The Revolutionary War

CHELSEA IN THE REVOLUTION 1775

In 1775, two-hundred twenty-five years ago, the tensions between the British and the thirteen American colonies (brought on by the various punitive acts of the British Parliament) had reached the explosive stage. Under the Intolerable Acts (closing the port of Boston, increasing the number of troops in Boston and the naming of General Gates as governor of Massachusetts, putting Boston under virtual martial law) the ferment finally exploded. In mid-April General Gates sent out a force to seize Patriot arms caches in Concord. The British force met with resistance from Patriot militia in both Lexington and Concord and had to retreat, suffering great losses. The Revolution had begun, the time of protest and debate were gone.

While the British were retreating from Concord, Lord Percy was on his way with reinforcements and four baggage wagons loaded with rum, brandy and provisions, he also had a guard of twelve men for the relief of Colonel Smith's hard-pressed troops. The convoy of wagons fell behind the main force. Reverend Phillips Payson, leading some men from his parish in Chelsea, was joined by men from Marblehead. Reverend Payson's detachment of eighteen men on made their way to assist at Lexington. While traveling through Menotomy (Arlington), Reverend Payson encountered the supply wagons. The Americans attacked the soldiers guarding the supply wagons, killing one, wounding several, and taking the whole convoy of prisoners along with their arms and provisions. Two members of the Pratt family, Thomas and John , were listed with the Chelsea men. When General Washington arrived in July, he personally commended Reverend Payson for his act of bravery.

While the British were in possession of Boston, all boats along the Chelsea landings were confiscated to prevent goods of any type being sent into Boston. The British rowed their barges around day and night to prevent any infractions of British law. While prowling at night the British would row into shore and raid the farms for the much needed produce. One morning about daybreak, Deacon Sayles went out to his farm with a hoe in his hands, just about the time a British barge was about to land for a raid on the farm. The British saw the Deacon and thinking he had a gun, beat a hasty retreat.

The Chelsea shores became well guarded against the British raids. The British need for farm produce was great and worth taking chances. Small boats were rigged with dummies to look like men. These boats were pushed ahead of the barge to receive any sentry fire at the landings. On one such occasion, Lieutenant Samuel Pratt was behind a tree when the British pushed one of these boats ashore. Samuel Pratt kept silent until the British were about to land. He then fired his gun and shouted for others to come. The British become so alarmed they pushed off, leaving their boat and dummies behind.

There were many regiments that came to assist in the siege of Boston. Two companies from Nashua, N. H. were encamped in Chelsea. One company was quartered in Prattville from the Watts home at the bend of Washington Avenue and County Road to the area of Washington Park of today. The second company was quartered in the Cary House and near the old Downes salt works near Marginal Street.

There were close to twenty-five slaves from Chelsea that served in the Revolutionary War, including Sifax Cary. Sifax was a slave from the Cary farm who died in the war.

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In 1775, two-hundred twenty-five years ago, the tensions between the British and the thirteen American colonies (brought on by the various punitive acts of the British Parliament) had reached the explosive stage. Under the Intolerable Acts (closing the port of Boston, increasing the number of troops in Boston and the naming of General Gates as governor of Massachusetts, putting Boston under virtual martial law) the ferment finally exploded. In mid-April General Gates sent out a force to seize Patriot arms caches in Concord. The British force met with resistance from Patriot militia in both Lexington and Concord and had to retreat, suffering great losses. The Revolution had begun, the time of protest and debate were gone. While the British were retreating from Concord, Lord Percy was on his way with reinforcements and four baggage wagons loaded with rum, brandy and provisions, he also had a guard of twelve men for the relief of Colonel Smith's hard-pressed troops. The convoy of wagons fell behind the main force. Reverend Phillips Payson, leading some men from his parish in Chelsea, was joined by men from Marblehead. Reverend Payson's detachment of eighteen men on made their way to assist at Lexington. While traveling through Menotomy (Arlington), Reverend Payson encountered the supply wagons. The Americans attacked the soldiers guarding the supply wagons, killing one, wounding several, and taking the whole convoy of prisoners along with their arms and provisions. Two members of the Pratt family, Thomas and John , were listed with the Chelsea men. When General Washington arrived in July, he personally commended Reverend Payson for his act of bravery. While the British were in possession of Boston, all boats along the Chelsea landings were confiscated to prevent goods of any type being sent into Boston. The British rowed their barges around day and night to prevent any infractions of British law. While prowling at night the British would row into shore and raid the farms for the much needed produce. One morning about daybreak, Deacon Sayles went out to his farm with a hoe in his hands, just about the time a British barge was about to land for a raid on the farm. The British saw the Deacon and thinking he had a gun, beat a hasty retreat. The Chelsea shores became well guarded against the British raids. The British need for farm produce was great and worth taking chances. Small boats were rigged with dummies to look like men. These boats were pushed ahead of the barge to receive any sentry fire at the landings. On one such occasion, Lieutenant Samuel Pratt was behind a tree when the British pushed one of these boats ashore. Samuel Pratt kept silent until the British were about to land. He then fired his gun and shouted for others to come. The British become so alarmed they pushed off, leaving their boat and dummies behind. There were many regiments that came to assist in the siege of Boston. Two companies from Nashua, N. H. were encamped in Chelsea. One company was quartered in Prattville from the Watts home at the bend of Washington Avenue and County Road to the area of Washington Park of today. The second company was quartered in the Cary House and near the old Downes salt works near Marginal Street. There were close to twenty-five slaves from Chelsea that served in the Revolutionary War, including Sifax Cary. Sifax was a slave from the Cary farm who died in the war.
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