Page "William Prescott" Paragraph 6

In 1774, when Massachusetts towns began forming militia companies, Prescott was made a colonel commanding the Pepperell company.

The alarm that was raised on the evening of April 18, 1775, that British troops were marching on Concord reached Pepperell about 10 a. m. on April 19.

Prescott immediately alerted the companies of Pepperell, Hollis, and Groton, and rode toward Concord.

The companies arrived too late to participate in the day's battles, but they became part of the small army that laid siege to Boston afterward.