Stephen Mack

Stephen Mack (June 15, 1766 – November 11, 1826) was an American merchant, patriot and politician. He was a member of the founding company of Pontiac, Michigan, and represented Oakland County in the First Michigan Territorial Council in 1824. He was also the brother of Lucy Mack Smith and so the uncle of Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Early life and military service Stephen Mack was born June 15, 1766, in Marlow, New Hampshire, to Solomon Mack and Lydia Gates Mack. His father noted: "There were but four families in forty miles...As our children were wholly deprived of the privilege of schools, she took the charge of their education..." In 1779, not yet 13 years old (his father called him fourteen), he enlisted with his father and older brother Jason to serve on a privateer in the American Revolutionary War. His father related one incident when: My son Stephen, in company with the cabin boys, was sent to a house, not far from the shore, with a wounded man...A woman was engaged in frying cakes at the time, and being somewhat alarmed, she concluded to retire into the cellar, saying, as she left, that the boys might have the cakes, as she was going below. The boys were highly delighted at this, and they went to work cooking and feasting upon the lady's sweet cakes, while the artillery of the contending armies was thundering in their ears, dealing out death and destruction on every hand. At the head of this party of boys was Stephen Mack, my second son, a bold and fearless stripling of fourteen. Mack served on this trip in March 1779, and then served in the American Army from July 25, 1779 until August 31, 1779 with his brother Jason. He was among those mustered in the Company of Captain Nehemiah Houghton, Col. Nichols’ Regiment at West Point. They were part of the New Hampshire Militia which joined the Continental Army. He served alongside his future brother in law, Stephen Bond, both engaged on July 13, 1780 and discharged October 21, 1780, serving as privates for 3 months, 9 days. He reenlisted, still aged only 15, for three years; serving from April 2, 1781 into 1783.