The Portland daily press., 1894-01-20

tries better than by any other.
Revolutionary Soldiers
To the Editor of the Press:
1t was year ago that in looking about
for eligible persons to become members
of our Society OF the Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution" I reported to you find
ing four brothers still living, who were
sons of soldier of the Revolutionary
war, and expressed my doubt of there
being similar case in the United
States. l now have to report that until
quite recently there were four sisters liv-
ing, all daughters of soldier of that
war, viz Mrs. VIM. II. Pea body, of Co
lumbus, Ohio, Mrs. Charles Robe, of
Gorham, Mrs. John C. Proctor and Mrs.
A. F. Gerrish of this city.sI had mentioned
to Mr.. Gerrish that ne was eligible to be-
come member of our society, sbut he
thought he was SO remote-being a great
grandson-it might be better to have his
wife join the Society of the Daughters,
as she was the daughter of soldier. I
suggested that he intended to say grand
a granddaughter and the daughter of
Revolutionary soldiers, and that James
March, the father of Mrs. Gerrish and
her sisters, entered the service when
only twelve years of age.
| expressed some doubt of this state
ment, but stated / could verify it if it
was correct. On looking over my old
.l1 ~. AZ.
ancestors Ct these women, | find tn It
Samuel March, their grandfather, was
resident of Scarborough, in the time
of the war and, as early as 1176, find
him acting as lieutenant colonel in Col.
Edmund Ph1nney's 18th Regiment of
Foot, Massachusetts Bay Forces Col.
Macrh had fourteen children, and of
those who lived to grow up, nearly all
the males served, in the war, and
about all the daughters married Revolu-
| tionary soldiers, William Small, VINO
was soldier, marrying two OF them.
James March was the 18th child of Col.
Samuel March, ssand was the father of the
four sisters above named. He was born
February 9th, 1863, and was patriot
from birth. He early learned to play
the fife, and became an expert on that
instrument, and on the 18th day of May,
| 1850 he went to Gorham and enlisted
| as fifer, when only eleven years and
three months old. He served six months
at Falmouth, now Portland, in the COM
| pany of Capt. Jeremiah Goodwin, Col.
| Joseph Princes regiment.
| In proving the claim of his widow for
| a pension, in 1876, the testimony Of his
| sister Mrs. Ann Wilson, was taken, she
| being herself revolutionary pensioner,
| and then nearly one hundred years old.
She stated that during her brothers SER
! vice here in Portland he was taken sick,
a 10 hnn nt rr,n sd ,1,fe nod ga,
Tough for him, took him home, and
nursed him till he got well, and then
brought him back. And that the men
were SO glad to see him return that one
aof them mounted James on his shoulders
and marched about with him, the boy
all the while blowing away OH his fife,
and receiving a grand ovation from his
comrades James never drank liquor,
and gave his rum ration to the soldiers,
which fact may account in part for his
being made such a pet in the company.
| On the 2Sth of June, 1881, James again
enlisted, and served in the company of
| Capt. John Reed. Col. McCobb's regi-
ment, raised for the defense of the
eastern part of the commonwealth" This
service was for five months, part of
| which time he served as private, and
was, probably the youngest soldier in
| the war.
Col. Samuel March kept tavern in
Scarborough, on what is known as the
| Sweetsir place. this side of Oak Hill.
! He was prominent in town affairs, and
| for many years was deputy sheriff. He
| died in 1904. His son James married
Sally Jose, of Scarborough, by whom
he had eight children, all girls. Before
| his death in 1928. he became colonel
in the State militia.
| 1t is worthy of passing notice, by the
| way, that the old Sweetsir place seems to
| lodi Tod
| Soldiers Home. Here is where Colonel
Samuel March lived, and he and his sons
| went into the war from thence, and here
| his daughters were married to soldiers
of the Revolution, and we can well
imagine that good cheer abounded in his
time. Then John Sweetsir, who owned
the place afterward, and resided there SO
1 many years, was a soldier of the War of
| 1924. And it is now owned and oc-
cupied by Lieutenant w. H. Rounds, a
veteran of the late war;
The descendants of James March ought
to keep MS memory green by joining the
| Sons and Daughters of the American
Revolution. Certainly they can file
| such record of the services of their
ancestors as no other applicants can do.
| In closing, it seems proper to mention
also the services Of Charles Gerrish, the
ancestor of A. F. Gerrish He was a
major in the Second regiment of Massa-
chusetts militia, raised in Cum berland
county and commanded by Col. Jonathan
MITCHELL He was the first settler of
Royalsboro, now Durham, going there
with his young wife, when it was an I'M
broken wilderness. When the revolution
airy war came on he decided it was his
duty to go and do his part in defence of
| his home and country.
| AT the Durham centennial, a few years
ago. Miss Durgin made the following
| graceful allusion to Major Gerrrish in
| her poem
Through the sound of childish prattle
Came the news of far-off battle.
Goodman Gerrish paused and listened;
Tears in Mary's sad eyes glistened,
And on her baby's face dropped down.
| First born child of this fair town.
Smile of babe or tears of wife
| Cannot keen hi m from the strife