Oliver Shed's family and friends had always known that he served in the Revolutionary War. Years after he died his widow applied for a pension for the time he served his country. And he served well during his 18 months service to the United States of America. We first know about his service because of the pension application. He must have felt no need for a pension from the government of this great nation, but his widow apparently disagreed. Nevertheless, there is no record that the pension was ever granted. However, it is tradition in the Shed family that Oliver did serve. And the pension application states that he was at Lexington Green on April 19, 1775, the day of the "Shot Heard Around the World." Oliver was my 1st Cousin, 8 times removed. He was born 11 February, 1739, and he died in 1791.
But Oliver wasn't the first of his family to be famous. His father, Jonathan Shed (1690-1746) was also mentioned in the pension application, and I'm sure he was well known in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. In his day the Indians were a threat to the settlers of New England, and there is no doubt that Jonathan would have been involved in this.
Oliver's grandfather, Samuel Shed (1660-1723), my 8th Great Grandfather, was the oldest son of Daniel Shed, the Immigrant Ancestor of the Shed family (1620-1708). Samuel was famous for having served as a Petit Juror to the Supreme Judicial Court at Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was there that he met and served on the jury with William Calder. William is famous as the highest ranking American military officer at the Battle of Bunker Hill, although he was killed there while serving his country. William was also Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge at the time he died.
These are the kind of people our ancestors associated with during their lives. And a more proud and worthy people would be very difficult to find. But back to cousin Oliver, the Minuteman. You see, Oliver survived at the battle of Lexington. If we do a little research we find that about 70 men, from teenagers to Geriatrics, assembled at Lexington on that fateful day. Oliver was 35 years old at the time. Some of the men assembled had muskets and powder, but no shot. Others had shot and no muskets. All were ordered to re-supply when they first met at 3AM, a few hours after Paul Revere made his famous ride. They didn't know at the time that there was an entire Regiment of British Regulars on the March, heading for Lexington. But how could they? The British had captured their scouts. But eventually, single riders came into town and announced that the Regulars were on their way.
Just as the Redcoats and dawn arrived, the Minutemen lined up in two rows on Lexington Green. They were told by Captain Parker "Do not fire on them unless they fire first, but if they want a war, let it begin here." He also told them "Do not run or you will be shot." The first order wasn't hard to follow, but many of the men had a hard time with the second. As soon as the Regulars arrived, many of the Minutemen drifted away. British Major Pitcairn arrived on horseback and ordered, "Lay down your arms, you damned Rebels!” A second mounted officer said, "Disperse ye Rebels!". A third cried out, “Damn them, we will have them!"At that point the British Soldiers formed 3 lines, and made ready for the battle. Imagine how the Minutemen felt at that point in time.
Somewhere in all of the confusion an unknown musket was fired. The trained Redcoats fired their first volley, which went high. However, most of the colonists began to disperse in earnest. Many had a very deep need to change their wardrobe and those who didn't were running as fast as they ever had. Even so, a few brave or maybe already disembodied souls stood their ground. Most would not see tomorrow. Those few Minutemen discharged their arms. Only one Regular had his thigh nicked and Pitcairn's Horse was creased. After this discharge almost every farmer/soldier turned to run. One, Jonas Parker, a Veteran of the French and Indian War and the Captain's Uncle, knelt calmly to reload his musket. Before the ball was rammed halfway home, he fell and was no more.
Seventy brave men turned out on that great green. Fifty-two fled unhurt. Ten more were wounded. Eight brave and yet free men while they breathed their last lay on the Lexington common, never to be counted as common men again. We know that Oliver was not among the 8, but we don't know his actions that day. Since he served for many months after the Battle of Lexington, we can assume that he served honorably and returned home to his family.
We can all be proud of our ancestors, many of whom have served their country during the past two and a half centuries in one way or another. Had it not been for their heartfelt need for freedom, courage to fight for it, and the strength to continue to the end, we would not have the many gifts this country provides to us. We must always remember, freedom is not free. And I say, "Thank You, Oliver Shed."
"At sunrise on the Lexington Green the first shots exact a down payment in blood for the priceless gift of freedom's ring and the American Revolution began in earnest."
