William Stacy (February 15, 1734 – August 1802) was an officer of the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...

during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

, and a pioneer to the Ohio Country. Published histories describe Colonel William Stacy's involvement in a variety of events during the

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

, such as rallying the

militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

on a village common in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

, participating in the

Siege of Boston The siege of Boston (April 19, 1775 – March 17, 1776) was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War. New England militiamen prevented the movement by land of the British Army, which was garrisoned in what was then the peninsular town ...

, being captured by

Loyalists Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cr ...

and American Indians at the

Cherry Valley massacre The Cherry Valley massacre was an attack by British and Iroquois forces on a fort and the town of Cherry Valley in central New York on November 11, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. It has been described as one of the most horrific ...

, narrowly escaping a death by

burning at the stake Death by burning (also known as immolation) is an execution and murder method involving combustion or exposure to extreme heat. It has a long history as a form of public capital punishment, and many societies have employed it as a punishment f ...

, General

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

's efforts to obtain Stacy's release from captivity, and Washington's gift of a gold

snuff box A decorative box is a form of packaging that is generally more than just functional, but also intended to be decorative and artistic. Many such boxes are used for promotional packaging, both commercially and privately. Historical objects are ...

to Stacy at the end of the war. During Col. William Stacy's post-war life, he was a pioneer, helping to establish

Marietta, Ohio Marietta is a city in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Ohio, United States. It is located in southeastern Ohio at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, northeast of Parkersburg, West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, Mar ...

, as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in 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 ...

. He was active in the Marietta pioneer community, and served as foreman of the first

Grand Jury A grand jury is a jury—a group of citizens—empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a pe ...

in the Northwest Territory, an event establishing the rule of law in the territory. At the age of 56, he ice skated thirty miles up a frozen river, warning two of his sons of a possible Indian attack, which occurred several days later as the Big Bottom massacre and marked the beginning of the

Northwest Indian War The Northwest Indian War (1786–1795), also known by other names, was an armed conflict for control of the Northwest Territory fought between the United States and a united group of Native American nations known today as the Northwestern ...

. William Stacy's surname has also been spelled as Stacey, Stacia, and Stacie; the correct spelling is Stacy. He is often referred to as Colonel Stacy, an abbreviation of his last rank of

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

Early life

William Stacy was born in

Gloucester, Massachusetts Gloucester () is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of Massachusetts's North Shore. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 U.S. Census. An important center of the fishing industry and a ...

, in 1734 and died in

, in 1802.Lemonds, ''Col. William Stacy'', 13, 15, 61. Slightly different years of birth and death have been reported.Lemonds, ''Col. William Stacy'', 61. (The William Stacy plaque in New Salem shows dates of 1733-1804, and the William Stacy marker in Marietta shows 1730-1802.) Stacy grew up in Gloucester on the coast of

and worked as a shoemaker, a trade learned from his father; he may also have worked in the seafaring business. William Stacy married Sarah Day in 1754. Subsequently, during 1757, they moved away from the coast to New Salem in western Massachusetts, and raised a large family. Stacy took up farming and continued his work as a shoemaker. He also became a commercial banker, loaning money at interest before there were any banks in the area. His customers were from New Salem and other towns in the

Province of Massachusetts Bay The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in British America which became one of the Thirteen Colonies, thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III of England, William III and Mary II ...

. By the time of his early middle age, William Stacy was living a comfortable life; he was successful and widely known.Lemonds, ''Col. William Stacy'', 15-16. During 1775, at the age of 41, William Stacy's life changed with the onset of friction between the

Thirteen Colonies The Thirteen Colonies, also known as the Thirteen British Colonies, the Thirteen American Colonies, or later as the United Colonies, were a group of Kingdom of Great Britain, British Colony, colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America. Fo ...

and the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

Opening days of the Revolutionary War

William Stacy was an active revolutionary from the beginning of the

. By one account, he entered service on April 19, 1775,''Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, Vol 14'', 796, 804-5. the day of the

Battles of Lexington and Concord The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The battles were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord ...

