An Eyewitness to the Events in Lexington
by Eliza (April 19, 1841)
Article on the events of April 19, 1775

My dear niece Lucy Allen,

This day is sixty-six years since the war began on the Common which I now can see from this window as I sit here writing . . . and can see, in my mind, all the British troops marching off the Common to Concord, and the whole scene, how Aunt Hancock and Miss Dolly Quincy, with their cloaks and bonnets on, Aunt crying and wringing her hands and helping Mother dress the children, Dolly going round with Father to hide money, watches and anything down in the potatoes and up in the garrett. . . . Father sent Jonas down to Grandfather Cook's to see who was killed and what their condition was and in the afternoon, Father, Mother with me and the Baby went to the Meeting House. There was the eight men that was killed, seven of them my father's parishioners, . . . all in Boxes made of four large Boards nailed up and, after Pa had prayed, they were put onto two horse carts and took into the grave yard. It was a little rainy but we waited to see them covered up . . . and then for fear the British should find them, my Father thought some of the men had best Cut some pine or oak bows and spread them on their place of burial.

The extraordinary circumstance that I should be the only one of this Family who should witness the first Burial of the first slain of the war between Great Britain and America and Be not only continued in Life but on the same spot of earth and in the same house where the first Patriots in the Country was at that period; Hancock and Adams and Father who was known as a superior Whig. Pray read with patience perhaps my last letter for I am full of years.

Your aged Aunt Eliza

From the records of the Lexington Historical Society

Questions:

1. Just after dawn on April 19, the colonial militia and the regulars fired at each other, and eight colonists were killed. What evidence is there that Eliza saw the gunfire and the killing?
2. Eliza's parents knew that the regulars were coming. In preparation, what did her parents spend the early morning doing?
3. What situation did Eliza say was a very "extraordinary circumstance" for her?
4. What does Eliza's account contribute to our knowledge of the events?
5. Why did she leave out many other details of that day?