UfHltVc/^oUE

Aveteran long before the War for Independence, Sam Whittemore was America's
oldest, bravest soldier.

By Patrick J. Leonard

On April 19, 1775, approximately 1,800 British troops marched from Boston to Concord
to capture areported store ofColonial munitions and hopefully to bag such advocates of
rebellion as John Hancock and Sam Adams. At Lexington Green, they were confronted

by about 50 haphazardly garbed militiamen carrying a variety ofweapons, some decades

old, some manufactured by village blacksmiths and gunsmiths, some as modem as the
guns carried by the Redcoats, but all in working order and capable ofkilling. When
ordered to disperse, the Minutemen did not obey, and firing began that resulted in ei^t
Americans killed; the rest hastily left the scene as ordered by their officers. The British
then reformed their ranks and continued marching to Concord.

On their arrival inConcord, where alerted citizens watched their every move, theBritish
troops searched for but did not locate any ofthe munitions, which were cleverly
concealed ina variety ofingenious hiding places. Hancock and Adams were miles away,
fully aware ofthe British column, thanks toPaul Revere and his assistants.

Learning that theMinutemen were swarming toward them from as far away as
Worcester, and realizing that the munitions were too well secreted to befound without a
lengthy search, the British began an orderly retreat toward Boston. Soon, guemlla bands
were firing from thewoods and stone walls at the beleaguered marching troops. As

British casualties increased^ their ranks became somewhat disorganized. The Americans
then struck even harder at their hated red-coated foes.

While all that excitement was going on, 80-year-old farmer Sam Whittemore was

placidly working inhis fields atMenotomy (now Arlington), Mass. Heknew nothing of
theBritish invasion and the deaths at Lexington. In younger days, Whittemore had been a
soldier, and a good one. Hebecame a captain inHis Majesty's Dragoons stationed in
America, and fought against the French, the Indians, and renegades of all types. Heeven
spent a brief period onboard a ship that was hunting for a pirate. Hewas always ready to
drop his farming tools, pick up hisweapons and march offto battle.
Most men below therank of general have had their fill of warbythe time they reach their
50th year. NotWhittemore! In 1745, hewas among the forces that stormed theFrench
fortress atLouisburg, Nova Scotia, where hecaptured a fine, albeit gaudy and
overdecorated, French saberthat he would treasurethe rest of his long life. As legend has
it, taciturn Sam said that the former owner ofthe saber had "died suddenly," but
furnished no further details.

For some inexplicable reason, Britain returned Louisburg to theFrench, who diligently
spent years and a fortune rebuilding and rearming thefortifications. Then, in 1758, the

MAHY L. C60K FUB.L!C LmjUAEY

381 OL STAGS I.

WAYHESVILLE, OHIO 45068

513/897-4826

British decided to retake and forever demolish Louisburg. Whittemore, now ahearty 64,
buckled on his French saber and, as peppy as ever, joined the expedition. The fort vvas
conquered again, and he remained with the wrecking crew until Louisburg w^
year later, Sam marched away again, this time winding up in ^ebec, where he fou^t for
General James Wolfe against the French General Louis-Joseph, marquis de Montcalm.
In 1763, Ottawa ChiefPontiac led an uprising in the wild, distant lands that would one
day become Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Whittemore was then 68 and still looking
for action.

The sons and grandchildren were ordered to stay home and work on the farm. With his

saber and other weapons, Whittemore rode creakingly away on arickety horse. He
returned in triumph months later, astride one ofthe best stallions ever seen in Menotomy,

and carrying amatched pair ofornate dueling pistols. The former owner ofthe dueling
pistols, an enemy officer, had "died suddenly" according to laconic Sam.

Throughout his lengthy life, "Captain Sam" was as active in civilian life as he was in his
military career. He served on important town committees as an assessor, aselectman, and
in other capacities.

As ayoung married man Sam built his own home, which he and his wife Elizabeth

(Spring) soon filled with three sons and five daughters. The Whittemore home still exists,
on Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington.

