The town of Hardwick in 1776 had a population of 1,393 people and had been established for a little more than 36 years within the Massachusetts Bay Colony of British Colonial America.
Imagine the struggles faced by each resident as they decided where their loyalties lay—whether with the cause of independence or with the Crown of England. Hardwick largely aligned itself with the Patriot cause and the Revolution. Most Loyalists, often called Tories, were driven from the town, and many of their farms and possessions were confiscated and sold to support the war effort.
Picture yourself living during that turbulent time. The British government’s attempts to tax and control the colonies were met with boycotts, public protests, and a growing commitment to freedom and self-government. Massachusetts stood at the center of much of the unrest that ultimately led the colonist to rise up in defense of their liberties.
On the very day the British regulars marched on Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775, Hardwick’s militia responded. Sixty-two men left their homes and farms and marched toward the Boston area to help drive back the British forces and keep them confined within Boston.
Let us take you through some of the stories that helped shape the birth of a new country and Hardwick’s contribution in creating America. Download the newsletter.
