USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > Lynn in the Revolution, Part II > Part 16
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Onesimus Newhall was twice married, his first wife dying in 1786. His second wife was Lydia -. He had six children, Ebenezer, Samuel, Seth, Sarah, Mary, and Lucy. In 1785 he removed to New Ipswich, N.H., where he followed the occupation of farming. On June 17, 1825, the corner-stone of Bunker Hill Monument was laid, General Lafayette and many other distinguished men being present. The State of Massachusetts extended an invitation to all survivors of
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the battle to be present, offering mileage and a bounty of $3 to all who should accept. A considerable number of venerable men responded to the invitation, and received marked attention from the great con- course of people present on the occasion. Among others Onesimus Newhall, then nearly seventy years of age, journeyed from his New Hampshire home, and was one of the three Lynn men who was present. His name was included in the official list of survivors printed by the Commonwealth.
In his last days he applied for a pension, but before it was granted he died, April 16, 1833, at the age of seventy-six. He is buried in the Centre ('emetery at New Ipswich, N.H., where a slate stone marks his grave. The pension was paid to his children.
NEWHALL, SOLOMON,-probably son of Samuel and Katherine (Stone) New- hall, was born about 1725; married Lois Howard, of Lynn, August 26, 1751. Was the only Solomon likely to have been in the war. Pri- vate in C'aptain Rufus Mansfield's 4th Lynn company which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, two days; also in Captain Samuel King's company during the summer of 1775, doing seacoast duty; also at West Point in Captain Addison Richardson's company. Colonel Wade's regiment, from July 12, 1780, to October 10, 1780. NEWHALL, TIMOTHY, son of Ezra (not the colonel) and Elizabeth (Peeks) Newhall, was born March 26, 1763; married February 25, 1793, by Rev. Jesse Lee, to Eunice Curtain, daughter of John and Martha Curtain. Their children were Tim- Jim they Newhall othy. Eunice, Benjamin (., Sally. George, and Louisa. Timothy New- hall was a farmer, tall, and of a dark complexion, and lived on Essex Street, near the present Odd Fellows' Ilall. He died May 3, 1839, aged seventy-four, and his wife, Eunice. died September 29, 1831. Both are buried in marked graves at the top of the hill in the okl Eastern Burial Ground. In his deposition made for a pension in 1832 he gives the following account of his Revo- lutionary service :-
"Late in the autumn of 1778 or winter of 1779, being then abont fourteen, through the influence of Mr. James Rich, now deceased, I obtained a place on the Brig Tyrannicide of Boston, in the naval service of the U.S. She mounted fourteen four pounders, and was
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manned by more than 100 men commanded by Capt. Hallet. Cath- cart was Ist lieutenant. I immediately went on a cruise to Bermuda. In a few days fell in with brig 'Revenge,' a privateer from Bristol, boarded her and captured her after a fight of two hours. Revenge carried 14 six and four pounders. During action nine men were killed and 17 wounded on the privateer. Tyrannicide lost one man who died from wounds. One McGruff, an Irishman, lost his leg. I was present with the surgeon and saw him amputate McGruff's leg and an English sailor's likewise. Beachem, mate of the Tyrannicide, was lost while returning from the prize, by sinking of his boat. Action began about sunset and continued about four glasses, two hours, During the action it was my business to supply cartridges. The man who died of his wounds was carried into Boston and was buried there. I shipped again in the same vessel and shortly after her return from Bermuda, went in a second cruise in her. Capt. Cathcart then com- manded her. He sailed from Boston at the same time as Brig 'Haz- ard' and in company with her. While together they took two wood coasters belonging to New Bedford. and carried them into that place and received from the owners some sheep as a present. Sailed from there and took an English privateer, a sloop from New York and two prizes belonging to her. Shortly after, the Tyrannicide and Haz- ard fell in with and took a ship of twenty-four guns and a brig of twelve. Ship's cargo consisted of rice, indigo, and tobacco. Brig laden with wine. Same evening took a brig from New York bound for Lubec with cargo of salt. Then returned to Boston. Went out again with large fleet for Penobscot-the Warren, frigate Hector, Charming Sally, and Black Prince, also the Hazard and sloop Providence. Remained at Penobscot till an English fleet came from New York and chased the state's vessels up the river. Next day the American vessels came to anchor, were left and set fire by their crews. James Rich and John Proctor, of Lynn, now deceased, sailed in same vessel. Fleet destroyed at Penobscot about middle of Aug., 1778."-United States Pension Records.
