The Last Men of the Revolution is a compilation of biographies written by Rev. E. B. Hillard (Elias Brewster) documenting six of some of the last living veterans of the American Revolution who were alive in 1864.[1][2] The book contains six albumen prints, one for each veteran documented excluding James Barham.[3]
List of interviewees
James Barham (1764–1865) served in the Virginia Militia. He was a resident of Greene County, Missouri.
Samuel Downing (1764–1867) of Mass.; resident of NY State
Lemuel Cook (1759–1866) of Ct.; resident of NY State
Alexander Milliner, aka Alexander Maroney (1760/1770–1865) of NY State
William Hutchings (1764–1866) of Mass.; resident of Maine
Adam Link (1762–1864) of Pa.; resident of Ohio
John Gray (1764–1868) not listed in Last Men; Served 6 months Va. Militia; resident of Ohio
Daniel F. Bakeman (1759–1869) not listed in Last Men; service NY Militia (disputed); of NY State. Last pensioner of the Revolution.
Edward Everett's letter
Letter in Front Flyleaves of First Edition
On January 15, 1865, Edward Everett, former Governor of Massachusetts, wrote a letter to the publishers N. A. & R. A. Moore expressing his appreciation for their book. The letter was written the day he died and is his last known letter. Soon after the letter was written it was in possession of Mr. James Parker, of Springfield Ma., an antiquary and collector of autographs.[4] He had the letter lithographed and made copies of the book with the letter's facsimile in the front, copies were given to his friends.
Edwards Everett's letter:
Boston, 15 Jan. 1865.
GENTLEMEN,- Since I received your favor of the 7th and the little volume accompanying it, I have been very ill, and now am able to answer but very briefly. I have looked through the Biographies with interest, and they appear to me to contain all that can be expected. The anecdote of General Washington's stopping to "jerk stones" with the men is excellent, and is in accordance with the traditions of his youth which describe him as being able to throw a stone over the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg. In the year 1836, being governor of Massachusetts, I signed a Pension Warrant for a person who lost an arm at Fort William Henry in 1757.
