He died of natural causes at 96

Marking the beginning of the American Revolution on April 16, 1775, the British advanced on Lexington and Concord to interdict and seize the American colonists' canon and powder.  

First cousin 11X removed was Captain Samuel Whittemore.  He was born in 1696 and already had a storied career as a soldier, citizen and farmer.  At 51, in 1745, he was part of the British expedition which stormed the French fortress at Louisburg, Nova Scotia.  In that battle he came away with a fine French saber that he would treasure the rest of his long life. 

The British returned Louisburg to the French at the end of hostilities but in 1758, during the French and Indian War, the British decided to retake Louisburg.  Whittemore, now 62, joined the expedition. The fort was conquered again, and demolished. 

It appears that Whittemore took part in further engagements during the French and Indian Wars, possibly including the siege of Quebec.  

At the outbreak of the battle of Lexington and Concord, Whittemore was 79 years old.  

From Wikipedia:

On April 19, 1775, British forces were returning to Boston from the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the opening engagements of the war. On their march they were continually shot at by American militiamen.

Whittemore was in his fields when he spotted an approaching British relief brigade under Earl Percy, sent to assist the retreat. Whittemore loaded his musket and ambushed the British grenadiers of the 47th Regiment of Foot from behind a nearby stone wall, killing one soldier. He then drew his dueling pistols, killed a second grenadier and mortally wounded a third. By the time Whittemore had fired his third shot, a British detachment had reached his position; Whittemore drew his sword and attacked. He was subsequently shot in the face, bayoneted numerous times, and left for dead in a pool of blood. He was found by colonial forces, trying to load his musket to resume the fight. He was taken to Dr. Cotton Tufts of Medford, who perceived no hope for his survival. However, Whittemore recovered and lived another 18 years until dying of natural causes at the age of 96.

It is said that he received 13 bayonet wounds.  

They were made of stern stuff in those days of yore.