USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 23
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
a prisoner to Boston, and lodged him in jail, where after the amputation of his leg, he died on the 4th of July, aged forty-three. He was a good officer, much beloved by his regiment, and his loss was severely felt. An obituary notice of him-in the New England Chronicle, July 21, 1775-says: "In him fortitude, prudence, humanity, and compassion, all conspired to heighten the lustre of his military virtues;" and it states that "through the several com- missions to which his merit entitled him, he had always the pleasure to find that be possessed the esteem and respect of his soldiers, and the applause of his countrymen." The notice concludes in the following strain: "God grant each individual that now is, or may be, engaged in the American army, an equal magnitude of soul; so shall their names, unsullied, he transmitted in the latest catalogue of fame; and if any vestiges of liberty shall remain, their praises shall be rehearsed through the earth 'till the sickle of Time shall crop the creation.' "
Lieut. Col. Moses Parker was remarkable for his bravery and life-long love of military pursuits. From his lieutenancy in Capt. Jonathan Butterfield's company in the French and Indian war, he was in 1759 promoted to a captaincy and was at Fort Frederick the following year. In 1761 Colonels Thwing and Arbuthnot protested they would not make the campaign without this dauntless and skillful officer. Allen quotes a letter of Oliver Fletcher, Esq., to the effect that these colonels said "They would not go without him, that he was the only Captain they had insisted upon" among thirty captains the Governor was selecting from a multitude of applicants. So great was his popularity that his friends assured him that if he would accept a Captainship "fifty men might be immediately raised to serve under him." He was endeared to those under him, says Allen, by his assiduous attention to their wants and constant endeavors to render their situation as pleasant as circumstances would permit. He had won dis- tinguished praise for valor at the siege of Fort Frontenac.
Colonel Parker lived at what has been known as the Driscoll place on the Middlesex turnpike, about one hundred and fifty rods south of where it crosses River Meadow brook.
In Trumbull's painting, "The Battle of Bunker Hill," Colonel Parker is represented as seated on the extreme left of the canvas, after being wounded.
MOSES PARKER'S COMMISSION.
The Congress of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay
To Moses Parker Esq Lt. Colo.
Greeting.
We, reposing especial trust and Confidence in your Courage and good Conduct, Do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you the said Moses Parker Esq to be Lt. Colo. of the Foot Regi-
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THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
ment in the Regiment of Foot whereof Ebenezer Bridge Esq is Colo raised by the Congress aforeasid for the Defence of said Colony. You are therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Leiut Colo. in leading, ordering and exercising the said Regiment in Arms, both inferior Officers and Soldiers, and to keep them in good Order and Discipline; and they are hereby commanded to obey you as their Leiut. Colo. and you are yourself to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall, from Time to Time, receive from the General and Commander in Chief of the Forces raised in the Colony aforesaid, for the Defence of the same, or any other your superior Officers, according to military Rules and Discipline in War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you.
By Order of the Congress,
Joseph Warren President P. T.
Dated the 19th of May, A. D., 1775.
Saml. Freeman Secretary P. T. [Original in the possession of Mrs. Mary A. Hatch.]
"Captain Benjamin Walker led the second Chelmsford company of about fifty resolute men, sixteen of whom were from Chelmsford, into Charlestown before the battle commenced, to fire from the cover of buildings and fences, and thus to annoy the enemy's left flank. They did great execution and then abandoned their dangerous position to attack the right flank on Mystic river. Here the captain was wounded.
It was probably when the Americans began their retreat from Bunker Hill that Captain Ford found Captain Walker lying wounded on the field and took him upon his shoulder and carried him about forty rods to save him from capture by the British. Captain Walker, however, pursuaded his friend to drop him and save himself. The unfortunate man was carried to Boston and lodged in the jail with Lieutenant-Colonel Parker. His leg was amputated and, after several weeks of suffering and neglect, he died of sickness near the close of the month of August, 1775.
THE FIRST SHOT.
Joseph Spaulding, who fired the first gun at Bunker Hill, was born April 18, 1756, the son of Robert and Hesediah (Johnson) Spaulding. Lt. Robert was the son of Lt. John, a member of Capt. Robert Richardson's snow-shoe company in Lovewell's war. His brother Joseph, born 1728, died in the army in 1756. Lt. John was the son of Jospeh, son of John, son of Edward, one of the first settlers of Chelmsford.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The inscription on his tombstone reads: "Sacred to the memory of MR. JOSEPH SPALDING who died July 31 1820 Aet. 64. in hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie hath promised to believers in Christ.
"He was among the brave asserters and defenders of the liberties of his country at Bunker Hill, where he opened the battle by firing upon the enemy before orders were given: &, after enjoying for many years the blessings of civil & religious liberty in common with others
"He 'sunk to rest With all his countrys honor's blest.'"
He is reported to have said, "I fired ahead of time, and Putnam rushed up and struck at me for violating orders. I suppose I deserved it, but I was anxious to get another good shot at Gage's men ever since our affair at Concord. The blow from "Old Put" hit me on the head, made a hole in my hat, and left this scar." ["Beside Old Hearthstones."]
AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT
things was Lost in Capt. Ford's Company belonging to Col Bridges Ridgmt in Bunker Hill Fight, June 17 3. 0.0
Francis Davisson 1 Gun boyonet Cartridge Box
1 Beaver hat 12/ a good Waistcoat 12 1. 4.0
£4.4. 0
Daniel Keyes 1 Gun
£2. 2.0
William Chambers 1 Gun
2. 2.0
William Campbell 1 Gun
1. 16.0
Jonas Spaulding 1 Stout body Coat
1. 5.0
£11. 9.0
[Endorsed] Cambridge March 18. 1776
These may certify the within named men ware in My Company in Col Bridges Ridgtm: and that they Lost the within mentioned in the action at Bunkers Hill June 17 A D 1775. John Ford Capt.
In the House of Representatives Watertown June 24 1776 Resolved that there be paid out of the Publick Treasurey of this Colony to the persons within named the several sums hereafter named, viz. to Francis Davisson Three pounds eighteen shillings: to Daniel Keys one pound Eighteen Shillings; to William Cham- bers one pound eighteen shillings: to William Campbell one pound thirteen shillings and to Jonas Spaulding one pound in full of the within account by them Exhibited. Sent up for Concurrence Timo Danielson Sec. p. Tem.
[Massachusetts Archives. Vol. 70, p. 114.]
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THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
At Bunker Hill the British loss, as officially reported, was 35 officers and 191 soldiers killed, 122 officers and 706 soldiers wounded. These belonged to the artillery, to the marines, and to the various regiments of foot. The American loss is difficult to be ascertained, as so little organization had been effected at that time. Frothingham estimates it at 140 killed, 271 wounded and 30 captured.
A special messenger by way of Billerica brought the news of the battle to Chelmsford the same evening. It caused great excite- ment and anxiety because of the uncertainty as to the fate of the Chelmsford men who participated in it. The alarm guns were fired, and before morning several of the wounded returned.
Letter of Colonel Moses Parker to his wife. Boston 22d. June 1775.
My Dear
After tendering you my most Affectionate regard-I would inform you that in the unhappy Engagement on the 17 instant, I was badly wounded in one of my thighs. The bone of which is broke, but am as well treated as I can desire and attended with great care and tenderness by Doc Whitworth, as are the rest of the prisoners .- Must desire you would procure some Linnen, Stockings, and other Clothing, with some money if possible, and direct that they be left for the care of Major Muncrief at the Lines on Boston Neck; must entreat you to do it as soon as you can-
remain your loving husband
Mosesparker
Mrs Sarahparker
[In the possession of Mrs. Mary A. Hatch.]
The following letter was sent to the families of the wounded men who signed it in Boston Prison.
Boston Prison, July 3, 1775.
Lieutenant Collonel Parker & Captain Walker acquaint their Friends that they are well & sufficiently supply'd with all Necessaries but fresh Provision, which they need daily, in their present Condition, and which Major Moncrief has kindly promised to convey upon Receipt
Moses Parker Benjamin Walker.
It is written in an excellent hand, but the signatures give evidence of physical weakness caused by suffering. These men were by no means "well." Colonel Parker died the day after the date of the letter, and Captain Walker on August 15.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The faithful wives of these brave and suffering prisoners, in response to these requests, walked to Boston, carrying what they could of food and dainties and other things for their comfort, but were denied the privilege of seeing them, and so were obliged to retrace their weary steps with heavy hearts.
"The British authorities took their packages, but heartlessly refused them the privilege of seeing their husbands" "who were dying in prison for want of the very care which they had plead in vain for the privilege to bestow."
[Testimony of a son of Captain Walker to Mrs. E. H. Warren.]
The patriotism and enthusiasm of the time moved some home-spun bards to express their feelings in moralizing rhymes. The following verses, beginning in the style of the Irish "Come all ye"s, are from a specimen of this kind of poetry, whose author is unknown. The paper on which it is written bears the name of Samuel Richardson, and now belongs to Edward Richardson. There are twenty-two verses.
1sth Come all who have skill and Lament and let your hearts and eys have vent While you to memory do call The Valiant Colonel Parkers fall
2th He bravely did with courage go To Charlestown fight to meet his foe And in his place was Valient found And with great boldness kept his ground
3sth But fighting for his Countries good Whar danger roled like a flood A Wound received in his thigh Of which in Boston he did die
11th His officers and soldiers all Who mourn their Valiant Leaders fall May God inquire [inspire] with courage still And giv Submission to his will
12th May Gods protection them Surround And all their bloody foes confound May they possess the gates of those That Do our city now inclose
13th God Sanctify this Loss to all Who saw this noble Hero fall And while his courage they relate May they his virtue emitate
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THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
OPINION OF SECRETARY KNOX.
The opinion of Henry Knox, Secretary of War, 1793, to whom was referred the following petition of Sarah Parker, widow of the late Col. Moses Parker, who was wounded and taken prisoner by the British troops in the action of Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June, 1775, and who afterwards died of his wounds in Boston in the month of July following. That she was left with a large family of young children, and has to encounter many difficulties in supporting and bringing them up. That she has not received the relief provided by the resolution of Congress for the widows and children of officers who died in the service since the month of August, 1775. That she does not apprehend it was the intention of Congress to make any distinction between the widows and children of officers who died in the service, on account of the time when they died. She therefore prays that the benefit of said resolution of Congress may be extended to her and her children.
Secretary Knox's opinion was that: It may, by rigid prin- ciples, be questioned whether the regiments in action on that day prior to May 15, 1778 were in Continental service, and therefore, whether by any rule of Construction, the officer then Killed could be considered "as officers commissioned by Congress." But if this was a doubt on the 17th of June, it was not so on the 27th of June, the day General Washington arrived in Cambridge, and assumed the command of the Army, and issued such orders as denominated and to all intents and purposes made it a Conti- nental army, and the officers were commissioned accordingly, "and should it be judged proper to extend the provision to any prior to the said 15th of May 1778, it would seem incumbent on the character of the Nation to provide for the widows of those gallant men who nobly sacrificed their lives, by which they eminently contributed to establish the cause and reputation of their Country" [Taken from "Pay & Bounty Revolutionary Army," Washington, D. C., 1838.]
NOTE: It will be noticed that Secretary Knox gives June 27, 1775, as the date Washington arrived in Cambridge, whereas Lossing gives July 3, 1775, as the date he took command of the army.
EXTRACTS FROM BRIDGE'S DIARY.
1775
June 17. A terrible day this! in relation to our Army-in Battle with our oppressors at Charlestown. The whole Town on fire! The armies engaged on Bunker Hill- at night we saw ye fire at [from] Chelmsford-an Express came fm Billerica, & an Alarm was fired here in ye eveng .- before morng. arrived at Barron's,
236
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Francis Davidson & Benjamin Haywood of this Town both wounded in ye fight & brot news of ye Slaughter of diverse of our pple this way, tho' of only Capt. Walker of this Town, &c.
