The The Robbins Robbins House House
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If historical Concord had toto bebe summed upup in in If historical Concord had summed one sensational newspaper headline it might one sensational newspaper headline it might read something like, “TINY TOWN THAT read something like, “TINY TOWN THAT TROUNCED BRITISH BATALLION ALSO TROUNCED BRITISH BATALLION ALSO BELOVED BYBY BOOKWORMS”. BELOVED BOOKWORMS”. Fortunately, most pilgrims toto Concord Fortunately, most pilgrims Concord don’t rely onon alliterative excerpts ofof history don’t rely alliterative excerpts history when they visit, and yet, there’s soso much when they visit, and yet, there’s much more toto our story than armies and authors. In In more our story than armies and authors. particular, there is is a great deal just waiting toto particular, there a great deal just waiting bebe learned about Concord’s African American learned about Concord’s African American history, a complex and very human story that history, a complex and very human story that farfar predates our nation. predates our nation. AA short drive down Monument Street and short drive down Monument Street and across from thethe venerable Old North Bridge, across from venerable Old North Bridge, sits a restored early-19th century vernacular sits a restored early-19th century vernacular farmhouse, such asas can bebe found allall over farmhouse, such can found over
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Preserving Preservingthe theLegacy Legacyof of African AfricanAmerican AmericanHistory Historyin inConcord Concord
BYBY ALIDA ORZECHOWSKI ALIDA ORZECHOWSKI
New England. What sets this farmhouse New England. What sets this farmhouse apart is is that it belonged toto thethe family ofof apart that it belonged family Revolutionary War veteran Caesar Robbins, Revolutionary War veteran Caesar Robbins, who was enslaved atat birth around 1745. who was enslaved birth around 1745. Robbins was probably emancipated before Robbins was probably emancipated before oror atat the time ofof hishis enlistment, and may have the time enlistment, and may have taken part in in the first battle ofof the American taken part the first battle the American War forfor Independence onon April 19th, 1775. HeHe War Independence April 19th, 1775. would later participate in in anan early alarm in in would later participate early alarm Bennington, Vermont. Bennington, Vermont. After surviving the war, Robbins returned After surviving the war, Robbins returned toto Concord, married twice, and raised sixsix Concord, married twice, and raised children in in a small dwelling out onon the “Great children a small dwelling out the “Great Field”, one ofof the isolated parts ofof town where Field”, one the isolated parts town where little clusters ofof African Americans settled. little clusters African Americans settled. In In 1823, the settlement there expanded 1823, the settlement there expanded when Caesar’s son, Peter, known asas the “big when Caesar’s son, Peter, known the “big
burly son ofof Caesar”, bought a newly-built burly son Caesar”, bought a newly-built farmhouse, along with 1313 acres ofof land. farmhouse, along with acres land. Humphrey Bennet, the grantor ofof the land, Humphrey Bennet, the grantor the land, reserved the ‘easterly half’ forfor Robbins’ sister, reserved the ‘easterly half’ Robbins’ sister, Susan. Susan was married toto Jack Garrison, Susan. Susan was married Jack Garrison, a man who had emancipated himself from a man who had emancipated himself from slavery in in New Jersey, the last state in in the slavery New Jersey, the last state the north toto outlaw it. it. north outlaw Susan Robbins Garrison was a founding Susan Robbins Garrison was a founding (and only known black) member ofof thethe (and only known black) member Concord Female Antislavery Society (CFAS), Concord Female Antislavery Society (CFAS), in in 1837. While this group sought toto promote 1837. While this group sought promote abolition and equality, thethe reality both in in abolition and equality, reality both Massachusetts and other free states was that Massachusetts and other free states was that racial discrimination was still quite common. racial discrimination was still quite common. In In one instance during a procession in in one instance during a procession Concord, Jack and Susan’s 12-year-old Concord, Jack and Susan’s 12-year-old
