JOSEPH CHAMBERLIN: A CHILD SOLDIER In today’s world, automobiles kill! In 2010, the United States, 32,885 deaths resulted from vehicle accidents. Even with this staggering number of deaths, many states permit young person to drive with a Learning Permit at age 14 or 15; a restricted license at age 15 or 16, and a full driver’s license at age 16 or 17. How is this possible? If a young person can get a license to drive on public highways at age 14, how old is a farmer’s boy who learns to drive around a private farm? Age 13, 12, 11, 10 or younger? Remember these motorized vehicles are killing machines! In the colonial world, at what age did a young person shot or carry a musket capable of killing people? How did a 5 to 10 year old get to school 1 ½ miles away walking through unguarded woodland where he could be attacked by wild pray or Indians at any moment? Either he, or someone in his group, certainly had a musket or a weapon of some kind? Don’t you think? My Grandfather Judah served as a soldier in the Rev. War as he turned 15 years of age. He first carried a flag, later he beat a drum, and he carried a musket. He received a pension! How old was he when he fired his first shot at a woodpecker? How When did he begin practice shooting a musket? Age 13, 12, 11, 10 or younger? There was an enemy out there that could attack at any moment? How would Judah protect himself? How would he protect his mother or his baby sibling? How young is too young for a teen or pre-teen to exercise real responsibility? In 1676, my grandfather Joseph was 11 or 12 when the town of Hadley, MA, was attacked by Indians in the King Phillip’s Indian War, the bloodiest war per capita ever fought on American Soil! A Joseph Chamberlin was listed in a unit fighting under Sgt. John Dickenson. I have strong reason to believe my grandfather was at the Battle of Turner’s Falls where Sgt Dickinson died in battle. Joseph may not have fired a musket. He may have carried a flag or beat a drum, but why would anyone think he was too young to be present? His mother had recently died: His oldest brothers were off to war: Two of his older brothers were with him in Hadley: He married Sgt Dickinson’s daughter; he remained in Hadley until he was 35-38 years old! He was a strong believer of children taking responsibility at very young ages (see yesterday’s posting.} Just as it was said in the O. J. Simpson trial, “If the glove does not fit you must acquit.” Come on now unbelievers. In 1676, when your life was on the line, young people carried muskets and knew how to shot! It was young Joseph Chamberlin from Hull, that was present with his father-in-law–to-be, at Turner’s Falls. To believe otherwise, requires an act of faith without acceptance of facts that are supported by corroborating circumstances that are supported by knowledge of a young man’s responsibilities to himself and others!
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 04:29:17 +0000
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