Whittemore proved to be just as aggressive in private life as in war. During aheated

election contest in January 1741, he loudly declared that one ofthe contestants for public
office, the proud and haughty Colonel Roderick Shipley Vassal, was no more fit for the
office than Sam's elderly horse, Nero, whose value he assessed at less than 5pounds.

The infuriated colonel promptly but illegally had Whittemore jailed, and while Sam was

fuming in his cell. Vassal sued him for defamation ofcharacter. The ensuing trial was a
teated and well-attended one. Dauntless Whittemore, who made an admirable witness for
Miqaclfi won his case. He then promptly sued the arrogant colonel for false arrest; after

^ther sterling performance, the court awarded Whittemore the equivalent of$6,000 to
soothe his pride.

After Pontiac's War, Whittemore tended to his endless chores on the farm, but he also

became interested in the prospect ofthe 13 Colonies gaining independence fi^om Britain.
He believed that his descendants should have their own country, be able to enact their
own laws and not be subject tothe whims of a distant king and government.

Whittemore somehow learned about the British action at Lexington at midday on April

19 (the sound ofdistant gunfire may have alerted the aged warrior), and he immediately
stopped working and hastened to his house. There, before the eyes of his astonished
family, Sam methodically loaded his musket and both ofhis famed dueling pistols, put
his powder and ball inside his worn and well-traveled military knap^^pk, strafm^

French saber around his waist, squared his grizzled jawand, as hestrode briskly outthe

door, simply informed his worried family that he was "going tofight the British regulars"
and told them to remain safely indoors until he returned.

Whittemore walked to a secluded position behind a stone wall on Mystic Street, near the
comer ofwhat is now Chestnut Street in Arlington, and calmly settled in. Some of the

Minutemen pleaded with Whittemore tojointhem in their safer positions, but he ignored
their admonitions. Soon the 47th Regiment of Foot, followed bythe main body of British
troops, appeared inview. On both sides ofWhittemore, Minutemen were shooting atthe
approaching Redcoats and then sprinting away to where they could reload in safety.
Waiting until the regiment was almost upon him, Whittemore stood up, aimed his musket
carefully and fired, killing a British soldier. Hethen fired both dueling pistols, hitting
both of histargets, killing one man outright and mortally wounding another. Not having
time to reload his cumbersome weapons, he grabbed his French saberand flailed away at

the cursing, enraged Redcoats who now surrounded him. Some of those infuriated
soldiers were probably less than one quarter of Sam's 80 years; few, if any, were even
half his age.

One Englishman fired his Brown Bess almost point-blank into Whittemore's face, the
heavy bullet tearing halfhis cheek away and knocking him flat on his back. Undaunted,
Whittemore attempted to riseand continue the fight, but received no lessthan 13 bayonet
wounds from the vengeful Redcoats. They also mercilessly clubbed his bleeding head
and drove their musket butts into his body as they ran by.
When the last Britisher had left the scene and was far enough away for them to come out

in safety, the villagers who had seenWhittemore's last stand walked slowly toward the
body. To theirastonishment, he was still alive and consciousand stillfull of fight!
Ignoring hiswounds, he was feebly trying to load his musket for a parting shot at the
retreating regiment.
A door was used as a makeshift stretcher and Whittemore was carried to the nearby

Cooper Tavern. Doctor Nathaniel Tufts of Medford stripped away Sam's torn, bloody
clothing andwas aghast at hismany gaping bayonet wounds, the other numerous bruises
and lacerations, and his horrible facial injury. According to every medical te?ct Tufts had
ever studied and all of his years of experience treating injured people, the old manshould

have bled to death fi-om internal injuries.

Tufts sadly remarked that it was useless to evendress so many wounds, since Whittemore

could not possibly survive for very long; the deep bayonet thniits must have pierced
many of his vitalorgans. The horrified bystanders, however, persuaded the reluctant
doctorto do his best, and Tuftsbandaged Whittemore. He did what he could withthe
fiightful facial wound in an agewhen plastic sia^^ry was unknown. When the bandaging
was finally^nished, old Samwas tenderly carried backto his home to die surrounded by
his grievi^ family.

