My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Sgt EBENEZER MORTON of Gorham and Standish, Maine: The Battle of Bennington, Vermont

Continental Soldier, Massachusetts

 

EBENEZER MORTON was born around 1758 in Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine, the son of THOMAS MORTON and RACHEL ELWELL. At the time, Maine was still part of Massachusetts. THOMAS,  his father, died in 1775,  lost at sea, possibly during a naval expedition to Canada at the very start of the Revolutionary War.   RACHEL, his mother, eventually remarried to a much older man from Gorham, THOMAS THOMES.

EBENEZER's first enlistment, at age 17, was in the newly formed Continental Army in Col EDMUND PHINNEY's 31st Massachusetts Regiment of Foot, under Capt WENTWORTH STUART, on 29 September 1775, for a period of one year.  His brother  JAMES MORTON was also in this regiment, enlisting 9 October 1775, under Capt HART WILLIAMS.  Two other brothers, ELISHA MORTON and DAVID MORTON also fought in the Revolution, but I haven't yet found records for them.

EBENEZER re-enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776, in Col REUBEN FOGG's Regiment, under Capt ALEXANDER McCLELLAN, for a term of 3 years, to expire December 1779. By 1777, he had been transferred to Col SAMUEL BREWER's Regiment, Capt JOSHUA JENKINS Company, which marched to Bennington, Vermont, and took part in the Battle of Bennington, which was a decisive victory for the American side. EBENEZER  was certified returned at the camp at Valley Forge, 23 January, 1778. During his tenure in the Continental Army he attained the rank of Sergeant.

Battle of Bennington, Vermont 

After his term of enlistment, Sgt EBENEZER MORTON married on 7 December 1780 at Gorham SUSANNA IRISH, the daughter of THOMAS T IRISH and DELIVERANCE SKILLING (see previous post). They would have ten children, most born in Gorham.  By 1800, the family had moved to the town of Standish, Cumberland County, Maine.   

Sgt EBENEZER MORTON died in Standish in about 1826.  I have not yet found his gravestone. Sometimes in historical references  he is referred to as "EBENEZER MORTON Jr", but I am uncertain why--his father was definitely THOMAS MORTON.  Perhaps it was to differentiate Sgt EBENEZER MORTON from his uncle, another Revolutionary War soldier.   He is often confused with his uncle 2nd Lt  EBENEZER MORTON of Falmouth, who married SARAH WHITNEY and who also later moved to Standish, dying there 17 July 1813.  

Sgt EBENEZER MORTON is in the lineage of my maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN MARTINE

Sources:

-History of Col Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot by Charles Edwin Allen

-History of Gorham, Maine by Hugh D McLellan

-Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War 

Have a great day!

Betty 

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Sgt THOMAS T IRISH of Gorham, Maine: The Penobscot Expedition

 

Destruction of the American Fleet at Penobscot Bay

by Dominic Serres  circa 1779

THOMAS T IRISH was born 29 January 1737 in Falmouth, York County, Maine, which would later become Cumberland County, Maine. At the time he was born, Falmouth was still part of Massachusetts.  He was the son of JAMES IRISH, an immigrant from Boxford, Suffolk, England, and ELIZABETH CROADE, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but migrated with her family to Falmouth.  According to Falmouth records, JAMES IRISH was a butcher by trade.

On 22 July 1756, THOMAS IRISH married  DELIVERANCE SKILLINGS, the daughter of BENJAMIN SKILLINGS and MARY PRIDE.  THOMAS and DELIVERANCE had ten children, all born in Gorham.

In October 1775, THOMAS enlisted as a private in Col EDMUND PHINNEY's 31st Massachusetts Regiment of Foot, under Capt HART WILLIAMS (Continental Army) for a period of one year. Three of his brothers JOHN IRISH, JAMES IRISH and WILLIAM IRISH also enlisted in this same Regiment and Company on the same date in October 1775. Another brother JOSEPH IRISH, would enlist in a different Regiment and Company in 1776.   All of the sons of JAMES IRISH and ELIZABETH CROADE  fought in the Revolutionary War. 

