The Undisputed Historical Record
Before examining the layers of myth and interpretation, it is essential to establish the foundational facts that are generally agreed upon by credible historians based on verifiable evidence. These core events form the skeleton upon which various narratives have been built.
The Midnight Ride of April 18, 1775: On this night, British Army troops in Boston began to mobilize for a planned expedition to Concord, Massachusetts, to seize colonial military supplies. A system of signals and riders was in place to alert the countryside. Paul Revere, a Boston silversmith and patriot, was one of several messengers dispatched. He successfully crossed the Charles River and rode toward Lexington, warning colonists along the way. He was joined by another rider, William Dawes, who took a different route. Later, they were joined by Dr. Samuel Prescott. Revere was captured by a British patrol before reaching Concord; Dawes was forced to turn back, but Prescott successfully completed the mission to Concord.
The 1621 Harvest Feast in Plymouth: In the autumn of 1621, the English colonists at Plymouth, often referred to as Pilgrims, held a three-day feast to celebrate a successful harvest after a brutal first winter. This event was attended by approximately 50 colonists and around 90 men from the neighboring Wampanoag tribe, led by their sachem, Massasoit. The alliance between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag was a matter of political and mutual necessity. The Wampanoag had been devastated by a recent epidemic, and the Pilgrims were vulnerable and in need of allies and agricultural knowledge. The event was documented in a single, brief passage by colonist Edward Winslow in a letter.
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1693: In the village of Salem and surrounding towns in colonial Massachusetts, a series of accusations of witchcraft erupted, beginning in February 1692. A special Court of Oyer and Terminer was established to hear the cases. Over the next year and a half, more than 200 people were accused. Ultimately, 19 individuals (14 women and 5 men) were convicted and executed by hanging. Another man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death for refusing to enter a plea. Several others died in prison. The trials were brought to an end by Governor William Phips, partly due to concerns about the use of “spectral evidence” (testimony from accusers who claimed to see the spirit of the accused attacking them).