To the surprise of everyone but ittdottiitable Captain Samuel Whittemore, he lived! And
continuedactive for the next 18 years, dying on February 3, 1793, at age 98, proud that
he had donehis part and more in America's fight for independence. When asked if he
everregretted his heroic deed, which had left him disfigured and somewhat lame,
Whittemore would proudly reply in ringingtones, "No! I would take the samechance
again!"

One might question Captain Whittemore's tactical military skill and hisjudgment in his
last battle, but-eertainly not his sheer courage and bravery. *

Massachusetts

Selected Church Records

All records represent baptisms unless otherwise noted as follows:

adm. = Admitted to die Church
com. = Admitted to fiill Communion
cov. = Owned the Covenant

dis. = Dismissed by the Church

ord = Ordained

rec. = Received by the Church

rem, = Removed from the Church

Unknown Date -Bef. 1650 1650-1699 1700-1749 ^1750-1799 ^1800-1849 ^1850-1899

MA O&urch Records Unknown Date

MA Church Records Bef. 1650

06 001 1640/41 Samuel Perry, s/o John; Roxbury.

05 006 1642 Zachariah White, s/o Edward; Roxbury.
05 012 1642 Mary Stebbin, d/o Martin;Roxbury.
26 011 1644 Samuel White, s/o Edward; Roxbury.
23 001 1645
03 003 1646

Nathaniel Stebbin, s/o Martin; Roxbury.

Elizabeth Clarke, d/o Clarke; Roxbury.

03 003 1646 Mary Clarke,d/o Clarke; Roxbury.

12 010 1646
28 011 1648
23 010 1649

Eliezer White, s/o Edward; Roxbury.

Debora Tumer, d/o John; Roxbury.
Hannah Clark, d/o Clark; Roxbury.

MA Church Records 1650-1699

Edward White; adm.; Roxbury.

08 004 1651 John Turner, s/o John; Roxbury.
11 002 1652 James Clark, s/o Brother Clark; Roxbury.

06 004 1652

Mary White, d/o Sister White of Watertowne; Roxbury.

09 002 1654
23 001 1656

Samuel Qark, s/o James; Roxbury.

John Clarke, s/o James; Roxbury.

23 005 1656

John Norton; ord Teacher, Boston; rec. Roxbury.

02 007 1660
01 001 1663
14 008 1666

Mercie Clarke, d/o James; Roxbury.

Aaron Clarke, s/o James; Roxbury.
Sarah Clarke, d/o James; Roxbury.

22 001 1668

Elizabeth White, w/o John Jr.; cov.; Roxbury.

22 001
29 002
28 004
09 010

Elizabeth White, d/o John Jr.; Ro.xbury.

William Tumer, banished; Roxbury.
James Clark; adm.; Roxbury.
James AUin; ord Teacher, Roxbury.

21 001 1658 Abigail Gai, d/o James; Roxbury.

1668
1668
1668
1668

04 003 1669

John Wiswall; ord Ruling Elder at Boston; rec. Roxbury.

18 005 1669

John White, s/o John Jr.; Roxbury.

02 011 1669

Esther Wiswall, d/o Enoch of Dorchester; Roxbury.

20 012 1669

Martha Clark, d/o James; com.; Roxbury.

12 004 1670

John White of Dorchester, Roxbury.

17 005 1670
17 005 1670
08 008 1671
08 004 1673

Harma White, w/o Joseph; cov.; Roxbury.

Mary White, d/o Joseph; Roxbury.
Joseph White, s/o Joseph; Roxbury.
Hugh Clark; admonished; Roxbury.

02 009 1673

Isaac White, s/o John Jr.; Roxbuiy.

03 010 1673

William Adams; ord. Pastor at Dedham; rec. Roxbuiy.

14 010 1673
29 001 1674

Richard Claik, s/o John; Roxbuiy.

Joseph White; com.;Roxbury.

12002 1674

George Burrows; com.; Roxbury.

