Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11
MOLLY STARK GUN
Piece of Ordnance Now Owned
Ivy New Boston, Much in Dis
pute.
WAS Cast mt Paris. France, in I7l3
md brought to America a. Part
Of the Armament Of French
Army In Canada.
From the Montpelier Journal

'h' Ah'i' pCii'l JouIIldlD
In a former communication in which !
gave some historical items in relation to
the cannon in the corridor Of the state
house. ] said il would be interesting to
know something about the history of the
other guns taken at the Battle OF Ben
nington. This item came to the atten-
ton of Frederick T.. Wells, the historian
OF Newbury and Ryegate. VT, who sent
me souvenir picture post card of the
cannon Molly Stark captured from the
British by General Stark at Bennington,
owned b. the town of New Boston. n.
H., advising me to write to Charles r.
Narden, town clerk OF New Boston for
further particulars ! wrote Mr.. Mardcn
as suggested and received the following
reply:
Yours at hand and contents noted
I enclose clipping from the Manchester
Union OF May 10, 1909 which gives the
best story Of Molly I have ever seen.
Nothing in it l can dispute.
81 also enclose best picture of the gun
have. Frost American Generals in
a sketch of General John Stark is inter-
estins in regard TO the gun. There are
many other sketches in regard to the
one enclosed.
Very respectfully yours.
"CHARLES f. MARDEN,
Town clerk. 4"
Every word of the Manchester Union
article referred to is of great historical
value and portion is given herewith.
| assume it will be news to the most Of
your readers as it was to the writer.
Dated at Manchester N. H.. May TO-
1909, T.. W. Lamb Of the board OF mana
gers Of the New Hampshire Sons Of the
American Revolution wrote to the Man
chester Union:
~ wonder how many of your readers
thought OF the fact that last Saturday,
the sth of May, was the eighty-seventh
anniversary OF the death of the last sur
Vivor Of the general officers Of the Am
erican Revolution, our own hero, John
Stark, who died May S, 1872, aged "a years.
In connection with this fact wish
20 give a little history of the Molly
Stark gun now owned by New Boston,
which has been something of n bone Of
contention in your column This gun Ia
of brass and was cast at Paris. France.
In 1H3, 1t was brought to America as
army in Canada, commanded by General
Montcalm and it was captured at the Bat
tie of the Plains of Abraham at Que
bee by the English under Gen. James
Wolfe When General Burgoyne invaded
the colonies from the north in INT the
old gun was a part of the field artillery
with his army, together with its mate,
another similar gun. When Burgoyne sent
Colonel Breyman to the aid of Colonel
Baum at Remington these two guns
were taken with him and they were sur
rendered to Gen. John Stark Aug Is 17T7
1t the sunset battle, the two smaller
guns which Baum had with him, al
SO of brass, having been previously cap
tered by Stark during the day. The
Molly Stark and its mate were sent to
New Hampshire.
TN the War of 1872 the Molly Stark
was sent to Detroit. Mich, and formed
part of the defenccs OF that port. until
II was disEracefully surrendered by Cen
,ral Hull to the E.ltish when he gave up
the fort Aug. IS, 1872. The British took
the gun with them down through Cana
da and II was again recaptured by the
Americans at the Battle Of Fort George.
Finally it was returned to New lamp
shire and then given to the New Boston
ARTILLERY COMPANY, then attached to the
old Ninth Regiment. New Hampshire
militia. After the disarmament OF this
company, the towns of Goffstown and
New Boston alternately struggled for
Years for It's possession but New Bos-
ton finally established her claim and
for a good many years she has retained
possession of the old gun. 1t ir four
ounder, and Is three and one fourth inch
bore
THE mate of this gun, also OF brass,
Ger during the War Of 1912 and was lost
at sea. The two smaller guns came into
possession of Congress. They presented
them many years ago 10 the State Of
Vermont and they are now preserved
In the State capitol at Montpelier Thus
the old Molly Stark has had a most so-
rious history, serving under the French
flag once, the British twice, and the
American twice under which flag we
hope 1t will always stay and receive tho
respect which Is its due"
This seems to very satisfactorily dis
POSE OF the four cannon tnl'en Mt the
Battle OF Remington, It would be equal
~ interesting to locate the other trophie,
taken at this battle and presented 10 the
State of Vermont
Frank w. Coburn, a native of Thetford,