Westport’s Revolutionary Soldiers Comprehensive List
Posted on October 20, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
Research by Richard Gifford, Robert Barboza, Tony Connors, Betty Slade, Jenny O’Neill, Robin Winters
Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, ca. 1800–ca. 1912
RWVC refers to Revolutionary War Veterans of Color, research by Richard Gifford.
| Name | Remarks | Burial | Wife | Location of residence | Notes |
| Benjamin Abel (d. 1777) | RWVC was “of Dartmouth” when he was enlisted in the company of Capt. Amasa Soper in Col. Marshall’s regiment from 12/20/1776 to 2/10/1777, when they marched to Bennington (VT). He also served in the Major’s Company, same regiment and appears in Continental Army pay accounts from 1/1/1777 to 12/30/1777, when he is recorded as having died. It would seem reasonable, given their original destination, and span of service, that this unit participated in the battles of Bennington and/or Saratoga. Benjamin Abel was likely the brother of Paul Cuffe’s wife Alice (Abel) (Pequit) Cuffe, as she is of an appropriate age and is the only Abel to appear in Dartmouth VR. The Abel family seems to have Sakonnet/Acoaxet tribal origins. | RWVC | |||
| Cain Abel (c.1743-1782) | RWVC At the time of his enlistment on 6/15/1781 he was of Dartmouth, 38 years old, black complexion, conducted to Springfield by Prince Jenne to Col. Shepard’s regiment. He is listed in muster rolls in Capt. Jeremiah Miller’s company, Col. Edward Vose’s (1st Massachusetts) Regiment, June until November 1781 at Philipsburg (i.e. Sleepy Hollow, Westchester Co., NY). In a separate Mass SSAR entry under the name “Cain Able” he is listed in the same company in the muster rolls for January and February 1882, when he is recorded as having died on February 12, 1782. These last muster rolls were recorded at an encampment at “York Huts.” (probably referring to the heights along the Hudson River, where the soldiers were frequently housed in huts). Probably the brother of Benjamin, Alice Cuffe who was about 10 years younger (her first marriage was in 1772). We know from other sources that Alice was the daughter of Nehemiah [Jr?] and Naomi (Quance) Abel; she would have grown up between Division and Horseneck Roads in Dartmouth. Given the complete absence, excepting the one mention of Alice, of any Abel in Dartmouth VR, it would seem likely that in the late 1700s it was down to one family, with Cain and Benjamin being the brothers of Alice. | RWVC | |||
| Humphrey Allen (1754-1842) | Brother of Joseph Allen. Capt. Benjamin Wilcox’s Company, Col. Nathaniel Freeman’s Regiment ALLEN, HUMPHREY. Private, Capt. Benjamin Willcox’s co., Col. Nathaniel Freeman’s regt .; enlisted Sept. 29, 1777; discharged Oct. 29, 1777; service, 30 days, on a secret expedition to Rhode Island. Roll sworn to in Suffolk Co. | Beech Grove Cemetery | Phebe Burgess | Drift Rd | Photo of gravestone |
| Joseph Allen (1758-1838) | Brother of Humphrey Allen; had extensive service outlined in Robert Barboza’s book. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Joseph Allen of Westport was not a Minuteman — what we called the local militia in the Revolutionary War because they turned out for duty at a moment’s notice. No, Allen was a professional, long-term soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, serving in the 7th Massachusetts Regiment of volunteers raised as part of a state levee for service with the federal army. He was a blacksmith when enlisted at age 18, on March 14, 1777, as a private in Capt. William Hudson Ballard’s Company of the 7th Massachusetts Regiment of Foot, Col. Ichabod Alden commanding, formed on Sept. 16, 1776. Allen and his buddies would have returned home from New York as likely heroes for their service in a major campaign. Probably, most kept the news of good land cheap up there to themselves after the war; a few like Allen planned to return to New York someday. Allen was born Nov. 14, 1758, in present-day Westport. He reportedly apprenticed as a blacksmith in the nautical trade in Providence as a teen. As an adult, he married Prudence Earle (the daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth Earle) on June 27, 1768, in Dartmouth, and lived there until he moved to Galway in the Black River Country of New York in 1805. He purchased a large tract of land on Bear Creek, and set up his homestead, and the Allen Blacksmith Shop, in the wilderness. He died on Dec. 27, 1843, in Pierrepont (Ellisburg), in Jefferson County, N.Y. County records list him as a reverend and a magistrate with 40 years of service. | Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson County, New York, | Prudence Earle | Drift Rd | Photo of gravestone |
| William Allen | Enlisted 1778 went with Captain Wilcox to Howlands Ferry, then stationed in Dartmouth for 2 years as a guard. Born in “Coxit”, he volunteered instead of his father. Quartered at Samuel Gifford’s house “ready at a minutes warning.” | ||||
| Jacob Amos | RWVC | RWVC | |||
| Richard Amos | RWVC | RWVC | |||
| Thomas Amos | RWVC | RWVC | |||
| Israel Brightman (b. 1750) | The said Israel Brightman says the general circumstances of his service in the War of the Revolution is as follows (to wit) that in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy four he moved from Westport, aforesaid into the Town of Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island and lived in said Little Compton Six years, that immediately upon his moving into said Town of Little Compton he was enrolled in the militia in what was called the South Company, in said town, that in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six he thinks in the Month of April he was drafted as a Soldier for half the time to guard the shores about Little Compton and on Rhode Island that he entered said service under Captain Ephraim Simmons, in Colonel John Cooks Regiment and Commenced Service on Rhode Island was at Newport and in the service in the summer of Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six and had not returned to the main when the British Troops landed there, and he marched to the other end of the Island and returned to Little Compton, this was in the fall of seventeen hundred and Seventy six Located in a private family cemetery off Cornell Road is the grave of Israel Brightman, local farmer and patriarch of the family whose house stood nearby for nearly 300 years. Born in Dartmouth on May 7, 1750 to Henry and Hannah (Potter) Brightman, he married Bethany (Bethany Palmer), daughter of Sylvester and Almy (Potter) Palmer. She was born in Little Compton in 1751 and the couple was wed on October 15, 1772. They had seven children- Christian, Rachel, Israel, John, Cornelius, Bethania and Lemuel. In researching the family history, we learned that at the time of his death on June 24, 1838, Israel was being paid a pension of $30 a year for service in the Revolutionary War! From this point forward, an American flag will fly at his grave, honoring his service in the Rhode Island Militia (remember the boundaries were not well defined at the time and sign on bounties differed from location to location). Israel’s actual burial location in the Brightman Cemetery was likely marked by one of these field stones. His wife Bethany also rests nearby. She died in 1794 and her grave was certainly marked with a similar fieldstone. By the time the four-sided memorial monument was erected in the late 1800s, their birth and death dates had likely been lost to their descendants (the third photo). There are nine Brightman family burials we can identify in this cemetery and more than a dozen unmarked field stones. In addition to Israel and Bethany, it’s likely infant son Israel, who died in 1781, and daughter Bethania, who died in 1826, are among the dead interred here. See pension application. | Henry Brightman Cemetery | Bethany Palmer | Cornell Rd | Photo of gravestone |
| Thomas Brightman III (1756-1832) | Wife was his first cousin; possibly buried in unmarked stones at Henry Brightman cemetery. | possibly buried in unmarked stones at Henry Brightman cemetery. | Rebecca (Brightman) Palmer | Cornell Rd | |
| Capt. William Brightman (1763-1831) | Brother of Thomas III; buried at Westport Point Cemetery. Rank likely from whaling status. | Westport Point Cemetery | Elisabeth Shaw | Cornell Rd | |
| Abner Brownell 1756-1851 | Westport’s Paul Revere BROWNELL, ABNER. Dartmouth. Private, Capt. William Hicks’s co., Col. Pope’s regt .marched Dec. 7. 1777: returned Dec. 15, 1777; service, 9 days. | Brownell-Handy Cemetery. | |||
| Benjamin Brownell | Father of Abner Brownell; brother of Prince Brownell; buried Brownell-Handy Cemetery. . Private, Capt. Jonathan Taber’s co., Col. John Hathaway’s (2d Bristol Co.) regt .; marched Aug. 3, 1780; discharged Aug. 7, 1780; service. 5 days, on an alarm at Rhode Island. Roll sworn to at Dartmouth. Military Regiment Colonel John Ashley’s (Berkshire County) Regiment One Old Dartmouth resident, who played a small part in this war, but whose record is worth our attention is, Benjamin Brownell, Sen.* who was father of Westport’s first town clerk. He lived on the Adamsville road in the house now owned by Franklin Palmer. In the summer of 1780, word was brought to him from Rhode Island that the British were planning a raid on the island and the regular force stationed at Newport was sadly in need of volunteers. Without hesitation Brownell, true to his family’s reputation for gallantry in fighting, started, with his gun on his shoulder, down the road toward Adamsville or Taber Mills as it was then called. Just what hardships he may have endured, if any, or what sort of service he rendered we can not state, but “Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution” gives the following account of his service: “Brownell, Benjamin, Private Capt. Jonathan Taber’s co. Col. John Hathaway’s (2nd Bristol Co.) regt. marched Aug. 3, 1780; discharged Aug. 7, 1780; service 5 days on an alarm to Rhode Island. Roll sworn at Dartmouth.” Although Brownell then was forty-six years old and the father of six children he did not ask exemption. At the time when Westport elected its first group of town [officers], “Benjamin Brownell, Sen., was chosen Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ensuing.” | Brownell-Handy Cemetery. | Benjamin Brownell, Sr. (I would add the Sr. abbreviation since he did have a son named Benjamin, too.) (1734-1816) His wife’s name was Phebe Potter | Adamsville Rd | Photo of gravestone |
