Colonel Joshua Harnden

Col. in the American Revolution . 7th Company of Col. Fox's (2nd Middlesex County) Regiment of Massachusetts militia. Original owner of the home that became the "Harnden Tavern" in Wilmington, Mass. He is also listed in the DAR Patriot Index. During the Revolution Joshua served under Cap t. Timothy Walker's Militia Co. In 1780 Joshua was one of three men Wilmington chose to assist in drawing up the Massachusetts Constitution. Died at age: 68 yrs. In Wilmington, Massachusetts is the house known as the Col. Joshua Harnden Tavern. It was built around 1770 and shortly thereafter bought by Joshu a Harnden, the great grandson of the first known English settler in the area of North Wilmington. Joshua, being a prominent leader, was involved in the affair s of the community and the newlt formed republic, the United States of America. The Harnden Tavern today, stands as a reminder to us all of our nation's earli est history, kept alive by a small group of volunteers known as the Friends of the Harnden Tavern. In the early years of our nation, it was mandated every town should have a housing available for travelers and visiting dignitaries. In response, Col. Harnden opened his house to weary travelers beginning in 1795 a nd operated the tavern until his death in 1807. His wife Sarah died just four y ears later and the house was eventually sold off to Dr. Silas Brown in 1818. Th e Brown family owned the house over the next 125 years and although no document ation exists the house may have been linked to the underground railroad of the middle 1800's. Massachusetts was a hotbed for abolitionist activity and the Har nden Tavern does have a "Hidden Room" that is rumored to have been used to hide escaped slaves. In 1943, the house was sold off to Dentist Charles Round, who lived in it until his death in 1971. The house now over 200 years old, was o ne of the first historic sites to be saved from demolition by the Eminent Domai n Act of 1973. The house is administered by the Wilmington Historical Commissio n, assisted by The Friends of the Harnden Tavern. The historic house has outbui ldings on the property. During the year, the Tavern opens its doors to visitors on the first sunday of the month from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. A strawberry festiva l is held every June, as well as a Harvest Festival and Quilt Roundup in Octobe r. The main event is a Christmas Social held every December to kick off the hol iday season. BURIAL: From Wilmington Cemetery Records: Buried in Old Burying Ground #2, stone has death at 9 September 1807 aged 68 years.

From the following source: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~laplante/genealogy/PS23/PS23_474.HTM