In the quiet town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, where the air carried the scent of the sea and the whispers of history, lived a man named Peleg Wadsworth. Born on May 6, 1748, Peleg was a man of honor and courage, a true son of the American Revolution.

As a young man, Peleg graduated from Harvard College and became a schoolteacher, sharing knowledge with the same passion that he would later share his love for freedom1. It was during these early years that he met and married Elizabeth Bartlett, a woman of strong will and kind heart.

When the winds of revolution stirred, Peleg felt the call to serve his country. He mustered a company of minutemen and was chosen as their captain. His leadership was tested early on when his company responded to the alarms generated by the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.

Peleg’s military career was marked by bravery and strategic acumen. He served as aide to General Artemas Ward and as an engineer under General John Thomas, assisting in laying out the defenses of Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was present at the Battle of Long Island and was made brigadier general of militia in 1777.

But it was the Penobscot Expedition that would test Peleg’s mettle like no other. As second in command to General Solomon Lovell, he faced one of the worst American military defeats of the war. Yet, even in defeat, Peleg’s spirit remained unbroken. When British vessels arrived, causing chaos and destruction, it was Peleg who led his men through the Maine wilderness to safety.

After the war, Peleg returned to Maine, where he became a prominent figure in the community. He built a successful store, invested in land, and was elected to the United States House of Representatives during President Washington’s second term. He served his constituents with the same dedication he had shown on the battlefield.

Peleg Wadsworth’s legacy lived on through his descendants, most notably his grandson, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who would inherit his grandfather’s love for the written word and the spirit of America.

As the years passed, the house that Peleg built stood firm, a testament to a life well-lived—a life of service, love, and an unwavering commitment to the ideals of freedom and justice.