St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-04-24
A Priceless Diary.
II was kept by the dreat-drandiather oil 'ohn
d.P. Hicks Of ST. Johnsbury.


d.P. Hicks Of st. Johnsbury'
The Minneapolis Tribune OF January22
gives an interesting account OF Diary
kept by John Hicks, the first man killed
in the Revolutionary War John u T.
Hicks bookkecpcr forthe Ely Hoe & FORK
Co., is the son Of thepresent owner oithe
diary, and therefore great-grandson TO
the revolutionary hero. Hereis the story
as first published in the Tribune
There lives today in this city grand
son Of John Hicks, the first man killed in
the war Of the revolution, and one OF the
first minute men awakened from his sleep
by the warning given by Paul Revere on
the night of the latter's famous ride
This grandson OF John Hicks, George
Pierce Hicks, lives with his son-ln'Iaw,
Holman R. Drew, at Girard and Summit
avenues, and is now in his SSth year,
though still erect and in possession OF all
his faculties. The Tribune called on Mr.
Hicks recently, and found him a very
pleasant, white-haired old gentleman
who was pleased to give the reporter all
the information he could. Heproduceda
voluminous diary, kept by his mother
and which contained much information
of value concerning the times Immediately
succeeding the great war. At one point
in the diary the connection OF Mr.. Hicks
grandfather, John Hicks, with the Incl
dent of Paul Revere's rideis related. Inc
Hicks of revolutionary times was one OF
the first of the minute men to be awak-
ened by that famous messenger. With
the others he sprang into his clothes,
took up his gun and ran to guard the
bridge at Lexington. He was the hrst
man killed, and is none other than the
person immortalzed by Lonefellow in his
poem. Paul Reveres Ride, thus:
"And one was safe and asleep IN his bed,
Who at the bridge would be first to fall;
Who that day would be lying dead,
Pierced by a British musket ball.
Zacharia Hicks was a son Of that John
Hicks and uncle to the present George
Hicks. At the time of the breaking out OF
the revolution he was just Is years old
He, too, took up arms with therevoluton-
lists, and did valiant service for his coun-
try. He also fought at the famous battle
of Lexington, where his father died. He
was afterwards promoted to the position
, of marshal and entered Boston with Gen
Washington when that great leader was
! escorted into that city in 1889
The diary goes on to say that Zacharit
: Hicks wasa warm personal friend otPau
| Revere and that he, together with sucl
well known men as Oliver Johannet, Dan
e iel Messenger, Peter Macintosh, Samue
, Perkins James Phillips, Henry Perkitt ant
$ BENJAMIN Russell founded the " Massachu
= setts Charitable Mechanics Association
a in 1895. This association elected PAT
:. Revere as president, and Zacharla Hick
@ is described as being foremost among I'll
p members who participatedin its triennif
S meetings urtil the time Of his death.
e An interesting historical note is mad
: to the effect that Revere was cope
It founder, and in the scrapbook, supplemel
It tary to the diary, is reproduction of
e newspaper cut made by Revere, represen
- ing the massacre of the patriots in Bostc
:. by the British soldiers i'll 1910. 1t is
st very creditable piece of work-surpri
er ingly so, when the incipient condition
Is the art OF making newspaper cuts,
- that time. is taken into consideration.
x 49,.
m George Hicks, himself, has had consi
re cradle military experience OF an acti
n kind. During the Indian outbreak
a. Fort Ridgely be was in the field, and
to his own family he has related many
SIS his experiences. His modesty prevent
II, him from expatiating on them to
ng visitor but the old gentleman is just
re- proud of the record of his ancestors in t
A. great war of the revolution.