The pension which was allowed gave him $20.78 per year and $51.95 back pay. In the Massachusetts rolls he is rated as a cabin-boy on the "Tyrannicide." His name is also given in a list of prisoners com- mitted to the old Mill Prison in England, taken on the ship "Jack," in July, 1780; committed December 25, 1780.
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NEWHALL, THOMAS,-son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hodgman), and brother of Nathaniel, Joseph, and Jedediah, was born January 21, 1750. He married, first, December 2, 1772, Sally Lewis, possibly daughter of John and Abigail, born November 15. 1753; second. November 27, 1806, Sally Iludson, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Moulton) Iludson, born in the old house on Tower Hill, next to the Burrill School, December 27, 1782; died of consumption, December 20, 1857, at the age of seventy-four. Thomas owned the land from Boston Street to Raddin's station. Was a tall man, whose occupation was that of shoe- making. He built the house on Boston Street, later occupied by Elias ('lough, and died there, March 15, 1821. He was buried in the old tomb in the old Western, but was removed to Pine Grove Cemetery, and placed in the Gardner lot. A marker and stone now mark his grave. He was a private in Captain Rufus Mansfield's 4th Lynn company which marched on the alarm of April 19. 1775, and is cred- ited with two days' service. His grand-daughter, Susan Clough, living in 1903, stated that his leg was broken on the day of the battle of Lex- ington.
NEWHALL, WILLIAM,-son of Increase and Susanna (Soudan) Newhall. was baptized in Marblehead, January 15, 1749; married by Rev. John Treadwell, September 16, 1774, to Elizabeth Stocker, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mansfield) Stocker, born September 9, 1754. The following Revolutionary service is likely to be that of this William, although it cannot be positively so stated. It seems, however, prob- able that he was in the company of which his father was corporal.
Drummer, Captain Ezra Newhall's company of minute-men which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, twenty-one days; also private, Captain Addison Richardson's company. Colonel John Mansfield's regiment; order for advance pay signed by him, dated Cambridge, June 8, 1775; enlisted May 18, 1775, served until January 1, 1776; bounty coat ordered at Winter Ilill, October 27, 1775; also private, Captain Joseph Hiller's company, Colonel Jonathan Titcomb's regiment; pay-roll dated camp at Providence, July 6, 1777; arrived at destination July 11, 1777: also detachment from same company which remained in camp with Lieutenant John Watts after Captain Hiller's roll was made up; service from June 11, 1777, to August 11, 1777, two months, six days, including six days' travel home from Rhode Island.
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NEWHALL, WILLIAM,-son of Amos and Margaret (Southwick) Newhall, was born in Lynnfield, February 9, 1750; married by Rev. Nathan Holt, July 21, 1768, in Danvers, to Elizabeth Newhall, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hodgman) Newhall. He died June 5, 1823, and is buried in a marked grave in South Lynnfield. The record on the stone says, "A Revolutionary soldier who fought for the freedom of his country." His wife died February 9, 1839, and is buried by his side. His Revolutionary service can only be conjectured. It is prob- able that he served in companies nearest Lynnfield. The following is possible :-
Private, Captain Gideon Foster's company, Colonel Mansfield's regiment; receipt for advance pay signed by Newhall, Cambridge, June 14, 1775; enlisted May 8, 1775; service, three months as private, Captain John Baker's company, Colonel Mansfield's regiment, com- manded by Hutchinson; bounty coat, Winter Hill, December 25, 1775; also private, Captain Stephen Wilkins's company, Colonel Wiggles- worth's regiment; pay abstract for travel allowance from Albany home sworn to January 15, 1777; 210 miles' travel allowed said Newhall.
Private, Captain Zadock Buffinton's company, Colonel Samuel John- son's regiment; enlisted August 19, 1775; discharged November 30, 1777, at Cambridge; service, three months, twelve days, in Burgoyne campaign.
NEWHALL, WILLIAM,-son of Josiah and Hannah (Newhall) Newhall, was born May 22, 1751, brother of Micajah, Joel, Josiah, and John, all soldiers; married by Rev. John Treadwell, September 2, 1773, to Martha Mansfield, daughter of Robert and Mary (Rann) Mansfield, born March 27, 1753. Possibly the William who was sergeant in Captain William Farrington's 2d Lynn company which marched on the Lexington alarm; may have seen other service, but it is im- possible to distinguish it on the rolls. His children were Nathaniel, William, Robert, Josiah, Frederick, Mary, and Sarah. Died January 13, 1805, and his wife died April 10, 1822. Both were buried in the old Western Ground, but were transferred to Pine Grove in the Dr. Gardner lot. His home was "adjoining the road leading to fresh marsh," according to his will.
