Col. William Munroe

Notes:

Here follows the deposition of William Munroe made 7 March 1825:

I, William Munroe, of Lexington, on oath do testify, that I acted as orderly sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Parker, on the 19th of April, 1775; that early in the evening of the 18th of the same April, I was informed by Solomon Brown, who had just returned from Boston, that he had seen nine British officers on the road, traveling leisurely, sometimes before and sometimes behind him; that he had discovered, by the occasional blowing aside of their top coats that they were armed. On learning this, I supposed they had some design upon Hancock and Adams, who were then at the house of the Reverend Mr. Clarke, and immediately assembled a guard of eight men, with their arms to guard the house. About midnight, Colonel Paul Revere rode up the road and requested admittance. I told him that the family had just retired, and had requested, that they might not be disturbed by any noise about the house. "Noise!" said he, "you'll have noise enough before long. The regulars are coming out." We then permitted him to pass. Soon after, Mr. Lincoln came. These gentlemen came different routes, Revere came over the ferry to Charlestown, and Lincoln over the neck through Roxbury; and both brought letters from Dr. Warren in Boston to Hancock and Adams, stating that a large body of British troops had left Boston, and were on their march to Lexington. On this, it was thought advisable, that Hancock and Adams should withdraw to some distant part of the town. To this Hancock consented with great reluctance, and said, as he went off. "If I had my musket, I would never turn my back upon these troops." I however conducted them to the north part of town, and then returned to the meeting-house, where I arrived at about two o'clock on the morning of the 19th. On the arrival of Colonel Paul Revere, the alarm had been given, and, on my return, I found Captain Parker and his militia company paraded on the common, a little in the rear of the meeting-house. About this time, one of our messengers, who had been sent toward Cambridge to get information of the movement of the regulars, returned and reported, that he could not learn, that there were any troops on the road from Boston to Lexington, which raised some doubt as to their coming, and Captain Parker dismissed his company, with orders to assemble again at the beat of the drum. Between day-light and sun-rise Captain Thaddeus Bowman rode up and informed, that the regulars were near. The drum was then ordered to be beat, and I was commanded by Captain Parker to parade the company, which I accordingly did, in two ranks, a few rods northerly of the meeting-house.

When the British troops had arrived within about a hundred rods of the meeting-house, as I was afterwards told by a prisoner, which we took, "they heard our drum, and supposing it to be a challenge, they were ordered to load their muskets, and to move at double quick time." They came up almost upon a run. Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn rode up some rods in advance of their troops, and within a few rods of our company, and exclaimed, "Lay down your arms, you rebels, and disperse!" and immediately fired his pistol. Pitcairn then advanced with his troops, and finding we did not disperse, they being within four rods of us, he brought his sword down with great force, and said to his men, "Fire, damn you, fire!" The front platoon, consisting of eight or nine, then fired, without killing or wounding any of our men. They immediately gave a second fire, when our company began to retreat, and as I left that field, I saw a person firing at the British troops from Buckman's back door, which was near our left, where I was parading the men when I retreated. I was afterward told, of the truth of which I have no doubt, that same person after firing from the back door, went to the front of Buckman's house, and fired there. How many of our company fired before they retreated, I can not say; but I am confident some of them did. When the British troops came up, I saw Jonas Parker standing in the ranks, with his balls and flints in his hat, on the ground, between his feet, and heard him declare, that he would never run. He was shot down at the second fire of the British, and, when I left, I saw him struggling on the ground, attempting to load his gun, which I have no doubt he had once discharged at the British. As he lay on the ground, they ran him through with the bayonet. In the course of the day, I was on the ground where the British troops were when they first heard our drum beat, which was one hundred rods below the meeting-house, and saw the ends of a large number, I should judge two hundred, of cartridges which they had dropped, when they charged their pieces. About noon I was at the north part of the town, at the house Mr. Simmonds, where I saw the late Colonel Baldwin, who informed me, that he had the custody of some prisoners, that had been put under his charge, and requested to know of me what should be done with them. I gave my opinion, that they should be sent to that part of Woburn, now Burlington, or to Chelmsford. On the return of the British troops from Concord, they stopped at my tavern house in Lexington, and dressed their wounds. I had left my house in care of a lame man, by the name of Raymond, who supplied them with whatever the house afforded, and afterwards, when he was leaving the house, he was shot by the regulars, and found dead within a few rods of the house.
(signed) William Munroe

The services that William performed at the opening of the Revolution, were followed up by services during the progress of the war. He was a lieutenant in the northern army at the capture of Burgoyne, in 1777. He was a prominent citizen, and filled important town offices. For nine years he was a selectman, and represented the town two years. He marched towards Springfield during Shay's Rebellion and was a Colonel in the militia. He kept the public house, long known as the Munroe Tavern. Here the British regaled themselves, and committed many outrages on the 19th of April; here they shot down John Raymond who was leaving the house. In 1789, George Washington dined in the Munroe Tavern, on his visit to Lexington's battle field of Revolution.

William's second wife, whose name was either Mary or Polly and who was from Westford, Massachusetts, was a widow whose first husband was killed at the battle of Monmouth by the bursting of a cannon.

The following is from the "Abstract of Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts - 1920" - p. 340

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Tradition tells us through our late Brother Albert W. Bryant, that the first assembly of Freemasons in Lexington was on the top of the hill in the rear of Munroe Tavern. In 1797 ten Masons gathered at Munroe Tavern and signed a petition to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for a Charter. Dispensation was granted December 12, 1797, for the Institution of Hiram Lodge. Colonel William Munroe, well known as the stalwart orderly of Captain Parker's Minute-Men, was the first Master and served, in all, six years. This Lodge met at Munroe Tavern for thirty-three years, during which time one hundred and ninety members were recorded, of which number one hundred and fifty were Raised in the Lodge. The Lodge was dormant for several years during the anti-Masonic period and finally moved to West Cambridge, now Arlington, in 1843.

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«i»It's «/i»[Munroe Tavern's] «i»fame began with its purchase in 1770 by Colonel William Munroe, grandson of the builder and great-grandson of the original settler. This fourth William Munroe was born in 1742, and was one of the fifteen Munroes who took part in the battle of Lexington. He was orderly sergeant, and he not only lined up the seventy minute men who faced the eight hundred British regulars but also had command of the special squad detached to guard Hancock and Adams on the night of April 18. It was he who said to Paul Revere when that messenger came clattering up to the parsonage in the dead of night: "Don't make so much noise." "Noise," replied Revere, "there'll be noise enough before morning; the regulars are coming!"

While Sergeant Munroe was engaged with the redcoats his wife and three small children took refuge on the hill behind the tavern, leaving the house in charge of John Raymond, a hired man. The Biritish commander, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, finding the whole countryside aroused, sent back for re-enforcements. The relief, under Earl Percy, arrived at the tavern about the middle of the afternoon, took possession and holding the provincials back by posting field pieces on the hill above the tavern and on a mound where the high school now stands, dressed the wounded brought in by the retreating forces, which overcome by fatigue, hunger and the extreme and unseasonable heat, would undoubtedly have succumbed to the galling fire of the provincials had it not been for the arrival of Earl Percy. Before leaving some of the soldiers piled up the barrom furniture, set in on fire, made targets of the walls and ceilings and bayoneted on the door-step the defenceless Raymond. One of the bullet holes remains and the scorched furniture is still in possession of the family.

Among the many things to be shown«/i» [at the tavern museum]«i» are the chair on which Washington sat «/i»[during a 1789 visit]«i», the dishes from which he ate and drank, and the spoon with which he stirred his tea. There are also some pieces of furniture and china that belonged to Colonel William Munroe--his iron spectacles, his dress waistcoat and lethern breeches, paste stock buckle and snuffbox. There will be exhibited a lot of ancient deeds and documents, including the tavern day books, going back to 1773, and a chair made by Jonathan Tarrington, the last survivor of the battle of Lexington...and an order from General Washington instructing Col. Munroe to convene a courtmartial.
«/i»
("The Munroe Tavern" - a newspaper article from an unknown Boston area newspaper - 1911)
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William died 30 Oct 1827 (Hudson's Hist. of Lexington) or May 1827/28 (Lexington, Vital Records).