| George Brownell Jr. (1711-1800) | Served in RI militia (Capt. Cornelius Briggs’ Co.); father of George III, Nathaniel, and Samuel. | Sarah Bailey | Acoaxet | ||
| George Brownell III (b. 1744) | Minuteman in Capt. Thomas Kempton’s Co.; brother of Nathaniel and Samuel. | Lucy Richmond | Acoaxet | ||
| Lt. Jonathan Brownell (1719-1776) | Died of wounds from the Battle of Bunker Hill while serving with an RI regiment. Lieutenant Jonathan Brownell was in the battle of Bunker Hill,and received a wound from which he died. He was the father of 7 children including Sylvester? He died age 58 yrs.. born in part of LC now known as Westport Harbour. He is buried in Brownell cemetery No. 7 Westport Harbour. He married in LC 14 Jan. 1742 ELIZABETH RICHMOND, daughter of William and Anna (Gray) Richmond, born in LC 26 Feb.1725, died there 10 June 1806 ae 81. She is buried in the cemetery at Westport Harbour on the Brownell place. They lived in Westport Harbour, then a part of LC on a place later owned by Barker Peckham. This place is at the four corners near the beach. | Brownell Cemetery Westport Harbor | Elizabeth Richmond | Acoaxet | |
| Joseph Brownell (1744-1824) | Son of Giles Brownell; buried at Brownell Cemetery, Grange Ave. | Brownell Cemetery, Grange Ave. | Deborah Briggs | Acoaxet | |
| Nathaniel Brownell (1751-1825) | Son of George Jr.; brother of Samuel and George III. See pension application. During the Revolutionary War my said husband lived with his father the late George Brownell of adjoining town of Westport in Massachusetts- I was born in this town and always lived herein with my father the late Michael Tompkins up to the time of our marriage-We then removed to said Westport, we lived up to the death of my said husbands- since which period I have lived a part of the time with my Children in this town & a part of the time in said Westport. At the commencement of the Revolutionary War in 1775, in May of that year my said husband enlisted in this town into Capt. Aaron Willbors (?) Company in Col. Church’s Regiment and was soon after marched to the vicinity of Boston-their troops were laised by the state of Rhode Island for eight months- he faithfully served his time out for 8 months as a private soldier and in January 1776 he was discharged & he returned home-After his return home he was enrolled in the Militia Company to which he belonged in said Westport then under the command of Capt William Hicks-of which Earle (?) was Lieutenant in the Second Regiment of Militia in the County of Bristol in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts- When the Enemy took possession of Rhode Island in December 1776 my said husband was ordered into the public service in said Company of Militia, to Howlands Ferry in Tiverton and was then for one month under Capt William Hicks- and from that time till the Enemy (illegible-evacuated ?) Rhode Island in 1779 my said husband performed much military duty as a private soldier in P Company at Westport harbor, at Westport Points and on the shores of the town. And several times during said period he was in the service on the shores of Narragansett Bay in Little Compton and Tiverton- And in the Expedition on to Rhode Island under General Sullivan, in the Summer of 1778. | Sarah Tompkins | Acoaxet | ||
| Lt. Pardon Brownell (1744-1799) | Son of Lt. Jonathan; brother of Maj. Sylvester Brownell; buried at Old Commons. | Old Commons LC | Prudence Shaw | Acoaxet | |
| Prince Brownell (b. ca1750) | Minuteman in Capt. Kempton’s Co.; brother of Benjamin. | Sarah Manchester; Dilly Haskins | Adamsville Rd / Sodom Rd | ||
| Samuel Brownell (1738-1817) | Son of George Brownell Jr.; moved to Hamilton, NY, ca 1794. | Fuller Farm Burial Ground Hamilton Madison Co. NY | Ruth Briggs | Acoaxet | |
| Sylvester Brownell (1757- | Westport and Little Compton stationed near Bunker Hill 1775, later on managed coastal guard units, see pension application: “served as an orderly sergeant in the same company of Massachusetts militia, commanded by the said Captain William Hicks for a period of two years. During this time the company to which declarant belonged, being convenient to the situation, was detailed from the [illegible] of the regiment, and required to act as a guard along shore, and particularly at the mouth of Acoaxset [Acoaxet] River, at which place the guard was stationed of which declarant was sergeant. The arrangement of guard duty was to the following effect, [illegible] that one half of the company should be called up on duty for one month, which was then relieved by the other half the succeeding month, and so on, alternately, so long as the necessity for a guard continued: the whole company, in the mean while, being liable to duty, and ready to be called into service at a moment’s warning. Declarant further avers that he was required to be constantly equipped, and in readiness to march to any part where there might be an alarm: that he was actually marched to New Bedford to repel the enemy at the time of the burning of Fair Haven, and was also marched to Gooseberry neck where the enemy had landed to secure (?) supplies of stock.” | Photo of gravestone | |||
| Abraham Cook | served in the Tiverton company of Capt. Christopher Manchester which served in 1776 at Middletown and where he is listed in the company roster as on the “Black Men.” His occupation was mariner (the same occupation pursued by his son and grandson). He was the father of Benjamin Cook of Dartmouth, who apparently died while employed by Paul Cuffe. Benjamin’s son Capt. Pardon Cook lived on Drift Road in Westport and had several successful whaling voyages originating from Westport Point. He married Paul Cuffe’s daughter Alice, and their daughter Catherine (Cook) Nicholson was the last Cuffe descendant to own the site of Paul Cuffe’s house and boatyard. Catherine’s niece Carrie Taylor was the last Paul Cuffe descendant to live in Westport, and her great-grandson Bob (“Wandering Buffalo”) Kelly is the reigning chief of the Pocasset tribe of the Wampanoag Nation, a position once occupied by Bob’s grandfather. | ||||
| Abraham Cornell (1744-1825) | Brother of Sgt. Thomas and Lt. Joseph Buried Cornell White Lot, John Smith Farm. Grave of Abraham Cornell, Revolutionary War veteran CORNELL, ABRAHAM. Private, Capt. Benjamin Willcox’s co., which marched Dec. 8, 1776, from Dartmouth to Howland’s Ferry, R. I., to repel the British forces that arrived at Newport Dec. 7, 1776; service, 14 days, on an alarm. | Buried Cornell White Lot, John Smith Farm. | Priscilla Sanford | Hixbridge Rd | Photo of gravestone |
| Ezekial Cornell | Contact Richard for info | ||||
| Jerathmeel Cornell | Attributed to Dartmouth; served in Capt. Benjamin Willcox’s Co. | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Lt. Joseph Cornell (1755-1829) | Brother of Abraham and Thomas; died in Granby, NY. See Pension Applications | Anne Almy | Hixbridge Rd | ||
| Sgt. Thomas Cornell (1742-after 1800) | Brother of Abraham and Joseph.”CORNELL, THOMAS. Sergeant, Capt. Benjamin Willcox’s co., which marched Dec. 8, 1776, from Dartmouth to Howland’s Ferry, R. I., to repel the British forces that arrived at Newport Dec. 7, 1776; service, 17 days, on an alarm.” | Unknown | Hixbridge Rd | ||
| Augustus Cory | Service attributed to Dartmouth; possibly a freed slave. | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Benjamin Cory (1750-1834) | Brother of William; received pension 1818-1834. That he enlisted as a Corporal in the summer of 1776, being then of Dartmouth aforesaid & now Westport, where he was born the 26th of November A.D. 1749. where he lived when he enlisted in the service & has ever since lived. For three months in a company of militia, commanded by Capt. Henry Wilcox & in a Regt. commanded by Col. John Cook & went on to Rhode Island & was stationed at Newport & remained on the Island three months, lacking one day; for the British then landing, the company retreated from the Island to Tiverton & remained in said company one day there, when he was dis. charged the first of December, but has no written discharge. He immediately enlisted (& served as a sergeant) into Capt. William Hicks’ company & Col. Thomas Kempton’s regiment of militia, of (?) Dartmouth; the company was stationed near Howlands Ferry & kept guard on the shore in Tiverton one month & was then dismissed or discharged. In the latter part of March 1777, Capt. Hicks called out his company to keep guard at & near the harbor of Dartmouth, now Westport, & I was in said company at the time; the said company & Captain living near the harbor & sea coast of said Dartmouth, & were ordered out to guard the coast, the British then being in possession of Newport & the Island of R. Island & sending in their (?) often (after the severity of winter and war, for in the midst of winter their (?) did not appear after annoy the people) to plunder the said coast of Dartmouth. In this service I was engaged & employed & in guarding the coasts till the month of July, being full three months, as he believes, but has no record thereafter. In July 1777, he enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Wilcox, being a militia company, & in a Regt. under command of Col. Thomas Kempton of Dartmouth, & went to Tiverton in R. Island State, where the company to which he belonged & others were stationed, near & along the shore opposite to the Island of R. Island, the enemy being there in possession of same & General Spencer’s expedition there, was preparing to go on to R. Island. | Possibly buried with brother at Thomas Cory Cemetery Cornell Road | Anna Sisson | Cornell Rd | |
