Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts

CHARTERED IN 1638 BY THE GENERAL COURT
OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY

This is the third oldest chartered military organization in the World, and the oldest in the Western Hemisphere! The rich tradition of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company can be seen in its Museum Headquartered in Faneuil Hall , Boston, the Company boasts one of the finest military museums in the United States. It is located on the fourth floor of Faneuil Hall and is open to the public free of charge from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except on holidays.

The first Captain commanding of the Company was Robert Keayne whose home was on the corner of State and Washington Street. Keayne had been a member of the Honourable Artillery Company of London. Upon his death he left, in his will to the Town of Boston, the land at the head of State Street for a Town House; together with money to build it, providing, however, that "the Military Company of Massachusetts" should have a room in the Town House for an Armory. The gift was accepted and since 1746 the Company Armory has been the upper floor of Faneuil Hall.
Picture on the Left shows Captain Paul J. Covell with the First and Second Lieutenants during the reading of the Declaration of Independence (2011)