18. Lord's Day-We assembled & held ye Pub. wor: Tho' but a few in number And thro' divine goodness were in as quiet a State at home, as could be expected. The Armies at Charlestown being Still engaged and News flying with respect to the Slain & wounded &c. I preached all day fm. Hab. 3. 2. old serms. without y. application. Read A. M. II Chron. 35. half ye Chap. After meeting P. M. heard fm. y Army particularly of my Son ye Colo. in ye Battle. I & my wife extremely distressed on his accot. not expecting to hear of his being living-But by & by heard That he was living but badly wounded. & yt. he was on his way home-I sent off my horse & chaise to meet him-but y Messenger had not gone far before he met with some of our men returning who could give ye best information of him & others. So he returned-& Benja. Butterfield, & afterward Deacon Chamberlain visited me-and assured me yt. yy. Saw my Son at Camb .- & Tho' he was terribly wounded & bruised, yet his wounds were deemed not mortal. That he was so well as to mount on horse back this A. M. to Visit ye Generals, and that his wounds had been dressed. O this tho' bad was greatly to our Comfort. Blessed be the Lord. My Son Jno. well-he was not in battle. My Son Wm. well, he went off last night in ye alarm. All there. The Lord preserve em fm. sin and all evil. They, ye one, or ye other, or both, gave an accot. of ye Death of Capt. Walker of this Town. Killed at once. Of Col. Parker (My Son's Lieut. Colo.) his being wounded and left in ye hands of our Enemies, but not certain of his being Killed, & of Doctr., now General Warren's being Killed, & of many others I know not. This is a day big with distress & trouble. The Lord suffers it to be so, yt. our Enemies are yy. who were our brethren-Of ye same Nation, & Subjects of ye Same King. And all for y sake of y. Vengeance of a Wicked & Corrupt Ministry a deluded-a Devilish Venal parliamt .- O, ye Judgmts. of the Lord are a great deep-The Lord is known by ye Judgments wch. he executeth. Amen.
19th. I visited Capt. Walker's widow & mother, on occasion of his Death-My Son Wm. returned fm. Camb. and brot. me Word yt. his brothr. ye Colo. was
237
THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
better & yt. Jno. went a plundering at Charlestown yesterday-& was not very well last night & this Morng. Continual news Varying greatly fm y army. &c. Our Militia returned. O tis a day of sore distress-
20 I visited Wido. Parker & her daughter ye wife of Col. Moses Parker, wounded, Missing, & supposed to be Slain in ye late battle. & discours'd & prayd wth em.
26. O, This is an unsettled day & time. I am glad when I can seize a moment for any duty.
27 Visited Mrs Walker, wife of Capt. Walker, To rejoice with her, on her receiving ye news of her husband's being alive-Tho' wounded & in Captivity in Boston. Also Doctr. Abbot to rejoice with em on accot. of y news yy. have also received of Colo. Moses Parker their brothr. his being alive. tho' Wounded & in Captivity in Boston.
July 1. Capt. Symmes & his family went off for Littleton to take up their abode there.
1776
June 25. Mr Dunkinson, a young Gentleman fm. Scotland Captivated by our forces a year ago & who has resided at Concord, dined with me in his way with 7 or 8 highland officers lately captivated, to Dunstable where yy. are to remain prisoners.
A Lieut. Christie also Visited me after dinr. A number of highland soldiers are brot. in among us as prisoners, and a numbr. sent off this morng. to Dunstable
30. Lord's Day-After ye Blessing read a Resolve of y Genl. Court relating to y raising men To go to Canada. And at y desire of Colo. Spaulding Notified y pple on y Alarm & training lists to appear tomorrow wth arms &c at one of y Clock & gave a Short Word of Exhortation to em upon y affair.
