Display Patriot - P-141225 - Francis CROCKER

Francis CROCKER

SAR Patriot #: P-141225

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: MA      Qualifying Service: Soldier

Birth: 31 Dec 1753 Barnstable / Barnstable / MA
Death: 24 Apr 1815 Barnstable / Barnstable / MA

Qualifying Service Description:
  1. Captain Micah Hamilton's co, which marched under the command of Col Joseph Otis, on the alarm of April 19, 1775 to Marshfield, service 2 days
  2. Capt. Micah Hamlen's co., Col Simeon Cary's regt., enlisted Feb. 2, 1776, service 6 days
  3. Capt. Micah Hamlen's co., Col Nathaniel Freeman's regt., service 11 days on an alarm at Dartmouth, Bedford and Falmouth in Sept. 1778
  4. Capt. Hamlen's detachment from militia of the town of Barnstable, Col Freeman's regt, service 2 days guarding prisoners from the British ship "Somerset" from Barnstable to Plymouth
  5. Capt. Micah Hamlen's co., Col Freeman's regt, service 3 days on an alarm at Falmouth in March 1779. Also, same co. and regt. service 2 days on an alarm at Falmouth in April, May or Sept. 1779

Additional References:
  1. Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Soldiers, and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Volume IV, Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co, 1901, pg 119
  2. Massachusetts Secretary of State, Muster/Payrolls, and Various Papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War [Massachusetts and Rhode Island], Micropublication. Washington: National Archives.
    • Volume 12, pg 117 (image 188)
    • Volume 20, pg 69 (image 172)
    • Volume 36, pg 31, 32, 34 & 216 (images 50-53 & 277)
    • Volume 55, File N, pg 95 (image 56)

Spouse: (1) Elizabeth Crocker, (2) Abigail Lawrence
Children: Abigail; Francis; Erastus;
Members Who Share This Ancestor
None*


*This means that the NSSAR has no applications for this Patriot on file.
Instead the information provided is best effort, and from volunteers who have either researched grave sites, service records, or something similar.
There is no documentation available at NSSAR HQ to order.


Burial:
West Barnstable Cemetery (C-0372602)
Location:
West Barnstable / Barnstable / MA / USA
Find A Grave Cemetery #:
245129
Grave Plot #:
Grave GPS Coordinates:
41.708439 / -70.373248
Find A Grave Memorial #:
5761767
Marker Type:

SAR Grave Dedication Date:

Comments:
  • Image taken and provided with permission from David Schafer (MA) member159259
  • The headstone of Francis Crocker is made of slate, and measures 19" wide, 29" tall, and 1.5" thick. At it's upper section is carved a Weeping Willow. The headstone is in good condition


Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
  • Enter the cemetery from Rt. 6A and turn left on the cemetery road
  • From the first bend on this cemetery road walk easterly 27 yards to the grave site of Francis Crocker


Author: David Crandall Schafer

Francis Crocker was born on 31 December 1753 at Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, the son of John and Mary Crocker. His siblings were Mary, Abraham, and Anna.1

The alarm of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775 warned of the British Regulars marching toward Concord. It also brought the alarm at Marshfield, Massachusetts, where 100 British troops had been stationed since January. The Pay Roll of the "Men who went from Barnstable under the command of Colonel Joseph Otis on the alarm at Marshfield, 19 April 1775" lists Captain Micah Hamilton (Hamblen) with a company of 65 men, including Private Francis Crocker, two days service, 15 miles traveled, and wages of £5, 4 shillings.2 The payroll of Captain Micah Hamlen's militia company in Colonel Simeon Cary's Regiment from the time of their enlistment till the day they marched, 30 March 1776, lists 69 men, including Private Francis Crocker, six days service, and wages of 8 shillings.3

The success of American Privateering in hampering British forces brought the recommendation from London in March 1778 to direct British forces to attack privateering ports, vessels, wharves, and warehouses. On 5 September 1778, over 30 British vessels with 4,000 British troops landed at Dartmouth, Massachusetts, burning all operations supporting privateering along the west coast of Buzzard's Bay to Acushnet. In response, militia General Joseph Otis alarmed the militia companies of Barnstable. The payroll for Micah Hamlen's militia company of matrosses in Colonel Nathaniel Freeman's regiment on the alarm at Bedford, Dartmouth, and Falmouth in September 1778 lists 33 men, including Private Francis Crocker, eleven days service, wages of £2 18 shillings, 8 pence.4 On 2 November 1778, the British Man of War Somerset was cast ashore by a nor'easter, with the Captain surrendering his crew to local authorities. Militia companies of each Cape Cod town guarded the over 400 prisoners as they marched toward Boston. The muster roll of Captain Micah Hamlen's company, in Colonel Freeman's regiment for service in guarding the prisoners belonging to the Somerset from Barnstable to Plymouth lists 32 men, including Private Francis Crocker, two days service, wages of £3 16 shillings.5 Defense of the seacoast continued through 1779, with alarms at Falmouth called in March, April, May, and September in expectation of British attacks. The payrolls of Captain Micah Hamlin in 1779 lists 35 to 40 men and include the service of Private Francis Crocker, totaling five days.6

Francis married on 10 December 1788 at Barnstable to Elizabeth Crocker, daughter of Daniel and Phebe Crocker. Mrs. Elizabeth Crocker died at childbirth on 28 November 1789. Francis's second marriage was to Abigail Lawrence on 14 December 1805 at Barnstable. Together, Francis and Abigail had three known children:7

  • Abigail was born on 9 November 1806 and married Henry Bassett.
  • Francis was born on 12 August 1809 and married Susanna Kenyon.
  • Erastus was born on 7 March 1812 and died on 1 September 1831.

The Patriot died on 24 April 1815 at Barnstable. Mrs. Abigail (Lawrence) Crocker died, aged 77 years, on 6 March 1849 at Barnstable and was buried beside her husband Francis at the West Barnstable Cemetery.


Sources:

  1. Barnstable Town Records, 1765-1783, Vol. 3, pg. 205.
  2. Muster/Payrolls and various papers (1763-1808) of the Rev. War, Vol. 12, pg. 117 (image 188)
  3. Ibid, Volume 20, page 69 (image 172)
  4. Ibid, Volume 36, page 216 (image 277)
  5. Ibid, Volume 55, File N, page 95 (image 56)
  6. Ibid, Volume 36, pages 31, 32 & 34 (images 50-53)
  7. Barnstable Town Records, 1793-1816, Vol. 4, pg. 334

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