No trip to Lexington, Massachusetts is complete without a visit to the Hancock-Clarke House. But while most have heard about the “shot heard ’round the world” that sparked the beginning of the American Revolution on Lexington Battle Green, few know about the Hancock-Clarke House (which is a short walk from that hallowed ground). In fact, this house played a central role in Paul Revere’s midnight ride, the lives of patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams, and the fate of the revolution itself!
History
The land on which the Hancock-Clarke House sits was purchased in 1699 by Reverend John Hancock, grandfather of the revolutionary John Hancock, famously known for his prominent (and the very first) signature on the Declaration of Independence. As the town minister, Reverend Hancock was a well-respected and central figure of the local community. In 1737, he built the parsonage (clergyman house), which served as a symbol of his importance. The funding for the construction was possibly provided by his son, Thomas Hancock (who was a successful Boston merchant at the time).
The beautiful Georgian-style house has been virtually unchanged since colonial times. It is one of only a few homes still standing that is directly connected to our forefathers and the only residence associated with John Hancock, who served as President of the Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was signed. After his father passed away in 1744, the seven-year-old John Hancock moved into this house with his grandfather. He would live there until 1750 when he was adopted by his uncle, Thomas Hancock.
In 1752, John Hancock Sr. died and was succeeded as Lexington’s minister by Reverend Jonas Clarke, who moved into the parsonage in 1755 (hence the current name, Hancock-Clarke House). Clarke was a patriot and steadfast supporter of the American Revolution.
The Night of April 18, 1775
The Hancock-Clarke House was the most important place in the colonies on the night of April 18, 1775 and arguably, held the fate of the American Revolution.
John Hancock and Samuel Adams, both leading members of the Sons of Liberty and Provincial Congress, were staying at the house on the night of April 18, 1775. They had been staying there for a few weeks due to Hancock’s familial connection to the home and due to its proximity to Concord, where they were both participants in the rebellious Massachusetts Provincial Congress (which first convened on October 7th, 1774).
On April 18, 1775, the Sons of Liberty in Boston learned of an impending British expedition into the Massachusetts countryside towards Lexington and Concord (how the British would travel has been immortalized by the lanterns that would be held up in the Old North Church steeple- “one if by land, two if by sea”). Patriot leader and doctor Joseph Warren, who remained in Boston, feared that this expedition was to not only capture rebel military stores, but to arrest patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams. He immediately sent Paul Revere and William Dawes out on two different routes to alert the countryside and specifically, alert Hancock and Adams of the British excursion.
It was after midnight (about 12:30AM) when Paul Revere arrived at the Hancock-Clarke House. As he quickly approached the quiet house, Sergeant Munroe, who was acting as a guard in front of the house, sternly requested that Revere keep the noise down. Revere’s supposed response was: “Noise? You’ll have noise enough before long. The regulars are coming out!” Apparently John Hancock was awake at the time and called out, “come in, Revere. We’re not afraid of you.” Undoubtedly, Adams and the others staying at the house (this included Jonas Clarke, a few women and nine children) were awoken, if they were not already awake.
One can almost picture Hancock and Adams standing in the above entryway, with an exhausted Paul Revere illuminated by candlelight. The women and children would slowly appear, curious and terrified by the sudden noise. William Dawes would arrive about thirty minutes later (he had taken the longer route across the Boston neck). Revere and Dawes warned them of their danger and encouraged them to flee to safety.
After an eventful few hours, which included being captured and released, Paul Revere would return to the Hancock-Clarke House around 3am (on April 19) to ensure that Hancock and Adams had gone. Imagine his mortification when he returned to find the two men still there! They had been in debate- Hancock desired to stay and fight while Adams smartly argued for them to escape (history will forever be thankful to Adams and Revere who finally convinced Hancock to flee). John Hancock and Samuel Adams departed to the safety of the town of Woburn (Burlington today).
Interesting Facts
- Reverend Jonas Clarke served as Lexington’s minister for 50 years (from 1755 until his death in 1805)
- John Hancock was the cousin of Jonas Clarke’s wife (Lucy Bowes)
- The house remained in the Clarke family until 1844
- In 1896, the house was nearly demolished, but was moved across the street to avoid destruction. In 1974, it was moved back to the original site
Our Visit & Recommendations
When we visited historic Lexington, we had our small dog Daisy with us. I was discouraged, because I didn’t think we would be able to tour the Hancock-Clarke House; however, I was way wrong! I called the house ahead of time (the house is owned and ran by the Lexington Historical Society) and was told that as long as I held her throughout the tour, we were more than welcome.
We arrived just prior to our scheduled tour time and met the friendly staff. The tour began with a short video about the events of April 18-19, 1775 before we entered the house. Luckily, our tour group was just Cher and I along with another group of four (two of whom were visiting their friends from England).
Kitchen
Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the Clarke and Hancock families and kept the tour interesting. While we discussed the causes of the American Revolution and the events on April 18-19, 1775, the two English visitors gave their perspective (which sparked a very intriguing conversation). They mentioned that in their grade school, they learned very little about the American Revolution (in fact, the only event they recall learning about was the Boston Tea Party!). I found that fascinating, but reminded myself that while the American Revolution was the starting point and most defining moment in our nation’s history, it was but one chapter in Great Britain’s history.
While much of the furniture in the house is not original, there were a few pieces that were owned by the Clarke family (including the desk of Jonas Clarke). Perhaps the most special piece of furniture was a small table owned by Reverend Jonas Clarke and used by John Hancock and Samuel Adams during their stay.
Our tour lasted over an hour and we enjoyed every minute of it (other than having to carry Daisy throughout). This was one of my favorite historical house tours we’ve taken, primarily due to the staff’s wealth of knowledge and the sheer importance of the house and historical events surrounding it. It is always special to walk the same hallways and rooms of our forefathers!
Book recommendation: Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer
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