Minute Man National Historical Park | JOSIAH NELSON HOUSE SITE

Ruins of the Josiah Nelson House in Minute Man National Historical Park

Ruins of the Josiah Nelson House in Minute Man National Historical Park

The ruins of the Josiah Nelson House are located at the east end of the Battle Road Unit of Minute Man National Historical Park. If you are hiking or biking the Battle Road Trail, you will pass right by it. If you are visiting the site by vehicle, park at the Minute Man Visitor Center. A short path on the west side of the parking lot connects directly with the house site.

Minute Man Visitor Center and surrounding area (click to enlarge)

Minute Man Visitor Center and surrounding area (click to enlarge)

Trail to the Minute Man Visitor Center in Minute Man National Historical Park

Trail to the Minute Man Visitor Center in Minute Man National Historical Park

Josiah Nelson was the great-grandson of Thomas Nelson Jr., the Nelson who first settled the area in 1720. His sons Josiah Jr. and John had a house to the west of this site that still stands today (the John Nelson House). The Josiah Nelson House was built around 1756, and it burned down in 1908. All that remains are some of the stone foundation and a brick structure, most likely part of the chimney. A stone marker identifies the site.

According to legend, Josiah was the first casualty of the American Revolution, if you date the start as April 18, 1775, the night British soldiers began their march from Boston to Concord. Another group of soldiers who were patrolling the road that night passed by Josiah’s house on their way to Lexington. Mistaking them for men friendly to the Patriot cause, he ran out and asked if there was any news of British troop movement. Perturbed, one of the soldiers drew his sword and cut him across the head. After being bandaged, he rode out to warn the town of Bedford that the British troops were on their way.

The problem with this story is that the only soldiers patrolling the road that night were the same ones who captured Paul Revere, and they were taking him and three other men they had detained back towards Lexington. All three men later gave a deposition, as did Revere, and none mentioned the Josiah Nelson incident. Had a soldier cut an unarmed man, surely this would have been reported by someone.

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Last updated on September 5, 2023
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