Quincy patriots honored for their Revolutionary War contributions

QUINCY – Clad in the blue coats and brass buttons of the Continental Army, with muskets resting on their shoulders, eight members of the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution marched through Hancock-Adams Common on Sunday. Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution greeted them at Hancock Cemetery's black wrought-iron gates.

The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution are civic groups composed of members who can trace their lineage to those who fought in the Revolutionary War or assisted the cause. Formed in the late 19th century, they are dedicated to honoring their patriot ancestors and educating the public about the country's revolutionary history.

The group of about 30 people assembled Sunday to honor Col. Josiah Quincy, one of Quincy's important but largely unheralded patriots, who is buried in the cemetery along with his son, Josiah Quincy Jr.

Janet Uhlar, who has written several books about the American Revolution, outlined the Quincys' contributions to American independence. The militiamen then fired three resounding volleys in the direction of Hancock Street.

Flags were placed at the Quincys' tomb. Ulhar said that, to her knowledge, it was the first time such an honor has been bestowed upon them. She said they have been underrecognized for their contributions to the nation's history.

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Born in 1709 at the Dorothy Quincy Homestead, a historical landmark at Butler Road and Hancock Street, Col. Josiah Quincy served in the American Revolutionary War and spawned a line of six namesakes, including mayors, congressmen and state representatives who were active in national and state politics for more than a century.

When the British occupied Boston and George Washington was laying siege to the city, the colonel spent hours a day at the attic window of his Wollaston home, a historical landmark on Muirhead Street, spying on warships sailing in and out of the harbor, Uhlar said. Quincy then sent his reports to Washington. Letters between Washington and Quincy, in which the general thanks the colonel for his contribution, still exist.

Josiah Quincy Jr., a lawyer whose contemporaries called him "The Patriot," gained the disfavor of the loyalist Colonial governor after delivering an impassioned speech on the subject of liberty at Harvard's commencement ceremony.

Though Quincy strongly opposed British occupation of the city, he agreed to help John Adams defend the British accused of the Boston Massacre, despite objections from his friends and family, including his father.

"Josiah's response was that if they truly believed in liberty and the rights of men, then these men deserved a fair trial," Uhlar said. Adams and Quincy won the case.

The opposing legal team included Quincy's older brother Samuel, a loyalist who had been appointed solicitor general by the crown and was thereby obligated to prosecute the case.

"They went at each other in the courtroom arguing what was politically opposite their own beliefs," Uhlar said.

Ailing with tuberculosis, Quincy traveled south in an attempt to restore his health. While he was there, he helped establish Committees of Correspondence in the Southern colonies, which paved the way for the First Continental Congress.

"If that had not happened, our history would be vastly altered," Uhlar said.

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On the eve of the war, Quincy sailed to Britain to gather intelligence.

"No others dared go because they feared they would be arrested and charged with treason," Ulhar said.

Because Quincy had successfully defended the British after the Boston Massacre, he thought he was uniquely qualified to fulfill the dangerous mission. He was also suffering from advanced tuberculosis.

On his way back to Boston, just three days from shore, Quincy died. He was 31. Because he would not write down what he learned in Britain, he took the information he had gathered to the grave.

Quincy's 400th anniversary, nation's 250th approaching

After Ulhar's address, Jill Higgins, regent of the Deborah Sampson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, gave a speech outlining the organization's mission, which is to promote patriotism, preserve American history and better educate America's children.

"As we approach the 250th birthday of America, it is even more important that we work to preserve our country's history," Higgins said.

This year, her chapter will work to obtain markers for veterans of the Revolutionary War buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Abington who do not have headstones in place.

Patrice Hatcher, vice regent of the Brockton chapter, said the area is so rich in historical treasures that residents often take them for granted.

"We're our own worst enemies when it comes to local history," she said. "How many of us visit the sites, the homes? We don't do that."

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Jim Holmes, president of the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution, said he is motivated to preserve the memory of patriotic sacrifice.

"We consistently honor patriots and educate the public, paying respect to our patriot ancestors," Holmes said. "It is imperative on all of us to make sure people don't forget."

In 2025, Quincy will mark the 400th anniversary of its founding.

Reach Peter Blandino at pblandino@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Josiah Quincy, son honored for contributions to Revolutionary War