North End in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Robert Newman

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 21, 2017

1. Robert Newman Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Robert Newman

Sexton of this church
who hung the lanterns in the Belfry
April 18, 1775
to warn the Patriots of the
British march on Concord is honored
here by this tablet erected by
Daughters of the American Revolution
1924

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty

Erected 1924 by Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 18, 1775.

Location. 42° 21.989′ N, 71° 3.264′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in North End. Marker can be reached from Salem Street north of Hull Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in the Old North Church courtyard, on the north side of the church. Marker is a stone tablet mounted on the brick wall at the north side of the courtyard. Touch for map

Robert Newman Marker (<i>tall view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 21, 2017

2. Robert Newman Marker (tall view)

Click or scan to see
this page online

. Marker is at or near this postal address: 193 Salem Street, Boston MA 02113, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Captain John Pulling Jr. (a few steps from this marker); North Church Lanterns (a few steps from this marker); Signal Lanterns of Paul Revere (a few steps from this marker); Anthony V. DeSimone (within shouting distance of this marker); Clough House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Men of the North End (within shouting distance of this marker); Christ Church (within shouting distance of this marker); John Greenwood / Ann Pollard / Harriot Keziah Hunt / Charlotte Saunders Cushman (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. North Church Lanterns

Also see . . . Robert Newman (sexton).
Newman had become sexton of Christ Church, now known as Old North Church, in 1772. He lived with his mother in 1775, and she was renting part of their home to British officers. After pretending to go to bed on the night of April 18, Newman snuck out of his house undetected by the officers and joined vestryman John Pulling and Thomas Bernard, who assisted him with the signal. Bernard served as a lookout while Pulling and Newman went to the belfry, the tallest structure in the area. Using a code devised by Revere, Newman

North Church Steeple & Belfry (<i>view from Salem Street</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 21, 2017

3. North Church Steeple & Belfry (view from Salem Street)

hung two lanterns in the church's belfry to warn Patriots that the British were about to descend upon Lexington via the Charles River. The signal was spotted across the river, and allies began spreading the word. Newman returned home after the signal was set, and though he was later arrested, nothing could be proven against him. (Submitted on March 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.