Harrington House

A Militaman's Home

In 1775, this was the home of Jonathan Harrington, a member of the Lexington militia, his wife Ruth, and their son Jonathan. The senior Jonathan Harrington was one of the militiamen assembled on the Lexington Green on the morning of April 19. In the ensuing confrontation with the British troops, he was mortally wounded. According to local tradition, Jonathan Harrington crawled back to the doorstep of his home, where he died in the arms of his wife. In the 1820s, this was the home of John Augustus, a shoemaker who later became well-known for his efforts to reform Boston’s criminal justice system and establishing the system of probation as an alternative to imprisonment.

The structure of the house was significantly altered in the 20th century and is privately owned today. Nearby, visitors can explore the Lexington Battle Green, Buckman Tavern, and the Hancock-Clarke House.