History Revere, Massachusetts

portrait of paul revere john singleton copley

revere’s first inhabitants native americans belonged pawtucket tribe , known rumney marsh indians. leader, or sachem, of pawtuckets nanepashemet of lynn. in 1616, epidemic, smallpox, swept region, killing thousands in wake. nanepashemet retired mystic river, in medford, found murdered in 1619 @ fort on brow of rock hill overlooking river. 3 sons succeeded him in reign. 1 of them, wonohaquaham, called sagamore john, had jurisdiction on native americans @ winnisemmit (later chelsea) , rumney marsh.

the native americans, intimate knowledge of vast, yet unexplored wilderness, helped settlers in struggle survive. during king philip s war, local friendly native americans placed on deer island, many of them perished. of them on island enlisted colonists defeat other warring tribes.

rumney marsh divided , allotted twenty-one of boston s prominent citizens. 1639, original allotments had been consolidated 7 great farms. farming principal industry of winnisemmet, , rumney marsh in particular. on september 25, 1634, rumney marsh annexed boston, had received name 4 years earlier. winnisemmet , pullen poynt (which later known winthrop) annexed boston. first county road in north america stretched across rumney marsh winnisemmet ferry olde salem in 1641.

in 1739, rumney marsh, winnisemmet , pullen poynt set off boston , established town of chelsea. largest of 3 settlements, rumney marsh (or north chelsea) selected town center.

in 1775, area played role in american revolution site of first naval battle, @ rumney marsh, , other locations.

in 1852, pullen poynt seceded north chelsea , established town of winthrop. same year, chelsea became own city. in 1871, north chelsea changed name in honor of great american patriot, paul revere, died in 1818.

on morning of july 28, 2014, ef2 tornado touched down in nearby chelsea , intensified entered city of revere, causing major damage many buildings, including revere city hall. damaged cars, power outages, downed lines , downed trees reported around revere, chelsea, winthrop , boston. first tornado hit suffolk county since national weather service began keeping records in 1950.