Delete comment from: Boston 1775
John, everyone's talking about Asahel Porter
Another contribution to the "post that will not die." I looked at Sgt. Dudley Porter's 1836 pension application (S.30037). He said he was born on March 13th 1753, in Lebanon, Conn. “I returned to Woburn, and after the Treaty of Peace I removed to Yarmouth where I have lived until very recently.”
His statement refers to 19 April 1775 when he was in Samuel Belknap's co. It mentions an ambush near Concord [Bloody Angle] and chase to Charlestown. He fired no less than 16 rounds of ammunition [perhaps the number of holes in the wood block of his cartridge box] “My Brother was killed & I narrowly escaped.” As Asahel was the only Porter known to be killed on the American side, that's telling.
Supporting pension documents by others also mention Asahel:
Jonathan Tidd, 79, “became well acquainted with Dudley Porter of said Woburn at that time, now of Yarmouth Nova Scotia: who is now living at present with me: & is a brother of Asahel Porter, of said Woburn, killed at Lexington fight, 19 April ‘75.”
“I Joshua Reed of Woburn - County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, seventy four years of age, nearly, testify that when about twelve years of age I was well acquainted with a family by the name of Porter, belonging to said Woburn, & Asahel Porter, who was killed at Lexington fight, was one of that family. & Dudley Porter, another of the family, is now living , whom I have this day seen"
Boston State St. Lawyers Derby & Andrews in 1836 forwarded D.P.'s application to J. L. Edwards, Esq. of the pension office: “Dear Sir We forward herewith the application of Mr. Dudley Porter for a pension. He is a brother of Ashel[sic] Porter, one of the seven [eight] patriots who were killed on the field of Lexington,”
Everyone thought the brothers' relationship worth mentioning, perhaps an indication of the enduring memory of Asahel's death. Perhaps the result of prodding by Dudley, or both. Also, no playing up of Asahel being a civilian that day.
Nov 29, 2018, 1:29:32 AM
Posted to The Mysteries of Asahel Porter