PAUL REVERE
"Listen my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul
Revere "
These opening lines of Longfellow's poem, and the thrilling story which follows,
have fascinated us for many years. History has recorded the details of the
famous ride, and the incidents connected with it; but Masons know little
about Paul Revere that arouses enthusiasm. It is my purpose tonight to
bring out the important facts regarding him and to show the setting which
brings our patriot brother closer to us.
The forefathers of Paul Revere were Huguenots, that brave sect of French Protestants
who for many years defied Rome and the King of France. The Huguenots
maintained their identity and churches in spite of edicts and persecutions.
In 1540, six of their villages were completely destroyed and the
inhabitants driven out, ravaged and murdered at the behest of the King. On
August 24, 1572, the Huguenots were the victims of one of the most
despicable massacres that ever took place - the Massacre of St. Bartholomew
- in which more than six thousand of them were sought out in Paris and
murdered in a human hunt lasting three days. The waters of the seine ran
red with blood; the bodies of the victims were so numerous that the current
was unable to carry them away; and for many miles the banks of the river
were covered with their remains. When the news of the massacre reached Rome
a three day's celebration was ordered by the ecclesiastical authorities.
King Charles of France, who, together with his mother, had been influenced
by Church leaders to order the massacre, was congratulated on the service
thus performed for the Holy Roman Church.
The persecutions to which the Huguenots were subjected caused more than four
hundred thousand French to leave the country and settle elsewhere. Among
those who fled was Simon de Revoire, who moved to the Island of Guernsey in
the English Channel. Simon's brother Isaac, being a man with a large
family, stayed on in a remote part of France, later sending one of his
sons, Apollo de Revoire, to his Uncle Simon, at the age of thirteen. After
a time his uncle sent the Nephew to Boston, where he was apprenticed to a
Goldsmith. Here he learned the secrets of the trade, and after a visit to
Guernsey, he returned to America with the intention of making this country
his home. His first step was to change his name to ne more easily
pronounced by his english speaking neighbors, and he was henceforth known
as Mr. Paul Revere.
Establishing himself in business as a gold and silversmith, Revere married Miss
Deborah Hitchborn in 1729. Twelve children were born of this union. The
Paul Revere we are discussing tonight was the third of these, born January
8, 1735.
We learn that Revere received his education at the famous old "North Grammar
School" kept by Master John Tileson, who taught school in Boston for
eighty years. He was especially famed for his skill in penmanship. Doubtless
we have here the foundation for one of Revere's later activities - engraved
lettering.
Young Paul Revere followed in his father's footsteps as a Gold and Silversmith.
Specimens of his work are still treasured to this day in some old New
England families, and give ample evidence of his artistic skill. Inspired
by long experience in embellishing the articles manufactured by him, Revere
undertook the art of engraving on copper, with marked success. Books of the
17th and 18th centuries show that this was a popular form of illustrating.
Many of Revere's pictures were political caricatures and cartoons; and
among the best of his works is an engraving depicting the Boston Massacre,
which was extensively copied in Europe. He also designed bookplates, and in
later years furnished the engravings from which Masonic certificates were
made.
The outbreak of the French and Indian Wars in 1756 prompted him to enlist in
the British Colonial service. Commissioned a second lieutenant of artillery
by Governor Sterling, he participated in the expedition against Crown Point
under the command of General John Winslow. Here he received the military
training which enabled him to give excellent service in later years as
major, lieutenant- colonel, and colonel of artillery in the armed forces of
Massachusetts.
Upon his return from military service, Revere was married in 1757 to Miss Sarah
Orne of Boston. Seven children were born of this union. After sixteen years
of wedded life, the faithful wife died, leaving Revere a widower at 38 with
a large family on his hands, a business to look after and political events
engrossing his attention. To quote Revere, he found his household "In
sore need of a Mother," and within a short time after the death of his
first wife and infant child, he married Miss Rachel Walker, ten years his
junior. Eight children were added to the six of his first marriage.
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