Soldiers of the Outward Commons: Lake George to Crown Point

Long before Wilbraham became a separate town in 1763, and long before Hampden followed in 1878, this region was known as the Outward Commons of Springfield, a stretch of fertile farmland that would later include Main Street, Wilbraham Road, Stony Hill Road, Somers Road, and scattered homesteads. By the mid-18th century, the Outward Commons was emerging as a community of its own, settled by hardy farmers and skilled craftsmen. Though somewhat isolated from the bustle of Springfield, its residents were deeply connected to the broader events shaping colonial New England, participating in the conflicts, commerce, and civic life of the era.

During this period, the French and Indian War (1754–1763) brought the struggles of the frontier into sharp focus. This conflict, part of a larger global struggle between Britain and France known as the Seven Years’ War, was fought over control of North American territories. French forces and their Native American allies clashed repeatedly with British colonial troops, with New England regiments often called to defend the northern frontier along the Hudson River, Lake George, and Lake Champlain.

From the Outward Commons, several men answered the call to arms. Before 1754, local leaders such as Captain Samuel Day, Lieutenant Thomas Merrick, and Ensign Abel Bliss were commissioned as officers to organize and lead the local militia. During the war itself, twenty-two men from the fourth precinct of Springfield, likely residents of what would become Wilbraham, enlisted to fight as part of New England regiments.

In 1755, for a three-month enlistment, John Langdon, Timothy Wright, Philip Lyon, and William King, Jr., joined the ranks. For a longer eight-month campaign that same year, Sergeant Daniel Cadwell, Sergeant Paul Langdon, Corporal Isaac Colton, Corporal Aaron Bliss, Aaron Alvord, Aaron Warriner, Stephen Bliss, Jesse Warner, Aaron Parsons, Benjamin Warriner, Samuel Warner, and Benjamin Wright marched to the northern frontier. They saw action near the southern extremity of Lake George under the command of Baron Dieskau, where Lieutenant Burt was killed in combat.

Benjamin West’s painting shows Sir William Johnson stopping an Indigenous ally from scalping the wounded French commander Baron Dieskau after his defeat at the Battle of Lake George in 1755. Wikipedia

Additional men from the precinct served in 1759, including Benoni Atchinson, Moses Bartlett, Thomas Dunham, Paul Hitchcock, Samuel Warner, Sr., Samuel Warner, Jr., and Moses Warriner. Among them, Samuel Warner, Sr., often called “Clerk” Warner, kept a detailed journal of his experiences, which provides a vivid glimpse into the hardships and discipline of the colonial army.

Warner’s journal recounts the grueling march from Albany to Fort Edward, detailing the transport of provisions in batteaux, the extreme weather, and the relentless pace imposed by the officers. Soldiers carried barrels of flour and pork for miles, often without rest or adequate nourishment. He describes cold, rain, and a heavy workload as the army advanced along the Hudson River, yet he notes with quiet admiration that Providence spared many lives despite the hardships.

The journal also records the strict discipline of the colonial army. Desertion was severely punished: soldiers from Rhode Island and Connecticut were whipped or threatened with execution to serve as examples. Warner recounts the constant vigilance against French forces and their Native allies, as well as attacks on small detachments of colonial troops, illustrating the danger that was never far from the soldiers’ daily lives.

By July 1755, the men were moving toward Ticonderoga and Crown Point, participating in operations that included long marches, transporting artillery and supplies, and enduring skirmishes with enemy forces. Warner notes fortifications constructed along their route, the constant threat of disease, and the harsh conditions of frontier warfare. After months of service, the soldiers finally returned home, many to the farms and households of the Outward Commons.

The sacrifices of these men, far from the comforts of Springfield or Boston, highlight the role that early Wilbraham residents played in the defense of the northern colonies. They were patriots not only in the later Revolutionary sense but in the very real sense of protecting their homes, families, and the fragile frontier settlements from the chaos of war. Through the record of Samuel Warner, Sr., and the service of these men, the Outward Commons emerges not simply as a quiet farming district but as a community forged in the trials of a larger conflict that shaped the future of Massachusetts and the United States.

Wilbraham and Hampden Men of the Outward Commons in the French and Indian War (1755–1759)

Name	Rank	Enlistment	Campaign / Notes
John Langdon	Private	1755 (3 months)	Early expedition, Lake George
Timothy Wright	Private	1755 (3 months)	Early expedition, Lake George
Philip Lyon	Private	1755 (3 months)	Early expedition, Lake George
William King, Jr.	Private	1755 (3 months)	Early expedition, Lake George
Daniel Cadwell	Sergeant	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Paul Langdon	Sergeant	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Isaac Colton	Corporal	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Aaron Bliss	Corporal	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Aaron Alvord	Private	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Aaron Warriner	Private	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Stephen Bliss	Private	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Jesse Warner	Private	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Aaron Parsons	Private	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Benjamin Warriner	Private	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Samuel Warner	Private	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George; journal kept
Benjamin Wright	Private	1755 (8 months)	Battle near southern Lake George
Benoni Atchinson	Private	1759	Campaigns near Ticonderoga & Lake Champlain
Moses Bartlett	Private	1759	Campaigns near Ticonderoga & Lake Champlain
Thomas Dunham	Private	1759	Campaigns near Ticonderoga & Lake Champlain
Paul Hitchcock	Private	1759	Campaigns near Ticonderoga & Lake Champlain
Samuel Warner, Sr.	Private	1759	Campaigns near Ticonderoga & Lake Champlain; journal kept
Samuel Warner, Jr.	Private	1759	Campaigns near Ticonderoga & Lake Champlain
Moses Warriner	Private	1759	Campaigns near Ticonderoga & Lake Champlain