Talk:Paul Revere/Archive 1

Dates
I believe some of the dates to be off, such as the date of the midnight ride for Lexington and Concord occured in April not July. The Carolinas had heard the news by May. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.135.96.167 (talk) 17:37, 11 March 2005 (UTC)

Not so hard
in case you guys didnt kno paul revere got captured after the first couple people he warned his friend actually got a little farther than he did but eventually got captured also so i dont know why in books they mention pauls ride and they exaderate alot becuz his ride wasnt so hard like they make it seem. i think that pauls friend deserves credit to. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.184.82.143 (talk) 03:49, 16 April 2005 (UTC)

I ride cars?
I was looking thorugh the links present in the American Revolution page when I came upon this page, all it said at the time was "I ride cars" I didnt think that was right at all so I went to edit the page and what was up before (I assume) someone vandalized the page was there, I edited it back first time I've ever done any editing so I hope I didnt mess anything up.

John — Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.234.251.211 (talk) 02:28, 15 June 2005 (UTC)

Birth
Cited in the article as January 1735 or December 1734, with reason given, but the image of the monument says "January 1734". Any one have any clues as to why? --Tonsofpcs 06:21, 14 August 2005 (UTC)


 * just stopped by to adjust the century, but I'll note in passing that gravestones and monuments are often wrong, and we don't know when this one was placed. - Nunh-huh 06:49, 14 August 2005 (UTC)

But they think its probly January 1,1735 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.164.130.30 (talk) 22:01, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

The British Are Coming
Regarding the assumption that Paul Revere would not have shouted "the British are coming" because at the time the Americans still considered themselves British, perhaps Paul Revere's own words provide the best insight.

This link takes you to Revere's written account of that ride.

http://www.historycarper.com/resources/articles/prevere.htm

As you can see, he never claims to have shouted anything in particular. He merely "alerted" houses and "told them [Hancock, Adams, et al] of my mission." But he DOES refer to the enemy as the British throughout his letter. Clearly he and his fellow travellers viewed themselves as something quite distinct from the British and was not reluctan to refer to them as such.

If Paul himself refers to them as "the British", one must wonder at the temerity of latter day revisionists who would have us believe otherwise.

True, in 1775 American colonist were technically and, with some significant limitations, legally British citizens. However both sides had long been differentiating each other through their speech and written words. As far back as the French and Indian Wars the English had begun refering to us with separate labels, as their derisive tune "Yankee Doodle" illustrates.

When General Howe was directed to the colonies to supress the rebellion, he initially refused due to his unwillingness to fight "Americans" (his words). Although he felt fondly for his "American Brethern" I can recall no instance in which he refered to them as anything but Americans - and never as Englishmen. The colonists were variously described in comtemporary English documents as "Subjects of the Crown", "American Brethren", rebels, and most often a fithly stinking mob. I can't recall, however, a single instance in which the English described the colonists as fellow Englishmen. Actually you see the term English used in contemporay writing far more often than British.

On the American side it was a bit more confusing as so many American Tories understandably tried to align themselves as firmly with the crown as possible. Hence they commonly called themselves Englishmen.

But among the Committees of Correspondence, which were the most politically influential institutions among the Liberty Movement, you will never see the terms English or British applied to American Colonists. They disdained the term as being tarnished with repression. Since 1774, at least, the cultural and political gap was already too wide to permit a common label between the sides. In their minds, the British/English were tyrants oppressing the Americans. They would never use the term British when refering to themselves.

Bottom line: Don't know what Paul actually called out - if anything - but by that time he and his fellow travellers in the Sons of Liberty certainly DID NOT consider themselves to be British or English anymore. That rationale just isn't accurate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.186.196.93 (talk) 18:32, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

Israel Bissell
I removed the mentioned of Congress in the link as the Israel Bissell article says that his ride happened on April 19 1775. (also no mention of Congress in the article) But according to Wikipedia, the Second Continental Congress did not meet in Philly until May 10 1775, after the start of the war. Bwithh 14:38, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

how paul revere get involvedin the revolution?

Ώ==Which Correct?==

I don't get this. The article on Israel Bissel seems to contradict much of the Paul Revere article regarding his ride. Which is correct? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Abdul Muhib (talk • contribs) 19:56, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Israel Bissell had a different role - riding to Philadelphia to tell them about the battles at Lexington and Concord. Revere's part in the events had already happened. It is not true that Longfellow "gave all the credit" to Revere by ignoring Bissell, nor did Longfellow make up Revere's role. He took some liberties with the details, but Paul Revere really did make the 'midnight ride.' --Kevinmlowe 23:32, 2 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes he did but 2 other Men rode with him — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.250.190.118 (talk) 18:53, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

Copper Plate Engravings
Just put a link to the Massachusetts State Archives who hold the original copper engravings of the Landing, of currency that was never used and of the Boston Massacre.

-Tim — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.243.4.157 (talk) 20:08, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Vandalism
I also edited this page, somebody had copied the same text over and over onto the beginning of the text.

Ina — Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.182.76.173 (talk) 10:00, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Syble Lettington
Does anyone know who Syble Lettington was? She's just like Paul Revere but she suceeded in saving the minuteman. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.142.130.33 (talk) 00:22, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

No, Sybil Ludington was a young woman who lived in southern New York near the Connecticut border, who according to tradition (there is no external evidence) rode somewhere between 20 and 40 miles throughout her neighborhood in 1777 to alert militiamen that Danbury, CT was under attack by segments of the British army. She had nothing to do with Boston, Lexington, or Concord.--Kevinmlowe 22:34, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

Some of the facts in the Midnight Ride section are wrong
Maybe due to the vandals, but some of the facts are wrong on this page. Revere did not reach Lexington at noon, but rather at Midnight or shortly thereafter.

Prescott was not "returning from Lexington" rather he was visiting a friend there, and after the alarm was sounded, joined Revere and Prescott on the ride to Concord.

Furthermore, this article states "Revere, Dawes and Prescott were captured by British troops in Lincoln at a roadblock on the way to nearby Concord." Evidence shows only Revere was captured, Dawes and Prescott were riding behind Revere and were never captured.

I would reword the "set ablaze" phrase...makes it sound like he lit them on fire. Maybe "alerted the occupants"...

Finally, it might be worth mentioning that Revere was almost captured earlier in the night at Sullivan Square on the Charelestown-Somerville line--around 11:30pm. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.23.132.158 (talk) 04:23, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Terrorist acts in the Midnight ride?
Where is any reference to Paul Revere's terrorist actions of setting houses on fire during his ride to Lexington? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Wayne Stollings (talk • contribs) 03:05, 25 January 2007 (UTC).

Paul Revere didn't set fire to any houses on his way to Lexington. See any work of history on Revere as well as Revere's own accounts of his actions. This is a myth. Other Revere ride myths include 1) that he never made a ride at all; and 2) that he rode a cow instead of a horse. --Kevinmlowe 19:18, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

"Appolos Riviere, The Blacksmith Father of Our Great American Patriot and Revolutionary" Question
Does anyone know the country of Origin of Paul's Father, The Blacksmith Appolos Riviere? It may be in a citable source. Need more resources. Please Post any findings, as it will add valuable historical information and further complete the article.

--Deneaux 08:43, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

French. Article already states this. Also Apollos was a goldsmith, not a blacksmith.--Kevinmlowe 04:05, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

Good Article status on hold
This article appears to meet all criteria of a good article, but is completely lacking in inline citations. Some may feel that shouldn't disqualify it... if they disagree, they are welcome to pass this article. It is quite good otherwise. --JerryOrr 03:48, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 * My standards on this for GA are: Is there a claim of fact which is both
 * likely to be challenged
 * not likely to be in all the standard books in the bibliography.
 * Can you name some? Septentrionalis PMAnderson 03:56, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 * This definitely DOES need inline citations, and without them, it should be disqualified. Jolb 00:48, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Failed GA
The article failed it GA nomination on 20:27, 22 February 2007 (UTC) because the concerns above were not addressed and the on hold status had expired.

See also: JerryOrr 03:46, 14 February 2007 (UTC) --A mcmurray 20:27, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

Paul failed
Paul only rode to boston before Bissle took over. It is a common myth today that paul rode all the way to lexington and concord. It was bissel, when the legend becomes fact, print the legend...209.247.5.219 18:21, 21 February 2007 (UTC) matt

NO. See above. Revere rode from Boston to Lexington and was then captured on the road between Lexington and Concord. Seeing as his commission was only to ride to Lexington, he succeeded. Revere volunteered to ride to Concord; this part was not completed but he did NOT "fail." Bissell's ride was a news-carrying response to the battles, not a warning.--Kevinmlowe 04:08, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

Lexington?
Where Samuel Adams and John Hancock really in Lexington? I thought they were in Concord and it was just a myth.

24.60.32.191 00:24, 5 March 2007 (UTC)ryan

References in pop culture?
One of Bob Dylan's songs Tombstone Blues mentions Paul Revere. "The reincarnation of Paul Revere's horse". Just putting it out there. I don't know if it should be included. --phocks 05:47, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Towns
Should the Massachusetts town named after Paul be mentioned in the article?--Tikuko 16:19, 24 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Of course! I add it, and a backlink.
 * There are also Revere, Minnesota and Revere, Missouri - are they named after him, too?
 * --Ikar.us (talk) 01:43, 2 May 2008 (UTC)


 * That might be hard to ascertain. I think we can afford to ignore these two very tiny "cities" (populations 100 & 121) without compromising the integrity of the article. Hertz1888 (talk) 01:55, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

Boston Massacre picture
Should his engraving of the Boston massacre have a picture in here? —Preceding unsigned comment added by RJRocket53 (talk • contribs) 06:06, 21 December 2007 (UTC)


 * Definitely. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.173.188.113 (talk) 02:50, 12 November 2008 (UTC)


 * A higher resolution copy of the image is located here: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boston_Massacre_high-res.jpg Could someone who knows what to do replace the low-resolution image? Bwanderson (talk) 16:07, 13 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Done. Thanks for the suggestion and source. Hertz1888 (talk) 16:21, 13 June 2009 (UTC)


 * My pleasure. :) Bwanderson (talk) 04:08, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

Baptism date
''Paul Revere (bap. 22 December 1734 (OS) / 1 January 1735 (NS) – 10 May 1818) .... ''


 * This doesn't hang together. In the 18th century, the gap between the Julian and Gregorian calendars was 11 days.  If the baptism occurred on 22 December 1734 (OS), this equates to 2 January 1735 (NS).  Alternatively, if the long-traditional date of 1 January 1735 (NS) is correct, then this equates to 21 December 1734 (OS).  We can't have it both ways.  Maybe what we're trying to say is that he was baptised on 2 January (NS), and it's traditionally been assumed he was born the day before, 1 January.  But we're currently saying he was born "in very late December".  So we seem to be mixing baptism dates and assumed birth dates in the lead sentence.  This needs to be sorted out pronto.  --  JackofOz (talk) 07:16, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

After His Capture
After Paul's capture in Lincoln he was released by Major Mitchell and stripped of his horse (This horse he borrowed was never seen again after being rode to death). He then walked back to Lexington where he found Captain Parker and a handfull of his men still waiting for word from Thadeous Bowman, a rider dispatched by Captain Parker to find the location of the Regulars. Paul then met up with John Lowell, John Hancock's Secretary in charge of the Continental Congress papaers from their meetings in Concord. This meeting was the reason for Adams and Hancock to be in Lexington. The trunk in which the papers were in was forgotten in the Buckman Tavern where Mr. Lowell was being housed. Mr. Hancock and Adams in such great haste to flee town had left them behind and sent John Lowell back to fetch them. Mr. Lowell knowing Paul Revere being neighbors in Boston and Masonic Brothers asked for a helpful hand in retrieving this trunk and rushed to the Tavern. When in the upstairs room of Mr Lowell Revere noticed the regular column just a quarter of a mile away and reports being just 100yrds or so away from the meeting house with Mr. Lowell when the shots were fired.

JNicks76 (talk) 23:38, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Looking for advice
Any regular contributors/watchers of this page, I'm looking for input. If a user was looking for information on that night when Paul Revere rode through the streets to warn the colonists, should they come here, or go to "Paul Revere's Ride"? My two cents is that "Paul Revere's Ride" is the name of a poem, so the article should be on a poem, whereas anyone looking for info on the historical Revere, including his famous ride, should visit the biographical article on the historical Revere (i.e. this page). Feel free to pipe in at Talk:Paul Revere's Ride. --Midnightdreary (talk) 20:08, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

I beleive he was born on december 21st. Doooomster (talk) 02:59, 21 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Can you point to references supporting that? If so, please correct the article showing your references. Please make sure your sources are reliable and meet the criteria set out in WP:REF. Manway (talk) 04:01, 21 December 2008 (UTC)

I found it in a book called "Paul Revere, Rider for the Revolution" By: Barbara Ford. Doooomster (talk) 20:24, 21 December 2008 (UTC)

Exhumation of Warren
I have doubts about a newly-added, unsourced account in the War years section. It says Warren had been buried three weeks earlier, but then asserts that Revere had placed false teeth in his friend's mouth "earlier that week". In the Joseph Warren article, the exhumation is reported as taking place after ten months. Too many inconsistencies. If no one objects, and comes through with clarifications and proper citation, I propose to undo this edit - very soon. Hertz1888 (talk) 04:19, 19 July 2008 (UTC)


 * The grosser inconsistencies are gone, the account reads better now, and there are two citations. Unfortunately, neither of them indicates that Revere was even present for the exhumation.  Other essential details likewise remain unsourced: the incredulousness of the friends, what Revere and others thought, etc.  One has to wonder where these vivid details come from.  Until that question can be answered (accompanied by additional citations or by deletions) the account will continue to seem hokey and unencyclopedic, as WP stands on verifiability and requires reliable sourcing.  As perhaps a less serious issue, but nevertheless a remaining inconsistency, one citation states that Warren's grave was shared with only one other body - not quite a "mass" grave.  How hard could it have been "looking through the bodies" when there were only two? Hertz1888 (talk) 22:00, 19 July 2008 (UTC)


 * All the issues appear to have been dealt with, and dealt with well. Thanks, Greensburger, for finessing this tricky paragraph.  Case closed. Hertz1888 (talk) 16:42, 20 July 2008 (UTC)

I if by land 2 if by sea
I didnt see that in the article, please add if I am not dumb and it is not in there. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.1.112.247 (talk) 00:51, 3 December 2009 (UTC)

baptisim
why not just have the birthdate instead of the baptisim date? he was born december21, 1734 thanks, bobair1     66.167.130.108 (talk) 16:42, 14 April 2010 (UTC)

Edit request from Usyflad10, 24 April 2010
editsemiprotected

for the infobox, Sarah Orne should also be added as a spouse. -- Usyflad 10  23:53, 24 April 2010 (UTC)

Usyflad 10  23:53, 24 April 2010 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made.--ℳøℕø 00:29, 25 April 2010 (UTC)

http://books.google.com/books?id=DItAX0GNQpwC&pg=PT25&dq=sarah+orne+paul+revere's+wife&hl=en&ei=2o_TS-yNDIKdlgfE9bTtDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=sarah%20orne%20paul%20revere's%20wife&f=false--Profitoftruth85 (talk) 00:42, 25 April 2010 (UTC)

Edit request from RhythmicQuietude, 19 June 2010
Please change: File:Paul Revere Memorial, Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.JPG

To: File:Paul Revere Memorial, Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.jpg

Because: Higher-resolution image and higher color accuracy.

RhythmicQuietude (talk) 18:42, 19 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Done! A nice improvement. Thanks! Hertz1888 (talk) 19:10, 19 June 2010 (UTC)

Possible reference for "In re-examining the episode, some historians[who?] in the 20th century have attempted to demythologize Paul Revere almost to the point of marginalization, 20 Nov, 2010
See a new book by British historical novelist Bernard Cornwell called "The Fort". This book appears to be a re-examination of the episode and should serve as a good citation here.

DrDuru KnwMgmt (talk) 03:21, 21 November 2010 (UTC)DrDuru_KnwMgt

Albeit fiction, it is a damning portrayal of Revere as a coward, based on fact 20:52, 14 Jan 2010 Kentish —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.166.182.163 (talk)

First person
"The daybooks of his shop that survived to our days". "Our" doesn't sound encyclopedic. It should be replaced with "the present day" or something similar. 72.152.137.212 (talk) 02:15, 15 April 2011 (UTC)

Assessment comment
Substituted at 21:52, 3 May 2016 (UTC)