Son of John and Content (Norton) Thacher.
James Thacher was the son of a Cape Cod farmer, and apprenticed to a Barnstable Physician at age 16. At the age of 21, his five years apprenticeship completed, James Thacher was ready to enter the world when war broke out. Setting off towards Cambridge and the Continental Army, Thacher's journey led him through Plymouth. There he stopped to view Plymouth Rock, recently moved from Plymouth's waterfront to Town Square as a symbol of the Patriot cause, and wrote in his journel: This Rock, with its association would seem almost capable of imparting that love of country, and that moral virtue, which our times so desperately require... Can we set our feet on their rock without swearing, by the spirit of our fathers, to defend it and our country?
Armed with a letter of introduction from James Otis (senior) of Barnstable to Otis' son-in-law James Warren, President of the Provincial Congress, Thacher passed an examination by the medical board and was awarded the position of surgeon's mate. James Thacher left the military on January
1, 1783, and settled in Plymouth where he practiced medicine for many years.
From James Thacher's Military Journal: I am obliged to devote the whole of my time, from eight o'clock in the morning to a late hour in the evening, to the care of our patients... Amputating limbs, trepanning fractured skulls, and dressing the most formidable wounds, have familiarzied my mind to scenes of woe.
Note: In 1823 Thacher published his first historical work "Thacher's Military Journal, during the American Revolutionary War." While serving as librarian and cabinet-keeper of the Pilgrim Society, James Thacher
continued to write. His "History of Plymouth," covering all the significant events from the landing of the Pilgrims to 1832, was the first town history published in the United States.
James Thacher was the son of a Cape Cod farmer, and apprenticed to a Barnstable Physician at age 16. At the age of 21, his five years apprenticeship completed, James Thacher was ready to enter the world when war broke out. Setting off towards Cambridge and the Continental Army, Thacher's journey led him through Plymouth. There he stopped to view Plymouth Rock, recently moved from Plymouth's waterfront to Town Square as a symbol of the Patriot cause, and wrote in his journel: This Rock, with its association would seem almost capable of imparting that love of country, and that moral virtue, which our times so desperately require... Can we set our feet on their rock without swearing, by the spirit of our fathers, to defend it and our country?
Armed with a letter of introduction from James Otis (senior) of Barnstable to Otis' son-in-law James Warren, President of the Provincial Congress, Thacher passed an examination by the medical board and was awarded the position of surgeon's mate. James Thacher left the military on January
1, 1783, and settled in Plymouth where he practiced medicine for many years.
From James Thacher's Military Journal: I am obliged to devote the whole of my time, from eight o'clock in the morning to a late hour in the evening, to the care of our patients... Amputating limbs, trepanning fractured skulls, and dressing the most formidable wounds, have familiarzied my mind to scenes of woe.
Note: In 1823 Thacher published his first historical work "Thacher's Military Journal, during the American Revolutionary War." While serving as librarian and cabinet-keeper of the Pilgrim Society, James Thacher
continued to write. His "History of Plymouth," covering all the significant events from the landing of the Pilgrims to 1832, was the first town history published in the United States.
Son of John and Content (Norton) Thacher.
James Thacher was the son of a Cape Cod farmer, and apprenticed to a Barnstable Physician at age 16. At the age of 21, his five years apprenticeship completed, James Thacher was ready to enter the world when war broke out. Setting off towards Cambridge and the Continental Army, Thacher's journey led him through Plymouth. There he stopped to view Plymouth Rock, recently moved from Plymouth's waterfront to Town Square as a symbol of the Patriot cause, and wrote in his journel: This Rock, with its association would seem almost capable of imparting that love of country, and that moral virtue, which our times so desperately require... Can we set our feet on their rock without swearing, by the spirit of our fathers, to defend it and our country?
Armed with a letter of introduction from James Otis (senior) of Barnstable to Otis' son-in-law James Warren, President of the Provincial Congress, Thacher passed an examination by the medical board and was awarded the position of surgeon's mate. James Thacher left the military on January
1, 1783, and settled in Plymouth where he practiced medicine for many years.
From James Thacher's Military Journal: I am obliged to devote the whole of my time, from eight o'clock in the morning to a late hour in the evening, to the care of our patients... Amputating limbs, trepanning fractured skulls, and dressing the most formidable wounds, have familiarzied my mind to scenes of woe.
Note: In 1823 Thacher published his first historical work "Thacher's Military Journal, during the American Revolutionary War." While serving as librarian and cabinet-keeper of the Pilgrim Society, James Thacher
continued to write. His "History of Plymouth," covering all the significant events from the landing of the Pilgrims to 1832, was the first town history published in the United States.
James Thacher was the son of a Cape Cod farmer, and apprenticed to a Barnstable Physician at age 16. At the age of 21, his five years apprenticeship completed, James Thacher was ready to enter the world when war broke out. Setting off towards Cambridge and the Continental Army, Thacher's journey led him through Plymouth. There he stopped to view Plymouth Rock, recently moved from Plymouth's waterfront to Town Square as a symbol of the Patriot cause, and wrote in his journel: This Rock, with its association would seem almost capable of imparting that love of country, and that moral virtue, which our times so desperately require... Can we set our feet on their rock without swearing, by the spirit of our fathers, to defend it and our country?
Armed with a letter of introduction from James Otis (senior) of Barnstable to Otis' son-in-law James Warren, President of the Provincial Congress, Thacher passed an examination by the medical board and was awarded the position of surgeon's mate. James Thacher left the military on January
1, 1783, and settled in Plymouth where he practiced medicine for many years.
From James Thacher's Military Journal: I am obliged to devote the whole of my time, from eight o'clock in the morning to a late hour in the evening, to the care of our patients... Amputating limbs, trepanning fractured skulls, and dressing the most formidable wounds, have familiarzied my mind to scenes of woe.
Note: In 1823 Thacher published his first historical work "Thacher's Military Journal, during the American Revolutionary War." While serving as librarian and cabinet-keeper of the Pilgrim Society, James Thacher
continued to write. His "History of Plymouth," covering all the significant events from the landing of the Pilgrims to 1832, was the first town history published in the United States.
Inscription
In memory of
JAMES THACHER, M.D.
a surgeon in the army during
the war of the Revolution;
afterwards, for many years,
a practising physician
in the county of Plymouth;
the author of several historical
and scientific works:
esteemed of all men
for piety and benevolence,
public spirit and private kindness.
Born February 14, 1754,
Died May 26, 1844.
Also of
SUSAN THACHER,
for 57 years, his pious
and faithful wife.
who died May 17, 1842,
aged 86 years.
Kingman #1667
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