[76] Camb., devotes considerable attention to him. A descendant, T. J. Whittemore, of Englewood, N. J., communicates the following, which has already been printed:
Capt. Samuel Whittemore.—April 19, 1775.—Mr. Editor,—I find the following notice in the Columbian Centinel, viz.:Feby. 6, 1793.—Died—At Menotomy, Feby. 2 (1793), Capt. Samuel Whittemore, Ae. 99. The many and moral virtues, in all the various relations of Brother, Husband, Father and Friend, were invariably exhibited in this gentleman. He was not more remarkable for his longevity, than his number of descendants (his progeny being 185), one of which is the 5th generation. When the British troops marched to Lexington (Ap. 19, 1775), he was 81 years of age, and one of the first on the parade; he was armed with a gun (King's arm) and horse pistols. After an animated exhortation to the collected militia, to the exercise of bravery and courage, he exclaimed; “If I can only be the instrument of killing one of my country's foes, I shall die in peace!” The prayer of this venerable old man was heard, for on the return of the troops (from Lexington) he lay behind a stone wall and discharged his gun. A soldier immediately fell. He then discharged his pistol and killed another; at which instant a ball struck his face and shot away part of his cheek bone; on which a number of soldiers ran up the wall and gorged their malice on his wounded head; they were heard to exclaim, “ we have killed the old rebel.” About 4 hours after, he was found in a mangled situation, his head was covered with blood, from the wounds of the bayonet, which were 6 or 8, but providentially none penetrated so far as to destroy him. His hat and clothes were shot through in many places, yet he survived to see the complete overthrow of his enemies, and his country enjoy all the blessings of peace and independence. His funeral will be to-morrow at 4 o'clock, P. M., from his house at Menotomy, which his relations and friends are requested to attend.note.—This old gentleman was posted in the rear of the house of Hon. James Russell, in West Cambridge, on the road to Woburn, awaiting the return of the enemy from Lexington. On discovering the flank-guard of the enemy (5 in number) approaching, a friend who was with him, deserted him, but he refused to run, saying, ‘I am eighty years old, and I will not leave, for I shall be willing to die if I can kill one British red coat.’ On the nearer approach of the ‘guard’ he shot one with his gun and another with his pistol, and while raising his second pistol, he received a wound in his face. He fell, and soon the remaining three soldiers jumped over the wall, pierced him with their bayonets, and left him ‘for dead,’ as they supposed he was. On being found, he was faint from loss of blood, and life was just perceptible. He was taken to the hospital (Cooper's Tavern) on the corner of Medford Road, in West Cambridge. Surgeons Welch and Spring dressed his wounds (one shot wound and thirteen bayonet wounds).