July
2. Much worried about y times.
3. The town again in confusion. Companies mett to draw out men for Canada.
5. More hurry abot. raising soldiers.
15. Capt. Andw Symmes of Boston, Colo. Conant & Mr. Samll Fletcher came from Billerica to see us P. M.
22. Two of y British officers, prisoners at Dunstable Visited me. P. M.
23. Capt Ford & his Company marched off, in ordr. to Join our Northern Army. At his desire I went into ye meeting house, previous to their Marching. Sung part 18th psalm, fm. 32 ver. to end 38- prayed with em & gave em a word of exhortation
238
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
* Part of Two other Companies, Soldiers on their march, on ye same rout fm. lower Towns, came into Town toward night & lodged in Town.
25 Much Compy & much confusion by reason of Soldiers passing &c.
26 Early in ye morning I prayed in the meeting house with Capts Toy & Bancroft of Woburn & Reading & their respective companies upon their march to Join our Northern Army.
30. Rev. Mr. Hitchcock of Beverly, going as a chaplain to ye Northern Army gave me a Visit A. M.
Aug 1 Fast Day thro ye Massachusetts Bay.
Sept. 1.
After service P. M. Read y declaration of independence of ye United States of America in y pub. congre- gation, agreeable to y order of y. council of this State. And when I had done, added Zion heard and was glad and y Daughters of Juda rejoiced because of yy. Judgments, O Lord.
19. (David Spaulding receivs news of death of son David in army at Ticonderoga of Small Pox on Aug 27 or 28
24 (Visited Willard Byam & Jonas Dutton both sick home from ye army.)
30. (prayed in Meeting house with Compy. of Soldiers going to N. Y. under Capt Wright of Westford)
1777 Oct. 23
This morng. Assurtained of ye news of Genl. Burgoine's surrendering himself & Army to Gen Gates &c &c Blessed be ye Lord. [On the day that the news of Burgoyne's surrender reached Boston, Joseph Warren, who in turn, with a few other citizens, went on horseback once in two weeks to that city for the mail, brought a paper containing the news to "Parson Bridge." On reaching home, Mr. Warren called his son Joseph, then a lad of nine or ten years, to make haste and carry the paper to the Parson. This he did, and on being shown into his room, passed the paper to Mr. Bridge, who, upon reading the joyful news, jumped and capered about in a manner sur- prising to the boy. The happy Parson rewarded the boy with a pistareen.] [Related by E. H. Warren.] My son y Colo. came *
26
* * fm. Cambridge.
1777 Oct (Some time back the price of a cask wine for Communion was £8 lawful money. Now a cask of y same bulk costs £50.)
Nov 5 (Wm. Foster lately recd news of his son Noah's death killed in battle. & of Ebenezer Foster [of Westford] who died of sickness in ye Army.)
11 Jacob Howard's son Willard \ sick lately returned from & Saml. Howard's son Ben. [ Army.
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THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
12 Flying news of Washington's taking Howe, &c.
20 (Thanksgiving Day)
Dec 7 Informed y. Congregation of y Continental Thanks- giving to be on next Thursday se'nnight. He preached from II Chron. 20. 20 latter part.
11 visited Leiut Isaac Warren lately returned from ye Army.
23 Received a valuable present of a new gown both inside & outside, from a number of the good women of the parish. also a sum of money and several quantities of wool & flax.
29. [A Committee of ye Town brought him £36.8.0 lawful money; others gave grain.]
1778 Jan 3 Mr Guild tutor of Havd Coll & Mrs Sally Bradstreet dined with us.
5. (Capt. Hastings from y Eastward visited him) Capt. Minot's wife fell in ye fire in a fit
Lieut. Benj. Fletcher, Lieut. Harwood, Liut Blodget, Col Eleazer Tyng, Liut. Jno. Spaulding, Col. Symmes, Col. Conant. & Capt Fox, called. Dr. Hastings ret'd from ye Army.
Nov 16 Town voted £400 addition to his salary (lawful money).
Dec 27 So cold that only 6 or 8 persons came to meeting.
1779 Dec. 6. £1000 added to salary
Road laid out by ye Town between ye ministry & ye land of Mr Fisk i. e. ye road south of ye ministry.
1780 Jan 7 Yet stormy. windy. cold & blocked up I think more than I ever saw it.
9 Lord's day but a handful of pple attended ye pub. wor. & those came on snow shoes except about }2 Doz. in ye neighborhood.
