((Today is the 249th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Several of my ancestors took part in the battles, including my 5x great grandfather Elisha Houghton. I first posted this on 21 August, 2012:))  I mentioned my ancestor Elisha Houghton the other day and that he was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. I found this story about him in History of the Town of Harvard, Massachusetts 1732-1893 by Henry Steadman Nourse (p323): "Coliney of the Massachusetts Bay. To the Honnorabel General Coart seting at Watertown the Petion of Elisha Houghton a Solder under Comand of Captan Hastings in Conl Whitcomb's Rigement in the year 1775 and I was in the fight on Bunkers hill So Called in Charlston on the 17 of June in the year 1775 as above sd and on my Return I and others Lited on one Jacob Davis who was wounded who requested our help and in tacking Care of the sd Davis Caused me your Petinor to take Mistick Road to convey the sd Davis to where he thought he could be tacken Care of and in so Doing 1 came acros by Winter hill to go to head Quater at Cambridge and in Coming by the Gard of Connal Starks which was set on sd hill they took away my Gun which I and others that Knew sd Gun Judged to be worth teen Dolers. I Endevuered to Recover my Gun again but was Denied the Same which may be made Evident to this Coart by Reading the Paper acompining this Petition. 1 also Sertify this Coart that I have Never Reseved my Gun since Nor any Consideration for the same. I therefore your Poor Petitioner Humbly Pray that this Coart would be Pleased to take my Case into your Consideration and alow me Pay for my Gun and your Petitioner as in Duty bound Shall Ever Pray. Bolton Jan. the — 1776 Elisha Houghton This may Certify that Elisha Houghton of Col Whitcomb's Regiment in Capt. Hasting's Company was in the Action on Bunker's hill and helping bringing the wounded men off to Cambridge went mistick Road over Winter hill and the Guard that was set on winter hill took away the Guns, and this sd Houghton's Gun was among the Rest, the next Day with [a] number of others sd Houghton went in order to Get his Gun with an officer with him, but could not find it and have Never heard of it since—as I know of. Josiah Whitney, Lt. Col. of sd Rgmt. Dorchester Camp Febury 29th. 1776" I don't know if Elisha ever got recompensed for his lost gun, but I suspect he was one of the earliest victims of "requisitioning" in the American military tradition.

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