12 002 1674
12 002 1674
15 009 1674
15 009 1674

Rebecca Burrows, d/o Mr. G.; Roxbury.

Haima White, d/o Joseph; Roxbury.
Samuel Perry; cov.; Roxbuiy.
Elizabeth Holdridg; cov.; Roxbury.

15 009 1674
29 009 1674
29 009 1674
29 009 1674

Abigail Clark, d/o John; Roxbury.

Elizabeth Perry, d/o Samuel; cov.; Roxbuiy.
Samuel Perry, s/o Samuel; cov.; Roxbury.
Sarah Perry, d/o Samuel; cov.; Roxbury.

29 009 1674
14 012 1674
20 012 1674

Mrs. Burrows; dis. to England; Roxbuiy.

Hugh Clark;reconciled; Roxbuiy.
Elizabeth White, w/o John; com.; Roxbury.

25 009 1675
27 012 1675
29 002 1677
29 005 1677

George Burrows, s/oMr. George; Roxbury.

Benjamin White, s/oJoseph; Roxbury.
John White Sr of MuddyRiver, rec.;Roxbury.
Abigal Clark, w/oJohn; com.;Roxbury.

30 007
25 009
30 009
07 001
28 001

John Clark; cov.; Roxbury.

Uriah Clarke; cov.; Roxbury.
Thomas Clark, s/o Brian; Roxbury.
John White Jr.; com.; Roxbury.
Francis White, d/o Joseph; Roxbury.

1677
1677
1679
1680
1680

04 002 1680

MargetClark, d/o John; Roxbury.

05 007 1680
05 010 1680

Thomas Perry, s/o Samuel;Roxbury.

Sarali White, d/o John Jr.; Roxbury.

20 001 1681
20 001 1681

Sarah Clark; cov.; Roxbury.

Elizabeth White; cov.; Roxbury.

15 003 1681

Richard White, s/o Jamesof Dorchester, Roxbury.

05 012 1681
12 012 1681
19 001 1682
14 011 1682
01002 1683

James Clark, s/o James; Roxbury.

John Clark, s/o Uriah; Roxbury.
Samuel White, s/o Joseph; Roxbuiy.
Samuel Browne, s/o John; Roxbury.
Susanna White, d/o Benjamin; Roxbuiy.

06 003 1683
26 006 1683

JosephWhite, s/o John Jr.; Roxbuiy.

Mary Clark, d/o Uriah; Roxbury.

04 003 1684

Hannah White; com.; Roxbury.

06 005 1684

Uriah Clark; com. by cov.; Roxbury.

06 005 1684

John Browne, s/o John; Roxbury.

20 005 1684
20 005 1684
03 006 1684
03 006 1684
03 006 1684
07 007 1684
14 010 1684
24 003 1685
05 005 1685
03 011 1685
21 012 1685
25 002 1686

John Clark, h/o Lidea; cov.; Roxbury.

Lidea Clark, w/o John; cov.; Roxbury.
Elizabeth Clark, d/o John & Lidea; Roxbury.
John Clark, s/o John & Lidea; Roxbury.
Lidea Clark, w/o John; Roxbury.
Francis White, d/o John Jr.; Roxbury.
Samuel White, s/o Joseph; Roxbury.
Johaiuiah Clark, d/o Uriah; Roxbury.
An White, d/o Benjamin; Roxbury.
Nathaniel Perry, s/o Samuel; Roxbury.
Samuel Clark, s/o John; Roxbury.
Isaak White, s/o John Jr.; Roxbury.

20 012 1686

Robert Clark, s/o Uriah; Roxbury.

02 Sep 1688

Mary White, d/o Benjamin; Roxbury.

- Oct 1691

John White; com.; Roxbury.

MA Church Records 1700-1749

01 Mar 1702

Margaret White; cov.; Roxbury.

01 Mar 1702 Francis White; cov.; Roxbuiy.

~ Jun 1703 Elizabeth Brown; cov,; Roxbury.
~ Jun 1703 Martha Brown; cov.; Roxbuiy.
Jun 1703 Mehittabel Brown; cov.; Roxbuiy.
Jan 1704/05 Francis White; com.; Roxbuiy.

