Samuel Hildreth (1750–1823) was a surgeon in the Massachusetts
militia['' Ohio Historical Quarterly, Volume 64'', 45.] and aboard Massachusetts naval
privateers
[Conard, ''History of Milwaukee, Vol II'', 364.] during the
American Revolutionary War, and was subsequently a
prisoner-of-war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold prisoners of w ...
.
Life
Samuel Hildreth was born in 1750 in on a farm in
Townsend, Massachusetts. At the age of twenty he took the occupation of
cooper
Cooper, Cooper's, Coopers and similar may refer to:
* Cooper (profession), a maker of wooden casks and other staved vessels
Arts and entertainment
* Cooper (producers), alias of Dutch producers Klubbheads
* Cooper (video game character), in ...
in order to earn enough to study medicine. In 1774 he began his studies under Dr. John Brown of Wilmington in Essex County. Two years later, he set up a practice in
Methuen. In May 1776 he married Abagail Bodwell.
In October 1777, he went as a surgeon, with the volunteers mustered to confront General
John Burgoyne at Saratoga, where he also treated Hessian soldiers. He then resumed his medical practice. He then took position as ship's surgeon on a
privateer out of
Marblehead. In 1780, he shipped out of Salem, but was captured by the British and taken with other prisoners to Quebec. The following spring, they were sent to
Trois-Rivières. Here he learned French, and was prevailed upon to treat the resident. He soon established a medical practice serving the surrounding settlements as well.
Impatient with their captivity, the prisoners decided to escape. Although he considered the plan ill-advised, but went with them. They were soon captured and sent to close confinement in Montreal. He and others came down with
jail fever but recovered due to the ministrations of the Sisters of Charity. In November 1782, the prisoners were released and sailed for Boston.
After the war, he became a shareholder in the
Ohio Company of Associates, though he did not move from Massachusetts to the
Ohio Country.
His son
Samuel Prescott Hildreth
Samuel Prescott Hildreth (1783–1863) was a pioneer physician, scientist, and historian, authoring numerous scientific and historical works. His history books are largely based on first-person accounts and primary documents, providing insigh ...
relocated to
Marietta, Ohio, and was a pioneer physician, scientist, and historian of the early days of Ohio and the
Northwest Territory
The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and formally known as the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, was formed from unorganized western territory of the United States after the American Revolutionary War. Established in 1 ...
. Samuel Hildreth died while visiting his son in Ohio during 1823 and was buried at
Mound Cemetery in Marietta,
[Hawley, ''Mound Cemetery'', 244.] along with many other Revolutionary War soldiers and sailors. His son was later buried nearby within Mound Cemetery.
Mound Cemetery reportedly contains the largest number of Revolutionary War officers buried in one location.
[DAR, ''American Monthly, Vol. 16 (Jan–Jun 1900)'', 329.] Samuel Hildreth is one of thirty-seven Revolutionary War veterans at the cemetery noted by the
Washington County Historical Society.
[Washington County Historical Society plaque at Mound Cemetery, dated 1968.]
References
Bibliography
* Conard, Howard L.: ''History of Milwaukee from Its First Settlement to the Year 1895, Volume II'', American Biographical Publishing Company (1896).
* Hawley, Owen: ''Mound Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio'', Washington County Historical Society, Marietta, Ohio (1996).
*
* ''Ohio Historical Quarterly, Volume 64'', Ohio Historical Society (1955).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hildreth, Samuel
Massachusetts militiamen in the American Revolution
American Revolutionary War prisoners of war held by Great Britain
Burials at Mound Cemetery (Marietta, Ohio)
1750 births
1823 deaths