In the account of Chelmsford, prepared by Henry S. Perham for Hurd's History of Middlesex County (II.249) is found the epitaph of Joseph Spalding, who died in that town on July 31, 1820. It is there stated that:

"He was among the brave asserters & defenders of the liberties of his country at Bunker Hill, where he opened the battle by firing upon the enemy before orders were given: and after enjoying for many years the blessings of civil and religious liberty in common with others.

"He sunk to rest -
With all his country's honor's blest."

Amos Foster, a private in Captain Walker's company, Colonel Bridge's regiment, writes, under date of August 3, 1825, as follows:

"I was close by Asa Pollard of Billerica when he was killed. He was the first man that was killed. The ball struck the ground and hopped along before it struck him."

Foster's letter is printed in "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register" (XII. 121, 122) for April, 1858. Substantially the same statement appears in the Genealogical Register for Hazen's History of Billerica (p.113).

In Holland's History of Western Massachusetts (II. 420), the author says:

"At the battle of Bunker Hill, Aaron Barr of Myrifield (now the town of Rowe) was the first wounded man brought into Cambridge from the field. He belonged to Capt. Maxwell's company. He was struck by a cannon ball in the morning, had his leg taken off, and died the same day."

There has been a discrepancy of statement in regard to the first man killed in the action, as some persons claim the distinction for Pollard and others for Barr. The evidence appears to be that Pollard was killed instantly, while Barr was carried from the field and died some hours later in Cambridge. The authority for the statement that Barr was the first man killed is the following writing pasted on the Company Roll among the Massachusetts Archives: "Aaron Barr, the first man killed on Bunker Hill June 16 [sic], 1775." It appears to have been placed there many years ago, but long after the date of the original record. He was a member of Captain Maxwell's company, Colonel Prescott's regiment, and not of Captain Nutting's company, as stated in the volume of Bunker Hill Memorial Tablets (note p.80) published by the city of Boston.

In Glazier's History of Gardner, Massachusetts, (p.25), it is recorded that David Foster "was engaged in the Revolutionary War nine months, and was the last man who fled from the enemy at the battle of Bunker Hill."

The Boston Daily Advertiser," August 13, 1836 stated:

DIED - In Andover, Deacon Isaac Abbott, 91. He was the last to leave the field at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

The author comments: "I leave it for others to settle the discrepancy between those two statements."

The following notice of a death is given in "The Boston Recorder," July 22, 1847:

In Jamaica, VT., June 15, Mr. Eleazer Randall, 94, a native of New Braintree, Mass. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was buried 17th June, 1847, at the same hour of the day in which he was engaged in conflict."

In a note book of the Reverend Jeremy Belknap, according to an extract printed in the Proceedings (XIV.93) of the Massachusetts Historical Society for June, 1875, it is recorded:

"A negro man belonging to Groton, took aim at Major Pitcairn, as he was rallying the dispersed British Troops, and shot him through the head, he was brought over to Boston and died as he was landing on the ferry ways. It has long been known that Pitcairn was killed by a negro, but this is the first time perhaps that he has ever been connected to Groton.

One commissioned officer and ten enlisted men, residents of Groton, MA were either killed or mortally wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The roll of honor comprises the names of Lieut Amaziah Fassett, who fell wounded and died a prisoner in Boston a few days later, on July 5. Sergeant Benjamin Prescott, eldest son of the Honorable James Prescott and the nephew of Colonel William Prescott, the commander on the American side, and Privates Abraham Blood, Chambers Corey, James Dodge, Peter Fisk, Stephen Foster, Simon Hobart, Jonathan Jenkins, Robert Parker, and Benjamin Woods.

This loss was the largest suffered by any one town in the battle, and shows the patriotic character of the citizens at that period. These Soldiers were serving in five different companies of Col. Prescott's regiment, and their names now appear on the bronze tablets which have been placed on Bunker Hill by the city of Boston in memory of the brave men who fell in that historic engagement.

Colonel Prescott, the commander of the American forces, and at least three of the Pepperell soldiers who lost their lives in the fight were natives of Groton, Mass.

In connection with the names that are given on the tablets set up by the city, there is a singular error worth noting. David Kemp of Groton is named as one of the men who was killed on the seventeenth, though fortunately he was only captured in that engagement, and afterward carried to Halifax. By mistake he was reported as dying while a prisoner in Boston, and for a long time his family mourned him as dead. It is not recorded when they first heard of his safety, but it was probably many months after the battle.

In the "Boston Gazette and Country Journal" (Watertown) July 29, 1776 it is said:

"Last Tuesday Evening came to town from Halifax, Lieut. Scott of Peterborough, New Hampshire, who was wounded and taken prisoner at the memorable Battle of Bunker Hill the 17th of June, 1775, and has been a prisoner ever since. He informs, that he with 13 others broke Gaol about 5 weeks ago, and betook themselves to the woods, where they separated; that Captain Martindale and his first and second Lieutenants John Brown Rifleman Leonard Briggs of Ware, and himself arrived at Truro at the head of Cobbecut river after a travel of three days, where they procured a boat and got to the eastward; that Richard Carpenter formerly of Barber in this town, Philip Johnson Beak, David Kemp of Groton and Corporal Cruse of Virginia and two others took the road to Windsor where they were apprehended and confined in irons; that Benjamin Willson of Billerica, one of the Bunker Hill Prisoners, died lately (on June 10, 1776), in goal; and that he left Master James Lovell still confined in high health and spirits."

From the foregoing newspaper account it appears that David Kemp did not die in Boston on September 10, 1775, as recorded on the Company Return (LVI.70) among the Massachusetts Archives; and furthermore, that he was alive nearly one year after the memorable engagement. The following petition, printed in the Journal of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, September 3, 1776, gives the exact date of Kemp's escape as well as other interesting facts:

"A Petition of David Kemp of Groton, setting forth, that his son David Kemp, jun., a soldier in Capt. Parker's company, in Col. Prescot's regiment, was taken prisoner at the battle of Bunker Hill, the 17th June, 1775, and carried to Halifax, where he remained till the 13th of June last; that he was not made up in said Parker's roll, only to the 17th of June, therefore praying that his wages to this time be allowed him.

Read and committed to Capt. Kimball, Mr. Ingals and Mr. White (p.104).

Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth