A bible covered in the remnants of a Revolutionary War soldier’s breeches!

This Brownell family bible, printed in 1811, has an unusual cover. A note inside the bible reads “cover made from Grandpa Benjamin Brownell’s leather breeches.”

The bible includes Brownell genealogy beginning with Abner Brownell born 1756.  Abner is known as Westport’s Paul Revere.

WHS 2003.181.001

Who was Benjamin Brownell?

This story of Benjamin Brownell (1734-1816), a Westport Revolutionary War soldier, is recorded by Gladys Gifford Kirby (local historian):

“One Old Dartmouth resident, who played a small part in this war, but whose record is worth our attention is, Benjamin Brownell, Sr.  who was father of Westport’s first town clerk. He lived on the Adamsville road (at the Oscar Palmer Farm).

In the summer of 1780, word was brought to him from Rhode Island that the British were planning a raid on the island and the regular force stationed at Newport was sadly in need of volunteers.

Without hesitation Brownell, true to his family’s reputation for gallantry in fighting, started, with his gun on his shoulder, down the road toward Adamsville or Taber Mills as it was then called. Just what hardships he may have endured, if any, or what sort of service he rendered we cannot state, but “Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution” gives the following account of his service: “Brownell, Benjamin, Private Capt. Jonathan Taber’s co. Col. John Hathaway’s (2nd Bristol Co.) regt. marched Aug. 3, 1780; discharged Aug. 7, 1780; service 5 days on an alarm to Rhode Island. Roll sworn at Dartmouth.”

Although Brownell then was forty-six years old and the father of six children he did not ask exemption. At the time when Westport elected its first group of town [officers], “Benjamin Brownell, Sen., was chosen Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ensuing.”