November 29, 1776: Waterbury, CT

From volume 3 of American Archives, edited by Peter Force:

"Volunteer Company at Waterbury, Connecticut"
Saw-Pitts, in Rye, Connecticut, 29 Nov. 1776:

"When his Honour Governour [John] Trumbull recommended it to the householders in the State of Connecticut, who are not obliged to do military duty, to form themselves into companies, choose their own officers, and equip themselves for the defence of these States, a number of aged gentlemen, in the first society in the town of Waterbury, Embodied themselves and nominated their own officers, who were honoured with commissions; and when the regiment of Militia to which they belong were ordered to New-York, agreeable to a late resolve of the General Assembly, this company was the first in the regiment that marched and reached the place of rendezvous. It is now at this place, and consists of twenty-four men; their ages, added together, are a thousand years. They are all married men, and when they came from home, left behind them their wives, with a hundred and forty-nine children and grand children. One of them is fifty-eight years of age, has had nineteen children and twelve grand children; fourteen of his own children are now living. A worthy example of patriotism. Let others go and do likewise."

After the fall of Fort Washington (Nov. 16, 1776) and the British captured of the soldiers there, Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress and the state governors appealed for recruits. These admirable recruits risked falling into the hands of vindictive captors.