Site of Easton's Tavern - Pittsfield, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 26.859 W 073° 15.240
18T E 643583 N 4700957
A monument on South Street in Pittsfield marks the site of Easton's Tavern where the plan to capture Fort Ticonderoga was devised.
Waymark Code: WMHGQ9
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 07/09/2013
Views: 10
In 1775, Fort Ticonderoga in New York State was occupied by British forces. The fort had artillery that was needed by the Continental Army to help end the siege of Boston. A plan was conceived in Easton Tavern in Pittsfield, MA to capture the fort. This was to be one of the first offensive military actions of the Revolutionary War.
On May 1, 1775, John Brown, Captain Edward Mott and Colonel James Easton met at Easton's Tavern to devise plans for attacking Fort Ticonderoga and capturing its artillery. The plan called for the recruitment of additional militia from Berkshire County and join forces with Colonel Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys from Vermont.
In May 1775, Fort Ticonderoga was captured in a surprise attack. The artillery was transported overland by General Knox to Cambridge, MA and the British evacuated Boston.
A monument at the site of Easton's Tavern contains a bronze plaque. The plaque is inscribed:
NEAR THIS SPOT STOOD
EASTON'S TAVERN
HERE ON MAY 1, 1775, COLONEL
JAMES EASTON AND JOHN BROWN
OF PITTSFIELD AND CAPTAIN EDWARD
MOTT OF PRESTON, CONN. PLANNED
THE CAPTURE OF FORT TICONDEROGA
WHICH ON MAY 10 SURRENDERED
TO THE CONTINENTAL ARMY WITH COLONEL
EASTON SECOND IN COMMAND
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