at the onset of the american revolutionary war, the massachusetts provincial congress, meeting as a shadow government, ordered the activation of the 1st middlesex county regiment on 19 april 1775. it was reorganized and entered the massachusetts army as gardner's regiment on 23 april 1775 (elements of the regiment remained with the 1st middlesex county regiment for depot guards and for local defense). it was redesignated as bond's regiment upon the death of colonel gardner, on 3 july 1775. the unit was again redesignated on 1 january 1776 as the 25th continental regiment of the continental army, and on 1 january 1777 as the 7th massachusetts regiment, continental line. the regiment was mustered out of continental service on 12 june 1783.