During the Revolutionary War era, the lines between Wareham and Rochester were very permeable. Thomas Bassett, born and raised in Rochester, put down Wareham on one of his first muster cards because he was temporarily living there during an apprenticeship. William Conant enlisted on July 17, 1775, from Wareham, but was a private in Nathaniel Hammond’s Company (a Rochester militia co.). He was stationed at both Wareham and Rochester. He was discharged from this deployment on December 23, 1775.
He once again served in Nathaniel Hammond’s Co. and John Dagget’s Regiment on an expedition to Rhode Island. This enlistment was from August 28, 1778, until September 1, 1778. Between July 1780 and October 1780, he was detached to support the Continental Army in Rhode Island as a sergeant in John Gibb’s Co., John Jacobs Regiment.
His Revolutionary War records show him belonging to a variety of companies and regiments. He was in Barnabus Bradford’s Regiment until 1779, when he was “endorsed in Boston” and the Board of War signed that “said Conant and others were to deliver to Lieut. Ephraim Minot, the commanding officer of Corps of Invalids stationed at Boston, the clothing due them as a donation from several towns of the state.”
His pay account has him reported in Col. Bradford’s Reg. and the 7th Co., from January 1780 to February 1780, but with no service given and this is when he is reported transferred to that same Corps of Invalids.
The Corps of Invalids was a British concept created in 1688. The units of the Corps were made up of veterans or soldiers who were no longer fit for duty in the field but could still work as protectors of forts and guard prisoners.
On April 21, 1777, the Continental Congress gave the green light to the Board of War for the formation of an eight-company, Corps of Invalids, to use veterans who were unfit to be sent to fight but could do limited service. The program was officially approved on June 20, 1777, and Colonel Lewis Nicola was named as commander. He began recruiting in Philadelphia and in time had detachments in Boston and West Point. In these locations, members of the Corps provided important service by manning the “fortifications” and guarding war supplies.
Shown here is one of Conant’s muster cards. Another card (too light to use) has him serving under Col. Nicola. The Corps of Invalids was disbanded between April 1783 and December 1784. While these soldiers served in the Corps, the states held some control over their men who had been assigned to this duty, but it was minimal and, in Conant’s case, listed as off the rolls.
By Connie Eshbach
