IN MEMORY OF
LIEUT. JOS: SPAULDING,
Who was slain in the memorable Battle on Bunker Hill, On the 17th of June, 1775, in ye 37th year of his age.

HERE LIES THE BODY OF
MRS. PHEBE SPAULDING,
WIFE OF LIEUT. JOS. SPAULDING,
Who departed this life January 4th, 1775, in ye 38th year of her age

Spaulding was one of 8 men from Pepperell killed at Bunker Hill June 17, 1775

Lt. Joseph Spaulding's Commission

IN MEMORY OF
LIEUT. JOS: SPAULDING,
Who was slain in the memorable Battle on Bunker Hill,
On the 17th of June, 1775, in ye 37th year of his age.

On the same stone is read:–-

HERE LIES THE BODY OF
MRS. PHEBE SPAULDING,
WIFE OF LIEUT. JOS. SPAULDING,
Who departed this life January 4th, 1775, in ye 38th year of her age.

NOTE. –- On the top, in the face of this moss-covered stone, is rudely carved the representation of a sword. To the present generation this has lost its significance, but meant much to the family who erected this memorial, as is seen in the following family narrative.

"Fight on, brave boys, they fall like pigeons!" were the last words of Joseph Spaulding, First Lieutenant of Captain Asa Lawrence's company in the Battle of Bunker Hill. When this brave son of Pepperell yielded up his life, the Provincials expected to win the day. They had full confidence in their leader, Colonel William Prescott, and believed that with him they were sure to come off victorious; in fact, they were ready to die for him if need be. Tradition says that Lieutenant Spaulding, early in the battle of the 17th of June, voluntarily took a position of danger in place of Colonel Prescott. In order to fully estimate the patriotism of the yeomen soldiers of the opening Revolution, one needs to know something of the sacrifice made in order to leave their homes to enter the service of their country. With the opening of the year 1775, Lieutenant Joseph Spaulding had seen the grave close over the lifeless form of his beloved wife, leaving him with the care of a young son and daughter. It was when his hands and heart were full that the Lexington alarm was sounded through the town, and Lieutenant Spaulding was quick to respond. If he had retired from service after the experiences of April 19, no one would have thought of censuring him; but the brave young man only returned to make provision for his children, and then rejoined his comrades in camp at Cambridge, where he was found when orders came to march over to Charlestown with intrenching-tools, etc., on the night of the 16th of June. Through the busy hours of that night, and on the following morning, his thoughts must have been divided between the motherless children at home in Pepperell, and the movements of the British army in and around Boston. But regardless of the natural yearnings for the welfare of his children, Lieutenant Joseph Spaulding manfully faced the enemy; and when he fell, it was with a word of encouragement upon his lips. "They fall like pigeons!" No words could have been more natural, or suggestive of the spring and fall game of those towns, and of the manner of capturing the great flocks of wild pigeons that made their semi-annual visits to the towns in Middlesex County. These were the last words uttered by Lieutenant Spaulding. They were meaningless when first reported to the orphans at Pepperell; but as they advanced in years their full significance became apparent, and they have been transmitted from generation to generation with that spirit of patriotism which prompted their utterance in the hour of death in the redoubt on Bunker Hill. In addition to the message, there was brought to the home the sword taken from the dead soldier. This has been equally precious, and is now treasured as the Sword of Bunker Hill by a great-grandson, Edgar Oliver Spaulding, at Plymouth, N.H.
Says the owner: "I am a son of Oliver Spaulding and Sarah Ann Hawkins of Rumney, N.H. My father was a son of Oliver Spaulding and Sarah Greenough, and grandson of Lieutenant Joseph Spaulding."
Says the proud owner of the sword, "My grandfather left Pepperell about the year 1787. Being an orphan and so early removed from the town where his parents were best known, he did not have the record of family joys and sorrows, and could tell but little save the simple story, 'My mother died a few months before my father was killed at Bunker Hill, after which my sister and myself lived for a time at grandsir's."' This story by the great-grandson of the hero of Bunker Hill is strengthened by the silent testimony of the stone at the grave of the wife of Lieutenant Joseph Spaulding. This rude memorial was erected by a provision made for that purpose in the last will of William Spaulding of Pepperell, father of the hero. The will, admitted to probate Sept. 29, 1770, directs that gravestones shall be put up to the memory of his deceased wife, and to that of his son Joseph and wife. In addition to this, there appears in the old church record of deaths, in the handwriting of the patriot preacher, Rev. Joseph Emerson, that which time has not effaced. The first entry of the year 1775 is the death of the wife of Joseph Spaulding, AE 38, – nervous fever. The eleventh entry is Joseph Spaulding, AE 37, – killed in ye battle at Charlestown. Being the oldest of the eight Pepperell men who perished at Bunker Hill, Lieutenant Spaulding's name is placed at the head of the list of patriot dead.

The Spaulding sword (pictured), like many of the weapons carried by the minute-men on the 19th of April and 17th of June, dated back to the Colonial wars. It was owned by Major Rogers, a British officer in the French war. The owner accidentally dropped it into a lake, from whence it was recovered by Lieutenant Spaulding, who voluntarily dived for it, and was successful in bringing it from the sandy bottom. But upon offering it to its owner, he was rewarded for his daring feat by the gift of the weapon. The young man carried it home to Pepperell as a trophy of the French war, naturally took it with him when next called to service, and used it as faithfully against the king as it had ever been used in the service of his Majesty in the hand of Major Rogers.

"The God of Freedom blessed the Sword of Bunker Hill."