, and the opening day of the war. Another account has William Stacy rallying the

at his home village of New Salem, in the western portion of the colony, on April 20, 1775, upon receiving the news of Lexington and Concord.Barber, ''Historical Collections...of Every Town in Massachusetts'', 264–65. A memorial plaque was dedicated to Colonel Stacy in 1956 on the village common of New Salem.Smithsonian American Art Museum, ''New Salem Lt. Col. William Stacy Monument,'' Smithsonian link a
Stacy Monument
Hunting, "Plaque Honoring William Stacy", ''Enterprise and Journal'' newspaper, October 4, 1956.Hunting, "Donor Attends Unveiling of Stacy Plaque", ''Enterprise and Journal'' newspaper, October 11, 1956. The story reflected on the plaque has been handed down for generations beginning with an early history in 1841,Blake, ''Anecdotes of the American Revolution'', 200–02 and was included in the publication of the New Salem Sesquicentennial Committee in 1904.''New Salem Sesqui-Centennial and History of the Town'', 21. The inscription on the plaque reads: The New Salem Bicentennial Commission and town historian later speculated that this event might have occurred earlier, at the time of the

Powder Alarm The Powder Alarm was a major popular reaction to the removal of gunpowder from a magazine near Boston by British soldiers under orders from General Thomas Gage, royal governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, on September 1, 1774. In respo ...

during 1774. The Powder Alarm was a precursor to the events at

Lexington and Concord The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The battles were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord ...

Battle of Bunker Hill

As the war began, William Stacy served as major in Colonel Benjamin Woodbridge's regiment of

Minutemen Minutemen were members of the organized New England colonial militia companies trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies during the American Revolutionary War. They were known for being ready at a minute's notice, hence the name. Mi ...

, which was organized into Woodbridge's (25th) Regiment. During the

, Woodbridge's regiment was based at

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, ...

, near

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

, and participated in the

Battle of Bunker Hill The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the first stage of the American Revolutionary War. The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved in ...

, the first large-scale battle of the war.Frothingham, ''History of the Siege of Boston'', 136, 183. An orderly book shows that on June 13, 1775, several days before the battle, Major Stacy was officer of the night guard, while Colonel

William Prescott William Prescott (February 20, 1726 – October 13, 1795) was an American colonel in the Revolutionary War who commanded the patriot forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Prescott is known for his order to his soldiers, "Do not fire until ...

, who would be the primary leader of patriot forces during the battle, was

officer of the day A duty officer or officer of the day is a position that is assigned to a worker on a regularly rotational basis. While on duty, duty officers attend to administrative tasks and incidents that require attention regardless of the time of day, in add ...

. Stacy was recommended for commission on June 16, the day before the battle. On June 17, 1775, Woodbridge's regiment of 300 soldiers arrived at Bunker Hill and took up positions immediately prior to the battle, and parts of the regiment engaged. A portion of Woodbridge's regiment joined Colonel Prescott's regiment at the

redoubt A redoubt (historically redout) is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, although some are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldi ...

and breastwork on the hill, and a company from Woodbridge's regiment deployed on the right flank. Bunker Hill by Pyle

The defenders on the right flank fought valiantly from behind what cover they could find. The men at the redoubt and breastwork fought until they had no more bullets, finally fighting with the butts of their guns, rocks, and their bare hands. Woodbridge's regiment "was not commissioned, and there are few details of it, or of its officers, in the accounts of the battle."Frothingham, ''History of the Siege of Boston'', 183. Stacy's disposition is unknown. He later signed an affidavit regarding the guns of a fellow patriot who was killed in action at Bunker Hill. Sergeant Benjamin Haskell (Haskall), also of New Salem and also a co-signer of that same affidavit, was reportedly in the center of the action near General

Joseph Warren Joseph Warren (June 11, 1741 – June 17, 1775), a Founding Father of the United States, was an American physician who was one of the most important figures in the Patriot movement in Boston during the early days of the American Revolution, ...

when Warren was killed during the battle. The New Salem Sesquicentennial Committee paid homage to Stacy, Haskell, and others of that village, proclaiming:

And in those days of darkness and disaster, which, as they come to all nations, will surely again come to us, he will tell us of another Jeremiah Meacham, of more Jeremiah Ballards, of another Benjamin Haskell, of another William Stacy...

Cherry Valley massacre, and prisoner of war

Stacy served as lieutenant colonel in Colonel Ichabod Alden's

7th Massachusetts Regiment The 7th Massachusetts Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Continental Army. It was constituted on 16 September 1776, and was originally known as Alden's Regiment after its first colonel, Ichabod Alden. It was organized as seven companies ...

during 1777 and 1778. The regiment was sent to

Cherry Valley, New York Cherry Valley is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Otsego County, New York, Otsego County, New York (state), New York, United States. According to the 2020 US census, the village of Cherry Valley had a population of 487. Howeve ...

, to protect the local population from

and American Indians. The Loyalists were organized as

Butler's Rangers Butler's Rangers (1777–1784) was a Loyalist provincial military unit of the American Revolutionary War, raised by American loyalist John Butler. Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York and northeastern Pennsylvania. Th ...

, a Loyalist militia in the British Army, led by Colonel

John Butler John Butler may refer to: Arts and entertainment *John "Picayune" Butler (died 1864), American performer * John Butler (artist) (1890–1976), American artist *John Butler (author) (born 1937), British author and YouTuber *John Butler (born 1954), ...

and his son, Captain Walter Butler. The Loyalists operated together with American Indians, including some who were under the leadership of

Joseph Brant Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant (March 1743 – November 24, 1807) was a Mohawk people, Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York (state), New York, who was closely associated with Kingdom of Great Britain, Great B ...

, a

Mohawk Mohawk may refer to: Related to Native Americans * Mohawk people, an indigenous people of North America (Canada and New York) *Mohawk language, the language spoken by the Mohawk people * Mohawk hairstyle, from a hairstyle once thought to have been ...

leader also known as Thayendanegea.Stone, ''Life of Joseph Brant'', 372, 374, 386–87. Incident in cherry valley

While serving with Colonel Alden at Cherry Valley during October 1778, William Stacy was transferred to the 4th Massachusetts Regiment, though remaining with Colonel Alden. During that time period, Lieutenant William McKendry, a

quartermaster Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. In land armies, a quartermaster is generally a relatively senior soldier who supervises stores or barracks and distributes supplies and provisions. In m ...

in Colonel Alden's regiment, kept a journal with firsthand accounts of the actions at Cherry Valley. One of his lighter notes concerning Colonel Stacy was a journal entry for October 6, 1778: "Col. Stacy and Capt. Ballard had a horse race. Col. Stacy won the bet."Young, ''Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. II – Second Series, 1855–1886'', 449. However, one month later, Cherry Valley suffered war. On November 11, 1778, a mixed force of Loyalists, British soldiers, Mohawk and

Seneca Seneca may refer to: People and language * Seneca (name), a list of people with either the given name or surname * Seneca people, one of the six Iroquois tribes of North America ** Seneca language, the language of the Seneca people Places Extrat ...

under the command of Walter Butler descended on Cherry Valley.Graymont, ''The Iroquois in the American Revolution,'' 184. Colonel Alden had been warned of their approach, but had dismissed the warnings. He and his command staff, including Stacy, were stationed in a house some from the fort.Barr, ''Unconquered: The Iroquois League at War in Colonial America'', 153. McKendry described the attack in his journal: "Immediately came on 442 Indians from the Five Nations, 200

Tories A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. Th ...

