William Prescott was a Massachusetts farmer, militia colonel, and one of the central commanders at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Born in Groton, Massachusetts, he spent most of his life in the region, later settling in Pepperell, where his homestead still stands. Prescott gained lasting fame for leading colonial forces during the June 1775 battle on Breed’s Hill, where he stood at the redoubt throughout the fighting and became associated—accurately or not—with the iconic command, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” After the battle, he continued to serve in the Massachusetts militia and supported the Continental Army’s efforts during the Siege of Boston. Prescott died in 1795 and is buried in Pepperell’s Walton Cemetery, where a monument marks his grave.
