The Witness House

Hartwell Tavern is a restored 18th century home and tavern on the actual “Battle Road” at Minute Man National Historical Park. The house was here at the time of the famous battle of April 19th, 1775. (9)

The Hartwell Tavern was on the main road, the “Bay Road,” running from Boston through western Massachusetts all the way to Crown Point, New York. The British troops passed the tavern on April 19th, on their way to Concord, and again when they returned to Boston.

Mary Hartwell’s Remembrances:

On the night of April 18th, an advance guard of British soldiers captured Paul Revere and William Dawes just down the road from the tavern. Dr. Samuel Prescott of Concord, who was riding with them, escaped by leaping his horse over a stone wall and fleeing through pasture and swamp. He emerged at the Hartwell Tavern. Prescott awakened old Ephraim and told him that the British regulars on the march. Ephraim sent his black slave Violet down the road to awaken Samuel Hartwell next door. Mary then took over and relayed the message to Captain William Smith, commanding officer of the Lincoln Minute Men. Thus the Lincoln Minute Men were warned in time, and arrived at the NorthBridge before the British soldiers got there.

The house was built 1732-1733, and was presented to Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell by Ephraim’s father, Samuel, including 30 acres of surrounding and nearby acreage. In 1756, when the Hartwells had nine children living there, Ephraim opened part of the home as an inn. The home served as an inn until the 1780’s. It was a residence until purchased in 1967, by the National Park Service, when it was restored to its 1775 appearance, although keeping its 1783 and 1830 additions.

Three of the Hartwell’s sons served with the Lincoln Minute Man Company that fought at the North Bridge and on the battle road on April 19th: Sergeant Samuel Hartwell, John Hartwell and Private Isaac Hartwell. All three sons served later in the Revolutionary War.

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The image, Minute Man National Historical Park, is subject to copyright by zolee1. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin, administrator of “The Revolution ed” pool.

General Von Steuben

Friedrich Wilhelm August von Steuben was born 17 September 1730, in Magdeburg, Prussia, and died 1794, in New York. If I am reading the German writing correctly, this plaque and statue of the great patriot general of the American Revolution is located in Potsdam, Germany.

Baron Von Steuben was born into a military family. He played a crucial role in the military success of the American Revolution. He had joined the Prussian army at the age of sixteen and served until the end of the Seven Years War. Rising to the rank of captain, he was for a time attached to the staff of Fredrick the Great. With his forceful Prussian bearing and colorful personality, Steuben had a wondrous effect on the downhearted Continental army, becoming one of General George Washington’s most valuable and trusted officers. He was charged to train the army as an efficient fighting machine, which he did, despite the fact that he spoke no English.

Baron Von Steuben

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The image, Steuben-Denkmal, is subject to copyright by SteffenKahl. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin, administrator of “The Revolution ed” pool.

Von Steuben

GENERAL FRIEDRICH WILHELM AUGUST VON STEUBEN

The “von” was added to the STEUBEN family name in 1708, by grandfather Augustin Steuben who was a minister with the German Reformed Church. Steuben was baptised with the name “Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben” which he changed to “Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand.” The title of Baron was awarded to him in 1764, after he became chamberlain at the petty court of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. He had already been in military service, having been dismissed, reasons unknown, in 1763, with the rank of Captain.

Steuben came to the colonies, after presenting his credentials to Benjamin Franklin in France. He had royal connections in his homeland and had been part of the General Staff during the Seven Years War. He even served diplomatically in Russia. His military experience had been significant enough to greatly improve the quality of the Continental Army after Valley Forge.

It is always a wonder to find our own American patriots of the Revolution honored also in lands far across the sea.  Of course, it should be thus, as it was the Revolution that “fired the shot heard ’round the world.” If I am reading the German writing correctly, this statue of the great patriot general of the American Revolution is located in Potsdam, Germany.

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The image, Steuben-Denkmal, is subject to copyright by SteffenKahl. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin, administrator of “The Revolution ed” pool.

