Lexington Battle Green Tour
Meetinghouse
Stop 3
The first meetinghouse in Lexington was erected on the common in 1692, when the town was still part of Cambridge. It was replaced with a new meetinghouse around 1713, the year Lexington was incorporated. It was that second meetinghouse that occupied this spot during the Battle in 1775.
The 1713 Meeting House in 1775
In addition to being a place of worship, the meetinghouse was the site of town meetings and other large gatherings. The Lexington militia used the upper gallery as a powder magazine- a safe and sensible choice since the building contained no fireplace.
Members of the Lexington Militia killed on April 19, 1775 -- Including
Caleb Harrington
Caleb Harrington
During the battle, several Militiamen went to the meetinghouse to fill their powder horns. One, Caleb Harrington, was shot down by British soldiers as he left the building. Another, Joshua Simonds, remained inside. According to his account, he cocked his musket and made ready to blow up the powder magazine and himself if the British came upstairs. Luckily, the Redcoats who entered the meetinghouse were called away before they discovered him.
In Their Own Words:
I took my station on the right of our line, six to ten rods back of the meetinghouse, facing south. When the Regulars arrived, they halted, charged their guns, doubled their ranks and marched up at quick step. The commanding officer advanced within a few rods of us and exclaimed, “Disperse, you damned rebels! You dogs, run! Rush on my boys!” and fired his pistol. The fire from their front ranks soon followed.
----Ebenezer Munroe
In Their Own Words:
I took my station on the right of our line, six to ten rods back of the meetinghouse, facing south. When the Regulars arrived, they halted, charged their guns, doubled their ranks and marched up at quick step. The commanding officer advanced within a few rods of us and exclaimed, “Disperse, you damned rebels! You dogs, run! Rush on my boys!” and fired his pistol. The fire from their front ranks soon followed.
----Ebenezer Munroe
Grave of Ebenezer Munroe,
Old Burying Ground, Lexington MA
Old Burying Ground, Lexington MA
Directions to next stop.
Walk down the length of the common closet to Buckman Tavern to the stone that marks the Line of the Minutemen. This will be stop #4.
Walk down the length of the common closet to Buckman Tavern to the stone that marks the Line of the Minutemen. This will be stop #4.
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