History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 54

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 54

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"1. As the opinion of this district that we have a just and lawful right to meet together when and so often as we shall have occasion, to culti- vate harmony and to transact our town affaire; and that we will hold, nse, and improve that privilege, and will never give it up, or quit the usual practice of meeting, on any mandate whatever.

" 2. That neither Lord North, por auy uther British minister or person whatever, hath any right to trample America under his feet, nor to juvade its privileges, either civil or religious.

"3. We are resolved to doall in our power, by abstinence or any other lawful and proper way, to secure and preserve our charter rights and privileges, and that we will not tamely submit tu the yoke of bond- age.

"4. That we will not have any hand in the consumption of teas, West Iodia or British goods, wares or merchandise, imported after the last day of August next, nor deal with any person who shall import such goods, wares or merchandise, contrary to the general sense and agree- ment of the inhabitants of thia much abused province.

"5. We return our hearty thanks to our patriotic friends at Boaton, for their firmness, care and vigilance the time past, for the good and safety of this country. And we desire you not to give over now, al- though your circumstances are very discouraging. We sympathize with yon in this day of darkness, and had situation of affairs, and will, when need bø, nttest our ability, administer our substance, and whatever may be beneficial to the canse, and are determined to exert ourselves in the cause that ao much concerns us. Aod we hope and pray that the Lord of Hoste will direct us, and you, and all the colonies into a right way, that llis blessing may be upon our nnited endeavors, and may success, with peace und harmony, crown the whole to the glory of God and the tranquility of the American colonies."

The following extract from the instructions given to their representatives in 1775 shows that the inhab- itants of Pepperell had already, more than a year be- fore the Declaration of Independence was formulated, arrived at the conclusion that their only hope was in a complete separation from the British Government :

" We therefore instruct you, sir, that you, in our name and behalf, signify to the Great and General Court, of which you are a member, that our opinion is, that independence is the only alternative for the safety of this oppressed land, and that if the honorable Congress should think it best for the safety of the United Colonies to declare them inde- pendent of Great Britain, we acquiesce heart and hand, and are deter- mined, at the risk of life and treasure, to support the measure."

These expressions of independence were not mere words. Active preparations had for some time been in progress to enforce their principles by actual resist- ance; and the leader was already in the field.

William Prescott was born in Groton, February 20, 1726; but at the age of twenty years he removed to the West Parish, and " took up" a farm lying partly in the parish and partly in the "Groton Gore," so- called. The whole farm afterwards became a part of Pepperell. He inherited martial proclivities. His great-grandfather, who emigrated from England, was said to have served under Cromwell ; his grandfather was captain of militia at the time of the Indian dep- redations ; and his father had been colonel of the militia of Middlesex and Worcester Counties. He himself had been a lieutenant of the provincial troops that were sent, in 1775, to remove the neutral French from Nova Scotia; and on his return from that expedition had been promoted to a captaincy. In 1768 he was chosen a commitiee to represent Pep- perell in the General Committee of Safety, composed of members from the several towns in the Province. He was sent a delegate to the Provincial Congress at Salem ; and was in 1774 appointed colonel of a regi- ment of "minute-men " enrolled in Pepperell, Groton and Hollis. The settlers of " West Dunstable" were almost all from the neighboring town of the Massa- chusetts Province. In fact, until the establishment of the boundary line in 1751, they had considered themselves citizens of that Province, and in their business relations and social sympathies they were still inclined in that direction. Moreover, Colonel Prescott was a near neighbor and friend of Captain Dow, Lieutenant Goss and many others of the Hollis company; and his brother-in-law, Colonel John Hlale, was one of the leading patriots of Hollis. These were, probably, the reasons that induced the Hollis company to join Colonel Prescott's regiment, rather than one in their own State.

