Ultimately, only a paragraph or so of information about William's service will be finalized and included in his genealogical biography. We chose to take this step to uncover nuances between the records we had about his service and the notes we could find about that service in the New Hampshire State Papers [NHSP].
The report here is in three parts--one section for each phase of his service (Bunker Hill, Quebec and 3rd NH Regiment). (There was a summary, too, but I've updated the blog entry to delete the summary, which captured information from a variety of additional sources.)
BUNKER HILL, etc.
In the c1819 declaration for his pension, William stated:
In an affidavit for Jonathan Fogg dtd 1 Sept 1832, William testified:
In an affidavit for Hannah, Nathaniel Chandler Abbot’s widow, 17 Nov 1837, William testified:
Historical References:
Battle of Lexington - 19 April 1775
Battle of Bunker Hill - 17 June 1775
NHSP Comments:
As below [...], calculated from the payroll records and confirmed by other sources, William’s enlistment can be proven at least to 4 May 1775; continuing though 1 Sept 1775, [at which time he] enlisted for the Quebec expedition.
1. William’s name IS NOT FOUND on the list of Capt. Abbot’s payroll [NHSP 14: 60-62]. The title of that table is, “Pay Roll of Captain Joshua Abbot’s Company in Col. John Stark’s Regiment to August 1, 1775.”
In that roll of Capt. Joshua Abbot’s Company, Samuel Atkinson (no. 2) is reported to be Lieutenant, enlisted 3 May 1775; a footnote to the roll reports that Atkinson was of Boscawen; Nathaniel Chandler Abbot’s name was also on that roll, “Nat Chandler Abbot” (no. 14), enlisted April 24 1775; however, Jonathan Fogg’s name, like William, is not on that roll. Not to worry . . .
2. William’s name IS FOUND on the record of men who were enlisted FROM Abbott/Stark for Dearborn/Arnold’s expedition to Quebec (table “1-240”; NHSP 14: 214-6; Wm on pg 215):
Table 1-240, “Pay Roll of Capt. Henry Dearborns Company in Colo Arnolds detachment for Canada inlisted out of Colo Starks and Colo Poors Regiments from the time of entry in said Regiments to Sept 1st 1775.” Parts of William’s entry were torn off in the records used to produce the table. The part town includes the column “Time of Entry” (which, according to William’s Rev. War Pension file declaration, should have read May 1 [1775]). Fortunately, the entry for his “Whole Amount” paid (including blanket and coat), “£9 . 12s. –,“ is reported. Table below reconstructs this “Whole Amount” to the equivalent ”Amount of Wages,” for William, from which his “Time of Entry” can be best estimated. (According to Wiki, prior to 1971, there were 20 shillings in a pound; table 1-240 says privates were paid 40 shillings/month):
The entry next listed in full, after the torn or illegible entries that include William’s) is a James Beverly.[1] James Beverly has the same “whole” amount as William. Ditto, dear James had no travel miles and was also a private. As this James Beverly enlisted 4 May 1775—it seems reasonable to assume that our William’s “official” enlistment date was probably exactly or about the same.
So, the most complete independent source for William’s Bunker Hill service is, interestingly enough, the 1 Sep 1775 Dearborn table 1-240 at NHSP Vol. 14, pgs 214-216; William at pg 215.
[1] He is presumably the same James Beverly, of Nottingham, who had wife Margaret, on whose behalf William Preston supplied an affidavit dated 7 Aug 1837 [Revolutionary War Pension file W15, 576].
=====================================
QUEBEC EXPEDITION
In his declaration, William stated:
"[...In September 1775] I joined Capt Henry
Dearborn's company (now. Gen'l Dearborn) Benedict
Arnold was Commander of the detachment we marched
through the Province of Main so on to Quebeck ---
on the 30th* day of December (morning) the day General
Montgomer was killed I was taken prisoner where I rem-
aind until Sept 1776 and the most part of sd time in
Irons from there I was put aboard a Ship and carried
to New York where I was Exchang’d. I got discharged
and returnd Home the last of October 1776 ..."
[Pension file S3,222]
* Separately, Montgomery said killed 31st Dec 1775.
In an affidavit for Elkanhan Danforth dtd 6 Dec 1819, William testified:
I enlisted into the Company of Capt Hennery
Dearborn in the regiment of Col. Benedick Arnold in Cambridge
in the State of Massachusetts in September AD. 1775
in the revolutionary war under the contanintal establishment
for the expedition to Canada [...]and said regiment in Septem
ber 1775 and on or about the Eighteenth day of September
1775 we embarked at Newburyport on our sd
expedition for Canada and on the Thirty first day of
December 1775 at the Siege of Quebeck I [...]
was taken prisoner [...]
and was retaind at Quebeck till sometime
In August AD 1776 at which time we were shipd to
New York and retaind aboard said ship till some
time in the Month of October 1776 at which time
we were set on shore at Elizabeth Town in New Jersey
from thence we went to Kingsbridge in New York where a
part of our Army was; and we received thirteen Months
pay from the continental pay Master and than returnd
home on parole ...
