A number of taverns played a role in the revolution: <A HREF="http://www.blanchardstavern.com/taverns.htm">TAVERNS</A> 1. Munroe Tavern, Lexington. William Munroe, Minuteman and sergeant in the Mass Militia, remained single until he was forty and then produced 14 children with the aid of three (successive) wives. He alerted the company at the approach of the British to Lexington Common and while engaged in tne stand against the British, his tavern was occupied by the redcoats and his servant was shot attempting to escape. The tavern was used by Earl Percy as a dressing station for wounded soldiers during the British retreat from Concord. Many barrels of liquor were destroyed by the drunken redcoats and they set fire to the tavern just before abandoning it. The fire was extinguished and the tavern is still in its original state. In 1789, after election to the Presidency, Washington stopped at the tavern for dinner on a visit to Boston. It was during this visit that a dispute over protocol arose with John Hancock, Governor of the Commonwealth. Hancock feigned illness as the excuse for not journeying to the state line to meet the new President (Hancock had wanted the ]ob) but Honest George did not accept this excuse and refused an invitation from Hancock to dine at his famous home on Beacon Hill. The original Munroe tavern sign is on display in the tap room. 2. Wright Tavern, Concord. The Wright Tavern served as a gathering place during the alarm preceding the redcoat raid on the Concord stores. Although General Gages spies had provided him with intelligence about the colonials he was still outfoxed. The minutemen stood firm at Concord Bridge and harassed the retreating British with guerrilla warfare. If it were not for British reinforcements arriving during their retreat through Lexington and Arlington the redcoats would have been annihilated. While the redcoats were pillaging some homes in the Concord area, their Commander Major Pitcairn waited for them in Wrights Tavern nursing a bruised finger. A number of British wounded were left behind when it was realized that the colonials out-numbered the English. British losses for April 19, 1775 were 20% compared to 2% for the colonials. 3. Buckman Tavern, Lexington. Standing next to Lexington Green, Buckman Tavern was the focus of activity during the period after Revere and Dawes spread the April 19 th alarm that the British were heading their way. Gages orders were specific; 'destroy the arms and get John Hancock and Samuel Adams. John Buckman was a member of Capt Parker's Minuteren and was known in those parts for a story about a toper who entered the tavern and bought a bottle of rum. "I suppose youd rather have that bottle of rum than anything else in the world?" asked Buckman. "Nothing would make me give it up," replied the toper as he left. Following the man into the dark night a masked Buckman held him up with an unloaded pistol and relieved him of the bottle. For weeks aiterwards Buckman delighted in telling this story until he was arrested and fined fifty dollars for highway robbery! On the evening of the 18 th of April 1775, the tavern swarmed with patrons who related rumors about the British in Boston. The tavern was still alive when midnight rolled around and Paul Revere galloped past alerting everyone. The bell in the belfry was rung and an hour later William Dawes came racing by with the same message. The tavern soon was overflowing with Minutemen and their leader Capt Parker took charge. The bell continued to toll its alarm and musket shots could be heard to alert the countryside. Shortly after dawn Parker assembled his men on the Common and the rest has become history. The British continued on to Concord leaving those at Buckman Tavern busy treating the wounded and feeding the colonials. Eight years later to the day Washington visited the Lexington Common, site of the wars beginning, to declare the war at an end. We wish to thank James Baker of Plimouth Plantation and Sanborn Brown for their help and interest. http://www.blanchardstavern.com/taverns.htm