The muster-roll of the Pepperell company was :

Captain John Nutting, First Lieutenant Nathaniel Lakin, Second Lieut. John Mosher, Sergts. Edmund Bancroft, Silas Pierce, Josiah Newell, Abijah Parker, Corps. James Mosher, Ebenezer Nutting, John Boynton, Peter Perham, Drummer Robinson Lakin, Privates Jeremiah Shattuck, John Chamberlain, George Abbott, Abraham Boynton, George Attridge, Mosee Blood, Joseph Chamberlain, Jonathan Blood, Nathau Fisk, Simou Green, William Green, Daniel Mosher, Joshua Lawrence, Francis Lee, John Adams, Tho". Lawrence, Sam1 Nutting, Abel Parker, Jonas Shattuck, Michael Sawtell, Sam! Seward, Josiah Seward, Moses Shattuck, Philip Shattuck, Reuben Shattuck, Joseph Shattuck, David Shattuck, Josinh Shattuck, Eleazer Whipple, Robert Conant, Joseph Chambly, Oliver Shattuck, Jonas Warren, Joseph Tar- bell, James Tarbell, Isaac Williams, Joseph Woods, Daniel Shattuck, Joseph Whitney, Thos Wetherbee, Reuben Spaulding, Ahijah Shattuck, Sampson Woods, Nathaniel Parker, William Warren, Edmund Pierce, Wainwright Fisk, John Shattuck, Jeremiah Shattuck, Jr., Ebenezer Langhton."

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In addition to these there were in Captain Asa Lawrence's company in Groton the following soldiers enrolled from Pepperell :

"First Lient., Tho' Spaulding ; Sergts., Thos, Spaulding, Samuel Gilson ; Corporals, Joseph Shedd, Jonathan Stevens, Samuel Farley ; Privates, Jonathan Boyden, Levi Woods, David Avery, Joseph Adams, James Bowers, Joseph Jewett, Samnel Green, Simon Green, Benjamin Jewett, Jonathan Lewis, Samuel Lovejoy, Simon Lakin, Eleazar Parker, Eleazar Spaulding, David Wetherbee, Thoª Lawrence (3d.), Benjamin Wood, William Spanlding, Phineas Donglass, Aaron Scott, James Mc- Cone."

About nine o'clock on the morning of the memora- ble April 19, 1775, a messenger from Concord arrived in Pepperell with the thrilling tidings of the skirmish at Lexington, and the advance of the British regulars towards Concord. Colonel Prescott immediately gave orders to the Hollis and Pepperell companies to march to Groton and there join the other companies of the regiment. These minute-men, well organized and ready for action, promptly responded to the sum- mons. So well prepared were they for such an emer- gency and so expeditious in their rally, that they ar- rived at the Groton rendezvous, five miles distant, before the companies there were ready to march ; and after a halt of a few minutes, impatient at the delay, they marched on in advance of the Groton companies.

The following incidents will show how promptly the minute-men obeyed the call to arms :

Edmund Bancroft, a sergeant in Capt. Nutting's company, was living with his father, on Bancroft Street, but had just started for Maine when the mes- senger arrived to notify him. Mr. Bancroft's father said : " Perhaps he is not out of hearing yet," and, running ont in the field, and mounting a high roek he called to his son, who heard, returned to the house, took his gun and lastened towards Concord.

Another of Capt. Nutting's company, Abel Parker, -afterwards judge of Probate for Cheshire County, N. H., and father of the late Chief Justice Joel Parker-was plowing on his farm nearly three miles distant, but as soon as he heard the alarm, he left the plow in the furrow, and, without stopping to unyoke his oxen, ran to the house and seizing his coat in one hand and his gun in the other, started on a run and did not stop until he overtook his comrades, near the "Ridges," some three miles below Groton.

Col. Prescott hastened on with his regiment to Concord, but being unable to arrive there in time to take any part in the conflict of that day, he followed the retreat of the " regulars " to Cambridge, and made that place his headquarters.

The women of those days were not a whit inferior to the men in patriotism and courage, nor in a manly exhibition of heroism. After the departure of the minnte-men, the women in the vicinity of the bridge over the Nashua River-now the covered bridge- collected, dressed in their absent husband's clothes, and armed with the most effective weapons they could find. Having chosen Mrs. David Wright their commander, they patrolled the road, firmly deter-

