Col. Timothy Bigelow

A Modern "Portrait" of Col. Bigelow

Timothy Bigelow was born on Pakachoag Hill in Worcester, MA (now Auburn) on August 2, 1739 to Daniel and Elizabeth (Whitney) Bigelow. He was the fifth of their six children. Timothy grew up on the family farm.

Timothy was a blacksmith. In 1762 he eloped to marry Anna Andrews, a wealthy (for the area) orphan who was raised by her maternal grandparents. After their marriage they lived in a house built by her father in Lincoln Square, opposite what is now the Old Court House. They raised six children.

He was very active in the Worcester community, and was one of the men chosen to lead the two local militia companies. They were very well trained. On April 19, 1775 he and the other men of Worcester marched on the Lexington and Concord Alarm. They arrived after the battles, but helped “escort” the British soldiers back to Boston.

Honoring Colonel Bigelow During Wreaths Across America

Captain Bigelow became Major Bigelow, and participated in Arnold’s ill-fated march to Quebec. In the aftermath of the battle Major Bigelow and his surviving men were captured and were imprisoned for many months before being released. He was promoted to Colonel, and served for the remainder of the war. Colonel Bigelow was mustered out at West Point, and returned to Worcester.

In his absence other blacksmiths had moved in to Worcester, and Timothy found it hard to find work. Like many other veterans he was given a land bounty on the frontier (his was in what is now Montpelier, VT), but he was not a farmer, and was in ill health due to his service and his captivity during the war. Unable to pay his debts he was sent to debtor’s prison, and he died there on April 4, 1790.

The Bigelow Monument on Worcester Common

In 1861 his great grandson, Timothy Bigelow Lawrence, had a memorial dedicated to Colonel Bigelow placed on Worcester Common. Mount Bigelow in Maine also bears his name, as does the Worcester chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.