Paul Revere Heritage Project   The Midnight Ride of William
Dawes  William Dawes is the usually forgotten shoe maker who
rode with P.R. on the night of April 18, 1775 to warn Samuel
Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming to arrest
them. Dawes took the longer land route to Lexington arriving to
destination half an hour later.  So why was Revere immortalized
as a hero? Revere was a more visible character. Through his
silversmith business, Masonic lodge membership and participation
in the group of mechanics, he created more personal connections.
He was also called to write a testimony of what happened the
night of April 18, 1775 that was published by the Massachusetts
Historical Society and later used by historians.  Dawes was also
politically active before the revolution, but he did not go
beyond the call of duty the night of the ride. Meanwhile Revere
returned to Lexington to get documents forgotten by Hancock and
alerted the population that the red coats where coming.  “The
Midnight Ride of Willi