mined that no enemy to freedom should pass that bridge,-and to good purpose, too, for they soon had the satisfaction of arresting Capt. Leonard Whiting, of Hollis, a noted Tory, and the bearer of despatches from Canada to Boston. He was compelled to dis- mount and submit to a search. The treasonable cor- respondenee, which was found in his boot, was for- warded to the Committee of Safety, and he was de- tained as prisoner, and sent to Oliver Prescott, Esq., a brother of Col. Prescott. Mrs. Wright's maiden name was Prudence Cumings. She was born in Hollis, November 26, 1740 ; was married to David Wright, of Pepperell, December 28, 1761, and by him had eleven children, two of whom she named Liberty. One of her brothers was in Capt. Dow's company, but two other brothers were Tories. Capt. Leonard Whit- ing was born and had been reared in the same neigh- borhood with Prudence Cumings. He knew her well, and, tradition says, that when he recognized her voice through her disguise at the bridge, he remarked that it was of no use to resist, and surrendered uncon- ditionally. In November, 1889, a memorial stone of polished granite was erected near this bridge by a great-great-granddaughter of Prudence Wright-Mrs. H. A. Pevear, of Lynn, Mass .- to commemorate the heroism of her ancestress. At the same time, through the efforts, principally, of Mrs. Dr. William F. Heald and Mr. Frank W. Ames, assisted by several others of the members of a magazine club, two similar stones were erected-one at " Munger's Corner," to mark the spot where Mr. Ames was killed by the Indian (an event previously related), and the other at the junc- tion of Townsend and Bancroft Streets, where the British officers (paroled prisoners of war) who were quartered in Pepperell and Townsend, after the sur- render of Burgoyne, in 1777, were allowed to meet and sympathize with each other.

The expense of these monumental stones was de- frayed by the proceeds of an art loan exhibit and subscriptions from Pepperell people, several of whom were non-residents.

Soon after his arrival at Cambridge, Col. Prescott with most of his men enlisted for eight months, it being the prevalent opinion that by that time the war would be over. In the latter part of May, following, he received from the Provincial Congress a commission as colonel in the army. His regiment of ten com- panies numbered about four hundred and twenty-five men. His staff officers were : Lieut. Col., John Rob- inson, of Westford ; Major, Henry Woods, and Adjt., William Green, of Pepperell.

On the 16th day of June, 1775, the commander of the army, in accordance with the recommenda- tion of the Committee of Safety, took measures to fortify Bunker Hill. Orders were issued for "Frye's, Bridge's and William Prescott's regiments to parade this evening at six o'clock, with all the intrenching tools in this encampment." They were also ordered to furnish themselves with packs, blankets and rations

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

for twenty-four hours. A detachment of about two hundred Connecticut troops, and Capt. Samuel Grid- ley's company of artillery, of forty-nine men and two field-pieces, was also ordered to parade. Col. Prescott was placed in command of this force, with written orders from Gen. Ward "to proceed that night to Bunker Hill, build fortifications to be planned by Col. Richard Gridley, chief engineer, and defend them until he should be relieved-the order not to be communicated until the detachment had passed Charlestown Neck." The detachment, numbering about twelve hundred men, paraded as ordered on Cambridge Common ; and after listening to a prayer by President Langdon, of Harvard College, com- menced under cover of night its silent and mysterious march. Col. Prescott, wearing a simple uniform dress, with blue coat and three-cornered hat, led the troops over the "Neck," and then, having ordered a halt, made known the object of the expedition. A long consultation followed in regard to the place to be fort- ified, and it was finally determined to erect a redoubt at the sontherly end of the Bunker Hill range, on the eminence locally known at that time as Breed's Hill. " When the detachment reached Breed's Hill the packs were thrown off, the guns were stacked, Col. Gridley marked out the plan of a fortification, tools were distributed, and about twelve o'clock the men began to work." Col. Prescott immediately detailed Capt. Maxwell with several of his men to patrol the shore and watch the motions of the enemy during the night. The Boston shore opposite was lined with Brit- ish sentinels. On either side in the waters around them were moored several men of war, and floating batteries, all within gunshot. "This proximity to an enemy re- quired great caution, and a thousand men, accustomed to handling the spade, worked with great diligence and silence on the intrenchments, while the cry of 'All's well,' heard at intervals through the night by the patrol, gave assurance that they were not discov- ered. Col. Prescott, apprehensive of an attack before the works were in such a condition as to cover the men, went down twice to the margin of the river with Major Brooks to reconnoitre, and was delighted to hear the watch on board the ships drowsily repeat the usual cry." "He was often heard to say, after the battle, that his great anxiety that night was to have a screen raised, however slight, for his men before they were attacked, which he expected would be early in the morning, as he knew it would be difficult, if not quite impossible, to make raw troops, however full of patriotism, to stand in an open field against artillery and well-armed and well-disciplined soldiers. He therefore strenuously urged on the work, and even subaltern and private labored with spade and pickaxe, without intermission, through the night, and until they resumed their muskets, near the middle of the day. Never were men in worse condition for action, exhausted by watching, fatigue, and hunger,-and never did old soldiers behave better."

