History of our Soldiers

Article written by our Vice President and one of our founding members - Cathy Potter

STORIES OF REHOBOTH SOLDIERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the date we declared our independence, there is no better time to share some of our Soldier’s stories.  Over 200 local Soldiers answered the Lexington Alarm and were commanded by Colonel Timothy Walker.  They marched up the Old Boston Post Road and got as far as Dedham where they were met by dispatch riders from the battles at Lexington and Concord.  They were told to go home, reorganize the men and supplies and wait for orders.  Those orders soon came for these Soldiers to serve at the Siege of Boston.

Colonel Timothy Walker commanded about 500 of these men.  They represented the towns of Rehoboth, Attleborough, Dighton, Norton, Raynham, Taunton, Berkley, and Easton.   From April to July 1775, they were called the 3rd Providential Regiment and from July until December of 1775 they were known as 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies.  

In January 1776 the Army was reorganized by General George Washington.  Some men of Colonel Walker’s 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies joined the 13th Continental Army.  Many of these men also returned home and served in different regiments throughout the war.  Town records show approximately 1,400 men from Rehoboth served at different times during the war.  Many residents served under Colonel Thomas Carpenter in the 3rd Bristol County Regiment as did Colonel Timothy Walker.

During the coming year, we hope to provide you with details and stories of Soldiers who served in the war from Rehoboth and surrounding towns.  The Rehoboth Minutemen will publish a story every two months to share our history with you. Our first stories will be about Rehoboth sons who served at the siege of Boston, to the end of the war.  The first two local sons we will discuss are Captain Samuel Bliss and Private Simeon Hix.

Captain Samuel Bliss   

Samuel was born in Rehoboth on July 25,1730.  He was the son of Captain Nathaniel Bliss and Mehitable Whittaker Bliss.   At the time of his birth, the Bliss family had been in Rehoboth for over 100 years.  Samuel joined his father in the town militia at the age of 16.  In Captain Bliss’s personal life he married Hannah Carpenter in 1755.  She died on February 20, 1757 after the birth of their first child.  Captain Bliss remarried Keziah Wilmarth Carpenter, widow of Abiah Carpenter, in June 1757.  Together they had five children.  In 1792 his wife of 36 years died and later that year he married Lydia Perry. The following year his last child was born in 1794, Captain Bliss was 63 years old.  

Samuel Bliss was originally a Sergeant in the Rehoboth Militia and he was probably voted in as a Captain by his men as they prepared to march on the Lexington Alarm on April 19th.  He was 43 years of age when he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He commanded a company of 43 Soldiers who marched on the Lexington alarm and received his formal commission May 24, 1775.  In July he became part of Colonel Timothy Walker's  22nd Massachusetts Regiment.  In fall of 1775 he received a Bounty coat.   His unit served at the Siege of Boston until January 1776, when the 22nd Regiment was disbanded.   He returned home and on September 16, 1777 he joined the 16th Continental Regiment under the commanded of Colonel Henry Jackson.  Bliss joined as a Sergeant for a term of three years.  This unit saw service in many of the major battles of the war.  He was chosen to serve as a steward to General George Washington from 1777- 1778 at the Morristown winter camp.   It was an honor to be chosen for this position, as it speaks of his excellent character and reputation.  After the war he returned home to live on his farm on Rocky Hill Road. He is listed as Esquire so he must have been very successful after his service in the war.  When George Washington became President in 1789 Samuel must have gathered his children and grandchildren around the fireplace where he could tell stories about the winter he spent with General Washington at the Morristown Camp.  Captain Bliss died on April 27, 1816 at the age of 85.  He is buried in the Village Cemetery.

Private Simeon Hix  ( Hicks)

Simeon was born in Rehoboth on August 22, 1755.  Son of Ephraim and Mary Hix (Hicks).  His family roots are also deep in Rehoboth, descended from the families of Peck, Kingsley, Saben and others who were early settlers of this area.  At this time, all able-bodied men between 16-60 were required to serve in the town militias.  Simeon was already a member at age 18.   When minutemen units were drawn from militia units Simeon was one of the first to volunteer.  He marched out with the town's unit to the Lexington Alarm.  He served nine months at Roxbury under Captain Abdiel Bliss and worked at Dorchester Heights building redoubts.  On December 31, 1775 his enlistment expired.  Army life must have agreed with him as on February 1, 1776 he enlisted for two more months at Winter Hill and Dorchester.  He was present to watch Colonel Knox’s artillery be mounted on Dorchester Heights.  There was great joy to watch the British Army leave Boston (Evacuation Day 3/17/1776).  In the fall 1776 he served under Captain Abdiel Bliss in the Rhode Island alarm when the British unit had attacked Bristol and Warren.

