Josiah Parris, who settled in Buckfield about the time the town was incorporated, was born in Pembroke, Massachusetts on August 30th, 1760. He enlisted as a volunteer in the War for American Independence in September, 1776, when scarcely 16 years of age. From statement in his declaration for pension in 1832 it is certain that he served thereafter a portion of every year during the war. He was in six campaigns and several battles and during some periods of his service was under Washington and LaFayette. In later years he often spoke of the Father of our Country with affection and reverence and of his bearing and characteristics. During an engagement with the British near Newport, Rhode Island, an order of General LaFayette's on account of his imperfect use of English was not understood and some confusion for a time resulted. Captain Parris long remembered the incident and related it with much amusement.

After the Declaration of Independence on every 4th of July, he discharged the gun he carried during the conflict, a custom which has been followed by his son and grandsons to the present time. It is one of the very few firearms used by American soldiers in that war, now in existence. This gun has on the whole a very interesting history. It was brought from England in 1683 by Thomas Parris, the American ancestor of the family and handed down from father to son and thus came into the possession of this Patriot of the Revolution.

The old musket is known as "the King's Arm" and has been fired on the Fourth of July every year since 1776 in celebration of Independence. This tradition was passed on by Captain Josiah Parris to his son, Virgil Delphini Parris, down to his grandson, Edward Lowden Parris, and great-grandson, Edward Lowden Parris, Jr. The musket was donated to the town of Buckfield by his great-granddaughter, Marion Parris Smith, and is still fired every year on Independence Day.

Captain Parris first came to Hebron where he remained awhile with his brother, Samuel Parris, who was appointed one of the judges of the court of common pleas when Oxford County was organized. He had married, July 23rd, 1788 Miss Experience Lowden of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, born April 25th, 1768. On coming to Buckfield in 1793 they settled on Loring's Hill in the village where they passed the remaining yearsof their lives.

Mr. Parris engaged in trade for several years and at first brought his goods from Portland on horseback in saddle bags. Appointed ensign in the militia about the time of coming to Buckfield, he was promoted to lieutenant and to captain. He commanded the Buckfield company at the first regimental muster in this part of the District of Maine, held at Norway in 1802.

His wife died Jan. 4th, 1832. Captain Josiah Parris lived to be the last surviving soldier of the War of the Revolution in Buckfield and "the last survivor of the battle of Rhode Island." He died March 24th, 1856 and was buried in the family lot in the cemetery above the village.