Behind the Muster Rolls

When you look closely at the data of Natick’s Revolutionary War veterans, you see more than just a list of soldiers. Repetition of certain first and last names shows just how tightly knit this 18th-century community really was. It wasn't just an army of strangers, but an army of neighbors, cousins, and parents.

Scroll below to uncover the most common names on the battlefield.

Questions are in red boxes and their answers are in blue boxes.


Which first names appeared most often among our town’s soldiers?

23 Johns

15 Josephs

13 Samuels

13 Williams

12 Thomases

23 Johns

15 Josephs

13 Samuels

13 Williams

12 Thomases

11 Moses

10 Ephraims

9 Isaacs

9 Nathans

7 James


11 Moses

10 Ephraims

9 Isaacs

9 Nathans

7 James

What last names appeared most often among Natick’s Revolutionary War soldiers?

16 Bacons

15 Smiths

9 Morses

8 Sawins


16 Bacons

15 Smiths

9 Morses

8 Sawins