USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > Lynn in the Revolution, Part II > Part 4
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DUNNELL, OLIVER,-drummer, Captain Nailer Hatchi's company, Lieu- tenant-Colonel William Bond's (late Gardner's) 37th regiment; com- pany return dated Malden, October 6, 1775 .- Mass. Rolls.
An Oliver appears on a list of prisoners in Captain Topham's com- pany, December 31, 1775, at Quebec. His captain was captured with him .- N.E. Hist. Gen. Register.
In the First Church records an Oliver Dunnell owned the covenant June 27, 1773. Nothing further is known of him.
DUNNELL, REUBEN, son of David and Keziah (Ramdsell) Dunnell, brother of Jonathan, was born January 12, 1739. Was in the French and Indian War, and also performed the following service in the Revolution: Private, Captain David Moore's company, Colonel John Nixon's (5th) regiment; company return dated September 30, 1775; also muster-roll dated August 1, 1775; enlisted May 14, 1775; service, two months, twenty-three days.
He was killed in the battle of Saratoga, September 19, 1777. A com- rade of Henry Hallowell, his death is noted in the Hallowell narrative. EDES, SAMUEL,-private, Captain Josiah Harris's company, Lieutenant- Colonel William Bond's (late Gardner's) regiment; company return probably October, 1775; also order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated December 27, 1775; also private, Captain Simeon Brown's company, Colonel Jacob Gerrish's regiment of guards; ser- vice between April 2, 1778, and July 3, 1778, two months, twenty-five days; roll dated camp at Winter Hill .- Mass. Rolls.
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EATON, JOSEPH,-probably son of Joseph and Anna (Hutchinson) Eaton, was a private in Captain Parker's Saugus company, and served with it in the fight of the 19th of April, 1775. In June he enlisted in Captain Josiah Hart's company, Colonel Thomas Gardner's 37th regiment, and served as corporal. Frothingham in his history of the battle of Bunker Hill says: "After the British landed, this regiment was sta- tioned in the road leading to Lechmere's Point, and late in the day was ordered to Charlestown. On arriving at Bunker Hill, General Putnam ordered part of it to assist in throwing up defences commenced at this place. One company went to the rail fence. The greater part, under the lead of their colonel, on the third attack advanced towards the re- doubt. On the way Colonel Gardner was struck by a ball which in- flicted a mortal wound from which he died July 3." One of the first orders given by General Washington on assuming command was to order military honors for his funeral. Joseph Eaton was with the regiment of Colonel Gardner in the battle, and had the honor of being one of the very few men from Lynn to participate in it. He went into winter camp at Prospect Hill, receiving the customary order for a bounty coat, December 5, 1775. He undoubtedly served through the siege of Boston, and may have died in the service. His name does not appear in church or town records and he is lost to sight after the winter of 1775-76.
EDMUNDS, JOSEPH,-son of Joseph and Mary (Fry) Edmunds, was born in Saugus, April 11, 1755. He served in the Saugus company at the Lexington alarm, but his name does
Joseph Edmunds not appear in the records of Lynn before or after that event. An old Edmunds house once stood near the spot now occupied by the Cliftondale station, but was destroyed by fire about 1820.
EDMUNDS, JAMES,-private, Captain Ezra Newhall's company, Colonel John Mansfield's regiment; company order for advance pay dated Cambridge, June 8, 1775; also sergeant, same company and regiment; muster-roll dated August 1, 1775; enlisted May 3, 1775; service, three months, five days; also Captain Newhall's company, Colonel Mans- field's regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Israel Hutchin- son; company return dated October 6. 1775; also, order for bounty
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coat or its equivalent in money dated Winter Hill, November 4. 1775.
Corporal, Captain Ezra Newhall's company of minute-men, which marched on the aların of April 19, 1775; service, twenty-four days .- Mass. Rolls.
FARLEY, JONATHAN,-private, Captain Samuel King's company, Colonel Josiah Whitney's regiment; service from August 1, 1776, to December 1, 1776, four months, two days, at Hull; also Captain James Tisdale's company. Colonel John Greaton's regiment; muster-roll for Jnne, 1781; dated Phillipsburgh; enlisted during the war; reported mustered by Colonel Woodbridge .- Mass. Rolls.
