Posted on 04/19/2010 8:52:48 AM PDT by Pharmboy
LEXINGTON — Like the other Minutemen in his company, Bill Poole will grab his musket, sling his cartridge box over his shoulder, and stride onto Lexington Green this morning to fight, and lose, the famed first skirmish between Patriot and Redcoat.
But unlike his comrades in the annual reenactment, Poole will carry with him a piece of a 235-year-old mystery that still surrounds that momentous clash: the question of who fired the shot that sparked the opening volley of the Revolutionary War.
Poole, 76, is the direct descendant of Ebenezer Locke, a man who, according to one account, fired the musket that set the course of the nation’s history. Whether or not that account is true is probably impossible to prove. But even if it’s not true, Locke is certainly one of only a handful of Minutemen identified by name as someone who shot at the British on Lexington Green.
That makes Poole a rather special player in the annual Lexington drama.
“To be part of the reenactment and find out that my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was there and played a role was certainly exhilarating,’’ Poole said last week, counting with the fingers of his right hand as he ticked off the greats. “It was a tremendous surprise.’’
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
George W. Bush went back in a time machine and fired the first shot, so that he and his father could set up a political dynasty. (sarcasm)
Hmmm...Hot Tub Time Machine..Texas style?
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list
Ha! Nicely done...
There is a magazine-like book that has long been used to teach high school history teachers, entitled “What Happened On Lexington Green?”
http://www.amazon.com/reader/0201004615
It is a collection of the various first, second, and third-hand accounts of the battle, told at various times close to and far away from the event, and how the tale has changed over time.
It conveys the important lesson about history, that it is both terribly opinionated, and very prone to interpretation and corruption.
That’s a really well formed hand; it looks functional.
Unusual, as the extra finger usually just hangs there.
Captain John Parker of the Colonial militia had also made these orders clear before the onset of battle: "Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."
The militia was well regulated (drilled) and had a genuine affection for Captain Parker. In fact, fully one-quarter of the men at Lexington were blood relatives. Therefore, I think it unlikely that they would disobey a direct order and fired only in response to the British action.
FWIW, one of Capt. Parker's relatives, Pvt. Job Pratt, my 4x-great grandfather, did not make it to Lexington Green in time, but was in on the action at Concord Bridge.
I’ve heard it was Sam Adams who fired a pistol as he and Hancock were ferried away in a carriage.
I’m somewhat surprised to discover that their Masters in Boston allow the reenactors to own weapons, let alone carry them in public.
I have read about that account too but it was unsubstantiated because there’s just a very few credible and verified accounts regarding Lexington Green. Love Sam Adams. Even the French aristocracy were asking if this (John) Adams was Sam and once they found it wasn’t him, they were openly disappointed.
I wonder if he killed Inigo Montoya’s father...hmmmm
We do know Maj Pitcairn ordered Cpt Parker’s men to lay down arms and disperse ‘ye rebels’. We do know Cpt Parker told his men to disperse but not lay down arms before the shot was fired. We do know that the British regulars fired without orders at Concord bridge.
Great one!
Awesome!
(I still think Sam Adams was ensconced in one of the buildings around Lexington Green and deliberately set off the match to the Revolution with his musket though!)
excellent!
you might find this of interest.
At the risk of sounding insensitive, how many fingers do you have on your right hand?
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