Our American Revolutionary History

Once the second lantern glimmered, the assembled group of patriot spies began 
readying themselves for the long and treacherous rides that awaited them.  
Their first order though was to hold still and see if their leader would be joining them.

After sending his associate, Robert Newman, to the belfry of Old North Church, Paul Revere hurried to the spot along the Charles River where he had hidden his rowboat. In the likely event that he was captured, his fellow Sons of Liberty were to sound the alarm without him.  Amazingly, Revere crossed over to Charlestown undetected and confirmed what had been dreaded; British troops were ferrying out of Boston and marching to Lexington and Concord.  Revere chose the most direct route to Lexington, desperate to forewarn his friends Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The remaining horsemen were to stick to the original plan and alert the remainder of Middlesex County and beyond.  One nameless rider headed due north, his first stop, a legendary gathering place in Malden,  a spot renowned for its unyielding support for independence, the Rising Eagle Tavern.

Upon hearing the alarm, "the regulars are out," the entire town sprang into action. Bells were rung, torches were lit, and the townsfolk  began streaming to the "Eagle."   Within hours, the Malden Minutemen, under the command of Captain Benjamin Blaney and marching to the beat of Winslow Sargeant's drum, departed to fight valiantly in a battle that would forever change the world. 

13 Months Later: America's First Vote  

         In May of 1776, John Adams, attending the 2nd Continental Congress, realized he was getting close. Adams was the driving force behind the vote on independence. Shortly after arriving in Philadelphia almost a year earlier, several delegates confronted Adams informing him that "he had a Massachusetts problem, and he must learn to deal with that on his own!" Adams, however, was relentless, a master strategist, and perhaps the greatest debater this country has ever known. While strategizing with fellow Massachusetts delegates, John Hancock and Samuel Adams, a new crisis arose. Due to their collective absence from Boston, none of the three could say with certainty if Massachusetts still possessed the resolve to follow through with the vote. Voting for independence was an act of treason, punishable by death and they, as their delegates, were sworn to uphold the will of their people. An express rider from Philadelphia was quickly dispatched to Concord where the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was still residing.  The rider had one simple instruction - every town in Massachusetts must vote on independence immediately. In reality, it was America's first official vote to secede from England. The first vote cast, remarkably a unainnmous vote, arrived from Boston's northerly neighbor, the town of Malden. Entitled, "Malden's Instructions", it is considered amongst the most revered writings in American history, the concluding sentence is by far its most quoted:

"… give them the strongest assurance that if they should declare America to be a free and independent republic, your constituents will support and defend the measure to the last drop of their blood and the last farthing of their treasure!"

Gather round ye citizens young and old,  And listen to a story that history left untold.

On that fateful night sparked by two lanterns being hung, Much local patriotism beckons to be sung. 

Recall back then Malden and Melrose were one,  An alliance that lasted centuries before coming undone.

Remember too the colonist's ever-growing vexation,  At the Crown's endless schemes of taxing without representation. 

Recognizing the turmoil that pervaded 1775,  Reveals the fearlessness of this patriotic bee hive.

Fed up with the never-ending issues at hand,  Our forbearers brazenly took their stand.

Whenever they gathered to deliberate on independence, Their meeting room filled with near perfect attendance.

When Congress finally called for a vote to sever British ties, Malden- town was first to declare its unanimous despise. 

As Colonel Revere prepared for his famous Midnight Ride, One town daringly stood ready, resolute, unified.

Like Revere, other Sons of Liberty astride their trusted horses,  Risked everything to defeat the British forces.

One nameless horseman departed to a legendary gathering place, Malden's local tavern, independence's unofficial home base.

"The Rising Eagle," as it was known back then,  Was the spot everyone visited time and again.

Even John and Abigail Adams frequented here,  A sure sign that it offered more than great beer.

Envision the conversations that would there unfold,  And you will have a memory to forever behold. 

In the dead-still darkness the silence was broken,  And everyone within earshot was awoken.

Upon hearing the alarm, "The regulars are out,"  The townsmen proved what they were about. 

Bells were rung, and torches were lit,  Signaling to all it was time to outfit.

In the northern most boundary, a place called Pond Fielde,  A profound love of country would soon be revealed. 

Beneath the Great Elm, the Pond Fielders all met,   Knowing this night they would never forget.

"Off to the Eagle!" they stamped through the night,  Eighteen brave men, each ready to fight. 

Then, in step to Win Sargeant's drum,   The Minutemen marched to history's greatest outcome.

Each fought to protest an unthinkable slight,  That soon would become their "unalienable right."

For those who survived and were able to return,   It's not hard to imagine where they would adjourn.

They'd share war stories and their disdain for a king, Who forever refused to do the right thing. 

In a legendary tavern which no longer exists,  The echo of yesteryear steadfastly persists.

Against pomp and oppression and anything regal,  Nothing but revolt arose from The Rising Eagle.