FARINGTON, EZRA,-son of Theophilus and Sarah (Breed) Farington, was born December 26, 1762. His name appears in a descriptive list of men raised to reinforce the Continental Army for the term of six months, agreeable to resolve of June 5, 1780; return as received of Justin Ely, commissioner, by Brigadier-General John Glover, at Springfield, July 16, 1780; age, seventeen years; stature. 5 ft. 8 in .; complexion, ruddy; engaged for the town of Chelsea (but probably lived in Lynn); marched to camp July 16, 1780, under command of Captain Zebulun King; also list of men raised for the six months' service. and returned by General Paterson as having passed muster in a return dated Camp Totoway, October 25, 1780; also pay-roll for six months' men raised for the town of Chelsea for service in the Continental Army during 1780; passed muster at Springfield, July 16, 1780; discharged at West Point, December 18, 1780; service, five months' twenty days. travel included .- Mass. Rolls.
FARINGTON, JOHN,-son of Theophilus and Sarah (Breed) Farington, was born in Lynn, April 17, 1750, and brother of Theophilus, Jr., Joseph, and Ezra. He married. first, Dorcas Ramsdell, April 17, 1785, intention published. She died January 8, 1808, and he married, second. October 30, 1808, Deborah Hart, who died his widow, October. 1831. Ile lived in an old house which stood in a lane leading from Federal Street westward. This old black house, with its long slant roof, was seen for many years.
John Farington died in Lynn, July 5, 1830. The notice in the Lynn Record read: "Died, John Farington, aged 80, a soldier of the Revo- Intion. Ile had at last to eat bitter bread in realns his valor saved."
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Revolutionary service: Private, Captain Ezra Newhall's (Lynn) company of minute-men, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, twenty-one days.
Private, Captain Samuel King's company; enlisted July 14, 1775; service, six months, two days; company stationed at Salem and Lynn for defence of seacoast; also company receipt given to Daniel Hopkins for advance pay for one month, dated Salem, September 25, 1775.
FARRINGTON, JOHN,-name spelled with two "r's," may have been John, Sr., born February 8, 1727-28, and father of John, Jr., who served in Cap- tain Farrington's company. This, however, cannot be proved. His service was in Captain Rufus Mansfield's (4th) Lynn company, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, to Concord.
FARRINGTON, JOHN, Jr.,-private, son of John and Elizabeth (Smith) Farrington, was born in Lynn, February 14, 1758. His father was born in Lynn, February 8, 1727-28, and was married, November 11, 1756, to Elizabeth Smith of Danvers. Aside from the service of John Far- rington, Jr., in the company of Captain Farrington on April 19, 1775, nothing is known of him.
FARINGTON, JOSEPH, son of Theophilus and Sarah (Breed) Farington, was born, a twin, June 13, 1754, and was one of four brothers who served in the Revolution. His brother John marched in the same company with him, that of Captain Ezra Newhall, April 19, 1775, but no other record has been found except that of the Massachusetts roll for his service in Captain Ezra Newhall's company, Colonel Mansfield's regiment; company order for advance pay for one month dated Cam- bridge, June 8, 1775; also private same company and regiment; muster-roll dated August 1, 1775; enlisted May 6, 1775; service, three months, two days; also Captain Newhall's company, Colonel John Mansfield's (19th) regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Israel Hutchinson; company return dated October 6, 1775; also corporal, Captain Joseph Hiller's company, Colonel Jonathan Titcomb's regi- ment; arrived at destination May 5, 1777; discharged July 5, 1777; service, two months, six days, travel included, at Rhode Island; roll dated camp at Providence.
FARINGTON, THEOPHILUS,-son of Theophilus and Sarah (Breed) Far- ington, was born in Lynn, February 7, 1759; married May 16, 1786, by Rev. Obadiah Parsons, to Susannah Newhall, daughter of Andrew
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and Susannah (Brown) Newhall, born September 13, 1760. Their children were Joseph, Susannah, Issabel, and Joseph. Ile was a shipwright, with his home near Federal Square.
Touching his Revolutionary service, the following certificate is pre- served by the Lynn Historical Society :-
This may Certify that Thopiles Farenton was a solger in My Compeny in 1776 and was taken prisner at fort washington when it Surrendered to the British.
to whom it May Concern.
EZRA NEWHALL. 1792. Salem, Oct. 25.
From the Massachusetts rolls the following service is taken: Cap- tain Newhall's company, list dated Fort Lee, November 16, 1776, of men taken from the Orderly Book of Colonel Israel Hutchinson of the 27th regiment reported as taken prisoner at Fort Washington, November 16, 1776; also descriptive list of men raised to reinforce the Continental Army for the term of six months, agreeable to a resolve of June 5, 1780, returned as received of Justin Ely, commissioner, by Brigadier-General John Glover, at Springfield, July 13, 1780; aged twenty-two years; stature, 6 ft .; complexion, ruddy; engaged for town of Lynn; marched to camp July 13, 1780, under command of Captain Thomas Pritchard.
