{"id":92749,"date":"2023-07-05T12:12:11","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T16:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=92749"},"modified":"2023-07-05T12:20:28","modified_gmt":"2023-07-05T16:20:28","slug":"revolutionary-war-vets-celebrated-july-fourth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/revolutionary-war-vets-celebrated-july-fourth.html","title":{"rendered":"Revolutionary War Vets Celebrated July Fourth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, to continue yesterday\u2019s Fourth of July celebration of patriotism, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about Revolutionary War vets celebrating in 1826. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives<\/a>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

On the Fourth of July in 1826 some remaining gallant soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War gathered in Newburyport, Massachusetts, to celebrate the 50th<\/sup> anniversary of American independence.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: Flag of the Independent Company of Newburyport. \u201cWith the same green field as Newbury\u2019s earlier flag, this banner was carried during the Revolution by a Newburyport company. Its chain circle of 13 links, each grasped by a mailed hand, symbolized the 13 colonies\u2019 united defense of freedom.\u201d Courtesy of the Sons and Daughters of the First Newbury Settlers Descend-O-Gram Archives, Newbury, Massachusetts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A preview of the day\u2019s events, along with a list of the veteran soldiers participating, was published in the Newburyport Herald<\/em> on the morning of the special day.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Newburyport Herald (Newburyport, Massachusetts), 4 July 1826, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The day was going to be spectacular, a \u201cNational Jubilee\u201d promoted by a salute of 24 guns from the Newburyport Artillery at sunrise (and repeated at sunset), a grand procession which included the soldiers and officers who fought in the war, and a dinner fit for lionhearts.<\/p>\n

Plus, the day would feature a ceremonial speech by Hon. John Merrill. All the pomp and circumstance would include a military band amidst a decorated landscape.<\/p>\n

As Robert Cross read the Declaration of Independence to the crowds that July 4, two significant signers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams<\/a>, died that day.<\/p>\n

A potent spark of energy must have awakened in the old war horses as toasts and tributes were made.<\/p>\n

It was the same energy that roused them on one September night in 1765 when they were summoned to a meeting at the Wolfe Tavern<\/a> to commiserate over the unfairness of the Stamp Act.<\/p>\n

That same energy motivated the spirited privateers who were renowned in the port town. Some who attended the 1826 jubilee dinner were among the 17 clever Herculean wildcats who, via bravery and trickery, captured a British ship off Plum Island on 12 January 1776.<\/p>\n

The event was recalled in the Daily Herald<\/em>, revealing a few names present at the 50th<\/sup> anniversary celebration in 1826.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Daily Herald (Newburyport, Massachusetts), 19 April 1848, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article reported:<\/p>\n

The ship was called the Friends, was owned in London, and commanded by Archibald Bowie, who remained for some time in Newburyport, living at the \u201cGeneral Wolfe Tavern<\/a>.\u201d After a while he returned to England.<\/p>\n

It has been ascertained that the following named persons belonged to the crew of the boats which were successful in making the prize, viz: Captain Offin Boardman<\/a>, Captain Joseph Stanwood, Captain John Coombs, Gideon Woodwell, Enoch Hale, Johnson Lunt, and Cutting Lunt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The ships Friends and the brig Sukey were the first prizes brought into Newburyport. In the year 1799 or 1800, Captain Joseph Stanwood was owner of the great Dalton Farm<\/a> (West Newbury), and Captain Boardman of the old Tracy Farm (called the Garrison), purchased from Capt. Tracy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As the veterans made their toasts on July 4, Daniel Adams, a colonel of Moses Little\u2019s regiment, uttered these words: \u201cOur Union, Liberty, and Independence were defended by the best blood of every American.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: gravestone of Moses Short and family, First Parish Burial Ground, Newbury, Massachusetts. Courtesy of Laurie Short Jarvis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moses Short raised his glass and spoke these words: \u201cThe Tree of Liberty watered by the blood of the Revolution \u2013 may our children suffer no canker worms to injure its sacred leaves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Short served in Capt. Silas Adam\u2019s company and Col. Titcomb\u2019s regiment. He married Abigail IIsley. Two of his daughters, Ruth and Abbey, along with other descendants of these patriots, were active in the Nathaniel Tracey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. These daughters worked tirelessly to preserve their ancestor\u2019s role in the fight for independence.<\/p>\n

Short\u2019s obituary was published in the Salem Gazette<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Salem Gazette (Salem, Massachusetts), 9 July 1841, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His obituary called Short:<\/p>\n

\u2026a revolutionary patriot, and one of the carriers of the Newburyport Herald for nearly half a century.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: gravestone of Nathaniel Ladd, Greenwood Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts. Courtesy of Al Sawyer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another \u201cbottoms up\u201d toast during the 1826 celebration was from Nathaniel Ladd, who offered this sentiment: \u201cMay the surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary army ever hold in grateful remembrance the hospitality of the citizens of Newburyport towards us who fought and bled to gain the independence which we are assembled this day to celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ladd was a Chief Justice and married Sarah Noyes. The couple bred a large family, as noted in the patriot\u2019s obituary published in the Essex North Register and Family Monitor<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Essex North Register and Family Monitor (Newburyport, Massachusetts), 24 February 1837, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His obituary reported:<\/p>\n

The descendants of the deceased were \u2013 children 12, grandchildren 44, great grandchildren 3.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another participant in the 1826 celebration was Col. Edward Wigglesworth, who died just a few months later, on 8 December 1826. He left a diary<\/a> which detailed his important military career. The Newburyport Herald<\/em> reported on his funeral procession.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Newburyport Herald (Newburyport, Massachusetts), 15 December 1826, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article reported:<\/p>\n

On Friday last were performed the last sad offices of respect and affection to the remains of the aged and venerable Col. Edward Wigglesworth. The early revolutionary services of the deceased, and the high estimation in which he was held by the Father of his Country, should hallow his memory in every heart. In accordance with previous arrangements, a procession composed of the municipal authorities, distinguished citizens and others, escorted by the two military corps of Infantry and Artillery, being formed at the Town Hall, moved to the Church in Temple Street, whence, after the performance of appropriate exercises, it proceeded to the place of internment\u2026<\/p>\n

The pall bearers were Lieut. Amos Pearson, Lieut. Jonathan Woodman, Lemuel Coffin, Captains Benjamin Gould, Philip Bagley, John Cook and Timothy Gordon, surviving officers and soldiers of the Battle of Bunker Hill.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you are searching for your Revolutionary War ancestors in the Newburyport area, check out Old Hill Cemetery, 31 Greenleaf Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: historical marker, Old Hill Cemetery, Newburyport, Massachusetts. Courtesy of HMDB.org. Photo credit: Cosmos Mariner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This marker reads:<\/p>\n

Within Lie Buried<\/p>\n

Col. Richard Kent
\nCapt. William Davenport
\nNathaniel Knapp
\nColonial Soldiers
\nNathaniel Tracy
\nJonathan Greenleaf
\nBenjamin Greenleaf
\nDr. John Barnard Swett
\nStephen Cross
\nGen. Ralph Cross
\nCapt. Jacob Perkins
\nCharles Herbert
\nEleazar Johnson
\nCaleb Haskell
\nAnd more than fifty
\nsoldiers and sailors
\nof the
\nRevolution<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial<\/a><\/p>\n

Note on the header image:<\/em><\/strong> Fourth of July fireworks over the East Village of New York City. Credit: David Shankbone; Wikimedia Commons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this article, to continue yesterday\u2019s Fourth of July celebration, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about Revolutionary War vets celebrating in 1826.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":92779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12557],"tags":[1902,4452,12,4453,1165],"class_list":["post-92749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genealogy-stories","tag-american-revolutionary-war","tag-fourth-of-july","tag-genealogy","tag-july-fourth","tag-newburyport"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/photo-0704-2014-featured-graphic-fireworks.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92749"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92749\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92783,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92749\/revisions\/92783"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}