May 1706 Elizabeth White; cov.;Roxbury.

~ Feb 1706/07 Samuel White; com.; Roxbuiy.

~ Jul 1710 Joseph Adams,adult; cov.; Roxbuiy.

Jul 1710 Maiy Adams, adult; cov.; Roxbury.
Jul 1710 Sarah Adams, adult; cov.; Roxbuiy.
~ Jul 1710 Daniel Adams, adult; cov.; Roxbury.
05 Nov 1710 Thomas Graves; cov.; Roxbuiy.
15 Mar 1712/13 Anne White, w/o Samuel; com.; Roxbury.

~ Jun 1713 Roger Adams; com.; Roxbuiy.

~ Sep 1713 Rebecca Adams;cov.; Roxbuiy.
Oct 1715
Jan 1716
Jan 1716

Hezekiah Turner, cov.; Roxbury.

Edward Clark; cov.; Roxbuiy.
Sarah Clark; cov.; Roxbuiy.

02 Sep 1744 Mary Clark;cov.; Roxbuiy.

02 Sq) 1744 Samuel Clark;cov.; Roxbury.

MA Church Records 1750-1799

11 Nov 1750 Francis Clark, s/o Saml; Roxbuiy.

24 Jan 1752 Priscilla Moffitt, d/o Joseph &M^; Stuibridge.

12 Sep 1753 AmosAdams; com.;ord. Pastor,Roxbury.
23 Sep 1753 JeremiahMosher,cov.; Roxbury.
23 Sep 1753 IsabelMosher, w/o Jeremiah; cov.;Roxbury.
11 Nov 1753 Hannah Mosher, d/o Jeremiah & Isabel; Roxbury.

04 Aug1754 Elizabeth Adams, d/o Amos & Elizabeth; Roxbuiy.

01 Dec 1754 Susannah Clark, ^o Saml; Roxbuiy.

19 Jan 1755 Jeremiah Mosher, s/o Jeremiah & Isabel; Roxbury.
05 Oct 1755 Isabel Mosher; com.; Roxbury.

09 Nov 1755 Amos Adams, s/o Amos & Elizabeth; Roxbuiy.

27 Jun 1756 Eleanor Mosher, d/o Jeremiah & Isabel; Roxbuiy.

05 Feb 1758 Mary Mosher, d/o Jeremiah& Isabel;Roxbuiy.

02 Jul 1758 Henry Adams, s/o Amos & Elizabeth; Roxbury.
15 Jul 1759 Abigail Whittemore, d/o Saml & wife; Roxbury.
13 Jan 1760 Phillip Mosher, s/o Jeremiah & Isabel; Roxbury.
20 Jan 1760 Charles Adams, s/o Amos & Elizabeth; Roxbuiy.
26 Oct 1760 Thaddeus Partridge; com.; Roxbuiy.
30 Nov 1760 Jane Partridge, d/o Thaddeus & Jane; Roxbuiy.
12 Apr 1761 Jane Partridge; com.; Roxbuiy.
04 Oct 1761 William Thompson, s/o William & Mary; Roxbuiy.
24 Jan 1762 Partridge, ch/o TTiaddeus & Jane; Roxbury.
07 Mar 1762 Elizabeth Whittemore, d/o Saml & wife; Roxbury.

26 Apr 1762 James White; cov.; Roxbury.

26 Dec 1762 Amos Adams, s/o Amos & Elizabeth; Roxbuiy.

15 May 1763 SamuelThompson, s/o Wiliam& Maiy; Roxbuiy.

27 Nov 1763 John Lewis, s/o John & Abigail; Roxbury.
11 Dec 1763 Thaddeus Partridge, s/o Thaddeus & Jane; Roxbury.

L. COO^l

ffc j TTira

20 May 1764 Ruth Whittemore, d/o Samuel & wife; Roxbury.

08 Jul 1764 Thomas Adams, s/o Amos & Elizabeth; Roxbuiy.

29 Sep 1765 EstherLewis, d/o John& Abigail; Roxbury.

08 Dec 1765 Sarah Partridge, d/o Thaddeus & Jane; Roxbury.
11 Jan 1767 TliomasThompson, s/o Thomas& Mary, Roxbury.
12 Jul 1767 Joseph Adams, s/o Amos& Elizabeth; Roxbury.
05 Oct 1767 ElizabethPartri'ge, d/o Thaddeus& Jane;Roxbury.
25 Oct 1767 John Thompson,s/o William& Mary;Ro^ury.