Theophilus Farington died September 12, 1812, and is buried in the old Western Burial Ground.
FARRINGTON, WILLIAM,-captain of the 2d Lynn company of militia, or minute-men, son of John and Abigail (Fuller) Farrington, was born in Lynn, July 15, 1734. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers, Edmund Farrington, the first of the name in the town, coming in the " Hopewell," April 1, 1635, with his wife and four children. The home of Edmund Farrington was on the westerly side of Federal Street, and he built a corn-mill on Waterhill where a pond was dug. His son, Matthew, was one of the selectmen of Lynn when the Indians, David Kunkshamooshaw and James Quonopolit, in consideration of six- teen pounds lawful money, deeded it to the white men.
William Farrington, the subject of this sketch, was married Feb- ruary 2, 1757, by Rev. Joseph Roby, to Sarah Stocker, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mansfield) Stocker, born April 2, 1740. He
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thus became allied with another old Lynn family, the descendants of botlı of which are among the prominent citizens of the city at the pres- ent time. Soon after his marriage he became owner of the old Far- rington homestead, known in later years as the "Hathorne House," which was moved to make room for the buildings of the Lynn Hospital. This colonial mansion, which was one of the finest in Lynn, stood well back from the old county highway, and, surrounded by ample grounds, always attracted attention. It was built about 1681, was roomy and spacious, and presented a generally substantial air. It was first con- veyed to Andrew Mansfield, first town clerk of Lynn, by his father, Robert, about the time of Andrew's marriage. It was later occupied by Andrew's son, Deacon Daniel Mansfield, who died June 11, 1728. After this it was occupied by the latter's son Daniel, who died in it in 1758. Soon afterward it passed into the hands of Captain Farring- ton, who lived in it during the rest of his life. In the exciting days of the Revolution this old mansion was a centre of the fashionable affairs of the town. Its halls rang with the laughter of young people, and its fireside gave contentment and cheer to a large family.
Captain Farrington entered the king's service in 1771, when he was duly commissioned ensign of the 2d company of Lynn foot by Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-chief of His Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay. The captain of this com- pany was John Mansfield, whose home was near by, on the present Strawberry Avenue. The lieutenant was Increase Newhall, who lived in the house still standing at the corner of Federal and Marion Streets. These two officers had seen long service in military circles, the former having participated in the old French War. Under their influence, William Farrington gradually gained in military skill, and when the militia was reorganized, just before the outbreak of the Revolution, he was chosen captain of the company, to succeed John Mansfield who had been elected lieutenant-colonel of the 1st Essex County regi- ment. To a lover of ancient Lynn an examination of the personnel of this company will prove of interest, as showing the intimate connec- tion of its members by birth, marriage, and association. It comprised fifty-two men, nearly all of whom were from the eastern section of the town, largely from Wood End and the district known as Mansfield's End. Seven of the members were of the Ingalls family, all closely
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related, father and son in one case appearing together. Four were of the name of Richards, including father and son.
The Lexington alarm found Captain Farrington and his company ready, and early in the morning most of his men were mustered and the march towards Lexington begun. Later in the forenoon Abed- nego Ramsdell, Joseph Richards, and others who had received the alarm late set off alone and joined their neighbors. That the com- pany saw actual fighting is well known. The story of Mr. Ramsdell's tragic death and the narrow escape of Mr. Richards is told elsewhere. Although the company did not reach Lexington, it met the British in the town of Menotomy at about five o'clock in the afternoon, upon the return of the regulars from Concord. The hardest part of the fight- ing took place at this time, for hundreds of the yeomanry had collected on the line of the British retreat, waiting their time to enter the con- test. Captain Farrington dispersed his men after arriving on the Bos- ton road from Lexington, and the fight was carried on by the members individually as they found opportunity. After the hot struggle at the Jason Russell house, in Menotomy, where Mr. Ramsdell was killed. the members pursued the retreating British to Charlestown.
