Person:Ebenezer Dow (2)

Ranger in French and Indian Wars

"According to family tradition he was a ranger in the time of the French and Indian wars, from 1757 to about 1762; was in the fight at Ticonderoga, Crown Point and Fort William Henry, and at the capture of Louisbourg, in 1758. He was also at the capture of Quebec, in 1759. In his old age he used to relate the incidents of his life, to the great entertainment of his children and grand-children. He said that at the massacre at Fort William Henry he 'heard the groans of the dying—praying and cursing—and the yells of savages, all mixed together.' While a ranger, he was once sent with a company, in the winter, to surprise an encampment of Indians. Being short of provisions, they supposed they should find a supply when they arrived at the encampment; but the Indians had fled, and left nothing but a hide, which was hanging up. This the company divided into equal parts. Dow and three others had for their share a piece as big as two hands, of which they made a soup, drank the broth, and then started to return. They were three days on the way. Attempting to cross a lake on the ice, Dow took off his snowshoes; in doing which, a gust of wind blew away his mittens, and then his hands were badly frozen. Almost starved, he reached a log house, where they were making bean-porridge, and, in his haste to satiate his hunger, he thrust his frozen hands into the pot, and they were injured and disfigured for life. Of the party, only four lived to return."^[5]

Soldier in the Continental Army

"In the Revolutionary war, Mr. Dow was In constant service. He stood as a minute-man at Concord, Mass., when the 'red coats' came to destroy the stores there. He saw the bodies of those who were killed at Lexington, April 19, when they were laid out. He was also In the battle of Bunker Hill, and joined the expedition under Col. Arnold, when he attempted to reach Canada by what is called the Kennebec route—in which he endured almost incredible sufferings from fatigue, cold and hunger. At Quebec he was taken prisoner; but, on being exchanged, he again entered the army, and was in the battles of Bennington and Stillwater."^[5]

1. ↑ Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Salem, Mass.: The Essex Institute, 1911)
   Vol 1, p. 149.

   "DOW... Ebenezer, s. John and Elesabeth, Nov. 12, 1737."

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 DOW, EBENEZER, in Daughters of the American Revolution. Genealogical Research System.

   Service: MASSACHUSETTS Rank: SERGEANT
   Birth: 11-12-1737 NEWBURY ESSEX CO MASSACHUSETTS
   Death: 11- -1817 WEST CONCORD MERRIMACK CO NEW HAMPSHIRE
   Service Source: MA SOLS & SAILS, VOL 4, P 910
   Service Description: 1) ALSO PVT; CAPTS HOLT, JOHNSON, 2) COL WIGGLESWORTH

3. ↑ Ebenezer Dow, in Find A Grave.
4. ↑ Ebeneezer Dow, in United States. Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Bouton, Nathaniel. The history of Concord: from its first grant in 1725 to the organization of the city government in 1853, with a history of the ancient Penacooks : the whole interspersed with numerous interesting incidents and anecdotes, down to the present period, 1855, embellished with maps, with portraits of distinguished citizens, and views of ancient and modern residences. (Concord, New Hampshire: Benning W. Sanborn, 1856)
   p. 643.
6. ↑ Ebenezr Dow, in Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States. 1790 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   NARA Publication Number M637, Roll 5.

7. ↑ Ebenz Dow, in Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States. 1800 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   NARA Publication Number M32, Roll 20.

8. ↑ Ebenz Dow, in Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States. 1810 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   NARA Publication Number M252, Roll 25.