Local History

LITTLETON -- In 1774 and 1775 the town of Littleton, like many communities in the area, had to decide whether to go to war with the British. "What a decision to make. What a thing to think about. Are we going to go to war with the greatest naval nation in the world at that time?" said Henry Atkins, a member of Opening Day Committee for the town's tercentennial. "When you read into the history of Littleton, it's amazing to see the things that went on here."

Today, the Worcester Revolution of 1774 announced that their launch of their 'Digital Committee of Correspondence' begins June 1st. Since their mention of it in the fall, they created a way to spread the moments of this dramatic time through the lens of the computer and mobile phone. In fact, their focus on a

Remarkably, the document not only shows a key step in separation between the Crown and the colony, but also shows the chain of action; county and town. The Worcester resolve is followed by a record of the Grafton town meeting held to consider those measures. It's a fascinating look at the grassroots nature of independence, uniting citizens of the smaller towns to take over their own governmental functions. This pivotal step helps explain why the towns were ready to send militia the day they received word of the Lexington alarm.

On September 5, 1774, Captain Luke Drury moderated a Grafton town meeting held to consider the resolves. By a unanimous vote, the townspeople agreed.

A hidden secret in Worcester’s history revealed By Jacleen Charbonneau Worcester Magazine 30 January 2014, 5:00 am Worcester is known for its undeniable sense of community, but with the addition of its consortium, Worcester Revolution of 1774, Inc., community has…

Researching your Revolutionary Family History at the Massachusetts Archives Massachusetts Archives Introduction The Archives, a division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, is the repository for Massachusetts records generated by state government. Archives holdings date from the…

Embattled Farmers: Campaigns and Profiles of Revolutionary Soldiers from Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1775-1783 by Richard C. Wiggin There was nothing extraordinary about these men; they were ordinary farmers, laborers, merchants, tradesmen, slaves, and former slaves, the cross-section of a typical eighteenth-century…

Crown Passes Law to Seize Estates and Property of Massachusetts Citizens

The following votes were passed by the citizens of Worcester, May 19, 1783, and contain the substance of their doings relative to the refugees:

Voted, — That in the opinion of this town, it would be extremely dangerous to the peace, happiness, liberty and safety of these states, to suffer those who, the moment the bloody banners were displayed, abandoned their native land, turned parricides, and conspired to involve their country in tumult, ruin and blood, to become subjects of and reside in this government;

Searching for the Past: Winthrop Sq. to Be Site of Archeological Dig in September August 15, 2013 By Patriot-Bridge Staff Mayor Thomas M. Menino is pleased to announce that the City of Boston will be undertaking an archaeological dig of…

The Rare Book Cataloging Team came across eight “subscription sheets,” signed petitions dated “Boston, October 28, 1767.” The documents record one of the early calls for Colonial Americans to boycott British goods. The British had just imposed the Townsend Acts, requiring heavy tariffs on British goods. Six years later, the same tensions sparked the famed Boston Tea Party. Civil actions like these foreshadowed the American Revolution.

In 1767, the signers pledged not to buy goods imported from Britain and its other colonies after Dec. 31. The list of boycotted articles opens a window on 18th-century American imports, including furniture, loaf sugar, nails, anchors, hats, shoe leather, linseed oil, glue, malt liquors, starch, gauze, and the dress gloves worn at funerals.