Paul Revere's House

“The fate of a nation was riding that night”–

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We all know Longfellow's poem depicting that fateful night in April 1775. That evening Paul Revere warned the countryside of the enemy's approchement. We are also mindful Longfellow did not exactly tell us what had transpired that evening.

Paul Revere, along with William Dawes and William Prescott did take that midnight ride. Revere and Dawes, as we have memorize alerted Samuel Adams and John Hancock of the British intent on placing them under arrest. They then traveled on to alert the other towns the regulars (British) were coming. The two patriots, by chance met-up with William Prescot returning home late from his lady's friend house and they proceeded with the journey. Eventually captured and ultimately released by the British, the truth of that night is not as romantic as Longfellow's fiction.

It is not the truth but how one tells the tale…

An American Revolutionary patriot, Revere is born on December 21, 1734 (according to the Old Style calendar) and passed away on May 10, 1813. His career as a silversmith and an engraver led him to become a leading industrialist of the times. He began life as the son of a French Huguenot father and Deborah Hitchborn, the daughter of a long- standing prominate Boston family. He wed Sarah Orne in 1757. They had 8 children. When she entered eternal happiness in 1773 he soon married Rachel Walker and added 8 more children to his family. Some have speculated that Revere's full house enabled him to sneak out and warn the countryside the British were coming. After all, no British soldier wanted to be quartered in a home with so many children.

His time in the military

In June 1779 Revere commanded an artillery unit at Penobscot Bay (present-day Maine). His actions throughout this military campaign led to the rout of the entire Massachusetts expedition and court martial charges were soon brought against him. Due to lack of evidence, all finally were dismissed. Of course his capture on the night of April 7, 1775 led him to acknowledge the patriots plan. All in all, Paul Revere's life as a heroic patriot is mainly based on Longfellow's poem and his time with the group-the Sons of Liberty.

The Paul Revere House, located at 19 North Square is now a public museum operated by the Paul Revere Memorial Association. It opened to the public in April 1908 and is the oldest structure currently in downtown Boston. The house, built in 1680 is a classic example of Massachusetts Bay construction. It is situated on the site of the Second Church of Boston and the parsonage of Increase and Cotton Mather (two men made famous during the Salem witch hunt of 1692).

Next time you are traveling through Boston stop by the Revere house and contemplate the life of this American industrialist. In 1801 he established the Revere Copper Company. This company, now operates in Rome, New York and New Bedford MA.

Discover more at the Paul Revere House, located in downtown Boston (a small admission fee is charged). We remember Paul Revere as an American patriot. He is forever immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow' poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere", but his life is of a man who had fears, hopes and dreams. In essence, Revere speaks to the ordinary man or woman in all of us.