Simeon Prior's
Handwritten Letter
(This is a transcription of said letter spelling is as he
wrote it.)
The story has been handed down
that he was a body guard of General Washington at the Battle of Trenton;
this in fact is not true if we believe Simeon Prior's own handwritten word
(See last paragraph of Letter). Below is the transcription of the original
letter written by Simeon Prior. It was written some time after the Revolutionary
War took place and is some what of a history of his military life starting
at age 15, but was unfinished.
Note: This is my summation of the
facts only.
I, Simeon Prior, was born in May 16, 1754, Connectcut. County Newlondon,
Town of Norwich. Son to Joshua Prior, the sixth son and ninth child from
my mother. At fifteen went to live with Nathan Cobb to learn the blacksmith
trade where I learned to work on guns. In 1776 after the Army, went to New
York, Col. John Durgey of Norwich wanted me to enlist as armorer in his
regiment promising $12.00 per month and rations. Enlisted for about 9 months.
It was after the after the Army had moved from Boston to New York I went
with the Col. and was put into Capt. Gedrin Waterman's Company then lying
on the east side of the City. Ap er dng (as he wrote it, not sure what it
is suppose to be, the underline is mine.) days after, had orders to to to
the west side of the city to where it was then called the Kings Yard and
work under Capt. John Nutter as armorer. The regiment soon after moved over
to footers (Paulus) hook. Little after that went up the north river, I was
ordered to joyne (end of page one).
the regiment and work by myself, where I remained until after the British
took the city of N.J. After that to fort Lee where we staid until the enemy
landed a part-of their army about five miles above the fort. Then we was
caled on to go and stop them. Orders was not to carry our knapsacks, accordingly
we left them. But when we came in sight of them we had orders to retreat
before them and leave all our clothes behind. The time I have forgot, but
from that until the 21st of Jan. 1777, I never had a change of clothes.
Cold, nakedness and hunger was with me until I was discharged 300 miles
from home. The 3rd day on my way home I was take sick with the pleurisy.
At that time I lost my discharge. I lay sick ten days, which made me 21
days getting home where I got some clean clothes (end of page two).
As to the Bigade Col. Durgey belong I never knew when Gen. Washington and
Gen. Mercer went to Trenton and took the Hessions. 25 December 76 I was
on second platoon in the front of the brigade. The Col. was sick at that
time. The Major and oldest Capt. was in front.........(unfinished)
Source: "SIMEON PRIOR'S LETTER (Handwritten)," Sometime after
the Revolutionary War. Original Copy in possession of Sharon Jones, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma.
