Note 23 — A GIRL’S LIFE EIGHTY YEARS AGO

Miss Rice’s father was Joseph Rice; he raised a company of fifty men and, after the receipt of the news of the skirmish at Lexington, set out as soon as possible for Cambridge and joined Colonel Phinney’s regiment. It was the first regiment that marched into Boston after its evacuation by the British on the 17th of March, 1776. In a letter from Rufus King to Dr. Southgate, dated August 6, 1776, he says: “Phinney’s regiment is ordered from Boston to Ticonderoga. I guess the pious Elder would as lieve tarry where he is, but he was formerly fond of action—hope now he will be satisfied.... Gen. Gates will doubtless make a stand at Ticonderoga.”