NEW REPORTS confirm that Keene, New Hampshire, faced severe hardships during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), including a devastating smallpox outbreak. 225 enlistments were recorded, with the majority of local men serving in the Continental Army, leaving families and farms in dire straits.
This urgent situation emerged as early as 1775, when the town’s male population between ages 16 and 50 was just 171. With a staggering 78% of these men enlisted, the impact was felt throughout the community. Many families struggled to manage their farms, and the absence of soldiers due to injuries and illness compounded the challenges.
According to historian Gen. Simon G. Griffin, Keene faced a significant smallpox outbreak in 1775 and 1776, with a fatality rate of around 30%. The disease caused severe suffering, and local physicians attempted to establish inoculation hospitals to combat its spread. Unfortunately, the lack of experience led to several failures, and the community grew increasingly wary.
As reported by Griffin, “Inoculation was just then coming into practice, but the physicians, without experience, were not always successful in its use.” The town petitioned the state Legislature for regulations on these hospitals after witnessing the loss of several residents. In response to the community’s concerns, a well-managed isolation hospital was established in 1776, where six out of many successfully inoculated residents died.
In a landmark decision, George Washington mandated the inoculation of all Continental Army troops in 1777, marking the first medical mandate in U.S. history. This critical move aimed to safeguard the troops from ongoing smallpox outbreaks that were decimating their numbers.
The war’s persistent strain left Keene in a state of privation, with little economic progress. Griffin noted, “Very little had been accomplished in the town during the year, for public affairs and the carrying on of the war had absorbed the attention of everybody.” The local economy suffered deeply as the Continental Congress’s paper money depreciated in value, leading to heavy taxation, further exacerbating the residents’ destitution.
Major fighting ceased on October 19, 1781, with the American victory at the Siege of Yorktown, but the official end of the war didn’t come until the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783. Keene’s residents could finally begin to rebuild their lives after enduring these tremendous hardships.
As the community reflects on this tumultuous period, attention will soon turn to the fate of the Tories in Keene, those who remained loyal to King George III. Stay tuned for next week’s report on their experiences during the war.
This urgent historical reflection serves as a reminder of the resilience and struggles faced by communities during times of conflict. The stories of those who lived through these trials continue to resonate today, emphasizing the human impact of war and disease.
