My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: NATHAN EDSON II

 **This is the first of a series of posts I'll be making leading up to the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolutionary War on July 4, 2026.**

Nathan Edson II's Gravestone
Strip Road Cemetery
Madison County, New York

NATHAN EDSON II /MARY HALL of BRIDGEMATER & PETERSHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, and STOCKBRIGE, MADISON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

I'm beginning this series of posts with NATHAN EDSON II as he was the only one of my ancestors actually enlisted in the Continental Army at the very beginning of the Revolutionary War.  

He was born 14 March 1739 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the son of NATHAN EDSON I and MARY SPRAGUE.  

As a  young man, NATHAN EDSON II served during the French and Indian War; he enlisted first on 16 May 1761 with Capt LEMUEL DUNBAR of Bridgewater; then re-enlisted with Capt JOSEPH DUNBAR on 23 March 1762. He was mustered out in November of 1762, having served a total of 8 months.

On 2 Sept 1766 NATHAN EDSON II married MARY HALL, who was possibly from Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, very little is known about MARY's family.  Her sister ANNA HALL married SAMUEL EDSON, who was NATHAN's cousin. 

Shortly after marriage, the couple moved to a farm in Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, where all their children were born. 

NATHAN's first enlistment was as a "Minute Man" at the Battle of Lexington & Concord on 19 April 1775, under Capt JOSEPH HAYDEN, in Col Bailey's Regiment. He served for twelve days.  On May 1, 1775, he re-enlisted for a term of three months and eight days, again under Capt JOSEPH HAYDEN, in Lt Gen. JOHN THOMAS' Regiment. NATHAN was a Continental Soldier during the Siege of Boston; some references indicate he fought during the Battle of Bunker Hill, but I have not been able to verify this.  NATHAN re-enlisted  in Sep-Oct 1775, again with Capt JOSEPH HAYDEN, under Lt Gen JOHN THOMAS.

NATHAN's next term of enlistment with the Continental Army was in 1777-1778. He enlisted 21 April 1777, under under EDWARD COBB, in Col TITCOMB's Regiment, defending Bristol, Rhode Island, for a term of two month/four ½  days; he re-enlisted 9 July 1777 with JOSEPH COLE, under Col ROBINSON, defending Rhode Island for a term of five months/twenty two days.  He enlisted again with JOSEPH COLE on 2 January 1778, in JOHN JACOBS' Regiment, defending Rhode Island for a term of nine months/ two days.

His final term of enlistment began on 2 August 1780 under NATHAN PACKARD, in ELIPHALET CARY's Regiment, for a term of seven days, again defending Rhode Island.

NATHAN EDSON II and wife MARY HALL and their children remained in Petersham, Worcester County Massachusetts until 1791, when the entire family migrated to Stockbridge, Madison County, New York.   NATHAN EDSON II died there 16 August 1825. His wife MARY died there 13 December 1836. I have not found any indication that she applied for his Revolutionary War Pension.

NATHAN EDSON ll/MARY HALL are in the lineage of my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE.

Sources: 

"Nathan Edson and His Descendants" by George Thomas Edson, publ 1926 Filey, Nebraska

"Edson Family History & Genealogy: Descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem & Bridgewater, Massachusetts" by Carroll Andrew Edson; publ 1969 Ann Arbor, Michigan

"History of Chenango & Madison Counties, New York" by James H Smith, publ 1880 Syracuse, New York 

DAR Patriot Index 

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2025