Political
"Massachusetts Election! First Monday in April Next, 1817" American Nomination. Major-General Henry Dearborn, For Governor. Hon. William King, for Lieut. Governor."
1817-Dated Pamphlet titled: "Massachusetts Election! First Monday in April Next, 1817. American Nomination. Major-General Henry Dearborn, For Governor. Hon. William King, for Lieut. Governor.", Printed in 1817 at the Office of the Yankee in Boston, MA., Copy belonging to "S. J. Prescott" Nephew to Colonel William Prescott (1726-1795), Very Fine.
Rare political Massachusetts imprint, "Printed in 1817 at the Office of the Yankee in Boston. / 1817. (handwritten)" 24 pages, Complete. Stitch-bound with presentation noted in brown ink on the upper right of the cover reading: "S. J. Prescott / 1817" (As a young boy, Samuel J. Prescott, nephew to American Revolutionary War Colonel William Prescott (1726-1795) who commanded the Patriot forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill, whose 1798 memoirs praised William Prescott and chided Israel Putnam.) This imprint measures 8.75" x 5.25" printed on laid period paper. Overall, having a pleasing clean appearance with only trivial scattered tone spots.
William Prescott (February 20, 1726 " October 13, 1795) was an American colonel in the Revolutionary War who commanded the patriot forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Prescott is known for his order to his soldiers, "Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes", such that the rebel troops may shoot at the enemy at shorter ranges, and therefore more accurately and lethally, and so conserve their limited stocks of ammunition. It is debated whether Prescott or someone earlier coined this memorable saying.
Prescott's likeness was made into a statue for a memorial for the Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts and was dedicated in 1881.
Col. William Prescott never owned slaves, and spoke out against the practice of slavery. Prescott advocated that Massachusetts outlaw slavery. When Massachusetts did abolish slavery in 1783, Prescott celebrated publicly. Col. Prescott was also outspoken about his praise for African-American soldier Salem Poor who fought with Prescott at Bunker Hill, going so far as to sign a letter to the court of Massachusetts praising his conduct in battle and advocating that he be rewarded for it.
The now-disincorporated town of Prescott, Massachusetts was named after him. He was the father of William Prescott Jr., who fought with him at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was the grandfather of eminent historian William H. Prescott, after whom Prescott, Arizona is named.