Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 3.

[p. 34] will he left a silver cup to the church in Medford. A special act of the Legislature was necessary before it could be delivered. He bequeathed to the town a piece of land in Granby upon which $100 was realized. His estate was not settled until 1805.

A man of great hospitality, charity, and charm of manner, Colonel Royall lacked the firmness which the times necessitated. He was never considered an active enemy of the Colonies, but the principle of the times was, ‘Who is not for us is against us.’

After the Battle of Lexington the British were completely surrounded on the land side. They, however, held the harbor and the rivers Mystic and Charles.

Men-of-war were ordered up these rivers as far as the tide would allow.

Cannon were ordered to be placed on Bunker Hill to annoy the enemy if they attempted to go to Medford by water.

A company of militia was raised in the town, and was instructed to remain there till further orders, ‘holding themselves ready to march at a minute's notice.’

The General Court ordered that all the cattle on Hog, Snake, and Noddle's Islands should be driven back into the country. The Selectmen of Malden, Chelsea, Lynn, and Medford were given charge of this work, with authority to draw on the troops quartered in Medford as they might consider necessary.

This refers to the New Hampshire men under Sargent and Stark.

We have no positive record that the Medford company was under fire at the Battle of Bunker Hill, but we know that after the British landed their regiment was stationed in the road leading to Lechmere Point, and late in the day was ordered to Charlestown. On arriving at Bunker Hill (the real Bunker Hill) General Putnam ordered part of the regiment to throw up entrenchments there; another detachment went to the rail fence with the New Hampshire men; and a third,