Mexican-American War

Billerica took no recorded part as a town in the war with Mexico. Henry Hazen found in 1883 that "of the part which this town took in the War of 1812, and in the Mexican War, the town and State archives contain no record," and thought that Billerica probably had a few soldiers in the war but that "the scenes of action were too remote to leave any distinct impression." No town meeting vote, bounty or relief for soldiers' families in 1846 to 1848 has been found.

Hazen's genealogical register names two Billerica-born men who went to the war. Franklin Crosby, born December 18, 1824, a son of Michael Crosby of Vine Brook and Margaret Tufts (Richardson) Crosby, "went to Mexican War, and never returned." Francis James Parker, baptized January 8, 1815, a son of Henry Parker and Lydia Matthews, "was in the Mexican War under Gen. Taylor"; he served again in the Union army under General Banks in the Civil War, and by 1883 lived in Brownsville, Texas, where he had been mayor and was a judge of the circuit court.

A third man connected with the town served at sea. Captain Charles A. Ranlett, a shipmaster then living in Charlestown who made his home in South Billerica from 1862, was employed during the war "transporting troops and supplies from New Orleans to Vera Cruz." No other Billerica service in the war has been verified.

People

• Charles A. Ranlett: Shipmaster employed in the Mexican War transporting troops and supplies from New Orleans to Vera Cruz; lived in Charlestown then and in South Billerica from 1862.
• Michael Crosby: Billerica farmer whose son Franklin went to the Mexican War and never returned.
• Henry Parker: Father of Francis James Parker, who served in the Mexican War under General Taylor.

References

1. Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), p. 283: of the town's part in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War "the town and State archives contain no record"; probably few soldiers.
2. Hazen, Genealogical Register, p. 32: children of Michael Crosby and Margaret Tufts; Franklin, b. December 18, 1824, "went to Mexican War, and never returned."
3. Hazen, Genealogical Register, p. 106: Francis James Parker, son of Henry, bap. 1815, in the Mexican War under Gen. Taylor and the Union army under Banks; of Brownsville, Texas.
4. Hazen, Genealogical Register, pp. 115-116: Capt. Charles A. Ranlett, shipmaster; in the Mexican War employed transporting troops and supplies from New Orleans to Vera Cruz.