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: NH/MA
Qualifying Service: Private
Author: Leonard Koplen
John Breed was born on October 15, 1757 to Nathaniel and Ann (Knowles) Breed in Eastham, Massachusetts. The family moved to Sudbury Massachusetts when he was three, then to Packersfield (Nelson) New Hampshire when he was eleven. In April 1775, he joined the New Hampshire militia in Packersfield. He served under LT Brown, Capt. Towne, and Col. Reed. His Father Nathaniel (DAR - A013970), brothers Nathaniel Jr. (DAR -A013969), and Thomas (DAR - A013974) also served in the New Hampshire militia. His father was the surgeon’s mate for the regiment, and younger brother, Thomas, served as his father’s assistant. He fought at Bunker Hill where his hat was knocked off by a musket ball; another ball struck his cartridge box. He retreated to Medford under Lt. Brown. The rest of the regiment retreated to Prospect Hill. The next morning his regiment and Col. Starks regiment marched to Winter Hill and built fortifications. He remained there until the campaign closed in January 1776. He served for nine months.
In June 1776 he enlisted again for five months under Captain Warren, in Colonel Wheelock’s Regiment, General Brackets Brigade of the Massachusetts line. The brigade marched through Vermont to Ticonderoga. While at Ticonderoga he saw Benedict Arnold after the defeat at Lake Champlain. His duties include fortifying, guarding, scouting, and light skirmishing. His company marched to Skeensborough (Whitehall) where he was discharged and returned home.
In September 1777 he responded with other volunteers under no particular offices to urgent calls to repel Burgoyne’s invasion. They marched to Saratoga, where he was in scouting parties and harassing the British. When Burgoyne surrendered, he was with a scouting party on the other side of the river.
In June 1780, he enlisted for six months in Colonel Nichols Regiment, New Hampshire line. The company marched first to Springfield Massachusetts then on to West Point New York. General Arnold was in command of West Point at the time. He was assigned to the “fat cattle guard” across the river at Crumb pond, where he joined about sixteen other men to guard and graze 600 cattle. About the time Arnold betrayed the revolution and performed acts to sabotage the war, the “fat cattle guard” was alerted by a horseman that 150 British light horsemen were approaching to capture the cattle. The guard made a hasty retreat with all the cattle to avoid capture.
On June 19, 1782 he married Sarah Felt who was born January 22, 1760 in Lynn Massachusetts to Aaron and Mary (Waitt). Her brothers Aaron (DAR - A038893), Peter (DAR - A038903), Johnathan (DAR -A038897), and Joseph (DAR - A038899), all served in the New Hampshire militia during the Revolution. Sarah died in 1826.
In 1828 he moved to Sandy Creek, Oswego County, New York. His brother Nathaniel, and his son Joseph and daughter Sylvia also moved to New York. He died April 29, 1846 and is buried in the Pulaski Village Cemetery, Pulaski New York.
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