Captain Farrington took no further part in the Revolution, and on his return to Lynn continued his trade as a cordwainer. For many years he was chosen leather sealer by the town, served as fish com- missioner one year, and held several minor positions, but does not appear to have taken a prominent part in the affairs of government. In 1772 he with his wife joined the First Church, owning the cove- nant in that year. After the death of Deacon John Burrage, in 1780. Captain Farrington was chosen a deacon, and served in that office until the famons secession to the society of Methodists took place in 1792. Affairs under the leadership of Rev. Obadiah Parsons were not altogether satisfactory at the old First Church, and, although the tenets of the fathers had been there religiously kept for one hundred and fifty years, the field was nevertheless ripe for the persuasive elo- quence of Rev. Jesse Lee, of the new Methodist faith, when he appeared in 1790 and preached at the home of Lieutenant Benjamin Johnson on Market Street. The latter had been next in command under Cap- tain Farrington on the 19th of April, 1775, and perhaps had some influence in inducing his former captain to come to hear the new doc-
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trine expounded. Be that as it may, six months after, with one hun- dred and eight members of the old First Church, Captain Farrington withdrew from membership and joined the Methodist society. After this notable secession but five male members remained in the First Church; namely, Colonel John Mansfield, Ensign Theophilus Bacheller, Rev. John Carnes, Corporal John Burrill, and Nathaniel Sargent, all of whom, with the exception of the latter had been in the Revolution. When the seceders departed, they took with them the silver communion vessels,-a fact which is very feelingly alluded to by Rev. Parsons Cooke, the famous minister, in his book called "A Century of Puri- tanism." He says: "Deacons Farrington and Ilallowell, and we know not how many more, especially of females, were members of this church. Nor did they go out empty. They in one respect, at least, imitated the Israelites' flight from Egypt. They took with them the communion vessels of the church, which being numerous and made of solid silver, were very valuable. They had been mostly given to the church, eighty years before, by individuals whose names and acts of gift had been engraved on the vessels themselves, so that there could be no mistake as to the donor's intent, that they should be for the church use alone, and not the personal property of individuals be- coming members for awhile, and then dividing the spoil." Those who went out claimed that half of the vessels should belong to them,-an idea which was vigorously fought by those left in the old society. A lawsnit was instituted, but through the efforts of James Sullivan, afterwards Governor of Massachusetts, the plate was sent back before a trial was held. Deacon Farrington also came back at the same time, February, 1797, and was officially received back into membership.
Deacon Farrington had seven sons and seven daughters, Elizabeth, l'aul, Joanna, William, Thomas, Amos, Sarah, Elizabeth, Nathaniel (born April 8, 1775), John, Sophia, John, Lydia, and Polly. His last days were quietly spent in the old mansion, surrounded by chil- dren and friends, at peace with church and state. For several years before his death his health gradually failed, and he died November 1, 1808. The death of his wife occurred July 16, 1792. Both are buried in the old Western Burial Ground. On the 17th of June, 1904, an appropriate stone, which had been erected by his great-grandson, Charles Henry Newhall. of Lynn, was unveiled by Miss Ellen Mudge
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Burrill in the presence of a large company of people. A marker of the S. A. R. was also placed at his grave. Near him lie Colonel John Mansfield, Captain Rufus Mansfield, Lieutenant-Colonel John Flagg, Captain Joseph Stocker, and many members of his company of minute- men.
FEARN, JAMES, private, Joseph Hiller's company. Colonel Jonathan Titcomb's regiment; enlisted May 6, 1777; discharged July 6, 1777, at Providence; service, two months, six days; also June 11 to Angust 11.
He was living in Lynn in 1800 according to United States Census. FELT, JONATHAN,-son of Aaron and Mary (Waitt) Felt, was born in Sangns, April 8, 1753. He was brother of Joshna, Samuel, Joseph and Peter. Died in Packersfield, N.H., February 17, 1807. His wife was Martha, and his children, all born in Packersfield, were Jona- than, Lydia, Benjamin, Martha, Polly, Joseph,. Solomon, Henry, Mercy, Milly, Betsey, and Amos.
He was a private in Captain Samuel King's company, raised for the defence of the seacoast. Enlisted July 11, 1775; service, six months, five days.
FELT, JOSHUA,-private, son of Aaron and Mary (Waitt) Felt, was born in Sangus, June 21, 1751, his father having removed from Chelsea. He was married by Rev. Joseph Roby, January 16, 1774, to Hannah Stocker, daughter of Ephraim and Lydia (Newhall) Stocker, born October 2, 1752. Joshua Felt was in Captain David Parker's Saugus company in the fight at Menotomy, and was wounded by the British, being the only member of Captain Parker's company, so far as is known, to be wounded. His brother Joseph was shot in the thigh, and taken prisoner the next year at Fort Washington. After the Revolution Joshua removed to Packersfield, N.H., where all but one of his chil- dren were born. The names of his children were Mercy, Polly, Elijah, and Ephraim. His brothers Jonathan, Joseph, Peter, and Samuel, all born in Lynn, were in the Revolution. He died at Westmoreland, N.II., about 1822, his wife having died before him, but it is not known where he is buried.
