250th Anniversary of the American Revolution
Significant Northborough Events during the Revolutionary War Period
  • Mar 22, 1773 -Town vote to concur with Boston on the "rights of colonist" Oct 28, 1772
  • Jan 9, 1774 - Town Elected Levi Brigham to represent district in the yet-to-be formed Provincial Congress of Massachusetts begun in Oct. 1774 marking the end of Royal Rule in Massachusetts
  • Feb 1774 - Northborough Tea Party, men from town burned tea of a Peddler on the Boston Post Road (Two months after the Boston Tea Party of Dec. 18, 1773)
  • Aug 24, 1774 - Town appointed a Committee to coordinate with Boston and other towns to strengthen the Union of the Province and Colonies. “It was proposed to the town that we are determined to defend our charter rights and privileges at the risqué of our lives and fortunes, and that the town desire the Committee of Correspondence to write to their brethren at Boston and inform them thereof.”
  • November 1774 - Town “voted to buy 100 wt of powder, 300 wt of lead, and flints, 240”
  • Late February 1775 - British spies Captain Browne and Ensign DeBerniere passed through Northborough as part of their mission for General Gage to scout terrain from Boston to Worcester. On return, they diverted from the Upper Boston Post Road to the southern Framingham Road (present day Davis St.) to avoid capture.
  • Spring 1775 - Company of minutemen formed and began to drill. Under command of Capt. Samuel Wood.
  • April 19, 1775 - The 50 Minutemen of Northborough left for Boston “within three or four hours” after arrival of news from Lexington and Concord.
  • June 17, 1775 - Northborough Minutemen fought at the battle of Bunker Hill.
  • Jan 1776 - Col. Henry Knox Cannon from Ticonderoga. Train of Artillery passed through Northborough on way to Gen. Washington at Dorchester Heights. Marker at 63 Main St.
  • June 3,1776 - 1 month before declaration of independence -Town vote to support independence if approved by the Continental Congress. “If it be the mind of this town to be independent of Great Britain, in case the Continental Congress think proper, and we are ready with our lives and fortunes, if in Providence called to defend the same. Passed in the affirmative.”
  • September 12, 1776 - Publication of the Declaration of Independence to the people of Northborough. Lecture on the Declaration by Rev. Peter Whitney.
  • May 1778 - Draft for soldiers started. Selectmen voted to call 5 men into service; 1779, 7 men; 1780, 17 men. 1781, 6 men. Total draft 1778-1781 50 men paid for by the town of Northborough
  • Total Northborough men who fought in the Revolutionary War from Northborough = 124 (includes 50 minutemen)
  • Poem “The Minute Men of Northborough” by Wallace Rice of Chicago (son of John Asaph Rice of Northborough)
  • October 23, 1789 - President Washington passing through Northborough on his New England Tour
  • June 15, 1825 - Marquis De Lafayette passing through Northborough on his farewell tour of the U.S

Reference: J.C. Kent, Northborough History, © 1921 (pages 59-83)