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: Lieutenant
Photo by permission: Jim Sanders, Find-a-Grave contributor #506
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
Photo: 1 of 1
Author: Rev. Bruce David Harrington
Lieut. Nathaniel Harrington (1742 – 1831), son of Francis and Prudence (Stearns) Harrington, was born (date/month unknown) 1742 in Worcester, Massachusetts. On 2 July 1776, at the age of 34, he married Ruth Stone, daughter of Deacon Jonathan and Ruth (Livermore) Stone in Worcester. Upon his marriage, his father gave ½ of the family farm as a wedding gift.
His Revolutionary War service began as 2nd Sergeant of the Company of Minute Men, under the command of Captain Timothy Bigelow; Colonel Artemas Ward’s regiment, marching from Worcester to Cambridge on the Alarm of 19 April 1775. His service at the time was 5 days. He served as 1st Sergeant in Captain Jonas Hubbard’s company; Colonel Jonathon Ward’s regiment, beginning 24 April 1775, at which time he served three months and 15 days. He served in the same capacity, in the same company & regiment at Dorchester, dated 7 October 1775, length of service not given. He served in Captain William Gates’ 1st Worcester Co. Company; Colonel Samuel Denny’s regiment and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 5 April 1776. Later he served in Captain Joshua Whitney’s company in the 5th Worcester Co. regiment of Massachusetts militia, being commissioned as 1st Lieutenant on 5 June 1777. At the end of the same month, he was commissioned as Lieutenant of Captain Jesse Stone’s company; Colonel Job Cushing’s regiment, marching to Bennington, per order of Brigadier General Warner on 27 July 1777, a service of one month and nine days; including 6 days (120 miles) travel home. He is listed as discharged on 29 August 1777.
Nathaniel returned to life in Worcester, his occupation listed as a farmer and a hog reeve. Nathaniel and Ruth had three children, all born on the Harrington Farm; Captain Francis, born 15 May 1777; Jonathan, born 31 October 1779; and Sarah, born 14 August 1786. In 1781, his father conveyed to him his pew in the Old South Meeting House and 120 acres of land for the price of 400 pounds. Upon the death of his father in 1793, he inherited the remainder of his father’s farm. On 25 December 1796, Nathaniel, and a number of his neighbors, purchased a ‘triangular piece of land’ for the purpose of erecting the first schoolhouse in this sector of Worcester. He was elected a Selectman (1803-1809), a member of the school committee for eight years, as a surveyor of highways and a collector of taxes (1790-1808). Upon his death on 28 February 1831, at the age of 89 years old, his estate had grown to over 450 acres, the largest farm in Worcester, and was divided between his two sons, Francis and Jonathan. He was buried beside his wife, who died on 24 August 1817, in the Mechanic Street Burial ground. His grave was relocated, along with many others, to Hope Cemetery circa 1878.
Sources:
Lincoln, William. History of Worcester, Massachusetts; from Its Earliest Settlers to 1836. Worcester, MA: Charles Hershey, 1862.
Bouley, Charles Henry. A Narrative History of the Harrington Family in Worcester, Massachusetts. Worcester, MA: Privately Printed, 1963.
Weis, p 29
O'Flynn, Thomas Francis, B.S. The Story of Worcester, Massachusetts. Boston: Little, Brown, &, 1910.
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