206 CONCORD in trade valued at over $800,000. The total valuation of the city is upward of $11,000,000. The public schools in 1872 numbered 25, in- cluding a high school, with 30 teachers and 1,295 pupils. The public library contains 6,223 volumes, the state library 11;000, and that of the New Hampshire historical society 0,500. There are two daily and three weekly news- papers, and 16 churches. Concord was ori- ginally the seat of the Penacooks, a power- ful tribe of Indians. Passaconaway, a saga- more and a friend of the English, resided here. It was settled in 1725, incorporated un- der the name of Rumford in 1733, and under its present name in 1765, and made a city in 1853. CONCORD, a town of Middlesex co., Massa- chusetts, 18 m. N. W. of Boston by the old county road, and 20 m. by the Fitchburg rail- road ; pop. in 1870, 2,412. The Indian name of the place was Musketaquid, signifying grass ground. It was settled in 1635, and the name Concord is said to have been given it " from the Christian union and concord among the first company." The first inland settlement made in the Massachusetts colony, it was one of the scenes of the labors of the apostle Eliot. In the Indian wars it bore a prominent part, and in 1669 established a military company, which existed down to a recent period. It had con- siderable part in King Philip's war, 1675-'6. When the people of Boston overthrew Sir Ed- mund Andros, a company marched to their aid from Concord. To the French and Indian wars that followed the English revolution Con- cord contributed many men. As early as 1767 the people of Concord made themselves con- spicuous for their opposition to the measures of the British government. The first county convention, that of Middlesex, was held at Concord, Aug. 30 and 31, 1774, and consisted of 150 delegates, every town being represent- ed. This convention adopted resolutions that amounted to a declaration of separation, the last recommending the assembling of a provin- cial congress ; they were signed by 146 mem- bers. In September some of the people took part in the expedition to Cambridge, whither a British force had been sent. The judges were not allowed to hold court in the town under the new government. Tories were ar- rested and "humbled." Military companies were formed, and arms and ammunition pur- chased. The provincial congress of Massachu- setts met at Concord Oct. 11, John Hancock presiding. In February, 1775, the colonial government provided for the accumulation of valuable stores for military uses at Con- cord, under charge of Col. James Barrett of the town. The village had become a place of arms, and this determined the course of events. British spies visited the place, and an expedi- tion from Boston to seize or destroy the stores was resolved upon by Gen. Gage. The pro- vincial congress met at Concord the second time March 22, 1775, and sat till April 15. On the night of April 18 a detachment of 800 men marched from Boston upon Concord (see LEX- INGTON), which place they reached at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 19th. The coun- try had been thoroughly alarmed ; the people were employed in removing and secreting the stores, and the military assembled to the num- ber of 180. When the enemy came in sight, some were for resisting them ; but as it was thought proper to throw the entire responsibility upon the invaders, this advice was not followed, and the militia fell slowly back, and took post upon the side of a hill to the right. They were at first under the command of Major John But- trick ; but Col. Barrett, his superior, soon ar- rived on the ground, and ordered the men to cross the North bridge, which was done. The British now had possession of a large part of the town, and while some of them were en- gaged in destroying arms and provisions, de- tachments were sent to secure the South and North bridges. A part of those sent to the North bridge went on to Col. Bar- rett's residence, where they were engaged in the work of search and destruction, when they were interrupted by the attack that was made on their comrades at the bridge. The Americans who had retreated over the North bridge were drawn up not far from it, and were joined by others from several neighbor- ing towns. As it was believed the enemy were burning the village, the resolution was taken to attack them, and by Col. Barrett's com- mand the militia and "minutem en" marched toward the bridge ; some of the Acton minute- men took the head of the column, but stood abreast with the Concord minutemen when they halted at the W. end of the bridge. The British drew up on the E. bank, and began to pull up the planks of the bridge. Major But- trick called to them to desist, and ordered his men to increase their pace. The British de- sisted, but fired several muskets, as signals, it was supposed ; but when the Americans were 10 or 15 rods from the river, a single gun was discharged at them, the ball from which wounded Luther Blan chard, an Acton fifer, and Jonas Brown, a Concord soldier. Immediate- ly a volley was fired, by which Capt. Davis and Abner Hosmer of Acton were slain. Ma- jor Buttrick then gave the order to fire, dis- charging his own gun instantly. The order was promptly obeyed, and a general fusil- lade ensued from both sides. The British lost several men, two being killed, when they retreated, meeting reinforcements as they marched to the centre of the town. The Americans followed, and took post on the side of the road by which they would have to re- turn to Boston. The companies at Col. Bar- rett's were interrupted in their operations by the firing at the bridge, and returned to the village without molestation. Those at the South bridge did the same. Meantime, the British had been engaged in acts of violence in the village, directed principally against mili- tary articles, such as throwing balls into wells,
