USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register > Part 42
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General Brattle remained Major-general of all the militia in the Province until the commencement of the Revolutionary War.
1 Mass. Arch., Ixxx. 395.
407
MILITARY HISTORY.
At the same time, agreeably to the military code until that time in force, he retained the offices of Colonel of the First Middlesex Regiment, and Captain of the train-band of Cambridge. The officer in immediate command of the train-band was styled Cap- tain Lieutenant, though ranking as Captain. Thus the records in the office of the Secretary of State show that in 1763 commis- sions were issued to William Brattle, Colonel, and Henry Vassall, Lieut .- colonel, of the 1st Regiment in Middlesex, also to Edward Marrett, Capt. Lieutenant, Eliphalet Robbins, 2d Lieutenant, and William Gamage, Ensign of the train-band. In 1765, Eliphalet Robbins became Capt. Lieut., William Gamage, 2d Lieut., and Seth Hastings, Ensign, who was soon afterwards succeeded by Thomas Gardner. In 1771, commissions were issued to " Hon ble William Brattle, Esq. Major General of the militia throughout the Province "; also to Honble William Brattle, Esq., Colonel ; Thomas Oliver, Esq., Lieut. Colonel of the 1st Regiment in Middlesex ; 1 and in the same year, Thomas Gardner became Capt. Lieut., Samuel Thatcher, 2d Lieut., and John Gardner, Ensign, of the train-band, which up to that time included the militia on the south side of the river. There was another train- band in Menotomy (Arlington), of which Ephraim Frost was Captain, William Cutler, Lieut., and Daniel Brown, Ensign, in 1766 ; and Ephraim Frost, Captain, Daniel Brown, Lieut., and William Adams, Ensign, in 1771.
There are traces also of a Cavalry company styled the Troop, whose Captain and two Lieutenants, like those of the present company of Cadets, ranked as Colonel, Lieutenant-colonel, and Major. Of this company, probably including members from several towns, some of the commanders were Cambridge men. When the Governor commenced a journey " by land for his other government of New Hampshire," Oct. 15, 1716, he " was met by Spencer Phips, Esq., with his Troop of horse, the Sheriff of Mid- dlesex, and other gentlemen of the county, and by them con- ducted to Harvard College in Cambridge," etc.2 It is not un- likely that the elder Col. John Vassall may have derived his title from the command of the same company ; but I find no definite designation of officers succeeding Colonel Phips until 1771, when his son David Phips was commissioned Captain, and Jolın Vassall 3 and Jonathan Snelling Lientenants, with the rank respectively of Colonel, Lieutenant-colonel, and Major.
1 Massachusetts Spy, August 1, 1771. Colonel Phips was Lieut .- governor from 1732 until he died in 1757.
2 Boston News Letter, Oct. 22, 1716.
8 Son of the first Col. John Vassall.
408
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
The military events in and around Cambridge at the com- mencement of the Revolutionary War have been so fully related in Frothingham's " History of the Siege of Boston," that I may properly forbear to travel again, step by step, over the same ground. It may suffice if I mention a few transactions in which the inhabitants of this town were actively engaged, or especially interested.
