Steve Crosby is the present captain of today’s Acton Minutemen. He grew up in Acton, living at various times in Patriots’ Hill, Minuteman Ridge, on Revolutionary Road, and directly on the Isaac Davis Trail itself. He has been a reenactor for 22 years and loves teaching the story of Acton’s own heroes to the greater world!

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“I Haven’t a Man Who is Afraid to Go”: The Acton Minutemen on April 19, 1775

September 15, 2023

Steve Crosby

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The Acton Minutemen were formed at the end of 1774 at a town meeting. Tensions with England had grown to a boil, and towns everywhere were responding by training their men to fight. The town of Acton, which had previously been part of Concord, chose their best men from their existing militia units to form the new Minute Company, and those men voted 30-year-old Isaac Davis as their Captain.

The Fall Issue is Here!

Autumn is here, and there is so much to do in Concord! Discover two dozen events you won't want to miss in Things to See & Do. Handy walking maps and a list of where to shop, eat, and stay are here too. Click on the image for details on what's in store in this issue!

Agents of Change: The Concord Female Anti-Slavery Society

When we think of Concord’s history, images of Walden Pond, the Old North Bridge, Transcendentalists, and Little Women might come to mind. We don’t always think about a remarkable, diverse group of women from Concord’s past dedicated to eradicating slavery. We might not even know their fascinating story. The Concord Female Anti-Slavery Society worked diligently across three decades, becoming important players in the abolitionist cause, and helping to more widely promote its messages.

Militia Companies and the April 19th Alarm

April 19, 1775, marked the first battle of the American Revolution. On that day, 700 British soldiers marched from Boston to Concord to seize a stockpile of military arms and supplies. The expedition caused patriot leaders to raise the alarm and muster the militia. The scale of the response is truly staggering and hints at a surprising amount of organization.

Steve Crosby

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“I Haven’t a Man Who is Afraid to Go”: The Acton Minutemen on April 19, 1775