Paul Revere (1735 - 1818)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Family 1.2 Master Artisan 1.3 Patriot 1.4 The Midnight Ride 1.5 Legacy 2 Research Notes 3 Sources

Biography

Like the Boston Massacre or Washington crossing the Delaware, the midnight ride of the Boston silversmith and print-maker Paul Revere has become one of the most enduring and misrepresented images of the American Revolution.

Family

Paul Revere was born near Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Province, shortly before December 21, 1734 (his baptism date: usually within 24 hours of birth), the son of Apollos Rivoire, a French Huguenot immigrant, and Deborah Hitchbourn, daughter of an affluent merchant family of English origins, who owned one of Boston's wharfs.^{[1][2][3][4] [5][6]}

His French-born father, Apollos Rivoire, had Anglicized his name to "Paul Revere" a few years after immigrating to Boston in 1716. He was a silver and goldsmith and the head of a large household.^[6][1] Paul Revere Jr. was the third of 12 children, and his parents' eldest surviving son.^[6]

Paul Revere Jr. was educated at the North Writing School in Boston.^[6] He apprenticed with his father to learn the art of gold and silversmithing.^[6] Paul's father died when he was just 19, leaving him as the family's primary source of income.^[6]

In 1756, during the French & Indian War, Paul volunteered to fight the French at Lake George, New York, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the colonial artillery.^[6]

On August 17, 1757, Paul Revere, age 27, married Sarah Orne at Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts.^[2][7][1] Together, they had eight children.

Soon after Sarah's death, Paul married Rachel Walker, on 23 September 1773 at Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay.^[2][8] They would have eight children together.^[6]

Master Artisan

Paul was a master silversmith, working in both gold and silver, but not pewter.^[6][1][9]He practiced his art for over 40 years in Boston.^[6] His work was as valued during his lifetime as it is today, and he was the mentor to many apprentices.^[6]

In addition to his silversmith work, he created bookplates for printing and worked as a dentist for a few years.^[6][1][9] Contrary to popular lore, he did not produce dentures for George Washington.^[6] One of Revere's most notable prints is his engraving of the Boston Massacre.^[1]

In addition to his smithing, Paul ran a hardware store after the war.^[6] In 1788, he opened a foundry as well, which would go on to produce brass fittings for the USS Constitution.^[6] The foundry produced a bell which still rings in Boston's Kings Chapel.^[6]

Paul served as Suffolk County Coroner during the 1790s.^[6] He was President of Boston's Board of Health in 1799 and 1800.^[6]

In 1801, Revere opened one of the first copper rolling mills in the country.^[6][9][1] His copper covered the hull of the USS Constitution as well as the Massachusetts State House.^[6] One of the most noted legacies of Paul's copper work is with the Revere Copper and Brass copper bottomed cookware, which would be emulated and called "Revere ware". Revereware is still produced today, although now by a different company.^[6]

Patriot

Paul Revere was a very active community member, contributing to numerous societies and political roles. As a member of the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew, he associated with activists like James Otis and Dr. Joseph Warren.^[6] Paul was instrumental in gathering intelligence before the Revolution officially began by "watching the Movements of British Soldiers," as he remembered in an account of his ride.^[6] Paul was also a courier for the Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, riding express to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.^[6] He spread the word of the Boston Tea Party to New York and Philadelphia.^[6]

Paul Revere Jr. was a Freemason from 1760 to 1809 and held several offices in St. Andrew's and the Rising States Lodges as well as the Massachusetts Grand Lodge.^[6] He was a member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association, serving as the association's first president.^[6] It was founded in 1794 as an organization of artisans and small businessmen who worked to improve work conditions and aid members in "distressed" circumstances.^[6]

From Masonic Genealogy, Legality of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge:^[10]

From New England Freemason, Vol. I, No. 10, October 5874,^[11] Page 465:

At a Convention of Delegates from the following Lodges of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, held at at Free Masons Hall in Charlestown, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on Thursday, 26 May, 5785.^[12]

PRESENT.

Rising States Lodge.

Rt. Worsh. Paul Revere.

Rt. Worsh. Tho. Edwards.

Jonathan Stoddard.

John Boit.

Norton Brailsford.

