It was authorized on 16 September 1776, in the Continental Army under Colonel Marshall at Boston, Massachusetts, as eight companies of volunteers from Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Bristol, Hampshire, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties of the colony of Massachusetts and Cheshire county of the colony of New Hampshire. On 1 January 1781, the regiment was reassigned to the 1st Massachusetts Brigade of the Highland's Department. Although the Provincial Congress was in the process of planning a Constitutional Army to keep watch over the royal forces in Boston in early 1775, the fighting at Lexington and Concord caught it by surprise. Revolutionaries armed with muskets and swords had to wage an eight-year war to free the new nation from British rule and ensure that the promise of independence would be fulfilled. of soldiers who served in Massachusetts companies and regiments during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. The Pros And Cons Of Boston 1777 During The Revolutionary War. Massachusetts was the first state to send troops to join the war effort after the Battle of Fort Sumter occurred on April 12, 1861. Elijah Crane The regiment was organized in spring 1775. Constituted on September 16, 1776 in the Continental Army as Aldens Regiment. On 10 July 1777 the regiment was reassigned to the 2nd Massachusetts Brigade. They formed the. 2013, www.massar.org/african-americans-of-massachusetts-in-the-revolution/ [Subscription to Ancestry.com required for access], Fold3, part of Ancestry.com, contains military records, stories, photos, and personal documents from soldiers of the Revolutionary War up through recent conflicts. Organized in spring 1775 at Cambridge to consist of ten companies from northeastern Middlesex County, Essex County and one company at large. On 11 August 1776 this brigade was redesignated as Paterson's Brigade. See also [ edit] Deborah Sampson, a woman soldier who served in the 4th Massachusetts The same lead was maintained throughout the war, except in 1779 and 1780, when Virginias soldiers and military actually in the field exceeded those of Massachusetts by a few hundred, while in 1782 (which witnessed the virtual close of the struggle), Massachusetts put 4,423 men in the field, out of a total of 18,006 in the Continental Army, Virginia having only 2,204 at the same periodOther regions witnessed more decisive battles, and continued for a much longer time, the immediate theatre of war; but Massachusetts soldiers marched or sailed to every colony, and bore their part in every important battle, from Bunker Hill down to Yorktown.. consolidated on January 1, 1777 with Walbridges Company, 13th Continental Regiment and consolidated unit re-designated as Putnams Regiment, to consist of 8 companies. The Regiment was authorized on April 23, 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Sargents Regiment. It was constituted on 16 September 1776, and was originally known as Alden's Regiment after its first colonel, Ichabod Alden. John Buttrick A List of the Soldiers in the War of the Revolution, from Worcester, Mass: With a Record of their Death and Place of Burial. Adopted on June 14, 1775 into the Continental Army and assigned to the Main Continental Army. Alta's Place. The regiment saw action at the Battles of Saratoga, the Cherry Valley massacre (in which Colonel Alden was killed and Lt. Col. William Stacy was captured), and the Sullivan Expedition. This is a 244 slide, highly animated, power point presentations on the American Civil War - Major Battles - Eastern Theater - 1861-1865. Keep track of your research in a research log. On 24 July 1780 the state adopted Jacksons unit and it joined the line as the Sixteenth Massachusetts Regiment. The brigade was reassigned to the main Continental Army on 27 October 1777. To identify state and military unit of interest . Reassigned on March 31, 1778 from the 1st Massachusetts Brigade. Massachusetts Units in the Revolutionary War 1st Massachusetts Regiment 2d Massachusetts Regiment 3d Massachusetts Regiment 4th Massachusetts Regiment 5th Massachusetts Regiment 6th Massachusetts Regiment 7th Massachusetts Regiment 8th Massachusetts Regiment 9th Massachusetts Regiment 10th Massachusetts Regiment 11th Massachusetts Regiment Among these 68,720 Massachusetts soldiers, about 1,700 were African American and Native American men. Anselm Tupper A seventeen-volume compendium of their service is available here from Massachusetts' Secretary of State. Grundset, Eric G. African-Americans of Massachusetts in the Revolution. Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution, 20 June. The collection consists of card abstracts from original records of muster and pay rolls, accounts, warrants, descriptive lists, Continental Army Pay Accounts, Lexington Alarm Rolls, etc. It was assigned on June 12, 1777 to the 2nd Massachusetts Brigade, an element of the Highlands Department. Houses the historical military records of the Massachusetts Adjutant General. Continental Regiments. It was assigned on July 22, 1775 to Vacants Brigade, an element of the. The names of all of the Massachusetts soldiers who served in the Continental Army are too numerous to list here but the following books and websites have partial and/or complete lists: Massachusetts Sailors and Soldiers in the Revolutionary War: Volume 1-17. Secretary of the Commonwealth. The State Library also has some archival collections that may not yet be included in the online catalog. The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution. The Regiment was authorized on September 16, 1776 in the Continental Army as Francis Regiment. BENJAMIN WHITE, Weymouth 1747 - 1815 American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies American Revolutionary War Battles Battles Campaigns Leaders Facts Documents Documents Records Time-Line Regiments American Regiments British Regiments P.O.W. The Regiment was authorized on April 23, 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Thomas Regiment. Glover and the other regiments, a total of about 750 men, blocked Howe's way. This list contains links to both free and subscription databases. It was assigned on July 22, 1775 to Sullivans Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army. On 29 August 1782, the regiment was assigned to the New Hampshire Brigade in the Northern Department. Bunker Hill [ edit] During the battle of Bunker Hill the 6th Massachusetts Regiment, under the command of Colonel John Nixon, was positioned in the redoubt on Breeds Hill near Captain Jonathan Brewer and Captain William Prescott regiments. The first was passed on January 26 and the second of November 14 which specifically exempted Negroes, Indians and mulattoes from military service in the Massachusetts militia. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War: a Compilation from the Archives, Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, Sign up for the State Library's mailing list, Search the State Library's Online Catalog, Search the State Library's Online Databases, Search the State Library's Digital Repository, Learn About the State Library's Collections, Guide to Genealogical Resources in the State Library, contact the State Library of Massachusetts. Please limit your input to 500 characters. On 26 November 1776 the regiment was reassigned to St. Clair's Brigade of the main Continental Army. The brigade was reassigned to the main Continental Army on 27 October 1777. Thomson J. Skinner The Regiment was authorized on April 23, 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Bridges Regiment. Digitized multi-volume print sets owned by the State Librarythat contain brief biographical & service information on Massachusetts Revolutionaryand Civil War soldiers. 1st Massachusetts Brigade relieved on March 31, 1778 from the Northern Department and assigned to the Highlands Department. Russell Sturgis The 6th Massachusetts composed part of the main body of General Horatio Gates at the Battles of Saratoga. They believed in complete independence, inspired by locke and paine, and they provided the troops. If you need assistance, please contact the State Library of Massachusetts. Deborah Sampson, a woman from Plympton who disguised herself as a man The regiment was disbanded on November 3, 1783, at West Point, New York . Rebecca is a freelance journalist and history lover who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. Volume Reel 0468 - American Revolutionary War Service Records; Soldiers--United States--Registers - Massachusetts, 468 Conver's Regiment Cotton's Regiment Gushing's Regiment Davis' Regiment, Militia Denny's Command, Militia Dike's Regiment Doolittle's Regiment Fellows' Regiment French's Regiment Frye's Regiment. On 12 June 1777 it was assigned to 2nd Massachusetts Brigade and three days later, 15 June 1777, it was reassigned to the 1st Massachusetts Brigade. This collection was originally donated to the State Library in 1935 by the Boston Globe, and many photographs include biographical and military information. The previous day found Lee and Glover on the run as British regulars sought to arrest their mutual partners, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. "Massachusetts, Revolutionary War, Index Cards to Muster Rolls, 1775 . consolidated (less Bents and Whitings Companies) on January 1, 1777 with the 25th Continental Regiment and consolidated unit re-designated as Greatons Regiment, to consist of 8 companies. Contrary to popular opinion, Paul Revere was not a minuteman but he did warn the minutemen, during his famous Midnight Ride, that the British troops were approaching Concord on the night of April 18/19 in 1775. View all posts by Rebecca Beatrice Brooks. Reassigned on June 12, 1783 from the 3d Massachusetts Brigade and assigned to the 1st Massachusetts Brigade, an element of the Highlands Department. Salem Poor, an African-American from Andover Re-designated on August 1, 1779 as the 4th Massachusetts Regiment. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. The brigade was reassigned to the Northern Department on 1 July 1777 and the regiment was relieved from the brigade on 31 March 1778. Card index to the Massachusetts Archives, Massachusetts State Archives collection, colonial and post colonial period 1626-1806, Massachusetts State Archives collection, colonial period, 1622-1788, French and Indian War muster roll index cards, 1603-1779. If you have any questions about our archival holdingsand how they can help you with your research, please contact our Special Collections Department at special.collections@mass.gov, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125. Minutemen were citizen soldiers and didnt have an official uniform so they instead wore regular clothing, which consisted of waistcoats, linen hunting shirts and breeches. 