The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-08-30
TOLD STORY Of
BUNKER HILL
BAT Tie
Eye Witness Relates Incl
dents in Connection
With Great Event.

My great grandmother, Parnell
Brooks, whose maiden same was
Boylston, in the year 1920 sold her
homestead, on which now stands
Bunker Hill monument, to the city of
Boston for $1,000. At the time Of the
battle of that name she was a little
girl Of seven and a half years living
with her parents, Richard and Parnell
Boylston, in the old homestead resi-
dence, which then stood on the very
spot where the monument now stands.
She retained to the end of her days q
most vivid recollection of events there,
especially on the day and night pre-
ceding that memorable battle, the vari-
Gus incidents Of which she never tired
Of telling and retelling.
As nearly as 1 can, shall give these
little items as she used to relate them,
as follows:
"My father, Richard Boylston, was
the grandson of the celebrated DR..
Zabdiel Boylston of BroOkline, who
was the first to introduce Tin 172D vac
cination into the civilized world and
which he did against great opposition,
preceding DR.. Edward Jenner's fur
Their development Of the practice in
England by about fifty years. At the
above date, during the epidemic Of
smallpox in Boston, DR.. Boylston in
oculated 2S6 persons, of whom only six
died.
MY father, grandson of this ia
nous physician, was prosperous mer-
chant of Charlestown. Our home was
on Breeds hill, little less than half
mile from the village, my father
owning that and much Of the adjacent
land down to the waters edge.
'For months things had been very
unsettled, and had heard much talk
among my elders about oppression,
tyranny and taxation. Up In the gar
ret, hidden behind the big loom, were
q chest Of tea, teakettle, teacups,
saucers, ETC., carefully covered with
a heap Of fax. Every afternoon my
mother would retire to this garnet
with any guest she might have to
brew and drink cup Of that forbid
den beverage. How often had been
told to stay near the Sooc' and play,
but to run quickly and tep my moth
cr if I saw any one coming up the
hill!
For days out in the harbor mother
and the servants had been watching
and discussing the big ships which
were anchored there. There were so
many and so different from the little
fishing and harbor boats 1 had been
accustomed to see there.
81 was too young to fully under
stand exactly what it all meant, but 1
had vague idea that something aw-
full was going to happen.
"The day before the battle, June 16,
we children, my brother Richard, SIS
ter Anu and myself, had been playing
in the newly gathered hay which the
farm hands had left in little cocks
ready for cartipg to the barn. These
we had seen fit to scatter mostly in
all directions.
"My father, returning for midday
dinner, looked very serious, and we
thought him exceedingly cross, for he
commanded that we should rake up
every particle of the hay into cocks
again Immediately.
"At dinner there was much talk of
war and the British, and the ships
were watched closer than ever. They
seemed now to be teeming with con-
stantly moving red coated men. At
supper the family talked with bated
breath, and afterward father went
back to the village, which mother did
not seem to like him to do and was
very unusual for him. We were not
put to bed at the usual time. They
seemed to forget us, and we huddled
around mother as she talked anxiously
with neighbors who had called to see
father.
"At 10 o'clock, when father returned,
he said orders had been issued to Colo
mel Prescott to fortify Bunker Hill, as
every evidence showed the British
were intending to land. Our callers
departed, and we retired.
ut must have been nearly midnight
when the whole household was aroused
by terrible knocking at our doors and
the tramping of horses in the yard.
Father, hastily throwing up his win
dow, demanded who was there. The
answer was:- General Putnam. Get