Before the commencement of active hostilities, General Brattle gave place to his former Lieutenant, Thomas Gardner, as com- mander of the company composed of the militia in what is now Cambridge, together with those who resided in that part of the town which was afterwards Brighton. At the new organization of the military force, Captain Gardner was elected Colonel of the First Middlesex Regiment, and his Lieutenant, Samuel Thatcher, was promoted to the office of Captain. On the memorable 19th of April, 1775, when the British troops landed at Lechmere's Point (East Cambridge), under cover of the night, crossed the marshes to the Milk Row Road (now Milk Street, Somerville), and marched through Beech Street 1 and North Avenue to Menotomy, and thence to Lexington and Concord, Captain Thatcher and his company were among the foremost to rally for the public defence. There is a tradition that a British soldier, becoming sick, was left at Lechmere's Point, and sought relief at the solitary house then standing there ; and that the oc- cupant of the house immediately gave the alarm at the centre of the town. Whether this tradition be trustworthy or not, there is good reason to believe that the Cambridge militia pursued the foe very early in the morning, and fully participated in the perils and the glory of that day. Their muster roll says they " marched on the alarm," and the " number of miles out and home " for which they were credited, was twenty-eight, - equal to the distance to and from Concord. In commemoration of their patriotism, I insert " A Muster Roll of the company under the command of Capt. Sam1. Thatcher, in Colo. Gardner's Reg- iment of militia, which marchd on the alarm, April 19, 1775 :"2_
Sam1. Thatcher, Capt., John Walton, Lieut.,
1 Beech Street was then the only open passage-way between the Milk Row Road and North Avenue. Milk Street in Cam- bridge, from Milk Street in Somerville to
Jotham Walton, 2d Lieut., Josiah Moore, Serg *. ,
North Avenue at Union Square, was not established as a highway until a much later day.
2 Muster rolls in the State House.
-
409
MILITARY HISTORY.
Joseph Bates, Serg.,
Sam11. Butterfield. Serg *. ,
James Kittle, Serg *. , Thos. Fillebrown, Corp., Belcher Hancock. Corp.,
John Phillips, Jr., Thomas Prentiss,
Nath11. Prentice,
Joshua Gamage, Drun'., Will. Bradish, Drum'.,
Daniel Prentice,
Joseph Ayers,
Sam11. Prentice,
John Batherick,
Israel Porter,
Will. Bordman, Jr.,
Stephen Palmer, Jr.,
Oliver Brown,
Joseph Palmer,
Benj. Butterfield,
James Stone,
Edmund Bowman,
Robert Twadwell,
Will. Brewer.
Josiah Temple,
John Caldwell,
Eben'. Wyeth,
Walter Coxs,1
Jonas Wyeth,
Sam1. Coxs, Joseplı Coxs,
Noah Wyeth,
Solomon Cooper,
Joseph Wyeth,
Henry Dickson,
John Wyman,
Isaiah Dickson,
Nathan Watson,
John Dickson,
Joshua Walker,
John Evers,
John Warland,
Eben'. Fisher,
Thomas Warland,
Stephen Frost,
Nath11. Wait,
Jonathan Frost,
Thomas Barrett,
David Frost, John Frost,
John Butterfield,
Eben™. Fessenden,
Edward Fillebrown,
Stephen Goddard,
John Prentice,
Benj. Goddard,
Parson Smith,
Thos. Goddard,
John Haven,
Nathaniel Goddard,
Bangs, Schol.2
Torry Hancock,
Killam,
Philemon Hastings,
Cato Stedman, a Negro,
Thomas Hastings,
Cato Bordman, a Negro.
Stephen Hastings,
bridge during the spring vacation of 1775, when the British troops marehed to Con- cord. On the 19th of April, as soon as intelligence of the hostile movement was received, he hastily equipped himself from the armory of the college company, re- paired to the seene of action, and fought gallantly during the day."
1 Cox is the proper name.
2 Of the " scholars," who seem to have volunteered, John Haven was of the eol- lege Class of 1776, and Edward Bangs and Daniel Kilham (probably the per- sons here named), were of the Class of 1777. Lincoln (Hist. Worcester, 233) says that Mr. Bangs "remained in Cam-
Will. Manning, Abel Moore,
Alexander Nelson,
James Reed,
Jonas Wyeth, Jr.
410
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
A company of minute-men had previously been organized in the northwest precinct of the town, or Menotomy, under the command of Capt. Benjamin Locke, consisting of fifty non-com- missioned officers and privates, twenty-five of whom are described as residents in Cambridge on the original enlistment roll, which is still extant.1 There can be no reasonable doubt that this company was actively engaged in the conflict on the 19th of April,2 and the names of its Cambridge members should be here inserted.
Benjamin Locke, Capt.
