raiBRARY OF Congress. I p r- .. ., m ^ Chap. n? . . . .< /^ -W^-^^- ^' p - §§ ilT^UNITED STATES OF AIVIERICA.;v<:£ii :^^ 9-167 ^it^ HISTORY OF Colonel Edmund Phinney's Thirty-First Regiment of Foot EIGHT MONTHS' SERVICE MEN OF 1775 WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND ROLLS OF THE COMPANIES BY NATHAN GOOLD HISTORIAN OF THE MAINE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION REPRINTED FROM THE MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S QUARTERLY PORTLAND THE THURSTON PRINT 1896 967: k'- HISTORY OF COL EDMUND PHINNEY'S 31st REGIMENT OF FOOT HISTORY OF COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S 31ST REGIMENT OF FOOT. THE FIRST REGIMENT RAISED IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. BY NATHAN GOOLD. Longfellow wrote — " War is a terrible trade ; but in the cause that is righteous sweet is the smell of powder. " The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, February 4, 1775, resolved to purchase munitions of war for fifteen thousand men, and April 23, 1775, it was unani- mously resolved to raise thirteen thousand, six hundred men, and other New England colonies were invited to raise their proportionate quota to make the aggre- gate of thirty thousand, and in a few days that number was enrolled. So many came that the generals were obliged to send many back to their homes. On May 20, 1775, Artemas Ward was commissioned general and commander-in-chief of the colony. Col. James Scamraon's York County Regiment marched soon after the beginning of the war, and joined the army at Cambridge, but Cumberland County sent no regiment until July, for reasons which will hereafter be fully explained. Col. Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot, was the first regiment raised in the County of Cumberland for service in the field, in the Revolutionary war. Most of the men equipped themselves, but those who ( • 4 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. were not able were supplied by the towns where they enlisted. A large part of the men enlisted soon after the receipt of the news of the commencement of the war, and were in the service in and about Fal- mouth until July. When Capt. John Parker formed his minute men on Lexington Common in the early morning of April 19, 1775, he may have realized the responsibility that rested on his company. They represented the for- bearance of the colonists, and they, by not firing the first gun, established in the minds of the American people, the character of the men who first resisted British oppression. A boulder now marks the line of this company, on that eventful morning, inscribed with Capt. Parker's order to his men : — Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon. But if they mean to have war let it begin here. The war then had actually begun. The news reached the town of York on the evening of April 19, and Capt. Johnson Moulton collected his company of over sixty men, from that old town, and marched on the morning of the next day towards Boston, making fifteen miles and crossing the ferry over Piscataqua Eiver before night. This was the first company that marched from the Province of Maine in war of the Rev olution. The first information of the battles of Lexington and Concord reached Falmouth Neck before daylight of April 21, and created much consternation and alarm. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S EEGIMENT OF FOOT. 5 That day Capt. John Brackett's company marched towards Boston, followed by companies under com- mand of captains Hart Williams, Wentworth Stuart, Abraham Tyler, and probably others from Cumberland County. These were the militia then organized for any immediate service. They proceeded as far as Wells, about thirty miles, when they were ordered to return home to guard the exposed towns on their own seacoast. They arrived at Falmouth, April 24, and were allowed five days' service. Arrangements were immediately made to form a regiment for active service and the business of enlist- ing the men was commenced. About two weeks later, before the men were all enlisted in this regiment, occurred what was called '' Thompson's war, " which lasted several days. Capt. Mowat and his surgeon were captured (May 9) at Falmouth Neck by Col. Samuel Thompson's " Spruce " company of about fifty men, from Brunswick. Mowat was released on parole, to return the next morning, by the timid and Tory influence of the Neck, but did not keep his promise. Before the release it is stated the Tories were for the militia of the Neck to rescue the prisoners from Thompson's men. Col. Phinney w^as in town and the soldiers of his regiment assembled before the next morning, and were " highly enraged " at finding that Mowat had been released. This whole affair evidently was planned by Col. Thompson, and probably his company arrived on the Neck before they were expected by Phinney's men, who were to assist in capturing Mowat's vessel. 6 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. The Gorham and Windham soldiers in their indigna- tion sacked Capt. Coulson's house, as he was the most prominent Tory, and used it for a barrack. In the cellar they found a barrel of New England rum, which he had put in for his own use, and it is stated that " they made so free with it that some of them were quite and others almost drunken. " Calvin Lombard of Gorham, who, '"' raised " with some of this liquor, went to the foot of the street and fired a brace of balls into the side of Mowat's vessel, probably is entitled to the credit of firing the first gun at Falmouth in the Revolution. He did not belong to the regiment but probably came with them from Gorham. He was the youngest son of Rev. Soloman Lombard, the first minister of Gorham, a graduate of Harvard College, member of the Pro- vincial Congress and justice of the Court of Common Pleas. Calvin inherited his father's home-place and his mother lived with him. He was the father of eight children and was a good citizen. He was of light complexion, sandy hair, of an impulsive nature and a man of courage, which accounts for his zealous patri- otism. The tradition is that he afterwards served in the army. The officers of the regiment and companies resolved themselves into a committee of war and after some hesitation admitted the officers of the " Neck " companies. They voted by a considerable majority, that Capt. Mowat's vessel ought to be destroyed, and appointed a committee of their number to consider m what manner it should be done, but no report has been found. This all caused so much consternation and COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 7 alarm among the people of Falmouth Neck, that Col. Phinney induced his men to abandon the attempt, but they would not return home until they were given some barrels of bread, several cheeses and two barrels of rum to each company then in town. They hauled Coulson's boats almost over to Back Cove and left them, and also seized Sheriff Tyng's bishop, a piece of plate valued -at five hundred pounds old tenor, and his laced hat. The soldiers carried the bishop and hat to Lieut. Cary McLellan's house, near Gorham village where they secreted them in the cellar wall by remov- ing stones and excavating the earth, then depositing the articles, they replaced the stones, so that the hiding-place would not be discovered. The tradition is that the men were tried for this offense but were not convicted. The articles were restored to Sheriff Tyng and Coulson was reinbursed by the General Court for his loss. There was much hard feeling between the people of the Neck and the soldiers and it was stated that " the soldiers thought nothing too bad to say of the Falmouth gentry, " and that some of the soldiers on the street were heard to say that, '' this town ought to be burned. " The people of Falmouth Neck had not then risen to the spirit of the times as they did about five months later, when they refused to sacrifice their principles to save their town. Col. Phinney's regiment were ready and anxious to begin their service in an attempt to rid the colonies of Capt. Mowat, one of their most troublesome enemies. Patriots of later generations, with confidence in their 8 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF TOOT. ancestors, have regretted that they were prevented from carrying out their purpose. It was Capt. Samuel Noyes of this regiment and his company, who captured one of Capt. Coulson's boats, which was sent up the Presumpscot River in search of masts, June 22. Capt. Wentworth Stuart and his men went to New Casco and brought the men into Mars- ton's tavern, but they were released in two or three days. Maj. Jacob Brown was also there. This all led up to the cowardly burning of Falmouth the next October by Capt. Mowat. Gen. Jedediah Preble of Falmouth, who had served at Louisburg in 1745, commissioned a brigadier-gen- eral in 1758, was appointed a general in September, 1774, by the Congress, but was obliged to decline on account of his age and ill health. He and Enoch Freeman were the most influential men at Falmouth, with the Provincial Government at Cambridge, and were consulted by the committees and the Congress in relation to the operations about Falmouth and vicinity, the raising of soldiers and the appointment of officers for the army. As early as April 26, 1775, Gen. Jedediah Preble was requested to appear at Cambridge, by the Provin- cial Congress, "as a general or a private citizen," and it was probably at this time he was authorized to raise a regiment in Cumberland County to join the army at Cambridge. He seems to have had authority given him to select the officers for the reg-iment. Edmund Phinney of Gorham, was appointed colonel and the COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 9 enlisting of men had commenced when it was discov- ered that Samuel March of Scarboro had also been authorized to raise a regiment in the county with authority to appoint his officers. The county could not at that time spare two regiments to go to Cam- bridge and this difficulty had to be arranged, so Col. Phinney went to Cambridge to appear before the committee and with him took the following letter from Gen. Preble. Falmouth, May 15, 1775. Ho)iored Gentlemen: — These wait on you by Col. Phinney who brought me all the papers necessary for enlisting a Regi- ment in the County of Cumberland. I advised with the Com- mittee of Correspondence who was of the opinion it would be difficult for our County to spare a Regiment to be moved out of the Province of Maine, as we lay much exposed to the Navy by sea, and the Indians and French on our back settlements, if they should be employed against us : but we would be glad to do everything in our power for the defence of our just rights and dearer liberties. Our men are zealous in the Cause of our Country, and ready to venture everything for the defence of it. Colonel March informs me your Honors have appointed him a colonel and gave him orders to raise a Regiment in this County, and to appoint all his officers : this he acquainted me with after I had delivered Colonel Phinney the papers back again which he brought me. It is impossible we can spare two Regiments out of this County, and they both made considerable progress : am much afraid there will be some difficulty in settling the affah-. I am persuaded the men in general would prefer Colonel Phinney, and so should I for that reason as I look on Colonel Phinney to be equal to Colonel March in every respect. Should have done myself the honor to have waited on you in person but am in a poor state of health and so exercised mth the gout that I cannot bear my shoes. I purpose to visit the Camp 10 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. whenever I am able to undergo the fatigue of so long a journey. I wish courage and conduct in our officers, resolution and spirit of obedience in our soldiers, and a speedy end of our troubles. I am your Honors' most obedient servant, Jedediah Preble. The committee of 'safety sent an answer dated May 20, 1775, from Cambridge, in which they request him to stop enlistments in both regiments until it is found whether it would be necessary to take any men from this county. Soon after, there was probably an arrangement made to raise but one regiment with Edmund Phinney for its colonel, and Samuel March as lieutenant colonel. The county convention of May 29, 1775, petitioned the Provincial Congress that Col. Phinney's regiment mio-ht be stationed at Falmouth, for the defense of the town and county. In June, 1775, Col. Phinney again went to Cam- bridge with the following letter : — Falmouth, June 14, 1775. Hon. /Sivif : — These wait on you by Col. Phinney who informs us he has ordered the men lately enlisted in this County to secure the cattle and sheep from the ravages of the cruisers from the navy but as no provision is made for their subsistance it cannot to do duty without. We refer you to Col. Phinney for particulars &c. Jedediah Preble, Enoch Freeman. Col. Phinney presented himself to the Congress and the following appears on the records : — June 21, 1775. Ordered that Col. Phinney be admitted into the house to inform the Congress of the state of the regiment inlisted in the County of Cumberland. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 11 The next day the following order was passed : — June 22, 1775. Ordered that Col. Phinney be directed to bring up to camp 400 men with effective fire-arms and that a time be limited to bring up 100 men, with effective fire arms, he in that case to be entitled to a Colonel's commission and not otherwise. This order indicates that the Provincial Congress was impatient at the delay in the formation of this regiment, but in two days more, June 24, 1775, the Congress ordered that four hundred of this regiment, be marched to Cambridge and the balance to be sta- tioned in Cumberland and Lincoln Counties, " as Jede- diah Preble, Col. Enoch Freeman, and Maj. Mason Wheaton of St. George may think best," but the towns were ordered to supply the ammunition. Col. Phinney returned to Falmouth and soon after the first of July, the companies commenced their march to Cambridge, and probably all the companies joined the regiment during July or August. While the arrangements were being made for the formation of the regiment, the battle of Bunker Hill was fought; and when they finally entered active service it must have been at a period of the greatest anxiety and excitement. The army assembled at Cambridge was an unorgan- ized and undisciplined body of men, brought together in a time of great excitement and alarm, but was com- posed of men animated with the noblest spirit, ready and willing to do their duty. Of the uniforms of these men we know very little, but at that time probably had none. The Provincial Congress, July 5, 1775, resolved that thirty thousand 12 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. coats be provided to be apportioned to the towns in the colony. This would indicate that the regiment had at least uniformed coats some later. When Gen. Bur- goyne surrendered to the American army, Oct. 17, 1777, very few of the soldiers of this colony had uniforms. The following is the description of the coats that were to be provided : — That each coat be faced with the same kind of cloth which it was made ; that the coats be made in the common plain way without lappels, short, and with small folds of good plain cloth, preference given to manufactories of this country. That all the coats be buttoned with pewter buttons : that the buttons of each regiment have the number stamped on the face of them. At this time there was no uniformity in the color of the cloth for the infantry, and it was not until October, 1779, that blue was adopted as the national color for the army uniforms, and not until 1782 that the Continental army was fully uniformed, on account of the poverty of the colonies. The marching of a regiment to Boston in those days, before the time of the railroad and steamboat, cannot but be an interesting part of their service to their descendants. The roads were rough and hard to travel, but there was no other way but to march the entire distance. Men often, later in the war, started from these " eastern parts " and marched to the Hud- son River to join the army ; those that wintered at Valley Forge, and those that later in the war served in the South all marched both ways. From the journal of a soldier, we are enabled to fol- low Capt. David Bradish's company in their march COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 13 from Falmouth Neck to Cambridge Common to join their regiment in the army, showing that they sub- sisted at the taverns along their route, also the num- ber of" miles traveled each day. One company was probably marched at a time, as that was no doubt all the taverns could accommodate, and of course all the people along the way welcomed them, wished them Godspeed and a happy termination of their troubles Capt. David Bradish's company w^as preached to July 6, by Dr. Deane, and July 8, they started on their march towards Boston. All the companies probably marched over the same rough roads, occupied about the same time in getting to Cambridge, and arrived in about the same con- dition. Capt. Bradish's men started on their long march to Cambridge July 8, 1775, at eleven-thirty A. M., and arrived at Stroudwater at one o'clock, where they dined. At three o'clock they resumed their march, arrived at Milliken's tavern at Dunstan Corner, at sunset and staid all night. Sunday, 9, they started at four o'clock and arrived at Patten's tavern, Arundel, at nine for breakfast. Set out at eleven got to Littlefield's tavern, where they dined at one o'clock. Started again at four, arrived at Morrell's tavern, Berwick, at sunset, where they staid that night. Monday, 10, marched to Lord's tavern, Quampegan (Berwick), arriving at eight o'clock, and there had breakfast : resumed their march at ten o'clock, and dined at Hanson's tavern, Dover, N. H. ; started again 14 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. at five and arrived at Durham Falls at eight o'clock, lodging at Adam's tavern. Tuesday, 11, they started at daylight, arrived at New Market at eight, and had breakfast at Doe's tavern. Then set out at eleven, got to Exeter at twelve-thirty o'clock, dining at Gidding's tavern, resumed their march at five arriving at Kingston, N. H., at sunset, lodging at Parson's tavern. Wednesday, 12, marched about sunrise and arrived at Plaistow, N. H., at seven where they had breakfast at Sawyer's tavern : set out at nine and got to Green- leaf's tavern, Haverhill, where they dined, and staid until the next morning, on account of a heavy shower in the afternoon. Thursday, 13, at four o'clock they again started on their march, arrived at Stevens' tavern, Andover, at eight o'clock and had breakfast ; resumed their march at nine-thirty o'clock, getting to " Deacon BuUard's" at twelve where they dined. Started at three-thirty o'clock going through Wilmington to Wyman's tavern, in Woburn, where they staid that night. Friday, 14, the company resumed their march at four and arrived at Wetherby's tavern, Menotoniy (probably Arlington now), at seven o'clock where they had breakfast and dinner. At four they again started, arriving at Cambridge at five o'clock where they built their tents for the night. Saturday, 15, was spent in putting their camp into proper condition and as one of the company wrote in his journal, " Built our tents properly." COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 15 These tired and footsore men had been ahnost seven days from Falmouth, and were allowed one hundred and thirty miles travel, at one penny per mile, making an average march of about twenty miles per day. On the arrival of Col. Phinney's regiment at Cam- bridge, they were at once in the presence of the enemy, being in sight of the British camps at Charles- town and Boston. The American camp about Boston, contained about seventeen thousand troops and was composed of habitations of every description, from the mud and log huts to the regulation canvas tents of the Rhode Islanders. Cambridge at that time had about fifteen hundred inhabitants. Drake says that Col. Phinney and one hundred and sixty-eight men were at Cambridge, July 10, which indicate that probably three companies were there before the arrival of Capt. Bradish's, one being Capt. John Brackett's. Col. Phinney's regiment was assigned to Gen. Wil- liam Heath's brigade, who with Gen. Israel Putnam's brigade, comprised the center of the army, all under command of Gen Putnam. This regiment was en- camped near Fort Number 2, which was on the easterly side of Putnam Avenue, at its intersection with Franklin Street, in Cambridge. Gen. Heath was a Roxbury man, and one of the earliest patriots. He was a friend of Gen. Warren, having been very active with him on the. nineteenth of April, and had been selected as a competent officer to command a brigade in the new army. He became 16 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. a distinguished soldier, serving as a major-general in the militia, April 19, 1775, colonel of a Massachusetts regiment, May, 1775, brigadier-general June 22. 1775, major-general, August 9, 1776, and continued in the service until the close of the war. He died January 24, 1814, aged seventy-six years Gen. Israel Putnam, " Old Put" the soldiers called him, the farmer soldier who left his plow in the furrow at the first news of the beginning of the war, must have led a charmed life to have escaped death so many times. His services to bis country are well known. His energy, courage and patriotism make him the almost ideal patriot of those times. The inscription on his tomb describes well the man — " He dared to lead where any dared to follow." It must have been a severe trial to him, when in 1779 he was stricken with paralysis and prevented from participating in the final campaigns of the war. He lived until 1790. John Adams proposed, in the Continental Congress, the adoption of the troops of the different colonies, then about Boston, as a " Continental Army," and George Washington of Virginia, was elected command- er-in-chief, June 15, 1775, receiving his commission four days later. Gen. Washington arrived at Cam- bridge, in time to take command of the army July 3. His headquarters were at the house now known as the " Poet Longfellow's Home " in Cambridge, which was not far froro the camp of this regiment. Under the " Washington Elm," on Cambridge Common, he first drew his sword in defense of the liberties of America. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 17 When Washington arrived at Cambridge he wore his famous blue and bufi: uniform, and generally wore rich epaulettes, an elegant small sword, and carried habit- ually a pair of screw-barreled, silver-mounted pistols, with a dog's head carved on the handles. He some- times wore a light blue ribbon across his breast to indicate his rank in the army. Washington was six feet two inches in height, mus- cular, had a Roman nose, large hands and feet, and large blue eyes. One of the generals thus described his general appearance : — His stature is noble and lofty, he is well made and exactly pro- portioned ; his physiognomy mild and agreeable, but such as to render it impossible to speak particularly of any of his features, so that in quitting him you have only the recollection of a fine face. He has neither a grave nor a familiar air, his brow is sometimes marked with thought, but never with inquietude ; in inspiring respect he inspu-es confidence, and his smile is always a smile of benevolence. This was the man that this regiment loved and honored as their commander, and next to him they loved "Old Put," who was brusque, hearty, and honest, and at this time was fifty-seven years of age. His summer costume was a waistcoat without sleeves and across his brawny shoulders was thrown a broad leathern belt from which depended a hanger. It is said that he sometimes " swore big oaths," but he was a man of action and purpose. A return made in July, 1775, gives the regiments composing Gen. Heath's Brigade and the number of men fit for duty ; but it was before all the companies 18 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. had joined Col. Phinney's Regiment, which consisted of over five hundred men. Gen. Will [AM Heath's Brigade, July, 1775 Gen. Heath's Regt 483 men. Col. Patterson's " 409 (( Scamman's " 456 (( Phinney's " 319 (( Gerrish's " 498 (( Prescott's " 430 Total 2595 Col. James Scamman's regiment was the 30th regiment of foot, from York County, and was at Cambridge before the battle of Bunker Hill, but took no active part in the battle because of a misunder- standing of orders. Col. Edmund Phinney's regiment had enrolled five hundred and forty-nine men and the following was the roster of the regiment at Cambridge. Roster of the 31st Regiment of Foot, 1775. Colonel, Edmund Phinney, Gorham. Lieut.-CoL, Samuel March, Scarborough. Major, Jacob Brown, North Yarmouth. Adjt., George Smith, Scarborough. Quartermaster, Moses Banks, Scarborough. Surgeon, Stephen Swett, Gorham. Total 6 men. Capt. Bradish Co., of Falmouth. Captain, David Bradish, Falmouth. 1st Lieut., Bartholomew York, Falmouth. 2d Lieut., Paul Ellis, Falmouth. Total 60 men. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 19 Capt. John Brackett's Co., of Falmouth. Captain, John Brackett, Falmouth. 1st Lieut., James Johnson, Falmouth. 2d Lieut., Jesse Partridge, Falmouth. Total 61 men, Capt. Samuel Notes' Co., of Falmouth, Captain, Samuel Noyes, Falmouth. 1st Lieut., Josiah Baker, Fahnouth. 2d Lieut., Joshua Merrill, Falmouth. Total 47 men. Capt. Hart Williams' Co., of Gorham. Captain, Hart Williams, Gorham. 1st Lieut., William McLellan, Gorham. 2d Lieut., Carey McLellan, Gorham. Total 53 men. Capt. Wentworth Stuart's Co., of Gorham, Standish, and Windham. Captain, Wentworth Stuart, Gorham. 1st Lieut., Jonathan Sawyer, Gorham. 2d Lieut., Caleb Rowe, Standish. Total 51 men. Capt. Moses Merrill's Co., of New Gloucester, and Gray. Captain, Moses Merrill, New Gloucester. 1st Lieut., Noah Walker, New Gloucester. 2d Lieut., Nathaniel Haskell, New Gloucester. Total 55 men. Capt. John Worthley's Co., of North Yarmouth, &c. Captain, John Worthley, North Yarmouth. 1st Lieut., Bradbury True, North Yarmouth. 2d Lieut., Crispus Graves, North Yarmouth. Total 49 men. 20 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. Capt. Abraham Tyler's Co., of Scarborough. Captain, Abraham Tyler, Scarborough. 1st Lieut., Elisha Meserve, Scarborough. 2d Lieut., Moses McKenney, Scarborough. Total 56 men. Capt. John Rice's Co., of Scarborough. CajJtain, John Rice, Scarboro. 1st Lieut., Silas Burbank, Scarboi-o. 2d Lieut., Edward Milliken, Scarboro. Total 49 men. Capt. Samuel Dunn's Co., of Cape Elizabeth. Captain, Samuel Dunn, Cape Elizabeth. 1st Lieut., Ebenezer Newell, Cape Elizabeth. 2d Lieut.. Samuel Thomes, Stroudwater. Total 62 men. The regiment had commissioned officers, 36 Non-commissioned officers and privates, 513 Total 549 men Col. Phinney's regiment at once, on their arrival in camp, assumed the dangers and responsibilities of sol- diers. They participated in the skirmishes and picket firing and saw many killed and wounded about them, but during their entire service they saw no great or decisive battle. The history of a regiment, written at so late a per- iod after its war-service, must of necessity be defi- cient in many details, and the facts of the principle events have been gathered from so many sources, principally manuscripts, that it is hardly possible to give references. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGEMENT OF FOOT. 21 The first important event after the arrival of the regiment at Cambridge was the burning of Boston lighthouse by our troops to prevent British warships from coming into the harbor. At that time the har- bor was full of the enemy's vessels which annoyed our army with their guns, but to the relief of our soldiers eleven sailed away July 24. Of course in an undis- ciplined army like this, there was a great deal of anxiety and excitement ; consequently they were often alarmed, called to quarters, and sometimes slept on their arms for fear of a sudden attack. About one o'clock July 31, there was an alarm, all the drums beat to arras and this regiment turned out and manned Fort No 2. The British marched out to Roxbury, burned a house and barn, but our soldiers drove them back into Boston. A lad, about sixteen, who belonged to the Marblehead regiment, was killed. The enemy kept up a continual firing with cannon and small arms until morning. The British having re- built Boston light, our soldiers destroyed it the second time. The same day Gen. Gage sent out a flag of truce for a cessation of hostilities for six days, which was not granted and the rambling battle went on, our army strengthening their works in the meantime. About the first of August Morgan's riflemen com- menced to arrive in camp from the South and attracted considerable attention. They came in detachments and were very expert marksmen. Their uniform consisted of white or drab linen or cotton hunting- shirts with pants of the same material, trimmed with the same cloth raveled out, making a kind of fringe. 22 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. They wore skull caps trimmed with the same fringe, and altogether their appearance was very striking. They had marched, it has been stated, six hundred miles in twenty-one days (which was on an average about twenty-eight and one-half miles per day), to aid our forefathers, proved themselves brave and fearless patriots, and became the sharpshooters of the army. Our regiment, in August, was under fire almost every day. Sundays the regiment attended religious worship and generally had a sermon preached. Parson Eph- raim Clark, of Cape Elizabeth, went to Cambridge and remained '• a spell" in the latter part of August and the early part of September, encouraging the soldiers and conducting their meetings. Many citizens of Falmouth visited the army at Cambridge, bringing letters and messages to the soldiers. Some of these visitors served as substitutes for their friends, allowing them to visit their homes for a few days. Among those who visited the regiment from Fal- mouth were Peter Warren, Enoch Ilsley, Richard Codman, Joseph H. Ingraham, Brackett Marston, Enoch Moody, John Archer, Benjamin Titcomb, Jacob Adams, Zebulon Bishop, Paul Cammett, Stephen Tukey, Aaron Chamberlain, Benjamin Mussy, Mr. Randall, William Owen, Nicholas Hodges, John Thrasher, John Frothingham, Amos Lunt, Joseph Berry, Dr. Lowther, John Rolfe, Cutting Noyes and Thomas Saunders. August twenty-second was probably remembered for a long time by the men of the regiment because they COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 23 were that day mustered and Enoch Ilsley of Falmouth " treated " the entire regiment. This was not a treat of champagne,- but probably good old New England rum. Lieut. York, of Capt. Bradish's company, with thirty-seven men mounted guard at Gen. Washing- ton's headquarters, now the Longfellow house at Cambridge, September 16. This was probably a proud day for these soldiers from Falmouth Neck. The next day Messrs. Owen and Burns came from Fal- mouth with clothing for the soldiers, which was much needed to make them comfortable. During September some of the men of the regiment enlisted to man the floating batteries, and some of Capt. Bradish's company guarded Dr. Church ; and Novem- ber 15, the record sa3^s, that this regiment " took Dr. Church to guard." Dr. Benjamin Church, Jr., was an accomplished physician, poet and scholar and was ap- pointed director general of the medical staff after the arrival of Washington. He was a member of the committee of correspondence and the Provincial Congress, and was convicted of holding secret corres- pondence with the British, informing them of th^ movements of our army. He was exiled and the ves- sel that bore him towards the West Indies was never heard from. This was a famous case and created great excitement at the time, as Dr. Church had been a trusted officer and an intimate friend of the leading patriots. From the journal of William Moody, a soldier in Capt. Bradish's company, we make the following ex- tracts in regard to some of the service of the regi- 24 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. ment. Mr. Moody served several years in the army and belongs on the list of Falmouth patriots. He must have been a thoughtful man to have recorded his observations for the use of those that were to come after him. These extracts give additional information not given in the general movements of the regiment. July 16th, Sunday. Heard a large firing in Boston by the troops. " 17th, Making cartridges. This afternoon was fired in Boston by the shipping eleven cannon. " 18th, A declaration from the Continental Congress was read on Prospect Hill. From the journal of Lieut. Paul Lunt of Newbury- port we have a fuller account of the above. He wrote : — A manifesto from the Grand Continental Congress was read by the Rev. Mr. Leonard, Chaplain of the Conneticut forces on Prospect Hill, in Charlestown, to those troops encamped upon and near said Hill. Our standard was presented in the midst of the regiments with this inscription upon it, "Appeal to Heaven," after which Mr. Leonard made a short prayer, and then we were dismissed by a discharge of a cannon, three cheers and a warhoop by the Lidians. July 19th, A sergeant of the Regulars' guard spoke with our sentry with a message. Gen. Putnam went down to the lines to meet Burgoyne. " 20th, This P. M., was fired in Boston 18 cannon. " 21st, 20 of our company and 200 of our regiment went over to Winter Hill to entrench. " 22d, Our legiment marched to Cambridge Common in order to pass muster. The money not being ready adjourned to next week. " 2.3d, Last night about 12 oclock, there was an alarm and our regiment mustered and turned out, doubled our guard and laid upon our arras all night. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 25 July 24th, Our regiment went upon Winter Hill to work en- trenching and from there to Mystic to make gab- buns (gabions) this afternoon. " 25th, They were mustered and paid off. Last night a man was killed on Prospect Hill by snapping a gun carelessly. " 28th, Yesterday a ship fired a cannon and killed an indian at Koxbury. " 30th, Some riflemen went down to keep sentry last night. They killed 5 or 6 Regulars and the Captain. The Regulars firing all the forenoon by divisions. " 31st, Our people took 25 Regulars ami 12 Tories and car- ried them to Worcester. Aug. 1st, Our people hoisted a liberty pole ^ on Prospect Hill and a flag upon it. Fired a 24 pounder at the ship but did no damage. " 3d, Firing cannon from a floating battery. " 4th, Last night 700 men went from Roxbury to entrench on the Neck. Four of our men enlisted to man a whaleboat. " 7th, Last night the regulars landed at Chelsea, 150 in in number, and burnt a house and stack of hay. Our people firud 13 cannon at them and drove them back. " 9tli, The Riflemen took 8 Regulars on Hoxbury Neck this P. M. " 12th, Twenty-one cannon fired at Castle William, " 13th, Last night 3 regulars ran away from Boston. " 16th, Last night a man swam out of Boston to our sentry at Lechmere Point. Short allowance. " 25th, We heard Gage was coming out to-day. Firing in Boston by Divisions. We heard firing by the sentry on Ploughed Hill. A ship arrived and they fired 24 cannon. iThis liberty pole was a mast that came out of a schooner that was burned at Chelsea, and was seventy-six feet high. 26 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's EEGIMENT OF FOOT. Aug. 26tli, Four men belonging to Gage's floating battery swam to Chelsea. They fiied cannon and small arms at them but did not hurt them. " 27th, The Regulars began to fire on Ploughed Hill from Bunker Hill and the floating batteries "with their cannon. Killed one Adjt. one private and one Indian. Wounded a Rifleman in the leg. " 30th, Several bombs thrown onto Ploughed Hill. " 31st, Last night and this morning the Regulars threw bombs into the b re nst- works on Ploughed Hill. Sixty- three of our regiment went over to Ploughed Hill to keep sentry, Sept. 1st, Bombs thrown on Ploughed Hill, Cannonaded Roxbury. Killed of the enemj^ 5. 