Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-03-26
From the Chicago Tribune
David KTNNHSON--TEHE LAST OF THE
ssBOSTON TEA PATTY


nison, the last of that famous company of brave
and daring men who composed the world re-
nowned Boston Tea Party, lies few blocks dis
tant from our office, clad in the vesture of the
tomb The death OF one who bore so conspcu-
Gus part in those early struggles for freedom.
the fruits OF which we daily and hourly eniov.
but which it is TO be feared, we do not fully an
preciate, has impressed the public mind with I'M
usual soemnty, there Is much solicitude 10 learn
the particulars of the history of the man, who.
while living amongs: attracted, we are sorry
TO say, bat little of the public attention and in
terest Friends, however, the old man had -
What the public should have performed as an act
OF duty and gratitude, private family, bound 10
the old man by no other ties than those of a com
mon humanity, voluntarily assumed, and, care
less OF their own comfort and ease, for ten long
years they watched over him with all the tender
ness and assduty that could have been expect
ed of them had they been his own offspring Let
our citizens remember Mr.. and Mrs. William
C. Mack
Some three years ago, at the solicitation of
Mr.. Losing, who was then engaged upon a
work that he has since published, under the IL
tie of "Field Notes of the Revolution" we took
down from the old gentleman's lips brief mar
ratve of his lite, the substance OF which we pro-
coed 10 lay before the readers OF the Tribune:
David Kinnison was born the I7th of Novem-
Der, 1876, in Old Kingston, near Portsmouth,
Province Of Maine and was consequently one
hundred and fifteen gears, three months and Seuen
days old, at the tine OF his death. Soon after
has birth, his parents removed to Brentwood, and
thence in a few years, to Lebanon (ATaine,) at
which place he followed the business of farming
until the commencement of the Revolutionary
war He was descended from long lived race
His great grandfather, who came from England
at an early day, and settled in Maine lived to
very advanced age his grandfather attained the
age Of one hundred and twelve years and ten
days; mis- father died at the age of one hundred
and three years and nine months; his mother died
while he was young He has had tour wives,
neither OF whom is now living he had four
children by his first wife, and eighteen by his
second none by the last two. He was taught
to read after he was sixty years OF age, by his
grand daughter, and learned to sign his name
while soldier of the Revolution, which was all
the writing he ever accomplished.
Sometime previous to the celebrated "Tea
Party" himself and sixteen others, inI abitants
of Lebanon, organized themselves into poliu-
cal club. They were in the habit of holding Sc
cret meetings for the purpose Of celebrating up
on the grievances imposed upon the coonesby
the mother country.
These meetings were held at the tavern of one
Colonel Cooling" in private room hired for
the occasion The landlord, tho true Amer
lean: was not enlightened as to the object of
their meeting. Similar clubs were formed in
Philadelphia. Boston, and the towns around
With these the Lebanon Club kept up a cores
pondence. They Qhe Lebanon Club detcrmin-
ed, whether assisted not, to destroy the tea in
Boston Harbor, at all hazards.
4
joined by others and twenty -four disguised as
Indians, boarded the vessels, swelve armed with
muskcts and bayonets, the rest with ,onahswks
and clubs, having frs, agreed, whatever might
be the result, to stand by each other to the last
and that the first man that laiteIed should be
knocked on the hcud and thrown out with the tea
They expected To have fight and did not doubt
that an effort wouid be made for their arrest,
But" Gin the language OF the old man I've
cared no more for our lives than three s,raws
and were determined to throw the tea overheard
We were all pains, and every one command
ed himself" They pledged themselves to each
other, that in no event. while Ill was dangerous to
do 50, would they reveal HE names OF The party,
pledge which was faithfully observed until the
war of the Revolution was brought to sue
CcSSiul issue.
Mr.. klnnlson was in actual service during the
whole war, only returning home once from the
time of the destruction OF the tea, until peace
had deem declared. He participated in the affair
at Lexington, and, with, his father and two broth
ers, was al the battle OF Bunker Hill, all four es-
Gaping uuhurt. lie was within few feet OF
Warren wnen that officer fell. He was also en-
gagged in the serge of Boston; the battles OF
Long Island, Whlte PLANES, and Fort Montgom-
cry skrmishes on Staten Island, the battles of
Saltwater Red Bank, and Germantown; and,
lastly, in a skrmish at Saratoga Springs, in
which his company (ScOutS) were surrounded
and captured by about three hundred Mohawk
Indians. tie remained prisoner with them one
year and seven months, about the end of which
time peace was declared. After the war he set
tied al DanviIle, in Vermont and engaged in his
old occupation OF farming He resided there
eight years, and then removed 10 Wells in the
State OF Maine, where he remained until the
commencement of the last war with great Brit
ain. lie was in service during the whole of that
war, and was in the battles OF Sackett's Harbor
and Williamsburg. In the latter conflict he was
badly wounded in the hand BY grape shot, the
only injury which he received IN ali his engage
menS.
Alter the close of this war ne settled al Lyme
in tie State of New York, removing some years
subsequently, to Sackets IIarbor, in the same
State. At the former place while engaged in
telling tree, he was struck down by falling
limb which fractured his scuil, broke his collar
bone and two of his ribs. While attending a
military review at Sackeus HaTbor, some wears
afterwards the contents OF a Cannon loaded with
rotten wood, were discharged agnlnst a fence
rah close by him, carrying II around, and break
ing and SCATTERING both OF his legs midway be-
tween his ankles and knees. He was confined
long time by this wound, and when able again
10 walk his legs had contracted permanent fe-
yer sores To add TO his mistortunes, frequent
and violent attack of rheumatism, drew one of
his hips entirely out of joint, while kick from
horse, on the forehead, lett scar which dis
figured him for life. In his own words he chad
been completely bunged upand stove in"
Severa! years since he lost all sight of his
family In l84S he thought that seven of his
twenty-five children were lving-they were
scattered from Canada to Oregon. Last year very
Unexpectedly, he was visited by two OF his child
ren, who learned the place OF his residence thro'
the newspaper publications. One of them, Mrs.
Wheeler, lived near Oswego n. y, the other,
a son, led secluded life, in the woods some
eight or ten miles back Of ManIlowoc, Wiscon-
SIN.
He came to Chicago, with the family of M
Mack, in July ls45 Up to l84S he was
able TO perform more or less labor. In 1877,
he assured u, he gathered one hundred bushels
of corn, dag potatoes, made hay and harvested
NJ bod