Kim, Yes, Paul Brooks (1909-1998) was a Lincoln resident of great accomplishment:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Brooks_(writer) His several books are available at the Lincoln Library, including Trial by Fire, which is 58 pages long and published by Lincoln’s Bicentennial Commission in 1975. In the first dozen pages of Trail by Fire, Paul Brooks was taken in by the hoax of the supposed John Howe, a British spy alleged to have made contact with Tories in Lincoln. But then, it was a well-contrived hoax. Otherwise, Trial by Fire stands the test of time and later scholarship. Don Hafner The Lincoln Historical Society > On Jan 1, 2025, at 7:27 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 > <mailto: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 >> lincolnhistoricalsociety.org >> >> >> <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lincolnhistoricalsociety.org/Pages/publications.htm&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw0chdsewQZB_8gdWP8CVyP3>Publications >> >> <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lincolnhistoricalsociety.org/Pages/publications.htm&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw0chdsewQZB_8gdWP8CVyP3> >> lincolnhistoricalsociety.org >> <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lincolnhistoricalsociety.org/Pages/publications.htm&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw0chdsewQZB_8gdWP8CVyP3> >> >> <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lincolnhistoricalsociety.org/Pages/publications.htm&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw0chdsewQZB_8gdWP8CVyP3> >> 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 >>> <mailto: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 >>> <mailto:lincoln-boun...@lincolntalk.org>> on behalf of Lincoln Historical >>> Society <presid...@lincolnhistoricalsociety.org >>> <mailto:presid...@lincolnhistoricalsociety.org>> >>> Sent: Wednesday, January 1, 2025 4:12 PM >>> To: LincolnTalk <Lincoln@lincolntalk.org <mailto: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 >>> <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >>> <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw1gWXpz7VtP53Dg5ViKm3eT>. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >>> <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw3r9Al-z2lr9Pc0vfCuCM3->. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org >> <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >> <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw1gWXpz7VtP53Dg5ViKm3eT>. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >> <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw3r9Al-z2lr9Pc0vfCuCM3->. >> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at > https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw1gWXpz7VtP53Dg5ViKm3eT. > Change your subscription settings at > https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln&source=gmail-imap&ust=1736382480000000&usg=AOvVaw3r9Al-z2lr9Pc0vfCuCM3-. >
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