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: CT
Qualifying Service: Colonel / Patriotic Service
Birth: 22 Aug 1731 Middletown / / CT Death: 14 Mar 1799 Middletown / / CT
Qualifying Service Description:
Colonel
Also Quartermaster Lieutenant, Captain
General Deputy to Assembly
Spouse: (1) Sarah Hamlin; (2) Hannah Coleman Children: Sarah; Asahal; Mary; Ebenezer; Esther; Hannah; Abigail;
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.
Author: James Edward Mitchell
Comfort Sage was born on 22 Aug 1731 at his parent’s home in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut (CT). His father was Ebenezer Sage (1709-1753) and mother, Hannah Coleman (1704-1762), a daughter of John Coleman of Wethersfield, Hartford, CT. On 11 Jan 1752 at age 20, Comfort married Sarah Hamlin (1730-1799), a daughter of Col Jabez Hamlin, the first Mayor of Middletown, CT. See: Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) Comfort Sage, http://interactive.ancestry.com/1062/VBMDUSACT1634_0027-0170/180662?backurl=http://person.ancestry.com/tree
Sarah Hamlin Sage had Comfort’s 1st daughter, Mary in 1753, then Ebenezer b. 1754, followed by Sarah (1756-1791); Jabez (1757-1778); Michael (1759-1778); Esther (1761-1762); Esther (1763-1857) Lois b. 1764; George Hamlin b. 1765; Comfort (1767-1786); Hannah b. 1769; Christopher b. 1771 and Abigail (1775-1864).
Between 1754 and 1760, the American Colonies were engulfed in imperial European fights called in their respective countries, the Seven Years’ War. In America the conflict between European adversaries i.e., British troops and their Colonial American allies vs. French troops and allies was named, the French and Indian War. Comfort Sage was commissioned (May, 1757) as Quartermaster in the [6th (CT) Colony] Militia Rgt. raised by Col. Matthew Talcott for the Alarm (3-9 Aug 1757) at the New York frontier -Fort William Henry and Camp at Lake George. See: National Society SAR No. 72463 -Application For Membership, Connecticut Society State No. 4065, Frederick A. Bisbee approved 15 Aug 1950 a descendant of Jabez Hamlin and Comfort Sage.
The Middlesex Massachusetts (MA) Alarm, Apr 18 -19, 1775 involved the CT Assembly raising in May, 1775 James Wadsworth’s 23rd (CT) Militia Rgt., with LieutCol Comfort Sage, as a Revolutionary War officer. The 3rd (CT) Bttn. Maj Gen James Wadworth’s Bgde, LieutCol Sage’s (CT) Rgt. of Foot in the Service of the United Colonies appeared listed in a Return dated 11 Oct 1776 with a total complement of 670 soldiers that included Captains: Clark, Parsons, Dixon, Binge, Crosby, Parker,* (Edward) Eells, below, and Churchill. See: https://www.fold3.com/image/10321158
A search of Revolutionary War records for Comfort Sage online, involving the National Archives and Records Administration, WDC (NARA) www.fold3, revealed a “Pay Abstract” – Sage’s Rgt., Certificate: Field, Staff of Comfort Sage’s Rgt. raised by the State of Connecticut to join the Continental Army in June 1776 dated at Peekskill, New York ,near West Point on the Hudson River. Next was discovered, “Duty Returns” dated variously during Sep, Oct and Nov 1776 for Col Sage’s 3rd (CT) State Levies Rgt., in the field with BrigGen James Wadsworth’s (CT) Bgde., attached to MajGen Joseph Spencer’s Division of Gen. Washington’s Continental Army defending New York City against 20,000 British troops and 10,000 Hessian troops that landed on 15 Aug. to assault Long Island, then New York City.
Gen Washington split his combined American Continental Army and (Colonial) State Levies (Rgt.s) to defend both New York City and Brook Land i.e., now, Brooklyn boroughs of Bushwick, Bedford, New Utrecht and Flatbush against British assault.
A search of above records, disclosed a 17 Jul 1776 “Report” by Col (Comfort) Sage for detail of the Guard: Grand Battery, 1 o’clock at night -1 Field Officer (Col Patterson) Captains -3, Subalterns 7, Serjs 10, Corps 10, Drums and Fifes 4, Privates 150, Centuries by Day 30; and, by Night 50, ‘Who went the Grand Rounds” – Col. Sage…, “At What hour of the night, 1:00 A.M.” His 3rd (CT) State Levies Rgt., was discharged…, 30 Dec 1776.
Also, search: SAR Patriot & Grave Index –Surname(s): EELLS, First Name: Edward, State of Service: CT, Rank –Capt/Maj, Ancestor # P-153483, Biography of *Edward Eells (Junr) b. 1741 d.1787, age 46 and buried at Cromwell, Middlesex, CT; and, Surname: SAGE, First Name: Comfort, State of Service: CT, Rank –Col, Ancestor # P-283730, Biography of Comfort Sage b. 1731 d. 1799, age 68 and buried at Mortimer Cemetery, Middletown, Middlesex, CT.
Find A Grave Memorial# 20530386 recorded a photograph with inscription, “Remains of COMFORT SAGE an officer of the Revolution of the (CT) State service, he Died 1799 aged 68 Years / SARAH his Wife. And Daughter of Jabez Hamlin, Died same day age 69 Years.” They were buried together at Mortimer Cemetery located near Wesleyan University. The cemetery can be visited along Liberty Street in Middletown, CT at Longitude: 41.562681 and Latitude: -72.654115
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