Norwich bulletin., 1911-09-30
INTERESTING CAREER OF
 FAMOUS NORWICH SOLDIER
Life of Col. John Durkee Came to a Close While He Was in the Midst of Activity.

Few knew of the prominence of Col. John Durkee. a Norwich Indian fighter and revolutionary officer, although he was most prominent figure during his lifetime which closed when he was in the midst of his active career. Amos A. Browning has made careful search of records for facts connected with his life and under the title of Forgotten Son of Liberty, read a paper upon him before the New Lon don County Historical society of New London Thursday. That such a we'll known man should drop so completely out of history and remem brance is ex- plained by the fact that lack of de- Scendants failed to keep his name be- fore the people.
 MT. Browning told of the life of Col. John Durkee a famous figure in the stamp act period. For long time MT. Browning has been gathering the data for this paper and it showed the result of careful study.
 The military career of Colonel Dur kee, he said, began with his enlist ment in 1756 for service against Can ada, and in May he was made second lieutenant of the Fourth company Second regiment. He was appointed major of the Third regiment in 175S. He mustered a company here and joined General Amherst's command and was in the expedition which took Ticonderoga and Crown Point. He also served in the war against Spain by Great Britain in 17S2, when Ha- vana was captured, being major in Colonel Lymans regiment He was an lnnkeeper here then and the large amount of prize money distributed to men and officers was divided at his inn, the last dividend of it being re- ceived in 1773. ajor Durkee also served in the French and Indian wars for about nine months each year. There were seven campaigns in seven successive years
 Following the passage of the stamp act, March p. 1765, the Sons of Lib erty' organized and for Connecticut the center was in Norwich. They were opposed to the act and Major Durkee was an influential member of the I organization. A pole called the Lib erty tree was erected at Norwich Town in 1765. Headed by Major Dur l1ee large body of Norwich and Hart ford men compelled the resigna ton of Stamp Master Jared ngersoll.
 Major Durkee came to be known as the Bold Bean Hitler. and he took a brave part in the battle of Bunker Hill. He with his men participated in the victorious battle of Princeton, on January 3. 1717, having crossed the Delaware with Washington, and 1t his request consented to remain in the service six weeks longer, the term of service having expired.
 He was made colonel by the Connec- tlcut legislature and became colonel of the Fourth regiment, Connecticut line, January 1, 178S, and took part is the battle of Germantown on October 4. The regiment spent the winter at Val ley Forge and took part in the battle of Monmouth in the spring. He con tinued in charge until 17S1 when the Third and Fourth were consolidated, and he was made colonel, but was obliged to return home, because of sickness, thus closing his military ca May 2s, 17S2.
 He married Martha Wood January 3, 1753, and they had four children. They lived on the easterly side of Town street, now known as West Town, the land now being owned joint ly by Henry J. kilrow and the Weller estate He was buried in the southerly part of the old cemetery at Norwich Town, where a tombstone marks his grave.
 It is not necessary to class him with Putnam in adventure. with Greene Tn military tactics, or with TrumbuH in counsel. However he possessed gifts in all these directions, and his long, arduous and faithful service and his answering patriotism were of value in the revolutionary period. His name and worth are an honor to the town of his adoption to the counties of New London and Windham and to the state and nation whose independence he so we'll aided in securing. One thing is sure all who think the American revolution worth while. and who would honor those who strenuously contended in counsel or on the field for the cause of Amer ican liberty should ever hold the name of Col. John Durkee in perpetual and loving remembrance.