Charles Cutter,
Solomon Bowman, Lieut.
Andrew Cutter,
Stephen Frost, Ens.
Joseplı Frost,
John Cutter, Sergt.
John Fowle,
Moses Hovey, Sergt.
Miles Greenwood,
Thomas Cutter, Corp1.
Abraham Hill,
John Tidd, Corp1.
Elisha Hastings,
James Fowle, Corp1.
Zechariah Hill,
Seth Stone, Corp1.
John Locke,
William Adams,
Jonathan Perry,
Israel Blackington,
Peter Stearns,
Israel Blackington, Jr.,
Josiah Williams,
Matthew Cox,
William Winship,
Joseph Cox,
Cuff Whittemore (negro).
This was an eventful day in Cambridge. The first detach- inent of British troops passed through the town, at midnight, stealthily and unmolested. The reinforcement marched openly at midday ; but the militia were engaged in the distant conflict, and no opposition was offered, except the removal of the planks from the Great Bridge ; 3 these, however, were speedily replaced,
1 In possession of the family of the late Delmont Loeke. See Smith's Address al West Cambridge (1864), p. 59.
2 More than thirty years ago, I copied from a muster roll, then in the State House, the names of twenty-five Cam- bridge men who served in a company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Locke, in 1775. Unfortunately that muster roll has disappeared, so that I eaunot aseer- tain its precise date ; but as the names correspond, name for name, with the Cambridge names on Capt. Loeke's En- listment Roll of Minute-men, we need not
doubt that prompt and effective service was rendered in this memorable confliet.
2 General Heath says (Memoirs, p. 13), that he sent some of the Watertown mil- itia "down to Cambridge, with directions to take up the planks, barricade the south end of the bridge, and there to take post ; that, in case the British should, on their return, take that road to Boston, their re- treat might be impeded." Other accounts say the planks were removed to the north side of the bridge, by order of the Select- men, lo inipede the advance of Lord Perey with the reinforcement.
411
MILITARY HISTORY.
and the troops suffered little delay.1 But their retreat toward Boston was far different. From the westerly border of Menot- omy to their point of departure by Beech Street into the Milk Row Road, their passage was through a flame of fire. The pro- vincials rallied from the towns in the vicinity 2 even to as great a distance as Salem, and hung upon their rear and flanks, firing upon them from every advantageous point. The British loss, in this retreat, is reported to have been " seventy-three killed, one hundred and seventy-four wounded, and twenty-six missing, - the most of which were taken prisoners." 3 Of the provincials the loss was less, being forty-nine killed, thirty-nine wounded, and five missing.4 This conflict lias generally been called the " Concord Fight," or " Lexington Battle ; " but the carnage was greater in this town than in any other ; greater in- deed than in all others combined, if it be true, as has been stated by a diligent investigator, that "at least twenty-two of the Americans, and probably more than twice that number of the British, fell in West Cambridge."5 As many as four 6 native citizens were killed on the southerly side of North Avenue, a few feet eastwardly from Spruce Street, near the house then owned by Jacob Watson." These four, with the twenty-two slain in the northwest precinct, make a total of twenty-six, - more than half of the whole number of Americans whose lives were sacri- ficed on that memorable day.
Among the victims were six inhabitants of Cambridge, three
1 The train bearing their provisions and supplies was less fortunate ; it was delayed so long that it lost the protection of the troops, and was captured at Menot- omy by a dozen exempts, or men too old to go into the conflict in which all the young men were actively engaged.
2 The list of killed, wounded, and miss- ing, gives the names of twenty-three towns, which, with their respective num- ber of killed are as follows : Acton, 3; Bedford, 1 ; Beverly, 1; Billerica ; Brook- line, 1; Cambridge, 6; Charlestown, 2; Chelinsford; Concord; Danvers, 7; Dedham, 1; Framingham ; Lexington, 10; Lynn, 4; Medford, 2; Needham, 5 ; Newton ; Roxbury; Salem, 1; Stow ; Sudbury, 2; Watertown, 1 ; Woburn, 2. See Frothingham's Siege of Boston, pp. 80, 81. Certainly some other towns, and probably many, besides these, were repre- sented in this sanguinary conflict.
