Battle of Bunker Hill

Resolve for payment to Eliphalet Hastings, a soldier at Bunker Hill, Feb. 1776

Payments for the Battle of Lexington/Bunker Hill, 1776

Many soldiers and their families petitioned the General Court for payment to make up for losses sustained at the Battle of Bunker Hill. This list included 227 total named individuals who received payments, noted in pounds and shillings.

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Receipt for “fiddeling” work on ships by Salem Poor, an enslaved man who purchased his freedom and fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill, Apr. 1780

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Petition to incorporate the Bunker Hill Monument Association, p. 1, Acts of 1823 c. 1, Approved June 7, 1823

In 1823, a group of men petitioned the General Court with the goal of erecting a monument to honor the patriots who fought at Bunker Hill. “The whole human race are destined to venerate the names of those gallant citizens of New England, who there breasted the tempest of war, for the ‘unalienable rights of man.’”

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Petition to incorporate the Bunker Hill Monument Association, p. 2, Acts of 1823 c. 1, Approved June 7, 1823

In 1823, a group of men petitioned the General Court with the goal of erecting a monument to honor the patriots who fought at Bunker Hill. “The whole human race are destined to venerate the names of those gallant citizens of New England, who there breasted the tempest of war, for the ‘unalienable rights of man.’”

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Petition to incorporate the Bunker Hill Monument Association, p. 3, Acts of 1823 c. 1, Approved June 7, 1823

In 1823, a group of men petitioned the General Court with the goal of erecting a monument to honor the patriots who fought at Bunker Hill. “The whole human race are destined to venerate the names of those gallant citizens of New England, who there breasted the tempest of war, for the ‘unalienable rights of man.’”

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Table noting the number of surviving officers and soldiers from each regiment present at the Battle of Bunker Hill

Includes the greatest, lowest, and average age among survivors of each regiment. Ages of survivors range from 95 to 65, making the oldest survivors 45 years old at the time of the battle, and the youngest only 15.

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Affidavit of Jonathan Beard of Harvard testifying that he fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill, attested by Ephraim Hinds, Justice of the Peace, June 14, 1826

Affidavit of Jonathan Beard of Harvard testifying that he fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill, “helped build the fort on Bunker Hill,” and was present at the celebration of the battle. Attested by Ephraim Hinds, Justice of the Peace, June 14, 1826

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Affidavit of Jacob B. Currier of Amesbury that he was “stationed in the intrenchment north or northeast of the redoubt” during the Battle of Bunker Hill, and that he “was at Charlestown and on said Bunker Hill … at the celebration of that day.” Attested by Jacob Brown, Justice of the Peace, September 1, 1825

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Affidavit of Francis Davidson of Londonderry, NH that he fought and was wounded at Bunker Hill

Davidson claims he was stationed at “the Rail fence and at that place I received my wound and was carried from that place as I was afterwards informed having fainted with the loss of blood.” Accompanied by an attestation by Samuel Amos, Justice of the Peace, and a request for Davidson to be paid seven dollars for attendance and travel to the celebration.

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Letter from Nathan Fisher of Westborough to William H. Sumner, Adjutant General, containing a detailed account of his participation at the Battle of Bunker Hill, as any other person who could certify his participation “are dead and gone,” June 28, 1825

Fisher writes that on the way to Bunker Hill, “two flooding batteries & … two sloops of war were continually cannonading us,” and that as the British soldiers approached, “we fired upon them & put them into great confusion & when the wind blew the smoak away we could see may lay flat on their backs we supposed them dead – it was some little time before they could form their line again.” He also describes the final engagement, where “no doubt we killed many of the poor fellows they being perhaps not more than 6 or 8 rods off [100–130 feet], and many of us fired two balls each, & one ball & 3 or 4 buck shot. after this fire we was ordered to retreat as fast as possible.” After his description of the battle, Fisher requests payment for his attendance and travel to the celebration of the battle.

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Testimony of Elias Pike of Newburyport that he attended the celebration of the battle, sworn before William Woast, Notary Public, June 30, 1825

Testimony of Elias Pike of Newburyport that he attended the celebration of the battle, and that on June 17, 1775, he “was in the Fort on Bunkers or Breeds, in the memorable battle which was fought with the British troops on that day,” and “that during the engagement … he received a wound from a musket ball of the enemy, which entered the left thigh.” Sworn before William Woast, Notary Public, June 30, 1825

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