that have fought in the armed forces, and are thankfully all alive.  But, wars aren't fought here, there fought over there.

Fort Sewall is a 15 minute walk from my front door.  It is tough to gauge if the site is more cliche or more beautiful.  I don't use cliche as a pejorative, just to simply explain how "sleepy, seaside New England" it is.  You turn left on Front St and pass The Landing, great Butterscotch Martini, Notorious Annie's Waterfront Inn, and then pass The Barnacle, stop in for a White Cap.  The street starts to incline as you reach a clearing, and to your left lays a stone fort built into the hillside overlook the mouth of Marblehead Harbor.

It was actually originally established by the British in 1644 and is among the oldest shoreside forts in the United States.  It was federally coopted after the Revolution and was in an instrumental conflict in the War of 1812.  On the 3rd of April, 1814, the USS Constitution, the most famous American war ship ever to sail, was being pursued by two British frigates, the Tenedos and the Endymion.  The Constitution took cover under the cannons of Sewall.  What is fascinating is that Sewall was in no way practically equipped to fight off two British naval frigates, given the fact that they were short on ammunition and gun powder, but they bluffed the ships into retreating.  The exterior is impressive, but what caught my attention was the interior.

I can't imagine the men who were stuck in this tiny barrack, sleeping on top of each other, huddled around a fireplace in the middle of winter, waiting on pins and needles for someone to attack.  The fort's namesake, Judge Samuel Sewall, was a local benefactor who would eventually become a Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

Statue of Benjamin Franklin, Boston MA

Benjamin Franklin's statue is one of Boston's major attractions. It is a site on the Freedom Trail.  Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. He was an inventor, printer, publisher, political thinker, scientist, writer, civic leader, statesman, and diplomat. The 8 foot statue stands in front of Boston's Old City Hall. The statue has been in this location since 1856.  I was fascinated with the architectural design considering this was centuries ago.

This is a plaque located in front of Boston's Old City Hall, shows that this historical landmark is where the first public latin school was located. The school offered free educated to boys regardless of status, while girls attended private schools. Five signers of the Declaration of Independence attended this school, Benjamin Franklin being one of them.

I was impressed with how well kept the statue was and the efforts taken to teach the history of our founding fathers and allow it to flourish for the future generation to understand the struggles of men like Benjamin Franklin.

If you're interested in the Freedom Trail - you should check it out https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/freedom-trail/benjamin-franklin-statue.shtml

Abolitionist Statue - Florence, MA

Recently, I visited part of the African American Heritage Trail in Florence, MA.  Florence is a former Mill Town next to Northampton, near Springfield, MA.  Originally, Florence was a “village” comprised mostly of African Americans who sought refuge and peaceful living in addition 
to their association with the radical Garrison views on abolition.  Florence was significant in that for a few short years, it boasted the largest population of self-emancipated former slaves, more than Springfield, New Bedford or Boston.

A number of very famous abolitionists resided in Florence as well as continued their anti-slavery movement, including Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, David Ruggles, William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips. 

The African American Heritage Trail encompasses history on former slaves and equal rights activists from 1840-1860.  The trail begins in the center of town at the Sojourner Truth Memorial, a large bronze statue depicting this brave advocate of anti-slavery, social justice and women’s rights.  The easy walk along the Trail wanders for 1.5 miles, showcasing parks, statues, homes and two museums; http://www.sojournertruthmemorial.org, and the Historic Northampton Museum, http://www.historic-northampton.org. 

I bought a great map of the Trail at the Historic Northampton Museum for $3; however, the entrance to the museum itself was free. 

I would recommend taking a drive to Western Massachusetts where you can visit both Florence and Northampton, learn about the very famous abolitionist’s who shaped our country and enjoy beautiful scenery and great food at the many establishments in these historic towns.  

The Battles of Lexington and Concord and The Hartwell Tavern

Battle Road

The Rebels – The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Fought, in my own county of Middlesex Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775. Following the Boston Tea Party, the colonists formed their own government, an illegal Patriot provisional government, known as the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and called for local militias to train for possible hostilities (the British). In response to the Patriots managing their colony with ease outside of British controlled Boston, the British declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion.

Battle Road Path

The Plan – An estimated 700 British Army regulars in Boston were given secret orders to capture and destroy rebel military supplies, rumored to be stored by the Mass Militia Patriots in Concord.  Through effective intelligence gathered (through spies, like Paul Revere) the Patriot colonials had received word weeks before the British's plan to invade, that their supplies might be vulnerable in Concord and moved them to different locations. Fortunately, they also received news and details about the British's plans on the eve of the battle and were able to notify the Patriots of the British invasion in enough time.

The Battle – The first shots were fired as the sun was rising in Lexington. Historians still don't know who fired first. The Patriots, though farmers and small in number, were no fools, after all, they did form for possible hostilities, and, although they risked being outnumbered (just 77 Patriots met 700 British soldiers at the Hartwell Tavern and the Americans suffered a deadly defeat), they refused to be out-smarted or surrender. While the outnumbered Patriots fell back, the British marched on to Concord, passing the Hartwell House and The Hartwell Tavern, where Mary Hartwell recollected: "The army of the king marched up in fine order and their bayonets glistened in the sunlight like a field of waiving grain. If it hadn’t been for the purpose they came for, I should say it was the handsomest sight I ever saw in my life." (Attributed to Mary Hartwell by her descendants).

The Battle Grounds

The Minute Man National Historic website has a wealth of information, this link references the Hartwell Tavern and Mary Hartwell's recollections:http://www.nps.gov/mima/hartwell-tavern.htm

This stone reads: "At this well – April 19, 1775 – James Hayward of Acton met a British soldier who raising his gun said you are a dead man and so are you replied Hayward – Both fired – The soldier was instantly killed and Hayward mortally wounded."

James Hayward - April 19, 1775

The site of the stone, as shown here, and the engraved words spoke loudly to me and I wanted to know more about James Hayward and who he was. So many brave young men were willing to fight and die to protect the United States of America and our independence and their names are unknown, unspoken and, often, unthought of. Hayward was a young school master, who was in an accident as a boy and was, therefore, not allowed to serve in the military. That didn't stop Hayward from being the first to arrive in the early morning hours of April 19th to Captain Davis's farm in Concord ready to fight and defend his country. Carrying only a hunting powder horn filled with loose gunpowder and being exhausted, from following the British for over 6 miles, Hayward found the house of Ebenezer Fiske (pictured below) to be abandoned and quiet. As he approached a well just to the side of the road, 2 red coats emerged from the Fiske house.  Hayward survived for another 8 hours and when found by his father stated: "Father, hand me my powder horn and bullet pouch. I started with one pound of powder and forty balls, you see what I have left, you see what I have been about. I never did such a forenoon’s work before. Tell mother not to mourn too much for me for I am not sorry I turned out. I die willingly for my country. She will now, I doubt not, by the help of God, be free. And tell whom I loved better than my mother, you know who I mean, that I am not sorry. I shall never see her again. May I meet her in heaven."

http://historicaldigression.com/tag/battles-of-lexington-and-concord/

Ebenezer Fiske House Site

Foundation of Ebenezer Fiske House

The Tavern – My favorite part of the historical battle road was The Hartwell Tavern which was built in 1732/1733 and given to Ephraim and his wife, Elizabeth, Hartwell along with 30 surrounding acres to raise their family.  In 1756, while 9 of their children were living in the house, Ephraim Hartwell applied for and received a license to open part of their home as an inn. Three of Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell’s sons were in the Lincoln Minute Man Company (Captain William Smith’s Co.) that fought at the North Bridge and on the Battle Road on April 19^th – All three went on to later military service in the Revolutionary War.

The Hartwell Tavern (& family) Then

This link is a short video on History.com which references the Patriots waiting for the arrival of the British in a tavern - The Hartwell Tavern. 

http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-lexington-and-concord 

The Hartwell Tavern Now
(...if these walls could talk)

The Battle Road at The Hartwell Tavern

From the dirt road, the Tavern and it’s surroundings can be seen from a couple hundred yards away. As I got closer to the Tavern, I noticed a wooden fenced in area for horses and a sign, with a horse on one side and a minute man on the other, hanging in front of the Tavern. Knowing that Patriots, including Paul Revere, used this road and travelled from surrounding communities to enjoy the warmth of the Tavern and meet with fellow Patriots to discuss their plans and prepare for the imminent battle with the British was amazing.

A look inside.

The Horse Lot

The Outcome - The Patriots were untrained and, even with warning of the looming red-coated British invasion, they didn’t have time to receive proper militia training, but they believed in what they were fighting for - their futures, their freedoms and their country - and, that, the British could neither prepare for nor defeat.  The Patriots defeated the British on April 19, 1775 at the battle of North Bridge in Concord and the victory revitalized Americans' spirits and filled them with excitement at the thought of the final defeat over the British and the independence of the United States of America to come.

Path to the Battle Grounds

Wilmot Redd

Wilmot Redd was one of the victims in the salem witch trials of 1692. Wilmot was born in Marblehead Massachusetts. Her husband was Samuel Redd a local fisherman who she shared many years with. Wilmot was known to be a crusty and irritable lady to many of her neighbors, they use to say that she was “probably more bitch than witch”.


Redd was apprehended may of 1692 by local constable James Smith. The warrant for her apprehension was signed by magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin. Wilmot Redd was captured and charged with have committed “sundry acts of witchcraft on the bodies of Mary Wolcott and Mercy Lewis.” locals of Salem Village known today as Danvers.

Indicted as a witch Redd was accused of "detestable arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries wickedly, maliciously and feloniously used, practiced & exercised at the Towne of Salem." Redd was then executed by hanging on September 22 1692.


