Doctor Estes Howe’s Revolutionary War Notebooks

Disease killed more than twice the number of American troops that died in combat during the Revolution. Historian Joseph Ellis suggests that Washington's decision to have his troops inoculated against smallpox was one of his most important decisions. Dr. Estes Howe, one of Belchertown’s first physicians, was a surgeon in Rufus Putnam’s regiment during the first years of the conflict and these notebooks provide an interesting look into 18th century field medicine. Book I records the treatments he dispensed, with the names of the soldiers who were sick or wounded. It includes a list of the troops he inoculated against smallpox. Both notebooks contain important and detailed notes about units and commanders, troop movements, and the day to day life of a soldier.
Dr. Estes Howe was a major figure in Belchertown’s history. He served as Town Clerk, Selectman and in many other positions of responsibility. Book II also contains his Clerk’s notes, 1782-1783. He and his second wife gave the town the land that is now the north part of Belchertown Common.
Local legend – likely true, but not recorded in any known contemporaneous account – relates that when the Marquis de Lafayette passed through Belchertown on his way to the dedication of the Bunker Hill Monument, he was told of an ailing doctor who had given great service during the Revolution. Lafayette asked his driver to stop at Dr. Howe’s home and he visited with him, briefly, paying his respects, before continuing his journey through Massachusetts. Whether true or not, Dr. Howe was among the early doctors in Belchertown (some say the first) and he resided here until his death in March of 1826. His portrait, painted by Chester Harding, proudly hangs in the Stone House Museum.
Dr. Estes Howe was a major figure in Belchertown’s history. He served as Town Clerk, Selectman and in many other positions of responsibility. Book II also contains his Clerk’s notes, 1782-1783. He and his second wife gave the town the land that is now the north part of Belchertown Common.
Local legend – likely true, but not recorded in any known contemporaneous account – relates that when the Marquis de Lafayette passed through Belchertown on his way to the dedication of the Bunker Hill Monument, he was told of an ailing doctor who had given great service during the Revolution. Lafayette asked his driver to stop at Dr. Howe’s home and he visited with him, briefly, paying his respects, before continuing his journey through Massachusetts. Whether true or not, Dr. Howe was among the early doctors in Belchertown (some say the first) and he resided here until his death in March of 1826. His portrait, painted by Chester Harding, proudly hangs in the Stone House Museum.
About This Item
Date
July 1775 - 1784
Description
These two notebooks contain the Revolutionary War Record and Accounts of Dr. Estes Howe, 1775-1785. Book I is entitled, “Estes Howe, his book, Peeks Kill, June 7, 1777, Belcherton [sic], May 14” and is 56 pages, 6x7½ in., paper cover, stitched. Book II has no cover, but contains his Revolutionary War Records, 1775-1776, and his notes as Belchertown Town Clerk, 1782 – 1783. It is 68 pages, 6x7¼ in., stitched paper. Also available: a partial list of other content found in the journals.
Type
Identifier
Object ID = Box 004, Folder 03
Collection
Contributor
Citation
Belchertown Historical Association, “Doctor Estes Howe’s Revolutionary War Notebooks,” Revolution Happened Here, accessed December 1, 2023, https://revolutionhappenedhere.org/items/show/10.
Related Items
This item has no relations.
Transcription
Please note, this transcription is still under construction. The "Remedies" notes are still being researched. If you have any expertise in 18th century medicine, please contact us!
Capt. Name | Persons Sick | Rank | Disorders | Remedys Applyd. |
Angle | Isaac Whord | Privet | Dysentary | Rhii Ipecac d. albis |
Roundsevel | Lemuel Tabor | Lieut. | “—“ | Rhii. Ial. Niter d. albis |
Jepther Ashley | Privet | Slow Fever | Sal. Niter Dilut Tea | |
August 4 | Timathy Ingrums | —“— | Dysentary | Rhii Cort?? |
Jacob Laisdell | —“— | “—“ | Eonatick?? | |
Abner Cody | Sergt | Dys on decl | Bitters with ?? | |
Wm. Allen | Privet | Dysentary | Rhii?? | |
Bardwell | James McClantick | —“— | “—“ | Rh?? |
Jona. Olds | —“— | “—“ | “ as above— | |
Stuard Key | —“— | Rumitism | Bill Cache of ?? | |
Elijah Knights | —“— | Wounded | Dressing Peculars | |
August 5 | Lemuel Tabor | Lieut. | gone home | ——— |
Roundsevel | Timathy Ingrums | Privet | Dysentary | Rhis Cat do Albis?? |
Daniel Ward | “—“ | Slow Fever | ??Bitters | |
Daniel Giles | “—“ | Dysentary | Ematick?? | |
Walbridge | Asher Nickels | —“— | Slow Fever | Rhii?? |
Robert Parkes | —“— | “—“ | Oint Cont.?? | |
——Parker | —“— | “—“ | “—Rhiis Sal Nitre? | |
Esm. Mungar | —“— | Epelepsey | Pell??? | |
Danforth | Elijah Mason | —“— | Dys on decl | Rhii Car?? |
Daniel Bullock | —“— | Billius Collick | Pell Cache ?? | |
Isaac Goff | —“— | Dys on decl | Rhii?? | |
Aaron Millar | —“— | Dysentary | Ematick d’albis?? | |
Simeon Whelan | —“— | “—“ | “—“ “—“ | |
[?]allen | —— Ingalsen | Capt. | Hypondrical | “—“ “—“ |
——Gutterage | Lieut. | Dysentary | Rhii?? | |
Capt. Name | Persons Sick | Rank | Disorders | Remedys Applyd. |
August 5 | Jacob Lasdell | Privet | Dysentary | Rhii?? |
Bardwell | James McClentick | —“— | “—“ | Rhii Sal Niter?? |
Jona. Olds | —“— | “—“ | “——“ ”——“ | |
Wm. Allen | —“— | “—“ | “——“ ”——“ | |
Elijah Knights | —“— | Wounded | Dress and Dressings | |
King | Job Dean | —“— | Dysentary | Rhii d’albas at Nite?? |
Colton | Benj. Colton | Drummer | Dyerhea | Ematick ——“— |
Richard Fairman | Privet | Cold | Betrl Bolis d’albis | |
Henry | David Picher | —“— | Dysentary | Rhii ?? |
Azariah Holloway | —“— | Pain in abdomen | Pill Cache | |
Angel | Isaac Hoard | —“— | Dysentary | Rhii Sal Morab del albis?? |
Jedediah Jewett | Corp. | “——“ | Ematick?? | |
Peckard | John Potama | Negro | “——“ | Rhii d’albas?? |
Jedediah Gilbart | —“— | Slow Fever | ?? | |
6th | Israel Gaff | Privet | Dyst. on decline | Rhii?? |
Danforth | Aaron Millar | —“— | Inflam. Fever | Rhii Sal Niter d Albis |
Elisha Mason | —“— | Dysentary | Rhii Sal Niter | |
Stephen Ingals | —“— | Dyst. on decline | Tint Cort?? | |
Roundsevel | Timathy Ingram | —“— | Dysentary | Gone to the Horspittal |
Wm. Parker | —“— | “—“ | Ematick?? | |
Peckard | Joseph Wood | Corp. | Dysentary | Gone to the Horspittal |
Josiah Wood | Privet | Foul Stomach | Ematick—— | |
Lemuel [?] | —“— | “—“ | “—“—“— | |
Henry | Elisha Hocam | —“— | Dysentary | Ematick?? at Night |
David Picher | —“— | “——“ | Dectan Cortet Elix??? |