"26. Brig. Gen. Benjamin5 Tupper (Thomas,4 Thomas,3 Capt. Thomas,2 Thomas1), distinguished military figure in the Tupper family, born in that part of Stoughton, Mass., later to become the town of Sharon, 11 March 1738, died in Marietta, Ohio, 14 June 1792. … In the French and Indian War, when but sixteen, he was in the company of his uncle Capt. Nathaniel Perry. He served throughout several campaigns, being a corporal in 1757 and sergeant in 1759. After the war he was employed on a farm in Easton, Mass., acquired land of his own there and for a number of years following 1761 was a school teacher during winter sessions. Benjamin joined the Congregational church in Easton 8 June 1760 and a few years later moved to Chesterfield where he became an active citizen and a deacon of the church.
On the breaking out of the Revolution Benjamin was a lieutenant. He proceeded at once to Springfield, Mass., where he dispersed the supreme court of the Crown, then in session there. He next marched to Roxbury and was at once made a major in the regiment of Colonel Fellows. About the middle of July 1775 he made an expedition by boat, with muffled oars, to Castle Island in Boston harbor, burned the lighthouse and brought off considerable property, although the British fleet was not far off. The British endeavored to rebuild the lighthouse but Major Tupper, with men and field pieces, in a whale boat, attacked and killed the officers and four privates engaged in the work and captured the rest of the troops. Destroying the property on the island the major found his escape cut off by low tide. He was attacked by the British but escaped with one man killed and one wounded, after sinking one of the enemy's boats. He had killed and captured 53 of the enemy, among the number being 10 Tories who were sent to Springfield. …
Benjamin Tupper became a lieutenant colonel in Colonel Bailey's regiment 1 Jan. 1777 and 1 July was made colonel of the Eleventh regiment of the Continental troops, which command he held to the end of the war. For about a year he was inspector in General Patterson's brigade. During the memorable winter of 1777—78 his regiment was with Washington at Valley Forge. He served with honor throughout the war and towards its close was appointed brigadier general.
General Tupper later took charge of military organizations at Springfield, Mass., at the time of Shay's Rebellion and repelled the attack made by the insurgents on the armory.
After the close of the war he returned to his home in Chesterfield and was elected representative to the Massachusetts legislature.
General Tupper is accredited with being chiefly instrumental, with General Putnam, in organizing the Ohio Company, formed to buy land and encourage settlements in the Ohio valley. He went to Marietta in 1788 with his family and settled there with the Ohio Company, was appointed judge of the court of common pleas in 1788, became a Free Mason and a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. … General Tupper passed away 7 June 1792 in Marietta where a monument to his memory stands today."
