Bond, William, d. 1776

Biography

On the basis of materials in this collection, William Bond lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1768 and was probably the son of Jonas and Hannah Bond. He was a captain in the military in 1774. In July, 1775, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel, second-in-command, in the 37th Regiment of Foot (infantry) in General George Washington's Continental Army. After the death of the regiment's commander, Colonel Thomas Gardner, Bond was promoted to colonel and took over command. After November, 1775, Bond's regiment was renamed the 25th Regiment and remained camped at Prospect Hill, Massachusetts, during the winter of 1775-1776.

William Bond and the 25th Regiment participated in the campaign to conquer Canada during 1776. Congress had requested that General Washington send four regiments to reinforce the army in Canada. On March 15, 1776, the 5th and 25th Regiments received orders from General Horatio Gates to march to Norwich, Connecticut. On March 30, the Massachusetts regiments led by William Bond, John Patterson and John Greaton, along with the New Hampshire regiment led by Enoch Poor, arrived in New York. On April 21, the four regiments sailed in sloops up the Hudson River to Albany under the command of General William Thompson.

In early May, the 25th Regiment was preparing to cross into Canada by boat and reached Sorel by June 14, Chamblee by June 17, Isle aux Noix by June 18, and Crown Point by July 11. On August 10, the 25th Regiment was camped at Mount Independence, a hill near Fort Ticonderoga. The stagnant lakes and swamps around Mount Independence contributed to the diseases already suffered by the regiment, including smallpox. Desertions and discharges for medical reasons severly reduced troop strength. On August 31, 1776, Colonel William Bond died of illness at Mount Independence.

From the guide to the William Bond Papers, 1768-1777, (University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.)