Display Patriot - P-225467 - Robert JOHNSTON

Robert JOHNSTON

SAR Patriot #: P-225467

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: VT      Qualifying Service: Private
DAR #: A064079

Birth: 13 Sep 1738 Hampton / Rockingham / NH
Death: 29 Feb 1824 Newbury / Orange / VT

Qualifying Service Description:
  1. Private, Capt Thomas Johnson's Co, VT Minute-men, 1775, 20 days svc
  2. Private, Capt Thomas Johnson; Colonel Peter Olcott's Reg't, VT Minute-men in Newbury, 1776, 31 days svc
  3. Private, Capt John G Bayley; Colonel Peter Olcott's Reg't, in Newbury, grdng, scoutng, Apr 1777 - May 1778, 1 mo svc
  4. Comsn'd LtColonel of 4th Reg't, VT Militia, 30 Jun 1778 by Thos. Chittenden, Gov. of VT
  5. Comsn'd Colonel of 3rd Reg't, VT Militia, May 1781 by Thos. Chittenden, Gov. of VT
  6. Led 3rd Reg't in scoutng, grdng, sundry alarms to end of war

Additional References:
  1. Pension: W21483
  2. Goodrich. Rolls of the VT Soldiers in the Rev War 1775-1783, pg 3, 12, 113, 627, 726, 788
  3. Crockett, Walter, Soldiers of the Revolution Buried in Vermont, 1903

Spouse: (1) Abigail Hadlock/Hadley; (2) Abigail Way; (3) Jane/Jean Bell; (4) Hepzibah Tyler Bell
Children: Hannah; Cyrus; Abi; Ruth; Nancy; James;
Members Who Share This Ancestor
Date Approved Society ACN SAR Member Info Lineage via Child View Application Detail
1970-07-07 WI Unassigned Darrel Leland Dyer (100332) Nancy   
1985-08-22 AZ 229177 Robert Dyer Stine (126244) Nancy   
Burial:
Oxbow Cemetery (C-0064832)
Location:
Newbury / Orange / VT / USA
Find A Grave Cemetery #:
104171
Grave Plot #:
Grave GPS Coordinates:
n/a
Find A Grave Memorial #:
20902924
Marker Type:

SAR Grave Dedication Date:

Comments:

Image provided with permission from Jack Stevens, Find-a-Grave member # 47033206. Older white marble upright stone, probably contemporary with the Patriot's death



Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:

From the village of Newbury, go north on Main St/Route 5, turn left on Oxbow Road. Cemetery is shortly ahead on the left



Author: Mark Andrew Davis

Robert Johnston was born on 3 September 1738 in Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. He was married four times, and his pension file has several copies of his children with birth dates, not all of which agree with each other.

He married Abigail Hadley on 21 February 1760 in Hampstead, Rockingham, New Hampshire. She died on 25 May 1771. Their known children were:

  • Nancy was born on 26 May 1760 [possibly died young].
  • Sarah “Sally” was born on 3 May 1762.
  • Ruth was born on 8 April 1764 [possibly died young].
  • James was born on 31 May 1766 [possibly died young].
  • John was born on 3 May 1768 [possibly died young].
  • Mary “Polly” was born on 31 March 1770.

Robert married Abigail Way in 1771 in Gloucester County, New York [formed from Albany County in 1770, then became Cumberland County, Vermont in 1778, then Orange County was carved out in 1789], and she died on 15 July 1772.

  • Cyrus was born on 15 July 1772 and married Mary Harvey. His mother died at his birth.

He was married to Jane or Jean Bell, and the following children are attributed to her.

  • Elisabeth was born on 24 September 1773 and died young.
  • Robert was born on 6 July 1776 and married Betsey.
  • James D. was born on 14 June 1778 and married Nancy Foster.

He married again to Mrs. Hepzibah (Tyler) Bell on 9 May 1780 at Newbury, Vermont.

  • Jane “Jenny” was born on 6 May 1781 and died unmarried.
  • Ruth was born about 1782 and married William Tice.
  • Nancy was born on 26 March 1785 and married Jonas Tucker.
  • Charles was born on 13 October 1787 and died unmarried. His probate lists his sisters Jane, Myra, Hannah Brickett, and Abigail Davis. Also, brother Robert.
  • Lydia was born on 16 October 1789 and died at age 15.
  • Abigail Tyler was born on 29 January 1791 and died young.
  • John F. was born on 28 September 1790.
  • Betsey C. was born on 8 August 1792.
  • Mira was born on 22 April 1793 and died unmarried.
  • Hannah was born on 28 March 1783 and married Barnard Brickett.
  • Abigail W. was born on 15 June 1802, died in February 1842, and married Salma Davis.

According to Hepzibah’s (widow of Robert) application for a widow’s pension, he “was a Captain of the Militia in the former part of the Revolutionary War and afterward in 1778 a Lieutenant-Colonel, in 1781 Colonel of Militia of the State of Vermont under General Jacob Bailey of Newbury, in the County of Orange & State of Vermont.” She also reported that he said he was in the Battle of Saratoga and the surrender of Burgoyne’s army. She also thought he said he was at the Battle of Bennington. Additionally, Hepzibah “heard tell of being employed in marking the great “Hazen road” from Newbury to Canada” [this road was made in the Spring of 1776 under the order of General Washington]. He also said he had gone to Charleston No. 4 after ammunition and expended more than a thousand dollars in furnishing the army and ammunition.

In an affidavit James Bayley of Newbury stated Robert was Captain of a Company under General Bailey from October 1776 until summer 1777, taking command of Fort Adams. That he took his men and marched to the capture of General Burgoyne.

Official records show he was made a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Regiment by Thomas Chittenden, Captain General, Governor of the State of Vermont, on 30 June 1778. A second record from Governor Chittenden in May 1781, Robert was made Colonel of the 3rd Regiment of the 3rd Brigade and 10th Regiment of the State Militia.

The Patriot died on 29 February 1824 in Newbury, Orange County, Vermont, and was buried at Oxbow Cemetery in the village of Newbury.

 

Sources:

  1. Revolutionary War Pension: W21483
  2. Goodrich, John E, Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775 to 1783, Vermont. Rutland: The Tuttle Co., 1904, pages 113, 788.
  3. Crockett, Walter Hill, Soldiers of the Revolutionary War Buried in Vermont, and Anecdotes and Incidents Relating to Some of Them, Maryland. Baltimore: Clearfield Co., 2010.
  4. New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947.
  5. Vermont, U.S., Vital Records, 1720-1908.

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Additional Information:

Had been commissioned a Lieutenant in the Colonial Militia (British), 28 Apr 1772 by Wm Tryon, Royal Gov. of NY



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