Visit Grave of British soldier near Folly Pond, Lincoln, Massachusetts

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On April 19, 1775 British soldiers retreating from Concord, Massachusetts engaged Colonial militia in a running battle toward Boston. According to local legend, one British soldier was mortally wounded near the home of Captain William Smith in Lincoln, MA and left to the mercy of his pursuers. Unfortunately this soldier perished from his wounds and the Smith family interred him along the battle road in an area known as Folly Pond. According to local legend, this soldier was mortally wounded during the British retreat on April 19, 1775, and left to the mercy of his pursuers. Around 1900, a local Newspaper published an article claiming that a British Grenadier mortally wounded during the retreat was left in the care of Catherine Smith, wife of Captain William Smith. This article likely written by Frank Hersey, was repeated in his later work titled, "The Hero's of the battle road." According to Hersey, the children of Mary Hartwell, related: "Near Captain Smith's house another grenadier was shot. His companions, seeing the wound was mortal, left him by the roadside. This soldier was later carried into Captain Smith's house and his wounds were dressed. Here he lingered alive three or four days. During this time he felt he caused the Smiths so much trouble, and he was suffering with such pain, that he begged them again and again to dispatch him. Finally, when dying, he told the maid that she would find a gold sovereign sewed in the lining of his coat. She could not find it, but he reiterated with his last words that it was there. After he was dead, Mrs. Smith herself found it. He is buried in a field on the southernly side of the road a little west of Folly Pond."

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