‘One if by land, two if by sea’
By Bill Pearsall
Putnam Municipal Historian
As America is celebrating its 250th Anniversary of Independence, there is a nationwide effort to commemorate its founding. So let’s take a look back at events that happened before our independence took place.
To set the scene, we need to remember that America was a British colony at the time. The colonies were occupied by British authorities and the colonists were organizing to end the rule of the British. Local “Patriots” gained wind of a planned crackdown on the Massachusetts Provincial Congress by the British army.
According to Wikipedia, on April 7, 1775, British Army activity suggested the possibility of troop movement. Joseph Warren, a Founding Father of the U.S., sent Paul Revere, a Sons of Liberty member, to warn the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, then sitting in Concord, of what was happening. Concord was the site of one of the larger caches of Patriot military supplies. After receiving the warning, Concord residents began moving the military supplies away from the town.
One week later on April 14, British General Gage received instruction from the Secretary of State William Legge, Earl of Dartmouth, to disarm the rebels who were known to have hidden weapons in Concord and to imprison the rebellious leaders (Samuel Adams and John Hancock). Gage was given instruction not to plunder the inhabitants or hurt private property fearing that doing so might spark and uprising.
Meanwhile in the days before April 18, Paul Revere had devised a plan with the sexton of the North Church, Robert Newman. The plan was to send a signal by lantern to alert colonists in Charlestown when he learned the British troop movement was beginning. It was decided that a lantern would be hung in the steeple of the church. One lantern was to be hung if the troops were moving overland and two lanterns if they were moving over water.
In the end the British chose the water route so two lanterns were hung in the steeple. Paul Revere first gave instructions to send the signal to Charleston. He then crossed the Charles River by rowboat, slipping past the Royal Navy warship HMS Somerset at anchor. He then rode from Charleston to Lexington avoiding a British patrol and warned almost every house along the route. The towns he rode through also sent out messengers to warn the colonists of the army’s advance. By the end of that night, as many as 40 riders were sounding the alarm. The results of the preparedness, the “British Regulars” were defeated at Lexington and Concord.
40 years after Revere’s death Henry Wadsworth Longfellow popularized Revere with a portion of his 1861 poem:
Listen, my children, and you shall hear / of the midnight ride of Paul Revere / On the Eighteenth of April in Seventy-five; / Hardly a man is now alive / Who remembers that famous day and year
Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam’s history alive.
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The Aspinock Historical Society will be placing two battery-operated candles in the windows of the Museum in the Town Hall on School Street on April 18 and 19. Please join us in celebrating by doing the same at home.
PUTNAM — Putnam Police last week arrested Norwich resident Juan R. Vargas, 45, on charges of first-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.
Putnam Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said the arrest stems from an investigation initiated in 2023.
Currently Vargas is housed on an unrelated offense in the Corrigan Correctional Institution in Uncasville and the warrant was served in Danielson Superior Court. All accused are presumed innocent.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
March 23
Kayla Alexis Mccullough-Murphy, 24, East Main Street, Rockville; illegal operation of motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, failure to display lights.
March 27
Casey Joe Kingsley, 51, Sabin Street, Putnam; three counts of failure to respond to infractions and three counts of second-degree failure to appear.
March 29
Brenda L. Mazzarella, 64, Korpita Road, Danielson; sixth-degree larceny, criminal impersonation.
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Putnam Science Academy starts with wins and losses
PUTNAM — The Putnam Science Academy baseball season started with some wins and some losses in its first week of competition.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The baseball team traveled to South Carolina for its opening week of the season. Post Grad John Devine pitched a gem leading the Mustangs to a 3-1 opening day victory over South Allegheny. Devine pitched 7 innings with 14 strikeouts and didn’t allow a run in the win. Luca Almonte went 3 for 3 at the plate including an RBI for PSA (1-0).
MYRTLE BEACH — Janvier Diaz pitched 6 innings, striking out 11 batters and only allowing 1 run as PSA baseball won over Patrick County 8-2 and improved to 2-0 the season. Denzel Rincon went 2 for 3 from the plate and knocked in 3 runs for PSA.
MYRTLE BEACH — The team dropped a tough one, 13-2, to Bethel Park. Denzel Rincon had one hit and drove in both runs for PSA who lost their first game of the season to fall to 2-1.
MYRTLE BEACH — Denzel Rincon had 3 hits and drove in 2 runs and Yeongha Yoon added 2 hits and drove in 1 run but it wasn’t enough as the Mustangs lost 8-5 to Karns City.
MYRTLE BEACH — Thursday afternoon the PSA Mustangs took on Severn School to finish up the trip to Myrtle Beach but lost 9-8 to fall to 2-3 on the season. Janvier Diaz and Yeongha Yoon both had 2 hits and 2 RBIs for the Mustangs but the defense had 4 crucial errors on the day and PSA couldn’t pull out the win.
WILLIMANTIC — John Devine pitched six strong innings, striking out 8 and only allowing 2 hits but it wasn’t enough as the Mustangs lost to Eastern CT State University 7-4 yesterday afternoon on the road. Janvier Diaz had a home run and drove in 2 runs and Denzel Rincon added a hit and 2 RBI’s for the Mustangs.
WILLIMANTIC — Jayson Serrano started on the mound and pitched 3 strong innings but ECSU topped Putnam Science 10-1 to fall to 2-5 on the season. Sebastian Garcia and Justin Dejesus also pitched for the Mustangs in relief. Denzel Rincon and Billy Rodriguez each had a hit for PSA in the loss.
NORWICH — PSA took on Commonwealth Academy (Mass.) but lost 8-6 in the Prep League opener. Janvier Diaz pitched a nice game going 5 innings while striking out 6 batters. Lucas Almonte had a home run in the sixth inning but PSA fell to 2-6 on the season.
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Janvier Diaz, left. Photo by Rebecca Tow