American Revolutionary War Patriot. He is credited as the last survivor of the Battle of Lexington. Jonathan Harrington was the last known survivor of the Battles of Lexington and Concord when he died. He was 16 years old and a fifer in the company of Captain John Parker at the time of the 1775 battle. He formed up with Captain Parker's militia at Lexington, and fled with the other colonists after the brief skirmish. His namesake and uncle Jonathan Harrington was mortally wounded by British gunfire, and is reported to have tried to crawl to his doorstep and died in his wife's arms. After the fight at Lexington, colonial militias formed and pursued the British soldiers. The young man again accompanied them. The colonials were not fighting in the traditional European manner, but rather, were hiding behind trees, rocks, and walls, making them all but impossible to hit. Out of their sight but within earshot was the sound of Captain John Parker's Drum and Fife, playing the "White Cockade." This alerted the British that colonial reinforcements were coming, and they began to panic. There are no further reports of him taking part in any battles after Concord. He married two years later, and had as many as eight children. He was the only witness of the first shot of the Revolution to be photographed.
American Revolutionary War Patriot. He is credited as the last survivor of the Battle of Lexington. Jonathan Harrington was the last known survivor of the Battles of Lexington and Concord when he died. He was 16 years old and a fifer in the company of Captain John Parker at the time of the 1775 battle. He formed up with Captain Parker's militia at Lexington, and fled with the other colonists after the brief skirmish. His namesake and uncle Jonathan Harrington was mortally wounded by British gunfire, and is reported to have tried to crawl to his doorstep and died in his wife's arms. After the fight at Lexington, colonial militias formed and pursued the British soldiers. The young man again accompanied them. The colonials were not fighting in the traditional European manner, but rather, were hiding behind trees, rocks, and walls, making them all but impossible to hit. Out of their sight but within earshot was the sound of Captain John Parker's Drum and Fife, playing the "White Cockade." This alerted the British that colonial reinforcements were coming, and they began to panic. There are no further reports of him taking part in any battles after Concord. He married two years later, and had as many as eight children. He was the only witness of the first shot of the Revolution to be photographed.
Bio by: Pete Mohney
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