The intrenchments had been raised about six feet in height before they were discovered at early dawn the next morning. A heavy cannonade from the ships and Copp's Hill then began, but the Americans, protected by their works, were not injured, and kept steadily at work. At length a private was killed by a cannon-shot, and some of the men began to exhibit signs of fear.

To reassure them and to inspire confidence, Colonel Prescott mounted the parapet and walked leisurely around it, inspecting the works, giving directions to the officers and encouraging the men by approbation or amusing them with humor. This had the effect that was intended. "The tall, commanding form of Prescott was observed by General Gage as he was re- connoitering the Americans through his glass, who inquired of Councilor Willard (a brother-in-law of Colonel Prescott), near him, who the person was who appeared to command? Willard recognized his bro- ther-in-law. 'Will he fight?' again inquired Gage. ' Yes, sir ; he is an old soldier, and will fight as long as a drop of blood remains in his veins.' "

The first attack of the British soldiers was made about three o'clock and was easily repulsed. Of the second attack, Judge Prescott, the colonel's son, thus writes : "The discharge was simultaneous the whole length of the line, and though more destructive, as Colonel Prescott thought, than on the former assault, the enemy stood the first shock, and continued to ad- vance and fire with great spirit ; but before reaching the redoubt the continnous, well-directed fire of the Americans compelled them to give way, and they retreated a second time, in greater disorder than be- fore. ... Colonel Prescott spoke of it as a contin- ued stream of fire from his whole line from the first discharge until the retreat."

By much exertion the British officers rallied their men for a third attack, which was successful. The ammunition of the Americans was spent. They fought desperately with their bayonets and the butts of their guns, but were compelled to retreat. "The British had entered the redoubt, and were advancing, when Colonel Prescott ordered a retreat. He was among the last, and before leaving it was surrounded by the enemy who had entered, and had several passes with the bayonet made at his body, which he parried with his sword-of the use of which he had some knowledge." He received several thrusts through his garments, but he was not wounded. He was always confident that he could have held the fortifi- cations if he had been supplied with sufficient ammu- nition. On his return to Cambridge he immediately reported to General Ward, commander-in-chief, the result of the battle, assured him that the confidence of the British would not be increased thereby, and of- fered to retake the hill that night or perish in the attempt, if three regiments, of fifteen hundred men, well-equipped with ammunition and bayonets, were put under his command. "He had not yet done

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enough to satisfy himself, though he had done enough to satisfy his country. He had not, indeed, secured final victory, but he had secured a glorious immortality."

Of the Pepperell soldiers who fought in this battle, eight were killed and eight were wounded :

Killed-Jeremiah Shattuck, aged thirty ; Nathaniel Parker, thirty-three ; Wm. Warren, twenty; Wain- wright Fisk, twenty-four; Ebenezer Laughton, twenty-seven ; Joseph Spaulding, thirty-seven; Benj. Wood, twenty ; Edmund Pierce, forty-four.

Wounded-Jonathan Stevens, Moses Blood, Simon Green, Adjt. Wm. Green, John Adams, Thos. Law- rence (3d), Abel Parker, Wm. Spaulding.

The following letter to John Adams, at that time a delegate to the Continental Congress, contains Col. Prescott's own account of the battle :

" CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, Aug. 25, 1775.

"Sir :- I have received a line from my brother, which informe me of your desire of a particular account of the action at Charlestown. It is not in my power, at present, to give ao minute an account as I should choose, being ordered to decalup and march to another station.

" On the 16 June, iu the evening, I received orders to march to Breed'a Hill, in Charlestown, with a party of about one thousand men, consiet- ing of three hundred of my own regiment, Colonel Bridge and Lient. Bricket, with a detachment of theirs, and two hundred Connecticut forces, commanded by Captaiu Kuowlton. We arrived at the apot, tbe lines were drawn by the engineer, and we began the intreochmient about twelve o'clock ; and plying the work with all possible expedition till just before sun-rising, when the enemy began a very heavy cannonad- ing and bombardment. In the interim the engineer forsook me. Hav- ing thrown up a small redoubt, found it necessary to draw a line about twenty rode in length from the fort, northerly, under a very warm fire from the enemy's artillery.