under the command of one Col. Butler and Capt. Brant; attacked headquarters; killed Col. Alden; took Col. Stacy prisoner; attacked Fort Alden; after three hours retreated without success of taking the fort."Young, ''Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. II – Second Series, 1855–1886'', 449-50.Ketchum, ''History of Buffalo'', 322. McKendry incorrectly placed John Butler and Joseph Brant in command of the force. McKendry identified the fatalities of the massacre as Colonel Alden, thirteen other soldiers, and thirty civilian inhabitants. It became known as the

and was noted as one of the most horrific frontier massacres of the Revolution.Murray, ''Smithsonian Q & A: The American Revolution'', 64. Three months later, in his journal entry for February 12, 1779, McKendry describes receiving a report from an Indian of William Stacy in captivity; Stacy was apparently concerned to reassure his fellow soldiers: "the last he knew of Col. Stacy he was well and in good spirits, and told him not to mind it for it was only the fortune of war."Young, ''Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. II – Second Series, 1855–1886'', 452. Several accounts indicate that during the

or thereafter, Colonel Stacy was stripped naked and tied to a stake, and was about to be tortured and killed, as was the ritual for enemy warriors, but was spared by Joseph Brant.Barker, ''Recollections of the First Settlement of Ohio'', 35.Beardsley, ''Reminiscences'', 463.Moore, ''Masonic Review, Vol XI'', 306-07.Drake, ''Memorials of the Society of Cincinnati'', 465–67. William Stacy was a

Freemason Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

; Joseph Brant was an educated American Indian, and had also become a Freemason. It is reported that Stacy made an appeal as one Freemason to another, thus saving his life. Colonel Stacy was subsequently taken to

Fort Niagara Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built by New France to protect its interests in North America, specifically control of access between the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the Great Lakes. The fort is on the river's e ...

, the Loyalist base in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

and held prisoner under Colonel Butler during the summer of 1779.Campbell, ''Annals of Tryon County; or, the Border Warfare of New-York during the Revolution'', 110–11, 181-82. At Fort Niagara,

Molly Brant Molly Brant ( – April 16, 1796), also known as Mary Brant, Konwatsi'tsiaienni, and Degonwadonti, was a Mohawk leader in British New York and Upper Canada in the era of the American Revolution. Living in the Province of New York, she was the c ...

, the sister of Joseph Brant, was hostile toward Stacy, and wanted Colonel Butler to return custody of Stacy to the Indians. She proclaimed dreams of she and the Indians using Stacy's head in an Indian football game. Colonel Butler placated Molly Brant with rum and protected his prisoner. Subsequently, from late-1779 through mid-1782, Colonel Stacy was held prisoner at

Fort Chambly Fort Chambly is a historic fort in La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec. It is designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. Fort Chambly was formerly known as Fort St. Louis. It was part of a series of five fortificat ...

near

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...

.McHenry, ''Rebel Prisoners at Quebec 1778-1783'', 10, 34. Fort-Chambly-Quebec-2002

As a ranking

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 ...

, Colonel Stacy was the subject of high-level correspondence and actions of General George Washington and other leaders of the Continental Army. During April 1780, General Lafayette, who fought with the Americans during the Revolution, hand-carried a letter from General

William Heath William Heath (March 2, 1737 – January 24, 1814) was an American farmer, soldier, and political leader from Massachusetts who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Life and career Heath m ...

to General Washington, describing a reported Loyalist and British strategy concerning Stacy. The strategy was to continue holding Colonel Stacy as a prisoner-of-war, and to use Stacy in a prisoner exchange, should Colonel Butler or another ranking Loyalist officer,

Sir John Johnson Brigadier General Sir John Johnson, 2nd Baronet (5 November 1741 – 4 January 1830) was an American-born military officer, magistrate, landowner and colonial official in the British Indian Department who fought as a Loyalist during the America ...

, be captured by the Continental Army. During September 1780, General Washington attempted to arrange a prisoner exchange for Colonel Stacy,Sparks, ''Writings of George Washington, Vol VII'', 211. but was unsuccessful. On November 1, 1781, the General Assembly of Massachusetts passed a

Resolve Resolve may refer to: * ''Resolve'' (Lagwagon album) * ''Resolve'' (Last Tuesday album) * "Resolve" (song), by the Foo Fighters *'' The Resolve'', a 1915 American silent short drama film * "Resolve" (''One Tree Hill'' episode) *''Resolve'', a Brit ...

urging Governor

John Hancock John Hancock ( – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the ...

to encourage General Heath to pursue a prisoner exchange for Stacy. Colonel Stacy was not released from captivity until the end of the war, during August 1782. General Washington reportedly gave Stacy a gold snuff box as a personal memento after the war.''History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, Vol. II'', 668. William Stacy's nephew, Nathaniel Stacy, writes that his first memory of childhood was the return of Col. William Stacy to New Salem after the war.

