Travel Back in Time: General Artemas Ward House Museum

Today's to Shrewsbury gives us a look back on the town.

The General Artemas Ward House Museum was the home of the first commander-in-chief of the patriot forces during the American Revolution.

Ward was born on Nov. 26, 1727, and lived most of his life in Shrewsbury. On July 31, 1750, he married Sarah Trowbridge, daughter of Rev. Caleb Trowbridge and Hannah Walter of Groton. They had eight children.

Ward attended the common schools, was prepared for college by a private tutor and graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor of arts in 1748 and a master's in 1751. Like his father, he held a number of public offices at the town, county, and state level.

He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1752, a representative in the Colonial General Assembly for many terms and in the executive council, Lt. Col. in the Provincial Army in the French and Indian War and appointed Brigadier General by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts on Oct. 27, 1774.

As political crises brought on an American Revolution, Ward was made commander in chief of the Massachusetts forces on May 19, 1775, appointed by the Continental Congress to Major General on June 17, 1775 (second in seniority only to George Washington) and was in command of the forces besieging Boston until the arrival of Washington in Cambridge July 2, 1775.

The Battle of Bunker Hill occurred under Ward’s general command. The fortifying of Dorchester Heights with cannon brought from Fort Ticonderoga by General Henry Knox took place in the sector under Ward’s command in March 1776.

Soon after the British evacuated Boston, Ward returned to civilian life where he served in demanding and important positions. He was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas of Worcester County in 1776 and 1777. He served in the Massachusetts Senate as President of the Executive Council. In this capacity Ward functioned as Massachusetts’ chief executive during the war (1777-1779) in the office that replaced the Royal Governor no longer recognized.

He was a member of the Continental Congress from January 1780 to May 1782 when he resigned, and was later elected as a Federalist to the 2nd and 3rd Congresses (1791-1795).

In December 1797 Ward concluded his long career as judge and spent his final years in quiet retirement at home with his family. He died on Oct. 28, 1800, and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Shrewsbury Center.

His farm was owned by generations of Ward family members. It is now owned and maintained by Harvard University and open to the public to advance research, teaching and education.

Stop in to learn more about the town's history and the most famous resident of town.

The museum is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. or by appointment.