	Bedford Minuteman Company http://www.bedfordminutemancompany.org
Home Purpose Origination Original Roster 19 April 1775 Bedford Flag Liberty Pole Capping Ceremonial Events Current Calendar Chain of Command Historical Sites Minuteman Oath	Origination Between the years 1763 and 1774, the English government's attempts to gain more effective economic and political control over its colonies and the intent of many of those colonists in America to maintain their hard-gained independence of activity in many areas had brought about a gradual deterioration in affiliation between the two. Especially so was the situation in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, where conditions had often gone beyond mere differences in thought and word. So it was in the latter part of 1774 the Town of Bedford readily satisfied the suggestion of the Provincial Congress (an improvised government to offset the closing of the Massachusetts General Court by the English government) to delegate a portion of its local militia to "Minutemen Status", which group was to be prepared to muster and respond " on the moment" to any overt action on the part of the British deemed a threat to colonists established rights. All military companies were urged to perfect themselves in military discipline. The town was urged to procure and distribute free arms and bayonets as well as provisions and supplies. On March 20, 1775 the town meeting heard the second article before the town that had been continued over from last meeting on the 27^th day of January. It was voted that all twenty-five Minutemen would be paid one shilling per week until the first of May next they be exercising four hours in a week and two shillings to be allowed two officers to equip themselves according to the advice of the Congress. In Bedford the committee of inspection consisted of Moses Abbott, Thomas Page, Ebenezer Page, John Reed, and Edward Stearns. Every man able to carry a musket had come forward to answer the call. The officers elected were: Jonathan Wilson age 43, Captain; Moses Abbott age 48, First Lieutenant; Timothy Jones age 38, Second Lieutenant; and Nathaniel Page, Standard Bearer. These officers were to assemble and elect field officers, and enlist one quarter of the men enrolled. The men and officers thus elected became known as the Bedford Minutemen. The youngest man in the company was seventeen and the oldest forty-eight consisting of farmers, shop owners, and millers. The terms of the Minuteman enlistment paper stated the truth that was in every heart: We will, to the utmost of our powers and abilities, defend all and every one of our charter rights, liberties and privileges; and all will hold ourselves in readiness at a minute's warning, with arms and ammunition thus to do. Hence when the alarm sounded on April 19, 1775, that the British troops were enroute to Concord to some "disciplinary" action there, the twenty-seven members of the Bedford Minuteman Company hastily met at the Fitch Tavern in Bedford, where, on the words of their Captain Jonathan Wilson ("It is a cold breakfast, boys, but we'll give the British a hot dinner; we'll have every dog of them before night!"). The Bedford Minutemen then left the Fitch Tavern and proceeded to march to the Town of Concord, joining the fifty men of the Bedford militia en route. The Bedford Minutemen marched to one fifer and one drummer on that morning. Being one of the first groups to arrive at the North Bridge, as well as one of the largest contingents-seventy-seven men- the Bedford men did battle there against the British troops, alongside their fellow minutemen and militia companies, on that memorable say in American history. The standard of the Bedford Minutemen, carried by Cornet Nathaniel Page and the only flag at the altercation, has since become known as the Bedford Flag and is recognized as the first flag to fly over an organized "American" fighting force in the resistance to British rule.
Bedford Minuteman Company P.O. Box 1775 Bedford, MA 01730

Bedford Minuteman Company

http://www.bedfordminutemancompany.org

Origination

Between the years 1763 and 1774, the English government's attempts to gain more effective economic and political control over its colonies and the intent of many of those colonists in America to maintain their hard-gained independence of activity in many areas had brought about a gradual deterioration in affiliation between the two. Especially so was the situation in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, where conditions had often gone beyond mere differences in thought and word.

So it was in the latter part of 1774 the Town of Bedford readily satisfied the suggestion of the Provincial Congress (an improvised government to offset the closing of the Massachusetts General Court by the English government) to delegate a portion of its local militia to "Minutemen Status", which group was to be prepared to muster and respond " on the moment" to any overt action on the part of the British deemed a threat to colonists established rights. All military companies were urged to perfect themselves in military discipline. The town was urged to procure and distribute free arms and bayonets as well as provisions and supplies.

On March 20, 1775 the town meeting heard the second article before the town that had been continued over from last meeting on the 27^th day of January. It was voted that all twenty-five Minutemen would be paid one shilling per week until the first of May next they be exercising four hours in a week and two shillings to be allowed two officers to equip themselves according to the advice of the Congress.

In Bedford the committee of inspection consisted of Moses Abbott, Thomas Page, Ebenezer Page, John Reed, and Edward Stearns. Every man able to carry a musket had come forward to answer the call. The officers elected were: Jonathan Wilson age 43, Captain; Moses Abbott age 48, First Lieutenant; Timothy Jones age 38, Second Lieutenant; and Nathaniel Page, Standard Bearer. These officers were to assemble and elect field officers, and enlist one quarter of the men enrolled. The men and officers thus elected became known as the Bedford Minutemen. The youngest man in the company was seventeen and the oldest forty-eight consisting of farmers, shop owners, and millers.

The terms of the Minuteman enlistment paper stated the truth that was in every heart:

We will, to the utmost of our powers and abilities, defend all and every one of our charter rights, liberties and privileges; and all will hold ourselves in readiness at a minute's warning, with arms and ammunition thus to do.

Hence when the alarm sounded on April 19, 1775, that the British troops were enroute to Concord to some "disciplinary" action there, the twenty-seven members of the Bedford Minuteman Company hastily met at the Fitch Tavern in Bedford, where, on the words of their Captain Jonathan Wilson ("It is a cold breakfast, boys, but we'll give the British a hot dinner; we'll have every dog of them before night!"). The Bedford Minutemen then left the Fitch Tavern and proceeded to march to the Town of Concord, joining the fifty men of the Bedford militia en route. The Bedford Minutemen marched to one fifer and one drummer on that morning.

Being one of the first groups to arrive at the North Bridge, as well as one of the largest contingents-seventy-seven men- the Bedford men did battle there against the British troops, alongside their fellow minutemen and militia companies, on that memorable say in American history.

The standard of the Bedford Minutemen, carried by Cornet Nathaniel Page and the only flag at the altercation, has since become known as the Bedford Flag and is recognized as the first flag to fly over an organized "American" fighting force in the resistance to British rule.

Bedford Minuteman Company
P.O. Box 1775
Bedford, MA 01730