Josiah and Elizabeth Nelson lived here, and Josiah was both a farmer and a housewright who built and repaired houses. According to family tradition, when a party of men on horseback passed his house during the night, Josiah ran out and asked if there was news of the British march. The men were British officers, the same party that captured Paul Revere west of here. According to the legend, one of the officers drew his sword and wounded Josiah in the head, making him the first casualty of the American Revolution. After Elizabeth bandaged his wound, Josiah mounted his horse and carried the alarm north to the town of Bedford.