A Soldier of the Revolution - Prologue - Fall 2010

8/8/2019 A Soldier of the Revolution - Prologue - Fall 2010

1/8

He [is] intending . . . during the summer, to sell cakes,

beer, and fruit to visitors.su w t t ruty W t i r m t u

. By Jy 1848 w

pbby 83 w bk B l m

mk ut m xt by t t tp, m tu-t tt w t p up t p t w

, p pp

jym w p y m b .

1850 pp l m, xp Pictorial Field-

Book of the Revolution mk m mumt t rut

ymb b w .

A Soldierof the

Revolution

Or, Will the Real Isaac Rice Please Stand Up.By Tomas A. Chambers

36 Prologue Fall 2010


2/8

w y k p. My k

w m k i m

x . m 1800 w k m -

m b t . atu t tu

u kw t , t yu tut w kw

m mp tt t u p y mp-

m. x w p

xp w b B l m

i , b y xp.

i 1835 nt hwt tud t t ud

y ,

y m W P. h m-

y y m p

w mm b w

py. hw w p y

by my , w my y

m m m p

m y w.

hwt md tt t d d d t

d t wud b mbm t. Jut

dd t hwt t, u u btd

u. T t ruty W

1849, w y M

. am w

m tt w s t t rut. T

b w m p

B w w i ?

W w ,

t t mb by l t pp t tpb pp , 19-

tuy dtty tt, w dy m

p p - w

pp m tut pp t t rut

mmy?

r tty m ut; ptt m-

19-y . h w

m t mtz pt mt am p.

Historical tourism at

Fort ticonderoga

i m i mm 1991, w

b-w ut i put my ty mj t wk

t tpt t t , t 18t--

y b lk mp

w Ykvm b. P

w i ,

w y w. -

t m u t-u t m w ubb

p m x

p m p pb. W b b

, p i w wp

w b b

. i w p

wk w, b i k p w m.

abut t , i mt i r

. T, z m m l

bk, w my . lk w p,

i p m w p m

Opposite:An illustration rom Benson Lossings Pictorial Field-Book of the

Revolution appears to show an elderly man, perhaps Isaac Rice, guiding

visitors around the ort and identiying its eatures.

Above: Lossings drawing o Rice (right) and his description o their

meeting (let).

Prologue 3A Soldier of the Revolution


3/8

y . T x y

m w b m m

w y w

. a

d ptd ut w et a td

, , , pp .

b l i

r? Kd d tt, r udd

l py b Jy 1848,

w qut ty tu.

T wt- t r bt

pu uppt m m t

w

w w w

p . a -

y p p,

d t mmb mmdt my

d dd, but md ptmt. h

m w ,

t w t but, w dd, d i

m w k p .

r pd t wy t bu m

m m, p p

, , ,

mm, m.

T m mtd by t btw

1848 1850 j w y ,

auut 11, 1852. i wt y-

qut, w t t s

by j . T -

by m

d d 87 ymb l

p. a k

by 1849 1850, ,

pt y, td c

ud, pt ut t u tt-

p ,

mu ruty d t-ru-

ty ty. h t d m

mpy a . y,

m m i x

d ud t tm l

. B w w ? W w w

b? d t rut? a

w mp m

t b? it w tt ut t m but

i r tt i y ut t.

WHicH isaac rice?

T m b bp w

my , p y

W p , tt mt y r

m q m k

dumt m t , t

p. y i

r pp t t updd p-

m 1832, 1836, 1838 w

mpd buy 1852. Tt l

i w ,

md t b wdw, wd my

. Bd ruty

W p ppt tu up 91 pp-

w m ,

i. T mt pm p

W y, vm,

pt t Mutt ctt

. T i r t ppd t

p 1818. h pp m

. Tm x x

Mutt rmt btw My

1777 My 1780 w b

t stwt, nw Yk t st.

