Written by Dr. Marcus J. Serven
Over the past few weeks my wife and I, plus four of our granddaughters, traveled out to Boston, Massachusetts and benefited from a fantastic tour of Revolutionary War sites. This tour was sponsored by our old friends at Landmark Events. They organized and led this tour with great planning, organization, and knowledge. Since our tour was just short of forty people, it was a great time for making new friends and renewing some old friendships. I highly recommend Landmark Events for your consideration if you desire to hear a view of history that emphasizes the providence of God. They organize tours in both America and Europe. Here is Landmark Events website: https://landmarkevents.org/.
Our first place to visit was the Boston Common and Public Gardens. Although this site is famous for the popular children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings” written by Robert McCloskey, it was from here many years before that three light brigades of British Redcoats marched off to Lexington and Concord in their disastrous journey into the countryside (April 17, 1775). Later, after the British were forced to leave Boston, the Common became the “trayning ground” for the Revolutionary militia. Thus, in time it became known as the starting point for the “Freedom Trail” that visits sixteen Revolutionary War sites throughout Boston.
Next to the Boston Commons is the historic Park Street Church and the famous Granary Burying Ground. Many significant patriots are interred there. Here are a few of their graves. To all Americans this should be “hallowed ground”!
It is difficult to find a person who influenced the people of Massachusetts more toward the American Revolution than James Otis (1725-1783). As a lawyer he passionately argued against the “Writs of Assistance” (1761), the Sugar Act (1764), the Stamp Act (1765), and many other violations of the English Common Law. Moreover, Otis inspired a large number of young lawyers–such as John Adams–to stand up to the English Parliament and the tyrannical King George III. The colonists argued for “No Taxation without Representation.” That is, they wanted their own provincial congresses to come up with fair and just levels of taxation rather than having taxes imposed upon them by a distant English Parliament and King. James Otis also has to be credited with popularizing the rhetorical talking points for American independence. In particular, he made the argument that all civil government should only be established “with the consent of the people.” His fiery speeches before judges and magistrates were widely read and absorbed by the colonists. For that reason he is greatly esteemed.
Another well-known patriot is Samuel Adams (1722-1803). Here is his grave in the Granary Cemetery. For good reason he is known as the “Father of the American Revolution” since he formed the “Committees of Correspondence” that promoted a sober-minded discussion throughout the colonies of the need for independence from Great Britain. In addition, he led the boisterous “Sons of Liberty” who fomented the revolutionary spirit throughout Massachusetts and who carried out the controversial Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. A few years later as a representative from Massachusetts, Samuel Adams signed the Declaration of Independence (1776) and became a leading spokesman calling for a Continental Congress to fund the war effort and to establish a new government that sought to unite the thirteen colonies. Adams was a sincere and outspoken Christian. Following the signing of the Declaration of Independence he wrote, “We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come.” Reflecting on the agitated state state of the colonies after the conclusion of the war he declared, “If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved.” Such a man ought to honored!
The chief financial supporter of the American Revolution was the successful merchant John Hancock (1737-1793). He was by far the wealthiest person in all of Boston, and owned and operated a vast shipping enterprise. He was also a dedicated patriot and served as the president of the Constitutional Congress. At one time Gen. George Washington asked John Hancock if the American army should bombard Boston in order the drive the British out of the city. Hancock replied that Boston should be “burnt to ashes” in order to remove the British. This would mean the destruction of his own mansion on Beacon Hill and many of his offices and warehouses scattered throughout Boston. Hancock risked everything for the cause of the American Revolution. He had much to lose, but he regarded the cause of liberty to be a much greater value than the accumulation of earthly riches. Famously, it is his large signature that was the first to be inked onto the Declaration of Independence.
The remains of Paul Revere (1735-1818) are also buried in the Granary Burying Ground. He distinguished himself as an early patriot and supporter of the cause for liberty. After seeing the signal lanterns in the steeple of the Old North Church (“one if by land, and two if by sea”) he quietly rowed himself across the Charles River under the guns of a British frigate, and then raced on horseback throughout the countryside warning many patriot families that “the Redcoats are coming!” In particular, he warned John Hancock and Samuel Adams who were strategizing in Lexington. Revere’s courage in the face of great danger has become part of American historical lore and an example of the intrepid boldness of many Americans throughout the centuries. We visited his home in Boston, the nearby Old North Church, and saw the site near Lexington where he was briefly detained by British troops on that fateful night. Thankfully, he cleverly escaped from his captors and continued his urgent ride throughout the countryside.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) also greatly contributed to the efforts for liberty. This striking monument to Franklin is located in the center of Boston at the Granary Burying Ground. Even though the body of Benjamin Franklin is buried in Philadelphia, the people of Boston have honored him as a central figure in bringing about the American Revolution. No self-respecting American Patriot has a quarrel with that sentiment!
Last of all, we visited the site of the Boston Massacre. This significant flashpoint occurred in the street right next to the Old State House of Massachusetts on March 5, 1770. Five colonists died with several others wounded.
Surprisingly, a newly minted lawyer, named John Adams (1735-1826), felt compelled to defend the British soldiers. He argued that they were “provoked” into firing their weapons by the unruly crowd–for fear of their lives. On the other side, the “Sons of Liberty” and their leader Samuel Adams (John Adam’s older cousin) argued that the British officer who commanded the soldiers gave an illegal order for them to fire upon the colonists. In the trial, the cogent arguments of John Adam’s prevailed and the English soldiers were acquitted. This made John Adams very unpopular for a season amongst the inhabitants of Boston! Nevertheless, given his principled conduct he went on to become a distinguished member of the Continental Congress from Massachusetts, a co-writer and signer of the Declaration of Independence, the first Vice President (under George Washington), and eventually the second President of the United States. John Adams was a man of high principle, and his virtuous character was valued by both friend and foe alike. We visited the home of John and Abigail Adams in Braintree (which is nearby to Boston) and thoroughly enjoyed reflecting on the fine example of married life they have left us in their letters to one another.
Here is our family at the Tea Party Museum in Boston next to a statue of Samuel Adams. (L-R) Naomi, Abigail, Edith, Cheryl, and Bella. What a special day we had exploring Revolutionary War sites through the winding streets of central Boston! More stories and pictures are to come…
Resources for Further Study:
There are a great number of fantastic books written about the American Revolution. Here are a few that I have benefited from and that I personally recommend:
Ellis, Joseph J. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.
Ellis, Joseph J. Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
Kostyal, K. M. Founding Fathers: The Fight for Freedom and the Birth of American Liberty. Washington DC: National Geographic Society, 2014.
Kunstler, Mort. The New Nation: The Art of Mort Kunstler. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, 2014.
Lancaster, Bruce. The American Heritage Book of the Revolution. The American Heritage Publishing, 1958.
McCullough, David. 1776. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2005.
McCullough, David. John Adams. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2001.
Metaxas, Eric. Revolution: The Story of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World.
Philbrick, Nathaniel. Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution.
Toll, Ian W. Six Ships: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy.
Dr. Marcus J. Serven, ThM and DMin
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