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pany which marched to Cambridge, in 1775, and he afterwards served during the war of the revolution, having received during his service the commissions of Ensign and Lieutenant in the Continental service. After his return to Leicester from the army, he continued to reside there till his death in 1807. The other son of Seth Washburn now resides in Putney, Vermont.

THOMAS NEWHALL.

The name of Capt. Thomas Newhall, deserves a place among those distinguished for their usefulness and public spirit. His life presents but few incidents out of which to swell a biographical sketch, for it was passed in the peaceful retirement of his farm and his native town. He was not, however, inactive there. He possessed a vigorous mind and employed its powers for the public good, and, so far as his influence could extend, for the good of his country. He was a native of Leicester, and was born in 1732, and died in 1814, at the age of 82 years. We have already noticed his munificence to the Academy in this town, and we cannot better conclude this brief notice than by transcribing the judicious epitaph upon his tomb stone.

"Generous and patriotic through life: at an advanced age, he became a liberal benefactor of the inhabitants of this town, and to the literary institution established therein, of which he was one of the first trustees."

He left at his death a very considerable estate, but left no children.

THOMAS DENNY.

Another patriotic gentleman whose name we have mentioned, and who deserves a particular notice, was Thomas Denny, Esq. He was a man of uncommonly vigorous mind, and commanded great influence and respect, at a time, when talents and integrity rather than wealth or family, were the tests of merit. He was the son of Daniel Denny, whose name we have mentioned as one of the earliest settlers of the town, and was born in the year 1724.

He took a leading part in the affairs of the town early in life, and ever afterwards retained and increased his influence among those who best knew him. Some of the resolutions adopted by the town in regard to the aggressions of the mother Country, were, as we have already stated, the productions of his pen, and show, by their style and language, an education above that of many of his cotemporaries. He often represented the town in the General Court, during the difficult sessions of that body, before the revolution,

when they were constantly embroiled in contests with the representatives of the Royal Government. As an evidence of the confidence placed in him by his constituents, he was the only member chosen from this town to attend the Provincial Congress at Concord, in 1774. In this body he was one of the most useful and active members, and scarcely any one was listened to with more attention and respect in the debates of the assembly. After that Congress was adjourned to Cambridge, he was taken ill, and returned to Leicester, where he died, Oct. 23, 1774, at the age of 49. His death was a subject of deep regret to all who knew his worth. Had he lived, he must have taken a leading part in the events of the Revolution, in the incipient stages of which he had so decided an interest. He held the office of Colonel of the regiment of Militia, in the limits of which he resided, which was then an honorable mark of distinguished merit.

In connexion with him, we ought to mention his brother, CoL SAMUEL DENNY, who, though he did not take so prominent a part in the transactions previous to the Revolution, was a leading man during it, and once commanded a regiment of men in the "service." He held many public offices in the town, and was a member of the Convention in 1788 that accepted the Constitution of the United States. He died in 1817, at the age of 86 years. Col. Thomas Denny left three children at his death. His son, bearing the same name, was a highly respectable and influential man during his life. He died Dec. 11, 1815. He was, at the time of his death, a member of the Board of Trustees of Leicester Academy, and often during his life represented the town in the General Court, and was, at that time, the wealthiest man in the town.

Col. Samuel Denny left five sons and three daughters. Three of his sons are yet living, viz. Nathaniel Paine, William, and Samuel. WILLIAM HENSHAW.

Another individual who deserves honorable notice in this place is the late Col. William Henshaw. His biography deserves an abler pen, and a more complete detail than we have been able to give He was the son of Daniel Henshaw, who was an early proprietor of Leicester, and removed there in the year 1748, from Boston, where he had till then resided. William, the subject of this memoir, was born in Boston, Sept. 30, 1735, and removed with his father to Leicester. His opportunities, till his removal, for an education, had been good, but he received none from schools after that period. Yet, by his own industry and application, he acquired

a very good English education, and some knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages. After his removal to Leicester, his time was mostly employed upon a farm. In 1759, he went, as a Lieutenant, into the service against the French and Indians, and served through that eventful campaign. Having many friends in Boston, he early became acquainted with the views and feelings of the patriots and ardently engaged in the cause of liberty. Many of the resolutions and "instructions" of the people of Leicester were drawn up, as we have already stated, by Col. Henshaw and evince a good literary taste while they exhibit an extremely accurate knowledge of the events that were transpiring as well as the abstract rights of the colonies. He was a member of the jury, who, at the April term of the Superior Court, in holden at Worcester, 1774, remonstrated against Chief Justice Oliver's acting as Judge and refused to act as jurors in case he did. The remonstrance was drawn with great spirit, and was from the pen of Col. Henshaw, we believe, as a draught of it in his hand writing is among his papers. In June, 1775, he was commissioned by the Provincial Congress, Adjutant General of the forces that had been then raised. This was the first appointment to that office, of any one after the authority of the mother country was renounced. He faithfully performed the duties of this office till the arrival of Gen. Gates, at Cambridge, who had been appointed Adjutant General, by the General Congress and he continued to perform the duties of the office till the end of the campaign, as an assistant to General Gates. On the first of January, 1776, he was commissioned by Congress as a Lieutenant Colonel of the 12th Regiment of Infantry, and was with his regiment during the campaign of 1776, in and near New York. The precise time of his discharge from the army we cannot now state. But after his return, he retired to his farm in Leicester. He often held the highest offices in the gift of his townsmen, and always, we believe, faithfully performed the duties of his station. He died, at the age of 85, in February, 1820. He retained his mental faculties till his death. A few years previous to that time, Gov. Brooks applied to him for information concerning certain questions relating to the Battle of Bunker Hill, and we transcribe his letter in return, in order to show the part he took in the transactions of that day, and to exhibit to what degree he retained the vigor of his mind at the age of 82.

