Friday, November 5, 2010

Gravestone of the Day: Jonathan Felt

Jonathan Felt, 1800, Wrentham, MA
In memory of
Capt, JONATHAN FELT
who departed this life Nov. 5th
1800
in ye 53d, Year of
his Age.

Thro wars & fiery Battles safe I've fled,
Yet slow disease has lodg'd me mongst ye dead,
Mourn not ye loss my friends in tears and sighs
Since we shall meet again beyond ye skies.

This cumbersome verse makes reference to Jonathan Felt's extensive service during the Revolutionary War. He responded to the Lexington Alarm on April 19, 1775 and served through the war until the Yorktown campaign. After the war, Felt returned to Wrentham, where he served as a Justice of the Peace until dying of consumption in 1800. He was a member of the the Society of the Cincinnati.

Also of note: Jonathan's mother's name was Lovewell Wells Felt. Let me say that again: she was born Lovewell Wells and became Lovewell Felt. Is there room for her in my novel?

2 comments:

Robert J. said...

Was Lovewell Felt perhaps named for John Lovewell, the failed bounty hunter of famous name, immortalized by a thirteen year old Longfellow, among others?

Caitlin GD Hopkins said...

It looks unlikely – Lovewell Wells was born in 1719, before Lovewell's War.