Above: William Kemp's blacksmith shop, pictured above, was constructed in 1791. The building formerly stood across from the town common and was demolished in 1932.

​William Kemp lived in a small home formerly located across from the First Parish Church and Town Common. According to tradition, his young son James blew the horn from the steps of the church, calling volunteers to assemble before setting off to Concord on the Morning of April 19th 1775. William Kemp participated in the Battle of Lexington and Concord as a private in Captain Solomon Pollard’s Billerica militia company which was a part of Colonel Green’s regiment. In May of 1775, Kemp’s company marched to Cambridge where he would be stationed for several months. By June of 1775, Kemp was serving in Captain Walker’s company in Colonel Ebenezer Bridge’s regiment. In August, he joined captain Charles Furbush’s (Forbush’s?) company and remained with this contingent in Cambridge until November 21st 1775. 


After the war, Kemp took up the blacksmith trade and in 1791 he erected a large blacksmith shop opposite the common next to his home. The shop continued to be used by a succession of smiths until the trade was rendered obsolete by the early 20th century thanks to industrialization. In 1932, the old shop was torn down. 
​