14 much drifted. No traveling. Shut up. No news this fortnight. &c
May 15 I attended town meeting for ye Consideration of ye form of Government drawn up by ye Convention for ye State.
1781 July 7 Doctor Hastings & wife & child moved to young widow Stoddard's to live there.
[Dr. Hastings' mother-Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Jno. Cotton of Newton, was a life long friend of Mr. Bridge.] Aug 17 Recd visit from Mr Waters a young preacher
Oct 6 We have a great deal good news from ye forces at ye Southward both by sea & land.
1782 April 1 I went to Town Meeting p m & voted for Govern'r.
4. Lords day I began reading in public-after the winter
16. Col Bromfield of Harvard dined with us.
25. Fast day thro all ye States.
28. Rev. Mr Ripley visited me.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
May 21 Col Baldwin, high Sheriff, Visited & breakfasted with us, going to Groton Court. This eveng died Col. Eleazer Tyng, aged 93.
24 His funeral. "I made ye prayer" & was a p bearer.
25 Had a talk with ye wife of oliver adams a Shaking Quaker. She is a poor deluded visionary. En- thusiastic, high-tempered, self-willed creature, and is tended to no good purpose.
[For an account of things lost by Chelmsford men at Bunker Hill and recompense therefor, refer to pages 232 and 844.]
[The soldiers of the Seventy-First Regiment of Foot, Highlanders, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, were taken prisoners at the capture of the transport-ship George in Boston harbor, in June, 1776. See pages 223 and 237.]
The following receipt was found among the Town papers.
"Bunker Hill Monument Association. Received of Capt. Caleb Abbot $369, being the amount subscribed in the town of Chelmsford towards the erection of a monument on Bunker Hill. Nathl. P. Russell, Treasurer.
Boston, April 8, 1825."
Roll of Chelmsford Minute Men who participated in the Centennial Celebration of the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1875.
H. S. Perham, Capt. Saml. Hagerman
J. A. Bartlett, Lieut. Thos. Borden
J. C. Hobbs, Ensign
Asa H. Webber
Rev. E. Fitz Gerald, Sergt.
E. G. Nicless
Geo. Spalding, Sergt.
O. N. Thissell
Robt. Fletcher, Sergt.
C. E. Parkhurst
Chas. Christy, Sergt.
Isaac Dutton
A. G. Green, Corp.
C. A. Parker
N. P. Dadmun, Corp.
C. H. Hall
E. B. Kittredge, Corp.
W. Whitfield
Milo J. Proctor, Corp.
Geo. F. Reed
Herbert H. Emerson
J. H. McFarlin
A. C. Thissell
J. H. Willis
. C. Proctor
John H. Lane
Henry B. Hunt
R. Wilson Dix
A. W. Allen
Henry Martin
G. W. Butterfield
Frank Kelley
E. R. Marshall
C. D. Ticknor
E. H. Warren
Timothy Adams
E. Crosby
W. E. Stone
Otis Adams, Jr.
A. H. Park
Geo. P. Mansfield
H. F. Ebert
Luther C. Upham
John Larey
Geo. E. Hall
F. Sweetser
Levi Lamphere
I. L. Putnam
Jas. H. Hazen
Pearson, Drummer Willie Adams, Fifer
A Lowell paper of the day gave the following, apparently from the pen of H. S. Perham, as to the plans of the above company.
THE FISKE HOUSE
No. 17
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THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
The company will wear the continental costume. They will carry old flint lock muskets, and powder horns. The sword that was carried by Capt. Ford-who commanded the Chelmsford men at the battle of Bunker Hill-will be carried by the captain. Several of the guns and powder horns were also used at the battle. The Chelmsford Monument Association will aid in furnishing the banner for the occasion. Sergeant Geo. Spalding -grandson of Joseph Spalding-will carry the banner. A sword that was captured from the British at Ticonderoga, and brought home from there by a Chelmsford soldier, Samuel Parkhurst, father of the late Rev. John Parkhurst, will also be carried.
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