600 WARREN COUNTY. 



time arrived for tiie appointment of an orator, for 1775, com- 

 memorative of this massacre, this office was again conferred 

 upon Mr. Warren, at his own request. Some of the British 

 officers, then in Boston, had pledged themselves to take the 

 life of any man who should refer to the massacre on that 

 occasion, and, hearing of this threat, Mr. Warren earnestly de- 

 sired the honour of braving it. The oration was delivered. 

 Unappalled the patriot orator depicted in moving terms the 

 injustice of Great Britain ; and although crowds of British 

 officers were present, no attempt was made to carry their 

 threats into execution. On the evening before the battle of 

 Lexington, Warren received information that the enemy de- 

 signed to seize the military stores at Concord, and immediately 

 adopted measures to spread the information. On the next 

 day, the never to be forgotten 19th of April, Mr. Warren was 

 destined to display gallantry, which has given him a high 

 rank among those who lost their lives in fighting for the liber- 

 ties of their country. Four days previous to the battle of 

 Bunker's or Breed's Hill, he had received his commission of 

 Major General. His friends entreated him not to expose him- 

 self incautiously ; but such was his zeal, that he rushed into the 

 battle with his mi^sket, and received a shot in the head, which 

 immediately killed him. In 1776, his remains were taken from 

 the earth, at Breed's Hill, placed in a coffin, and brought to the 

 Stone Chapel, in Boston, and deposited in a vault under the 

 chapel, by the Freemasons, of which he was Grand Master. 

 A monument also was erected by this ancient fraternity, to 

 his memory, on the battle-field, which has, however, given place 

 to the Bunker Hill Monument. Congress made provision for 

 the maintenance and education of his children. People of 

 Warren ! should necessity ever require you to take up arms 

 in the defence of your country, imitate the example of the man 

 after whom your county is called. 