FELT, JOSEPH,-son of Aaron and Mary (Waitt) Felt, was born in Saugus, Jannary 12, 1757, and died in Packersfield, now Nelson, N.II., in August, 1842. He was married October 15, 1785, to Elizabeth Spof-
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Joseph Fett
ford, daughter of David, Jr., and Elizabeth (Griffin) Spofford, of Town- send, Mass. She was born August 10, 1762. His children were David, Joseph, Asa, George, Samuel, Jeremialı, John, Elizabeth, and Sally. He is said to have served seven years in the war. The following record has been found, together with the fact that he was pensioned from April 4, 1818, at $18 per month, he having been disabled from all labor in the winter time by reason of a wound received in the thigh at Fort Washing- ton, in 1776: Private, Captain Ezra Town's company, Colonel James Read's regiment; age, eighteen years; stature, 5 ft., 4 in .; complex- ion, fair; eyes, gray; occupation, farmer; birthplace, Lynn; residence, New Ipswich; enlisted May 4, 1775; mustered July 11, 1775; ap- pears on a company return of October, 1775; reported sick and ab- sent; also on Israel Hutchinson's list of prisoners at Fort Lee, taken at Fort Washington, November 16, 1776, Captain Ezra Newhall's company; enlisted January 1, 1776; exchanged in January, 1777. His brother, Joshua, was wounded at Menotomy, April 19, 1775, and brothers Peter and Samuel served in the war from New Hampshire.
FLAGG, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN,-son of Rev. Ebenezer Flagg, was born in Woburn, June 12, 1743. He was descended from Thomas Flagg who settled in Watertown in 1643, and was the ancestor of all the Flaggs in this country. Thomas Flagg's fourth son, Gershom, was the father of Lieutenant Gershom Flagg who went to Woburn and was John Filay , there admitted a freeman in 1674. Lieutenant Gershom's son Ebenezer was born December 21, 1678. Ebene- zer's son, Ebenezer, was born about 1704 in Woburn and married June 2, 1725, Hannah Knight, of Woburn, and John Flagg, the subject of this sketch was their son. John Flagg graduated at Harvard College in 1761, and soon afterward took up the practice of medicine. He married June 21, 1769, Susannah Fowle, of Woburn, daughter of James and Susannah (Wyman) Fowle, born in Woburn, November 12, 1748. Soon after his marriage Dr. Flagg removed to Lynn, where his skill gained him the confidence of the people. His home here was the ancient gambrel-roofed house still standing on Marion Street, known as the "Billy Gray House" from
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the fact that William Gray, Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, was born in it. It stood back from the old Boston road, shaded by tall trees, and was a stately residence for those days.
On the alarm of April 19, 1775, Dr. Flagg was a member of Captain William Farrington's 2d Lynn company of minute-men, and he marched with it to West Cambridge, where Abednego Ramsdell of the same company was killed. During the day his skill as a surgeon be- came of great value to his wounded comrades. On returning home, he at once sent his wife and daughter to Chester, N.H., to live with his father while the war progressed. A letter which he wrote from Lynn to his wife during this time will prove of interest as illustrating his feelings at the beginning of the great contest. It is reproduced here through the courtesy of Mrs. Mary Caroline Phillips Bennett, of Richmond, Va., daughter of Dr. James Gardner, who many years after married Susannah, the little girl called "Sukey" in the letter, and who was sent with her mother to New Hampshire.
LYNN, Aug. 1st, 1775.
My Dear.
It is a long time since I have even heard from you, or have wrote to you. Am afraid you begin to think that I treat you with neglect. I have put off com- ing to see you, in hopes that affairs would turn in such a manner as that you might return home without being subjected to much fear. And am now de- termined to come for you within a fortnight unless our danger increases; and if I shall be unable to come myself, will endeavor to send your brother Benjamin for you: as I cannot be reconciled to live in this solitary manner any longer. Our fears daily lessen, & we feel ourselves almost secure, the noise of cannon and the flames of Buildings set on fire give us but very little disturbance, as we have now been used to them; which would be the case with you in a short time. However, I shall not think of urging of you to return, if it is the least against your inclination, but will submit myself to continue in my widowed state a while longer. We have considerable reasons to hope that war will cease in a few months. Gage's army is very sickly, & they are almost destitute of every kind of provisions except Pork & Bread. The people in Boston begin to receive passes again to come out of Town.
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