Facts
- Sylvanus Wood was born in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, on January 27, 1749.
- His parents were John Wood and Esther Wood.
- Following the Battle of Lexington, Wood served in the Continental Army, under his brother, Captain John Wood, in the regiment of Colonel Loammi Baldwin.
- He achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
- Wood married Abigail Smith of Lexington on June 3, 1778. She likely died, although no record of her death exists.
- He married Deborah Bruce of Woburn on January 26, 1784.
- Wood died on August 12, 1840, at the age of 91.
Significance
Sylvanus Wood is important to American History because he fought in the Battle of Lexington and is famous because he took the first prisoner of the American Revolutionary War.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
The following account of Sylvanus Wood and his role in the Battles of Lexington and Concord is taken from The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass., written by Samuel Sewell and published in 1868. Wood responded to the Lexington Alarm early and was followed soon after by members of the Woburn Militia.
Please note that we have made minor text corrections and edits to the text, but have not changed the meaning. Spacing, section headings, and notes have been added to help readers scan and understand the text.
In the original text, Sewell spells Wood’s first name as “Silvanus.” We have changed it to the modern spelling, “Sylvanus.”
Sylvanus Wood at the Battle of Lexington
Mr. Sylvanus Wood, then living at Kendall’s Mill in Woburn, was awaked while in bed before daybreak that morning, by a messenger who called to him, announcing that a party of British soldiers was on the march towards Lexington, and urging him to go and join Captain Parker’s company then assembled on Lexington Common.
He went, and was mustered in Captain Parker’s company, and was in its ranks when the men were fired upon by the British, after they had turned their backs to retreat, in obedience to the orders of their captain.
AHC Note — The Lexington Militia was under the command of Captain John Parker.
Wood Follows the British Expedition
When the British continued their march that morning towards Concord, Wood followed with his gun in their rear, accompanied by another person who was without a gun.
Wood Takes the First Prisoner of the War
Upon or near Parkhurst’s Hill, in Lexington, about a mile from the meeting-house, observing a British soldier turn aside from the ranks upon some necessary occasion, he hastened up to him while he was alone, and pointing his gun to his breast, ordered him immediately to deliver up himself and his weapon to him, or he should instantly be a dead man.
The soldier, taken thus by surprise, and when unable to defend himself, or receive help from others, obeyed; and Wood taking his musket to himself, and giving his own gun into the charge of his unarmed associate, bade him take that man to such a person (or place) in Lexington; and then proceeded himself in the track of the British, towards Concord.
The Fate of Wood’s Prisoner
What became of the British private, who, taken in an evil hour had surrendered himself and weapon to Wood, could never afterwards be satisfactorily ascertained.
It has been conjectured that the soldier, having a supply of British gold in his pockets, offered a piece of it to the person who had him in charge, and with it successfully bribed him to give him his liberty.
Wood Receives a Pension
Upon the ground of this seemingly unavailing capture, however, Wood always claimed the honor of having taken the first prisoner in the American War. And urging this claim at Washington, about the year 1824, he obtained, with the aid of Honorable Edward Everett, then Representative in Congress for the District of Middlesex, a handsome pension for life.
1825 Affidavit
In 1825, Americans were celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Some of the surviving participants were asked to give their testimony about the events of April 19, 1775.
Wood Responds to the Lexington Alarm
I, Sylvanus Wood, of Woburn, in the county of Middlesex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy-four years, do testify and say, that on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, I was an inhabitant of Woburn, living with Deacon Obadiah Kendall; that about an hour before the break of day on said morning, I heard the Lexington bell ring, and fearing there was difficulty there, I immediately arose, took my gun, and, with Robert Douglass, went in haste to Lexington, which was about three miles distant.
Parker Asks Wood to Stand with the Lexington Militia
When I arrived there, I inquired of Captain Parker, the commander of the Lexington company, what was the news. Parker told me he did not know what to believe, for a man had come up about half an hour before, and informed him that the British troops were not on the road. But while we were talking, a messenger came up and told the captain that the British troops were within half a mile. Parker immediately turned to his drummer, William Diman, and ordered him to beat to arms, which was done. Captain Parker then asked me if I would parade with his company. I told him I would. Parker then asked me if the young man with me would parade. I spoke to Douglass, and he said he would follow the captain and me.
Wood Assembles with the Lexington Miltia
By this time many of the company had gathered around the captain at the hearing of the drum, where we stood, which was about half way between the meeting-house and Buckman’s tavern. Parker says to his men, “Every man of you, who is equipped, follow me; and those of you who are not equipped, go into the meeting-house and furnish yourselves from the magazine, and immediately join the company.” Parker led those of us who were equipped to the north end of Lexington Common, near the Bedford road, and formed us in single file. I was stationed about in the centre of the company. While we were standing, I left my place, and went from one end of the company to the other, and counted every man who was paraded, and the whole number was thirty-eight, and no more.
The British Expedition Arrives in Lexington
Just as I had finished, and got back to my place, I perceived the British troops had arrived on the spot between the meeting-house and Buckman’s, near where Captain Parker stood when he first led off his men. The British troops immediately wheeled so as to cut off those who had gone into the meeting-house. The British troops approached us rapidly in platoons, with a general officer on horseback at their head.
The Battle of Lexington Begins
The officer came up to within about two rods of the centre of the company, where I stood, the first platoon being about three rods distant. They there halted. The officer then swung his sword, and said, “Lay down your arms, you damned rebels, or you are all dead men—Fire!” Some guns were fired by the British at us from the first platoon, but no person was killed or hurt, being probably charged only with powder.
Parker Orders the Militia to Disperse
Just at this time, Captain Parker ordered every man to take care of himself. The company immediately dispersed; and while the company was dispersing and leaping over the wall, the second platoon of the British fired, and killed some of our men.
Wood Recalls if the Lexington Militia Returned Fire
There was not a gun fired by any of Captain Parker’s company, within my knowledge. I was so situated that I must have known it, had any thing of the kind taken place before a total dispersion of our company.
I have been intimately acquainted with the inhabitants of Lexington, and particularly with those of Captain Parker’s company, and, with one exception, I have never heard any of them say or pretend that there was any firing at the British from Parker’s company, or any individual in it, until within a year or two.
One member of the company told me, many years since, that, after Parker’s company had dispersed, and he was at some distance, he gave them “the guts of his gun.”
Wood Witnesses Casualties
After the British had begun their march to Concord, I returned to the Common, and found Robert Roe and Jonas Parker lying dead at the north corner of the Common, near the Bedford road, and others dead and wounded.
Wood Takes His Prisoner
I assisted in carrying the dead into the meeting-house. I then proceeded towards concord with my gun, and when I came near the tavern in Lexington, now kept by Mr. Viles, I saw a British soldier seated on the bank by the road. I went to him, with my gun in readiness to fire, if he should offer to resist. I took his gun, cutlass, and equipments from him. I then proceeded with him towards Lexington, and meeting a Mr. Welch and another person, I delivered the prisoner to them.
After Welch arrived in Lexington with the prisoner, I understood that another prisoner was taken by Mr. John Flagg, and that they were conducted to Burlington and put under the care of Captain James Reed. I believe that the soldier who surrendered his gun to me was the first prisoner taken by the Americans on that day.
Sylvanus Wood.
Middlesex, ss., June 17, 1826.
—Then the above-named Sylvanus Wood personally appeared, and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing affidavit. Before me,
Nathan Brooks, Justice of the Peace.
