The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Birth: 20 Feb 1726 Groton / Middlesex / MA Death: 13 Oct 1795 Pepperill / Middlesex / MA
Qualifying Service Description:
Militia Officer. He was the commander at the Battle of Bunker Hill
In early 1776, he was made a brigadier-general of the Middlesex County militia and became a member of the Massachusetts Board of War. He saw action during the campaign to defend New York City and in the 1777 Saratoga campaign, after which he returned to Massachusetts, where he was made a major-general of the Massachusetts militia
Additional References:
U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007
Spouse: Abigail Hale Children: William;
Members Who Share This Ancestor
None*
*This means that the NSSAR has no applications for this Patriot on file.
Instead the information provided is best effort, and from volunteers who have either researched grave sites, service records, or something similar. There is no documentation available at NSSAR HQ to order.
William Prescott was born on 20 February 1726 in Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
He made his home in Pepperell in northern Massachusetts. He served in King George's War and the French and Indian War in the provincial militia, after which he was offered a position in the Royal Army, which he declined. When the American Revolution drew near, William was made a Colonel over the town of Pepperell.
Word of the Battles of Lexington and Concord reached Pepperell on the morning of 19 April 1775. William rounded up his men, but they arrived too late to enter the fight. They joined the growing militia members surrounding the British in Boston.
On the evening of 16 June, he was tasked with building defensive works on Bunker Hill in Charlestown, across the river from Boston, due to an impending British takeover of this high ground. William took 1,200 men who worked through the night, building defensive works on the adjacent Breed's Hill instead because it was a better position.
Early on the 17th, British warships began bombarding their position. During the early stages of the bombardment, William walked boldly on top of the defensive works, encouraging his men. British General Thomas Gage observed him through a telescope and asked who it was. An aide (who had once been married to Colonel Prescott's sister) told him it was William Prescott. "Will he fight?" Gage asked. The aide replied, "Yes, sir; he is an old soldier and will fight as long as a drop of blood remains in his veins." Later in the day, the British ground attack began.
At this time, Colonel Prescott made the famous statement, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes," hoping to preserve his precious ammunition. Three assaults were made by the Royal Army, resulting in a great slaughter of the British troops, half of whom were killed or wounded.
William finally ordered a retreat when the American position was overwhelmed. He was one of the last to leave, and he and his remaining men were forced into hand-to-hand combat as they retreated. The Battle of Bunker Hill was technically a British victory because the Americans withdrew. Still, the victory was so costly to the British that they never recovered and eventually abandoned Boston.
He was appointed a Colonel in the new Continental Army. In early 1776, he was made a Brigadier-General of the Middlesex County militia. He became a member of the Massachusetts Board of War. He saw action during the campaign to defend New York City and in the 1777 Saratoga campaign, after which he returned to Massachusetts, where he was made a major-general of the Massachusetts militia.
In later years, He served for several years in the Massachusetts Legislature. He and his brother served in the 1786 effort to suppress Shay's rebellion. The Patriot died on 13 October 1795 in Pepperell.
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