Northeast
Archaeologists uncover 250-year-old musket balls tied to American Revolution in Massachusetts
Archaeologists working at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts, unearthed a piece of American history tied to the “shot heard round the world.”
Five musket balls were discovered and believed to be fired at British forces by colonial militia members during the North Bridge fight, Jarrad Fuoss, Minute Man park ranger and historic weapons specialist, confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The ammunition was found in an area where British soldiers formed up to resist the river crossing and analysis indicates that each one was fired from the opposite side of the river, not dropped during the process of reloading, according the National Park Service (NPS).
THEODORE ROOSEVELT’S STOLEN POCKET WATCH RECOVERED BY FBI AFTER IT WAS MISSING FOR 37 YEARS
The North Bridge battle site is located within the park and marks the moment when local militia leaders ordered members to fire upon their own government’s soldiers for the first time on April 19, 1775.
Musket balls are the ammunition used in muskets and could be made from any metal alloy, but many were made from lead, according to Research from Worcester City & Worcestershire County Museums in the U.K. (NPS)
“These musket balls can be considered collectively as ‘The Shot Heard Round the World,’ and it is incredible that they have survived this long. It is also a poignant reminder that we are all stewards of this battlefield and are here to preserve and protect our shared history,” Fuoss said.
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Fuoss said the musket balls were made of lead, which was very common at the time period, as others could be comprised of different metals.
The struggle on the Old North Bridge over the Concord River at the Battle of Concord, on the first day of battle in the American Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775. (Hulton Archive/Stringer/Getty Images)
The fighting at the North Bridge lasted under 3 minutes, leaving 18 men dead or wounded, the NPS reported on its website.
Three British soldiers were killed in the battle, and they remain buried in Concord.
A Daughters of the American Revolution spokesperson told Fox News Digital the “news of the historic musket balls found in Concord is so exciting.”
“Discovery of important artifacts like this is a great way to help pique interest in American history. We love that this incredible finding has brought more attention to telling the story of the Revolutionary War, especially as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country’s independence,” said the spokesperson.
Fuoss also shared his excitement about the timing of the find.
The Old North Bridge and Battle Ground in the Minute Man National Historic Park of the National Park Service, where April 19, 1775, is marked as the first day of the American Revolutionary War. (Paul Marotta/Getty Images)
“We found them on the cusp of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, while much of the country is looking towards 2026 as the Declaration of Independence 250th, our anniversary is next April 2025,” he said.
“So, we’re already in full swing commemorating the 250th anniversary of the revolution, and we will be continuing to do so all the way through next year and beyond, because this starts an eight-year war.”
The archaeologists who found the musket balls were conducting compliance activities in preparation for the park’s Great American Outdoors Act project.
“We were not expecting to find them. We weren’t looking for them. We were just trying to make sure there was nothing going to be damaged because the park is working on updating some of our infrastructure,” said Fuoss.
Guests can see the musket balls themselves on Archeology Day at Minute Man National Historical Park on Saturday, July 13. (Paul Marotta/Getty Images/NPS)
The Great American Outdoors Act seeks to address the maintenance and repair of national parks. The law helps make enhancements to national parks to ensure “preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education and enjoyment for current and future visitors,” according to the NPS.
Guests can see the musket balls themselves on Archeology Day at Minute Man National Historical Park on Saturday, July 13.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the NPS for additional comment.
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New Hampshire
Man killed in NH snowmobile crash
An Alton man is dead after a snowmobile crash in New Hampshire’s North Country Thursday afternoon.
The New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game says 63-year-old Bradford Jones was attempting to negotiate a left hand turn on Corridor Trail 5 in Colebrook when he lost control of his snowmobile, struck multiple trees off the side of the trail and was thrown from the vehicle shortly before 3:30 p.m.
Jones was riding with another snowmobiler, who was in the lead at the time of the crash, according to the agency. Once the other man realized Jones was no longer behind him, he turned around and traveled back where he found Jones significantly injured, lying off the trail beside his damaged snowmobile.
The man immediately rendered aid to Jones and called 911 for assistance, NH Fish and Game said. The Colebrook Fire Department used their rescue tracked all terrain vehicle and a specialized off road machine to transport first responders across about a mile of trail to the crash scene.
Once there, a conservation officer and 45th Parallel EMS staff attempted lifesaving measures for approximately an hour, but Jones ultimately died from his injuries at the scene of the crash, officials said.
The crash remains under investigation, but conservation officers are considering speed for the existing trail conditions to have been a primary factor in this deadly incident.
New Jersey
Police investigate fatal stabbing in Mercer County
EWING TWP., N.J. (WPVI) — Police are searching for a suspect who fatally stabbed a man in Mercer County, New Jersey.
It happened around 5:20 p.m. Thursday on the unit block of New Hillcrest Avenue in Ewing Township.
When police arrived, they found a 40-year-old man lying in the street with several stab wounds to the torso.
He was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he later died.
The victim has been identified as Jimmy Chase from Philadelphia.
So far, no arrests have been made.
Anyone who has any information on this case is asked to call Mercer County detectives at 609-989-6406.
You can also submit an anonymous tip online at MercerCountyProsecutor.com.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Pennsylvania
Man charged after over 100 human skeletal remains found in Pennsylvania home – National | Globalnews.ca
A Pennsylvania man has been arrested and is facing more than 500 charges after he was accused of stealing human skulls and “numerous” skeletal remains from an abandoned cemetery on Philadelphia’s outskirts, according to police.
Bones and skulls visible in the back seat of a car near the cemetery led police to the home and storage unit of Jonathan Gerlach, 34, after police had been looking into a string of burglaries.
Investigators checked Gerlach’s licence plates and found that he had been near the cemetery repeatedly during the period when the burglaries occurred.
Officers say the Jan. 6 arrest culminated a months-long investigation into break-ins at Mount Moriah Cemetery, where at least 26 mausoleums and vaults had been forced open since early November.
After searching Gerlach’s home and storage unit, investigators reported finding more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos and other skeletal items.
“They were in various states. Some of them were hanging, as it were. Some of them were pieced together, some were just skulls on a shelf,” Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said.
Most of the findings were in Gerlach’s basement, authorities said. They also recovered jewelry believed to be linked to the graves, and a pacemaker that was still attached.
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“Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life in that home. It is truly, in the most literal sense of the word, horrific. I grieve for those who are upset by this, who are going through this, who are trying to figure out if it is, in fact, one of their loved ones,” Rouse added.
Police say Gerlach targeted mausoleums and underground vaults at the cemetery, which was established in 1855. Gerlach was arrested as he walked back toward his car with a crowbar, police said.
He also had a burlap bag in which officers found the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls and other bones.
Gerlach then told investigators that he took around 30 sets of human remains and showed them the graves he stole from, police said.
Police believe the remains were also taken from other cemeteries in the region. They are investigating the Human Bones and Skull Selling Group on Facebook, where Gerlach was reportedly tagged and pictured holding a skull.
He was charged with 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, along with multiple counts of desecrating a public monument, desecrating a venerated object, desecrating a historic burial place, burglary, trespassing and theft.
Mount Moriah Cemetery released a statement on its Instagram Stories following Gerlach’s arrest, thanking Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, the Yeadon Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department for “their hard work and dedication to this case.”
“Our team has been working alongside all parties involved and will continue to do so throughout the remainder of the investigation. Please direct any specific questions regarding this case to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office,” it said.
“Mount Moriah is the largest abandoned cemetery in the United States. Its historic grounds are cared for by a dedicated group of approximately 12 volunteers who show up week in and week out to preserve this space.”
Gerlach is being held on $1-million bail, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20.
— With files from The Associated Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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