T b my pp

m l p pm

uty t u st. c,

w w dumm by t -

tt pd, d t tt y w

1777,

m my.

m tt i r d t sxt

M, p . a

ttz t t mt m, t

B l i . P

mb . 41,096 m W, vm,

w 62 y d 1818 d d dd

sptmb 25, 1824, quy m m

m l w .

b m . i w

87 y 1852 by ,

w b 1765. l m 85

y d tw dt pubt;

bd bt ut t Juyy

a 1848 . l

d t ptptd et a 1775

Surrender o General Burgoyne at Saratoga, New

York, October 17, 1777, by John Trumbell. Isaac Rice

claimed, according to Lossing, that he was in the

feld at Saratoga in 1777, and served a regular term

in the army.


4/8

ptu but b t

1777, y y y

. i w k w, w b

1764. ad t btuy, r

w b 84, 85, 1848;

bp wpp w w.

Pp -y py b.

T 17641765 bt dt u ut

t d p ud , J

r, w w yu w i r.

h w 65 w pp p

1818, t b 1753. h m

b

P b w my

st mp d dd 1836. T

i , w, w b 1762

Wd, ctut. h mty

ttd 1778, t t t t

st. du t mt

tm wt ctut tp, y

qu p u t Ju 7, 1832,

w. h mb y, ,

p m 1833 1841. Pb

pym -

1843. i w

pp p m.

at st, l r md t

td pt . . . d w t-

M 1778. x

m m i r Mutt

du t rut, but y

w t t t tm. T y i r

w ut nw Yk td t

W mt, md 1781.

i ,

1780 1781. vm i

w b m

1780 d 1781, but t t d

y .

d dt tt y i

r ud ut btw 1777 d

1779t m w d wt t sxt

Mutt d t d p

Wd, vmt. Yt dd qut

y b l w m m.

Mty t pu -

t tty 1852 i r.

census andProPerty

records

Pp ppy

p t y t ptu. l ut-

d r t et a ptu

1775, b b

. i, my b

my b k

m. T p-

tpt a ttk t y r, but

m w. i b

t t t mu t, t t-

y, by m W

m , vm

y ?w a

m, w g M

By m bm m b-

y W. T 1790 -

vm i

Bt, m t t ctmut ,

p 1800, 1810, 1820

, ppxm .

B B Mm

m y i

et a b ud b l i

. T y

t i r t t. o

b 1742 ky pp vmt

my , 1780 1781;

t my m m t Bt .

h 1824 bu Bt,

i . , 17851873. h

, i r. r, J., d Bt

m 1824 1894. m w

t t t b t d

1777 t, d w dy

1852. T i pp

1780 Bt tw

jy m, y, , p-

m pp

ptb my m 40 mt

l i w y p

t mt y ddt w d t

B .

i t, t l Pictoria

Historyp m w b

t tt du t rut. a t-

t d: h t w utt

t e , d bd t t

p w w am

w tk d. oy

m m p . a y

ctut mt mt 1755 d

m 1756

n d m tt a ry, w

m w b w

18t-tuy nw e, ut Jy

am 1759 p . B

m m i m b

bt d . a d a r

i w b otb 14, 1765, nw

htd, ltd cuty, ctut

T w 1852 by

87. T 1762 b

b t a lut., bt

i m k.

T mt t t my t

l i . h b w w-

ty y d t dy t t w tk

1775 d d qud m jut b-

d c a d ad. B

sptmb 1, 1754, t t m pt

i, t by tw Wd

, a , J., w b

20 y d w et a ptud

, y b p-

. T umtt a

d ju d m t b tt t i

r tt B l mt t

w W .

A Soldier of the Revolution

Above: An obituary or Isaac Rice records his age o

87 at death and his wish to be buried in the old

Soldiers burying ground adjoining the ort.