NEWHALL, WILLIAM .- There were four of this name in the Revolution from Lynn, and it is impossible to distinguish with any accuracy from
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the rolls the particular service of each man, and, inasmuch as the births of only three have been found either in the Lynn records or the Newhall Genealogy, it is not known where the fourth was born or (lied. The fourth service noted is that of a William in Captain Rufus Mansfield's 4th Lynn company which marched on the Lexington alarm; service, two days.
NEWMAN, DAVID, son of John and Sarah Newman, was born in Lynn, April 25, 1741. Ile appears as having served in the French and Indian War, in the company of Captain Moses Parker, in 1761 and 1762. Ile served with Captain David Parker's company at the Lexington alarm, and on May 5, 1775, enlisted in Captain Ezra Newhall's company, Colonel John Mansfield's regiment, receiving advance pay at C'am- bridge, June 8. Ilis enlistment was for eight months, and on Novem- ber + he received the customary order for a bounty coat, dated camp at Winter Ilill. He spent the winter with his company at the latter place, and entered Boston when it was evacuated by the British. In the summer of 1776 he marched with his company to New York, going by way of Norwich, from which place the journey was completed by water. After spending a night at Fort Independence the company proceeded to Fort Washington, where it arrived at the end of the battle of Novem- ber 16. Newman was in the retreat across the Jerseys with Washington. At Trenton he fell sick, and with five other Lynn men was ordered to Philadelphia by General Putnam. There he was quartered in the house of a Tory who had left, but was badly neglected, lying on the hard floor, sick unto death. Finally, two women came and ministered to the wants of the men, but too late to save the life of Mr. Newman, who died in the month of December. Ralph Lindsey and Ephraim Twist also died. and all three were buried in unknown graves in the city of Philadelphia.
David Newman's wife, Elizabeth, died January 2, 1816, and is prob- ably buried in the old ground at Saugus Centre. Ilis chiktren were John, Ilannah, Elizabeth, Eli, Mary, Rebecca, and Susanna.
NEWMAN, THOMAS. In 1754 Thomas Newman willed to his son Thomas his dwelling-house. Undoubtedly of Lynn, as one of that name is given in Dr. Gardner's ledger as living in 1796, but nothing has been found concerning him. The Revolutionary record is as follows:
Private, Captain Miles Greenwood's company, Colonel Jacob Ger- rish's regiment of guards: enlisted November 11, 1777: service to
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February 2, 1778, two months, twenty-two days; roll dated camp at Winter Hill; also private, Captain Addison Richardson's company, Colonel Wade's regiment; entered service July 12, 1780; discharged October 10, 1780; service, three months, eleven days, including twelve days' (220 miles) travel home; regiment detached from Essex County militia to serve for three months.
NEWMAN, WILLIAM,-married by Rev. Benjamin Prescott, August 20, 1761, to Jemima Wallis, of Danvers.
Private, Captain Gideon Foster's company, Colonel John Mansfield's regiment; receipt for advance pay signed by him at Cambridge, July 4, 1775; also private, same company and regiment; muster-roll dated August 1, 1775; enlisted May 12, 1775; service, two months, twenty- four days; also Captain John Baker's company, Colonel Mansfield's regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Israel Hutchinson; com- pany return dated October, 1775; order for bounty coat dated Winter Hill, December 12, 1775 .-- Mass Rolls.
NICHOLS, ELISHA, appears on a return of men raised to serve in the Con- tinental Army from 1st Essex County regiment, sworn to by John Flagg. first military officer of the town of Lynn; residence, Lynn; joined Captain Childs's company, Colonel John Greaton's regiment; term three years or during the war; also private, Captain Abijah Childs's company, Colonel John Greaton's regiment; Continental pay accounts for service from May 4, 1777, to February 1, 1778; reported deserted; also same company and regiment; year not given; mustered by Colonel Barber, muster-master .- Mass. Rolls. 1
NORWOOD, DAVID,-private, son of Thomas Norwood, Jr., was born in Lynnfield, April 16, 1755. At the time of the Revolution he lived in the venerable house known as "Willow Castle." With his brother Will- iam he responded to the Lexington alarm, being a member of Captain Bancroft's company. With his brother also he went to Danvers, and enlisted, May 8, 1775, in the company of Captain Gideon Foster, then being formed. Ile marched with it to Cambridge as third sergeant. On July 4, he signed a receipt for advance pay, and on the 16th he appears on a list of men who were on guard at Prospect Hill. His com- pany was in the regiment of Colonel John Mansfield, which was halted at Cobble Hill during the battle of Bunker Hill. In the fall he was transferred to the company of Captain John Baker, then under Colonel
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Israel Hutchinson, who succeeded Colonel Mansfield. Ile went into camp at Winter IIill, received an order for a bounty coat, and remained until the British evacuated Boston. No record has been found concern- ing him after this time. Tradition says that he disappeared after the winter of 1776 and was not heard from for many years, but that he finally appeared one day at his old home in Lynnfield. It is further said that his brother William did not recognize him, and demurred at a stranger's thus entering the place.