THOMAS IRISH re-enlisted on 7 July 1779, with the rank of Sergeant,  in Col ALEXANDER McCLELLAN's company of JONATHAN MITCHELL's regiment of the Massachusetts Militia, supporting 44 American Naval ships during the ill-fated  Penobscot Expedition.  His brothers JOSEPH IRISH and WILLIAM IRISH also enlisted on that same date. They all survived and were mustered out to return home in September 1779 

Unfortunately I have been unable to find any information about THOMAS's occupation, or his circumstances after  the war.  His middle initial "T" may have been for the surname "THOME" or THOMES", which was the surname of a  family living in Gorham. So far,  I have not established any connection between the IRISH family and the  THOME / THOMES family. 

However, one thing that is truly remarkable about THOMAS IRISH is his longevity.  When he applied for his Revolutionary War Pension on  31 July 1832, he was 95 years old!  The pension was approved, but unfortunately THOMAS only lived a short time longer. He died on 14 August 1832, and was buried in the North Street cemetery in Gorham.  His death information was published in the newspaper,  his age being "96 years, 8 days". 

THOMAS T IRISH is in the lineage of my maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN MARTINE.

Sources:

-DAR Patriot Index

-Descendants of James Irish by Jennie J Wright Howes 

-History of Colonel Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot by Charles Edwin Allen

-History of Gorham, Maine by Hugh D McClellan

-Publishments, Marriages, Births and Deaths from the Earlier Records of Gorham, Maine, compiled by Marquis F King 

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON of Burke County, North Carolina

 

Over the Mountain Boys

by Louis Glazman

According to his Revolutionary War Pension application, ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON was born about 1754 on the Dan River on the Virginia/North Carolina border.  When he was a young boy, his family moved to Rowan County, which part became Burke County,  North Carolina in 1777.  In his 1833 pension application statement,  he says that he lived in the same area all of his life. 

While the names of his parents have not yet been verified, there was a THOMPSON family living in Rowan/ Burke County that migrated from Pennsylvania in the 1750s. It is highly likely that ISAAC was the grandson or great grandson of JOHN THOMSON/THOMPSON born about 1680 Ulster Province, N Ireland and his wife MARGARET DAVIDSON, who were early Scotch Irish settlers in Rowan County. JOHN THOMPSON/THOMSON, son of JOHN & MARGARET, was a "side minister" in what became the Tyratira Presbyterian church in Salisbury, Rowan County.  Many members of the THOMPSON family are buried there.

When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1776, ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON was a young, unmarried man about age 22. According to his pension application, he served four terms of duty: 

In 1776, he was drafted as a militiaman, and placed in JOHN HARDIN's company, under Col CHRISTOPHER BEEKMAN, enlisted for a period of 3-6 months. They marched to Cross Creek, and were engaged in suppressing Tory activity and in conveying prisoners.

In 1777 or 1778, he served another 3 months as a militiaman in Capt THOMAS LYTLE's Company, of  McDOWELL's Regiment, stationed at Cathey's Fort on the Catawba Frontier.

In July 1780, he served under Maj JOSEPH McDOWELL and Col ISAAC SHELBY in the capture of the Loyalist Fort Anderson (Thicketty Fort) in South Carolina. He described the capture of all the Tories, including Col PATRICK MOORE. 

His last tour of duty was in the fall of 1781, in Capt THOMAS KENNEDY's company, of McDOWELL's Regiment, in the Wilmington Expedition. On their return from Wilmington, Loyalists under Capt DAVID FANNING captured ISAAC,  along with Capt KENNEDY and others. They were imprisioned, but later paroled and released.

While quite a lot of detailed information is known about ISAAC's Revolutionary War service, little is known about his family life.  After the war, he received several land grants, hundreds of acres of land, with some located  on Hunting Creek.  In 1796, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Burke County. According to census records, he never owned slaves.

ISAAC was married at least three times, and had children with each wife, as per census records (1800-1830).  If the census records are correct, he had at least 14 children.  His first wife may have been the daughter of PATRICK HENNESSEE, a neighbor on Hunting Creek (DNA evidence supports this theory).