Wilmot Redds Grave site is located at Old Burial Hill in Marblehead and is the closest grave to Redd's Pond (a pond that was named after Wilmot Redd) where her small house once stood.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-witches-r-s.html

Paul Revere

Old North Church

Paul Revere worked as a rider to deliver urgent messages during the Revolutionary War. In 1775, he was sent to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were coming there to try to arrest them. He was then rowed across the Charles River where he borrowed a horse from his friend to continue his journey. While in Charlestown he stopped to make sure they had seen his signals. Two lanterns had been hung in the Old North Church in Boston. This meant that the troops would come by sea rather than coming by land.

He stopped at each house on his way to Lexington to warn the local people. He arrived in Lexington around midnight to deliver his message. He then met up with two other riders to continue their journey to Concord. They were not too long after all arrested by the British. Paul Revere was held for a while but shortly after released in time to make it to Lexington to witness part of the battle on the Lexington Green.

Paul Revere's House

http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/paul-revere

http://www.earlyamerica.com/videos/paul-revere-messenger-revolution/

Salem Witch Trials Memorial

LeClerc Photo #1: Salem Witch Trials Memorial entrance sign (Dec. 7, 2015)

“I am no witch. I am innocent...” These were the words of Bridget Bishop, the first to be executed during The Salem Witch Trials. Today, we know she was telling the truth; however, for many people the truth came too late. In memory of those who died as a result of speaking the truth, I decided to visit The Salem Witch Trials Memorial.

My first photograph is of the Memorial’s entrance sign (above). On the right side of the sign in my photograph, there is a brief description of the trials. I was surprised when I read the beginning: “In 1692, nearly two hundred people in the Salem area were accused of witchcraft…” Before this, I never realized how many people were accused but not executed. Of the two hundred people, fourteen women and six men were killed. On the left side of the photograph above, there are names of the twenty men and women as well as information about the date and how they were executed, and where they lived. Some of the familiar names on the list are Bridget Bishop, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles Corey, but there were also some unfamiliar names on the list such as Sarah Good, John Willard, and Sarah Wildes.

LeClerc Photo #2: Sarah Good's stone (Dec. 7, 2015)

My second photograph is of Sarah Good’s stone. I learned that Sarah Good was a poor woman who often went by neighboring houses to ask for food and shelter. This behavior annoyed the Puritan town and made Good an easy target to be accused of witchcraft. She, along with Tituba and one other women, were officially accused by girls in the town. During Good’s trial, it was noted that one witness lied, yet Good was still found guilty of being a witch. On July 19, 1692, Sarah Good (who was pregnant at the time) was hanged.

The second name on the list of people who were executed that I was unfamiliar with. I researched John Willard. Willard was a deputy constable in charge of apprehending those accused of practicing witchcraft. He refused because he believed some people were innocent. Consequently, the town speculated that he protected them because he was one himself. Even his own wife’s grandfather believed Willard was guilty. On August 19, 1692, this false judgement caused Willard to be hanged.

LeClerc Photo #3: Sarah Wildes' stone (Dec. 7, 2015).

My third photograph shows Sarah Wildes’ stone, the third name that was unfamiliar to me. On the stone, there were some flowers and a note that read, “Sarah Wildes from Your Maine Relatives.” In my research, I discovered that Sarah Wildes was the second wife of John Wildes. John’s first wife Priscilla died in 1662. In 1686, Mary Reddington (Priscilla’s sister) spread rumors that Sarah practiced witchcraft. The town believed this because Wildes had been known to be “a bit wild” in her younger years. Interestingly, she was arrested for “lewd behavior” because she wore “a brightly colored scarf”. Despite her husband’s effort to stop the rumors, Sarah Wildes was hanged along with Sarah Good on July 19, 1692.

The deaths that occurred during The Salem Witch Trials highlight the harsh side of society. In fact, the trials could be summed up in one sentence: “Defendants were guilty until proven innocent.” However, this side of society should not be overshadowed by Good, Wildes, and Willard’s individual qualities. Each of them stayed true to themselves, persevered when society turned on them, and held out hope for a better outcome. For these reasons, we—as individuals and as a community—should continue to learn about the thoughts and behaviors of the accusers and the accused during The Salem Witch Trials, even after three hundred years.

The Isaac Royall House and Slave Quaters

 I visited the Royall House and Slave Quarters. This house is located at 15 George St in Medford Ma. It was first owned by Massachusetts governor John Winthrop. The buildings and Small park that makes up the site today was once a farm about 4 miles long.  In 1737 Colonel Isaac Royall,  was a prosperous merchant who amassed a great wealth in Antigua in the late 1700s running a great sugar plantation. Isaac Royall, his family and 27 slaves called this home. The surroundings of the house was in the most elegant fashion back in the day. It had a formal garden that featured fruit trees,  lilacs, shrubbery and a ornate summer house. Isaac owned the largest number of slaves in the area This was home to Slaves for 150 Years.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Royall_House

              http://www.medfordhistorical.org/medford-history/africa-to-medford/slavery-in-medford/