Jonathan Harrington

Jonathan Harrington (March 6 1745- April 19 1775) was a American Revolutionary War Soldier who was killed by the first fire of the enemy on Lexington Green on the first day of the American Revolution. After being mortally wounded, he crawled to the doorstep of his house, only to die at his wife's feet. He was one of the first eight of fifty Americans either killed or mortally wounded on that day.

Jonathan Harrington Jr. was a descendant of Robert Harrington, who settled in Watertown in 1642, almost one hundred years before Jonathan Harrington Jr. was born. Jonathan Jr. had 10 other siblings, and he was the fourth-oldest. He was born in Bedford on March 6, and was named “Jr.” to distinguish himself from his older second cousin, also named Jonathan Harrington. He was a farmer and was around 31 years old at the time of his death. 

Jonathan Harrington was born on March 6, 1745, in Bedford, MIddlesex, Massachusetts. He was the son of Henry and Sarah (Laughton) Harrington. Jonathan married Ruth Fiske on February 6, 1766, in Lexington, Middlesex, Massachusetts. They had one child: 

 Jonathan, b. October 25, 1766

A member of Captain John Parker's Company of Minute Men, Jonathan was present when the Company met the British on the Common on April 19, 1775. Jonathan was one of the eight men who died in that encounter with the British.

His home, called ‘The Jonathan Harrington House’ still stands in Lexington on Harrington Road.
See also
List of Americans Who Died In The Battle of Lexington And Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord
References