NOTE - In copying the above rolls I have been careful to spell the names as these were entered upon the public records which are still in the archives at the State House, Boston. (See military vol. No. 67, page 299). The names under the word wanting were doubtless those of men who had volunteered or been impressed but did not report for duty at the time appointed, and hence did not participate in the great swamp fight, Dec. 19, 1675. Only 7 are marked "wanting," but in the summing up the record says "8 appeared not."
CAPTAIN JOSEPH GARDINER'S COMPANY.
Commissioned Officers - Joseph Gardiner, of Salem, Captain.
Private Soldiers - Joseph Peirce and Sam'l Pikeworth, of Salem, and Mark Bachelder of Wenham, were killed outright while endeavoring to force an entrance at the gate of the Indian fort. Abraham Switchell of Marblehead, Joseph Soams of Cape Ann, and Robert Andrews of Topsfield, were killed after entering the fort. Charles Knight, Thomas Flint and Joseph Houlton, Jr., of Salem Village; Nicholas Hakins and John Farrington, of Lynn; Robert Cox, of Marblehead; Eben. Baker and Joseph Abbot, of Andover; Edward Harding, of Cape Ann; and Christopher Read, of Beverly - were wounded. (See Salem Witchcraft, by Charles W. Upham, vol.i.page 123). Of those soldiers who participated in that battle and escaped unhurt, the following, then residents of Salem Village and its immediate vicinity, were probably in Capt. Gardiner's company - John Dodge, William Dodge, William Raymond, Thomas Raymond, John Raymond *(III-80), [126] Joseph Herrick, Thomas Putnam, Jr., Thomas Abbey, Robert Leach and Peter Prescott. (See Upham's Salem Witchcraft, Vol. i. page 129).
The writer of this book regrets his inability to furnish reliable lists of the names of all the men who served in the several companies composing the English forces engaged at the Great Swamp Fight, Dec. 19, 1675; and in the absence of a full knowledge on that matter, he deems it right and proper to approximate as near the desired point as his information thus far obtained will permit. Here is a partial list of the names of commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and private soldiers who, in King Philip's War, served in the cavalry company annexed to the Massachusetts regiment. Doubtless some of them were at the Great Swamp Fight.
Commissioned Officers - Thomas Prentice *(III-81) of Cambridge, now) Newton, Captain; Edward Oaks *(III-82) of Cambridge, Lieutenant.
Private Soldiers *(III-83) - John Adams, Daniel Champney, John [127] Eames, David Stone and Samuel Stone, Jr., all of Cambridge, were ordered into service in Nov. 1675, and doubtless were on duty in this company at the date of the Great Swamp Fight. John Druce of Cambridge was mortally wounded when going from Rehoboth to Swansea, July 1, 1675. (See note on page 86 of this book). Nov. 26, 1675, were impressed in Cambridge, Corporal Jonathan Remington; Privates, Isaac Amsden, Jacob Amsden, John Amsden, Gershom Cutter, Wm. Gleason, James Hubbard, Jonathan Lawrence, Nath'l Patten, Samuel Read, Samuel Swan and Daniel Woodward; and they, either in the cavalry or infantry, probably participated in the Great Swamp Fight.
Boston troops left that place for Dedham on the 8th of December, 1675.
The six companies of infantry and one company of cavalry, composing the Massachusetts regiment, raised for service in the Narraganset country, started on the march from Dedham, Dec. 10, 1675. The winter had set in earlier than usual; much snow had fallen and the weather was extremely cold. This regiment, under the lead of Major Samuel Appleton *(III-84) of Ipswich, proceeded to Providence, R.I., where a junction was formed with the two companies of infantry raised by Plymouth colony, and sent forward under Major William Bradford.
[End of Section 2 of Chapter 3] [Coming soon, the Great Swamp Fight and the rest of the King Philip War]