2, 1916, pp. The Massachusetts Militia, and Its Exceptional Men. Boston 1775, 4 Aug. 2017, boston1775.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-massachusetts-militia-and-its.html It was organized as seven companies of volunteers from across Massachusetts, and Mayhew's company from the 25th Continental Regiment during the later months of 1776. Reassigned on January 1, 1781 from the 4th Massachusetts Brigade and assigned to the. American Civil War - Major Battles - Eastern Theater - 1861-1865. by. The Committee voted to enlist 8,000 of those men and organize them into regiments subject to approval when the Provincial Congress reassembled. African Americans During the Revolutionar War Teacher Reference Sheet. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2006, www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume5/images/reference_sheet.pdf These carried the names of their colonels. To more easily find your ancestor in this collection, you'll need to know the state and military unit. Re-designated on August 1, 1779 as the 6th Massachusetts Regiment. D. Brewer's/Putnam's Massachusetts Regiment. On 1 January 1776 the reorganized and reenlisted infantrymen became Sixteen of the numbered Continental Regiments: 3d, 4th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 23d, 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th. Revolutionary War reenactments are a great way to learn about and experience history firsthand. Reassigned on January 1, 1781 from the 4th Massachusetts Brigade and assigned to the 2d Massachusetts Brigade, an element of the. Reassigned on March 13, 1777 to from the Northern Department and assigned to the Highlands Department. Revolutionary War graves found between 1900 and 1987, which include the name of the patriot and the cemetery in which the headstone is found. Supply Belcher Baxter Hall During the Revolutionary War Maine was a part of Massachusetts and was known as the Province of Maine. Early in February 1863, the abolitionist Governor John A. Andrew of Massachusetts issued the Civil War's first official call for Black soldiers. I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now? First Corps of Cadets, Plymouth Artillery Company organized January 7, 1777. 1st Massachusetts Brigade relieved on July 1, 1777 from the Highlands Department and assigned to the Northern Department. When the Continental Army was first established in June of 1775, out of the 37,363 soldiers who enlisted in the first year, about 16,449 were from Massachusetts. Royall Tyler In marked contrast to the other states, the Massachusetts units did not take numbers until 1 August 1779, as the army attempted to sort out competing claims to seniority. Massachusetts also furnished Henry Knoxs Artillery Regiment and the First Continental Artillery, neither of which were part of the Massachusetts Line. 1 [Located inSpecial Collections Department, Room 55 State House]. James Warren Reassigned on November 14, 1776 from Pattersons Brigade. In 1914 and 1915, under authority of an act of March 2, 1913 (37 Stat. The old Twelfth and Fourteenth Regiments disbanded and four new units were formed, again drawing heavily on veterans. The abolitionist governor of Massachusetts, John . Please do not include personal or contact information. Summary of S.547 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War. Henleys, Henry Jacksons and Lees had trouble reaching full strength, forming only five, seven, and six companies respectively. On 14 November 1779, the regiment was reassigned to the 3d Massachusetts Brigade in the Highland Department. The First Rhode Island Regiment, Integrated Revolutionary Force A painting by French artist and sub-lieutenant Jean Baptiste Antoine de Verger, depicting the different men of war, including a. Organized in spring 1775 at Roxbury to consist of 10 companies from southwestern Worcester County. On 20 November 1778, the brigade was reassigned to the Highland's Department and on 12 May 1779 was re-organized to nine companies. Christian Febiger Benjamin Tupper We will use this information to improve this page. Sergeant William Berry This article is about a regiment in the American Revolution. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know: Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. Abigail Williams: The Mysterious Afflicted Girl. In 1780 the province became the District of Maine. When George Washington later prohibited the enlistment of African-American men in the Continental Army, in November of 1775, the matter was taken up by Congress who declared on January 15, 1776: That the free negroes who have served faithfully in the army at Cambridge may be reenlisted therein, but no others.. Moses Little Reassigned on November 26, 1776 from Patersons Brigade and assigned to St. Clairs Brigade, an element of the, consolidated on January 1, 1777 with 2 companies formed from the, Reassigned on February 9, 1777 from St. Clairs Brigade and assigned to the, It was assigned on June 12, 1777 to McDougalls Brigade, and element of the, Reassigned on June 15, 1777 from McDougalls Brigade and assigned to the 2d Connecticut Brigade, an element of the, Reassigned on July 10, 1777 from the 2nd Connecticut Brigade and assigned to the. As it turned out, they had created twenty-three infantry regiments and one of artillery. Its exploits were depicted in the 1989 film Glory. Muster and Pay Rolls, When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct, Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times, Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit, If your ancestor used multiple names throughout their life, look for all their names, Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community, Look for variant spellings of the names. In almost every year of the Revolutionary War, Massachusetts soldiers made up the majority of the soldiers in the Continental Army. About Rebecca Beatrice Brooks. Reassigned on February 9, 1777 from Clintons Brigade and assigned to the Northern Department. Paul Revere Re-designated on August 1, 1779 as the 13th Massachusetts Regiment. 2nd Massachusetts Brigade relieved on July 22, 1778 from the Main Continental Army and assigned to the Eastern Department. On 13 August 1777, the regiment was assigned to 3d Massachusetts Brigade in the Northern Department. Authorized Apr 1775. Collins, Elizabeth M. Black Soldiers in the Revolutionary War. U.S. Army, 27 Feb. 2013, www.army.mil/article/97705/Black_Soldiers_in_the_Revolutionary_War Disbanded on November 3, 1783 at West Point, New York. Reassigned on July 11, 1776 from the Eastern Department and assigned to the Main Continental Army. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Notable abolitionists including Frederick Douglass and local leaders such as Lewis Hayden recruited men for the 54 th Regiment. [BPL eCard required for access;freetoall Massachusetts residents]. The New England states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island wore blue coats with white facings. British commander Gen. William Howe landed 4,000 troops at Pelham near Pell's Point on October 18, intending to trap the American forces on Manhattan. The size of the Massachusetts Line varied from as many as 27 active regiments (at the outset of the war) to four (at its end). The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Adopted on June 14, 1775 into the Continental Army and assigned to the, It was assigned on July 22, 1775 to Heaths Brigade, an element of the, consolidated (less Morses and Watkins Companies) on January 1, 1776 with, Reassigned on January 24, 1776 from Heaths Brigade and assigned to the Vacant Brigade, an element of the. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Adopted June 1775 into the Continental Army (see also 1776) J. Brewer's Massachusetts Regiment. George Middleton Reorganized on November 1, 1779 to consist of nine companies. It was the original objective of both the colonial and British troops, though the majority of combat took place on the adjacent hill which later became known as Breed . The 26th Continental Regiment (previously known as Gerrish's Regiment and later known as the 9th Massachusetts Regiment) was an infantry unit of the Massachusetts Line during the American Revolutionary War. Prince Estabrook, an African-American from Lexington These living history events typically involve campsites, cooking, battles, and other activities that would have been common during the Revolutionary War period. Thomas Gardner I live on Massachusetts Ave (previously MENOTOMY Way during the Revolution. But since the city was now free and had made substantial progress in its recovery, General George Washington remedied the omission by allocating three additional Continental Regiments to Massachusetts officers, with the expectation that they would concentrate their recruiting efforts in Boston. General officers of the line included Major Generals Artemas Ward, William Heath, and Benjamin Lincoln, and Brigadier Generals John Glover and John Nixon. www.ma-roots.org/military/revwar. What Type of Uniforms Did Revolutionary War Soldiers Wear? Peter Salem at Bunker Hill, illustration published in The . Re-designated on July 1, 1775 as Greatons Regiment. Excellent! David Shepard Reassigned on January 1, 1781 from the 3d Massachusetts Brigade and assigned to the 1st Massachusetts Brigade, an element of the, Reassigned on June 18, 1781 from the 1st Massachusetts Brigade and assigned to the New Hampshire Brigade, an element of the, New Hampshire Brigade relieved on October 14, 1781 from the, Reassigned on November 12, 1781 from the New Hampshire Brigade and assigned to the, It was assigned on August 29, 1782 to the New Hampshire Brigade, an element of the, Reassigned on October 26, 1782 from the New Hampshire Brigade and assigned to the. Stephen Bullock A lock icon ( These soldiers fought in the some of the most important battles of the Revolutionary War, such as Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775 where 150 African-American soldiers served. It was assigned on February 9, 1777 to the, 1st Massachusetts Brigade relieved on July 1, 1777 from the.