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Family/Spouse: Anna Smith. Anna was born on 17 Jun 1742; died on 2 Jan 1781 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William Munroe was born on 28 May 1768 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died in 1814 in Richmond, Richmond (city), Virginia, USA.
2. Anna Munroe was born on 9 May 1771 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died in 1850 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA.
3. Sarah Munroe was born on 21 Oct 1773 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died in 1850.
4. Lucinda Munroe was born on 9 Apr 1776 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 2 Jun 1863.
5. Jonas Munroe was born on 11 Jun 1778 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 2 Jul 1860 in Somerville, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA.
6. Edmund Munroe was born on 29 Oct 1780 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 17 Apr 1865.

Family/Spouse: Mary. Mary was born about 1744; died in Jan 1829. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In a paper left by one of the family, it is stated, that William had been just engaged as a committee man to enlarge the burying yard, and taking a sudden cold while haying in his meadow, was attacked with a violent fever, which in a few days proved fatal. He was the first to be laid in the new portion of the yard that he had so recently procured. This account is confirmed by his gravestone, which has this inscription: "William Munroe, d. 18 Aug 1747, aged 44 years. The first buried in this (the new portion) yard."

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

William married Sarah Mason on 3 Jan 1733 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Sarah (daughter of John Mason and Elizabeth Spring) was born on 17 Jun 1714; died on 13 Apr 1785. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Spring) Mason. After the death of William, she married (2) Isaac Bowman, Esq. on 27 Feb 1753.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

William was an ensign in the colonial militia, and hence was denominated as "Ensign Roe". He was admitted into the church 9 Apr 1699 and his wife Mary on 30 Apr 1699. His second wife, Johanna, was admitted on 24 Dec. 1727.

He was a constable in 1708, assessor in 1713, and selectman in 1724, 1734, and 1735.

He built the Munroe Tavern which was still standing in 1964.

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«i»William Jr., built a house for himself--a tavern. The house, built in 1695, was a famous hostelry for 163 years. Its fame began with its purchase in 1770 by Col. William Munroe, grandson of the builder and great-grandson of the original settler.«/i»

("The Monroe Tavern" - a newspaper article from an unknown Boston area newspaper - 1911)
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Williams was probated in Middlesex County, but all that appears is the admin. bond by his son Thomas, innholder, 19 Mar 1759.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

William married Mary Cutler on 3 Oct 1697 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Mary (daughter of Lt. Thomas Cutler and Abigail Dewey) was born on 15 Mar 1681 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 26 Jun 1713 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary the aunt of William's second wife, Johanna Russell.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Birth place unverified

Notes:

Married:
Mary and William were married by Justice Minot.

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

John married Elizabeth Spring. Elizabeth was born about 1693; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

The link between William Munroe of Lexington, Massachusetts and Robert Munro of Aldie has not been proven beyond a doubt. However, there is a body of circumstantial evidence that supports that assumption. An excellent summary of the evidence can be found in the preface to "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R.S. Munroe.

Not only is there no proof that William was the son of Robert of Aldie, there happens to be two people named Robert of Aldie who could possibly have been his father. Some researchers say William was the son of Robert Munro of Aldie b. about 1566 who married Isobel McKenzie, but most Munro genealogists have settled on Robert Munro of Aldie b. 1590 and married Elizxabeth Johnson. Other researchers erroneously say William was a son of Robert Munro XIV of Foulis.

William was born in 1625 near Inverness, Scotland. He was probably the son of Robert of Aldie who "went to the wars in Germany" and had sons George, William and Benedict. Robert of Aldie married in Nuremberg and died in Germany in 1633.

William was probably conscripted to serve in the army in the constant battles going on at this time. All men between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to fight in Scotland's wars.

