"ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY SEA"

JFK PRESENTED WITH OLD NORTH CHURCH LANTERN REPLICAS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy was presented with two silver lanterns* at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner held at the Sheraton-Park Hotel here in the Nation's Capital.

The lanterns were given to the President by Garnett D. Horner, reporter for the Washington Star.  He was also the outgoing president of the Association.

The lanterns are replicas of those hung in the belfry of the Old North Church in Boston on the night of April 18 1775 by order of Paul Revere to alert patriots that 700 Redcoats were moving out of Boston "by sea."** 

Celebrities attending the dinner included Julie London, Ralph Bellamy, Joey Bishop, and Jerome Hines.

*The silver lanterns were made by William de Matteo, master silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.  JFK had the lanterns mounted on the walls on opposite sides of the windows behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office.

**The lanterns were hung by either or both Old North Church sexton Robert Newman and vestryman Capt. John Pulling, Jr.  The prearranged signal was one lantern meant the British Redcoats were heading to capture patriot/rebel military supplies at Lexington and Concord via the Boston Neck.  This was strictly a land route.

Two lanterns meant the route was by boat across the Charles River.  Thus, from Longfellow's "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," 'one if by land and two if by sea...'  The British soldiers would disembark on the other side of the Charles then march to their destination.

JFK+50 Note

On his midnight ride, Paul Revere alerted the countryside to the trouble heading out of Boston by shouting, "The Regulars are out!"  The British regular army wore bright red coats.

Revere would not have shouted "The British are coming!" because HE was British, in fact, the majority of American colonists were British.

SOURCE

"Who Actually Hung the Lanterns in Old North Church?," by Matthew Reed Baker, July 4, 2017, www.bostonmagazine.com/

 

 

 

Old North Church Replica Lantern

Work of William de Matteo (1961)

JFK Library Photo

 

STORY OF THE OLD NORTH CHURCH LANTERNS

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1870

ONE IF BY LAND...TWO LANTERNS IN THE OVAL OFFICE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago today, February 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy received a pair of lanterns crafted by Colonial Williamsburg's master silversmith, William de Matteo*.  JFK had them placed on the wall of the Oval Office behind the famous Resolute desk.

The lanterns were functional electric reproductions of the original tin lamps that hung in the Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts on the night of Paul Revere's famous midnight ride, April 18-19, 1775.

The President, who was born in Boston and grew up with a love of American history, had to have been well aware of the story behind the lanterns.

Robert Newman**, sexton of the Old North Church and holder of keys to the door, was instructed by Mr. Revere to signal from the steeple of the church, the highest building in the city located opposite Charlestown just across the Charles River.

Paul Revere had alerted friends in Charlestown, including Colonel William Conant, to watch for the signal.  One lantern would mean the British army would be moving out of the city "by land" at the Boston Neck, while two lanterns would indicate they were rowing across the Charles to Cambridge.

After that, the British were bound to the towns of Lexington and Concord with the intent to capture rebel arms and ammunition as well as Patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock.  Paul Revere and his friends then would ride ahead to warn the countryside that "the British are coming!"

As instructed, Robert Newman joined Captain John Pulling, Jr. and Thomas Bernard to carry out Revere's plan.  Their actions were unknown to the rector of Old North who was a "vowed loyalist."

We all know that two lanterns were placed in the steeple of the Old North Church that night and the rest is history...not necessarily precisely accurate thanks to "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1861.  But what about those original lanterns?

Unfortunately, their fate is far from certain.  According to the Old North Foundation, Robert Newman sold the only surviving lantern to Captain Daniel Brown in 1782.  That lantern was eventually donated to the Concord Historical Society which displays it today although its authenticity is "questionable."

*William De Matteo (1923-1988) Designer and maker of handwrought arts and crafts and fine antique reproduction sterling holloware.  He studied under his father and became master silversmith at the Colonial Williamsburg Restoration.

**Robert Newman (1752-1804) lived with his mother in Boston where she rented part of her home to occupying British officers.  RN served as sexton at Old North Church until the day of his death which came on the same day the famous steeple of ONC was toppled by a hurricane.

SOURCES

"History Center Notes and Queries," Allen County-Fort Wayne History Center, June 24, 2010, www.historycenterfw.blogspot.com/

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston.

Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks and Maker's Marks, www.925-1000.com/

"Robert Newman and the Signal Lanterns," The Old North Foundation, www.oldnorth.com/

Colonial Williamsburg Lantern

JFK and Caroline in Oval Office

Lantern visible on the wall
JFK Library Image

Old North Church

Boston, Massachusetts

Photo by Jennifer White (2014)

MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE

LISTEN MY CHILDREN AND YOU SHALL HEAR

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) So began the famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which, although not necessarily exactly historically accurate, details the horseback ride of Paul Revere out of Boston to warn the countryside of the march of His Majesty's troops 240 years ago tonight, April 18, 1775.

