The Groveland Congregational Church's Revere Bell, Circa 1795
Celebrate the Church's 300th Anniversary June 2026
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Groveland's Documented Bell History
GROVELAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
United Church of Christ 4 King Street
Groveland MA 01834
•Cast by the Paul Revere Foundry on Causeway St., Boston, spring 1795
Sold as "Package" with 750 pound bell (#10) to Town of Newburyport in summer 1795 (#10 later
destroyed by fire).
• Revere's ledgers show that casting #11 was purchased for 98 Ibs., 36 shillings by East Parish Bradford
(the name by which this town was known from 1726 until its incorporation and renaming to Groveland in
1850) in July 1795.
• The inscription on the bell reads, "The living to the church I call, and to the grave I summon all." Only two
other Revere Bells are known to carry inscriptions such as this.
• Details of the transport and hanging of the bell are sketchy, although church records show provision for a
steeple bell was made during construction of the "meeting house" in 1790.
• Church records show that on Dec. 18, 1795 Joshua Lutus (a.k.a. Lutus Elsas) was hired as the bell ringer
for 1796 at the wage of $6.75 per year.
• The bell was rung daily at noon and 9:00 p.m. curfew until 1855 .It was also used as the town fire alarm,
the rope accessible on the outside of the building .... Records include the fact that the bell has been rung
at the death of every president since George Washington in 1799 ... at the end of every war since 1815 ...
at the funerals of deceased members ... each Sunday morning to summon worshippers ... and, more
recently, at the end of weddings.
• In 1883 the steeple clock, donated by Burton E. Merrill, was connected to the bell and continues to strike
the hour
• Related Information:
o No record exists as to the destiny of bells #2-9.
o Bell #1 (1792) remains as a relic (non-working) at St. James' Episcopal Church, Cambridge, Mass.
(This bell has been the property of three previous churches.)
o No knowledge of Bells #12-17 is available. #18 by "Revere & Sons, Boston 1795" hangs in the
steeple of the First Congregational Church, Essex, Mass.
o Trademarks used by Revere Company:
▪ 1792 - 1797 - "P. Revere Boston (Date)"
▪ 1797 - 1801 - "P. Revere & Sons (Date)" (Paul Jr. & J.W. Revere) 1801 - 1818 - "P. Revere &
Son" (Joseph Warren Revere)
▪ 1818 - 1828 - "J.W. Revere"
o Paul Revere retired in 1811 and died in 1818 ... of the 53 bells actually cast by Paul during his active
participation only 23 still exist...company records show 400 bells made, of which 147 are known to
remain. Combined with ship and industrial bells, the total reaches 967 bells.
Sources: Original Stock Book of Paul Revere
Two Books: Revere Bells by Edward C. and Evelyn Stickney, Bedford, MA, 1956. 1961 & 1976, revisions.
Historical Paul Revere Bell
Compiled by Rev. Carlton W. Talbot II
Reference:
Mikayla Tilden, Curator
of the Groveland Congregational Church
GROVELAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
United Church of Christ 4 King Street
Groveland MA 01834
•Cast by the Paul Revere Foundry on Causeway St., Boston, spring 1795
Sold as "Package" with 750 pound bell (#10) to Town of Newburyport in summer 1795 (#10 later
destroyed by fire).
• Revere's ledgers show that casting #11 was purchased for 98 Ibs., 36 shillings by East Parish Bradford
(the name by which this town was known from 1726 until its incorporation and renaming to Groveland in
1850) in July 1795.
• The inscription on the bell reads, "The living to the church I call, and to the grave I summon all." Only two
other Revere Bells are known to carry inscriptions such as this.
• Details of the transport and hanging of the bell are sketchy, although church records show provision for a
steeple bell was made during construction of the "meeting house" in 1790.
• Church records show that on Dec. 18, 1795 Joshua Lutus (a.k.a. Lutus Elsas) was hired as the bell ringer
for 1796 at the wage of $6.75 per year.
• The bell was rung daily at noon and 9:00 p.m. curfew until 1855 .It was also used as the town fire alarm,
the rope accessible on the outside of the building .... Records include the fact that the bell has been rung
at the death of every president since George Washington in 1799 ... at the end of every war since 1815 ...
at the funerals of deceased members ... each Sunday morning to summon worshippers ... and, more
recently, at the end of weddings.
• In 1883 the steeple clock, donated by Burton E. Merrill, was connected to the bell and continues to strike
the hour
• Related Information:
o No record exists as to the destiny of bells #2-9.
o Bell #1 (1792) remains as a relic (non-working) at St. James' Episcopal Church, Cambridge, Mass.
(This bell has been the property of three previous churches.)
o No knowledge of Bells #12-17 is available. #18 by "Revere & Sons, Boston 1795" hangs in the
steeple of the First Congregational Church, Essex, Mass.
o Trademarks used by Revere Company:
▪ 1792 - 1797 - "P. Revere Boston (Date)"
▪ 1797 - 1801 - "P. Revere & Sons (Date)" (Paul Jr. & J.W. Revere) 1801 - 1818 - "P. Revere &
Son" (Joseph Warren Revere)
▪ 1818 - 1828 - "J.W. Revere"
o Paul Revere retired in 1811 and died in 1818 ... of the 53 bells actually cast by Paul during his active
participation only 23 still exist...company records show 400 bells made, of which 147 are known to
remain. Combined with ship and industrial bells, the total reaches 967 bells.
Sources: Original Stock Book of Paul Revere
Two Books: Revere Bells by Edward C. and Evelyn Stickney, Bedford, MA, 1956. 1961 & 1976, revisions.
Historical Paul Revere Bell
Compiled by Rev. Carlton W. Talbot II
Reference:
Mikayla Tilden, Curator
of the Groveland Congregational Church
| grovelandfacts_about_revere_bell.pdf |