Was killed on 7 Nov 1777 during a mutiny attempt at the supply depot
~~~~~
Zachariah Beal of Portsmouth New Hampshire enlisted on June 18, 1775 as a Lieutenant and was commissioned as a Captain on November 7, 1776, given command of his own company of the 3rd NH Regiment. He saw action in Canada and was at the Battles of Saratoga in the Fall of 1777 after which Poor's Brigade including three New Hampshire Regiments and the 2nd and 4th New York Regiments. Poor's Brigade was ordered to join Washington's Army at Peekskill, stopping first at Fishkill before reaching winter quarters at Valley Forge in December. The successes at Saratoga did not stop the men from becoming disheartened, having not been paid in many months. Reports from Fishkill by mid-October through early November mention lack of money and clothing and stores of rice being destroyed by vermin. By the first week of November 1777, they are at Fishkill.
Private Joseph Gray also from the 3rd New Hampshire wrote of that fateful day- "a portion of the army, being unfit for duty, were sent into barracks, drawing suitable provisions, and large supplies of New England rum. Not satisfied with their situation, forty of these soldiers, under the exhilarating effects of the intoxicating liquor, mutinied, shouldered their baggage, paraded, chose a corporal for a commander and started for their homes. Immediately information was communicated to the officers, who ordered Capt. Beal of Portsmouth to persuade them to relinquish their design and to return to their encampment. Capt. Beal girded on his sword in haste, met them and requested them to halt, intimating that he wished to speak with the corporal who commanded them. Talking him [the corporal] aside, he [Beal] drew his sword and ran him through; the corporal at the same instant discharged his piece, which took effect. Both expired before morning."
3rd New Hampshire Fifer Joshua Thorton of Capt. James Gray's Company identified the man in his company who killed Beal as Sanderson of Moultonborough, N. H., [probably John Sanderson Jr.] Israel Putnam writes to Washington on the same day concerning the mutiny, deaths, further actions and a request- “I have got several of them in provost guard, and a general Court-martial sitting for their trial. About twenty of them have made their escape and gone home. I have sent off some light-horse, and officers of the brigade, to bring them back. In order to make peace, and re-enforce you as soon as possible, I am endeavouring to borrow one thousand or fifteen hundred pounds, to give them a month's pay. In the mean time they are curing themselves of the itch. As soon as this operation is over, they will march immediately. This, I acknowledge, is a bad precedent, but it is a worse one to keep troops ten months without pay." Captain Zachariah Beal left a wife Abigail Goodwin Beal and two children. May he rest in peace in Fishkill.
Sources: Israel Putnam to Washington, Fishkill, 7 November 1777, Correspondence of the American Revolution, 2:31-32, courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; The Beale Family of Maine", written by Stackpole; Stearns, Ezra S. History of Plymouth, New Hampshire Vol. 1 (Cambridge, Mass.: University Press, 1906), 154-55; Five Straws Gathered from Revolutionary Fields (Cambridge, 1901), 20, courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; History of the Town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Lowell, Mass: Marden & Rowell 1888. page 248. Courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; The Farmer’s Cabinet, 22 March 1839, Volume 37, Issue 30, page 1. Joseph Gray narrative, Third NH. Alexander Hamilton to Washington, 10 November 1777, Sparks, Correspondence, 2:33.; Alexander Hamilton to Washington, Harold C. Syrett and Jacob E. Cooke eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol 1: 1768-1778 (Columbia University Press, 1961), 358; Muster Roll 3rd New Hampshire Regiment (1776-80) Folder 28 page 8.∼Revolutionary War Captain.
BEAL, Zachariah, NH Portsmouth, Captain, Col. Scammel's 3rd NH regt., served during Burgoyne campaign, Jun - Oct 1777. Commissioned 8 Nov 1776. Died of his wounds, 6 Nov 1777.
*******************************
During the American Revolution, New Hampshire raised three Continental Army Regiments for the war effort – aptly named, the first, second and third. The 3rd NH Regiment was formed on June 1, 1775 and saw action in many famous and important battles, including Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Yorktown. They also confronted the enemy at many lesser known locations including at Fort Mercer in New Jersey at the Battle of Red Bank.