Marietta and the Ohio Country

During early 1788,Edes and Darlington, ''Journal and Letters of Col. John May'', 70–1.Zimmer, ''True Stories of Pioneer Times'', 18. at about 54 years of age, William Stacy joined with other Revolutionary War officers as a pioneer to the Ohio Country, and was involved in establishing

, at the confluence of the

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

and Muskingum rivers as the first permanent

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

settlement in the

. Colonel Stacy joined this venture as a shareholder in the

Ohio Company of Associates The Ohio Company of Associates, also known as the Ohio Company, was a land company whose members are today credited with becoming the first non- Native American group to permanently settle west of the Allegheny mountains. In 1788 they establis ...

, which was formed and led by Gen.

Rufus Putnam Brigadier-General Rufus Putnam (April 9, 1738 – May 4, 1824) was an American military officer who fought during the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. As an organizer of the Ohio Company of Associates, he was instrumental ...

and Gen.

Benjamin Tupper Benjamin Tupper (March 11, 1738 – June 7, 1792) was a soldier in the French and Indian War, and an officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, achieving the rank of Brevet (military), brevet Brigadier general (United ...

. General Lafayette visited Marietta years later and described these pioneers and former officers: "They were the bravest of brave. Better men never lived." George Washington commented "I know many of the settlers personally, and there never were men better calculated to promote the welfare of such a community."Sparks, ''Writings of George Washington, Vol IX'', 385. Marietta is located in the county of Ohio bearing Washington's name. WmStacyMariettaOH04

During the settlement of the Ohio Country, two of Colonel Stacy's sons were with a small group of pioneers attempting to establish a settlement on some good potential farmland known as Big Bottom, upriver from Marietta on the Muskingum River. Colonel Stacy ice skated up the frozen river in late December 1790 and warned his sons about the danger of a possible Indian attack. His concerns were realized several days later on January 2, 1791, with the occurrence of the Big Bottom massacre, and the beginning of the

. Twelve people were killed in the attack, including Stacy's son John. His son Philemon was taken captive and died later.Zimmer, ''More True Stories from Pioneer Valley'', 92–101.Lane, ''Ode to the Big Bottom Massacre''.Lemonds, ''Col. William Stacy'', 47. William Stacy was a prominent and active member of the pioneer settlement of Marietta. He superintended the construction of a

stockade A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls, made of logs placed side by side vertically, with the tops sharpened as a defensive wall. Etymology ''Stockade'' is derived from the French word ''estocade''. The French word was derived ...

known as Picketed Point to protect the settlers from Indians, he was an officer in the militia, and he was an officer on the first board of police. Additionally, he served as an officer of the township of Marietta, and he owned one of two hand

mills Mills is the plural form of mill, but may also refer to: As a name * Mills (surname), a common family name of English or Gaelic origin * Mills (given name) *Mills, a fictional British secret agent in a trilogy by writer Manning O'Brine Places Uni ...

in the settlement.Hildreth, ''Pioneer History'', 273, 334.Summers, ''History of Marietta'', 81. William Stacy was an original member of the

Society of the Cincinnati The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...

and an original member of the American Union Lodge No. 1 (Freemasons) at Marietta;Summers, ''History of Marietta'', 294–95. the name of this lodge was reportedly suggested by

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...

, and the seal engraved by

Paul Revere Paul Revere (; December 21, 1734 O.S. (January 1, 1735 N.S.)May 10, 1818) was an American silversmith, engraver, early industrialist, Sons of Liberty member, and Patriot and Founding Father. He is best known for his midnight ride to a ...

