News Release

Willard Buttrick's Powder Horn comes home

WIllard Buttrick's powder horn comes home

NPS/ P.Lupsiewicz

News Release Date: October 15, 2018

Contact: Phil Lupsiewicz, 978-318-7833

In 1775 Massachusetts, growing tensions with the mother country, patriot and minuteman, Willard Buttrick, like most minute and militia men were required to carry several accouterments to be prepared to meet a threat, in this case, the threat from the British Army, for defense of rights and liberties. On the morning of April 19, 1775, Buttrick, along with the Concord Militia, who turned out to defend their homes, families and ideals of self determination, they held dear. Like numerous citizen/soldiers of Concord and Middlesex County, they encountered the British army and fought with them at Concord’s North Bridge and later on the road to Boston. The American Revolution had begun.
 

On Saturday, September 15th members of the Buttrick Family arrived at the park and signed over a powder horn, owned by Willard Buttrick and carried on that fateful day almost 250 years later. The powder horn returns to the location where it all began, North Bridge in Concord, just yards from the home he occupied. In front of the North Bridge Visitor Center, the former home of Stedman Buttrick, sits a foundation which was the home of Willard Buttrick.

 

Marshall Buttrick, spokesperson for the Buttrick family and the official keeper of the powder horn, had spent many years, proudly showing the powder horn off and keeping it’s story a part of Buttrick lore.   "I am pleased to donate to the National Park Service my ancestor Willard Buttrick's powder horn to be publicly displayed at the North Bridge Visitor Center. The powder horn was used at the North Bridge April 19th 1775. It is interesting to note that the remains of Willard Buttrick's house foundation are adjacent to the parking area at the Visitors Center. " said Marshall Buttrick.

 

When Mr. Buttrick and his siblings had to decide what the future of the powder horn would be, it was unanimous that the horn should be seen by the American public and the best way to do that would be to donate it to the park. Now, the personal story of the day will be displayed in the near future for all to understand and enjoy what the artifact can tell us about a patriot from almost 250 years ago

 

During the 1875 Centennial celebration, artifacts connected with the day’s events were put on display for guests to witness. Then President Ulysses S. Grant had the seen the powder horn, which was listed in a souvenir program issued for the occasion along with other witness artifacts to the days events.