Editor’s note: The following is the first in a series of stories on Westport’s Revolutionary War era history, provided by the Westport Historical Society. The society is focusing on the Revolutionary era this year as Westport and the rest of America prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. For more about Westport’s revolutionary past, see wpthistory.org/category/westports-revolutionary-stories. And for more information about town-wide celebrations of the anniversary, see www.westportma250.com/

The story of Abner Brownell (1756-1851) – “Westport’s Paul Revere” – has been handed down through the generations. Its origin and authenticity remain unknown but it first appears in the writings of Gladys Gifford Kirby, author of many articles on local history. Although her source for the story about Abner Brownell is unknown, her deep knowledge of Westport’s history adds an element of authenticity. But, unfortunately we may never know how accurate it is!

According to Gladys Gifford Kirby, in April 1775, Abner Brownell “Came to tell the people of our town that war had begun, and that all the minutemen must start for Boston immediately. Now everything was hustle and bustle for within a few hours two companies of the Dartmouth minutemen were on their way to Boston.” (History of Westport by Gladys Gifford Kirby)

The details of Abner Brownell’s ride are lost to history. It may be that Abner Brownell was part of a chain of alarm riders. These riders – the many local and nameless Paul Reveres– spread out across the state. It is unlikely that minutemen were able to set out immediately from Dartmouth. As documented in a pay roll of the minute company which marched from Dartmouth it was not until April 21 that a company set out under the command of Thomas Kempton.

Abner kept a diary of his travels and preachings which was donated to the American Antiquarian Society by Hannah Brownell in 1919. It includes a short autobiography written in 1779 providing further details about his life. He grew up on the family farm on Adamsville Road (known as the Oscar Palmer Farm) and was instructed in his father’s trade as a tailor.

His diary describes his reluctant attraction to participating in the conflict which he describes as “the unnatural war, Commenced, Between Great Britain, and North America.”

As a Quaker, Abner Brownell was opposed to war, but as a young man he was equally attracted to “the honour and applause” and possibility of promotion. His participation was limited to a short enlistment “when the Britains took possession of Rhode island.”

The following year Abner experienced a religious awakening precipitated by:

“a great Pestilence, of the Bloody Flux, (Call’d the Camp Distemper) [dysentery] amongst the Inhabitants; Seeing so much Mortality, and Expecting that Soon it would be my Turn…I Seem’d to have an Earnest Desire in my heart, to Reform my Life.”

He soon became an ardent follower of Jemima Wilkinson (1752-1819), the "Public Universal Friend." He was at Groton “the day after the great slaughter at Fort Griswold, when the defenders were killed by the British soldiers and saw the mutilated bodies and attended the funeral of many of the victims.”

Abner returned to Westport, becoming involved in the silkworm industry. He was active in town affairs.

He married Hannah Crary (1761-1837) in 1784. Both were buried in the family cemetery at the Oscar Palmer Farm on Adamsville Road, Westport.

This summer, an exhibition at the Handy House commemorates Westport’s Revolutionary Stories, open June 27 – Sep 19 at the Handy House, 202 Hix Bridge Road, Westport MA.

Learn more about the historical society, and revolutionary era stories, here.

Learn more about town-wide 250 events here.