| William Cory (1758-1842) | Brother of Benjamin; buried at Thomas Cory Cemetery. See pension application: That he enlisted into Capt. William Hicks Company of Militia, of Dartmouth (now Westport) in Col. Thomas Kemptons Regiment in the latter part of March, the precise day he does not recollect, in the year 1777. and Capt Hicks then marched his Company to said Dartmouth Harbour, and now Westport and he immediately, commenced standing guard and on duty at said Harbour, and in said Company, from the best of his recollection until about the first of September of said year, when troops were raised for Gen. Spencer’s Expedition to the Island, of Rhode-Island, a part of Capt Hicks Company were detached, of which he was one, and part of all the Companys in Col. Kempton Regiment were also detached for said Expedition, and Capt Hicks had orders to March the Company, so detached, in which the applicant was one of its members, to Howlands ferry in Tiverton, in the State of Rhode-Island, and on our arrival there, Capt Hicks with all his Company, [commended standing guard on the shores of Tiverton, oppisit the Island of Rhode – Island where he remained on guard, and on duty, from the best his recollection about six weeks, and Capt. Hicks had orders to March that part of his former Company, that were detached for said Expedition, to said Dartmouth Harbour, which he did, and he immediately commenced standing guard, and so continued to stand guard, and on duty until the last of December, and Capt Hicks then dismissed his Company, as there was no fear of the enemy coming into said Harbour, in the seveare winter weather, making his term of service on guard, and in Spencers Expedition, in the yeare 1777. nine months certain, and he believes a few days more – On the latter part of March AD. 1778 the precise day he does not recollect, Capt William Hicks again called out his Company of Militia belonging to the aforesaid Col. Thomas Kemptons Regiment, to stand guard at said Dartmouth Harbour of which applicant was still a member – and he then commenced standing guard, and on duty, and so continued to do, until the last of July, or the first of August, he cannot say which, it being in the time of Gen. Sullivans Expedition on Rhode-Island, he with some others was detached from Capt. Hicks Company, and placed under a recruiting officer, and immediately marched on to Rhode-Island, and there delivered to Capt. Robert Earl, and he joined his Company of Militia, belonging to Col. Titcombs Regiment, and he was immediately on duty, in which he and all of the American Army, had two days of hard fighting with the enemy on Quaker hill, Buttes hill, and at other places, and there was a considerable number killed, and wounded, on both sides, the American Army, had nearly one whole Regiment killed, and part of many others, and the enemy coming to strong for us, the American Army made their retreat off the Island, to Tiverton, crossing the River at Howlands Ferry, taking with us all the live stock that we could collect on our retreat, nearest the River, at Howlands Ferry to Tiverton. on his arrival at Tiverton, he commenced standing guard in Capt Earls Company, at and near Howlands Ferry, he believes about two weeks, when Capt Earl had orders to March his Company to Pautucsett Village, on the west side of Providence River, and he the applicant and some others were detached from Capt. Earls Company, to go to Providence in a a Boat, to carry some arms that belonged to some of the Regiments, that were killed on Rhode-Island, and he and the others that were detached embarked in the Boat, and on their arrival at Providence, they discharged their Boat, then marched to Pautucsett, and there joined Capt Earls Company again, he then commenced standing guard, and continued to stand guard, and on duty, about eight weeks, and was then discharged from Capt Earls Company making his term of service under Capt Earl about eleven weeks, and immediately returned to Dartmouth, and gained his former Company, commanded by Capt Hicks had orders to dissmis his Company, as there was no fear of the enemy coming into said Harbour, in the sevear winter weather, making his terms of service, on guard and in Sullivans Expedition, in the AD 1778. nine months or more – On or near the last of March the exact day he does not recollect but well recollects, that it was in March AD.1779. Capt Hicks again called out his Company, of which the applicant was still a member, to stand guard at said Dartmouth Harbour, (now Westport) and he with the rest of the Company immediately commenced standing guard, at said Dartmouth Harbour, and so continued to stand guard, and on duty, from the aforesaid latter part of March AD. until the tenth day of November, in the said year 1779. and was then discharged. it being the first time that he had been discharged rom Capt Williams Hicks Company after he enlisted into said Company on the latter part of March AD. 1777. making his term of service in the year 1779. seven months, and then days certain, and he believes one or two day more – On the first of Aril AD 1780. he with seventeen others enlisted under Capt William Hicks, in COl. Thomas Kemptons Regiment for six months, to stand guard at said Dartmouth Harbour, in certain conditions, their listing orders particularly specifying, that they should not be moved from said Dartmouth Harbour. and he commended standing guard, and on duty, on said first of April, and so continued about four weeks, when Capt Hicks presented to him,new listing orders, which were, that if he would list to go any where in the County, during the remainder of the six months if requested to. that their pay should be increased to sixteen dollars per month and should have one hundred dollars Bounty. and he and four others out of the eighteen enlisted to the new listing orders, and were subject to be moved to any part of the County. he further [crossed out] states that the object for having this guard to stand at said Harbour, was to prevent small vessels from going out of said Harbour, that occationally would go out of said Harbour, in the night time, and carry provision and stores to the enemy after they left Rhode- Island, and the town of Newport, and that they did bring to, and take possession of a number of small vessels, during the aforesaid six months which had provisions and stores on board – the first four weeks of said guard, they were stationed at Nathaniel Richmonds, about one mile from said Harbour, and complaint being made that it was to great a distance to go to relieve guard, and they were then removed to [illegible] Palmers, at said Harbour, where he, and the others remained, the remained of the Six months, and he continued to stand guard , and on duty , at said Harbour, until his Six months had expired, and was then discharged. but had no written discharge, nor did he ever have one, during his whole terms of service, his aforesaid declaration he has stated from perfect recollection, and herewith is annexed the depositions of two substantial witnesses, that have stated their knowledge of his services, from good recollection, which are the only two that are now liveing, that ever served with him. I John Wood of Westport, in the County of Bristol, and State of Massach-usetts, aged Eighty two years, on Oath do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with William Cory of Said Westport, in the County of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, and have lived within one mile of each other, for more than Seventy six years, and have frequently seen each other during our lives, I well recollect of seeing said William Cory on the Island of Rhode Island, some time in the month of August AD. 1778. the precise day I do not recollect, but I believe it was about the middle of the month. I well recollect that it was the last part of Gen. Sullivan’s Expedition on Rhode-Island, that the curiosity to go on the Island, to see how the two armys managed, although a spectator, was an eye witness of the great battles at Quaker hill, and Buttses hill, and I there see the said William Cory, in Capt. Robert Earls Company. some of the army then being on their retreat, crost the river to Tiverton, and the next day at night, the main army made their retreat to the shore, to come over the river to Tiverton, and that night I was imployed by Capt. Gideon Simmons of Little Compton, who had charge of a boat, to held bring the army acrostic the river to Tiverton, to take his place, he being much out of health, I well recollect that I had a hard nights work, and that I see said William Cory come acrost the river that night, with the army from Rhode-Island to Tiverton, and he then belonged to Capt Earls Company, the next morning I came home, and did not see him again for more than two months. I well recollect that I see him again, he told me that he had a considerable tour after I left him at Tiverton, before he got home, that he was on guard at Howlands Ferry, a week or two, and then Capt. Earl marched his Company to Pautucksett, and he was on guard there about two months, before he was discharged, and I also well recollect of the guard that was kept up at Dartmouth Harbour, and that said WIlliam Cory belonged to it, for I stood two nights in same guard with him, on an alarm, and so did many others did not belong to the guard, in consequence of two English armed ships, coming to anchor off said Dartmouth Harbour , which lay there two days and then went off, I cannot say certain how long the guard was kept up, at said Dartmouth Harbour, but from the best of my recollection, I am well assured that the said guard, was kept up for the greater part of four years, I well recollect, that the guard was not kept up in winter season, I should think proba it was not kept up for about three months, in each winter, but the precise time I cannot now recollect, and I am well assured that said William Cory, belonged said guard, all the time that it was kept up, except whilst he was absent, in Gen Spencers, and Gen Sullivans Expeditions. John Wood Witness Abner B. Gifford | Thomas Cory Cemetery Cornell Road | Unknown | Cornell Rd | |