Three of ISAAC's daughters by the 2nd wife--SARAH "SALLY,"  SUSAN & SINA THOMPSON-- all married WILSON brothers, the sons of ROBERT WILSON & SARAH "SALLY" MACKEY. 

 SINA THOMPSON WILSON and her husband MICHAEL WILSON settled in Medecino County, California by 1880. SARAH SALLY THOMPSON WILSON died before 1860, but her husband SAMUEL WILSON and their children also migrated to California, living in Sacramento by 1860, and Placer County by 1870.

In the 1830 census, at age 76,   ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON was living with his 3rd wife who was age 60-69. It appeared they had a son or grandson living with them, about age 19.  On 7 March 1833,  ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON  applied for his Revolutionary War Pension in Burke County, North Carolina. His wife was not mentioned in the application file. ISAAC did receive his pension, however.  According to the pension file, he died 9 June 1838

ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON is in the lineage of my paternal grandmother MINTTIE MAE BRUTON HUBER

Sources:

--Revolutionary War Soldiers of Western North Carolina Vol 1 by Emmet R White

--Burke County North Carolina Land Records 1778 Vol 1 by Edith Warren Huggins

--Burke County North Carolina Records 1755-1821 Vol IV by Edith Warren Huggins

--Revolutionary War Pension File of ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON 

Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Applications Website

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: ELEAZER SLASON Sr: Battle of Pound Ridge, Westchester County, New York

Revolutionary War Militiaman

 **ELEAZER SLASON Sr is a new Revolutionary War Ancestor discovery for 2025**

ELEAZER SLASON Sr was born 24 April 1726, in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, the son of ELIPHALET SLASON and MERCY BOUTON.  He married SARAH RAYMOND on 20 August 1745 in New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut.  While I have not found definitive records, such as land deeds,  indicating exactly where the couple lived after their marriage,  it is highly likely they  made their home in New Canaan, where several of their  children were born.  One of their daughters, RACHEL, married my ancestor JONATHAN DIBBLE (see previous post).

ELEAZER SLASON Sr is one of the few of my ancestors who fought in both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary war.  In 1762, during the French and Indian war, he served in the 8th Company, 2nd Regiment of the Connecticut Militia with  Col NATHAN WHITING, under Capt SAMUEL ELMOR, and attained the rank of Sergeant.  I was unable to find further records showing how long he served during this conflict.

After the death of his wife SARAH on 25 September 1773,   ELEAZER Sr moved with most of his children to the village of Pound Ridge, Westchester, New York. He can be found on a tax list for that location in 1779--the year that the Battle of Pound Ridge took place. It is highly likely that, as a resident,  he took part in that battle as a militiaman.  His name appears on a 1780 roster of enlisted men for the Westchester Militia, 4th Regiment, under THADDEUS CRANE along with his sons NATHAN,  ISRAEL & ELEAZER SLASON Jr, as well as his son-in-law JONATHAN DIBBLE.   Another ancestor SOLOMON BROWN, also served with THADDEUS CRANE.

ELEAZER Sr would have been 54 years old at the time of the Battle of Pound Ridge. 

So far, I have not found records indicating  that ELEAZER SLASON Sr ever remarried. The last record I have found for him, so far,  is the 1790 census, showing that he lived in  the village of Salem in Westchester County, New York.   He likely died before 1800, as he does not appear in census records.

(The SLASON surname has several spelling variations in records: SLAWSON, SLOSSON and SLAUSON)

ELEAZER SLASON Sr is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE

Sources:

--DAR Patriot Index

-- Connecticut Soldiers in the French and Indian War 1755-1762

--God's Country: a History of Pound Ridge, New York by Jay Harris

--New York in the Revolution by  Bethold Fernow

--The Slason (Slawson/Slosson/Slauson) Family by George Slawson

--Abstracts of the Land Records of Westchester County, New York 1774-1801 by  Brendan S Burns

Have a great day!

