Benjamin Ames

• Banjamin Ames served as a private in Captain John Foster's Fourth Andover Company in 1757 before he was made a lieutenant in 1762. Later he became captain of 2 Andover companies in Colonel James Frye's regiment.

• At the beginning of the Revolutionary War Ames' company received word that British regulars had fired on men at Lexington and killed eight colonials. Ames and his troups did not see any combat that day as the colonials had already repulsed the British by the time they arrived.

• Ames company was later sent to Charlestown and ordered to entrench themselves on Breeds Hill. The company lost 3 men at the so-called Battle of Bunker Hill, but also inflicted heavy casualties on the British.

• in August of 1775 Ames wrote to the House of Representatives to complain that his troups had not been paid and that their families were suffering.

• In 1777, Ames was elected Warden and Surveyor of Highways. Many soldiers who had fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill were elected to town positions.

• Benjamin Ames married first Hephzibah Chandler in 1746 who died in 1768. He then married Dorcas Lovejoy in 1770. Benajmin Ames died at age 85.

See

• At Age 52, He Led Andover Men to Bunker Hill. Andover Townsman March 3, 2002, p. 20

back to Main Page