The 2025 Veterans Day event held annually in Mattapoisett featured a special guest speaker. Connie Eshbach is well-known for her commanding knowledge of local history, more specifically the history of the tri-towns once collectively known as Rochester.
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Eshbach briefly explored the
Tri-Town’s impact on events leading up to that war.
Eshbach began, “I’m going to talk about Rochester and by that, I mean old Rochester that included Marion and Mattapoisett.” She said Rochester played a significant role in the history of the three towns and the Revolution.
Esbach said a statement made by the principal orator in 1879 at the 100th anniversary celebration of Rochester noted that the region had sent more men to fight in the Revolutionary War than any other community of its size. It wasn’t a partisan statement she noted and pointed to history for clues.
In 1768, the Boston Committee was working against Great Britian and for independence. Esbach stated The committee called for a Convention at Faneuil (at the time it was not called Faneuil Hall but simply Faneuil) to pass resolutions against the taxes being imposed by the King of England. They wanted area towns to send delegates. She said as a whole Plymouth county was apathetic to all messages being sent out by the committee. James Warren told Samuel Adams (and Eshbach quoted), “Plymouth county towns could not be raised except by a power that would wake the dead.”
“Rochester was the exception,” Eshbach reported. In April 1774 a large group of Rochester men marched through Wareham picking up others along the way as they headed towards the Barnstable County Courthouse in an effort to prevent the court from going into session and to force the judges to sign pro-patriot pledges.
On April 19,1775, the Battle of Lexington took place. Rumors reached Rochester. Many believed them to be unbelievable. Thus 12-year-old Abraham Holmes was dispatched to Middleboro to gather information. Eshbach noted that he did so on foot. He brought back the confirmation that the war had begun.
Three Rochester militia companies headed to Roxbury at the behest of Lexington. Eshbach concluded, “Put all this together and you can see why so many Rochester men would have enlisted.”
Eshbach, whose historical research brings vividly to life soldiers whose graves dot the landscape in the Tri-Town, told the assembled that one solider stands out, one Nathan Haskell.
Haskell enlisted in the Continental Army and rose to the rank of major. He stayed with the Army as the fighting moved to other areas such as New York and New Jersey. He would become an aid to General Washington. Eshbach said, “If you go to the Capitol in Washington there is a large painting of the surrender of British General Burgoyne on the dome.”
Eshbach’s parting comment was to thank all veterans then and now.
Mattapoisett Veterans Day
By Marilou Newell