The Wedding Portrait

Another story. One that’s told by more then just myself. I’ve been told I do a decent job. Remember, once again, this is meant to be a narrated story.

This is a specific version that I’ve used for speeches in other locations, hence it has a bit more background. I don’t actually use notes when I speak anymore, just to practice. And then once I do speak, I kind of make it up as I go along.

Has anyone here heard the names of Samuel Prescott and Lydia Mullikan? No? Well, Today, you are going to hear their story. It’s a story of love and of loss, of family and country, and of war and of freedom. The time is April 19th, 1775, at about 1AM. The place is the road outside of Lexington, MA. A young, gifted, doctor by the name of Samuel Prescott is coming back along this road. He is also an accomplished horseman and marksman. You might wonder what a respectable young gentleman such as Dr. Prescott is doing out this late at night.

Turns out, he was out courting. A local beauty had caught his eye. Her name was Lydia Mullikan, and she ran a sewing shop out of her home in Lexington. He was not the only young fellow courting her, as she had more than a few admirers. However, seeing as Doctor Prescott was just coming back from her house at one o’clock in the morning, and it’s 1775 in Puritan Massachusetts,  things between them were obviously rather serious.

In fact, it’s believed that he asked her to marry him that night. She said yes. Now let’s fast forward to  this wedding,  a couple months in the future. Since Lydia’s father has already passed, her brother, Nathaniel, will walk her down the aisle. Samuel stands tall and proud as his beautiful bride walks down the aisle, guided by her brother. Standing by Samuel’s side is his brother, Abel, who is serving as best man. The reverend, William Emerson, is smiling as he sees this happy couple. Since cameras didn’t exist yet, they would paint a portrait, to preserve this moment forever.

Now let’s go back in time, to that early, early, morning of April 19th. Paul Revere and William Dawes are coming down the road, riding fast, to warn Concord that the regulars are on the march, heading to Concord to confiscate ball and powder. They stop briefly to chat with Dr. Prescott. They’ve never met before, but Revere knows of Prescott’s reputation as a high son of liberty. After hearing their mission, Dr. Prescott agrees to join them.

They are soon intercepted by a patrol of British Regulars, and Prescott is the only one to escape. He goes on to warn Concord.  Without him, the story of April 19th, the Revolutionary War, and,  indeed, our entire American history might have been different indeed.

Now, let’s go back to that wedding portrait. One figure is slowly disappearing. Rev. William Emerson provided support and fought beside the militia. He died in 1777, of camp fever.

Beside him, another man is also disappearing. Abel Prescott was another alarm rider on the 19th. He was shot while completing his mission. He died four months later, suffering a long and painful death of gangrene.

Now it’s just Lydia, her brother, and her husband to be. But other figures are also fading away. Nathaniel died in 1777.

Now, it’s just Lydia and Samuel But there is one more figure that won’t be present in this portrait.

You can see Samuel Prescott begin to fade out. Why is this? Well, after the 19th, Dr. Prescott joined the Continental Army as a medic. He served throughout most of the war. He joined the crew of a privateer later on. He was captured by the British, and died a slow death of starvation on a prison ship. After the 19th, he never saw or spoke with Lydia ever again.

Her trials are not yet over. Her home was burned by the British on the 19th, because she allowed militia to set up inside it to take the fight back to the Regulars. It can safely be assumed that she provided food and drink throughout the terribly long day, and possibly took a few shots at the redcoats herself.

Remember, her home was also her shop. So she lost her income as well.

Lydia stands in the church alone. Most of her family is dead. Her fiancée never got to speak to her again. They never got to have their wedding. This portrait was never taken.

BUT: Lydia stands there free. Not under oppression. Or British rule. But self-governed, a free woman.

She stand there free for the same reason we stand here. Because Samuel and Abel, Nathaniel, Rev. Emerson, they all stood, fought and won.

They chose country over family, so we can stand here today.

You didn’t even know who they were. We don’t know of their sacrifices. What they did for us. How said is that?

I would imagine, if they were here today, they would say that their names don’t matter. Only the story matters, that we remember what our forefathers did for us.

They didn’t do it to be thanked. But allow me to say: Thank you, Lydia. Thank you, Samuel.