Armed Conflict
On April 19, 1775, Chelmsford’s minister, Rev. Ebenezer Bridge, wrote in his diary. “The Civil War was begun at Concord this morning! Lord direct all things for his glory – the good of his church and people and the preservation of the British Colonies – and to the shame and confusion of our oppressors.”
And so it began, the first armed conflict of the American Revolution which had been brewing for about 10 years. It all started with the Sugar Act of 1764, intended to raise money from the colonies. All non-British imported goods like sugar, coffee, wine, textiles, etc. were subject to a tariff. It created quite an uproar as there was no way for the colonists have no vote on these taxes. The thirteen colonies immediately started organizing by creating the Committees of Correspondence.
Over the years there were more and more taxes. You may have heard of the Quartering Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, and more. All for the purpose of extracting money from the 13 American Colonies. These words from Chelmsford’s town meeting on May 30, 1774, sum up the general sentiments of the colonies during this time. “Taxation without representation we have no conception of, and as we suppose it to be productive of absolute slavery so we must be justified in never submitting to it … When once a people have yielded the right of granting their won monies and permitted the king to exercise this power, when and in what manner he pleases, that moment they become slaves.”
Oppressive Laws
There were many instances of violence as the colonists took sides. A new group of acts (laws) went into effect on June 1, 1774, to punish the town.
- British authorities revoked the Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter of 1691 and forbade town meetings.
- The Crown replaced elected officials with royally appointed military leaders such as Gen. Thomas Gage.
- The government directed that troops be housed in private homes.
- British authorities shut down the courts and closed the port of Boston.
- The government diverted all imports to Salem until the cost of destroyed tea had been reimbursed.
Provincial Congress
Between June 1774 and April 1775, 288 delegates from around the state formed the first Massachusetts Provincial Congress. The Provincial Congress directed each town to collect its taxes but not turn the funds over to the royal treasurer. While Gage fortified Boston, officials created committees to evaluate the province’s defense and safety requirements. The Provincial Congress placed substantial stores of weapons and ammunition in Concord and Worcester. Officials formed part of the existing militias into the Minutemen, who set up systems of alarm riders. The intention was not to separate from the mother country, just to regain their rights as British citizens.
Meanwhile, Governor Gen. Gage was intent on removing military supplies and equipment from the countryside, making several raids. On April 19th Gage’s plan was to seize and destroy military supplies stored in Concord. Also to find and arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock to prevent further rebellion and restore order in the colony.
A mounted messenger from Billerica brought the news to Chelmsford at about 8am. “The regulars are on their way to Concord!” Alarm Bells, drumbeats, and signal guns warned the townspeople. 104 Chelmsford men hurried off to Concord. They fought at the North Bridge, Meriam’s Corner, Menotomy (now Arlington), and all the way back to Boston Neck.
Patriots’ Day
In 1894, former Chelmsford teacher and now Governor Fredrick T. Greenhalge proclaimed April 19th Patriots’ Day. This was to commemorate both the battles of Lexington and Concord and the 1861 riot in Baltimore. This was the first bloodshed of the Civil War. Greenhalge called it “the anniversary of liberty and union.” In 1938, the Massachusetts legislature established April 19th to commemorate the opening events of the War of the Revolution. The Massachusetts legislature changed Patriots’ Day in 1969 to the 3rd Monday in April.