The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: NY
Qualifying Service: Ensign / Patriotic Service
Birth: 06 Sep 1759 Litchfield / Litchfield / CT Death: 22 Mar 1790 bur Whitehall / Washington / NY
Qualifying Service Description:
1780, he was a civilian prisoner of war held in Quebec.
1782-1783, he served as an Ensign in the company of Captain William Hurlbut, commanded by Colonel Alexander Webster of the Carolina County, New York Militia.
Additional References:
Fernow, Berthold, Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York, Volume XV – State Archives Volume 1, New York, Albany: Weed, Parsons and Company, 1887, page276, 559
New York Archives, Charlotte County Militia Records, Folder 19, pg 26 (commission papers)
Holden, Clarance E., Whitehall, N.Y. Local History Sketches, Mounted Clippings From The Whitehall Times, March 1916 to July 1918, pg 24, 50-51, 53, 56, 59
Spouse: Anna Wilson Children: Leman; John; Thomas; Lemma;
Lemma Bartholomew was born about 1758 in Litchfield, Connecticut, the son of Lemuel [Patriot P-109969] and Mary (Squire) Bartholomew. His given name was also spelled Lamme; I do not know if Lemma is a diminutive or nickname for Lemuel, but this is how his name appears in the records.
Please refer to his father Lemuel's biography for further family information. About 1769, the family migrated from Connecticut to Skenesbourough, Caroline County, New York, renamed Whitehall, Washington County, after the Revolutionary War, along the Vermont border about twenty-five miles south of Fort Ticonderoga. While living in this area, his father was a veteran of the French & Indian War.
There is little record I could find documenting service prior to 1780. On 20 March 1780, Lemma was tasked to escort an elderly couple traveling to their destination because of the dangers on the roads from Tory and Native American highwaymen who would rob travelers and army pay wagons in the region. This is precisely what happened: a gang of at least three Tories and a few Native Americans shot, killed, and scalped the couple. When Lemma’s riderless horse was found along with the bodies of the travelers, a search party was formed to no avail. Lemma was taken to Quebec, where he was held for about two years. A common practice in those days was for Native American Nations, loyal to the British cause, to sell their captives to the British authorities in Canada, who in turn would exchange them for British prisoners of war or press them into the merchant sea service. After his return in 1782, he was commissioned Ensign, spending the last year or so of the war in Colonel Alexander Webster’s Caroline County Militia Regiment, serving in Captain Hurlbut and Lieutenant Harlow’s Company, 27 June 1783
A date of 1 July 1779 is given for his marriage to Anna Wilson, about eight months before his captivity. Among their known children were:
Leman/ Lemon was born on 5 May 1783 and Clarissa Coggswell.
John was born on 18 March 1785 and married Amarillis Horchkiss.
Lemma, Jr. was born on 12 April 1787 and married Elizabeth Bishop.
Thomas was born on 8 June 1788 and married 1) Anna Foote and 2) Sophia Jones.
The Patriot died on 22 March 1790, age 31, in a farming accident when descending from a hayloft, he fell upon a pitchfork. He is buried in the Bartholomew Family Graveyard in Whitehall. After Lemma’s death, Anna remarried Roger Barrett. She died in 1747 and is buried in the General David Barrett Cemetery in Dresden, Washington County, New York. The graveyard is named after their second son, David.
Sources:
SAR Records
New York in Revolution
New York Archives, Charlotte County Militia Records, Folder 19, page 26.
DAR Lineage Books
Holden, Clarance E., Whitehall, N.Y. Local History Sketches, Mounted Clippings From The Whitehall Times, March 1916 to July 1918, pages 24, 50-51, 53, 56, 59
Historical accounts of his capture
Find-a-Grave
Author: David Campbell Nelson
Lemma Bartholomew was the 4th of 12 children (4th son) born of Lemuel Bartholomew (1726/7-1801) and his wife Mary Squire (1736-1824). Lemma's siblings were: Joseph (abt. 1750-1767), Jesse (d. 1836), Jeptha (d. 1813), Asenath, Mary (Polly) (1764-1831), Anna (b. 1767), Squire (1767/8-1846), Justus (b. 1771), William (1775-1840), Susannah (1777-1848), and Joseph (1782-1861).