Betty 

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: JONATHAN DIBBLE: Battle of Pound Ridge, Westchester County, New York

Summer Mill River by Sansan Harashima

Pound Ridge, Westchester County, New York

JONATHAN DIBBLE was born about 1747 in Fairfield County, Connecticut.  I have not yet been able to connect him with other DIBBLE families from that area, but I suspect he may have been the son of REUBEN DIBBLE & ANN/HANNAH WATERBURY from Stamford.  

JONATHAN married RACHEL SLASON on the 27 August 1767 in New Canaan, Fairfield County Connecticut.  She was the daughter of ELEAZER SLASON Sr and SARAH RAYMOND. Shortly after their marriage, JONATHAN and RACHEL moved to the village of Pound Ridge, Westchester County, New York.  ELEAZER Sr also moved his family to Pound Ridge in about 1773, after the death of his wife. 

(The SLASON surname has several spelling variations in records: SLAWSON, SLOSSON and SLAUSON)

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, JONATHAN DIBBLE enlisted first in Capt EBENEZER SLASON's 1st Company of Minute Men, under Colonel SAMUEL DRAKE, from 1775-1776. My ancestor SOLOMON BROWN also enlisted in this company of Minute Men during that time period (see previous post).

On 31 January 1777, Capt  EBENEZER LOCKWOOD, 2nd Regiment, Westchester County Militia administered oath of Allegiance. JONATHAN DIBBLE was on the list of men who signed the oath.

Two years later, on 15 February 1779, while he was still with the 2nd Regiment of the Westchester County Militia,  JONATHAN DIBBLE and four other enlisted men were subject to a Court Martial, charged with disobeying orders. Capt TRUESDALE presided, and other members of the tribunal included Capt SCOFIELD, Capt (EBENEZER) LOCKWOOD,  Lt REYNOLDS,  Lt LODER,  Lt HAYES and Ens BENEDICT. The four other men, MICHAEL HALSTED, ETHAN MEAD, EPHRAIM GUMMAN and JACOB LOCKWOOD, were found not guilty.  JONATHAN DIBBLE was found guilty of "paying 15 dollars"--for what or to whom, is not clear.  There is no indication of what kind of punishment- if any- was agreed upon for this infraction.  

There was also no indication that JONATHAN was ever discharged from duty.  In fact, he appears on a roster of enlisted men in the 4th Regiment, Westchester County Militia under  Col THADDEUS CRANE from 1779-1780.   His father-in-law ELEAZER SLASON Sr and his brothers-in-law NATHAN, ISRAEL & ELEAZER SLASON Jr also  fought in this Regiment, as well as my ancestor SOLOMON BROWN and many of their neighbors.   It is highly likely that, as residents, many or perhaps even all of them took part in the Battle of Pound Ridge.

After the Revolutionary War, JONATHAN DIBBLE and his family  continued to live in the village of Pound Ridge, according to census, tax lists and other records.  His wife RACHEL died 1 Mar 1788--only two years after the birth of their two youngest sons (twins) SIMEON & REUBEN DIBBLE. 

JONATHAN DIBBLE  died on  27 June 1827. As he left no will, his son SOLOMON DIBBLE was appointed his executor.

JONATHAN DIBBLE is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE

Sources:

--DAR Patriot Index

--God's Country: a History of Pound Ridge, New York by Jay Harris

--New York in the Revolution by  Bethold Fernow

--The Slason (Slawson/Slosson/Slauson) Family by George Slawson

--Abstracts of the Land Records of Westchester County, New York 1774-1801 by  Brendan S Burns

Have a great day!

Betty 

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: SOLOMON BROWN I: The Battle of Pound Ridge and the Burning of Bedford in Westchester County, New York

Artist interpretation of  Soldiers raiding in Westchester County NY

 SOLOMON BROWN I was born about 1746 in Westchester County, New York, the son of ELIPHALET BROWN I and THANKFUL WOOD.  ELIPHALET I migrated from Fairfield County, Connecticut to Westchester County  sometime before October 1744; his marriage to THANKFUL WOOD was recorded 4 October 1744 in Darien, Fairfield, Connecticut, and the record notes that ELIPHALET I was of North Castle (later called Pound Ridge) Westchester, New York, and THANKFUL was from Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

SOLOMON BROWN I married SARAH "SALLY" SLASON in about 1772, in New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut.  She was born 22 October 1750 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, the daughter of THOMAS SLASON & MARY BATES of Stamford.  The couple had nine children, and lived their entire adult lives in Pound Ridge.

During the Revolutionary War,  SOLOMON BROWN I enlisted first in  Capt EBENEZER SLASON's  1st company of Minute Men, under Col SAMUEL DRAKE, for two short terms of duty, Nov-Dec 1775, and Jan-Feb 1776, a total of 66 days

He again enlisted in 1779-1781 in the  Westchester  Militia, 4th  Regiment  under Col THADDEUS CRANE. His brothers TIMOTHY, BENIJAH and ELIPHALET BROWN II also served in this regiment, as did his brother-in-law STEPHEN SLASON (married THANKFUL BROWN), and his friend and neighbor JESSE BOUTON. Several of JESSE BOUTON's children married SOLOMON BROWN's children. As residents and militiamen,  it is highly likely they all  fought against the British at the Battle of Pound Ridge.  on July 2, 1779.

British Col BANASTRE TARLTETON was ordered to attack  Pound Ridge, where it was believed that Capt EBENEZER LOCKWOOD and his rebel militia were encamped. LUTHER KINNICUTT, a rebel spy, warned the Americans that the British were about to attack.  TARLETON  raided the town   on July 2, 1779. A rebel Cavalry unit, Sheldon's Dragoons,  and local Militia attempted to fend off the British, who pillaged the town.  Unable to find or capture LOCKWOOD or Col ELISHA SHELDON,  they retreated to the nearby town of Bedford, where they encountered rebels  who fired upon them. In response, the British burnt several houses. The British returned to Bedford on July 11, 1779, and burned all the houses to the ground except one--the home of a Loyalist.

The Burning of Bedford--Westchester County Revolutionary War Sites

SOLOMON BROWN I wrote his will 19 April 1815, which names his wife SARAH and most of his nine children: sons SAMUEL, ISAAC & SOLOMON BROWN II; daughters RHODA, ELIZABETH "BETSY", THANKFUL, SARAH, MATILDA & NANCY.

 SOLOMON BROWN I  died in 1821 in Pound Ridge, Westchester, New York.  His gravesite has not yet been found.

SOLOMON BROWN I is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE

Sources:

--DAR Patriot Index

--God's Country: a History of Pound Ridge, New York by Jay Harris

--The Slason (Slawson/Slosson/Slauson) Family by George Slawson

--Abstracts of the Land Records of Westchester County, New York 1774-1801 by  Brendan S Burns

--New York in the Revolution by Bethold Fernow

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Pvt SIMON SIMONSE VAN ARSDALE Sr of Bucks County, Pennsylvania

 

DAR marker, Doylestown, Bucks, Pennsylvania 

SIMON SIMONSE (son of Simon) VAN ARSDALE was born 18 April 1726 in New York or New Jersey, the son of SIMON JANSE (son of Jan) VAN ARSDALE and JANNETJE ROMINE/ROMEYN.  SIMON JANSE married JANNETJE ROMINE on 30 October 1716 in New York, likely in the Dutch Reformed Church. They  may have lived in Flatlands, Kings County, New York, and for a time in New Jersey between 1720 and 1730, before migrating to Southampton twp, Bucks County, Pennsylvania where SIMON JANSE made his will on 8 September 1766.  

This surname has an incredible array of variant spellings in records, including VAN ARTSDALEN,  VAN ARSDALEN,  VANARTSDALEN, VANARSDALE, VANAUSDAUL and more, making it at times difficult to trace the family.

SIMON SIMONSE Sr married on 24 January 1751 ELSJE KROESEN/KREWSON, likely in the Dutch Reformed Church in Philadelphia (listed in records as the German Reformed Church?).  They had at least ten children. The couple lived solely  in Southampton twp, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and never moved or migrated.  Three of their children, JOHN, ELIZABETH and MARY,  married the orphaned children of MATTHIAS FENTON (see previous blogpost).

On 19 August 1775, SIMON SIMONSE enlisted as a private in the Southampton, Bucks County Pennsylvania Milita, rank of Pvt, under Capt JOHN FOLWELL.  His son SIMON SIMONSE VAN ARSDALE Jr and son-in-law JOSHUA PRAUL also enlisted on that date, under Capt JOHN FOLWELL.  This was the same regiment that MATTHIAS FENTON enlisted in, on that same date. 

I was unable to find information about when exactly SIMON SIMONSE VAN ARDSALE Sr was mustered out, or if he re-enlisted at any time during the war. 

However, while researching, I did discover that SIMON SIMONSE Sr was a slave holder.  He was taxed on 3 "servants" i.e. slaves between 1779-1790. As I said in my previous post, this was a surprise.  Apparently in the 1700s the Dutch Reformed Church turned a blind eye to the fact that their parishioners (and indeed some of their ministers) owned slaves. His father SIMON JANSE also owned slaves.

SIMON SIMONSE VAN ARSDALE Sr died 17 March 1795 in Southhampton, twp, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  Apparently he died intestate, and there was no will. However, on 1 August 1796 the Bucks County Orphans Court recorded that his estate had been settled, listing his surviving children and their spouses: 

Jacob and CORNELIA Vandergrift

SIMON Vanartsdalen Jr 

Joshua and JANE Praul,

Abraham  and MARGARET Lefferts,

JOHN  Vanartsdalen, 

ELIZABETH Vanartsdalen 

MARY  Vanartsdalen

Heirs of SIMON Vanartsdalen, late of Southampton twp, agree to settlement of estate.

SIMON SIMONSE VAN ARSDALE Sr is in the lineage of my paternal grandfather, ALONZO COX HUBER

Sources:

--History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania by William Wiatts Hart Davis

--Bucks County Pennsylvania Orphan Court Records 1685-1852 by Thomas G Myers

--Pennsylvannia in the War of the Revolution by William Henry Egle

Have a great day!

Betty 

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Pvt MATTHIAS FENTON of Bucks County, Pennsylvania

 

Old Red Lion Inn, Bensalem twp, Bucks Pennsylvania 

MATTHIAS FENTON was born about 1745 in Northampton twp, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of JOSEPH FENTON III and MARYTE (MARIA, MARY) VAN DYCK, both of whom were born  in Brooklyn, New York, and migrated to Northampton twp, Bucks County, Pennsylvania by about 1759,  when they were listed in Dutch Reformed Church records there.

MATTHIAS married RACHEL HARDING on 27 August 1770 at the Southampton Dutch Reformed Church in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  RACHEL was the daughter of JOHN THOMAS HARDING and JANE SCOTT, who were Quakers; both died by about 1761 leaving  RACHEL and her older sister MARTHA  orphans.

On 19 August 1775, MATTHIAS FENTON enlisted in the  Sixth Company,  Southampton, Bucks, Pennsylvania Militia, under Capt JOHN FOLWELL,  rank of Pvt.  His brothers JOSEPH FENTON IV, JOHN/JAN FENTON and CORNELIUS FENTON also served, but in Capt HENRY LOTT's regiment from Northampton twp, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  I have not yet found records indicating when MATTHIAS FENTON was mustered out. 

In 1779, MATTHIAS FENTON and his wife RACHEL purchased and ran the Red Lion Inn in Bensalem twp,  Bucks County Pennsylvania.   The Inn was built in 1730 near the Poquessing Creek, on a main highway between Massachusetts and Philadelphia.  Delegates to the First Continental Congress, such as JOHN ADAMS were known to have stopped there to dine, and many meetings were held there  during the Revolutionary War. General GEORGE WASHINGTON and the Contintental Army camped along the Poquessing Creek, just behind the Inn, on their way to the Battle of Yorktown. Sadly, this historic Inn burnt to the ground in 1991.

MATTHIAS and RACHEL were not destined to own the Red Lion Inn for long.  Both of them died in the winter of 1781, leaving four young children orphaned: MARY, MARTHA, JOSEPH and THOMAS HARDING FENTON. The Red Lion Inn was leased to ABRAHAM DUFFIELD by their guardians for a term of three years. On  8 September 1783, DUFFIELD petitioned the Bucks County Orphans' Court, along with the guardians of the FENTON children to reduce the rent "being hard and ruinous owing to Peace taking place". 

MATTHIAS FENTON and his wife RACHEL HARDING FENTON were buried at the Byberry Friends Burying Ground in Philadelphia--where her parents were buried.

Two interesting things about this family:  

1) While researching, I discovered that MATTHIAS FENTON owned and was taxed on two slaves in 1780.  His father JOSEPH FENTON III also owned slaves. Apparently in the 1700s the Dutch Reformed Church turned a blind eye to the fact that their parishioners (and indeed some of their ministers) owned slaves.  I am very surprised that RACHEL, who was raised a Quaker, would accept the purchase of slaves in her household.  Perhaps the Pennsylvania Quakers did not yet share the radical abolitionist views of my North Carolina Quaker ancestors.  

2) Three of the children of MATTHIAS FENTON and RACHEL HARDING married children  of SIMON SIMONSE VAN ARSDALE and his wife ELSE KROESEN of Southampton twp, Bucks County Pennsylvania. See the next blogpost for SIMON's biography.

MATTHIAS FENTON is in the lineage of my paternal grandfather ALONZO COX HUBER.

Sources:

--Bucks County Orphans Court Records 1685-1852 by Thomas G Myers

--Family History of Jeremiah Fenton of Adams County Ohio by William Bartholomew Brown

--History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania by William Wiatts Hart Davis

--Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution by William Henry Egle

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Ensign ABRAHAM BROWN II of Epping, New Hampshire

 

Abraham Brown II gravestone

Arch Hill Cemetery Northfield NH   

ABRAHAM BROWN II was born 8 May 1754 in Epping, Rockingham, New Hampshire. He was the son of ABRAHAM BROWN I and HANNAH OSGOOD, both of whom died before 1760.  I have not yet found records indicating who raised  ABRAHAM BROWN II aft 1760.   He would have been six years old at the time of his father's death.  His father may have married again after the death of his first wife, HANNAH OSGOOD, in 1755.  ABRAHAM may have had siblings, but at this time I am not certain that they survived to adulthood.  

In 1775,  at age 21, ABRAHAM  enlisted with the New Hampshire Militia as a drummer, under several different commanders, for a period of three years.  Then, in 1780, he was commissioned as Ensign and Adjutant in Capt DANIEL GORDON's regiment, under Gen THOMAS BARTLETT and served until the end of the war.  An Adjutant is an officer who serves as chief administrative assistant to a Commander, in charge of managing correspondence, records, reports, and other administrative duties. The order came from (then Colonel)  THOMAS BARTLETT, at West Point.

ABRAHAM married MARY "POLLY" BUTLER on 27 May 1777 in Epping, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.  MARY was the daughter of Rev BENJAMIN BUTLER, a Harvard Graduate (and Mayflower descendant), and his wife DORCAS ABBOTT.  They lived in Nottingham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, where Rev BENJAMIN BUTLER was the minister of the town's Congregational Church for twelve years, then a Civil Magistrate until his death in 1804

ABRAHAM and MARY had a large family of nine children.  They lived first in the town of Epping, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, and then in Northfield, which later was in Merrimack County. 

ABRAHAM BROWN II died 8 March 1824 in Northfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. He is buried in Arch Hill Cemetery. 

 MARY, his wife,  received his Revolutionary War Pension in 1832. She survived him by over 20 years, dying 13 July 1846. She is also buried in Arch Hill Cemetery. 

ABRAHAM BROWN II is in the lineage of my maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN MARTINE.

 SOURCES: 

Abraham Brown II's Rev War Pension File 

DAR Patriot Index 

"History of Northfield NH" by Lucy Rogers Cross Hill;  publ 1905

"History of Town of Canterbury NH" by James Otis Lyford;  publ 1912

"History of the Town of Andover, NH" by John R Eastman

Have a great day!

Betty 

© Betty Tartas 2025