The Midnight Ride

At around ten o'clock on the 18th of April 1775, Paul would set off from Boston to carry news of the British advance toward Lexington, Massachusetts to Samuel Adams and John Hancock, having been asked by his friend, the political activist and fellow Mason Dr. Joseph Warren.^[6][13] Paul was accompanied by William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott.^[6][13] They were detained by British troops just outside Lexington but escaped, although Paul was left without a horse and had to continue toward Concord on foot.^[6]

Paul told the story many ways throughout his lifetime, but it was not until 1861 and the publication of William Wordsworth Longfellow's commemorative poem in the Atlantic Monthly, that his reputation expanded beyond local legend.^[6]That poem made him a figure of lasting national prominence, a symbol of all things American, intrepid, and fleet.^[6]

Legacy

Revere died of natural causes on May 10, 1818 at the age of 83, leaving five children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.^[2][6] The son of an immigrant artisan, not born to wealth or inheritance, Revere died a modestly well-to-do businessman and a popular local figure of some note, as well as maintaining his health into old age.^[6]Paul Revere is buried in Boston's Granary Burying Ground.^[6][14]

An obituary in the Boston Intelligence noted, "seldom has the tomb closed upon a life so honorable and useful".^[6][2] It seems a rather fitting end to an incredible life.

Paul has descendants listed in Daughters of the American Revolution.^[15]

Research Notes

There are sources for a third marriage to Sally Edwards, July 25, 1782 at Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, but this was likely a different Paul, considering Paul remained married to Rachel until her death in 1813.^[16][6]

Son Paul Revere Revere Jr is entered as having married Sally Edwards, but no sources are supplied.

DAR lists him as a Major/Lieutenant Colonel in Col. Josiah Whitney's regiment. ^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Heritage Project Paul Revere
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} American Revolution.org
3. ↑ Records of the "New Brick" Congregational Church in Boston, December 21 1734 "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," index, FamilySearch, Paul Revere, 21 Dec 1734; citing Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, ; FHL microfilm 0164691, 0164692. This is according to the Julian calendar, another date that can be cited is from the Gregorian calendar which has 11 days added to the Julian calendar, which will give a date of January 1, 1735. Both dates are historically correct.
4. ↑ Citing the Revere Family Bible, at Mass. Historical Society, Nielsen, Donald M. "The Revere Family" The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. pp 294-5. American Ancestors (subscription).
5. ↑ Wyman, Thomas. "New Brick Church, Boston. List of Persons connected therewith from 1722 2:0 1775. Compiled from the Records." New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 19 (1865) p 235; surname Revere Internet Archive
6. ↑ ^{6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28 6.29 6.30 6.31 6.32 6.33 6.34 6.35 6.36 6.37} Paul Revere Biography, paulreverehouse.org, accessed 29 June 2017
7. ↑ August 17, 1757 "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910," index, FamilySearch, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne; citing reference; FHL microfilm 0164691, 0164692.
8. ↑ September 23, 1773 "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910," index, FamilySearch, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker, 23 Sep 1773; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 0896885 IT 2. But another record here October 11, 1773 "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910," index, FamilySearch, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker; citing reference 413-414; FHL microfilm 818093.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} American Antiquarian Society The Illustrated Inventory of Paul Revere's works
10. ↑ Masonic Genealogy: Legality of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge
11. ↑ Year of Light; 1874 AD.
12. ↑ Year of Light; 1785 AD.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Massachusetts Historical Society A letter written to Jeremy Belknap by Paul Revere, circa 1798 of The Midnight Ride. All 8 pages can be viewed here.
14. ↑ FindAGrave Memorial for Paul Revere
15. ↑ DAR Genealogical Research System. REVERE, PAUL SR
16. ↑ July 25, 1782"Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910," index, FamilySearch, Paul Revere and Sally Edwards, 25 Jul 1782; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 0896885 IT 2.
17. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War

• Massachusetts Freemasons Paul Revere Lodge A.F. & A.M.
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/), "Record of Paul Revere", Ancestor # A095546.
• Drake, Francis Samuel. Tea Leaves, Being a collection of letters and documents relating to the shipment of tea to the American colonies in the year 1773, by the East India Tea Company (A. O. Crane, Boston, 1884) Page 153-4. He died at his residence on Bennet Street.
• Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society (1798) Vol. 5, Page 106-12.
• Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Wright & Potter Printing Co., Boston, 1896); Vol. 13, p. 121-2

See also:

• "Paul Revere" Boston Tea Party Participant Biographies (Original Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2023. (subscription required)