| Robert Cottle 1758-1845 | I enlisted as a Private in the Continental Army in the Massachusetts line under Colonel Gamaliel Bradford – Lieutenant Colonel Bassett, Captain Thomas Turner, in the year 1776, was at the taking possession of Dorchester Heights, was there at the evacuation of the British from Boston, from there was marched to New York and Long Island, was at the evacuation of Long Island, was then marched to Ticonderoga, from there to Still Water under the command of General Schuyler, and St. Clair at Still Water General Gates took the command then advanced towards Saratoga, was at the taking of the British Army under General Burgoyne, at that time I was in the Regiment with Major John Brooks, was at the storming and taking of Stoney Point under the command of General Wayne, was at a number of skirmishes in the Jerseys was quartered at Valley Forge in the Delaware, and was at the siege and capture of the Army under Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown Virginia. I was in Capt White Company at the Commencement of the Siege. Capt White was killed by a shell from the British Army some days before the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis. I remained with the army untill it was disbanded and I was regularly discharged in the year 1783, after having served upwards of seven years in the continental Army of the United States– I was about three years a common Soldier about one year a corporal about three years a Sergiant, my Discharge was burnt up in the War Office in Washington where I had sent it to get my land Warrant, which land Warrant I obtained and afterwards sold it to support my family. I am myself very infirm in body, can do but trifling, light labour, not being possessed of any mechanic art, and have a large swelling on the side of my neck, that first commenced growing when I was in the army being occasioned by sleeping on the wet ground; and has been gradually increasing ever since. It has now got to an enormous size and is very troublesome My family consists of Eight such is the State of my Family of children and by their Laborer is not more than sufficient to clothe them 5 my wife does all she can to help the family and that is has little as she is not very Healthyreported discharged June 8, 1783, by Gen. Washington, term of enlistment having expired; also, list of men entitled to honorary badges for faithful service; said Cottle reported to have served from April 5, 1777. | Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford | |||
| Alderman Crank | RWVC | RWVC | |||
| Peleg Crank | RWVC | RWVC | |||
| Stephen Davis (ca1734-1826) | born and died in Westport, married Peace Macomber and lived on Sodom Road.There are two records in MA SSAR for a Stephen Davis of Dartmouth. One served in the company of Capt. Jonathan Taber, Col. John Hathaway’s 2d Bristol County Regiment, enrolled Aug. 3, 1780, discharged Aug. 7, 1780, service of 5 days for “an alarm at Rhode Island.” The other served in the company of Capt. William Hicks, same regiment as above, enrolled Aug. 1, 1780, discharged Aug. 9, 1780, service of 9 days for “An alarm at Rhode Island.” Because these terms of service overlapped, it must be concluded that both Stephen Davises served in the Revolution. Which one served in which unit is impossible to tell in any definitive way. My guess is that Sodom Road Stephen served in the company of his Sodom Road neighbor, Jonathan Taber. Westport Point Stephen perhaps more likely was the one serving in the William Hicks company, as on a prior 1779 mission by Hicks’ company, for which I have a full roster, the soldiers included Benjamin Davis (2048 Main Road, who lived across from his brother Stephen) and Westport Point neighbors John Wilbour, John Head and Joseph Devol. | There are two records in MA SSAR for a Stephen Davis of Dartmouth. One served in the company of Capt. Jonathan Taber, Col. John Hathaway’s 2d Bristol County Regiment, enrolled Aug. 3, 1780, discharged Aug. 7, 1780, service of 5 days for “an alarm at Rhode Island.” The other served in the company of Capt. William Hicks, same regiment as above, enrolled Aug. 1, 1780, discharged Aug. 9, 1780, service of 9 days for “An alarm at Rhode Island.” Because these terms of service overlapped, it must be concluded that both Stephen Davises served in the Revolution. Which one served in which unit is impossible to tell in any definitive way. My guess is that Sodom Road Stephen served in the company of his Sodom Road neighbor, Jonathan Taber. Westport Point Stephen perhaps more likely was the one serving in the William Hicks company, as on a prior 1779 mission by Hicks’ company, for which I have a full roster, the soldiers included Benjamin Davis (2048 Main Road, who lived across from his brother Stephen) and Westport Point neighbors John Wilbour, John Head and Joseph Devol. | |||
| Stephen Davis (1738-1817) | b. Freetown, d. Sidney, Kennebec Co., Maine, m. Reliance Soule and was the one at 2041 Main Road. | ||||
| Abram Demos | RWVC one of the “Black Men” serving in the company of Capt. Christopher Manchester’s Tiverton RI militia regiment at Middletown in 1776. Other people appearing in contemporary records under the name Demas, Demos or Demus (e.g. 1762 map of Watuppa Reservation showing lot assignments and Tiverton VR) are suggestive of a descent from Nicodemus, an Indian land owner in Acoaxet in the early 1700s. | RWVC | |||
| Joseph Devol III (1740-1805) | Served 9 months with a MA regiment in the Continental Army; died in Conesus, NY. | Martha Southwick | Drift Rd (North)? | ||
| Exeter Dick (d.1791?) | RWVC listed in 1790 census for Westport next to REVOLUTIONARY WAR veterans London Richmond and Job Hart. His wife was probably Susannah (David) (Robbins?) (Dick) Hull, who married Bristol Hull in Westport in 1792 and appears in the Westport census for 1800. Susannah lived next to her niece, Charlotte White, as Bristol Hull had puchased 2 acres of land from Thomas Tripp on the west side of the 10 acre farm owned by Zip White. Westport VR has Susannah (under the intentions) as “Susannah David Dick, Indian woman” when she married Bristol Hull (“Negro man of Newport’). In the 1810 census for Westport Zilpha Dick appears next to London Richmond, she perhaps being a daughter of Exeter Dick, who must have lived at or very near the same location. Exeter Dick served in a predominantly Westport militia company commanded by Capt. William Hicks. Exeter was probably the brother of Solomon Dick (age 17, black complexion and “of Dartmouth” when enlisted in a MA regiment assigned for Continental Army service in 1780). Exeter and Solomon were likely the brothers of Hester Dick, who married Solomon White in Dartmouth in 1799, the latter likely the brother of Charlotte White, whose uncle and maternal grandfather, who both appear in Tiverton records, were named Solomon David. | RWVC | |||
| Solomon Dick (b. c. 1763) | RWVC see entry for Exeter Dick. | ||||
| Boston Durfee | RWVC a brother-in-law of Westport’s Capt. Paul Cuffe, served in the (Freetown) company of Capt. Henry Brightman, Col. Livingston’s regiment, for one month in in June/July 1779 at Freetown and Rhode Island. In July-September 1779 he served in Capt. Elsbree’s (Freetown) company, same regiment and assignment. He served for a further 15 days in September 1779, same company and mission. Boston Durfee appears in the 1777 Rhode Island military census for Tiverton. In 1788 he married at Freetown Sarah Slocum, who was the widow of Mingo Dice, the latter being perhaps the first Cape Verdean to live in this area (he was called “Partagee” in that record, and I suspect that his name is the town clerk’s mangling of the name Domingo Dias). Sarah’s second marriage is also recorded in Dartmouth, where she is listed as Sarah Slocum alias Dice, and in the intentions as Sarah Slocum alias Dick. Boston Durfee was the owner of land immediately abutting the south side of Watuppa Reservation. In the 1790s he would have lived in close proximity to his brother-in-law David Cuffe and Revolutionary War veterans of color Daniel Page, Peleg Crank, Thomas Amos and Jacob Amos, the first three likely living within the reservation itself and the last two being landowners on the north side of Watuppa Reservation, where the Amoses were neighbors of Revolutionary War veteran John Gifford, my 4th great-grandfather. Boston and Sarah Durfee were likely the parents of Charles Durfee, the first husband of New Bedford’s Polly Johnson, i.e. Mary (Mingo)(Durfee)(Page) Johnson. | ||||
| Christopher Earl (b. 1750) | Nephew of William Earl. | Mary (Palmer) Earl | Cornell Rd / Main Rd | ||
| John Earl ( | master, Continental Navy frigate Alfred Dec 1775- Nov 1776 | ||||
| Capt. Robert Earl (b. 1757) | Son of William Earl; Mary was sister to William & Benjamin Corey. | Mary Corey | Main Rd | ||
| Stephen Earl (b. 1754) | extensive service in the Marines.son of William Earl marine, sailing master, later First Lieutenant, later Marine Captain Stephen Earl was born 4 May 1754 in Dartmouth [Westport], Massachusetts, one of eight children of William and Mary Earl. In July 1776 he enlisted as a Sergeant of Marines at Providence, Rhode Island, in the company being raised by Captain of Marines SILAS DEVOL for service on Continental Navy Ship Providence. After serving six months, Second Lieutenant of Marines SETH CHAPIN was “broke,” [According to Earl’s deposition, made 21 April 1818, Smith, Marines in the Revolution, 148, 440] and Earl was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Marines to replace him (about January 1777). After serving four months as Second Lieutenant, a vacancy occurred when First Lieutenant of Marines AVERY PARKER was “broke.” [Earl’s deposition, Smith, Marines in the Revolution, 148, 440] Again Earl was promoted, this time to First Lieutenant of Marines (about May 1777). About August or September 1777 Captain of Marines Devol was appointed as Second Lieutenant (in the Navy) aboard the Providence. [Smith, Marines in the Revolution, 148, 440] Earl was promoted to fill the vacancy, although he was only twenty-three. This arrangement was apparently fine as long as the frigate was blockaded. When more active service appeared immenient, Captain ABRAHAM WHIPPLE sought a more experienced Captain of Marines, Earl’s appointment being looked on as a temporary expedient. [Smith, Marines in the Revolution, 148] Earl was discharged at Providence in April 1778, being replaced by WILLIAM JONES. [Smith,Marines in the Revolution, 148, 440] Earl was apparently a person of some substance. In 1779 he purchased a hundred acres of land in upstate New York. He married on 5 May 1782, to another Dartmouth native, Mary Hicks. In 1789 he married Priscilla, Mary’s sister. They moved to the New York property in 1800. Earl died in Milton, New York on 8 May 1834. [Smith, Marines in the Revolution, 440] [Note: Paullin, 513 and Allen, ii, 713, list Earl as a Lieutenant of Marines] | Factory Village Cemetery Milton Center, Saratoga County New York | Mary Hicks; Priscilla Hicks | Main Rd | Photo of gravestone |
| William Earl (1710-1798) | Naval veteran; commanded Continental Navy vessel. | Tabitha Hall | 1525 Main Rd area | ||
| James Easton | RWVC profiled extensively in William Cooper Nell’s Colored Patriots of the American Revolution (1851), a book which contains an introduction by Harriet Beecher Stowe. James was the son of Caesar & Mercy (Gunway) Easton, who were married in Little Compton. James Easton’s moment of fame came in the Patriot retreat from Ft. Ticonderoga during the early stages of the Saratoga campaign. Fearing being surrounded by the British, the American commander decided to retreat and join up with larger American forces which were gathering to the south. A force of six men, drawn by lot, were left behind with one cannon, directed to fire it when the British approached so that the Redcoats would think the fort still was occupied. For refreshment (or consolation) the unfortunate six, who faced almost certain capture or death, were left with a cask of Madeira wine. The six men partook of the wine while awaiting the British approach, so much so that they fell into deep slumber, only to awaken at the point of British bayonets, the cannon unfired. Easton disappears from the records for the next few years, during which time he was presumably held in British captivity. Easton ran a forge in Bridgewater and became quite successful, providing the iron work for the Boston Marine Railway and Boston’s Tremont Street Theater. His daughter Mary Easton married John Wainer, who are the ancestors of most of the area’s Wainer descendants of the modern day. James’s brother Moses Easton was a “forgeman, of Westport” when he purchased property in Dartmouth in the 1790s, likely employed at the newly opened Rotch forge on Forge Road (now Westport Factory #2, which contains within it the original granite-walled Rotch forge building). Moses’s grandson Rev. Peter Easton, who founded the Talcott Street Congregational Church, the first African-American church in Hartford, CT married Paul Cuffe’s daughter Rhoda and is buried at Beech Grove. | RWVC | |||
| Abraham Gifford (1752-1822) | Brother of Richard; son-in-law of Capt. Jonathan Taber. | Robe Taber | Unknown | ||
| Benjamin Gifford (1727-1817) | Served in Capt. Joseph Durfee’s (Freetown) company. | Mary Pettis | Narrows | ||
| George Gifford (1759-1826) | Brother of Jonathan Gifford. | Eunice Almy | Westport Point | ||
| Ichabod Gifford (ca 1761-ca 1782) | Son of Recompense; served in a MA regiment. See pension application: I William Gifford a Brother and one heir at law to Ichabod Gifford deceased, do upon oath testify and declare, that to the best of my knowledge and belief, Ichabod Gifford aforesaid, about, or in the year 1777 entered, or enlisted into the service of the United States, for the term of “”During the War:”” and that he continued in the service aforesaid, until the close of the same, when he received an honorable discharge at the termination thereof, from the third Regiment of the Massachusetts line commanded by Colonel Graton & Mellon further declare that my Brother Ichabod Gifford aforesaid parted this life in Dartmouth soon after the termination of the Revolutionary war; and died intestate. I Judith Devol Howland – wife of Prince Howland of Westport in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts aged Seventy one years testify and say- that I lived in Dartmouth in the County of Bristol aforesaid during the war of the revolution, That I was then well acquainted with Ichabod Gifford, who then lived in said Dartmouth that he lived in the same neighbourhood with me at the commencement of the war aforesaid. That sometime in the forepart of the war. I think as near as I can recollect it was in the year Seventeen hundred seventy six or seventeen hundred Seventy Seven – he the said Ichabod Gifford 6 enlisted into the war- (or went into the service in the war (I did not see him enlist) but such was the common say ing by his family– I know he went into the service and was in the service by common report during the remainder of the war from the time of his enlistment which was several years. That soon after the close of the war aforesaid, the said Ichabod returned home– he was unwell when he returned home– and in a few months he died, he was about sixteen years old when he entered into the service aforesaid and was unmarried at the time of his death, I further say that at that time I was well acquainted with the family, the Brothers and sisters of said Ichabod- and have been ever since, or such as are now living. William Gifford and Ruth Gifford are the only survivors, who are now living– and they are, the Brother & Sister of the said Ichabod Gifford deceased, and now live near me – John Gifford who was also a Brother to Ichabod aforesaid – died in Westport a short time since leaving ten children – namely– Sylvia, Patience Rebeccah, Zachers, & Square, who all are now living in the County of Bristol aforesaid- Nancy – who if living is in the State of Connect – Alder-who follow the sea and when at home lives in Boston in said Massachusetts, John, if living is in the State of New York – Nicholas – lives in the State of Rhode Island, and Peace in the State of Maine- Rebecca Gifford Powle, who was sister to said Ichabod- who lived near me – died some aged since having five children – namely- Susanna, Lillis, Elizabeth, William, and Roby – who are ┃ now all living and live near me – and this as above stated comprises all the Brothers, and sisters, with the children of those who have deceased, which were of the family of the aforesaid Ichabod Gifford deceased, Judith Howland | Unknown | Tiverton / Fall River? | ||
| Sgt. John Gifford (1754-1831) | Son of Recompense; smuggled goods past British blockade. | Gifford Richmond Mosher Cemetery, Reed Road | Isabel Milk | Old County Rd | |
| John Gifford (1754-ca 1830) | Son of Benjamin; tradition says he built Gifford Road. | Ruth Luther | Blossom Rd | ||
| Jonathan Gifford (1759-1853) | Brother of George Gifford. | Hannah Case; Hope Macomber | Westport Point | ||
| Recompense Gifford (1732-1826) | Extensive service with several RI regiments; buried in Tiverton. | Town Cemetery Tiverton | Susanna Taber | Narrows | |
| Richard Gifford (1758-after 1822) | Brother of Abraham; Drummer boy in Continental Army. | Rebecca Cook | Drift Rd | ||
| William Gifford Sr | |||||
| William Gifford (1754-after 1832) | Unknown | Narrows area | |||
| Jeremiah Greenman 1758 – 1828 | Home → Blog → Jeremiah Greenman A Common Soldier in the American Revolution Jeremiah Greenman A Common Soldier in the American Revolution Posted on February 27, 2026 by Jenny ONeillJeremiah Greenman (1758–1828): A career soldier who served for eight years, Greenman is notable for keeping a detailed personal record titled “Diary of a Common Soldier in the American Revolution.” During the war, his father moved from Newport to Westport (Acoaxet) and Jeremiah visited his family frequently. He was constantly on the move throughout the war years, traveling between Westport, Little Compton, Providence, New Bedford, Freetown, and beyond. His military service was long and varied: as a private on Benedict Arnold’s expedition to Quebec, followed by a term as prisoner of war, a sergeant in the Rhode Island Continental Army, rising through the ranks, participating in the defense of the Delaware, Valley Forge, and the Battle of Rhode Island. At the age of 25, he settled in Providence. He later moved to Ohio, where he is buried on his family farm. Extracts from his diary: November 1776 in Dartmouth We hear that they exspetakt the fleat in to Newport every day / Implying Self in gitting some board from a mill clapboard to make a hen house. December 1776 in Dartmouth Very cold / the enimeys fleet arrived at Rhode Island / ye militia pasing to ye fery everyday / the inhabitants of ye Island gitting off what Stock they can January 1777 at Dartmouth Raining raw cold weather / we hear a very brisk cannading March 1778 Continuing to Dartmouth / very cule weather/ imploying my Self in making a westcoat April 1778 Acoaxet went up as far as Waterparponds January 1781 Continuing to Dartmouth/ implying myself in learning the Mariners art / continuing in studying navigation.His experience after the war provides a poignant example of challenges faced by veterans. Greenman explains how he missed out on the opportunities for learning a gainful occupation because of his military service. The long-term effects of his injuries have limited his physical activity. Several pension applications shed light on a somewhat desperate situation in his old age:
“I am unable to labour Occasioned by a wound received whilst in publick service on my left side and the small of my back. As to my occupation, I have none that I can follow with that prospect which many others can do … although I have been endevouring for fourteen years past to till a small portion of the land which I fought for and three different times bled to regain from British Tyrants, having devoted my youthful days to the service of my country I was deprived of the opportunity which young men generally possess of acquiring any mechanical art. my wife is in the sixty first year of her age and very much debilitated and that this constitutes the whole of my family, the other branches being married and large families cannot contribute towards my support without embarrassing themselves and that I have not one solitary friend or acquaintance, that knows or ever heard of me, except such that has been made prior my migration to the country.” Jeremiah Greenman is buried far from his birthplace, in the Greenman Cemetery Waterford, Washington County, Ohio. His gravestone reads: In memory of Jeremiah Greenman, an active officer in the army which bid Defiance to Britain’s Power & Established the Independence of the U.S. & who was born at R.I. Newport, 7, May 1758. Read more: Diary of a Common Soldier in the American Revolution An Annotated Edition of the Military Journal of Jeremiah Greenman. Edited by Robert Bray and Paul Bushnell. Watch a video about Jeremiah Greenman at this link: https://www.jyfmuseums.org/learn/videos/jeremiah-greenman | Greenman Cemetery Waterford Washington County Ohio | photo of gravestone and journal | ||
| David Hammond (b. 1746) | Abigail Taber | Hixbridge Rd | |||
| Job Hart | RWVC son-in-law of Revolutionary War veteran London Richmond, in 1790 census next to Revolutionary War veterans London Richmond and Exeter Dick. Job Hart was of Tiverton when he served in Col. Topham’s RI regiment. | Catherine Pegen | Main Rd | RWVC | |
| Barney Hicks (1754-1832) | By Tony Connors “We have a Sunday wooden leg covered with leather, and for just around the farm, an ordinary wooden one.” (Mary Hicks Brown, interviewed in 1976 about her family history)
When we turn a spotlight on figures from the past, we’re usually looking for people with admirable qualities. What was it that made these men and women exceptional in their time, and perhaps models for our own time? But sometimes we find historical figures to be a complex mix of positive and negative qualities, making evaluation more difficult. Such a character is Westport’s Captain Barney Hicks. Born in 1754, Barney Hicks reached maturity at the outbreak of the American Revolution. He could have shown his loyalty to the Patriot cause in several ways: by serving in the local militia, engaging in the West Indian trade to bring supplies to the American forces, or by privateering (attacking British shipping – a risky but lucrative endeavor). Instead he chose to enlist in the Continental army. It was a short enlistment; in a few months he returned home and entered the West Indian trade. This was also risky. The British Navy patrolled the trade routes and assumed that anyone bringing in supplies was a traitor. On his first day out, Barney was captured by the navy. As he was towed to New York Harbor, a winter storm arose during which his ship broke free. Propelled by the storm, the ship ran aground on an island off the coast of New Jersey: Barney Hicks was the only survivor. Fortunately a family on the mainland spotted him and brought him to their home to recuperate. His convalescence took a year, and one foot had to be amputated.Once able to maneuver on his artificial leg, Hicks organized a privateer out of Philadelphia. They captured a British merchant ship, took it into a prize port, and with his share of the proceeds Barney was able to reimburse the New Jersey family that saved his life. Deciding that privateering was both lucrative and patriotic, Captain Hicks fitted out a series of privateers to molest British shipping. But again he was captured, and this time imprisoned in England. More than a year later he was transferred by ship to a British prison in New York, but during the Atlantic crossing he organized a mutiny and brought the ship into Boston where he claimed his privateer’s prize. By this time, despite a great deal of prison time, he was a confirmed privateer – but perhaps not a careful one. Again he was captured, and forced to spend two debilitating years on a prison ship in New York. When hostilities ended in 1781 (the war officially ended in 1783), Captain Hicks returned to the merchant service, hauling cargo between the Caribbean Islands and New England. In all he made 45 voyages to the West Indies. His last two voyages are the most interesting, and most troubling. In 1793 he sailed out of Newport, Rhode Island to Africa, purchased over one hundred slaves, and sold them in Cuba. This was the classic “triangle trade”: carrying Rhode Island-distilled rum to Africa to trade for slaves; selling the slaves in the West Indies; and transporting molasses back to Newport to make more rum. Slavery was still legal in the United States at the time, although illegal in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as was the African slave trade. In 1794, the slave trade was made illegal by federal law, so Hicks’s second voyage was after that law went into effect. These two voyages were very successful financially. Captain Hicks was able to retire to his farm and within two months, at age forty, he married Sarah Cook of Tiverton, with whom he had twelve children. Their son Andrew Hicks became one of the wealthiest shipbuilders and whaling agents in Westport Point. Barney died a respected citizen of Westport in his 78th year – a surprisingly long life considering what he had been through.If Barney Hicks’s life were shown in a ten-minute video, he would be a hero for the first eight minutes and a villain for the last two. So how do we evaluate his life? Certainly we have to consider the particular conditions and prevailing attitudes at that time, and not apply twenty-first century sensibilities to people who lived two hundred years ago. The slave trade might have been normalized in Newport and Bristol, but it was illegal and immoral even then. Well before he engaged in the slave trade, Captain Hicks had abetted slavery by trading New England food and building products for slave-produced sugar and molasses. Perhaps that can be chalked up to normal business practice of the time. But it is quite another thing to actually engage in the buying and selling of human beings. Barney Hicks presents us with a complexity that makes historical evaluation challenging. Does his slave trading outweigh his sacrifices for the revolutionary ideals of freedom and equality? Readers can decide for themselves. | Hicks Sowle Cemetery, Main Road | Sarah Cook | Main Rd | photo of gravestone, leg, house |
| Joseph Hicks (1722-1798) | William Gifford, son of Christopher and Mary Gifford of Dartmouth married Patience Russell, daughter of Joseph and Mary Russell of Dartmouth on 13d 1m 1745/6 [13 Mar 1746].[2] | Hicks Sowle Cemetery, Main Road | Elizabeth Waite | Main Rd | |
| John Hicks (d. after 1790) | Son of Capt. William Hicks. | Unknown | Adamsville / Cornell Rd | ||
| London Hicks | RWVC served as one of the “Black Men” in Capt. Christopher Manchester’s Tiverton company while stationed at Middletown in 1776. He was born in Tiverton, per that record, but given that “Barnibas” (Barney) Hicks, b. Dartmouth, mariner was in the same company it creates some inference that London Hicks may have been a former slave of the Hicks family of Westport. | RWVC | |||
| Capt. William Hicks (b. 1729) | Robert Barboza’s book: Brother of Joseph Hicks.Captain William Hicks of Westport served in Dartmouth’s 7th Company of the Second Bristol County Regiment of militia, called out for duty to reinforce Col. Jonathan Ward’s 21st Continental Infantry Regiment on Jan. 29, 1776. The company was part of the regiment joining the army for the Siege of Boston, the New York campaign, and the Battle of Trenton before being disbanded on January 1, 1777. Bob Barboza: served in Dartmouth’s 7th Company of the Second Bristol County Regiment of militia, called out for duty to reinforce Col. Jonathan Ward’s 21st Continental Infantry Regiment on Jan. 29, 1776. The company was part of the regiment joining the army for the Siege of Boston, the New York campaign, and the Battle of Trenton before being disbanded on January 1, 1777. The Battle of Trenton took place on the morning of December 26, 1776, after General Washington’s troops crossed the Delaware River in New Jersey for a surprise attack on the Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton. It’s easy to imagine Hicks as one of the men pictured in the famous painting of Washington “crossing the Delaware” during a fierce snowstorm to attack the British troops stationed at Trenton. After a brief battle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans. While Ward’s regiment was among those who headed home right after that historic battle, the victory encouraged many others to either re-enlist for another term of service, or to join the army for the first time in order to gain a share of the glory promised by the rebuilding Continental forces. Some of the Massachusetts men in the Continental Army in 1777-78 didn’t spend the winter in Valley Forge, being assigned to defensive positions along the Hudson River, where a series of forts and redoubts had been thrown upon the high banks to block British ships from ferrying troops upriver. Others stayed closer to home, assigned to “coastal defense” duty in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Hicks, for example, also served as a captain with Col. Pope’s militia regiment, called out for a local alarm on Dec. 7, 1777, and with Col. John Hathaway’s 2nd Bristol County Regiment on Aug. 1-9, 1780, for duty at Rhode Island. | Susannah West | Adamsville / Cornell Rd | ||
| Thomas Hicks (1766-1838) | Son of Joseph Hicks; buried Hicks-Sowle Cemetery. | Hicks Sowle Cemetery, Main Road | Unknown | Main Rd | photo of gravestone |
| David Kirby (ca 1740-1842) | Minuteman in Capt. Luen Pope’s Company.”The biography and family information for David Kirby was summarized in the book “”The Kirbys of New England”” by Melatiah Everett Dwight, published in 1898. David Kirby inherited the Westport homestead farm of his father, and built an addition to the old house on the north side, against the old stone chimney. Waite Kirby Potter House. David Kirby was a Revolutionary War soldier. He marched to Roxbury on April 21, 1775, in Captain Luen Pope’s company of militia. He also served in Captain Daniel Egery’s company, Colonel Timothy Danielson’s regiment, enlisted 6 May 1775 and mustered out 1 August 1775. His service totaled 3 months, 2 days. A bounty coat, or its equivalent in money, was ordered, dated 24 December 1775 in Roxbury (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution,”” page 315).” | Possibly burial ground at Waite burial ground north of his homestead. | Martha Soule | Waite-Potter house | |
| John Kirby (1734-1809) | Uncle of David and Silas Kirby Jr. | Phebe Waite | Pine Hill Road? | ||
| Silas Kirby Jr. (b. ca 1742) | Grew up on Fisherville Lane, In census for Dartmouth in 1790 and 1800. | Susannah Rogers | Fisherville Lane? | ||
| Thomas Lyon (1735-1797) | Captain 15th company, 2d Bristol County Regiment | Lyon Cemetery 146 Drift Road | |||
| Constant Macomber (b. 1752) | Brother of Humphrey Macomber. | Mary (Earle) Hicks | Cape Bial Lane | ||
| Humphrey Macomber (1756-1831) | Minuteman in Capt Kempton’s Co 4/21/1887; one later record reports him as “deserted.” | Phebe Brightman | Cape Bial Lane | ||
| William Macomber (1740- | Enlisted September 1777, 30 days on a scout expedition to Rhode Island. Assiting in the establishment of American Independence | Sarah Brownell | |||
| James Manchester | Son-in-law of Joseph Brownell. | Margaret Brownell | 1500 Main Rd | ||
| Jacob Mott (1721-1803) | Associated with the “Mott farm.” More recently the Yankee Bill farm on Pine Hill Road Bob Barboza:Private Jacob Mott was a militiaman from Dartmouth serving with Capt. Thomas Kempton’s militia company at the start of the Revolution, and was another survivor of the brutal winter of ’77-78, but he did not return from Valley Forge unscathed. Continental Army records show him as part of Col. Marshall’s regiment on Jan. 1, 1777, to March 1, 1779, but he was reported as transferred to the “corps of invalids” in Boston in May of 1778, likely to recover from illness or injury suffered during his time at Valley Forge. | Unknown | Pine Hill Rd? | ||
| Pompey Peckham | RWVC | RWVC | |||
| Joshua Petty 1757-1845 | Facebook message: Thank you for your great work! He is my 5th great grandfather and located in the woods behind what used to be one larger family farm lot all the way out to Sanford Road. Born 1757 and died 1845. He was a lieutenant in the 5th MA militia in the Revolutionary War. His father Nathan lived on the property at the time and was already over 65 and too old to serve, but provided rifle balls for the militia. REV WAR – Joshua served as a private in the RI Militia, first with Captain Jonathan Devol’s Company, Colonel Cook’s Regiment from, December 1776 to September 1777, then as a private with Captain Alexander Thomas’ Company, Colonel John Topham’s Regiment from Mar 1778 to Mar 1779, which included participation in the Battle of Rhode Island led by General Sullivan and finally with Captain Benjamin Barton’s Company from Mar 1779 until Nov 1779. | Joshua Petty Cemetery | |||
| Elijah Potter (b. ca 1745) | Listed in 1790 census. | Ruth Church | Westport Point | ||
| Esek Potter (b. 1748) | Rachel Simmons | Adamsville/Sodom Rd? | |||
| Ichabod Potter III (1758-1831) | Likely lived at Wood’s farm (built by his grandfather). | Cynthia Macomber | Adamsville Rd | ||
| Peter Quoniwell | RWVC likely lived in Westport, as he served in the predominantly Westport company of Capt. Benjamin Willcox under the name Peter “Quannamay” in the September 1777 “secret expedition to Rhode Island” in which many Westporters served. Son Joseph Quoniwell (ca1763-1834), under the names Joseph Quanawing (Dartmouth VR) and Joseph Quanawin (intentions) married Hannah Peckham, daughter of Revolutionary War veteran London Richmond and widow of Revolutionary War veteran Pompey Peckham, in 1788. Joseph’s son Peter Quoniwell II (ca1790-1814) was the husband of Hannah White, who was the daughter of Joseph White (brother of Charlotte) and Mary (Amos)(White) Wainer, the last wife of Michael Wainer. The younger Peter had land transactions with the freed slave Glasgow Cory, who lived on Adamsville Road, and Peter II died in Dartmoor Prison in England, where he was held captive during the War of 1812. The Revolutionary War veteran Peter married Martha Job in Tiverton, she being an Indian from a Vineyard family. See Segal & Pierce, Wampanoag Families of MV which provides an extensive chronicle for this family . | RWVC | |||
| Dr. Benjamin Richmond (1747-1814) | Surgeon during the Revolution; buried at Old Commons LC. It would seem likely that he would have treated Lt Jonathan Brownell’s Bunker Hill wounds. | Old Commons Cemetery LC | Sarah Church | Acoaxet / LC | |
| London Richmond (d. 1815) | RWVC lived and died in Westport, in Westport census 1790-1810, of Westport when his will was made and probated. He owned a 2-acre farm located east of Main Rd close to the Route 88 corridor on the WLCT/Dunham’s Brook Preserve. His will left legacies to William and Paul Cuffe Jr., with the real estate devised to Paul Wainer. London Richmond was the father-in-law of Revolutionary War veterans Job Hart and Pompey Peckham. London’s daughter Deborah married the son of Revolutionary War veteran Aaron Suckanash. London served in 2nd Bristol County Regiment but in a company from Dighton, where his likely owner or former owner was living at the time. London appears to have married the same woman twice in records decades apart in Dartmouth VR, suggesting that he was still enslaved at the time of his first marriage and that there was some question, either in his mind or that of others, as to the validity of the original. | Possibly buried at cemetery on WLCT property at Dunham’s Brook | Deborah Pegen | Main Rd | RWVC |
| Nathaniel Richmond (1739-1808) | High sheriff of Bristol County; supposedly present at Bunker Hill. Graduated from Harvard in 1764, moved to Bristol, Ontario Co NY | Codding Cemetery Bristol NY with inscription Capt. Continental Line Rev War” | Anna Brownell | Dighton / Acoaxet | |
| Lt. Col. Sylvester Richmond III (b. 1729) | Born in Acoaxet, living in Dighton at time of service. A selectman for Dighton during the Revolution. Second-in-command of Col. John Hathaway’s 2d Bristol Co. Regiment. He would have commanded over Westport troops in a number of expeditions. | Abigail Nightingale | Dighton / Acoaxet | ||
| Simons Simon | RWVC served in Capt. Robert Earl’s (Dartmouth) company, Col. Josiah Whitney’s regiment, from 8/26/1778 to 9/10/1778 at Rhode Island. Although Capt. Earl was from Westport, I am not sure if this particular company was composed of mostly Westporters. In any event, given the Watuppa location of Simon Simons (his daughter, the wife of Peleg Crank above, sold land on the south side of the Reservation and in the deed claimed it had been purchased by her father, Simon Simons, though no such transaction appears in the earlier indices) it is likely he is descended from the Simon family of Acoaxet. Solomon Simon served in Capt. Seth Talbot’s company, Col. John Hathaway’s (2nd Bristol County) militia regiment from April to May 1779 for 30 days service at Rhode Island. | RWVC | |||
| Solomon Simon | RWVC served in Capt. Seth Talbot’s company, Col. John Hathaway’s (2nd Bristol County) militia regiment from April to May 1779 for 30 days service at Rhode Island. Unknown relationship to Simon Simons, but it seems likely that both are descended from the Simon family of Acoaxet. | RWVC | |||
| Jacob Sowle (ca 1750-1825) | Abigail Tripp | Main Rd | |||
| Aaron Suckonash | RWVC likely the brother of Revolutionary War veteran Moses Suckonash. Aside from widely variant spellings (Psuckquanush, Soconish, etc), the surname is also sometimes rendered as “Mouth” (see Peleg Burroughs’ Journal). He served in Capt. Christopher Manchester’s militia company at same time as Westport Revolutionary War veterans “Barnibas” [Barney] Hicks, William Earl, Thomas “Britman” [Thomas Brightman III] and “Umpty” [Humphrey] Potter, these noted to have been born in Dartmouth (designation of place of birth was an unusual but fortuitous feature of this particular roster), along with several Westport-connected veterans of color. Aaron Suckonash’s son Simon Suckonash (d. before 1797) married Deborah Richmond, daughter of Revolutionary War veteran London Richmond of Westport. Simon’s son Aaron Suckanash II was bound out (indentured) by LC Town Council in 1797 to Revolutionary War veteran Lt. Robert Earl of Westport. (O’Toole), whose land abutted the London Richmond farm to the north. Aaron Suckanash II ran away in 1800, as Robert Earl posted an advertisement offering a $1 reward for his return. In the ad he is described as “an indented apprentice named Aaron Suconish, an Indian boy, aged about twenty years, about 5 feet 8 inches high. Had on when he went away a long blue pea jacket lined with green baize, an olive colored waistcoat, and striped Holland trowsers. All persons are forbid harbouring or employing said boy. . .” (O’Toole). | RWVC | |||
| Job Taber (1741-1791) | Lydia Taber | Adamsville Rd | |||
| Capt. Jonathan Taber Jr. (ca 1735-1791) | Brother of Peleg Taber. | Elizabeth Knight | Sodom Rd | ||
| Peleg Taber (b. 1741) | Brother of Capt. Jonathan Taber Jr. | Hannah Taber | Adamsville/Sodom Rd | ||
| Ishmael Tripp (1739-1832) | Brother of Samuel Tripp. | Experience Jenne | Brownell’s Corner? | ||
| Samuel Tripp (b. 1736) | One of the most extensive service records in Westport. Minuteman in company of Capt Thomas Kempton 4/21/1775. He enlisted in the Continental Army for a term of three years. The day following his Continental Army service expiration, he enlisted with the 9th Massachusetts Regiment which was attached to the Continental Army. At the time of his second enlistment he was 44 years of age. He is last recorded at West Point NY on 1/28/1781, there is no further record of him returning to Westport. | Elce Hathaway | Brownell’s Corner? | ||
| Boston Wilbour | RWVC (estate probated in LC 1797, probably died while in Continental Army service ca1782). Married at Dartmouth 1772, as “Boston, negro man of John Wilber of Little Compton” to Susannah Jeffrey, a woman with Acoaxet origins, the likely daughter of Joseph & Amy (Hinckley) Jeffrey, who were married at Acoaxet ca1750 by the Indian minister John Simon (Andrew Pierce materials; 1813 deposition testimony by “Eliza” White, mother of Charlotte). Amy’s father (or grandfather) Daniel Hinckley was a prior Indian minister at Acoaxet (Rawson & Danforth 1698). It is unlikely that Boston Wilbour was the slave of Westport Revolutionary War veteran John Wilbour of Westport Point, as LC records indicate he was the slave of John Wilbor “Jr.”, which would not apply to the Westport John Wilbour, whose father was named Samuel. (See O’Toole, If Jane Should Want to Be Sold for a more extensive discussion of the life of Boston Wilbour). | RWVC | |||
| Capt. Benjamin Wilcox (1747-1816) | Brother of Lt. William Wilcox; lived in middle section of Jeremiah Wilcox homestead om west side of Horseneck Road North of Petty Lane. In 1806 he purchased the Keith Farm from George Allen which was in part devised to grandson Henry Wilcox. buried in South Sparta, NY. | buried in South Sparta, NY. | Patience Tucker; Joanna Gallatin | Horseneck Road | |
| Sgt. Tile Wilcox (1741-1797) | Buried as “Tylee Willcox” at the Allen Cemetery in Greenfield, Saratoga NY. Disowned under the name Tiley Wilcox by the Dartmouth MM in 1762 for marrying out of meeting. | Deborah Russell | Pine Hill Road | ||
| Lt. William Wilcox (1741-1794) | Brother of Capt. Benjamin Wilcox. | Meribah Tucker | Horseneck Rd | ||
| Arnold Wood (1757-1841) | “Capt. William Hicks’s Co.Military Regiment Colonel Pope’s Regiment” | Beech Grove Cemetery, Westport | Sarah Esterbrooks | Adamsville / Sodom Rd | |
| John Wood (b. 1752 | In the fore part of the month of April A.D. 1775. the precise day he does not now recollect, he well remembers that it was a short time before the Battle at Lexington near Boston, and he thinks about twelve or fifteen days before it, which battle was on the 19th day of said month, that orders were received by the Capt. of the Company of Militia that he the said John Wood belonged to, from Col. Thomas Kempton to which Regiment said Company belonged, to call out his Company and organize it; and if there were any vacancies of officers, to choose new ones (as there been no training for a number of years) which being called out, and all the former officers declined serving any longer, and the Company met at Hix’s Bridge in Dartmouth (now Westport) and Nathaniel Richmond was chosen Capt., and the aforesaid John Wood, was chosen Lieutenant of said Company, and the Company was then dismissed, with orders to meet again in about one week, from best of his recollection, he well remembers that the news of the battle at Lexington, was told a few days after the Company met, which was for exercise and discipline, or training as he called it, which was at the house of Job Tabor, in said Dartmouth, where the officers and Soldiers spent the day in [training] &c. and was then dismissed until further orders, and about one week after the battle at Lexington, Col. Kempton, sent orders to Capt. Richmond, to call out his Company and raise a certain number of men, by listing, classing, drafting, or in such way as he might think most proper, and have them ready to march for Boston at a moments warning, which he accordingly did, and the Company met at the house of William Earl in said Dartmouth, and Capt. Richmond, and the aforesaid Lieutenant Wood was present, and the number that the orders were to raise, listed, and the Company was then dismissed, and he thinks in about one week after; he well recollects it was near the first of May following, that Capt. Richmond received orders again to raise one man out of every seven, to march to Boston as aforesaid, Capt. Richmond again called out his Company, which met at said William Earl’s, and Capt. Richmond and he the said Lieutenant Wood was present, and no one of said Company being found willing to enlist, Capt. Richmond, and Lieutenant Wood, then classed the Company seven in a class and marked each class, to furnish a man, which they accordingly did, and the Company was then dismissed; he thinks it unnecessary to go into so minute a detail of his whole services, as he has herein above stated, and will proceed to give a statement of the most important parts of it, said Lieutenant Wood was obliged to be at all times ready to march at a moments warning, whenever there was an alarm, on account of the enemy coming near or landing on the adjoining sea coast; and said John Wood was one of the minute men that attended to that duty at all times when required, which continued to be the case as long as he belonged to said Company; he the applicant well remembers that a guard was stationed at Dartmouth Harbour (now Westport) in the Spring of the year A.D. 1777. which was continued there about three fourths of the time for nearly four years, it being dismissed about three months in each winter, which was made up from men that belonged to the same Company that he did, some time in the fall of said year A.D. 1777, he cannot say precisely the time, he thinks it was the latter part of October, he well recollects that the weather had become something cool, and there was an alarm made at said Harbour, on account of some naval vessels of the enemy, being off said Harbour, and that he went on guard at said Harbour two nights, and the enemy then went off; and that he continued to do the duties of his said office, as a Lieutenant of said company, and frequently that of a Capt., until about the last of December (the precise day he does not recollect) in the aforesaid year A.D. 1777, when he claimed his discharge, which after considerable deliberation was granted, by tendering him their thanks for his long and faithful services, in said Company, he the applicant, being chosen by the aforesaid Company, a Lieutenant, on the first part of April A.D. 1775. which office he continued to hold, without any intermission, until about the last of December A.D. 1777. making his term of actual service, two years, and nearly nine months; I Arnold Wood of Westport in the County of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, on Oath do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with John Wood, of said Westport, in the County of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, aged about Eighty two years, whom I well remember in the year A.D. 1775. that some time in the month of April of said year, I think it was the fore part of said month, the exact day I do not recollect, I well remember it was a short time before I heard of the battle at Lexington, that the Company of Militia were called out, that I lived within the limits of, and that they met at Hixes Bridge in Dartmouth (now Westport) to choose their officers, and I was there, and well remember that Nathaniel Richmond was chosen Capt., and that the aforesaid John Wood was chosen Lieutenant; I also recollect, that a few days after, I see the said Company at Hixes Bridge, I William Cory of Westport, in the County of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, aged about Seventy six years, on Oath do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with John Wood, of said Westport, in the County of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, aged about Eighty two years, whom I well recollect in the fore part of April A.D. 1775. some time in fore part of said month of April, the precise day I do not now recollect, the Company of Militia that I lived within the limits of, were called out, and met near the house of Job Tabor, in the town of Dartmouth (now Westport) for Military exercise, and discipline, and I was at said meeting, or training as we called it, but I did not then belong to said company, and I well remember, that Benjamin Cory, belonged to said Company, and was present, who was a private, and that he had his gun, and a drum with him, and I recollect that the Capt told Cory, that if he would drum for them that day, that he would excuse him from standing in the ranks, which he accordingly did, and that I asked the Capt for liberty to take Corys gun and exercise in the Company, which he very readily granted me, which I did during that day, | ||||
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