Remembering The Father

The Washington Tomb at Mount Vernon, Virginia

Thank you WaPo for remembering our greatest American, George Washington.

Fleshing Out a Founding Father – washingtonpost.com

Mount Vernon Additions Provide New Entree to George Washington’s World

By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 24, 2006; Page A01

A decade ago, the people who run Mount Vernon noticed many of their visitors knew little more about George Washington than that he was the country’s first president.

Beginning Friday, visitors there will be able to learn much more about him in two new buildings. On their way to the historic mansion, they’ll pass through an orientation center where they will get history about Washington and his home (one short film is narrated by game show host Pat Sajak). And on their way out, they will pass through an extensive museum and education center.

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The image, George Washington’s Tomb, is subject to copyright by barneykin. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin, administrator of “The Revolution ed” pool.

George Stapleton, Senior

Revolutionary War Soldier

Bob Bowman, the photographer, wrote that this grave is located in Jefferson County, Georgia, between the small towns of Wrens and Stapleton. The cemetery is known as the Dixon family cemetery, but has more Stapleton’s buried there than Dixon’s. It is located in the middle of a cow pasture on the farm of a relative of his wife. The owner of the property claims that it was once part of a grant from the King of England.

From NSDAR Records (DAR Ancestor # A108870):
STAPLETON, GEORGE LAWSON
Birth 21 Dec 1760 VIRGINIA
Death 30 May 1832 JEFFERSON CO GEORGIA
Service State/Organization: GEORGIA
Ranks PRIVATE , PATRIOTIC SERVICE
Spouse 1) MARGARET DOWNER

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The image, Old Cemetery in the Cow Pasture, is subject to copyright by Robert 345. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin, administrator of “The Revolution ed” pool.

Yorktown Day 2006

October 19th, 2006

Yorktown, Virginia’s 225th commemoration of the Victory at Yorktown on 19 October 1781, celebrating the final battle of the American Revolution that secured independence for the United States.

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The image, 100_0753.JPG, is subject to copyright by Haobaba. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin, administrator of “The Revolution ed” pool.

Signer John Hart

John ‘Honest John‘ Hart (circa 1713–May 11, 1779), was a New Jersey signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Shortly thereafter, in December of 1776, British forces arrived at Pennington, New Jersey and raided Hart’s home in Hopewell, in the process damaging his farm. The elderly John Hart escaped and hid in the Sourland Mountains during the depth of winter. His two minor children managed to escape to nearby family members.

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The image, Hopewell, NJ, is subject to copyright by sheena1chi. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin, administrator of “The Revolution ed” pool.

Yorktown Victory Monument

The Seige of Yorktown, led by General George Washington, ended with the surrender of General Cornwallis and his army of 17,600 on October 19, 1781. Upon hearing of the defeat the British Prime Minister, Frederick Lord North, exclaimed, “Oh God, it’s all over.”The victory at Yorktown effectively ended the war.

The image, Yorktown, was originally uploaded by Alan Hostetler. It is posted here from Neddy’s favorites.

Doctor John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon (1723-1794), Signer of the Declaration of Independence

This statue of the Scottish born Doctor John Witherspoon was dedicated on November 10, 2001, in front of East Pyne Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey. Google Map

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The image, Statue of Dr. John Witherspoon, is subject to copyright by sheena1chi. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin, administrator of “The Revolution ed” pool.

French Grave Marker

Unknown Soldiers
Yorktown Battlefield, Yorktown, Virginia
October 1781

In October 1971, a white Carrara marble cross was erected at the site known as the ‘French Cemetary’. For many years prior to 1971, the site had been marked by a simple wooden cross. This site is located about a mile to the south of ‘The French Trench’, and was known to have contained the remains of at least fifty unknown French soldiers who were believed to have died during the 1781 siege.  (Commemoration of French at Yorktown)

The image, 100_1189, was originally uploaded by DanRhett. It is posted here from Neddy’s .