Americans have a deep reverence for those who perished in military service. Communities remember those who died during their service by providing free military gravestones, placing flags on graves, and erecting monuments or memorials. The soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War were America’s first veterans. Here in Concord, there has been a long-standing tradition each Memorial Day of reading the names of those who died in service. Until 2023, only one name was read for the Revolutionary War: Reverend William Emerson. For as long as anyone could remember, he was the only person remembered by the town for dying during his service in the Revolutionary War.
Following the formation of the Concord250 History & Education Subcommittee, the first chair of the Concord250 Executive Committee asked the chair of the Subcommittee, “Who died?” It was strongly felt that there should be more than one person who gave his life in creating a new nation. The Subcommittee agreed and took on the task of potentially identifying others who died.
To begin our search, we referred to the 17-volume series Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War to find individuals with ties to Concord. We also examined index cards and Massachusetts State Archive records available online via FamilySearch.org, in addition to using other paid subscription services and books. The Subcommittee decided to include those who had a birthplace, home, or grave and those who had service credited to Concord to include on the list. After two and a half years of research, an additional 20 individuals were identified who were killed or died during their service in the Revolutionary War.
Readily accessible sources have been available in libraries or online for years, waiting for someone to ask the right question of the information held within them. Some individuals were first found via the brief biographies available in the Soldiers and Sailors series. Then, it was found that the Diaries and Letters of William Emerson: 1743-1776 also recorded the deaths of some of the men who served. Furthermore, The History of Concord by Lemuel Shattuck included accounts of several Concord soldiers who died in service. Nineteen of the 20 individuals identified were either born in, lived in, or were buried in Concord. Some of their stories are:
Benjamin Ball: He enlisted on April 27, 1775, and was reported dead on September 30, 1775, at the age of 20. Reverend William Emerson logged young Benjamin Ball’s death in his diary.
John Corneall: He enlisted as a minuteman in Captain Charles Miles’ company on January 17, 1775, and was paid by the Town of Concord for his service on April 19, 1775. He later enlisted in the Continental Army and was killed in action in October 1777 during the Second Battle of Saratoga.
John Corneall reported killed October 1777
| public domain. FamilySearch.orgTitus Heywood: At the end of 1776, he made the important decision to enlist in the Continental Army for Concord. His initial service ended on March 1, 1777. Two weeks later, Titus chose to reenlist on March 14, 1777, this time to meet Acton’s military quota. Unfortunately, he became ill during his second enlistment and died on November 5, 1777, at a hospital in Albany, NY. Research completed by the Acton Historical Society allowed me to identify this soldier as a Patriot of Color.
Tilly Holden: Tilly Holden was one of many teenagers who enlisted in the war. On his enlistment date, May 26, 1775, Tilly was 16 years, 5 months, and 11 days old. He died on November 7, 1777, at the age of 18 years, 10 months, and 23 days. His death is noted in Lemuel Shattuck’s History of Concord.
Dr. Samuel Prescott: In the early morning hours of April 19, 1775, Dr. Prescott assisted Paul Revere and William Dawes by spreading the alarm that the Regulars were on their way to Concord. Eventually, Dr. Prescott was taken prisoner from an American vessel and died between November 23 and December 26, 1777, in a Halifax Prison, according to a 1778 newspaper article in The Province Gazette; and Country Journal.
Finally, there is Sampson Yearney, the only non-resident on this list.
Sampson Yearney: Hailing from Medford, Sampson Yearney was a free black man who enlisted on January 20, 1777, for three years, to fulfill Concord’s military quota. He served as a private and died on March 7, 1779. The Concord250 History & Education Subcommittee shared the research on Yearney’s service with both the Medford Historical Society and the National Park Service to ensure Private Yearney’s sacrifice is not forgotten.
1779 Muster Roll that records Sampson Yearney’s death
| public domain. FamilySearch.orgThe Concord250 History & Education Subcommittee has worked diligently to identify soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Revolutionary War. Research has identified 20 additional veterans who gave their lives fighting for the creation of a new nation. By rediscovering these individuals’ histories, we recognize the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who gave their lives in the service of our country’s founding.
As we continue in the tradition of remembering those who died in service, it is vital to celebrate the legacy of these individuals. Sharing this list ensures that the sacrifices of these 21 Revolutionary War veterans are forever honored. Starting in 2025, Reverend William Emerson’s name and the names of 20 other veterans will be read at the annual Memorial Day ceremony, ensuring that more of America’s first veterans are remembered and honored.
Although reading the names annually is a meaningful way to recognize the sacrifice of these individuals, a monument in downtown Concord would allow the names to be remembered daily by anyone who would pause to read them. The Revolutionary War is the only American War without a monument in downtown Concord. Perhaps, thanks to this research, the possibility of erecting a monument in Monument Square honoring the enduring sacrifice of Revolutionary War veterans in the town where the “‘shot heard round the world” first rang will be proposed.
Revolutionary War grave marker
| ©istock.com/GerMan101NAME DATE OF DEATH
Richard Anthony April 18, 1778
Benjamin Ball September 30, 1775
Simeon Burridge March 7, 1778
William Burridge Jan 12, 1778, or estimated April 8, 1779
William Buttrick On or before September 30, 1775
John Corneall October 1777, killed in action – Second Battle of Saratoga
Barnabas Davis August 1775
William Emerson October 20, 1776
Thomas Fay March 3, 1778
Amos Goodale No date listed
Danforth Heywood August or September 1775
Titus Heywood November 5, 1777
Tilly Holden On or before August 15, 1777
Reuben Parks Reported died by December 1, 1778
Dr. Samuel Prescott Died in Halifax Prison last few months of 1777
Solomon Rice Died before Feb 26, 1777
Ebenezer Smith On or before Feb. 16, 1777
William Wheeler April 14, 1778
William Wilson Feb 18 or 26, 1778
Samuel Wyman May 17, 1782
Sampson Yearney March 7, 1779