NORWOOD, WILLIAM,-son of Thomas Norwood, Jr., was born in Lynnfield, January 6, 1758. He was a brother of David, mentioned above. Ilis William Nonwood military service was identical with that of his brother, with the exception that he served as a private. He died in Lynnfield, April 27, 1819, and is buried in the old burial-ground at Lynnfield Centre. A marble stone and bronze marker of the S. A. R. were placed at his grave in 1904.
NOURSE, AARON,-born March, 1753, is supposed to have been a brother of James Nourse whose service is given below. He was married April 4, 1787, by Rev. Nathan Holt, to Aaron Mise Rebecca Ashton, and was killed July 12, 1818, by falling from a load of hay. Rebecca died October 31, 1822. The following is given by Mr. Wellman, of Lynnfield, concerning him: " Another of the veterans of Lynnfield was Aaron Nourse. His native place was in the north part of the town, and the Danvers rail- road now passes directly over the spot where he was born. Ile was, as I remember him, an honest, industrious, hard laboring man. He had three children, but none of his posterity are living. His regiment was once in pursuit of the retreating foe when he came to a dead British soldier on the ground with his gun by his side, a much better one than that which he was carrying. In a case like this he seemed to think that 'exchange was no robbery,' for he took the dead soldier's gun and left the one he was carrying."
He was pensioned in 1818, and died the same year. The Revolution- ary record is as follows :-
List of men raised to serve in the Continental Armuy from Ist Essex County regiment, dated Lynn and sworn to at Salem by John Flagg.
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first military officer for the town of Lynn; residence, Lynn; joined Captain Winship's company, Colonel Putnam's regiment; term three years or during the war; also private, Colonel Putnam's regiment; Con- tinental Army pay accounts for service from March 1, 1777, to Decem- ber 31, 1779; also Captain John Williams's company, Colonel Put- nam's 4th regiment; return dated Albany, February 9, 1778; mustered by John Cushing; also Continental Army pay accounts for service from January 1 to December 31, 1780; also descriptive list dated West Point, January 10, 1781; Captain Whipple's company, Colonel Rufus Put- nam's 5th regiment; rank, private; age, twenty-seven years, seven months; stature, 5 ft. 10 in .; complexion, dark; hair, light; eyes, blue; residence, Lynn; enlisted March 2, 1777, by Lieutenant Stocker; enlist- ment during war; also Captain Job Whipple's company, Colonel Putnam's regiment; muster-rolls for January, February, and March, 1781, dated West Point; also late Captain Whipple's company, Colonel Putnam's regiment; muster-rolls for April, 1781, dated West Point; reported on furlough until April 7, 1781 .- Mass. Rolls.
NOURSE, JAMES,-was born February 7, 1762; lived on Salem Street, Lynn- field, until after the war, when he moved to the corner of Maple and Chestnut Streets, Lynn. He was a shoemaker, tall, straight, and well- proportioned, and a direct descendant of Rebecca Nurse, of Danvers. Among his descendants are Sylvester H. Nourse, of Lynn, and John D. Lindsey, lawyer, of New York James hours City. He married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Robert Mansfield. She was born May 10, 1763, and died December 24, 1853, aged ninety years. He died in Lynn, April 29, 1829, at the age of sixty-eight. Children, John, Edmund, Lucy, Robert, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Mary, James, and Robert. The story of his military service, taken from state and pension records, is particularly clear and full, and is here given in its completeness :-
Private, Captain Nathaniel Cushing's company, Colonel Joseph Vose's 1st regiment of Massachusetts Continental infantry. This regiment, having been reorganized and recruited for the war, March to May, 1777, proceeded to join the main Continental Army under General Washing- ton, then in New Jersey, but halted at Peekskill, N.Y., where Major- General Israel Putnam commanded in the middle department, and
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assigned it on June 15, 1777, to Brigadier-General Jedediah Ilunting- ton's brigade, and in July transferred it to the brigade of Brigadier- General John Glover. It was ordered north to reinforce the Northern Army, and embarked in sloops at Peekskill, July 27, arriving at Albany July 29, 1777. Marching thence to join Major-General Philip Schuyler and the Northern Army, Glover's brigade joined it at Saratoga on August 1, and fell back with it to Stillwater, on August 3, and finally took post at Van Schaick's Island, at the junction of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, on August 15, 1777. There Glover's brigade was in- spected on September 1, and reported to be pretty well clothed and their arms "in such order as does honor to the officers commanding them." The Northern Army having advanced, Glover's brigade was in the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga, and the affair of Fish Creek (October 11, 1777) and the capitulation of General Burgoyne's army at old Fort Ilardy. Pursuant to Major-General Gates's orders of October 21, 1777, Glover's brigade marched to Albany, where it was quartered in the barracks from October 26 until ordered, on November 7, to proceed south to join General Washington. While in barracks in Albany. Private Nourse was furloughed in November on account of sickness, a heavy fever and bad sore on the leg. The brigade joined the main Con- tinental Army at Whitmarsh, and went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, where Nourse undoubtedly joined in the spring of 1778. The brigade was in the battles of Monmouth, and marched thence to White Plains, N.Y., where it was placed in a division under the Marquis de Lafayette, and ordered to Rhode Island to report to Major-General Sullivan for the contemplated movement against Newport. The brig- ade served at the siege of Newport and battle of Rhode Island, August 29, 1778, and then took post at Providence, where it remained until ordered by General Washington, in orders of June 30 and July 7, 1779, to rejoin him in the Highlands on the Iludson. The brigade marched by way of New London, Norwalk, and New Haven, and at Ridgefield found orders from General Washington, dated West Point, July 23, 1779. to remain there. It went into quarters at that station for the fall and winter of 1779-80. The brigade then went to West Point, and Captain Cushing's company was in the neutral ground, near Kingsbridge, in May, 1780, and had a fight with Finicoe's Rangers. It was in the main army in the Jerseys in June, 1780, and at West Point in September, 1780.
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and during the winter and spring of 1780-81. On August 19, 1781, it was at Dobb's Ferry, and four days later at Peekskill. On November 12 of the same year it marched on a foraging expedition into the neutral ground, via North Castle, White Plains, Mamaroneck, and Crowpond. The winter of 1781-82 was passed in cantonments at New Windsor on the Hudson, and in September, 1782, was at Verplanck's Point with the main army and in the operations against New York.
In the winter of 1782-83 the brigade was again in cantonments near New Windsor, and here on June 11, 1783, Nourse was furloughed, and permitted to take his musket and march with a proper complement of officers to Massachusetts to await the definite peace. On November 3, 1783, he was honorably discharged from the service.
This record of James Nourse's term of service has been taken from the record in the Bureau of Pensions, Department of the Interior, except date of the final discharge, which is incorrect in the Pension Office, since the men enlisted for the war were furloughed on June 11, 1783, and not then discharged.
ORGAN, ISAAC,-name spelled "Orgin" on the gravestone, was the son of a Tory of the strongest type, living in Boston. He was born in 1761, and it is said that it was in listening to the British drums in Boston that he became himself expert in the use of the sticks. Upon the opening of the war, he enlisted, and was promptly disowned by his father. He married Elizabeth Hallowell, Decem- ber 3, 1792, and had children, Eliza C., Isaac, Isaac, Harriet, and Martha. His home after the war was in the old house on Strawberry Avenue, known as the old Johnson house, built in 1710. His grandson, Isaac Waitt, remembers him as a short, thick- set man, as did also William Hudson, who spoke of him as the most famous drummer of his day in Lynn. Mr. Hudson heard him many times speak of his experiences in the army, and relate particularly the fact of beating "taps" at the execution of Major John André, and that the general sentiment was that Andre's sentence was very harsh. The fame of Orgin as a drummer went far and wide. At Marblehead at general muster, Colonel William Mansfield once made the remark, "Old Uncle Isaac is not here," and, upon being asked how he knew, replied, "Because I can tell his drum." At that moment another drum
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was heard which Colonel Mansfield immediately recognized as that of Unele Isaac. He was a powerful man, and his drumming was in keep- ing. He was also a man of quick temper, and is said to have thrown his arm out of joint three times, throwing stones at his cows. He died of jaundice, May 29, 1831, aged seventy, and is buried near the centre of the old Western Burial Ground. Ilis wife, Elizabeth, died October 13, 1846, at the age of eighty-one, and is buried at his side.
The War Department gives the following: "Drummer, Major Robert Oliver's 3d Mass. Battalion, commanded by Colonel John Greaton. HIe enlisted in March, 1779, and his name last appears on the roll for June, 1780. He was promoted to be drum major, January 27, 1780."
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