2 of ours. 2nd, Killed one of our men on Ploughed Hill. 4th, The enemy bombarding Plouglied Hill. No damage. 11th, Took 6 regulars and brought them to headquarters. 21st, The enemy bombarded all day. 23d, 25 men drummed out of service from Marblehead. 29th, Lieut. York, with 8 men out of our company to go in the floating battery, Oct. 2nd, We put up a liberty pole, hoisted a flag and fired a gun. " 3d, Yesterday 60 men drafted to try the boats, over- loaded one boat, came near sinking her. " 4th, A sergt. from the Regulars ran away and brought his halbert and £30, with him. " 31st, Digging well for the barracks. Nov. 5th, They sent from Falmouth for the regiment to come there. (This was on account of the alarm of November 1.) " 9th, About 1500 Gageites landed at Lechmere Point to steal cattle. Our people resisted and had an en- gagement which lasted an hour.^ " 23d, This morning we hoisted a large new flag on Prospect Hill, 1 On account of the high tide at that time, our soldiers were lohliged to resist the British standing in the water up to their waists. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 27 The author of this diary when writing " Regulars " meant the British soldiers, " Gage " was the British general and the "Riflemen "must have been the Mor- gan Riflemen. When the British ship Cerberus, that had partici- pated in the battle of Bunker Hill, came and threat- ened Falmouth Neck, November 1, 1775, Enoch Moody, chairman of the town committee, wrote Gen. Wash- ington under date of November 2, informing him of the arrival of that man-of-war, with four hundred men on board, and asked for "a person of martial spirit" to take command of the defense of the town. Prob- ably on receipt of the letter Col. Phinney was ordered to Falmouth Neck, and arrived before November 6, and took command until the arrival of Gen. Joseph Frye, November 25, who had been assigned to this station. The committee requested that Col. Phin- ney's regiment be ordered to Falmouth, but that re- quest was not granted. Col. Phinney, while in command at Falmouth, re- ceived the following letter from Gen. Washington, which manifests the anxiety he felt for the safety of the town. Falmouth Neck, now Portland, was in- debted to Col. Phinney for his services during' this alarm, and his presence probably allayed the fears of the inhabitants. Cambridge, Nov. 6, 1775. Sir : Having received a letter from Mr. Enoch Moody chairman of the committe of Falmouth that the inhabitants of that town are greatly alarmed by the arrival of the Cerberus man of war and are under great apprehensions that some of the King's troops will be landed there, it is my desire that you raise 28 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. all the force you can and give the Town any assistance in your power. The difficulty of removing troops after they have made a lodgement or got possession of a place is too obvious to be mentioned. You will therefore use every possible method to prevent their effecting that or penetrating into the country, un- til you have further orders. I am sir your very humble servant Geo. Washington. To Col. Edmund Phinney at Falmouth. Probably after the arrival of Gen. Frye, November 25, Col. Phinney joined his regiment at Cambridge, informed the anxious soldiers what the situation was on Falmouth Neck, how the town had narrowly es- caped another attack, and but for the brave yeomanry of Falmouth and vicinity, who decided to defend the ruins of the town to the bitter end, the entire settle- ment might have been destroyed. The question " Will the Yankies fight ?" was settled at Bunker Hill, and ever afterwards the British res- pected their presence i so the commander of the Cer- berus, with the lesson he learned there, decided it was safest to sail away. Falmouth people had also learned a lesson ; the experience was the most bitter for them ; but the patriots then and there decided that they never would again stand idly by and let a British shijD burn their town without some resistance. In the latter part of November, Capt. Manley cap- tured the British ship London, bound for Boston, having on board twenty-five hundred stands of arms a number of cannon and some mortars, including the thirteen-inch brass mortar " Congress." This was a fortunate capture for our cause. It is related that COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 29 when the brass mortar arrived in camp that there was great rejoicing. It was placed on its bed on Cam- bridge Common, and " Old Put mounted astride with a bottle of rum in his hand, stood parson, while God- father Mifflin gave it the name Congress." Mifflin was quartermaster-general of the army. The mortar was eventually placed at Lechmere's Point and burst at the second or third firing, in the bombardment of Boston in March, 1776. About a week after the above capture, another vessel was taken loaded with cloth- ing for the king's troops which was another help to the Americans. In this campaign, Gen. Washington had done all he could to organize and discipline the army and cause the British to evacuate Boston, but was afraid to bring on a decisive battle with his army in such a destitute condition, and seeing the season passing with no prog- ress he was much disturbed in his mind. He wrote a letter to Congress under date of September 20, 1775, from which the following extract is taken : — It gives me great distress to oblige me to solicit the attention ot the honorable Congress to the state of this army, in terms which imply the slightest apprehension of being neglected. But my situation is inexpressably distressing, to see winter fast approaching upon a naked army; the time of their service within a few weeks of expiring ; and no provission yet made for such important events. Added to these, the military chest is totally exhausted : the Paymaster has not a single dollar in hand. The Commissary General assures me he has strained his credit for the subsistance of the army to the utmost. The Quartermaster General is in precisely the same situation ; and the greater part of the troops are in a state not far from mutiny upon a deduction from their stated allowance. 30 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. Gen. Washington, in this letter, described the exact situation, but many in the colonies were dissatisfied because so little had been accomplished, which was perfectly natural, but they were not familiar with the embarassments that surrounded Washington, or they would not have expressed themselves in the manner they did. John Adams, then in Philadelphia, getting uneasy at the apparent inaction of the army, wrote Mercy Warren in November, that Mrs. Washington was going to Cambridge, and he hoped she might prove to have ambition enough for her husband's glory to give occasion to the Lord to have mercy on the souls of Howe and Burgoyne. Martha Washington arrived in Cambridge December 11, 1775. The Continental Congress, in November 1775, authorized the raising of a regular army of Contin- entals for one year's service from January 1, 1776, although urged to make their term longer. This army consisted of one regiment of artillery and twen- ty-six regiments of foot or infantry. This was the be- ginning of the Continental army, the birthday being January 1, 1776, and their time to expire December 31, of the same year. These regiments were num- bered from one to twenty-seven, but are known better by their colonel's name. Gen. Washington, in organizing the Continental army, recommended Col. Edmund Phinney as a suitable man to be colonel of one of the new regi- ments, and he received his commission as the colonel of the 18th Continental regiment. He enlisted the same field and staff ofiicers that had served with him COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 31 