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Museums & History| Official Website: Hancock-Clarke House Location: Hancock Street, Lexington, MA, 02420 map Phone:(781) 862-1703 Cost: Free |
Others to Consider: Quincy Market, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Old Statehouse Museum, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Concord MuseumThe Hancock-Clarke House is 1/4 mile from Buckman Tavern, on Hancock Street. On the evening of April 18, 1775, John Hancock and Samuel Adams, prominent leaders in the colonial cause, were guests of the Reverend Jonas Clarke in the parsonage.
Fearing that they might be captured by the British, Dr Joseph Warren of Boston sent William Dawes and Paul Revere to Lexington with news of the advancing British troops. Arriving separately, they stopped to warn Hancock and Adams, then set off for Concord. Today Dawes is all but forgotten, but Paul Revere's midnight ride has been immortalized by Longfellow.
The Hancock-Clarke House was the home of the Reverend John Hancock and the Reverend Jonas Clarke - two ministers who served the spiritual and secular needs of Lexington for 105 years. Soon after coming to Lexington in 1698 the Reverend Mr. Hancock built a small parsonage on this site and in 1738 his son Thomas, a wealthy Boston merchant, enlarged his parents' home. The Reverend Hancock's grandson John, a frequent visitor to this house, was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence and the first Governor of Massachusetts.
Succeeding Hancock as minister in 1752, the Reverend Jonas Clarke, who reared twelve children in this parsonage, was an eloquent supporter of the colonial cause. The Reverend Clarke's fervent sermons were a source of inspiration to the citizens of Lexington during the crisis with Britain.
This house is of particular interest because it contains furnishings and portraits owned by the Hancock and Clarke families and an exhibit area that include’s William Diamond's drum and Major Pitcairn's pistols - treasured relics of April 19, 1775.
Hours
The Hancock-Clarke House is open weekends starting April 16,and will be open daily from May 30 - October 30. Daily tours are offered at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm.
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