Prologue 39


5/8

trutH orFiction?

i r xt, btp, bt

t, my m b. But ptt

fxb tut m m r ut.

h w y y m,

d wud b y d w

a ptu , t mmtu t

by x 18-

y my. h

mt, d mt md

twd lk cmp du t

d id W. But t 1755 d 1756

mp w y

b b m m

my .

i m b a w

t w Buy ptud

d Juy 1777. T ty

pb, P. a pp

m p by B

My 19, 1776, . x

dy, ud tud t d

d ut t t w umm.

a r dd t y

ctut ctt amy ut but

t Bw rmt at

M 1778, w aftert u-

t u t st mp. Bw

w p J 1777, j

b g. atu st. c ut t -

t. rtu t t u ,

y pb a

f B w . .

h yu bt, w,

umtt m t tt. W

k by l

mm by . . . w By k

, i m m

t t bd, d td t m

m . W

t pt m mp,

p m J 1777

mm m Bw a.

r wt t m tt d

bt ut t hubbt, vmt,

du t am my tt. i

dbd t Bt ty pt

Mut d tt pmpt g. atu

Above: The ruins o Fort Ticonderoga, ca. 1880. Below: A plan o Fort Ticonderoga in July 1758 during the Seven

Years War. Records show that Rices ather, Asa Rice, served as a lieutenant in the war. Bottom: Ethan Allens

capture o Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. Rice knew the story well and showed visitors the point o Allens entrance.

40 Prologue


6/8

st. c ut d, t

ft p up lk cmp, d

t d tt t vmt. My

bt w ty wudd t

hbb, b k my

, y , m

my m. , py

m ppd, md mp

t. But t u t a i

hbb.

n ctut tp, d ty t

Bw at, t m t p-

m hbb. i

w t, ty w ky t p-

m m.

a, mty d t b-

t t. n a i r m

vm pp

m t st mp. W t

y pb m

fk w

w m pmb

y otb, d p t p-

y. Ty m b m

71 m m Bdw at, t y

dmtb ut t t

r, t st, but a tmt dt

p mp.

i r mty ppty

1777. Pbby y 12

y , i p

mpy w my bt w pt,

w tt et Mutt.

Ty jd c. J su d

nwpt, rd id,d w

t btt Quk h auut 29,

1778. p

b, y pb

r ptptd, py d

a m Bw

rmt w w mt b t

nwpt mp. But a r w

p, w ky -m m

mp, Bw

a. T y p. a

y W w

w Yk m, m m

m cumbd cuty, t m nw

Yk g

Mut t w ctut

r, wt w vmt. cpt. a

1786 q 45

u py gu, t vmt.

T i m

B, p aby y

t ppt d t g Mut,

24-y- b p m

pt t pt m uky, py

pmt w tw t mt

m tw t tt. a, t t

i y W

p .

T t tt b ud d t

i r t. a bt mmy

m p p p

udtdb m t -

m . Y

m b

p w p -

p m p

ky , 19-y gmp

mb w,

b w y. h b

p tmt Bdw rm

at md t t i r

m, pp bu t udd

g M By

r m pty t tdt

t u d tp tt p-

dd y 19t-tuy am pt

. l y ppxm

l p b

w- m, pp by ,

d b t t od

Py, [w] m m

t t bk. r utt

m d pyd pt w. Yt

t, a r, b pmt u

Wd, ctut, t

utt t s Y W. h

p p my

70 Wd, nw htd

bw 1758 1783, m

m 120. a y, .,

wdw d t d tt ud

t 132 ud 60 tt up

1785 . P y

b b m

, w m

a ww, m

yu ut. n t

t u t tb p

m, y

y m w. i , -

1786,

m b

A New York Herald article o May 8, 1875, included

a drawing o Isaac Rices original gravestone. A new

one, pictured, was erected in spring 1901.



7/8

my M. a

m m 15. h, ,

by 1790 b Bb

, w Yk. By 1810,

t b qutm t t t

t mt w t tt. i

m m m, b y

mp, m.

