John Hart (doctor)
Encyclopedia
Dr. John Hart
A highly respected and eminent surgeon originally from Ipswich, Massachusetts
, served as a Regimental Surgeon during the American Revolution
. Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord
, he left his medical practice in Georgetown (now Bath) Maine
to serve his newly forming country in his home state of Massachusetts
.
His service began in 1775 as a member of Prescott's Regiment
where he was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill
and The Battle of Long Island
. He served as its surgeon from May to August 1775. From there he was incorporated into the short lived Massachusetts Seventh Continental Infantry (from to January to December 1776).
In January 1777, he was personally assigned to the newly formed Col Bailey's 2nd Massachusetts Regiment
by Col Bailey himself (recreated today by the modern Col Bailey's 2nd Massachusetts Regiment). He remained the Regimental Surgeon to the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment for the duration of the war until it was disbanded in 1783. At which point he remained in the service of his country as a reserve surgeon to Col Henry Jackson's Regiment after the war.
In 1784, he was elected by the officers and men of his former regiment (The 2nd Massachusetts Regiment) to travel from Westpoint, NY to Boston on horseback to retrieve $3000.00 in gold slated for use as the back-pay owed them by Congress. Upon his successful return, he was to forfeit the money to the regimental paymaster for proper disbursement. However, he soon discovered the paymaster was not intending to pay the men, but had other plans for that money. It was at this point he took it upon himself to pay the men directly from that money, and was summarily chastised by Congress for this "reprehensible act".
His service to the army lasted over 9 years in total until is honorable discharge in 1784.
In association with over 200 former officers of the Revolution (which included His Excellency General George Washington), Dr. Hart was one of the founders of the Society of the Cincinnati. This organization was formed to collect all the land grants (from their service in the war) to form what is now Ohio. This is actually the reason for the naming of the city of Cincinnati.
After serving a total of 9 years and 3 months, Dr. Hart returned to Middlesex county and settled in Reading Township. It was here he opened his personal medical practice and soon was the doctor for the entire region (including Essex and Suffolk counties). When the Middlesex Medical Association formed in 1790, he was one of its prominent members. In 1792, when a major smallpox epidemic erupted in Boston, Dr. Hart was called upon to take charge of the temporary hospitals setup in Reading, Lynn, Boston, and elsewhere. It was in these hospitals that he personally inoculated thousands of residents for smallpox in a span of only a few months.
Later in life, he was again called upon to represent the Reading citizenry in the Massachusetts General Court for a term of 8 years. He was also a long standing member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and was elected its Vice President until his death in 1836. He is currently resting in peace in the Old Burial Ground, Wakefield, Massachusetts, aside his loving wife and family.
A highly respected and eminent surgeon originally from Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
, served as a Regimental Surgeon during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy , and Cambridge, near Boston...
, he left his medical practice in Georgetown (now Bath) Maine
Bath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
to serve his newly forming country in his home state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
His service began in 1775 as a member of Prescott's Regiment
7th Continental Regiment
The 7th Continental Regiment was raised April 23, 1775 as a Massachusetts militia Regiment at Cambridge, Massachusetts under Colonel William Prescott. The regiment would join the Continental Army in June 1775. The regiment saw action during the Siege of Boston and the New York Campaign...
where he was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
and The Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776, was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the United States Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire conflict, and the...
. He served as its surgeon from May to August 1775. From there he was incorporated into the short lived Massachusetts Seventh Continental Infantry (from to January to December 1776).
In January 1777, he was personally assigned to the newly formed Col Bailey's 2nd Massachusetts Regiment
2nd Massachusetts Regiment
The 2nd Massachusetts Regiment was a unit of the Massachusetts Line in the 1777 establishment of the Continental Army. It was a successor to a number of Massachusetts provincial regiments from the army's 1775 establishment , and was known as the 23rd Continental Regiment during the 1776...
by Col Bailey himself (recreated today by the modern Col Bailey's 2nd Massachusetts Regiment). He remained the Regimental Surgeon to the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment for the duration of the war until it was disbanded in 1783. At which point he remained in the service of his country as a reserve surgeon to Col Henry Jackson's Regiment after the war.
In 1784, he was elected by the officers and men of his former regiment (The 2nd Massachusetts Regiment) to travel from Westpoint, NY to Boston on horseback to retrieve $3000.00 in gold slated for use as the back-pay owed them by Congress. Upon his successful return, he was to forfeit the money to the regimental paymaster for proper disbursement. However, he soon discovered the paymaster was not intending to pay the men, but had other plans for that money. It was at this point he took it upon himself to pay the men directly from that money, and was summarily chastised by Congress for this "reprehensible act".
His service to the army lasted over 9 years in total until is honorable discharge in 1784.
In association with over 200 former officers of the Revolution (which included His Excellency General George Washington), Dr. Hart was one of the founders of the Society of the Cincinnati. This organization was formed to collect all the land grants (from their service in the war) to form what is now Ohio. This is actually the reason for the naming of the city of Cincinnati.
After serving a total of 9 years and 3 months, Dr. Hart returned to Middlesex county and settled in Reading Township. It was here he opened his personal medical practice and soon was the doctor for the entire region (including Essex and Suffolk counties). When the Middlesex Medical Association formed in 1790, he was one of its prominent members. In 1792, when a major smallpox epidemic erupted in Boston, Dr. Hart was called upon to take charge of the temporary hospitals setup in Reading, Lynn, Boston, and elsewhere. It was in these hospitals that he personally inoculated thousands of residents for smallpox in a span of only a few months.
Later in life, he was again called upon to represent the Reading citizenry in the Massachusetts General Court for a term of 8 years. He was also a long standing member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and was elected its Vice President until his death in 1836. He is currently resting in peace in the Old Burial Ground, Wakefield, Massachusetts, aside his loving wife and family.