Stephen Tainter began service in the Revolutionary War as a drummer boy at the age of 16. He re-enlisted several times, eventually ending his time in service in 1784.
His military service can be summarized as follows:
Dec. 1776–March 1777: enlisted as a drummer while a resident of Westborough, Massachusetts, in Captain Kimball’s Company, Colonel Sparhawk’s Regiment, General Warner’s Brigade;
July–August 1777: Served as a drummer in Captain Timothy Brigham’s Company, Colonel Job Cushing’s Regiment and called to assist at the battle of Bennington;
September–October 1777: Served as a drummer in Captain Joseph Warren’s Company, Lieutenant Colonel Wheelock’s [Wheeler] Regiment with the “Northern Army”;
September–October 1777: Served as drummer in Captain Ephraim Lyon’s Company, Colonel Wade’s Regiment and was sent to Rhode Island;
July–December 1778: Served as a musician in Captain Nathan Fisher’s Company, Colonel Nathaniel Wade’s Regiment, Gen. Sullivan’s Army. Stephen Tainter, drummer, is also listed as serving in Captain Ebenezer Belknap’s Company in Colonel Wade’s Regiment at the same time he was serving in Captain Fisher’s Company;
May–July 1779: Served as a private in Captain Joseph McNall’s Company, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Price’s Regiment at Triverton, Rhode Island;
1782: enlisted in Captain Josiah Fish’s Company of Foot, Colonel Stephen R. Bradley’s First Vermont Militia, General Fletcher’s Brigade;
October 1783–March 1784: Stephen Tainter’s final service was in Captain Benjamin Whitney’s Company stationed at Guilford, Windham County, Vermont.
After the war Stephen Tainter became a physician, and practiced medicine for 23 years at Gainesville, New York. In 1833, Dr. Tainter moved to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin Territory. In 1846, the family moved to Crawford County, where Dr. Tainter died on July 11, 1847, at the age of 87. His remains were later moved to the Tainter family plot in Evergreen Cemetery in Menomonie, Wisconsin.