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William Russell was born in 1748 in Boston to Samuel Russell, a block maker who supplied shipbuilding materials, and Elizabeth Russell, a teacher who ran a Dame school, young William received a solid education despite his family's modest means. He followed his mother's path into teaching rather than his father's trade, despite lacking funds for college he securing a position at a private school by 1770
Russell married Mary Richardson with whom he had 5 children with, from a higher-status New England family. Russell was an ardent Patriot , allegedly associating with the Sons of Liberty, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, and participated in the Boston Tea Party. However when his father in law was killed along Battle Road and the British imposed the Coercive Acts—shutting down Boston's port, occupying the town, and causing widespread hardship—Russell evacuated his family to Cambridge
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After the British evacuation in 1776, Russell reentered Boston alone and enlisted in the Massachusetts militia, serving in an artillery company. He started as sergeant major, handling significant administrative duties in a relatively quiet, and unlucrative defensive role around Boston. Seeking greater financial means to support his refugee family, he turned to privateering. In June 1779, he signed on to The Jason from Boston Harbor where he met with success and captured two prizes, however on The Jasons 2nd expedition they were hunted down and after a fierce battle, captured off the coast of New Foundland.
Russell was first confined at Old Mill Prison in Plymouth, England, charged with high treason but because of the unique limbo status captured American Privateers had as neither civil nor combatant prisoners he and his fellow inmates were afforded an above average standard of living, but that would change. Russell maintained a 656-page journal during his 30 month incarceration detailing prison life, attempted escapes, interactions with fellow captives, and his unyielding hopes for release and reunion with his family, and it is here we can track the slow descent into anguish Russell’s life would take. A change in policy from Parliment on captives would see prisoners go from relatively low security to abuse, “the black hole”, and frequent half rations. He writes his wife “Mary you can't imagine the anxiety I have to hear from home for my spirits are depressed and I grow Melancholy by thinking in what situation you must be in with three young children to maintain” but in 1782 on Russells 34th birthday he receives news that privateers will now be eligible for prisoner exchanges and his release is secured, Russell ets off back to America, he writes:
“I was transported with joy and my deliverance from a loam prison where I've been for 30 months and 5 days and almost despaired for seeeing my native country my loving wife and dear children or many of my Rel relations and friends who are so dear to me I've taken my departure from Old Mill prison never to see it again”
However Russells homecoming almost immediately soured, his destitution so extreme he finds his back to the wall.
Ruseel again goes privateering. he is quickly recaptured and imprisoned a second time on the prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor, infamous for its deadly conditions, overcrowding, and disease. prisoners were packed aboard the ship by the hundreds. with only rotten meat and porridge to share between them in a communal pot, fresh water was in short supply and prisoners died daily, Russell writes
“I am now in the worst of places and must suffer if confined uh to the winter for I am short of clothing and the provisions is so scant that it is not enough to keep soul and body together but my greatest trouble of all is I am afraid that you and the children are in great want and will be too Troublesome for your mother who I am also greatly concerned”
Russell was exposed to grueling conditions, with winter approaching and his letters reveal his desperation in securing a prisoner exchange. He writes Moses Richardson, his brother in law (and possible member of the loyal nine) frantically to try and secure a release. Unfortunately for Russell the British put a particularly sadistic and ruthless Loyalist in charge of prison ships in New York and his release was hampered.
Finally released in March 1783, Russell faced financial pressures from debts accrued during the war. Desperate to provide for his wife and children, he signed on with a merchant vessel for one last voyage. Elated at the chance to provide for his family he writes Mary of his new employer “my dear I'm by the blessing of God once more in the land of freedom and independency for which I fought bled and suffered as much as any without exception in the continent on the 20th Captain Adams came aboard the lady's adventure with an order from the Admiral for me and you can't think the joy I must feel my captain and friend my dear true friendship is never known till we are in great adversity and then experience the assistance of The Advocate who steps forward in our defense such I have found Captain Adams” he explains his debt to Adams and further says “ our circumstances are such for me to come home with my fingers in my mouth would be of little consolation to those that's been without my help for almost these four years”.
Russell eventually makes it home but the cumulative toll of imprisonment—trauma, illness, and hardship—proved too much. He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in early March 1784, shortly after returning home, at the age of about 35 or 36. He is buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem.