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
Qualifying Service: Lieutenant
Author: VTSSAR
John was in Hollis, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire as early as 1770. In 1774, he was a Selectman in Hollis the same year that he got married there.
In the Spring of 1775 on receiving the news of the battle of Lexington and Concord, John with others marched from Hollis to Cambrdige, Massachusetts where he enlisted for 8 months on May 19, 1775 as the 1st Lieutenant in Captain Reuben Dow's Company, Colonel William Prescott's Massachusetts Regiment. While serving in this capacity he was at the battle of Bunker Hill where his Captain was wounded. Upon Captain Dow being wounded, John acted as the Company's Captain through the remainder of his enlistment.
On December 20, 1776, John was commissioned Captain of the 9th Company, 5th Regiment of New Hampshire Militia. In 1777 he was the Captain of the 6th Company, Colonel Moses Nichols's Regiment, General John Stark's New Hampshire Brigade of volunteers who responded to the appeal for the defence of the country and to stop the advance of British General Burgoyne who had just taken Fort Ticonderoga and were advancing down the country side towards Albany, New York. Captain Goss with his Company left Hollis on July 20, 1777 and was at the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777. They afterwards marched as far west as Stillwater, New York and was discharged on the 28th of September, having served two months and 9 days.
John married, February 10, 1774 at Hollis, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Catharine Conant (1754-1837), by whom he had 10 children (5 sons and 5 daughters): John ( 1775-1808), Samuel (1776-1866), Katharine (1778-1779), Abel (1780-1808), Catharine (1782-1866), Lucy (1784-1807), Anna Emerson (1787-1841), Mark (1789-1851), Luke (1792-1863), and Elizabeth (Eliza) (1795-1875).
John was one of two nominated by the Council of New Hampshire on June 15, 1786 to be 2nd Major of the 5th New Hampshire Militia Regiment. He was appointed to 2nd Major of that Regiment by the Council of New Hampshire on September 14, 1786. Four years later, on January 18, 1790, the Council nominated him to be promoted from 2nd Major to Major of the same Regiment. On January 25, 1790, he was apponted Major of the 5th New Hampshire Militia Regiment.
John moved with his family from Hollis, New Hampshire to Hardwick, Caladonia County, Vermont in 1806.
References:
(1) "History of the Town of Hollis, New Hampshire. From its First Settlement to the Year 1879." by Samuel T. Worcester, 1879, pages 146-161, 174-175, 210-211, 346 and 376
(2) US Federal Military Pension File No. W.21194
(3) "Early State Papers of New Hampshire" Vol. XX, by Albert Stillman Batchellor, 1891, pages 806 and 821-822
(4) "Early State Papers of New Hampshire" Vol. XXI, by Albert Stillman Batchellor, 1892, pages 751 and 770
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