John Raymond’s murder at the hands of drunken British soldiers on April 19th, 1775 capped a life etched with misfortune.
His parents owned a tavern on property across the street from Munroe Tavern that was beseiged with financial problems. Apparently it thrived at one time. But by the time John’s father died in 1760, possibly as a soldier in the French and Indian war, it was far from successful. Monroe Tavern was not Munroe Tavern at the time, since Will Munroe didn’t take it over until 1770. Will bought the property from John Buckman Sr, who was Raymond’s main competitor, selling spirits that Raymond apparently couldn’t afford to buy.
When John’s mother died, she left John and his family with enormous debt. He was sent to debtor’s prison and the town fathers determined that his wife and children be allowed to remain on the property until it was sold. The neighbor across the road, Lydia Mulliken, saved them by buying the tavern and property in 1774. Apparently this cleared up the debt that John owed and he was freed from prison. He and his family lived there until at least April 19th, 1775.
On April 19th, Will Munroe went to fight on the Green, being Captain John Parker’s second in command. He left John Raymond, who history tells us was crippled, in charge at the Tavern. When Lord Percy and his Redcoat reinforcements took over the Tavern, John served them as best he could. Alcohol didn’t mix well with angry Redcoats and things began getting violent.
As Will’s wife and little children watched from the woods behind the tavern, John Raymond attempted to make an escape.
The Redcoats shot him in the back. John Raymonds sad life ended in the yard of Munroe Tavern.
