David Pulsipher
1708-1775

Wife: Elizabeth Stowell (1719-1786) 8 Children: Mary Pulsipher (1744-1827) Esther Pulsipher (1747-1842) John Pulsipher (1749-1827) David Pulsipher (1751-1754 Elizabeth Pulsipher (1754-1813) Samuel Pulsipher (1755- before 1766) David Pulsipher (1756-1835) Ebenezer Pulsipher (1759-1806) Father: David Pulsipher (1685-1775) Mother: Susannah Loude (1690-1786)

David Pulsipher was born on Fri 7 May 1708 (Julian) in Boston, Massachusetts to David and Susannah Loude Pulsipher. He fought in the at the Battle of Bunker Hill on Sat 17 Jun 1775 (Gregorian). Thus, he lived all during the events that led up to the founding of the United States, including the early battles of the Revolutionary War, but not quite until the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.

On 2 Oct 1740 David married Elizabeth Stowell in Pomfret, Connecticut. He was a still resident there in 1756 because Pomfret town records include his son David born that year. Later they moved to Ware River, Massachusetts. Then, in 1766 he came to Rockingham, Vermont, with his wife and five children, two having died young and Mary having married. He later removed to Rockingham Village and built the first log cabin inn of the town. The town meetings were held there for some time. The town's first church was organized on 27 Oct 1773, and David and Elizabeth were among the first 19 members.

Fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

David fought in the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). He is listed with the Third Connecticut Regime under Colonel Eleazer Fitch as in the Campaign of 1758. That was a long war where the Indians joined the French in battle against the British for control of the Ohio River valley. Winning that war drove the French up into what is now Canada. The peace treaty in 1763 also gave the control of Florida to the British, ceded from Spain.

The resistance of the colonists to British oppression was building after that time. Soon after the Battle of Lexington, David at age 67 and his son John joined a band of patriots from there and other towns. On Fri 21 Apr 1775 the began their journey to the scene of the conflict at Boston. They were assigned to Captain Marcy's company and took part in the defense of the rail fence in the Battle of Bunker Hill. The battle was about who would control the Boston harbor. One account said that the Pulsiphers were two of thirteen Americans fighting against hundreds of British. Although the Americans ultimately lost that battle, due to running out of ammunition, it changed the outlook on the war because the losses on the British side were far greater. It proved that untrained local volunteer militia could stand up very effectively against Britain's power trained army!

When the patriots were nearly surrounded by the British, his son was able to retreat safely through the small gap to safety which remained. As for David's death, some sources say that he never returned and that just how he died is unknown. His grandson, Zerah, however, is reported as saying that he died of a "cramp rheumatism in his breast" (heart attack) a few weeks after the battle.