. Stacy was honored with the position of foreman of the first

in the

. This was an important event, as this court was the first establishment of civil and criminal law in the pioneer country. William Stacy lost his wife Sarah to smallpox during March 1790 after 36 years of marriage. He subsequently married Hannah Sheffield during July of that year. "A man highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities, and honored for his services and sufferings in the cause of freedom,"Andrews, ''History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio'', 879-80. William Stacy died in Marietta in 1802 at 68 years of age. He was buried in Marietta at Mound Cemetery,Hawley, ''Mound Cemetery'', 416. the site of an ancient American Indian

burial mound Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objec ...

. Colonel Stacy has good company in his final resting place; Mound Cemetery reportedly contains the largest number of Revolutionary War officers buried in one location.DAR, ''American Monthly, Vol. 16 (Jan-Jun 1900)'', 329. A new memorial marker was dedicated to William Stacy in 1928 in Mound Cemetery.

References

Bibliography

* ''Acts and Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1890 edition'', Wright and Potter Printing Company, Boston (1890) p. 789. * Andrews, Martin R.: ''History of Marietta and Washington County, and Representative Citizens'', Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois (1902) pp. 879–80. * Barber, John Warner: ''Historical Collections, being a General Collection of Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, etc., relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Massachusetts, with Geographical Descriptions'', Dorr, Howland, & Co., Worcester, Massachusetts (1841) chapter on Franklin County, section on New Salem, pp. 264–65. The 1844 edition of this historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Historical Collections of Massachusetts
* Barber, John Warner: ''Historical Collections of the State of New York, containing a General Collection of the Most Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, etc., relating to its History and Antiquities, with Geographical Descriptions of Every Township in the State'', S. Tuttle, New York (1842) pp. 442–43. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Historical Collections of New York
* Barker, Joseph: ''Recollections of the First Settlement of Ohio'', Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio (1958) p. 35; original manuscript written late in Joseph Barker's life, prior to his death in 1843. * * Beach, Arthur: ''A Pioneer College: The Story of Marietta'', John F. Cuneo Co., Marietta, Ohio (1935) p. 12. * Beardsley, Levi: ''Reminiscences; Personal and Other Incidents; Early Settlement of Otsego County'', Charles Vinten, New York (1852) p. 463. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Early Settlement of Otsego County
* Blake, John Lauris: ''Anecdotes of the American Revolution'', Alexander V. Blake, New York (1845) pp. 200–02. * Bradford, Alden: ''History of Massachusetts, From 1764, to July, 1775: When General Washington took Command of the American Army'', Richardson and Lord, Boston (1822) Chapter XVI (including the Bunker Hill Battle), pp. 382–83. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
History of Massachusetts
* Campbell, William W.: ''Annals of Tryon County; or, the Border Warfare of New-York during the Revolution'', J. & J. Harper, New York (1831) pp. 110–11, 182. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Annals of Tryon County
* ''Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Seventh Series, Vol. V.'', Boston (1905) pp. 60, 324. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society
* Cruikshank, Ernest: ''Butler's Rangers and the Settlement of Niagara'', Tribune Printing House, Welland, Ontario, Canada (1893) p. 58. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Butler’s Rangers
* Cutler, Julia Perkins: ''Life and Times of Ephraim Cutler'', Robert Clarke and Co., Cincinnati, Ohio (1890) pp. 23–4, 202–03. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Life and Times of Ephraim Cutler
* Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR): ''American Monthly, Vol. 16, Jan-Jun 1900'', R. R. Bowker Co., New York (1900) p. 329 (re/Mound Cemetery). * Dean, John Ward (Editor): ''The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1895, Vol XLIX'', Boston (1895) in the section entitled 'Captain William Meacham at Bunker Hill,' p. 203-04. * Drake, Francis S.: ''Memorials of the Society of Cincinnati of Massachusetts'', Boston (1873) pp. 465–67. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Memorials of the Society of Cincinnati
* Edes, Richard S. and Darlington, William M.: ''Journal and Letters of Col. John May'', Robert Clarke and Co, Cincinnati, Ohio (1873), pp. 70–1. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Journal and Letters of Col. John May
* Frothingham, Jr., Richard: ''History of the Siege of Boston and of the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill'', Second Edition, published by Charles C. Little and James Brown, Boston (1851) Chapters V and VII, regarding the Bunker Hill Battle, p. 136 (re/Woodbridge's regiment) and p. 183 (re/Stacy). This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Siege of Boston
* Frothingham, Jr., Richard: ''The Battle-Field of Bunker Hill'', a paper communicated to the Massachusetts Historical Society, June 10, 1875, Boston (1876) in a section regarding 'Extracts from an Orderly Book,' pp. 38–9. This historical paper is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Battle Field of Bunker Hill
* * Harvey, Arthur: ''Transactions of the Canadian Institute, Vol. IV 1892–93'', Copp, Clark Company, Toronto (1895) pp. 288, 291. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Transactions of the Canadian Institute
* Hawley, Owen: ''Mound Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio'', Washington County Historical Society, Marietta, Ohio (1996). * Heitman, Francis B.: ''Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution'', Rare Book Shop Publishing Co., Washington, D.C. (1914) pp. 36–38, 514. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Officers of the Continental Army
* Hildreth, S. P.: ''Biographical and Historical Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio'', H. W. Derby and Co., Cincinnati, Ohio (1852) pp. 401–7. * Hildreth, S. P.: ''Pioneer History: Being an Account of the First Examinations of the Ohio Valley, and the Early Settlement of the Northwest Territory'', H. W. Derby and Co., Cincinnati, Ohio (1848) pp. 226, 233, 273, 326–27, 333–34, 432–34, 439. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Early Settlement of the Northwest Territory
* ''History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, Vol. II'', Louis H. Everts, Philadelphia (1879) chapter on New Salem, section on Revolutionary Reminiscences, p. 668. (This book erroneously reports that Col. Stacy was killed by Indians near Marietta, Ohio; it was actually Col. Stacy's son John who was killed by Indians at Big Bottom near Marietta.) * Holland, Josiah Gilbert: ''History of Western Massachusetts, the Counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire, Vol. I-Parts I and II'', Samuel Bowles and Company, Springfield, Massachusetts (1855) Chapter XV, p. 214. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
History of Western Massachusetts
* Hulbert, Archer Butler: ''The Records of the Original Proceedings of the Ohio Company, Volume I'', Marietta Historical Commission, Marietta, Ohio (1917) pp. xliv, cxxxi, 117, 131. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Ohio Company, Volume I
* Hulbert, Archer Butler: ''The Records of the Original Proceedings of the Ohio Company, Volume II'', Marietta Historical Commission, Marietta, Ohio (1917) pp. 2, 50, 56, 147, 202, 241. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Ohio Company, Volume II
* Hunting, Beatrice Fay: "Plaque Honoring William Stacy to be Uncovered Tomorrow at New Salem", ''Enterprise and Journal'' newspaper, Orange, Massachusetts (October 4, 1956). * Hunting, Beatrice Fay: "Donor Attends Unveiling of Stacy Plaque at New Salem", ''Enterprise and Journal'' newspaper, Orange, Massachusetts (October 11, 1956). * * Ketchum, Richard M.: ''Decisive Day, the Battle for Bunker Hill'', Henry Holt and Company, Owl Books Edition, New York (1999). * Ketchum, William: ''An Authentic and Comprehensive History of Buffalo, with some account of Its Early Inhabitants both Savage and Civilized'', Rockwell, Baker, and Hill, Buffalo, New York (1864) p. 322. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
History of Buffalo
* Lane, Eula Rogers: ''Ode to the Big Bottom Massacre'', Richardson Printing, Marietta, Ohio (1975). * Lemonds, Leo L.: ''Col. William Stacy – Revolutionary War Hero'', Cornhusker Press, Hastings, Nebraska (1993). * ''Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, Vol 14'', online database, The Generations Network Inc., Provo, Utah (1998); original data from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, ''Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, Vol. 14'', Wright and Potter Printing Co., Boston (1896), pp. 796 (William Stacey), 804-5 (William Stacy). * McHenry, Chris: ''Rebel Prisoners at Quebec 1778-1783, Being a List of American Prisoners Held by the British during the Revolutionary War'', Lawrenceburg, Indiana (1981). * Moore, C.: ''The Masonic Review, Volume XI'', C. Moore, Cincinnati, Ohio (1854) pp. 306–07. * Moore, Frank: ''Diary of the American Revolution from Newspapers and Original Documents, Vol II'', Charles Scribner, New York (1860), pp. 104–05. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
American Revolution from Original Documents
* Murray, Stuart A. P.: ''Smithsonian Q & A: The American Revolution'', HarperCollins Publishers by Hydra Publishing, New York (2006) p. 64. * ''New Salem Sesqui-Centennial and History of the Town 1903'', Athol, Massachusetts (1904) pp. 21, 49. (This book erroneously reports that Col. Stacy was killed by Indians near Marietta, Ohio; it was actually Col. Stacy's son John who was killed by Indians at Big Bottom near Marietta.) This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
New Salem Sesquicentennial
* Pritchard, Joan: "Area man discovers long roots", ''Marietta A.M.'' newspaper, Parkersburg, West Virginia (July 24, 1994) p. 1., including article text, photo, and photo caption. * ''Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, Vol. IV'', James B. Lyon, Albany, New York (1900) pp. 286, 292–93. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Public Papers of George Clinton
* Sparks, Jared: ''The Writings of George Washington, Vol. VII'', Harper and Brothers, New York (1847) p. 211. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
George Washington Vol VII
* Sparks, Jared: ''The Writings of George Washington, Vol. IX'', Harper and Brothers, New York (1847) p. 385. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
George Washington Vol. IX
* Stacy, Nathaniel: ''Memoirs of the Life of Nathaniel Stacy'', Abner Vedder, Columbus, Pennsylvania (1850) pp. 24, 34. * Stone, William L.: ''Life of Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea) including the Border Wars of the American Revolution'', J. Munsell, Albany, New York (1865) pp. 372, 374, 386–87. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Life of Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea)
* Summers, Thomas J.: ''History of Marietta'', The Leader Publishing Co., Marietta, Ohio (1903) pp. 81, 100–02, 294–95. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
History of Marietta
* Swett, S.: ''History of Bunker Hill Battle, With a Plan'', Second Edition, Munroe and Francis, Boston (1826) 'Preliminary Chapter' p. 5 (re/Stacy), and chapter 'The Battle' p. 30 (re/Woodbridge's regiment). This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
History of Bunker Hill Battle
* Young, Edward J.: ''Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. II – Second Series, 1855–1886'', University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts (1886) section entitled Journal of William McKendry, pp. 436–78. This historical book is available online via the Google Books Library Project a
Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society
*Zimmer, Louise: "Colonel Stacy defies odds of survival", ''Marietta Times'' newspaper, Marietta, Ohio (March 21, 1994) p. B5. *Zimmer, Louise: ''More True Stories from Pioneer Valley'', published by Sugden Book Store, Marietta, Ohio (1993) chapter 10 entitled Massacre at Big Bottom, pp. 92–101. *Zimmer, Louise: ''True Stories of Pioneer Times'', published by Broughton Foods company, Marietta, Ohio (1987) chapter 4 entitled The First Families p. 18.

External links

William Stacy monument
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture
William Stacy biographic sketch
Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, in collaboration with the New England Historic Genealogical Society
The Society of the CincinnatiThe American Revolutionary War Institute
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stacy, William 1734 births 1802 deaths American pioneers American Revolutionary War prisoners of war held by Great Britain Continental Army officers from Massachusetts Massachusetts militiamen in the American Revolution People from Marietta, Ohio People from New Salem, Massachusetts Burials at Mound Cemetery (Marietta, Ohio)