The Granite Monthly. Vol. II. No. 7. Apr., 1879: A New Hampshire Magazine devoted to Literature, History, and State Progress — John Shaqi
The Granite Monthly. Vol. II. No. 7. Apr., 1879: A New Hampshire Magazine devoted to Literature, History, and State ProgressVarious
History
The Granite Monthly. Vol. II. No. 7. Apr., 1879: A New Hampshire Magazine devoted to Literature, History, and State Progress
Various
New Hampshire -- History -- Periodicals
Also, that latest of classical authors, Josh Billings, says: “Young man,
blow your own horn!” These quotations express exactly the way in which
the illustrious intellects of authors in Modern Athens (of America) have
exalted the deeds of Massachusetts’ heroes to such a degree that most
people, outside of New Hampshire, do not suppose our state had much to
do at the battle of Bunker Hill, whereas New Hampshire men constituted
nearly four fifths of all the men and officers in that battle. Therefore
I think I have just cause to “blow my horn” for my native town, and my
ancestors who fought in that battle.
Old Nottingham comprised a tract of land supposed to be ten miles
square, and which is now Nottingham, Deerfield and Northwood. It was
incorporated in 1722, and settlements commenced in it soon after, at the
“Square,” a beautiful ridge of land about 450 feet above the sea level.
At the beginning of the Revolution, Nottingham had 999 inhabitants,
Deerfield 929, and Northwood 313. The records show that the people were
making preparations for the coming conflict, and had sent generous
assistance to the “Industrious Poor sufferers of the town of Boston”
during the siege. During the winter of 1774–5, Dr. Henry Dearborn had a
company of men which met at the Square to drill from time to time. In
November, 1774, a town-meeting was held and a committee appointed to
“Inspect into any Person,” suspected of being a Tory.
On the 20th of April, 1775, news reached the Square that a battle had
been fought the day before, and in the evening a large number of
citizens assembled at the store of Thomas Bartlett. On the 21st, at 4
o’clock, a company of nearly one hundred men commenced their march for
Boston, being armed and equipped as best they could at such short
notice.
Some say that Joseph Cilley was the leader of this band of heroes, but
others say Dr. Henry Dearborn was captain, and probably he was, as he
had been drill-master all winter, and was captain of the company after
they arrived in Cambridge. They marched on foot all night, and arrived
in Medford at eight o’clock on the morning of the 22d, some of the
company having traveled, on foot, more than eighty miles since the
previous noon, and over roads which were far from being in the best
condition for rapid traveling.
I have searched records a great deal and inquired of the “oldest
inhabitant,” whenever I could find him, that I might secure a complete
list of the men who constituted this company, but of the hundred I can
only give the following names with certainty. If any reader of this
article can add a name he will do me a great favor by forwarding it to
me:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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