Soldiers in King Philip's war. Containing lists of the soldiers of ...

IT
No. III.
CAPT. THOMAS PRENTICE AND HIS TROOP.
may be in order here to recall attention to the very efficient
organization of the colonial militia, noted in Article I. We
have seen that Capt. Henchman's foot company was made up of
quotas of men from all the surrounding towns ; Capt. Mosely's
was of hastily collected volunteers, and we now come to the third
branch of the service, the " Troopers," in some respects the most
important. It seems to have been a matter of solicitude in the colony
for many years to increase the number of horses, and as early
as 1648 laws were passed encouraging the formation of cavalry companies.
Those who would enlist as troopers in local companies and
keep horses were allowed five shillings per year, and their headand
horse-tax abated. It naturally followed that the most thrifty
and well-to-do in the colony would become troopers, and the men
of greatest ability and influence would be made their officers. At the
beginning of the war there were five regular cavalry companies or
"troops" in the colony. The Suffolk County Troop was commanded
by Capt. William Davis, who died October, 1676, and was succeeded
by Lieut. Thomas Brattle. The Middlesex Troop was commanded
by Capt. Thomas Prentice. Essex County had two troops,
one raised in Salem and Lynn, of which George Corvvin was captain.
Another, raised in Ipswich, Newbury and Rowley, of which
John Appleton was captain. In Hampshire and Norfolk the horsemen
were attached to the various companies in the regiment, eight
or ten to each company of foot. Besides these regulars, there was
an independent company raised at large in the counties of Suffolk,
Middlesex and Essex, called the " Three County Troop." Edward
Hutchinson had command of this up to October, 1674, but then resigned,
and the court had not found a suitable successor who was
willing to accept the appointment, and Lieut. William Haisy was
in command in June, 1675. Out of these " troops " quotas were
drawn to make up the company required for special service, and
officers were chosen at the option of the court. In this first campaign
the troopers were mostly from the towns immediately around
Boston ; and, in addition to these, were a few Indians from Natick
and Punckapoag. The Captain and Lieutenant were from Cambridge,
and the Cornet from Woburn.
The commander, Capt. Thomas Prentice, was born in England
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