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: Private
Birth: abt 1752 Sandwich / Banstable / MA Death: 31 Mar 1836 Sandwich / Banstable / MA
Qualifying Service Description:
Private: CAPT Simeon Fish's Company, COL Freeman's Regiment
Additional References:
MA Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, Volume 5, pg 441
Muster/Payrolls of the Rev War (MA & RI) Volume 35, pg 279 & 280 (images 627-629)
Spouse: Mehitable Fuller Children: Hannah; Benjamin; James Kendall; Caroline;
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.
Photo displayed courtesy of David C Schafer, MA SAR
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
From the Rt. 6A cemetery entrance, turn left on the cemetery road, and travel 28 yards to the bend in the cemetery road. From the white marble obelisk monument walk east 22 yards to the gravesite of Peleg Ewer and his wife "Mehetible".
Photo: 1 of 1
Author: David Crandall Schafer
Peleg Ewer, son of Benjamin and Hannah (Lawrence) Ewer, was born about 1752 in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Peleg had four siblings, Mary, Nancy, Hannah, and Elizabeth1.
From the earliest years of conflict between the British and Massachusetts Bay Colony, shipping of supplies was vital to both, and efforts to disrupt vessels from delivering their cargo was a strategy used by each government. March 1778, Lord Germain wrote General Clinton recommending that he “embark a body of troops, that can be spared from the defense of posts, on board transports of the King’s ships with orders to attack ports on the Coast from New York to Nova Scotia. To seize every ship or vessel in different creeks or harbors, and destroy all wharves and stores, and materials for shipbuilding."
On Friday, the 4th of September 1778, a detachment of the British Fleet sailed from New London with a course towards Buzzards Bay with orders to implement this strategy at (New) Bedford. Over the next two days, fires raged from (New) Bedford and Dartmouth to Acushnet, all within sight of the citizens of Falmouth. Anticipating Falmouth would be targeted, General Joseph Otis called on militia companies from Sandwich to Harwich to defend Falmouth. British Commander Charles Grey then instructed his fleet to sail for Vineyard Sound. Passing within musket range of Woods Hole and Falmouth, the fleet proceeded to Martha’s Vineyard, anchoring at Holmes Hole (Vineyard Haven) Thursday, the 10th of September. During the next four days, they extracted 10,000 sheep, 300 oxen, and arms from the islanders before embarking on their return Tuesday the 15th; leaving Falmouth for a later time2. The Payroll of wages due to Capt. Simeon Fish’s company of militia in Col. Freeman’s regiment on the Alarm at Dartmouth and Falmouth in September 1778 “In the Service of the State for State Pay” lists 106 men, including Private Peleg Ewer, with service of 8 days and “amount of wages” 2 pounds, 2 shillings and 8 pence3.
In September 1779, the British commanded the Tarpaulin Cove of the Elizabeth Islands, attacking and destroying ships in the vicinity. Sailing north, the British conducted naval exercises near Falmouth Harbor, indicating they may attack. In response, General Joseph Otis called an alarm at Falmouth for militia companies from surrounding towns and directed the construction of breastworks along the shore4. No attack materialized, and General Otis released the militia companies to return to their homes. The Payroll of Captain Simeon Fish’s company, Colonel Freeman’s regiment of militia on the Alarm at Falmouth, Sept. 1779 lists 99 men, including Peleg Ewer, with two days service and wages due of 10 shillings, 8 pence5.
Peleg Ewer was married to Mehitable Fuller, daughter of James and Ruth (Bodfish) Fuller, on the 21st of September 1802, at Sandwich. Together they had four children from 1803 to 1813, Hannah, Benjamin, James, and Caroline6.
Aged 84 years, Peleg Ewer died on the 31st of March, 1836, at Sandwich and was buried at the West Barnstable Cemetery. Mrs. Mehitable (Fuller) Ewer, aged 90 years, died on the 4th of December, 1874, and was buried beside her husband.
Lawrence, Frederick V., A Journal of Occurrences along the Rebel Coast, 1775-1781, Maryland. Westminster: Heritage Books, 2008, pages 75, 85-93.
Massachusetts Secretary of State, Muster/Payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War [Massachusetts and Rhode Island], Vol. 35, page. 280 (image 628).
Rago, Joe, An Alarm at Falmouth 1779, (unpublished), pages 40-41.
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