[Pension file W15,889, S16,959]
William Preston’s 1842 obituary [The (Baltimore, Maryland) Sun, reports William was sent to the Quebec prison and held there “mostly” in irons.
Comments:
One assumes there are many document to be discovered that mention William in the Quebec mission, his captivity and release at New York, but the three references below seem good “independent” sources for William’s service in the mission to Quebec and his captivity.
1. NHSP Vol. 14:
The Dearborn table dated 1 Sept 1775 (“1-240,” previously herein, “Bunker Hill”) proves William signed up for the campaign.
2. NHSP Vol. 14
Table on pgs 210-212 (Wm on pg 211, no 26) reports that on 18 Sept 1775, William rec’d two months wages for the Campaign from Saml Brooks.
3. George Gilmore (see source below) put together a list of the NH men who were at Bunker Hill. He included notations about those who went to Quebec, and even made notations about those who were taken prisoner at Quebec. He lists our William, notes Wm was at Bunker Hill (citing NHSP vol. 14), that he went to Quebec, and that he was taken prisoner at Quebec.
George C. Gilmore, State Senators 1784-1900 : New Hampshire Men at Bunker Hill (1899); digital images, Google Books (http://www.books.google.com : accessed 13 November 2008), cited as Gilmore’s Manual, entry at pg 43 for William Preston of Rumney, Private, Abbot’s Company, Stark’s Regiment, citing NHSP, vol. 14, pg 217, remarks report William was a taken prisoner in Arnold’s expedition to Quebec [“A. P.,” see pg. 29 “Men taken prisoner at Quebec].
==============================
3rd NH (Three Years)
In his declaration, William states:
William Preston wrote, "[...I]n January
1777 I enlisted in Capt. Benjamin Stones Company
third New Hampshire Reg. Commanded by Elexander
SCammels for three years and marched immediately
for Ticonderoque in June following I was taken prison-
er by the Indians on the last of Sept I made my escape
and joined my company before the taking of Borquene
I was in the Battle at Monmouth in the year 1778
and in 1779 I went with Gen'l Sulivan up Suquehan-
nah River so on to Genesee to Destroy the Indian Settle-
ments &c. and was at Newton Battle with the Indians ..."
The Revolutionary War pension file includes William’s discharge papers dtd 21 Jan 1780, Danbury, Conn., signed by Brig. General Enoch Poor and Major James Norris.
William Preston’s obituary says, “he was three months captive" with Native Americans, "when a British general bought him" for a "keg of rum." Other research is needed to identify information from which we might learn more about this note.
Comments:
The NHSP provide numerous references to William’s three-year service in the 3rd NH Regiment. Several references in the NHSP provide for his discharge on 10 Feb 1780 after his term of service, and, apparently based on that discharge date, some set his enlistment date exactly three years earlier; however, images of the original papers appear in his pension file set a discharge date as 21 Jan 1780 at Danbury, Conn.—one assumes William did not register later than three years prior, so no later than 21 January 1777.
Later references in the NHSP (v16) suggest William was a Corporal and rec’d promotion 1 Jan 1778 to Sergeant. The earlier references (v14) either suggest William enlisted as a private or are silent as to his rank.
When William enlisted, he was assigned to Capt. Benjamin Stone’s unit. Stone resigned 20 May 1779, and Capt. David McGregore (or McGregor) took charge of the unit. The rolls returned by Capt. McGregore remark that William Preston was transferred to Capt. Hawkins’ unit [poss. the William A. Hawkins, Captain in 3rd Regiment (see v16, p 208 for list of Scammell’s officers)].
Volume 14
Vol. 14 pgs 565-9, table 3-41, “Three Years Men enlisted from Col. Stickney’s Militia Regiment, 1777”:
For men enlisted “Three Years …. from Col. Stickney’s Militia Regiment, 1777. [Noted as Col. Stickney “of Concord”]; pg. 566 for “William Presson [no rank], Rumney,” from Concord Parish, with Captain Stone.
Vol. 14 pgs 656-8, table 3-137, “Captain Stone’s Co.”
For the “Muster Roll” of Capt. Benj. Stone’s Co. in Col. Scammel’s Regiment, certified by William White, Muster Master and by Joseiah Gillman Junr, the latter dated Exeter, 1 Oct 1778; pg 656, William’s name near the bottom, reports he mustered 21 Mar 1777; no rank stated, but his “State Bounty” was £20; he was not credited with travel miles to Charlestown; Benjamin Presson on the following page, mustered 3 April 1777; also with “State Bounty” of £20.
Volume 15
Vol. 15 pgs 459-60, table 5-30, “Men Enlisted from Colo. Hobart’s Regiment,”
Original title “List of the “Mens Names and the Towns they belong to…. Engaged in the Continental Service for Three years … under the Command of Colo. David Hobart of Plymouth,” certified by Hobart, dated 18 May 1778 at Plymouth; pg 460 for William Preston Jur, in Capt. Stone’s Company; Benjamin Preston in the same listed, as “belonging to Rumney,” also with Captain Stone.
Vol. 15 pgs 605-6; table 5-186, “Col. David Hobart’s Return.”
List of men engaged for three years …. Under Command of David Hobart of Plymouth; pg 605 for William Preston Jur, for Rumney, under Capt. Stone, about March 1777.
Vol. 15 pgs 607-11, table 5-187, “Col. Thomas Stickney’s Return”:
For list of men in “Col. Stickney’s Regement,” enlisted for three years; pg 609 for William Presson of Rumney, enlisted for Concord,” under Capt. Stone.
Vol. 15, pgs 710-713. “Depreciation Rolls to January 1, 1780”; see table no. 5-360, “9th Company [of the 3rd Regiment],” pg. 732; William Presson (first listed), reported Corp. & Sergeant.
(The “Depreciation” represented payments intended to make up for the depression in the value of the currency. There is another such roll in NHSP vol. 16 for the following year. See also NHSP v13, pg. 357, Dearborn separately pd William $800.00, “towards depreciation” on 13 April 1780, dtd Exeter.)
Volume 16
Vol. 16 pgs 35-37, table 6-44, “Return of Capt. Benjamin Stone’s Co.”
Original title as “List of Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, “in the late* Capt. Benj. Stone’s Company, 3rd NH Regiment, all the rolls 8 Nov 1776 to 15 Jun 1777 and one roll from Jan 1778 (being all the rolls that can be found)”; pg 35, reports enlistment 10 Feb 1777 of William Preston, Corporal, for three years; promoted to Sergeant on 1 Jan 1778 and discharged 10 Feb 1780 [separately herein, William’s discharge papers were dated 21 Jan 1780]; on pg 36, enlistment 10 Mar 1777 of Benjamin Presson, private, for three years; discharged 10 March 1780.
*Francis Bernard Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution, April 1775, to December, 1783 (1914), pg 523, entry for Benjamin Stone reports he resigned 20 May 1779; digital images, Google Books (http://www.books.google.com : accessed 14 November 2008); subsequently transcribed:
Stone, Benjamin (NH). Regimental
Quartermaster 20th Continental In-
fantry, 7th September, to 31st Decem-
ber 1776; Captain 3rd New Hampshire,
8th November, 1776; resigned 20th
May 1779 (Died 13th February, 1820).
Quartermaster 20th Continental In-
fantry, 7th September, to 31st Decem-
ber 1776; Captain 3rd New Hampshire,
8th November, 1776; resigned 20th
May 1779 (Died 13th February, 1820).
Vol. 16 pgs 38-40; table 6-48, “Return of Capt. McGregore’s Co.”
Original title is “Return of the men Inlisted in the seventh Company, third New Hampshire Regt by “Capt Benja Stone-Now Comded by Capt. McGregore”; pg 40, entry for Wm Presson, Sergeant, remarked only as “Transfered to Capt Hawkins Company”; Benjamin Presson reported on pg 39 as enlisting 10 March 1777 for three years, without further remark.
Vol. 16, pgs 40-41; table 6-52, “Return of Capt. Hawkins’s Co.”
Original title is “Return of the men in Capt. Hawkins Company No. 9, in the third New Hampshire Regiment”; list was dated 9 Feb 1780* at Camp Danbury and certified by John Cilley Ensign, and Daniel Livermore, Capt. Com; pg 40 for William Presson, Corporal, promoted to Sergt 1 Jan 1778; enlisted 10 Feb 1777 for three years; discharged 10 Feb 1780 [separately herein, William’s discharge papers were dated 21 Jan 1780].
* One day before that date given as his discharge; pension file reports he was discharged 21 Jan 1780.
Vol. 16, pgs 189-90; table 6-288, “Return of Captain McGregore’s Co.”
Original title is “List of the Non Commissioned Officer and Privates in Captain David McGregores Company in the third New Hampshire Regiment Commanded by Colo Alexd Scammell from January 1st 1780 to January 1st 1781”; pg 189 for William Preston, Sergeant, enlisted for 3 years, remarked as “Discharged Feb’y 10th 1780.” [Separately, herein, William’s discharge papers in pension file report date as 21 Jan 1780.]
Vol. 16 pgs 197-213, Depreciation Rolls to Jan 1, 1781” [thus for the year, 1780], 1st, 2nd, and 3rd NH continental regiments, arranged by regiment and then by company; see table 6-326, “9th Company,” pg 212, for William Presson, Sergeant of the 9th Company, 3rd Regiment.
[GJ: Amt attributed to Wm is only £7, but he served only a short time in 1780; NHSP report he was discharged 10 Feb 1780; discharge papers in pension file report his discharge 21 Jan 1780.]
Separate from the two references noted to depreciation pay, there is a separate entry in NHSP (13 : 357) for Rumney. On 21 Jan 1780 the entry reads:
New Hampshire, Provincial and State Papers
Exeter April 13th 1780
Pleas to charge me with Eight hundred dollars towards de-
preciation & credit the same to L Col H. Dearborn he having
paid me that some in money this day--
preciation & credit the same to L Col H. Dearborn he having
paid me that some in money this day--
Wm : Presson, Serg^t
To the Committeee on Soldiers acc^ts
Presson belongs to Rumney
Revised 26 May 2011 to correct items quoted from obituary.
