Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
009.011.144 |
Object Name |
Medal, Commemorative |
Description |
The medallion shows a picture of Reuben Kennison who was a minuteman from Beverly. He died in battle at Menotomy on 19 April 1775. On 19 April 1975 a memorial was held in his honor. There is a paper briefly describing the significance of Kennison and the medallion in the medallion's case. "Obverse side of the medallion: The Minuteman Reuben Kennison, as he might have looked on April 19, 1775." "Reuben Kennison, it is said, came from New Hampshire and his origin and early life was humble and obscure. He married Apphia Batchelder of Beverly and lived in her father's house assisting his brother-in-law in working the farm at 12 Cressy Street, Ryal Side. During the long Winter evenings before the Revolutionary War, she held the mold while he ran the bullets for the coming flight." "On April 19, 1775, it was seed time and the Spring was early. The call came shortly after 9 o'clock in the morning and from the field, he heard the alarm ringing from the meeting house at Salem Village, now Danvers. He knew what the alarm meant as well as did everyone on the countryside. Coming from the field and quickly preparing himself with his flintlock and other equipment, he went to the brow of the hill with his young wife who accompanied him for a distance and who from a rising point on the road, waved a long farewell." "Kennison proceeded immediately to New Mills, now Danversport, where he, with other Beverly men, joined the company of Capt. Israel Hutchinson." "The start was made at about 10 A.M., their object being to arrive at Cambridge in time to assist in interrupting the British troops upon their retreat to Boston and if statements that they arrived at Cambridge at 2 P.M. are correct, they could only have accomplished this by a a most ditermined effort and by a straight cross-country route. It is said that these Minutemen ran most of the way. Arriving at Cambridge, they continued on to Menotomy, now Arlington." "Jason Russell's house stood and still stands about a quarter mile above the center of Arlington, a short distance from the Concord road." Back of the house, the land rises and in the ayrd there were many bundles of shingles, looking as though the owner was about to shingle his house. A barricade was made with these shingles and here a number of Minutemen stationed themselves and attacked the British soldiers. The Minutemen were surprised by a flank guard which came thorugh the fields and were driven into the house, being hemmed in between the flank guard and the main column. A savage flight at close quarters followed, and in the house and yard, twlve Americans including Reuben Kennison were killed. This occured about half past four in the afternoon after the British column was reinforced. Thus Reuben Kennison became the first Beverly man to die for his country." "In responding to service in the cause which he manfully upheld, Reuben Kennison gave his all." "Kennison's body was brought home the next day by his comrades and the interment was made in the old Leach burial ground near Great Hill which we now know as Folly HIll." "On the morning of April 19, 1975 appropriate memorial services were held and a floral tribute offered at the Kennison grave." "The inscription on the stone was read aloud and the speaker declared: 'Let it be told that in appreciation of and deep respect for the spirit of dedication and sacrifice displayed by this fine Minuteman, that we came here today, 200 years after he gave his all and said, Reuben Kennison, we salute you.'" "There followed three volleys of flintlock musket fire by the combined Beverly Minutemen Company and the Danvers Alarm Company." "Later the same morning, a memorial plaque was dedicated at the old Kennison house at 12 Cressy Street in Ryal Side. Here the reuben Kennison story was told." "On the plaque, the inscription reads: 1775-1975 The home of Reuben Kennison of Beverly. A minuteman of the American revolution, who while responding to service in the cause which he so manfully upheld, gave his all thus becoming the first of a long line of dedicated Beverly patriots." "This Reuben Kennison Medallion is issued as the first official memorial medallion by the authority of the Beverly Bicentennial Committee." "Medallion design by artist Mrs. Arlene Bradley." |
People |
Hutchinson, Israel Kennison, Reuben Batchelder, Apphia Russel, Jason Bradley, Arlene |
Search Terms |
Cressy St, 12 Ryal Side New Hampshire Danversport American Revolution Minutemen New Mills Arlington Menotomy British Soldier Cambridge Folly Hill Leach Great Hill Danvers Alarm Company |
Accession number |
009.011 |