3 Frothingham's Siege of Boston, p. 82. 4 Ibid., p. 81. The place of residence of those who were killed is indicated in the preceding note.
5 Smith's Address, p. 48.
6 General Heath (Memoirs, p. 14) says, " several of the militia (among whom was Isaac Gardner, Esq., of Brookline, a val- uable citizen) imprudently posted them- selves behind some dry casks, at Watson's Corner, and near to the road, unsuspicious of the enemy's flank-guard, which came behind thein and killed every one of them dend on the spot." Neither Gardner nor the Cambridge men killed were of the " militia ; " if any such were shnin herc, it increases by so much the number who fell in Cambridge.
7 This house was the residence of the late John Davenport, after he left the tnvern. It was said to exhibit a large number of bullet-holes.
412
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
on each side of Menotomy River.1 Jason Russell, son of Hubbard Russell, born Jan. 25, 1717, resided on the southerly side of the Main Street not far westerly from the centre of Menotomy (Arling- ton) ; " lie barricaded his gate with bundles of shingles, making what he thought would be a good cover from which to fire on the enemy as they returned." The British flank-guard drove in a party of militia, who " rushed into Mr. Russell's house. Mr. Russell himself, being lame, was the last to reach the house, and was shot with two bullets in his own doorway ; they found after- wards eleven bayonet stabs on the body of the poor old man." " The house itself was riddled with bullets, and the marks of them in many places are still visible." 2 Jason Winship, son of Jason Winship (who was drowned Dec. 26, 1762), was baptized June 28, 1730. Jabez Wyman, son of Jolin Wyman, was born at Woburn July 24, 1710, but had long resided here. The two last. named were slain at Cooper's tavern. "They had come up to inquire the news, and were surprised there. The landlady, Mrs. Cooper, who was just mixing flip at the bar, with her husband fled to the cellar." 3 A month afterwards, Benjamin Cooper and "Rachel Cooper deposed " that in the afternoon of the 19th day of April last, the King's regular troops under the command of General Gage, upon their return from blood and slaughter, which they had made at Lexington and Concord, fired more than one hundred bullets into the house where we dwell, through doors, windows, &c. ; then a number of them entered the house where we and two aged gentlemen were all unarmed ; we escaped for our lives into the cellar ; the two aged gentlemen were immedi- ately most barbarously and inhumanly murdered by them, being stabbed through in many places, their heads mangled, sculls broke, and their brains ont on the floor and walls of the house." 4 On North Avenue, near the easterly end of Spruce Street, three Cambridge men were killed : John Hicks, son of Jolin, and great- grandson of Zechariah Hicks, was born here, May 23, 1725. He built and resided in the house still standing on the south- easterly corner of Dunster and Winthrop streets. Among the early patriots he was active in resisting the arbitrary measures of
1 The old monument in the Menotomy burial place had this inseription : " Mr. Jason Russell was barbarously murdered in his own house, by Gage's bloody troops on the 19th of April, ætat. 59. His body is quietly resting in this grave, with eleven of our friends, who, in like manner, were
cruelly slain on that fatal day." Win- ship and Wyman were two of the num- ber; the other nine may have been inhab- itants of other town s.
