The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-24
THE MILITIA IN i77e.
Capt aims Pride's and Libby's Companies at
Falmouth Neck After the Return of the
Bagaduce Expedition.


After the failure of the Bagaduce Ex-
petition and Mitchell's Regt returned to
Falmouth in most demoralized condi-
ton, the Council of Massachusetts,, fear
ing the British would follow up their sue
cess, called out the militia to defend Fall
mouth Neck, in case of an attack. They
were in the service less than one month
and we have already published the rolls
of Captains William Harris's and George
Rogers's companies, and now are enabled
to give Joseph Pride's and Roger Libby's
men. The militia was under the com
mand of Col. Nathaniel Jordan and Major
James johnson.
The militia at that time would have
been but of little use. Stephen Hall, the
chairman of the committee of SAT ETY., I'M
der date of Sept. 18th, said of them, "The
militia in this county are at present in a
situation incapable of defending us in
the case of an attack, principally. owing to
their ignorance and neglect of some of
the principal officers of the brigade.
They were undisciplined and had little
knowledge of military tactics. If the
British had followed up their success at
Bagaduce, by coming here, at once, they
would have had but little trouble occupy
ing Falmouth Neck, in the state of alarm
that the region about here was then in.
Among the curious things that have
fallen into our hands, in relation to the
Bagaduce Expedition, are the accounts of
Thaddeus Broad and Mrs. Joanna Frost
Broad kept the tavern beyond Stroud
water and Joanna Frost at this end of
Stroudwater Bridge, which was after.
wards the Brewer House. Her house was
two story. gambrel rooted one, and the
cellar now marks the spot. She was the
widow of Charles Frost, who came here
as clerk for Col. Thomas Westbrook, and
died January 4, 1855, aged 46 years. She
was the second wife, and her maiden
name was Joanna jackson. She be-
longed in Kittery. Her death was on
January z, 1895, and she was 80 years Of
age. Mrs. Frost's account was for 1856
meals furnished seamen and soldiers re-
treating from Penobscot in August last,
at 10 shillings, equal to Ill pounds and 10
for victualing men, SO pounds and IA shil-
lings.
Capt. Joseph Pride was the son of
Joseph Pride who came to Falmouth in
1928. He was born April 10, 1928, and his
| wife was Hannah Knight whom he mar
ried in 1751. He lived near Pride's Bridge
| and before he moved there it was called
Conants Bridge. Formerly there was a
| bridge about quarter of mile farther
up stream called Proctor's Bridge. Capt.
Pride was here at Falmouth Neck in the
alarms of 1775, in this service in 1779, and
| in 1880 he commanded a company in Col.
Joseph Princes regiment from April 25th
pany was published in the PRESS, March
| %, 1895.
| First Lieut.. John Armstrong belonged
in Cape Elizabeth. He served in Capt.
Daniel Strout's Company in 1775 and
1776. in Capt. Perry Cushing's and Capt.
John ellis Company in Col Thomas
Crafts Artillery Regiment from January
| l, l777 until February 26, l779, and re-
signed. There is some doubt about this
service in Crafts Regiment as John
| Armstrong was a committee to supply
soldiers families at Cape Elizabeth, Nov.
| 5, 1777.
Second Lieut. Enoch Knight belonged
in Falmouth. He was probably the son
of Enoch and Margaret (Winslow) Knight
who were married in 1746 He was cor
poral in Capt. John Brackets Company
in Col. Edmund Phinney's Regiment in
1775, in Capt. Benjamin Hoopers Com
pany at Falmouth Neck in 1776, in Capt.
Pride's Company in 1779, and was SER
geant major in Col. Joseph Prince s
Regiment in 1880 The following is pay
roll of Capt. Pride's company.
"a Pay Roll of Capt. Joseph Pride's
Company who served in a Detachment of
| Men Raised Out of The Militia of the
| County of Cumberland under the COM
mand of Nathaniel Jordan, Esq. Said
men was raised in compliance with an
Order of The Hon. Council of the State
of Massachusetts Bay Bearing Date Sept.
| 8, 1779'
Capt.-Joseph Pride.
| First Lieut.-John Armstrong.
Second Lieut.-Enoch Knight.
Sergts.-Samuel Knight, Charles
Walker, Josiah Berry, John Mariner
| Corps .-James Jordan, James Webster,
jeremiah Bracket, Nathaniel Trip.
Fifer-Joseph Knight.
| Drummer-Jona Knight, Jr.
Privates-Obediah Sawyer, Abraham
Bracket, Thomas Noyes, Anthony Brack
ct, John Blake, Peter Pride, Elipha
Morse, Stephen Knight, Jno. Woodbury.,
Jno., Orion, jeremiah Jordan, John
Fowler, John Emroy, Moses Fowler,
der Mcclellan, Giles Willard, Paul Dyer.
Lemuel Dyer, Patrick Irish, Brazilla
Richards, Daniel Strout, Thomas
Mitchell, Daniel Robinson, Isaac Dyer,
George Leach, Joshua Robinson, Nathan
| iel Staples, jeremiah Hanscomb, John
Webster, John Sawyer, James Hicks,
Joseph johnson, II. Riggs, Jr., jeremiah
Veazey, David Warren.
The service was at Falmouth from Oc-