The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-17
LIEUT.. JOSHUA MERRILL.
ALoeal Hero Of the Days OF the Rsvo-
luton.

At the recent meeting Of the Daugh-
tiers Of the kevoluti,n In this city Mrs,
Sibyi MsrSiil Paine read the following
iEtsr sing account of Lieutenant Joshua
MERRILL:
"Joshua Me rrill, my ancestor, who
served In tie Continental Army, was
born In Falmouth (Maine) He entered
the service May 18th. 1775, and was
Noyts's company (Col. Edmund Phin-
neg's Reg'D; Third Regiment of Foot.
serving frat at Falmouth trov Portland)
then In the ssryioe at Cam bridge, Mas !,
where tt regiment was slnt Col Phin-
neg retained the same field and staff cffio-
ers who were serving him In the old rsgi-
ment. So she new regiment may properly
be called the successor t, the predecessor
TO the old Thiri regiment of foot.
"Cnpt. Sam1 Noyes's company was
from that part Of alnouth now Dsering,
We stbrook and Falmouth.
"Joshua Merrill was also concerned
with others In taking boat belonging to
a Capt. Colson, who, as h Story tslIs us,
was largely concerned In this ma ing
business. Capt. Colson countsnanc, q
the courss OF the mother-country, was VIC
lently opposed to popular measures and
became very troublesome. The commit
tee Of inspection had refus sell HIN rermis-
Zion 10 land some rigging, sails and 9th T
stores " hich hs hnd Just. mported from
England fer hip h, was bull ling here;
and ordered them sent back.
Colsop, being very angry ut this order,
inf sad of obeying IL, procured the sssls-
tance of Capt. Mowatt of the slcop OF
war, CanceRu, TO rig his ship; and sailed
with her, In company with Mowatt In
May.
.fReturnine in June, Colson appeared
In his new fhip to take In his cargo Of
mRsts which he had procured sometime
before. But h S arrival was the signal OF
new disturbances, and ths people began
to get his masts and timters atloat Ihsy
mocred them up the river beyond HIS
reach, as advised by the Committee OF
Safety.
Goa June G2nd, one of Colson's boats
WAS sent up tbs Presumps,ot in search
OF masts and spars, as was supposed. 1t
was seized by the people with five men
and three guns. The men were reiea 3D.
in two or three days. but the property
seizs Colson's boat was Lieutenant Msr-
rill u think tbs taking of Colson's beat
was recognized by Congress).
I'm this same month there was gen.
eral muster of III, soldiers, including
Col. Phinney's regiment, on the Neck.
IL made tine display, and inspired the
peorfs with confidence in their strength.
Phinney's regiment by the Provincial
Congress In April. on the First of July
they were confirmed by the Continental
Congress. Two companies, commanded
by Captains Bradish and Bracket Of this
town, belonged to this regiment, and
Capt. Brackets marched his company to
Cambridge July 3rd, and was soon fol-
Lowell by other companies.
sIn 1765 Joshua Merrill married Mary,
daughter Of Nathan Winslow, descend
ant of kenelm Minslow, younger broth.
er of Edward, who came over in the May
flower. kenelm came TO these shores a
few years later. The home of the Wins
lows was the beautiful spot now known
as Riverton Park.
Ten children were born to Joshua and
Mary (Winsiow) Merrill, the youngest
of whom was daughter, named Silly,
my grandmother.
"The death of Lieut. Merrill occurred
in 1889, and he was buried in Falmouth