In the fall of 1777, the commander of the American forces in New Jersey decided that an apple orchard near the homestead that was serving as his headquarters would be an ideal location for a defensive fort. His troops cut down the trees and Fort Mercer was built with 10 foot walls and a defensive barrier of sharpened tree trunks and branches. The fort was named for General and Brother Hugh Mercer (Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, Virginia).
At about that same time, the British Army was having difficulty supplying their positions in Philadelphia because of extensive American defensive positions. To alleviate the problem and open up a supply route, the British planned an offensive against Fort Mercer. On October 22, a British Brigade of 1200 Hessian soldiers (Germans) moved into position, and at about 4:00 in the afternoon, they attacked the Fort. During the battle, the Americans ran short of ammunition, and soldiers were offered a gill of rum (4 oz.) to retrieve the 32-lb. British cannon balls that had fallen short of their target. The Americans fired the retrieved cannon balls right back at the Hessians. Incredibly, the good guys held the Fort, inflicting 600 casualties on the enemy, while suffering only 14 casualties and 23 wounded of their own. What makes this story particularly interesting is that the men of the 3rd NH Regiment were there helping defend the Fort.
The leadership positions in the 3rd NH Regiment around that time were filled with some familiar names to us in St. John's Lodge. Colonel Alexander Scammel was in command of the Regiment with Lt. Col. Henry Dearborn as a Staff Officer. Nicholas Gilman was Adjutant and there were eight Company Officers including Captain James Gray, Captain Michael McClary, and Captain Zachariah Beal. Yes, these leaders of men were all members of our Lodge. Oh yes, and Captain Zachariah Beal; well, he was made a Mason in our Lodge earlier that same year on March 27. Bro. Zach was badly wounded on that October afternoon at Fort Mercer, and he died of his wounds on November 6. He was one of the 14 American casualties of that little known but very important battle of the Revolution.
We remember him today as a Brother and as a brave patriot from New Hampshire who helped win our nation's freedom.
Historian's Article for March 2006
Zachariah Beal
by Alan M. Robinson, P.M., Historian
St. John's Masonic Lodge No.1, Portsmouth,
New Hampshire
Per Charlie Frye (#48140524):Zachariah Beal was not at Fort Mercer. He was killed putting down a mutiny, shot by a corporal as he ran the corporal through with his own sword. The corporal was leading a number of men home because the 3rd NH regiment had not been paid.
~~~~~
Zachariah Beal of Portsmouth New Hampshire enlisted on June 18, 1775 as a Lieutenant and was commissioned as a Captain on November 7, 1776, given command of his own company of the 3rd NH Regiment. He saw action in Canada and was at the Battles of Saratoga in the Fall of 1777 after which Poor's Brigade including three New Hampshire Regiments and the 2nd and 4th New York Regiments. Poor's Brigade was ordered to join Washington's Army at Peekskill, stopping first at Fishkill before reaching winter quarters at Valley Forge in December. The successes at Saratoga did not stop the men from becoming disheartened, having not been paid in many months. Reports from Fishkill by mid-October through early November mention lack of money and clothing and stores of rice being destroyed by vermin. By the first week of November 1777, they are at Fishkill.
Private Joseph Gray also from the 3rd New Hampshire wrote of that fateful day- "a portion of the army, being unfit for duty, were sent into barracks, drawing suitable provisions, and large supplies of New England rum. Not satisfied with their situation, forty of these soldiers, under the exhilarating effects of the intoxicating liquor, mutinied, shouldered their baggage, paraded, chose a corporal for a commander and started for their homes. Immediately information was communicated to the officers, who ordered Capt. Beal of Portsmouth to persuade them to relinquish their design and to return to their encampment. Capt. Beal girded on his sword in haste, met them and requested them to halt, intimating that he wished to speak with the corporal who commanded them. Talking him [the corporal] aside, he [Beal] drew his sword and ran him through; the corporal at the same instant discharged his piece, which took effect. Both expired before morning."
3rd New Hampshire Fifer Joshua Thorton of Capt. James Gray's Company identified the man in his company who killed Beal as Sanderson of Moultonborough, N. H., [probably John Sanderson Jr.] Israel Putnam writes to Washington on the same day concerning the mutiny, deaths, further actions and a request- “I have got several of them in provost guard, and a general Court-martial sitting for their trial. About twenty of them have made their escape and gone home. I have sent off some light-horse, and officers of the brigade, to bring them back. In order to make peace, and re-enforce you as soon as possible, I am endeavouring to borrow one thousand or fifteen hundred pounds, to give them a month's pay. In the mean time they are curing themselves of the itch. As soon as this operation is over, they will march immediately. This, I acknowledge, is a bad precedent, but it is a worse one to keep troops ten months without pay." Captain Zachariah Beal left a wife Abigail Goodwin Beal and two children. May he rest in peace in Fishkill.
