Names of Soldier & Sailors Family's Of 1776-1797

This page is about the family's the soldiers and sailors left behind. Many family's were very poor at this time in history and relied on their husbands and sons or another members of the family's for support, as there was a war on many husbands and sons left to fight as they felt it was their duty, many would never return. This left mothers and wife's with no means of surpport for thier family, some would turn to other family's for surpport but as many were poor this woud be little. Although Congress had passed a pension law it would be many year later before many know of it, as the news was slow. The pension laws were hard and the proof the family's needed that stated that a family member was in the services was hard to get, and even if they did get it many would not get a pension. At this time the pension laws stated that a soldier or sailor had to died in battle or died of a wound from a battle. Those who died of sickness because of the hardships of war or were killed on leave or for other reason would not receive no pension. Although the law would be changed and made it easier for the family's to get a pension it wasn't a help for those in need now. The names here are of family's looking for surpport or some kind of relief from the Government.

Note. The Names with a star will have added information.

* Lemuel Noah Roberts was a Captain in the militia of Connecticut, he was in the service in or near New york after arriveing on Aug. 14, 1776 became sick and after serveing only 23 days he was discharged on Sept. 6, 1776. He would return home but because of he sickness was preevented from is occupation as a farmer. Then on December 8, of 1789, he fall down a flight of stairs and died. His wife Ruth (Woodford) Roberts was left with eight children. In 1791, she would put in a petition for a pension this petition would end up in the Superior court of Connecticut, after looking over the petition the court stated that as he died because of his sickness and not of battle wounds her petition would not be granted.

* William Bond of Massachusetts was commissioned on Jan. 1, 1776, as a Colonel of the 25th. foot regiment. William bond died at Ticonderoga, on Aug. 31, 1776. His widow Lucy (Brown) Bond was left with nine children to support and educate. Lucy Bond put in a petiton to congress for the Seven years half pay she has yet to received.
Note. Some records state that he died in Sept. of 1776, but the official records state Aug. of 1776.

Smauel Wise was a Major of the 3rd. South Carolina, regiment infantry. He was on the Continental Line, he was killed on Oct. 9, 1779, at Savannah. His wife is deceased and his only child who was fourteen at the time of his death. In 1791 a petition was intered by Joseph Ball in be half of his Jane Ann (Wise) Ball, who is the only heir of said Smauel Wise, and as no compensation had been made for the seven years half pay.

* Colonel Thomas Gardner of Massachusetts was wounded at the battle of Charlestown, on June 17, 1775, an died of his wounds on July 3, 1775, his Joanna (Sparhawk) Gardner put in a petition in 1793, as no compensation on the seven year half pay had been made.

Major Andrew McClary of Colonel John Stack's regiment was killed by a cannon ball at the battle of Bunker's Hill. In 1793, his wife Elizabeth ( McGrllis) McCray, put in for the seven years half pay as until lately had been ignorant of the pension and now the tme has elapsed she prays for relief.

William Moore, of Paxton Massachusetts, was a Major in Colonel Doolittle's regiment and was killed at the battle of Bunker's Hill, on June 17, 1775. In 1793, a petition was put in by two of his sons Alphus and Willard Moore and his widow Elizabeth (Hubbard) Moore who was now remarried to a Mark Lincoln, of Leominster Massachusetts. In the petition the family stated that they were ignorant of the seven years half pay and they pray for relief.

Colonel Moses Parker was wounded and taken prisoner by the British troops at the battle of Bunker's Hill, on June 17, 1775, and would later died of his wounds at Boston. Sarah Parker his widow put in a petition in 1793, stateing she hadyet to received any of the seven years half pay and is asking for relief.

Captain Benjamin Walker, of Colonel Bridge's regiment was wounded in the battle of Bunker's Hill on Aug. 1775. In 1793, a petition was put in by Aaron Stratton a attorney of Abial Walker of Chelmsford Massachusetts, in the petition it was stated that Abial Walker had yet to received any of the seven years half pay pension.

Lieutenant John Harris, was a First Lieutenant in the 2nd. Connecticut regiment, was killed at a battle at White March in the state of Pennsylvania on Dec. 7, 1777, as his widow died soon after, the children were left without a friend to help to support them. In 1793, Josiah, John, Stephen Lee and Polly Lee, put in a petition for their fathers seven years half pay, stateing they were ignorant on how to go about asking for the pension and are now praying for relief.

Francis Cranberry, enlisted March 8, 1778, and died Sept. 15, 1780, in 1797 his widow Mary Hibbon put in a petition for some land he was promised, but her petition was not granted.