28 Aug 1768 Eunice Dana, d/oFrancis & Eunice; Roxbury.

18 Dec 1768 RebeccahThompson, d/o William& Mary;Roxbury.
15 Jan 1769 MaryDana, d/o Thomas& Susannah; Roxbury.
26 Mar 1769 Sarah Adams, d/o Amos & Elizabeth; Roxbury.

23 Apr 1769 MarthaMills, w/oStephen; Roxbury.

06 Aug 1769 JohnScott, s/oCol. Joseph & wife; Roxbury.
20 Nov 1769 WilliamPartridge, s/o Thadeus& Jane;Roxbury.
04 Mar 1770 MaryThompson, d/o Wiliam & Mary; Roxbury.
25 Mar 1770 Elizabeth Mills, d/o Stephen & wife; Roxbury.
01 Jul 1770 John Whittemore, s/o Samuel & wife; Roxbury.

24 Feb 1771 Henry Tliompson, s/o Wilham& wife; Roxbury.

16 Jun 1771 Aaron White, s/o Aaron & Avife; Roxbury.
15 Dec 1771 Bathuel White, s/o Moses; Brookfield.

15 Dec 1771 James Partridge,s/o Thadeus & Jane; Roxbury.

26 Apr 1772 Elizabeth White, d/o James & wife; Roxbury.
24 May 1772 Elizabeth Adams; com.;Roxbury.
04 Oct 1772 Natlianael Scott, s/o Nathl & wife; Roxbury.
17 Jan 1773 Martha Dana, d/o Thomas & Martha; Roxbury.
14 Mar 1773 Elizabeth White, d/o Aaron & wife; Roxbury.
21 Mar 1773 Enoch Hyde; cov.; Roxbury.
21 Mar 1773 Enoch Hyde, s/o Enoch & Mary; Roxbury.

26 Dec 1773 CatherinePartridge, d/o Thadeus & Jane;Roxbury.

01 May 1774 Samuel Whittemore, s/o SamulJr. & wife;Roxbury.
05 Jun 1774 SallyThompson, d/o Williara& Mary;Roxbury.
26 Jun 1774 Bethia Allen Parker,-^ d/o Jeremiah Jr. & Abigail; Roxbury.

04 Sep 1774 FrancisHyde, s/o Enoch& Mary; Roxbury.

12 Feb 1775 Betsey Brown, d/o Daniel & Ruth; Roxbury.
12 Feb 1775 Daniel Brown; cov.; Roxbury.

05 Mar 1775 Ephraim Hyde; cov.; Roxbury.

05 Mar 1775 Abigail Hyde; cov.; Roxbury.
12 Mar 1775 Ruth Scott, d/o Nadil & wife; Roxbur>'.
06 Feb 1791 Cornelius White, s/o Asa & Atma; Brookfield.
MA Church Records 1800-1849

29 Nov 1801 Rachel Partridge, ch/o Frederick & Betsey; Brimfield.

14 Aug 1803 Harriot, ch/oFrederick& Betsey; Brimfield.
11 Jun 1809 Eliza, d/o Wid. Sarah; Brookfield.

11 Jun 1809 Joseph Lee, s/o Wid. Sarah; Brookfield.

04 Nov 1831 Ezra Perry, s/o Ezra & CaAerine; Brimfield.
04 Nov 1832 Betsey Bliss Perry, d/o Ena & Catherine; Brimfield.

02 May 1844 Frances Lyman Partridge, ch/oGeoC. & Sophia H.;Brimfield.

CyberTree Genealogy Database

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