Soldiers of the Revolution
- Char Gardner
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The Revolutionary War Memorial was installed at the Hampden Historical Society during the first week of June 2026 as part of the nation's 250th anniversary observance.
Designed by Ellyn Chase and constructed with the help of Will Nickerson, the memorial honors Revolutionary War veterans connected to Hampden and the surrounding community. Karen Bagley assisted with the finishing work and completion of the project.
"Ellyn provided the inspiration, creativeness and design for the new Revolutionary War Memorial to help celebrate our 250th anniversary for the USA. Will provided the brawn and some problem-solving to get the memorial to be a reality. Thank you, Ellyn and Will." - Karen Bagley, president
Seeing the roster of names collected together against the memorial's resolute gray panels is a reminder of how much Hampden's early residents contributed to the town as we know it today. Memorials have a way of transforming history from dates and events into people. Rather than disparate figures in books or records, the names become individuals whose lives touched the founding of a nation and the settlement of our home.
Many of the men listed were born before Hampden existed. Some served in local militia units, others in Continental forces. After the war, they became farmers, tradesmen, community leaders, and neighbors. Today, many rest in Hampden's oldest burying grounds, where their gravestones still connect the present to the Revolutionary generation.
DID YOU KNOW?
While people lived on the Penobscot corridor for 10,000 years the first Anglo-European settlers came to modern-day Hampden, Maine around 1764. Benjamin Wheeler built a settlement near the mouth of the
Souadabscook stream and it was called Wheelersborough. The town was officially incorporated in
February of 1794.
The Revolutionary war was fought between 1775 and 1783. While the war was declared over in 1781, it took time for British forces to be fully removed. Hampden saw first hand the chaos of the Penobscot Expedition and the later return of the British in 1814 during the Battle of Hampden.
The Men Named on the Memorial
The list below reflects our current understanding of where these veterans are buried. Where available, links to Find A Grave memorials have been included for those interested in learning more or visiting the sites themselves.
Est. 1941 Rt 1A Main Rd. South
Amos Doane
Gen. John Crosby
Jacob Eastmand
Simeon Gorton
William Murch
Capt. Amos Rider
Harding Snow
Zebulon Young
Also known as "Old Burying Ground" Est. 18th Century. Located behind Old Mystic Lodge.
Col. Gabriel Johonnot
Other Burying Grounds
Abisha Higgins - Higgins Cemetery
Samuel Cone - Nealley's Corner
Johnathan Haskins - Mt. Hope
Moses Baker - Unknown
Zoeth Smith - Unknown
As we commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary, we hope to learn more about the men named on this memorial and the many stories that make up Hampden's past. Local history is often built piece by piece, through family records, photographs, letters, gravestones, and memories passed down through generations. If you have information about any of the veterans listed here, or other stories connected to Hampden's history, email us at hampdenhistoryinfo@gmail.com, we would love to hear from you.
As part of the Semiquincentennial, we invite you to join us for our upcoming programs exploring the American Revolution and Hampden's place within that history. Together, we can continue uncovering and preserving the stories that connect us to the people who came before us.
Become Part of the Story
The Hampden Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of our community. If you enjoy articles like this one, please consider becoming a member, attending one of our upcoming programs, volunteering, or making a donation to support our work.
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