in the 31st regiment, but there were many changes in in the company officers and men. The new regiment consisted of but eight companies, while the old reo-i- ment had ten, which was the organization decided upon probably by Washington, and they were mus- tered into service January 1, 1776, on which date was raised the Federal flag, the first over the American camp, which consisted of thirteen stripes and a Brit- ish union. About December 3!, 1775, the men of the 31st regiment were discharged from the service and those that had not re-enlisted returned to their homes. Many of the soldiers who had re-enlisted were given furloughs to visit their homes to arrange their affairs before the opening of another campaign. This regi- ment retired from the service with credit to itself and to the District of Maine which it represented. These early regiments represented the pure patri- otism of the people, they had no bounties, furnished their arms and equipments and were anxious to strike the first blow for their country's liberty. They were used to hardship, and fear was unknown to them. The older men were used to warfare, as they had been accustomed from their earliest boyhood to defend their homes against a savage foe, and many had been at Louisburg with Sir William Pepperell, or had heard their fathers tell of the wonderful suc- cess of that expedition. These brave men had resolved when they entered the army that they would have liberty if it had to be purchased by their own blood, and it must have been with feelings of 32 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. regcret that this reo-iment should leave the service with so little accomplished. When this regiment retired there were but nine thousand troops in the service, they were confronted by powerful enemy, and Lossing says in summing up the situation at this time, " The disastrous campaign at the north deepened the gloom that brooded over the colonists and the year 1775 closed without much hope for the success of the Americans." " A Muster Roll of the Field and Staff Officers in ye Regiment of Foot (31st) in ye Colony service to the first of August, 1775." Entered Service. Edmund Phinney, Colonel, April 24, 1775. Samuel March, Lieut. Col., " 24, Jacob Brown, Major, " 24, George Smith, Adjt., May 7, Moses Banks, Q,r. Master, " 7, Stephen Swett, Surgeon, " 7, Mass. Archives, Vol. 26, page 272. Col. Ebmund Phinney. Col. Phinney was of good Pilgrim and fighting stock. His father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather were all named John Phinnej^ The earliest John Phinney was at Plymouth, Mass., before 163S. Col. Phinney'sgrandfather was a soldier in the Swamp Fight in the King Philip war in 1675. His father, Capt. John Phinney, came from Barnstable, Mass., to Falmouth, and was the first settler of Gorham, Me,, May 26, 1736. He was a captain in the French and Indian war, and was " a man of sagacity, steadiness, courage and integrity." Col. Phinney's mother was Martha Coleman He was born at Barn- stable, July 27, 1723; came with his father to Gorham and felled the first tree in the township, which was a large bass tree on the site of his father's house. When Col. Phinney was a young man he was one evening at a distance from the fort in pursuit of the cows when a party of Indians in ambush fired upon him, and four balls struck him, breaking his arm and otherwise severely wounding him. He saved his gun and reached the fort. He went to Falmouth accompanied by Hugh McLellan and Eliphalet Watson when Dr. Coffin set his arm and attended to his wounds and they returned home the next day. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. 33 Col. Phinney was a sergeant in Capt. George Berry's company, May 19, 1746 to Jan. 19, 1747, also in Capt. Daniel Hill's company from March to December, 1748. He joined the Windham church Feb. 14, 1748, but was dismissed to join the Gorham church Dec. 23, 1750. He Avas a cap- tain in Col. Samuel Waldo Jr.'s regiment about 1764, in the militia in 1772, and colonel of the 31st regiment April 24, 1775. He was commis- sioned colonel of the 18th Continental regiment Jan. 1, 1776, taking part in the siege of Boston and the Ticonderoga campaign of 1776, retiring from the service Dec. 31, 1776. Col. Phinnej'^ enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens and served them as selectman, justice, committee of safety, member of Provin- cial Congress, representative to the General Court and ruling elder of the Congregational church. He was a zealous patriot, and to him every man was for our liberties or against them, and he wished every Tory banished from the land. ^Mc^oj^ Col. Phinney married first, about 1751, Elizabeth , who had eight children, and died Avig. 6, 1795, aged sixty-five years. He married second, Nov. 21, 1796, Sarah Stevens, and died at Gorham, Dec. 1^1808, aged eighty-five years, a respected citizen. He was a man of integrity, unsullied character and generous hospitality, and an honor to the town he served so long and well. IjIeut.-Col. Samuel March. Lieut.-Col. March was, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Small) March of Kittei-y; married Jan. 27, 1752, Anna Libby, born Nov. 17, 1734, a daughter of John and Keziah (Hubbard) Libby of Scarborough, and thej' had fourteen children. He entered the service in this regi- ment April 24, 1775, and was also lieutenant-colonel of the 18th Conti- nental regiment in 1776. He was a prominent man in Scarborough, and a member of the Provincial Congress He was a cordwainer and later an innkeeper near Oak Hill. His three sons served in the war, and four of his daughters married Revolutionary soldiers. He died in 1804. Maj. Jacob Brown. Maj. Brown belonged in North Yarmouth and had been a lieuten- ant in Col. Samuel Waldo Jr.'s regiment in 1704. He entered the ser- vice in this regiment April 24, 1775, served as major in the 18th Conti- nental regiment in 1776, and also in Col. Jonathan Mitchell's regiment in the Bagaduce expedition in 1779. He married, July 13, 1743, Lydia Weare, daughter of Capt. Peter and Sarah (Felt) Weare. Adjt. George Smith. Adjt. Smith entered the service in this regiment May 7, 1775, and served in the same capacity in Col. Phinney's 18th Continental regi- ment in 1776. He Avas a captain in Col. Joseph Yose's 1st Massachu- setts regiment Jan. 1, 1777, and resigned May 3, 1779. 34 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. Quartermaster Moses Banks. Quartermaster Banks was from Scarborough, and was a surveyor. He entered the service in this regiment May 7, 1775, and served in the same capacity in Col. Phinney's 18th Continental regiment until July 24, 1776. He married Nov., 1754, Phebe Curtis, and came to Scarbo- rough about 1760. He died at Saco, Oct. 9, 1823, aged ninety-one years. She died April 4, 1814. They had nine children. Surgeon Stephen Swett. Surgeon Swett came from Exeter, N. H., and was the first physician in Gorham, Me. He married before he came to Gorham, Sarah, who was said to have been a sister to Lieut -Col. Winborn Adams, of Dur- ham, N. H., Avho Avas killed in the battle of Stillwater, Sept. 19, 1777. They had six children at Gorham and probably lived also in Otisfield, Buckfield and Windham. He entered the service M^j 7, 1775. CAPT. DAVID BRADISH'S COMPANY. This was a Falmouth company and many of these soldiers became prominent citizens of the town in after years. Most of the men served in other regiments and several became commissioned officers. Capt. David Bradish entered the service April 24, 1775, as captain, and served in this regiment until Dec. .31, 1775. He was commissioned major Jan. 1, 1777, in Col. Timothy Bigelow's 15th Massachusetts regiment, and resigned July 21, 1777. He married July 19, 1767, Abi- gail Merrill, and died in 1818. First Lieut. Bartholomew York entered the service April 24, 1775 joined the 18th Continental regiment, Jan. 1, 1776, and was made captain May 18, 1776. Second Lieut. Paul Ellis entered the service April 24, 1775, and served in this company until Dec. 31, 1775; then was captain in Col. Jacob French's regiment, marched from Falmouth, Feb. 18, 1776, and took part in the seige of Boston, then was captain, Jan. 1, 1777, in Col. Timothy Bigelow's 15th Massachusetts regiment, took part in the Saratoga campaign, spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, and was killed in the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778. His leg was struck by a cannon ball and he bled to death before assistance arrived. He married Mary Noyes, May 19, 1766, and she married May 3, 1787, Capt. Isaac Parsons of Xew Gloucester, Me. Henry Sewall was born in York, Me., Oct 24, 1752, and was a mason by trade. He was made ensign in September, and served until Dec. .31, then became ensign in Capt Tobias Fernald's Company, in the 18th Continental regiment, Jan. 1, 