PHOTOS: Patriots' Day Unveilings at Vine Lake Cemetery

On Patriots' Day in Medfield, under a hot sun and 85 degree temperatures, author Samuel A. Forman stood near the gravesite of Mercy Scollay in Vine Lake Cemetery. 

Forman was dressed in period militia uniform and had just returned from the Battle Green in Lexington. He spent the morning in Lexington as a Minuteman reenactor, battling the British. 

"I am sad to report that we lost to the British again; for the 237th time," he said.

Forman is a physician, historian, educator, and author of "Dr. Joseph Warren: The Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill, and the Birth of American Liberty." As part of the Vine Lake Preservation Trust Patriots' Day event, Forman travelled to Medfield to honor Miss Mercy Scollay, read some of her works, and gave a graveside musket salute. He also unveiled a John Singleton Copley portrait of her likeness, titled "Portrait of a Lady in a Blue Dress." Miss Scollay was a Daughter of Liberty and fiancee of widower Dr. Joseph Warren at the time of his death at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

According to Forman's website, www.drjosephwarren.com, "beloved and famous in his time for his political and military exploits, Joseph Warren is now barely remembered as the hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill and as the person who sent Paul Revere on his iconic ride."

What links Medfield to Dr. Joseph Warren is the late Miss Mercy Scollay, "an underappreciated but well-deserving, Daughter of Liberty," according to www.vinelakepreservation.org. 

Forman knew that Scollay was Warren's fiancee at the time of his death, and that she was living in Worcester with his children, but later moved to Medfield. By following history, Forman came to Medfield and with the help of Rob Gregg, President of the Vine Lake Preservation Trust, he visited Scollay's gravesite and working together, Scollay's headstone was raised and her epitaph was revealed.  

Forman was curious and had searched for an image of Scollay while researching her life and accomplishments. At Vine Lake Cemetery, he unveiled an unnamed mysterious John Singleton Copley portrait of what he believes is Mercy Scollay.

In addition to Forman's presentation, members of the Vine Lake Preservation Trust handed out "Walk Among the Shadows" maps. These extraordinarly detailed maps, funded by , identify 50 gravesites in the old section of Vine Lake Cemetery and serve as a self guided tour when walking through that area.

You can pick up your own copy of the "Walk Among the Shadows" map of Vine Lake Cemetery at the following locations: Needham Bank, , , , Medfield , and the .

Medfield is a town full of historical significance, and on this Patriots' Day yet another resident of Vine Lake Cemetery, Miss Mercy Scollay, was recognized and honored for her place in American history.

For more information, log onto www.vinelakepreservationtrust.org.