The Danvers Historical Society invites you to follow along with us as we explore the people and events leading up to the War of Independence. Where possible, these stories will relate specifically to Danvers and the surrounding area of Essex County. Follow along and Discover Danvers!
2 May | Massachusetts Committee of Safety protests to Connecticut Governor that “No agreement or compact with General Gage will in the least alleviate our distress, as no confidence can possibly be placed in any assurances he can give...Our relief now must arise from driving General Gage, with his Troops, out of the Country, which, with the blessing of God, we are determined to accomplish or perish in the attempt.” Essex Heritage Road to Revolution
8 May | The Committees of Correspondence and Selectmen of the towns are authorized to disarm all who would not give assurance of good intent and regard to the country's interest. Road to Revolution
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10 May | The Second Continental Congress begins: “The Second Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning May 10, 1775. The Congress served as a governing body during the American Revolutionary War. In addition to military matters, the Congress advised the colonies on how to reform civil governments. It also created a Continental Post Office, regulated trade, handled Indian affairs and tried to settle disputes between colonies.
10 May | Fort Ticonderoga, NY is captured by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. The American Revolution, National Park Service, p. 7
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13 May | General Israel Putnam leads all of the troops at Cambridge to Charlestown in a show of force.
20 May | After the Alarm at Lexington, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety realized the impending danger of further conflict with Great Britain and passed a resolution on May 20, 1775 regarding enlistments into the army. It stated that only freemen were to be enlisted and “that no Slave be admitted into this Army upon any consideration whatever.” Forgotten Patriots, p. 79-80
24 May | In Philadelphia, John Hancock is elected President of the 2nd Continental Congress
25 May | The Massachusetts Committee for Safety requires the various counties of Massachusetts to provide 68 barrels of gunpowder for the use of the army besieging Boston.
29 May | A newspaper of those times furnishes evidence of the efforts made to recover fire-arms lost by the Provincials on April 19, thus proving the scarcity of munitions of war. From the New England Chronicle or the Essex Gazette of May 29, 1775, is gathered the following: "Lost in the battle of Menotomy by Nathan Putnam, of Capt. Hutchinson's Company, who was there badly wounded, a French Firelock, marked D. No. 6, with a marking iron, on the Breech. Said Putnam carried it to a Cross Road, near a mill. Whoever has said Gun in Possession is desired to return it to Col. Mansfield of Lynn, or to the Selectmen of Danvers, and he shall be rewarded for his trouble." Beside old Hearth-stones, p. 199
30 May | In London, the colonial version of the Lexington-Concord fight is published - ten days before the version sent by General Gage.
Celebrate Memorial Day in Danvers! May 26. Parade starts at 9:00AM at Holten Richmond Middle School