2 Smith's Address, pp. 37-39.
8 Ibid., p. 45.
4 Mass. Arch., cxxxviii. 371.
413
MILITARY HISTORY.
the British Government. There is a tradition among his de- scendants that he assisted in the destruction of the tea in Boston Harbor, Dec. 16, 1773. He is said to have been shot through the heart. Moses Richardson, born probably about 1725, was a carpenter, and resided in the house which still stands at the north- easterly angle of Holmes Place, and which was afterwards the home of Mr. Royal Morse for about three quarters of a century. Like Hicks, he was exempt from military service, on account of his age ; but, like him also, he is represented to have been ac- tively engaged in the conflict as a volunteer.1 William Marcy was a laborer, employed by Dr. William Kneeland. His origin and former residence have not been ascertained ; but he seems to have been here about five years before his death.2 Tradition says he was a person of feeble intellect, - who imagined the mil- itary parade to be an ordinary training or muster, and the con- flict to be a sham fight ; he was sitting on a fence near the street, enjoying the spectacle, when he was shot by the British flank guard.3 At the same time and place, Isaac Gardner, Esq., of Brookline was killed.
In an address at the dedication of their monument, Rev. Alex- ander Mckenzie has embodied the traditions preserved in one of the families concerning the burial of these three victims : -
" The son of John Hicks, a boy fourteen years old, was sent by his mother 4 in the afternoon to look for his father who had been absent most of the day. He found him lying by the side of the road dead. Marcy and Richardson were near him. He procured assistance, and the bodies were lifted into a wagon and brought here for burial. But who had leisure for funeral rites ? The dead alone were safe, done with duty. The living had the living to care for. One grave received them all, as with patriotic indignation against the tyranny and cruelty which hurried them to their death, with admiration and affection for their devotion
1 Ilis military spirit was inherited by Hastings' barn ; the Steward paying the one of his great-grandsons, James P. charges." Richardson, Esq., who organized the first volunteer company for the defence of the country in the late War of the Rebellion, as will be mentioned in another place.
2 Ile was probably the person named in a vote of the Selectmen, Sept. 3, 1770, when such proeecdings were eustomary : " Voted, to warn out of the town William Merey, a man of very poor circumstances ; he for some time hath lodged in Steward
3 My informant was the late Mr. Royal Morse, born in 1779, whose memory of events which occurred during his life was remarkably comprehensive and aceurate, and whose traditional lore was ahnost equivalent to authentic history.
4 The widow of Mr. Hieks died in Dc- cember, 1825, aged 99 years; many per- sons now living have heard the story from her own lips.
414
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
to the common weal, they were given to the keeping of their mother earth. The son of Moses Richardson, standing by, thought it was too bad that the earth should be thrown directly upon their faces, and getting into the trench he spread the large cape of his father's coat over his face." 1 In 1870 the city erected over their remains a neat monument of Scotch granite, with this inscription : "Erected by the City, A. D. 1870. To the memory of JOHN HICKS, WILLIAM MARCY, MOSES RICH- ARDSON, buried here. JASON RUSSELL, JABEZ WYMAN, JASON WINSHIP, buried in Menotomy. Men of Cambridge who fell in defence of the Liberty of the People, April 19, 1775. "O, what a glorious morning is this ! "
Among the wounded, on that memorable day, was Capt. Sam- uel Whittemore. He was son of Samuel Whittemore of Charles- town, where he was born July 27, 1696, but early removed to Cambridge. His estate bordered on Menotomy River and his house stood on the northerly side of the Main Street, near the magnificent elms which are still preserved. He was now nearly seventy-nine years old, but yet vigorous in body and mind. In spite of the expostulations of his family, he repaired to the post of danger. His exploits and sufferings have often been related, - possibly with some embellishments in later years. He died Feb. 2, 1793, aged 96 years and six months.2 His obituary was published in the " Columbian Centinel " of February 6, which I quote rather than more recent publications for obvious reasons. " Died at Menotomy, the 2d instant, Capt. Samuel Whittemore, Æt. 99. The manly and moral virtues, in all the varied rela- tions of brother, husband, father, and friend, were invariably exhibited in this gentleman. He was not more remarkable for his longevity and his numerous descendants (his progeny being 185, one of which is the fifth generation), than for his patriotism. When the British troops marched to Lexington, he was 81 years of age, and one of the first on the parade ; he was armed with a gun and horse-pistol. After an animated exhortation to the col- lected militia to the exercise of bravery, and courage, he ex- claimed, ' If I can only be the instrument of killing one of my country's foes, I shall die in peace.' The prayer of this venera- ble old man was heard ; for on the return of the troops, he lay
1 Cambridge Revolutionary Memorial, years, as is manifest from the record of pp. 32, 33.
his birth. At the date of the conflict he
2 Ilis age is overstated in the obituary, was not 81, but lacked three months of 79 as 99 years, and on his gravestone as 98 years.
