tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post4796573119170601347..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Hunting for Hezekiah WymanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-14471080944467643032017-02-21T22:56:55.314-05:002017-02-21T22:56:55.314-05:00In a historical investigation, we have to collect ...In a historical investigation, we have to collect evidence to support a story. "It could have happened" or "No one can prove it didn't happen" isn't enough. In this case, there's strong evidence of multiple Hezekiah Wymans serving in the militia companies of their towns in 1775. But there's no strong evidence of Hezekiah Wyman shooting down British soldiers from a white horse; that legend goes back only to a fictional story in a literary magazine. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-13666960161818153712017-02-21T11:47:59.003-05:002017-02-21T11:47:59.003-05:00According to the DAR, Hezekiah Wyman served in the...According to the DAR, Hezekiah Wyman served in the Revolutionary war in Capt. Samuel Belknap/1st. Woburn Company, Col. Eleazer Brooks, 2nd. Middlesex Regiment. <br /><br />DAR A129083 so perhaps Hezekiah did participate in the action at Lexington and Concord. Just because some saw an opportunity to write a story, embellish the facts doesn't mean Hezekiah wasn't there riding his white mare!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11499482689009625892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-53814971649102069092010-06-01T11:41:37.794-05:002010-06-01T11:41:37.794-05:00Or, more importantly, how it strips the event of t...Or, more importantly, how it strips the event of the myths surrounding it. <br /><br />The Lexington Alarm is so shrouded by lore and legends that whole towns, families and ethnic/political groups have their sense of self wrapped up in what their ancestors supposedly did.<br /><br />It's pretty deflating for them to find out, for example, that not only was great grandpa not the "general" in charge of the troops at the North Bridge, but, actually a Loyalist. (I've seen this happen...) <br /><br />The truth is usually a lot more prosaic, but sometimes more heroic in its own right, especially when we know better the context.Roger Fullernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-21578929322490894132010-05-29T09:21:32.933-05:002010-05-29T09:21:32.933-05:00What I really love about episodes like this one is...What I really love about episodes like this one is just how much it transforms the myth of an event in US history into something real--little things like this really transforms it. Excellent.pilgrimchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13808106043964544413noreply@blogger.com