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.
Birth: 14 Feb 1756 / / MA Death: 09 Oct 1842 / / VT
Additional References:
Rev War graves; Orange County, Vermont. Wilbur R. Branthoover, compiler. 1997
Spouse: Mary Whiting Children: Thomas Porter;
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 by permission: Herman C. Brown, Vermont Society SAR
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
Photo: 1 of 1
Author: Herman C. Brown
On April 19, 1775, Thomas, while residing in Stoughton, Suffolk County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, upon the call for volunteers, enlisted and served as a Private 9 days in Captain Asahel Smith's (Stroughton) Company, Colonel Lemuel Robinson's Massachusetts Militia Regiment. Within 2 hours of enlisting, he was marched towards Boston. The first day he went as far as Brighton and thence to Boston, Dorchester and Bainbridge where he was on guard until he was verbally discharged at Dorchester and returned home to Stoughton.
Soon after arriving home, Thomas enlisted as a Private for 8 months in Captain William Bent's Company in the Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army commanded in succession by General Heath, Colonel John Greaton, and Colonel William Heath. On the day of this enlistment, he was marched back towards Boston. On the following day he was mustered at Dorchester. From there they went to Squantum eastwardly from Boston where they were stationed until the following July when they were marched to Cambridge. He remained at Cambridge (Fort No. 2) until January 1, 1776 when he was discharged. At Cambridge they were engaged in building fortifications and being on guard.
About December 1, 1776, Thomas, being then at Stoughton, enlisted for 3 months in Captain William Badcock's Company, Colonel Solomon Lovell's 2nd Suffolk County Regiment of Massachusetts Militia within General Lincoln's Division when it was called upon to reinforce the Continental Army. They marched from Stoughton on December 19th to Providence, Rhode Island; then to Danbury, Connecticut; to Terry Town and West Chester, New York; crossed the Hudson (North) River at Peekskill to Morristown, and Vealtown (now Bernardsville, Somerset County) New Jersey where they were stationed about 15 days. At the expiration of this enlistment, Thomas was discharged at Morristown on March 19, 1777.
Thomas married, December 1, 1780 at Winchester, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Mary Whiting (1763-1848) by whom he had 10 Children (7 sons and 3 daughters): Nathaniel (b. 1781), Mary (b. 1782), Arethusa (1783-1786), Thomas Porter (1785-1867), Sarah (b. 1787), Leonard (b. 1789), William (b. 1791), Zebulon (b. 1793), John (b. 1796), and Salmon Joiner (1801-1885).
Thomas, his brother Samuel, and his brother-in-law Asa Bond came to Chelsea from Wichester, New Hampshire, through Royalton and Tunbridge, and built log cabins in 1784. They returned to Winchester for the winter and came back the next spring with their families and personal belongings.
References:
(1) US Federal Military Pension File No. W18540
(2) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War" by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1902, page 934
(3) "Chelsea * * The Origin of Chelsea, Vermont And a Record of its institutions and individuals" by John Moore Comstock, 1944, pages 11 and 12
For additional information please see findagrave.com memorial 59595207.
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