In October 1776 Simeon and his entire family moved to Richmond in the New Hampshire grant.   Many local families left to settle in this area.  The towns of Richmond and Swanzey New Hampshire were settled by families from this area.  In May 1777 Simeon joined the New Hampshire militia as a substitute for his brother Asa.  The army he joined was a state Militia not the Continental Army.  It was authorized by New Hampshire under the command of General John Stark.  On August 16,1777 the Battle of Bennington took place.  The soldiers under General Stark and Colonel Warner’s were victorious at Bennington.

In 1781 he married Mary (Molly) Barney, born August 2, 1756 in Rehoboth, Ma.    He settled down for the rest of this life.  He raised a family of 10 children and built a house in Sunderland Vermont.   In 1854 at the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Bennington, Simeon was the last survivor.

They address Simeon as Captain as a title of honor. James Irving, a daguerreotypist, traveled to Simeon’s home and took the picture of the old Soldier in his 99th year.

Simeon died on January 24,1855 .  99 years, 5  months, and 2 days

Simon's picture can be seen online.

Our unit can be contacted at 508-252-3682 with any questions  Check out our web site :  13thcontinentalregiment.org

STORIES OF ATTLEBORO SOLDIERS IN

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Article written by our Vice President and one of our founding members - Cathy Potter

This is the second in a series of stories about local soldiers that served in the American Revolution.  As we prepare to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our independence it seems a good time to share the stories of some of these patriots.

A Rehoboth commander Colonel Timothy Walker oversaw over 500 troops at the siege of Boston.  From April to July 1775, they were the 3rd Provincial Regiment.  From July to January 1776, they were the 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies.  These soldiers were from many local towns.

This story is about several Attleboro soldiers.  The Army at Boston was reorganized in January 1777, the 22nd Regiment was disbanded, and some of the soldiers joined different units.  The 13th and 16th Continental Regiments, the 3rd Bristol County Regiment under Colonel Thomas Carpenter and the 4th Bristol County regiment under Colonel John Daggett were some of the active regiments.

Attleboro was required to make and deliver to Cambridge 88 Bounty Coats. During the siege there were at least 88 Attleboro soldiers on duty.   The history of the Massachusetts Bounty coat was published in the April issue of the Rehoboth Reporter.

SOLDIERS STORIES

DANIEL READ was born in Attleboro on November 16, 1757.  He was one of the 12 children of Captain Daniel Read and his wife Mary White Read. His father was an officer in the 4th Bristol County Regiment.  Daniel decided to fight for our freedom.  He enlisted in Colonel Timothy Walker’s 3rd Bristol County Regiment.  Daniel's contribution to the war was different from an average soldier’s.  His weapon was a drum. He was a gifted musician and a very important part of the Army.  In today's Army he would be a "communication specialist."  Drummers knew over 200 commands to beat on their drums.  An officer would give the orders to the drummer or fifer, and he would relay them to the soldiers with the drumbeats.  This form had been used to communicate in the Army for hundreds of years.  The drum could be heard at a great distance.  He was also an accomplished fifer.  He was a valuable member of the Army as he was able to share officers’ commands over a great distance. Later in the war he became a Drum Major for Colonel Graton Regiment of about 1,000 soldiers.

After the war he moved to New Haven Connecticut.  Here he started a successful manufacturing business making combs.   He continued his interest in music.  He married Jerusha Sherman in 1785 and they had 4 children.

In 1791 he wrote and published the American Singing Book and in 1793 the Columbia Harmony.  Songs like Windham, Greenwich, Sherburne were hymns in his Litchfield Collection. Some of these songs are still used in churches today.   He is listed in the Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biographies, he became a leading citizen of New Haven,   

This son of Attleboro served as an American Patriots and became a famous composer.

HEZEKIAH PECK was born in 1755 in a house that still stands in Attleboro.  He was the son of Hezekiah and Mary Skinner Peck who had 4 children.   He enlisted in the American Army at the age of 20 on May 1,1775.  He joined Captain Caleb Richardson’s Company of Colonel Timothy Walkers Regiment.  He served with this unit for 8 months.  During this period of time towns were required to supply their soldiers with "Bounty Coats".   He received his on November 20, 1775.  In 1776 he marched with the Army to the Battle of Long Island.  He returned home after the terrible defeat of American troops.  In 1777 he was with Massachusetts troops fighting in Rhode Island.   In March of 1779 he was in Colonel Hathaway’s Regiment serving as a Sargent.

In November of 1779 he married Hephzibah Dyer of Rehoboth. They had two children.   After the war he moved to Newport, New Hampshire with several local families.  The house where he was born in Attleboro stayed in the Peck family until 1900.   It was moved 2 times.  It is now the headquarters of the Daughters of the American Revolution on the corner of Elizabeth and Main St.  Such a fitting tribute to the people who lived in this wonderful old home.  The DAR continues to spread the message of those who faithfully served this country from Attleboro and local towns.  If this old house could talk what stories it could tell us!

COMFORT CAPRON was born on March 18, 1743.   Son of Jonathan and Rebecca Morse Capron.  His family had lived in the area since 1680.  In 1901 members of his family donated 27 acres of land to the town.   It is now Capron Park. 

In March of 1765 he married Martha Medcalf.  They had three children Labab, Polly and Orie.

He had served in the Army from June to December of 1761.  This may be where he received some medical training.

On May 3,1775 he enlisted in Colonel Timothy Walker’s Regiment.   Comfort's services were of great need in the Army because he had medical training.  He joined the Army as a Surgeon’s Mate.  He assisted in all types of medical treatments.  By January 1778 he was listed as a Surgeon in Colonel John Daggett’s Regiment.    He was a Doctors Mate in Colonel Abiel Mitchell’s 3 Bristol County Regiment from July to October 1780.

After the war he moved to Hartford Township, Pennsylvania.  He is noted to be a doctor.

He died at the age of 56.  He was a well-respected member of this community.

If anyone has a story or an ancestor who served in Colonel Timothy Walkers Regiment, we would love it hear the story.

These stories tell of soldiers who served in the 22nd Regiment under Colonel Timothy Walker.

The Rehoboth Minutemen are a reenactors unit that portray the times and lives of members of the 22nd Regiment.  After January of 1777 this unit portrays the 13th Continental Regiment.

There are many other soldiers’ stories just waiting to be told.   In July we will tell the stories of Dighton soldiers that were members of the 22nd Regiment

For more information about our unit visit our website or Facebook page

13thcontinentalregiment.org or call Cathy Potter 508 252 3682.

STORIES OF DIGHTON SOLDIERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

This is the third in a series of stories about local soldiers that served in the American Revolution.

As we prepare to celebrate our 250th year of independence it seems a good time to share some stories of these patriots. These stories are about Dighton patriots.   In March 1775 the town meeting voted to raise two companies of Minutemen to join the local militia companies   All able-bodied men from 16 to 60 were required to serve in the militia.  The local drill field was in the area where the present day elementary and middle schools are located.

A Rehoboth Commander, Colonel Timothy Walker had over 500 local soldiers in his unit at the Siege of Boston.  The unit was the 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies. The soldiers were from local towns Rehoboth, Attleboro, Dighton, Norton, Taunton. Easton and Raynham. This unit was formed in July 1775 and disbanded in January 1776. Some soldiers served for 3 or 6 months as needed.  In January of 1776 General Washington reorganized the Army and new regiments were formed.

The Dighton records indicate there were 46 soldiers who served at the siege of Boston in Captain Peter Pitts Company, officers were Lt. Zebedee Redding and Ensign Henry Briggs.   Captain Samuel Tubbs and Ensign Joel Trubbs had 5 men in their Company. They were all stationed at Roxbury to confine the British in Boston.   

The following stories are about soldiers that served in the 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies.

The Rehoboth Minutemen portray members of this unit.  That is why we are sharing some stories of the soldiers that formed the unit in 1775.

Thomas Rose was born in Dighton to Thomas (1729-1808) and Prudence (Blake) (1734-1816) Rose on February 21, 1758.   He joined his 6 brothers and sisters.

On May 2, 1775, he enlisted in Captain Peter Pitts Company, Colonel Timothy Walkers Regiment.  He served for three months.  In February 1776 he enlisted in Capt. Samuel Tubbs Company, Colonel Freeman’s Regiment for 2 months.  In December 1776 we found him in Captain Elijah Walker's Company, Colonel Pope Bristol County Regiment.  He marched from Dighton in defense of Rhode Island.

In the spring of 1777 Thomas joined the navy as an American Privateer. He sailed on the frigate American Tartar.  This ship had a crew of 200 men.  She carried 56 deck guns ranging from 3 to 9 pounders.  This was a ship of the Massachusetts Navy.  The captain was John Grimes.   During 1777 she took 9 ships as prizes.  Her luck ran out in August of 1777 when she was captured off the coast of Norway.  There are two stories about how Thomas got home. The crew was taken to Halifax then Newfoundland and held there until February of 1779.  They were being sent to New York when the ship was captured by an American ship.  Thomas and other prisoners were taken to Marblehead.  From here he made his way home to Dighton.   The second story has him in a prison in England.  He is released at the end of the war.  He travels on ships from foreign countries. He finally gets to Newport. R.I.     His brother met him and helped him travel home.  The most important part is he did get home.

On October 30, 1790, Thomas married Hannah Atwood (1762- 1825) They settled down in Dighton and raised a family of 6 children: Thomas, Hannah, Joseph, Betsey, Samuel and Polly

As his family grew with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren I bet Thomas has many stories to share about his time as both a soldier and sailor in the American Revolution

Thomas died 29th of March 1855 at the age of 97.   He was buried in the Walker-Blake Graveyard.

Darius Briggs was a member of the prominent Briggs family of Dighton.  Many members of this family were patriots who served during the War for Independence. The Dighton records list 16 members of the Briggs family who served in the American Revolution.

 Darius and his twin sister Deliverance were born in Dighton to Matthew 1710-1763 and Mary Pitts Briggs 1712-1774 on November 12, 1754.  They joined 8 brothers and sisters.

When the war started Darius enlisted on May 2, 1775, he was mustered into service on August 1, 1775.  He enlisted in Captain Peter Pitts Company, Colonel Timothy Walker’s Regiment. Darius did not join as a soldier but as a musician.  He was a drummer. Drummers have been an important part of armies for centuries. Drums were the way orders were relayed to the soldiers.  A drummer was assigned to an officer.  Any commands the officer wanted to give were played on the drum. The beats of the drum carried for a great distance. Drummers did not carry a gun. Sometimes a sword for protection.

 When serving at the siege of Boston on November 5, 1775, he was ordered to receive a Bounty Coat or its equivalent in money. 

(The town of Dighton supplied 49 Bounty Coats to its soldiers)

Darius served in several Massachusetts Regiment in 1775 and part of 1776.  On June 18, 1776, he joined the crew of the ship “Freedom” in the Massachusetts Navy, he was now a Yankee Privateer.  Its Captain was John Clocuston of Dighton. He served until January 1, 1777. On October 2, 1777, he was back in the Army in General Spencer Regiment.  He joined a mission from Dighton to march in defense of Rhode Island.   

On June 5, 1780, he joined the Continental Army.  He is described as age 26 years, 5” 7” with light complexion.  He was discharged on December 19, 1780.

He married Mary Molly Walker (1753 - 1788) on January 16, 1778.  They had two children, John and Jannett.

Many soldiers and their families moved west after the war, Darius and Mary were among them.   By 1788 they are living in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts when Mary died.

On May 22, 1789, he married Phoebe Lincoln (1755 - 1839)   In 1790 they had one son Darius Jr.

By 1800 the family was in Lexington, Greene County, New York.  He became a prosperous farmer.  He was active in his town and church.  His farm is listed as one of the most valuable in town.

He died at the age of 80 years on May 31, 1835.

Records show that Phoebe collected a widow's pension starting in 1836.

For more information about the Rehoboth Minutemen / 13th Continental Regiment visit our website    ( 13thcontentialregiment.org)

Submitted by Cathy Potter

508 252 3682

STORIES OF NORTON SOLDIERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

This is the forth in a series of stories about local soldiers that served in the American Revolution. 

As we prepare to celebrate our 250th year of independence it seems a good time to share stories of these patriots.  A Rehoboth Commander, Colonel Timothy Walker of the  22nd  Regiment of the United Colonies had over 500 local soldiers in his Regiment.  Colonel Walker's Regiment served at the siege of Boston.  The soldiers were from the towns of Rehoboth,Attleboro, Dighton, Norton,Taunton, Easton and Raynham..  The Regiment was formed in July 1775  and served until Jan 1776  The regiment was formed out of Militia units from these local towns.  The Norton records show  35 soldiers who served in the 22nd Regiment.

I want to thank Chris Carmichael of the Norton Historical Society for researching Norton records to help with this project.  Also thanks to Paul and Louise Fountaine of  Norton for the information they supplied for these stories.  

JAZEB BRIGGS 

When fighting broke out in Lexington and Concord the men of  Norton’s  Militia answered the alarm.  All able bodied men from 16 to 60 were required to serve.  Jazeb Briggs was too young to serve as a soldier.  He joined the Militia as a fifer, he wanted to do his part to support the patriots. 

Jazeb was born in Norton on  March 6,1760.  He was the son of Jazeb ( 1723 - 1795) and Tabitha (Babbitt)  (1728 - 1765).  He has 6 siblings Timothy, Mary, Sarah, Tabitha, Sela and Rachel.

Jazeb enlisted on April 29,1775.  He was mustered on August 1, 1775 in Captain Silas Cobb’s Company, Colonel Timothy Walkers  Regiment for 3 months of service,at the siege of Boston.

During the next  5 years he served in so many different units it would be hard to list them all.   He was listed as a drummer in Colonel Daggetts Regiment on October 6, 1775 .  After this he appears to serve as a soldier   He served with different  New England units  for short periods. For 3 days, 9 days, 22 days, 1 month,  6 months .   He also served as a matross in Captain Smith’s Artillery in Colonel Dean’s Regiment.  He is described as 19 years old, height 5’ 9”,  hair brown. eyes blue,  complexion light and ruddy.  He was discharged from service on August 7, 1780.

He was present at many of the alarms and battles that happened in New England.

It appears he left Norton as so many veterans did and moved west after the war.    In 1787 we found Jazeb in Sutton  Worcester County Massachusetts.   On June 19,1787 he married Lucy A. Batchelder (1767 - 1830)  Here they raised two children.  Sylvia born August 16, 1788 and  James born May 11, 1791.   The records show that his father Jazeb also joined him in Sutton.  In the 1800 he moved farther west to Colrain, Massachusetts.  Here he settled for the rest of his days.   Lucy died on February 12, 1830 and Jazeb July 13, 1835 . They are both buried in the Branch Cemetery in Colrain. Jazeb Briggs the boy patriot from Norton Massachusetts, a fifer, drummer,  soldier and  matross.  He spent the years of his youth serving  to establish a free and independent country.

NATHAN MOREY

When the Revolution broke out Nathan joined the Militia in  a special position.  He was the Chaplin for Colonel Timothy Walker's 22nd Regiment.of the United Colonies.

He was born in Norton on December 5,1747 son of Thomas Morey Esquire ( 1709 - 1775) and his second wife Lydia (White ) (1706 -1747). He was born to a. large and prosperous family.  Thomas Morey was married three times and had 13 children.  He ran a Public House from 1747, he also  served as Selectmen, Town Moderator, Representative to the General Court, Justice of the Peace.and owned many parcels of land.  He was a captain in the French and Indian  War.

Nathan had 12 siblings.  He  married Mary Price in Norton 1770.   She was the sister- in- law of Reverend Caleb Barnum  of Taunton.  She is described as  (a stale virgin, a wintery faced lady)   They has one son named Thomas.

When Thomas Morey died 1775.  In his will he left his son Nathan “Education to be a Doctor”, L20 and my horse. .  In his will also left Thomas Morey son of Nathan 20L . Nathan graduated from Harvard Divinity school and studied under Reverend  Caleb  Barnum in Taunton.

In April 1775 he joined Colonel Timothy Walkers 22nd Regiment as there Chaplin.  He served with the regiment at the siege of Boston until October 6 1775..  He never settled into life as a Minister.  In the autumn of 1777 with his half brother Lewis ( then a member of Yale College) they went on a privateering expedition .The British captured there ship, as  prisoners were taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia.  They were put on board a prison ship,  where they suffered greatly.  Nathan and Lewis died around  March 1778 as prisoners of war.

In 1778 his widow Mary probated his will.  No mention of  Nathan’s son Thomas.  One Norton record  suggests he was adopted by his uncle Benjamin and Priscilla Morey.  They moved to Grafton, New Hampshire.  Thomas married a Jemima in Norton and also  moved to Grafton, New Hampshire.  I think this is what happened to his son.  There was another Thomas  Morey who lived in Tewksbury Ma. so there is some confusion in the records.