415
MILITARY HISTORY.
behind a stone wall, and discharging his gun a soldier imme- diately fell ; he then discharged his pistol, and killed another ; at which instant a bullet struck his face, and shot away part of his cheek bone ; on which, a number of the soldiers ran up to the wall, and gorged their malice on his wounded head. They were heard to exclaim, ' We have killed the old rebel.' About four hours after, he was found in a mangled situation ; his head was covered with blood from the wounds of the bayonets, which were six or eight ; but providentially none penetrated so far as to destroy hin. His hat and clothes were shot through in many places ; yet he survived to see the complete overthrow of his enemies, and his country enjoy all the blessings of peace and independence. His funeral will be tomorrow, at 4 o'clock P. M., from his house at Menotomy, which his relations and friends are requested to attend."
Among the disasters of the day, it should be mentioned that Seth Russell and Samuel Frost of Menotomy were taken prison- ers, and remained in captivity until the 6th of June, when a general exchange was effected.
The destruction of property partly appears in a report submit- ted to the Provincial Congress, by a committee which was ap- pointed May 12, 1775 : " The committee appointed to estimate the damages done at Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord, by the King's troops, on the nineteenth of April, 1775, have at- tended that duty, and beg leave to report : That the destruction made by fire and robbery on said day, by said troops, is as fol- lows, viz :
" The damages to the buildings in Cambridge, estimated ac- cording to the best skill and judgment of your committee, after viewing the same amount to £76 5. 6.
" The value of the goods and chattels that were destroyed, or taken out of the houses, or near the same, by the estimation of those persons who left the same, according to their several ac- counts, exhibited on oath, and annexed, amounts to £1036. 6. 3.
" The value of the goods and chattels that were destroyed, or taken out of the said houses, or near the same, by the estimation of those persons who left the same, by their several accounts ex- hibited, who were not sworn, by reason of some being absent, or some other inconvenience that attended the same, amounts to £72. 6. 10.
" The damage done to the meeting-house and school-house in the northwest precinct in said Cambridge, as estimated by your committee, amounts to £0. 13. 4.
416
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
" The vessels, linen, and cash, belonging to the church of said precinct, taken out of the house of Joseph Adams, deacon of said church, as by his account exhibited on oath, amount to £16. 16. 8.
" The whole losses suffered in Cambridge amount to £1202. 8.7."1
In the morning, at Concord. the military movements seem to have been directed by Col. Barrett, Lieut .- Col. Robinson and Maj. Buttrick. General Heath met the militia at Lexington and assumed the command. 2 Having pursued the British until they crossed Charlestown neck, he placed suitable guards and con- ducted his troops to Cambridge, where they " were ordered to lie on their arms." In the afternoon of the next day General Ward arrived, and, being the senior general officer, became com- mander-in-chief. From this time, for the next eleven months, Cambridge was occupied by the American army, of which the right wing was immediately extended to Roxbury, and the left, to Prospect and Winter Hills. General Ward established his head-quarters at the house of Jonathan Hastings 3 now known as the Holmes House, in Holmes Place. The soldiers were quar- tered in private houses, in the College buildings, 4 and elsewhere, as accommodations could be found. " The buildings of the Col- lege were taken possession of, and occupied as barracks, by the American Army."5 As early as May 1, 1775, the Committee of Safety " Voted, That the quarter-master general be directed to clear that chamber in Stoughton College, occupied by S. Par- sons Jr., for a printing office for Messrs. Halls." 6 And on the
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