Walpole, Massachusetts, in the American Revolution

Even before the Revolution began in earnest, Walpole was prepared to join forces with American patriots to prevent a usurpation of the people's rights. On September 21, 1768, the town of Walpole "Voted that they Send one Person to join the Committees at Faniuel Hall."[1] The town agreed to send Joshua Clapp as its representative.[1] The next day, Clapp joined representatives of 96 towns and eight districts to consider measures for the peace and safety of Massachusetts citizens.[1]

After the British sailed into Boston Harbor on September 28, 1768, Walpole took a new interest in the affairs outside her own boundaries.[2] Walpole elected its first representative, Capt. Seth Kingsbury, to the General Court on May 29, 1769. He was succeeded the following year by Clapp.[2]

Early in 1773, the town called a special town meeting for the "Consideration of the Many Grievances that the Province and Colonies Labour under ..."[3] On January 12, 1773, Walpole voted "That it is the opinion of this Town that our Rights and liberties are Infringed upon which is a great Grievance."[3] The town then appointed a committee – composed of Ensign Seth Bullard, Enoch Ellis, Dr. Samuel Cheney, George Payson, and Aquila Robbins – to draft instructions to guide their future representatives.[3]

A few days before the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Walpole resident Philip Robbins took a trip to Boston. While at tavern, Robbins overheard a group of British soldiers claiming it would be easy for General Gage to march through the country from Boston to New York.[10] Robbins confronted these men and said, "Friends [...] you are much mistaken. You have as good officers and men as there are in the world; but Americans will fight better without officers than your men with officers. If you go out into the country in a riotous way they will take your men two to one and cut them all off for breakfast."[11] The British soldiers called Robbins a traitor and placed him under arrest for several hours.[12]

Siege of Boston

By April 21, 1775, 20,000 Americans flanked Boston and many of the Rhode Island and Connecticut soldiers came through Walpole on their way.[15] Walpole soldiers were among those that assembled around Boston. Some quit their soldiering after only four days, while the longest term was for 11 days; however, many returned to ranks after the Massachusetts Provincial Congress voted on April 23 to raise a force of 30,000.[16]

Among the companies of Col. Joseph Read's regiment in "Camp at Roxbury, May 18th, 1775", was one company commanded by Capt. Seth Bullard.[17] This company was not a Walpole militia, but composed mainly of Walpole and Medfield men.[18] Bullard's lieutenant was Thomas Pettee of Walpole, while Ezekeil Plimpton of Medfield was the ensign.[18]

On December 4, 1775, Capt. Jeremiah Smith's company of 64 men marched from Walpole to Boston to fill the places of departing Connecticut troops.[19] Around the same date, a company led by Capt. Ephraim Cheney of Medfield, along with First Lieutenant John Boyden of Walpole, answered the same call.[19] As 1775 drew to a close, Walpole men could be found in camps at Roxbury and Prospect Hill, present day Somerville.[20]

Capt. Jeremiah Smith's grave in Walpole, Massachusetts

On March 27, 1776, 25 Walpole men are found on the rolls of company under Capt. Aaron Guild, with First Lieutenant John Boyden.[20] These men had enlisted on January 27, and helped to fortify the works on Dorchester Heights, which forced Gen. Howe to evacuate Boston on March 17.[20] The men were on duty as late as the following June, and were stationed in Hull during the summer and fall.[20]

On April 5, 1776, Gen. Washington passed through Walpole on his way to New York.[21] The story goes that Washington passed through present-day Lincoln Road, stopped at the Smith household where Zilpha Smith gave Washington a drink of water from a gourd.[21]

On May 10, 1776, Walpole voted unanimously "that, if the Honble Continental Congress should declare these Colonies Independant [sic] of ye Kingdom of Great Britain, that they would support them [Congress] in the Measure with their Lives and Fortunes."[22]

In December 1776, Rhode Island called an alarm as the British anchored in Newport Harbor and had taken control of the colony.[22] Two companies of Walpole minutemen took up arms to answer Gov. Nicholas Cooke's appeal and stayed for three weeks.[22] One company was led by Joshua Clapp with Lt. Andrew Willett of 34 officers and men, while the other company was led by Capt. Oliver Clapp with Lt. Eben Fales, along with 30 officers and men.[23]

On September 23, 1777, the two Walpole companies that marched on Newport were merged into one with Capt. Oliver Clapp as the new commander, Timothy Mann as first lieutenant, and Andrew Willett as second lieutenant.[24] The company became part of Col. Benjamin Hawes' 4th Suffolk regiment, of which Seth Bullard was Major.[25] Capt. Clapp led Walpole men in defense of Warwick, Rhode Island.[26]

In March 1778, the town voted to grant £5,000 "to be assessed on the polls and estates to carry on the war."[27]

In June 1779, Capt. Clapp resigned after active service and was succeeded by Timothy Mann.[28]

In July 1780, Capt. Timothy Mann's company of 44 officers and men marched to Rhode Island.[28]

In celebration of the peace between the new United States of America and Great Britain, Walpole held a Peace Ball in Ebenezer Fales' house on Kendall Street.[29]

Walpole has honored its Revolutionary War veterans in a number of ways throughout the years. Numerous roads and streets throughout the town are named in honor of the veterans, such as Clapp Street, Guild Street, and Bullard Street. One of the town's four elementary schools is named after the family of John Boyden.

• Holland Wood – Fought under Washington. During the Battle of Monmouth, Wood drew off a cannon from the field without assistance so that the enemy could not capture it.[26][30] It is reported that Wood grasped the dismounted cannon and it was "so hot that it burnt through to his very flesh, and unaided, amid the wild cheers of his smoke-begrimed comrades, set it in position again and continued firing.[26]
• Josiah Barden – Fought at the Battle of Trenton.[30]
• David Wilkinson – Fought under Benedict Arnold when he went over to the British.[30]
• Ebenezer Clapp – Lieutenant colonel of Read's regiment. Clapp had been an officer of the old provincial establishment under the Crown, appearing as an Ensign in Seth Kingsbury's Walpole company in 1766.[18] Clapp would go on to become the highest rank in active field service of any Walpole man during the Revolution.[31] Clapp went with the Continental Army to New York City as a lieutenant colonel in Col. Loammi Baldwin's regiment in June 1776.[31]
• Timothy Mann – Born in 1746, died in 1843 after living 97 years.[32] He was a private in the Col. Benjamin Hawes (4th Suffolk County) Regiment of Massachusetts militia on September 23, 1777.[33] Mann was commissioned an officer on September 27, 1777.[33] On June 19, 1789, Mann was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 5th Regiment in the 2nd Brigade and First Division of the Militia, County of Suffolk.[33] On May 11, 1791, Mann was appointed to colonel.[33]

Col. Timothy Mann's house in South Walpole

• Dedham, Massachusetts, in the American Revolution