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| Apothecary's Letters Reveal
Stunning Details on Revere's Ride by Will
D. |
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April 16,1775
Dearest Mother and Father,
I know I haven’t written in quite some time, but I would like to inform
you that all is well. Boston is a lot different from my longtime home,
Lexington. The room above my shop, on the corner of Fish Street and
North Square, serves as my hall and bedroom. Paul Revere, a well known
silversmith, lives across the square from me where he makes objects out
of silver. His father was a silversmith as well, which means he is
carrying on a family tradition much like myself. Since I have no wife
or children I am thinking I should acquire an apprentice to help me
with chores around my very busy shop.
I am thankful for the April rain because my herbal garden now thrives.
Supplying patients with herbs that grow locally is now a simple task,
but for the more serious illnesses I must use expensive and
hard-to-come by imported herbs from far away lands. This means I must
walk to the docks to buy them from merchants. But it is not much of a
walk, just several rods.
While walking home after seeing a patient at their house, I overheard
that many Patriots are stockpiling munitions in the town of Concord. I
hope the Redcoats don’t hear of this because if they do, there would be
very little chance of defending ourselves if war breaks out. But news
travels quickly in these parts and it will most likely end up in the
wrong ears sooner rather than later. Tensions are rising between
Patriots and Loyalists. Boston is like a giant pot of boiling water. My
hatred for the British soldiers grows each and every day, I watch them
patrol around the town.
Yours truly, William
April 18,1775
Dearest Mother and Father,
I am writing to you again to tell you about something I believe is
quite strange. As I was walking home from the wharfs, I saw Paul Revere
walking the opposite way. I asked him where he was going and he replied
that he had urgent business to attend to with Dr. Joseph Warren and
William Dawes. Another odd thing was that a detachment of maybe several
hundred men from General Gage’s army has gathered on the Common. I am
not positive of what they may be there for, but I have a feeling
they’re up to nothing good. I fear trouble will come.
A patient of mine came down with a high fever. I drew my steel lancet
and cut her arms to let the bad blood flow out of her system. The cut
clotted quickly so I bandaged it, I gave her herbs, and told her
husband to dab her forehead every once in a while to cool her down
some. I am extremely busy as word of my work spreads throughout Boston.
The day before a farmer had fallen off his roof while patching it. He
broke his arm badly, so badly it wasn’t likely to heal. Before he could
get any disease I amputated it with my saw. I gave him a cork to bite
down upon as I swiftly removed his forearm. He has many children who
can help him and do his chores. I believe he will be well off for the
rest of his life, but it was still sad.
Yours truly, William
April 23,1775
Dearest Mother and Father,
On the night of April 18, Paul Revere and William Dawes rode to the
town of Lexington to warn John Hancock and Sam Adams that Lieutenant
Colonel Francis Smith was leading seven hundred men to arrest Hancock
and Adams for treason, alerting militia leaders in towns along the way
to fight off the Lobsterbacks. They made it to Lexington just in
time. Dr. Samuel Prescott, a doctor I know well, rode with them
to Concord to
get colonists to move the munitions out of Concord. Revere, however,
did
not make the full journey. He was captured by some of the King’s men.
But when the Regulars got there they found only minutemen. I know this
is fact because my dear friend Paul told me of all he witnessed that
night and morning after he returned from Lexington.
On April nineteenth the first shot of war was fired. No one seems to
know who fired the first shot. Mr. Revere was on the outskirts of the
town when the battle began. When he returned home he recorded the
events that took place through his own eyes. Even he is not sure who
fired first.
Many men fighting in this war will be wounded, and I feel it is my duty
to aid those I can. I know what it feels like to be left unaided. Do
you remember when I tripped, twisted my ankle, made my slow walk home,
caught pneumonia and was sweated nearly one and half weeks later
because the town doctor and father were gone? Conditions won’t be
perfect, but I must do my best. I plan on enlisting with my friend
James Williamson, another apothecary of my age. Hopefully, I will live
to see these colonies become free from British rule.
Yours truly, William
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Historical References:
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. “Selected Recipes from
Colonial Williamsburg”.
4/10/06
<www.hisotry.org/Almanack/life/foodhdr.cfm>
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. “Apothecary”.3/3/06
<www.hisotry.org/Almanack/life/tradeapo.cfm>
Cummings, Scott. “Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride.” 2006. 4/28/06
<www.patriotsource.com/events/rever/index.htm/”
Fischon, David. “Revere, Paul” World Book Encyclopedia. 4/26/06
Fritz, Jean. “And Then What Happened Paul Revere?. New York, G.P.
Putnam and sons 1996
Murray, Stuart. “Eyewittness American Revolution . New York: DK
Publishing. 2002
Whitten, Chris. Religion:Education:Medicine. Direct DNS. 4/3/2006
<www.usahistory.info/colonial/education.html.
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