Stories Of Attleboro Soldiers in The American Revolution

This is the second in a series of stories about local soldiers that served in the American Revolution. As we prepare to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our independence it seems a good time to share the stories of some of these patriots.

A Rehoboth commander Colonel Timothy Walker was in charge of over 500 troops at the siege of Boston. From April to July 1775, they were the 3rd Provincial Regiment. From July to January 1776, they were the 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies. These soldiers were from many local towns.

This story is about several Attleboro soldiers. The Army at Boston was reorganized in January 1777, the 22nd Regiment was disbanded, and some of the soldiers joined different units. The 13th and 16th Continental Regiments, the 3rd Bristol County Regiment under Colonel Thomas Carpenter and the 4th Bristol County regiment under Colonel John Daggett were some of the active regiments.

Attleboro was required to make and deliver to Cambridge 88 Bounty Coats. During the siege there were at least 88 Attleboro soldiers on duty. The history of the Massachusetts Bounty coat was published in the April issue of the Rehoboth Reporter.

Soldiers Stories

Daniel Read was born in Attleboro on November 16, 1757. He was one of the 12 children of Captain Daniel Read and his wife Mary White Read. His father was an officer in the 4th Bristol County Regiment. Daniel decided to fight for our freedom. He enlisted in Colonel Timothy Walker’s 3rd Bristol County Regiment. Daniel's contribution to the war was different from an average soldier’s. His weapon was a drum. He was a gifted musician and a very important part of the Army. In today's Army he would be a "communication specialist." . Drummers knew over 200 commands to beat on their drums. An officer would give the orders to the drummer of fifer, and he would relay them to the soldiers with the drumbeats. This form had been used to communicate in the Army for hundreds of years. The drum could be heard at a great distance. He was also an accomplished fifer. He was a valuable member of the Army as he was able to share officers’ commands over a great distance. Later in the war he became a Drum Major for Colonel Graton Regiment of about 1,000 soldiers.

After the war he moved to New Haven Connecticut. Here he started a successful manufacturing business making combs. He continued his interest in music. He married Jerusha Sherman in 1785 and they had 4 children.

In 1791 he wrote and published the American Singing Book and in 1793 the Columbia Harmony. Songs like Windham, Greenwich, Sherburne were hymns in his Litchfield Collection. Some of these songs are still used in churches today. He is listed in the Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biographies, He became a leading citizen of New Haven,

This son of Attleboro served as an American Patriots and became a famous composer.


Hezekiah Peck was born in 1755 in a house that still stands in Attleboro. He was the son of Hezekiah and Mary Skinner Peck who had 4 children. He enlisted in the American Army at the age of 20 on May 1,1775. He joined Captain Caleb Richardson’s Company of Colonel Timothy Walkers Regiment. He served with this unit for 8 months. During this period of time towns were required to supply their soldiers with "Bounty Coats". He received his on November 20, 1775. In 1776 he marched with the Army to the Battle of Long Island. He returned home after the terrible defeat of American troops. In 1777 he was with Massachusetts troops fighting in Rhode Island. In March of 1779 he was in Colonel Hathaway’s Regiment serving as a Sargent.

In November of 1779 he married Hephzibah Dyer of Rehoboth. They had two children. After the war he moved to Newport New Hampshire with several local families. The house where he was born in Attleboro stayed in the Peck family until 1900. It was moved 2 times. It is now the headquarters of the Daughters of the American Revolution on the corner of Elizabeth and Main St. Such a fitting tribute to the people who lived in this wonderful old home. The DAR continues to spread the message of those who faithfully served this country from Attleboro and local towns. .

If this old house could talk what stories it could tell us!

Comfort Capron was born on March 18, 1743. Son of Jonathan and Rebecca Morse Capron. His family had lived in the area since 1680. In 1901 members of his family donated 27 acres of land to the town. It is now Capron Park.

In March of 1765 he married Martha Medcalf. They had three children Labab, Polly and Orie

He had served in the Army from June to December of 1761. This may be where he received some medical training.

On May 3,1775 he enlisted in Colonel Timothy Walker’s Regiment. Comfort's services were of great need in the Army because he had medical training. He joined the Army as a Surgeon’s Mate. He assisted in all types of medical treatments. By January 1778 he was listed as a Surgeon in Colonel John Daggett’s Regiment. He was a Doctors Mate in Colonel Abiel Mitchell’s 3 Bristol County Regiment from July to October 1780.

After the war he moved to Hartford Township, Pennsylvania. He is noted to be a doctor.
He died at the age of 56. He was a well-respected member of this community.

If anyone has a story or an ancestor who served in Colonel Timothy Walkers Regiment, we would love to hear the story.

These stories tell of soldiers who served in the 22nd Regiment under Colonel Timothy Walker.

The Rehoboth Minutemen are a reenactors unit that portray the times and lives of members of the 22nd Regiment. After January of 1777 this unit portrays the 13th Continental Regiment.
There are many other soldiers’ stories just waiting to be told. In July we will tell the stories of Dighton soldiers that were members of the 22nd Regiment

For more information about our unit visit our website or Facebook page
www.13thcontinentalregiment.org  or call Cathy Potter 508 252 3682