1 Intro Franklin County in the Revolutionary War

Rev March 25 - includes Hatfield & other Hampshire Co Towns.

250 years ago,  in April 1775, men from Greenfield and nearby towns formed militias and marched towards Boston after the battles of Concord & Lexington.
The 1796 map below shows  Franklin County, which was then part of a much larger Hampshire County. (In 1775  Leyden was part of a much larger Bernardston. Set off in 1784)

The Lexington-Concord battles were the most deadly events leading up to the Declaration of Independence a year later. 122 men died, mostly British soldiers, on April the 19th. (49 militiamen, 73 Soldiers).  Word spread rapidly and by that evening residents of Franklin County, were aroused.
Within days about 15,000 militiamen marched towards soldier-occupied Boston, among them groups from Colrain, Greenfield, Northfield and surrounding towns.

Where were they going?
To Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Boston, where the British forces had control.
The map below shows both places and Lexington & Concord.

Now Hampshire County

Hatfield                  A volunteer will be recording events.         

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