Sources: Israel Putnam to Washington, Fishkill, 7 November 1777, Correspondence of the American Revolution, 2:31-32, courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; The Beale Family of Maine", written by Stackpole; Stearns, Ezra S. History of Plymouth, New Hampshire Vol. 1 (Cambridge, Mass.: University Press, 1906), 154-55; Five Straws Gathered from Revolutionary Fields (Cambridge, 1901), 20, courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; History of the Town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Lowell, Mass: Marden & Rowell 1888. page 248. Courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; The Farmer’s Cabinet, 22 March 1839, Volume 37, Issue 30, page 1. Joseph Gray narrative, Third NH. Alexander Hamilton to Washington, 10 November 1777, Sparks, Correspondence, 2:33.; Alexander Hamilton to Washington, Harold C. Syrett and Jacob E. Cooke eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol 1: 1768-1778 (Columbia University Press, 1961), 358; Muster Roll 3rd New Hampshire Regiment (1776-80) Folder 28 page 8.∼Revolutionary War Captain.
BEAL, Zachariah, NH Portsmouth, Captain, Col. Scammel's 3rd NH regt., served during Burgoyne campaign, Jun - Oct 1777. Commissioned 8 Nov 1776. Died of his wounds, 6 Nov 1777.
*******************************
During the American Revolution, New Hampshire raised three Continental Army Regiments for the war effort – aptly named, the first, second and third. The 3rd NH Regiment was formed on June 1, 1775 and saw action in many famous and important battles, including Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Yorktown. They also confronted the enemy at many lesser known locations including at Fort Mercer in New Jersey at the Battle of Red Bank.
In the fall of 1777, the commander of the American forces in New Jersey decided that an apple orchard near the homestead that was serving as his headquarters would be an ideal location for a defensive fort. His troops cut down the trees and Fort Mercer was built with 10 foot walls and a defensive barrier of sharpened tree trunks and branches. The fort was named for General and Brother Hugh Mercer (Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, Virginia).
At about that same time, the British Army was having difficulty supplying their positions in Philadelphia because of extensive American defensive positions. To alleviate the problem and open up a supply route, the British planned an offensive against Fort Mercer. On October 22, a British Brigade of 1200 Hessian soldiers (Germans) moved into position, and at about 4:00 in the afternoon, they attacked the Fort. During the battle, the Americans ran short of ammunition, and soldiers were offered a gill of rum (4 oz.) to retrieve the 32-lb. British cannon balls that had fallen short of their target. The Americans fired the retrieved cannon balls right back at the Hessians. Incredibly, the good guys held the Fort, inflicting 600 casualties on the enemy, while suffering only 14 casualties and 23 wounded of their own. What makes this story particularly interesting is that the men of the 3rd NH Regiment were there helping defend the Fort.
The leadership positions in the 3rd NH Regiment around that time were filled with some familiar names to us in St. John's Lodge. Colonel Alexander Scammel was in command of the Regiment with Lt. Col. Henry Dearborn as a Staff Officer. Nicholas Gilman was Adjutant and there were eight Company Officers including Captain James Gray, Captain Michael McClary, and Captain Zachariah Beal. Yes, these leaders of men were all members of our Lodge. Oh yes, and Captain Zachariah Beal; well, he was made a Mason in our Lodge earlier that same year on March 27. Bro. Zach was badly wounded on that October afternoon at Fort Mercer, and he died of his wounds on November 6. He was one of the 14 American casualties of that little known but very important battle of the Revolution.
We remember him today as a Brother and as a brave patriot from New Hampshire who helped win our nation's freedom.
Historian's Article for March 2006
Zachariah Beal
by Alan M. Robinson, P.M., Historian
St. John's Masonic Lodge No.1, Portsmouth,
New Hampshire
Per Charlie Frye (#48140524):Zachariah Beal was not at Fort Mercer. He was killed putting down a mutiny, shot by a corporal as he ran the corporal through with his own sword. The corporal was leading a number of men home because the 3rd NH regiment had not been paid.