John Welsh was a Captaion in the Marines, and served on the expedition to Penobscot, and was killed. His widow Anna Welsh put in a petition in 1797, for the seven years half-pay, promised to the widows and orphans of officers killed in the service of the United States. However the law did not extend to the officers of the navy, and her petition was not granted. However she had another petition in Congress in December of 1797, stateing that she was the executrix to the last will and testament of her brother George Hurlbut, she further asked for an allowance of the commutation and land warrants to which she apprehends she is entitled. George Hurlbut was a Captain in Shedon's Light Dragoons, he was wounded by the enemy at Tarrytown in the summer of 1781, and languised of his wounds until May 8, 1783, at which time he died. His sister Anna Welsh was granted her petition.

Francis Suzor Debevere, was a Surgeon's Mate in the 7th. Massachusetts regiment was appointed August 20, 1778, he was taken prisoner November 10th., He was a prisoner untill the wars end. He would leave Canada for Frane which he was a nativity.

* Wadleigh Noyes, was a Lieutenant in the 9th., Massachusetts regiment and was mortally wounded at Saratoga on October 7th., 1777. There are Bills in Congress one states that he was killed at Stillwater another states that he was killed at the capture of Burgoyne's Army.

* Bernard Elliot, was a Lieutenant Colonel of the South Carolina regiment of Artillery. He died on October 25, 1778, while in public service.

James Crombie, of Rindge in the county of Cheshire in the state of New Hampshire was commssioned on November 8, 1776, he was a Lieutenant in Colonel Hale's regiment in 1777, he was ruptured in his groin from being thrown from his horse while on duty shorty after the evacuation of Ticonderoga. He was mustered on furlough in December of 1777, and omitted in November of 1778. He was to receive full pension, it appears that he received half-pay as a Lieutenant from September 1, 1778 to March 20, 1782, when hw was struck off the list per vote of the court.

Peter Hemmeway, of Boston Massachusetts was a private in the Militia was wounded by the bursting of his gun his left hand was amputated in 1777, at Saratoga.

John Frank was in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, then again under the command of General St. Clair, then again under the command of General Wayne. He was honorably discharged at Greenville in August of 1794, within two hours of his discharge he was captured by the Miami Nation on his way home to New York, it took him three year to make his escape.

Robert Elliott was a contractor to the Army of the United States and while attempting to supply the garrison at Fort Recovery under the orders of Genreal Wayne was attacked and slain by a party of Indians on Oct. 6, 1794. He had married Ann (Duncan) Elliott on March 16, 1781, his father was John Elliott and mother was Patience (Quigly) Elliott.

* Richard Taylor of Kentuck fought near Fort St. Clair with the Kentucky Volunteers under the command of General John Adair and a body of Indians commanded by Little Turtle, he was wounded by a rifle-ball in his groin, which passed through his body fracturing his left thigh bone which rendered him a cripple for life. He was in the Hospital from Nov. 6, 1792 to July 3, 1793. He services were to be a escort between the Ohio and Fort Jefferson and as a spy and guide.

William Monday, served as a Lieutenant in the revolutionary war and was under the command of Colonel Philip Van Cortland. While in a bettle on September 19, 1777, with the British under the command of General Burgoyne, he was wounded badly in the left leg, however even with this wound he continued. He was later arrested for disobedience of orders, just before the battle of Yorktown in Virginia. He was broke of his commission two days before Lord Cornwallis surrender.

Amey Dardin widow of David Dardin had a petition in Congress asking for the value of a stud-horse by the name of Romulus which was taken from Mr. Dardin in 1781 for the use of the United States Army. The horse was taken by a Lieutenant Rudder it was then taken to General Greene who command the army of North Carolina. When he heard of the valuation he order the horse to be valued again which turned out higher then the first. He order the horse to be returned to Mr. Dardin, who worked the horse until July 17, 1781, when the horse was taken again and was never seen again.

Alexand Mason was born on Oct. 21, 1778, in Rhode Island. He married Cornelia (Marvin) Mason between 1795 and 1801, they had six children however no names could be found, he was a volunteer in the militia under the command of Brigadier-General Perkins of the Northern frontier. Alexander Mason was killed by a party of Indians on September 29, 1812. Cornelia Mason would get a half-pay pension for five years, she would receive four dollars per month.

Owen Roberts was a Colonel of the South Carolina Continental 4th., regiment of Artillery. He was killed at the attack on the British line at Stony or Stono Ferry on July 20, 1779. His wife was Anne (Fraser Cattell) Roberts they were married on July 2, 1755, no information on any cheldren, Anne Roberts was asking Congress for his seven years half-pay pension which she received.

Andrew Leitch or Leite was a Major of the 1st., Virginia Continental regiment. A battle was fright the day after the retreat of New York the men desire to repair their honour attack earlier then intended. Major Leitch was wounded by three balls, he was thought to be on recover but died wthin a week after on September 16, 1776. Two of his children were Sarah (Leitch) Addison and James Frisby Leitch.