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Captain Richard Douglass (1746–1828) was born in New London, Connecticut in 1746 to Stephen and Patience Douglass. Richard Douglass ran a successful cooper business. Already in 1760 where there more than 40 ships from Brigs to Sloops registered in New London many under the Shaw Family flag conducting business in the East and West Indies as well as such foreign ports at Lisbon, Barcelona, Amsterdam and even as far as Russia in addition to the mother country England. Being a cooper was a valuable trade especially with New London and the Colonies thirst for Bajan (Barbados) Rum. ==American Revolution 1775–1783== At the outbreak of hostilities in the 1775 against England Richard Douglass enlisted in the militia and marched alongside Nathan Hale, William Coit, John & James Chapman and other New Londoners to Boston in William Coit's Independent Company. At this point it is not yet known if his unit under Capt. Chapman participated at Bunker Hill but it is suspected as William Coit was with a 200 man strong unit that fought at the "fence" with Thomas Knowlton of Connecticut. John Chapman eventually served under Knowlton in the elite Army Ranger unit, the first of its kind. Two companies of New London County men were at Bunker Hill including John Tubbs of modern day East Lyme and Christopher Darrow (East Lyme/Montville) then called "Northern Parrish". It is most likely that, according to documentation, that William Coit's Independent Company protected the retreating soldiers from Bunker Hill (Breeds) thwarting any British engagements, thus allowing the survivors to return in safety. It is known that Capt. Chapman's Regiment of Foote or "Company" served under Lyme's General Samuel Holden Parsons then living in New London and participated at the Battle of New York (Long Island) and the defense of New York and eventual retreat to the Highlands. It is thought that here Richard Douglass "suffered atrocities of the British" and was taken prisoner, eventually escaping a prison ship in 1776-77. Richard fought at the defense of Philadelphia, Monmouth, New Jersey, Germantown and Brandywine engagements along with many other Eastern Connecticut men. It is also possible that he was taken prisoner at Germantown, as many from New London County were, as their poorly led unit was outflanked. This part of the story is also yet to be told. Richard Douglass served throughout the war and it has come to our knowledge that he was again the victim of atrocities when Benedict Arnold returned in 1781 burning New London and the attack on Ft. Griswold in Groton that eventually claimed the lives of 83 men on the Groton side and 6 more on the New London side. While Bradley Street was spared the torch it is possible that Richard Douglass and family suffered harassment. It is said that Richard Douglass enlisted in 1775 and served distinguishably throughout the war ending service in 1783. Not much is known yet of the man as a person, what he looked like or what people like Nathan Hale, William Coit or John Chapman thought of him but having served distinguishably appears that he was a good foot soldier and very loyal to cause becoming respected in that area. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Richard Douglass」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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