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: Memoir of Jonathan
Willman
Memoir
of Jonathan Willman
by Duong
 Click play to hear my story |
My name is
Jonathan Willman and I am 75 years old. My life is good now, but it
wasn’t always like that. Back then my family lived in Massachusetts.
When I was ten years old my dad wanted me to help
him with his job. My dad’s name is
John Willman and he is a gunsmith.
When I went to the shop for the first time, I saw all kinds of
guns. I asked my dad how he made guns. He told me
that it was a lot of work. He said, “you need the skill of a
blacksmith, whitesmith, founder, and a wood worker to build the guns.
When the gun is finished, it needs fine detail work”. Also my dad told
me that to make a gun we need some tools, first for hammering, and
then engraving hard and soft metals.
When I get back home, I have to cook. My brother helps me too. His name is Max, and he is 8 years old. My sister helps me too, she is 7 years old. My mom died a long time ago because she was sick and we could not find a doctor. My mom’s name was Sarah. I am the second oldest in my house. The oldest person is my big brother. His name is James Willman.
Today is my birthday. My father gave me a gun. When I got it I went outside to try it. But when I shot the gun, I missed the cans so I did it again and again. Then I made the cans. When I was about to get ready to go there was a man looking at me. He told me I had a good aim, then he asked me if I wanted to be in the Revolutionary War. I told him that I didn’t want to be in the Revolutionary War. He started telling me about how I could be a hero. When he talked about the war, I kept saying “no,” then I ran home. When I got back to my house there was a soldier there. He was talking to my father. Later that night when the soldiers were done talking, my father told me that I had to go. I said, “ Where am I going?” He said, “You are going to war.” He told me that the next week I would have to go. He said that I need more training to be better with guns.
The next week has begun and I have to say good bye. I told my sister to take care of the house and our little brother and father. I will be gone for a while. When I went with the other soldiers I felt sad and scared and thought I would not coming home.
Now I am in this place next to a farm and it is been two days and the British have not come there. While waiting I made a new friend. He was in the revolutionary war with me. The day has past and we are running out of food and water. Finally we get there. We are in our territory waiting for them to come. The General told my friend and I to stay where we are and protect the territory. Then the General took some men with him. When the General left, my friend and I were talking about when we win, the war and he said will go home and give his mom a big hug. We talked about what happened when Dr. Joseph discovered the plans of the British. He sent Paul Revere to tell John Hancock and Samuel Adams the British were coming. Revere said that he was not sure that he could make it in time. Then he made a plan. Revere told the people to put lanterns in the Old North Church. He said if the British are coming by land then put one lantern, but if they go by sea then they put two lanterns in the belfry. After that night on April 18, revere sent William Dawes to tell the people that the British were coming.
While we were talking, there was a man aiming at us. When I turned around I saw that my friend was shot. After that some minutemen came to the territory. There were seventy five of them. They told me that I had to protect the guns. I am at Lexington Massachusetts My general is seeing where the British are and where they are going. When the general saw them he told the Minutemen to come here to protect the guns. They told us that the British were coming with about 4,000 men led by general gage.
It’s April 19th and the British have arrived. The battle has begun in Concord . I have been fighting for days and now the British are losing. Only eight of the minutemen have been killed but forty nine patriots have fallen. Many soldiers on both sides are wounded . When the British retreated my general stopped them. Soon I can go back home to my family.
When I get back home, I have to cook. My brother helps me too. His name is Max, and he is 8 years old. My sister helps me too, she is 7 years old. My mom died a long time ago because she was sick and we could not find a doctor. My mom’s name was Sarah. I am the second oldest in my house. The oldest person is my big brother. His name is James Willman.
Today is my birthday. My father gave me a gun. When I got it I went outside to try it. But when I shot the gun, I missed the cans so I did it again and again. Then I made the cans. When I was about to get ready to go there was a man looking at me. He told me I had a good aim, then he asked me if I wanted to be in the Revolutionary War. I told him that I didn’t want to be in the Revolutionary War. He started telling me about how I could be a hero. When he talked about the war, I kept saying “no,” then I ran home. When I got back to my house there was a soldier there. He was talking to my father. Later that night when the soldiers were done talking, my father told me that I had to go. I said, “ Where am I going?” He said, “You are going to war.” He told me that the next week I would have to go. He said that I need more training to be better with guns.
The next week has begun and I have to say good bye. I told my sister to take care of the house and our little brother and father. I will be gone for a while. When I went with the other soldiers I felt sad and scared and thought I would not coming home.
Now I am in this place next to a farm and it is been two days and the British have not come there. While waiting I made a new friend. He was in the revolutionary war with me. The day has past and we are running out of food and water. Finally we get there. We are in our territory waiting for them to come. The General told my friend and I to stay where we are and protect the territory. Then the General took some men with him. When the General left, my friend and I were talking about when we win, the war and he said will go home and give his mom a big hug. We talked about what happened when Dr. Joseph discovered the plans of the British. He sent Paul Revere to tell John Hancock and Samuel Adams the British were coming. Revere said that he was not sure that he could make it in time. Then he made a plan. Revere told the people to put lanterns in the Old North Church. He said if the British are coming by land then put one lantern, but if they go by sea then they put two lanterns in the belfry. After that night on April 18, revere sent William Dawes to tell the people that the British were coming.
While we were talking, there was a man aiming at us. When I turned around I saw that my friend was shot. After that some minutemen came to the territory. There were seventy five of them. They told me that I had to protect the guns. I am at Lexington Massachusetts My general is seeing where the British are and where they are going. When the general saw them he told the Minutemen to come here to protect the guns. They told us that the British were coming with about 4,000 men led by general gage.
It’s April 19th and the British have arrived. The battle has begun in Concord . I have been fighting for days and now the British are losing. Only eight of the minutemen have been killed but forty nine patriots have fallen. Many soldiers on both sides are wounded . When the British retreated my general stopped them. Soon I can go back home to my family.
Epilogue
When Jonathan Willman went home,
his father died and he continued following inhis family’s footsteps by being a gunsmith. Also he got married to a seamstress. Her name was Elizabeth. They had one son and his name was John Willman. Now he is following in his father’s footsteps.