From The Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire (in three parts), 
compiled from the best authorities, by Eliphalet Merrill and the Late 
Phinehas Merrill, Esq.,
Printed by C. Norris & Co. , Exeter, NH, ©1817, pg  65-66

Part I - General View- History

1775 - On the 25th of January a second convention of deputies assembled at Exeter to 
consult on the existing affairs, and to appoint delegates to the next general congress to be 
held at Philadelphia on the 18th of May.  Maj. Sullivan and Capt. Langdon were chosen.
	At this time every thing bore the appearance of war, but no actual blow was struck 
until the 19th of April.  On this memorable day an armed British force marched from 
Boston to Lexington.  Meeting here with some hostile treatment from a few Americans in 
arms, they unsheathed the sword and shed the first blood of the revolutionary contest.  On 
the alarm of this event, the people of New Hampshire flew to arms, and to the assistance 
of their brethren.  A party of Americans attacked a battery on Jersey’s Point on Great 
Island and carried off eight pieces of cannon, some of which were twenty-four and others 
thirty-two pounders, all which they brought to Portsmouth.  Governor Wentworth finding 
his authority disregarded and his person insulted, retired to the fort.
	On the second meeting of the assembly he sent a message to them and adjourned 
them to the 28th of September; they however never met after that. He remained in the fort 
under the protection of the Scarborough and another ship of war until all the cannon were 
taken on board:  he then sailed for Boston.  In September he stationed himself on the Isle 
of Shoals, and at that place issued a proclamation adjourning the assembly to the next 
April.  This was the last act of his administration and his last visit to the province.  Thus 
terminated the British government in New Hampshire where it had existed ninety-five 
years.
	On the first alarm of hostilities about twelve hundred men marched from the 
adjacent parts of New Hampshire to the assistance of their fellow citizens near Boston 
who had already taken arms.  A part of this number returned immediately, the remainder 
formed themselves into two regiments under the authority of the Massachusetts 
convention.  On the first meeting of the Provincial Assembly of New Hampshire, it was 
voted to raise and equip two thousand men, to be formed into three regiments, which were 
to be under the command of Colonels, John Stark, James Read, and John Poor.  The two 
former were present at the memorable battle of Bunker Hill, where they were posted on 
the left behind a fence; here they sorely galled the advancing bodies of the British, and cut 
down whole ranks of them. In their retreat they lost several of the number, among whom 
was the gallant Maj. Andrew M’Clary (McClary), who was killed by a cannon shot after 
he had passed the isthmus of Charlestown.  After this time brigadier-general Sullivan 
commanded the New Hampshire troops.  Forts were soon erected on the points of two 
islands which formed a narrow channel about two miles below the town of Portsmouth.  
One of these was called Fort Sullivan and the other Fort Washington.  A company of 
artillery was stationed on duty here, and a company of ranges was posted on Connecticut 
river.  Besides these two companies more were raised to be under the immediate orders of 
the committee of safety.  The whole militia of the state was divided into two regiments; 
the field officers were to be appointed by the convention, and the inferior officers to be 
elected by the companies; out of the militia were selected four regiments of minute men 
who were constantly trained to military duty.
	In the next winter when the Connecticut regiments withdrew from the camp, their 
term of service having expired, six companies, each containing 61 men were sent to supply 
their place until the British evacuated Boston.


Submitted by T.C. Parziale 5/30/00
****************************************************************************
* * * * Notice:  Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals
and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information
is included.  Any other use, including copying files to other sites 
requires permission from submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites.
We encourage links to the state and county table of contents.

* * * *
The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the
information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information
must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence.  It is
always best to consult the original material for verification.