- "Americana, Volume 10: Some Heroic Women of the Revolution", pg 896-9: "Susanna Keith - The picture of this courageous woman, though inanimate, seems in the strength and beauty of the features to tell the story of a useful life more perfectly than can any written words. The picture has an especial interest for the writer [J.C. Pumpelly because it was loaned to him by his much esteemed friend and compatriot, Mary Vanderpoel, the granddaughter of Susanna Keith and the regent of the Mary Washington Colonial Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Susanna Keith was the daughter of Captain Joseph Keith of Taunton, Massachusetts, and she came honestly by her fighting blood, for her grandfather on her mother's side was Captain Benjamin Williams, who commanded a company in Colonel Thomas's regiemnt and took part in the bloody battles of Lake George and Crown Point. It was destined that little Susanna Keith should save old Taunton town by her quick wit, from the savages of the British when in 1776, they were marching down from Concord to forage in the name of the crown. The story of this episode has been so well told by Mrs. Julia Hubbell Treat, historian of the chapter of which Miss Vanderpoel is regent, in a poem called "a Tale of Taunton Town," that I give it here in full.
A Tale of Taunton Town.
The news was flying through Taunton Town,
'To-morrow, the British are marching down
To Concord, for forage in name of the Crown.
Lescinton first may be their goal,
Up, up! ye captains, and call the roll
And gather the men from meadow and knoll.
Now who is this who hither runs?
'Tis Captain Keith, and his stalwart sons
Are just behind, with their swords and guns.
'Muster the men,' the Captain cries,
As the summons about the village flies,
'Or the English will take us by surprise!'
They left the mill, the loom, the plough,
They heeded not the lowing cow,
The only thought for them, was how
By road and forest, hill and dale,
They'd soonest reach the peaceful vale,
Ere long to echo with the wail
Of wife bereft, of sonless sire,
Of tramp of redcoats coming nigher,
And call of 'Steady men, now fire!'
To the powder-house with one accord
They rushed to view their cherished hoard
Of shot and powder, gun and sword.
But oh, alas, for their hope and fear!
Three charges only, for each appear!
What news, for valorous men to hear!
The women had followed with faces pale;
Though brave as the men they did not quail;
And the children's courage too did not fail
For out stepped little Susanna Keith
Wither kerchief and cap, and eyes beneath
Swimming with tears, but not of grief.
'I know a way, my father,' she said,
Drooping a little her dainty head;
'Come all with me;' and away she sped.
To her father's house upon the green---
As fine a house as e'er was seen---
With leaded window, and pillars between.
To the dresser she led the gaping crowd:
'There are your bullets!' she cried so proud
That her childish voice range clear and loud.
Upon the shelves stood the pewter plates
With coats-of-arms, and early dates
Of sixteen twenty and thirty, mates
Of teapot, and creamer, pitcher, and bowl.
All were perfect, and bright, and whole,
Stamped with a unicorn, 'cheek by jowl.'
The pride of the house, the dower which came
To Captain Keith's fair stately dame,
Descended fro fam'ly of noble name.
All turned to the mistress in great surprise--
'Take them!' she said, with bright, flashing eyes,
'Thank God for a child so brave ans wise!'
The cheers went up from the men until
The rafters rung, and then with a will
They melted the pewter, the moulds to fill.
All through the night, till the glimmering day
They worked, and the child worked hard as they,
Till their pouches were full, and they marched away.
So this is the tale of Susanna Keith,
In honor of whom I lay this wreath
Of humble verse, on her grave beneath
The Taunton skies, by the river fair,
Near the ancient house still standing there,
To tell what a child may do and dare!
For she lived, and wedded in Taunton Town,
And sent her brave blood coursing down
Through the veins of many of fair renown
Till her grand daughter's child, with eyes as blue,
And spirit as earnest, and purpose as true,
Is, my friends, your Regent, now looking at you!"
(Copyright, 1915, by the National Americana Society, The Library of the University of Michigan) https://books.google.com/books?id=1accAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA896&lpg=PA896&dq=a+tale+of+taunton+town&source=bl&ots=F7IZYxd9a_&sig=MHZ4AX70A-SXhuUJAhxEDvpn6qs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nu2HVLjvKJL4yQS3voDwBw&ved=0CEEQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=a%20tale%20of%20taunton%20town&f=false
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1697 - 1718 (21 år)
Har 16 forfædre men ingen efterkommere i dette stamtræ.
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