The Col. James Barrett Farm (Barrett's Farm) is a historic American Revolutionary War site in Concord, Massachusetts, associated with the revolution's first battle, the 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord. His farm was the storage site of all the town of Concord's militia gunpowder, weapons and two pairs of prized bronze cannons.
Background James Barrett was Colonel of the Concord, Massachusetts, militia during the Battles of Lexington and Concord that began the American Revolutionary War.Richard Frothingham, Jr, History of the Siege of Boston and of the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, Little and Brown, 1903, p. 65. His farm was the storage site of all the town of Concord's militia gunpowder, weapons and two pairs of prized bronze cannons, according to secret British intelligence.
On the morning of April 19, 1775, the British Regulars were ordered by General Thomas Gage to march from Boston to the town of Concord, about 20 miles inland, and seize the cannon and raid the arsenal at the provincial farm. The British met resistance at both Lexington, Massachusetts and Concord. Before the British arrived and searched, the stores had been concealed in a field nearby, and the British never found them.Allen French, pp. 156, 179.
The farm was built in 1705 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The farmhouse was in disrepair and was restored over eight years by Save Our Heritage. The restoration was funded by local and private funding as well as a Department of the Interior grant.Laura Franzini, Restored Revolutionary War home set to open, Boston Globe, October 26, 2012.
In March 2009, Congress passed legislation to add Barrett's Farm to Minute Man National Historical Park.Legislation passes to add Barrett's Farm to Minute Man National Park , Concord Journal, March 25, 2009. In August 2012, the National Park Service obtained ownership of the Barrett House and surrounding 3.4 acres from Save Our Heritage. In October, 2012 Minute Man National Historical Park and Save Our Heritage hosted a celebration of completion of the restoration and transfer of ownership of the Col. James Barrett House to the Minute Man Park. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas helped make Barrett's Farm part of the national park system and spoke at the event.Minute Man National Park news announcement, October 2012.
See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Concord, Massachusetts
References
External links
website Minute Man National Historical Park website Friends of Minuteman National Park website Why We Remember Lexington and Concord and the 19th of April Rescued cannon returns to Concord Battles of Lexington and Concord
SAR Sons of Liberty Chapter Website resource Concord Massachusetts Merriam's Corner Library of Congress Guide to the American Revolution American Revolution Digital Learning Project PBS Television Series Historic marker