Was killed on 7 Nov 1777 during a mutiny attempt at the supply depot
~~~~~
Zachariah Beal of Portsmouth New Hampshire enlisted on June 18, 1775 as a Lieutenant and was commissioned as a Captain on November 7, 1776, given command of his own company of the 3rd NH Regiment. He saw action in Canada and was at the Battles of Saratoga in the Fall of 1777 after which Poor's Brigade including three New Hampshire Regiments and the 2nd and 4th New York Regiments. Poor's Brigade was ordered to join Washington's Army at Peekskill, stopping first at Fishkill before reaching winter quarters at Valley Forge in December. The successes at Saratoga did not stop the men from becoming disheartened, having not been paid in many months. Reports from Fishkill by mid-October through early November mention lack of money and clothing and stores of rice being destroyed by vermin. By the first week of November 1777, they are at Fishkill.
Private Joseph Gray also from the 3rd New Hampshire wrote of that fateful day- "a portion of the army, being unfit for duty, were sent into barracks, drawing suitable provisions, and large supplies of New England rum. Not satisfied with their situation, forty of these soldiers, under the exhilarating effects of the intoxicating liquor, mutinied, shouldered their baggage, paraded, chose a corporal for a commander and started for their homes. Immediately information was communicated to the officers, who ordered Capt. Beal of Portsmouth to persuade them to relinquish their design and to return to their encampment. Capt. Beal girded on his sword in haste, met them and requested them to halt, intimating that he wished to speak with the corporal who commanded them. Talking him [the corporal] aside, he [Beal] drew his sword and ran him through; the corporal at the same instant discharged his piece, which took effect. Both expired before morning."
3rd New Hampshire Fifer Joshua Thorton of Capt. James Gray's Company identified the man in his company who killed Beal as Sanderson of Moultonborough, N. H., [probably John Sanderson Jr.] Israel Putnam writes to Washington on the same day concerning the mutiny, deaths, further actions and a request- “I have got several of them in provost guard, and a general Court-martial sitting for their trial. About twenty of them have made their escape and gone home. I have sent off some light-horse, and officers of the brigade, to bring them back. In order to make peace, and re-enforce you as soon as possible, I am endeavouring to borrow one thousand or fifteen hundred pounds, to give them a month's pay. In the mean time they are curing themselves of the itch. As soon as this operation is over, they will march immediately. This, I acknowledge, is a bad precedent, but it is a worse one to keep troops ten months without pay." Captain Zachariah Beal left a wife Abigail Goodwin Beal and two children. May he rest in peace in Fishkill.
Sources: Israel Putnam to Washington, Fishkill, 7 November 1777, Correspondence of the American Revolution, 2:31-32, courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; The Beale Family of Maine", written by Stackpole; Stearns, Ezra S. History of Plymouth, New Hampshire Vol. 1 (Cambridge, Mass.: University Press, 1906), 154-55; Five Straws Gathered from Revolutionary Fields (Cambridge, 1901), 20, courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; History of the Town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Lowell, Mass: Marden & Rowell 1888. page 248. Courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; The Farmer’s Cabinet, 22 March 1839, Volume 37, Issue 30, page 1. Joseph Gray narrative, Third NH. Alexander Hamilton to Washington, 10 November 1777, Sparks, Correspondence, 2:33.; Alexander Hamilton to Washington, Harold C. Syrett and Jacob E. Cooke eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol 1: 1768-1778 (Columbia University Press, 1961), 358; Muster Roll 3rd New Hampshire Regiment (1776-80) Folder 28 page 8.∼Revolutionary War Captain.
BEAL, Zachariah, NH Portsmouth, Captain, Col. Scammel's 3rd NH regt., served during Burgoyne campaign, Jun - Oct 1777. Commissioned 8 Nov 1776. Died of his wounds, 6 Nov 1777.
*******************************
During the American Revolution, New Hampshire raised three Continental Army Regiments for the war effort – aptly named, the first, second and third. The 3rd NH Regiment was formed on June 1, 1775 and saw action in many famous and important battles, including Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Yorktown. They also confronted the enemy at many lesser known locations including at Fort Mercer in New Jersey at the Battle of Red Bank.
