Benjamin Franklin Taylor was born in Lowville, New York, July 19,
1819. He was best known as a lecturer. He died in Cleveland, Ohio,
February 24, 1887.
Of the poem the author says: “The story of ‘Mary Butler’s Ride’ is
unembellished truth. To one of her grandsons, J. M. Taylor, Esq., of New
York, I am indebted for the incident. To hear men say,--those far-away
boys of hers, and yet busy in life’s affairs,--‘many a time I have heard
her tell the story!’ brings the gray-eyed Mary Butler strangely near. It
is like raising a dead century to instant resurrection.”
=1. 39.= =Stark= (John, 1728-1822), a Continental brigadier-general who
distinguished himself at Bunker Hill and Bennington.
=1. 84.= =Putnam= (Israel, 1718-1790), a Continental major-general, active
at Bunker Hill and in various other engagements until stricken by
paralysis in 1779. His daring escape from the British soldiers by riding
down a flight of stone steps in the town of Greenwich, Connecticut,
occurred in March, 1779.