West in New England: June 2023

Saturday, June 24, 2023

ON THIS DATE: JUNE 24TH

ON THIS DATE:

DEATHS:

24 Jun 1674 9x ggm Lydia (Cooper) Stone died at Cambridge, Ma.

24 Jun 1692 8x ggm Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis died at Rochester, Ma.

24 Jun 1661 9x ggm Goodith (Gilman) Learned died at Malden, Ma.

24 Jun 1662 9x ggf Joseph Wormall died at Scituate, Ma.

ON THIS DATE: JUNE 23rd

ON THIS DATE:

BIRTH:

23 Jun 1837 2x ggm Louisa Almata Richardson was born at Wilton, Me.

MARRIAGE:

23 Jun 1659 8x ggp John Hoyt & Mary Barnes were married at Salisbury, Ma.

DEATH:

23 Jun 1679 8X ggf John Carver died at Marshfield, Ma.

ON THIS DATE: JUNE 22ND

ON THIS DATE

BIRTHS:

22 Jun 1805 3x ggf James Thomas Dunham was born in Hebron. Me.

22 Jun 1649 10x ggm Mary Newton was born at Sudbury, Ma.

22 Jun 1701 8x ggm Elizabeth Drury was born at Framingham, Ma.

DEATHS:

22 Jun 1675 10x ggf Richard Kimball died at Ipswich, Ma.

22 Jun 1791 7x ggm Meriah (Moore) Houghton died at Lancaster, Ma.

22 Jun 1762 8x ggf John Bumpus died at Wareham Ma.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

ON THIS DATE:
BIRTH:
20 Jun 1639 8x ggf John Stevens Jr. was born at Newbury, Ma.
20 Jun 1813 3x ggf Cyrus Moore was born at Waterford, Me.

DEATHS:
20 Jun 1654 10x ggf Joseph Morse Sr. died at Dorchester, Ma.
20 Jun 1640 9x ggm Joan (Nudd)Dow died at Watertown, Ma.

Sunday, June 18, 2023

ELISHA HOUGHTON HAD A GUN....AND THEN HE DIDN'T.

((Yesterday was the 248th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Several of my ancestors took
part in the battles, including my 5x great grandfather Elisha Houghton. I first posted this on 21
August, 2012:))

I mentioned my ancestor Elisha Houghton the other day and
that he was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. I found this
story about him in History of the Town of Harvard, Massachusetts
1732-1893 by Henry Steadman Nourse (p323):

"Coliney of the Massachusetts Bay.

To the Honnorabel General Coart seting at Watertown the Petion
of Elisha Houghton a Solder under Comand of Captan Hastings in Conl
Whitcomb's Rigement in the year 1775 and I was in the fight on Bunkers
hill So Called in Charlston on the 17 of June in the year 1775 as above
sd and on my Return I and others Lited on one Jacob Davis who was
wounded who requested our help and in tacking Care of the sd Davis
Caused me your Petinor to take Mistick Road to convey the sd Davis to
where he thought he could be tacken Care of and in so Doing 1 came
acros by Winter hill to go to head Quater at Cambridge and in Coming
by the Gard of Connal Starks which was set on sd hill they took away
my Gun which I and others that Knew sd Gun Judged to be worth teen
Dolers. I Endevuered to Recover my Gun again but was Denied the
Same which may be made Evident to this Coart by Reading the Paper
acompining this Petition. 1 also Sertify this Coart that I have Never
Reseved my Gun since Nor any Consideration for the same. I therefore
your Poor Petitioner Humbly Pray that this Coart would be Pleased to
take my Case into your Consideration and alow me Pay for my Gun
and your Petitioner as in Duty bound Shall Ever Pray. Bolton Jan. the —
1776 Elisha Houghton

This may Certify that Elisha Houghton of Col Whitcomb's Regiment
in Capt. Hasting's Company was in the Action on Bunker's hill and
helping bringing the wounded men off to Cambridge went mistick Road over
Winter hill and the Guard that was set on winter hill took away the Guns,
and this sd Houghton's Gun was among the Rest, the next Day with [a]
number of others sd Houghton went in order to Get his Gun with an officer
with him, but could not find it and have Never heard of it since—as I know of.

Josiah Whitney, Lt. Col. of sd Rgmt.
Dorchester Camp Febury 29th. 1776"

I don't know if Elisha ever got recompensed for his lost gun, but I suspect he
was one of the earliest victims of "requisitioning" in the American military tradition.