Milton & The American Revolution
Pictured: Captain Daniel Vose
Milton, like many neighboring Massachusetts towns, rallied in support of the Revolutionary War, raising three militia companies:
Captain Ebenezer Tucker’s Company – A group of 50 soldiers who responded to the Alarm of April 19, 1775 (Battle of Lexington and Concord) and continued to defend the colony until a standing army was established.
Captain John Bradlee’s Company – A force of 66 men who served for 17 days, stationed 11 miles from Milton.
Captain Daniel Vose’s Company – A group of 51 men who served between one to three months in the colony’s defense.
Beyond the militia, many Milton residents joined the Continental Army, serving throughout the war. Among them were the four Vose brothers, prominent figures in the military:
General Joseph Vose
Lieutenant Colonel Elija Vose
Lieutenant Moses Vose
Lieutenant Bill Vose (Paymaster)
The Vose brothers were third cousins of Captain Daniel Vose. Their sister, Ann Vose, married Stephen Fowler Jr., linking the family to three generations of Fowler men who also served during the Revolution.
The Milton Historical Society (MHS) preserves an extensive handwritten card catalog detailing Milton’s Revolutionary War soldiers. Additional historical records, including The History of Milton, MASS 1640–1887 by Albert K. Teele and A History of Milton by Edward Pierce Hamilton, are available at the Milton Public Library.
Milton’s Military Contributions
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One of Milton’s most significant contributions to the Revolution was hosting the adopting of the Suffolk Resolves. This bold declaration rejecting British rule and calling for colonial resistance was signed at the home and tavern of Captain Daniel Vose. The document was later endorsed by the First Continental Congress, playing a crucial role in mobilizing support for independence.
Today, Vose’s historic home has been preserved and relocated to 1370 Canton Avenue, where it now serves as the Milton Historical Society.
Legacy of the Suffolk Resolves House - Source: The History of Milton, Massachusetts 1640-1887, edited by A. K. Teele published in 1887
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Milton was also home to the last Massachusetts Colonial Governor, Thomas Hutchinson. In 1743, Hutchinson built a summer estate on Milton Hill, which became his permanent residence in 1773 following the Boston Tea Party.
Although his estate no longer stands, his name lives on through the Governor Hutchinson’s Field, a Trustees of Reservations property offering views of the Neponset River and Boston.
