In the forenoon, the town of Concord was beset with an army of regulars, who, in a hostile manner, entered the town and drew up in form before the door of the house where I live. They continued on the green, feeding their horses within five feet of the door and about fifty or sixty of them was in and out the house, calling for water and what they wanted, for about three hours. At the same time, all our near neighbors, in the greatest consternation, were drawn off to places far from the thickest part of the town where I live and had taken with them their families and what of their best effects they could carry, some to a neighboring wood, others to remote houses for security. Under these circumstances I committed myself to the divine protection and was very remarkably helped with so much fortitude of mind as to wait on them as they called with water or what we had, chairs for Major Pitcairn and four or five more officers, who sat at the door viewing their men. At length I had, by degrees, cultivated so much favor as to talk a little with them. When all on a sudden they had set fire to the great gun carriages just by the house and while they were in flames I saw smoke arise out of the town house higher than the ridge of the house. Then I did put my life in my hand and ventured to beg of the officers to send some of their men to put out the fire but they took no notice, only sneered. I, seeing the town house on fire and must in a few minutes be past recovery, did venture to expostulate with the officers just by me as I stood with a pail of water in my hand, begging of them to send, when they only said, “O mother, we won’t do you any harm!” Don’t be concerned mother,” and such like talk. The house still burning and knowing that all the row of four or five houses as well as the schoolhouse was in danger, ventured to put as much strength to my arguments a widow could think of and so I can say that, under divine providence, I was an instrument of saving the court house and how many more is not certain from being consumed, with a great deal of valuable furniture and at the great risk of my life. At last, by one pail of water after another, they sent and did extinguish the fire.

a8barry8@yahoo.com