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: RI
Qualifying Service: Patriotic Service
Author: James Shough
I was intrigued to hear mother recount the story of ancestor, Joseph Durfee. He participated in the Revolutionary Battle of Bunker Hill. Afterwards, Joseph was taken ill on the way home and soon died from typhoid fever, at his uncles house in Fall River, Mass 1775. Joseph married Abigail Borden on 4 Feb.1770, Tiverton, R.I. Their children were as follows, (1) Joseph, b. 5 Jan.1771 (2) Mercy, b. 1773 (3) Ann, b. 6 Mar.1775.
After joining The SAR Society, I decided to investigate this ancestor and submit a supplemental application. To my surprise this process was not going to be the “slam dunk” I expected. Research of the Rhode Island records quickly proved our family blood line to Joseph (b.1739) and his father Samuel Durfee. The problem was, to prove his service. Because I could not find his name on any available Militia service lists, this application was “pended” at SAR National.
Two family ancestors, among others joined the DAR under this Patriot in the early 1900’s. New applicants, “must prove correct service ”. A Professional Genealogist was employed to try and validate Joseph’s service. The necessary records needed were not found. In 1897 however, the Fall River “Evening News” published a speech *** given by a prominent citizen/historian at their yearly “Patriotic Celebration”, mentioning Joseph Durfee’s participation. Genealogist conclusion was, “The fact that no information surfaced that disagrees with the story of his participation in Bunker Hill and his death soon after does help strengthen this well published account.”
Further research of DAR records confirmed that many members joined under Joseph’s father, Samuel Durfee. He was b. Mar.1702, R.I., and married Mercy Durfee, 10 Feb.1733, Freetown, Mass. Samuel, d. 8 Nov.1788, Tiverton, R.I. Their children were: Prudence, William, Mary, Hope, Joseph, Susan, Samuel, James and Mary (2).
Using Joseph’s linage, Samuel Durfee’s supplemental application was presented and approved by the SAR Society.
Service record: PS’ (Patriotic Service) Supplied wood, 1777 & 1778; Quartered Soldiers at his home/farm.
“ Among the multitudes throughout New England, who, stirred with enthusiastic patriotism by the incipient fight at Lexington, rushed into Boston to volunteer in defense of their country, was Joseph Durfee of Tiverton, the son of Samuel Durfee. He reached Boston in season to engage in the auspicious, and ever-to-be-remembered battle of Bunker Hill. He went through that engagement, but was immediately after taken sick and started home. He reached his uncle’s house in this town and soon died there with typhoid fever.”
1897 Fall River, Mass Evening News & The Descendants of Thomas Durfee of Portsmouth, R.I. by Wm. F. Deed, 1902.
Send a biographical sketch of your patriot!
Patriot biographies must be the original work of the author, and work submitted must not belong to another person or group, in observance with copyright law. Patriot biographies are to be written in complete sentences, follow the established rules of grammar, syntax and punctuation, be free of typographical errors, and follow a narrative format. The narrative should unfold in a logical manner (e.g. the narrative does not jump from time period to time period) or have repeated digressions, or tell the history of the patriot's line from the patriot ancestor to the author. The thinking here is that this is a patriot biography, not a lineage report or a kinship determination project or other report published in a genealogy journal. The biography should discuss the qualifying service (military, patriotic, civil) of the patriot ancestor, where the service was rendered, whether this was a specific state or Continental service, as well as significant events (as determined by the author) of the patriot's life. This is the entire purpose of a patriot's biography.
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Send your submission1, in a Microsoft Word compatible format, to patriotbios@sar.org for inclusion in this space 1Upon submission of a patriot biography, the patriot biography becomes the property of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and may be edited to conform to the patriot biography submission standards.