In his 1870 book, A Brief History of the Town of Stoneham, former Town Clerk Silas Dean writes about the 19th of April, 1775 – the start of the American Revolution, stating that the Stoneham Minuteman company split into small groups once they neared Lexington. Ebenezer Bucknam (1744-1813) was with Timothy Matthews and James Willey.
“Somewhere in the vicinity of Lexington they were discovered by some British Regulars. A bullet passed between the left ear and skull of Bucknam, also through the hats of both Matthews and Willey. Thus did our fathers expose their health and lives that we might enjoy the blessings of civil and religious liberty.”
A bullet grazed his ear and then shot through two men’s hats? Seriously? How likely is that?
A story like this can often be seen as too good to be true – a tall tale. But Ebenezer’s wife Rachel, swore under oath regarding his Revolutionary War service when she applied for a pension in 1851 (She received $28.40 a year).
And Rachel (Lovejoy) Bucknam states quite clearly that a musket ball grazed Ebenezer’s ear.
Along with his Minuteman experience, Ebenezer also served at Winter Hill guarding prisoners.
As an aside, Silas Dean, who wrote about the tale in his History, gave evidence in the petition application, testifying regarding Rachel and Ebenezer’s marriage in his capacity as Town Clerk. His testimony was in turn confirmed by Justice of the Peace Ira Gerry, whose father David was one of the Minuteman company drummers. From all reports, Ira Gerry was a very upright citizen, who would never have confirmed testimony he believed untrue. Nor would the Rev. William Whitcomb, who also vouched for Rachel’s character and her husband’s army service.
Sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.
As a final aside, Rachel and Ebenezer named one of their sons Ashael Porter Bucknam, after the Woburn man killed when he got caught up in the Lexington skirmish while on his way to market. April 19, 1775 was clearly a red letter day in the life of Ebenezer Bucknam.