The Portland daily press., 1895-05-18
CAPTAIN WM. KNIGHTS COMPANY,
GOrham and Windham Patriots in the
Revolution.

Revolution.
A Brave Town NTeeting-Gorhamites Sack
aHouse-Company Rolls.
Capt. William Knights company were the
minute men of the town of Windham; men
whose ears were to the ground ready to
start at any alarm. and whose lives were at
their country's service. This company was
at Falmouth Neck in the Thompson war"
of May 1775, and they only asked, with the
others, the privilege Of being allowed to try
and capture Capt. Mowats vessel. After
being refused they with the ''Gorhamites"
sacked Coulson's house in King street and
occupied it for quarters. 1t is said that
Mowut was sent here at the solicitation of
Capt. Coulson, who was the worst enemy
the oolonists had in town.
In the history of Gorham can be found
the roll of the Gerham company, under
Capt. Hart Williams, who with the Wind
ham company took part in the affair ut
Coulson's house. and occupied it as their
barracks.
The town of Windhau,. February 23. 17Ia
announced their determination to resist
oppression in resolutions of no uncertain
words. of which we make selection of the
following:
'Reolved.-That We look upon it our dnty
as we'll as interest. both Tor ourselves and
posterIfy. 10 stand up in the defence Ut
these principles and liberties that our good
~ fGrefatheIs purchased for US at so dear
rate as the expense of their own blood
and that we formerly and still ought to en-
JOY"
Resolved the foregoing resolves
and proceedings be registered in the Town
may see what care their forefathers have
taken to defend their liberties and priyi-
leges, that they may take the ike care if
they are called to it AS we are"
At town meeting February II, 1774. the
inhab itants approved of letter written by
the committee to the town of Boston IN
which was expressed sin bold ana energetic
language their determination TO adhere to
and support their brethren in every meas-
ura touching the rights and liberties of the
country"
The town was represented at Cumberla nd
County convention of September 21st 1774,
at Alice CIRCLES tavern, by Zerrubbabel
Hunnewell. Thomas Trott. and David Bar
ker ,and of the resolutions of that convention
it has been said, that they were probably
the ablest exposition of public affairs at
that time. now extant."
November 7th 1774. Capt. Richard May
berry. Lieut.. David Barker and Ensign Ed
ward Anderson were chosen to drill men
for military service SO as to be ready for
any emergency.
March Is, ITS, the town voted 1921 to be
raised as soon as possible. to provide a town
stock of ammunition" and it was voted
that Capt. Caleb Graffam ''dx up the great
gun and swivels as soon as possible
. The great gun''(a long nine pounder)
and one awivel Ia three pounder) were sent
to Falmouth Neck in tie latter part of the
year 1916. and placed aboard the privateer
Retrieve. Capt. Joshua Stone. This vessel
was captured by the British trigaie GLASGOW
and carried into Halifax. What became of
these guns is not known. The other swivel
was destroyed at North Windham. They
had been used many years at the .old fort.
10 sound alarms and defend the settlement
against the Indians. and deserved better
fate.
The town of Windham. up to the battle
of Lexington. had been preparing for the
Revolution. and whom the dogs of war had
been let loose they were ready to do their
part as they had promised to do. and how
we'll they did it will always be a pleasure
for the historian 10 record. and their de-
scendantS to read.
The number of men enrolled in Windham
did not amount TO fifty-five, Of whom more
than thirty We're known TO have been in the
Continental service at ope time. The town
was small in numbers and poor IN purse,
hut du.iDg the war seventy-one men per-
foEmed ervice. being sixteen more than
the number enrolled at one tine, and forty
men served three years in the army.
In 1878 the town voted ESQ to provide
shirts, stockings and shoes for the army /;
e6SS to pay soldiers. and e20 to the soldiers
wives. In 177e they voted asS0 20 support
soldiers wives. e1260 to pay soldiers, and
thirteen shirts and thirteen pairs shoes and
stockings for the army. In 1850. they voted
iii pounds of beef for the army, and in
17eI. they goted $3.50 dollars, silver money,
to pay soldiers for three years, with nine
shirts, nine pairs shoes and stockings and
four blankets. also $50 10 procure beef. and
all this besides their state tax and town
expenses.
John A. Andrew, the great war COVER
nor of Massa cbsetts, was born in Windham.
In the year 1862 he visited his native town
and in his address there TO the people said
"But must mention two men who never
should be omitted, these two old soldiers of
the Revolution, Josiah Chute and John
Swett; venerable when first knew them.
yet intelligent and active. Many times
and oft, on a gpleasant morning like this.
have rode with my mother and listened to
the story of events in which they played n
part You know how warmly glows every