‘ [83] dressed himself in the clerical habit of the Rev. Mr. Cooke, of Menotomy, which he had plundered on his retreat at the battle of Lexington.’The Rev. Samuel Cooke's house, which was built in 1740, and removed in 1871, was used as a hospital for the American forces after this period, as is evident from the resolve of the Committee of Safety on June 19, 1775, ‘that the house of the Rev. Samuel Cooke, of Menotomy, be improved as a hospital for the Colony Army.’ (See Paige, 418.)1 The same date the use of as many other houses in this parish, for that purpose, as might be necessary, was ordered.2 During the battle of the 19th of April, the Rev. Mr. Cooke appears to have been active during the day in his own parish, until the approach of the enemy in full retreat through Menotomy, when his son Samuel took the old gentleman, much against his will, into his chaise, and carried him away to a place of safety.—Smith.
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1 ‘And that Mr. William Eustis be, and hereby is appointed, to the care of the sick and wounded in said hospital, till the further order of this committee.’—See Journals of each Provincial Congress of Mass., p. 571.
2 The language of the order — was as follows: ‘Ordered. that Dr. Isaac Foster be, and he hereby is directed, to take up and improve as hospitals, so many houses in Menotomy, as he may find necessary for the safety of the sick and wounded of the Colony Army, and that he employ such person or persons as may be necessary to carry such provisions and other necessaries, as may be wanted for the use of the aforesaid sick and wounded; and further, that he take such precautions, respecting the small-pox hospital, as may be necessary for the prevention of the spreading of that epidemical disorder in the camp or elsewhere.’
On May, 10, 1775, the Committee of Safety voted, ‘that Mr. Watson be directed and empowered to remove to Cambridge, the boats now in Menotomy river, and to impress what carriages may be necessary.’—Ibid., p. 542.3 A Muster Roll of Capt. Wm. Adams's Company in Col. Thatcher's Regiment of Militia, which marched at the request of Gen. Washington at taking possession of the Heights of Dorchester, March 4, 1776:—William Adams, Captain; Daniel Reed. Lieut.; Ethan Wetherbee, Lieut.; Samuel Locke, Sergt.; William Cutter, Sergt.; Jonathan Davis, ditto; Thomas Cutter, ditto; Abraham Locke, Corporal; John Locke, ditto; Jonathan Perry, ditto; Thomas Cutter, Private, John Winship, Edward Wilson, Abraham Hill, John Hill, Daniel Cutter, John Cutter, Jr., Ephraim Frost, Jr., Samuel Frost, Jr., Aaron Swan, William Hill, Joshua Kendall, William Butterfield, Jonathan Robbins, Samuel Whittemore, 3d, George Swan, Daniel Paine, Amos Warren, Ammi Cutter, Jr., James Perry, Joseph Locke, Ebenezer Robbins, Levi Flint, Stephen Cutter, James Frost, Jeduthun Wellington, Isaac Warren, Miles Greenwood, Joseph Russell, William Winship, Jr., Gershom Cutter, 3d, James Locke, Stephen Robbins, Jr., Nathaniel Williams, John Fowle, Joseph Shaw, David Lamson, Samuel Swan, Josiah Hall. The term of service was probably five days.
Boston: David Clapp and son. 564 Washington Street, 1880.
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