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/VT
Qualifying Service: Private / Patriotic Service
Author: Herman C. Brown
Johnathan (Jonathan) was the son of William Meacham (b. abt. 1707) and his wife Mary Bates.
At the 1st meeting of the West Hoosac proprietors, December 5, 1753, Jonathan was elected one of three surveyors of highways and the 1st division of fifty-acre meadow lots. On July, 15, 1765 West Hoosac was incorporated as Williamstown, Province of Massachusetts Bay. At that time 28 home-steaders occupied village house-lots. Jonathan was one of those home-steaders. In May, 1779, Jonathan and Thankfull Rugg Meacham were recorded as members of the First Church of Williamstown.
On October 12, 1780, Jonathan enlisted as a Private in Captain Isreal Harris's Company, Colonel Benjamin Simond's Berkshire County Regiment. The Company marched to the Northern Frontiers by order of General Fellows on an alarm. Jonathan was discharge from this service on October 19, 1780, but he was credited with 11 days service, including 4 days (80 miles) travel home. Later the same month on October 26th, Jonathan enlisted again in the same Company and Regiment and again marched to the Northern Frontiers by order of General Fellows on an alarm. From this service, he was dishcarged on October 28, with 3 days service. Benjamin Simonds was commissioned Colonel of the Berkshire County militia, August 30, 1775. During, April, 1777, the County was divided into the North and South military districts. Colonel Simonds commanded the North Regiment.
Joanthan enlisted on October 22, 1781 in Lieutenant Alexander Sloan's detachment raised from Captain Samuel Clerk's Company, Colonel Asa Barnes's Regiment. He was discharged on Novemebr 2, 1781 with 13 days service. The Detachment marched from Berkshire County to the Northern Frontiers.
In 1783, Jonathan came from Williamstown, Berkshire County, Massachusett to Benson, Rutland County, Vermont and made preparation for settlement. It is supposed he brought his family in the autumn of the same year.
Jonathan married Thankful Rugg (1735-1820) by whom he had 16 children (9 sons and 7 daughters): William (b. 1757), Hawkins (b. 1759), Lydia, (1760-1773), Jerusha (b. 1762), Oliver (b. 1763), David (b. 1764), Isaac (b. 1766), Joseph (b. 1767), Ruth (b. 1769), Matthew (b. 1771), Diadama (twin 1773-1838), Peter (twin b. 1773), Lydia (b. 1777), Thankful (1784-1834), Rebecca (b. 1786), and James (b. 1788).
References:
(1) "Family Book of Remembrance and Genealogy with Allied Lines" by Leonidas DeVon Mecham, 1952, pages 90 and 91
(2) "The Hoosac Valley Its Legends and Its History" Published by The Knickerbocker Press, 1912, pages 166, 174 and 179-181
(3) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War" Vol. X, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1902, page 577
(4) "History of Rutland County Vermont" by H. P. Smith and W. S. Rann, 1886, pages 456 and 458
For Additional Information see findagrave.com memorial 21416138
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