A Little-Known Chapter from April 19, 1775 Rediscovered
By the Concord Historical Commission
Do you have a favorite book, one that you've read so many times you know almost by heart? What if there was a chapter missing from that book -- from right in the middle of the narrative? Maybe you couldn't tell it was missing, but once rediscovered, wouldn't it be exciting? Both familiar and new, it would round out the story you already know and love.
The history of the Amos Wood House at 631 Main Street in Concord is like that missing chapter from a beloved book, now rediscovered. It provides a fascinating part of the story of April 19, 1775 and the Concord Fight. It has been right under our noses all along, but known to only a few. This house had British solders searching it, brave women holding them off, bold trickery on the part of the Colonials, and... well, just read on here for more of the story.
The house was constructed in 1763 by Amos Wood, but parts of the house may be much older (see recent photo at right). It was raised upon the occasion of the marriage of Amos Wood and Dorothy Dakin in 1763. The farm of which this property was originally a part appears to have come down from the holdings of one of Concord's original English settlers, William Wood (1582 to 1671), or from his son, Michael Wood.
It is possible that a room in the rear wing of 631 Main Street remains from a house that Michael Wood lived in for a time (earlier than 1674, shown at right). The Amos Wood House is typical to the large-farmhouse style that was applied to houses built west of Boston in the 18th century. This house dates to the construction of many of the houses in the existing Main Street Historic District.
This house is said to have been framed on the same day as Amos's brother Emphairm Wood's house at #41 Wood Street. There have been some later additions to 631 Main Street, the largest being a front veranda that was probably added in the 1890's. Despite this porch, the house retains many period details both inside and out.
Amos, his wife Dorothy, and his brother Ephraim, all played important roles on April 19, 1775. Amos was a sergeant in the Minuteman Company, and when the British swarmed
into Concord they searched his house. Dorothy protected a locked roomfull of military supplies until the soldiers heard the shots fired at the North Bridge. The soldiers then fled towards the bridge. This story is documented in the Survey of Historical and Architectural Resources, Concord, Massachusetts by the Concord Historical Commission.
Some versions of this story placed muskets under the skirts of an elderly woman resting "sick" in bed. Others say it was a younger woman who claimed to be in her "monthly" time. Both of these stories coincide in that the British soldiers immediately withdrew from the woman's bed chamber, judging it unseemly to bother her at such an inconvenient time.
The house at 631 Main Street will be coming before Concord's Town Meeting this April to be added to the Main Street Local Historic District, at the present owners' request. They feel that the protection it would enjoy under the Historic District Commission's guidance is important to its future well-being.
The Historical Commission recommends that this house be placed in the Main Street Historic District because:
The house is historically and architecturally significant to Concord's early history.
It fits well into the narrative told by those homes currently in the Main Street Historic District.
It was constructed as part of a family "compound" of houses, others of which are in the district, as documented on an 1852 map of Concord showing this house and the Ephriam Wood House across the road.
This action preserves the historic streetscape of the western portion of the Main Street District.
Even more affirming is that the Historic District Commissions Guidelines for administration of the Main Street Historic District describe that "[it] comprises the early commercial center that grew up around the Mill Dam and early homes associated with Concord settlers once searched by British troops."
We feel that this house would fit well into this district. The Concord Historical Commission will be seeking the approval of voters at Town Meeting in April to add this house to the Main Street Historic District.
Art Credits: Page designed by Windfall. Archival photo of the Ephirrm Wood House courtesy of The Special Collections of the Concord Free Public Library. Other photos courtesy of Valarie Kinkade, Concord Historical Commission.
