BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Rev 250 - ECPv6.17.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Rev 250
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260401T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260401T203000
DTSTAMP:20260325T175109Z
CREATED:20260325T152718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T175109Z
UID:1921-1775070000-1775075400@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Revolutionary Near Miss – How the Rev. War’s First Battle Could Have Occurred in Marblehead
DESCRIPTION:In this first of eleven FREE illustrated talks offered by the Marblehead 250 Committee and Marblehead’s Abbot Public Library in 2026\, the United States’ 250th year\, see and hear the fascinating story of how the first shots of the American Revolution were almost fired in Marblehead or Salem on a cold Sunday in February 1775\, when nearly 250 British soldiers “marched through the town” and on to Salem’s North Bridge\, instead of in Lexington and at Concord’s North Bridge less than two months later\, on April 19. That infamous ”first battle” could easily have happened here or in Salem\, with loss of Marblehead lives and more instead. And that near-miss episode could have made Marblehead and Salem instead of Lexington and Concord “Ground Zero” for the seven long years of war that followed. \nJudy Anderson is an independent social\, cultural\, and architectural historian who worked at the Marblehead Museum for 16 years\nas the organization’s first administrative director in 1994 and the only specified curator of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion from 2001-2010.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/revolutionary-near-miss-how-the-rev-wars-first-battle-could-have-occurred-in-marblehead/
LOCATION:Abbot Public Library\, 3 Brook Road\, Marblehead\, MA\, 01945\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/april-1-revolutionary-near-miss-photo-courtesy-of-eyal-oren_582_md-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260403T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260403T203000
DTSTAMP:20260302T205244Z
CREATED:20260217T191651Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T205244Z
UID:1821-1775242800-1775248200@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Newburyport's Road to Independence\, Part IV - American Rebels: Hancock\, Quincy\, Adams
DESCRIPTION:Newburyport’s Offin Boardman carried secret letters for John Adams\, who argued court cases in Newburyport. The USS Hancock was built in Newburyport in 1776\, and all three families were linked by ties of blood and friendship to this community. Join Nina Sankovitch\, author of American Rebels: How the Hancock\, Adams\, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution to explore the efforts of these leading New England families to foment support for the American Revolution in the decade leading up to the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. \nThe fight for independence never would have succeeded if New Englanders\, across class lines and from all backgrounds\, had not joined the fight. John Hancock\, John Adams\, Abigail Adams\, and Josiah Quincy were instrumental in bringing together disparate groups and igniting a shared ambition for liberty from English oppression. Using words (in speeches and letters) and actions (court cases\, acts of civil disobedience\, espionage\, community outreach)\, they rallied colonists to betray their King and Parliament as a necessary and God-ordained duty to themselves\, their neighbors\, and their country. With the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, the shared fight became a covenant\, and the rights of life\, liberty\, and pursuit of happiness\, the promise of independence. On the 250th anniversary of our nation\, we celebrate that covenant\, that promise\, and the men and women who made it all possible. \n \nNina Sankovitch is an avid historian and voracious reader. She has written five books of non-fiction\, including American Rebels: How the Hancock\, Adams\, And Quincy Fanned the Flames of Revolution\, and most recently\, Not Your Founding Father; How a Nonbinary Minster Became America’s Most Radical Revolutionary. Sankovitch attended Tufts University and Harvard Law School and now lives in New York City. \nCLICK HERE to purchase tickets \n  \nFunded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/newburyports-road-to-independence-part-iv-american-rebels-hancock-quincy-adams/
LOCATION:St. Paul’s Episcopal Church\, 166 High Street\, Newburyport\, MA\, 01950\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_1176012144_166848231891_1_original.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Museum of Old Newbury":MAILTO:info@newburyhistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T203000
DTSTAMP:20260325T175154Z
CREATED:20260325T153240Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T175154Z
UID:1925-1775678400-1775680200@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Captain Michael Corbett and the Pitt Packet Incident in 1769
DESCRIPTION:Early revolutionary resistance!\n\nHear the dramatic tale of Michael Corbett and his Marblehead shipmates who resisted British tyranny at sea on King Hooper’s merchant ship\, the Pitt Packet – named after a British prime minister who was sympathetic to Americans’ grievances – a full year before the 1770 Boston “Massacre” and six years before the Revolutionary War’s first battle in 1775. After the mariners killed a British officer who was trying to impress them into British Navy service\, they were brought to trial in Boston but were successfully acquitted by a young\, unknown lawyer named John Adams. That case launched Adams into professional and political prominence\, which grew after Adams successfully defended some British officers a year later\, after the so-called “Boston Massacre” on March 5 in 1770. In 1775\, Corbett and most of the others would become ship masters on privateer vessels –a role that accounted for most of Marblehead’s men’s deaths in the Revolution\, including Corbett’s. \nDonald Doliber was appointed as Marblehead’s Town Historian after 24 years as an award-winning history teacher\, who was selected as the “Outstanding American History Teacher in the United States” by the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.)\, followed by 17 years as an assistant high school principal. His ancestors arrived in Marblehead in the 1630s and were fishermen\, selectmen\, and merchants in the early community\, and later\, a few served in the Revolutionary War. \nThis event is presented in collaboration with the Marblehead 250 Committee and Abbot Public Library.  \nThis program is funded in part by a grant from the Marblehead Cultural Council\, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council\, a state agency.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/captain-michael-corbett-and-the-pitt-packet-incident-in-1769/
LOCATION:Abbot Public Library\, 3 Brook Road\, Marblehead\, MA\, 01945\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/april-8-18th-c-drawing-inscription-by-ashley-bowen-of-marbehead-courtesy-of-mhd-mus_583_md-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T190000
DTSTAMP:20260325T183623Z
CREATED:20260318T202019Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T183623Z
UID:1908-1775757600-1775761200@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:"(Bitter)sweet Chocolate: Exploring 18th Century Chocolate From Bean to Beverage"
