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Frontier. The word alone conjures images of Conestoga wagons parading across the Great Plains. But long before the western frontier became a vital part of America’s story, the colonial settlements in the East had their own frontiers.
New England’s frontiers were dangerous places to be in the early 1700’s. European settlers and Indigenous peoples were constantly at war, incited by the multiple conflicts between France and England in Europe. This was why Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief William Dummer of the Massachusetts Bay Colony instructed towns along the Merrimack River to establish snowshoe companies,(1) special military units that could respond quickly and effectively during the rugged New England winters.
One of these military units, formed in 1724, was the Chelmsford Snowshoe Company. Along with snowshoe companies from nearby towns, its purpose was to protect settlements along the frontier. Snowshoes allowed soldiers to pursue raiding parties through deep snow. Trained for winter combat, the snowshoe company was equipped with flintlock muskets, wooden snowshoes, moccasins, and warm clothing. These lightly armed and highly mobile military units differed greatly from standard colonial militias, which contained more soldiers with various firearms, each requiring different ammunition.
Led by Captain Robert Richardson and Lieutenant Robert Parker,(2) the Chelmsford Snowshoe Company included local farmers, craftsmen, and tradesmen – ordinary men thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
These men were not professional soldiers, yet they played a crucial role in protecting Chelmsford and neighboring settlements. With little warning, they would strap on their snowshoes, take up arms, and set out into the frozen wilderness to intercept enemy war parties.
The Chelmsford Snowshoe Company and others like it disbanded as conflicts waned, but their legacy lived on. The tactics developed by these early militia units influenced later military strategies, particularly in the formation of Rogers Rangers during the French and Indian War 30 years later. The effectiveness of small, agile units in wilderness warfare proved invaluable, shaping aspects of modern American military doctrine.
Today, Chelmsford’s history remains deeply tied to its colonial past, and the story of its snowshoe company serves as a fascinating reminder of the resilience and ingenuity of New England’s settlers. While they may not have worn red coats or fought in famous battles, these winter warriors played an unsung but vital role in the survival of early Massachusetts communities.
(1) History of Chelmsford by Rev. Wilkes Allen
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(2) History of Chelmsford Massachusetts by Rev. Wilson Waters and Henry Spaulding Pelham
Page 150