Mt t r b d t

t t Bjm Yu, t ubd

Mtb r, t dt u d

a d a. Pmtu d -

t w d tu dt m.

Mtb Bjm m s

my m w -

d, k t p my t

w m, m w Yk,

vmt, Mutt, o t k

t tu. T m tt u

pp a . a i

r t B l, i b -

mt ty y t b my

my , y i k

mt. h d t pp tw

uty ppty pub d

w w Yk :

mb y x

cuty. T b my dt tt

k w p

w-

. W i r my xt

tt m, ty w t .

Umy, m mpb p

dp i r ty. h m m

y m nw ed my, d

w my . h my

d du t rut, but t xt-

d pd d.

a mm B

P 1932,

w m

i y,

w dd auut 11, 1852 t d,

y- y.

m w , B l

i x. W w -

jtu but m w kw mt

b pbby m xp-

by b a

.

a b, , w

y 1790. T 1800

d u p st cttd

y, vm, lk mp,

upub r my y t

dt t 1832 by ctt, rutd

y, vm. M i , w

k b Bb

t nw YkMutt bd,

m t vmt b, st?

i pb my w

ctut m k btt m-

pp . a

, ., p w h,

ctut, 1769 d dd t pu

w d ut 1774, by s,

ctut. Pp du t pd t

m w w w b-

m w vm, , 22

1774, m . i B

l my 1779

t d wt bk t vmt

t m u tt m my mt.

Wt a r d ctut

vm , b my ky

p vm. Pp pk p

u et a w tt

tt t t t m t rut. h mt

b t i r w d

y vm m 1780

1781, d a xpt

m g M By. my-

b my a

py . a

a p ,

cd, d t mpmt ed

wt tu dt by 1849, ud

t tm l tw wt r t

. T But, vmt, pt-

t ky tbut

bk , mk p-

b w x.

T p-l i

1830 , w p m

y, vm.

a Figure ofrevolution

and romance

i t ty i r bpy

m u, t pw t

td wt 19t-tuy am.

Umy, mm

k m m

. T x

ruty W t

w 1780 15 w

b 85 1850t t t

w d xpd t t mk.

i k p, -

,

mm jut u p t

my w -

y. dm xy w i w

tt t d t nt a

p. W m

w b ctut 1765 d

m b y

The rontispiece o Lossings Pictorial Field-Book of the

Revolution (1859).

To learn more about

y W p

pym, www.archives.

gov/publications/prologue/index/,

k W 2008.

y W , www.

archives.gov/research/american-revolution/.

T m, http://www.

archives.gov/exhibits/charters/.

42 Prologue


8/8

1852, b w p

y y

W. it mttd tt tt i r

k ut wk t juty

1775 1777, tt t mty kw

t m t xp t-

. mm m p m

mpb b y.

h d pptuty t mt

umb w,

, k y p.

l pp my f-

bk ,

mmb t pt, d t t

w b m.

h mu d ty w

p by

p, w m b

m. . . . [h] mp t

p, w kp

u mmy wk t t t

y. i m

t w, , p ;

m ,

m. t, mt, bt, t,

w, p wy,

by w me.

stmt ty t t m

p pw -

tu y 19t-tuy am.

B w y

bfy. r d l tkd m

w w

t dtu. etuy, t

t , l b m u.

g b yu, my , , p

my t pt. W my mt

, b i p w my !

T m b y p

l y ttd t

ruty W wud mt i

r. e t, td t

1850 ,

p by 1875 w p -

1901. lkw, pp fy

t t d d md tt

B l bk w

tm d pppd up t t.

l ut am t

z p bk; i

z ym

ut mumt t t -

py p -

k m x

y. B m p,

19t-tuy am p -mtzd , t t w d. l

twd r pt mt

, pt tt m w -

p y.

eut i r t my b

m y

w w . P

2010 by Tm a. mb

B l wt tw m ut i

r. T t pp Te Pictorial Field-Book o the

Revolution (nw Yk: hp d Bt, 1859), i:

121130; t d, wt m ddt m-

t, w pubd Hours with the Living Men and

Women o the Revolution (nw Yk: uk & W,

1889), pp. 7182. T m mp y l

gy M. Pz, Picturing the Past: Illustrated Histories

and the American Imagination, 18401900(W:

m i P, 2003).

