Don’t Believe These American Revolution Myths

Brush up on ye olde trivia (and impress your friends) with these five factoids that dispel lingering legends.

The Lore: The USS Hannah was the first United States Navy vessel.

The Lesson: Technically, the Hannah can’t make that claim because there was no United States nor a U.S. Navy at the time of the American Revolution. However, the Beverly-built schooner saw plenty of action—it was the first armed ship, captured Britain’s HMS Unity, and even had a mutiny—all before her name was changed to Lynch, and she sailed off to France.

The Lore: The first round discharged during the Revolution was the “shot heard ‘round the world” at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775.

The Lesson: Turns out a shot was fired on August 24, 1774, at the Danvers home of Loyalist Robert “King” Hooper, who lent his digs to British Governor Thomas Gage. Dismissed by historians as Gage’s summer vacation, it was more of an 87-day occupation intended to quell provincial dissent.

The Lore: Most of the American Revolutionary War soldiers who were lost died in battle.

The Lesson: It’s estimated that George Washington lost more troops to smallpox than combat, resulting in the Continental Army’s first immunization policy. Bonus Round: An early booster of inoculation was Cotton Mather, the minister and citizen scientist of Salem witch trials fame.

The Lore: The British planned to storm Ipswich, Massachusetts, on April 21, 1775.

The Lesson: A rumor spread like wildfire that two British ships were en route to burn down Ipswich. When Captain Jonathan Burnham returned after an all-night march, he found folks in a panic with many already fled, in what was titled “The Ipswich Fright” by writer John Greenleaf Whittier.

The Lore: Lynn outfitted Continental Army soldiers with waistcoats.

The Lesson: It was boots that were made in Lynn, already on its way to becoming the “shoe capital of the world.” Pride in this legacy is evident in the city seal featuring a black boot at the top.

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This blog is an excerpt from our digital guide “250 Ways to Explore, Discover, and Celebrate North of Boston”. To view the full guide, click here.