Yesterday, I wrote about 19 April 1775, which led to the observance of Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts. I also mentioned four hereditary lineage societies – DAR, SAR, S.R. and C.A.R. – for those who might have patriots in their family history and have an interest in possible membership in one of those organizations.

Today and on Friday, I am following up with short biographies of three of my ancestors who qualify me for membership in DAR. One was a soldier and the other two were civil servants during the war. DAR, SAR and C.A.R. include ancestors with a wider variety of service than just military in determining whether an applicant meets membership requirements. S.R. requires that the ancestor have actual military service.

The first of my colonial ancestors, Samuel Scripture, answered the call to serve after the opening skirmishes of the American Revolution in Lexington and Concord. He was one of the first to enlist in the Cause for Independence, as he signed up under Captain Benjamin Mann on 23 April 1775, only five days after the famous ride and four days after the battles, serving in what would become the 3d New Hampshire Regiment.

Samuel was living in New Hampshire in 1775, but was born 27 April 1727 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Samuel married Mary Green on 9 October 1746 in nearby Chelmsford, MA. Their first three children, Mary, James and Oliver, were born in Groton, but no birth record has been found for the next daughter, Sarah, born about 1753, and later children were born in Mason, Hillsboro, New Hampshire. It may be that the Scriptures moved to New Hampshire about that time.

I don’t know much about the Samuel’s day-to-day life, aside from the names of members of his family. As he died before pensions were offered, he left no detailed account of his service, but the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment, commanded by Captain Benjamin Mann, the 3rd New Hampshire, took part in the Battle of Breed’s Hill, better known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, on 17 June 1775. Samuel’s name appears on the list of men who served with Capt. Mann in that battle.

Direct military service is probably the first way most people think of when searching for an ancestor who aided the cause for independence. On Friday,  I will share two ancestors who did not fight in the war. In fact, they had no military service that I know of, but both are Patriots in the DAR ancestor index.