The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-06
Doath sf David Klnnis0n-The Last ~ eAc
ssBOston Tea Party"

AInnu00W-TDe
ssBost0n Tea Party"
tvrom the Chicago Tribune. Feb Is. 1881
David Kinnison was born she 18th day Of Novsn-
Der, l736 in Old Kingston, near Portsmouth, pro-
vince OF MAINE, and was oonse quently one handree
ano niteen yesre, three months, and seven dsys old
parents removed to Brentwood, and hsnce Ia fev
years to Lebanon, Maine, at which place hs fol-
ioweo the business OF farming until the commsnss-
ment OF the Revolutionary war. He was dssosad-
ed from long lived race His great grandfsthsg.
who came from Eng land Mt an early day, and set
tied in Maine, lived to very adv an,ed ago; his
grandfather attained the age Of ono hundred AHa
twelve years aid ton days; his father died 1t the
age Of epe hundred and three years and nine
month";; his mo, her die while he was young He
has bad four wives neither of whom Is now living.
lie Lad four children by his 6rst wife, and shteea
BY his second; none by the last two. He wastaught
to read after he was sixty years Of age, by his
grand daughter, and learned to tsn his name
while soldier of the revolution, which was oil The
writing be ever accomplished
Sometime previous to the celebrated "Tes Par
ty, himself and sixteen others, inhabitants Of LIE
banon, org anissd the selves into political oub.
They were in the habit OF holding secret meetings
for the purpose Of celebrating upon tho grievances
imposed upon the colonies ny the mother country.
Thee meetings. wero held at tho tavern Of one
Colonel Goo ding, in u private room hired for the
occasion. The landlord, though true AmerioAas
lot enlightened to the obi set of their mest-
ing Similar clubs were formed 10 Philadelph
Roston and the towns around With those the
Lebanon Club kept up correspondence, They
thc Lebanon Club determined, whether ASST, tel
ornot, to destroy the tea II the Boston hsrbor ct
all yards They repaired to Boston, whero they
were joined by others; ana twenty four disguised
lnoians, boarded the vessels twelve arm ID With
nuskes and bayonets, tie rest with tomah swks
and clubs, having first agreed, ghatever might be
the result to stand by each other to tbs last, and
that he first man who faliered sho1ld be knocked
on the head and thrown over with the TIA. Tney
expected to have fight, ard did not doubt that sn
effort would be made Tor their arrest "Bat" In
the lang usRe of the old mar) we cared no moro
for our lives than three straws, and uere deter
mined to throw the tea overheard We were al
cattains, and every ono commanded himself"
They pledged themselves to each other, that in NJ
event, while it was dangerous to do so would they
reveal the names of the party, podse which was
faithfully observed until the Wat Of the reyo ution
was brought to q ccessful Issue.
Mr. KInnison was in actual service during the
whole war; only returning home from the time
of the destruction of the tea, until peace had besa
declared He participated in the affair at LexiuG-
ton and. with his father and two brothers, was ct
the Battle Of Bunker Hill, oil four escaping unhurt
lie was within few feet Of Warren when that
slicer fell He was also engaged in tho siege It
Boston the battles OF Long Island, White Plains,
and Fort Montgomery skirmishes on Staten Island,
the battles Of Still water, Red Bank. and GernsA-
town; and lastly in askrmish at Saratoga Springs,
in which his company (scouts) were surrounded
and captured by about three hundred Mohawk In
dams. He remained prisoner with them one year
and seven months, abeut the end Of which time
peace wap declared
Several years since he lost All sight Of his family.
In 1913 he thought that seven Of his twenty I've
children were liviDg-they we're scattered from
Canada to Oregon. Last year, very unexpectedly,
he was visited by two of his children, who had
learned the place sfbis residence through the news
paper publications. Ono Of them, Mrs Wheeler.
lived near Oswego, N. Y, the other, q son, led .
seclude d life in the woods some eight or teo miles
back of Manitowoc, Wisconsin He oamo to Chi
csgo, with the family Of Mr.. Mack, in July, 1915.
Up to ls4s he was able 10 perform more or less
labor In ls47. be assured US, he gathered one
hundred bushels OF corr. dug pot atoes, made hay
and barve sted oats :" Mr. Kinnison had evidently
been very muscular man. Although. not large,
bis frame YVES one Of great power. He liked to
age, he informed US, he had lifted barrel Of rum
into wagon, with ease His height was fvs feet
ten inches, with an expansive chest and broad
shoulders For twenty months previous to his death,
he was bedridden. Prior to that time. however,
lis step was as firm, and no seemed possessed of
much vigor as is common to men fall half CON-
tury Younger. His eye was usually 80 me what dim
and heavy; but when excited by the recollection Of
bis past eventual life, 1t would twinkle and roll in
II. socket with remarkable activity. His memory
OF recent events was not good; but the stirring
scenes through which be passed in his youth, ap-
peared to he mapped ont upon his mind Ia unfadins
colors lie wac fond OF martial music. The dru n
and fife Of the recruiting service daily put life
into him. "ln fact" rs he said to US, cts the
sweetest music in the world There's some sense in
the drum oDd fife, and buge; but these pianos and
other such trash, can't stand" Many years ago
be was troubled with partial deafness; his sight
also failed him somewhat, and he was compelled to
glasses. or late years, both hearing and sight
returned Co him as perfectly as he ever possessed
them. lie was playful and cheerful In hs diposi-
ton. We have seen him for hours upon the side
walk with the little children, entering with unoem-
mon zest into their childish pastimes.