In the fall of 1777, the commander of the American forces in New Jersey decided that an apple orchard near the homestead that was serving as his headquarters would be an ideal location for a defensive fort. His troops cut down the trees and Fort Mercer was built with 10 foot walls and a defensive barrier of sharpened tree trunks and branches. The fort was named for General and Brother Hugh Mercer (Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, Virginia).
At about that same time, the British Army was having difficulty supplying their positions in Philadelphia because of extensive American defensive positions. To alleviate the problem and open up a supply route, the British planned an offensive against Fort Mercer. On October 22, a British Brigade of 1200 Hessian soldiers (Germans) moved into position, and at about 4:00 in the afternoon, they attacked the Fort. During the battle, the Americans ran short of ammunition, and soldiers were offered a gill of rum (4 oz.) to retrieve the 32-lb. British cannon balls that had fallen short of their target. The Americans fired the retrieved cannon balls right back at the Hessians. Incredibly, the good guys held the Fort, inflicting 600 casualties on the enemy, while suffering only 14 casualties and 23 wounded of their own. What makes this story particularly interesting is that the men of the 3rd NH Regiment were there helping defend the Fort.
The leadership positions in the 3rd NH Regiment around that time were filled with some familiar names to us in St. John's Lodge. Colonel Alexander Scammel was in command of the Regiment with Lt. Col. Henry Dearborn as a Staff Officer. Nicholas Gilman was Adjutant and there were eight Company Officers including Captain James Gray, Captain Michael McClary, and Captain Zachariah Beal. Yes, these leaders of men were all members of our Lodge. Oh yes, and Captain Zachariah Beal; well, he was made a Mason in our Lodge earlier that same year on March 27. Bro. Zach was badly wounded on that October afternoon at Fort Mercer, and he died of his wounds on November 6. He was one of the 14 American casualties of that little known but very important battle of the Revolution.
We remember him today as a Brother and as a brave patriot from New Hampshire who helped win our nation's freedom.
Historian's Article for March 2006
Zachariah Beal
by Alan M. Robinson, P.M., Historian
St. John's Masonic Lodge No.1, Portsmouth,
New Hampshire
Per Charlie Frye (#48140524):Zachariah Beal was not at Fort Mercer. He was killed putting down a mutiny, shot by a corporal as he ran the corporal through with his own sword. The corporal was leading a number of men home because the 3rd NH regiment had not been paid.
~~~~~
Zachariah Beal of Portsmouth New Hampshire enlisted on June 18, 1775 as a Lieutenant and was commissioned as a Captain on November 7, 1776, given command of his own company of the 3rd NH Regiment. He saw action in Canada and was at the Battles of Saratoga in the Fall of 1777 after which Poor's Brigade including three New Hampshire Regiments and the 2nd and 4th New York Regiments. Poor's Brigade was ordered to join Washington's Army at Peekskill, stopping first at Fishkill before reaching winter quarters at Valley Forge in December. The successes at Saratoga did not stop the men from becoming disheartened, having not been paid in many months. Reports from Fishkill by mid-October through early November mention lack of money and clothing and stores of rice being destroyed by vermin. By the first week of November 1777, they are at Fishkill.
Private Joseph Gray also from the 3rd New Hampshire wrote of that fateful day- "a portion of the army, being unfit for duty, were sent into barracks, drawing suitable provisions, and large supplies of New England rum. Not satisfied with their situation, forty of these soldiers, under the exhilarating effects of the intoxicating liquor, mutinied, shouldered their baggage, paraded, chose a corporal for a commander and started for their homes. Immediately information was communicated to the officers, who ordered Capt. Beal of Portsmouth to persuade them to relinquish their design and to return to their encampment. Capt. Beal girded on his sword in haste, met them and requested them to halt, intimating that he wished to speak with the corporal who commanded them. Talking him [the corporal] aside, he [Beal] drew his sword and ran him through; the corporal at the same instant discharged his piece, which took effect. Both expired before morning."
3rd New Hampshire Fifer Joshua Thorton of Capt. James Gray's Company identified the man in his company who killed Beal as Sanderson of Moultonborough, N. H., [probably John Sanderson Jr.] Israel Putnam writes to Washington on the same day concerning the mutiny, deaths, further actions and a request- “I have got several of them in provost guard, and a general Court-martial sitting for their trial. About twenty of them have made their escape and gone home. I have sent off some light-horse, and officers of the brigade, to bring them back. In order to make peace, and re-enforce you as soon as possible, I am endeavouring to borrow one thousand or fifteen hundred pounds, to give them a month's pay. In the mean time they are curing themselves of the itch. As soon as this operation is over, they will march immediately. This, I acknowledge, is a bad precedent, but it is a worse one to keep troops ten months without pay." Captain Zachariah Beal left a wife Abigail Goodwin Beal and two children. May he rest in peace in Fishkill.
