Middleboro captain honored on the 250th anniversary of Revolutionary War

CONCORD — Every U.S. history textbook recounts how on April 19, 1775, colonial militia courageously fought in what would become the first battle of the Revolutionary War.  Left out of those books, however, is that Middleboro troops trekked to Marshfield on that same day, fearing another British attack.  

Visitors can learn these lesser-known facts about the Revolutionary War at the ‘Puritans to Patriots’ special exhibit at the Massachusetts National Guard Museum in Concord. The exhibit features Captain Joshua Eddy, a Middleboro resident who was a revolutionary war hero, prominent businessman and community leader in Middleboro.  

“There are museums in Concord that already tell the story of the start of the Revolution so amazingly well,” explained Museum Director Colonel Lieutenant Geoffrey Love, on why he and his team decided to focus on a Middleboro figure. “We didn’t want to compete with that. We wanted to tell something beyond that story.”  

The exhibit opened on April 18, one day before the 250th anniversary of the commencement of the Revolutionary War. It will be open at least through July 4, 2026, in honor of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, according to museum staff.   

Among glass cases filled with relics from the Eddy family and weapons of Middleboro soldiers, are the stories omitted from history textbooks, such as that of a second battle that almost transpired on the same day as the Battle of Lexington and Concord — called 'The Other April 19, 1775'. This close call involved south shore troops that had been called to Marshfield, a loyalist stronghold, to be prepared in case of a British attack.   

“Bringing these things to light that are less commonly known is what makes the exhibit special. It gives it more meaning," noted Museum curator James MacDonald, a retired member of the U.S. Airforce.  

MacDonald lives in an Eddy home in Middleboro, where many of the items in the collection came. "The Eddy’s are known in Middleboro circles and surrounding areas, but they’re not generally known throughout the state. It was a way to highlight the service of a typical soldier.” 

Far from typical, one might argue, Captain Joshua Eddy joined the ranks as a private and became a captain, leading troops through important battles such as those of Ticonderoga and Saratoga. After three years in the service, he returned to Middleboro and established a successful business smelting iron ore to make tea kettles, pots and other ware.  

He was an affluent businessman, landowner, and pious puritan. Visitors will glean from the exhibit that it was a radical Middleboro pastor from the First Congregational Church of Middleboro, still operating today, who inspired him to fight for the patriot cause.  

Artifacts from the exhibit were also sourced from the Middleboro Historical Museum and the Eddy Homestead Museum in Middleboro. The portraits of Joshua Eddy and his wife Lydia, painted by a Middleboro artist, were borrowed from the Eddy Homestead Museum. 

Items such a roster of the men who enlisted in Middleboro’s militia in 1710, and newspaper clippings, paint a more comprehensive picture of Middleboro’s history.  

The exhibit was of special significance to its first visitor, a descendant of Joshua Eddy. “She was in tears throughout most of the exhibit because that was her ancestor,” said MacDonald.  

He hopes more Middleboro residents make the drive to learn about this important historical figure from their town. In addition to the 'Puritans and Patriots' special exhibit, the National Guard Museum now features a collection of artifacts from each of the major wars the U.S. participated in the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. 

Museum Director Colonel Lieutenant Love hopes visitors walk away from the exhibit with an appreciation for what the National Guard does. “The challenges of being a militiaman or a guardsman today haven’t changed much over time. Joshua Eddy had to perform a delicate juggling act to be a militiaman, father and husband, businessman, a member of his congregation, a leader in the community. We see similar stories throughout our history, even today.” 

The hours of the museum are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except for federal holidays. For those interested in exploring resources closer to home, visit www.eddyfamilyassociation.com/homestead-middleborough-ma.htm for more information.