By D. Michael Ryan, Historian for the Concord Minute Men, a volunteer 18th Century history interpreter for the National Park Service and Associate Dean of Students at Boston College.

Born of the village blacksmith Benjamin and Lydia Minott in 1710, James Barrett traced family to participants in the King Philip's Wars. In marrying Rebecca Hubbard, he would become related to Concord founder Rev. Peter Bulkeley and raise a family of five sons and four daughters.

Barrett earned a living as both a farmer and miller but quickly entered the military and political arenas for the benefit of Concord. During the so-called French and Indian War, he served as a militia captain at Oswego, NY, Ft. Ticonderoga and Crown Point. A person of unusual courage, Barrett was recognized for his strong and forceful presence. In December 1757, he and other military leaders supported the formation of a Picket or Provincial Guard to defend against French and Indian attacks. The concept would be adopted in later years as minute man companies.

On Easter Sunday, 16 April 1775, Barrett received warning that British regulars were planning to march on Concord to destroy its weapons and supplies in addition to making him a prisoner for his influence in the cause of liberty. For several days he supervised the relocation and hiding of arms and materials away from and within Concord. Meanwhile, he also promulgated plans for his minute and militia units in anticipation of the British regulars' invasion of his town. He wisely chose to hold the militia back, withdraw from harm even to the detriment of stores, avoid conflict, let the British provoke, allow time for his forces to increase and defend not attack.

At about 7 AM on Wednesday, April 19th, in the face of overwhelming odds, Col. Barrett withdrew his forces (some 200 men mostly from Concord and Lincoln) across North Bridge to the hills near Buttrick's farm. He cautioned his men not to be careless or needlessly expose themselves, to be cool but firm, not to fire unless the enemy fired first and asked his soldiers to act as considerate, judicious men and patriots. As his force increased to some 400, he moved closer to the Bridge and upon seeing smoke arise from town, ordered Maj. John Buttrick to march in its defense. Barrett rode along the line exhorting his men not to fire first but fire fast if attacked. He watched the British volley at the column and then his men return fire, routing the enemy.

Sources: "Know These Concordians" by Dana McLean Greeley 1975 "Concord: Climate for Freedom" by Ruth R. Wheeler 1967 "Old Houses of Concord" by Mary R. Fenn 1974 "Paul Revere's Ride" by David Hackett Fischer 1994 "A History of the Concord Fight" by Rev. Ezra Ripley 1827 "The Minute Men" by Gen. John R. Galvin 1989

Barrett would be uneasy about the siege of Boston and supported the Continental Congress appointing a commander-in-chief over all military forces for the conflict ahead. In the Autumn of 1776, he would argue against the House of Representatives drafting a state constitution and would sit on a committee (as its oldest member at 66) which would elect to have a representative body of the citizens not legislators prepare a constitution. Barrett's sage advice was still sought and followed.

Art: Culprit Fey