Worcester State University - Oak Leaf Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 8 text:

Even more shocking was the story of Ruggle’s daughter, Bathesheba Ruggles Spooner. Bathesheba, while in her teens, married a much older but well-to-do Brookfield farmer by the name of Joshua Spooner. The political views held by Spooner were contrary to those of his wife and the difference was exacerbated by Spooner’s own sour demeanor, Bathesheba’s assertiveness, strong loyalty to her father and the turmoil of the time. A young soldier, recently discharged from Washington’s army, came to live at the homestead. He and Bathesheba fell in love and she became pregnant. In those times, divorce was practically impossible. Little sympathy was held for Bathesheba by the townspeople due to her outspoken manner and avowed loyalty to Britain and her father. In desperation, she enlisted the aid of her houseguest and two British prisoners of war. They succeeded in killing Spooner, were immediately caught, tried and hung. Although the events recounted here have special local significance, their repercussions were felt from Lexington to Yorktown. Even today, we are affected by those events which occurred 200 years ago. The Bicentennial Celebration rekindles their memory. One of the more colorful events of the Bicentennial Celebration was the reinactment of the trek of General Henry Knox from Fort 4 I

Page 7 text:

Although the bicentennial celebrations infrequently focus on the tragedies encountered by the Loyalists, there were many such families irreparably split by the Revolution and its political consequences. Their experience was ah inseparable part of our nation’s past as well. The narrative which follows, reviews the lives of five individuals whose experiences during the Revolution had an impact upon the history of the Worcester County area. Many will recognize immediately Henry Knox, whose trek from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge received a great deal of publicity in the area during the past winter. On the other hand, few will recollect the name of Deborah Sampson Gannett, a patriot of true courage, who enlisted in the Continental Army under the name Robert Shurtliff. She successfully retained her male disguise during several campaigns and over a considerable period of time. Shortly before receiving her honorable discharge, her true identity was revealed. Timothy Bigelow was a Worcester Blacksmith who left his shop to answer the call for freedom. He fought gallantly throughout the revolutionary campaign, but spent his later life in a debtor’s prison because he was unable to meet the demands of the local mortgage holders, whose fortunes were protected while Timothy labored to secure their liberty. • Next we come upon the tragic tales of Timothy Ruggles and his daughter, Bathesheba, whose once secure were deeply affected by their decision to remain loyal to the Mother Country. Ruggles, more commonly known as “Brigadier Ruggles,’’ was a rich farmer, lawyer, judge, legislator and ex-soldier whose station in life and personal ideologies caused him to remain loyal to the Crown. In earlier times, he was well respected by his neighbors, ♦ but when the battle lines were drawn, Ruggles left his Hardwick farm, rode to Boston through a hostile mob, organized a band of Loyalist supporters, lost his property, and eventually died in exile. 3

Page 9 text:

met Henry Knox when the former had made his initial inspection of Cambridge. Knox’s interest in military engineering has so impressed others close to Washington that he eventually recommended Knox to Congress as the successor to Colonel Gridley, the aging commanding officer of Washington’s artillery regiment. In Revolutionary days, military engineers were required to have skill in both gunnery and fortification, and although Knox’s knowledge was gained essentially from books he obtained for British officers who patronized his bookstore, he had an interest to learn, a retentive memory, was quick thinking and, most importantly, dedicated to the cause. Ticonderoga, New York to Cambridge, Mass. The actual event took place during December and January 1775-76, and was prompted by a raid on Lechmere’s Point by British General Henry Clinton in early November 1775. General Washington, fearing that the attack was merely a test for future contemplated action by General Howe, decided to fortify several of the Cambridge hills close to Boston. However, such fortification would be ineffective unless the sites were buttressed with cannon, which were in short supply around Cambridge. Gunpowder was also desperately needed. Several months previously, Washington had 5