Last updated: June 2, 2026
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Simon Knowles: A Legacy of Patriotism and Constancy
On the United States’ 250th anniversary, Americans reflect on the hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens—especially the citizen-soldiers in the Revolutionary War, whose sacrifices secured the nation’s independence.
Among these American soldiers is Simon Knowles of New Hampshire, who enlisted at age 15 and served throughout the eight years of the War. He took part in many pivotal battles while enduring the harsh conditions frequently faced by soldiers of the Continental Army.
Knowles’ story reflects the steady resolve of the everyday unsung patriots who formed the backbone of the American Cause. From the early clashes near Boston to the Final Victory at Yorktown, his service exemplified the constancy needed to defeat the world’s mightiest empire.
DOI / Andrew King
Biography
Simon Knowles (August 14, 1759 – March 26, 1834) was born to a farming family in Hampton, New Hampshire. Like most young men in his generation, he engaged with serious responsibilities at a much younger age than is typical today.
In that era, for instance, girls were commonly married by the age of 16. Young men typically entered the work force around 12, and many started college or university at age 14 or 15. Thousands of 15-year-olds served as soldiers in the War for Independence.
Simon responded to the call to arms very early in the conflict. In July 1775, after his family participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill, he enlisted in the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He initially served as a private in Colonel John Stark’s New Hampshire Regiment, and over the course of the war, reenlisted numerous times in other New Hampshire units.
After the war, Simon became a farmer. He married Lydia Fuller and eventually moved to Northport, Maine, where they raised several children. He spent the remainder of his life there. (Maine had been the northern part of Massachusetts until 1820, when it separated and became an independent state.)
Simon died in 1834 and was buried in Pitcher Cemetery, Northport, Maine. His grave marker describes him simply as Soldier of the Revolution.
Knowles' Military Service
Over the course of the War for Independence, some 230,000 Americans served in the Continental Army, but only about 40,000 in any given year—and no single American force ever numbered more than 13,000. Terms of enlistment for the Continental Army were usually one year, and for state militias only six months. For any soldier to serve close to eight years was a remarkable feat demonstrating the highest patriotism and love for one’s country.
Simon Knowles’ military service began in the crucible of 1775. As part of the Massachusetts militia, he fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill alongside his father, John Knowles, who was wounded during the battle and later died from his injuries.
Not long after the battle, Simon enlisted in the national Continental Army and his military service continued. Simon crossed the Delaware River with General George Washington on Christmas night 1776 for the surprise attack and momentous victory at Trenton. He fought in the 1777 battle of Princeton, and then the Saratoga campaign later that year. He endured the brutal winter encampment at Valley Forge in 1777–1778, and faithfully remained with the army through its subsequent operations all the way to the decisive 1781 victory at Yorktown. He was honorably discharged in 1783, having been present for nearly all major engagements of the war.
His contributions as a typical line soldier were vital to the Continental Army’s success. Thousands like Knowles served for years with minimal pay, inadequate supplies, and extreme hardship, but their commitment made the difference in the outcome of the war. In his later years, Simon applied for and received a Revolutionary War pension. His application for that pension offers a good description of his service and stands as a testament to the experiences of the common soldier.
Simon Knowles in New Hampshire & Maine
Knowles represents the typical citizen-soldier of New Hampshire, a state that provided vital early regiments to the Continental Army. After the war, he exemplified the transition to civilian life as a farmer in Maine, contributing to the settlement and agricultural foundation of the new nation. His long service highlighted the commitment of a rural youth to the patriot cause.
His Faith
Details on Knowles’ personal faith are not available from the surviving records, and documenting specific everyday occurrences was not typical. General evidence shows that life in nearly every community in the Revolutionary era centered around local churches. As such, further record-keeping of that obvious fact was not considered necessary. Thus, there are few records documenting the evident religious faith of the everyday ordinary citizen.
Age of Revolutionary War Soldiers
Simon Knowles enlisted in the Continental Army when he was 15 or 16 years old, which was not unusual. While official regulations often set the minimum enlistment age at 16 (with some variations by state and unit), younger boys were accepted, and many below age boys claimed to be older so they could join and fight.
The Continental Army relied heavily on teenagers and young men. The average age of a soldier was around 22, though enlistees ranged from 15 to their 70s. Most, however, were between 15 and 30 years old. Boys younger than 15 (and even one as young as seven) served as drummers and fifers, aging into combat roles. Knowles’ long-term service demonstrates how youthful dedication and determination helped sustain the army through prolonged hardship.
Soldiers of the Revolution
The participation of young soldiers like Simon Knowles highlights a broader aspect of the Revolutionary struggle: the mobilization of all of society, including its youth, in the fight for independence. With no strict federal draft laws, which became normal in later wars, enlistment was mainly voluntary, driven by local recruitment, patriotic dedication, and bounties (this was a monetary or land incentive used by the Continental Congress to encourage men to enlist, or reenlist, in the Continental Army).
The widespread involvement of teenagers helped compensate for the Continental Army’s ongoing manpower shortages. The resilience of these young men through hardship and tough campaigns was essential to sustaining the war effort. Knowles’ story, like those of thousands of other youthful soldiers, reminds us that American independence was secured not just by seasoned leaders, but also determined youth willing to risk everything for a cause greater than themselves.
Legacy
While Simon Knowles’ modest postwar existence and simple gravestone epitaph stand in contrast to grand monuments, his service was indispensable in helping to forge our nation. Knowles’ statue in Freedom Plaza represents the forgotten, and even largely unknown, patriots whose names appear only in muster rolls or pension files—ordinary Americans whose extraordinary commitment secured freedom for subsequent generations.