William Dawes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Dawes
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Portrait of William Dawes
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| Born | April 6, 1745 |
| Died | February 25, 1799 (aged 53) |
| Occupation | Tanner |
| Spouse(s) | Mehitable May (m. 1768; died 1793) Lydia Gendall (m. ca. 1796; died ca. 1809) |
| Children | 3 with Mehitable May 1 with Lydia Gendall |
| Parent(s) | William and Lydia Dawes |
William Dawes Jr. (born April 6, 1745 – died February 25, 1799) was an important American patriot. He played a key role at the start of the American Revolution. In April 1775, Dawes was one of several riders who warned local militias, called minutemen, that British soldiers were approaching. This warning happened just before the famous Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. While Paul Revere is often remembered most, William Dawes's ride was just as vital.
Contents
Early Life and Patriot Spirit
Growing Up in Boston
William Dawes was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 6, 1745. His parents were William and Lydia Dawes. He was baptized at Boston's Old South Church. As he grew up, William became a tanner, which is someone who prepares animal hides to make leather.
On May 3, 1768, William Dawes married Mehitable May. For his wedding, he wore a suit made entirely in North America. This was a way to support a boycott of British goods. Many American colonists, known as Whigs, were trying to pressure the British government to change its unfair laws, like the Townshend Acts.
Joining the Militia
Dawes was active in Boston's local militia. In April 1768, he joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He became a sergeant in 1770.
As tensions grew with Britain, Dawes helped protect important military supplies. In September 1774, he likely helped Boston's militia hide four small cannons. The British wanted to take these weapons. In February 1775, he was asked to move two more cannons out of Boston.
On another occasion, Dawes and others bravely took two cannons from a building guarded by a British soldier. They snuck the cannons out a back window. Then, they hid them in a woodbox inside a nearby schoolhouse. When the British found the cannons missing, they questioned the schoolmaster. He calmly denied knowing anything, even resting his feet on the woodbox where the cannons were hidden! Dawes hurt his wrist during this adventure. He later visited Dr. Joseph Warren, a leader of the patriots, for treatment. Dr. Warren probably knew about the cannons but wisely didn't ask too many questions.
The Midnight Ride of 1775
A Secret Mission
Dr. Joseph Warren trusted William Dawes. On the night of April 18, 1775, Warren gave Dawes a critical mission. British soldiers were planning to march from Boston into the countryside. Dawes needed to ride to Lexington, Massachusetts, to warn patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams that they might be arrested.
Dawes took the land route out of Boston. He left just before the British closed off the town. At the same time, Paul Revere also rode to spread the alarm. Revere used a different route, crossing the Charles River. He also arranged for lanterns in the Old North Church to signal the British army's path.
Warning the Patriots
Dawes and Revere both reached the Hancock–Clarke House in Lexington around midnight. Revere arrived a little earlier because his route was shorter. After warning Adams and Hancock, Revere and Dawes continued towards Concord. They knew the Provincial Congress had stored weapons there.
Along the way, they met Samuel Prescott, a local doctor. Prescott joined them on their important journey. However, a group of mounted British officers was waiting on the road. These officers had already captured other riders. They ordered Dawes, Revere, and Prescott to stop.
The three men rode in different directions to try and escape. Dawes rode into a house yard, shouting that he had tricked two officers there. The British officers, fearing an ambush, stopped chasing him. Unfortunately, Dawes's horse threw him off. He had to walk back to Lexington. The next morning, he found his watch in the same yard where he had fallen.
Impact of the Ride
The warnings given by Dawes, Revere, and Prescott were incredibly important. They allowed the local militias to gather enough strength. This led to the first open battle of the American Revolutionary War. The colonists achieved their first victory. The British column failed to find most of the weapons they intended to destroy. They suffered heavy losses as minutemen attacked them during their retreat to Boston.
Serving in the Revolution
Supporting the Troops
William Dawes continued to serve during the American Revolution. On September 9, 1776, he became a second major in the Boston militia. During the war, Dawes worked as a quartermaster in central Massachusetts. A quartermaster is responsible for providing supplies to soldiers.
His family said that Dawes believed British prisoners of war were stealing from farmers. This happened while the prisoners were being marched to Boston. Dawes worked hard to ensure the American troops had the supplies they needed.
Later Years and Family
Mehitable, William Dawes's first wife, passed away on May 19, 1794. They had three children together. Around 1796, Dawes married Lydia Gendall. William and Lydia had one child, named Mehitable May Dawes.
William Dawes died in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on February 25, 1799. He was first thought to be buried in the King's Chapel Burying Ground. However, recent research suggests his final resting place is in his first wife's family plot. This plot is in Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain.
Remembering William Dawes
The famous poem "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow often gets all the attention. However, historians now agree that the poem overstates Revere's role. Dawes and Prescott were just as successful in their missions that night. In 1896, Helen F. Moore wrote a parody poem. She wanted to make sure William Dawes was not forgotten.
Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell discusses Dawes and Revere in his book The Tipping Point. He explains how Revere was a "connector" who knew many people. Dawes, on the other hand, was an "ordinary man" who still made a huge difference.
Today, Dawes's ride is remembered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There is a traffic island in Harvard Square called Dawes Island. Bronze horseshoes are set into the sidewalk there. They represent his horse's hoofprints. An inscription and historical displays tell his story. Also, an elementary school in Lexington, Massachusetts, is named William Dawes Elementary School.
His Lasting Family Legacy
William Dawes had many notable descendants. His great-grandson, Rufus Dawes, was a Civil War officer and a congressman. Rufus Dawes's son, Charles G. Dawes, even became Vice President of the United States under President Calvin Coolidge. Other descendants include businessmen and bankers. Television personality Bill Schulz is also a descendant of William Dawes.
See also
