Benjamin Barrett built this home in 1705, and his son James, born five years later, inherited it. James Barrett served as a captain in the French and Indian War and was later commissioned as a colonel in command of the local militia during the 1770s. In 1775, Barrett's home stored military supplies, including small cannons smuggled out of Boston. When British troops marched into Concord on April 19, 1775, a detachment searched the Barrett home but found nothing, as Colonel Barrett was organizing the militia.
James Barrett fought in the first battle of the Revolutionary War but died in April 1779. The house became part of Minute Man National Historical Park in 2012. Today, visitors can explore the Barrett House, preserved to reflect its historical significance. Nearby, the North Bridge and the Minute Man Statue commemorate the opening battle of the American Revolution, providing a comprehensive understanding of Concord's pivotal role in the fight for independence.
Stories from Barrett House
At dawn on April 19, 1775, an unknown shot shattered the silence in Lexington. British Redcoats and colonial militia clashed, leaving blood on the field. In Concord, the patriots struck back, and as the British retreated, gunfire hounded them to Boston, thus sparking the American Revolution
Sarah Bradlee Fulton, a patriotic activist and member of the Daughters of Liberty, played a key role in the Boston Tea Party, nursed soldiers at the Battle of Bunker Hill, delivered important messages to George Washington, and supported the Continental Army throughout the Revolution.
The site of the first known Colonist offensive attack during the Revolution, Meriam's Corner marks where the British column, retreating to Boston, was ambushed by local militias.