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.
John West, a son of Francis and Mary West, was born circa 1726, probably in or near North Kingstown, Rhode Island. About 1732 John’s father moved the West family from North Kingstown to Westerly, Rhode Island where John matured. John West of Westerly registered to vote in 1750. In Westerly, on December 29, 1765 John West married Amey Wilcox. Between 1766 and 1787 John and Amey had at least eight children: Henry, Hannah, Elisha, Abigail, Thomas, Esther, Peleg, and Mary, all born in Westerly. The 1774 Colonial Census of the Town of Westerly, Rhode enumerates John West with the following in his household: one white male above age 16 [probably John]; two white males under age 16 [probably Henry and Elisha]; one white female above age 16 [probably wife Amey]; two white females under age 16 [probably daughters Hannah and Abigail].
During the Revolutionary War alarms, Rhode Island required all able-bodied free men, age sixteen to sixty, to muster in defense of their towns and Colony as a whole. In 1776 John West appears with other Westerly men on the Alarm List drawn for three months, and in 1777 at age 50 to 60, is on a list of men able to bear arms.
John West survived the hostilities and died after the 1800 Westerly Census and before the 1810 Westerly Census, probably in Westerly; his burial place has yet to be discovered. John's wife Amey survived him for perhaps 25 years, passing away after the 1830 Westerly Census.
List of References:
1750 Rhode Island Freemen 1747-1755, A Census of Registered Voters, compiled by Bruce C. MacGunnigle, 1982, Page 47: John West, of Westerly, registered in 1750.
Town of Westerly, Rhode Island, Page 275 (original Page No. 83), December 29, 1765, John West and Amy Willcox, both of Westerly, were joined together in marriage by Joseph Crandal, Justice of the Peace; entered into town records by Joseph Crandal, Town Clerk.
1774 Colonial Census, Town of Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island: John West with the following in his household: one white male above age 16; two white males under age 16; one white female above age 16; two white females under age 16.
1776 Military History of Westerly [Rhode Island] 1710-1932, Compiled for The Westerly Historical Society by Sergt. George R. Dowding, Page 40: John West appears with other Westerly men on the Alarm List drawn for three months.
The Rhode Island 1777 Military Census, transcribed by Mildred M. Chamberlain, published under the direction of The Rhode Island Genealogical Society, Page 124, Westerly, Rhode Island: John West, age from 50 to 60 years and able to bear arms.
A note of caution for future descendants: The John West of Westerly, Rhode Island [SAR Patriot P-336064] with a wife Amey Wilcox, is being confused with a John West of Stonington, Connecticut [DAR Patriot A123163]. There is no documented evidence the John West of Westerly, Rhode Island [SAR Patriot P-336064] ever resided in Stonington, Connecticut or served as a soldier in Connecticut. However, there is documentation of another John West [SAR Patriot P-335190], a resident of Stonington Connecticut, who, as a Sergeant, enlists January 1, 1777 in Eldridge’s Company, Connecticut Line, for three years. At this same time the John West of Westerly, Rhode Island [SAR Patriot P-336064] is enumerated in the Rhode Island Military Census as age from 50 to 60 years and able to bear arms.
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