Matthew Ahern is the collections specialist historian at the Massachusetts National Guard Museum and serves as a sergeant with the 126th Military History Detachment, Massachusetts Army National Guard. He holds a B.A. in history and English from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a graduate certificate in public history from Salem State University where he is currently pursuing a M.A. in history. A lover of all things Concord, Matthew has worked at various town historic sites such as The Old Manse and The Robbins House since 2017 and became a licensed town guide in 2019.

Concord’s Minutemen of 1861: Captain George L. Prescott and the Concord Artillery

September 4, 2025

Matthew Ahern

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In the early morning of April 19, 1861, Daniel Lawrence rode into the town of Concord on horseback, rousing the town militia with orders to report to Boston in response to President Lincoln’s call for militia volunteers. The method and timing of this call were no accident.

Gathering Before the Storm

Concord, the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and the Encampment of 1859

March 15, 2024

Matthew Ahern

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In 1859, militiamen were a common sight in Concord, having had a presence in the town for over two centuries. Uncommon, however, was the entirety of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia descending on the town in early September 1859.

The Summer Issue is Here!

As our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this issue explores the people, ideas, and stories that continue to shape its legacy. Inside, Professor Robert A. Gross offers fresh perspective in “A Referendum on Independence,” while a special foldout guide, “Following in Thoreau’s Footsteps,” invites you to explore the landscapes that inspired him. Discover an unexpected connection in “A Tale of Two Authors,” revisit the moving story of “A Hawthorne Homecoming,” and enjoy summer events, arts, and ways to experience Concord firsthand.

Timothy Wheeler House: A History of Care for Concord Elders

The Timothy Wheeler House, a Greek Revival home with a distinctive columned portico and gabled roof, has housed the Concord Home for the Aged since 1887. It was named for Timothy Wheeler, who owned the site and the land across the street where he operated a grist mill.

What I Have Done for the Good Cause

This is the story of a letter that survived time to link together a centuries-long quest for liberty, a group of red-hot abolitionists, a British woman cloaked in scandal, and a Concord house tied to the Underground Railroad. Written by Senator Charles Sumner in 1860 and making its way to Concord via Barrow Bookstore, the letter leads one to ask, “What would you do for a cause in which you believed?”

Matthew Ahern

ARTICLES

Concord’s Minutemen of 1861: Captain George L. Prescott and the Concord Artillery

Gathering Before the Storm