1776, made second lieutenant Nov. 6, promoted first lieutenant Nov. 13, and served until Dec. 31. He was appointed first lieutenant in the 12th Massachusetts regiment, Jan. 1, L COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 35 1777, and was made, Feb 9, 1778, muster master of De Kalb's division: appointed captain April 1, 1779, transfered to the 2nd Massachusetts regiment May 3, 1782, and major and aid-de-camp to Gen. Heath Feb. 5, 1781, and served to June 1783. He settled at Hallowell, Me., and ser- ved as town clerk thirty-five years, clerk of the District Court of Maine 1789-1818, register of deeds 1799-1816, and was brigadier-general and major-general of the militia. He died at Augusta, Me., Sept. if", 1845, aged ninety-two years, a much respected citizen. Isaac Child became second lieutenant, in Col. Francis' 11th Massa- chusetts regiment, in 1777, took part in the Saratoga campaign, and was at Valley Forge. He resigned March 28, 1779. Zachariah Newell became a sergeant in Capt. Benjamin Hooper's company in 1776, lieutenant in Capt. John Wentworth's Seacoast com- pany, 1777, in the 11th Massachusetts regiment 1780, and was trans- fered to the 10th Massachusetts regiment Jan. 1st, 1781. " Muster Roll of the Company under the command of Capt David Bradish in Col. Phinney's 31st Regt. of Foot to the first of August, 1775." All, from Falmouth. David Bradish, Capt., Bartholomew York, 1st Lieut., Paul Ellis, 2nd " William Farrington, 1st Sergt., Caleb Carter, 2 (( Levi Merrill, 3 " Abner Dow, 4 i< Henry Sewall, 1 Corp., Isaac Childs, 2 u Daniel Mussey, 3 (( Richard Gooding, 4 11 Jonathan Rand, Drum Major, Joseph Harsey, Fifer, Pbivates. Benjamin Tukey, Benjamin ScoUy, Daniel Gookin, Cornelius Bramhall, Abijah Parker, Abijah Pool, Zachariah Xowell, William Hutchinson, Jacob Amey, Moses Grant, ENLISTED, April 24, 177 »' 24, " <( 24, " May 12, " (< 12, «' 11 12, " 11 12, " It 12, " " 12, " " 12, " 11 12, " 11 12, " " 23, " (1 12, " " 12, " 11 12, " 11 12, " n 12, " 11 12, " 11 12, " 11 12, " 11 12, " (( 12, " 36 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OP FOOT. Charles Knight, Matthias Haynes, Enoch Moody, William Moody, Lemuel Gooding, Moses Burdick, Ebenezer Clough, John Pettengill, James McManners, Jonathan Gardner, John Clough, Thomas Paine, Ebenezer Newman, Daniel Green, Joshua Robinson, Joseph Barbou.r, Josiah Shaw, Joshua Berry, Samuel Dow, Tobias Pillsbury, Thomas Cavanak, Loring Cushing, Zachariah Baker, Daniel Marston, Henry Flood, James Flood, Joseph Thomes, Samuel Gates, John Mcintosh, John Bailey, Philip Fowler, Joseph Cox, George Bell, John Pennyman, John Scott, Benjamin Randall, 1 Richard Conden, 1 Enlisted in Arnold's Canada expedition September 8. From this muster-roll we find every man including the officers, but not including the drummer and fifer, had a carti-idge box, all had bayonets to their guns, excepting four and all allowed one hundred and thirty miles travel from Falmouth Neck to Cambridge The cap- tain and lieutenants carried guns, which was the common practice in the army. The men mostly furnished themselves with guns, bayonets and cartridge boxes, but a number were furnished by the selectmen. An October return of this company is in Mass. Archives Vol. 56, p. 209. May 12, 1775 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 12, " 13, " 13, " 13, " 13, " 13, " 16, " 16, " 16, " 17, " 17, " 17, " 20, " 23, " 23, " 23, " 23, " 23, " 23, " 23, " 23, " COL. EDMUND THINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. 37 CAPT. JOHN BRACKETT'S COMPANY. Capt. Brackett entered active service the day of the receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington, and Aj^ril 24, 1775, commenced to raise a company for this regiment, which he marched to Cambridge, July 3 He was son of Anthony Brackett and lived at Saccarappa, but died at Ipswich, Mass., .Sept. 24, 1775. He married (1) Sarah Knight, daughter of Nathan Knight, Feb. 14, 1733; married (2) Widow Mary (Proctor) Hicks; she married (3) in 1776, Peltiah March of Sac- carappa, and died at Otisfield, Maine, Nov. 21, 1817, aged seventy-three years. Lieut. James Johnson lived at Stroudwater and became captain after the death of Capt. Brackett. He was a major in 1st Cumberland County regiment 1778, and in Col. Nathaniel Jordan's regiment in 1779, also in Col. Joseph Prime's regiment in 1780. He was the son of James and Jane Johnson, and was born March 22, 1735; married Elizabeth Porterfield, born in 1738, and died Sept. 14, 1812, and he died in Poland, June 16th, 1831, aged ninety-six years. Lieut Jesse Partridge first lived in Saccarappa, and then moved to Stroudwater, where his house is still standing. He also served as captain six months in Col Greaton's regiment in Washington's arm3'^ on the Hudson River in 1778. He died Dec. 31, 1795, aged fifty-three years Sergt. Daniel Lunt became captain in the 11th Massachusetts regi- ment and served until June 3, 1783. Sergt. Archelaus Lewis, served also in the 18th Continental regiment in 1776, and was lieutenant and adjutant in Col. Vose's regiment 1777-1779. Corp. James Means served also as ensign in the 18th Continental regiment, lieutenant in Col. Brewer's regiment, captain in Col. Sprout's 12th Massachusetts regiment, was transferred to the 2nd Massachusetts regiment Jan 1, 1781, and served until Nov. 3, 1783. Stephen Manchester, a private in Capt. Brackett's Co., was one of the best known men in the regiment. He was then fifty-eight j^ears of age, and it was he who killed the Indian chief Polin, at Windham, in 1756, which gave peace and happiness to the settlers of the border towns in Cumberland County. Stephen Manchester served in Capt. George Berry's and Capt. Daniel Hill's companies of Indian scouts in 1747 and 1748, and probably as a scout at other times. Besides his service in this regiment he served in Col Phinney's 18th Continental regiment through the siege of Bos- ton, and was discharged in August. He enlisted for three years, Jan. 1, 1777, in Col Joseph Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment and served the entire time of service. He died at Windham, June 24, 1807, aged ninety years. 38 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. "Muster Roll of Capt. John Brackett's Company in the 31st Regt* of Foot in the Continental Army at Cambridge. Fort No. 2 " John Brackett, James Johnson, Jesse Partridge, Daniel Lunt, Morris Clark, Joshua Stevens, Archelaus Lewis, Charles Frost, James Doughty, James Means, Enoch Knight, Zebulon Knight, Joseph Knight, PKIVATES. John Blair, Jeremiah Brackett, George Crockett, Moses Gammon, George Hammond, Pearson Hvintress, George Johnson Jr., John Knight, Stephen Marriner, Uriah Nason, David Partridge, Jeremiah Pennell, John Porterfield, Joseph Quimby, Enoch Riggs, Elias Starbird, Samuel Starbird, Elijah Ward, Hem-y Webb, Jonn Webb, Mark Wilson. Stephen Manchester, Josiah Peabody, James Brackett, William Brackett, George Douty, Daniel Gould, Samuel Hicks, John Huston, Capt , Falmouth, April 1st Lieut. ' ' " 24 2d " ' ( u 24 Sergt , ' ' May 10 ii ( <■ " 10 (1 < I <( 18 <( ( ' " 10 Corp., ' ( tt 21 (( ( ( ft 21 4( t ( u 12 12 rummer, ' I 11 21 ifer, ' t " 18 Falmouth, May 16 (( 16 12 10 u 12 21 10 21 <' 10 (< u 10 18 10 10 10 12 10 (( 12 (( 14 (( 12 (( 10 18 Windham, 12 Gorham, 16 Falmouth, (> 12 12 17 10 16 17 « COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. 39 Joseph Johnson, Falmouth, May 12 John Lunt, " •' lo John McDonald, " " 12 Amos Noyes, " " 10 Nathan Partridge, •' "12 Joseph Pennell, " '14 John Priest, " " 10 John Robinson, " " 21 John Sawyer, " " 17 John Starbird, " " 10 John Thomes Jr , " «' 10 Adrial Warren, " "10 James Webb. " " 10 Joseph Wilson, " " 17 Daniel Crockett, Windham, " 12 John Loring, " ' 16 James Westmore. Gorham, •' 13 John Warren Jr., Falmouth, " 10 1 John Hammond, " " 12 1 Entered the Artillery July 25.— Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, page 215. CAPT. SAMUEL NOYES' COMPANY. This was a Falmouth company and was probably from that part of the town now Deering, Westbrook and Falmouth. Capt. Samuel Noyes entered the service April 24, 1775. He married Mary Merrill in 1750. He was a member of the committee of safety and a prominent man. First Lieut. Josiah Baker entered the service May 15, 1775. He married Nov. 13, 1760, Susannah Gibbs Second Lieut. Joshua Merrill entered the service May 15, 1775 He married in 17iJo Mary Winslow. A Muster Roll of Capt Samuel Noyes' Company in the .31st Regi- ment of Foot in the Continental Army. Encamped at Cambridge Fort No 2 Samuel Noyes, Capt , Josiah Baker, 1st Lieut., Joshua Merrill, 2nd Lieut., Humphrey Merrill, Sergt., Daniel Merrill, " William Cobb, " ENLISTED. mouth. April 24, 1775 «i May 15, " 15, '< (1 K 15, " <( (1 15, " <( <( 15, " 40 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S EEGIMENT OF FOOT. Stephen Merrill, Sergt., Falmouth, May 15, Moses Adams, Corp., (( u 15, Enoch Merrill, (( u June 20, Amos Merrill, u " May 15, Daniel Hunt, u Brunswick, June 20, Samuel Pool, Drummer, Falmouth, July 11, Joseph Bearing, Fifer, u " 8, PRIVATES. Moses Blanchard, Falmouth, May 15, Anthony Mors, " " 15, (enlisted in Arnold's Canada Expedition Sept. 6th) Jonathan Sharp, Jacob Knight, Moses Merrill, Mark Mors, Samuel Noyes, Jr., William Buxton, Moses Sweet, John Colley, William Colley, Rowland Davis, Silas Merrill, Israel Colley, Richard Sweetser, Nathan Merrill, Nathaniel Merrill, John Whitney, Josiah Clark, John York, Jr., Peater Stewart, Caleb Woodsum, David Mclntire, Joseph Green, James Frank, Moses Twitchell, John Dacy, Benjamin Field, John York, Able Bathorick, Benja. Hardison, James Breedean, Eben Jones, Stewart Porter, " He enlisted under Wescot and was turned over to me October 4th." This is probably an October return. Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, Page 211. > Falmouth, It 15, li It 15, <( It 15, 11 11 15, 11 11 ti 15, 15, 11 " 15, " died Sept 21st, It 15, 11 11 15, (< It 15, <( tt 15, 11 It 15, North Yarmouth, June 10, Falmouth, ti 20, " discharged Sept. 21st " 20, 11 It 20, 11 11 20, It 11 20, 11 11 22 li It 22, 11 It 2.3, ti ■••5 •' " 1 ii June 1, it " 1) tt •ij ii, CAPT. JOHN RICE'S COMPANY. Capt. John Rice was a retailer and inn-holder; lived at Dunstan and is said to have been at one time a sea captain. He enlisted April 24, 1775, and served at Cambridge until Jan. 1, 1776, when he commanded a company in the 18th Continental regiment through the siege of Boston and died, probably from disease contracted in the service. May 18, 1776. 50 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. Two letters of his, from the army, are published in the history of Scarborough, and from them it is very evident that he was one of those zealous patriots of that time, whom their descendants delight to honor. First Lieut. Silas Burbank joined this regiment April 24, 1775 from Scarborough, served in 1776 in the 18th Continental regiment, joined Col. Brewer's regiment Jan. 1, 1777, promoted to captain July 1, and served until Jan. 1, 1781, having been in the service five years and eight months. His two sons also served in the army. He married, first, Feb. 14, 1763, Hannah Beard and they joined the church June 19, 1763. He married, second, Feb. 14,1805, Sally Fitts. He owned a large farm near Pine Point, was an innholder in 1791, and had several children. He was convicted for participation in the ''King Riot" at Scar- borough during the excitement about the stamp act, and confined in the old timber jail which stood near where the soldiers' monument now stands in Portland, and from which he wrote a letter to Richard King, which was published in the history of Scarborough reflecting on his character and want of education. The King side of the case has been written, and Silas Burbank lies in a patriot's grave an acknowl- edged lover of liberty, who no dovibt thought that there would be no liberty in Scarborough until the rule of Richard King was overthrown. For any mistakes Silas Burbank may have made he atoned for them all by his services to his country, and should have his proper place among the patriots of old Scarborough Silas Burbank served under Washington and Putnam at Cambridge in 1775, in the siege of Boston the next year, marched to reinforce Fort Ticonderoga in August, 1776, took part in the battles of the Saratoga campaign and the surrender of Burgoyne in 1777, spent the winter of 1777-78 at "Valley Forge, fought in the battle of Monmouth and ended his services in the operations on the Hudson River, retiring from the service Jan. 1, 1781, with a most honorable record. Let us give honor to whom honor is due. Second Lieut. Edward Milliken was the son of Edward and Abigail Milliken and was born March 5, 1733; married May 23, 1754, Elizabeth Harmon. He enlisted in this companj^ April 24, 1775, and served also in the 18th Continental regiment through the year 1776, part of the time as quartermaster. " Return of Capt. John Rice's Company in the 31st Regt. of Foot commanded by Col. Edmund Phinne;^ , Sept. 29, 1775 with an abstract of pay due from the last of July inclusive." ENLISTED. John Rice, Capt., April 24, 1775 Silas Burbank, 1st Lieut., " 24, " Edward Milliken, 2d Lieut., " 24, " COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT Of FOOT. 51 Lemuel Milliken, Sergt., William Maxwell, *• John Nebegin. " Eliakim Libby, " James Milliken, Corp., Nathaniel Cairl, " John Hodgdon, " Joseph Richard, •' Joseph Waterhouse, Drummer, John Peterson, Fifer, Jay 8, 1775 " 8, " 8, " 8, " 18, " 15, " 8, •' 15, " 18, •' 15, Privates. Joseph Burnam, Benja. Berry, William Boobey, Daniel Colebi'oth, Silas Durgin, David Durgin, Seth Fogg, Daniel Field, Joseph Gold. Solomon Hartford. John Haines, Xathaniel Jose, James Larry, Bezaleel Low. Abner Lunt. Daniel Marshall, Benja. Milliken, Daniel Moses, Joshua Milliken, Abner Milliken, Jove Page. Daniel Parcher, Benjamin Rice, Thomas Rice, Lemuel Rice, Ebenezer Rice, Joseph Salt, Thomas Burton. George Thompson, Samuel Tibbets, John Wilson, John Webster, Thomas Whitten, Jr., Thomas Whitten, Buxton, discharged Sept. 16th, " 12, " '' 15, " •' 8, " " 18, '• " 18, " " 13, •' '> 15, " July 3, " May 18, '' " 18, " July 1, " May 18, " " 18, " 8, " •• 15, - '• 15. " '• 15. •• " 15, '* " 15, " '• 15, *' •• 18, " July 3, " May 8, " " 8, " '• 15, " " 18, ■' July 5. " May 18. " •• 15, " " 15, " " 8, " " 18, '• July 3, » May 18, " 52 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. John Whitten, May 15, 1775 John Durgin, *' 18, •• All this company came from Scarborough, excepting Daniel Field, of Buxton. Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, Part 2, Page 207. CAPT. SAMUEL DUNN'S COMPANY. This was a Cape Elizabeth company, that entered the service April 24, 1775, and probably served in that town until July 11, when they probably marched to Cambridge to join this regiment. Capt. Samuel Dunn was a shipwright, and lived in the western part of Cape Elizabeth. He mari-ied, in 1757, Sarah Skillings, daughter of Samuel Skilliugs; was in Capt. Samuel Cobb's training company in 1756, delegate to the county convention of September, 1774, and was prominent in the town's affairs He died about 1784. First Lieut. Ebenezer Newell was from Cape Elizabeth and went to Durham, Me., about 1779. Second Lieut. Samuel Thomes, of Stroudwater. married Betty John- son, Sept 12, 1765, and died March 31, 1798, aged fifty-one years. He entered the service Api'il24, 1775, was appointed first lieutenant in Capt. John Skillings' company in llth Massachusetts regiment. Nov. 6, 1776, and promoted to captain April 3, 1777, took part in the Saratoga cam- paign. Valley Forge and battle of Monmouth, and retired Nov. 22, 1778. " Muster Roll of Captain Sam'l Dunn's Company in ye 31st Regiment of Foot— Commanded by Colo. Edmund Phinney. Belonging to the Army of the United Colonies of North America." ALL ENLISTED, APRIL 24. Samuel Dunn, Capt., Cape Elizabeth, on furlough. Ebenezer Newell, 1st Lieut., " Samuel Thoms, 2d Lieut., Stroudwater. sick on furlough. Reuben Dyer, Sergt., Cape Elizabeth. John Robinson, " " John Gilford. " " on furlough. Robert Clark, " " Daniel Sawyer, Corp., " John Jordan, " " Levi Done. " " William Maxwell, " " Joshua Wescott, Drummer. '' Henry Small, Fifer, '• Privates. Moses Whitney, Gorham. COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 53 Jonathan Fairbanks, William McKinny, John Jordan, Ebenezer Jordan, Eliab King. Samuel Robinson, Robert Jimininson, Solomon Jordan, Peter Jordan. Joseph Maxwell, John Hans, John Skinner, Stephen Atwood, Peter Sawyer, James Jackson, Walter Simonton, John Fowler, Francis Cash, Ephi'iam Crocket, Samuel Clark, Edward Avery, Daniel Dyer, Jonathan McKinny, Solomon Newell. William Johnson, John Chase, Elezer Strout, Wright Allin, Timothy Johnson, Moses Hanscom, Robert Mitchell, Thomas Jordan, Thomas Yoi-k, Joseph Robert, Thomas Cummins, Mark Leach. John Wimble, William Elder, Solomon Jackson, Micall Davis, Peleg Willard, Stephen Hutchinson, John Bryant, Joshua SaAvyer, John Miller, Samuel Groves, Cape Elizabeth on furlough. Newton. Cape Elizabeth. discharged. discharged, Sept. ye 14th. on furlough Pownalborough, 54 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. Jonathan Sawyer, Cape Elizabeth, William Maxwell, *' Ebenezer Newell, Lieut. Mass. Archives, Vol. 5&, Page 214. This was probably an October return although there is no date on the roll. *' They left the plowshare in the mold. — Their flocks and herds without a fold, The sickle in the unshorn grain. The corn, half garnered, on the plain. And mustered, in their simple dress. For wrongs to seek a stern redress. To right those wrongs, come weal, come woe, To perish, or overcome their foe." I i