Troops under General Thomas Gage began their march to the towns of Lexington and Concord with the objective of confiscating powder and shot collected and stored by what the Crown deemed to be "rebels."  Also, the Redcoats or "Lobsterbacks" as the American patriots sometimes called them, wanted to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock, two of the "rebel" leaders.

Paul Revere and William Dawes, who served as circuit riders for the Sons of Liberty, were signaled from two lanterns hung in the tower of the Old North Church that the British troops were moving out of the city by the Charles River.

Revere, Dawes and others rode out ahead of the British to warn the rural citizenry "to be up and to arms".

Although Paul Revere was captured by a British patrol in the early morning hours of April 19th, his warning had successfully alerted the Lexington and Concord militias and the rest is history.

Paul Revere Statue

Boston, Massachusetts

Photo by Jennifer White (2014)

Listen, my children, and you shall hear

Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,

On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;

Hardly a man is now alive

Who remembers that famous day and year

From "Paul Revere's Ride" 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

ERNIE PYLE DIES IN PACIFIC WAR

South Pacific (JFK+50) Seventy years ago today, April 18, 1945, Ernie Pyle, the most popular war correspondent of the Second World War was killed by Japanese machine gun fire on the island of Shima, off the coast of Okinawa.

Pyle, who was to cover the North African campaign and the invasions of Sicily and Italy, arrived in Normandy on June 7, 1944 following the D-Day invasion.

Pyle, famous for his coverage of the experiences of the enlisted men, won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished correspondence in 1944.

President Truman said that Pyle "told the story of the American fighting man as the American fighting men want it told."

Ernie Pyle's remains were interred in the National Memorial Cemetery in Hawaii.

Ernie Pyle at Anzio (1944)

2nd from right (front)

OLD NORTH CHURCH LANTERNS

REVERE LANTERNS HANG IN JFK'S OVAL OFFICE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago today, February 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy received a pair of lanterns crafted by Colonial Williamsburg's master silversmith, William de Matteo*.

The lanterns are functional electric reproductions of the original tin lamps that hung in the Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts on the night of Paul Revere's** famous midnight ride, April 18-19, 1775.

JFK had the lanterns hung on the wall of the Oval Office behind the famous Resolute desk.

JFK and Caroline in Oval Office

Lantern visible on the wall

Colonial Williamsburg Lantern

*William De Matteo (1923-1988) Designer and maker of handwrought arts and crafts and fine antique reproduction sterling holloware.  He studied under his father and became master silversmith at the Colonial Williamsburg Restoration.

**Paul Revere (1735-1818) was an American silversmith & engraver who became most famous for his midnight ride of April 1775 warning the countryside that British Regulars were moving out of Boston.  After his death, his son, Joseph Warren Revere, assumed control of his father's business and in 1801 the Revere Copper Works was founded.  Today, it is known as the Revere Copper Company.


SOURCES

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston.

Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks and Maker's Marks, www.925-1000.com/

Old North Church

Boston, Massachusetts

Photo by Jennifer White (2014)

PAUL REVERE'S MIDNIGHT RIDE BEGAN 238 YEARS AGO TONIGHT

April 18, 2013

PAUL REVERE'S MIDNIGHT RIDE BEGAN 238 YEARS AGO TONIGHT

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) 238 years ago tonight, April 18, 1775, British troops under General Thomas Gage began to board boats which would take them across the Charles River to the road leading to Lexington and Concord.

Gage had been instructed to move His Majesty's troops to the Massachusetts towns where they would capture "rebel" leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock, and also confiscate powder & shot.

Paul Revere* and William Dawes were told by Joseph Warren sometime after 9 p.m. that Redcoats were preparing to board boats to transport them across the Charles.

Revere had the sexton of the NORTH CHURCH to put 2 lanterns in the steeple to alert colonists in Charlestown of the pending British move while he crossed the Charles and began his famous "midnight ride."

                 Paul Revere Statue
                   Old North Church
              Boston, Massachusetts
    Photo by Daderot at en.wikipedia

As Revere rode through towns and villages along the way, he shouted out his warning, "The Regulars are out!"

Revere arrived at LEXINGTON around midnight while Dawes followed 30 minutes later.

                 Paul Revere Statue
         Photo by John White (1987)

Sam Adams and John Hancock were able to escape to safety and Captain John Parker and his Lexington militia were making ready to defend their town.

*Paul Revere (1734-1818) was born in Boston to a French Huguenot silversmith.  From 1773 to 1775, Revere served as a messenger for the Committee of Public Safety which required him to travel to New York and Philadelphia to report on the situation in Boston.