T t Muum mptt

Tmp-P .

m , l a. Bkwy, A Favorite

Place o Resort or Strangers: Te Kings Garden at Fort

iconderoga (d, nw Yk: t d

Muum, 2001). T bt pubd t ud t

T dwt, Te Northern raveller; Containing

the Routes to Niagara, Quebec, and the Springs; with Useful

Descriptions o the Principal Scenes, and Useul Hints to

Strangers. (w Yk: W mpb, 1825). T

q m m m m

Jy 20, 1800, y j ab My, w

w Yk h a pw,

w Yk. a mp xp m

b hw, : a

P P Te Family Magazinei (My 1836):

414415, ptd mAmerican Monthly Magazinei

(by 1836): 138142. i by pp

Te Semi-Weekly Eagle, Bttb, vmt (auut

23, 1852): 3; Essex County Republican, K,

nw Yk, auut 1852. h um w tby

p y pb .

T t d ud t t t m-

ty d d by t nt a (d

tt.m). spy, M804: Revolutionary War

Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Files -

w by tt d um. T 1932

i p (. 4087, p. 37) m

tt m t mm p t st

Bm p t ttut qut. p-

m, M881, Compiled Service Recordso Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the

Revolutionary War, 17751785, z by . a

m dtb, M246, Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775

1783, uppmt t d d b

by tt d mt. a t pmy u

kyw b py mp

t mtp ty. at mptt u

Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War

Pensions(W, d..: .p., 1852).

T pub t ruty W

m , : Massachusetts Soldiers

and Sailors of the Revolutionary War(B: W

P, 1905); hy P. J, ., Te Record of the

Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During

the War of the Revolution, 17751783 (h, 1889);

J e. gd, d., Te State o Vermont: Rolls o

Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775 to 1783 (rut,

vm: , 1904); Jm a. b, New York in

the Revolution as Colony and State(aby: Bdw,

1898). i utd Collections o the Connecticut

Historical Societyv. iX. Rolls of Connecticut Men in the

French and Indian War, 17551762. Vol. I, 17551757

(h: h y, 1903).

gy d utd ud d u

17901850, b

a, mu ex cuty

cumb cuty, nw Yk, w i r d.

y r t Bt Muum d

. T w B

k p my y wb

, www.bennington.com/town/. h . Jp -

mm , , pb -

w lby.

o ctut mt t vmt, p tuy

t m ttu t g Mut By,

M B, Revolutionary Outlaws: Ethan Allen

and the Struggle for Independence on the Early American

Frontier(ctt: Uty P v,

1993). r mk -

t d pp t s ld rd t

lby h.

t bd txt ruty W t-, J r, Sufering Soldiers: Revolutionary

War Veterans, Moral Sentiment, and Political Culture in

the Early Republic(amt: Uty Mutt

P, 1999); gy . Ku, Te Soldiers Revolution:

Pennsylvanians in Arms and the Forging o Early

American Identity(Uty Pk: T Py

stt Uty P, 2004); d rbt a. g,

Te Minutemen and Teir World (nw Yk: h d

W, 1976). a . Y w w x

y W mmy, Te

Shoemaker and the ea Party: Memory and the American

Revolution (Bt: B P, 1999) Masquerade:

Te Lie and imes o Deborah Sampson, Continental

Soldier(w Yk: a a. Kp, 2004).

Tomas A. Chambers t

p y pm

Uy w

w Yk. h y m

pt bk-t mupt ruty W

btt mmmt. W pb,

i .

Author

ote on ources


Documents

A Soldier of the Revolution - Prologue - Fall 2010