As the town of Pepperell celebrates its 250th anniversary, we are kicking off the year-long celebration with an exhibit of artifacts from the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) Prudence Wright Chapter. The items will be on display in the art gallery through February 1.
The Prudence Wright Chapter was formed in 1898 by Mary Lucinda Parker Shattuck on the eighth anniversary of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), which was founded in 1890. Members are descended from the patriots, male and female, who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. The DAR is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting: Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism.
Who was Prudence Wright? Well, Prudence Cummings Wright did her part to aid our young country in its endeavor to gain independence. In late April 1775, she, with 30-40 of her neighbors and friends, dressed in their absent husbands’ clothing, to intercept a Tory messenger who they learned was carrying dispatches from Canada to the enemy in Boston. They knew he would use the Jewett’s Bridge across the Nashua River, near the location of the present Covered Bridge. Prudence (Mrs. David Wright) was chosen commander, and her assistant was Sarah Hartwell (Mrs. Job Shattuck). They shouldered muskets, wielded pitchforks, and marched to Jewett’s Bridge, where they succeeded in capturing Captain Leonard Whiting. In his boots were found the treasonable papers.
Prudence Wright Chapter members volunteer hundreds of service hours annually in the Pepperell community, including maintaining the Prudence Wright Overlook at the Covered Bridge, supporting active-duty military personnel and assisting veteran patients, maintaining veteran grave markers, placing flags on Memorial Day weekend, giving Good Citizen awards to high school seniors, marching in all Pepperell parades, and conducting living history reenactments. Currently, there are almost 50 members in the chapter. “Friends of Prudence Wright” without the lineage are also welcome!