In April 1775, learning about Parliament’s orders for his arrest and execution, John Hancock hid out in Lexington. As one descendant of the 1775 minutemen put it, Hancock “sought shelter at such a moment among kindred and friends.” [Muzzy, p380]
Hancock’s relationships with his Lexington “kindred”, Reverend Jonas and Lucy Bowes Clark, are well documented, but who were his “friends”? A search turned up nothing concrete. I found no mentions of any interaction between Hancock and any Lexington resident other than Reverend Clark himself.
That said, John Hancock reportedly lived in Lexington as a boy, and small-town boys know each other. They attend grammar school and play together after church on Sundays. They wrestle and hunt frogs in the swamp and whatever else provincial boys did in the 1740s. Hancock may have only lived full-time in Lexington for a year or two (sources differ), but even while attending Boston Latin School he is said to have returned for summer holidays while his mother lived at the parsonage. In later years he returned to visit his “Grandmama”.
So perhaps it is no coincidence that many prominent Lexington participants on 18-19 April 1775 were men born within a year of Hancock. They knew the ordinary minister’s son before he inherited massive wealth and became the face of the patriot cause, which arguably conferred a special status no matter how little adulthood interaction occurred.
The 1912 edition of Hudson’s History shows eleven men born within a year of Hancock who still lived in Lexington in 1775. Their names are listed below along with a snippet of what they did to help the patriot leader on 18 April 1775.
Edmund Munroe
One year older than Hancock. Sources place Edmund, a French War officer, at the parsonage the night of 18 April with the guard detail organized by his younger brother. Edmund later accompanied Hancock and Adams to Woburn, then returned with Revere and Lowell. He is said to have vouched for them at Buckman Tavern when they went to fetch the trunk of Provincial Congress Papers. [Canavan]
Some (including Canavan) have speculated Edmund had wavering loyalty to the patriot cause, but more likely he simply kept his activities quiet until the war broke out. He is said to have drafted the rules for the Lexington Militia Company and captained a detachment of the alarm list within weeks of the fight. Not the activities of a Crown loyalist.
Francis Brown
One year younger than Hancock, Francis also guarded the parsonage on the night of 18 April. He then helped spread the alarm and accompanied Hancock and Adams to Woburn with Edmund and William Munro. He returned in time for the fight, where he fended off a British sword with his musket barrel as he retreated up Bedford Road. In the afternoon he was wounded as the British retreated through Lexington. He lived with a musket ball lodged in his head for a year before having it removed. [Canavan, Hudson]
William Tidd
Six months older than Hancock, William lived two doors up Bedford Road. He served as Parker’s lieutenant in the militia. Sources suggest that, on a prearrangement with Captain Parker, Hancock summoned Tidd the moment Revere arrived to direct the spread of the alarm around Lexington.
In 1789, newly elected U.S. President George Washington visited Lexington. On his arrival, Washington first asked “Where is Leftenant Tidd, who stood with Captain Parker?” Before the trip, Washington visited Hancock (then Governor of Massachusetts) in Boston, who presumably gave him Tidd’s name. Not clear how he would have learned it otherwise. [Munroe]
Thaddeus Harrington
Three months older than Hancock, Thaddeus loaned his horse to Elijah Sanderson on the night of 18 April so he could follow the suspicious party of British officers. (Reverend Clark loaned his to Solomon Brown). Thaddeus was on the common the following morning and signed one of the depositions. [Phinney, p31]
Joshua Simonds
Eight months older than Hancock, Joshua was in charge of the militia’s magazine stores in the meetinghouse gallery. After filling powder horns as the British approached, he prepared to blow up the remaining powder, with himself and the meetinghouse, “rather than to have it fall into the hands of the enemy.” [Simonds]
Four More Documented Militiamen
One year younger, John Bridge Jr was on the common the morning of April 19 and served with William Tidd as a lieutenant under Parker in June. Joseph Mason, the town clerk and later schoolmaster, was on the common. He was six months older than Hancock. Benjamin Merriam (five months younger) and Bill Smith (one year older) are on militia lists. [Hudson]
The Two Conspicuously Absent
The only Lexington men Hancock’s age absent from fight records are two French War veterans, Henry Harrington and David Fisk. Both made contributions during the revolution. Henry had combat experience. Henry’s seven brothers were all on the common.
Henry arguably was, too, just didn’t want his name on a list the British might compare with those who took loyalty oaths to the King during their military service.
The same (admittedly speculative) argument goes for David Fisk.
How Close Was Hancock to These Men?
It’s one thing to conclude Hancock had known many Lexington men for decades. We can even argue that some of Lexington’s loyalty to the patriot cause stemmed from personal connections with John Hancock and his family.
Beyond that, little is known. What nicknames did they call each other? Did they get along or argue? Did they occasionally meet for drinks at Buckman Tavern? Did one of these men give Hancock the “fine salmon” that famously left Lexington with him?
Unfortunately, without records we can only speculate.
Sources:
Canavan, M. J., “The Canavan Papers”, 1912
Hudson, Charles, “History of Lexington”, 2nd Edition, Two Volumes, 1912
Munroe, Sally, “Washington’s Visit to Lexington Nov 5 1789”, Lexington Historical Society Proceedings, Vol I, 1889, p xxxvi – xlii
Muzzey, A. B.: “Battle of Lexington”, New England Historical and Genealogical Register, p377-393, October 1877
Phinney, Elias, “History of the Battle of Lexington”, 1825
Simonds, Eli, “Echoes of the Lexington Bell”, Boston Globe, 17 July 1895
The Lexington Fight 