Watson's Corner

Although Watson’s Corner may only seem like an intersection between two major streets, it holds a significance to Revolutionary Cambridge as it was the setting of a skirmish between British troops and Cambridge Patriots on April 19, 1775, during the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

The American Revolution officially began with the events that took place on April 19, 1775 and Cambridge played a vital role in those events. On April 18, 1775 many Boston Patriots noticed that the British troops, stationed in Boston Harbor, had moved along with many of their ships. It was believed that the British were preparing to go to Concord to seize gunpowder and arrest active Boston patriots Sam Adams and John Hancock. Paul Revere and Dr. Joseph Warren, interpreted the movement of troops as a bad sign and Dr. Warren sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn the surrounding towns that the British troops were coming. 

William Dawes took the route over The Great Bridge to warn Cambridge and the surrounding towns. Once in Cambridge he informed the citizens that the British were on their way and that the Cambridge citizens should break apart The Great Bridge, the only bridge connecting Boston with Cambridge, in case the British plan to come over the bridge. By 11:30 pm on April 18th Cambridge citizens began breaking apart The Great Bridge.

The British troops landed in Cambridge at Lechmere’s Point at 2:00 am and therefore bypassed the Great Bridge. However, reinforcements lead by Lord Percy followed by the afternoon and were delayed due to the destruction of the bridge. Once Percy’s men had put the bridge back together and went through Cambridge toward Lexington and Concord, many Cambridge men responded. Some followed the British troops, while others made fortifications to attack the British if they retreated through Cambridge. 

John Hicks, a well known Cambridge Patriot who participated in the Boston Tea Party, Moses Richardson, and Isaac Gardner of Brookline set up at Watson’s Corner and prepared to attack the British troops upon their retreat through Cambridge. Although they were not young men, and in fact, due to their age, were exempt from military service, they hid behind barrels and prepared to surprise The British. Once the British arrived at Watson’s Corner a skirmish broke out between. Hicks, Richardson and Gardner were killed. A spectator of the skirmish, William Marcy of Cambridge, who was of weak mind, was also killed at Watson’s Corner during the skirmish. He did not realize he was in danger, but thought he was watching a parade.

After a momentous day, the evening came and John Hicks’ wife began to worry that he had been gone most of the day. She sent out her son out to look for him and Hicks’ son discovered the bodies. He and Richardson’s son buried them all together at the site, although they were later moved to the Old Burying Ground in The Patriots Grave.

 

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