DESCRIPTION:Join award-winning historian and educator Michele Gabrielson for a delectable journey through taste\, tradition\, and transformation in the world of 18th-century chocolate. This interactive program explores the fascinating history of chocolate during the 18th century\, a pivotal time when this once-exclusive beverage became a beloved delicacy across the world. We will examine the origins of chocolate\, tracing its journey from Mesoamerica to its introduction in Spain and subsequent spread across the continent and back to the American colonies. The program concludes by sampling chocolate that would have been enjoyed by colonists! \n \nMichele Gabrielson is an award-winning local history teacher and 18th-century historic interpreter.  Ms. Gabrielson serves as the secretary for the nonprofit Mercy Otis Warren Society\, is a member of the Authenticity Standards Committee for Minuteman National Historic Park\, and is the coordinator for the Battle Road Guides for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. She was awarded a 2024 Rising Star Award for Public History by the Massachusetts History Alliance for her programming titled “The Revolutionary Classroom” and named a finalist for the 2024 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year.  She was the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution’s Outstanding History Teacher of the Year for 2025 and the 2025 winner of the Fred Graham Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. \n@the_revolutionary_classroom
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/bittersweet-chocolate-exploring-18th-century-chocolate-from-bean-to-beverage/
LOCATION:Andover Center for History and Culture\, 97 Main Street\, Andover\, MA\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/ss1k6fvi0jfjebd1ches.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T203000
DTSTAMP:20260325T183336Z
CREATED:20260325T183336Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T183336Z
UID:1964-1776191400-1776198600@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:American Art at 250 with Jane Oneail
DESCRIPTION:Join us in celebrating America’s extraordinary artistic legacy as we commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary with a curated exploration of the masterworks that \nhave defined our cultural identity. From the luminous landscapes of the Hudson River School to the bold innovations of Abstract Expressionism\, this program \nshowcases the diverse voices and revolutionary spirits that have shaped American art across two and a half centuries. Discover how American artists have \ncontinuously redefined not only our visual culture\, but art itself on the world stage. \n  \nAbout the presenter: \nJane Oneail is the founder of Culturally Curious\, a company that curates and presents art appreciation programs. Jane holds a master’s in Art History from Boston University and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. Born and raised in NH\, she has worked at some of the state’s most esteemed cultural institutions\, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen\, where she served as Executive Director\, and the Currier Museum of Art\, where she held the role of Senior Educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade\, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University. For more information visit iamculturallycurious.com
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/american-art-at-250-with-jane-oneail/
LOCATION:North Andover Historical Society\, 800 Massachusetts Ave\, North Andover\, MA\, 01845\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/unnamed.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T203000
DTSTAMP:20260326T190406Z
CREATED:20260326T190324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T190406Z
UID:1993-1776279600-1776285000@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:General Gage Retreats
DESCRIPTION:This conversational presentation with General Thomas Gage\, the last Royal Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony shares his perspective of the War for Independence after leaving Danvers in 1774 and Boston in 1776\, and making his way home to England. Historian and reenactor Paul O’Shaughnessy will reflect on the summer of 1774\, when Gage moved the government of Massachusetts from Boston to Salem in an attempt to bypass the Sons of Liberty and patriot influence in Boston. July and August of 1774\, General Gage set up office in the Page House and lived at the Danvers Hooper-Collins House (Lindens)\, now in Washington\, DC. Hoping to find a more receptive audience Salem and Danvers. That was not to be. \nWe will discuss Gage’s move back to Boston\, the outbreak of war\, and the British evacuation from Boston. \nPaul O’Shaughnessy is a longtime reenactor of British soldiers and officers from the opening years of the American Revolution.  He recently portrayed General Thomas Gage\, newly appointed Governor of Massachusetts\, in a re-creation of Gage’s arrival in Salem in June 1774.  He is also a Board member of the Lexington Historical Society and the Friends of Minute Man National Park and an officer in His Majesty’s Tenth Regiment of Foot\, a re-created British infantry regiment of 1775. The Tenth Foot is based in Lexington\, MA.  See their website at www.redcoat.org
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/general-gage-retreats/
LOCATION:Tapley Memorial Hall\, 13 Page Street\, Danvers\, MA\, 01923\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/Gage-2-e1722464003509-212x300-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T203519Z
CREATED:20260409T203519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T203519Z
UID:2036-1776452400-1776456000@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Road To Independence Tour
DESCRIPTION:The Marblehead Museum will debut the new the Road to Independence Walking Tour on Friday\, April 17th at 7pm and Saturday\, April 18th at 10am and 1pm. \nThe tour will feature the history of Marblehead in the early 1770s\, highlighting the town’s pivotal role in such famous events as the Boston Tea Party\, the Battle of Bunker Hill\, and the resistance to British taxes. \nThe tour will also explore attacks on local Loyalists\, and the contradiction of Marbleheaders fighting to end their political “enslavement” by Britain while enslaving Blacks in their own homes. \nCLICK HERE to purchase tickets
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/road-to-independence-tour/
LOCATION:Marblehead Museum\, 170 Washington Street\, Marblehead\, 01945\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-163448.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260419T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260419T143000
DTSTAMP:20260326T185748Z
CREATED:20260326T185748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T185748Z
UID:1989-1776603600-1776609000@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Old Put – Danvers Hero of the American Revolution
DESCRIPTION:Join the Danvers DAR Chapter at the Holten House to hear about Gen. Israel Putnam\, a Danvers native and colorful figure of 18th-century America\, who played key roles in both the French & Indian War & the Revolution. He reportedly gave the command “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Robert Hubbard’s talk will include discussion of Putnam’s Massachusetts ancestors\, his youth in Danvers\, his two marriages\, and the last trip of his life – a ride back to his childhood home in Danvers. \nThe event is free\, seating is limited\, and reservations are required. CLICK HERE to register
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/old-put-danvers-hero-of-the-american-revolution/
LOCATION:Tapley Memorial Hall\, 13 Page Street\, Danvers\, MA\, 01923\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/Israel-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T160000
DTSTAMP:20260326T194735Z
CREATED:20260326T192803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T194735Z
UID:1997-1776763800-1776787200@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Revolutionary Library Crawl!
