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: 29 Mar 1735 Killingworth / New London / CT Death: 04 Apr 1788 Saybrook / Middlesex / CT
Qualifying Service Description:
1780 - Captain Selah Benton, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sherman of the 8th Regiment of the Connecticut Line
1783 - aboard the brigantine Marshall under Captain Noah Scovel
Additional References:
Bates, Albert C., Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, Volume XII, Lists and Returns of Connecticut Men in the Revolution, 1775-1783, Connecticut. Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1909, pg 215
Johnston, Henry Phelps, Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Services During the War of the Revolution 1775-1783, Connecticut. Harford: Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889, page240
Middlebrook, Louis F., History of Maritime Connecticut During the American Revolution, 1775-1783 Volume II. The Connecticut Privateers, Massachusetts. Salem: The Essex Institute, 1925, pg 155-156
Redfield, John Howard, Genealogical History of the Redfield Family in the United States, New York. Albany: Munsell and Rowland, 1860, pg 23
Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol 16 Pt 2 John Alden, General Society of Mayflower Decendents, 2002, pg 339, 340
Spouse: Sarah Grinnell Children: Sarah; Priscilla; Sabra; James; Theophilus; John;
James Redfield was born on 29 March 1735 in Killingworth, New London County, Connecticut, the son of Theophilus and Priscilla (Grinnell) Redfield.
The following Revolutionary War service comes from the Lists and Returns of Connecticut Men in the Revolution 1775 – 1783, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, 1909, and History of Maritime Connecticut during the American Revolution, 1775-1783 Vol. II the Connecticut Privateers
James is listed on the payroll as a private for the short levies in Captain Selah Benton’s Company 8th Regiment Connecticut Line commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Isaac Sherman; he served from 19 July 1780 to 5 December 1780.
He then served as a crew member of the brigantine Marshall under the command of Captain Noah Scovel. The commission was signed by Elias Boudinot, President of the United States Congress, at Philadelphia on 6 March 1783 and endorsed by then Governor Trumbull at Lebanon on the same date. On 3 April 1783, while cruising on the high seas in Latitude 33° 33” North and Longitude 68° 37” West, the Marshall, 120 tons, owned by Humphrey, Lyon & Co. of East Haddam, Connecticut, mounting 14 guns and manned by 65 men, fell in with and captured the brigantine Hope of Liverpool, England, George Flint commander, from Jamaica to New York, laden with cotton, coffee, sugar, tobacco, and pimento. William Henry Wattles was the prize-master of the Marshall and brought the Hope into New London on 10 April 1783 for libel. The Hope mounted ten guns and had a crew of 30 men and was, before her capture, a prize.
James married Sarah Grinnell on 24 January 1760 at the First Congregational Church in Westbrook, New London County, Connecticut. Their known children were:
Sarah was born on 07 August 1761 and married Lloyd Wakeman
Priscilla was born on 26 July 1763 and married Walter Lyon
Sabra was born on 22 March 1765 and married Abijah Beers
James was born on 27 June 1767 and married Abigail Barlow.
Theophilus was born on 26 August 1769 and married Ruth Miriam Tuttle.
John was born on 20 March 1773, and married Abigail Bulkley.
After the war, he resided in Westbrook, Connecticut, and became a mariner. He was known as Captain James Redfield. According to records, he was found dead in the street at Westbrook, Connecticut, on 4 April 1788. He was 53 years old.
Sources:
Sons of the American Revolution, National Society, Louisville, Kentucky. Primary application of Michael Francis Blair, National Number 229276.
Bates, Lists, and returns of Connecticut men in the Revolution, 1775-1783, Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society Volume 12, pg 215
The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service during the War of the Revolution 1775 to 1783, pg 240
History of Maritime Connecticut during the American Revolution, 1775-1783 Vol. II. The Connecticut Privateers, pg 155, 156
Genealogical History of the Redfield Family in the United States, New York. Albany: Munsell and Rowland, 1860, pg 23
Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Volume 16, Part 2, pg 339
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