Revere was also an engraver who was a contributor to the Royal American Magazine.  He died at the age of 83 at his home in Boston and his remains lie in the Granary Burying Ground.

              Paul Revere Memorial
 Photo by Rhythmic Quietude (2010)

"Listen, my children, and you shall hear

Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,

On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;

Hardly a man is now alive

Who remembers that famous day and year"

"Paul Revere's Ride" 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

                         You Tube Video

BLOOD ON THE STREETS OF BOSTON, BUT A "MASSACRE"?. REALLY?

March 5, 2013

BLOOD ON THE STREETS OF BOSTON, BUT A "MASSACRE"?, REALLY?

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) 243 years ago today, on March 5, 1770, five Americans died at the hands of soldiers of the King here in the city of Boston.

That event has been called, at least in United States history, the Boston Massacre, or in the words of Paul Revere, "the Bloody Massacre."

It was Paul Revere who rendered a sketch of the Patriot view of the event which depicted Redcoats firing a volley into a crowd of seemingly innocent bystanders.

A fair question to ask is, of course, was this sketch accurate & another would be is the term "massacre" a reasonable description of the event?

The answer in both cases is NO.

Let's look at the second question first.  

MASSACRE is defined as "the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of people."

While the event that occurred on King Street in Boston on March 5, 1770 might accurately be described as "unnecessary," evidence brought out at the trial of the British soldiers make it clear that the killings were neither of a large number of people nor indiscriminate.

Now, what about Paul Revere's sketch?

Based again on the court records, it is nothing more than a piece of Patriot propaganda intended to inflame anti-British feelings in the colonies.

Just as he was to prove on the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was a man who got things done & his inaccurate illustration achieved its purpose.

                 "The Bloody Massacre"
                        by Paul Revere
             Library of Congress Image

Now, for a little background of events leading up to March 5, 1770.

In September 1768, British troops arrived in Boston having been sent to quell the unrest in the city over Parliament taxation including the Sugar Act of 1764, the Stamp Act of 1765 & the Townshend Duties of 1767.

After having Redcoats on patrol in their city for a year and a half, Boston citizens were increasingly hostile.  Other issues included these same soldiers competing for part time jobs with the colonials & the British Navy's practice of impressing American sailors.

On the evening of March 5, 1770, a young Boston apprentice shouted an insult at a passing British officer which resulted in a sentry hitting the civilian with the butt of his rifle.

Soon about 400 colonials closed in on the Customs House & some began "pelting the soldiers with snowballs & chunks of ice."

A British soldier was struck with a club & knocked to the ground he came to his feet & fired into the crowd....other Redcoats fired their muskets.  The colonials fled with 3 of their number dead & 2 mortally wounded.

It all happened in less than 20 minutes.

                    Grave of the Victims
                 of the Boston Massacre
         Old Granary Burying Ground
            Photo by John White (1987)

A grand jury handed down indictments against Captain Thomas Preston & 6 of his soldiers.   There were 2 trials, one for the Captain & the other for the soldiers.

The 1st trial, held at the Queen Street Courthouse from October 24-30, 1770, was prosecuted by Samuel Quincy & Robert Paine.  Captain Preston was defended by John Adams, the future 2nd President of the United States, & Josiah Quincy.

The main question at Preston's trial was "Did he give the order to fire?."

Captain Preston testified that when he "heard (the mob) use the most cruel & horrid threats against the troops" & saw his sentry threatened by "clubs & other weapons," he sent 13 soldiers to protect the sentry & the Customs House.

Bayonets were fixed to keep the crowd back.

Preston testified that someone in the crowd yelled...

'Come on you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster scoundrels, fire if you dare....'

Standing in front of a semi-circle of his soldiers, at a position where the Captain himself would have been shot if he had given the order to fire, he observed one of his soldiers take "a severe blow with a stick" causing him to "step to one side & instantly fire....without orders."

Captain Preston himself was then struck by a club & other soldiers fired their muskets.

The evidence was clear, the trial records bear that out.

Captain Thomas Preston was found NOT GUILTY.

And at the trial of the accused British soldiers several weeks later, 4 of the 6 were also found NOT GUILTY.

The 2 other British soldiers were found GUILTY of manslaughter & sentenced to be branded on the right thumbs.  They were Hugh Montgomery & Matthew Killroy.

"For the rest of his long life, John Adams maintained that his 'disinterested action' in defending the (British) soldiers was 'one of the best pieces of service I ever rendered my country.'"

SOURCES

"Liberty! The American Revolution," by Thomas Fleming, Viking Press, 1997.

"The Boston Massacre, The British View, 1770," Eyewitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/

"The Boston Massacre Trials, An Account," by Doug Linder, 2001. www.law2.umkc.edu/

                              You Tube Video