It was a time of great upheaval in Scotland. There was no chief at Foulis keeping the clan together. The Black Baron had already fallen into debt and disposed of much of the property. He had married three times, once bigamously, and was in Germany in the service of Christian IV where he died in 1633 when William was eight years old. Scotland was at war with England and within Scotland there were accumulating differences, political and religious, among Catholics and Presbyterians, covenanters and royalists. Battles large and small raged from coast to coast.

A historian noted the poverty of an exhausted broken down distracted country. Another wrote, "Our miseries and danger of ruin are greater than for many ages... a potent victorious enemy masters our seas... and the best part of our land. Our standing forces against his imminent invasions are few, weak and inconsiderable. Our kirk, state and army are full of divisions and jealousies. Our people south of the Forth are spoiled and near starving; north they are extremely ill-used by our own, many inclined to treat with Cromwell without care of king or covenant; none of our neighbors are willing to give us any help though called."

All men were conscripted, except those who were termed "malignant", not loyal to the cause, and many arguments resulted. King Charles was displaying treachery, playing both sides against each other. Cromwell attempted to bring the King in line without further bloodshed but without success.

In this miserable state, Cromwell met the Scots at Dunbar on 3 Sep 1650. A terrible battle ensued. Three thousand men fell on the field. Ten thousand were taken prisoner. Five thousand sick and wounded were dismissed from the field and allowed to go homeward, if able. Those who survived a violent disorder in prison were sold as slaves to the plantations.

The Scots did not surrender. The wars continued for another year. The castle at Edinburgh was surrendered without bloodshed, although rape, robbery and murder were perpetrated on the citizens by the soldiers outside the castle walls.

William was with the Scottish Army under Charles II which engaged the English at Worcester on 3 Sep 1651, exactly one year after the Battle of Dunbar. The battle raged for three hours and the Scots initially had the upper hand until the arrival of fresh English troops. The slaughter went on for two more hours. The victors and the vanquished entered Worcester fighting. The noise woke up King Charles who had been sleeping while men died for him. He rushed into the street and attempted to take charge, but was ignored. Seeing the direction of events, the king fled with fugitives who were leaving the city. Two thousand men were killed and between six and seven thousand were taken prisoner in the city and more later. William was among those captured.

All who lived at Worcester were taken by Cromwell and imprisoned or sent to the plantations. Almost all of the Scottish Chieftains were ruined, dead, in prison or in exile. The clans were abolished and it was forbidden to wear tartans.

William was sold to the plantations, probably the best thing that could have happened to a Scotsman at that time. He was shipped from London on 11 Nov 1651 by Jo, Reex, Robert Rich and William Green on the "John and Sarah", arrived in New England in Mar 1652, and consigned to Thomas Kemble of Boston, who had the privilege of selling his indentured servants for periods of from six to eight years. Four Munros were on board: Robert, John, Hugh and one name, thought to be William, which was obliterated on the manifest. William might have been sold as an apprentice at the Saugus Iron Works. The Beckett reference says "William Munrow (Munroe, Munro), says tradition, was bound out to a farmer by the name of Winship, who resided in that part of Cambridge called Mehotony (now Arlington), and when his indenture had expired he set up for himself, going farther back into the woods and procuring a tract of land within the prsent limits of Lexington, on a section now known as Scotland."

If William was sold as an apprentice when he first arrived in America, he must have been his own man by 1657 because he and one Thomas Rose were fined in Cambridge for not having rings in the noses of their swine.

Around 1660, he settled in the northeasterly part of Cambridge Farms, now known as Lexington, near the Woburn line. In those days this part of the town was called "Scotland". He was made freeman in 1690 and on 1 Feb 1699 was received into Communion of the Church. In 1693, he was one of the committee "to treat for the purchase of land for the minister." In 1694 he was a selectman of Cambridge and later his name appears in connection with several other important parish offices.

The Ackerman reference speculates that William was born in 1634.

His first wife, Margaret George, was the daughter of John and Anna (Goldstone) George of Charlestown. The Mills reference says Margaret was born about 1636.

