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 Sometimes in historical references  he is referred to as "EBENEZER MORTON Jr", but I am uncertain why--his father was definitely THOMAS MORTON.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