Lee, Nathaniel 1733

Nathaniel LEE, Westfield to Great Barrington

[south of the village] Nathaniel Lee, from Westfield, purchased in 1759, of Luke Noble, the place now Edward Manville’s, on which Mr. Noble had previously dwelt, and with his shop in that vicinity for many years followed the trade of blacksmithing. [CJT, p. 214]

Nathaniel LEE disarmed

In 1776, quite a large number of the inhabitants had refused to sign the "Test Bill," on which account, as well as by their general behavior, the indignation of the people was excited against them. Threats of disarming them, and perhaps of more severe treatment were openly made; and in order to prevent disturbance, preserve the peace, and quiet the inhabitants, the Committee of Safety issued the following warning, addressed to them, which was served upon them individually by Sergeant Joshua Root.

“To Coonrod Van Deusen, Abraham Van Deusen, Isaac Van Deusen, Jun’r, John Van Deusen, Jacob Van Deusen, Samuel Fowler, Barnabas Scott, Martin Eemelee, John Hickok. Asa Brown, Lambert Burghardt, Peter Sharp, Coonrod Sharp, Caleb Hill, Hendrick Perry, Peter Burghardt ye second, Abraham Burghardt, Coonrod Burghardt, Jun’r, Nathan Scribner, John Church, Jonathan Youuglove, Timothy Younglove, Oliver Watson, Nathaniel Lee, Elijah Dwight, Esq., Abraham Scott, Jacob Burghardt, Frederick Johnson, Midian Olds. John Burghardt, Coonrod Burghardt, Benjamin Noble and Gideon Bostwick, all of Great Barrington; whereas the committee of Correspondence for said Town have presented the association, by and agreeable to a late act of the General Assembly, and you have refused to subscribe the same; The People of this Town are very uneasy that you have not yet Resigned your arms, and we find they are determined to take your arms in their own way unless you resign them of your own accord. In order to prevent further confusion and mischief we advise you to resign your arms immediately to Sergeant Joshua Root who the committee have desired to receive & take the charge of the same, and we have desired him to give you Notice of this our advice.

Great Barrington, July 9th, 1776.

M. Hopkins, |
Wm. Whiting, | Committee.
Truman Wheeler, |
Josiah Smith, |

Sergt. Root performed the service, and a receipt signed by William Whiting—one of the committee—dated the 20th of October following, shows that he took one gun each from Coonrod Van Deusen, Abraham Van Deusen, Isaac Van Deusen, Jun’r, John Van Deusen, Jacob Van Deusen, Gerrard Burghardt, Peter Burghardt, Peter Sharp, Hendrick Parre, Caleb Hill, Isaac Van Deusen, Nathaniel Lee, Timothy Younglove and John Burghardt; also "a cutlash without a scabbard" from Asa Brown, who had renounced toryism a few months previous, but found the articles of Association too stringent for his compulsory patriotism. Four of these guns had at that time already gone into the service, as appears from the receipt.

[CJT, pp. 243-4]