Sources: Israel Putnam to Washington, Fishkill, 7 November 1777, Correspondence of the American Revolution, 2:31-32, courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; The Beale Family of Maine", written by Stackpole; Stearns, Ezra S. History of Plymouth, New Hampshire Vol. 1 (Cambridge, Mass.: University Press, 1906), 154-55; Five Straws Gathered from Revolutionary Fields (Cambridge, 1901), 20, courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; History of the Town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Lowell, Mass: Marden & Rowell 1888. page 248. Courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle; The Farmer’s Cabinet, 22 March 1839, Volume 37, Issue 30, page 1. Joseph Gray narrative, Third NH. Alexander Hamilton to Washington, 10 November 1777, Sparks, Correspondence, 2:33.; Alexander Hamilton to Washington, Harold C. Syrett and Jacob E. Cooke eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol 1: 1768-1778 (Columbia University Press, 1961), 358; Muster Roll 3rd New Hampshire Regiment (1776-80) Folder 28 page 8.∼Revolutionary War Captain.
BEAL, Zachariah, NH Portsmouth, Captain, Col. Scammel's 3rd NH regt., served during Burgoyne campaign, Jun - Oct 1777. Commissioned 8 Nov 1776. Died of his wounds, 6 Nov 1777.
*******************************
During the American Revolution, New Hampshire raised three Continental Army Regiments for the war effort – aptly named, the first, second and third. The 3rd NH Regiment was formed on June 1, 1775 and saw action in many famous and important battles, including Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Yorktown. They also confronted the enemy at many lesser known locations including at Fort Mercer in New Jersey at the Battle of Red Bank.
In the fall of 1777, the commander of the American forces in New Jersey decided that an apple orchard near the homestead that was serving as his headquarters would be an ideal location for a defensive fort. His troops cut down the trees and Fort Mercer was built with 10 foot walls and a defensive barrier of sharpened tree trunks and branches. The fort was named for General and Brother Hugh Mercer (Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, Virginia).
At about that same time, the British Army was having difficulty supplying their positions in Philadelphia because of extensive American defensive positions. To alleviate the problem and open up a supply route, the British planned an offensive against Fort Mercer. On October 22, a British Brigade of 1200 Hessian soldiers (Germans) moved into position, and at about 4:00 in the afternoon, they attacked the Fort. During the battle, the Americans ran short of ammunition, and soldiers were offered a gill of rum (4 oz.) to retrieve the 32-lb. British cannon balls that had fallen short of their target. The Americans fired the retrieved cannon balls right back at the Hessians. Incredibly, the good guys held the Fort, inflicting 600 casualties on the enemy, while suffering only 14 casualties and 23 wounded of their own. What makes this story particularly interesting is that the men of the 3rd NH Regiment were there helping defend the Fort.
The leadership positions in the 3rd NH Regiment around that time were filled with some familiar names to us in St. John's Lodge. Colonel Alexander Scammel was in command of the Regiment with Lt. Col. Henry Dearborn as a Staff Officer. Nicholas Gilman was Adjutant and there were eight Company Officers including Captain James Gray, Captain Michael McClary, and Captain Zachariah Beal. Yes, these leaders of men were all members of our Lodge. Oh yes, and Captain Zachariah Beal; well, he was made a Mason in our Lodge earlier that same year on March 27. Bro. Zach was badly wounded on that October afternoon at Fort Mercer, and he died of his wounds on November 6. He was one of the 14 American casualties of that little known but very important battle of the Revolution.
We remember him today as a Brother and as a brave patriot from New Hampshire who helped win our nation's freedom.
Historian's Article for March 2006
Zachariah Beal
by Alan M. Robinson, P.M., Historian
St. John's Masonic Lodge No.1, Portsmouth,
New Hampshire
Per Charlie Frye (#48140524):Zachariah Beal was not at Fort Mercer. He was killed putting down a mutiny, shot by a corporal as he ran the corporal through with his own sword. The corporal was leading a number of men home because the 3rd NH regiment had not been paid.
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