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Acton 250: Robbins Ride reenactment draws a crowd

April 26, 2025
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About 100 residents gathered at the Faulkner House early Friday evening to see the reenactment of the alarm ride of April 19, 1775.

Members of the Acton Minutemen re-enact this event every year, with riders portraying Samuel Prescott and Captain Robbins’ 13-year-old son John Prescott, who rode to Colonel Faulkner’s house at 5 High Street to warn him to muster his militia after receiving the alarm themselves from Dr. Samuel Prescott, who rode in from Concord.

On the left, a man in colonial garb rides a white horse down the road. A police car with flashing lights is behind him. On the right a young woman (dressed as a boy) rides a dappled brown horse.
Riders portraying Samuel Prescott (Dave Loda) and John Robbins (Georgia Barry) head towards Faulkner House. Composite photo: Charles Bandes
The riders and their horse make it up the hill to the yard in front of Faulkner house. Minutemen and women stand in the background.
The riders made it to Faulkner House to raise the alarm. Photo: Alissa Nicol

When they get to Faulkner House, the riders wake up Colonel Francis Faulkner, who quickly comes out – still in his nightclothes, but with his musket at the ready.

A man stands in front of a yellow house. He's wearing a nightcap and his long shirt is not tucked on (and socks but no shoes!). He is firing his musket and you can see the fire leaving the gun.
Colonel Francis Faulkner, still in his nightcap, passes on the alarm by firing three musket shots, after which the crowd expectantly awaits the answering volley from some distance away. Photo: Stella Ko

After their stop at the Faulkner House, the riders, along with several Minutemen, stopped at Liberty Tree Farm on Liberty Street.

The Minutemen fire a volley from Liberty Tree Farm to warn the Minutemen that the British Regulars are on their way! Video: Janet O’Connor.

A large group of women wearing colonial garb (long dresses, aprons, bonnets, and capes) stand in front of woods.
And back at Faulkner House, the ladies of Ironwork Farm watch from the sidelines… Photo: Miriam Lezak
A group of men and women in men's colonial garb shoot their muskets into the air. Smoke and fire is visible from some of the guns.
…as the Minutemen fire a volley! Photo: Charles Bandes
A large group of people watch a man in colnial garb give his final speech of the day. In the background are the re-enactors from the Acton Minutemen and Ironwork Farm.
People watch the reenactment of Robbins Ride at Faulkner House. Minuteman Steve Crosby ends his day as he started it – Talking about the history of April 19, 1775. Photo: Alissa Nicol
A tall man wearing a tricorner hat, brown jacket and red vest playes a fife.
Tom Griffin plays the fife during Robbins Ride. Photo: Charles Bandes

Alissa Nicol is a member of the Acton Select Board and writes frequently about community events for the Acton Exchange.

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