"About this time, the above field officers being indisposed, could render me but little service, aud the most of the men under their com- mand deserted the party. The enemy continuing an incessant fire with their artillery, about two o'clock in the afternoon, on the seventeenth, the enemy began to land a northeasterly point from the fort, and 1 ordered the train, with two field-pieces, to go aud oppose them, and the Connecticut forces to support them ; but the train marched a different course, and I believe those sent to their support followed, I suppose, to Bunker's Hill.

" Auother party of the enemy lauded and fired the town. There was a party of Hampshire, in conjunction with some other forcee, lined a fence at the distance of three-score rods back of the fort, partly to the north.

" About an hour after the enemy landed they began to march to the attack iu three columns. I commanded my Lieut .- Col. Robinson and Major Woods, each with a detachment, to flank the enemy, who, I have reason to think, bebaved with prudence and courage. I was now left with perhapa oue hundred and fifty men in the fort. The enemy ad- vanced and fired very hotly on the fort, aud meeting with a warm reception, there was a very smart firing on both sides. After a con- siderable time, finding our ammunition was almost spent, I commanded a cessation till the enemy advanced within thirty yards, when we gave them such a hot fire that they were obliged to retire nearly one hundred and fifty yarda before they could rally and come again to the attack. Our ammunition being nearly exhausted, could keep up only a scatter- ing fire. The enemy being numerous, surrounded our little fort, began to mount our lines, and enter the fort with their bayonets. We were obliged to retreat through them, while they kept up as hot a fire as it was possible for them to make. We having very few bayonets, could make Do resistance. We kept the fort about one hour and twenty minutes after the attack with small arms. This is Dearly the state of facts, though imperfect and too general, which, if any ways satisfactory lo you, will afford pleasure to your most ubedient, bumble servant, " WILLIAM PRESCOTT.

" To the Hon. John Adams, Esq."

Col. Prescott remained with the army in the vicin- ity of Cambridge, during the "siege of Boston."

After its termination by the evacuatiou of the British in March, 1776, he was stationed at Governor's Island, New York, until after the battle of Long Island ; and when the American forces were obliged to retreat from New York City, he withdrew his regiment so skillfully and successfully as to call forth the public commendation of Gen. Washington. In the fall of 1777 he, with several of his old officers, went as a volunteer to oppose the onward march of Burgoyne, and was present to witness the surrender of that for- midable but discomfited army, which, according to the British program, was destined to insulate New Eng- land from the other Colonies, and thus effectually crush the rebellion.

This was Col. Prescott's last military service, if we except his hastening to Concord, at the time of Shays' Insurrection, to assist in protecting the courts of jus- tice and in preserving law and order. He returned to his farm in Pepperell, honored hy his' fellow-citi- zens, whom he served in the various municipal offices of town clerk. selectman, magistrate, and also as rep- resentative to the General Court for three years. He died October 13, 1795, at the age of sixty-nine years, and was buried with appropriate military honors.

In person he was of tall and commanding stature, large and muscular frame, well marked and intellec- tual features, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was somewhat bald on the top of his head, and wore a tie-wig. He had only a limited education, but he was self-taught, and was very fond of reading, espe- cially history. He was never in a hurry, never unduly excited, but always cool and self-possessed in times of commotion and danger. In deportment he was plain and courteous ; in disposition, kind and benevo- lent-liberal to a fault, aud always ready to assist others even to his own disadvantage.

Mrs. Abigail (Hale) Prescott, of Sutton, was an ex- ceedingly amiable, prudent and estimable woman. HIer rare combination of the virtues of thrift without selfishness, and frugality without parsimony, was a fortunate supplement to the easy liberality of her husband.

In the old burying ground at Pepperell, within the shadow of the old church, stands a plain tomb, built of four upright granite slabs, forming a square in- closure about three feet high, upon the top of which rest two horizontal tablets of slate-stone bearing the following inscriptions :

IN memory of

Thie stone is erected in memory of

Mas. ABIGAIL PRESCOTT, widow of the late

Colt. William Prescott, of Pepperell,

COL. WILLIAM PRESCOTT, who died

Oct. 19, A.D. 1821, Æt. 89.

who died on the 13th day of October, Anno Domini 1795, in the seventieth year of bisage.

Simple and unpretentious as it is, the Pepperell farmer who commanded the yeomanry of Middlesex at the battle of Bunker Hill needs no costlier or more imposing mausoleum. His epitaph might well be,

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

" Exegi monimentum ære perennios."

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 54

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278