William Stacy
William Stacy (February 15, 1734 – August 1802) was an officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and a pioneer to the Ohio Country.
Published histories describe Colonel William Stacy's involvement in a variety of events during the war, such as rallying the militia on a village common in Massachusetts, participating in the Siege of Boston, being captured by Loyalists and American Indians at the Cherry Valley massacre, narrowly escaping a death by burning at the stake, General George Washington's efforts to obtain Stacy's release from captivity, and Washington's gift of a gold snuff box to Stacy at the end of the war.
During Col. William Stacy's post-war life, he was a pioneer, helping to establish Marietta, Ohio, as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory.
Another account has William Stacy rallying the militia at his home village of New Salem, in the western portion of the colony, on April 20, 1775, upon receiving the news of Lexington and Concord.
[6][7][8] The story reflected on the plaque has been handed down for generations beginning with an early history in 1841,[5][9] and was included in the publication of the New Salem Sesquicentennial Committee in 1904.
[10] The inscription on the plaque reads: Alarm bells called the citizens to this green April 20, 1775 to learn of the battle at Lexington.
There was indecision until 1st Lt. Stacy stepped forward and said "Fellow soldiers, I don't know how it is with you, but for me I will no longer serve a king that murders my own countrymen."
Amid wild cheers a militia company of patriots was formed and under the gallant Stacy as Captain marched off to Cambridge.
[6][7]The New Salem Bicentennial Commission and town historian later speculated that this event might have occurred earlier, at the time of the Powder Alarm during 1774.
[15] The men at the redoubt and breastwork fought until they had no more bullets, finally fighting with the butts of their guns, rocks, and their bare hands.
During that time period, Lieutenant William McKendry, a quartermaster in Colonel Alden's regiment, kept a journal with firsthand accounts of the actions at Cherry Valley.
On November 11, 1778, a mixed force of Loyalists, British soldiers, Mohawk and Seneca under the command of Walter Butler descended on Cherry Valley.
"[30] Several accounts indicate that during the Cherry Valley massacre or thereafter, Colonel Stacy was stripped naked and tied to a stake, and was about to be tortured and killed, as was the ritual for enemy warriors, but was spared by Joseph Brant.
[38] As a ranking prisoner-of-war, Colonel Stacy was the subject of high-level correspondence and actions of General George Washington and other leaders of the Continental Army.
Colonel Stacy joined this venture as a shareholder in the Ohio Company of Associates,[48][49] which was formed and led by Gen. Rufus Putnam and Gen. Benjamin Tupper.
Colonel Stacy ice skated 30 miles (48 km) up the frozen river in late December 1790 and warned his sons about the danger of a possible Indian attack.
His concerns were realized several days later on January 2, 1791, with the occurrence of the Big Bottom massacre, and the beginning of the Northwest Indian War.
"A man highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities, and honored for his services and sufferings in the cause of freedom,"[66] William Stacy died in Marietta in 1802 at 68 years of age.
Colonel Stacy has good company in his final resting place; Mound Cemetery reportedly contains the largest number of Revolutionary War officers buried in one location.
