Honoring Wilton’s Revolutionary Roots
In 1775, months before the "shot heard 'round the world," Wilton took a definitive stand. The town voted to raise a company of 29 Minute Men - brave citizens ready to trade their plows for muskets. By the Battle of Bunker Hill, 38 Wilton residents were on the front lines of the Revolution.
By the end of 1781, Wilton claimed 160 patriots who had enlisted and fought for the Colonies’ independence from Great Britain. All of those soldiers are listed on Wilton’s Revolutionary War Memorial, except one. Our celebrations this year will redress the omission of one young soldier who until now has not been named, Pomp Russell.
Wilton’s History Timeline - Timeline of events in Wilton’s history from 1739-1929
Wilton’s Historical Documents - 1939 Historical Sketches of Wilton, NH and the 1976 Bicentennial Booklet
History of the Town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire with a Genealogical Register by A.A. Livermore and S. Putnam, 1888 - the first major, comprehensive book on the history of Wilton, NH
Wilton’s Revolutionary War History - written by Micheal Dell’Orto
Discover Our Local Heroes
We are proud to share the stories of some of our revolutionary era forefathers whose names etched into our history:
Jacob Abbot: Represented Wilton in choosing delegates from New Hampshire to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
Captain Isaac Frye: A prominent Wilton figure, was a member of the Continental Line and served as Captain in the 3rd NH Regiment. He was a key continental officer at Valley Forge and Bunker Hill.
Captain William Walker: The leader who commanded Wilton’s company at the very first alarm in April 1775.
Jonathan Burton: A local soldier whose Revolutionary War Diaries from both the Battle of Winter Hill, and the Canada Expedition provide a rare first-hand account of the struggle for freedom.
Jonathan Gray and Asa Cram: Wilton soldiers who were both mortally wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
The "Wilton 38": We recognize the dozens of neighbors - including names like Frye, Putnam, Abbot, Holt, Blanchard, Balch, Bales, and Dale - who proved that a small New Hampshire town could change the course of history.
Pomp Russell: The black enslaved man from Wilton, who fought in the Battle of Bennington in 1777. Pomp will be honored this year in a celebration on May 9 at Wilton’s War Memorial, where he will be listed among the other patriots from our community.
