Historian - November 2006

In the March Trestleboard, we read about Captain and Brother Zachariah Beal, one of eight Company officers that served under Colonel and Brother Alexander Scammel in the 3^rd NH Regiment during the Revolutionary War. Another was Captain James Gray.

James Gray was born in Newburyport on October 8, 1749. He moved to Epsom, NH at age 19 and taught school there. When the Revolution began, he joined the Continental Army and was commissioned a Captain in the 1st New Hampshire Regiment. He served as a Sergeant-Major from April until December, 1775. In November 1776, he held the rank of Captain in the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment. In 1788, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

I came across some correspondence related to Capt. Gray on the EpsomHistory.com website that you might enjoy reading. The letters, reprinted here with permission, give a glimpse into life in the mid 1700’s.

To Captain James Gray:

You are hereby empowered, immediately, to enlist a Company to consist of Eighty-eight able-bodied and effective men, including Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, as Soldiers in the Service of the Colony, to defend and secure the Harbour of Boston, and cause them to pass Muster as soon as possible at Boston.

Thos Marshall, Colonel Boston, 14^th Day of March, 1776.

Next, here’s a note that James wrote to his second wife, Susannah Parsons. His first wife Jane had died at a very young age.

Charlestown (No. 4) May 18^th, 1777

My Dear Susie: As I would not, if possible, let any opportunity of writing to you pass unnoticed, therefore I embrace the present by the post to Exeter, viz: Mr. Waldo. I arrived here last Tuesday at night, as you will find by my Journal, transmitted to your Father; but it was attended with some difficulty, the roads being so excessively miry and my horse taken sick that I was obliged to walk a considerable part of the way; but at present am very well. I expect on Tuesday next to take my departure for Ticonderoga, to put my baggage upon my horse & travel through the woods, which journey is eighty miles from here. When I left Exeter I fogot my Coffe pot and thought not of it until I got to Keene, so that I am now at a loss hoe to make use of my coffee. Since I came here I have heard from my Brother, by Mr. Tucker, who left about a fortnight since in good health and high spirits. Capt. McClary has been very ill here, but has marched since through the woods.

My Love and duty to the family. The reason of my putting my Baggage upon my horse or going on foot is because the wagon cannot get through the woods.

And finally, here’s a log of what Capt. Gray was up to in the summer of 1777:

Sunday, 6^th July, 1777, - Retreated from Sheensboro' & lost all my money, Baggage, &c. Lodged in the woods at Night.

Monday, 7^th - Got into Fort Ann at 6 in ye morning; everything in the utmost confusion; nothing to eat. At 11 o'clock A.M. was ordered to take the Command of a party upon a scout and marched with 150 men besides 17 Rangers; had not marched from Garrison into the woods more than half a mile, after detaching my front, Rear and flanking Guards, when we met with a party of Regulars and gave them fire, which was Returned by the enemy, who then gave back. I then pursued them with close fire till they betook themselves to the top of a mountain. At the foot of this mountain we posted ourselves and continued our fire until 6 P.M., when a reinforcement of 150 more joined me; but night approaching obliged me to return with my party to Garrison, after finding one of my party killed and three wounded, and three of the enemy killed by our first fire.

Tuesday Morning, 8^th, - Myself, with Capt. Hutchins, with the same number of men, marched to the aforesaid mountain and attacked the enemy very warmly. The engagement lasted about 2 hours, at which time the Commander of ye Garrison sent Colo. Ransleur with a small party of militia to reinforce us. We then advances (firing) up the hill, where we found the enemy's surgeon dressing a Capt's Leg. Those, with two of their wounded soldiers, we took and sent in, and a number of our own people, men & women, who were the day before cut off by the enemy, we retook. At last, finding our ammunition gone and none to be had in Garrison, ordered off my wounded and some of the dead, and formed a retreat. Much fatigued when I returned and found no refreshments, neither meat or drink; immediately a Council was called and the prisoners, who were retaken brot upon examination, who gave information that express just arrived before we made the second attack and gave the enemy intelligence that a reinforcement of 2000, with Indians, were near at hand to join them, at which time they were to make a general attack upon us. It was then determined upon to retreat to fort Edward, after setting fire to the Garrison. Accordingly, the wounded were sent off, except one, who was one of my own Company; him the Surgeon thot proper not to order off, that he would soon expire, or that if he was likely to live, the enemy, when they took possession, would take care of him. This I knew not of till we were ordered to march, at which time I turned back alone (my Company being gone) to the rear of the Army, where I found him. I then picked up a tent & fastened it between two poles, laid him upon it, and hired four soldiers to carry him. I took their four guns with my own and carried them to fort Edward; this was about 3 o'clock P.M.; rained very hard; distance from fort Ann to Fort Edward, 14 miles; arrived at Fort Edward at 10 in the Evening; no Barracks nor tents to go into; therefore laid down in the rain and slept upon the ground; the fatigue of this day I believe I shall always remember.

Col. Ransleur, wounded; Capt. Weare, wounded; Ensign Walcutt, killed; Isaac Davis, a sergeant in my company, killed. Our loss in the two skirmishes about 15. The Enemy's, unknown.

Wedensday 9^th, - I found my self very much indisposed, having no cloths to shift myself with & nothing to eat or drink, but walking about to make myself warm. Upon parade I met Capt. Peters (a Dutchman), a gentleman I never had seen but once before; he seeing me in my helpless situation took me to his tent, gave me a dram, then ordered some warm breakfast for me. Here I refreshed. He then procured barracks for my Company and furnished with Blankets to lodge on. I then sent my wounded men off to Albany. Applied for kettles for my Compy, but in vain; obliged to mix our flour in our hats and bake it upon Chips before the fire and broil our salt beef upon the coals.

James Gray died on January 10, 1822 at the age of 72 and is buried in the McClary Cemetery in Epsom, NH. Like his friend Zachariah Beal, James was a Freemason and a member of St. John’s Lodge in Portsmouth, having been raised on April 17, 1777. When you walk through the main foyer of our Masonic Temple apartments, observe the bronze plaque on the wall; on it are the names of great men from our Lodge who served that our fledgling country might prosper. Brother James Gray is among them.

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