imported here from Great Britain for the purpose of a revenue, is a tax illegally laid upon and extorted from us. "3. That said India Company's exporting their own teas to the Colonies, while charged with said duty, has a direct tendency to establish said revenue acts. "4. That we will exert ourselves, and join with our American brethren, in adopting and prosecuting all legal and proper measures to discourage and prevent the landing, storing, and vending and using those teas among us; and that whosoever shall aid or assist said India Company, their factors or servants, in either landing, storing, or selling the same, does a manifest injury to his country, and deserves to be treated with severity and contempt. "5. That we are ready at all times, in conjunction with our American brethren, as loyal subjects, to risk our lives and fortunes in the service and defence of His Majesty's person, crown, and dignity; and also, as a free people, in asserting and maintaining inviolate our civil and religious rights and privileges against all opposers whatever. "6. That the thanks of this town be and are hereby given to our worthy brethren of the town of Boston, for their unwearied care and pains in endeavoring to preserve our rights and privileges free from innovation, and furnishing this and our other towns with copies of their late proceedings. "Voted that a copy of these resolutions and proceedings be transmitted to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston." June 1, 1774: The Boston Port Bill, which prohibited. all trade by water, brought the great question to its issue. Every one here was asking, Must we be slaves? Can we be free? When men's labor is forbidden, and their bread fails, then "bayonets begin to think." Our fathers now felt that the hope of the country was in the union of the Colonies. Men who could understand these acts of oppression, and could thus talk, were ready and willing to act; and their first prophetic deed was that of abstinence. Nov. 14, 1774, Medford voted thus: "Resolved, That, if any person or persons sells or consumes any East India teas, the names of such persons to be posted up in some public place." Again, "Voted that we will not use East India teas till the Acts be repealed." This was equivalent to cleaning the rifle, and looking into the cartridge-box. Medford had its stock of powder deposited in the powderhouse, on Quarry Hill, and, on the 27th of August, 1774, removed it. Governor Gage heard that the powder in that house was fast leaving it; and, as he called it the "king's powder," he resolved to remove it to Castle William (Fort Independence). Accordingly, "on Thursday morning, September 1, about half-past four, two hundred and sixty troops, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Maddison, embarked at Long Wharf, Boston, in thirteen boats, sailed up Mystic River, landed at Temple's farm (Ten Hills), marched to the powder-house, and removed all the powder in it, two hundred and fifty half-barrels, to Castle William." This clandestine act of power, executed on the very borders of Medford, called forth here the deepest indignation, and made every man ready for the issue which it foreshadowed. It is impossible now to conceive of the excitement which this act produced. "Five boats" had been built, and "the Selectmen of Medford were ordered to take a party of men to Charlestown Neck, to launch them, and carry them up Mystic River." And this was done. We find the inhabitants of Medford again assembled; and, Feb. 1, 1775, two Representatives, Benjamin Hall, and Stephen Hall, 3d, are sent to the Provincial Congress at Cambridge. Medford now, as one man, enrolled itself, and stood ready at the first tap of the drum. Signs of terrible portent abound; and soon comes the 19th of April. A beacon-fire has been lighted; a horseman rides at full speed through the streets of Medford; the bell rings, drums beat, all doors fly open. The awful tidings have already spread over the county, and will soon penetrate the adjoining States. The workshops, the brickyards, the counting-houses, and the cornfields are all deserted. The horse is suddenly loosed from the plough, and the plough left in the furrow. Women collect to ask if they can do any thing, and then hasten to help fathers, husbands, and sons. All eyes are strained to see, all ears to hear, and every heart palpitates as before the lightning flash of an overhanging cloud. The time has come. The British regulars are marching from Boston to Lexington for plunder and hostility. Patriotism reddens every American cheek at the announcement of this fact. The heart of the whole town moves as by one pulsation. by one pulsation. There needs no conscription here. All are ready. The auroral blush of liberty is in the sky. They seize their rifle and their fowling-piece, they fill their powder-horn and cartridge-box, they store their knapsack and roll up their blanket; and then, with quickened step and firm resolve, heart answering to heart, the fearless patriot band take up their solemn march to meet the foe. Some Medford minute-men soon joined the ranks of their neighbors from Reading, who had volunteered already, under the command of their gallant young physician, John Brooks. The Medford Company, fifty-nine in all, were out early on their march to the scene of danger, and, for five days, were in active service. The maxim at Medford was this: "Every citizen a soldier, every soldier a patriot.” A Medford farmer, at the West End, as soon as he heard of the march of the British towards Lexington, ran to his house, seized his gun, and made ready for departure. Dinner was on the table, but he would not stop. His wife exclaimed, Why, husband, you are not going without your dinner!" “Yes, I am,” he replied; "I am going to take powder and balls for my dinner to-day, or to give them some. 66 These were times when men had reasons shorter than logic. Their minds glowed like the burning furnace; and to put a stop to British oppression they were resolved. God and freedom now became watchwords. They felt that every true American was their ally; and they knew that the first shot fired at their neighbors at Lexington would convert every citizen in the Colony to a minute-man and a soldier. These ancestors of ours were men; they have the right to be called MEN; and, with such men, liberty is safe. How faintly, at this day, can we conceive of the electric enthusiasm of the 19th of April! It seemed "As if the very earth again Grew quick with God's creating breath; The number belonging to Medford who were killed on that day is not known. A worthy old man told us that he knew of four who fell: William Polly and Henry Putnam, at Concord; and a man named Smith, and another named Francis, in West Cambridge. The two last mentioned were killed by the flank guard of the British, on the retreat to Boston. William Polly was brought to Medford alive, but died of his wounds April 25. The Medford men followed the retreating British from Lexington woods to Charlestown ferry, and shot their last ball during the embarkation. Medford men were with Washington at Monmouth, at Brandywine, at the crossing of the Delaware, and in other places, and fought bravely for the liberties and independence of their country. Mr. Nowell, in his diary, kept at Boston, has the following: "Aug. 6, 1775: Skirmishing up Mistick River. Several soldiers brought over here wounded. The house at Penny Ferry, Malden side, burnt." "Aug. 13. Several gondaloes sailed up Mistick River, upon which the Provincials and they had a skirmish; many shots exchanged, but nothing decisive." It appears from these records that the enemy attempted incursions here, but were promptly met and repulsed by our fathers. This event put the inhabitants of Medford in a state of watchfulness and defence at the very earliest period of the Revolution. A detachment of troops from the army at Cambridge were ordered east; and, on the 13th September, 1775, they encamped for the night in Medford, having Benedict Arnold. as their commander. After the battles of Lexington and Concord, our patriot fathers felt themselves pledged to the cause, and much anxiety arose about the selection of their Representative to the General Court. They felt that the most momentous questions might come up for discussion, and that the decision of Massachusetts might be final. The gentleman they first chose declined. The choice then fell on Capt. Thomas Brooks, as a man whose solid judgment, characteristic decision, and burning patriotism, fitted him for the trying emergencies. So ably and promptly did he fill his trust, that the town elected him eight times in succession. From his own farm he supplied the army with wood while in Charlestown and on Winter Hill. June 10, 1776: The Selectmen assemble the inhabitants of Medford for this high and solemn purpose, namely: "To know the minds of the town, whether, should the Honorable Congress, for the safety of the said Colonies, declare them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, they, the said inhabitants, will solemnly engage, with their LIVES and FORTUNES, to support them in the measure. "Voted in the affirmative, unanimously.” The Declaration of Independence was read from the pul |