"DEAR SIR-When Breed's Hill was taken possession of by our troops, I was at home. The best information of the action I had

from General Pomeroy, who was at the rail fence above the works our troops threw up. He informed me, they stuffed hay between the rails of the fence, to prevent the enemy discovering them, and ordered the soldiers to retain their fire till they advanced within six or seven rods, then gave the orders to fire, which caused them to retreat. The enemy formed and attacked them the second time, and retreated in like manner. They formed, advanced, and rushed on to the fence the third time, and obliged our troops to retreat, after they had lost a large number of their men, and Major Pitcairn at their head. The Americans went to Breed's Hill on the night of the 16th of June, the battle commenced on the 17th, and our forces returned to Cambridge. I believe there was only verbal orders given to go to Breed's Hill, and that they had neither cannon nor field pieces. Gen. Ward, the fore part of May, requested Col. Gridley, Mr. Richard Devens, one of the committee of safety in Charlestown, and self, to view the heights from the camp to Charlestown. We did so, and made a written report, as follows: viz. 1. To build a Fort on Prospect Hill. 2. To proceed to Bunker's Hill, and fortify it. 3. To Breed's Hill, and do the same. Our object was, if obliged to retire from Breed's Hill, the fort at Bunker's Hill would cover our retreat with the cannon, and drive their ships out of the rivers; also would prevent the enemy from keeping possession of Charlestown. Why the report was not approved, I cannot say-perhaps others recommended to proceed first to Charlestown. What returns I am possessed of will send with the orderly book, which contains General Ward's orders." Signed Wm. Henshaw, and addressed to His Excellency John Brooks, Esq.

Our only object is to present the outlines of a memoir, and not to eulogize, and we cannot better conclude this, than by extracting a part of an obituary notice, published at the time of his death, in the Boston Palladium.

"Few have lived so little known to the world, and few so deserving of its praise, as Col. Henshaw. His character was of that unassuming cast which shrinks from the scrutiny of observation, and is better pleased with the consciousness, than with the appearance of acting right. He was equally an object of admiration in his military and private life. He served as a Lieutenant in the French war, and as Colonel through the struggle of our revolution. He was always distinguished for his clearness in council and intrepidity in action, and we find honorable mention of him in several

histories of those times. After the Revolution, he retired to Leicester, and, entering on the business of private life, became an exemplary husband and father."

The foregoing is but an extract from the notice of his death, and we should have been glad to have transcribed in this place the tribute to his memory, which was paid at the time of his decease, by his friend, the late Gov. Brooks, but the newspaper containing it has been mislaid, and we must content ourselves with this short notice, till more leisure on our own part, or some abler pen, shall do his memory more ample justice. He was not, alone, so prominent, as to deserve notice in this place, of the sons of Daniel Henshaw. His brother, Joseph, who resided here, was equally active in all public concerns, and commanded as great influence and respect. He often represented the town in the General Court, and was, for a considerable time, chairman of the committee of safety in the county of Worcester, which was formed from the several committees of safety and correspondence of the towns.

David, another brother, though younger than the forementioned brothers, early took part in the events of the last years of the revolution, and was especially active in the events which succeeded it, having ever been a firm supporter of the Government, and a friend to good order. Both William and David Henshaw were, for many years, acting magistrates in the county, and distinguished for their intelligence and independence in performing their duties in that capacity.

Both the brothers left pretty numerous families. One of the sons of the latter is, at present, a member of the Senate of this state from the county of Suffolk.

JOSEPH ROBERTS.

In our sketches of the Ecclesiastical History of this town, we spoke of the Rev. Mr. Roberts and were unable to give any further account of him than we then gave. But we have since received a more particular account of him by the politeness of a gentleman of high respectability* which we subjoin here. The Rev. Joseph Roberts was born in Boston, at the foot of Copps Hill, in 1720. He graduated at Cambridge in 1741, and was probably from a family in no way distinguished, as his name is found among the last of the class that graduated that year. In 1754, he was settled at Leicester and dismissed in 1762, as we have already stated. He soon af

* Isaac Fisk, Esq. of Weston, Register of Probate for the County of Middlesex.

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