DESCRIPTION:It’s time for the Revolutionary Library Crawl! \nVisit ten libraries throughout Northeastern MA from April 21 through May 9 as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Visit an information desk at any of the participating libraries to pick up a crawl passport\, complete an activity\, and earn a passport stamp. Enjoy unique activities\, history\, and swag at each stop on your crawl. \n5 stamps or more on your passport qualify you for an entry into a prize raffle. One prize basket is available per age group: children\, teens\, & adults. Turn your passport in at any participating library by May 9 to be entered into the raffle. \nAll ages are welcome to participate. \nTHANK YOU to our collaborating crawl libraries: Boxford Town Library\, Peabody Institute Library (Danvers)\,  TOHP Burnham Public Library (Essex)\, Georgetown Peabody Library (Georgetown)\, Sawyer Free Library (Gloucester)\, Langley-Adams Library (Groveland)\, Ipswich Public Library\, Flint Public Library (Middleton)\, & Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library. \nCLICK HERE to learn more!
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/revolutionary-library-crawl-begins/
LOCATION:Hamilton-Wenham Public Library\, 14 Union Street\,\, South Hamilton\, MA\, 01982\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/Library-Crawl-Logo-2026.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260423T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260423T200000
DTSTAMP:20260422T134526Z
CREATED:20260413T204822Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T134526Z
UID:2040-1776970800-1776974400@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:These Truths Discussion Series: Part 1 — “The Idea”
DESCRIPTION:Commemorate our 250th anniversary by exploring the founding principles of the United States… and how we live up to them!\n\nThis four-part discussion series will revolve around the book These Truths: A History of the U.S. Constitution by Jill Lepore. Each session will be on a different theme (The Idea\, The People\, The State\, The Machine) linked to readings from sections of the book.\nLepore’s expansive study of the nation in one volume allows us to follow a single narrative that touches on all the essential issues and periods of American history. Sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Andrew Darien\, Associate Dean for the College of Arts & Sciences at Salem State University. Dr. Darien has taught as a history professor since 2004\, specializing in modern U.S. History. When possible\, he will invite guest experts to participate in the discussion sessions.\n\n\nPart I — The Idea (1492–1799)\nApril 23 at 7:00 p.m.\n\nChapters 1–4:\n1. The Nature of the Past (pp. 3–30)\n2. The Rulers and the Ruled (pp. 31–71)\n3. Of Wars and Revolutions (pp. 72–108)\n4. The Constitution of a Nation (pp. 109–152)\nThis section traces the origins of American civic identity\, showing how political equality\, natural rights\, and popular sovereignty emerged amid colonization\, slavery\, and revolution. Readers learn how debates over governance and rights shaped foundational institutions and citizenship itself — critical context for thoughtful citizens today.\n \nAndrew Darien is Associate Dean for the College of Arts & Sciences at Salem State University\, where he has taught as a history professor since 2004.  He specializes in modern United States history and oral history.  He is the author of Becoming New York’s Finest: Race\, Gender and the Integration of the NYPD\, 1935-1980\, and Building the Sacred and the Progressive: A History of Temple Sinai in Brookline.  He has been the project director for Student\, Citizen\, and Soldier\, which has recorded and shared dozens of interviews with college veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He most recently completed an oral history project to document the queer history of Lynn through a series of gay and lesbian bars going back to the early 20th century.  The American Association of State and Local History awarded Darien and United Lynn Pride the Corey Award for the best grassroots public history project in 2025.\nFree to all. Registration recommended.\nSign up
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/these-truths-discussion-series-part-1-the-idea/
LOCATION:Salem Athenaeum\, 337 Essex Street\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/04/TheseTruths_close_crop_IMG_3046.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Salem Athenaeum":MAILTO:staff@SalemAthenaeum.net
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T194500
DTSTAMP:20260324T193231Z
CREATED:20260324T192237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T193231Z
UID:1914-1777487400-1777491900@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:General John Glover: Unsung Hero of the Revolution
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a memorable evening of music\, history\, and conversation as we commemorate the life\, military service\, and lasting legacy of one of the American Revolution’s most celebrated — and often overlooked — figures. \n\n\n\nThe evening kicks off with a rousing performance by Scurvy Fellows Indeed\, a spirited crew of 18th-century privateers who will entertain with rollicking sea chanteys — audience sing-along strongly encouraged! \nHistorian Robert Booth then takes us through the compelling story of how John Glover’s Marblehead roots and family ties shaped his path to becoming a Revolutionary War hero. \nHe is followed by Larry Sands — Captain of Glover’s Marblehead Regiment — who brings Glover’s battlefield career to life with a lively overview of his major engagements and accomplishments. \nNancy Lusignan Schultz\, Chair of the Swampscott Historical Commission and President of Save the Glover! Inc.\, rounds out the presentations with the latest news on the ongoing effort to preserve General Glover’s historic farmhouse. \n \nThis program is part of the Conflict & Community: Salem\, Essex County\, and the American Revolution lecture series. This series is a partnership between Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park and highlights the unique role of Essex County communities during the American Revolution. CLICK HERE or more information about Conflict & Community programs.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/general-john-glover-unsung-hero-of-the-revolution/
LOCATION:Salem Armory Visitor Center\, 2 New Liberty Street\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze_MMA-NYC_1851-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T203000
DTSTAMP:20260409T202342Z
CREATED:20260409T201936Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T202342Z
UID:1946-1777489200-1777494600@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Elbridge Gerry: Marblehead's Revolutionary Man
DESCRIPTION:Robert Allison\, a professor of history at Suffolk University\, will return to the Marblehead Museum for a talk on the life of Elbridge Gerry\, and his crucial contributions to the Revolution. \nElbridge Gerry seemed to be on both sides of most major conflicts over his long career\, from the first stirrings of resistance to British rule in the 1770s to the War of 1812. Was he seeking political advantage\, or was he pursuing an ideal of republican government? Robert will trace this notable political life which began on the docks of Marblehead. \nAllison is the president of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts\, the state chair of Revolution 250\, and a lifetime trustee of the USS Constitution Museum. His books include The Boston Tea Party and The American Revolution: A Concise History. \nThis event will be a HYBRID event and you may attend in person or via ZOOM \nCLICK HERE to purchase tickets
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/elbridge-gerry-mhd-signer-of-the-declaration-of-independence/
LOCATION:Marblehead Museum\, 170 Washington Street\, Marblehead\, 01945\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-162404.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260503T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260503T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T150204Z
CREATED:20260415T150204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T150204Z
UID:2051-1777820400-1777827600@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Songs of Freedom
DESCRIPTION:Joiin the Andover Choral Society directed by Matthew Buono and the New England Classical Singers directed by David Hodgkins for a musical celebration of our nation’s 250th Anniversary. \n“Songs of Freedom” offers an exploration of choral music created at pivotal times in American history from the 1700s to the 21st century. Themes of peace\, of conflict\, of gallantry\, of pioneering\, and of enduring hope resonate throughout this program – all presented by two of the Merrimack Valley’s most beloved choral groups. \nThis special performance features a guest appearance by The Danvers Alarm List Company\, an 18th-century living history reenactment group\, creating a unique patriotic experience. \nConcert tickets are $25 in advance\, $30 at the door\, and $10 for students. To purchase tickets or to learn more\, CLICK HERE \nTo learn more\, please visit andoverchoralsociety.org or newenglandclassical.org.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/songs-of-freedom/
LOCATION:South Church of Andover\, 41 Central Street\, Andover\, MA\, 01810\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/04/e51syer7zyhsc8suzcgk.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T190000
DTSTAMP:20260409T195710Z
CREATED:20260409T193800Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T195710Z
UID:2021-1778090400-1778094000@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:"How to Feed an Army: In Search of a Bit of Gravy" with Foodways Historian Stacy Booth
DESCRIPTION:It is often said that the army marches on its stomach and it’s just as true during the 18th century as it is today. But how was the army supplied with that food? How was it cooked/processed? And\, in what ways did that differ from the everyday hearth cooked meals they ate at home? \nFoodways historian Stacy Booth will discuss how the Continental Army was fed and supplied. She will compare it to the food local housewives created at home and why that was important to provisioning of the soldiers themselves. \nStacy Booth is a foodways historian with almost 20 years of experience reenacting and presenting to the public. She specializes in 17th and 18th  century New England foodways presentations and cooking demonstrations. She worked previously at Plimoth Patuxet (formerly Plimoth Plantation) and Coggenshall Farm Museum as a 1st and 3rd person reenactor. Her experiences in Revolutionary War reenactment for the last 10 years have allowed her to travel far and wide participating in hearth campfire cooking as well as outdoor bread oven baking demonstrations. .
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/how-to-feed-an-army-in-search-of-a-bit-of-gravy-with-foodways-historian-stacy-booth/
LOCATION:Andover Center for History and Culture\, 97 Main Street\, Andover\, MA\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/04/b70e575f-7fbe-4715-9aea-c935c9d47120.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T203000
DTSTAMP:20260325T175358Z
CREATED:20260325T154157Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T175358Z
UID:1929-1778094000-1778099400@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Revolutionary Dwellings – Homes of Patriots and Loyalists in Marblehead
DESCRIPTION:Nearly every house in Marblehead that predates 1775 was the home of a serviceman in America’s Revolutionary War. An estimated 300 houses still survive\, even if modified by later generations\, out of perhaps 525 or so that existed as the war began\, when Marblehead was apparently still the sixth most populous metropolis in British North America. In June 1775\, nearly 600 men and teenage boys from those homes joined the Continental Army’s new “Marblehead Regiment” under Colonel John Glover\, which grew from the earlier rebel Patriot militia led by Colonel Jeremiah Lee until his death in May 1775. Starting in Autumn 1775\, hundreds of them would sail out as captains and crews of privateer vessels. And many would lose their lives that way. But the “prize” vessels they captured helped to supply and pay soldiers in the new nation’s struggling army\, and to outfit its fledgling navy. Over the course of the war’s eight long years\, an estimated total of 1\,400 or more would serve from this town of about 950 families–– all living in those 525 houses! Nearly all were Patriots\, as only about a dozen heads of households can be identified as Tories\, or Loyalists. And nearly every house was filled with women and many children who suffered greatly. It would take several generations for the town to fully recover–– and that was only briefly. But that is the reason so many pre-Revolutionary homes still survive. Come learn about where some of Mhd’s. Revolutionary heroes and their families lived. \nJudy Anderson is an independent social\, cultural\, and architectural historian who worked at the Marblehead Museum for 16 years\nas the organization’s first administrative director in 1994 and the only specified curator of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion from 2001-2010.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/revolutionary-dwellings-homes-of-patriots-and-loyalists-in-mhd/
LOCATION:Abbot Public Library\, 3 Brook Road\, Marblehead\, MA\, 01945\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/May-13-Rev-Houses.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T160000
DTSTAMP:20260326T181233Z
CREATED:20260326T181233Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T181233Z
UID:1980-1778335200-1778342400@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:North Andover's Colonel James Frye\, Revolutionary Hero with Alex Cain
