Lot 798
[Battle of Lexington] Sermon Commemorating the Battle Signed by A Participant. Colonist John Chandler (1731-1810), one of the 80 Lexington men who faced the British that morning of 19 April 1775, signs a printed sermon delivered four years later to commemorate the Battle of Lexington. He had held a commission under Colonial Governor Francis Bernard as "Coronet of His Majesty's Blue troop." Pamphlet, "A Sermon Preached at Lexington, April 19, 1779," 29pp, 8¾ x 5½, Boston: Printed by John Gill, in Court Street, 1779. Signed "J Chandler" at top right of half title page imprinted "Mr. Woodward's/Sermon,/delivered/April Nineteenth/M.DCC.LXXIX." Penned in unknown hand across top: "Mr. Woodwards 19 April/No 7 P." and penciled: "A.D. 1779." The title page records that Samuel Woodward, A.M., Pastor of the Church in Weston, delivered the sermon "In Commemoration of the great Distress and wonderful Deliverance of God's People on the Nineteenth of April, 1775; where Hostilities begun, and when the bloody War between Great-Britain and her Colonies commenced."
Rev. Samuel Woodward (1727-1782), a 1748 graduate of Harvard, expresses sympathy for "the friends of those who fell the first victims to British tyranny in this place" He gives thanks for "the succours we received from foreign powers in warlike stores, &c. - but especially in that open, generous alliance formed between his Most Christian Majesty [King Louis XVI]…a desire to avenge the blood of your slaughtered brethren and defend your country, has led you to cultivate the art of war, and inspired you with the spirit and resolution of soldiers, - a character which the present times have taught us, is most respectable indeed…" An area 4 in. across and ½ to 1 in. to one inch high has been cut from the title page above the printing information. Two leaves are creased not affecting legibility; original gray covers present but detached; some foxing; tears at the string binding at the edges and pages 23-29 are loose; upper right corner of page 21 has been torn off, affecting six lines on page 21 and seven lines on page 22. Overall condition is fair.
Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,500.
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