Lemma married, 1778, Anna Wilson (1763-1847) by whom he had 4 children (all sons): Leman (1783-1863), John (b. 1785), Lemma (1787-1873), and Thomas Batholomew (1788-1877). Lemma died from a mortal wound received when he fell upon a pitchfork while descending from a haymow.
Reference: "Record of the Bartholomew Family" by George Wells Bartholomew, 1885, pages 97-99 and 146-147
"The Whitehall Times" Whitehall, New York, April 12, 1917 -
LOCAL HISTORY SKETCHES
Clarence E. Holden
Lemme (sic. Lemma) was born in 1758, a son of Lemuel, who was the founder of the Bartholomew family in this section. He was a studious youth and acquired an education much superior to most of the young men of his day. He was a carpenter by trade, and a farmer by occupation, his farm being the first place north of the Bartholomew cemetery on the Sciota road. Like all the Bartholomews, he was an active patriot during the Revolution, and was much persecuted and annoyed during the period of Burgoyne's visit to Skenesborough. After the latter's surrender there was physical peace in the land, but no peace of mind, for the poor settlers were kept in continual alarm by the stories of Indian atrocities on all sides, and by the rumors of impending raids ____ almost daily flew from cabin to cabin. ____________________his fortune to make a trip to "the landing" on a pleasant morning in March, 1780. Among other errands, he was to escort home an old couple, but who they were, whether new arrivals or old residents, we do not know. Before noon, their business attended to, they started home, the old couple riding on a horse which was being led by Bartholomew. Passing through the ravine, near the site of the Borden condensary, they were startled by the dreaded war whoop of the Indians. Lemme (sic. Lemma) shouted to the old people to hold fast and giving the horse a cut with his stick thought to effect their escape, while he expected nothing but death for himself. But the result proved different. The escaping couple were shot and scalped and Bartholomew was taken captive. When his people saw his horse coming home alone they were alarmed and organized a searching party and tracked the animal until they discovered their murdered and mutilated friends, but no trace of Lemme (sic. Lemma) was to be found. The following summer they received this letter:
"Sorel. July 21, 1780.
"Dear Wife
"I take this opportunity writing to you to let you know that I'm well hoping that these few lines will find you likewise. I expect I will be with you the first if God's will. Give my love to my Father and Mother to my Brothers and Sisters and to enquiring friends. I would be Glad to write more but Circumstances does not permit. Sam McPherren is dead he died in Montreal two Weeks ago. I was brought there. No more at Present at Present but remain
"Loving husband
"Lemme Bartholomew
"Prisoner in Sorel Goal."
In spite of his expectation of a speedy release, it was many weeks later, when one stormy evening, as Mrs. Bartholomew was preparing supper for her father-in-law and the remainder of her family, a poor traveler knocked at her door and asked for a bite to stay his hunger and a place of shelter from the chilling rain. He was so changed by suffering and privation, so dirty and unkempt, that it was some time before the good woman recognized her husband in the forlorn figure before her.
Author: David Campbell Nelson
Lemma Bartholomew served with the Charlotte County, New York, Militia. He was captured during a combined British and Indian raid in March 1780 in Whitehall, and he was helpd captive in Montreal and Sorel, Canada. Upon release he continued to serve in the Charlotte County Militia and was an Ensign in his compay 27 June 1783 under Lieutenant Harlow and Captain Hurlburt. He had four sons with his wife, Anna Wilson: Leman, (1783-c.1863); John, (1785-c. 1850); Lemma, (1787-1873), and Thomas, (1788-1877). Lemma passed away after falling from a hayloft in his barn in 1790. His wife, Anna, married Roger Barrett, another Revolutionary War patriot, with whom she had additional children.
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