other area persons and perhaps the fact that their names do not appear above is explained by their non-membership in one of the regular units. These men may have been among those who "not belonging to any militia, joined in the march, either providing for themselves or going with the companies."
    The additional names among this group include John Chatfield, Jr. of Oxford; and three members of the Holbrook family - John Holbrook and two Daniel Holbrooks, each of whom eventually attained the rank of Colonel.
    Derby supplied a high portion of her men for this march, and the men of Derby had supported the cause of liberty prior to this march. The old Derby records are interesting for their references to local support for the Colonel cause. The earliest record of action of the town meeting on this topic is explained in Orcutt and Beardsley's History of Old Derby as follows:
    "The first recorded action of the town of Derby took place at a legal town meeting, November 29, 1774. It was after the closing of the port of Boston, in consequence of the famous tea-party which occurred in Boston on the 16th of December, 1773, and in punishment the government declared the port of Boston closed. Upon this, public meetings were held throughout the Colonies, renewing the agreement against the use of tea and expressing sympathy with the people of Boston. At the meeting in Derby, Daniel Holbrook, Esq., was chosen moderator of the meeting."
    At this meeting extracts of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia were read, and the town meeting voted that they considered this "a wise and judicious plan." A committee was selected to carry out the plan, and the members were authorized to choose two of their number, should a county congress be called.
    As the Colony of Connecticut became more concerned about the state of affairs between Great Britain and the Colonies, a law, passed in April, 1775, authorized the raising of one-fourth of the militia for the special defense of the colony This force was sent to Boston immediately after the fighting at Lexington, "to the relief of Boston," as a result of the Lexington Alarm. The listing of the men who took part follows: