Display Patriot - P-338372

Joseph PHINNEY

SAR Patriot #: P-338372

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: MA Qualifying Service: Civil Service / Private

DAR #: A214174

Birth: 12 Oct 1744 Barnstable / Banstable / MA
Death: 15 Jan 1829 Barnstable / Banstable / MA

Qualifying Service Description:

HIGHWAY SURVEYOR, 1780

Private in Capt Jacob Lovell's company, Colonel Freeman's regiment, service of 6 days, on an alarm at Bedford, Dartmouth and Falmouth, in September 1778.

Additional References:

MA Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, Volume 12, pg 339.

MA muster/payrolls (1763-1808) in the Rev War, Volume 35, pg 238 (image 555).

DAR cites >MADAR TOWN OFFICIALS, 1775-1783, GRC S1, Volume 274, pg 11-12

>Barnstable Town Records, Volume 3 (original), pg 337

Spouse: Content Davis
Children: Rebecca; Robert; William;

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.

Burial:

Centerville Ancient Cemetery_(C-0075258)

Location:

Centerville / Barnstable / MA / USA

Find A Grave Cemetery #:

2130820

Grave Plot #:

Grave GPS Coordinates:

41.654949 / -70.342888

Find A Grave Memorial #:

44592842

Marker Type:

SAR

SAR Grave Dedication Date:

June 25, 2005

Comments:

Photo displayed courtesy of David C. Schafer, MA SAR

In a 1975 inventory of the gravestones in the Centerville Ancient Cemetery the headstone of Joseph Phinney is reported to be "old slate stone, partially flaked, but has been patched and re-set". In 2019 the headstone of Joseph Phinney is broken in pieces laying flat on the ground with an SAR Patriot Grave marker by its side indicating their had at one time been a grave marking ceremony for Joseph Phinney

Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:

The Ancient Cemetery of Centerville is located on Phinney's Lane one-fifth of a mile south of Route 28. It is a relatively small cemetery consisting of .73 acres of sloping ground. It has about 180 gravestones with the earliest being for Jonathan Hamblen, dated June 22, 1743. It has an average elevation of 44 feet above sea level and has a split rail fence on the street side with no other fencing. It is owned and managed by the Town of Barnstable and is an inactive cemetery

Photo: 1 of 2

Photo: 2 of 2

Author: David Crandall Schafer

Joseph Phinney

In September 1778, British coastal raids became a necessary part of supplying the British garrisons at Newport and New York. Led by British Major-General, Sir Charles Grey, the fleet sailed from Newport, September 3, 1778, and made for Bedford (New Bedford) in the Massachusetts Colony, which was an important privateering sanctuary several miles across Buzzard’s Bay from Falmouth. The British descended upon the town center burning nearly forty storehouses and over a hundred ships. Expecting the British fleet to attack Falmouth next American General Joseph Otis moved militia companies from across Cape Cod to defend Falmouth Center.

At this time, Joseph Phinney as a private in Captain Jacob Lovell’s company of 43 men from the Town of Barnstable, including Lemuel Bearse, Jesse Crosby and Silvanus Hinckley, marched on this alarm at Falmouth in September 1778; with service of six days. Fortunately for Falmouth, Major-General Grey sailed his fleet to Holmes’ Hole on Martha’s Vineyard destroying ships and buildings while seizing livestock, arms and military supplies before returning to Newport.

From as early as 1780, Joseph served the Town of Barnstable in many positions. In March 1780, he was chosen Surveyor, and again in 1785. In 1788, he was selected to serve on the “Petit Jury.” In 1790, the Census for the Town of Barnstable shows the household of Joseph Phinney with two males under age 16, two males over 16, and two females.

Joseph’s wife, Content, died at the age of 53 years, October 27, 1796. About this same time, their son William married Jane Cammett and had twelve children from 1798-1822. Also, at this time the third Meeting House (church) was built on the south side of Barnstable; with Joseph Phinney purchasing a half share of one pew in January 1797 from its builder Micah Hamlin. The 1798 Town Tax Assessment shows Joseph owned one dwelling built on one acre valued at 250 dollars. In 1807, Joseph was selected to the committee to incorporate those members on the south side into a separate Religious Society which later become the South Congregational Church in Centerville.

Joseph Phinney died January 15, 1829, at the age of 84 years, and was buried beside his wife Content at the Centerville Ancient Cemetery, at Barnstable, Massachusetts.

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