DESCRIPTION:Join Historian\, Writer\, and Podcaster Alex Cain (Historical Nerdery)\, for this lecture on local Revolutionary Hero and French & Indian War Veteran Colonel James Frye. There will also be an update on the preservation of his ancestral home site.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/north-andovers-colonel-james-frye-revolutionary-hero-with-alex-cain/
LOCATION:North Andover Historical Society\, 800 Massachusetts Ave\, North Andover\, MA\, 01845\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-26-141421.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260516T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260516T160000
DTSTAMP:20260513T200559Z
CREATED:20260513T200559Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T200559Z
UID:2088-1778929200-1778947200@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Women at War: Salem as the Home Front in 1776
DESCRIPTION:What was it like to be a woman in a world at war? \nHow did Salem’s women live their daily lives in the months leading up to the Declaration of Independence? \nJoin the Salem Historical Society and Ladies’ Association of Revolutionary America at the Pickering House on Saturday\, May 16 from 11am-4pm to encounter a history that often slipped between the pages and is finally entering center stage. \nThis Event is free and open to the public\, offered in partnership with the Pickering Foundation.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/women-at-war-salem-as-the-home-front-in-1776/
LOCATION:Pickering House\, 18 Broad Street\, Salem\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/18thcladies.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Salem Historical Society":MAILTO:salemhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T200006Z
CREATED:20260409T195949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T200006Z
UID:2026-1779300000-1779307200@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Life\, Liberty\, and the Pursuit of TRIVIA!
DESCRIPTION:A Fundraiser to Support the Mission of the Andover Center for History & Culture. \nCALLING ALL HISTORY BUFFS!  (And even those who aren’t) \nThink you know you American Revolution history facts and fiction? \nPut your revolutionary -era expertise to the test and join us for a fun evening of trivia and storytelling at Oak & Iron Brewery \nBetween rounds of trivia\, local journalist and author\, Chris Klein\, will share tales about Andover’s role in the fight for American independence \nCLICK HERE to purchase tickets \n$65 per person\, includes one  Oak & Iron beer ticket\, dinner and trivia \n$55 per person\, soft drinks only\, dinner and trivia \nDinner by D’Agostino’s\, Andover \nlibations by Oak & Iron Brewery
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of-trivia/
LOCATION:Oak & Iron Brewery\, 18 Red Spring Road\, Andover\, MA\, 01810\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/04/b30e1b98-26af-4b47-a664-9667db659566-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260521T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260521T194500
DTSTAMP:20260506T183705Z
CREATED:20260427T134031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260506T183705Z
UID:2069-1779388200-1779392700@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:The Fisherman's Cause: Atlantic Commerce and Maritime Dimensions of the American Revolution
DESCRIPTION:Join Chris Magra\, author of The Fisherman’s Cause: Atlantic Commerce and Maritime Dimensions of the American Revolution\, for a free lecture on May 21. \nChris Magra’s The Fisherman’s Cause argues that the New England fishing industry was a central\, yet often overlooked\, catalyst for the American Revolution. During the lecture\, Dr. Magra will detail how British naval policies—specifically the impressment of sailors and the disruption of vital trade routes—transformed politically moderate fishermen into radical revolutionaries determined to protect their economic survival. Ultimately\, Dr. Magra will highlight that the struggle for American independence was as much a fight for maritime commercial freedom as it was for land-based political rights. \nAfter the lecture\, join Dr. Marga for a book signing. Copies of The Fisherman’s Cause will be available for purchase. \nDr. Chris Magra is Professor of Early American History at the University of Tennessee. He is also the Director of the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War. He has published two books on the maritime dimensions of the American Revolution. The Fisherman’s Cause examines the New England cod fisheries and the transatlantic business rivalries and resource competition among fish merchants that helped bring about the imperial crisis. Poseidon’s Curse explains why British naval impressment contributed to the origins of the Revolution. He is currently completing an edited collection of essays on the military history of the Declaration of Independence that will be out with the University of Tennessee Press in July for the 250th anniversary. \nWhile admission to this event is free\, space is limited; registration is strongly encouraged.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/the-fishermans-cause-atlantic-commerce-and-maritime-dimensions-of-the-american-revolution/
LOCATION:Salem Armory Visitor Center\, 2 New Liberty Street\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/04/61w4pDH7tXL._AC_UF10001000_QL80_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260522
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260526
DTSTAMP:20260511T135823Z
CREATED:20260511T135823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260511T135823Z
UID:2081-1779408000-1779753599@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Memorial Day Weekend Event
DESCRIPTION:This Memorial Day Weekend\, visit the second oldest burial ground in Salem\, Massachusetts. Founded in 1655\, Broad Street Cemetery has 70+ Revolutionary War veterans buried within its 2.69 acres\, including Col. Timothy Pickering (1745-1829). Also buried there are 30+ veterans from other wars\, including Civil War hero Brig. Gen. Frederick Lander (1821-1862). Over Memorial Day Weekend\, flags with military biographies will mark veterans’ graves. View the 1938 WPA Veterans’ Graves map at the Pickering House Barn (18 Broad street) and pick up a handout there or at the cemetery across the street (5 Broad street). \n 
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/memorial-day-weekend-event/
LOCATION:Broad Street Cemetery\, 3-5 Broad Street\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/691806845_10241819637737158_5933265368958597098_n.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Friends of Broad Street Cemetery":MAILTO:susanfriendsbroadstcemetery@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260522T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260522T180000
DTSTAMP:20260518T185007Z
CREATED:20260518T185007Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T185007Z
UID:2092-1779465600-1779472800@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Outdoor Walking Tour about Glover Family Houses in Marblehead
DESCRIPTION:The last two weekends in May\, this walking tour takes you past the homes of the four Glover brothers and their families (exteriors only)\, and features relevant and poignant quotes from John Glover’s correspondence. \nEach tour meets in front of Abbot Hall and ends at General Glover’s home in Glover Square\, near the Town Landing. \nDonations will benefit the “Save the Glover Farm House” effort. \nNo RSVP. No rain dates. No restrooms.   \nLed by Judy Anderson\, Marblehead Architecture Heritage & Tours. \nFor info\, CLICK HERE — or call 781-631-1762.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/outdoor-walking-tour-about-glover-family-houses-in-marblehead/
LOCATION:Abbot Hall\, 188 Washington Street\, Marblehead\, MA\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image-2.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Marblehead Architecture Heritage &amp%3B Tours":MAILTO:MarbleheadTours@aol.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260525T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260525T093000
DTSTAMP:20260422T140924Z
CREATED:20260422T140924Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T140924Z
UID:2062-1779697800-1779701400@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Rededication of Andover’s Rev Park
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the re-dedication of the park created for the Bicentennial in 1976. Names will be read of the Andover veterans who died during the Revolutionary War. A new plaque commemorating General Lafayette’s 1825 visit to Andover will be unveiled. The Memorial Day parade follows at 10:00 am.\n\n\n​Rev Park is located at the corner of School & Central Streets
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/rededication-of-andovers-rev-park/
LOCATION:Rev Park\, School & Central Streets\, Andover\, MA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-100126.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260527T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260527T203000
DTSTAMP:20260325T175308Z
CREATED:20260325T154950Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T175308Z
UID:1932-1779908400-1779913800@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Captain James Mugford\, an early Revolutionary War Martyr in 1776
DESCRIPTION:  \nOn his 27th birthday in May 1776 (May 19th)\, Captain James Mugford became an early Revolutionary War hero and martyr\, killed in combat by the British in retaliation for his having audaciously and fortuitously captured a 300-ton British supply ship a day or two before. It’s a sad but fascinating story! – as his young wife successfully negotiated with the captain of the British warship for his release after the young Marblehead ship’s master had been “impressed” (essentially kidnapped from off a Marblehead street) and held prisoner on that British ship. While on board\, though\, Mugford heard about the supply ship’s imminent arrival. Soon after\, commanding the Franklin out of Marblehead\, he and his crew\, posing as a harmless fishing vessel\, captured the valuable munitions transport. Tragically\, he died in a retaliatory battle the following day. But the vital and desperately needed munitions and supplies\, however\, remained in American hands. \n  \nDonald Doliber was appointed as Marblehead’s Town Historian after 24 years as an award-winning history teacher\, who was selected as the “Outstanding American History Teacher in the United States” by the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.)\, followed by 17 years as an assistant high school principal. His ancestors arrived in Marblehead in the 1630s and were fishermen\, selectmen\, and merchants in the early community\, and later\, a few served in the Revolutionary War. \nThis event is presented in collaboration with the Marblehead 250 Committee and Abbot Public Library.  \nThis program is funded in part by a grant from the Marblehead Cultural Council\, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council\, a state agency. \n \n 
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/captain-james-mugford-an-early-revolutionary-war-martyr-in-1776/
LOCATION:Abbot Public Library\, 3 Brook Road\, Marblehead\, MA\, 01945\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/c206076bbbccba6dd95e9726fc8fd710-e1774453623868.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260611T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260611T200000
DTSTAMP:20260604T145945Z
CREATED:20260519T201111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260604T145945Z
UID:2077-1781202600-1781208000@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:"The Spirit of Privateering Prevails Here": Essex County's Revolutionary War at Sea
DESCRIPTION:We all learn about the land battles that began the American Revolution\, but less is known about the merchants and mariners who risked their livelihoods and lives to take the battle to the British on the high seas. This lecture will explore the world of the privateersmen and navy sailors who supplied one of Essex County’s major contributions to the Revolutionary War effort. On the home front\, we will examine how privateering changed the economy and daily life in North Shore port communities. \nEmily Murphy is the Curator for Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College\, Annapolis\, an MA in American Studies from Penn State\, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Boston University. Dr. Murphy has been working in public history for over 30 years\, including at the Maryland State Archives\, the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis\, MD\, Independence NHP\, and the Peabody Essex Museum. Her major publications for the National Park Service include the walking tour guide Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Salem\, and Merchants\, Clerks\, Citizens\, and Soldiers: A History of the Second Corps of Cadets\, for which she was awarded the Honorable Order of St. Barbara from the United States Field Artillery Association. Most recently\, she contributed the chapter “’ The Family of Derby Has a Taste in This Way’; The homes of Elias Hasket and Elizabeth Derby” in the book A Material World: Culture\, Society and the Life of Things in Early Anglo-America\, edited by George Boudreau and Margaretta Lovell\, and created an exhibit on Leslie’s Retreat for the Salem Armory Visitor Center. She is currently working on a set of exhibits about privateering that will be installed at Salem Maritime in the summer of 2026. \nSpace is limited; registration is strongly encouraged \n  \nThis program is part of the Conflict & Community: Salem\, Essex County\, and the American Revolution lecture series. This series is a partnership between Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park and highlights the unique role of Essex County communities during the American Revolution. CLICK HERE or more information about Conflict & Community programs. \nImage Credit: Privateer battle by Tom Freeman\, National Park Service Commissioned Art Collection.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/the-spirit-of-privateering-prevails-here-essex-countys-revolutionary-war-at-sea/
LOCATION:Salem Armory Visitor Center\, 2 New Liberty Street\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/HFC_SAMAart_TomFreeman_Privateers_01961.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T203000
DTSTAMP:20260613T175047Z
CREATED:20260325T155437Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260613T175047Z
UID:1935-1781722800-1781728200@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Captain Samuel Russell Trevett\, Artillery Commander at Bunker Hill 1775
DESCRIPTION:The Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17\, 1775\, up above Charlestown\, just north of Boston\, early in the war\, is famous for several reasons. The battle\, the Revolutionary War’s first major combat involving cannons\, was a loss for the Americans\, but the British suffered a high number of casualties. One of the American revolution’s charismatic young leaders\, Dr. Joseph Warren\, a doctor and a Son of Liberty of Boston\, was also a significant loss\, as he was mortally wounded there. But a little-known episode involves a Marblehead artillery commander\, Captain Samuel Russel Trevett\, who fought valiantly and was the only American to lead his cannon company into the thick of the fray\, defying the orders of his superior officers. He also dragged a field-piece down off the hill as the American forces retreated. It was the only American cannon that was not captured by the enemy. Trevett\, however\, was falsely accused of his superior officer’s failures. Though he was exonerated soon after\, he never rejoined the army\, but served instead as a Captain aboard privateer vessels through the war’s end in 1782. \nDonald Doliber was appointed as Marblehead’s Town Historian after 24 years as an award-winning history teacher\, who was selected as the “Outstanding American History Teacher in the United States” by the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.)\, followed by 17 years as an assistant high school principal. His ancestors arrived in Marblehead in the 1630s and were fishermen\, selectmen\, and merchants in the early community\, and later\, a few served in the Revolutionary War. \nThis event is presented in collaboration with the Marblehead 250 Committee and Abbot Public Library.  \nThis program is funded in part by a grant from the Marblehead Cultural Council\, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council\, a state agency.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/captain-samuel-russell-trevett-artillery-commander-at-bunker-hill-1776/
LOCATION:Abbot Public Library\, 3 Brook Road\, Marblehead\, MA\, 01945\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/June-17-B-Hill-w-cannons-North-Wind-Picture-Archives.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260620
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260622
DTSTAMP:20251117T161826Z
CREATED:20251117T161621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251117T161826Z
UID:1755-1781913600-1782086399@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:The Battle of Gloucester Reenactment
DESCRIPTION:The Battle of Gloucester\nOn a summer day in 1775\, the British warship HMS Falcon sailed into Gloucester Harbor in pursuit of two colonial schooners. What followed became one of the first naval engagements of the American Revolution—and an unlikely victory for the townspeople of Gloucester. Captain John Linzee of the fourteen-gun sloop HMS Falcon had been ordered to disrupt American supply lines supporting the siege of Boston. After seizing one schooner at sea\, he chased a second into Gloucester Harbor\, where it ran aground near Five Pound Island. When alarm bells rang from the town meeting house\, the local militia quickly assembled. Although lacking proper artillery\, they improvised defenses by mounting swivel guns on makeshift carriages. As British landing parties attempted to board the grounded schooner and burn the town\, Gloucester’s defenders opened fire from shore positions. \nThe Action\nThe engagement lasted from afternoon until 7 p.m. and included: \n\nBritish sailors and marines in whale boats attempting to seize the grounded schooner\nMusket fire from shore that killed three British sailors and wounded an officer\nThe Falcon firing approximately 300 cannon shots at the town (damaging the meeting house but causing no casualties)\nMultiple failed British attempts to burn Gloucester\, including one foiled when gunpowder exploded prematurely\nHand-to-hand combat as militiamen captured British landing parties\n\nThe Outcome\nGloucester’s militia achieved a stunning victory\, recapturing both schooners and taking 35 British sailors prisoner. Not a single townsperson was killed or wounded by the bombardment. The defeat humiliated Captain Linzee and demonstrated that determined colonists could stand against the Royal Navy. \nThis engagement later influenced Admiral Graves to authorize the burning of Falmouth (Portland\, Maine) in October 1775—an act that helped convince the Continental Congress to establish the Continental Navy. \nExperience the Battle\nJoin us on June 20th and 21st as living history reenactors bring this remarkable moment in history to life\, when fishermen and farmers became the defenders of their harbor and struck an early blow for American independence.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/the-battle-of-gloucester-reenactment/
LOCATION:Stage Fort Park\, 24 Hough Ave\, Gloucester\, MA\, 01930\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/552829291_794105896544426_3140318231648550374_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260626T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260626T140000
DTSTAMP:20260624T180637Z
CREATED:20260624T180609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T180637Z
UID:2155-1782478800-1782482400@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Flax: The Fabric of a Revolution with Dr. Kimberly Alexander
DESCRIPTION:Step into the Hale House for a special Historic Beverly program with Dr. Kimberly Alexander on flax\, linen\, and the vital role of textiles during the American Revolution.\n\nThis program will explore how flax was processed into linen and why homespun textiles became important symbols of independence\, resistance\, and political identity in Revolutionary-era America. Guests will learn about the connections between household labor\, material culture\, and the broader independence movement.\n\nThe program includes a hands-on flax processing and spinning demonstration with Reuben Downey.\n\n\nDr. Kimberly Alexander is on the faculty of the History Department at the University of New Hampshire\, where she is Director of Museum Studies and Senior Lecturer. Alexander was a James Hayes Research Fellow for 2023-2025\, awarded by the UNH Center for the Humanities for her Flax-to-Linen Project. Before coming the UNH\, she held curatorial positions at several New England museums\, including the MIT Museum\, the Peabody Essex Museum and Strawbery Banke. Her most recent books are Treasures Afoot: Shoe Stories from the Georgian Era (Johns Hopkins University Press\, 2018)\, which won an Honor Award from Historic New England in 2019\, and Fashioning the New England Family (Massachusetts Historical Society\, 2021).\n\n\n\n\nTreasures Afoot: Shoe Stories from the Georgian Era\n\nhttps://pwb02mw.press.jhu.edu/title/treasures-afoot\n\nFashioning the New England Family\n\nhttps://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5368
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/flax-the-fabric-of-a-revolution-with-dr-kimberly-alexander/
LOCATION:John Hale House\, 39 Hale Street\, Beverly\, MA\, 01915\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/06/2026-06-26_FlaxTheFabricofarevolution-1200x700-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Historic Beverly":MAILTO:info@historicbeverly.net
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260627T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260627T113000
DTSTAMP:20260624T180948Z
CREATED:20260624T180948Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T180948Z
UID:2159-1782554400-1782559800@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Reading Frederick Douglass Together at Hale Farm
DESCRIPTION:Historic Beverly invites the community to participate in our annual Reading Frederick Douglass Together program\, a powerful public reading of Frederick Douglass’s landmark July 5\, 1852 speech\, “What\, to the Slave\, is the Fourth of July?” \nAs part of this statewide initiative led by Mass Humanities\, community members volunteer to read portions of Douglass’s speech aloud\, reflecting on its enduring call for freedom\, justice\, and equality. This year marks Historic Beverly’s fifth Reading Frederick Douglass event and coincides with Beverly’s 400th anniversary celebration\, making this year’s gathering especially meaningful. \nWe are honored to welcome renowned Frederick Douglass historian and interpreter Nathan Richardson\, who brings Douglass’s words and presence to life through his acclaimed first-person interpretation. Richardson’s powerful performances have inspired audiences nationwide and create a deeply moving connection to one of America’s most important voices. \nFollowing the reading\, guests are invited to stay for a special concert performance by the David Eure Duo. Known for blending jazz\, improvisation\, and storytelling\, the ensemble will close the morning with a dynamic musical celebration of community\, culture\, and reflection. \nHistoric Beverly is currently seeking volunteer readers from across the community to participate in this year’s program. Whether you are a returning participant or attending for the first time\, all are welcome to take part in this shared reading experience. To volunteer email: education@historicbeverly.net \nHistoric Beverly extends sincere thanks to Mass Humanities and the Mass Cultural Council for their generous support through the Reading Frederick Douglass Together grant program\, which helps make this event possible. Additional support is provided by the North Shore MA NAACP and Beantrust Coffeebar. \nLearn more about Nathan Richardson at www.scpublishing.com\nLearn more about David Eure at www.necmusic.edu/faculty/david-eure/
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/reading-frederick-douglass-together-at-hale-farm/
LOCATION:John Hale House\, 39 Hale Street\, Beverly\, MA\, 01915\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/06/2026-07-27_ReadingFredDouglass_16.9_-Updated-1200x700-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Historic Beverly":MAILTO:info@historicbeverly.net
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260702T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260702T110000
DTSTAMP:20260624T195011Z
CREATED:20260624T195011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T195011Z
UID:2180-1782986400-1782990000@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Ramble Through the Revolution: Old Hill Burying Ground
DESCRIPTION:Meet Revolutionary heroes\, merchants\, captains\, and curious characters among Old Hill’s remarkable stones and family tombs. \nWander through Newburyport’s historic 1730 Old Hill Burying Ground with noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth\, a 12th-generation Newburyport native. Meet Revolutionary War heroes\, captains and merchants of Old Newbury\, and even a “cool\, cool cat” in a stroll around this hilly graveyard. From some of the most ornate early tombstone decorations in New England to the mausoleums of Newburyport’s leading families\, Old Hill Burying Ground looks down on the city from its perch above Bartlet Mall.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/ramble-through-the-revolution-old-hill-burying-ground/
LOCATION:Old Hill Burying Ground\, Old Hill Burying Ground 25 Greenleaf Street\, Newburyport\, MA\, 01950\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/06/image-3.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260703T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260703T150000
DTSTAMP:20260624T145524Z
CREATED:20260624T145430Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T145524Z
UID:2127-1783087200-1783090800@essexheritage.org
SUMMARY:Black Soldier’s of the Revolution
DESCRIPTION:For Historic Beverly’s July First Friday program\, and in recognition of this year’s Fourth of July celebrations\, this talk explores the stories of Black soldiers from Beverly during the American Revolution through research conducted using Historic Beverly’s archival collections and ongoing historical research efforts. \nParticipants will learn about the lives and military service of Black men connected to Beverly\, including enslaved individuals who fought during the Revolution in pursuit of freedom. Drawing from archival documents\, military records\, and local history\, the program highlights the importance of telling a fuller and more inclusive history of the Revolutionary era and the people who shaped it. \nThe presentation also examines how these stories have historically been overlooked and why preserving and sharing them remains an important part of understanding Beverly’s past. \nImage credit: Jean Baptiste Antoine de Verger “Soldiers in Uniform\,” Public Domain.
URL:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/event/black-soldiers-of-the-revolution/
LOCATION:John Cabot House\, 117 Cabot Street\, Beverly\, 01915\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexheritage.org/rev250/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/06/First-Friday-Black-Soldiers-of-the-Rev-1200x700-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Historic Beverly":MAILTO:info@historicbeverly.net
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR