* Is this something one can find at our library?* There seems to be at least one at the library:
https://catalog.minlib.net/Record/.b10771748 There is also a used one available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Trial-fire-Lincoln-Massachusetts-Independence/dp/B0006CLHVI On Wed, Jan 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM Kim Jalet <jale...@gmail.com> wrote: > Since our family lives in the home of Eleazer Brooks, I'd love to know > how I could read a copy of *Trial by Fire. *Is this something one can > find at our library? > > Thank you, Kim > > On Wed, Jan 1, 2025 at 5:12 PM Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Gary, >> Thanks for the plug! >> The Lincoln Historical Society (LHS) should consider a re-issue. >> Brooks also has a publication with interesting town history-*a View from >> Lincoln Hill*-still available through the LIncoln Historical Society. >> Publications <http://lincolnhistoricalsociety.org/Pages/publications.htm> >> lincolnhistoricalsociety.org >> <http://lincolnhistoricalsociety.org/Pages/publications.htm> >> <http://lincolnhistoricalsociety.org/Pages/publications.htm> >> <http://lincolnhistoricalsociety.org/Pages/publications.htm> >> Stay tuned for upcoming LHS events/programs as we march toward the >> celebration of the 250th-April 19. >> Much to talk/write/debate about. >> >> Huzzah! >> >> Sara Mattes, President >> Lincln Historical Society >> >> >> On Jan 1, 2025, at 4:48 PM, Gary Taylor <gatlinc...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Donald, >> Thanks for this informative post. It seems worth mentioning a short and >> informative book by Paul Brooks, "Trial by Fire, Lincoln Massachusetts and >> the War of Independence" published for the Bicentennial Commission in >> 1975. It addresses Lincoln's progression from (perhaps reluctant) concern >> to deep involvement in resisting British governance. It highlights the >> role of Eleazer Brooks, a story inspiring as an example of the role a >> principled, but common person, can achieve when committed to >> self-governance. It is only 55 pages long, and worth a quick read. >> Best, >> Gary Taylor >> 2 Beaver Pond Road >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* Lincoln <lincoln-boun...@lincolntalk.org> on behalf of Lincoln >> Historical Society <presid...@lincolnhistoricalsociety.org> >> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 1, 2025 4:12 PM >> *To:* LincolnTalk <Lincoln@lincolntalk.org> >> *Subject:* [LincolnTalk] "Did You Know ...?" A Bit of Lincoln's History >> from the Historical Society >> >> >> *The Lincoln Historical Society* >> >> *“Did You Know … ?” That in December 1773, Lincoln’s reaction to the >> Dumping of the Tea into Boston harbor was rather tepid?* >> >> The town of Lincoln had no voice in the dumping of the tea into Boston >> harbor on December 16, 1773, and there is no record that anyone from >> Lincoln boarded the ships, broke open the tea chests, and scattered the >> contents to the tides. In today’s terms, the forty-two tons of tea were >> worth almost $2 million. >> >> Boston’s Committee of Correspondence sought solidarity from other towns, >> for approval of what had been done and pledges not to purchase or consume >> any British tea until the tax was repealed. >> >> Lincoln took up the matter at a town meeting on December 27, 1773. >> Eleazer Brooks, a member of the town’s Committee of Correspondence, had >> drafted a statement, for the town’s approval, to be sent to Boston. The >> rhetoric of Brooks’ draft was fiery enough in some passages: >> >> “We trust we have courage and resolution sufficient to encounter all the >> horrors of war in the defense of those rights and privileges, civil and >> religious, which we esteem more valuable than our lives, and we do hereby >> assure not only the town of Boston but the world that whenever we shall >> have a clear call from heaven, we are ready to join with our brethren to >> face the sword, the bayonet, or the mouth of a cannon rather than to be the >> slave dupes & fools of any of our own species not distinguished from >> ourselves except in a disposition to enslave us.” >> >> Town meeting judged that Brooks’ vivid prose about swords, bayonets, >> cannon, slaves, dupes, and fools was a bit over the top. That was changed >> to “we are ready to join with our brethren to face the most formidable >> forces rather than tamely surrender up our rights and privileges …” >> >> In other notable ways, the version adopted by town meeting was more >> restrained than Brooks’ draft. There was, for instance, the matter of the >> destroyed tea. Did Lincoln’s town meeting approve such destruction of >> private property? Apparently not, for it deleted specific mention of the >> dumping of the tea from Brooks’ draft and left in place this statement: >> >> “… we cannot therefore but commend the spirited behavior of the town of >> Boston in endeavoring to prevent the sale of the East India Company’s teas >> by endeavoring to persuade the consigners to resign their office or any >> other lawful means.” >> >> “Or any other lawful means.” The destruction of the tea was, of course, >> anything but “lawful means.” >> And then there was the matter of the pledge not to buy or consume British >> tea. At the town meeting, a document was laid upon a table for signatures >> by those pledging their support publicly. Fifty-one men in town signed the >> pledge (and one woman—a story for another time). An impressive number, but >> far short of the eighty-seven men who met the property qualification to >> vote in town meeting. So were the others opposed to the pledge? Or >> reluctant to have their signatures on a public document? Or did they >> simply not bother to attend the town meeting, despite notice that a vote >> would be taken on the matter? Whatever the reason, Lincoln’s tempest over >> tea seemed rather tepid. >> >> >> Donald L. Hafner >> The Lincoln Historical Society >> December 2024 >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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