His third wife was the widow of Edward Dwyer (or Wyer) of Charlestown, daughter of William and Elizabeth Johnson. The Ellis reference says Elizabeth was William's second wife and that Mary Ball was his third.

Several references say William was the son of Robert Munro of Aldie [10900]. Robert [10900] was the uncle of Robert Munro of Aldie [2760], William's father as listed here.

The Hopkins reference says William was the son of "Farquhar Munroe of Aldie" and Catherine MacCulloch, and the Andrews reference says William was the son of Robert Munro XVIII of Foulis. There is no hard proof as to the actual identity of William's father.

His gravestone inscription reads: "Here Lyes ye Body of Mr William Munroe, Aged about 92 years, Decd Janry 27th 1717-8. "

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«i»William Munroe, who, born in Caithness, Scotland, in 1625, was taken prisoner by Cromwell's men at the battle of Worcester in 1651, and was deported in the John and Sara to Boston. He worked out the cost of his passage, settled in Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), in a section still called "Scotland," married three wives, had thirteen children and became a substantial citizen.

As his children married he added successive ells to his house until it is said to have resembled a ropewalk.«/i»

("The Monroe Tavern" - a newwspaper article from an unknown Boston area newspaper - 1911)
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William was one of the company of Scotsmen who fought on the side of Charles II against Cromwell at the battle of Worchester, England on September 3, 1651. About 8000 of the Scots were captured, and sent to America as indentured servants to pay for their passage. Four Munros were sent from London on the ship "John and Sara" on November 11, 1651. They were listed as Hugh Monrow, John Monrow, Robert Monrow, and ------- Monrow (presumably William "The Immigrant" Monroe. He arrived in New England in March 1652, and was consigned to Thomas Kemble of Boston. In 1660, he settled in Cambridge Farms (now Lexington) in the part of town called "Scotland". He was made a free man in 1690.

("Descendants of John Munro" - by W. M. Roeser)
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Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - M/24
Clan Munro files - Ackerman, Elizabeth - membership application
- Bonney, Frances
- Brown, Thelma
- Charles, Marie Pierce
- Coombs, Judith
- Coutant, Martha
- Cox, J.
- Coye, Ruby
- Crandall, Katherine
- Delehanty, James
- Dietrich, Earl
- Elder, Charlotte
- Ebb, Jane Michelle (application)
- Farlow, Donna
- Griffin, Richard
- Guilford, Joan
- Henderson, Martha Monroe
- Jewell, Dana Munroe
- Langtry, Jeannette
- Mady, Ashley Nicole
- Mills, Larry
- Monroe, Ruby Lucille
- Sage, Wes
- Stephens, Frances
- Yard, F. L. Dixon

References:

(1) "Charles Monroe (1823-1873) of Posey, Vanderburgh & Gibson County, Indiana
- His Ancestors and Descendants" by Kendyl K. Monroe - (1997) - p. 1

(2) "History of Ashburnham Massachusetts" published in 1887


Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Historical research suggested that William Munroe (b. 1625) was one of Robert Munro of Aldie's sons and the unknown "Munrow" listed as a prisoner of war on the "John and Sara" ship (1652). However Y-DNA research performed in 2018 (reported by Mark E. Monroe) does not verify this assumption, so we are removing Robert Munro of Aldie and Elizabeth Johnson as his parents in this database.
(Note by Betti J. Steele MD, 28 May 2019)

Buried:
William was buried in the Old Cemetery in Lexington, Massachusetts.

William married Martha George in 1665 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Martha (daughter of John George and Anna Goldstone) was born est 1634 in , , , Scotland; died in 1672 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Martha was the daughter of John and Elizabeth George of Charlestown, Massachusetts. John was a prominent Baptist who was fined, imprisoned and finally ordered out of town for heresy.

Martha died before 1672.

References:

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
561

(3) "Charles Monroe (1823-1873) of Posey, Vanderburgh & Gibson County, Indiana
- His Ancestors and Descendants" by Kendyl K. Monroe - (1997) - p. 1

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Thomas married Abigail Dewey on 31 Jul 1673 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Abigail was born in Jan 1652 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 19 Feb 1711 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA