Treasure Thursday---Patriot's Day 2012 -- my Patriots

Well, the theme is Treasure today, and since it falls on Patriot's Day, it seems fitting to acknowledge the treasure of my Patriot ancestors.

Started in 1969, this day ( known as Patriots' Day in Massachusetts) was formed as a civic holiday in Massachusetts and Maine (it's a school holiday in Wisconsin), celebrated on the third Monday in April.  It commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord ( April 19, 1775), the acknowledged first battles of the Revolutionary War.  So this year the holiday didn't fall on the actual day.... but I believe in celebrating the actual day, which is the 237th anniversary!

It is always a reminder and great wonder, that although three of my four grandparents were 20th century (1905, 1913) immigrants, I have one lone American grandparent, through whom I have managed to find 2 Civil War heroes, at least 6 Revolutionary War heroes (including a Minuteman!), and Mayflower ancestry.

I will list all the known ( in alphabetical order) and the possible Revolutionary War heroes and patriots, especially the one ancestor who actually responded to the alarms of Lexington and Concord. If you are descended from any of them please contact me!!!

Isaiah Burton
The only mention of Isaiah Burton's service is found in the Cattaraugus County NY History biography of his son, where it states "...his father, Isaiah, a native of Hopkington, R.I. was a Revolutionary soldier."  I have been trying to find the proof for almost 30 years, but since he named the son Varnum after a revolutionary war general, and was living with the son in 1850 as a 89 year old RI native, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this day.

 Jonathan Haynes
Jonathan Haynes appears on a notice for Captain Robinson's Company of Vermont Militia to appear on Nov 1, 1775.   No pension or other data found so far. 

Squire/Squier Ide
Squire Ide from Rehoboth, Massachusetts enlisted April 28th 1775 in Capt. Samuel Bliss' company, Col. Timothy Walker's (22d) regiment. service 3 months, 11 days, appears on a muster roll dated Aug 1 1775, reported discharged Sept 25, 1775, also received an order for a bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Roxbury, Oct 26, 1775. He served 2 days at Tiverton, R.I. in Capt. Sylvanus Martin's co., Col Williams regiment from Oct 7, 1777 to Oct 9, 1777. He then served in Capt. Ichabod Wade's (light Infantry) Col. George Williams regiment immediately thereafter for 21 days.  Later he served 12 days as a private in Capt. Jonathan Woodbury's co., Col. Jacob Davis' regiment enlisting July 30, 1780, discharged 7 Aug 1780 at Rhode Island at an alarm including 4 days travel home.


Daniel Robinson 
Daniel did not fight. Instead, he manufactured saltpeter for a powder mill in Windham, CT.  His son Jonathan served( see below).  Maybe they used his ammo at the battles of Lexington and Concord ?
 
Jonathan Robinson  pension S18182
Jonathan Robinson, Daniel's son,  served 2 months as draftee in Capt Hezekiah Bissel's and Lt. Nehemiah Tinker's Company in Nov 1776 (at age 16), marched to R.I.  On the 10 Apr 1777 he spent 2 months service as draftee under Cap. Nehemiah Tinker in Col Tyler's regiment Connecticut Militia, and was at Fort Griswold, Groton, CT.  In April 1778 he enlisted for term of 1 year in Capt Abner Robinson's Co, Col. Samuel McLellan's Regiment, Connecticut State troops, to be available as minuteman. He marched to White Plains in June of 1778, then marched to West Point 40 rods from Fort Clinton, remaining there until mid September. A few days after returning to Windham, they were called to New London,  and remained near Fort Trumbull until the end of January 1779.

Jabez Rouse
enlisted /appointed Sergeant in Capt. Vine Elderkin, later Thomas Converse's Company, Col. Heman Swift's Battalion  7th CT troops, on Feb 17, 1777 for a term of three years, discharged Feb 17, 1780.  During those three years, the 7th Ct fought in the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle of Germantown, and the Battle of Monmouth.  The 7th Ct is listed as one of the regiments at Valley Forge!


Thomas Mix Sr.  or Thomas Mix Jr.
There were three Thomas Mixes in Wallingford CT at the time of the Revolution... One, known as Thomas Mix 2nd drew a pension, and is a cousin to my Thomas Mix Jr.  Either Sr. Or Jr. signed an Oath of Fidelity, and perhaps the younger fought if the service is not all Thomas Mix the 2nd.  I haven't looked into this line well at all....


James Wadsworth
James was a true Patriot Day Minuteman. He served in Capt. Abraham Sedgwick's company for the Lexington and Concord alarms!


and now the possibles, namely any male in my tree alive past  April 1775... (and unfortunately at this point I'm only considering male ancestors, until I have a lot more info on the wives).... These were alive during the Revolutionary War:

Whiting Backus 1747-1775:  He dies in 1775 at age 27 in Windham, CT  but no date or reason ... still searching for answers.
Henry Brace 2nd  1713-1787. The service is given to his son, Henry (3rd?) b. 1844. Still haven't found if the father fought or provided other services.
Samuel Flint1712-1802: He seems to be the lone possible Tory of the group, but still looking for an Oath of Fidelity or other service.
Israel Robinson 1696-Jan 1776:  was old, but perhaps gave money? His son & grandson were definitely patriots.
John Rouse 1717-1779: Generally a wanderlust guy, was divorced by wife citing abandonment.... haven't found much on him at all.
Elisha Wadsworth is most probably a Tory. He appears to have come to the aid of a convicted Tory....
Ichabod Wadsworth, father of Elisha and grandfather of James was  old, but alive until 1778... not much research time has been spent on him....

So there they all are... except maybe the next time, I'll show all the women of my pedigree, who ran the homes and farms while these guys went off to war... Happy Patriot's Day!