Elias Haven (June 18, 1742-April 19, 1775) was a militiaman from Dedham, Massachusetts who died at the battle near the Jason Russell House in Menotomy after the battles of Lexington and Concord. [1] He was the only man from Dedham who died on that day. [2] [3]
On April 19, 1775, news of the fighting at Lexington reached Dedham via a messenger who stopped at the home of Samuel Dexter, who was so overcome he nearly fainted. [4] Church bells rang and signal guns were fired to summon the town’s minutemen and militia. [5] At the time, Haven was harrowing in a field on the George Ellis Chickering. [3]
Dedham’s companies assembled quickly, and Captain Joseph Guild silenced anyone who attempted to dismiss the alarm. [5] Within an hour, nearly every male between sixteen and seventy had departed with their minister’s blessing. [6] A total of over 280 men left from Dedham’s four parishes, under leaders such as Captains Aaron Fuller, George Guild, William Bullard, Daniel Draper, William Ellis, and David Fairbanks. [1] Haven marched under Ebenezer Battle's command. [7] [3]
Dedham’s companies joined others from surrounding towns in an ambush near the Jason Russell House in Menotomy. [1] There, a British flanking maneuver drove the colonists back, killing ten, including Haven. [7] Fighting next to him next to the Arlington Meeting House at the time he was shot was his brother-in-law, Aaron Whiting. [3]
He was buried with the others who fell that day in Patriots' Grave at the Old Burying Ground. [8] [3]
Haven was born in Hopkinton on June 18, 1742 to Joseph Haven, a deacon in Dover, and his wife, Miriam ( née Bayley). [3] [9] He moved to Dedham, and settled on Farm Street. [3] On June 14, 1764, he married Jemima Whiting. [3] [a] Together they had three children: Elias, Abigail, and Jemima. [3] [b]
He worked as a cordwainer as well as husbandman. [3]
Haven was a first cousin, once removed, of Jason Haven.
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